Dear Wellwishers of ,JUST
Recently I had an experience of how government department works in Dhalai district of Tripura. I along with Dr. Anut had gone to Ambassa after having made an appointment with a District officer in Ambassa. As per appointment we reached the office at 10 AM. After waiting for half an hour the driver was sent to pick up the officer from his home. Driver went with his department vehicle to pick up the officer and we did not hear from him till 1pm. We decided to proceed to his house to see what the matter was. When we reached, we saw driver waiting with the vehicle he said he has no balance in his mobile to call the officer, then we proceeded to the house. We saw the officer fast asleep as we woke him up he said he was waiting for the vehicle. We said vehicle was waiting for him for 2 hours on road. He said his mobile has no charge to enquire because there was no current for the whole night. We waited another half an hour in his house and finally we completed our work for which we had gone. This is the situation of our system where we would be initiating Intensified Malaria Control Project (IMCP) program in the coming months. I pray to God to bless us so that our staff who would be working with this system may not lose heart in doing their responsibilities.
One more issue of our quarterly is in your hands. We are updating you with our programs and activities. Last few months had been hectic with many programs. At the same time we were busy with the fire accident in Naisingpara camp which gutted 2560 houses and took the lives of 19 persons, did make an impact in the lives of our staff and as an organization. As an organization, we lost four of our balwadi schools (Thatched roof) which we had constructed ten months ago. Most of our staff (17) who reside in the camps lost their houses and belonging. IGSSS along with JUST have planned to assist with NFI very shortly.
I should also share with you that with the Collaboration of IGSSS and EU, We have initiated a Repatriation of Internally Displaced Brus (RIDE B) project for IDPs of Kanchanpur with a focus of assisting the community in repatriation and advocacy in the level of community, church leaders and both the government. If everything goes well, with the expertise of IGSSS, a national level NGO, we would be able to solve this in the near future.
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Fr. Robert Mathias CSC
Director, JUST.
The intended visit of Caritas Japan representatives (Fr. Daisuke Narui the Executive Director of Caritas Japan and Miss. Ono Aine) to Naisingpara Relief Camp was made possible on 2nd Feb 2011 with Mr. Stephen Gangmei, Zonal Manager of Caritas India and Fr. Robert Mathias CSC, Director, JUST. The Displaced Brus felicitated the team with traditional dress and cultural dances. Especially the internationally famous dance “Hozagiri Dance” and their traditional folk song made a lasting impression on the dignitaries.
A. Sawibunga, the President of the MBDPF Mizoram Bru Displaced People’s Forum was also present in the program. The dignitaries during their speeches shared on the current repatriation condition of the Displaced Brus.
After lunch, the visit continued on Transect walk inside the camp interacting with the people directly and visiting their improper cheap houses. They visited the Balwadi centres too, run by JUST for the last five years, the successfully trained youths’ tailoring shops and listened to their income and success stories. They interacted with the SHG leaders too.
-Mr. Bruno Msha.
International Women’s Day.
JUST organised an International Women’s Day program in Durjoynagar Agartala on the 8th March 2011. 150 women from all corners of West Tripura witnessed the daylong program. Some of the dignitaries present in the program were Mr. Subhash Bhowmik Ex. R.D.O, Mrs. Rina present R.D.O, Mrs. Gauri Das APD of Mohonpur Block, Mrs. Suparna Debnath Upa Pradhan, Mr. Uttam Bhowmik, Mrs. Janaki Robidas Ward Member and Sr. Bastian D’silva. Most of the invitees spoke on Women Empowerment and the need to be aware of their own rights, strengths and law. Improvement of Community Health
At the end of the program all the participants participated in various competitions like singing, dancing and games.
-Sr. Bastian D’Silva.
Diocese Level Women’s Day.
Jana Unnayan Samiti Tripura (JUST) organized Diocese level Annual Gathering for women from 11th to 12th March 2011.105 women gathered at the JUST premises for the celebration. Most Rev. Bishop Lumen Monterio CSC DD. Bishop of Agartala was the chief guest for the program. Women Commission Chairperson of Tripura Mrs. Tapati Chakraborty and Miss Alphonsa the regional coordinator of North East Diocesan Social Forum, were also present at the program. The main topic of the day was equal access to the education, training, science & technology path way to decent work for women. The input-session of the program was based on the prioritization of the decent work in science & technology. However the entire program was thoughts provoking and commendable and it ended up with a cultural program.
Health Camp:
Jana Unnayan Samiti Tripura, being the social development wing of Agartala Diocese, one of its major concern and trust areas is of . Thus, on the 3rd of March 2011, a day was spent in examining and diagonising the patients from the rural community of Chakma Basti under Kumarghat Block of North Tripura district. Dr. Sunakshina Mittal and Sr. Ignasius Mary were the resource persons for the day long camp. Altogether there were 167 patients who benefitted from the medical camp. Some of the common diseases found were, Cough, Cold, Fever, Gastritis, Joint pain, Headache, Anemia, Diarrhea and Malaria.
-Sr. Ignesius Mary.
Felicitation of the newly elected Village Council Members:
Training on PRI cum felicitation for the newly elected village council members was organized in Jana Unnayan Samiti Tripura (JUST) on 28th March 2011. 30 members attended the program among whom were 18 elected panchayat members. Mr. T.C Francis Uchoi, the resource person of the program emphasized on the basic concept, role of PRI in developing the rural areas. The inputs were based on 3 tier panchayati raj systems, National Rural Employment Gurantee Act (NREGA) and Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojna (SGSY). The sessions were lively and enriching. At the end of the training program, a felicitation program was organized at 7.30 PM where Shri. Jitendra Choudhury Hon’ble Minister of Rural Development was the chief guest and Most. Rev. Bishop Lumen Monteiro CSC, was the guest of honor. Mr. Choudhury, in his speech mentioned that initially the SHG leaders used to have a control within the group but now it have been extended to the whole village too. So, development lies in their hands. He also appreciated the organising Agency JUST, for undertaking such type of trainings.
-Mr. Daniel Kaipeng.
Training on Health & Hygiene Drives:
A training on Health and Hygiene Drives was conducted at Naisingpara relief camp from 6th to 7th January 2011. Mr. Daniel Debbarma and Mrs. Mina Jamatia were the facilitators of the program. Altogether 30 participants attended the seminar. The main objective of the training program was to make the participants aware regarding health and hygiene. The facilitator discussed briefly on the prevalent diseases in the camp and about the various water born diseases. The facilitator also made the participants aware that the diseases like Dysentery, Typhoid, Jaundice etc can be spread through water. Mrs. Mina Jamatia conducted live demonstration of Herbal Medicine Preparation for variuos prevalent diseases, while Mr. Daniel Debbarma stressed on the importance of camp hygiene and also taught them the methods of keeping their surroundings clean.
-Mr. C. Rhodinga.
Driving License distribution in Naisingpara Camp:
On the 2nd of February 2011, Driving Licenses and Certificate of Participation were given to 10 successful trainees of Naisingpara Rilief camp under North Tripura district. Dignitaries present during the ceremony were Fr. Daisuke Narui the Executive Director of Caritas Japan and Miss. Ono Aine representatives from Caritas Japan accompanied by Fr. Robert Mathias CSC and Mr. Stephen Gangmei Zonal manager N.E India , Caritas India.
-Mr. Bruno Msha.
Inter-village Exposure program:
Under the project Community Managed Disaster Risk Riduction (CMDRR), JUST successfully organised an Exposure program on Inter-village Learning for the Social Mobilizers and the Community leaders of Flood prone areas of Kumarghat Block on the 28th January 2011. :-
The main objective of organising such program was to visualize the impact of traditional coping practices. The process of accessing Govt. Schemes too was explaned. The team then visited the old project areas of Teliamura block and had interaction with the families and communities. They had also visited the successful work done on the river banks to mitigate the risk of flood and soil-erosion.
Some of the learnings from the exposure trip were:
Situation analysis:- Process adopted to analyze their problems, characteristic of hazards, identified innovative ideas (scientific, traditional).
Move to Action Families motivated to adopt traditional practices, to move to line departments etc. th March, 2011, a day was spent in a village called Indra Colony under kumarghat block with the villagers. The main topics shared were:
· How the simple tools and techniques can save one’s life.
· Roles and responsibilities of TFGs
· Demonstration on Rescue Tools preparation
· Demonstration on the process of First Aid.
Community people were highly inspired by witnessing the techniques and process of preparing tools. They expressed the importance to have similar kind of TFGs in their villages also.
-Jobesh Sarkar
Sustainability:- Stages of BCC were explained by the families living near the river bank.
-Mr. Gopal Depnath
Strengthening diffirent Task Forces on Disaster Preparedness:
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-Sr. Susheela Xess.
SHG Annual Day observes in different zones:
The project assisted by Manos Unidas has completed four SHG Annual Day Programs in different villages. Viz. Bidhibazar, Theilakung, Krishnahowpara and Danlekha.
Having done formation of SHGs, imparting Knowledge and Skill based trainings by the outsiders are not the limit for the rural people, especially for those communities living in the interior places of South and West Tripura districts. Thus, the organization felt it best to create a platform for all the SHG members to express and share each one’s views and experiances with the lives after being a member of Self Help Groups. Infact, it has worked with it when we just analysed with the past programs conducted. Weaker groups now have learnt from the stronger groups in every aspect. The struggle they made for a better standard of living by starting an Income Generation Programs and the way SHG members are trying their best to access Government Schemes are worth mentioning.
-Birendra Jamatia.
Caritasn Japan visit to JUST.
