SANSTHAGAT BIKAS SANJAL

Food Support to Covid affected families:

Community Peace for Sustainable Development Project provided relief food support for 752 households of Janaki Rural Municipality and Lamki-Chuha Municipality of Kailali District. This food support was distributed by the respective Rural Municipalities and monitored by Welfare Association of Children in Tikapur ( WACT). In Banke district, food support was given to 33 Covid- 19 patients and 11 health service providers in Sushil Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital( Covid designated)

Medical item Support: Medical Support was to provided Khajura RM of Banke Districts. 29 packets of Hand sanitizer, N-95 Mask 200 pc, 50 PPE set and 1box of gloves. Similarly, in Janaki RM of Banke 9 sanitizer 100 pc N-95 Mask and 24 PPE set were supported.

Figure 1 Medical materials provided to Khajura RM-Banke

1. Radio program: Awareness message in Awadhi and Nepali languages broadcasted in 2 FM radio of Banke Districts. Along with that discussion with community leaders and health professionals to address the issues of stigma and racial discrimination-once in a week- 2 episode were broadcasted in the same FM radio at Banke.

2. Community awareness program: In Banke District orientation on social distancing and hand wash process was organized by project staff. Also Provided Mask and sanitizer to youth and women who involved in the awareness activity. The gathering of 8-10 people from muslim, pahadhi and tharu community and shared information about covid- 19, demonstrated hand washing process and social distancing Distributed masks and soap to them.

Promoting Reproductive Health of Adolescent and Youth through action in Society (PRAYAS) project supported 1400 household with 2 soaps in working area for personal protections. 3 health post of working ward was supported 2 packets of sanitizer in each health post. 3 Police stations was also supported with 2 packets of sanitizer in each station. 10 peer educator and 32 Female Community Health Volunteer were mobilized for Corona prevention in their own respective wards of Achham districts. Similarly, in Okhaldhunga Rs. 25000 was given for a relief support to marginalized and disabled people of constituent ward in coordination wiht Siddhicharan Municipality. Also, 800 pcs soap were supported to United Mission hospital focusing on patients. Hoarding board with Corona preventive measures and mode of transmission was installed in the community. 10 peer educator and 23 Female Community Health Volunteer were mobilized for Corona prevention in their own respective wards.

Through Youth and Adolescents Engagement for Sustainable Development (YAESD) project:

• In Dhading, 5 surgical bed set, 4 PPE set, 73 pc N-95 Mask were supported to Thakre RM.

• In Letang Morang, 325 pc of N-95 mask, 20 packets medical mask and gloves were given to Health professionals and security officers

• In Okhaldhunga, 15 set of PPE, 135 N95 mask and 11 infrared thermometer were supported to Khijidemba RM.

Figure 3 Surgical bed support at Thakre, Dhading

Figure 4 Supporting Mask, gloves to Police

Figure 5 Supporting Mask, gloves at Police station

Source: Annual Report of Sanjal 2019/2020

Nepalgunj, ward number 4 Khajura Khurd of Janaki rural municipality of Banke has been declared as child marriage free ward. The chief guest of program, coordinator of the District Coordination Committee, Banke, Ajay Srivastav said that in order to raise the standard of education, children are allowed to study for 20 years, and only after that they should get married. Similarly, chairman of Janaki rural municipality Ram Niwas Yadav said that the entire rural municipality would be declared child marriage free.

The chairman Yadav express his commitment to work by allocating budget for Child Marriage issue. According to Mishra Lal Yadav, facilitator of Triveni Bikas Samaj, the ward has been declared child marriage free per the "Child Marriage Free Campaign Guideline 2077 BS".

The program was organized by the support of Plan international, SAC Nepal and Women and girls empowerment project, in partnership with Triveni Bikas Samaj and Sansthagat Bikas Sanjal, Lalitpur. The program was held under the chairmanship of Bishram Kumar Burma, chairperson of Janaki rural municipality, ward number 4. The program was attended by Kalpana Gaha Magar, Head of Women and Children Office Chief, Ashok Yadav Social Mobilizers of Triveni Bikas Samaj, Children's Club, Adolescent Club, Peer Educator Groups, social workers, including representatives of political parties and local leaders and intellectuals were present in the program.

Source: Published on Dastabej Local Online Media on 14^th April 2021(www.dastabej.com)

Hilly Rural Development Organization Nepal (HRDON) organized the interaction program for Child Marriage prevention on 8^th March 2021, in Letang, Morang. Mayor of Letang Municipality Mr.Shankar Rai inaugurated the program expressing his commitment for child marriage prevention with the stakeholders. Inaugurating the program, Mayor Rai said that "Municipality would reward those who provide confidential information on child marriage to the municipality"

He said that child marriage is only adding problems in the community. Both mother and child will be in high risk. He continued "marrying at an early age cause conflict in the family, high chances of divorce cases and increased economic deprivation leading to drug addiction at an early age. Deputy Chief Mr. Krishna Niraula said that there is supported needed from all sides for the successful campaign to make Nepal a child marriage free country by 2031. Mr. Niraula also mention we need to be ready to address the consequence caused after the separation of married couple is done. The program was held on chairmanship of Mr. Tek Bahadur Limbu Chairman of HRDON, school teachers, students, public representatives, media persons, women's rights activists were present in the program. Mr. Suresh Adhikari, Program Coordinator of HRDON, said that During Lockdown, 12 child marriage happened in ward no 1,2,7 and 8. Out of which only 2 child marriage was stopped.

Source: Letang khabar @letangkhabar at FaceBook posted on March 8, 2021

At Saraswati Secondary School, Kuntadevi, Molung Rural Municipality Okhaldhunga the rate of absenteeism due to menstruation was 50 percent in past two years but now it is only 5 percent. With the availability of free sanitary pads in schools, the absenteeism rate has been decreased. The menstrual absenteeism rate was dropped to zero; Silanath Giri, the school principal of Molung Rural municipality 1, said that apart from being absent due to circumstances, it has played a big role in the attendance rate and educational reform. 'Sanitary pads were provided free of cost in this school for the first time by the ward chairman Pradip Bania.' Currently, the government has made sanitary pads compulsory in schools, although sanitary pads are available in schools, it has not been effective in most of the schools due to poor management, but Saraswati Secondary School has arranged separate rooms for using and changing sanitary pads. Women led organiztaion Gramin Mahila Jagran, Okhaldhunga (GMJS) has been working to empower the schools in the district for the same regard.

'In many schools, female students can't even ask for pads, Schoolgirls should form a group and make arrangements to ask for pads when needed with the help from female teachers', said Bimala Dhamala, Program Coordinator of PRAYAS project, GMJS. Although some schools have sanitary pads, female students are still absent during menstruation due to its inefficient management, said Dhamala. The main problem, she says, is 'the lack of a room to change the pads and a place to dispose'. When there is no sanitary pad in the school, the student has the experience of being teased while opening the bag. 'It's much easier now, We ourselves are becoming more understanding than before. ' Asmita Karki, chairperson of the student and adolescent group at Saraswati Higher Secondary School in Kuntadevi, said, 'Teachers, parents and friends are all taking it positively now.'

Although there is provision of sanitary pad, there is no other arrangement, admitted Shankar Prasad Koirala, Principal of Pragati Secondary School, Bhadaure, Bishankhugadi Rural municipality. He said that it was not possible to change and manage the pads in the toilets due to lack of water sanitation. Stakeholders say that not only the school in Bhadaure but more than 95 percent of the schools in the district have provided sanitary pads but have not paid proper attention for the management.

Source: Published in Kantipur news March 23^rd 2021 (www.ekantipur.com)

Commitment to end Child Marriage by 2025 in Province No. One

A commitment from Social Development Minister, initiated by Member Organizations of Sanjal

The following article has been published in Nepali in Udghosh Newspaper, Province 1, Nepal

Demanding to declare provincial state number 1 as child marriage free, concerned stakeholders submitted the delegation paper to Mr. Jeevan Ghimire Social Development Minister of Province 1 on 20^th July 2018 at Biratnagar, Morang. Sanjal, our network of active Civil Society Organizations has submitted the delegation paper to work towards the prevention of child marriage.

Altogether nine organizations working in different districts of Province 1 submitted the delegation paper, mentioning that there is need of campaigning from governmental body itself, updating child marriage in school curriculum, facility of a helpline in each ward office, to seizing all the facilities of the people involved in child marriage, and by 2025 making Province 1 a child marriage free province.

Mr. Ghimire, made a statement that the Ministry of Social Welfare needs to make a plan in order to prevent child marriage. He said that in Terai and Hilly regions of Nepal, child marriage has not stopped due to illiteracy, which allowed to manifest a cultural practice of it. He also said that child marriage is slowly decreasing and there is need of collaboration with concerned stakeholders and Province Ministries to achieve a child marriage free province with necessary actions.

The organizations involved in submitting the delegation paper are ‘Sansthagat Bikas Sanjal’ Lalitpur, ‘Community Development Forum Nepal’ Morang, ‘Hilly Rural Development Organization Nepal’ (HRDON) Morang, ‘Gramin Mahila Jagaran Samuha’ Okhaldhunga, ‘Kotagadhi Sikhar Samaj’ Okhaldhunga, ‘ ‘Group of Helping Hands’ (SAHAS), ‘LikhuDemba Community Development Forum’ Okhaldhunga, ‘Chandra Jyoti Integrated rural Development Society Dhading’ and ‘Community Development Society’ Ramechhap.  

(Video: Published on Jan 11, 2017 by Girls Not Brides)

Facts about Child Marriage in Nepal

(1) Nepal has the third highest rate of child marriage in all over Asia, right after Bangladesh and India.

Joint Training on 'Project Proposal and Report Writing and Nutritional Education'

Our recent joint proposal and report writing and nutritional education training was organized from 6-10^th August 2018 and took place in Manthali, Ramechhap.

Local Staffs of MOs Participate Enthusiastically in Joint-Training

The staff participated in an orientation on the components of proposal writing and report writing, what enables them to take action in their community in order to develop local level projects with different line agencies.

Similarly, benefiting from the nutritional education training, staffs developed awareness about the local nutritious foods, its importance and types, BMI calculation etc.. Now, the trained staff will be able to inform the community about it. The participants were very enthusiastic and satisfied. The training was facilitated by Mr. Balmiki Auji, Mr. Sanjib Sunuwar and Ms. Neera Gurung from Sansthagat Bikas Sanjal.

Capacity Building Training on Sexual and Reproductive Health

Sexual and Reproductive health is a crucial aspect of general health. It is a reflection of health during adolescence and adulthood. It implies that people are able to have a satisfying and safe sex life, the capability to reproduce, and the freedom to decide if, when, and how often to do so.

Enhancing Capacity of People in Rural Areas of Nepal

The three days encompassing capacity building training was conducted from 8-10^th of August 2018 at Dulikhel Training Centre. It was on sexual and reproductive health and came along with a training on leadership and facilitation skills. The participants have been field staffs and EC Members of implementing Member Organizations with a total of 10 participants (i.e. 4 participants from Okhaldhunga and 6 from Achham). 

PAVE Project (Protection of Adolescence and Vulnerable Women through Empowerment) is being implemented through two Member Organizations (MOs) of Sanjal in two districts, i.e. ‘Gramin Mahila Jagaran Samuha’, Okhaldhunga and ‘Youth in Empowerment Sector-Nepal’, Achham.

Fruitful Discussions and Identification of Common Challenges

The participants were actively involved in group activities and shared their field experiences, what made the session very fruitful for the participants and trainers alike. Through the discussion, some of the common occurring problems, while carrying out the program activities, have been identified. Those are geographical conditions, ignorance, people's attitude and behavior.

In detail, the content was on Sexual & Reproductive Health was related to Adolescence & Puberty, Gender & Sex, Menstruation & Menstrual Hygiene, Sex Education, Abortion, Sexual & Reproductive health Rights, Sexual abuse & violence, Facilitation & leadership skills.

The training was facilitated by Mrs. Kalapan Gyawali, and co-facilitated by Ms. Prasanna Rai from Sansthagat Bikas Sanjal. The training was supported by Women’s World Day of prayer- German Committee.  

In June and July 2018, Human Rights Advocacy activists and representatives of Member Organizations (MOs) of 'Sansthagat Bikas Sanjal’ from East and West Nepal held meetings to share and discuss the current situation and achievements of their advocacy activities. In close coordination with Sanjal, 'Community Development Forum' (CDF) Morang hosted the meeting in East Nepal and 'Sahakarmi Samaj' (SS) Nepalgunj hosted the meeting in West Nepal. These member organizations are working together with Sanjal on the issues of child rights, caste land rights, chhaupadi, educational rights and social protection rights.

Achievements in regard to the prevention of Child Marriages

The MOs CDF, GMJS and SAHAS collaboratively achieved increased interest and awareness on the issue of child marriage in Letang and its surroundings, as well as in Okhaldhunga. In order to reach that level of awareness, local and municipality level stakeholders were included in their interactions. The organizations implemented workshops and conducted studies on advocacy issues. Working together, they also established hoarding boards on prevention of child marriage in Morang and Okhaldhunga. Resulting from their advocacy, a budget has been allocated from the local government to run a campaign against child marriage and local media has given priority to the issue of child marriage by addressing the issue in local newspapers.

Achievements for Minorities and Dalit Rights

CIRDS Human Rights Advocacy activists managed to do a base line data collection of landless people in Thakre and conducted a common meeting between the ward chair and landless community people. CDS established a ward-level network to raise the issue of Dalit rights. Subsequently, the Dalit community members became active participants in advocacy of their own rights.

'Jana Jagaran Samaj' (JJS) has managed to implement multiple interaction programs in order to convince Dalit families to send their children to school. Until recently, 20 households (with altogether 22 children) didn’t send their children to school. JJS can be proud, because now, 34 children (15 male and 19 female students) have started going school.

Sahakarmi Samaj (SS) can also be proud; due to their commitment it was possible to stop the government’s dumping of garbage near the Gandarba settlement. The garbage caused severe health issues in the community. Furthermore, SS improved coordination among local government, journalists, local representatives, and the Gandarba community. Moreover, they are providing scholarships for enrollment in boarding school to three children.

TVS was busy managing the water pipe line in the Chidimar Community. TVS successfully managed to help the community obtain a Lalpurja (Land Registration Certificate) from the Rural Municipality. Welfare Association Children Tikapur (WACT) was able to empower numerous people to stand for their own rights, and some of the Rural/Municipality budget has been allocated for ‘People Living with HIV’ (PLHIV).

More time and resources are needed for bigger impact

Despite their great achievements, most of the Human Rights advocacy activists and the representatives of the MOs mentioned that their impact would have been even bigger if they would have had more time and resources. Furthermore, due to undefined roles and responsibilities on the local and regional level, activities have been delayed or slowed down.

Notices

Sanjal Organises Teacher’s Training on Psychosocial Support

Sansthagat Bikas Sanjal organised a three-days-long training on psychosocial support to 12 teachers from Sagma Secondary School and two from Karambote Primary School in Morang from 17 to 19 March 2017 at recently upgraded resource centre of Community Development Forum’s. Teachers of preprimary, primary and secondary level participated in the event.

Likewise, similar training was provided to 29 participants from Jana Jagrati Higher Secondary School from 11 to 13 February 2017. The training was conducted in a newly constructed resource center of Chandra Jyoti Integrated Rural Development Society (CIRDS) and library of Jana Jagrati Higher Secondary School in Dhading.

The major objectives of both the trainings were to teach importance and approaches of psychosocial support at school, basic skills of identifying common emotion behavior problems (EBP) and provide individual

Rajis from Surkhet Ultimately Became Landowners

“We had never been this happy in our life,” Pramila Raji expressed her happiness after receiving her land ownership certificate. She is one of the landowners among 12 Raji families of Ghatgaun, Surkhet who recently received land from the landowner who was holding the land for more than 45 years. They received land ownership certificate from District Land Reform and Management office on September 25, 2016.

Janaki Devi Jaisi, resident of Gutu, Surkhet transferred 35 ropanis of land that cost around Rs 2.5 million to 12 Rajis.