NIRD Hyderabad and UNICEF collaborative project note for Mahila Sabha and Bal Sabha Project

State Policy on Mahila Sabha and Bal Balika Sabha:

• Notification regarding participation of Line departments in GPDP by Jt. Secretary to all Deputy Commissioners in Assam.

• Specific notification on conducting MS-BS during the PPC 2022.

• SIPRD Assam and UNICEF collaboration for conducting Bal Sabhas and Mahila Sabhas since 2019- in Goalpara, Lakhimpur, Biswanath, Dhemaji, Barpeta, Tinsukia and Darrang for active participation of women and children in the Sabhas and eventually scaling their issues at Gaon Sabha.

• Triggered demand in communities through active engagement of women/children on issues related to them and inclusion of such issues in GPDP through MS-BS.

• 2021-101 GPs dorect engegment of UNICEF with PRIs; in Dhemaji SIPRD –CSO convergence in 10 GPs still ongoing.

District and GP Selected:

1. Kamrup (Agdola GP, Bongshar GP, Dhupatari GP) 

2. Kamrup M ( Nartap GP, Hahara GP,

3. Bajali (Bandha Sidhani GP, Muguria GP, Dumuria GP)

4. Nalbari ( Bongaon GP, Dakhin Natun Dehar GP) 

Orientation Workshops:

• State level Orientation workshop on 25^th and 26^th July 2022; 34 participants from 10 GPs

• 10 GP Presidents; 9 GP Secretary

• 3 BDOs; 3 Asstt BDOs

• DSWO- 1; CDO – 5; BPM- 3

• District level orientation workshops

• Kamrup and Kamrup (M) on 29^th and 30^th July

• Nalbari and Barpeta (Bajali) on 10^th and 11^th August 2022

• Participants for both the workshops were PRIs; AWWs; SHG members (Jeevika Sakhis) and Young Fellows

• Annual State Level Workshop for the 10 GPs were on 6^th and 7^th January 2023 at SIPRD HQ Assam. Particpants were PRIs (GP presidents, Secretaries and Ward Members from project area)

Mobilization and Entry Point Activities:

• Visit by Nodal Officer, UNICEF Consultant, ETC Faculty Members to 10 GPs

• Immediately after GP selection the team visited the GP for the initial campaign for the project.

• Advocacy by GP President/Secretary with parents, and teachers on the importance of the project and identification of children for the children committee.

• No of children in each committee: 20; 10 Boys and 10 Girls (from all 10 wards)

• Orientation of the children’s committee members by the PRIs

• Awareness at school level for BS and at SHGs for MS.

• Organized various school level competitions, rallies/meetings for active participation of women and children in the sabhas. Seeking support from SHGs/VOs/ Anganwadi Centres for Mahila Sabhas.

Organizing MS/ Issues Identified/ Procedures:

Support and Initial involvement of SHG, VO, AWWs the Sabhas was done. Some of the crucial recommendations that have also been part of GPDP this year and eventually in the Annual Action Plan are:

1. Public toilets for women in market areas

2. Street lights in specific locations of the GP for safety of women and girls

3. Specials health camps and awareness camps for elderly and differently abled.

Organizing BS/Issues Identified/ Procedures:                                                                              

• 20 Children Committee structure: 

• President

• Secretary

• Others members

• Social Groups of other children in the committee

• Social Coordinator

• Sport Coordinator

• Cultural Coordinator.

Challenges:

• As there is very less participation of women in Gaon Sabhas and almost NO Mahila Sabhas in Assam, hence the Mahila Sabhas held under this project were an immediate platform for women to come together. But as this was initial forum for women they raised concerned more of individual beneficiary schemes- ARUNADOI and PMAY G.

• Reluctance of Parents to send children to Bala Sabha meetings initially as there was limited awareness among parents/teachers on the importance of such a forum.

• Hard to Reach GPs like NARTAP GP in Assam where people were reluctanat to come very far to attend SABHAS.

Lessons Learned:

• Importance of Child Rights lens amongst PRIs and a holistic perspective of rights holders and duty bearers. 

• PRIs oriented on CRs- Right to Survival, Development, Protection and Development.

• In Mahila Sabhas subjective issues/ demands of women were upheld which is frequently not done in a Gaon Sabha.

Way Forward

In future phase of the project there might be some looking ahead in terms of-

• MS-BS meetings should not be just restricted in the GP office and should be at the discretion of the MS-BS members in terms of selection of venue for the Sabha. Like we may also think of some specific ward/village wise location which will in turn do advocacy for the project at the ward level.

• Ensuring sustainability and mainstreaming MS-BS we shouls ensure some government guidelines/ MoUs among inter-alia departments for ensuring these Sabhas.

• Advocacy at various forums; among stakeholders (govt. non-govt, CBOs/ directorates. 

• The Zilla Parishad and Anchalik Panchayat; District Administration should be kept in loop with adequate meetings and involvement in the project. Some letter/ order copy should be circulated at all levels on the process amd its reach and crucial outcomes.