Background

Bandhan-Konnagar was set up in the year 2001 to meet the essential goals of poverty alleviation and women empowerment. There is an entire suite of development programs which are aimed at bringing about holistic transformation in the underprivileged community. The organization works closely with people who live in the lowest echelons of the social system for their socio-economic progress. It constantly tries to broad base its scope of services and minimize areas of income leakage in the underprivileged families. Bandhan-Konnagar is actively engaged in the field of education, health, livelihood promotion, enterprise development, employment generation, renewable energy and the like.

THP Program

Bandhan-Konnagar serves extreme poor populations in India who have not had access to traditional microfinance initiatives or are unready and reluctant to preview microfinance services. The “Targeting the Hardcore Poor” program (THP) is a high-impact poverty alleviation program focused on reaching marginalized women who are considered “extreme” or “hardcore” poor. This year marks the 10^th anniversary of the program and its success.

The 24-month poverty alleviation program aims to build confidence in women through a “360” approach that addresses everything from health and lifestyle changes to financial management. The program provides women with an asset they can use to generate income, such as a sewing machine or livestock animal, trains women on business literacy and microfinance, and provides mentorship and support to increase women’s confidence.

Beneficiaries are identified through a Participatory Rural Appraisal exercise which includes rapport building, social mapping, wealth ranking and questionnaires where verification and final selection takes place.

The three main objectives of the program are:

• To improve the economic and social lives of hardcore poor families.
• To help the hardcore poor families graduate to mainstream finances, economic self-reliance, improved self-confidence and psychological well-being after 24 months of intervention.
• To form effective village committees that will act as guardians of the hardcore poor families after completion of the program

To date, Bandhan-Konnagar has reached more than 50,000 beneficiaries, in 9 states and over 35 districts and evaluation reports cite the THP program as highly effective and transformative. No other livelihood model exists quite like it, offering marginalized, extremely poor women an opportunity for expansion and economic growth leadership. Through partnerships, Bandhan-Konnagar believes they can reach their near term goal of 15-30K beneficiaries, and longer term, goal of 100K beneficiaries.

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Wednesday 8^th and Thursday 9^th March

As part of its special programming for International Women’s Day on the 8th of March, France 24’s culture team heads to India to explore the world’s largest democracy and see how women, and women’s rights, are making their mark on the country’s vibrant arts scene. Olivia Salazar-Winspear presents two special editions of the daily culture show Encore!

Female artists making their voices heard in a society where men outweigh women both demographically and politically. India can lay claim to plenty of high profile female artists and activists.

Wednesday 8^th March

Paromhita Vohra and Ram Devineni present the comic-book project that is looking to change mentalities when it comes to women’s place in society. “Priya’s Shakti” and “Priya’s Mirror” take real-life stories as their inspiration.

The culture teams also catches up with filmmaker Leena Yadav, whose film “Parched” explores gender politics in the patriarchal setting of an isolated village, and discuss the challenges of pushing a feminist message in mainstream cinema.

Thursday 9^th March

For the second part of this special edition, Encore! goes to Mumbai to meet with stand-up comedian Radhika Vaz. She highlights the cultural shift that’s redressing the gender balance slowly but surely in India, and how being “Unladylike” is a form of political resistance.

Encore! also meets with the “Why Loiter” group, who stage cultural interventions in public spaces which can feel hostile for women. One of “Why Loiter’s” members, Priyanka, demonstrates how a simple “Antakshari” -or singing game- in the Mumbai metro brings men and women together in a friendly sing-off.

About France 24, a channel’s holding company France Media Monde
France 24, the international news channel, broadcasts 24/7 to 315 million homes around the world in French, Arabic and English. The three channels have a combined weekly viewership of 50.9 million viewers (measured in 64 of the 180 countries where the channel is broadcast). From its newsroom in Paris, France 24 gives a French perspective on global affairs through a network of 142 correspondent bureaus located in nearly every country. It is available via cable, satellite, DTT, ADSL, on mobile phones, tablets and connected TVs, as well as on YouTube in three languages. Every month, France 24’s digital platforms attract 16.3 million visits, 36.5 million video views (2015 average) and 21.5 million followers on Facebook and Twitter (December 2015).

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New Delhi  1 May 2016 : As part of its Delhi pilot project, women2women initiative organised an awareness and empowerment program to educate and train about 100 women physicians and dietitians on prevention and management of Diabetes at India Habitat Center.

The highlight of the project is to control the rising epidemic of diabetes in India through this community-based approach where women physicians will be trained by coalition of women endocrinologists and diabetologist and will be provided with the necessary tools to implement the programme in their respective areas and communities.

Women2women project is headed by its central coordinator Dr Usha Sriram from Chennai and its Delhi coordinators are Dr Meena Chabbra and Dr Shalini Jaggi.

Eminent Diabetologist and member of women2women initiative Dr Meena Chabbra says, “Our focus is primarily women because they are prone to have diabetes at various stages of their life, especially during pregnancy as gestational diabetic mothers give birth to babies who because of intra uterine environment are prone to develop Type 2 diabetes. Also, healthcare of women in India has usually been neglected. So, we aim to inform them well and educate them about the complications that can arise due to diabetes. And most importantly, if woman in the house is healthy and informed, she can take care of her family more efficiently.”

According to a survey, on an average one in Ten pregnant women in Delhi were found to have GDM and the studies reveal that women with GDM are at a higher risk of developing diabetes later in life. Also, medical researchers believe that the disease earlier considered an ailment of the rich, is on the rise in India. Nearly 70 million people – half of them women in a population of 1.21 billion have diabetes, and the number is predicted to rise to 101 million by 2030. Surprisingly nearly 60% of diabetics have never been screened or diagnosed due to lack of awareness. Therefore, alarmed by these figures, the first phase of the programme is designed to reach 2,500 women physicians across the country and 50 lakh women in the community. “We would train these 100 physicians through practical demonstrations, audio-video aids, educational material and awareness talks by eminent doctors,” informs Dr Chabbra.

These trained women would further roll this plan out to senior school girls, colleges, residential welfare associations and corporate, etc. “This preventive and empowerment program is a necessity because it’s important to educate women at early age so that they don’t face any problems related to obesity, PCOS, gestational diabetes and type 2 diabetes, etc. We aim to educate them about benefits of adopting healthy food and healthy lifestyle and also, how junk foods and sedentary lifestyle can make them a diabetic in future,” adds Dr Chabbra.

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• Anil Dhingra, District Magistrate Hapur, felicitated outstanding women for their spirit of entrepreneurship 
• HCCB has empowered over 480 rural women through 40 Self Help Groups in the communities,

Dasna, Uttar Pradesh, March 17, 2016: Committed to inclusive growth, Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverage Pvt. Ltd., has been working in the area of women empowerment by way of skilling through its initiative “Sarthak” and Women Self-Help Groups. To recognize the entrepreneurial spirit of women benefitted through these initiatives, Hindustan Coca-Cola felicitated women achievers of Dasna area.

Shri Anil Dhingra, District Magistrate, Hapur felicitated these women achievers and gave away awards for their spirit of entrepreneurship. Also, present at the event were Daadi-Chandro Tomar and Daadi Prakasho Tomar, winners of several medals in National Veterans’ Championships including Shooting. These two incredible women shared their inspiring stories.

“Sarthak’ is a woman empowerment initiative by HCCB that provides skill training in artificial jewelry making, tailoring and embroidery, handicrafts, entrepreneurship orientation, basic literacy, financial literacy and self-help group formation in the area.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Guest – Shri Avnish Rai, SDM, Hapur praised the initiative of Hindustan Coca-Cola and congratulated these women for their entrepreneurial spirit. He added that for any society to progress, it is a must to empower women and enabling women to realize and unleash their potential.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Mohnish Verma from Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverage Pvt. Ltd. said, “During the initial years of our work in the area, we observed that the village women were reluctant to come out and participate in community meetings.  HCCB along with its NGO partners, connected with these women through structured yet informal meetings which have been incredibly effective at bringing about changes in their communities. The response to Sarthak has been very encouraging and satisfying”.

“Sarthak” initiative is being implemented in partnership with Gram Niyojan Kendra and SADRAG. Women from villages, namely – Khichra, Dehra, Hassanpur, Piplehra, Nangla, Galand, Nandpur, Poothi, Kakrana and  Dasna have benefitted from this initiative. Since its inception, HCCB has empowered over 480 rural women through the creation of 40 Self Help Groups in the communities. Sarthak and Women SHGs has helped women to enhance their skills and contribute to family income.

About Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Pvt. Ltd.

Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Pvt. Ltd, is the largest bottling partner of The Coca-Cola Company in India. It is part of The Coca-Cola Company’s Bottling Investment Group (BIG) and responsible for the manufacture, package, sale and distribution of beverages under the trademarks of The Coca-Cola Company. The Company has always placed high value on good citizenship. For further information on the Company’s India operations and its products, please visit www.hindustancoca-cola.com  

Case Study I:

Sharing her experience of change, Manju, a beneficiary of this program elatedly states that she was identified as a potential woman leader when SADRAG project team was working in their village. She learnt all the skills which were imparted to women under programme Sarthak, including artificial jewelry making, handicrafts and designing. Later, with 18 other women, she started a SHG group “Gayatri” and the group was provided training in Marketing, Money Management, Record Keeping & Entrepreneurship Skills. Today, Manju runs a shop from her own house and sells items of daily use to people in the neighborhood. She also displays the products made by Gayatri group members and promotes its sale and manages to earn more than Rs.1500 every month. Manju saves the income from her shop and is keen to expand her shop into a proper kirana store in near future.

Case Study II

Seema Shekhawat, another proud beneficiary from village Galand, states that it was her good fortune to become part of a training program in their community on Entrepreneurship for Women organized by HCCB and SADRAG. She is a Self-motivated entrepreneur who is showing the path to other ladies in the village to become socially and economically empowered.  Her interest in cooking led her to think of starting a paid Tiffin service for working people and students studying in the nearby colleges. A small survey was conducted by SADRAG and it was identified as a viable option in that area.

Seema, planned a Tiffin service with three more members of her “Ma Jagdamba Group” in August 2015 and launched Maa Vaishno Tiffin Service. SADRAG with HCCB’s support printed pamphlets and got them distributed across all villages in Dasna and provided them orientation on personal hygiene and cleanliness at the place of food preparation.

Soon, Maa Vaishno Tiffin Service bagged 4 orders for the supply of lunch. Today, Seema is a proud entrepreneur and recognizes HCCB and SADARG’s role in her success.

Case Study III:

38 year old homemaker Ameer Jahan from Dehra village was struggling hard to make both ends meet. Coming from a conservative family, barely literate, raising four children with a limited income was a challenge for her. She was sending all her children to school for a brighter future. Her husband worked at a nearby carpenter shop and the only source of income for the family. Few years back her husband fell severely ill and lost his job. With limited income and no education, she sought temporary relief from her parents but soon she realized that it was no solution to the problem. During one of those days, she learnt from the village women about the tailoring center and beauty course conducted as part of CSR initiative of HCCBPL for rural women to help them start their own enterprise.

She joined tailoring and beauty culture course and completed the certification course and alongside she also formed self-help group along with other women of the village. She herself became the treasurer of the group. Post completion of her beauty culture and tailoring course, she started her own work of stitching and beauty culture by seeking loan from the group. Her monthly income is estimated to be around Rs. 5000. With this she began a new chapter of in her life supporting children education and running the household. Her grit and determination helped her overcome all the challenges and lead a dignified life.

Case Study IV:

40 year old Muneesh realized her dream to become literate in Non Formal Education center in Dehra village as a part of CSR initiative of HCCBPL. Married at a very early age she was forced to give up her education after primary schooling. While she was engaged in raising her four kids and all the household chores some where her innate desire to pursue further education was still alive.

One day she came to know of a Non Formal Education Centre operational in Dehra village of Dasna. She spoke to her husband about her plans to pursue further education. Initially reluctant to support her idea he was counselled and he consented to her joining the NFE centre.

Muneesh diligently pursued her classes and also appeared for higher secondary exams and cleared the exams. Post that she joined the Anganwadi as Anganwadi worker. She also completed certificate course in tailoring and began her own work. Today she earns around Rs. 5000 through tailoring and as Anganwadi worker. With her head held high, she confidently encourages fellow village women to send their children to school.

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As we ramble towards the end of what many claim, will go down in history as a watershed election for India, it is time to take an objective, even holistic view of things. Are we really casting a mandate for Change? Will India be better off the day after the results come in? Or are we in for trouble, whose very proportions are beyond our comprehension?

Let us start with Corruption, which has been successfully projected as litmus, if nothing else. And start by admitting that We the People are a corrupt lot, in Absolute Terms. We sermonize about morality while our representatives watch sleaze videos in the temple of governance. We shed crocodile’s tears about the death of our Mother Tongues all the while paying donations to admit our children to elite English Medium Schools and are at our xenophobic best when we run out of political rhetoric. Le-De Ke Salta Lo is our religion and we believe that democracy has given everyone the right to bend rules, while the right, to break them comes with money and power. That is why; even while we rant on about empowering women we see nothing wrong in leaving our legally wed wives in the Blank, even in legal documents and can still maintain a holier than thou image in public. In being double faced, we have put Janus to shame as we have conveniently shifted the stigma and shame to the Bribe Takers while we ourselves have sought refuge in the faceless and ubiquitous crowd of Bribe Givers. Can one man, whoever he is, transform us into honest, law abiding citizens, that too almost overnight? Can any Messiah do it? Can God Almighty do it, even with the necessary numbers in Parliament? Cross your heart and ask yourself. The answer is not as difficult as it is made out to be. Misplaced Optimism, should be the first Mocking Bird to be gagged, and maimed, if not killed.

Now consider the political scenario. In all probability, we are headed for another fragmented mandate with no political force getting an absolute majority. The Result will be on predictable lines – Horse Trading, hard bargains for the lucrative ATM Ministries and a prolonged aftermath of scams and shady deals. Will such a scenario eradicate corruption from public places? Will our Messiah, even if I do not question his intentions, be able to shift the bribe-enriched, rotting bodies that he will be forced to decorate his Hot Seat with? Mark my Words: the same Chest Thumping and senseless schoolboy oratory that is bringing in the cheers in electoral rallies of illiterates today, will be likened to a primate’s antics for a bananas in a circus or the zoo. More so, on the other side of Governance. Who knows, in five year’s time, the same vocal loyalists who are singing slogans today will be not be saying that “at least Manmohan Singh, who we lambasted for the Policy Paralysis and for running a Lame Duck Government, had the dignity of bearing it all with a grin and had not ridden to power on a Landslide of Lies”?

Forget about the Regional Satraps and consider the industrialists – the men bearing gifts. If media reports are to be believed, a whooping INR 5,000 crores have been spent to help a man wash the stench of the blood of innocents from his hands and build him up as a larger than Life Answer to all Queries. Now that is a lot of money and more importantly, where did the money come from? Even your friendly neighborhood tea-boy will not believe, if you tell him that the money was raised by way of donations from people like you and me. Now, this debt will have to be made good to those who have invested in the IPO for the Racehorse for Racecourse. Surely, the horse will not only have to run the fastest, but after it makes the finishing line, reward those who had backed it against all the Odd’s? And you believe, that will be done in the highest spirit of transparency keeping in view the pre-election noises that were made? Investors will demand their pound of flesh, friends, and don’t be surprised if you see the Nation’s resources and her crown jewels compromised. Remember, how we were once forced to pledge our Gold? This time around, it can be worse!

That brings us to another strange phenomenon that is playing itself out. India is unanimous that the economy is going through one of its worst phases. Inflation, stagnating industrial activity, stalled investments and myriad other factors have ensured that there is a heavy burden on the common man. Yet, the Barometer of the Economy, the Stock Markets are celebrating a victory that may well never happen with unceasing fireworks? Does it make economic sense? It doesn’t. But ask the brokers and they will tell you that the FII’s are pumping in money buoyed (and emboldened) by the response Serial-Sisters are getting in so-called “family-fiefdoms”. Fellow Indians, think. If the logic was so irrefutable, why are so many construction projects desperately looking for Sushma? Surely, the average Indian would have put his money where his Vote is, much before some analyst sitting outside the country would have sunk his investor’s funds? Do I need to add that flows of hot monies like these too, come at a cost and you and I will have to bear it, with our resources.

Take a look at the campaign now. When it started, the terms that were thrown about with ceaseless abandon were Good Governance, Incorruptibility, Nationalism, Economic Development, Inclusive Growth among others. It was like a stream in the higher reaches of the mountains – the waters crystal clear in thought and content, empowered by a desire to deliver. Then, as the same river reached the plains, not only did it lose its steam, but gathered all the pollutants that made the once clear water, muddy and soggy with impurities. Today as it ambles towards the sea it is but a meandering mass – resembling the proverbial Ganges that itself is terminally sick, having washed the sins of all those that took the dip. Have you noticed how the topics that are being debated today are so far removed from the lofty ideological discourse it stared as – Caste Cards, Bangladeshi Refugees, Dynastic Rule, Hate Speeches, Religious Fanaticism, Vote Banks… As the desperation sinks in, the masks that were created so painstakingly are falling off and the fangs are being bared. Messiahs, after all, are humans too, if not the outright Monster some are wont to call them.

What then, cried Plato’s Ghost, What then? The apes that are aping the leader of the pack will not have a change of heart in a hurry. The wounds that have been opened, the raw nerves that have been pressed will also not heal overnight. The balms of secularism, inclusion and fraternity that our founding fathers had given us in legacy have been thrown away by those who have claimed victory even before the war was fought. The schisms of division that successive generations worked to fill with love have been torn open with hatred and naked opportunism. Deranged Minds, fuelled by their self embraced delusions of grandeur are talking of cleaning corruption all the while refusing to acknowledge their corrupt minds and ways. And everybody – that includes you and me – is waiting for the gong to sound so that we can all join forces to resume our sustained, systematic and sustainable plunder and pillage.

India is not going anywhere in a hurry. Cast your Vote and go back to slog your ass off idiots. The Bills, they are a-waitin’!

You can follow Chawm Ganguly in Twitter: https://twitter.com/CharmChawm

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