Spandana Network is a Network for and by people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) in Belgaum. The network was initiated in 2004 and formally got registered on 8th Feb 2005 under Karnataka Societies Registration Act 1960. Spandana Network Belgaum is affiliated to Karnataka Network for people living with HIV/AIDS, a State network of people living with HIV/AIDS.
Nandana Makkala Dhama is an initiative of staffs of Spandana Network. The Makkala Dhama formally inaugurated by Mr. Manjunath BH, Regional Commissioner, Belgaum and Dr. Ashok Muragod, District Superintendent, Belgaum on 31st December 2008.
Spandana Network is working in Belgaum District from last four years. Network has registered 3500 PLHIVs including 600 children in which 50 children are orphan or semi orphan (Single Parent). The staffs of the Spandana Network have decided to start an orphan home for the HIV positive children feeling their needs in the district. The staffs contributed their one month salary for this noble cause. The network also did an advocacy with Children and Welfare Department and succeeded to get a building for 10 years. The Honorable Minister Mr. Balachandra Jarkiholi donated an Ambulance for this cause.
Tuesday 22 September, 2009
First Entrepreneurship Program for Poor Transgender Women
Creativity is something person sees things his/her own perspectives. Blogging is also part of creativity. Designing, writing and publishing blog also will have lot of creativity. Today’s morning class taken by Mr. Badri has give different prospective of blogging. Blog can be used for marketing, share feelings and advertising. Cartoons can make blog more attractive. It gives prospective of blogger and also makes viewers think about the carton.Thought process, can give more ides on blogging. My previous blog topics were more about events and it does not include my prospective or any feelings. The exercise given Mr. Badri on thought process and idea visualization have given how fellows can make creative blogging. Blogs should not be old wine in new bottle.
Today’s class has given me great idea of blogging. I am sure my blog will have more reflection of mine and perspectives. Though it takes time to write but gives satisfaction. I will make sure that keep updating my blog.
Logical framework an effective tool in the development sector. It is a part of project proposal. LFA gives a clear picture and understanding of a project. It includes goal, purpose, activity with clearly defined objectively verifiable indicator, means of verification and assumptions of a project. LFA plays a critical role in capturing the attention of a donor.
Module Description
The LFA is an analytical tool which helps planners analyzes existing situations through activities given in the framework. It is helps to identify risks in projects. If a project is related to agriculture, drought may be the risk for a project which is controlled by external factors. The LFA shows logical hierarchy between activities, output, purpose and goal of a project.
The logical frameworks include objectives (goal, purpose, outputs and activities), Indicators, verifications and assumptions. Goal, it is a result of a project contributing in to large way, if project is poverty eradication goal can be poverty eradication in Karnataka or India. Purposes are effect of a project, if project is related to HIV/AIDS reduction of stigma discrimination is effect of the project. Outputs are expected results of a project. Activities are tasks achieve project outputs. Objectively verifiable indicators measure the purposes, outputs and activities in logical framework. Means verifications include data to assess the project progress. Assumptions are threats to the project can’t control by an organization.
Key Points
A problem tree is the first step to form a logical framework. Problem trees are useful in identifying root cause of the problem of an issue. Objective is the next step before going to LFA. In objective tree solutions can be framed for causes of the problem tree.
Objectively verifiable indicators should be SMART or specific, available, relevant and timely. If training is one of the activities of a project; measurable indicators should include which target group (specific), how many will be trained (measurable), all data of training are easily accessible (available), activity needed for project (relevant) and time limit of training (timely). Same way means of the verification includes data of a particular activity. If training is the activity of a project; documents of training center, training schedule, attendance of the participants and minutes of training are the means of verifications.
What I Learnt
I learnt LFA can be developed meaningfully by constructing the problem tree and objective tree. Though I have been working in development sector since from two years, merely I have seen logical frame work but in this module I learned how to develop logical framework. I also framed an LFA on “To Improve the Socio-economic Condition of Sexual Minorities”
Mr. Abhay was here on 11th April 2009. He was born brought up in Hydrabad. He completed his Engineering degree in Electronics and Communication. He Joined an MNC in Bangalore after completion of his Engineering. He inspired himself to work in social sector and moved to Raichur district, Karnataka. He started working on Devadasi system. He started an organization called “Navajeevan Mahila Okkut” it is not registered. The organization is working on many social evils. Already organization covered around hundred villages in Raichur district.
He was here to speak about on Advocacy. He used advocacy tool to fight against corruption and social evils. Following twelve point people has to remember while doing advocacy.Advocacy should be done by people who affected by the issue
Understanding the issue theoretical and practical aspects both in local contents and in other parts of country and the world.
Believe in the issue as belief in the strategy is important.
Grass root level work on the issue, both activism and constructive involvement.
To work along with the media and not use the media.
Data collection and presentation should be human, not just statistics.
To always have the goals broke down in to short term, medium term and long term demands. Understanding of the government administrative machinery and way of working is very important.
Should have well wishes in all fields.
Proper use of all forums available sensitive days of year and reacting to important events is very essential.
Regular follow-ups is a very important.
Attack the issue simultaneously from many fronts, also one is some required to take two steps back and then move ahead.Always fight for issue not people responsible. (Reference: Abhay)
Ms.Chetna Gala Sinha, Founder and Chairperson of Manndeshi was in Deshpande Foundation to address the fellows. It was a session in which she shared about her personal life, the way Manndeshi came into existence, the challenges she faced to build it.
She is educated in the field of Economics and during student life she had involved her self in Public movements. During the moment, she came across a person and accepted him as her life partner. Husband was from an agriculture family, different in caste and class, it was a challenge to she took where she saw different corners of life. It was her first exposure to agriculture and farming family.
About the organization: In 1987 Chetna along with her husband, went to Kolapur from Maswad to sell two tons of onion they grew, but the amount they got was lesser than what they had to pay for transportation. This gave her a thought to start up a Credit Co-operative Bank for farmers with the share value of Rs.10/-. During those days, it was monopolized by NABARD and the village had municipal council. This was observed till 1991-1994, during this period she found that women are better money managers and thought of starting something for women that can give financial stability. Then she started a women bank, for which she started working from the grass root level, writing proposals and thus it was started from the scratch. As per the rules it needed 5,00,000/- to start the bank, but at the end 6,00,000/- was collected with each person contributing Rs. 25/-. When approached the CGI of RBI for license, the proposal was rejected for the reason most of the women were illiterate and they can’t handle the financial aspects.
This was a setback for Ms.Chetna, and she went back crying, but the village women didn’t give up. They all took it as a challenge and committed for study so that they are no more called as illiterate. When again proposal was made same question rose, but that time the women were so confident to challenge the officers with the skill they had to calculate the rate of interest. At last, the license was approved in August 1997. In the past ten years, the bank has 1, 20,000 clients and has a share of 20 crore and with this huge amount, Manndeshi started Non Banking Finance Company. In the beginning no one came to take loan and shared a story in which husband tried to manipulate the situation and to borrow one lakh.
Meanwhile a video on Manndeshi was shown to the fellows. Later on she continued saying the bank has door step banking system in which the loan amount can be paid at door step. A pigmy collector collects the amount as per their convenience, where it can be paid daily, weekly, fortnightly or on monthly basis. The pigmy collector gets 3% of the amount collected.
In the year 2006, Business School on Wheels was started for the rural women which trains women on Computer and Tailoring. According to Ms.Chetna, women think reality where as men aspires. When asked the reason behind name Manndeshi, it says Mann-River (in maswad which is almost always dry), and in Marati it means Sand and Deshi is local.
The other activities are providing scholarship of girls, providing bicycle without interest on it. HSBC is also supporting in lending money under its Corporate Social Responsibility and also Business school of education. When asked about her vision, she said the focus is on expanding whole of Maharastra and North India specifically in Gujrath.
After Deshpande Foundation Started supporting Manndeshi, it started a new branch in Hubli, Karnataka during August 2007. She shared about the challenges, she was worried of what can be done with bus sent from the head office for the purpose of training. Those were the days she even thought of sending it back.But after all the hard work now situation is entirely changed and expressed the feel of joy to say, now two more buses are needed as the enrollments are taking place even long way back. The session was very interactive, all the fellows got chance to ask questions and were addressed from the guests. Manndeshi has no funding from the Government, Ms.Chetna doesn’t not entertain as she faced the different views while tried taking those funds.
Thus the session gave an insight about the social concern of enlightening and upliftment of rural women with a concept of Enterpreneurship.
As a part of our fellowship program we had a RTI module for three days. Mr. Ashuthosh and Mr. Thippanna from APNA IT were the resources persons for this module.
This Act is a weapon to fight against corruption and to bring transparency in Public authorities. This Act came in to existence on 15th June 2005 in India except Jammu and Kashmir.
Public authority (where we can get information)
Authority established
Under Constitution
Law made by Parliament
Law made State Legislature
Institutions financed by Government directly or indirectly
Information means:
Records, documents, memos, e-mails, opinions, advices, press releases, circulars, orders, Logbooks, contracts, reports, papers, samples, models, data material held any electronic form and information relating to any private body which can be accessed by public authority.
Suo-Moto, Section 4 (1) (B) its a self declaration by a public departments under this Act. This information should be with department within 120 days of Act existence. Under this act you can get information about department. It contains 17 points of basic information. There will be no application charges for this information but person has to give money for information he or she gets.
Section 6 (1): under this section person can get particular information from the organization. For this information we have to pay Rs. 10 of postal order. There is no specific format to apply for the both under 4 (1) (B) and 6 (1).
Whom to contact: There should be a Public Information Officer (PIO) in every office of Government offices, in case of his/her absence or leave there Assistant PIO has to take the application.
Application should include person address, if possible email address or phone number. The content should be clear what you need exactly.
Duration:
Within 30 days of application date the information has to give. If information not reached to the person with in the period the concerned authority will be responsible and the information should be given free of cost.
Rejection of Application:
At any circumstances authority cannot deny information except if effects on integrity of the nation, and includes security information, Intellectual property, foreign confidence, ongoing investigation details, cabinet meeting the application can be rejected.
