EMPOWERMENT OF RURAL AND POOR WOMEN:
Women have equal role and responsibilities in comparison to tasks of men. Rather, they are to do additional work than their male counterpart. Yet they are deprived, exploited and oppressed in the present male dominated social system. So since inception Ranapara Gram Bikash Kendra has been striving for strengthening the empowerment process of rural and poor women through self help initiatives. The mission of our organization is to empower the target women groups with decision making power, up graded capacity in managing community based organizations, knowledge and capacity for participation in the panchayatiraj institution, skills on income generation activities through self help initiatives etc. In order to materialize the mission, following activities have been organized for women's empowerment.

SWARNA JAYANTI GRAM SWAROJGAR YOJANA:
Under the SGSY scheme hundreds of rural and poor women at Amta I block in Howrah district have become self sufficient through self help initiatives. Our organization has been extending following support to the target women groups with the kind and sincere assistance and guidance of the local Panchayet Samity, Howrah Zilla Parishad, District Rural Development Cell. The activities are given in tabular form:

Table I

CAPACITY BUILDING TRAINING FOR WOMEN OF SGSY GROUPS:
Staff & Organizer's Sensitization:
During the reporting year staff & organizers sensitization meetings were organized once a week. 20 staff organizers participated regularly in the follow up meetings and shared their experiences for strengthening the group management and other activities. The Secretary of the organization coordinated all meetings for collecting feedbacks from the organizers and chalking out the future action plan.

SGSY Group Meeting:
The SGSY groups meet together each month at least twice or more where they decide about the present activities and future action plan in a participatory process. In fact it is the platform of the groups to share opinion and views of all participants regarding group initiatives etc. 

Sensitization Video show:
Video shows were displayed among the gathering of various group members on the success and strength of the SGSY groups. It was a mobile regular programme. 

Group Exposure Visit:
Through physical verification and stock taking of the activities the group members were more sensitized about the various participatory processes in group management, income generating activities, micro credit facilities, marketing etc. 

Major achievements in brief:
Total No. of SGSY groups formed: 336 
Total number of women enrolled: 3696 
Total amount of savings raised: Rs.973,600/-
Total amount of micro credit provided to 149 SGSY groups from bank: Rs.650,000/-
Repayment: 100% in time.

TOTAL SANITATION PROGRAMME:
Ranapara Gram Bikash Kendra has been entrusted to undertake total sanitation programme at Amta I block by the local Panchayet and concerned government authority. During the reporting year a cumulative total of 80 villages had been reached under the programme. In this connection sanitary marts had been set up at villages Ranapara, Mandaria and Altara. The organization had given major stress on developing the Udang I G.P. as a model G.P. In this connection staff members of the organization and panchayet representatives of the concerned G.P. had been striving heart and soul to sensitize the people. All activities done by the organization still the date of reporting are given below in tabular form.

Table II

HEALTH:
Community Health Awareness:
Ranapara Gram Bikash Kendra has been providing maximum emphasis on community health awareness and sensitization especially about preventive measures. In this connection the organization had utilized the strength of its mass base among rural and poor women and good rapport with the local government health personnel to materialize the following activities.

Pulse Polio campaigning:
Like earlier years the organization had launched a serious drive with the help of its dedicated social workers, volunteers and women groups of the organization to make the pulse polio vaccination cent percent successful at Udang I & II, Khardah, Amta, Bhandargachha, Basantapur and Chandrapur G.Ps. Special drive was given for the villages of minority and SC/ST/Minority communities. It was a very successful programme.

HIV/AIDS Awareness Programme:
According to survey report of various international institutions that the spread of HIV/AIDS in West Bengal state is very acute and it needs immediate interventions more efficiently. AIDS is not curable but preventable. To control the HIV positive infection awareness education is urgently needed for youth groups, student of higher classes. The district of Howrah is seriously affected due to migration of goldsmiths to Mumbai and other states. Rural poor women are also trafficking into flying commercial sex business. Considering the situation our organization had launched HIV/AIDS awareness programmes at Amta areas among student, women and youth groups. It has also been working at Chengail red light slums in Howrah district and at Mecheda in Purbn Medinipore district. During the reporting year frequent awareness and sensitization camps, condom distributions had been organized. However the organizational funding resource was very limited. A project proposal was submitted to the West Bengal AIDS Prevention & Control Society for consideration. It is expected that if the proposed project is sanctioned about 2000 CSWs and their clients will be sensitized and benefit from the project.

Swasthya Bidhan Abhijaan Programmer:
Under the campaigning programme on health issues people were made aware of Mother and Child health care, Malaria and TB control, Sanitation, Hygiene etc. The campaigning programme was conducted at Udang I & II, Amta, Sirajbati, Bhandargachha G.Ps of Amta I block. The block health authorities and panchayet authorities provided guidance to make the programme successful.

ENVIRONMENT:
Environmental Awareness Camp:
The environmental awareness camp was organized at villages Habla and Ranapara of Bhandargachha and Udang I G.P.s to make people aware of environment conservation through plantation, pollution control. 205 villagers including students, youth, women participated in these camps. Discussions were made on protection of river side trees, small animals and medicinal plants of the villages, use of compost fertilizer, pest control etc.

Awareness on Smokeless Chulhas:
Smokeless improved chulha is very useful to minimize fuel consumption and smoke related health hazards. Minimization of use of fire wood means development of environment. During the reporting year awareness camps were organized at villages Ranapara, Deorah, Fatepur and Khasnan. Women and youth groups participated in the awareness camp.

TRAINING & DEMONSTRATION:
Pisci-Culture Training & Demonstration:
Fish is the second economically profitable crop in the West Bengal state. However, rural fisher-folk community is in need of training of improved method of pisci-culture for quality livelihood maintenance. Ranapara Gram Bikash Kendra had extended training facilities to the unemployed youth of below poverty line families of fisher-folk communities with its limited resources. During the reporting year training was provided to 20 youth on pisci-culture. After completion of training the trained youth decided to start income generation trade on fish growing and sale. The organization has also been demonstration facilities by taking lease of 6 tanks at Ranapara, Laxmipur and Deorah for better orientation and skill development of trained youth on pisci-culture. During the reporting the organization had renewed lease ownership of tanks and provided skill development facilities to trained youth of previous year. The organization had also utilized the income for training and other development purposes from the sale proceed of fish.

Agriculture Training & Demonstration:
Training on improved agriculture is a regular programme of the organization. During the reporting year major emphasis had been given on agriculture training on high bred seasonal vegetable cultivation. In this connection technical guidance had been provided to the target 20 trainees for growing of chili, papita, tomato, ladies finger, brinjle, capsicum etc. Unemployed youth of small and'marginal farmer's families of Ranapara village was provided with the training facilities. Through agriculture demonstration programme the unemployed youth group, rural poor farmer's families had been motivated to undertake high bred vegetable cultivation on commercial basis. From sale proceeds of vegetables of the demonstration fields the organization had also earned to meet the costs of the training and other development activities.

Floriculture Training:
10 unemployed youth of Ranapara village were provided with the training facilities on floriculture for a period of 3 months. The training was very successful and all trained youth had started floriculture for income generation.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT:
Training of Youth SC/OBC/Poor women on Tailoring:
Rural youth, especially poor SC/OBC women youngsters have no access to vocational training facilities. Considering the problem RGBK had conducted a training of youth for 30 women at Ranapara for a period of 6 months. The Nehru Yuba Kendra, Howrah and the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India assisted the training programme technically and financially. After completion of training 20 women started their own business and 10 women are engaged in job work for income generation.

WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT:
Since inception Ronapara Gram Bikash Kendra has been striving for empowerment process of rural and poor women under their own leadership. In this connection our mission is to empower the target women groups with decision making power, up graded capacity in managing community based organizations, knowledge and capacity for participation in the panchayatiraj institution, skills on vocations for income generation through self help initiatives etc. In this context following activities have been organized for women's empowerment.

SWARNA JAYANTI GRAM SWAROJGAR YOJANA:
Skill up gradation Training for women of SGSY groups:
During the reporting year women of members of SGSY groups had undergone the skill up gradation training on zori craft for a period of 120 days. Training kits and raw materials etc. were provided to the trainees. Women of SGSY groups completed the training course very successfully under the guidance of expert craft persons.

CAPACITY BUILDING TRAINING FOR WOMEN OF SGSY GROUPS:
Organizer's Follow up:
During the reporting year organizer's following meetings were held regular basis on each week once. 16 organizers participated regularly in the follow up meetings and shared their experiences for strengthening the group management and other activities. The Secretary of the organization was present almost in each meeting for collecting feedback from the organizers.

Meeting Sensitization programme:
Maximum efforts have been given on frequent meetings and sensitizaiion camps for capacity building of members of SGSY groups. These meetings and sensitizalion programmes were held at office campus of the organization and various field areas where leaders of SGSY groups were present participated in the discussions. Resource persons and experts interact with the members and share their experiences. It was the platform to share opinion and views of all participants regarding group initiatives etc.

TOTAL SANITATION PROGRAMME:
Survey:
Survey was conducted in the uncovered areas Amta 1 block to identity the existing number of families without sanitation with the help of workers and volunteers of the organization.

Awareness and Motivational Programmes:
In the target villages of Amta I block awareness and motivational camps were organized. In this programmes village people especially women groups were more vocal and shown their interest to adopt low cost sanitation. Discussions were made on necessity of sanitation for protecting health and hygiene from diseases and to develop a pollution free environment in the villages.

Group Meetings:
Group meetings were organized in each village for materializing the sanitation programme. In the group meetings discussions were made on various model of latrines etc. and enlisted the names of interested families for undertaking sanitation.

Rallies and Padayatra:
In each of ihe target G.Ps. rallies, padayatras with posies, banners were organized for making village people aware about the sanitation programme and its irnpact on health and environment. Women, students, youth groups, youth clubs, villagers participated in the rallies and padayatras.

Wailing & Postering, Banner display:
Walling and postering was done in. the market places and other important areas of the target G.Ps. to draw attention of village people about sanitation. Banners were also displayed in prominent places.

Publicity:
Publicity through mike propaganda was also done. Handbill and leaflets on sanitation were also distributed during propaganda.

Construction of Latrines:
Till the reporting year 18000 latrines were constructed at Amta I block. Sanitary materials were supplied from the sanitary mart of the organization. Expert and trained masons did construction work. The beneficiary families were well informed about use of latrines and maintenance.

Motivators Meeting:
Motivators meetings were organised once a month to assess the progress achievements and other factors.

Door to door Visit:
Before and after construction of latrines motivators and volunteers of the organization visit each family to motivate and take account of utility of sanitation etc.

HEALTH:
Health Awareness:
Health awareness programmes on mother and child health care based on the concept of reproductive and child health care were organized at Udang I G.P. with the active participation of village health workers and women groups. Major discussions were made on mother and child health care, especially on immunization, ante natal care, post natal care, safe delivery, safe abortion, family planning measures etc.

Pulse Polio campaigning:
A special drive was initiated by the workers, volunteers and women groups of the organization to make the pulse polio vaccination cent percent successful at Bhandargachha, Chandrapur, Udang I & II, Khardah, Anita, Basantapur and Kanpur G.Ps. Special attention was given for the villages of minority and SC/ST communities. It was a very successful programme.

HIV/AIDS Awareness Programme:
AIDS is not curable but preventable. To control the HIV positive infection awareness education is urgently needed for youth groups, student of higher classes. The district of Howrah is seriously affected due to migration of goldsmiths to Mumbai and other states. Rural poor women are also trafficking into flying commercial sex business. Considering the situation our organization had launched HIV/AIDS awareness programmes at Amta areas among student, women and youth groups. However the organizational funding resource was very limited. So it was decided to take assistance of the West Bengal AIDS Prevention & Control Society. About 1000 target people participated in the awareness programmes.

ENVIRONMENT/ RIGHTS:
Environmental Awareness Camp:
The environmental awareness camp was organized at village Gazipur to make people aware of necessity of environment conservation and plantation. 50 village people participated in the camp. Discussions were made on protection of riverside trees, small animals and medicinal plants of the villages. The participants also undertook roadside plantation programmec after the camp.

Consumer Rights Awareness:
The awareness camp on consumer rights was organised at village Ranapara for dissemination of information of the rights of consumers. 60 village people participated in the camp.

Seminar on Child Labour:
The child labour system is the curse in our civil society. Most of the child labourers in the cities and town areas are supplied from the poor families in rural areas. It is also a problem at Amta block. So a seminar was organised at Ranapara for village health workers and SHG women members.

TRAINING & DEMONSTRATION:
Pisci-Culture Training & Demonstration:
The organization had/has been striving to generate income as well as demonstration for better orientation and skill development of trained youth on pisci-culture. During the reporting year the organization had renewed lease ownership of tanks at village Ranapara and provided skill development facilities to trained youth of previous year. The organisation had also utilized the income for training and other development purposes from the sale proceed of fish.

Agriculture Training & Demonstration:
During the reporting year the organization had given major emphasis on agriculture training on high bred seasonal vegetable cultivation. In this connection technical guidance had been provided to the target 16 trainees for growing of chili, papita. tomato, ladies finger, bringle, capsicum etc. Unemployed youth of small and marginal farmer's families of Ranapara and Fatepur villages were provided with the training facilities. Through agriculture demonstration programme the organization had successfully enabled to motivate the youth group, rural poor farmer's families for' undertaking high bred vegetable cultivation on commercial basis. From sale proceeds of vegetables of the demonstration fields the organization had also earned to meet the costs of the training and other development activities.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT:
Entrepreneurship Development Orientation for Youth:
Rural youth have no access to entrepreneurship development training orientation facilities. Right message regarding sustainable trades, traits is badly needed by the youth groups. So RGBK had organized a youth entrepreneurship development training orientation programme for 48 youth at Ranapara. In this camp information on various schemes, SISI registration, assistance from DIC, Bank loan etc. were discussed by the resource persons.

Disaster Management Preparedness Training:
The river Damodar is passing-through the Amta block and our organization is located on the bank of the river. During rainy season in each and every year many areas of the block are flooded and caused huge damages. Considering this the governing body members and lead workers of the organization have undergone the training on disaster management preparedness training.

Empowerment of Women at Risk:
People for Progress in India have sponsored the project. During the reporting year 100 poor women in difficult circumstances directly benefit from the activities.


Training on preparation of Compost Fertilizer, Vermi Culture and its application:
In the second phase the training was provided to 100 women in 2 batches on preparation of Compost Fertilizer, Vermi Culture and its application. The information about the training is given below in tabular form:

Training on Kitchen Gardening:
In the third phase training on Kitchen Gardening had been provided to 100 women in 2 batches. The information about the training is given below in tabular form:

Training on Highbred Vegetable Cultivation & Seed Conservation:
In the fourth phase training on Kitchen Gardening for 100 women in 3 batches is going on. The information about the training is given below in tabular form:

The training has been conducted successfully. The trained women have taken initiatives for preparation of soil and fertility development through compost fertilizer and Vermi culture. Expert resource persons conducted both theoretical and practical classes. The trained women have already developed their kitchen garden and started income generation. The average saving from kitchen gardening is about Rs.400 per month. Earlier they had to purchase vegetable from market. But presently they produce vegetable like chili, bringle, papaya, banana, leafy vegetable and spinach etc. and thus save the expenses. It is assumed that from the rainy season they will be enabled to earn more about Rs.800 to 1000 per month from highbred vegetable cultivation. The organization has also been taken initiatives to promote self-help groups and link them with micro credit facilities for undertaking vegetable cultivation. The women have gained self-confidence after the project support and their body language has been changed. They have also oriented on various social issues that inculcate decision-making power. 

Community Sensitization:
Awareness camps, group discussions, rallies, cultural action programmes, video shows etc. have been organized in the target villages on the Women Rights based issues, Child Rights based issues, Elimination of Dowry performed by the target girls, anti trafficking, girl child marriage etc. Women and girl participants enjoyed the sensitization programmes and they realize that economic empowerment is must for establishing their rights. The adult male and female participant exchange their views among themselves that child labour, dowry system, child marriage are the major social problems. The sensitization programmes has influenced the community and target girls to change their mental set up and establishing rights.

Non Formal Education:
During the reporting year the NFE Centers (i) NIVEDITA at Muktirchak and (ii) MATANGINI at Habla have been functioning properly. The organization has been arranging nutritious food for the girls. Teachers and project staff and governing body members of the organization have been keeping regular contact with the parents of the target girls. 

Vocational Training:
During the reporting year vocational training are provided on the following trades from the month of January 2007.

a) Vocational training on kitchen gardening for 20 girls for 3 months:
b) Vocational training on nursing care of older persons and patients for 20 girls for 6 months:
c) Vocational training Designing and painting of banner, poster, sign board for 20 girls for 6 months

Both practical and theoretical classes are conducted under the supervision of expert and experienced Instructors. Equipment and training materials are provided to the trainees. The girls have been undergoing the training very sincerely. Motivational classes are also conducted regarding the training for livelihood development and economic empowerment in the long run through self helps group initiatives. 

Impact:
The girls gain ability in reading writing simple sentences and learn to count and do numerical calculation. 
The target girls maintain discipline and participate actively to keep the centers neat and clean.
They maintain their personal hygienic behavior in right order.
Mothers/guardians, self help group members and panchayat representatives take initiatives to collect community contributions for the project support. 
The village women and target girls are empowered with knowledge and information on women and child right issues.

Following rights based issues are discussed on community sensitization programs:
• Women Human Rights; Voting Rights;
• Rights to get birth certificate; Rights to get Ration Card;
• Rights to get facilities for BPL families; Rights to Education;
• Rights to get work for 100 days under the NREG scheme;
• Child Rights – elimination of child labor system, child marriage, and child trafficking;
• Elimination of dowry system;

Education:
10 non formal education centers are set up in the red light points of the Kalabagan slum at Chengail and run by 10 qualified teachers for 258 girls. The teachers are provided with in service orientation on the teaching method learning through playing and learning in doing. In this connection at first 5 day duration in-service training orientation has been provided to the teachers considering the critical environment, needs of the target students and necessity of deep involvement of the teachers. The beneficiary girl’s name these ten centers and they decided the time for the education centers.

Health Sex Education:
The project is committed to ensure care and development for the most disadvantaged children, who are victims of extreme poverty and all forms of exploitation. The children live with their mothers under most unhygienic conditions. The environment is affected by factors, which are often beyond control of themselves or their family. So while providing health education to the children, emphasis was given for general health education with sanitation. It occupies an integral part of their behavioral change. The individuals are encouraged to adopt safe practices such as health and hygiene care during adolescent period, hand washing, safe handling of food and water, hygienic ways of garbage disposal, drainage of waste and over-all cleanliness. It has been observed from one education centre that on the average 65% children are in normal health, 25% are in good health 10% children are malnourished. The children suffer from deficiency of vitamin A and vitamin C, which causes blindness and different types of skin disease. Children are also referred to government hospitals and health centres for immunization, and also for other curative treatments. One trained and experienced health educator was provided education to the target children. In this connection information education communication material was used. The target girls are made aware of the reproductive health care and hygienic practices, preventive measures to control STDs/HIV/AIDS, Malaria/TB/Cancer etc., adverse impact of early marriage on health and through them these health information and knowledge are disseminated among other girls in the community.

Counseling:
One counselor was deputed to provide counseling in 10 education centers by rotation. The main purpose of counseling were changing behaviour communication, cure from trauma due to past oppressions, redress grievances, and inculcate self-respect, mental spirit with hope. The counselor had been attending each girl for counseling purpose. Besides the girls are made aware about child rights issues, improvement of behavioural approach, best hygienic practices, reproductive health care, ill-affect of tobacco chewing/bidi smoking/guthkha brushing on health, girl child marriage, girls trafficking etc.

Night Shelter:
The local councilor of the Uluberia Municipality had been extending helping hands to find out suitable land at Chengail for constructing the night shelter. Finally a land was identified and purchased by the organization at Kalabagan, Chengail out of its own fund. For the safety security of girls and accessibility of basic amenities near to the night shelter it was decided to purchase land in the said place. A building for the night shelter, measuring 500 sq.ft., was constructed in the purchased land. 30 girls of elderly age group and risk will get night shelter in the said building.

Impact Assessment:
96% of the target girls can read and write alphabet and vowels, simple words, simple sentence, rhymes, count numerical number from 1 to 100. 
The target girls have learnt about personal hygienic behaviour maintenance and already they have left the guthka / tobacco chewing, stops spitting hither and thither, and develop friendly approach and participatory action for keeping the centers neat and clean. They become health conscious and transfer their knowledge to their younger brothers and sisters.
Mothers/guardians extend support for education of their wards and involve themselves in decision-making meetings along with the girls.
Child marriage was very common among the target community. But after the project implementation not a single case of child marriage was held and no case of trafficking of girls was noticed.
Advocacy and lobbying meetings are held for the causes of the target girls with local people’s elected representative municipal commissioner, school authorities, and teachers for ensuring enrollment of the target girls in schools.

SHG/SGSY Promotion & Capacity Building:
RGBK as a facilitator has taken up the scheme through thrift saving and micro-credit programme by formation of SHG's from amongst the list of BPL/OPL. We have take up the survey for the same with a view to promoting the Socio-economic position of the women of the weaker section of the society. RGBK has promoted more than 1000 women self help & SGSYgroups at Amta block. In this connection awareness-cum-motivational camps have been organized. Under the Swarna Jayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana (SGSY) scheme RGBK has conducted survey, focus group discussions, and orientation meetings with rural poor women of below poverty line families for promotion and formation SGSY groups by incorporating 10 – 12 members in each group. Initiatives for opening bank account in the name of each group for depositing small savings have been taken. During the reporting year it has conducted capacity building training for 6265 women members of 522 SGSY/SHGs.

Women Rights Conference:
Despite women constitute about half of the total population they are exploited, oppressed, deprived under the male dominated society. They contribute in the family maintenance, household activities, child rearing, agriculture wage earning and hard work but it is not recognized in our social structure. So RGBK organized women’s conference for women’s empowerment on women rights and gender issues by incorporating about 1000 SC/OBC/tribal and indigenous women of Amta block. Rallies with banner, posters, wall writing had also been conducted to sensitize the community people and civil society. 

Folk Art & Culture:
The rural community has its traditional folk cultural practice enriched with social values, but recently the young generation of rural community has been attached by modern outside culture. RGBK has been trying to organize academic and tribal folk art & culture in tribal populated area. RGBK has made necessary survey foe the above purpose. 

Sugar Cane Cultivation Training:
During the reporting year RGBK has organized sugar cane cultivation training for 50 farmers in collaboration with the local government agencies. 

Pisci culture Training & Demonstration:
RGBK has been running Pisciculture training unit at Amta block. 30 youth of fisher folk community has undergone the training. In the soil and water of Howrah district production capacity of fingerlings is very good. One tank is used for this purpose. The training was conducted for a period of 6 months. The organization has also generated income from sale proceeds fish. Six tanks had been taken on lease last year for training of youth and income generation for six months duration training for 30 youth of fisherman families are provided with training , From sale proceeds of fish the organization has raised its fund for undertaking other development activities. 

Agriculture Training & Demonstration:
Since inception of the organization RGBK has been conducting training and demonstration on agriculture for small and marginal farmers so that they can grow seasonal vegetables profitably. During the reporting year 20 youth have under gone the training. From sale proceeds of agriculture produces the organization has also raised its fund for undertaking other development activities.