Color Revolutions, Old And New

In his new book, "Full Spectrum Dominance: Totalitarian Democracy in the New World Order," F. William Engdahl explained a new form of US covert warfare - first played out in Belgrade, Serbia in 2000. What appeared to be "a spontaneous and genuine political 'movement,' (in fact) was the product of techniques" developed in America over decades.

In the 1990s, RAND Corporation strategists developed the concept of "swarming" to explain "communication patterns and movement of" bees and other insects which they applied to military conflict by other means. More on this below.

In Belgrade, key organizations were involved, including the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), the International Republican Institute (IRI), and National Democratic Institute. Posing as independent NGOS, they're, in fact, US-funded organizations charged with disruptively subverting democracy and instigating regime changes through non-violent strikes, mass street protests, major media agitprop, and whatever else it takes short of military conflict.

Engdahl cited Washington Post writer Michael Dobbs' first-hand account of how the Clinton administration engineered Slobodan Milosevic's removal after he survived the 1990s Balkan wars, 78 days of NATO bombing in 1999, and major street uprisings against him. A $41 million campaign was run out of American ambassador Richard Miles' office. It involved "US-funded consultants" handling everything, including popularity polls, "training thousands of opposition activists and helping to organize a vitally important parallel vote count."

Thousands of spray paint cans were used "by student activists to scrawl anti-Milosevic graffiti on walls across Serbia," and throughout the country around 2.5 million stickers featured the slogan "Gotov Je," meaning "He's Finished."

Preparations included opposition leader training in nonviolent resistance techniques at a Budapest, Hungary seminar - on matters like "organiz(ing) strike(s), communicat(ing) with symbols....overcom(ing) fear, (and) undermin(ing) the authority of a dictatorial regime." US experts were in charge, incorporating RAND Corporation "swarming" concepts.

GPS satellite images were used to direct "spontaneous hit-and-run protests (able to) elude the police or military. Meanwhile, CNN (was) carefully pre-positioned to project images around the world of these youthful non-violent 'protesters.' " Especially new was the use of the Internet, including "chat rooms, instant messaging, and blog sites" as well as cell phone verbal and SMS text-messaging, technologies only available since the mid-1990s.

Milosevic was deposed by a successful high-tech coup that became "the hallmark of the US Defense policies under (Rumsfeld) at the Pentagon." It became the civilian counterpart to his "Revolution in Military Affairs" doctrine using "highly mobile, weaponized small groups directed by 'real time' intelligence and communications."

Belgrade was the prototype for Washington-instigated color revolutions to follow. Some worked. Others failed. A brief account of several follows below.

In 2003, Georgia's bloodless "Rose Revolution" replaced Edouard Shevardnadze with Mikhail Saakashvili, a US-installed stooge whom Engdahl calls a "ruthless and corrupt totalitarian who is tied (not only to) NATO (but also) the Israeli military and intelligence establishment." Shevardnadze became a liability when he began dealing with Russia on energy pipelines and privatizations. Efforts to replace him played out as follows, and note the similarities to events in Iran after claims of electoral fraud.


Read More: http://www.countercurrents.org/lendman290609.html


Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.

Barefootjobs.org : Job portal for social sector

Greetings,

Allow us to introduce ourselves as a recruitment firm with over three years of expertise and knowledge in the social development sector. Third Sector Partners is a boutique search firm that combines expertise with knowledge and provides highly skilled professionals for all top tier positions in NGOs and charities.

Now, we are proud to announce our newest job portal, Barefootjobs.org. Barefootjobs.org aims to plug the gap for quality professionals at the grass root level in the non profit sector. It will be a fast and easy to access portal that will enable NGO's, Corporate, Funding agencies and academic institutions to access resumes through our resume bank.

Being the one stop shop for potential job seekers and employers, it is already on the path to become the single largest database of qualified professionals looking to enter this highly challenging job sector.

Non-profit entities are rapidly getting on to the internet and using technology to network and capitalize on each other’s strengths.

This portal is been developed after lot of research and understanding of the social sector. It will endeavor to reduce the recruitment costs of the non-profits by providing a high-class technology based job portal.


Primarily, it would cater to the jobs in the following sectors:

Ø Age Care

Ø Animal Welfare

Ø Children & Youth

Ø Corporate Social Responsibility

Ø Disability

Ø Education

Ø Environment

Ø Human Rights

Ø Rehabilitation and Disaster Management

Ø Microfinance

Ø Poverty Alleviation (including Livelihood)

Ø Public Health

Ø Rural Development

Ø Women’s Issues

Ø Information, Communication and Technology

Ø Tribal Welfare

Ø Urban Development

Ø Academic Institutions

Ø And other developmental issues.



Log on to Barefootjobs.org now. A click is all that separates you from a world of highly challenging and lucrative job opportunities and professionals looking for such jobs.



Team Barefootjobs.org
Mumbai, India.
Tel: +91 22 6660 3558, 6660 3559
www.barefootjobs.org


Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.

Chief Marketing Officer: Required by Indian NGO

Kaivalya Education Foundation

Creating the next generation of social change leaders today

Gandhi Fellowship believes in young people’s potential. We want to encourage and inspire young graduates and professionals to contribute to India’s future. We offer the opportunity for talented young people to spend two years in a rural, tribal or urban area developing their ability to create positive change. On the ground, Fellows support headmasters to turn around failing government schools and engage in intensive personal development work and training. At the end of the programme Fellows are equipped with the skills and know-how to create change in themselves and society.

We want Gandhi Fellowship to be ‘the fellowship of choice’ for young people. We need a talented, innovative Chief Marketing Officer to increase the programme’s visibility, reputation and aspirational value, encouraging more young people to apply for the programme.


The CMO will be responsible for designing and executing a dynamic marketing and brand management strategy for Gandhi Fellowship increasing the calibre and size of the target audience.


Preferred skills/experience: Enthusiastic and innovative approach to social change
 Post-graduate education in marketing, advertising or communication
 5-10 years experience in brand management or marketing preferably to youth
 Demonstrated ability and experience in mentoring and leading team members
 Confidence in communicating and ability to dialogue on complex issues
 Skilled in interacting and developing relationships with a wide range of stakeholders
 Self-starter with very flexible and self-disciplined approach to work
 Willingness to live in Delhi and travel out of station when necessary
 Ability to work independently and with minimal supervision and
 Committed to ongoing personal development.



Gandhi Fellowship is an initiative of Kaivalya Education Foundation. We are a dynamic forward thinking organisation. By joining us you will participate in cutting edge initiatives to create social change, work in an open, reflective team environment with other young, energetic professionals from across India helping to create the next generation of leaders for social change.



To find our more:
Check out the Gandhi Fellows themselves in our video; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4d7Wn9p-K44, blog; www.gandhifellowship.blogspot.com and more of our vision from Echoing Green, one of our sponsors, http://www.echoinggreen.org/fellows/aditya-natraj.

Third Sector Partners, a leading CxO and board search firm in the Not for Profit sector has been retained by Kaivalya Education Foundation for this search. Interested candidates can send in their CVs along with three references and a cover note to application.cmo@gmail.com, or contact us at: +91 22 6660 3558/6660 3559. Only short listed candidates would be contacted.

Last date for receiving applications is 20th July 2009.


Apply now to create the next generation of long term social change leaders.


Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.

Required PROJECT MANAGER EDUCATION :NGO Job in India

Background

Third Sector Partners, a leading CxO and board search firm in the Not for Profit sector has been retained by a preeminent Foundation to recruit a Project Manager for their Education initiative.

The Foundation is a non-religious and non-political charitable trust registered under the Bombay Public Trust Act. The main objectives of the foundation include various activities pivoting around education, health care and wildlife conservation.

The foundation aims to focus on the following activities in the domain of Education for the next couple of years.
• Revamping existing academic infrastructure: for e.g converting a boarding facility in Dadar to a college, expanding a school for underprivileged girls to cater to 3,000 students, setting up co-ed schools.
• The Foundation would like to build capacity of the existing government schools. They would also work closely with various education initiatives to inculcate values in students, build and shape a solid character and at the same time nurture their quest to learn in the context of evolving sophistication in learning.


Roles and Responsibilities

The Project Manager Education will take primary responsibility for setting up the education vertical for the foundation including, strategy, planning, resourcing , identifying relevant partners for the program, stakeholder management, financial management, operations oversight, communications and when required fundraising.


Qualification required for the positions:• The incumbent would need to be a self starter with an entrepreneurial bent of mind, having demonstrated the ability to build, support and lead an organization/initiative into its growth phase.
• Good knowledge and understanding of education issues, preferably in teaching methodologies and community involvement in schools
• Good understanding of project management and goal setting.
• Understanding of the ‘principles of partnership’ with multiple stakeholders i.e. NGO Sector, government sector, private partners.
• Good communication skills and capability to represent the organization in professional forums.
• Ability to travel at least ten days a month.


Preferable:

• Exposure and experience in financial accounting and reporting
• Demonstrated passion and experience of providing service to the Society.


Location: Mumbai

Interested candidates can send in their CVs along with three references and a cover note to application.edu.hkf@gmail.com, anamika@thirdsectorpartners.com or Contact us at: +91 22 6660 3558/6660 3559. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

The last date for submitting applications is 13th July 2009.


Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.

PROJECT MANAGER – HEALTHCARE: Required by Indian NGO

Third Sector Partners, a leading CxO and board search firm in the Not for Profit sector has been retained by a preeminent Foundation to recruit a Project Manager for their Health initiative.

After his long and successful run in the financial sector, the founder of this pre-eminent Foundation has now shifted focus to working more actively on philanthropic activities, in keeping with family tradition. The family has been instrumental in several philanthropic activities. The Foundation is a non-religious and non-political charitable trust registered under the Bombay Public Trust Act, came into existence in the year 2008. The main objectives of the foundation include various activities pivoting around education, health care and wildlife conservation.

The Foundation runs and manages a charitable hospital in Mumbai which was set up by the family. The hospital is currently in the process of being revamped. In addition to the hospital, the foundation also has established a Sanatorium in Deoli near Nashik, which was built in order to allow tuberculosis patients to recuperate. The Sanatorium is currently under renovation; additional facilities are being added to this infrastructure. Part of this infrastructure would be age care homes, especially for those elders whose children are not in India. As a recent addition, Ayurvedic treatment is being added to the portfolio of services and treatments.

As part of the conservation and education project, skill training centers are being put in place near the forest reserves. Other health related activities would be integrated around the forest areas and schools.


THE OPPORTUNITY

Against this background, our client is looking for a dynamic individual, who will set up the health care vertical, conceptualize, strategize and plan various activities and ensure effective implementation of the same.
The Foundation seeks to hire the Project Manager – Healthcare, who will be responsible for providing strategic vision & leadership towards the design & implementation of health programmes and strengthen the Foundation’s endeavour to actively participate & monitor health sector programming in India.


ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

The Project Manager will take primary responsibility for setting up the health vertical for the foundation including, strategy, planning, resourcing, identifying relevant partners for the program, stakeholder management, operations oversight, communications and when required fundraising.
• Create a strategic road map for the healthcare vertical in line with the needs of India and the vision of the Foundation.
• The Project Manager - Healthcare will be responsible for building on the organization’s vision and mission, implementation model, and aspirations and articulate the value proposition of the health vertical.
• Develop the strategic plan and road map for the organization in the short term (12 months) and long term (3 - 5 years)
• Screen proposals on healthcare & recommend projects that must be supported.
• Monitor and manage the support given to projects at various stages.
• Build a network of senior health professionals & manage multiple stakeholder relationships across the health/NGO sector with multiple partners like NGO’s, Healthcare Institutions & Government.
• Identify and work with initial resources to empanel experts and strategic partners for the foundation.
• Putting in place effective review systems for partner organizations. The incumbent also has to work on bringing in the best practices and innovate on new ways of impacting the less privileged section of the society
• Identify opportunities for training and capacity building in healthcare.
• Demonstrate leadership skills; with ability to lead & motivate team members.


MUST HAVE

• Minimum of 12 years of experience in managing and leading projects preferably but not limited to the social sector.
• Strong understanding of public health issues in the country.
• Strong programme management skills with experience in designing & implementing monitoring & evaluation tools, reporting frameworks.
• The incumbent would need to have to be a self-starter with an entrepreneurial bent of mind, having demonstrated the ability to build, support and lead a business or a project and its key stakeholders into the growth phase.
• Ability to travel at least ten days a month.


PREFERABLE

• Exposure and understanding of financial accounting and reporting
• Demonstrated good fundraising/resource mobilization capabilities.


LOCATION: Mumbai.


COMPENSATION DETAILS:

The compensation is commensurate with qualification and experience.

Interested individuals may please submit their CV, a cover note and 3 references by email to application.hkf@gmail.com with the subject line indicating Project Manager - Health. Please note that only short listed candidates will be contacted.



Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.

Suu Kyi to Receive International Gandhi Award

In the latest in a long list of international honors, Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been named the recipient of this year’s Mahatma Gandhi International Award for Peace and Reconciliation, which will be awarded at a ceremony to be held in Durban, South Africa on July 20.


The prize, also known as the MAGI Award, is given to those who inspire young people to make a commitment to non-violence, forgiveness and reconciliation. It was inaugurated in 2003 to mark the centenary of Indian Opinion, a newspaper published in South Africa by Mahatma Gandhi.


The award is given by South Africa’s Gandhi Development Trust, which was established in August 2002 with the aim of promoting a deeper understanding of the principles of democracy, nonviolence and human values.


Suu Kyi, who is currently facing charges of violating the conditions of her house arrest just weeks before her detention was due to end, has received more that 80 international awards, including the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize and India’s Jawaharlal Nehru Award.


In a statement released today, South Africa’s foreign minister expressed grave concern over Suu Kyi’s trial, which stems from an incident involving an intruder who allegedly stayed overnight at her home.


“The South African government calls on the authorities in Myanmar to release Ms Suu Kyi immediately,” read the statement.


During a two-year stint as a temporary member of the United Nations Security Council, the South African government under former President Thabo Mbeki was criticized for voting against resolutions condemning human rights abuses in Burma.


New Foreign Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane has not signaled any major change of policy on Burma, but has urged a “negotiated political solution between the government and the opposition” to resolve the country’s longstanding political impasse.


Meanwhile, in South Korea, former President Kim Dae-jung met with a group of exiled Burmese parliamentary leaders and gave them a donation of US $10,000 to support Suu Kyi’s cause.


“Korea also struggled under a military dictatorship for a long period of time before achieving democracy. I am sure that history will make note of your dedication to righteousness and freedom,” Kim told members of the South Korean chapter of the National League for Democracy (Liberated Area).

Courtesy: http://www.irrawaddy.org/print_article.php?art_id=15718


Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.

Stop visiting wildlife sanctuaries and start contesting elections, says Rishi Agarwal, environmental activist from India

‘Environment is clearly a political issue’


Well-known for his initiatives in saving Mumbai’s remaining mangroves, environmental activist Rishi Agarwal stood for elections from the new Jago Party this time, and got just 3,000 votes. He tells Jyoti Punwani why the experience left him bitter.


Why did you stand for elections in the recent Lok Sabha elections?

Mere sar par bhoot sawaar tha (I had a demon in my head). I’ve always been political, since my college days in 1995-96. We used to have huge discussions then about the possibility of civil war if things didn’t change. It turned out to be true -– look at the way the Naxalites are spreading. Some of us felt we needed to get into politics.

But then you got active in the environment?

I’ve always been active there. And that’s where I started realising the importance of politics. Politics decides which policies get priority; foreign policy and agricultural policy are intertwined.

I had followed the 1992 UN Rio Earth Summit closely and saw how ultimately, it’s politicians and bureaucrats who make statements on the country’s policies. I weaned myself away from visiting sanctuaries and going on nature walks, realising they were a farce. People who don’t mind spending Rs 80,000 on organising visits to bird sanctuaries, buying the latest cameras, will not spend a paisa on protecting mangroves. So how are they different from the businessman who prefers to blow up his money on food rather than the environment?

I have followed the Narmada issue since I was 11; I used to keep all the clippings. At that time too, I realised the important role of politics. There was a voter base for the Narmada dam in MP and Gujarat, and we were pitted against them. They would not understand the need for water conservation, or look at the dam as an environment issue.

So environment is clearly a political issue. Forget the tiger. What should get into people’s heads is food security, the availability of clean water, the quality of air. Ensuring all this is not the job of environmentalists but everyone.

I have been active in the mangroves issue since 2002. I was unhappy with my MLA and MP; I thought I could do a better job. Had I been financially stable, I would have fought the 2004 elections. I considered the 2007 municipal elections; I was at that time very active in the Loksatta party; telling them to move out of the NGO mode and get political, set up shakhas. Then after 26/11, I had had enough of just thinking. But Loksatta wanted to be very well prepared before fighting elections. On January 30, I joined the Jago Party.

Why didn’t you join any of the existing parties?

The choice was either BJP or Congress. The BJP was ruled out as long as it portrayed L K Advani as its leader. I have no faith in him, ever since the Babri Masjid demolition.

The Congress is the party that has clearly institutionalised poverty and corruption. It had a clear majority from the 1950s right till the ’70s ; it could have done anything. The policies which brought the country to its knees, the money that has gone out of India –- it’s the Congress that’s responsible.

How did you manage your campaign?

Through email, and people who knew me. In the last 10 years, I’ve built up a good standing. But communication is all about funds. You need banners, full-time staff… Just one meeting cost me Rs 15,000!

And how many people came?

A 100! It was a slum area. We decided the educated middle class doesn’t vote. We should try the slums, who may not speak your language, but who do vote. Actually, it was a friend’s driver who suggested that I should come and hold a meeting in the area like all the others had, especially because people there were not happy with the Congress.

What did you tell them?

Language was a big problem, though Hindi is my mothertongue.

Anyway, I spoke about water, which is a big problem there, because it’s getting diverted to the new redeveloped buildings. Plus, they were not happy with the builders who wanted to redevelop their slum.

I spoke to them about how 50-60 litres of water are flushed down everyday in each flat. People could be taught to recycle water; water rates need to go up; fiscal incentives could be given to buildings that install recycling systems. The water that would be saved can be given to others. But you need politicians able to think like that.

Similarly with the builders. You need proper urban planning to provide homes for the poor. Why leave it to private builders? MHADA should have architects, town planners. It could facilitate infrastructure.

People appreciated what I said, but obviously, good intentions and good work are not enough.

How much did you spend in all?

About Rs 500,000. In the last 20 days, from April 10 to 30, I spent Rs 1,63,000. I’ve spent about Rs 150 per voter! And there are 16,00,000 voters in my constituency.

Did you pay your campaigners?

No, so many people decided to participate on their own, I was pleasantly surprised. I had a core team of 25 volunteers, mostly new people, primarily young. The youngest was nine!

What was your main plank?

If you want change, give new people a chance. You need to vote for new people because nothing works better than competition. Suppose I had got 30,000 votes, Gurudas Kamat’s margin would have come down to just 5,000. He would have been scared. Right now there’s immense complacency because there’s no competition.

Did you ever hope to win? Did you ever regret having stood?

Winning was a remote possibility. Standing for elections was more like making a statement.

There were moments of confusion when I felt it was not worth it. Even when I finally filled my form, I realised I had not gone to so many places. I was unhappy at the response to my appeal for funds. I thought I should quit but my supporters kept me going.

What did you learn from this experience?

I realise now that we are a country of chamchas. It’s fundamental to our ethos, our patriarchal system, where the father is always right.

He may be taking the stupidest decisions, but you can’t question him.

It’s the same in politics. Criticism is fundamental to a democracy.

But in India, nobody questions our great leaders. India deserves to be ruled by the Congress. They’ve fooled you for 60 years and will continue to fool you. Look at the way the BJP’s `Bhay Ho’ counter to the Congress’ `Jai Ho’ flopped. The Indian public is very gullible; it loves being fooled. And it’s comfortable with corruption. They don’t relate to an equal playing field.

I feel extremely bitter. I’ve provided phenomenal leadership on the mangrove issue in Andheri. People have benefited; there’s been no flooding in Lokhandwala because of the mangroves in the last two years. I’ve got recognition from America for my work, but has anyone here recognised it? All I’ve asked for is Rs 1,000 a year from the people who’ve benefited, so that a few persons can work full-time to protect Mumbai’s mangroves. No one is willing, though I’m not unknown.

India doesn’t deserve good leaders, though it needs them.

Do you think then that elections are only for those with money ?

To get 50,000–plus votes, you need big money. I had just three months, and a complete lack of political base. Most of my votes were from those who knew my work. A political base takes decades to build; it needs a motivating ideology and funds.

The middle class won’t take the time off to go for your rallies. You can’t fill Shivaji Park if you talk about environment. IF you need crowds, you have to pay. And without crowds, the media won’t notice you. If the editor is bought over by the Congress, only a rival show of strength will work.

Elections are not for the honest. You need Rs 5 crore; you should be willing to spend Rs 2 crore as loose change.


Source: http://infochangeindia.org/200906087778/Environment/Features/‘Environment-is-clearly-a-political-issue’.html


Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.

A lost generation in Jammu's refugee camps

A small pale face with hollow eyes greets me at the entrance to Purkhoo camp in Jammu. The child looks unkempt, with a sallow complexion and a gaze that is forlorn and distant. The glow that one associates with childhood is missing. As my eyes travel around I see a group of young children, some just sitting and staring vacantly, others queuing up in a rush in front of a toilet with their mothers, waiting for their turn. Further on there is a squalid hutment with a dirty drainage tank in the middle with some toddlers playing around it, and beyond that, an open latrine with millions of flies swarming in circles. You feel your heart is sinking into a quicksand and the more you fight, the deeper you go in.

Since 1990 more than 4 lakh men, women and children targeted by terrorist violence have fled their homes in Kashmir. Nearly 1.8 lakh of this internally displaced population stays in 11 camps in and around Jammu city. Away from their natural habitat, the children of these migrants have been living in alien conditions with their parents and dying of diseases like summer diarrhoea, viral fevers, diabetes, snakebites and heat stroke. A large number of children have also been rendered orphans and live with the trauma of their parents’ violent deaths. They suffer from guilt feelings because they survived while their loved ones perished. Many of them had become withdrawn and even violent. To the families who have lost their homes and all their possessions, and who are living in camps with their children for the last 19 years, the government gives an allowance of Rs 2400 and a ration of nine kilos of rice and one kilo of sugar for each member per month.

Over 19 long years the situation of these people has remained the same. The dole is the same though the children have grown into young adults and a new crop of children is being introduced to this kind of life. Frustration, low self-esteem and lack of jobs in the absence of little or no qualification is driving this generation of young adults towards despair and depression, creating psychological problems for them and impairing their mental health. Problems of drug abuse and sexual violence in the camps are not unheard of.

“There is depression and anger in the young generation that makes them resort to anti-social activities. In addition to this, the paltry amount is not enough for these migrants’ families to provide their children good education and good health,” says Prof K N Pandita, a long time human rights activist and general secretary of the Jammu based Friends of Kashmir International. Dr Apurva Kotru from the Jammu Medical Institute agrees. “The life in camp is a breeding ground for all negative activities for the holed up children, impairing their personalities. They are facing severe emotional and behavioural problems in the form of depression, anxiety, aggression, and sleeplessness.” He adds that “the diet pattern of the community has undergone a sea change. These young children look emaciated and many have retarded growth problems and complain of lethargy.” The Kashmiri community is mainly non-vegetarian and is fond of a protein based diet that comprises meat, fish, vegetable stews, yoghurt and rice. Owing to the paltry allowance they receive from the government, they are unable to provide nourishing diets for their children. Unless some drastic remedial measures are implemented on a war footing, we run the risk of losing a part of this generation. “Underfed children will not only perform poorly in studies, but there is also the high probability of incidence of disease and early death,” says Dr Girija Kak who is associated with the state hospital in Jammu and who has personally been treating children from the camps.

Raghav, a 14-year-old school dropout was playing cards at home by himself while his mother was cooking lunch for the family in the same room. Asked why he did not go to school along with his friends, he said, “I don’t like it there. It is hot and I feel very sleepy. They make us sit on the floor and I get tired.” His mother Bina Kaul said that he often complains of headaches and nausea and has a poor appetite. A visit to the doctor revealed that he suffered from anxiety and attention deficit disorder, coupled with vitamin deficiency. Raghav lost his father during the relocation to the camps from the valley; he died of a heat stroke. Eleven-year-old Jharna has arthritis; it started with her fingers getting locked, and she now has difficulty writing and walking. Vikas, who is 15, suffers from juvenile diabetes.

“Every time the issue of the plight of the Kashmiri Pandits has been raised, the Union and state governments are quick to point out the 'assistance' provided to the 'migrants'”, says Ashok Raina, father of two schoolgoing children in the Mishriwallan camp. The camp dwellers have to put up with humidity, with cold rooms in winter and hot rooms in summer, as four or more persons are crammed into one room. Families sit, eat and sleep in a single room. The children have not been able to grow up naturally and normally with their friends in an open environment with space to play in. “Cramped up in one single room/ hutment, with one parent smoking, inadequate ventilation, fumes from kerosene stoves adds to the problems of indoor air pollution that the children are subject to,” says Dr Kak.

CRY (Children Rights and You), a non-government organisation, conducted a survey in 2007 of one of the largest displaced Kashmiri Hindu migrant camps in Purkhoo, which is about 13 km southwest of Jammu city. The study was confined to children below the age of 18 years belonging to displaced migrant families. The report found ‘very poor stability in the supply of drinking water in displaced migrants’ camps, which runs for one hour daily and is grossly insufficient to meet daily requirements. Add to this the regular power cuts that range from nine to 12 hours every day and make life intolerable in summer and during the rainy season.

Group latrines constructed and maintained by Sulabh International are faulty; in Purkhoo camp there are 10 such latrines, which are improperly constructed causing leakages which flow into the open drainage system causing unhygienic conditions that impact adversely on the health of the inhabitants. Almost half the camp households do not have a bath or shower in their dwelling; as a result, skin disorders like eczema, bacterial diarrhoeas, water borne hepatitis etc are common. ‘The incidence of body lice was revealed by 36.52% of the children and almost 42.86% and 57.14% suffered from skin infections and relapsing fever respectively’ says the CRY report.

Rita Kaul, a general physician who is attached to the Mishriwallan camp, says that one of the major health problems reported among children is diarrhoea in summer due to the poor quality of drinking water and soaring temperatures. The mental trauma and disturbance caused by displacement has seen an increase in diabetes among elders of the Kashmiri Hindu community. ‘What is ironical is that the children of the displaced community were no exceptions to this and 49.13% of the children were suffering from diabetes due to tensions, idleness and less mobility and 48.15 % from anaemia. Prevalence of malnutrition, exposure to sub-nutritional diet and experience of epidemic of nutritional related diseases were reported by 45.81%, 42.86% and 11.33% of the children respectively’, CRY reports.

Basic medical facilities are supposed to be available within the camps, provided by one trained medical doctor. But most of the time this help is not available. Additional and regular health checks for the children are not conducted and there are no immunisation records. The CRY report found that all the children were vaccinated against diseases like diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus and polio, but none of them was vaccinated against hepatitis, mumps, etc. Though more than three-fourths of the children were desirous of getting those vaccinations, the reasons cited for not providing them was that they were too expensive or not available.

Life in the camps takes a particularly heavy toll of children. There are schools but they are poorly equipped. “There are enough teachers, but overcrowded classes, not enough chairs and tables, no proper supplies like blackboards, chalks, laboratories, no support structure like drinking water, lavatories, recreation centres, libraries etc. Parents prefer teaching them at home and make them appear for their boards privately,” says Chaman Lal, who looks after the management of the Muthi camp.

Inder Kishen, now 29, is an example of the tragedy of the younger residents. He left Vichar Nag, a small township on the outskirts of Srinagar soon after fundamentalist terror hit the valley in 1990. His education came to an abrupt end and he has been unable to get a job. His bitterness is evident. “We have been ruined,” he says referring to the many young people like him who had to abandon their education and struggle for a livelihood to support their families. The state government has not provided jobs for them. “In 1996, the state government made 40,000 to 50,000 new appointments in state services but not even 100 jobs went to the displaced Kashmiri Hindus,” says Prof K N Pandita.

According to a report by the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), 10 primary schools and three high schools have been built for migrant children. “Who is to tell them that 10 primary schools and three high schools cannot meet the needs of 250,000 people?” retorts Madan Ogra, a senior citizens who has been staying in the Purkhoo camp since 1991.

Dr K L Chowdhury, an activist and a doctor by profession, says that no international help of any kind is available in the camps. Some organisations have been in the news for delivering assistance to J&K, but Dr Chowdhury categorically states that “there have been reports of promises by various groups for providing nutritional, educational, health support as well as vocational training, career counselling sessions and job placement support, but in reality nobody has come to the camps of Muthi, Purkhoo or Mishriwallan in Jammu.” He says that there is a strong need for NGOs and counsellors to visit the camps.

The Borderless World Foundation (BWF), a non-government organisation based in Pune, Maharasthra, has decided to intervene positively in a programme called Basera-e-Tabassum (Abode of Smiles). Two of its members, Tanvir Rifatmir and Adhik, volunteered to help the children orphaned during militancy in the border areas of Kashmir. Adhik, who visited the camps in Jammu, was aghast at the situation there and said that while “there are many organisations working for Kashmir, in my so many years of experience I have not seen even one organisation working in the camps.”

Dr Falendra Kumar Sudan who is associated with the University of Jammu and was also involved in the study carried out by CRY, says that “the condition of the children in the camps is appalling.” He says he volunteered to help, but faced resistance. “The inmates were resistant to all our efforts to reach out as they had lost all hope and trust and were cynical in their approach.” When the inmates were asked about this, Ashok Raina from Muthi camp said, “It’s not that we are trying to misrepresent anything; it's just that we need privacy around a personal issue now; we want to create a secure boundary for ourselves and our children in order to feel safe and not get exploited.”

Probably the parents have realised the futility of seeking help from the state and individual organisations and have taken it upon themselves to be small time providers for their children, using whatever meagre resources they have, so that when their children grow up they have at least some good memories of an otherwise deprived childhood.


By Anju Munshi,an activist from Kashmir,India


Source:http://infochangeindia.org/200906227794/Children/Features/A-lost-generation-in-Jammu-s-refugee-camps.html



Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.

PROTEST MARCH ON 20TH JUNE 2009 in Mumbai

Dear All,

Yuvasatta-Youth Wing of Lok Satta Party, is organizing a protest against the Passing of the NAGAR RAJ BILL. The form in which this bill is passed makes a mockery of the whole process and initiative at decentralization and citizens' participation in Urban Governance. It shows how reluctant the State Government is to relinquish powers even as low a level as area sabhas.

We all know the present method of Governance is highly impractical.

o One elected corporator cannot meet the aspirations of 40000 – 650000.

o The bureaucracy, who run different corporations in the cities, is not actually accountable to citizens of a ward or area.


Therefore the Nagar Raj Bill was proposed to bring PARTICIPATION, ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY.

In a rural area, we have one elected representative (Panches and Sarpanches) for approximately every 425 voters and about 650 people and it are physically possible for an elected representative to serve the people.


LIKEWISE WE NEED TO HAVE AREA SABHAS IN THE CITY


Through ASR concept in cities, we will have one elected representative for about every 1000 voters and about 1700 people.


The formation of AREA SABHAS in urban localities will bring the following change:


§ Periodic Area Sabha meetings, citizens participate in the governance of their area. They decide the priority of works to be done and see that their taxes are utilized correctly.

§ Citizens themselves get a say in the utilization of various government policies and schemes. Thus saving valuable tax payers money which otherwise is siphoned off…

§ Area Sabhas will also help in strengthening communitarian bonds, building trust and providing a safe and incident free neighborhood.



The Maharashtra Government as highly dilutes this bill in the form of Amendments to the Mumbai Municipals Corporation Act.

1- Area Sabhas will be for up to five polling booths (5000 citizen) - Thus making it ineffective

2- ASRs will be Nominated by govt.. - Thus only political cronies will be appointed and making people further away from the system.

3- ASR will not be members of Ward Committee. - Thus their role is not defined and will make mockery of the whole concept.

4- No ward committee at corporator ward level. - Thus nothing changes at grass route level and no platform for "Local Self Governance"

5- Existing WARD(S) COMMITTEE will continue without transferring functioneris etc. - As it is they are non functional in true sense and not bringing governance closer to people.


WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE?

Maharashtra Government should have simply adopted the Model Nagar Raj Bill in toto and given it supremacy or overriding effect over the provisions of the BMC Act (Bombay Municipal Corporation Act) by providing that –

"to the extent the provisions of the Nagar Raj Act" are inconsistent with or contrary to any of the provisions of the BMC Act; the provisions of the Nagar Raj Act shall prevail."

We invite you to participate in our protest on Saturday 20/06/2009 at 3:30 PM – Azad Maidan, CST.


Remember

Nagar Raj Bill = Participation,Accountability & Transparency

Nagar Raj Bill Passed by Maharashtra Assembly = None of the above !

Sum Total= Power with corrupt 'Netas' and not Citizens.

Don't wait for another 26/11 to wake up !!!

Join Us.................
RUBEN : 9820249942

NIKITA: 9920020919

ROHIT: 9820687638

AJAY: 9892614014

SHAILESH: 9820213888


Posted by Loksatta - Maharashtra : loksatta.maharashtra17@gmail.com


Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.

Majlis Legal Helpline for Elderly Women in Mumbai Launched

On this occasion of World Elder Abuse Awareness Week 13th June to 19th June 2009, Silver Inning Foundation in association with Majlis is pleased to offer - Legal Advice Helpline to Elderly Women with regard to Matrimonial Issues.

Majlis is located at Santacruz (East), Mumbai and you can call 022- 26661252 / 26662394 to fix an appointment



About Majlis:
Majlis (which means association) is a public trust and NGO. We are a team of
lawyers working in the field of women’s rights and legal initiatives for the last 18 years. Majlis provides litigation support and legal counselling to women in distress through our outreach programmes at the community level. In addition we evolve strategies and engage in policy level interventions to better defend women’s rights.
Website: http://www.majlisbombay.org/index.htm


About Silver Inning Foundation:
Silver Inning Foundation is registered NGO dedicated for Senior Citizens and their family. It is part of Silver Innings a Social Entrepreneur organisation which also hosts www.silverinnings.com a comprehensive and dedicated Website for Elderly. Providing need base service, networking and advocacy for Senior Citizens forms important aspect of Silver Innings. Silver Innings is working towards creating Elder Friendly World where Ageing becomes a Positive and Rewarding Experience.



Mumbai Elder Helpline(code - 022):
Mumbai Police Elder Line: 1090 / 103
Dignity Foundation: 23898078
Shree Manav Seva Sangh: 24081487
Silver Inning Foundation: 987104233
Majlis Legal (Matrimonial issue) Helpline for Elderly Women:26661252 /26662394




“My World… Your World… Our World – Free of Elder Abuse”


This year WEAAD 2009 Programme in Mumbai was organized by Silver Inning Foundation and promoted/supported by INPEA (International Network for Prevention of Elder Abuse) Indian Chapter through Development, Welfare and Research Foundation (DWARF) and 'Little Things Matter Initiatives' (LTMI), Mahakali Senior Citizens Association, Apne Aap Women's Collective, ARDSI Greater Mumbai ,Cosmopolitan School,Majlis and AISCCON (All India Senior Citizens' Confederation).



Date: 19th June 2009



Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.

Elder Abuse Essay Competition 2009 Results Announced

On the occasion of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 15th June 2009, Silver Inning Foundation (SIF), a dedicated organization for senior citizens and their family members had hosted various events to commemorate Elder Abuse Awareness Week from 13th June to 19th June 2009.

One of the event was Essay Competition on ELDER ABUSE.SIF invited an Essay of 1000 words on the topic of "Elder Abuse: Role of Civil Society and Government ".

From all over the World 25 Essay were submitted including 2 entries from class 10th students of Deepalaya School, Kalkaji Extn N, Delhi.

We take this opportunity to Thank all the Participation for giving their valuable support.


Best 3 Essay are as following:
1. Dr. P.V. Vaidyanathan : vaidyanathan.pv@gmail.com
2. Dr. P Vyasamoorthy : vyasamoorthy@gmail.com
3. Mrs. N.M. Helen Dorothy : maryhelendy@yahoo.co.in


Following Best of 10 will get the Participation Certificate:
1. Dr. P.V. Vaidyanathan
2. Dr. P Vyasamoorthy
3. Mrs. N.M. Helen Dorothy
4. Mr.Subrahmanian S H
5. Mrs Kokila Mani
6. Mrs.Shobha Mathur
7. Ms.Ritu Priya Gurtoo
8. Mr.M.V.Ruparelia
9. Tannu Gurung
10.Jyoti Sharma


Silver Inning Foundation WEAAD 2009 Essay Competition Essay are now ONLINE.

Read Best Three Essay on Elder Abuse: "Elder Abuse: Role of Civil Society and Government ".


Dr. P.V. Vaidyanathan :http://silverinnings.blogspot.com/2009/06/elder-abuse-essay-1st-best-role-of.html

Dr. P Vyasamoorthy :
http://silverinnings.blogspot.com/2009/06/elder-abuse-essay-2nd-best-role-of.html

Mrs. N.M. Helen Dorothy :
http://silverinnings.blogspot.com/2009/06/elder-abuse-essay-3rd-best-role-of.html


STOP ELDER ABUSE.

This Programme was organized by Silver Inning Foundation and promoted by INPEA (International Network for Prevention of Elder Abuse) Indian Chapter through Development, Welfare and Research Foundation (DWARF) and 'Little Things Matter Initiatives' (LTMI), Mahakali Senior Citizens Association, Apne Aap, ARDSI Greater Mumbai Cosmopolitan School and AISCCON (All India Senior Citizens' Confederation).


“My World… Your World… Our World – Free of Elder Abuse”


Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.

Scheme for Financial Assistance to Voluntary Organsiations for Book Promotional Activities

National Book Trust, India (NBT), an autonomous organisation of the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, implements a Scheme for financial assistance for any one or more of the following Book Promotional Activities:

(a) To orgainse seminars of Indian Authors/Publishers/ Booksellers on subjects which have direct bearing on book promotion in India.
(b) To organize training courses on a subject directly related to book promotion.
(c) To organize Annual Conventions/ Conferences of Writers/Publishers/ Printers/Bookseller s.
(d) To conduct research/survey connected with book industry.
(e) Any other activity which may be found conducive to the development of book industry, etc.

The basic terms and conditions for submitting application for the Grant are as under
1. Voluntary organizations of writers, publishers and booksellers and others engaged in the book promotional activities which are registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (Act XXI of 1960) and are in existence at least for three years.
2. Before the amount is paid, a bond has to be executed by the organization in respect of the grant. The organization receiving grant shall have to give a undertaking that no grant-in-aid has been received from any other authority of the Central/State Government and that a grant or aid for the same purpose has not been applied for by the organization any of those authorities.
3. The organization shall have to give an undertaking that the grant shall be utilized for the purpose it is sanctioned. Failure to do so will render the organization liable to refund to the Trust grant in full with penal interest thereon as the Trust may decide
4. An amount equivalent to at least 25% of the actual expenditure shall be contributed by the organization from its own sources, falling which proportionate amount will be refunded to the Trust.
5. The grant for organising the Seminars/Workshops/ Training Courses/Conventions is subject to the ceiling of expenditure on each item approved by the NBT.
6. Any organisation in receipt of the financial assistance shall be open to inspection by an officer of the National Book Trust, India or an Officer of Indian Audit and Accounts Department.

Detailed terms and conditions and prescribed form for submitting application may be obtained from the Deputy Director (Exhibition) , National Book Trust, India, Nehru Bhawan, 5 Institutional Area, Phase-II, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi-110070 on any working day between 9-30 am and 5 p.m. The Application Forms can also be downloaded from our website www.nbtindia.org.in.

The voluntary organisations who fulfil the terms and conditions may submit their applications to the Director, National Book Trust, India, Nehru Bhawan, 5 Institutional Area, Phase-II, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi-110070 which should reach the Trust latest by 15 July 2009. Applications received after prescribed date will not be considered for grant-in-aid during the financial year 2009-10.

Source: http://indiansocialworker.blogspot.com/2009/06/scheme-for-financial-assistance-to.html



Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.

Green House - A new concept for Elder Care

THE GREEN HOUSE® model creates a small intentional community for a group of elders and staff. It is a place that focuses on life, and its heart is found in the relationships that flourish there. A radical departure from traditional skilled nursing homes and assisted living facilities, The Green House model alters facility size, interior design, staffing patterns, and methods of delivering skilled professional services. Its primary purpose is to serve as a place where elders can receive assistance and support with activities of daily living and clinical care, without the assistance and care becoming the focus of their existence. Developed by Dr. William Thomas and rooted in the tradition of the Eden Alternative, a model for cultural change within nursing facilities, The Green House model is intended to de-institutionalize long-term care by eliminating large nursing facilities and creating habilitative, social settings.


Architecture - Warm, Smart, and Green
The Green House residence is designed to be a home for six to ten elders. It blends architecturally with neighboring homes, includes vibrant outdoor space, and utilizes aesthetically appealing interior features. Each elder has a private room or unit with a private bathroom. Elders' rooms receive high levels of sunlight and are situated around the hearth, an open kitchen and dining area. While adhering to all codes required by regulations, Green House homes look and feel like a home, and contain few medical signposts.

•Warm: Warmth is created by the floor plan, decor, furnishings, and the people.
•Smart: Use of cost effective, smart technology-computers, wireless pagers, electronic ceiling lifts, and adaptive devices.
•Green: Sunlight, plants, and access to outdoor spaces.

Green House® Life - It's a Home
Each elder enjoys a private room or unit with a private bath which they decorate with their own belongings. There is easy access to all areas of the house including the kitchen and laundry, outdoor garden and patio. Safety features are built into the house to minimize injury. The small size of The Green House home promotes less use of wheelchairs. The elder is free from the limitations of an institutional schedule and lives a comfortable daily life - sleeping, eating, and engaging in activities as they choose. Meals are prepared in the open kitchen and served at a large dining table where staff, elders and visitors enjoy pleasant dining (called CONVIVIUM). This is characterized by good fresh food, a well set table often with music and flowers, and good conversation with people who care about one another. Meal times can be over an hour and appetites are good.


Source: http://www.ncbcapitalimpact.org/default.aspx?id=148




Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.

NGO JOB: PROJECT OFFICER

ORGANIZATION: WOMEN WEAVE


Third Sector Partners, a leading CxO and board search firm in the Not for Profit sector has been retained by Women Weave to recruit the Project Officer for the Gudi Mudi Project in Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh.


OVERVIEW

Women Weave came into existence in 1998, under the leadership of Sally Holkar, a political science graduate from Stanford University. She has a long history with handloom and with the weaving community of Maheshwar in Madhya Pradesh. Sally is well known in the not- for-profit society for more than 30 years with consistent developmental work in design, marketing and quality control.

The Women Weave (WW) mission is to support and sustain women who weave on handlooms around the world. Through inclusive and participatory processes, they strive to empower these women to access markets effectively and to derive the best value for their labor. WW works on developing principles of fair trade and lasting and durable change to sustain the livelihood of women handloom weavers. WW strives to achieve dignity and respect for micro entrepreneurs. The principal focus of WW’s efforts is to create an atmosphere where women handloom weavers could seek the highest market value for their production and foster sustainable linkages with the marketplace.
Gudi Mudi Project is training and production project in Maheshwar, MP, the objective of which is to ensure sustainable income for marginalized women in the area in spinning and hand weaving of the local cotton. At present a staff of 6 is involved in managing the production of hand-woven khadi with approximately 60 women in one unit at Maheshwar.


THE OPPORTUNITY

Women Weave seeks to recruit a dynamic and committed individual as Project Officer for the Gudi Mudi Project, who understands the rural industry and who will be able to take on a leadership role to connect women weavers in India through innovative and productive means, and enable them to become self reliant weaving communities.
Women Weave’s activities have grown considerably since its inception in 1998. The initial phase focused on training the artisans and building trust and relationship with the community. In the subsequent years, marketing and production of the weaves has seen significant momentum.

In the current phase, the incumbent would be responsible for overseeing the production activities in Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh, monitor the quality standards, timelines, delivery schedules and regularize the weaving activities by setting systems and processes at the production centre.
The incumbent will interact with weavers at every stage from design, marketing to life improvement. S/he will play a pivotal role in developing the weaving community in India and link them to SHGs and microfinance organisations.
There is also a need for the incumbent to, over time, promote and initiate the Synergy Weaving Centre which envisaged as being an information and technology sharing centre for the handloom weaving industry.
For the location, Madhya Pradesh will be first preference and the position would report directly to Sally Holkar, Founder of Women Weave.


RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PROJECT OFFICER

• Responsible for managing the overall functioning of the production facility in Maheshwar. Provide Strong management direction on ground for the project.
• Know and understand the dimensions of the project and ensure scale up and stabilization of the Maheshwar project.
• Ability to be stationed in Maheshwar at least 20 days a month and travel to other handloom areas with which WW partner for projects.
• Manage the existing partners and scale the number of project members from 135 to 500 women in the next 3 years.
• Set timetable and plan for major project activities based on project proposal, implementation plan, and relevant consultant, weaver cluster or partner group.
• Implement program activities in cooperation with weaver clusters.
• Assist in transforming Women Weave from a small scale unit to a medium scale unit.
• Manage the rural enterprise with a strong focus on people, accounting, and general management.
• Assist in forming links with the Microfinance organizations for the second phase of Women Weave’s growth.
• Interface with multiple stakeholders including clients, local government, weaver groups, community partners and staff members, amongst others. Assume a key representational role for the organization to all external stakeholders.
• Over time, give impetus to the Synergy Weaving Centre: envisaged to be an information and technology sharing centre for handloom weavers in India.


MUST HAVE

• An overall experience of 5+ years in the rural sector of which at least two years experience in managing and running any rural production unit/program.
• It would be preferable for the incumbent to have demonstrated skills in running programs aimed at making rural communities self reliant.
• Skills in building and strengthening networks and partnerships with multiple stakeholders with the ability to communicate effectively with people from across segments (clients, customers, strategic partners, community groups, local government, to name a few)
• Excellent written and spoken communication skill: English & Hindi
• Excellent computer skills.
• Readiness to live and work in Rural India.


COMPENSATION DETAILS:

The compensation is commensurate with qualification and experience.


Interested individuals may please submit their CV, a cover note and 3 references by email to womenweave.po@gmail.com with the subject line indicating Project Officer - WW. Please note that only short listed candidates will be contacted.





Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.

UN appeals all to join its 'Billion Tree Campaign'

UN Environment Programme takes its ‘Billion Tree Campaign’ to a popular social networking site to achieve the goal of planting seven billion trees before the Copenhagen summit in December this year. The initiative would send a message to world leaders on the need to seal the post-Kyoto climate deal.

Ahead of World Environment Day, celebrated globally on June 5, the United Nations today announced an ambitious tree-planting target in a bid to push governments into reaching agreement on a climate change pact in Copenhagen this December.

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has appealed to the world to help its effort to plant seven billion trees by the end of the year, coinciding with the UN Climate Change Conference which aims to draw up a successor pact to the Kyoto Protocol and reduce global greenhouse gas emissions.

To date, some 3.1 billion trees have been planted in 166 countries, and “whether you choose to plant one tree or thousands,” UNEP would like you to register your tree planting pledge on its Billion Tree Campaign website, it said a news release.

In addition, the agency has pledged to plant a tree for each person who joins its campaign on the internet-based social networking site “Twitter” between now and 5 June. UNEP hopes to attract 100,000 people on Twitter by World Environment Day and in turn plant the same number of trees for its Billion Tree Campaign.

“If we are to by the crucial UN climate convention meeting in December, UNEP needs your support from schools and associations to governments, businesses and individual citizens,” said UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner.

If half the world planted just one sapling between now and World Environment Day, it would send “a powerful statement too to world leaders and the need to seal the climate deal in less than 200 days time,” added Steiner.

The World Environment Day global tree-planting drive is the first in a series of mass participation events planned as part of the UN-led “Seal the Deal!” campaign in the lead-up the UN climate change meeting in Copenhagen.

Source: http://southasia.oneworld.net/globalheadlines/un-appeals-all-to-join-its-billion-tree-campaign


Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.

Ethics for social entrepreneurs

Is there a code of behavior for social entrepreneurs?

Turn inwards where morality meets ethics, and you'll likely find some sense of what lines cannot be crossed, a moral sense -- but if you look around outside, can you also find a code that's agreed by your peers, that guides you in cases where your personal sense of morals may be conflicted -- and perhaps even instructs you to a narrower range of choices on occasion?

Does the community of entrepreneurs answering a social vision have a formal code?

Professor David Batstone offers ten Principles for entrepreneurial ethics. Reading them, I wonder how far they go towards converting an "entrepreneurial venture" into a "social entrepreneurial venture" by their very nature:
1. Company directors and management will consider their work force valuable team members, not merely hired labor.
2. A company will think of itself as a part of a community, not just a "market."
3. A company will take every possible care to ensure the quality and safety of the products it brings to the public.
4. A company will treat the environment as a silent "stakeholder," a party to which it is wholly accountable.
5. A company will strive to diversify the kind of people who lead and manage its affairs.
6. A company will pursue international trade and production based on reciprocal exchanges that respect the same rights accorded its own people.
7. A company will nurture an organizational culture that encourages its employees to give critical feedback on unethical practices, and even "blow the whistle" when their voices are ignored.
8. A company will protect the privacy rights of its suppliers, customers, and employees.
9. A company will deliver what it promises, and promise what it can deliver.
10. A company will not seek to generate any revenue from practices that threaten life.


Source:http://www.socialedge.org/discussions/responsibility/ethics-for-social-entrepreneurs


Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.

Impact of Childhood history in Adults

Childhood history has a lot to do with how we live as adults because certain childhood events could trigger something that would last a life time. Take for example if a child fails at something and the parent does nothing to help the child, the child will grow up thinking that failing is alright and that he or she will have a hard time in life with their job or in school or life in general.

Many events from a persons’ life can stick with the person throughout their life like a thorn in the side. The event will every so often reappear in the persons mind when some event in the present triggers a familiarity with the past event and the person could go in to a state of worry or even worse shock. In this occurrence it could immobilize the person and result in a lackluster in the persons life and might not be able to carry on until the issue is resolved.Many events that have happened in a persons childhood could result in how they live for example: a child who lived a certain way might become a custom to that way and live like that for the rest of his or her life and may not ever come out of that comfort zone until he or she is addressed with the issue. They may not want to try new things or meet new people or anything for that matter. The childhood history also has an affect on the relationship with the persons’ parents. Events that occurred in the past redevelop and the person might love their parent or hate their parent depending on their child hood. This is also true with relationships with a life partner. However they were brought up will affect their relationship with their partner.

Many psychiatrists believe that child hood events could show want might be troubling people, and when they find out what happened they usually could solve the problem. The person’s surroundings as a child is also a factor on how the person will live when they are adults. Usually when a person is surrounded by comfort the person will be a warm gentle person, but a person who is surrounded by violence and anger as a child will usually grow up to be and angry and violent person. In conclusion I believe that the child hood of a person or persons’ will greatly decide what his or hers adult life. Their child hood memories will stick with them either in their mind which they always remember a certain event that changed their life, or a memory will stay with them subconsciously and at a certain time a event in their life might trigger that memory that was in their mind subconsciously and arise and cause some pain and might be hard for the person to deal with in their adult life. Thus we should try to live a good life and not let too many things trouble you as a child because we still have our adult life to let things trouble us.

Source: http://indiansocialworker.blogspot.com/2009/06/impact-of-childhood-history-in-adults.html

Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.

Programme Leader for Water Management Required for Indian NGO

POSITION TITLE: PROGRAM LEADER – WATER MANAGEMENT
LOCATION: Gurgaon
REPORTING TO: Group Leader

OVERVIEW:
The Sehgal Foundation is one of the leading nonprofit organizations working in the Mewat District of Haryana. It has established an Institute of Rural Research and Development (IRRAD) in Gurgaon, Haryana which has four centers; the first one for Program Implementation, the second one for Rural Research, the third one for Policy, Governance and Advocacy, and the fourth one for Capacity Building of the villagers.

IRRAD's mission is to implement Integrated Sustainable Village Development (ISVD) in select village clusters, build capacity in rural development, undertake rural research, improve village governance, and serve as a premier knowledge institution for rural development and poverty reduction in India. IRRAD implements programs and conducts research in the following areas:
(a)Water Management; (b) Rural Health; (c) Income Enhancement including Agriculture; (d) Life Skills Education; and (e) Alternative Energy.

THE OPPORTUNITY:
The Sehgal Foundation is looking to hire their Program Leader – Water Management. The key responsibilities in this role will be as follows:
Collecting information about water related issues and create digitized mapping
Conceptualize the probable solutions to water related problems and implementation through community participation
Supervision, monitoring of projects and provide technical support to field level team
Working with community to create awareness regarding the environmental issues
Developing project plan, designing, budgeting, implementation and monitoring strategies
Training of implementation team and community groups
Studying the project outcomes and writing success stories
Networking with organizations having expertise on water related issues.
Represent the Foundation at various workshops, conferences and meetings
Development and formulation of training modules
Program documentation, writing proposals and writing research papers.

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS SPECIFICATIONS:
Must Haves:
Minimum of 5 to 8 years of experience in the area of Water Management preferably in water distressed areas.
The incumbent should have demonstrated through past experience the ability to work with partners and communities to develop innovative water management models
Excellent written and verbal communication, presentation, reporting and computer skills, with fluency in English and Hindi.
· A team player with strong program management skills. Ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships, both within and outside of the organization.
· Graduate degree preferably with a specialization in Civil Engineering, Environmental Sciences or related fields.

COMPENSATION DETAILS: Commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Third Sector Partners, a leading CxO and board search firm in the Not for Profit sector has been retained by Sehgal Foundation for this search. Interested candidates can send in their CVs along with three references and a cover note to application.water@gmail.com , or Contact us at: +91 22 6660 3558/6660 3559. Only short listed candidates would be contacted. A detailed document on the mandate will be available on request. Last date for receiving applications is 25th June 2009.

Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.

UNICEF, Save The Children Fund team up to eliminate child labour

Unicef and Save the Children Fund (SCF), two of the largest child rights organisations, have teamed up to start a project that will focus on eliminating child labour and running intervention programme to educate children working in the cotton growing states of India, including Gujarat.
Besides Gujarat, the project will be initiated in Maharashtra, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh.

The two groups will also push for bringing amendments in the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act (CLPRA), 1986, which allows children to work for a stipulated time in non-hazardous work, bound by certain conditions. However, they say that it contradicts the right of every child to free and compulsory education (as per 21(a) of the Constitution). The experts are demanding that the age for work is raised to 18 and above.

As per the 2001 census, there were 4, 85,530 children below 14 years of age who were working in different sectors in the state including zari work, zardozi work, jewellery, domestic work, and at cloth markets, eateries and restaurants. Besides this, the cotton growing regions also have children employed in large numbers.

UNICEF and SCF will start the project in Kutch and Vadodara and move on to Ahmedabad, Surendranagar, Sabarkantha and Bharuch in the second phase. “The focus is to eliminate child labour from the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat,” said Mohammed Aftab of SCF.

One the NGOs that will implement the intervention programme with UNICEF and SCF, said that children working in the agriculture sector are the most affected.

“As per the government data, the maximum number of children are employed in the agriculture sector. Although the law defines the conditions under which farmers can employ children, these are never followed. The only way out is to amend the law,” said Sukhdev Patel of a partner NGO in Vadodara.

Gujarat has charted out the State Action Plan 2010 to eliminate child labour on the lines of the Central government.

“As per this plan, we will eliminate child labour in Gujarat and provide the children the right to education. We will take the help of some NGOs to execute this plan,” said RM Patel, Principal Secretary, state Labour Department.

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/UNICEF--Save-The-Children-Fund-team-up-to-eliminate-child-labour/468933

Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.

Eco-Consciousness through ‘Bhagidari’ (Partnership) with Delhi’s Citizens

One of the most difficult tasks in achieving a greener and more resource efficient life on planet Earth is changing inherent patterns or attitudes in each and everyone of us. Because it is the direct grand collective impact of our actions in regards to resource usage and consumption that will determine the future of Earth’s environment. Creating awareness and eco-consciousness is a critical first step in this. The Bhagidari of Delhi (India) Government, a citizen-government partnership initiative, has been making serious attempts at creating awareness amongst the citizens of Delhi regarding environment and pushing them towards more environmentally friendly lifestyle.

In a manner, it is also a matter of honing the consciousness in a particular direction. I am reminded of the Delhi bill-boards that I had barely glanced at as I drove by – “I will use jute-bags” or “Light-up a smile” or “I will not use the shower.” My fleeting first look had left me wondering. As I had better chances to read th “e bill-boards more closely, things started to fall in place and I was left with a different kind of wonderment.

The Bhagidari (rooted in sharing and meaning partnership) was launched in December 1998 by Delhi government for citizens’ partnership in Governance. Though initially it started as a mechanism for allowing citizens and citizen bodies to voice their grievances, it has overtime it has evolved into a process with multiple stakeholder in Delhi’s governance including citizen groups, NGOs and the Government itself. It is the manner in which the Bhagidari, the partnership, is being leveraged to hone the eco-consciousness of the citizens, which is impressively striking. The school children in association with NGO’s have been spearheading the ‘Save Water’ campaign. Spreading the message and distributing pamphlets, educating people about the importance of conserving water to the numerous lanes and by-lanes of the city. And as they have canvassed through the streets of Delhi, the student volunteers also screened for simple water wastage incidents such as overflowing tanks, leaking water coolers and pleaded with the dwellers to get the leaks plugged.

Included in partnership, in Bhagidari, are the Resident Welfare Associations (RWA) from different regions of Delhi. RWAs are playing increasingly significant role in water conservation as well. In partnership with Delhi Jal (Water) Board (DJB), RWAs are getting involved in installation of Rain Water-Harvesting, replacing old water distribution pipes and de-silting of sewers. Just like the school children, RWA’s have also been instrumental in the impressing upon the citizens the need for conserving water as well as in providing simple tips for water conservation, like turning off the tap while shaving or using bucket for taking a bath instead of using a shower. Similarly under the “Save Energy” campaign, RWA’s have been helping out with finding faulty meters to avoid energy pilferage or help with replacement of low tension wires. Critically, also, educating people about benefits of using CFL bulbs instead of regular bulbs.

At the same time the Delhi government is advertising heavily to sharpen the people’s conciousness in a particular direction. Bill-boards that had always (in my memory) been an instrument of commercial advertising were serving as vehicles for greater social awareness. I have been wondering about the tremendous expense certain political parties must have incurred for their bill-board campaigns in recent parliamentary elections in India. But I am wondering more about the recent public awareness initiatives. On bill-boards – big or small, prominent roadside ones or tucked inside the bus-stops – Delhi government’s campaign for environment and planet’s precious resources looks valiant. I am sure it will provide much fodder to those minds that otherwise would not even have wandered in that direction: “I will not use the shower but bathe using bucket and mug” (Save Water campaign); “I will use CFLs” (Save Electricity campaign); “If I don’t use plastic bags, drains won’t get clogged and Delhi will be a cleaner city” (Save Our Environment campaign).

Another small step comes to mind. The beautification of the old style street electric boxes in Palo Alto was another interesting campaign. Finding the old-style electric boxes in downtown Palo Alto an eye-sore, some artists had picked their brushes to paint them pretty. Closer look usually reveals a message in similar, save-our-environment vein.

It is very hard to know how much of a dividend these awareness campaigns will yield and whether it will justify the outlay towards such advertising. But in a more fundamental sense, creation of awareness and change of behavior are really hard to achieve. Even limited success of these campaigns by changing inherent patterns or attitudes (in even a few people) could be a useful contribution. Hopefully these small steps will build towards a big march for improvements in our environment.

Source: http://ecoworldly.com/2009/05/31/eco-consciousness-through-bhagidari-partnership-with-delhis-citizens/

Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.