August 10

Today we headed out to another village, Pratap Nagar, in the Balatora block.  Of all 3 blocks in the original CBM project, Balatora has had the some of the most complete results.  This may be due to the villagers: higher education than other villages in the CBM program, more motivation, less discrimination, more programs in the village, so villagers are more likely to participate, etc.  It may also be due to the facilitators: good rapport with villagers, good support of village collective, better relationship with villagers than other facilitators in other blocks, previous experience working with these villagers, etc. 
After arriving in the village, we spent time with the head of the village while Sayar spent time with some of the women.  The ease of interaction and excellent rapport was an immediate indication that the facilitators had spent lots of time in this village and were welcomed as friends. 

The meeting began with introductions of all of us and who we were and why we were there.  At first the women seemed shy, which was to be expected since we had 3 new male faces in the group (myself, the translator, and Bhima Ram), but they soon warmed as the meeting progressed.  Even though the village women were shy and were looking down, they were not talking amongst themselves, but were paying attention to the introductions.

The meeting then focused on the new item on the agenda: the water testing kit.  Bhima Ram introduced it and asked the VC pointed questions about their water.  It was very evident he was not taking at or to them, rather with them.  He asked for a water testing committee to be formed consisting of one of the respected women and an adolescent girl that could read and write.  He then went through the entire process, explaining each test, what it was for, and why it was needed.  See the video for details.  Once finished, we broke up into 3 groups.  2 groups were CBM, 1 with each facilitator, and the 3^rd was the new water testing committee.  AT this time Bhima Ram went through the entire process twice more with the committee and some of the men as well.  I don’t think the committee would be able to test any incoming water on their own, but if Bhima Ram is given a few more opportunities to work with them, they will be able to do so very soon.

Sayar and Hintharam split the 6 services and their respective social maps.  I sat with Hintharam as we went through the previous month’s social map along with a copy of his notes and a copy of past results that I provided.  It is important to stress here that a successful visit must have an agenda. Included in that agenda must be what the results were from last month, what were the action points that were to be undertaken, were they undertaken, what were the results.  Then, the new information from this month can be filled out on the maps. 

As Hintharam asked a question and received an answer, he showed the women what symbols to draw, where to draw them, and why they were being drawn.  When 1 woman was struggling to draw a triangle, Hintharam never got upset or frustrated.  Rather, he lept showing the woman ho to draw it and eventually she did it on her own.  This is important, because the sense of accomplishment that this woman had of drawing a triangle as the start of a symbol for the map will remain with her and give her confidence. 

As we went through Hintharam’s notes, I pointed out that the same 7 or 8 children still remained unvaccinated.  At this point, we put the maps to the side and had a group discussion about the issue.  In this discussion, we learned that the nurse that was here previously had been transferred and no replacement had come.  Since the sub-center was 7km away, no one had taken the children to be vaccinated.  We kept asking the women what they were going to do about it.  We never told them what to do.  After a few minutes, one of the women volunteered to follow up on the vaccinations.  Rather than leaving it at that, we asked her how she was going to do that.  The woman informed us that Thursdays was vaccination day, so she would call the ANM at the sub-center and ask her to come to the village or if she should bring all the children to the sub-center to get them vaccinated. 

As we sat and finished the survey with the symbols and social maps, the villagers served tea.  This social aspect of the meetings should not be overlooked.  The involvement of all the women (not just 1 being vocal and the rest following along), the social aspect, the men sitting in support, the adolescent males and females being involved promoted a sense of well-being and harmony.  Many smaller discussions on issues began to break out, but when the answers were unknown, the questions were posed to the group for a group discussion.

At this point I asked that we reform into 1 big group and asked a few questions.  I wanted to know how the women being a part of the CBM program; likes; dislikes; what they hoped to gain from this program; were they ready to do it on their own.

A discussion followed, the highlights of which are as follows:

·      The women really enjoy the social aspect of the program

·      The get a chance to interact and talk about issues as well as themselves and catch up

·      They have found a tremendous satisfaction that their voice counts for something

·      Since the kids aren’t at home all the time, rather in school or Anganwadi, they have more time to get things done and are using that time wisely

·      They would like to get more information on other governmental schemes

·      When I asked for examples, they said animal husbandry, seeds, insecticides, agriculture

·      I then asked if they could undertake a scheme on their own, without the facilitators help.  They replied that right now, no they still need help.  But, they will soon be able to do it on their own and are looking forward to doing it on their own.

·      They then said they want a proper building for Anganwadi and a community center or hall.  They also want an ANM or sub-center within the village.

This type of interaction and involvement stems from several different factors: the men’s support, results that can be seen, the allowing of the women to voice their opinions, etc.  but in my opinion, the number 1 reason there has been success in Pratap Nagar has been the facilitators.  They were prepared when they arrived in the village.  They were always smiling and supportive.  They had built a rapport with the villagers.  They were consistent in coming on the same day every month.  They did not try to shout down the women, rather encouraged them to speak up and make their needs known.

The essence of community based monitoring is the community.  That fact has not been lost on IDEA and its staff.  They have empowered the villagers in Pratap Nagar to monitor 6 basic services that directly affect their lives.  This monitoring leads to action points that can be tracked and the outcomes can be seen.  The involvement of the entire community has made the CBM project here a success and by December, I have no doubt that the community will be able to continue this monitoring on their own.

IDEA: Institute of Development Education & Awareness- Unnati's partner NGO in the Balatora block.

A water harvesting tank that the government built after 4 farmers donated adjoining corners of their land for this purpose.  A huge apple orchard has already been planted and is fed by this tank.

A covered well in the village of Pratap Nagar.

Myself, Mr. Divedi, and a village elder behind the well.

The village elder showing us his masonry work.  The pile of rocks below are hand chiseled into bricks.  The bricks will then be used to build additional rooms on his house.  Where the  bucket is on the left, is a doorway that will be 1 room.  And where Mr. Divedi is standing is another doorway on the right.

The interior of a villagers sleeping quarters.  Most villagers have a compound that contains 2-4 structures.  1 for sleeping, 1 for eating, 1 for the goats to keep them out of the harsh sun, 1 for cooking, 1 for gathering, etc.

Village children and two village leaders.

Sayar, from IDEA, holding a homemade pitch fork.

Pratap Nagar's social map.

The collective learning about water testing.

A sub-committee of the collective filling out the social map by drawing symbols.

Close up of the map and symbol drawing.

A Public Distribution System (PDS) coupon, also known as a Ration Card.  It entitles the holder to a certain rate for rice, wheat, sugar, and kerosene.

An open well.  These are very dangerous for the kids.

Here you can see the open well in relation to part of the village.  Not much protection, especially when you consider that children as young as 6 have to pull water form this well for their homes.