News http://planindia.org This is a news page daily 1 2009-08-27T19:27:22Z India celebrates the first convention of women’s federation “Sakhi Sangam http://planindia.org/about-plan/media-centre/news/india-celebrates-the-first-convention-of-women2019s-federation-201csakhi-sangam - An initiative for girls’ economic and social empowerment New Delhi, May 17th 2013 - Keeping with its commitment of promoting girls’ rights and lifting them out of poverty by imparting skill development & economic empowerment, Plan India in partnership with AV Baliga Trust celebrated its first convention of women’s federation “Sakhi Sangam”, an initiative for girls’ economic and social empowerment. This is a first of its kind federation of more than 10,000 women in an urban sector.

Plan India has been working on gender related issues and on programs for girls over the last five years. These include programmes on girls’ safety, prevention of female foeticide and education and market oriented vocational training of girls.

To ensure economic security and quality of life of disadvantaged children, Plan India is currently executing a project “Banking on Change” supported by Barclays Bank in the Mangolpuri and Sultanpuri area in the North West district of Delhi. The goal of the project is to improve the socio-economic condition with providing women’s access to financial services through financial linkages and micro-enterprise activities. Sakhi Sangam is part of Banking on Change project working towards economic security and quality of life for women and children.

Objectives of Banking on Change programme

  • To mobilize 10,000 women, primarily from poor households, into 500 - 700 Self Help Groups through the social mobilization of subgroups.
  • To orient 10,000 women on financial literacy.
  • To build capacity of 3,000 women members for entrepreneurship through training and/or business linkages.

Although microfinance initiatives in India have done extremely well in the rural sector, urban microfinance initiatives are still in their infancy. Plan India believes that an effective microfinance project can also be a strong tool to address household poverty in the urban sector. The Banking on Change project is designed to draw lessons, experiences and learning’s for the inclusion of women from urban poor families into the formal financial sector through microfinance interventions. It also aims to enhance family income ensuring women’s economic empowerment through income generating activities.

Key achievements of the “Banking on Change” project

Community institution building: The project has mobilized 10200 women members from the community in Mangolpuri and Sultanpuri area in North West district of Delhi through more than 570 Self Help Groups. The Self help groups’ have further been federated into 15 clusters and are the base for the proposed Community based micro finance institution.

Financial services:  Financial services are the primary services extended for the members. There has been a process of designing the products that would be offered at Federation level. The project team has distributed Financial Literacy tool kit to all Self help groups & facilitated training of 9500 members on various financial components with the help of eminent bankers like RBI ( Reserve Bank of India), State Bank of India, HDFC Bank. Besides the regular savings and inter-lending training, the projects have facilitated the members in credit linkage through Banks and Insurance Services.

Micro-Enterprises Services: Micro-Enterprise Development services have been designed for selected trade and services. So far 2500 members have been facilitated through various skill enhancement trainings, employment opportunities, business promotion linkages & setting up own enterprises and job orders etc.

About Plan India

Plan India is an Indian NGO working to improve the lives of disadvantaged children, their families and communities through an approach that puts children at the centre of community development. Since 1979, we have been working with our partners to help children access their rights to proper healthcare, basic education, and healthy environment, protection from abuse and exploitation and participation in decisions that affect their lives. We encourage children to express their views and be actively involved in improving their communities. Plan India currently works in 11 states in India, across 5000 communities and has touched the lives of over a million children.

For more information on Plan India, please visit planindia.org and Join us on Face book and Twitter.

]]> No publisher Manas Prakash 2013-05-17T07:15:00Z Page Saksham - A youth employment initiative for skill development and livelihood promotion http://planindia.org/about-plan/media-centre/news/saksham-a-youth-employment-initiative-for-skill-development-and-livelihood-promotion Saksham is a Plan Initiative to support youth, especially young girls from disadvantaged families/communities in India to be able to realize their dreams by equipping them with essential life and vocational skills, which not only helps them to access decent employment Decent Work (as def by ILO) but also makes them representatives of a gender just society. Saksham is a Plan Initiative to support youth, especially young girls from disadvantaged families/communities in India to be able to realize their dreams by equipping them with essential life and vocational skills, which not only helps them to access decent employment Decent Work (as def by ILO) but also makes them representatives of a gender just society. Plan India has a strong strategic emphasis on youth employability. In its 5 year country strategy from 2011 to 2015, Plan’s India aspires to prepare all young men and women to get formal employment or self employment through market oriented vocational, business and life skills training. It has even gone a step further and committed through its work over Country Strategy Program (CSP) peri:od. CSP targets for vocational training under overarching Household Economic Security are

  • 50,000 girls will receive market-oriented vocational training
  • 500,000 women will work their way out of poverty

 

As a part of Plan India’s National Program Country Outline for Household Economic Security, there are Specific strategies towards promoting gender equality and inclusion:

  • Support youth, particularly girls and disadvantaged youth in accessing job oriented vocational and life skills training and job placement services
  • • Support and complement the implementation of government initiatives for promotion of SHGs and other microfinance services targeting women and disadvantaged households
  • • Engage men to create more space for women in decision making in families, communities and local governance

 

Plan India has launched a number of initiatives which help in enhancing young people’s access to market driven vocational skills. Through these initiatives, Plan India aims to achieve decent employment for youth living in poor urban and rural areas and ensure that all new entrants to workforce, including young girls, are equipped with the knowledge and skills needed for high productivity and high quality jobs.

Saksham project is one such initiative, where youth from disadvantaged and marginalized rural and urban communities are being offered market demand driven ‘Job Oriented Vocational Training . The project is targeted at underprivileged girls and boys in the age group of 18 to 29 years living in poor and disadvantaged communities of Delhi. The Job oriented vocational training courses include Customer Relations and Sales; Retail; Hospitality; Debt Recovery Agent; and IT-Enabled Services. The course delivery is made more comprehensive with the inclusion of English speaking, basic computer education, personality development, and life skills. The project has been implemented through a tri-partite partnership model between Plan India, civil society organisations, and training agency working on youth employment. Plan India is responsible for the overall management, coordination, monitoring, and implementation of the project.

Saksham aims at providing vocational and life skills2 training to underprivileged girls and boys from poor and disadvantaged communities with key an objective to ensure equitable access to vocational and life skills training which are directly linked with gainful employment opportunities for young girls and boys. The project provides special focus on disadvantaged young girls to get equal opportunity in formal employment sector. The project also aims to build innovative partnerships with civil society organizations, government, civil society and corporate, for job oriented vocational and life skills training. The overall goal of the project is to demonstrate significant increase in employment of young girls and boys in through vocational trainings in partnership with training agencies.

Objectives of Saksham

  • To enable 3,000 girls and boys from poor and disadvantaged communities of Delhi to access decent employment through vocational and life skills training and get job placement
  • To develop strategy to facilitate employment of girls and boys from poor and socially excluded families in urban resettlement colonies through vocational and life skills trainings
  • To influence government to take it up as an input to revised modular employability scheme Saksham strategies
  • (a) Promote job oriented vocational training for young girls and boys through partnership
  • (b) Sensitise parents, communities and employers about gender equality, equal opportunity, and economic empowerment of young girls
  • (c) Encourage young girls to take up vocational training and develop a trained workforce
  • (d) Engage with business houses and potential employers to sensitize them about promoting women friendly work environment where young girls can work with dignity.
  • (e) Capacity building of NGO partners to on youth employment and vocational training
  • (f) Develop youth alumni network to address youth unemployment at the grassroots level.

 

Saksham intervention approach

  • Saksham focuses on ‘Promotion of market driven job oriented vocational training’. Key intervention approach include
  • • Identify potential trades for vocational training through a thorough market study
  • • Identify potential employer (of identified vocational trades) closer to each targeted area of operation
  • • Develop customised (as per the requirement of potential employers) vocational and life skill courses
  • • Create awareness amongst youth about job opportunities in the market and provide career counselling
  • • Mobilize/identify suitable youth for appropriate vocational course
  • • Provide vocational and life skills training to identified youth
  • • Provide job placements to the trained youth
  • • Provide post job placement follow up support to youth

 

Key project stakeholders include youth, parents, Plan India, civil society, and training agency. . The youth trained under have been job-placed with various reputed companies including Big Bazar, Pantaloons, Café Coffee day, KFC, Net Ambit and other leading MNC/corporate houses.

Today the project has established credibility in the community. It has simultaneously contributed in generating awareness among the stakeholders and in community about the importance of the economic empowerment of girls. As result, now more girls are enrolling in Saksham. There is also an increased demand from the employers for the youth trained under Saksham.

Expected results

  • 3,000 youth (at least 1600 girls out of them) from poor and socially excluded families in 5 target areas of Delhi access and complete local market demand driven vocational and life skills training
  • 60% of total youth enrolled are girls
  • 70% of trained youth (70% girls and 70% boys) have access to dignified jobs
  • Government department would be sensitised about the ‘market oriented vocational training approach’ which they may adopt for modular employability scheme.

]]> No publisher Manas Prakash 2013-05-15T06:30:00Z Page Plan India and Asian Development Bank collaborative initiative ‘Asian Youth Forum 2013 Inaugurated in New Delhi http://planindia.org/about-plan/media-centre/news/plan-india-and-asian-development-bank-collaborative-initiative-2018asian-youth-forum-2013-inaugurated-in-new-delhi New Delhi, April 30, 2013: The first edition of the Asian Youth Forum, co-hosted by Plan India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), was inaugurated today at the India Habitat Center. Over 120 young minds from India and other Asian countries come together to learn, contribute and advocate solutions to issues that young people of Asia Pacific face New Delhi, April 30, 2013: The first edition of the Asian Youth Forum, co-hosted by Plan India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), was inaugurated on 30th April at the India Habitat Center, New Delhi, in the presence of Govind Nihalani, Chairperson, Plan India Board; Bhagyashri Dengle, Executive Director, Plan India; Maja Cubarrubia, Country Director, Plan Thailand; Chris Morris, Head NGO and Civil Society Center, ABD;  Haidy Ear-Dupuy, Social Development Specialist, ADB. The two-day Forum from April 30 to May 1, 2013, aims to ensure young people have the right and the capacity to participate in matters that impact their lives.

Through this Forum, young participants will be empowered to:

  • Learn and acquire new skills to support their work in their respective communities
  • Contribute towards the sustainable solutions to problems faced by their generation
  • Advocate for the participation and empowerment of young people at an international level

The Youth Forum include intensive training, skill building workshops, and panel discussions on Youth Entrepreneurship, Youth Employment, Gender and Media, Water and Sanitation, to prepare them for their active participation at the Civil Society Program of the ADB Board of Governors Annual Meeting. Here they will be speakers, reactors, and social media reporters.

"The Asian Youth Forum creates the perfect setting for young people to come together to discuss current issues and devise ways to bring about change. It provides space for training and developing capacities of the young participants for advocacy and public participation," said Bhagyashri Dengle, Executive Director, Plan India.

Plan India implements programmes that enable adolescent and young girls and boys to be active participants in their community governance and support them to plan and implement actions for community participation and development. "Through this Forum, we hope that the participants will be able to learn, contribute and advocate solutions to issues that young people face today ,” added Govind Nihalani, Chairperson, Plan India Board.

“The ADB is pleased to have collaborated with civil society partners and especially youth groups to help bring attention to key development issues facing Asia and the Pacific. Concerns on water and sanitation, gender and youth employment, among others, are critical to the youth of today. We hope that the young people will continue to remain active and take up the challenge of creating changes for a better future,” said Chris Morris, Head NGO and Civil Society Center, Public Management, Governance and Participation Division, Regional and Sustainable Development Department , Asian Development Bank.

Plan India and Youth Participation goal

Plan India, a child centered development organisation is working in India since 1979 with the mission to bring lasting change in the life of underprivileged children. Plan works in partnership with grass-root NGOs and government bodies to facilitate poor and marginalised communities to participate in their own development and thus ensure that children enjoy their right to be protected from abuse and exploitation, provided with early childhood care, quality education, optimal healthcare, safe water, healthy environment, and household economic security.

Right to children’s participation as active citizen is at the heart of all Plan’s programme intervention areas. Plan enables adolescent and young girls and boys to be active participants in their community governance and support them to plan and implement actions for community participation and development. The main objective of child participation is:

  1. To build capacity of young adults, particularly girls and women, to organise and express themselves as active citizens
  2. To provide space for young adults to monitor the implementation of child rights programming by government and NGOs and recommendations of the UN committee on CRC
  3. To create an enabling environment for youth participation at all levels through behaviour change in duty bearers

Plan India currently works across 5000 communities in eleven states in India and has positively impacted the lives of over a million children and young adults. To know more about Plan India and the ADB Youth Forum, visit www.planindia.org and follow us on facebook (https://www.facebook.com/PlanIndiaNGO)  and twitter (@Plan_India).

]]> No publisher Manas Prakash 2013-05-02T04:45:00Z Page Plan India & ADB collaborate for the ‘Asian Youth Forum 2013 http://planindia.org/about-plan/media-centre/news/plan-india-adb-collaborate-to-the-2018asian-youth-forum-2013 Over 120 young minds from India and other Asian countries come together to learn, contribute and advocate solutions to issues that young people of Asia Pacific face New Delhi, April 25, 2013: Plan India partners with the Asian Development Bank to organise the first edition of Asian Youth Forum, to be held at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, from April 30th to 1st May, 2013, to ensure young people have the right and the capacity to participate in matters that impact their lives.

Through this forum, Asia’s Youth will be empowered to:

  • Learn and acquire new skills to support their work in their respective communities
  • Contribute towards the sustainable solutions to problems faced by their generation
  • Advocate for the participation and empowerment of young people at an international level

The Youth Forum will include two days of intensive training, skill building workshops, and panel discussions, to prepare them for their active participation at the Civil Society Program of the ADB Board of Governors Annual Meeting where they will be speakers, reactors, and social media reporters.

The Youth Forum will provide space for training and developing capacities of the young participants for advocacy and public participation including the use of media tools and provide spaces for them to voice their concerns and contribute actively in the development of solutions.

A Challenging Future

While young people are indeed better poised than ever before to participate and benefit from the advancement of social, economic and political developments, the challenges that this generation will face are at a scale previously unseen before # (World Bank Group, 2007).

The 350 million young workers in Asia provide potential for stimulating economic growth through employment, asset creation, and investment. However, if youth enter into adulthood without quality education and skills it results in unemployment, poverty and social dislocation. Estimated at 36.4 million, the Asia region has the biggest portion of unemployed youth. Furthermore, 152 million young people in middle and low income countries are paid less than US$1.25 per day. Forced out of school due to economic reasons, 24% of working youth in Asia are doomed into low paying jobs in the vulnerable conditions.

Participating in Their Future

Children and young people have the right and the capacity to participate in matters that will impact their lives.  The future is theirs, therefore they should be given space on the stage to voice their issues and contribute to the solutions to these issues. Recognising and hearing the youth will improve “client power,” making development interventions more responsive to youth # (World Bank Group, 2004). By increasing youth participation early on, they become more likely to have higher ability and willingness to engage in active citizenship in the future # (World Bank Group, 2007). By participating in decision-making and accepting the responsibilities of their decisions, over time children and young people learn to become active citizens. # (Plan International program guide)

As a major human resource for development, young people are “key agents for social change and driving force for economic development and technological innovation.” If nurtured and let flourish through empowerment, youth’s potential will be unlocked to become important resources for the continuing development of Asia and the Pacific region # (United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, 2007).

Plan India and Youth Participation goal

Plan India, a child centered development organisation is working in India since 1979 with the mission to bring lasting change in the life of underprivileged children. Plan works in partnership with grassroot NGOs and government bodies to facilitate poor and marginalised communities to participate in their own development and thus ensure that children enjoy their right to be protected from abuse and exploitation, provided with early childhood care, quality education, optimal healthcare, safe water, healthy environment, and household economic security.

Right to children’s participation as active citizen is at the heart of all Plan’s programme intervention areas. Plan enables adolescent and young girls and boys to be active participants in their community governance and support them to plan and implement actions for community participation and development. The main objective of child participation is:

  1. To build capacity of youth adults, particularly girls and women, to organise and express themselves as active citizens
  2. To provide space for young adults to monitor the implementation of child rights programming by government and NGOs and recommendations of the UN committee on CRC
  3. To create an enabling environment for youth participation at all levels through behaviour change in duty bearers

Plan India currently works across 5000 communities in eleven states in India and has positively impacted the lives of over a million children and young adults.

]]> No publisher Manas Prakash 2013-04-25T11:25:00Z Page ADB Asian Youth Forum http://planindia.org/about-plan/media-centre/news/adb-asian-youth-forum Asian Youth Forum: Empowering Young Partners for Development Welcome to the first edition of Asian Youth Forum, a collaborative effort between Plan India and Asian Development Bank (ADB). Asian Youth Forum: Empowering Young Partners for Development Welcome to the first edition of Asian Youth Forum, a collaborative effort between Plan India and Asian Development Bank (ADB). The two-day Youth Forum aims at empowering young participants (ages 18-24) to learn, contribute, and advocate solutions to issues that young people face today. This provides a great opportunity for young minds from diverse national and international backgrounds to leverage this platform to understand issues related to Gender, Water and Sanitation and Youth Employment in greater details. Carefully designed sessions by expert groups on using various forms of expression (filming, social media, theatre and comics) aims at providing the participants with new skill sets to express themselves in new ways. The dates and venue for the Forum are as follows:

1. Asian Youth Forum, 30 April–1 May 2013, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi

2. Civil Society Organization Program (CSP) at Asian Development Bank’s 46th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors, 2–5 May 2013, India Expo Centre, Greater Noida

Participating countries include Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia , Thailand, Nepal and China besides others. (Registrations are now closed)

The Forum will run in collaboration with distinct and acclaimed Indian and global youth participation organizations. Intensive training, workshops, and panel discussions at the Youth Forum aims to prepare young minds for active participation in the CSP at ADB's Annual Meeting that will take place immediately after the Youth Forum. An important part of the Forum will be a debate competition to be held in two parts: national rounds in the capital city of New Delhi on April 24, 2013, where 8 teams will compete against each other in a parliamentarian format. Two teams will be chosen for the semifinals to be held on May 1, 2013. The winners from the semifinals will then compete against the winning team from a similar competition last year in the Philippines.

For further information or queries, please get in touch with Mr. B. Ilango at b.ilango@planindia.org

]]> No publisher Manas Prakash 2013-04-16T10:15:00Z Page Participate in Asian Youth Forum http://planindia.org/about-plan/media-centre/news/asian-youth-forum-blogging-competition Asian Youth Forum: ‘Empowering Young Partners for Development’ Young people have the right and the capacity to participate in matters that impact their lives.  They need to be heard, voice out their issues at important forums and contribute to the solutions to these issues.

Plan India and Asian Development Bank (ADB) welcome you to the first edition of Asian Youth Forum: Empowering Young Partners for Development. The two-day Youth Forum aims at empowering young participants (ages 18-24) to learn, contribute, and advocate solutions to issues that young people face today.

Through the forum, Asia’s Young Partners will be empowered to:

  • LEARN and acquire new skills to support their work in their respective communities
  • CONTRIBUTE towards sustainable solutions to issues facing their generation
  • ADVOCATE for the participation and empowerment of young people at the international stage

The main themes that will engage young participants and spark inspiring conversations are:

  • Gender and Media
  • Water and Sanitation
  • Youth and Employment

 

To download the agenda, please click here.

The dates and venue for the Forum are as follows:

  1. Asian Youth Forum, 30 April–1 May 2013, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi
  2. Civil Society Organisation Programme (CSP) at Asian Development Bank’s 46th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors, 2–5 May 2013, India Expo Centre, Greater Noida (http://www.adb.org/annual-meeting/2013/main)

 

The Youth Forum is co-hosted by Plan India and ADB and will be run in collaboration with distinct and acclaimed youth participation organisations. Intensive training, workshops, and discussions at the Youth Forum aims to prepare young minds for active participation in the CSP at ADB's Annual Meeting that will take place immediately after the Youth Forum.

Click to download the Registration form OR

Registration related queries should be sent to b.ilango@planindia.org

You can also participate in our Global Blogging Competition.

Visit - http://whyyouthbloggingcompetition.wordpress.com/

 

]]> No publisher Manas Prakash 2013-03-22T09:30:00Z Page Asia Child Marriage Initiative by Plan http://planindia.org/about-plan/media-centre/news/asia-child-marriage-initiative-by-plan Summary of Research in Bangladesh, India and Nepal Child marriage is one of the most prevalent and serious violations of human rights. The issue needs urgent attention in South Asia, where 46 per cent of children are married formally or in informal union before they are 18. Girls are significantly more likely than boys to be married as children – 30 per cent of girls aged 15-19 years are currently married or in union in South Asia, compared to just 5 per cent of boys in the same age bracket1.
So why does child marriage happen when we know that the social, economic and human costs are so high? The answer lies in how deeply rooted child marriage is in the social norms of many societies, fuelled by tradition, religion and poverty. Awareness of the legalities of child marriage – it’s outlawed in most countries around the world – has little bearing on behaviour because customary laws, social norms and poverty-driven economic needs often trump national policies and legislation.
Child marriage is a far-reaching issue that impacts not only the lives of the children who are married, but also the lives of those around them. When girls marry young, before their minds and bodies are fully developed, they often become pregnant long before they are ready. Pregnancy is the number one cause of death among girls aged 15-19 worldwide. Child marriage also reinforces the gendered nature of poverty, with limited education and skills bringing down the potential of the girl, her family, her community and her country. These impacts extend throughout a girl’s adult life and into the next generation.
Plan International’s global Because I am a Girl (BIAAG) campaign focuses on child marriage as a key barrier to progress in child rights. Child Marriage and Girls’ Education – Plan’s first global report on this issue – focuses on the links between these two critical areas of child development. In Asia, Plan has designed the Asia Child Marriage Initiative (ACMI) to help prevent child marriage and mitigate its negative consequences on children, families and communities. Plan has worked closely with the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) on the qualitative study presented here to give child marriage the attention it deserves
and help us better understand where we’re at with the issue in India, Nepal and Bangladesh.
The study brings out the influence of gender norms and their interplay with the aspirations of girls and their families. The probe into the role of village-based institutions and children’s organisations has given valuable insight into how communities can be engaged to be part of the solution. Some emerging trends, like child-initiated marriages, have also been unearthed by the study, and these will require further investigation.
This study would not have been possible without the valuable collaborative and collective role played by ICRW and Plan’s Country Offices in India, Nepal and Bangladesh, as well as the regional team.

 

Read the Complete Research
]]> No publisher Manas Prakash 2013-03-15T07:15:00Z Page Plan India organized road shows to promote rights of a Girl Child http://planindia.org/about-plan/media-centre/news/plan-india-organized-road-shows-to-promote-rights-of-a-girl-child Plan India organized a unique road show to promote & protect survival rights of the girl child & to commemorate the International Women’s Day. New Delhi, March 7, 2013: India is a modern nation, the largest democracy in the world where its   Constitution captures the essence of human spirit and celebrates the finest principles of equality, social justice and human dignity and guarantees rights to all its citizens. Yet, there are great inequalities at different levels; the most blatant being the inequality between boys and girls.

As a response to the issue of survival of girl child, Plan India initiated  a campaign ‘Upholding the rights of the Girl Child’ in six states to advocate for addressing the improved status & value of the Girl child   to ensure survival rights of girl child and their right to identity, name and citizenship. Since last three decades of its operations in India, Plan has been focusing on empowering children to improve their lives and their communities. Survival rights of girls have been one of the key aspects of Plan’s community work.

Upholding the rights of the Girl Child is being initiated in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttrakhand and national capital Delhi. The goal of the project is to empower the community for eliminating Sex Selection and Sex Determination to guarantee the rights of the girls to be born.

To commemorate the International women’s day and to strengthen the rights of girl child, Plan India with in partnership with NGO partner Centre for Advocacy and Research organized a unique road show across Delhi city in the neo rich community to have a large outreach. The road show was accompanied with vehicle mounted with audio-visual shows and messages on protecting the rights of girl child. The show was an amalgamation of activities like nukkad-nataks, talk shows, quiz competitions, posters, exhibitions &, speeches by the community advocates. The rally was carried-out under the theme of ‘Main Hoon- Sashakt, Saksham, Surakshit’, giving a tribute to girl child.

“Plan has been working in India for the last three decades and the survival, protection and development rights of girls have been a key focus of our community development work. With Upholding the rights of the girl child we are raising awareness and advocating for the fundamental   survival rights of girls,” added Bhagyashri Dengle, Executive Director, Plan India.

Notes: According to Census 2011, the child sex ratio in the 0-6 age group is an abysmal 914 girls to 1000 boys in the country and in Delhi it has dipped from 868 in 2001 to 866 in 2011. In the last decade about 15 million girls have been lost.

The declining child sex ratio also reflects the gross inequalities and denial of human rights in our country. Girls in the 0-6 age group are being eliminated through neglect through denial of food, nutrition etc. This discrimination continues throughout their life cycle with the denial of the right to education, health, equal rights to property, right to live in a safe environment and heinous practices like dowry and domestic violence.

About Plan India - Plan India is an Indian NGO working to improve the lives of disadvantaged children, their families and communities through an approach that puts children at the centre of community development. Since 1979, we have been working with our partners to help children access their rights to proper healthcare, basic education, and healthy environment, protection from abuse and exploitation and participation in decisions that affect their lives. We encourage children to express their views and be actively involved in improving their communities. Plan India currently works in 11 states in India, across 5000 communities and has touched the lives of over a million children.

]]> No publisher Manas Prakash 2013-03-08T05:35:00Z Page Support our Campaign - "Educate a Girl" http://planindia.org/about-plan/media-centre/news/educate-a-girl Plan India’s ‘Educate a Girl’ fundraiser, launched to coincide with International Women’s Day on 8th March, 2013

Plan India’s ‘Educate a Girl’ fundraiser, launched to coincide with International Women’s Day on 8th March, 2013 aims to enable girls to enroll and complete quality primary & secondary education in a safe and supportive community environment. Plan believes that education is the key tool for empowering girls and that investing in girls delivers a higher return than any other investment made in a country’s development.

This unique online fundraiser projects a mosaic of a happy girl child made of blocks. Each block is worth a donation of Rs. 500/- and when a donor makes a contribution, his or her picture gets embedded in that block, providing the instant satisfaction of ‘standing behind the girl child’. The fact that this fundraiser is being conducted online @ www.educateagirl.org makes it accessible from anywhere in the world. It is simple, convenient and allows a donor to contribute as per his comfort level starting with as low as Rs 500/

Rs. 500/- can sponsor schooling and school supplies of a girl-child for a month and Rs. 6000/- is enough to cover her costs for a year. Donate Now – Click here.  www.educateagirl.org

Read Press Releases:

1) India's First Edition - http://www.indiafirstedition.com/2013/03/plan-india-launches-fundraiser-app-for-girl-child-education/213277.html

2) MSN - http://news.in.msn.com/her_courage/now-fundraising-app-for-girls-education-1

3) UnMind - http://www.ummid.com/news/2013/March/07.03.2013/app_fr_grl_edu.htm

]]> No publisher Manas Prakash 2013-03-08T04:45:00Z Page Mr. Amitabh Bachchan donates towards the cause of the girl child http://planindia.org/about-plan/media-centre/news/mr.-amitabh-bachchan-donates-towards-the-cause-of-the-girl-child Mr. Amitabh Bachchan donated 25 lakh to Plan India for the upliftment of gild child. The proceeds was generated from the art exhibition and sale of a book from Mr Bachchan’s 70th Birthday. Bollywood’s biggest superstar, Mr. Amitabh Bachchan donated Rs. 2.5 million to Plan India towards the cause of the girl child in India, at a press conference at his office in Mumbai. Wife Jaya, son Abhishek and daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai — all dressed in white — were also present. The family would raise funds for Plan India’s ‘Because I am a Girl’ campaign, through proceeds generated from the art exhibition which was organized by Mr. Bachchan’s family on his 70th birthday on October 11, 2012, which coincided with the first ever International Day of the Girl Child, and also through proceeds from sale of a book from Big B’s (as he is popularly called) 70th birthday celebrations.

Amitabh Bachchan’s family is often referred to as the first family of Bollywood. Amitabh Bachchan is called the ‘Superstar’ of Bollywood, a term coined for his immense popularity. His wife Jaya Bachchan was also a renowned actor and starred alongside Amitabh Bachchan in several blockbusters, son Abhishek has also acted in several popular movies and daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai is ex-Miss World and a popular actor.

On this occasion, Plan India presented a painting by the children from Plan India’s community. This painting, aptly titled ‘The Making of Superstar’ captured the moments in Mr. Bachchan’s climb to stardom, from his youth, to his portrayal of the “Angry Young Man” and his present role as the host of the popular television show ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati” (Indian version of the popular show, “Who Wants to be a Millionaire”). Plan India also captured the making of this painting in a short video, which was presented to Mr. Amitabh Bachchan and his family. Please follow the link to watch the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZfdfVvj2no&feature

This event received coverage from a wide section of media. Mr. Bachchan, who is very active on social media platforms, especially Twitter and Face Book, invited media for the press conference and also reiterated his commitment to the cause of the girl child and his support for Plan India’s initiative. You can read his tweets at https://twitter.com/SrBachchan and follow Amitabh Bachchan on Face Book to read the posts.

]]> No publisher Manas Prakash 2013-02-11T11:00:00Z Page Plan India in Coca-Cola and NDTV supported "Support My School" telethon http://planindia.org/about-plan/media-centre/news/plan-india-in-coca-cola-and-ndtv-supported-support-my-school-telethon Plan India participated in the Coca-Cola and NDTV supported “Support My School” telethon. Plan India participated in the Coca-Cola and NDTV (a leading English news channel) supported “Support My School” telethon this Sunday. The following are the highlights of the telethon:

  • The telethon featured a live dedication of one of Plan India supported schools from Mall block in the state of Uttar Pradesh. The children from the school raised questions to cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and Bollywood actor Kajol who were part of the panel.
  • Plan India’s Executive Director, Bhagyashri Dengle was among the panelists in the telethon where she shared Plan India’s role in the campaign and talked about community participation.
  • At the end of the telethon INR 136 million (USD 2.5 million) was raised.

 

Background to the Support My School Campaign

On 24th January, 2011 Coca-Cola India, NDTV and UNHABITAT came together to launch a unique campaign ‘SUPPORT MY SCHOOL’ (SMS) to raise awareness and funds to provide revitalization and upgradation of schools in rural and semi-urban India with an emphasis on proper sanitation, access to water and sporting facilities. The campaign soon found support from several quarters and eminent cricketer Sachin Tendulkar joined as the campaign ambassador. By June 2012, which marked the end of Season 1 of SMS campaign, over 100 schools were upgraded to ensure quality facilities for the benefit of more than 43,000 children.

Following the success of SMS Season 1, the campaign was renewed with more vigour with a target to upgrade another 250 schools. Season 2 of the SMS campaign, which was launched in June 2012, saw Coca Cola India, NDTV and UNHABITAT tying up with reputed international development sector organizations like Plan India, Worldvision, and Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) to upgrade schools across various states in India.

Objectives of Support My School Campaign

Broadly, the SMS Campaign was built around building community awareness on importance of water and sanitation and how it impacts education.  On the ground level, the campaign looked at upgrading the existing infrastructure of marginalized schools in semi-urban and rural India with emphasis on the following:

a)      Improved Access to Water

b)      Water Conservation by providing Rain Water Harvesting Structures

c)       Hygiene and Sanitation by providing toilet facilities for girls and boys

d)      Environment by providing Plantation and landscaping

e)      Healthy Active Living by providing Sports facilities

This would eventually help in increasing enrollment and attendance in schools thereby ensuring quality education for underprivileged children in line with the Right to Education (RTE) act of India.

Coverage

Plan India has been entrusted with upgradation of 100 schools as part of Season 2 of the SMS campaign, in two phases. Of these 100 schools, 50 schools would be in the vicinity of Coca Cola bottling plants in India, while the remaining would be in Plan India’s existing communities.

In phase I starting June 2012, 50 schools (25 near Coca Cola’s bottling plants and 25 in Plan India’s communities) are being upgraded in the five districts of Lucknow, Varanasi, and Faizabad (Uttar Pradesh), Patna (Bihar), and Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh) with an allocation of 10 schools in each district in the proportion mentioned above.

In phase II starting  2013, 50 more schools would be upgraded in the districts of Gairsen (Uttarakhand) – 10 schools, Mayurbhanj and Khurda (Odisha) – 15 schools, Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh)  - 10 schools and Dasna (Ghaziabad) – 15 schools.

]]> No publisher Manas Prakash 2013-02-07T05:30:00Z Page Kishori Mahapanchayat – Celebrating Girl Power in Jharkhand http://planindia.org/about-plan/media-centre/news/kishori-mahapanchayat-2013-celebrating-girl-power-in-jharkhand Kishori Mahapanchayat organized at the Zilla School Ground, Ranchi. The event was jointly organized by SCPCR, Jharkhand and Plan India. “Please depute policewomen at all the thanas of Jharkhand. We have the right to approach the police without any hesitation, fear or shyness” – a 12 year old girl from Mandar, Ranchi

Many of the girls of our village went out to Delhi-Mumbai to work but it has been months and years that we have not seen them again. My sister is also one of them. I hope they are fine and they come back home soon. Can’t we stop this??!! – A 15 year old girl from Pakur, Jharkhand

We go to school but we feel unsafe as there is no boundary at our school. – A 11 year old girl from Churchu, Hazaribagh

Can’t we be safe in our state??! …….The boys should know to respect us. We face eve teasing and sexual harassment and no actions are taken against them……..- A 15 year girl from Murhu, Khunti.

These are the school girls of rural Jharkhand whose queries speak the plight of Girl children in Jharkhand.

It was evident from the Kishori Mahapanchayat organized at the Zilla School Ground, Ranchi. The event was jointly organized by SCPCR, Jharkhand and Plan India.  The Zilla School ground and areas adjacent to that were giving a positive vibes with about 3000 odd girls dancing to the tunes of local chhotanagpuri music.

The State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR), Jharkhand and Dept of Women and Child Development and Social Welfare, Jharkhand with the support of Plan India, an NGO operating in Jharkhand has jointly organized a program – Kishori Mahapanchayat - dedicated for Girl Children of Jharkhand. The advisors to the Governor of Jharkhand – Mr. Madhukar Gupta and Mr. J. Vijaykumar were the Chief Guest of the event. Among other guests those were present in the event were Ms. Roop Laxmi Munda, Chairperson, SCPCR, Ms. Ranjana Choudhary, Member, SCPCR, Mr. Sanjay Mishra, member, SCPCR, Dr. Sunita Katyayan, Member, SCPCR and Mohammed Asif, Director, Plan India. About 5000 girl children participated in the event.

This was the closing event of the week long program on Balika Shwasakthikaran which started on National Girl Child Day on 24th Jan 2013 at Kishori Niketan, Bijupara, Ranchi.

Mr. Madhukar Gupta, advisor of the Governor of Jharkhand mentioned that it is important to understand the plight of the girl child in Jharkhand where the girl children are very vibrant and dynamic. Jharkhand has made positive movements in the past years but we realize that we need do a lot for the betterment of the Girl Children of the State. Mr. Gupta stressed that only education can make a difference in the lives of adolescents of Jharkhand. He ensured that he will put all his efforts to streamline all the services related to adolescents in the state. He was overwhelmed with the impromptu articulation of the adolescents.

It is to be noted that just 3 days has passed that Jharkhand has President’s Rule and Governor of the State is the administrative head of the State.

Ms. Roop Lakshmi Munda, Chairperson, SCPCR mentioned that it is a privilege to be the part of such an event where she attains a positive energy from 5000 adolescent girls of Jharkhand. She said that SCPCR is gaining momentum with support of the various departments and civil society organisations in addressing issues and problems of adolescents of Jharkhand.

Mr. Mohammed Asif, Director, Plan India felt overwhelmed to be part of such a program. He said Jharkhand is a state where there are lots of opportunities for the Govt and civil society organisations to synergise in making Jharkhand a child friendly State. He raised a concern about missing girl child and trafficking of girl children from the state and mentioned all the stakeholders need to come together to fight against such menace.

About 1000 adolescent girls from Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya and local villages   presented various cultural programs depicting patriotism and socio-culture aspects of Jharkhand. T-Shirts with Plan India BIAAG logo were distributed to 35000 girl children.

The adolescents were honored for their contributions in the event. Various local level organisations such as CINI, Bhartiya Kisan Sangha, Nav Bharat Jagriti Kendra, Integrated Development Foundation, Vikas Bharti participated in the program. International organisations such as Plan India, UNICEF, Save the Children, participated in the program.

Opportunity for Plan India

This intervention has given us an edge to synergise with Govt and SCPCR for implementing schemes and programs which focus on Girl Child. The Chairperson, SCPCR has promised to join hands with us for taking few innovations such developing Child Protection Resource Centre for the State. The Principal Secretary, DWCD – Smt Mridula Sinha - has shown interest in collaborating with Plan India to strengthen the implementation of SABLA program, especially the nutritional component of the program. ICPS is the another program where Plan is already supporting Govt for facilitating the District Needs Assessment and Annual Action Plan of the State.]]> No publisher Manas Prakash 2013-02-06T05:50:00Z Page BIAAG Global Ambassador Freida Pinto visits Plan India’s project in Mumbai http://planindia.org/about-plan/media-centre/news/biaag-global-ambassador-freida-pinto-visits-plan-india2019s-project-in-mumbai Freida Pinto visits Plan India’s project in Mumbai & was impressed by Plan India’s efforts in bringing a lasting change to the lives of children in India. Plan's ‘Because I am a Girl’ Global Ambassador, Freida Pinto, famous for her role as Latika in "SlumDog Millionaire" recently visited Plan India’s project in Mumbai. Freida visited a school where she interacted with the students and the teachers. Later she visited vocational training centre supported by Plan India where she met the youth who had enrolled for the training programme. She also visited an Early Childhood Care and Development centre which is managed by Plan India’s partner UMEED, with financial and technical support from Plan India.

Freida Pinto was impressed by Plan India’s efforts in bringing a lasting change to the lives of children in India. She will be showcasing Plan India’s work at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City Utah, USA. She will be heading an event there and talking about her visits with Plan Sierra Leone and Plan India.

]]> No publisher Manas Prakash 2013-01-24T06:45:00Z Page Zindagi Mile Dobara ( HIV Treatment and Education) http://planindia.org/about-plan/media-centre/news/zindagi-mile-dobara-hiv-treatment-and-education Read the result of an initiative started and developed by UNESCO and Plan India to educate and empower people living with HIV. This booklet is the result of an initiative started and developed by UNESCO and Plan India to educate and empower people living with HIV so that they can lead a productive and quality life and available both in English and Hindi. It aims to empower HIV patients by explaining them how to successfully apply ART in their daily lives. One of the critical aspects of ART is drug adherence, without which the chances of drug resistance and treatment failure are very high. In order to increase the level of adherence, it is critical that people living with HIV have access to accurate and timely information about HIV and AIDS &  ART.

To achieve this goal, this handy booklet provides essential information on ART for people who are already on treatment or planning to start soon, as well as for their friends, families and other care givers and to a much wider population who wish to be better informed about HIV and it’s related treatment. This booklet will also be useful for managers, professionals working in the field of HIV, Peer Educators, Counsellors, Community Based Organizations and NGOs.

Zindagi Mile Dobara Booklet: Read Complete Report.

]]> No publisher Manas Prakash 2013-01-18T07:50:00Z Page 100% happiness http://planindia.org/about-plan/media-centre/news/100-tax-exemption-100-happiness Donate to our ECCD Project & get 100% Tax Exemption. Plan India’s Early Childhood Care and Education programme is aimed to promote all round development of the most underprivileged groups of children. Key benefits include provision of quality care and pre-primary education facilities. Your generous contribution will go a long way in building and running over 500 crèches to provide immunisation, nutrition support, early care and learning for at least 15,000 children. So, not only will your contribution* get you a 100% tax exemption under Sec 35 AC, it will also support in bringing about 100% happiness to the lives of many.

Note: *100% deduction under Section 35 AC is applicable for income under the head ‘business’ or ‘profession’ only.

Donate Now - Click here

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