BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines—A Bacolod nongovernment organization has won the top prize at the BBC World Challenge 2010 for its perfected model of a hydraulic ram pump that has brought water to remote villages in the Philippines and other parts of the world.
The Alternative Indigenous Development Foundation Inc. (AIDFI) based in Barangay (village) Mansilingan, Bacolod City, won the top prize of $20,000, according to Hazel Stuart, a British national based in Bacolod City.
Stuart, who makes television documentaries, said in an email that she attended the awarding ceremonies held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on Monday.
“Auke Idzenga of AIDFI won the whole thing out of 800 projects worldwide. It got down to 60, then 12, then the final three,” Stuart said.
The entry from Peru came in second and Guatemala was third place.
Idzenga, the AIDFI chief executive officer, was in Amsterdam and has yet to issue a statement on AIDFI’s BBC World Challenge victory.
According to the BBC World Challenge website (http://www.theworldchallenge.co.uk/timeline.php), the awards ceremonies will be broadcast on December 4 on the BBC World News and announced on the website on the same day.
Now on its sixth year, the BBC World Challenge is a global competition aimed at finding projects or small businesses from around the world that have shown enterprise and innovation at grassroots level.
On November 18, AIDFI’s entry “Running Water Uphill” also won the Community Initiative Award of the Energy Institute Awards held in London.
The AIDFI program centers around the locally perfected model of the old hydraulic ram pump, a device that can pump water to very high elevations without the use of electricity or fuel.
AIDFI has so far installed 170 ram pumps for about 50,000 beneficiaries, Idzenga said earlier.
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Gulberg case: Court invites media, NGO for ‘views’
In what seems an unprecedented order, the special fast-track court for the 2002 Gulberg Society massacre case has invited a section of the local media to participate in arguments during the trial of the case and sought its views on various issues related to the case and the overall role and responsibilities of media.
The trial court presided over by the Additional Sessions Judge, B U Joshi passed the order on Monday, asking certain media houses to make voluntary written and oral appearance before the court on the commencement of the arguments in the case.
The court started recording Further Statements of the accused in the case on Monday after the completion of which it will hear the arguments from the concerned parties. The court has sought the voluntary appearance of the three media houses — Times of India, Sandesh and Aaj Tak — along with an NGO, Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP), which has been keenly following the case.
Generally, in a criminal trial, the court hears arguments from the concerned parties — the prosecution, the defence and the witnesses.
Giving reasons for the departure, the court observed that the offence involved in the case is not only against the society but also against the nation. Secularism is the message of the Preamble of our Constitution, the order says. Since the offence in the case is related to the secularism and national integrity of India, the scope of representation should not be kept limited and representation on all the aspects is required to be made, it adds.
From the media, the court has sought specific views on four issues related to the case; 1) Police investigation from February 28, 2002 to November 25, 2002 2) Information on phone calls 3) Orders of the Supreme Court related to the investigation of the offence and 4) Sting Operation (carried out by a private news channel).
The order has a rider for both the media and the CJP — the representation should be neutral and such that maintains the communal harmony and peace in the country. CJP has been asked to make representation on the above mentioned points, apart from the views on the role and responsibilities of NGOs in the country.
The order also says that the concerned parties can make short representation on eight institutions and their role with reference to the offence touching the national integration — the government, political parties, religious organisations, police, press-media, non-government organisations, public prosecutor and the court murmurs against judge.
The trial judge, B U Joshi, has run into a number of controversies during the trial of the Gulberg Society massacre case. Certain eye-witnesses and victims in the case had sought his removal from the case calling him “biased” and the one who has pre-judged the authenticity of the witnesses. The former Special Public Prosecutor in the case, R K Shah, had also quit after making allegations against Joshi.
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‘18,000 children infected due to transmission from mothers’
According to the 2009 National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) report, 18,000 children were infected with HIV due to transmission from their HIV-positive mothers. According to Peoples’ Health Organisation, an NGO, several of these infections could have been prevented had proper precautions been
taken while dealing with the HIV-positive pregnant women.
Dr IS Gilada, secretary of the NGO, said the NACO report states that only 10% of the 65,000 HIV positive pregnant women were covered under Prevention of Parent-to-Child HIV Transmission programme.
Also, the HIV positive pregnant women received only a single-dose nevirapine, which according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), triggered a resistance to other treatments for both the mother and the child. “There are better drugs and treatments available to prevent such cases,” said Dr Gilada.
According to the NGO, to address this problem better, more effective drug treatments are available today.
“Nevirapine is a cheap drug with less side effects if it is used as a part of treatment of HIV in anti-retroviral therapy (ART). But if it used as a single dose then chances of that person getting resistant to the drug are 57 to 90 per cent,” said Dr Gilada.
The NGO argues that the Centre is on one hand providing new costly drugs as well as nevirapine, a cheap option, as a part of first and second line ART for lifetime. “If the government fails to provide this new possible treatment to them, we will move the Supreme Court,” said Dr Gilada.
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NGO organises outreach on epilepsy
Ada Foah (GAR) Nov. 30, GNA - Mr Lawrence Essuman, Vice President of the Psycho Health Foundation, a mental health oriented NGO, has urged Ghanaians not to shy away from epileptic patients since the disease is not infectious. He said epilepsy was a neurological disease, which happened in the heads of epileptic patients and their foam or saliva could not cause an infection. "There is no way a person can get infected with epilepsy by eating, shaking hands or even touching the saliva or foam of an affected person," he said. Mr Essuman was speaking at an outreach campaign organized by the Foundation at Ada Foah in the Dangbe East District to sensitize the inhabitants on mental health. He cited falling, biting of the tongue and passing of urine or faeces as some of the characteristics of epileptic patients. The rest are becoming stiff and shaky, foaming at the mouth, pale or bluish lips and loss of memory or confusion after an attack. Mr Essuman said about one out of every 100 people in the world were affected by the disease, adding that it was predominant in persons under the age of 30 and also men and people who were mentally retarded. He mentioned bleeding or cancer in the head, high or low levels of salt or sugar in the body, excessive use of alcohol and other illicit drugs, lack of oxygen to the foetus of pregnant women and any tumour on the body as some of the known causes of the disease.
Mr Essuman appealed to people who have ever had an epileptic attack to go for routine checks and always take their drugs. "This is especially important for people who got their first seizure after the age of 30, as their epilepsy is more likely to be caused by any physical illness," he said.
He appealed to corporate organizations to support the Foundation financially to enable it to carry out its activities. Mr Seidu Jinkor, Public Relations Officer of the Foundation, said although the disease was a long term one, it could be controlled. He said epileptic patients could live normal lives, get married and have children as well as work. "The only things they cannot do are to drive, swim alone or work with heavy machinery, in case they have a seizure." Mr Jinkor advised them to always keep notes of dates of seizures, as they would help their doctors to diagnose the right medication and also prescribe the exact dose of drugs.
He advised epileptic patients to rest, sleep and exercise regularly. They should also desist from taking alcohol and avoid extreme physical exercise and situations that could lead to sudden tension or stress. Mr Jinkor advised epileptic patients to inform their doctors anytime they decide to have babies since some of the drugs used in treating the disease could harm unborn babies. "If you feel like having a seizure, lie down on your side and place something soft, such as a folded towel, under your head in order to stop you from harming yourself." He called on Ghanaians to disabuse their minds of the notion that the disease was caused by witchcraft of spirits. The NGO, which is made up mostly of staff from the Accra Psychiatric Hospital, also carried out blood pressure and HIV tests for the inhabitants. 30 Nov. 10
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NGO seeks implementation of police reforms, launches drive
The Praja Foundation, an NGO that has been compiling crime records through the RTI (Right to Information Act) for the past two years, launched a campaign seeking police reforms, on Tuesday outside the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus. The campaign, aimed at collecting signatures from citizens for addressing issues of rising crime rate, police reforms and shortage of police personnel, intends to compel the authorities to take note of the situation and appropriate action. Former city police commissioners Julio Ribeiro, Satish Sawhney and Ronnie Mendonca were present at the campaign.
Praja Foundation introduced its mascot Biggy and it was displayed at the CST and Churchgate station. Founder trustee of Praja Foundation Nitai Mehta said, “We would present the signed petitions to home minister RR Patil. We will approach city MLAs through Praja Dialogue, our newsletter. It will carry a report on the campaign along with an appeal to ask the right questions in the Assembly.”
Sawhney explained how diligently and sincerely FIRs are attended to by police. “Investigating and solving an offence is the biggest priority today.”
Julio Ribeiro, who has been actively campaigning for police reforms, said, “At the very least, we want the new state government to implement the Supreme Court recommendations on police reforms in the state. We hope the new chief minister and home minister will implement the police reforms as asked by the Supreme Court.”
According to the data obtained through the Right to Information Act, eight housebreak-ins, five chain snatchings, 18 thefts, five accidents and 12 vehicle thefts take place in the city on an average every day. The data shows that south Mumbai, which has 25 police stations, reports maximum number of theft and murder cases and it has the maximum shortage of personnel. There are around 90 murder cases and 3,037 theft cases on record in these 25 police stations in the last two years and there is a shortage of 403 policemen. North west Mumbai has seen the highest number of molestation cases with 100 cases registered in the past two years whereas north central Mumbai has recorded 75 rape cases in the same period.
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NGO to teach Gurgaon schoolgirls the art of self-defence
GURGAON: What could be a better way to fight crime against women than empowering them in self-defence?
With the aim of achieving this very target, the NGO, Seeds India, launched a two-month training programme in martial arts for schoolgirls on Tuesday. The NGO is run by Gurgaons inspector general (vigilance), Sheel Madhur.
Though the programme is open for all girl students, it is especially designed for students from Class VII to XII. Madhur said, The NGO will provide trainers who would routinely visit various schools and train the girls the art of self-defense. Presently, a team of 10 instructors have been put on this job.
He added that this initiative is mainly aimed at changing the mindset about women in the society. Eve teasing, sexual harassment and other type of harassment have become quite common in todays world. Everyday one gets to read stories of rape and molestation in newspapers, which are really disturbing, added Madhur.
Recent incidents like the one in Moti Bagh has forced schools to be extra cautious.
The response for this initiative has been quite overwhelming Arpan Maurya, a class XII student at Sanskriti School, said, While coming to school, I have often been at the receiving end of rowdy behaviour and rude comments of men. This training will be beneficial as it will teach girls like me to handle any adverse situation.
Another class VI student of the same school. Jyoti, said, I want to master martial art like the instructors have done and I would like to acquire black belt in future.
According to trainers, mostly black belt holders, martial art training focuses on teaching techniques to overpower or disarm the enemy.
Besides making girls physically strong, it will boost their confidence, added they.
In the first phase, Madhur said, the NGO would cover government schools, as most students from these schools commute on their own.
The NGO also launched a website to help women file complaint against eve teasing, stalking and sexual harassment.
A victim is required to visit the website and launch the complaint by clicking on a particular link. The identity of victim is kept a secret.
The IG informed he is in talks with Gurgaon and Delhi police to provide assistance to complainants.
He added that there is also a plan to set up self-defense centres in Gurgaon and Delhi to impart lessons to working women as well.
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NGO flooded with calls from women, students
Concerned about their own safety after a 30-year-old BPO employee from Mizoram was abducted and raped on November 21, a Delhi-based NGO is getting frantic calls from women students and executives of northeast-Indian origin. "Despite not having made any effort to reach out to them, we have been
getting several calls from women students and executives of northeast Indian origin on a daily basis after the recent rape case. The callers are concerned with various forms of gender violence that they encounter on a daily basis," said Dr. Rajat Mitra, director, Swarnchetan, an NGO that counsels both victims and perpetrators of crime.
Dr Mitra said the callers, most of who fall in the age group of 22 to 25, are worried about their safety and sought guidance in dealing with everyday safety issues due to the absence of an adequate security infrastructure in the city.
"The city has a sizable population of people from northeast India. The number has grown over a decade but the city remains unsafe for them. Even after they have come to occupy positions in various walks of public life, the city still alienates them and views them as outsiders. The callers seek help in dealing with this alienation," Dr Mitra added.
Since the beginning of this year itself, the Capital has seen 15 cases of violence against women from northeast India while in the last eight years three sensational cases of abduction and subsequent rape of women of
northeast Indian origin have come to light.
"Whether it be at their workplaces or at academic institutions, persons hailing from northeast India, especially women, have a different level of threat perception vis-a-vis the threat perception level of a person born and brought up in Delhi. But consecutive police regimes have failed to check crime against them or in sensitising the city," Dr. Mitra said.
He said the answer lay in sensitising the city and especially the police from the grassroots level upwards.
"The answer is sensitising the public at large and not increasing police presence in the streets," Dr. Mitra added.
Those attending the calls said callers were asked about the exact nature of their predicament and that each caller was given guidance accordingly.
"We ask them to spend more time with their friends and embrace their individuality instead of allowing their environment to push them into paranoia," said a psychologist who has dealt with such calls.
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MGP objects to electricity tariff hike proposal
MYSORE: Even as power regulator KERC has completed public hearing on petitions filed by the power utilities for revision of tariff, a city-based NGO has questioned the CESC on the actual cost of power.
The Mysore Grahakara Parishat (MGP) in its petition in response to the KERC's invitation of objections has filed an objection, in which it has questioned the CESC's proposal. As per section 61(g) of the Electricity Act, 2003, which seeks that the tariff should reflect the actual cost of power, the CESC has filed the petition. Since all the power supply companies in Karnataka have filed for identical tariff increases, it is obvious that the tariff proposed by them in general, and CESC in particular, do not reflect the actual cost of power, the MGP told the KERC.
The actual cost of power supply for all these companies cannot be the same to the last decimal place, when one takes into account the different locations, different distances to power sources, different demographics and different costs of living. It is clear that the escoms have not determined the cost of power supply in any scientific manner, but are presenting fictitious numbers, it argued seeking rejection of the tariff hike petitions. The escoms have been always submitting identical tariffs and the commission is requested to direct them to cease this practice and determine the actual cost of power supplied, the MGP noted.
Pointing at Section 61(g) of the Act that notes that the electric tariff should progressively reduce and eliminate cross-subsidies, the MGP pointed out that the proposal of CESC goes contrary to these guidelines and tends to increase the cross-subsidy. The exclusion of Bhagya Jyothi and Kutira Jyothi schemes and irrigation pump sets of upto 10 HP from the tariff hike will increase the cross-subsidy from other users of electricity and thus violates the act. The CESC cannot exclude these schemes and irrigation pump sets from the tariff hike. If the government wants to subsidize these classes of users, it, the MGP stated, should reimburse the CESC the increased cost of the subsidy.
Amidst opposition from the consumers led by the industrialists for the tariff revision during public hearing last week, the MGP has argued that the process of tariff revision should not only suitably compensate the CESC for any unavoidable increase in the input costs, but it should also seek to eliminate wastage and increase efficiency to adequate levels. There is no need for a tariff hike now if the CESC undertakes a committed drive to improve its operational efficiencies, bring down the aggregate technical and commercial loss to international levels and improve revenue collection efficiency to 100 per cent. Increased deficit between its anticipated cost and revenue does not give the CESC an indisputable right to get tariff increased, without exhausting all available means to improve operational and commercial efficiency, the MGP contended.
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In Haryana, get a bride for 1,000
CHANDIGARH/GURGAON: Haryana, reeling under a skewed sex ratio, is faced with yet another startling fact. An NGO has found that girls are being bought and brought to Haryana from 20 states across the country. Haryanas sex ratio stands at 837 (female):1000 (male) in the 0-6 years age group the states lowest in the last five years and second only to Punjab.
In its report released in Pune on Sunday, the NGO, Drishti Stree Adhyayan Prabodhan Kendra, has found that most of the girls were brought from West Bengal, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Assam. Its findings also indicate that girls were bought within the state too.
The NGO surveyed 10,190 households in Haryana and found 318 women who were bought and married off to men in Haryana.
The NGO has shared the findings with the Haryana government.
Among these 318 women, 145 are from different parts of Haryana, followed by West Bengal (43), Bihar (27), Andhra Pradesh (17), Assam (15), Uttar Pradesh (14), Himachal Pradesh (11) and Rajasthan (10). Women have been brought from other states too, including even prosperous states like Gujarat.
The NGO has covered a population of 56,520 in 92 villages of five districts Sonipat, Karnal, Mahendragarh, Sirsa and Mewat.
The study was conducted to ascertain whether the brides came from other states and if a price was paid to get them to Haryana.
The NGO found that in number of cases, men had to buy their wives despite that the fact that dowry system is prevalent in Jatland.
The report says whenever respondents were asked about money being paid for brides, the women chose to be silent. Only 15 women out of 318 reported that money was paid to their families. The amount varied between Rs 10,000 and Rs 1.5 lakh.
This may not be a big amount but these girls come from poor families and this could be luring parents to give away their daughters, despite the girls going to faraway lands and having to adjust into alien culture, the report said.
In the study, only seven women reported that they received some amount in the process. However, only two have reported the actual amount received and it was as low as Rs 2,000 and Rs 5,000. The report mentions cases, where very small amounts were paid to the families.
The family of a 15-year-old girl from Bihar, who was married in Churni village of Karnal district, was paid just Rs 1,000. As per the study, just five women reported names of the agents in the area, through whom they got married. The NGO also found that in 38% of paid marriages, there was no traditional ceremony. The marriages were registered in 1% of the cases.
Experts blame it on the skewed sex ratio. Figures of first nine months in 2010 have shown a sharp decline in Jhajjar, Gurgaon and Faridabad districts.
The sex ratio in Jhajjar was recorded 825:1000 while it was 859:1000 in Gurgaon.
But as per the figures upto September 2010, the sex ratio was 792 in Jhajjar and 840 in Gurgaon.
There were 903 girls for 1000 boys in the 0-6 year age group in Faridabad in 2009, but latest figures suggest that it was just 877 till September this year.
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NGO demands gov't form program to fight sexual violence
The Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel (ARCCI) called on the government Tuesday to create a national program for tackling the increasing levels of sexual violence in Israeli society, especially cases of incest and sexual molestation within the family.
Presenting to the Knesset its semiannual report, which showed a sharp increase in sexually violent crimes and rape, ARCCI executive director Michal Rozin declared that “it is time for everyone to join forces and build a national program, which will include all government ministries, to eradicate sexual violence in Israel completely.”
Rozin added that not only had sexual violence in the country increased, but “the scope and variety of the abuse and attacks has intensified, too.”
During the meeting, which included the Knesset committees for Labor, Welfare and Health; the Status of Women; and the Rights of the Child, legislators said they would call on Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin to establish a parliamentary inquiry to look into the growing cases of domestic violence and child molestation.
Welfare and Social Services Minister Isaac Herzog said at the hearing that despite improvements in recent years in treating children and youth at risk, he would find a way to increase the budget for centers providing assistance and treatment to victims of rape and sexual assault.
According to the report, which reflects data collected by ARCCI’s rape crisis hot line and information reported by its affiliated centers around the country, during the first half of this year there was a rise of 13 percent in the number of new calls for help, going from 3,773 in 2009 to 4,245 so far this year.
Among the calls received by the hot line, 1,359 callers reported being victims of rape or attempted rape, a 13% increase from the previous year; 166 said they’d been subjected to a gang rape or a group sexual assault, a rise of 23% over the previous year; and there were 10 reports of statutory rape.
In addition, 254 people reported either ongoing sexual harassment at work or a one-time experience of sexual harassment, a 14.5% increase from 2009, while 275 said they had been victims of sexual assault.
Out of those who called the hot line, the group reported that 66.5% had been under the age of 18, and 40% of those reporting incest or sexual abuses in the family had been under 18.
Overall, sexual abuse within the family increased by 11% in the first half of 2010, with most of the reports involving incest perpetrated by fathers, brothers, uncles and other relatives. Mothers and sisters were also found to have committed these crimes, the report noted.
“Last year the media reported numerous cases of gang rape, incest, sexual abuse of minors by family members and sexual assault by teens against their own peers,” Rozin pointed out.
“These cases and many more unreported cases only serve to back up our data that there has been an alarming increase in the number of people reporting such crimes.”
Three years ago, the government, then under the leadership of Ehud Olmert, committed to investing some NIS 30 million to build a special program for victims of rape and other sexual attacks. However, ARCCI has pointed out that little has progressed since then, and today there are simply not enough services and treatment centers available to cope with this increase in cases.
At Tuesday’s meeting, Herzog said his ministry’s budget for treating victims of rape and sexual abuse was more than NIS 4.5m. a year for 10 centers and that he was committed to increasing that amount in the future.
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Retired teacher driven to street by kin
KOLKATA: You might have seen her at Deshapriya Park. A frail, elderly woman, sitting near the gates. Not begging, but not refusing money either. If you stopped to talk to her, you would be surprised. She speaks crisp, faultless English. She has a masters degree from Calcutta University and decades of teaching experience, she would tell you.
What she won't say is how she was driven out of her home by her near and dear ones people she still loves so dearly that she does not want to speak ill of them. For a year, 64-year-old Aparajita Ghosh slept on the pavement enduring rain, heat and humiliation and survived on khichri distributed by the Ramakrishna Mission Seva Pratisthan in the morning. Sometimes, if she had a few coins, she would buy a slice or two of bread for dinner. But on most days, it was a meal a day. On some days, none.
When TOI caught up with Aparajita on Tuesday, her first concern was: "I hope it won't look bad for my relatives." Was it true, as some locals say, that her adopted son took away all her money and threw her out? She shook her head, "No, no, I have no family. I have no one."
With a masters in political science, she could have lived a life of comfort and dignity but her relatives would not let that happen. Despite having no shelter or assurance of food, Aparajita never begged. "I could not turn a beggar. It was below my dignity. Every day, some people would drop coins as I sat outside the gates of the park. Some days I got none. But I remember one day I got `30. I treated myself to rice," she said. "I also skipped meals on some days." The proud teacher refuses to say she went hungry.
In the early 1970s, life was full of promise for her. Even in her worst nightmare, she had never dreamed of a life on the streets.
"I studied at St John's Diocesan Girls' High School, graduated from Basanti Devi College and got my masters from CU. I taught in a school near my rented house in Shyambazar and taught students at home, too. I lived with my parents. After my father passed away, my mother and I depended on each other for emotional support. Till 2003, I taught and earned a comfortable living. Then I lost my mother to spine cancer. This came as a shock and I became mentally unstable. I could no longer teach and my house owner immediately threw me out," said Aparajita, tears welling up for the first time.
For a few days she loitered around the locality. No one took her in. Fate wasn't finished with her. She met with an accident and was severely injured in the left femur. "Some locals who knew me took me to RG Kar Hospital and left me there. I was operated upon (no one paid for the surgery) but I still feel a lot of pain when I walk. After I was discharged, I was desperate for shelter and wrote letters to all my relatives but without any reply," she said.
As a last resort, she decided to visit an aunt on Jatin Das Road, with whom she had stayed while doing her graduation. "I was out of luck there, too. She had died years ago. I know she would have helped me," Aparajita said. "None of the people I knew people I had helped offered me a place to stay. I was heartbroken. Experiences like these test your faith in humanity. I returned disheartened to my dwelling on a pavement in front of Deshapriya Park."
One of her former students learnt about her plight and took her in. "One day, they too decided to leave their house and go elsewhere. I hobbled back to the pavement. Then, an NGO took me to a shelter in Chetla. I was petrified. It was a home for the mentally deranged. I ran for my life. I returned to the pavement and vowed never trust another NGO. After some time, my neighbours on the pavement became friendly. A few locals helped me with some food," she said, with a frail smile.
On November 25, two students from the National Institute of Fashion Technology, Saranya and Kaushik, were walking home when they bent down to offer a few coins to Aparajita. The elderly woman said "thank you" in a crisp accent. Intrigued, the two sat down and started chatting with her. Within minutes, they realised that Aparajita was different from the rest. After hearing her tale and seeing how ill she looked, they approached Prantakatha, an NGO.
The organisation's spokesperson Bappaditya Mukherjee contacted Bharati Mutsuddi, member of the state women's commission and MLA from Haringhata.
"I rushed to Deshapriya Park that very night and talked to Aparajita Ghosh. I found that she was traumatised and unwilling to go anywhere due to her bitter experience. When I told her my name she immediately recognised me. I promised her that we will ensure a comfortable and secure stay. She wanted two days to take a call' but the very next day she contacted Bappaditya and said yes. I met her again on Monday and it was settled that she would move in with us," said Mutsuddi.
The commission has written to the director of social welfare to allow her to stay in a government home. "We hope to find her accommodation in a few days," Mutsuddi said.
Aparajita can see a ray of hope now. "I want to start teaching once again and earn my living. My memory is good. I remember everything I learnt and taught."
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USBO, First NGO To Announce Plans To Join BN As Affiliate Member
KOTA KINABALU, Nov 30 (Bernama) -- The United Sabah Bajau Organisation (USBO) has become the first non-governmental organisation (NGO) in the country to announce its plans to join Barisan Nasional (BN) as an affiliate member.
In welcoming the decision of the BN Supreme Council to open its doors for direct membership from individuals and associations, USBO president Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak said USBO had always been supportive of or pro-BN all this while.
"This is a golden opportunity for us in USBO. We feel that as an NGO, it is time to formalise our continued support for the coalition by joining it as an affiliate member.
"We want to help strengthen the coalition in whatever way we can and attract more people, particularly youths, to join the ruling Barisan Nasional," he told Bernama, here, Tuesday.
Salleh said USBO also expressed its full support for the leadership of Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who mooted BN's open-door policy and the 1Malaysia concept.
Najib was quoted as saying recently that BN would open itself to direct membership from individuals and organisations.
The prime minister, who is also BN chairman, said individuals could join the coalition as associate members while associations including NGOs would be accepted as affiliates, and the rights and role of such members would be debated and decided at the BN Convention this weekend.
Salleh, a former Sabah chief minister, said the decision to allow direct membership, which provided a platform for those not interested in being members of any of the coalition's 13 component parties but subscribed to the BN spirit and concept, was timely and appropriate, and should be supported by all.
However, he said USBO would scrutinise the terms and conditions of the proposed direct membership before making a final decision.
"If we are eligible, we will not hesitate to submit a formal application to join the coalition as soon as possible," he said.
USBO's membership is open to Bajau, Bajo, Badjau, Jama Mapun or Kagayan, Balangingi, Binadan, Kubang, Sama, Sama Delaut, Simunul, Sibutu, Sikubung, Yakan, Sibaud, Ubian, Suluk and Iranun individuals.
USBO, whose objective is to safeguard the customs, culture and future of this community in the state, was formerly known as Persatuan Sabah Bajau Bersatu (PSBB) formed on June 15, 1964 and changed its name to USBO on Aug 31, 2006.
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Saving tigers with paint and brush
NAGPUR: You would be a little bit fuzzy about how paintings can help save tigers? But Lili Menon, an artist from Mumbai, has shown where there is a will, there is a way. "I'm passionate about forests and wildlife. The act was spontaneous and came from my heart. As I'm unable to go in the field and do something for the tigers, I thought why not make a small effort by using my brush to help the wild cats that are passing through worst-ever crisis, by selling my paintings," Lili told TOI.
Lili's exhibition 'Rewind' at the Artists Centre, Kalaghoda, Mumbai, concluded on November 28. Entire proceeds of Rs5 lakh would go to Amravati-based Satpuda Foundation, a leading NGO working for tiger conservation in Central India. Lili said Satpuda Foundation was recommended to her by a friend Meenakshi Madhvani, who was aware of the NGO's work.
This was Lili's maiden project to save tigers. Of the 18 paintings she exhibited, 15 were sold instantly. Those buying her paintings are proud today that their money went for a cause. The paintings, mainly on different moods in nature, were acrylics on canvas and priced between.Rs49,000 and Rs22,500.
The paintings attracted attention of Mumbaikars on day one itself. Brotherhood, Oneness, Faith, Happiness, Wonder, Fate, Childhood, Camaradie, Freedom, Fearless, Nostalgia, Belief, Time, The Good Times, Connections, Souls, Innocence and Beauty were some of the paintings put out for sale. This was third solo painting exhibition of Lili, an expert in graphic design. Her first was organised in 2007 and then in 2009.
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Technical Assistance For Assessment of NGO Capacity Building Outcomes
Job Type Full-time
Job Status Sourcing
Date Posted Wednesday, 01 December 2010
Company Information The Ministry of Health (MOH)
(Room 207), #151-153, Kampuchea Krom Avenue, Phnom Penh
Job Description
MINISTRY OF HEALTH
SECOND HEALTH SECTOR SUPPORT PROGRAM (HSSP2)
TECHNICAL ASSISTANT FOR ASSESSMENT OF NGO
CAPACITY BUILDING OUTCOMES
(International Consultant)
The Royal Government of Cambodia has received a credit from the International Development Association (IDA) in the amount of US$30 million, together with grants of GPB35 million from the U.K. Department for International Development (DFID), AU$37 million from the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAid), and additional funding from Agence Francaise de Developpment (AFD), U.N. Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA). This funding, along with counterpart funds from the Royal Government of Cambodia, will finance the Second Health Sector Support Program (HSSP2) from 2009-13 which will be implemented under the overall responsibility of the Ministry of Health (MOH) of the Royal Government of Cambodia.
In March 2010 there were 30 SOAs (22 ODs and 8 PRHs) in 9 provinces serving a total population of just over 4 million people. The Ministry of Health (MOH) plans to increase the number to 50 SOAs by 2015. From mid-2009, the initial 11 SOAs were provided with capacity building support from six contracted NGOs. The objective of this support was to build the institutional capacity of the SOAs to manage and implement internal contracting arrangements with a view to improved management effectiveness and improved quality of health care delivery. The NGOs were contracted for a period of one year.
The Ministry of Health now wishes to appoint a Technical Assistance For Assessment of NGO Capacity Building Outcomes for 35 working days financed by HSSP2 discrete funds, specifically the grant from the Agence Francaise de Developpment (AFD) to the MOH received under Financing Agreement (CKH 6001-01 H).
OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this assignment are to determine:
* Whether NGOs contracted to provide capacity building support to SOAs from mid-2009 achieved the outcomes specified in their contracts and improved management effectiveness and quality of health service delivery
* Whether the capacity building support provided by those NGOs to the SOAs represented value for money
* Whether the performance of SOAs with NGO capacity building support was superior to that of other comparable units in terms of service coverage and quality
* The critical factors that determined whether capacity building NGOs supporting SOAs either achieved or failed to achieve their contractual objectives
* The effectiveness of support for capacity building and monitoring of SOAs by central MOH and PHDs, and effectiveness
* of coordination with other capacity building initiatives such as the Financial Management Improvement Plan.
DELIVERABLES: The consultant will be expected to deliver the following:
* Within 7 working days of commencement, an inception report detailing the methodology to be used including visit schedules and tools to gather data from both informants and documents. The report should not exceed 10 pages, exclusive of annexes.
* At or around the mid-point of the assignment, provide a verbal briefing to the task manager on progress and issues, including any likely changes to the methodology or schedule.
* In the last 3 days of the assignment in country, provide a brief summary report with key findings and issues, and likely recommendations. The report should not exceed 10 pages, exclusive of annexes.
* Within 10 working days of completing the assignment in country, provide a draft report detailing findings, issues and recommendations, structured according to the objectives in this terms of reference. The report should not exceed 25 pages, exclusive of annexes.
* Within 7 working days of receiving consolidated comments from the task manager, submit a final report taking those comments into account. The final report should not exceed 25 pages, exclusive of annexes.
Terms of Reference are available via email request to admast.hssp@online.com.kh
Interested candidates shall submit CV including a cover letter, by or before 14 December 2010 to
Dr. Char Meng Chuor, HSSP2 Secretariat, Ministry of Health (Room 207), #151-153, Kampuchea Krom Avenue,
Phnom Penh, or Fax: (855-23) 880 262
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