Experience in handing large scale projects of high value:

Janakalyan has implemented the project covering 300 villages of entire district with the support of UNICEF along with other projects in other districts with consolidated budget reaching more than a crore in a year. Simultaneously, 2 separate projects viz. SWASTHH PLUS & Village Planning were implemented in 231 villages of Sindhanur taluk. This illustrate that Janakalyan has capacity to handle big projects of high value and we strongly believe that in its present capacity, a project of this RFP nature could be implemented without any hurdle.
 

Range and depth of experience with projects/contracts/clients:

Janakalyan has implemented many projects in past and list of few such projects are annexed as Completed Projects. Some of the projects which justify our experience in dealing with it are briefed below-

• NABARD assisted ?Women Development & Empowerment Program? was to promote SHG of rural women from more than 100 villages; SHGs were promoted also through the financial support of Oxfam, DST, Australian High Commission, etc. These SHGs are federated into Sangha Darshini Samiti at village and Milan Teertha Federation at Project level.
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• UNICEF supported ?SWASTHH PLUS & Village Planning Programs? were exclusively targeted for rural women with an objective of ensuring prompt service delivery by the line departments. More than 65 staffs were involved in this project targeting more than 3 lakhs women from a taluk. Sri Prasen Raptan, the ED of Janakalyan led this project through the Assistant Project Officers.
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• World Bank assisted ?Karnataka Community Based Tank Management Project? was implemented in Deodurg taluk of Raichur district to promote 40 Tank Users Group (TUG) and strengthen them socially, economically, politically and legally so that these registered TUGs sustain in long run to manage the community based irrigation tanks effectively. Sri Prasen Raptan worked in the capacity of Team Leader with engineers, social safeguard officer, gender expert in the team.

Asian Development Bank assisted Land and Water Management Pilot Study in Tungabhadra Left Bank Canal to implement Farmer Water Schools

• NABARDsupported series of ?Rural Entrepreneurship Development Program (REDP)? were conducted by Janakalyan to imbibe entrepreneurship among educated rural youths; more than 350 youths have been trained and assisted to set up their self employment ventures and many of them are women entrepreneurs.
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• UNICEFfunded ?Nirmal Gram Project? was implemented in 300 villages of all 5 taluks of Raichur district through network partners. Major focus of the project was again the rural women and their health, hygiene and sanitation issues.
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• Hivos, The Netherlandssupported ?Livelihood Improvement through IIFS? was implemented to ensure judicious use of harvested water for irrigation and productivity enhancement.
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• Sir Dorabji Tata Trustfunded project to ?ensure rights of wage-earners under NREG Act? to empower them socially, economically, politically and legally. A strong collective of wage-earners has been promoted to fight for their rights under NREGA, 2005.
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• UNICEF assisted ?Behavioral Change Communication (BCC)? project was implemented in 231 villages of Sindhanur taluk to address 4 key behavioral issues like a) breast feeding, b) girl child education, c) washing hands before meals and after defecation and d) HIV/AIDS.
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Expertise in implementing multidimensional projects with focus on women empowerment at field level:

NABARD assisted ?Women Development & Empowerment Program? was to promote and strengthen SHGs at grass root level. KSWDC (Karnataka State Women Development Corporation) supported MASY (Mahila Arthika Swavalamban Yojana) was another such intervention for rural women to improve their economic base through SHG movement. SHGs were also promoted with support of Oxfam India, Australian High Commission (AHC), Development Support Team (DST), etc. in 90s through other NGOs of the district. Almost all these projects have the added dimensions of social and political empowerment in addition to the economic empowerment. Though the legal empowerment of these women was not the agenda in 90s, but later we have added it through NREGA and other interventions.

Experience in social mobilization, SHG and federation development, campaigns management:

The first project of Janakalyan was with the Bengali refugees of Karnataka; this displaced refugee was an extinct community and protecting their rights was the objective of this intervention. Though, social mobilization of such a community is really difficult but Janakalyan took it as a challenge and succeeded to achieve in short span of time. When they became aware, SHG promotion started with these communities and we feel proud that these SHGs were model for the state in 90s and other NGOs used to come to learn from our SHGs. These SHGs, after rigorous training and exposure to build their capacities, were then federated to ?Sangha Darshini Samiti? at village level and then to ?Milan Teertha Federation? at block level. Finally, into a cooperative viz. GNAN (Garibi Nirmoolan Avartan Nidhi).

After organizing the mass into federation and cooperative, we took them to next level of right based campaigns demanding the fundamental rights of these (refugee) women-

• Land rights
• Right to education in their mother tongue (Bengali)
• Caste reservation

It was our wonder that these SHG members were on the forefront when we sat for a weeklong hunger strike in 2001 in taluk head quarter and the fight is still on?. Does it illustrate our campaign management abilities?

Experience in capacity building of women led institutions, grass root level organizations and CBOs:

The examples of Sangha Darshini Samiti, Milan Teertha Fedearion, GNAN (Garibi Nirmoolan Avartan Nidhi) mFI, WE (Wage-Earners) Groups and GraKooS (Grameen Kooli-karmikara Sanghatan) Union are all women-led institutions, grass root level organizations and CBOs. The capacities of all these CBOs, organizations and Federations are built by Janakalyan and all these are independently functioning today led by the women only.

Expertise in designing and implementing interventions leading to formation of people/community institutions and networks like Federations:

As discussed in earlier paragraphs, the movement started with SHG gave direction to Sangha Darshini Samiti and then to Milan Teertha Federation. Finally concluded with GNAN mFI. Similarly, in the case of NREGA, the intervention started to ensure 100 days of works to the wage-earners (WE) but compelled us to promote WE group and then to GraKooS Union. All these are successful models. However, though we have not any experience in EWR network but still worked in capacity building initiative for PRI members.

Experience in enabling women to access their rights and entitlements under development programs of the government:

SWASTHH PLUS was an intervention to promote street based NHG (Neighbor Hood Groups) and taking it to GP, Taluk, District and State levels community monitoring bodies. The objective was to ensure that the women and children of rural areas get their due services from Department of Health, Education and Women & Child Development and benefits from PRI. This Community Monitoring Process (CMP) developed a set of ?red alerts? which the NHL used to report to the concerned frontline functionary and expected the delivery of such services within 30 days of the report. ?Red alert? was an indicator of service due to a woman or child on a specific date and the same child or woman would reach the danger zone if not delivered in next 30 days. The NHL used to sit with frontline functionaries to resolve such service delivery issues on regular basis at various levels like village, GP, Taluk, Disitrct and finally state.

Sir Dorabji Tata Trust supported intervention in NREGA to ensure rights and entitlements of Wage-Earners (WE) is another example of this nature. The demand for work is submitted to GP by the WE groups; within 15 days, if the GP does not allot works to these WE, an unemployment allowance is claimed immediately. Similarly, if the payment is not made within 15 days after completion of work, compensation on wages is claimed immediately. Almost in all cases, the women are made available their due rights & entitlements such as worksite facilities, cost of implements, etc. also the cases of WE groups.

Experience in Monitoring and Evaluation of large scale women empowerment projects:

Except the project taken up by Janakalyan, we have no experience in monitoring & evaluation of project. However, the ED has personally taken up some assignments with BASIX, World Vision, Samuha, etc. to help them develop viable enterprises for their SHG members. Similarly, Dr Naresh Singh has taken up study of many women empowerment models of many reputed NGOs in the country.

Ability to pursue ?buy-ins? of interventions by Government for up scaling or sustainability:

Janakalyan has taken up to up scale the government initiated interventions in the case of KCBTMP. It was a Government of Karnataka piloted project which was then scaled up with World Bank funding and Janakalyan was a partner in the process. Similarly, MASY (Mahila Arthika Swavalamban Yojana) was piloted by government and was then scaled up by NGOs with the support of KSWDC.

Experience of working in collaboration with technical resource organizations for specific tasks:

While setting up enterprises by our trained entrepreneurs, we worked in collaboration with the technical resource providers such as TECSOK, CEODK, RUDSETI, BIRD, DIC, NDDB, CFTRI, CIPET, etc. The single point agenda for this collaboration was to obtain technical inputs on various enterprises to be set up by our entrepreneurs/women. Similarly, the technical inputs of KVK (Krishi Vigyan Kendra), UAS (University of Agricultural Sciences) are sought while implementing our innovative land based models for the peasant communities.

Experience of establishing and maintaining strong financial management system:

In addition to Janakalyan own financial management system, we have also developed it for the GNAN mFi. Other than this, we do not have any other experience. The added value to this project would be the presence of Dr Naresh Singh as he has completed his MBA in Finance.

Skills in managing large databases and ability to generate analytical reports of high quality:

We have managed medium scale database in Akshara Foundation supported ?Reaching the Unreached? project. However, by involving Mr. Akash Nayyar, we are confident that the large scale database management would not be an issue. But, the point to be noted here is that the ED of Janakalyan has strong ability in data processing and analyzing and he has received awards in analytical report preparation.

Women Empowerment:

SHGs promoted by Janakalyan under Mahila Arthika Swavalambane Yojane (MASY) of KSWDC (Karnataka State Women Development Corporation) and also with the support of NABARD in 90s were model SHGs in the district. They not only involved in thrift and credit activity but became examples by setting up their own individual and group enterprise through their SHGs. Weekly meeting and saving was compulsory for all the members, failing to participate is penalised. Monthly Shree-Shakti Sabha with husband and wife was another tool to introduce certain concept into the minds of men-folk, the counterparts of the SHG members. Kishori Vikash was an innovative program they implemented with self initiative. Agitation against arrack and other social issues was in their core agenda. Milk production and marketing gave them economic freedom which also improved their fallback position in the family.

Janakalyan developed a module for capacity building of these SHGs and also for the Group Organisers & Group Coordinators involved in promotion and strengthening of these SHGs. The training modules were for 2 sets of people ? 1) Group Representatives /leaders and 2) Group members (women). The training module developed for the group leaders are basically to develop leadership qualities, book keeping, banking, credit management, behavioural aspects, etc. While that for the general members are on issues on gender, discrimination, poverty, social issues, family management, health, education, sanitation, hygiene, nutrition, child marriage, so on. Learning cum exposure trips for these SHGs were conducted regularly to bring them out of their smaller horizons.

These SHGs are federated at village level in to Sangha Darshini Samitee (steering committees) to bring them under a common umbrella and make them strong enough to fight with social devils. These SHGs are then federated at Cluster level in to Milan Teertha Federation to bring oneness among all the members joined the movement of women empowerment through Janakalyan. Pousthik Milk collection and marketing through the federation was another initiative to provide market linkage to the SHG members. Some of these SHGs today have more than lakh rupees of saving which they revolve among themselves. These are not only economically empowered but are socially strong enough to fight for their causes.

Going another step ahead, Janakalyan promoted GNAN (Garibi Nirmoolan Avartan Nidhi) Multipurpose Cooperative Society of these SHG members in order to ensure sustainability of the movement. All these SHGs and federations have been linked to this credit cooperative society and are operating independent of Janakalyan. This is how Janakalyan made these SHG sustainable and Janakalyan has withdrawn from the area now.

The SHGs members have been groomed to set up their enterprises under Rural Entrepreneurship Development Program supported by NABARD. The forward and backward linkages for their enterprises were also arranged through GNAN. The Collective Purchase and Marketing was also introduced through a centre promoted viz. Apna Bazaar, where all the products of these SHGs including farm produces (semi processed or processed) are collected and sold. Sonar Bangla Sweet House is another initiative to sale Bengali sweets made by these SHGs. The products of these SHGs have been exhibited for sale in various taluk, district and state level exhibition cum marketing mela, few of them organised by Janakalyan also on the occasion of International Women Day and Dasara Festival.

Janakalyan also introduced a concept that any developmental interventions of Janakalyan shall be routed through SHGs only to ensure sustainability to such interventions. Further, Janakalyan did not stop there but promoted SHGs of men & youths too.

Women in Agriculture:

Janakalyan believes that farming without participation of farm-women is impossible. Therefore, from the day-1, Janakalyan involved farm-women in all farm based innovations / interventions. The agriculture intervention started in the soon after its inception in 1997 with the support of AME Foundation. Participatory Technology Development (PTD) approach was introduced to develop locally suitable technologies for reviving cotton crop in Raichur. The concept of group formation in this project was 1+1 i.e. both farmer and farm-woman shall become the member of this PTD groups and participate jointly in all activities from farm to training/exposure.

We got a very good response from the farm-women in PTD of 4-5 years and then moved into FFS (Farmers Field School) concept where also the 1+1 concept continued. The concept of organic farming, IFS, IPM, ICM, INM, etc. were introduced to the farming communities through these PTD and FFS tools very effectively. Application of Gomutra, Panchagavya, Jeevamrita, Beejamrita, NSKE (Neem Seek Kernel Extract), Bio-dynamics, etc. were also introduced during this phase through these FFS/PTD groups. Production and application of Vermicompost, composts and FYM (Farm Yard Manure) started by these groups and women played a crucial role in its production and application. Diversification of crops from mono-cropping took place through training and exposure to these groups.

Scarcity of irrigation water and reduction in per capita land availability in addition to reduction in productivity in later days compelled Janakalyan to think innovatively and the result was its Intensified Integrated Farming System (IIFS). Intensification of usage of the resources like land, water, etc. in an integrated manner could only help the farmers to survive with the productivity level of these days. Therefore, the focus of this intervention was on intensification of all the resources including land and water by integration with animal husbandry, fruit, fish, trees, fodder, cereals, pulses, subsistence crops, etc. The method of SRI (System of Rice Intensification) was also introduced to these groups at this stage. Concept of Biogas plant was introduced during this phase of our intervention to reduce drudgery on women in terms of firewood collection; lighting of the farmhouse was taken care by the biogas plan in addition to cooking. The slurry of the plan is fed to the vermicompost pits. The intervention started with excavation of a water harvesting structure to harvest run off in rainy days for application in life saving irrigation in peak season. Fish cultivation in the water harvesting structures was another productive unit of IIFS. Solar energy harvesting for dryers, cooker, and other purposes introduced with the farm-women. Pedal pump and pressure pump to lift the water from the tank with muscle power was another drudgery reduction intervention of Janakalyan for the farm women. The groups were renamed as AIG (Agriculture Interest Groups) at this stage.

From the year of inception (1997) till date, if Janakalyan has continuously implemented any project, then it is agriculture and women empowerment. The focus always remained on ensuring 10 securities to the farming families as per this abbreviation

WEF5ISH meaning-

• W – Water: required quantum of irrigation water/moisture conserved in the farm itself.
• E - Employment: all the family members avail 365 employment in the farm itself.
• F - Food: food security of entire family throughout the year.
• F - Fodder: fodder availability for all farm animals throughout the year
• F - Fertility: biomass generation to ensure soil fertility of the whole farm
• F - Fuel wood: the firewood requirement for whole family must be from the farm
• F - Financial: the return from one crop must be investment for other crop
• I - Inputs: seeds and other inputs for the farm shall be made available within
• S - Social: gender and social security could be ensured through institution building
• H- Health: quality food and medicinal plants in the farm will lead to health security

Among all these 10 securities aimed to achieve through IIFS intervention almost all concerns the farm-women directly. If these 10 securities are ensured through any intervention, all issues related to women empowerment are being taken care, Janakalyan believes.

Strengthening participation of WE (Wage-Earners) in NREGA by linking the rural women with larger sections of the society:

NREGA is a national flagship program and meant for rural WE (wage-earners) with the dual objectives of providing 100 days of employment and creating productive durable assets for the communities. Due to various factors, the objective is not been met so far, is the opinion of the communities for whom this flagship program is designed. When analyzed the same, it was found that lack of awareness among the target groups about the rights and entitlements of the NREG Act as well as absence of a common umbrella for these working rural mass are the major factors of NREGA benefits not being utilized by them. Janakalyan has initiated an intervention with the WE to bring them under a common umbrella called WE Groups (WEG) and federated at state level under the banner of GraKooS (Grameen Kooli-karmikara Sanghatan). This intervention ensures a) 100 days of works to all WE, b) Timely payment of wages, c) Claiming unemployment allowances in case of delay in assigning work to the WE and d) Addressing other socio-political issues to these WE.

Summarily, through this intervention, we try to a) bring oneness among the communities thus improving their bargaining power (Social empowerment), b) fight against the power structures (PRI) to obtain their rights under NREGA (Political empowerment), c) fighting in the court of law for unemployment and delay in payment compensation (Legal empowerment) and d) ensuring 100 days of works to WE (Economic empowerment). To achieve this, various activities and strategies are designed and adopted.