User:Nbmvs/North bengal model village

NORTH BENGAL MODEL VILLAGE (NBMVs ):A DREAM PROJECT by-GOAL INDIA-CDHI. LOCATION: Turturikhanda Gram Panchayet,Kumargram Block,Alipurduar,Jalpaiguri,West-Bengal,INDIA. TEAM: Dr.Rajeswar mishra, Dhananjoy Roy,Amarjyoti roy,Prasun dev kanungeo,Raju dutta,and others. BACKGROUND: Leaders of 189 countries agreed to achieve the Millennium Development Goals before 2015. Many countries are working towards achieving these goals. Even to achieve some of the goals like 'End poverty and Hunger', 'Maternal Health', 'Child Health' is a struggle for many countries. To achieve these goals, it is found that the participation of the people in the development activities at the local level is the key. The understanding of these goals by the representatives of local governments will lead to speedy achievement of the goal. Project North Bengal Model Villages ( NBMV ) implemented by CDHI(Center for the development of Human Initiatives) from June 2009 in collaboration with GOAL INDIA primarily focuses on Integrated Development based on MDGs (Millennium Development Goals) through health, education and livelihood initiative in 9 villages. The project aims to address causes for high levels of child trafficking and forced migration through designing a community based protection mechanism. Families are the unit of intervention and initiatives are taken to equip them to cope with the crisis situations through health, education and livelihood initiatives. The project is also closely working with the administration to strengthen the local governance for the sustainable development of the GP. The project is covering 3392 households and 16294 people for their holistic development. During the first year 2009 focused on addressing the health, education and livelihoods needs of community through services delivery. In addition to these priority groups also received program support to increase their levels of knowledge and awareness on health and education. Capacity building support were also extended to the community so as to gather there rights an entitlement from the government system. Additionally the program collaborated with the district administration, block and even with the line departments, NGOs, DSW (District Social Welfare). Follow-up on issues cultivated after meeting with Gram Panchayat members has been done in 2009 and in the coming year 2010 a strong mechanism would be prepared. A plan to involve the Block administration, police, Tea garden management, and local leaders of political leaders, GUS ( Gram Unnayan Samity /Village Development Committee ), ICDSS ( Integrated Child Development Services Scheme ) and even the PTA ( Parent Teacher Associassion) / VEC ( Village Education Committee) committee, SSB ( Sasastra Seema Bal), Forest dept. for formation of the mechanism in 2010 Year 2010 extended services delivery in health, education and livelihoods to the entire population of Turturikhanda G.P. Learning the errors of 2009 new initiative has been taken in 2010 to implement projects objective. The key objective of the proposed interventions is to create an enabling environment in the Turturikhand GP, and help people develop their capacity to respond to the existing vulnerabilities by offering tangible and intangible support to them and also by influencing the local services providers including the state agencies and PRIs ( Panchayat Raj Institutions ) to offer their respective inputs. Therefore, the overall strategy adopted in the project was a careful mixture of ‘right and services based’ approach. A good liaison with the line departments have been established and the project has successfully implemented both the infrastructural component and knowledge based component.

PROJECT LOCATION: Kumargram block of Jalpaiguri district consists of 11 Gram Panchayat (GP). It is one of the most backward and least developed areas in West Bengal where 29% of the geographical area is covered by forest and only 6 % of the land is classified as agriculture / cultivable. An official unemployment figure for the block is 57.47% and 77% of the eligible population is dependent on wage earning. Turturikhanda Gram Panchayat of Kumargram block of Jalpaiguri district consists tea gardens, forest villages. The GP is surrounded by Jayanti hill, Bhutan and Sachaphu forest on its North, Roydak GP in the south, Roydak River and N.K.S. GP in the east and Jayanti River, Jayanti forest and Kalchini block in west. The GP is rich in natural resources. The Gram Panchayat has nine sansads / villages which include one forest village, one “revenue village and five tea estates. Although the area is rich in natural resources this hardly supports the livelihoods of the people. The stifling forest law, indifferent government policy, non-functional services delivery system has resulted into lower level of development. There is no assured system of irrigation, extension functionaries of the government are not reaching the technological innovations to them and the local governance systems (PRI) is not able to respond to the needs of the local communities. Implementation of the government schemes is tardy and inadequate.

OBJECTIVES: Hence forth the 2011 also acted on the same mode of right and service based. The activities of the year in relation to objectives set forth in the action plan are as follows. 	Reduction of mortality and morbidity due to malaria and diarrhoea through awareness generation and referral to Government health facilities 	Installation of water and sanitation facilities to promote better health and hygiene. 	Exploring the technical feasibility and viability of providing all families with access to safe drinking water. 	Reduction in maternal and child mortality, morbidity through increased awareness on Mother and Child Health and access to safe birthing. 	Infrastructure up-gradation and equipping ICDSS centres to provide regular health, nutrition and pre-school education to children under six and mothers with children. 	Up-gradation of the infrastructure of existing schools to encourage children to attend schools regularly. 	Ensure increased enrolment and attendance in formal education and implementation of the ‘Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act’ by strengthening the capacity of the local stakeholders including the Village Education Committees. 	Building a constructive interface between the local government, civil society and community to ensure participation and better implementation of government schemes. 	Livelihood promotional activities in the area of agriculture and animal husbandry by ensuring knowledge transfer, demonstrations.

Activities for 2011: In 2011, the following activities were undertaken to achieve the desired outcome: HEALTH: 1.	Stakeholders Consultation on Malaria Control Strategies

The consultation has encouraged the active participation of the tea garden authority to work and contribute to the hindrance of malaria in the village. The planning have been formulated to cope on malaria control activity by the gram panchayat, ICDS worker, ASHA, ANM, Tea Garden and the project

2.	Awareness camps on early detection and prompt treatment of malaria: 18 awareness camps with 546 participants of all 9 sansad were organized in collaboration with the respective of ANM, ASHA, Sub centre, ICDS worker and the Office of the Gram Panchayat. During these camps, awareness has been raised on detection of mosquito breeding places and different methods of source reductions. Participants received information on location and details of health centres to be visited during illness due to malaria. IEC materials used to educate the participants on early detection and prompt treatment of malaria. There was enthusiastic participation of  the community which is lacking in outreach camp organized by sub primary health centre. Now outreach camps are organized in collaboration with NBMV and the respective sub centre. It was observed that the villagers are visiting to the sub centre for blood test, medicine etc and getting good response from sub centre. The barrier or irritation among the villagers to visit the centre has reduced and is receiving the medicine provided from centre irrespective of vomiting tendency.

3.	Distribution of pre-treated mosquito nets Malaria is very much vulnerable for pregnant women and children. The project has distributed considering the fact 1550 number of nets and treated them. The old mosquito nets distributed earlier have again been treated. Together they make 3578 nets. After observing the impact of mosquito nets, two government sub centre have distributed around 3200 nets in seven sansads within the project area. The distribution was again been done through the sub centre.

4.	Community Led Total Sanitation ( post Triggering Follow Up meeting) Program organized for community consultation with around 152 participants to discuss with them the basic approach of CLTS. The participation and response from the community was quite positive. The program was carried at one sansad named Turturi Division with 205 house hold to achieve open defecation free community.

5.	Rainwater Harvesting at ICDS Centre and Primary School The constructed ICDS centre did not have their own source of drinking water. The feeding and drinking water for the children become very measurable and most of the time the children carry their water to the center and visit a nearby reservoir to source drinking water after lunch. The project in order to cope with the crisis has implanted three rain water harvesting structures at 3 ICDS centre is completed and 2 rain water harvesting at 2 primary school. This has increased the hand wash practice among the children and water in sanitation.

6.	Meetings with Govt. Health workers on MCH Formal meetings between the Project team including the community health workers and the Government village level health workers are organized. ASHA, CM and health worker of NBMV received training from ANMs to provide basic services to mother and child. The data collected by the health worker of NBMV are shared with the ANM and even the house to house visit by the staff are discussed to ensure hype for institutional deliveries

7.	CLTS approach with community To ensure open defecation and implement the CLTS approach subsequent level of triggering and follow up various campaign and meeting were organized at the sansad level. The committee like nigrani, child committee, SHG groups taken active role to take on the approach and achieve ODF. The triggering process has been initiated at one sansad (Turturi division) where 205 households have only 20 latrines. 8.	Diarrhoea Control Camps 18 awareness camps out of 18 camps were organized at all the nine sansad during this year. The participation of the villagers, ICDS workers, health worker and panchayat was appreciable. More than that now villagers are more aware about the diarrhea causes and prevention. It has created good impact among the villagers that they are using the drinking water filters given by this project as well as many house hold are boiling the water before drinking. The hand wash practices are now practice by the children at there houses. More over the installed tube well provide fresh drinking water to the community

9.	Construction of ICDS centre The project has supported with four numbers of ICDS buildings according to design this year. The gram panchayat at present having running 44 sanctioned ICDS centers of total. It was harsh to mobilize NOC for land by the government and hence was unable to go for any construction. The project has mobilized the villagers and the Tea Gardens in consider donating land for the ICDS building which the local CDPO may use for new buildings. In total the project has constructed eight numbers of ICDS centers. At the same time equipments for the centre including the TLM are also provided to all forty four centres being distributed from the project.

10.	Training of Project staff and ICDS on mother and child health and diarrhea control The existing worker of all forty four ICDS centre did not receive formal training from the department. They were suppose to provide services on non-formal pre-school education, supplemental nutrition, immunization, and health checkups for children of 0-6 year’s age, nutrition and health education for pregnant and nursing mothers etc which are lacking. To cope on the issue training was organized.

11.	Capacity building of ICDS workers on teaching methodologies To cope on same situation this three day intensive training was organized collaboratively with Turturikhanda G.P., ICDS department Kumargram Block and NBMV. This covered specially the teaching methodology to ensure pre primary schooling at the centre.

EDUCATION: 1.	Up-gradation and rehabilitating infrastructure of Government primary schools This year the project has renovated two primary school out of that one is SSK School. Though it was planned to go for three primary school the other one already received fund from education department for renovation. During 2009 and 2010, three primary schools were already renovated from the project. This has encouraged regular schooling for 257 children.

2.	Meeting with the Village Development Committee The project has organized 21 out of 18 planned meetings with the members of the Village Education Committees (VEC) at different villages. These meetings helped to assist the members to design appropriate strategies to ensure that each and every eligible child is attending school. Priority has been given to the information of the attendance of the children and the profile of the family those with scant attendance. The formation of child register and up-dating the register every month was ensured during the training. The government bylaws are been discussed at the on the roles and responsibilities of the committee. The parents are also been encouraged to attend the meeting resulting in bridging gap between the parents and teacher. Hence forth natural leaders are emerging to monitor the attendance of the children of the community to get to school regular. The teachers attendance has also been regularize. 3.	Campaigning on RTE Act The IEC material and the posturing and hording were placed at all the nine sansad by project team and VEC at different villages. It focuses that every child in the age group of 6-14 years will be provided elementary education in the vicinity of his/her neighborhood. No child shall be denied admission for want of documents; no child shall be turned away if the admission cycle in the school is over and no child shall be asked to take an admission test. Children with disabilities will also be educated in the mainstream schools. This has helped to enroll the children to school irrespective of time and birth certificate to the school.

4.  Parent teacher Meetings The project has organized 18 meetings out of 18 at different villages of the project area to sensitize the parents toward the need for their involvement in the education of their children and to retain apathy of the community to the development of the school. the project are ensuring that parent- teachers meetings are conducted regularly and issues such as rights to education, health and safety / child trafficking are discussed. The parent teacher meeting is emerging as a great mechanism to ensure partnership among the schools and the community both focusing on the educational achievement of the children. The gap is minimized among the school and community and emphasized to get the tract of school drop out. 4.	Enrollment to formal school and celebration of children's Day / inter school This program creates a great effect in the mind of the children and pushes school enrollment. This has already enrolled 291 number of drop out and never enrolled children to the schools. For this year this event was organized along with the ICDS children, mothers and the ICDS worker and helper. The community participation was enthusiastically reflected from the program. The participation of the panchayat was also eye opening.

LIVELIHOOD: 1.	Designing livelihood frame work An intensive frame work have been framed keeping the villagers, panchayat, project staff in the development of the same. This will lead to a sustainable livelihoods opportunity to the local communities. Livelihoods are not only income generating and production process. The frame work has provided us with the present situation of the families of the gram panchayat. This is aimed to reduce the vulnerabilities and to reduce the migration and trafficking and develop a sustainable strategy to bring back the migrants of the village and produce more option with in the village. The government departments are to provide the support to the villagers.

2.	Demonstration of water harvesting tank This activity was cancelled.

3.	Demonstration of alternative cropping practices Turturikhanda G.P. is still depending on age old traditinnonal agriculture pattern depend on natural rainfall and therefore mono-cropping is the most prevalent pattern. The project has conducted five out of five demonstrations of alternative cropping practices. The farmers have received training from ADO, Kumargram and this has encouraged practicing multiple cropping, through proper crop and pest management, use of organic compounds, and seeds. More farmers are attracting towards farming.

4.	Installation of deep tube well for irrigation This has given a weapon to ponder any kind of hindrance to the farmers of the village. This has created a zeal for the farmers to see green round the year in there cropping land for the first time in several generations. The two irrigation points is expected to benefit around 42 farmers. Of the record up date its already 14 farmers are taking benefit for growing paddy, corn, mustard, vegitables etc.

5.	Development of pond / low land This was candled

6.	Veterinary camps A large share of the house hold is having livestock at there home. But the importance and maintenance of the same was nil among the villagers. Considering the fact on creating the importance and maintained of the same 18 awareness camp organized. This has generated the demand of veterinary support from the government.

7.	Installation of deep tube well To leash the thirst and ensure better drinking water facilities for the community the project has implanted 4 numbers of tube wells. More than 120 families will get benefit from these tube wells.

CAPACITY BUILDING RELATED: 1. Training of project staff and ICDSS workers on basic MCH and Diarrhea 2. Refresher Training of Traditional Birth Attendants on safe birthing 3. Training of on good animal husbandry practices 4. Training of project staff on preventive and community health 5. Training of project staff on Government schemes

QUANTITATIVE ACHIEVEMENT: 	18 awareness camps on early detection and prompt treatment of malaria were conducted in nine villages. 	995 households were distribution of pre-treated mosquito nets in the year 2011. Besides, the project has also medicated 2000 mosquito nets. As per the project record, more than 80% families are sleeping under mosquito nets. At the same time two of three government sub centre of the gram panchayat has provided mosquito nets to rest of all the house hold of seven sansad. 	18 camps were organised at 9 villages. These camps prioritised awareness on appropriate hand washing techniques, sanitation, environmental hygiene and nutrition practices during diarrhoea. 	4 tube wells have been installed, providing drinking water to about 33 children of ICDS and 132 house holds. Besides, the project has also conducted regular follow up visits at all the 350 households received water filters in the year 2009. 	29 farmers have adopted a new technique named SRI technique for paddy and that a good liaison has been created with the agriculture department with the farmers. 	2 primary schools and 3 ICDS centre have installed rain water harvesting for sanitation, washing hands and utensil wash. 	Refresher training to the Traditional Birth Attendants was organized to ensure more accuracy and knowledge on safe birthing including 5 cleans in collaboration with a private maternity hospital at Jalpaiguri. They were again armour with safe delivery kits like weight machine, cotton, detol antiseptic, hand gloves, cesor etc 	2 formal primary schools have been up-graded and rehabilitated benefitting around 350 students. 	23 vet nary camps have been organized in the project area where approximately 135 house hold received medicine and the same is very much essential for the villagers. 	4 ICDSS centers have been constructed in the project location with the active participation of the villagers and the representatives of Gram Panchayat members and Tea Garden managers. The construction has also generated wage opportunities for 60 unskilled labourers within the project area. 	2 farmers club formed. 	55 farmers have deposited documents for Krishan Credit Card ( KCC ) 	2 irrigation pump has been installed and that been utilized by the farmers

Qualitative achievement: a.	The dhai / Traditional Birth Attendants ( TBA ) after receiving the training have ensure more safe practice of birthing and ensured 5 clean practice. They now use the thermometer, pressure machine and even focus on institutional deliveries. They aware the families for receiving the facilities of the institutional deliverers. After the training the TBA are now termed as Trained Birth Attendants. Of now it’s around …. numbers of safe deliveries by the TBA b.	The Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) efforts have provoked the sentiments of the villagers at least at one sansad where the difference of open defecation is eye opener. It’s the effort of villagers for the villagers/ community to lead to open defecation free sansad. At the initial of the effort out of 205 house hold latrine existing latrine were at 39 house hold out of which 20 house hold were defunct and 19 house hold were on going. After the effort there was increase in the new construction of latrine, to 107nhouse hold. c.	The trend towards visiting to the sub centre by the pregnant mothers and other villagers have increased, supported by the health worker. d.	The community initiatives have evoked installation of swing at the newly constructed ICDS centre. e.	Malaria affected patient has minimised in last three year. f.	The BPL families are now getting facility of the Smart Card – a health insurance for the BPL families who will receive Rs. 30000.00 per annum for family. g.	Sabala scheme has been implemented at Turturikhnda. h.	Community / villagers have received mosquito nets from the sub centre, gram unnayan committee and NBMVs are ensured of using the same in the house. i.	Hand wash practices are been ensured at the ICDS centres and are now been replicated at the house. j.	The water filter and the tube well distributed are used for safe drinking water. Ensure safety from the diarrhoea. k.	No Objection Certificate mobilization from the community people and the tea garden authority was a genuine challenge but was achieved though continuous dialogs and letters and community mobilization by the children, mothers and the centre worker led to sanction of NOC for ICDS centre. l.	The training to the ICDS worker was very much effective leading the enthusiasm of the worker to take class in the ICDS centre and motivated the children to come regular. The teaching learning materials are been very effectively used at the centre. m.	The local youth and the self help group members are taking initiatives for enrolling the drop out children’s after continuous parents teacher meetings. New enrolments are ensured after the school renovation at the sansad. n.	The problem of admission to the school due to age bar, birth certificate, money is no more bar as due to introduction of the right to education act campaign. The teachers irrespective of the certificate are taking admission to school but with out registering the name and in the mean time it is managed from the panchayat and the pradhan. o.	To ensure participation or attendance increase at the ICDS centre sports were organized by the children of the centre at the individual sansad. This has ensured participation of the mothers, the worker. p.	Attendance of the teacher at the school has regularized from before. q.	Additional class room grant allotted by SSM for three primary school. r.	The agriculture department of Kumargram block has extended an intensive support .for the farmers of Turturikhanda G.P. the seeds of paddy, grain, corn along with medicine for 272 farmers were been provided. s.	The farmers received training on SRI and have harvested paddy on same technique. t.	The farmers were motivated to form the farmers club for the first time in the history of the Turturikhanda. u.	More farmers who intended to move out station for livelihood search now plan to cultivate their plot of land for agriculture. Farmers now lure to get benefits from the agriculture department. They directly contact the department for various benefits. v.	Interest towards animal rearing and health care are a priority for the house hold. The vetenary camps have increased the care and livelihood aspect among the villagers. w.	“ Prani Vikas Saptaha “ organized by the BLDO office Kumargram Block at Turturikhanda G.P. to encourage livestock keeping and rearing and its fruitful as livelihood source for the community. x.	The self help groups are the integral part for the development of the village as unit. The members are taking part in the meeting for betterment of the group. The numbers of SHG has increased from 111 in 2010 to 125 in 2011 now the groups want to get strengthen. y.	Visit from the government official like Agriculture Development Officer, BLDO, ADM, District Sanitary Inspector, BDO, School Inspector, CDPO, Savapati Kumargram has created a vibrant atmosphere in the community. The department have implemented schemes like swajadhara, NREGA, KCC, road, electricity, Amar Bari, Dam construction, NREGA building construction, deep tube wells. z.	The families who were not having the SC/ ST certificate are now enlisted. Proving from the gram panchayat to organize a camp to distribute the certificate is to organize.

LEARNING: (Strategies includes both negative and positive)

	The coordination with the government health worker at the gram panchayat level, Block level and the community level is evolving. The community people now prefer the Sub centre, PHC rather than the quack in general practice but still lion share to cater the problem. 	A strategy was been adopted to bring the pregnant mothers towards the institution was distribution of mosquito nets through the sub centre in presence of the ANM, ASHA. The outreach camps from the centre are now been forced at the village level and at the regular end. The camps organized at the village rather para level according to the timing of the community and along with the project staff, involving the ICDS worker and the ASHA to address various problem faced at by the villagers.

	Ownership leads to creativity. These believe has strengthened the project staff in attaining community mobilization.

	In order to monitor and maintenance of the infrastructure community based committee was formed to create ownership of the asset created at village. This has created the safety of the materials at the construction site, monitoring of the construction, quality of the materials, and position of the asset build.

	Building of social infrastructure would be our priority in good combination of physical interventions. Combination of both has created good impact. For an example – after construction of ICDS centre parents are sending their children regularly and at the same time worker and helper are coming to the ICDS centre in time resulting in children reading, playing, dancing, eating etc. This has created social bonding among the different stakeholders.

	Process documentation by the community mobilizes and health worker has reflected on there working in day to day. This has created a sense of more responsibility for with in themselves and for the community

	Involvement of the children during the triggering to achieve ODF community was eye opening. They form a strong committee for community mobilization.

	The sports with the ICDS children have ensured participation of mothers at the mother’s meeting. This was an initiative to create interest of the mothers, worker, helper and the panchayat in the daily work schedule.

	The cluster division of each sansad has helped to work on various activities like diarrhea, malaria. This has helped to focus our community.

	Community involvement and ownership has led to installation of swing in the ICDS centre. This creates an active participation of the villagers.

OUTCOME AGAINST ACHIEVEMENT:

Village	No. of Families	Children (0-14)	Community assets (Government funded)	Delivered under the project in 2009	Delivered under the project in 2010	Activities undertaken for 2011 KANJALI BASTI	651

Total Population 3,046

Adult:1250 Male :659 Female:591

Children (0 to 18 yrs) Total 1796

Male :928 Female:868 973

Male:519 Female:454 	Mix of agriculture and forested land. 	Approved ICDSS Center: 9 (5 approved in 2009) Infrastructure not available. 	Primary School-1 (Received grant for ACR in 2010) 	Health Sub Centre-1 	Hand Pumps-9 	GP office 	Revenue office 	Library-1 	Boarder Security Force’s camp 	Tea garden guest House. 	Water filter distributed to: 68 HH, 9 ICDSS Center, 1 Primary School and 1 MSK. 	Soil testing conducted at 65 points 	Ground water investigation conducted at 7 sites. 	Mosquito net distributed to 55 Households (2 nets each family). 	Organized village committee meetings 	2 Malaria and 2 diarrhea camps conducted. 	2 Malaria and 2 diarrhea camps conducted. 	Treated old mosquito nets of 53 families. 	68 nos. of families received mosquito nets. 	Sanitary facilities constructed at 3 ICDS centres. 	3 tube-wells installed. 	2 new ICDS centre constructed. 	1 TBA taken training. 	Water harvesting tank constructed at a primary school. 	Conducted 2 VEC meetings. 	Conducted one veterinary camp. Health:

	2 Stakeholder Consultation on Malaria control strategies. 	18 Awareness camps on early detection and prompt treatment of malaria. 	Installation of 4 tube wells. •	Distribution of 1,550 treated mosquito nets. •	Promoting Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) in one villages •	Construction of 4 ICDSS center. •	Providing equipment like TLM, mats were provided by GOAL and weight measuring machine and growth monitoring charts were provided by Department of Women and Child Welfare to ICDSS centers.

Education:

	Capacity Building of ICDSS teachers on teaching methodologies. 	Rainwater Harvesting facilities at 10 ICDSS centers and 3 primary schools. •	Up-gradation and rehabilitating infrastructure of 3 Government primary schools. •	9 Village Education Committees will conduct 2 Meetings during 2011. •	9 Parent Teacher Meeting •	Enrolment drive & Celebration of Children’s Day. Livelihood: •	Development of 2 community water harvesting systems. •	Demonstration of alternative cropping practices with 10 farmers. •	Installation of 2 deep tube wells for irrigation. •	Development of 2 community water bodies for pisciculture. •	18 Veterinary Camps will be conducted. Capacity Building: •	Refresher of 9 Traditional Birth Attendants on safe birthing. •	Training on improved farming practices with 45 numbers of farmers. •	Workshop on child protection and safe migration. •	Skill development training on good animal husbandry practices. •	Capacity building of Gram Panchayat on micro-planning. •	District level consultation on programme implementation and collaboration. •	Partner specific activities: •	Staff training on CP Risk assessment and CP policy. •	Staff training on HIV work place policy & gender mainstreaming. •	Designing livelihood frame work for the project.

TURTURI DIVISION 	207

Total Population : 1161

Adult: 537 Male : 256 Female: 281

Children (0 to 18 yrs) Total 624

Male :295 Female:329 486

Male :225 Female:261 	Predominantly Tea gardens 	Approved ICDSS centre: 1, Infrastructure not available. 	1 Primary School Received ACR grant in 2010) 	One tea garden dispensary 	Hand Pumps-2. 	1 CEC centre		Water filter distributed to: 18 HH, 1 ICDSS centre and 1 primary School. 	Soil testing conducted at 25 sites. 	Ground water investigation conducted at 5 sites. 	Mosquito net distributed to 14 Households (2 nets each family). 	Organized village committee meetings 	2 Malaria and 2 diarrhea camps conducted.		2 Malaria and 2 diarrhea camps conducted. 	Treated old mosquito nets of 53 families. 	20 families received mosquito nets. 	1 tube well installed near primary school. 	1 TBA taken training. 	Conducted 2 VEC meetings. 	Conducted 2 veterinary camps. 	One primary school have been up graded and rehabilitated	TURTURI TEA ESTATE 	311

Total Population :1438

Adult:811 Male : 411 Female: 400

Children (0 to 18 yrs) Total 627

Male :304 Female323 471

Male:228

Female:243 	Predominantly Tea gardens. 	Approved ICDSS Center: 5 Infrastructure not available. 	1 Primary School 	Received ACR grant in 2010) 	1 Tea Health Centre with indoor facility. 	Hand Pumps -2		Water filter distributed to: 18 HH, 5 ICDSS centre and 1 primary School. 	Soil testing conducted at 25 sites. 	Ground Water investigation conducted at 5 sites. 	Mosquito net distributed to 22 Households (2 nets each family). 	Organised village committee meetings 	2 Malaria and 2 diarrhoea camps conducted. 			2 Malaria and 2 diarrhea camps conducted. 	Treated old mosquito nets of 74 families. 	33  families received mosquito nets. 	Sanitary facility constructed at one ICDS centre. 	1 TBA taken training. 	Conducted 2 VEC meetings.  	Conducted 2 veterinary camps.	HATIPOTA 	192 Total Population :852

Adult:494 Male : 257 Female:237

Children (0 to 18 yrs) Total 358

Male : 189 Female:169 265 Male :150

Female 115		Predominantly agricultural lands. 	Approved ICDSS Center-3. Infrastructure not available. 	1 Private school 	1 SSK ( Received grant from government in 2010 for renovation) 	Post Office 	Police Station 	Bank 	SSB Camp. 	1 Health Sub Centre		Water filter distributed to: 20 HH, 3 ICDSS Center, 1 SSK and 1 Private School. 	Soil testing conducted at 50 sites. 	Ground water investigation conducted at 5 sites. 	Mosquito net distributed to 18 Households (2 nets each family). 	Organized village committee meetings 	2 Malaria and 2 diarrhea camps conducted. 			2 Malaria and 2 diarrhea camps conducted. 	22 families received mosquito nets. 	Sanitary facilities constructed at 2 ICDS centres and at one SSK school1 new ICDS centre constructed. 	1 TBA taken training. 	Conducted 2 VEC meeting 	Conducted 2 veterinary camps. 	4 farmers adopted alternative cropping practices.( SRI) LIMBODORA 	286 Total Population: 1366

Adult:494 Male : 257 Female: 237

Children (0 to 18 yrs) Total 358

Male :189 Female:169 265 Male :150

Female:115 	Predominantly Tea gardens. 	Approved ICDSS Center: 3 Infrastructure not available. 	1 Primary School (Received ACR grant in 2009) 	Tea garden dispensary -1 ( Not regular) 	Source of water – streams .Open Wells-16. Hand Pumps-15

	Renovated one primary school with WATSAN facilities. 	Water filter distributed to: 25 HH, 3 ICDSS Center and 1 Primary School. 	Soil testing conducted at 50 sites. 	Ground Water investigations conducted at 5 sites. 	Mosquito net distributed to 21 Households (2 nets each family). 	Organised village committee meetings 	2 Malaria and 2 diarrhoea camps conducted. 	2 Malaria and 2 diarrhea camps conducted. 	31 families received mosquito nets. 	Installed one tube-well near primary a school. 	1 TBA taken training. 	Conducted 2 VEC meetings. 	Conducted 2 veterinary camps. 	Rain water harvesting tank constructed at a primary school. JAYANTI TEA ESTATE I	262 Total Population :

Adult: Male : 348 Female: 348

Children (0 to 18 yrs) Total 382

Male :201 Female:181 280 Male :143

Female:137		Predominantly Tea gardens. 	Approved ICDSS Center: 3 Infrastructure not available. 	1 Primary School 	Tea garden Hospital with indoor facilities -1 (Not regular) 	Source of water – streams, Hand Pumps-4 	Water filter distributed to: 22 HH, 3 ICDSS Center and 1 Primary School. 	Soil testing conducted at 50 sites. 	Ground Water Investigations conducted at 5 points. 	Mosquito net distributed to 19 Households (2 nets each family). 	Organized village committee meetings 	2 Malaria and 2 diarrhea camps conducted. 			2 Malaria and 2 diarrhea camps conducted.

	Treated old mosquito nets of 21 families. 	18 families received mosquito nets. 	1 TBA taken training. 	Conducted 2 VEC meeting 	Conducted 2 veterinary camps. 	Renovated and upgraded one govt. primary school. JAYANTI TEA ESTATE II	491 Total Population :1265

Adult:537 Male : 256 Female: 281

Children (0 to 18 yrs) Total 728

Male :399 Female:329 590 Male :329

Female: 261 	Tea garden area 	Approved ICDSS Center: 7, Infrastructure not available. 	1 SSK 	Source of water –Streams. 	Water filter distributed to: 31 HH, 7 ICDSS Center and 1 SSK. 	Soil testing conducted at 50 sites. 	Ground water investigation conducted at 5 sites. 	Mosquito net distributed to 27 Households (2 nets each family). 	Organised village committee meetings 	2 Malaria and 2 diarrhoea camps conducted. 			2 Malaria and 2 diarrhea camps conducted.

	Treated old mosquito nets of 58 families. 	22 families received mosquito nets. 	Sanitary facility constructed at an ICDSS center. 	1 new ICDS centre constructed. 	Conducted 2 VEC meetings. 	Conducted 2 veterinary camps. PHASKHAOA 	336 Total Population :1505 Adult:863 Male : 423 Female: 440

Children (0 to 18 yrs) Total 642

Male : 328 Female:314 485 Male :254

Female: 231		Predominantly Tea gardens. 	Approved ICDSS Centre: 6. Infrastructure not available. 	1 Primary School (Received ACR grant in 2010) 	1 Health Sub Centre 	1 Tea garden dispensary 	Source of water streams.

	Water filter distributed to: 29 HH, 6 ICDSS Center, 1 Primary School and 1 Health Sub Center. 	Soil testing conducted at 50 sites. 	Ground Water investigations conducted at 6 sites. 	Mosquito net distributed to 22 Households (2 nets each family). 	Organised village committee meetings 	2 Malaria and 2 diarrhoea camps conducted. 	2 Malaria and 2 diarrhea camps conducted. 	Treated old mosquito nets of 53 families. 	21 families received mosquito nets. 	1 no. in total and near Sub-centre sanitary latrine. 	1 TBA taken trainings. 	Conducted 2 VEC meetings.

	Conducted 2 veterinary camps. CHUNIAJHORA 	557

Total Population :1505 Adult: Male : 749 Female: 730

Children (0 to 18 yrs) Total 642

Male : 922 Female:646 1232 Male : 756 Female:476 	Predominantly Tea gardens. 	 Approved ICDSS Centre: 2. Infrastructure not available. 	School: Primary -1 (Received ACR in 2009) 	Sub Centre: 1 tea garden health center with primary care facilities. 	Source of water –streams. Hand pump -2		Water filter distributed to: 59 HH, 2 ICDSS center 1 Primary School. 	Soil testing conducted at 50 sites. 	Ground Water investigations conducted at 5 points. 	Mosquito net distributed to 44 Households (2 nets each family). 	Organised village committee meetings 	2 Malaria and 2 diarrhoea camps conducted. 	2 Malaria and 2 diarrhea camps conducted. 	Treated old mosquito nets of 68 families. 	45 families received mosquito nets. 	1 tube well installed. 	1 TBA taken training. 	1 water harvesting tank constructed at a primary school. 	Conducted 2 VEC meeting 	Conducted 2 veterinary camps.

CASE STUDY: "THE SWINGING ASPIRATIONS-SISHUDANGI PLANS A GAME PARK" It was only two week back/ that Kalpana Chettri the helper of the ICDS centre was quite defensive of her  ICDS centre with no children around. She asserted – “ she was on leave and the worker was absent-she can not explain why the centre had no children at 1030 AM when the centre was supposed to be open. “ sadly enough the North Bengal Model Village team return back with a mixed feeling. The centre which was earlier working from the dilapidated building recently had a beautiful  building with the support under the GOI-CDHI project. What went wrong ? The team identified several issues –the supply of feed was not regular and the worker was staying little away and the teaching learning materials supplied at the centre were monotonous and non exciting. It was also gathered that that most of the nine centre that has had been provided with building were irregular on similar count. Do the children come to the centre only for feeding or the centre has some thing more exciting to offer. The teaching learning material provided at the centre were neither attractive nor adequate to attract the parents or children to run to the centre. The centers usually presented a lifeless picture.

NBMVS team reflected around various options to attract the children and help them develop their psycho-motor-after all the ICDS centers had the mandate to ensure their mental and physical development equally. To begin with it was concluded that active games were required which could help attract children even if the feed is not available –in any case the parents were providing  feed to their children. One of the team members informed that a swing around the centre could attract children and also help them develop their psychomotor strength. But who would meet the  expenses. It was argued that the if the cost was kept minimum the community could be impressed to offer support. Purna Chettri the CM and Mahesh the health worker approached the local community and initiated discussion with them about  situation at the ICDS. They also discussed the potential of having a facilities foe game using low cost materials. The community responded positively and the discussion was followed up with tye visits of Prasun, the Project Coordinator and Amarjyoti the Programme Officer. The local community was impressed with the suggestion and decided to go for a swing. Ganesh Prasad Sharma from the neighborhood came forward with the economics of the arrangement –it was not much that the community could not manage. He immediately offered two bamboos for establishing the swings. The idea caught the attention of others. Om Sharma, son of Shri Ganesh Prasad Sharma was quite encouraged and joined his father in ensuring that he supported his father in erecting the swing. The worker Bindu Lama and  the helper Kalpana offered to bear the cost of sting to fix the bamboos-it was 30 rupees in all. They erected the bamboo in no time. The Children, who were curiously watching the operation immediately jumped on the swings as soon as it was completed. The enthusiastic parents taking turns to help the children swing in the air. It was a proud moment for Shishudanga and its inhabitants.

Next day Ganesh Sharma observed that the seat of the swing needs to improvisation as its round shape was slippery. He advised to fix a flat seat to be procured from the market. The community members did not hesitate to contribute toward obtaining the flat wooden seat. Do Ganesh Sharma and OM have their children attending the ICDS center and using the swing? No! But then why have they so much of interest? Om observed –‘ It is nice and pleasant to see the children playing –they are children whether they are from our own family or from neighbors’ families’! This spirit needs to be appreciated and used to create and strengthen further bond.

One evening Dr. Mishra(CDHI-director) visits the ICDS and extends the discussion on the ICDS and the swing. The community members. Ram Chhetri and his father Ratan Chhetri who had donated the land for the ICDS center were quite enthusiastic about the ICDS and the swing there after. They informed even if there is no supply of feed the children are coming to play with the swing and the worker and the helper are taking turns to engage the children-‘it’s a wonderful experience’. The neighbor Shyam Chhetri added-‘the children love –‘Food and Fun’-no matter whether the food is being supplied or not the children are attending the center for Fun now. But only one swing and 30 children? How will it go asked Dr.Mishra? What about extending the facilities and adding the items. The villagers came up with various options. Ram and Shayam Chhetri suggested that let us plan for Fund Park with several items added to it. What about land? They point to the nearby land and suggest that we can manage over here. The project, however, needs to be discussed across the community. The CM –Purno and the health worker Mahesh take on to organize the community. The next action is a consultation on the Fun Park. Prasun and Amarjyoti enthusiastically look forward and help evolve an appropriate lie out and design of the Fun Park. Shishu Dangi may prove first to have designed and implemented a community led Fun Park!

"DEATH OF A PREGNANT LADY BY ELEPHANT" Turturikhanda G.P is infested with jayanti forest (buxa tiger reserve) at all the side. It has been a common scenario that the wild animals often pass through the community / para / line and by that often a man verses wild incident takes place. Johan Munda resides at 3no.line, chuniajhora sansad and is worker of local tea garden who is the sole bread earner of the family. He leads a very miserable life and is vulnerable to physical security, health, education. He has four family members with wife who is pregnant of 8 month, one daughter who goes to near by ICDS centre no. 445 and his sister. Mrs. Bertha Munda aged 35, wife of Johan Munda was pregnant of 8 months and was visiting sub – centre, her 1st tetanus toxide was taken on 13th April ’11 and the 2nd tetanus toxide on 11th may’11. She had two house one of tin and another of straw and thatches. Every day they used to stay under tin house but on 8th July ’11 she along with his husband was sheltering under her straw and thatches houses. By the way Johan’s sister and daughter was sleeping in the tin house on the day. Both of there house were just at the periphery of the forest. And was vulnerable to wild animals. On that given date a wild elephant happened to attack on that straw house. By that time Johan managed to quit from his house but was unable to fly her wife. Bertha to save herself hide herself under the bed but the elephant draw her out from beneath the bed and dragged her out. Then in hassle she broke her leg and then was thrown to main road by the elephant and then very harshly the elephant crushed her head and stomach and that led to her death. This incident taken place at around 2:30 am. By the time the community people forced the elephant to the forest. The very next day police intervened the matter and the body was taken to Alipurduar for postmortem and backed the body in the evening to dump in the grave. Such incident shatters the life of the people in the chuniajhora and allied villages. Such man verses wild leads to adverse affect in the life of the common. The children frighten to go to school passing the corridor of elephant, at night it gets hard to study as a panic prevails in the back of these villagers of attack and even pressure rise their fuel stock. As when wild animal attacks they use local baton to fire the rags and to throw at them. That even leads to scarcity of fuel stock and diminishes the scope for the children to study at night under lamp of kerosene. We ponder such situation at the heist level of vulnerability.

"FORCE CHILD LABOUR": Milan Minj a 14 years boy of goskhana, limbudhura used to live with his family. He used to go to school along with his friends and enjoyed his school life, playing gossiping with friends. He stays with his father mother and three younger brothers. He studied in class II at LD pry school along with his brother’s one in class I in same school and other two go to ICDS centre. His father was the sole bread earner of the family and involved in wood cutting from forest and selling in the local market as fire wood. That was the only source of livelihood for the family. This would just fetch around Rs 40 per day. His mother was house wife. And some times works as daily labour / home servant in staff quarter of tea garden. The economic condition of the family was very much miserable and was vulnerable to diseases, malnourished, family violence and poverty. Milan being the elder son of the family realized the pathetic condition of the family and under gone a high a trauma with in his normal happy life. Then while studying in class II he was declared drop out from school and even from the format maintained by the NBMVs project in December 2009. Then it was found, he left his home village to Kalimpong just to earn Rs 300 though a house boy. As per regular follow up on 9th may’11 by the project staff of NBMVs to his hose Milan was found back in home. Additionally this house was the beneficiary of water filter from the project. He was motivated by the project staff of NBMVs to get his present situation, to his pleasure the boy was ready to get back to school after such a long gap. But was freighted to the teacher of the school as he left school with out intimation to the school teacher. The responsibility for readmitting the child in the school was undertaken by the NBMVs project staff and was been readmitted in class III under a condition that his name would not be registered in the register of the class as the admission period was over rather he would be taken to school under ‘Bhartikaran karmasuchi’ of Sarva Shiksha Avian. He was admitted to school on 12th May 2011 when his age was 14 years. His attendance was not very regular after readmission. As the boy was very much unable to adjust with other children in the class and thus felt shy. In the short run on 1st august’11 the boy again left for Delhi for some domestic work. During follow up to house hold visit by staff of NBMVs he was informed by the mother of the boy that for family economic condition was only reason for flying out to Delhi. This is just an example representing a whole lot of family of this gram panchayat undergoing such situation through out years and even from decade.......we will move for the year2012-2015...see what can we learn...