Jana Kalyan Sansthan (JKS)



Situation Lucknow is popular for its chikan work, a type of intricate embroidery. This unorganized sector provides a source of livelihood to thousands of migrant workers. A large segment of unorganized sector workers also work in brick kilns, tanneries and as domestic workers or rickshaw pullers. The conditions in which they live are appalling without access to basic amenities of health care and education. Children naturally bear the brunt of the difficult situation by getting absorbed into the unorganized workforce from a tender age and thereby remaining deprived of education.	Challenge • Providing educational facilities through NFE centres • To ensure birth registration of all children • To facilitate health of the mother and the child • Ensuring ration cards to all thereby enabling benefits from social security schemes • Ensuring employment to the parents at their native place to reduce migration	Highlights • Health Committees, comprising community members, to be activated in all 3 slums to monitor health status in the slums • Community to be mobilized to fight for eliminating discrimination at work place and ensuring dignity of labour	Results • 100% immunization for children aged below 1 year and 70% immunization of children aged 1 – 5 years was achieved • 44 eligible families were linked with social security schemes • 12 children were enrolled in government primary schools • 68 children, including 19 working children and child labourers, were enrolled in NFE centres • Residents of 3 slums were mobilized to fight against imminent threat of eviction • 14 children's collectives were formed.

Background:

In the year 1996 during the earthquake of Uttarkashi a group of lawyers took active part in the relief program. The Project Holder and few of the executive members were amongst them. After this the group felt the need of organized effort towards social change and thus JKS came into existence in 1996 as Uttarakhnad Jan Kalyan Samiti. It was a group of people from various academic backgrounds who believed in social change through collectivization. However, in the year 2005 due to a government order, UJKS was nomenclature as Jana Kalyan Sanstha (JKS). Mr Surendra Bhandari is one of the founding members of the organization and is currently holding position of the Secretary in the organization. Surendra Bhandari was also actively involved in the Uttarakhand Andolan. He has also been actively working as a resource person to various Government and Non Government agencies on the issues of education, health, NREGA. Mr. Bhandari was coordinator of a Sate level network called the Uttarakhand Nadi Jal Manch.

Situation:

JKS works in 11 villages under 10 Panchayats of Ghat Block of Chamoli District of Uttarakhand. 9 of the 11 villages are located in the catchment areas of the proposed hydro electric power project. Apart from this, child labor is a major concern in all these villages. Problems related to livelihood is a cross cutting issue and has multiple effects on life of women, children and youth. Caste based discrimination and issues related to land are major factors of marginalization. Systemic issues related to health and education is impacting the lives of children and women. Politically Ghat block has always been neglected historically. Advocacy, Community mobilization, awareness and sensitization processes will be undertaken in 11 selected villages.

The total number of households in the intervention area is 1333. It is seen that the total SC and ST population is half of the total general population. There are cases of female feticide in the areas. Most of the lands are still captured by upper class/caste families in the power structure. Most of the SC, ST families posses 0- 5 nali of land. The poor mostly belonging to the SC community work in the land of the thokdars. Most of the families in the intervention villages are landless laborers and depend on daily wages for their livelihood sources. However a large section of these people is traditionally depended on the NTFP for their livelihood. Another predominant issue that characterizes Ghat Block is migration and seasonal migration. JKS focuses on working with poor, marginalized sections of the society towards making them aware of their rights. The organization also believes that social and economic development can be achieved by people’s participation.

Objectives:

• To combat the problem of migration from the mountains by evolving avenues for livelihood and self employment in the rural areas.
• To advocate for the rights of the people.
• To work towards women’s empowerment and achievement of the goals of the panchayat raj system through community awareness.
• To facilitate a process for formation of an equitable society and improving people’s participation in the decision making process.
• To encourage and empower youths of the community and stop gender based discrimination.

Review:

This is a new CRY partner, hence the review data will be available from 2009 reports. JKS is working in the most neglected block of Chamoli district. The area is characterized with various hydro power projects which add to the people’s vulnerability in term of loss of livelihood, poverty, indebtedness and migration. The hydro power project is leading to depletion of the forest and on the other hand stringent forest acts are curbing livelihoods. Hunger, poor health and indecent living standards are barriers to child development as well as survival.

Plans:

• 100% immunization of pregnant women and children.
• Conduct a study on the status of immunization of pregnant women and children within 0-5 years of age.
• Ensuring safe delivery practices. Coordination with the Asha and ANM for safe delivery.
• Formation of Traditional Birth Attendant groups.
• 100 % birth registration of new born children and certification in all the intervention villages.
• Enrolment of all eligible children, including drop outs.
• 7 Village Education Committees will be activated.
• All livelihood related schemes of the government will be collected, analyzed and shared with the community.
• Sensitization of the community on issues of gender based discrimination in all the intervention villages.
• Work to eradicate child marriages.
• Child laborers will be taken out of labor activities and children will be linked with mainstream of education.
• Children group will be formed in all the villages and will be made aware of children's rights.

Budget Summary (January to December 2009)

Budget heads Budget (USD)
Right to Development 1,083
Right to Survival 833
Right to Protection 916
Right to Participation 1,083
Administration 4,416
Total Approved Budget 8,331

Budget heads	Budget (USD)
Right to Development	1,083
Right to Survival	833
Right to Protection	916
Right to Participation	1,083
Administration	4,416
Total Approved Budget	8,331