Charitable trusts, whether temples, churches or mosques, non-government organisations (NGOs), educational institutions or societies, if registered as non-profit organisations (NPOs), will not only have to disclose the source of their funds, but also be scrutinised for large monetary transactions.

The change has been introduced by an amendment to the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) 2002, notified in the Official Gazette on November 12, 2009 to bring NPOs under the purview of the law. Earlier, the entities that fell under the ambit of the law included only chit fund companies, banking companies, financial institutions and housing finance companies.

The amendment now says any company registered under section 25 of the Indian Companies Act, 1956, and/or as a trust or society under the Societies Act, 1860, or any similar state legislation, will be brought under the purview of PMLA.

There are easily over a million charitable and private organisations registered in the country under these laws and their annual monetary transactions, through banking and other channels, runs into billions of rupees.

Earlier, the NPOs were not required to disclose the source of their funds, except in some specific cases. However, now they will have to adhere strictly to know-your-customer norms in case of any donations they receive, according to banking standards, and will have to regularly maintain detailed statements of their funds received and investments made and will have to disclose this.

The move would also affirm India's attempts towards getting membership in the important inter-government body, Financial Action Task Force (FATF), set up to combat money laundering and terror financing.

For India to become a member, FATF had suggested 49 action points. The government had allowed overseas payment gateways such as Visa and Master, brought money changers and money transfer service providers under the ambit of PMLA and imposed mandatory disclosures on these entities. Insider trading and market manipulation, human trafficking, smuggling of migrants, piracy and environmental crimes, over-invoicing and under-invoicing, have all become an offence under PMLA, inviting stricter punishment.

Bangalore: No less than a fourth of India's geographical area, or 81 million hectares, is undergoing a process of desertification, reveals a first-of-its- kind 'desertification status map' of the country created by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in collaboration with several scientific institutions across the country.

A host of reasons are responsible for this phenomenon, including changes in rainfall pattern and over-exploitation of natural resources, says the research paper based on this data.The spatial inventory, which uses satellite imagery from an Indian Remote Sensing Satellite, Resourcesat, also reveals that a third of the country's area (or 105.48 million hectares) is degraded.

At least eight processes were at work, of which water erosion is the most pronounced, followed by reducing vegetation cover (9.63 per cent) and wind erosion (5.34 per cent). Together 32.07 per cent of the total geographic area is being transformed by land degradation. Put together, about 228 million hectares, or 69 per cent of the country constitute 'dry land.'

State-wise, Rajasthan has the largest area (21.77 per cent of the total geographical area) undergoing land degradation, followed by Jammu and Kashmir (12.79 per cent), Maharashtra (12.66 per cent) and Gujarat (12.72 per cent).

"There is tremendous pressure on our land-based natural resources" say the authors of the paper, adding that this information could serve as baseline data to monitor and develop strategies to arrest desertification.
ISRO's Space Applications Centre in Ahmedabad served as the nodal coordinating organisation for the study.-- Divya Gandhi.

New Delhi, Nov 18: Taking serious note of the fact that basic health facilities were not reaching the poor in rural areas, the Delhi High Court in a notice asked the health ministry to consider whether the present course can be reduced from five years to three years, changing the MBBS curriculum so that basic health facilities can be reached to the rural population.

"This is a very important issue. Almost 80 percent of the rural population is devoid of the basic public health and this fact should be considered seriously," the court said while asking the ministry to file its response by Dec 9.

The court was hearing a public interest petition filed by Dr. Meenakshi Gautham, a public health specialist, who contended that a person who completes his MBBS either rush to big cities or go abroad, and therefore a large majority of people are not able to get proper medical treatment, and are forced to depend either on untrained and uncertified rural medical practitioners, or on quacks.

"The irony is that 80 percent of the common medical problems and ailments can be treated at the level of primary health care and do not require attention of a professional trained in highly academic, sophisticated, five-and a half-year long course like MBBS," advocate Prashant Bhushan said, and suggested the ministry should follow the educational model adopted by China.

Opening more medical colleges is not the solution to India's chronic shortage of doctors in the rural areas. India is the largest supplier of foreign medical graduates to the United States and the United Kingdom. Yet, its own rural areas have remained chronically deprived of professional doctors. The historical antecedents of these shortages could be traced to a landmark health policy document, the Bhore Committee Report of 1946. That report constructed the concept of a `basic' doctor as one trained through five-and-a-half years of university education. An alternative cadre of Licentiates, who were trained over a shorter duration and who formed two-thirds of the country's medical practitioners then, was abolished, in spite of strong dissent from several members of the committee.

These dissenting comments must be revisited in the context of India's persistently poor health indices and inadequate health services for the majority. --By Meenakshi Gautham & K.M. Shyamprasad.

The continuing momentum of India's GDP growth has widened the economic disparities between the people, adding further complexities to the country's diverse sociocultural, geo-climatic fabric. This offers a fertile ground for founding and nurturing 'social enterprises' for catering the benefits of economic growth to people at the grass roots.

These 'social enterprises' are not only economically viable, but are earning decent 'profits' on a sustainable basis, according to a dozen experts who represent NGOs, charitable trusts, venture capitals, investment banks, rating agencies, SME associations and CSR consultancies. They were all participating in a workshop on "Transformation of SMEs into Social Enterprises" organized by Indian Merchants' Chamber on October 30.

Among the experts were: Mr Sanjay Bapat, MD of Indian NGOs.Com; Mr Stephen Farrell, UK-based Consultant on CSR; Mr Amit Paul, Asst. Vice-President of SIDBI Venture capital; Mr Debal Mitra, DGM, CARE ratings; Mr Sanjiv Saraf, Vice-President, ICICI Securities; Mr Deepak K Doshi, President of Indian Samll-scale Paints Association; Mr P K Sharma, founder president of the Centre for Rural Development's 'Rickshaw Bank Project', and Mr. Aniruddha Shah as well as Mr M J Shah, Coordinators of the Activities of Anarde Foundation at the National and Gujarat State levels respectively.

The realization that social progress and profit are not mutually exclusive is gaining ground, and has led to successful social enterprises as Amul and Shri Mahila Gruha Udyog Lijjat Papad etc, wherein the enterprises are owned -- not by individuals -- by general public, all earning decent profits while also simultaneously ensuring a fair price for their products and services.

Micro finance held the key to alleviate poverty in highly populated states like Bihar and UP. It was not very difficult to emulate the successful example of Amul, if we provide micro-finance to idle villagers for buying milch cattle.. Experience had borne out that 90 % borrowers of micro finance punctually repaid the loan installments with interest, and the remaining ten per cent also repaid after some adjustment in repayment schedules.

It was possible to use the mobile telephones to provide timely market intelligence to rural people about the prevailing prices of primary commodities such as milk, poultry, vegetables, fruits, food grains in the nearby cities and towns. "In tie-up with Reuters, Nokia has begun such a service," Mr Bapat said.

India had a 6000 km long coastline with beautiful beaches. It was possible to develop eco tourism in a cluster of every six or seven coastal villages and generate employment and incomes for the villagers. With the help of micro finance, small enterprises could undertake this task.

Mr Stephen Farrell, Consultant, CSR, said that there were about 62,000 social enterprises serving the UK's population of 65 million, generating a turnover of Pound Sterling 27 billion, contributing one per cent of the GDP. The government had enacted comprehensive laws for regulating these "community interest companies" and encouraged them through various schemes.

Mr. P. K. Sharma (email: crd4ev@yahoo.com / Web: crdev.org) said that the Centre for Rural Development set up 'Rickshaw Bank Project' in 2004 in Guwahati for providing social security and bank linkages for rickshaw drivers, who operated pedal-driven vehicles. The Rickshaw Bank Project enabled these drivers to become owners of their vehicles, many banks came forth to provide the necessary finance for buying the vehicles. corporates like Hindustan Levers placed advertisement of their products on the vehicles.

Today the project has spread to Lucknow, Allahabad, Kharagpur, Benares, Delhi, Surat and Chennai. And has expanded to include door-to-door carts of vendors of vegetable and other commodities. For developing entrepreneurship among them, we have also created local groups, each consisting of 25 rickshaw owners, so that they could manage the group affairs autonomously," Mr Sharma said.

Mr Amit Paul said venture capitalists were eager to lend support to good, viable project proposals from social entrepreneurs. He cited instances of SIDBI successfully nurturing social enterprises from inception, such as (a) the Mobile Money Transfer courier service which is engaged in transfer of credit cards and debit cards, (b) Build Desk.Com, which undertook back office functions of most reputed banks today, and (c) some car rental enterprises.

Karnataka State Conference 2009 at Alliance Francaise, on Nov. 9 and 10.

There is a growing consensus in India that the present Majoritarian Electoral System does not fall in line with the type of democracy that was visualized at the time of India's entry into a post colonial governance of the country. Dr. B R Ambedkar himself voiced it in 1955 when he passed a resolution to change the Electoral system of India to the one with multimember constituency.
It is common knowledge that today in India political parties come to power with less than 30% of polled votes leaving out a vast majority of voters unrepresented both in the State Assemblies and in the Indian Parliament. Even in this situation the percentage of votes that a party gains does not truly represent the number of seats that they gain. Thus many parties in India with less percentage of votes come to power by virtue of the number of seats that they gain. This is a virtual democratic anomaly that we witness today. Practically this situation leaves the doors wide open for corruption, horse-trading, communalism and goondaism. This also results in the growing apathy of voters. More and more voters, especially from the middle classes do not want to participate in elections as they do not see the value of their vote in its representation.

Many countries in the world have already reformed their electoral system towards a Proportionate electoral System which distributes seats in the Assemblies and Parliament according to the percentage of votes that a party gains in elections. This system also guarantees that each voter is truly represented in the Parliament even if the candidate that he voted for does not win elections. More and more countries are still in the process of reforming their electoral systems so that democracy becomes more representative of citizens. In our own doorsteps Nepal has already adapted the Proportionate Electoral System and has set an example in Asia for a practice of more meaningful democracy.

The Conference made a critical analysis of the existing electoral system in India; examining the models of Proportionate Electoral System as practiced in Germany, Norway, New Zealand and Nepal; search for an appropriate model of Proportionate Electoral System for India and formation of a State Campaign Committee will be the major tasks of the Conference.

Contact: Coordinator CERI Mobile: 9900985384 Coordinator CERI Karnataka
Mobile: 9448802706 E-Mail: ceri.reds@gmail.com, pradeepesteves@gmail.com.

Emphasizing that the regions where AFSPA has been imposed, there exist suppressed democratic aspiration of people; and the prolonged imposition of AFSPA has resulted in deepening the cycle of violence. Repealing AFSPA will open up the necessary democratic space for addressing the root causes of the political instability.

Therefore the collective unanimously calls upon the Government of India.

1. To repeal immediately
• The Armed Forces (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya,Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura) Special Powers Act, 1958 (as amended in 1972), and
• The Jammu and Kashmir Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1990.

2. To refrain from inserting any part of the Acts into any other legislationgranting unbridled powers to the armed forces of the union or the State police.

Calls upon the people of India to support the ongoing campaign for the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act and resist the increasing militarization of democratic spaces.

*Participant organizations: *Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP)Boro Women Justice Forum (BWJF)Borok People's Human Rights Organisation (BPHRO)Borok Women's Forum (BWF)Campaign For Peace & Democracy (Manipur) (CPDM)Centre for Law Development (CLD), Srinagar Human Rights Alert (HRA)Indian Social Action Forum (INSAF)Jammu & Kashmir Trade Union Centre (JKTUC)Karbi Nimso Chingthur Asong (KNCA) Manipur Students' Association Delhi (MSAD)Muslim Khawateen Markaz (MKM)Naga Women's Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR)Naga Women Union Manipur (NWUM)New Trade Union Initiatives (NTUI)Saheli Women's Group (NWG)Samindar Karbi Anime (SKA) The Other Media (TOM).
<http://www.icrindia.org> <youngactivists-unsubscribe@lists.riseup.net>.

Chennai: Indian Community Welfare Organisation organized a Miss. India Contest for Transgender in Chennai on Dec. 19 with the support of TANSACS, APAC & ACTIONAID Chennai region. The event aimed to provide an opportunity for transgenders across the country to showcase their talents & skills and address the issues related to transgender community.

Geetha Jeevan. P, Minister for Social Welfare, Government of Tamil Nadu released the registration form for the Miss. India Contest for Transgender Nov 20. Contact Ms. Arthi Tarun 98403 29900 or Ms. Daizy 99622 56419. or Indian Community Welfare Organisation - I.C.W.O.Chennai-Phone: 044-26184392, 65515742 Mobile: 98401-88821
Email: fieldmaster2000@hotmail.com Website: www.icwoindia.org.

International film Festival of Kashmir 2009.

The third edition of this festival was organised by XMITA (Experimental Moving Images & Theatre Asociation), a Srinagar-based cultural organisation, in association with J&K Academy of Arts and Culture on 13-15 November 2009 at Srinagar.

Some of the works screened include, Yousef Saeed's Khayal Darpan, exploring the development of classical music in Pakistan, Amar Kanwar's The Lightning Testimonies, which reflects on a history of conflict in the subcontinent through experiences of gender violence; Musa Syeed's Bronks Princess, a story of an American-born Muslim girl searching for her identity; Out of Thin Air, by Samreen Farouqi and Shaban Hassanwlia about the indigenous film industry of Ladakh; Riding Solo, by Gaurav Jani; Hearts Suspended, by Meghna Damani; and Know Me by Ali Emran.
Contact: nicheant@gmail.com.

Kashish - Mumbai Queer Film Festival, 2010

This is an attempt by Solaris Pictures and Bombay Dost to unearth films on queer themes and showcase them, celebrating the creativity of the filmmakers (whether heterosexual or queer) and the increasing visibility of the queer community. The festival will offer cinema as a medium to understand what being queer means today and how it impacts both the queer community and the society at large.

Kashish will be held between April 22 and April 25, 2010, and will be spread across two venues in Mumbai - one in the city and one in the suburbs. Features, short films, documentaries and experimental films will be screened, highlighting gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender characters and stories. The films will explore the diverse realities, complexities, joys and sorrows that make up the Indian queer experience as well as celebrate, reclaim, and explain LGBTQ identities while engaging and entertaining audiences. Contact: Sridhar Rangayan (Solaris Pictures), Festival Director, Cell: +91.98211 40940; Email: kashishmqff@gmail.com website: www.solarispictures.com Vivek Anand ( Bombay Dost), Festival Director.
Cell: +91 98211 52980; Email: avivekr@gmail.com or Pallav Patankar ( Bombay Dost), Press liaison Cell: +91 96190 12251;
Email: pallavpatankar@gmail.com Website: www.bombaydost.co.in.

Hope Dies Last in War

Directed by Supriyo Sen, this documentary focuses on the two-week Indo-Pakistani conflict of 1971 left dozens of Indian prisoners of war unaccounted for and presumed to be in Pakistan detention.

Making the Face

Based in Manipur, this film by Suvendu Chatterjee deals with identity in general and the personal story of Tom Sharma, a transgendered make-up artist. Tom feels he possesses a woman's soul in a man's body. The story is centered around Tom Sharma's life in the backdrop of the turmoil in Manipuri society owing to the long drawn problems of insurgency leading to state sponsored violence on the citizens in the name of counter insurgency. Contact: (011)24355941 / visit www.psbt.org.

The Third Pole
Directed by Neel Chaudhuri
Produced by Navdanya

This film is on the residing glaciers in the Himalaya and the effects of climate change on ecosystems and biodiversity, in India, in particular.

55th National Film Awards, 2007

Living with the Park - Ranthombore National Park
English - 24 minutes
Filmed and directed by Dr Susan Sharma

The film looks at the popular tiger reserve as an integrated universe comprising its animals and people in the adjoining areas. The forests connects the two and neither one can flourish with the other. So is the policy of segregating the park as a preserve for animals alienating the people who lived in harmony with the park for decades, helping the Park? There are no quick answers. The film depicts the main attraction of the park the Bengal Tiger which is in danger of getting decimated here, as it has already happened in Sariska earlier. It is time we looked outside the park for the reasons, at the humanity which is living outside, their lives still connected to the Park - the people who are living with the park.

To Corbett With Love
English - 24 Minutes
Filmed and directed by Dr. Susan Sharma.

This 24 minute video was exclusively shot in Corbett Park and portrays the park's magnificent forests with their rich flora and fauna which attract more than 48,000 tourists annually. The film looks at the conversion of Jim Corbett, the Nainital- born Britisher who founded the National Park, from hunter to protector of wildlife. In the film you can meet Subedar Ali, the mahout who survived a tiger attack, spent a year in hospital and then came back to work in Corbett Park as a mahout, taking photographers and tourists for jungle trips. The film is a tribute to the silent protectors of the tiger. Contact: Mr Raj Pal Singh,Network Services and Supporter Relations, World Wide Fund for Nature-India, Pirojsha Godrej National Conservation Centre, 172 B, Lodi Estate, New Delhi, 110003 .Tel: 41504815-19/ 41504808 E-mail: rbakshi@wwfindia.net.

Dabbawala. The Lunchbox Miracle
Documentary film by Antje Christ

This film is about dabbawallas in the Mumbai with 20 million people, where 5000 Dabbawalas deliver each day 200,000 lunches - homemade cooking for Indian employees. The lunch containers, called tiffin-boxes, get handled by dozens of hands and travel many kilometres; by bike, by handcart, by train, afoot or on heads. The Dabbawalas' system is as good as faultless - no monsoon, no traffic chaos stops them to deliver on time. It is a logistic masterpiece which Forbes Global Magazine awarded with the Six Sigma for quality. This film was awarded the 2008 'Deutscher Wirtschaftsfilmprei s' (German Economic Film Award) in the category 'Films on Economy'.

Jinki Re Jinki"
A seven year old child becomes unwanted even to his mother. His father had left her mother and she had to sustain her son and a daughter on her very low income as a land labour. He was troublesome through antics not only to his mother but to the villagers also. They used to complain his mother every other day. One day the child is inhumanly beaten by the teacher and the child leaves the school.. Next year , an enthusiastic teacher comes to the village on transfer and his approach makes the child attend school again. The child gradually gets higher education and even goes abroad for specialized qualification in education. He enters in Government service as an officer in education department. This is the story of Bhau Gawande. He wrote his autobiography "Prakashachya Umbarthyawar" published by "Granthali on 5th December 2003.
Contact: Granthali <granthali09@gmail.com>

I Wonder
(70 min, 2009)
Produced by PSBT
Dir. Anupama Srinivasan

The film is a journey with children from rural parts of Rajasthan, Sikkim and Tamil Nadu as they traverse through school, home and life. What does school mean to children? What kind of learning takes place within the school and outside it? It looks at their everyday experiences, inviting all to ponder on what education is, what it could beu and what it need not be. Contact: Anupama Srinivasan <onusrinivasan@hotmail.com>

Homegrown Revolution

It was one of five films from the U.S. accepted in the CMS Vatavaran Environment & Wildlife Film Festival in New Delhi, October 27-31, 2009. The Dervaes family is eager to share experiences and interact with other urban farmers or would be farmers. They began this journey to a self sufficient, ecologically sustainable, low impact life, in the mid-1980s, by creating an urban homestead in the city, where they grow their food around the year organically using alternative energy sources and doing water conservation among many other things. Urban Leaves is a volunteer group working under the aegis of Vidya Varidhi Trust - a non profit organization with the objective of spreading awareness, impart knowledge and skills to create organic urban farms and move towards ecologically sustainable living! Contact: Geeta Jhamb at geet@earthling.net , Cell: 9833699811,
E-mail: info@pathtofreedom.com.

NEWS

A documentary - The Forgotten Woman - directed by Dilip Mehta and produced by David Hamilton has been invited by the Academy of Motion Picture Art and Sciences in April 2010 to be presented as part of their Contemporary Series of outstanding documentaries. This documentary tells the story of some of the 20 million Indian widows who are abandoned by their families and literally turned out into the streets when their husbands died. "Water" was a fictional recounting of this terrible tradition, set in 1938. "The Forgotten Woman" is true and happening today.

Scheme for Award of Fellowships

The Ministry of Culture operates the Scheme for Award of Senior/Junior Fellowships for undertaking research oriented projects in the fields of Performing, Literary, Plastic Arts and New Areas related to Culture. Under this scheme, 250 (125 Senior and 125 Junior) Fellowships are awarded every year.

Applications are invited from eligible persons for award of Senior/Junior Fellowships for the year 2009-10. Details of the Scheme, instructions for applicants and the application form can be downloaded from the website of the Ministry: www.indiaculture.gov.in.

Applications should be addressed to Section Officer (S&F), Ministry of Culture, Government of India. Applications for Senior Fellowships may be sent to Post Box/Post Bag No. 521, General Post Office, Gol Dak-khana, New Delhi-110001 and applications for Junior Fellowships to Post Box/Post Bag No. 522, General Post Office, Gol Dak-khana, New Delhi-110001 so as to reach on or before the last date for receipt of applications. Deadline for applications: 31st December 2009. Contact: Section Officer (S&F) Section, tel. 011- 23389608. Website: http://indiaculture.nic.in/indiacul ture/sjf-fellowship.htm.

Unpackaging Human Rights: Concepts, Concerns & Campaigns
Edited by Saumya Uma
184 p, Rs. 200
Publisher: Women's Research & Action Group and DRTC.

With human rights becoming an important part of college curriculum, a book that gave the student a thorough insight into the issues devolving from Human Rights was essential. This comprehensive reference book combines theory, concepts, debates and discourses with ground realities, concerns, campaigns, movements and advocacy initiatives. Since it is published by two committed NGOs it has greater value for being truly 'human' in its outlook. The authors are experts in their field and have ensured that the book is not too pedantic or theoretical. Contact: Documentation & Research Centre (DRTC) of the Justice & Peace Commission, St Pius College Mumbai Tel: 228756953 Women's Research & Action Group email: wrag2009@gmail.com.

Performance Activism and Civic Engagement through Symbolic and Playful Actions
by Arvind Singhal and Karen Greiner.

This December 2008 paper analyses the role of performance activism in enthusing, engaging, and mobilising a citizenry. The authors focus on the role of symbolic protests and actions, analysing 3 cases of performance activism in 3 different contexts: Gandhi's symbolic mass mobilisation protests in India; Antanas Mockus' civic engagement strategies in Bogota, Colombia; and the actions of "Billionaires for Bush" in the United States. Through these illustrations, the authors demonstrate their conviction that "symbols and play, taken together, represent highly powerful tools of spurring civic engagement, building social movements, and promoting social justice." http://www.comminit.com/en/node/298236/348.

Making India Work
By William Nanda Bissell
248p, Rs.499
Published by Penguin Books India

The new CEO of FabIndia, (India's rural crafts success story par excellence) and son of the founder, tries to find a new paradigm which equates use with quality for all. Bissell writes from knowledge from practice- having had experiences with rural India, the bureaucracy, 40,000 villagers and the elite, villages and the cities. "I ask you to re-imagine India", he says, to make the invisible visible and the abstract concrete. He asks to see India as a place where people's rights translate into real benefits. Every "right" will be measurable and therefore achievable. Every asset will be accounted for and therefore tradable.

"If we do not change our mindset, we risk losing our planet in our attempt to gain material prosperity for and in the name of the poor. This book is a proposal for rapid, environmentally sustainable and democratic growth." And to re-imagine India, Bissell takes into account every aspect: justice, rural economies, materialism, energy et al. Read it to find an alternative to what is happening in today's corrupt world.

10 Tactics for Turning Information into Action

Tactical Technology Collective (TTC) with the Center for Internet and Society (CIS) and the Alternative Law Forum launched TTC's newest toolkit - in Bangalore. This toolkit explores the use of technology and social media platforms such as Google Earth, Twitter and Facebook on human rights advocacy in the developing world. The film presents ten strategies for turning information into action and is aimed at global human rights advocates, as well as campaigners of all kinds.

The launch was in the form of a screening of a documentary film which is relevant to advocates working in the grassroots, campaigners, information activists. For more information about the film and the event log in to :
http://www.informationactivism.org / Contact: Tactical Technology Collective India, Apt 201, 39, North Road, Cooke Town, Bangalore 560 084..Telefax: (080) 4153 1129, Tel: (080) 2580 5668 Web: http://www.tacticaltech.org.

Dialogue on AIDS: Perspectives for the Indian Context
Edited by Ritu Priya & Shalina Mehta

The launch of this publication in New Delhi was part of the Workshop Series Cross-Learnings between the National AIDS Control Programme and the National Rural Health Mission.

This volume includes some very strongly critical analyses of the AIDS control efforts, and also incorporates papers by those who have been directly involved in the operationalising of these efforts. The purpose is to 'dialogue', to bring together diverse opinions and perspectives. Different theoretical moorings can be found in the papers by different authors, from a political economy perspective to an administrative approach, to a more cultural or social psychology focus. The critical analyses of existing approaches exhibit divergent points of view among themselves.

The authors of papers provide alternative directions to the ones they critique. Some papers in each section focus primarily on possible suggestions for a more effective change.

Sarpanch Sahib- Changing the face of India
Edited by Manjima Bhattacharya
152p, Rs. 175
Published byHarper Collins Publishers India
Sponsored by The Hunger Project

The book contains stories of seven gutsy women in seven far-flung villages of India who contested and were elected sarpanches of their villages. From the adivasi sarpanch, the non-literate panchayat president, to young widows who have become seasoned politicians, the book is a tribute to the Panchayati Raj system and the historic role women are now playing to end corruption in a man's world, bring education and health to their villages despite the struggle against forces which prefer to keep these out, and their determination to play out their terms and make a difference.All these women had passed through trainings organized by The Hunger Project India and their partners. Each story has been written by professional writers and show an empathy and understanding of the political situation in which these women now find themselves.

Spark Plugs
Edited and compiled by PS Ganesan
Pgs. 80
Available at Tel: 022-25232292, mcwf701@yahoo.com.

Contains the stories of 28 activists of Chembur with their tel. nos etc. Sponsored by the Mumbai Citizen's Welfare Forum the small book is notonly informative butinspirational as well.

10, More Stories.

NEWS Pgs 2-5

Leprologists meet

Mumbai: As a part of the Continuing Medical Education Programme and also as a part of the activities aimed at improving the services to leprosy patients, Indian Association of Leprologists - Maharshtra Branch in collaboration with Bombay Leprosy Project organized a half day seminar on "Review of Proceedings of 27th Biennial Conference of Indian Association of Leprologists, in Delhi, in October 2009".

The seminar covered the proceedings of meetings related to epidemiological aspects, clinical aspects, scientific papers on nerve damage and disability care, laboratory aspects and other newer developments in leprosy management. The topics were reviewed and discussed by the Post Graduate residents of Dept of Dermatology, KJ Somaiya Medical College on Nov.11.

In keeping with the tradition and the continued commitment of Bombay Leprosy Project for the welfare of children affected with Leprosy, on 14th November'09, BLP observed Children's Day by providing gifts and educational materials to children affected by Leprosy.

The event was organized at BLP's Referral Centre where some leprosy affected children were provided school bags and pouches to keep stationery so as to motivate them in their education and live a normal childhood life like any other child. BLP's attempt is in a small way a gesture to eliminate the stigma and discrimination faced by leprosy patients and their families" bombayleprosy@mtnl.net.in.

WORLD DISABLED DAY

Chennai: Awards were presented to twenty self-employed disabled persons in Tamil Nadu on 29TH Nov. 29 in connection with the World Disabled Day by Nandini Voice for The Deprived , a Chennai based NGO .Five disabled persons, who have been serving the cause of the disabled persons were also honoured.

The function was held at the Dakshinamoorthi auditorium in Mylapore and was presided over by Swami Gautamananda, President, Sri Rama Krishna Mutt, Chennai.

Mr Gnani, Tamil writer and the social activist gave the key note address and several disabled persons spoke about their problems and aspirations.
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Orientation Programme on Wildlife Conservation' for Kerala High Court judges

Walk On

Hyderabad: Walk On '09 is an initiative of Aashayein Foundation where people come together on a Sunday morning for the cause of Education. On Dec. 13, as the sun rose above the horizon, hundreds of Hyderabadis from various walks of life gathered at Necklace road for a short 5km walk in celebration of Education-- towards 100% literacy.

Lok Satta Party Chief and Kukkatpally MLA Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan(JP) was the chief guest .Contact Dhanraj @ +91 998 530 1985.

e-Health cards for poor kids

New Delhi: The electronic health cards (EHC) will help them access free medical treatment at all state-owned hospitals and primary health centres.

The Union Health Ministry is planning to issue these electronic health cards (EHC) to under-privileged children and making a national health portal that will display facilities available in different government hospitals, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Dinesh Trivedi said.

"The electronic health cards (EHC) will help them access free medical treatment at all state-owned hospitals and primary health centres," the Minister said.

"The project head of the Unique Identification Number Authority of India (UIDAI) project, Nandan Nilekani, has already been asked to collect information about such children at a meeting," Trivedi said.

The Minister was speaking at the seventh Knowledge Millennium Summit on Health organised by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and industry of India (Assocham).

Getting Down to Earth

Mumbai: 'Hazaro Khwaishe Aise' is a musical production crafted by Down To Earth (DTE) a Mumbai based non-profit organization. 60 children associated with five Mumbai based NGOs (Apne Aap, Prerna, Salaam Balak Trust, Smile and DTE) showcased their skills in a musical that weaves a narrative around the power of dreams. Most of the children will be on a stage for the first time in their lives. The shows were held on Dec. 12 and 13 at at St Mary's ICSE School, Mazgaon, Mumbai.

Calling Disability and Deaf arts
London: An organisation called DaDa - disability and deaf arts - based in Liverpool, UK is working nationally and internationally with deaf and disabled artists and cultural activists.

Their work is about making opportunities to include everyone in arts and cultural activity, and promote events to showcase Disability & Deaf arts: the production of performance pieces, exhibitions, music, video, comedy and theatre, backed up by debates and discussions on the state of disability art. Each year they hold a festival, DaDaFest, which serves as a showcase for the best work internationally.

Much of the work is at the cutting edge in its field.. It raises questions about the labelling of disability, of identity, normalcy, the universal, of vulnerability, and of prejudice. It works as Outsider art at differing levels - some of the pieces are overtly political, others are visionary, disturbing, historical, abstract, hardhitting, hilarious, revelatory. The 2009 theme of 'Imperfect Moments' offers a sense of the multiple ways in which DaDAFest works to challenge thinking through the power of art.

For the 2010 Festival they currently have works commissioned: from China - a deaf orchestral group; from South Africa - a photographic take on disabled women's bodies; from USA and UK - burlesque performers in and out of wheelchairs - and much more.
WANTED: groups or individuals, disabled or deaf artists from India, who are currently developing ideas and projects and who would be willing to consider working with DaDafest 2010.

Janet Price
Board member: DaDa Disability and Deaf Arts,
Bluecoat Chambers, School Lane, Liverpool
website: www.dadahello.com
Facebook: DaDa Disability and Deaf Arts

81 child labourers rehabilitated in Bihar on NHRCs intervention

New Delhi, National Human Rights Commission(NHRC) managed to rehabilitate 81 child labourers in Bihar rescued from carpet looms in Uttar Pradesh during 1993-2003. The Commission has asked the district authorities to complete rehabilitation of remaining 60 child labourers as per the list provided by its Investigation Division to them and submit a report.

The team reported that rehabilitation of 39 child labourers was completed before its visit, while 2 had expired. 42 other child labourers were rehabilitated after the intervention of the team. In the case of 10 others, photocopies of the release certificates were provided to the authorities and they agreed in principle to initiate the process of rehabilitation on the basis of these documents only. As regards, the remaining 50 cases of child labourers, the concerned district magistrates have initiated action to process the release certificates from their counterparts in Uttar Pradesh. Bachpan Bachao Andolan' anetwork of 780 NGOs has released over 77,000 child and bonded labourers since 1980.

Umesh Kumar Gupta,Coordinator, Communications, Bachpan Bachao Andolan, New Delhi
Ph: 91-11-26224899,41328866, Email: advocacy@bba.org.in; URL: www.bba.org.in.

World AIDS Day
`Universal Access and Human rights' is the theme chosen for World AIDS Day this year to stress that universal access to HIV and AIDS treatment, prevention, care and support services are fundamental human rights.
Kolkata: Drik India the overseas branch of the award winning new media agency Drik Bangladesh has taken part in the World AIDS Day Campaign in developing some campaign materials including two posters. The conceptualisation , designing and printing was done by Drik India and the campaign is supported by West Bengal State AIDS Prevention and Control Society (WBSAPCS), NACO. Contact: Drik India.
Kolkata: Tel : (+91 33) 2454 5596/2475 5391 Email : drikindia@gmail.com, Web : www.drik.net/india.

The Red Ribbon Express in its second phase which began on Dec. 1, will halt at 152 stations in high prevalence areas and disseminate information about the disease among the masses and try to unite people by dispelling existing misconceptions during its year-long journey. Among the 152 halts of the train in this journey, 86 are new stoppages, not covered during the last tour of the train. During its halts, volunteers will disseminate information regarding prevention and services, in order to help people develop an understanding about the infection in order to reduce stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS. The eight-coach train with both doctors and volunteers on board will also strengthen people's knowledge about general health as well.

Manipur: A lot of people gathered for the cycle rally held on Nov. 29 to spread awareness about HIV/AIDS organised by the Manipur Voluntary Health Association of Imphal. The cyclists rallied through the far-flung villages of the district. Manipur is placed sixth on the chart of States, where the occurrences of HIV positive cases are found.

NGOs: why toss and delay AIDS Bill?

Delhi Several organisations working on issues surrounding HIV/AIDS on made a vociferous demand for the immediate tabling of the HIV/AIDS Bill, 2009.

The Bill was drafted and finalised in 2006 by the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry after country-wide consultations with stakeholders and sent to the Law Ministry. From 2007 to October 2009, the Law Ministry released four drafts, each omitting several critical provisions aimed at promoting and protecting the rights of people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS.

The journey of the HIV/AIDS Bill has been extremely long, characterised by disappointing drafts, and public protests against various versions of the Bill that diluted its objectives and spirit, Daisy David of the Indian Network for People Living with HIV/AIDS (INP+), told a press conference it was disheartening to see the Bill shuttling between the two ministries for the past three years. "We need this Bill to fight discrimination against people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS," she said.

It contains special provisions to address the vulnerabilities of women and children to HIV, according to Manjula K. of Action Aid. "The Bill entitles a survivor of sexual assault, even if it occurs within marriage, to access HIV-related counselling and preventive treatment."

Pradeep Dutta of the Nai Umang Network of Positive People said passing the law would make it easier for HIV positive people to access treatment. The Bill also provides legal immunity to the provider and the receiver of services under targeted intervention programmes like condom promotion among sex workers and distribution of clean needles to drug users.

Sudha Jha from Solidarity and Action Against The HIV Infection in India (SAATHII), Kolkata, said "The Bill provides a much needed fillip to risk reduction services."

Joe Thomas of AIDS-INDIA said: "In light of the routine rights violations faced by people living with HIV/AIDS, the tabling and passing of this Bill is extremely important. The government cannot afford to delay this any further."

Just released !--a short (1 minute) awareness clipping on HIV / AIDS Stigma and Discrimination in Tamil with English sub titles. Available to all on 1st December in UTube. Munusamy Raviraaj, Kalanjiyam Trust www.kalanjiyam.org.
Raviraaj M" <raviraajm@gmail.com>.

Jabalpur: A Poster competition was organized by Department of Community Medicine NSCB Medical College Jabalpur. for different school & college studentsof Jabalpur on World AIDS Day 1st December.Dr. K.D. Baghel Dean has inaugurated exhibition. Rangoli with AIDS as its central theme, on the spot slogan competition Contact: Dr. P.K.Kasar, Department of Community Medicine.
e-mail: kasarpk@yahoo.co.in & kasarpk@gmail.com.

The Kerala State AIDS Control Society (KSACS) conducted seminars, public meetings, rallies, red ribbon events and poster exhibitions to mark the observance of World AIDS Day on December 1. Health Minister P.K. Sreemathy inaugurated the State AIDS Day followed by a magic show presented by Gopinath Muthukad.

The Home Department held several programmes on World AIDS Day and about 30,000 police officials wore the red ribbon. Poster exhibition and awareness classes were organised in the State Armed Reserve Police Camp and the Central Prison will be inaugurated by the Additional DGP.

Special kiosks at railway stations and bus stations distributed AIDS awareness materials and the red ribbon and 28 voluntary blood donation camps were held across the State that day.

New Centre for senior citizens
Mumbai: Satyanarayan Puja' for the opening of the Silver InningsTM Active Ageing Center.

A day care center for Senior Citizens- their first facility was done on 1st Dec 2009 at the centre at Shop no. 10, Poonam Sagar Complex CHS LTD, Bldg. No. J -47/48, Opp.Sector 9, Behind Allahabad Bank, Mira Road - EastIndia. Pin: 401107. www.silverinnings.com Tel: 9987104233 Email: silverinnings@gmail.com.

Activists Target 'World of Coca-Cola'

ATLANTA, Georgia, USA - Activists from the U.S. and Colombia are targeting the World of Coca-Cola museum, located near its headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, accusing the company of "union busting", paying its workers "poverty wages", and engaging in environmentally destructive practices.

"We're an unofficial coalition with the India Resource Center, focusing on Coca-Cola overusing waters in drought areas. We're supporting Corporate Accountability International, that have been trying to stop the use of bottled water over tap water," Lew Friedman, of Killer Coke, told IPS.

"We're working on behalf of Sinaltrainal, the food workers in Colombia. They had eight union leaders murdered. Coca-Cola bottlers "contracted with or otherwise directed paramilitary security forces that utilize extreme violence and murdered, tortured, unlawfully detained or otherwise silenced trade union leaders", the lawsuit states. As part of their campaign, Killer Coke has been successful at getting over U.S. 50 colleges and universities to stop selling Coke, and at getting the Service Employee Industrial Union (SEIU) and teachers' unions to stop carrying Coke in their offices. www.killercoke.org - from an article by Matthew Cardinale.

TCS provides MIS for Impact

Mumbai: Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) provided Impact India Foundation (IIF), a comprehensive Management Information System for its Community Health Initiative project pro bono. Covering 1.5 mn. population in 38 primary health centres across 7 blocks in Thane District in Maharashtra the project is a National Rural Health Mission model capable of replication across the country.

The main objective of the MIS system is to provide IIF with a solution to measure the success of its various initiatives in this massive health programme, against targets set. TCS has extended the system to include traceability and accountability aspects to both the ground staff as well as the management of IIF. Contact : Impact India Foundation" <nkshirsagar@impactindia.org>

Miss Transgender India
Chennai: Indian Community Welfare Organisation organized a Miss. India Contest for Transgender in Chennai on Dec. 19 with the support of TANSACS, APAC & ACTIONAID Chennai region. The event aimed to provide an opportunity for transgenders across the country to showcase their talents & skills and address the issues related to transgender community.

Geetha Jeevan. P, Minister for Social Welfare, Government of Tamil Nadu released the registration form for the Miss. India Contest for Transgender Nov 20. Contact Ms. Arthi Tarun 98403 29900 or Ms. Daizy 99622 56419. or Indian Community Welfare Organisation - I.C.W.O.Chennai-Phone: 044-26184392, 65515742 Mobile: 98401-88821.
Email: fieldmaster2000@hotmail.com Website: www.icwoindia.org.

An international rock show was organized at Palace Grounds on Dec 5th. On the theme of Global Warming and Climate change to bring focus on the Copenhagen talks. Contact Soumya at 9986410233 / sowmyaragh@yahoo.com if interested in putting up a stall.

Changing Ideas of Rights,
Bangalore: Environment Support Group invited Usha Ramanathan to give a talk on 'Changing Ideas of Rights, Wrongs and Public Interest' (Enquiries into Changing Role of State vis a vis sovereignty, eminent domain, impoverishment and the return of the Contract) on Nov.27 at Ashirwad.

In a scintillating expose of the way the judiciary worked, Adv. Usha Ramanathan talked about the disconnect between Law and Legitimacy. Commenting on the Universal Identification No. which was supposedly for the poor, she commented that they are supposed to be thrilled that they will now "have an identity. "It is voluntary, she added, but "you wont be allowed to have a passport, bank account etc without it!!! Their slogan should be "till the last man gets a number!"

Contact Environment Support Group, Bangalore.Tel: 080--26713559- 61 Email: esg@esgindia.org Web: www.esgindia.org.

16 Days Campaign against Gender Violence
Chennai: Prajnya is a Chennai-based non-profit, working on areas related to peace, justice and security. *Between 25 November and 10 December every year, Prajnya organises the 16 Days Campaign against Gender Violence. Through this campaign, they raise awareness of the different ways in which women in particular arevulnerable to violence, at home, at their place of work, on campuses and in public spaces.Over 16 days, 16 different programmes, are held at different locations across the city, with different partners and for different audiences.

Prajnya (Prajnya Initiatives for Peace, Justice and Security) held four public events for the 16 Days Campaign against Gender Violence: 'In Concert', featuring S. Sowmya on Nov. 27; 'Not Silence, but Verse, Poetry Reading' on Nov. 28; Maaruvom, Maatruvom!, Public Forum, on Dec. 6, concluding with a '16 Days Campaign Public Lecture' by Dr. Jaya Arunachalam, on Dec. 10. visit www.prajnya.in/16days.htm and prajnya16days.blogspot.com; email: prajnya.16days@gmail.com or call 97907-65916.

Raipur: As a part of the Campaign of Sexual Violence Against Women and State Repression - women, women's organisations and women's groups from across the country met in Raipur on the Dec, 12th and 13th to discuss the increasing and rampant us of sexual violence against women as a method of state Repression. The vulnerability of women in the adivasi-dominated areas of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Orissa, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra has increased manifold with the state's armed offensive in these areas.

In order to show solidarity with the women who have stood up against sexual violence and sought justice through democratic means, the women of the campaign set out for the Dantewara district of Chhattisgarh on 13th evening. They were to later join the peaceful padhyatra seeking rehabilitation for displaced villages to begin at the Chetna Van Vasi Ashram. However bus drivers were threatened not to take the women as passengers.
Contact of Shri Vishwaranjan, DGP chhattisgarh is 09981551000.

16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence

Mumbai: Women Networking, an informal network of various women's groups, community organisations and interested individuals, to provide a platform to address women's issues such as livelihood, labour, violence, food, health and shelter, organized a programme to mark the culmination of 16 days of Activism against Gender Violence and Human Rights on 10 Dec.10 at YWCA, Andheri.

Two films were screened at this programme.Teesra Raasta by Anwar Jamal-- the story of a young woman facing the many kinds of subtle and overt violence, which come with expectations of dowry and how she develops strength to choose a path, enabling her to be independent. Jari Mari: of Cloth and Other Stories by Surabhi Sharma -- a documentary located in a slum and about the informal export garment industry here, but where insecurity, pathetic work conditions, and very low wages makes for a difficult existence.

Over 100 people (including men) from 15 organisations participated in this event. Poster exhibition was held and information materials were distributed. Contact: Jaya Menon, c/o Centre for Legal Services, Email: jaya11200@yahoo.co.in.

Women Networking Partners: Aakar Mumbai, Aashankur, Centre for Legal Services, Jan Jagruti Kendra, Justice and Peace Commission, Malad Women's Cell, Mukti Sadan, Prayas Kendra, Prayatana Community Centre, Roshni Griha, Sanmitra Trust, Women's Grievances Redressal Cell, YWCA, Andheri and individuals.

Majlis held a two day conference to be held in Mumbai on 9th and 10th January 2010 to help contextualize ways in which women negotiate their rights.

The aim of the conference is to acquire a better realization of how and why certain laws work for women. To identify what are the locations other than statutory enactments which we need to be engaged with for the determination of women's rights. And the manner in which legal reform can engage with the project of social transformation. The Keynote Address: An overview of law, gender and community practices in South Asia with special emphasis on Bangladesh - by Adv. Sara Hossain; Women's Negotiations over Inheritance and Matrimonial Property; Negotiations Between Family and Community ;Negotiating 'Vice' and 'Immorality' through State and Civil Society Structures; Reconciling Legal Pluralism and Citizenship Claims within Academic Discourses; Diversity and Pluralism within Formal Court Structures majlislaw@gmail.com or call Sindhu - 26661252 / 26662394. Concept Note available at http://www.majlisbombay.org.

On International Human Rights Day
The Committee for the Release of Binayak Sen (CRBS), Comprising of several groups, along with Republican Panthers,. Prerana Yuvak Sanghatana & Citizens for Peacevoiced their dissent in a celebration of freedom and our fight to safeguard the rights of citizens for demanding water?if the military took you away on mere suspicion? wages a war against tribals And a corporate-backed government paves way for mining companies - the new colonialists!

To tell citizens they have the right to dissent! have the right to speak out! have the right to fight it out! Groups met on Dec. 10 Outside Dadar station (E) with songs dance and tableaux.
Contact: Priyanka - 9820741992 Vivek - 9821062801 Sanober - 9969067166 Ruchi - 9967546415.

Fighting Corruption
Mumbai: During Vigilance Awareness Week Nov. 3-7 this year, PCGT (Public Aware)

News from Aurangabad

Contributed by Mr. R.Swaminath
Aurangabad: The Navjeevan School for the mentally challenged celebrated Teachers Day with a dance performance by astudent, Keertana Mukund, a Karate demonstration by Master Jai Prakash.
The Giants Group of Aurangabad in association with the Rural Comprehensive Health Project of India, Jamkhed organsied a 'Jaipur Foot' distribution camp. Over 170 patients from Aurangabad district were recipients. The Giants group has been organizing this event since the last 25 years with Dr. Ravindra Zanwar, in charge of the project. The transformation of the participants after they received their Jaipur Foot was heartwarming.
Swayamsiddha, an NGO which runs a school for the mentally challenged inAurangabad won the "ExcellentParent Organisation" award conferred by the National Trust of the Social Justice Ministry at a function in New Delhi.
The award carries a certificate, memento and Rs 50,000. Mr, Haqrish Baijal and Ms. Varsha Bhale (Secretary) received the award from Shri. D.Napoleon. The award is given for outstanding contributions for the welfare of handicapped and mentally challenged children.

Water portal at IITF

New Delhi: India Water Portal had a stall at the India International Trade Fare in Hall-7 E, Pragati Maidan, in the pavilion of the Ministry of Water Resources.At the stall people could enjoy the water ,become a Water Hero by playing aQuiz, Enjoy the Rivers of the world in a cartoon form, use schools water portal for projects.Get multimedia .Know about the features of all water portals, e.g. www.indiawaterportal.org; hindi.indiawaterportal.org; schools.indiawaterportal.org. Or contact Minakshi Arora 9250725116.

PAWS Greeting Cards & Pens on Sale

PAWS Christmas merchandise is now on sale. -- pens & Greeting cards made by disabled children. The greeting cards are eco-friendly & made from recycled paper and handmade. The pens are eco-friendly made by used magazine paper. Contact: . NileshBhanage" NileshBhanage@asbi.co.in.

Wall and desk Calendars of stray dogs for 2010 are now available for Rs. 150 each. Contact Welfareofstraydogs.

Bangalore says No to ID Cards to Access Public Spaces.

Bangalore: Over 200 people rallied at Cubbon Park on Nov. 30 and again on Dec. 6 to voice their outrage at the proposed plan by Karnataka Horticulture Minister Umesh Katti to restrict access to Cubbon Park and Lalbagh by imposing mandatory ID cards for anyone who wishes to enter in the mornings and evenings.

This heinous violation of the Right of Access to Public Spaces transforms the two heritage sites into elite clubs which will require this new "membership card" for entry. Representatives from all communities decided to not take this violation of their rights sitting down. They came together to shout with one voice "Idu Namma Parku. Beda, beda, ID beda."

Representatives came from from Slum Jagatthu, CIEDS, Vimochana, Dalit Sangharsh Samiti- Samyojaka (Bangalore Dist.), Sanmathi, Alternative Law Forum, Stree Jagruthi Samithi, CIVIC Bangalore, Samara, Sangama, EQUATIONS, Karnataka Sex Workers Union, ATREE, LesBiT, Concerned for Working Children, Hasiru Usiru, Urban Research Center, Open Space, and Environment Support Group, among many others.

Justice M.F. Saldanha (Retd.) arrived to show his support and to voice his commitment to challenge this "totally illegal" action. "This time I am with all of you. We are all together, shoulder to shoulder. We will see that nothing of this type ever happens. We will fight it back all the way." Leaders called for another protest the following Sunday at Lalbagh to continue the campaign forward.

South Asian women pledge for peace across borders

New Delhi: Since 2002, every year on November 30 women from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Burma and Tibet come together to speak in one firm voice about the need to strengthen democracy, peace and human rights in the region.

This year, the day was celebrated in Delhi University by nearly 500 students, activists and teachers to pledge for peace and friendship, and demand justice and human rights across borders.

Year 2009 has witnessed violent internal conflicts in different parts of the South Asian region leading to massive violations of human rights. Women's rights activists and members of civil society organisations, young and old, gathered to celebrate the South Asian Women's Day. They expressed solidarity with the victims of violence and conflicts.

The conflict in Sri Lanka has subjected hundreds of people to gruesome violence and left thousands displaced; in Burma (Myanmar) more than 2,100 political prisoners, including 100 women remain in jail in conditions far brutal than anyone can expect; internal turmoil in Nepal and Bangladesh has led to alarming food insecurity situations and widespread malnutrition and hunger problem; and in India's Jammu and Kashmir and the northeast region, thousands, especially women and children, continue to suffer due to the misuse of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA).

Thin Thin Young from the Women's League of Burma said: "We are dealing with the ruthless regime in Burma. We have sent a letter to the UN to conduct trial of the Junta regime for inflicting violence and sexual crimes."

Eminent journalist and director of Women's Feature Service, Pamela Philipose and Kamal Mitra Chenoy, professor at Jawahar Lal Nehru University talked of how the women in the region had been subjected to most violent forms of crimes. They were of the view that countries that prided themselves as democracies largely ignored people's issues and had embarked on militant nationalism.

UNICEF got independent research body Synovate to track disease prevalence in Lundra as part of a study. Synovate findings were no different from the health department data: there is a 50% reduction in cases of dysentery, diarrhoea, malaria and skin diseases in Sarguja district.

The reason: Tribals in Purkela village in Lundra block, about 400 km from Raipur, have adopted hygienic practices with a vengeance. For the first time ever, villagers such as Nanku and Uttara own a house with its very own toilet, which is no mean achievement in India where 60% homes do not have a toilet.

Owning a house with a toilet has become a status symbol with many carrying boards at the door that read 'Shauchalaya yukt makaan' (A house with a toilet).

This is the result of a unique programme called Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC), which is run in partnership between different government departments such as education, panchayat, tribal welfare and women and child development. Apart from the emphasis on personal hygiene, the programme helps villagers maintain household hygiene, cleanliness near drinking water sources like hand-pumps or tube-wells, and manage waste.

The roads leading to villages of Purkela, Mahora or Jarhadih in Lundra block of Sarguja have been turned defecation-free zones, with village panchayats constituting a Toka-Taki Samiti (Intercepting Committee) to reprimand and then fine those who break the rules.

"Installing toilets in schools and hygiene education have been instrumental in persuading parents to follow healthy sanitary practices at home," said Baisram Dhakad, district programme coordinator in TSC.

"With water being provided through forced lift hand pumps, even anganwadi centres (child care centres) have come up with baby-friendly sanitation units. There, sharp fall in infections among children has pushed up attendance at schools," Lundra's education officer D.K. Gupta said.

So successful is the campaign that 40 gram panchayats in Lundra won the President's Nirmal Gram Puraskar for 2008, and 22 have been selected for the award this year."Source : Hindustan Times (South Asia MDG Watch).

Disability register at village level needed
On December 3rd 2009_International Disability Day Moving From invisible citizens to visible citizens.

Maintain a 'Village disability Register' at village Panchyath level (Local government Level) in developing countries.

A study was conducted in India by CBR NETWORK (South Asia) in cooperation with National Law school, Bangalore in 2007 on existing awayness about people with disability at different levels in the government. The study shows in spite of all the conventions and legislations persons with disability are still "Invisible" for policy makers and implementers .It does not help talking about percentages /disability rates /surveys when we talk to local governments. They need to know "who is the person" "What he/she needs"'What they can do".

The common question that was asked by Panchayats in the village was "How many persons with disability are there in our PanchayatThe definitions of disability,eligibility to get government benefits ,lack of conceptual clarity on what disability is and what it means to people have made a simple issue on "do I have a disability" to"Do you consider me as disabled?"

As part of Rights based CBR campaign a simple - easy to use Disability Registers has been designed to be maintained in Village panchyat offices .It contains English and Kannada translations. The data format is 'computer friendly 'for consolidation and further analysis. Contact Indumathi Rao, CBR Network (South Asia) Bangalore. Tel:080-26724273, 26724221 www.cbrnetworksouthasia.org.
email <mail - cbrnet@airtelmail.in>

The long walk: Paradeep to Puri

The Padayatra Against Predatory Corporations

The net impact of the capitalist assault, promoted in the name of 'development' by both the Central and Orissa Governments, is obvious.

Investments in the mining industry, steel plants, captive power stations and ports are meant to give huge profits to corporations and some corrupt politicians/ parties while displacing thousands and thousands of people from their land, houses, livelihoods and destroying their culture and environment.

The resistance to all this planned plunder has also been very strong - be it the anti-POSCO movement in Erasama, anti-Vedanta movement in Puri and Lanjigarh, the anti-Tata movement in Kalinganagar and Naraj, the farmers' movement in Hirakud, anti-UAIL movement in Kashipur, anti-Mittal movement in Keonjhar, anti-Bhusan movement, anti-Sterlite, anti-Reliance or anti-dam movement in lower Suktel area everywhere people are in struggles.

In response to all these protests the UPA government at the Centre and Orissa Government have renewed their campaign to use brutal force to compel people to vacate their ancestral lands in proposed POSCO and Vedanta project areas.

With a purpose to create awareness among the people, to involve them and to unite all the movements continuing throughout coastline from Paradip to Puri, a Mass Rally or Padayatra has been planned by the POSCO Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS) along with various movements and people.

Over 2000 people will walk through 120 villages of seven blocks covering 150 kilometres. From Nov. 29 to culminating at Puri on Dec. 5 with a massive protest meeting.

Along the Padayatra's route, public meetings will be organized demanding:

The participants will include the People from the coastal villages from Paradip to Puri, representatives of various people's movements, Supporters and cultural troupes from various parts of the Country Contact: Prasant Paikray *Spokesperson, Posco Prathirodh Sangram Samiti) *Cell - 09437571.

Say No to Child Labour
Karnataka now has a State Resource Centre (SRC) on child labour supported by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and working under the purview of the Karnataka State Child Labour Eradication Project Society, Department of Labour, Government of Karnataka.

The main objective of the centre is to act as a nodal agency that coordinates programmes being implemented to combat child labour through district societies in the state. The Centre will help network different organizations working for child welfare. Another aim is also to promote active partnership between the Government and civil society in ensuring child welfare.

SRC is taking the responsibility of revising a `State Action Plan' to eradicate child labour, and all individuals and civil society organizations who are interested in the initiatives may contact the Centre.

The centre has plans to upload all the information of child rehabilitation centres, NGOs and other organizations working for eradication of child labour on its website. Hence, the concerned organizations have been requested to send the relevant details. The SRC will function as a resource hub for individuals and organizations working for the purpose.

India's third gender gets own identity in voter rolls

NEW DELHI, India (CNN) -- Indian election authorities granted what they called an independent identity to intersex and transsexuals in the country's voter lists. Before, members of these groups -- loosely called eunuchs -- were referred to as male or female in the voter rolls.

But now, they will have the choice to tick "O" -- for others -- when indicating their gender in voter forms, the Indian election commission said in a statement.

"Enumerators and booth-level officers (BLOs) shall be instructed to indicate the sex of eunuchs/transsexual s etc as 'O' if they so desire, while undertaking any house-to-house enumeration/ verification of any application," a statement from election authorities said.
Impacts new medical adv. Board.

Mumbai: The first meeting of the Newly constituted Medical Advisory Board of the Impact India Foundation was held on October 2, 2009 on the 26th Anniversary of Impact India Foundation. The Board consists of: Dr. Ninad Gaikwad, ENT Surgeon, KEM Hospital, Mumbai; Dr. Kulin Kothari, Director, Bombay City Eye Institute & Research; Dr. (Mrs.) Nilima Kshirsagar, Director Professor, Infectious Diseases & Interdisciplinary Research, Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, Nashik Emeritus Professor, KEM Hospital, Mumbai; Dr. Taral Nagda, Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgeon, Mumbai; Dr. Mansing Pawar, Dean, Government Dental College, Mumbai; Vaidya Balendu Prakash, Director, IPCA Traditional Remedies Pvt. Ltd.; Dr. (Mrs.) Vinita Puri, Head of Department, Plastic Surgery, KEM Hospital, Mumbai, Prof. R. Rangasayee, Director, Ali Yavar Jung National Institute for Hearing Handicapped, Mumbai and Dr. (Mrs.) G. Subbulakshmi, Nutrition Consultant, Mumbai.

The Board Members will provide advice and guidance on the thrust areas of their Community Health Initiative for 1.5 million tribals in rural Thane District, Maharashtra, and the scope and expansion of activities on the Lifeline Express. (The hospital train has completed 113 projects having medically served 600,000 persons in the remote, rural areas of India, all free of cost with the donated services of 100,000 Surgeons and medical personnel). Impact India Foundation" <nkshirsagar@impactindia.org>

PEOPLE
New Secretary (DAC) & DG, NACO

Shri K Chandramouli, a 1975 batch Indian Administrative Services (IAS) officer, has taken over charge as Secretary of the Department of AIDS Control, Ministry of Health & FW, Government of India and Director General of National AIDS Control Organisation on 20th October 2009.

A post graduate in Chemistry, Shri Chandramouli has held various significant positions, including as a District Magistrate in Sultanpur, Saharanpur, Varanasi, Faizabad, Principal Secretary in the Finance, Home and Social Welfare departments and Commissioner in the Finance and Revenue Department in the state of Uttar Pradesh. He has worked in the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India and has also as stint as Joint Secretary in Ministry of Labour & Employment. The last posting was as Central Provident Fund Commissioner of the Employees Provident Fund Organisation.

Child Rights
November 19 2009 is the 20th anniversary of the Convention Rights of the Child (CRC) to fulfill the civil, cultural, economic, political, and social rights of children everywhere. It is also the mark of the annual World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse.

The 'Akha' arrives with hope

CHOKHIA ISLAND: On October 7, the people who live on Chokhia and 11 other islands nearby welcomed the 'Akha' - also known as 'the boat of hope' - a fully equipped medical ship with a 10-member team on board, including a lab technician and a pharmacist.

The Akha is operated by the Centre for North East Studies and Policy Research (C-NES, and is supported by UNICEF and the National Rural Health Mission in India. When the Brahmaputra River floods each year, millions of residents living on its roughly 3,000 islands are cut off from the rest of India.Even without the annual floods, poverty and isolation often prevent many islanders from seeking medical assistance on the mainland.

"God sent this boat to us," says Dr. Bhaben Chandra Bora, who works on board the Akha. We are working for the benefit of people who have not had access to medical aid in 60 years."

This Clinic will serve as a platform to interact with other NGOs and to understand as well as resolve the legal issues confronted by them and assist NGOs, civil rights groups and charitable organizations in fulfilling various statutory and legal obligations imposed on them under a diverse set of legislations.

The Clinic will function on the 2nd Saturday of every month from 4.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. at the PCGT office. B/2 Mahalaxmi Chambers,22 Bhulabhai Desai Road,Mumbai - 400 026. To fix an appointment contact Ms. Sweta Surve at Tel: +91-22-23526426 or email queries to <legalaid@pcgt.org>

RTI
Maharashtra's Babus can't hide behind missing files
Mumbai, December 4: Babudom's favourite ruse to frustate those using the Right to Information (RTI) Act -- simply replying that the file is missing-- will not work any longer. In a significant victory for RTI activists, state information commissioner Suresh Joshi recently ruled that missing files cannot be taken lightly and that they attract the provisions of the Maharashtra Public Records Act, 2005. This means that officials will have to recover or restore files that go missing from their custody. Missing files can be regenerated from their mirror images in files in other departments.

The order came in an RTI appeal filed by Bandra civic activist Aftab Siddique. After being repeatedly denied information by the building proposals department of the BMC on the pretext that the file was lost, she had asked for the number of files that the department had lost. The department is in charge of all construction projects in the city.

When the official from the building proposals department told the information commissioner during the hearing that 2,000 files had been lost, Joshi wrote to then chief secretary Johnny Joseph about the gravity of the issue.

All the existing files in the building proposals department are proposed to be scanned and preserved. Phatak also gave a solemn assurance that all the missing files would be listed and regenerated in a phased manner over the next one year.

RTI activist Gaurang Vora said officials who say that files are missing ought to be dealt with sternly by information commissioners . He cited an order by Pune division information commissioner Vijay Kuvlekar who had ordered an FIR to be registered against the official concerned in one such case. The official came back with the file the next day, he said.

Maharashtra Public Records Act

Notice on the PMO

New Delhi, Dec 11 (IANS): Two weeks after they served a legal notice on the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and the Central Government for "not being transparent" in the selection of information commissioners, RTI activists say they are yet to receive a reply. "As we indicated in our legal notice, we have made preparations to go to court to enforce mandatory disclosures under Section 4 of the Right to Information (RTI) Act," Mumbai-based Krishnaraj Rao, who represents a group of RTI campaigners and petitioners from all over India, said.

The legal notice was served Nov 26, demanding that guidelines be followed under the RTI Act 2005, which makes it mandatory for the government to announce the eligibility criteria and procedures for appointments of central information commissioners (CIC) and chief CIC.

The activists allege the norm is not being followed. The Prime Minister is part of the committee for selection of information commissioners.

"Such opaque and unaccountable decisions are unconstitutional and unfair to the citizens of India. As earlier selections of CICs have shown, the absence of openly declared rules and guidelines for such appointments is allowing blatant nepotism to flourish. Our group shall take every possible step to prevent such corrupt practices from continuing."

Section 4(1) B of the RTI Act says: "Every Public Authority shall publish within 120 days from the enactment of this Act the procedure followed in the decision making process, including channels of supervision and accountability; the norms set by it for the discharge of its functions; the rules, regulations, instructions, manuals and records held by it or under its control or used by its employees for discharging its functions." The legal notice has also been addressed to the law ministry and the department of personnel and training.

"We have also asked for the disclosures expeditiously and not to appoint the CIC or the chief CIC till the disclosures are made public, failing which we will be constrained to take legal redress through court," Rao said.

The high court, however, rejected the PIL, ruling: "The court can't ask the government to frame rules to bring transparency. You can raise the issue before the government and before parliament."

But the judges encouraged the activists to keep the pressure on the government to usher in transparency, saying: "You (RTI activists) should mobilise the larger civil society to build opinion on the issue."

The Coalition of Civil Society Organizations in Bangalore has been organizing RTI CLINICS on the last Saturday of every month since May 2009 in Bangalore to provide assistance to the general public on redressing their grievances through the use of Right to Information Act and to assist the general public on How To fill the Application, How to submit and the Process involved, Formulating Correct questions, etc, will be Carried by this Centre.

More than 120 people have approached the clinic so far: A joint initiative of :Anti-Corruption Forum (ACF), Ananya-GCI, Centre for Advocacy and Research (CFAR), IQUEST, Mahiti Hakku Adhiyan Kendra (MHAK), Open Space, Sanchya Nele, South India Cell for Human Rights Education and Monitoring (SICHREM), Student Christian Movement of India (SCMI), Support, Urban Research Centre (URC), For more details call: Anand(ACF), 92410 12730, R.Manohar (SICHREM),95350 37596, Vikram Simha (MHAK), 98860 20774 or K. Sudha (CFAR), 94495 44211.

International Human Rights Day

Bangalore: 'Celebrating Human Rights'’ was organized by SICHREM, St Joseph's College and Indian Social Institute on Dec. 10. The events included: a Workshop on Human Rights; Valedictory program of 7 day "Celebrating Rights"; a Rights Walk, and a Candle Light Vigil & Oath administering.

The Government of Karnataka plans to make ID cards mandatory to enter Cubbon Park and Lalbagh, and that at a cost of Rs 200/person. This is the beginning of the state's encroachment of people's right to freely access public spaces and a stage is being set to privatise public commons. All sorts of devious reasons are being flung at the public, including security concerns, morality and misuse of parks by "unnecessary elements".

The manner in which the policy is formulated encourages the particular exclusion of access rights of the urban poor (especially from minorities), street and working children, elderly people, transgenders , migrant workers, labourers, street vendors, drivers of autorickshaws and taxis, differently abled, families with children, etc. The idea of having to carry an ID merely to access these two parks, fundamentally distances them from their unfettered and constitutionally protected Right to Use Public Spaces. This policy also promotes discriminatory access to public spaces as it privileges 'regular walkers' and thus negates the very concept of parks as public commons. Simply stated this draconian policy encroaches our very fundamental Right to Live a Healthy Life based on dignified and unfettered access to public spaces.

Protest initiated by Environment Support Group, Slum Jagatthu, CIEDS, Vimochana, Dalit Sangharsh Samiti- Samyojaka (Bangalore Dist.), Sanmathi, Alternative Law Forum, Sangama, Stree Jagruthi Samithi, CIVIC Bangalore, Hasiru Usiru and Open Space.

For more details contact: Environment Support Group,1572, Outer Ring Road, Banshankari 2nd stage, Bangalore-560070 Tel:-91-80-26713559-60 Email: esg@esgindia.org, bhargavi@esgindia.org Website: www.esgindia.org.

International Day of persons with disabilities

Bangalore: To commemorate International Day of Persons with Disabilities (which is on Dec.3), a Bengaluru Walkathon 2009', was organized by Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled on 5th Dec. 5 around Cubbon Park, to create awareness of the issues of differently abled, and to express solidarity for the differently abled people in all aspects.

Bangalore: A group of sex workers from across Karnataka came together to inaugurate Ashodaya Academy, a regional centre on HIV/AIDS to be run by the sex workers themselves to fight the spread of the disease.

The academy is located in Mysore, nearly 150 km from here, and is said to be the first of its kind in the entire Asia Pacific to be run by sex workers for prevention of HIV and AIDS.

The project is a collaboration of Unaids and Ashodaya Samiti, a Mysore-based organisation working for the welfare and health issues of sex workers in Karnataka.
"The idea behind the academy is to develop the role of sex workers themselves in raising awareness about AIDS and its further prevention," executive director of Unaids Michel Sidibe said at the inaugural ceremony.

A group of sex workers from Myanmar, Bangladesh, Nepal, Cambodia and Thailand participated in the inauguration ceremony.

"Declared as a learning site, the Ashodaya Academy will provide opportunities to consolidate the valuable experiences and learning of sex workers in scaling up prevention, intervention, mobilization of communities and ensure delivery of services. It's an effort to showcase the fact that when sex workers are in the lead, they can change the course of the HIV epidemic," said Sushena Reza Paul, adviser at Ashodaya Samiti.

"We have come together to fight the spread of dreaded HIV-AIDS," said Partima, a sex worker based in Mysore.

The plight of children who have lost both their parents to HIV-AIDS and are themselves infected by it, wasl brought out in a Kannada documentary "A Generation Challenged". The 18-minute film has been produced by Ashodaya Samiti, and Infact Films, a film production house based in Bangalore.

The film looks deeper into the crisis, as to how children of infected couples not only lose their parents but are forced to become homeless. "Moreover, the film shows how the orphan children have to deal with social stigma attached to the disease at a tender age. These kids are ostracised for being HIV positive and many a time denied the right to education and right to live a normal life," Paul said.

The film has been conceived and researched by Bangalore-based journalists Maya Jaideep and Kestur Vasuki, who are working on the impact of HIV on children.

Massive drive to sensitise UP villagers against AIDS

The Gorakhpur Environmental Action Group, a voluntary organization, has started a massive AIDS and HIV awareness campaign in the Sardarganj and Campierganj areas of Gorakhpur district in Uttar Pradesh.

The programme is aimed at residents who are unaware about HIV or AIDS, even as the disease spread in these parts is rampant. As per reports, almost 4000 people have tested HIV positive in these areas.

The organisation has 58 villages under its purview and resource centres have been opened to cover villages, where 500 people have been involved in the programme. Activists have adopted various methods to promote awareness, including organising street plays, films, songs and so on.The efforts are showing results. Residents are now undergoing medical tests and have started understanding the threat the disease poses.

"They told us about HIV and AIDS through street plays, films and so on. After seeing all this, we went to the medical college to get ourselves tested. Some of the people have already got themselves tested, while some are yet to do it," said Kalmi, a resident.

The organisation is also selecting residents to participate in the program to ensure that information about the disease and its dangers is widespread.

Maps for Making Change: Using Geographical Mapping Techniques to Support Struggles for Social Justice in India.

Deadline: 20 November 2009

Maps for Making Change is a two-month project specifically designed for activists and supporters of social movements and campaigns in India. It provides participants with an exciting opportunity to explore how a range of digital mapping techniques can be used to support struggles for social justice. It also allows you to immediately develop and implement in practice a concrete mapping project relevant to your campaign or movement, with full technical support.

CONF HELD
Making our Homes Environmentally Just--A workshop for urban residents to understand how to build and live Green' was organized by Environment Support Group in collaboration with Karnataka State Council for Science and Technology on Nov 7 at Regional Institute of Cooperative Management. Tel: 26692036.

Senior citizens and homeless children will share space in an integrated home in Dwarka which is being set up by the Delhi government on an experimental basis. Through this innovative and commendable initiative it is hoped that the children will get some "parental guidance" while the elderly will not feel lonely. The home is likely to be opened soon.

Senior citizens are likely to be admitted on a payment of Rs 2,500 to Rs. 3,000 on a monthly basis. The final discretion on which children will be kept at the integrated home lies with with the Child Welfare Committee.

MUMBAI: The ministry of social justice and empowerment has asked the insurance regulator to direct non-life companies to relax entry barriers for senior citizens seeking to buy health insurance and overseas mediclaim policies.At a recent meeting of the National Council for Older Persons (NCOP), where an IRDA representative was present, IRDA was asked to facilitate health covers for older people. NCOP comes under the ministry of social justice and this meeting was attended by Mukul Wasnik, the Union minister in charge of the portfolio.

Currently, the IRDA guidelines prohibit health insurers from denying fresh mediclaim policies to individuals above 65-year-old. NCOP wants this age limit to be increased. The committee comprises the Union as well as state ministers for social justice and empowerment, senior ministry officials, representatives of state governments and some non-official members.

In addition to health insurance, the committee meeting focused on problems faced by senior citizens over 80-year-old in getting overseas mediclaim insurance, while travelling abroad. 'The council also recommended providing insurance cover to senior citizens travelling overseas, irrespective of their age,' informed Mathew Cherian, chief executive of HelpAge India.

The insurance regulator had asked insurers to ensure that renewals were not turned down, except on the grounds of fraud, moral hazard or misrepresentation. Another circular issued in May had directed insurance companies to specify in writing the reasons for denying health insurance to senior citizens.

In addition, the insurance regulator had instructed insurers to ensure that the premium charged to senior citizens was fair, justified, transparent and duly disclosed upfront. Despite IRDA’s measures, however, many senior citizens continue to complain of health insurers rejecting renewal requests and charging unreasonable premiums."

Job seekers prefer socially conscious firms

Organisations with strong social responsibility practices are viewed as 'employers of choice' by today's job-seekers, who prefer to work for companies that focus beyond top line and promote larger social goals, according to a survey.

The survey, conducted by global workforce solutions leader Kelly Services, reveals that employees across all age groups and regions prefer to work with organisations that have well-developed social, ethical and environmental policies. The findings are part of the Kelly Global Workforce Index, which took the views of approximately 100,000 people in 34 countries, including Asia-Pacific, North America and Europe.

The findings, it notes, demonstrate the important link between social responsibility and strategies aimed at attracting and retaining high-quality staff. Among the key findings of the survey, almost 90 per cent respondents said they were more likely to work for an organisation that was considered ethically and socially responsible, something that is consistent across all generations.

Around 80 per cent are more likely to work for an organisation that is considered environmentally responsible, Here is a link for the report of the study done during the base year when the Activity Based Learning program was upscaled across the state of Tamil Nadu, including more.

http://www.idsj.org
Training and Workshop on Agri Business (Vegetables and fruits ) Interactive sessions with professionals from agri business for Farmers about Agri business - basics • Post harvest techniques for value addition; Key demand for fruits /vegetable; How to plan cultivation to meet market demands Contact venky@matchboxsolutions.in Mr. Rajendran at044-43577236 (main office number) or 98944 83248(m) . Location : eFarm , 11 Loganathan colony, Mylapore, Chennai - 600004 (landmark : Chennai Citi centre).

iVolunteer Institute of Volunteer Management (IIVM), conducted the Volunteer Management Workshop on "Developing Volunteer Management Systems" for the first time in Chennai on 16th and 17th Nov. 16/17, in Mumbai on Dec. 10/11 and Kolkata 13/14, by iVolunteer's best Volunteer Management Facilitators and Trainers. Dheepam Ks" ivolunteerdheepam@yahoo.in.

Sex Workers Rights Activism in India, December 9, Bangalore
Aneka, CREA, Karnataka Sex Workers Union, Sangama, SANGRAM, Veshya Anyay Mukthi Parishat and Gains & Gaps: A Civil Society Review in India.

a public meeting on Sex Workers Rights Activism in India: Achievements and Challenges with Geetha (Karnataka Sex Workers Union, Karnataka), Meena Saraswathi Seshu (SANGRAM, Maharashtra), Nalini Jameela (Author and Sexworker, Kerala), Smarajit Jana (DMSC, West Bengal) was held on Dec. 9, at Rotary Club of Lavelle Road.These activists (sexworkers and supporters) will share their experiences, ideas and proposals on sexworkers rights activism in India.

Tactical Technology Collective (TTC) with the Center for Internet and Society (CIS) and the Alternative Law Forum, launched TC's newest toolkit - '10 tactics for turning information into action' at C E D on Dec.9.

*'10 tactics' *explores the use of technology and social media platforms such as Google Earth, Twitter and Facebook on human rights advocacy in the developing world. The film presents ten strategies for turning information into action and is aimed at global human rights advocates, as well as campaigners of all kinds.

The launch was in the form of a screening For more information about the film and the event log in to :
http://www.informat ionactivism.org/,or call 080-4153 1129 http://www.tactical tech.org.

Chennai: A One-Day Southern Regional Consultation on People's Mid Term Appraisal of the Eleventh Five Year Plan was held on Dec.11 at ICSA Campus. The purpose of the consultation is to ensure people's participation in the appraisal of the Planning Commission's Eleventh Five Year Plan. This Consultation would focus on three broad categories, viz., 1.Education; 2. Health & Nutrition; 3. Governance.

The specific programmes addressed include Primary Health Care Services under National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme, Elementary Education, Mid Day Meal Scheme, Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and Public Distribution System (PDS).

The recommendations emerging out of the sessions will be presented to the Planning Commission.. Recognising the need to bring people into this process, Organisations like Centre for Budget and Governance Accountability (CBGA), National Social Watch Coalition and Wada Na Todo Abhiyan have got together to organise a People’s Mid Term Appraisal (PMTA).

MANAV Foundation had its annual event: Flow.the stream of energies '09A unique presentation of talent & creativity, Expressions of individuals recovering from mental illness on Dec. 12 at "Hindi Vidya Bhavan Academy along with Kshitij Mental Health Centre,Maitri, Masina Rehabilitation Centre ,Regional Mental Hospital, Manav Rehabilitation Centre Website: www.manavfoundation .org.in <http://www.manavfoundation.org.in/>

"The foundation' team initiative, HEAL: Help Eradicate Abuse through Learning started in 2008 . On Dec. 14 The Foundation conducted an awareness workshop on child sexual abuse at the HELP library. Tel:+91-(0)22- 23521641
Mobile: +91-9769363621.

1st Asian CSR Congress was aimed at encouraging more companies to reach out to the society, as well as highlight how best this can be achieved on Dec. 10/11 at Nehru Science Centre,. Centre for Social Responsibility & LeadershipArpita Bhattacharya, Associate-CSR&L, Cell: +919220325350, Email: csrlmumbai@gmail.com.

Over the past year Kali-Kalisu, a far-reaching arts education initiative, organised by the Goethe - Institut/Max Mueller Bhavan and India Foundation for the Arts (IFA) has brought multi-pronged arts education workshops to over 500 teachers in rural and small-town Karnataka. As an extension to this project, the Goethe-Institut/Max Mueller Bhavan and IFA are jointly hosted a major Arts Education Conference on Dec. 11 - 12, 2009 involving policy makers, educationists, administrators, parents and students in the deliberations.

APSCCON organised a Seminar on December 27, 2009 to discuss and highlight Problems and Concerns of Senior Citizens in Rural Areas and Slums and 2] Right to Affordable Health Care of Senior Citizens in Secunderabad on Dec. 27, 2009.

Workshop by FAT (Feminist Approach to Technology)on Online Campaigns and Social Media for Nonprofits on 21st to 23rd December, 2009 at Where: Seminar Hall, Sarai- CSDS, 29 Rajpur Road, Civil Lines, Delhi -110054 This workshop is for women working in the development sector (associated with a non-profit organization or working individually) . It will help them learn how to plan and execute online campaigns using social media and other online tools.