1. Vishal Gupta, a volunteer from AID State College visited 4 blocks in Bihar - Rohtas, Begusarai , Jehanabad  over a period of a week. He has compiled his day-2-day observations (as he recorded them) in Hindi and also provided an English translation, accompanied with photos from the trip. You can view them at http://photos.yahoo.com/vishalk_gupta

2. AID-Cincinnati update from the Cuddalore: Sailesh (Cinti) and Radhika called Mr. Narayanan, Cuddalore District. Here is a summary of the conversation.

 * The program is on in 3 blocks in the Dt. - Two new and one old.
 * In the two new blocks (Parangipettai and Keerapalayam), the initial survey and first round of volunteer training are over

 * The district has had so far tough time paying salaries. Now they expect the situation to ease up with AID money coming through from this month on.
 * They are running Environmental program - 10 clubs with 20 members each who meet weekly to discuss local enviro. issues.

   Here are the Cuddalore contacts:
   K.P.Narayanan
   District Secretary
   D-98 Rajaji Road, Block 26
   Neyveli - 607803
   TamilNadu
   ph: 04142-254918

   S.Sigamani V.A.O.
   Marudvr Post
   Via Pinnalur
   Chidambaram Taluk PIN-608704
   Cuddalore Dt
   TamilNadu

3. Project Site Visit to Cuddalore District: Sailesh Rao.
   Pictures accessible at:
   http://www.ececs.uc.edu/~swamink/aid/projects/tnsfcudd/cuddalore.html
 

4. An important contact person in Magadh Medical College. Manpur block can benefit alot from this contact regarding information collection of  medical facilities and other related things:
   Dr. J. P. Narayan, Asst. Prof. in Medicine
   Chandauti, Magadh Medical College
   Phone: 1. 0631-422410 (Emergency unit, you can ask the operator to call Dr. Narayan) or
2. 0631-423869 (Residence, call the landlord and ask him to let you talk to Dr. Narayan) or
3. DD Nursing Home:
   0631-434612
 * He is willing to provide medical infrastructure.

5. AID-Austin contacted their TN block (Vembakottai in Virudhunagar district) and spoke to the block co-ordinator Angammal. She also happens to be the district co-ord for the savings group in the district.

 * The block level training is being conducted in several stages. The first round of block level training for 20 village health activists was completed in May 12-13 in Kangarakottai pachayat village.
 * Subsequently, there was a district level training on Sept 20-22nd in Srivilliputtur block in Virudhunagar district for 8 blocks in which Kalpana, Shanti, Kavita and others participated. This was for block full timers and block co-coordinators. During the training, Kalpana and others interacted with several block full timers and talked to some expectant mothers.
 * Training was going to be conducted for 38 village health activists and  4 block full timers on Oct 12th in Alangkulam panchayat. Angamaal said though initially they had identified only 30 village health activists (since there are 30 villages being considered for HBP), some of the
 * Tuligal (Women's savings group in Vembakottai) were very much  interested in being a part of this programme and were added on.
 *  As a part of the People¹s school movement), 5 blocks have been chosen in TamilNadu. Vembakottai is one of the blocks. On Oct 5th and 6th, a Makkal  Palli Iyakkam training camp was conducted. The training programme was a resident camp for about 48 volunteers.
 * One possible way we could help from the US non-monetarily is to make posters on several issues ­ the issues could be on vaccination, care for the pregnant women, supplementary food for the child and pregnant women etc. She also suggested making some descriptive booklets on various health issues, particularly with lots of colorful pictures.

6. AID-MN contacted their Block in Bihar

 * 4 people from Rohtash trained at the Jehanabad training camp.
 * VHAs for training in Rohtash selected after considerable effort and time, list compiled and given to Dineshji in Patna.
 * List of local health facilities compiled, mostly during the literacy campaign.
 * Training camp in Rohtash slated for Oct 3rd to 6th in Shanti Niketan, Dehri on Son. 60 women from different villages will attending the training.
 * Doctor in the local Civil Hospital approached for giving a talk in the training. IMA also contacted for a doctor to give a talk in training program.
 * Pamphlets and other material being arranged.
 * literacy work also in progress, in parallel.
 * I felt a change for the better in his enthu level as we progressed through the talk.

7. Conference call with Vellore District coords.

 * All the three blocks in Vellore district are using the health register to track children and women's health.
 * The health program was implemented during 1997-1999 in Nemili and Kandhili and during 1999-2000 in Anaicut. All the three blocks have been able to sustain the program since.
 * A new education program has been started. Various kalajathas have been held to raise awareness about the importance of education. A non formal education system, where children can learn while they play is being introduced,  called Sarva Sishya Abhya. This also targets school dropouts to motivate them to go back to school. This program has elicited a good response from the villages.
 * Adolescent program - This program runs at two levels, at the school level targetting girls between 8th and 12th standards, and also outside of the school to enable the non school-going girls as well as working women to  participate in it. The women are encouraged to meet regularly and discuss any issues.
 * Currently, the program is being funded through the 'Friends of TNSF'.   These funds are used only to sustain the full time workers. Volunteer  meetings etc., are locally sponsered. If the full timers are paid more they will work with even more enthusiasm.
 * Travel Allowance and educational material would help in expanding the program to other villages.
 * TB camp: It costs about Rs 500 - Rs 600 to conduct a TB camp in 1 village. The camp is conducted for 1 week in every village. Anaicut block has 40 volunteers and the volunteers themselves have not yet received awareness about the TB camp.  Hence, it is only natural that the volunteers have not been able to motivate the villagers to a good extent. There are other practical and logistical difficulties because of the remote locations in Anaicut.
   This renders the support and access very limited.
 * Savings group by other NGOs. How does this affect our program?
   Typically, in the savings groups organized by other NGOs, the person who forms the group and manages it, is paid. This means that she is more interested in getting other people to join her group. Also, every member is charged a membership fee upto Rs 100. Once in 2-3 months, they have meetings involving goodies like tea, biscuits to lure people. However, it has been established that, to get loans from the goverment bribes are being used and the money from the savings group is used to pay the bribes. More and more women are becoming aware of this and supporting our savings groups.
 * what do you think, is the reason behind so many women showing interest in our program?. Is anything done to sustain the volunteers interest?
   When a volunteer is trained in a village, she is armed with information that she can impart to the others. When she sees a neighbours child who is ill, she knows what to do to cure the child, and imparts that information to the child's mother. The volunteer, thus uses the training she has received to raise the awareness level of her fellow villagers. The women who receive the advice are also motivated to learn more. They feel belonging to the community and get self-satisfaction by providing the information to save other lives.  This is the primary reason to the success of the program.

  AID can help in the following areas:
  1. health related materials, like booklets, pamphlets etc.
  2. Education materials, like science kits etc.
  3. Books to start a library. This would again be a meeting place for the women.
  4. Sponsor upto cycles for the volunteers - 14 would be good for all the 3 blocks.
  5. Provide a 5mm projector - could be shared between the 3 blocks

8. HBP Conference call:
    Several chapters that are coordinating the Hundred Block Plan in TN & Bihar attended the call. The minutes of the call are available yet.