Atmashakti Trust - Progress Report March 2011

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Sal Lea Plate Makin

NE WS F R O M T H E F I E L D

DATE: MARCH 2 2 , 2 0 1 1

A QUICK REVIEW OF 2010 - 2011

Dear Friends,

Since the current financial year is reaching its conclusion, we thought it a good time to

share with you the progress our work in Orissa has made. While the numbers given below

represent quantitative achievements, there really is no way of measuring the steady, albeit

slow, process of “people’s empowerment” which is also taking place.

2009-10 2010-11

No. of families covered 95,000 200,000

No. of Jansathis (field workers) 55 71

Average no. of families/Jansathi 1725 2820

No. of families who got/took work 67,000 120,000

Average no. of days of employment 34.7 50+

KEY POINTS THAT EMERGE FROM THIS DATA ARE:

1) There is a substantial

increase in our work

efficiency, reflected in the

number of families

covered per Jansathi

(+60%). This gives us

confidence that we can

raise our earlier

expectation of coverage

from 2000 families to at least 2500 families per

Jansathi.

2) Although accurate and

updated data from the

Government will be

available after 4-6 weeks,



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Roadworks under NREGA

it is clear that the ‘conversion percentage’ of job demands into actual work being

given has declined.

3) There has been a good increase in the average no. of days of employment gained but

we are still at 50% of total potential.

ROADBLOCKS

There are several negative

factors at work that are

adversely affecting our efforts.

Probably the largest and most

widespread of these is the delay

in payment of wages ---- in many

cases the time taken over

payments has exceeded 60 days.

Yet another major hurdle toprogress is the apathy and

inertia of government officials at

the block and panchayat level.

Besides, there is lack of adequate

planning at the block/panchayat

level and when confronted with a

large number of demands for

employment, the response is to

just make these demands ‘vanish’

from records. Vested interests

have also found ways to crack the ‘tamperproof’ system of payments through bank/postal

accounts.

We have decided to revamp our field level strategy in the next year, by ensuring we get

receipts for the job demands made and claiming unemployment allowance where work

orders are not issued.

OTHER ACTIVITIES

We completed a survey of over 150,000 families, and the data from the same is being

collated. The demographics show that 60% of our people are adivasis (tribals), 20% dalit

(harijan) and the balance belong to other backward castes. A very interesting statistic is

that although all of the rural communities we cover represent the poorest of the poor yet

only 37% are classified as being Below Poverty Line (BPL), a classification that entitles one

to subsidised rations. This village-wise data will be extremely useful when the National

Food Security Bill is passed as it will enable us enlist those currently left out of the food

safety net.



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Ruchi from Atmashakti being greeted by a Koraput Village

We also took a small step by

encouraging people’s

participation in the panchayat

level planning process. Unlike

other areas, Orissa has a system

of palli (village) sabhas andanything up to 30 villages could

comprise a gram sabha. Our

Jansathis worked on awareness

generation and training in over

50 gram panchayats, the results

of which will be reported in our

next newsletter.

RESOURCE MOBILISATION

We received a small grant from Oxfam India in the last quarter of the year but the bulk of

our funding has come from individuals, with generous contributions from members of

‘Caring Friends’, Mumbai, and we look forward to your continued support to grow our

activities in the next fiscal year.

AS ALWAYS

Funds continue to be a problem and unfortunately, the situation doesn’t seem to be getting

any better. Once again thanks for your invaluable support and now that we’ve got some

numbers to display please try and garner support from your friends and associates.

We look forward to your continuing support, as also spreading the word and assisting us in

garnering additional resources for this venture. Donation details are outlined at the end of

the report.

With best wishes,

M.M. (Koko) Singh



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APPEAL FOR DONATIONS

You are requested to support one or more such workers each of whom will cost only

Rs.6,000/- per month.

We will provide regular updates that fully account for your donations and detail the

work that has been executed through various means such as the website, emails,social networks etc.

Cheques can be made out to “Atmashakti Trust”

Please pass this on to friends who may be interested in supporting us.

Donations enjoy exemption under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act

CONTACT DETAILS

Koko Singh

The Atmashakti Trust

101A Friends ColonyNew Delhi – 110065

Ph.: +91-11-41627576

Email: [email protected]

Web: www.atmashaktitrust.com

mailto:[email protected]



http://www.atmashaktitrust.com/





Atmashakti Trust - Progress Report March 2011

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