महात्मा गांधी एक सोच हैं, केवल एक व्यक्ति नहीं..और सोच हमेशा नश्वर होती है।

गाँधी मेरे दादा के लिए जीवन का मूल थे. दादा का मेरे जीवन पर ज्यादा असर रहा. मेरा बचपन अपने दादा और दादी के साथ बिता और मेरा नाम मेरे पिता ने दिया और मेहनत करना माँ से सिखा. दादा ने कहा आपके घर से ज्यादा समाज में समृद्धि के लिए कार्य करना चाहिए. जिसका असर मेरे ऊपर रहा.

आयुर्वेदाचार्य करने के बाद समाज के काम को चुना . युवको और बेरोजगारों के रोजगार के लिए सामाजिक रूप से व्यवसाय भी शुरू किया. किन्तु मैंने अपने एकमात्र पुत्र को पडोसी स्कूल में शिक्षा दिलवाया. विदेश वंचितों के बच्चो को भेजा. कार्यालय और समाज के दिए गए सामाजिक सामुदायिक केंद्र से कमतर दो कमरे का घर रहने के लिए रखा जो 2007 के बाद रंगाई और पुताई से भी बंचित रहा. मेरे साथ व्यवसाय और समाज सेवा में काम कर रहे साथी के पुत्र और पुत्रिया मेरे पुत्र से ज्यादा अभिज्यात स्कूल में शिक्षा लिए या ले रहे है. अनेको गांधीवादी और अम्बेडकरवादी कहने वाले लोगो का घर और पुत्र-पुत्रियों के स्चूलो को देकरअभिज्यातवाद की याद आ जाती है. इनमे से अनेको लोग लोगो को प्रमाणपत्र भी बाटते देखा है. आपका जीवन क्या है और लोगो को क्या दे रहे है वो आपके सोच की बुनियाद बताता है. गैंग बनाने के प्रतिक नहीं है गाँधी जी. अहिंसा के पुजारी बापू की पुण्यतिथि पर श्रद्धांजलि अर्पित करते हुए बसप्रणाम इतना ही कहना चाहूंगा कि महात्मा गांधी एक सोच हैं, केवल एक व्यक्ति नहीं..और सोच हमेशा नश्वर होती है। #Gandhi #GandhiForever #MahatmaGandhi #Bapu #महात्मागाँधी #बापू

Focus On Adolescent Girls, Kitchen Gardens Helping Musahar, Nut Communities in Varanasi

 https://poshan.outlookindia.com/story/focus-on-adolescent-girls-kitchen-gardens-helping-musahar-nut-communities-in-varanasi/332753

A #Musahar family with their daughterPicture courtesy #PVCHR

Focus On Adolescent Girls, Kitchen Gardens Helping Musahar, Nut Communities in #Varanasi

In 2017, the People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR), with the support of Child Rights and You (#CRY), adopted 50 villages and a couple of slums to work on the issue of child survival (maternal, neonatal health and nourishment) in the most marginalised communities in four blocks of Varanasi district.

Lenin Raghuvanshi | Jun 22, 2019

Kotali Nut lives in Aura block of Varanasi district in Uttar Pradesh. Kotali and her husband Mannu Nut have a monthly income of around Rs 3,000 which is very difficult to fulfill basic needs. Ever since they were introduced to kitchen gardening last year, they are able to include nutritious vegetables in their meal which has had a positive effect on their health.

There was a vacant plot behind Kotali’s house, in Nonari nut ghetto, Phuwarikhurd of Aura block, where she did kitchen gardening, sowing different types of seasonal seeds like sponge gourd, squash, pumpkin, snake gourd, bitter gourd, ridge gourd. She began her kitchen garden in July 2018, thanks to the efforts of People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR), and is happy with the result.

“Before we used to eat rice, roti with salt. But now we have a lot of green vegetables with our meals after we began kitchen gardening. It effects our health as well,” she said. Kotali produced around 54 kg of different types of vegetables -- like 15 kg of sponge gourd, 32 kg of squash, 4 kg of pumpkin, 2 kg of ridge gourd and 1 kg bitter gourd.

The story is the same with Jarina Nut, wife of Bholai Nut, whose monthly income is around just Rs 2,000-3-000. Like Kotali, Jarina also took to kitchen gardening and is sowing different types of seasonal vegetables. Jarina says she produced 39 kg of green vegetables. “We had enough fresh vegetables everyday for our meals. It is very tasty and healthy,” she said.

Kabutara Nut, wife of Nandu Nut, has a kitchen garden where they grow different types of seasonal vegetables. They have also a hen coop in their home. Initially they were scared thinking the hens would damage the sown seeds, but PVCHR workers informed them about how to protect their land by covering it with bamboo fencing.

Nandu’s son Rajiv helps him to protect the land and in weeding and sorting. Regular follow-up by PVCHR helped to sustain their enthusiasm. They produced 29 kg of vegetables.

In the Musahar ghetto of Phuwarikhurd, Aura block of Varanasi, Sanju and her husband Sushil grow vegetables according to their taste. Sanju says her husband helps with the kitchen garden, sowing seeds, in manuring, weeding, sorting and also protects the land. “When the garden started producing vegetables, we had different types of veggies daily in our meals. We never bought any vegetables earlier because we can’t afford it. Now we share vegetables with our relatives and friends,” said Sushil.

There are 13 Musahar families in the Musahar ghetto, Aayer Village, Harauwa block of Varanasi district. They work as labour. Six men work as a carriers in a hardware shop, some others ride tractors and one family works in a brick factory. A woman also works as a daily wage labourer. They sow crops and graze in other lands for money. They don’t have their own land, but they have some land near their homes where they started kitchen gardening with different types of seasonal vegetable seeds.

In 2017, the People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR), with the support of Child Rights and You (CRY), adopted 50 villages and a couple of slums to work on the issue of child survival (maternal, neonatal health and nourishment) in the most marginalized communities in four blocks of Varanasi district. The Right to Survival is one of the four child right categories in the United Nation Convention on the Rights of Children. Survival Rights include the child’s right to life and to fulfilling the needs of a child to lead a happy life. These include nutrition, shelter, adequate living standards, and access to health services for a healthy and happy childhood.

After entering the village, PVCHR did a baseline survey and focused on group discussion to understand the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) of the community. Based on the KAP mapping, they prepared strategies based on their interest and influence. The PVCHR team explained how the major problems identified in the baseline surveys were stereotypical thinking, superstition, and lack of trust in the government-sponsored healthcare schemes. The below-par presence of the health Sub Centres, Primary Healthcare Centres, Community Healthcare centres is the main hurdle in the realization of health services for pregnant women and their children.

These communities faced apathy from the village heads and did not get access to various government schemes. Due to lack of knowledge and resources, adolescent girls use dirty cloth during periods instead of sanitary pads. The adolescent girls have no source to obtain information regarding the biological changes in the body and were left to follow longstanding and illogical concepts.

The changes and developments in the bodies of adolescents also affects their health. Adolescents mainly suffer from anaemia and weight loss or low weight. Lack of information is the primary reason behind that. During the analysis of the sample survey conducted across 20 villages in Varanasi, we found that, due to ill-treatment and negligence in the government hospitals, 19 families out of 20 were facing a severe debt crisis.

PVCHR organized a meeting with marginalized people and encouraged them to utilize the vacant plots of land near their homes. They were informed about the importance and process of kitchen gardening.

A Girl Adolescence and Nutrition Fair was organized by PVCHR with the support of New Zealand High Commission in Harauwa Block level in October. The main purpose of the fair was to inform people about various issues related to adolescence such as Reproduction Health, Menstruation, Infection, Personal hygiene and Nutrition.

In the fair for adolescences, issue-based posters were displayed. Posters created on the basis of issues came from meetings and folk schools with girls and their family’s members. Adolescents were aware about the reproduction process, menstruation process, personal hygiene, health, reproductive health and nutrition. The main slogan of the programme through the posters was information to adolescent girls, about reproductive health, nutrition and love. Also, they were told they must care about their health and wear sanitary pads during #menstruation. Girls should increase their iron intake by eating green vegetables. The adolescent girls were encouraged to freely speak on menstruation. The girl focused on the slogan, the messages, information and posters and also discussed among each other.

Kitchen Gardens - The Way To Fight Hunger And Malnutrition

 https://poshan.outlookindia.com/story/kitchen-gardens-the-way-to-fight-hunger-and-malnutrition/331795

picture courtesy PVCHR

Kitchen Gardens - The Way To Fight #Hunger And #Malnutrition

Many Musahar communities, which have been supported by People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (#PVCHR), have started kitchen gardens to include fresh vegetables and fruits in their diet.

Lenin Raghuvanshi | Jun 09, 2019

India is known for its beautiful landscapes and extraordinary culture, but the caste system continues to dictate the lives of India’s citizens, with the Dalit and tribal communities having to face marginalisation and discrimination.

Musahar means “rat eaters”. Their main business even today, is to kill rats They are considered “untouchable” and are relegated to the lowest jobs.

Despite the fact that untouchability was officially banned when India adopted its Constitution in 1950, discrimination against #Musahars remained and in 1989 the government passed legislation known as The Prevention of Atrocities Act. The act among other things made it illegal to parade people naked through the streets, take away their land, foul their water, interfere with their right to vote, and burn down their homes. Many of the community children would not find entry in schools since the upper castes would not want their children to study along with Musahar children.

Since then, violence has escalated largely as a result of the emergence of a grassroots human rights movement among Musahars to demand their rights and resist the dictates of upper castes.

Most of the Musahar people work in fields owned by others or migrate to the cities. Their standards of living force their children to work even in hazardous industries. I visited their homes and noticed how these communities live right next to the upper castes. Rice fields owned by the rich people surround their homes. Some of their women just need to cross one street to go and clean the houses of the upper castes. Slavery is just round the corner.

Many Musahar communities, which have been supported by People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (#PVCHR), have changed their diet, and now can afford to eat pork, chicken and fish. Many have started kitchen gardens, to include fresh vegetables and fruits in their diet. PVCHR is an Indian non-governmental organisation that fights for the rights of marginalised people in several North-Indian states, especially in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.

Budhana Devi, wife of Sanjay Kumar, lives in the Musahar ghetto, Sanjhoi village, Araajiline block of Varanasi district. She has five members in her family. Her husband rides a tractor and works as a mud carrier. He earns around Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 a month. Budhana Devi says, “I have also worked in a brick factory with my husband. In between that period, I fell ill so I came back home. Poor monthly income was the biggest problem to run a livelihood. Most of the time we had roti and rice with salt. We always waited for an occasion or festival to have vegetables.”

“But since we started kitchen gardening we regularly have 2kgs of sponge gourd (torai in Hindi), 1 kg of bitter gourd (karela), 1 and a half kg of snake gourd (chichinda) in a day, and almost in total 60 kgs of sponge gourd, 30kgs of bitter gourd and 45kgs of snake gourd were produced. Earlier, we were ignorant about how to grow vegetables. The institution (PVCHR) helps us utilize a vacant plot near our house, provides us with knowledge about how to grow vegetables, about proper drainage and sunlight to the plants, before sowing the seeds. We are also taught how to take care of seedlings with manure and watering. I am 5 months pregnant and I feel these vegetables are healthy and tasty as well,” she said.

Phoolchand Musahar from Sanjhoi often doesn’t feel well. His wife and daughter work on other’s lands. His son works as a mud carrier. Phoollchand says, “Ever since I was born, I’ve never sown any seeds in my whole life and never felt it will grow. Now I feel so good after growing our own vegetables. We are saving money by not having to buy vegetables. My children advised me to sell the vegetables in the market, but I refused and give them instead to my neighbours who are in need. We share a lot of vegetables with our families and friends. We have kept some seeds of sponge gourd and will plant more.”

People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) with the support of the New Zealand High Commission, organized a meeting with the marginalized people and encouraged them to utilize the vacant places near their house. They were informed about the importance and process of kitchen gardening. In many households, there is a lack of nutritional food and pollution, people suffer from different diseases. In such cases, kitchen gardening can help create a fresh environment besides providing the people with essential micronutrients. After a discussion with the community on kitchen gardening, the people drew up a list of vegetables to be grown based on taste and interest.

Before sowing the seeds, people must know about the process. PVCHR informed them that they should start with a small patch near their house, and clean the soil before starting. They were told how they must ensure proper arrangement of drainage and sufficient sunlight to the plants before sowing seeds and plantation of saplings.

After sowing the seeds, it is very important to care for and protect the saplings. The residents were told to secure the area with a bamboo fence or brick wall so that animals, birds and children couldn’t damage the saplings. Likewise, the PVCHR also provided them with information on how to take care of the land, the requirement of water, manure and weeding.

Finally, it was time for the land to yield vegetables. Starting in July and ending in December, hundreds of kilograms of different types of vegetables were produced. Some of the vegetables were sold in the market and also shared with neighbours. The PVCHR team regularly follows up with the community.

Poverty, Malnutrition, Disease Stalk Weavers Of Benaras

 https://poshan.outlookindia.com/story/poverty-malnutrition-disease-stalk-weavers-of-benaras/331383

A mother with her child of the weaver community in BenarasPhoto Credit #PVCHR

#Poverty, #Malnutrition, Disease Stalk #Weavers Of #Benaras

It is estimated that over 50 percent of weavers' children are malnourished. Many weavers cannot even afford basic medical care for their children, much less themselves. They fall sick easily, and suffer from several diseases, including tuberculosis.

Lenin Raghuvanshi | Jun 01, 2019

Working for 7-8 hours a day in dimly-lit, poorly ventilated rooms and with no nasal masks to filter away the lint dust, weavers of Benaras, who create the most beautiful silk and brocade sarees, suffer from poverty, malnutrition and disease.

With the weaving industry experiencing significant decline and demand for the sari stagnating in the face of increased competition from cheaper alternatives, and shifting consumer taste among other issues, the situation of most weavers has deteriorated into a pitiful state. Most weavers face increased poverty due to reduction of wages, hunger, health issues and inability to provide for their families, says the People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights, an Indian non-governmental organisation.

It is estimated that over 50 percent of weavers' children are malnourished. Many weavers cannot even afford basic medical care for their children, much less themselves. They fall sick easily, and suffer from diseases like tuberculosis, Pneumoconiosis, swelling of limbs, stomach ailments, backache, anaemia, weakness and debility, etc. Some weavers have become so despondent as to take their own lives. Since 2002, 175 weavers have committed suicide.

One of the main problems is that weavers are generally classified as males, while women are not given that status even though they participate in sari-making in many important ways, including in the finishing, and work as many hours. This is a major disadvantage, since the women are deprived of several health scheme benefits for weavers.

Women often spin and cut thread and perform other important tasks that are labelled as secondary or menial. Performing these repetitive tasks is taxing, and involves sitting and working in uncomfortable positions seven hours at a go. The women suffer from backache and poor eyesight and are anaemic. When they fall ill they have to provide money for their own treatment.

Women and children are frequently exploited in the Varanasi weaving industry. They are an important part of household production units, but their informal role largely remains invisible and unpaid, says #PVCHR.

Children also often help family members make saris, having to work for long hours in very tiring conditions while suffering from malnourishment. Children are usually employed for pattern making and other small jobs, helping to speed up the whole production process. Children sometimes work at different jobs to pay for their own meals or to help repay family loans.

Children of the weavers’ community are affected the most. With parents busy working at the looms throughout the day, the children are left unattended. They are also deprived of any proper learning environment.

PVCHR, that fights for the rights of marginalised people in several north-Indian states, especially Varanasi, has suggested several measures to better the lot of the weavers, including setting up of crèches and educational/nutritional facilities for the children to ensure their participation and proper care.

It has also suggested that Mobile Crèches which have experience of working with the children of the unorganised sector could be contacted for training/ or running of these creches.

PVCHR suggested adoption of a multi-layered and multi-dimensional programme against hunger and malnutrition among weavers. These include identification of families of weavers suffering from hunger and malnutrition; providing emergency support to such families and to analyse the effectiveness of the social welfare and food security schemes. It has suggested launching of people-centric advocacy on the basis of “hunger alert” at the administration, state and central Government and the UN level.

It has also advocated further understanding the needs of women weavers and creation of special enabling mechanisms to help facilitate their role in the weaving industry. These could include designing special looms built with their needs in mind, and a special fund for women weavers to help them become economically independent.

It has stressed that concentrated efforts are needed from multi-stakeholders, including civil society organisations, government, trade unions, media, corporate sector and others in order to strengthen the weavers community and improve the lot of unorganized sector workers, especially women.

Following persistent efforts, the government approved a health insurance plan for weavers in 2005-2006. Under this scheme, the health expenses of weavers and their families, including the husband, wife and up to two children, are covered in public hospitals as well as designated private hospitals.

Among other measures, PVCHR has suggested waiving the electricity debt and bill of handloom weavers, and a comprehensive and integrated welfare and food security scheme for weavers.

It has recommended the setting up of one dedicated hospital in Lucknow and Varanasi, to cure the ailments afflicting the weavers. Occupational diseases such as byssinosis, numbness in the limbs, deterioration of eyesight etc. need special attention, which is not available in general hospitals. It suggested specialised hospitals, on the lines of the Sambhavana Trust Hospital in Bhopal, established to give specialised medical care to gas victims in the aftermath of the Bhopal Gas Disaster.

Other measures to improve their livelihood include setting up middleman-free cooperatives, direct selling shops, haats, local museums etc.

(The author Lenin Raghuvanshi is Founder,PVCHR www.pvchr.asia)

Towards Building A Vibrant and Resilient Community Against Hunger And Malnutrition

 https://poshan.outlookindia.com/story/towards-building-a-vibrant-and-resilient-community-against-hunger-and-malnutrition/332863

A mother with her children in a Musahar basti in VaranasiPicture courtesy PVCHR

Towards Building A Vibrant and Resilient Community Against Hunger And Malnutrition

Jan Mitra Nyas, a non-profit organisation, with the support of Child Rights and You (#CRY), is working in Anei Musahar basti (Musahar slum) in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, on the issue of child survival (maternal, neonatal health and nourishment) for a healthy and happy childhood.

Shruti Nagvanshi | Jun 24, 2019

In October 2016, Jan Mitra Nyas, a non-profit organisation, with the support of Child Rights and You (CRY), adopted Anei Musahar basti (Musahar slum) in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, to work on the issue of child survival (maternal, neonatal health and nourishment) for a healthy and happy childhood.

In the base line survey (BLD) and focus group discussion (FGD) we found that the community did not avail of government facilities fully due to superstition and belief that they will get treatment for all kinds of diseases from the ‘ojha’ (witch doctor). When a woman gets pregnant, they bring her to the ojha to protect the mother and child from evil and prevent stillbirth. Every month they have to pay Rs 200 to the ojha as fee along with ‘daru’ (alcohol) and ‘murga’ (chicken) for protection.

After the delivery of the baby, the ojha performs rituals known as ‘gadthant’ to prevent neonatal and maternal death. The rituals are performed at midnight in any quadrilateral area, and the fee the ‘ojha’ charges is between Rs 2,000-5,000.

With regard to the issue of malnourishment, the community visits the ‘sokha’ for binding the bended limbs of children stricken with rickets. The sokha uses chichidi leaves (Amaranthaceae) as necklace for preventing malnourishment, and for this they charge a small amount of Rs 10–20.

A sample survey was conducted in 20 villages of four blocks (Badagaon, Pindra, Harhua and Arajiline) of Varanasi district, and it was found that due to ill treatment and negligence in government hospitals 19 out of 20 families were in debt, ranging between Rs1,000-Rs 1,75,000 for getting treatment in private hospital or by ojhas and sokhas.

Stereotypical thinking, superstition, and lack of trust in government-sponsored healthcare schemes and facilities are the main hurdles in the realisation of health services for pregnant women and their children, the study found. Thus, they resorted to the community practice of home delivery for the pregnant women, and did not seek out the posahar (nutritious food) distributed by the #ICDS (Integrated Child Development Services) worker. The #ANM (Auxiliary Nurse Midwife) never visits the ghetto of the marginalized communities for vaccination or immunization of the child and pregnant mother. The ANMs sit in the localities of the upper castes. When the Musahar community people go for availing these facilities they have to pay money for getting the Jaccha–Baccha card (Child growth card) and also face discrimination from the concerned stakeholders. .

The project by Jan Mitra Nyas, a public charitable trust linked to the Peoples Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR), has a multi – layered and multi–dimensional approach to reduce Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) and focus on healthy and happy childhood through changing their knowledge, attitude and practice by breaking the culture of silence and creating resilience among the community service providers.

Based on the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) mapping, we prepared our strategies in the context of mapping stakeholders based on their interest and influence. Due to the existing patriarchal system, the health and well-being of women is not taken very seriously by the family. A woman taking care of her family and helping in work is considered as healthy. Besides educating women and adolescent girls and making them conscious about their own rights, the project also focused on holding a dialogue and engagement with the pregnant women, their husbands and in-laws.

Following are a few outcomes of the project:

* Of 23 pregnant women, 18 went to the Primary Health Care centre, in Badagaon, for delivery, utilising the facility of the ambulance service. Five pregnant women had their delivery at home. The project staff assisted the Musahar community in opening bank accounts to get the direct cash benefits of the Janani Suraksha Yojana (safe motherhood) scheme as well as other government schemes. Aakash was born in a Primary Health Centre, Badagaon, on 1st February, 2018. During the delivery Aakash weighed only 1 kg and 500 gm and also did not cry. The nurse provided kangaroo therapy (holding the baby that involves skin-to-skin contact) to Aakash, and after half an hour he started to cry. At midnight the hospital midwife was trying to convince Aakash’s grandmother to admit the baby in a private hospital as he was underweight. But Aakash’s grandmother did not listen to the midwife. Next day, the doctors discharged both mother and child.

* Another finding is that due to lack of knowledge, the mothers were giving water to their babies (0-6 months). During the advanced phase of pregnancy the project helped create awareness and promote breast feeding and also demonstrated about proper care of the child and food for children between 6 months to 5 years and also for the pregnant mother. For example, Kajal (daughter of Reema and Lorik Vanwasi) and Aakash (child of Sarita and Mahendra Vanwasi) were breast fed for six months. Reema had the full support of her husband but her in-laws forced her to work rather than take care of the child. Sarita got the full support of her husband and in-laws. Aakash’s grandmother took care of him from time from time.

* 15 of the new-borns drank colostrum (the first form of milk produced by the mammary glands immediately after delivery) after an hour of birth as their first immunization. The remaining 8 babies did not get colostrum due to superstitious belief that a child should be fed only 3 hours after delivery.

* Of the 18 adolescent girls in the ghetto, 5 had a health test done in a camp organized by the ANM. In the health camp one girl was diagnosed as anaemic and was referred to the public health centre, Badagaon. There she got treatment by the female doctors. Adolescent girls are using sanitary pads during menstruation, and when they did not have money they were using clean cloths. The girls participated in the Kishori Swasthya and Poshan Mela, (Adolescent Girls Health and Nutrition Fair) organized in Pindra Block level. The mela had lots of information on the various issues related to adolescence such as balanced nutritious diet, taking care during menstruation, hand washing process etc. A documentary “Menstopedia” was also screened and the girls were explained about “good touch and bad touch” and a quiz contest was also organized. The girls who gave right answers were awarded sanitary napkin packs.

* Now there is no Infant Mortality Rate or Maternal Mortality reported in the village. During the time the village was adopted 4 Infant Mortalities were reported.

* The severely acute malnourished (SAM) rate reduce due to activization and availing facilities of the ICDS centre.

* In 2018 with the support of the New Zealand High Commission PVCHR initiated the kitchen gardening. In this ghetto 50 families were initiated into kitchen gardening.

Resilience of Service Providers:

The Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) has evolved a micro plan for immunization for the Anei Musahar basti since 2011. The ANM had the responsibility for immunization of the pregnant mothers and children of both upper castes and also of the Anei Musahar ghetto. However, the ANM would never visit the Musahar ghetto, but sit at a roadside Hanuman mandir to vaccinate the mothers and children. She used to call people from the Musahar ghetto at the same place for vaccination, but most of the children and pregnant mothers got left out.

The project did advocacy with the concerned authorities on the number of people getting left out of the vaccination. Gradually the ANM started visiting the ghetto for the immunization. From March 2018 the ANM began spending a whole day for immunization in the Musahar ghetto.

ICDS centre

The mini ICDS starting in 2011-12 but it was not implemented at the grassroots level. After a few years it started operating in the primary school Anei second development block. In the school only one ICDS was operating with two ICDS workers. The Musahars would not avail of any facilities from this centre. In October 2016 the organization started the Bal Swasthya Poshan (Child Nutrition and Health) and created knowledge and awareness on the services being provided. The staff met with all the ICDS workers in Anei village to know about the ICDS worker in Anei Musahar Basti. They were informed that the ICDS worker of the area was not regularly sitting in the ICDS centre in the school. Neither were the Musahar children going to the centre nor was the ICDS worker interested in operating the centre in the ghetto. A complaint was filed with the regional Mukhya Sevika (In charge) who in turn said the Musahars were responsible for not availing the facilities. A complaint was filed at the Chief Minister’s portal (online complaint), following which the ICDS centre started to operate in the Musahar ghetto from November 2018.

(Shruti Nagvanshi is Managing Trustee, People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR), an initiative of Jan Mitra Nyas)

Kailash Satyarthi, Biography and mention of Lenin Raghuvanshi

 I am feeling thankful to watch and read my name and quote in biography of Shri Kailash Sathyarthi jee (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kailash_Satyarthi). I worked in Bachapan Bachao Andolan from 1991- 1999, but it is not mentioned at my Wikipedia page https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lenin_Raghuvanshi

Congrats to Anurag Mittal for his mentioned in book.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/varanasi/satyarthi-braved-bullets-but-successfully-rescued-23-kids/articleshow/44780757.cms

https://www.asianews.it/news-en/Satyarthi-and-Malala,-their-Nobel-for-Christian-children-in-Kandhamal-32408.html

#BBA #ChildLabour #NobelPeace #NobelPeacePrize #KailashSatyarthi

Public Dialogue on Children’s Nutritional rights and Package food Labelling

Public Dialogue on Children’s Nutritional rights and Package food Labelling: Addressing Double burden of Malnutrition in India Date: 2nd December, 2021 Time: 3:00 to 5:00 pm with High Tea Venue: Hotel Diamond, Bhelupur, Varanasi, India Organized By PIPAL (People’s Initiative for Participatory Action on food Labelling), PVCHR (People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights)and The CommonMan Trust, with support of Savitri Bai Phule Mahila Panchayat and Bunkar Dastakar Adhikar Manch For more response ,Please read follows links: https://healthofchidren.blogspot.com/2021/12/public-dialogue-on-childrens.html https://healthofchidren.blogspot.com/2021/12/political-parties-come-together-for.html #PVCHR #FOPL #NCD #Varanasi #Kashi #India

Benaras-Based Lenin And Shruti Nominated For Nobel Peace Prize

 https://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2022/01/lenin-shruti-pvchr-human-rights-nobel-peace/

Spiritual time with mindful meditation for better world

 Spiritual time with mindful meditation for better world

बेहतर दुनिया के लिए ध्यान के साथ आध्यात्मिक समय

#LeninRaghuvanshi #shrutinagvanshi #Kashi #Varanasi #spirituality

 बाल विवाह के मुद्दे पर जब भी चर्चा होती है तो सहज ही लड़की का चित्र आँखों के सामने उभर आता है जबकि बाल विवाह की पीड़ा सिर्फ लड़कियां ही नहीं झेल रही हैं। लड़के भी कम पीड़ित नही हैं। हाशिये पर जीने वाले समुदायों के लड़कों में दाढ़ी मूंछ की हल्की रेखा दिखने के साथ ही उनके विवाह कि तैयारी शुरू होने लगती है। यदि एक दो वर्ष अधिक हो जाए तो इसका अर्थ लड़के में कोई दोष है, ऐसे सवाल उठने शुरू हो जातें हैं। नादान कच्ची समझ की उम्र में आजीविका कमाने, गृहस्थी संचालित करने, परिवार बसाने का भार अपरिपक्व कंधों पर डालकर घर के बड़े अपनी जिम्मेदारी से मुक्त हो जाना चाहते हैं। नाबालिग उम्र में इन सारी जिम्मेदारियों को निभाने के साथ-साथ एक दूसरे के मनोभावों को समझना बाल दम्पति के लिए बहुत ही कठिन होता है। ऐसे में देखने में यह आता है कि कुछ विवाह तो परिवार के हस्तक्षेप से गिरते पड़ते सम्भलते हैं, कुछ विभिन्न प्रकार की चुनौतियों से जूझते हुए किसी तरह धक्का मारते हुए जीवन निर्वहन करते हैं। वहीं कई विवाह बाल विवाह की त्रासदी से टूट भी जाते हैं। कुल मिलाकर बाल विवाह का प्रभाव न केवल बाल दम्पति झेलते है बल्कि ऐसे विवाह से जन्म लेने वाले बच्चों पर भी बहुत असर पड़ता है।

बाल विवाह के अंत के लिए हमें जरूरत है उन कारणों की गम्भीरता से पड़ताल करने की जिन कारणों से आज भी कई जातियां अपने बच्चों की उनके नादान उम्र में शादी करने को विवश हैं। जरूरत है उन तमाम चुनौतियों और समस्याओं के समाधान की जिनके कारण बच्चों पर उनके बचपन में ही परिवार बसाने और अगली पीढ़ी बनाने की जिम्मेदारी डाल दी जाती है- एक ऐसी जिम्मेदारी जिसके लिए वे शारीरिक या मानसिक रूप से तैयार नहीं हैं।

https://junputh.com/open-space/menace-of-child-marriage-is-linked-to-the-marginalised-groups/

बाल विवाह की जड़ें वंचित जातियों की बदहाल जीवन स्थितियों में है, शादी की कानूनी आयुसीमा में नहीं!

January 9, 2022 - by श्रुति नागवंशी - Leave a Comment

बाल विवाह कानून को बने लम्बा समय हुआ। आज दशकों बाद बाल विवाह कानून में संशोधन करके लडकियों के विवाह की आयुसीमा को न्यूनतम उम्र 18 वर्ष से बढ़ाकर लडकों की उम्र के बराबर 21 वर्ष किए जाने का प्रस्ताव है। क्या यह जानने-समझने की जरूरत नहीं है कि आज भी बाल विवाह जैसी कुप्रथा किन जाति विशेष के व्यवहार में है? उनकी सामाजिक आर्थिक विकास की क्या स्थिति है? जिन जातियों में आज बाल विवाह की घटनाएं नहीं हो रही हैं क्या वे सिर्फ कानून के भय से बाल विवाह की कुप्रथा से मुक्त हो पाए या समाज की मुख्यधारा ने उन्हें प्रभावित किया और अपने से जोड़ा जिसके बाद उन्होंने बाल विवाह को ख़ारिज किया और बाल विवाह के कारण होने वाले तमाम समस्याओं से मुक्त हो पाए?

यह एक गम्भीर विचारणीय प्रश्न है। इन प्रश्नों के समाधान में ही बाल विवाह जैसी कुप्रथा का अंत है, न कि लड़कियों के विवाह की उम्र को बढ़ाया जाना जबकि हमारे पास ऐसा कोई ठोस व्यवस्था दिखाई नहीं पड़ती है कि यदि लड़कियों के विवाह की उम्र 21 वर्ष हो जाए तो इस अवधि में वे क्या करेंगी और कहां अपने को व्यस्त रखेंगी। देश, समाज और परिवार का दृष्टिकोण और संसाधन उनकी कितनी मदद करेंगे?  

आज बाल विवाह का कारण कन्यादान का फल मिलना नहीं है, बल्कि ऐसी जातियां जो प्रवासी मजदूर के रूप में अपनी आजीविका कमाती हैं उनके बीच बेटियों की सुरक्षा एक अहम मुद्दा है। आजीविका के लिए वे जब सपरिवार कार्यस्थल पर प्रवास करते हैं तो कार्यस्थल के असुरक्षित माहौल में बेटी की सुरक्षा का प्रश्न बहुत बड़ा होता है। यही असुरक्षा बेटी को रखने की भी है जहां परिवार के हर उम्र के सदस्यों को कमाने की विवशता है। असुरक्षित रहन सहन की स्थिति में बच्चियों के साथ दुर्घटना की चिंता का एक ही समाधान है कि कम उम्र में ही बिटिया का हाथ पीला कर दिया जाए।

अभिभावकों का प्रवासी जीवन और अस्थिर आजीविका का साधन होने से बच्चे शिक्षा व्यवस्था से नहीं जुड़ पाते हैं। वे भी परिवार के साथ आजीविका कमाने के छोटे-छोटे कामों में सहयोगी होने के साथ सैकड़ों किस्म के घरेलू कार्य, छोटे भाई-बहनों की देखभाल आदि में अपनी उम्र से कहीं अधिक जिम्मेदारी निभाते हैं। इन सभी के पीछे माता-पिता का तर्क यही होता है कि खाली होने से बच्चे गलत और फालतू कामों में व्यस्त हो जाते हैं। कुल मिलाकर बच्चे समय से पहले व्यस्क हो जाते हैं। ऐसे में थकान मिटाने और मनोरंजन के लिए खेल एवं अन्य किसी प्रकार का स्वस्थ साधन उपलब्ध नहीं होने के कारण मीडिया बाजार में उपलब्ध सस्ते संसाधनों का सहारा लेते हैं। यहां किशोरवय के बच्चों का किशोरावस्था के स्वाभाविक यौनाकर्षण के प्रभाव में कच्ची उम्र के प्रेम में पड़कर घर से भागने और अन्य कई ऐसी घटनाएं सामने आतीं हैं।

सोलह वर्षीय जितेन्द्र मुसहर (काल्पनिक नाम) की शादी पिछले वर्ष लाकडाउन में उसके दादा-दादी ने पन्द्रह वर्षीय लड़की से इसलिए करा दी कि जितेन्द्र कम उम्र में ही अपनी भाभी के प्रेम में पड़कर उसके साथ घर छोड़कर कहीं चला गया था। खोजबीन के बाद जब जितेन्द्र को घर लाया गया तो दादा–दादी को उसकी शादी करा देना ही एकमात्र उपाय दिखा। समस्या यहीं खत्म नहीं हुई। जितेन्द्र का अपनी पत्नी से आए दिन किसी न किसी बात को लेकर झगड़ा होता रहता था। जल्दी ही वह गर्भवती भी हो गयी थी। एक दिन झगड़े के बाद वह अपने मायके चली गयी। बाद में पता चला कि गर्भस्थ शिशु का अबॉर्शन भी करा दिया। इस बात से नाराज जितेन्द्र के घर वाले अब उसकी दूसरी शादी का विचार बना लिए हैं।

बाल विवाह की पीड़ा सिर्फ लड़कियां ही नहीं झेल रही हैं।

यह घटना दिखाती है कि किशोरवय का प्रेम भी बाल विवाह के लिए कम जिम्मेदार नहीं है। किशोरावस्था की उम्र के बच्चों के मनोभावों को समझकर उनके साथ किस प्रकार का व्यवहार किया जाए इसका ज्ञान, समझ, दक्षता, धैर्य और इसमें लगने वाले समय सभी कुछ की हम में भारी कमी है। समाज में तथाकथित इज्जत के भार के कारण हम किसी की मदद भी नहीं लेना चाहते हैं। मदद भी किनसे ली जाए? जिनके पास खुद इन समस्याओं, व्यवहारों की समझ नहीं है! ऐसे में पुरुषवादी दम्भ भरे राय-मशविरे ही सामने आते हैं। पितृसत्तात्मक दोहरे मानदंड के पोषक समाज में इस प्रकार की घटनाओं की जिम्मेदारी केवल लडकियों की ही मानी जाती है और इज्जत भी केवल लड़की की ही जाती है। ऐसे में तमाम समस्याओं का एक ही हल है समय से पहले शादी- चाहे फिर कम उम्र में माँ बनने, मातृ मृत्यु, कम वजन के शिशुओं का जन्म, कमजोर कुपोषित बच्चे, घरेलू हिंसा, विवाह का टूट जाना, ऐसे विवाह से जन्मे बच्चों के पालन-पोषण की जिम्मेदारी नहीं उठाना, आदि भयंकर परिणामों से ही क्यों ना जूझना पड़े।

बाल विवाह के मुद्दे पर जब भी चर्चा होती है तो सहज ही लड़की का चित्र आँखों के सामने उभर आता है जबकि बाल विवाह की पीड़ा सिर्फ लड़कियां ही नहीं झेल रही हैं। लड़के भी कम पीड़ित नही हैं। हाशिये पर जीने वाले समुदायों के लड़कों में दाढ़ी मूंछ की हल्की रेखा दिखने के साथ ही उनके विवाह कि तैयारी शुरू होने लगती है। यदि एक दो वर्ष अधिक हो जाए तो इसका अर्थ लड़के में कोई दोष है, ऐसे सवाल उठने शुरू हो जातें हैं। नादान कच्ची समझ की उम्र में आजीविका कमाने, गृहस्थी संचालित करने, परिवार बसाने का भार अपरिपक्व कंधों पर डालकर घर के बड़े अपनी जिम्मेदारी से मुक्त हो जाना चाहते हैं। नाबालिग उम्र में इन सारी जिम्मेदारियों को निभाने के साथ-साथ एक दूसरे के मनोभावों को समझना बाल दम्पति के लिए बहुत ही कठिन होता है। ऐसे में देखने में यह आता है कि कुछ विवाह तो परिवार के हस्तक्षेप से गिरते पड़ते सम्भलते हैं, कुछ विभिन्न प्रकार की चुनौतियों से जूझते हुए किसी तरह धक्का मारते हुए जीवन निर्वहन करते हैं। वहीं कई विवाह बाल विवाह की त्रासदी से टूट भी जाते हैं। कुल मिलाकर बाल विवाह का प्रभाव न केवल बाल दम्पति झेलते है बल्कि ऐसे विवाह से जन्म लेने वाले बच्चों पर भी बहुत असर पड़ता है।

बाल विवाह के अंत के लिए हमें जरूरत है उन कारणों की गम्भीरता से पड़ताल करने की जिन कारणों से आज भी कई जातियां अपने बच्चों की उनके नादान उम्र में शादी करने को विवश हैं। जरूरत है उन तमाम चुनौतियों और समस्याओं के समाधान की जिनके कारण बच्चों पर उनके बचपन में ही परिवार बसाने और अगली पीढ़ी बनाने की जिम्मेदारी डाल दी जाती है- एक ऐसी जिम्मेदारी जिसके लिए वे शारीरिक या मानसिक रूप से तैयार नहीं हैं।

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श्रुति नागवंशी बनारस स्थित चर्चित सामाजिक कार्यकर्ता हैं, वॉयस ऑफ पीपल की संयोजक हैं और PVCHR की प्रबंध न्यासी हैं।