Documentaries

This film is about dabbawallas in the Mumbai with 20 million people, where 5000 Dabbawalas deliver each day 200,000 lunches - homemade cooking for Indian employees. The lunch containers, called tiffin-boxes, get handled by dozens of hands and travel many kilometres; by bike, by handcart, by train, afoot or on heads. The Dabbawalas' system is as good as faultless - no monsoon, no traffic chaos stops them to deliver on time. It is a logistic masterpiece which Forbes Global Magazine awarded with the Six Sigma for quality. This film was awarded the 2008 'Deutscher Wirtschaftsfilmprei s' (German Economic Film Award) in the category 'Films on Economy'.

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To Corbett With Love

English - 24 Minutes

Filmed and directed by Dr. Susan Sharma.

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This 24 minute video was exclusively shot in Corbett Park and portrays the park's magnificent forests with their rich flora and fauna which attract more than 48,000 tourists annually. The film looks at the conversion of Jim Corbett, the Nainital- born Britisher who founded the National Park, from hunter to protector of wildlife. In the film you can meet Subedar Ali, the mahout who survived a tiger attack, spent a year in hospital and then came back to work in Corbett Park as a mahout, taking photographers and tourists for jungle trips. The film is a tribute to the silent protectors of the tiger. Contact: Mr Raj Pal Singh,Network Services and Supporter Relations, World Wide Fund for Nature-India, Pirojsha Godrej National Conservation Centre, 172 B, Lodi Estate, New Delhi, 110003 .Tel: 41504815-19/ 41504808 E-mail: rbakshi@wwfindia.net.

            SAATHI reference library has books, journals and audio-visual material on Sexuality, Gender, Sexual Health, Human Rights, HIV/AIDS and related development issues. Open – Monday to Friday 3 to 7 p.m. Our full updated catalogue can be accessed at http://saathii.org/gensex/ calcutta/library.html For any enquiry please call at 033- 2337 9880 or write to us at    saathiihelpline@ rediffmail.com

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Spanish Periodical Carries Story About Saathi's Work (April, 2010)

I n 2009, William Fogg of NonFiction Photography contacted Saathi for a multimedia documentary he wanted to do. Saathi assisted him in reaching out to the youths with whom we work so that he could collect their stories and images and raise awareness about the situation of youths living on the streets of Mumbai.

His piece, titled "Los Ninos de la calle de Bombay" (The Street Children of Bombay), complete with beautiful B&W images and video, has been published on periodismohumano

            The video at periodismohumano is recorded in Hindi with Spanish and English subtitles.

For those who would like to read the article but don't know Spanish, a general translation to English can be found here.Documentaries

This film is about dabbawallas in the Mumbai with 20 million people, where 5000 Dabbawalas deliver each day 200,000 lunches - homemade cooking for Indian employees. The lunch containers, called tiffin-boxes, get handled by dozens of hands and travel many kilometres; by bike, by handcart, by train, afoot or on heads. The Dabbawalas' system is as good as faultless - no monsoon, no traffic chaos stops them to deliver on time. It is a logistic masterpiece which Forbes Global Magazine awarded with the Six Sigma for quality. This film was awarded the 2008 'Deutscher Wirtschaftsfilmprei s' (German Economic Film Award) in the category 'Films on Economy'.

* * * *

To Corbett With Love

English - 24 Minutes

Filmed and directed by Dr. Susan Sharma.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This 24 minute video was exclusively shot in Corbett Park and portrays the park's magnificent forests with their rich flora and fauna which attract more than 48,000 tourists annually. The film looks at the conversion of Jim Corbett, the Nainital- born Britisher who founded the National Park, from hunter to protector of wildlife. In the film you can meet Subedar Ali, the mahout who survived a tiger attack, spent a year in hospital and then came back to work in Corbett Park as a mahout, taking photographers and tourists for jungle trips. The film is a tribute to the silent protectors of the tiger. Contact: Mr Raj Pal Singh,Network Services and Supporter Relations, World Wide Fund for Nature-India, Pirojsha Godrej National Conservation Centre, 172 B, Lodi Estate, New Delhi, 110003 .Tel: 41504815-19/ 41504808 E-mail: rbakshi@wwfindia.net.

            SAATHI reference library has books, journals and audio-visual material on Sexuality, Gender, Sexual Health, Human Rights, HIV/AIDS and related development issues. Open – Monday to Friday 3 to 7 p.m. Our full updated catalogue can be accessed at http://saathii.org/gensex/ calcutta/library.html For any enquiry please call at 033- 2337 9880 or write to us at    saathiihelpline@ rediffmail.com

* * * *

Spanish Periodical Carries Story About Saathi's Work (April, 2010)

I n 2009, William Fogg of NonFiction Photography contacted Saathi for a multimedia documentary he wanted to do. Saathi assisted him in reaching out to the youths with whom we work so that he could collect their stories and images and raise awareness about the situation of youths living on the streets of Mumbai.

His piece, titled "Los Ninos de la calle de Bombay" (The Street Children of Bombay), complete with beautiful B&W images and video, has been published on periodismohumano

            The video at periodismohumano is recorded in Hindi with Spanish and English subtitles.

For those who would like to read the article but don't know Spanish, a general translation to English can be found here.

Terror in the Minds

-Marie Martinho Nympha M.Sc, M.S.W

           

            Today's fast moving globalize world with advanced science and technology has failed to break the iceberg in man's mind regarding cancer. It is so unfortunate that even the elite educated group has failed to understand that cancer is a non-communicable disease. The myth and stigma attached to it have unchanged in the long run of a civilized society.

Working with people with cancer brings in lots of day-to-day incidents, which are shocking and inhuman. For example Mrs Latha (name changed) was diagnosed as suffering from Osteosarcoma. She was on Chemotherapy and was planned for limb salvage surgery but unfortunately the client defaulted from the treatment. On probing it was discovered that the reason for default was her high hopes for quick recovery, short duration of treatment, false assurance from people with inadequate knowledge and wrong advices had compelled her to drift towards quakes. Eventually the client returned to the hospital with extensive progressive disease. By then she was in palliative stage. During this period her spouse was employed as a security guard for a well to do educated family and they had the privilege of an outer house. But on learning about the disease of his wife, they refused to lodge this family any more and were bent upon making them vacate. His employment was also threatened if they did not succumb to vacating.

            Like Mrs Latha, a number of persons with cancer and their families have lost their homes or have failed to find a rented home. The stigma is rampant in the society despite creating awareness that it is a non-communicable disease. There are also instances wherein the joint families have broken because of the disease. The family members segregate the utensils, there are times when they even refuse to give water, eat with them or even touch them. They fear and fail to clean the wounds at home despite training them resulting in foul smell and studded with maggots.

            Family fails to attend to the needs of the patient on one hand and on the other refuse to house them in a hospice fearing that the society would label them for not caring for the patient. Most often the very word hospice means “death” to them. They inquire, “Are you referring our patient to the hospice to die?” despite counseling about palliative care and the need for it.

            The word cancer strikes terror in the minds of the people. Subsequently they fail to seek early treatment, eventually landing in the III and IV stage of the disease. The myths and stigma attached to the disease needs to be wiped out from the minds of our people.

            People refuse to disclose the disease fearing that they would be distanced from the society. I have come across people with cancer deserted by their families and some people had said that they were not allowed to wash clothes in public wash places as one of the family members had the disease.

            Since the past, volumes have been spoken about the stigma attached to the disease and some have tried to eradicate it but in vain.

            Social workers have to untiringly work against this menace by creating awareness reaching each and every gully of the country. There are thousands of families who are victims of this. The disease is exploding which is clear from a press release, quote, “Cancer is a major burden of disease worldwide. Each year, tens of millions of people are diagnosed with cancer around the world, and more than half of the patients eventually die from it. In many countries, cancer ranks the second most common cause of death following cardiovascular diseases. With significant improvement in treatment and prevention of cardiovascular diseases, cancer has or will soon become the number one killer in many parts of the world. As elderly people are most susceptible to cancer and population aging continues in many countries, cancer will remain a major health problem around the globe, (Xiaomei Ma etal, 2006)”. The work done in the field is inadequate to combat the menace. It could be owing to lack of funds or due to high importance rendered to people living with HIV/AIDS.

            To conclude I would like to highlight another incident, in Bangalore, Urban a person was found infested with maggots on the local site of the disease, untreated and the family approached the hospital, only to clarify that they would not contract the disease but with little intention to impart palliative care to the patient despite the professionals offering free home visits.

            So as social workers let us ponder how we could reach out to these people who are crippled by the disease and the society. The disease is like getting burnt in the frying pan and the society is like the fire licking them alive. Can we extinguish this fire? Are we well equipped for it?

            These patients and their families have already broken their backs from the burden of physical problems (pain, nausea, vomiting, neutropaenia, etc, eve care givers suffer from cramps, leg pain, diarrhea because of stress, etc.), Psychological problems (anxiety, anger, fear, isolation, loneliness, depression, sadness, stress, etc), Social problems (stigma, desertion from family friends, lack socialization, unemployment, poverty, disfigurement, etc), Financial problems (lack of funds for treatment, loss of employment, loss of income)  and Spiritual problems (does God exist, meaning of live, theory of Karma, why me?).

            As social workers how far have we tried to reach out to them? Where are we as Medical social workers in the 21st century? Are we able to organize camps and facilitate early treatment? Are we able to lead the team or at least make our presence felt like in the West? We need to rise, toil ceaselessly to create a strong footage.

Marie Martinho Nympha,

M.Sc, M.S.W

Medical Social Worker

Vydehi institute of Oncology

White Field, Bangalore

Social Work Myths

Myth 1: Anyone who has a kind heart can be a social worker.

Fact: Social workers are highly skilled professionals who have a university degree in social work at the bachelor's, master's or doctoral level.

Myth 2: Social workers work only with people who are "down on their luck".

Fact:  Social workers provide services to people from all age groups and from all social and economic backgrounds.

Myth 3:  Social workers are bleeding hearts.

Fact: Social workers believe that many factors affect the health and well-being of individuals and communities. In fact, a growing body of research supports the conclusion that the roots of health and well-being can be found in such factors as access to: early childhood education and care; education and literacy; employment and working conditions; income and its distribution; housing; social inclusion; etc

Myth 4: A career in social work means you will end up dispensing welfare cheques.

Fact: Social workers rarely work in welfare agencies, however social workers sometimes have clients who, for various reasons, receive welfare payments.

Myth 5: Social workers take your kids away.

Fact: Social workers are dedicated to strengthening families in the interests of creating safe, nurturing environments in which children can grow and develop. When there is reason to believe that a child is being harmed and in need of protection, social workers in all areas of practice, like all other professionals, are obligated, under provincial legislation, to report their concerns to the proper authorities. Social workers who are employed by Children's Aid Societies have as the exclusive focus of their work the protection of children, as mandated by provincial legislation

Myth 6: Social workers are "do-gooders" who meddle in people's lives.

Fact: Social workers are highly skilled professionals who help people resolve problems that affect their daily lives. The aim of social work practice is to enhance mental health functioning by helping people get the most out of their relationships, work and community life.

Myth 7: For psychotherapy or other mental health services, you need to see a psychologist or psychiatrist.

Fact: Social workers are the largest group of practitioners providing psychotherapy and other mental health services. In fact, social workers are often the only mental health care providers in many rural and remote communities. Social work is unique among the helping professions because it looks at people's problems within the context of their families, workplace and communities and considers the connection between personal problems and larger social issues.

Myth 8: Social work an Alm-giving activity.

Fact:  Alms-giving is not social work because the aim of help in social work is to solve client's problems scientifically. Social worker attempts to regenerate self-confidence and self-dependency. Causative factors are investigated and diagnosis is confirmed. Later on therapeutic models are pushed into service.

Myths 9: Shramadan as a Social Work

Fact: Voluntarily to provide physical  help to any individual, group or community is known as Shramdan. Here in social work social worker with his professional skills promote the voluntary  actions among the peoples of the particular community to overcome their community Problems.

Myths 10: Work in Voluntary Welfare Agencies is a Social Work

Fact: The Service rendered by the voluntary welfare agencies  based on scientific knowledge and values of professional social work is called social work.

"The heart is always right-- if there's a question of choosing between the mind and the heart-- because mind is a creation of the society. It has been educated. You have been given it by the society, not by existence. The heart is unpolluted".

-Osho

SOCIAL WORK COMPETENCIES

Dr. K. G.PARASHURAMA,     

The professional social work education and the student social workers are familiar with the paradigmatic shift in the organization. We desire that social workers to be competent to offer quality services to the needy and participate in bringing about structural changes so as to meet the challenges known us during the modern times, and in the light of changing ideologies. We have to deliberate on the requirements for improving the quality and competency of the social work professionals.

            We have seen that to practice social work effectively, one must be able to provide a variety of helping services. The social worker not only must be able to work directly with a client or clients, but also must be prepared to understand and work to change the environment of these clients. The social worker must be competent in knowledge, values, and skills to help clients resolve a broad range of existing or potential problems in social functioning.

            What are the basic competencies that are fundamental to social work practice?

            Depending on the particular job a social worker occupies, the type of agency, client capabilities, problems being addressed, and resources available, the social worker will need to have differing competencies. With a generalist perspective and a gamut of helping techniques, the social worker is prepared to begin most social work jobs. As one becomes experienced and jobs become more specialized, additional skills may be required.

            As social work gradually has reached greater consensus regarding how it should be defined, it has become possible to be more precise about the competencies required to fulfill that role. Throughout social work's recent history several efforts have been made to identify the critical tasks performed by social workers. The primary limitation of these approaches was their reliance on experts to describe what social workers do in their daily practice. Too often these descriptions were more assertions about what social workers should be doing than factual statements of what tasks social workers actually perform. NASW conducted a project designed to address its concern that many human service agencies were reducing the professional education requirements for many social work jobs and, therefore, reclassifying them to lower level positions. In an effort to establish a method to determine if there is a valid relationship between the content of professional education programs and social work practice activities, the NASW Classification Validation Project constructed a "job analysis" approach for studying social work practice that yields important empirical data about the activities of social work practitioners.

            Several studies have been completed in which the job-analysis methodology has been used. One such study using this methodology yielded the following sixteen clusters of practice activity as performed by social workers in both governmental (public) and voluntary (private) social agencies:

1.      Formal Intervention with Individual Clients. Use specific assessment or intervention

techniques to provide support, improve client functioning.

2.      Ongoing Case Management for Specific Clients. Organize work and make arrangements for carrying out an ongoing plan of services for a specific clent.

3.      Teaching of Adaptive and Daily Living Skills. Give informal instruction to help clients, volunteers, and agency personnel acquire adaptive skills for daily living.

4.      Linking Clients to Resources.

5.      Resource Assessment and Aggressive Client Brokering Identify service providers.

6.      Initiation and Adjustment of Service Plan. Carry out activities for individual or multiple clients, to develop a service plan (at intake) or change it at strategic points.

7.      Assessment of the Need for Protective Services.

8.      Arrangement of Specific Services for Clients.

9.      Formal Intervention with Groups. Use formal interventive techniques with groups in order to teach skills in group participation to group members or to improve social functioning by taking part in the group process.

10.  Self Development/Information Transmission. Engage in activities designed to develop self-awareness with regard to one's knowledge, skills, and values as such self-awareness relates to improvement in job functioning. Keep, current by reading various materials, attending workshops, and exchanging various types of information.

11.  Quality Assurance Monitoring. Communicate organizational performance expectations in order to insure compliance with organizational standards.

12.  Staff Management. Clarify job duties and agency rules, establish work schedules, and assign cases and other responsibilities to staff members.

13.  Internal Paper Flow. Fill out and/or sign vouchers, requisitions, or standard data collection forms

14.  Ongoing Program/Unit Administration. Perform tasks associated with day to day operation of a program or administrative unit. Activities include budgeting, monitoring, and documentation of expenditures, keeping track of supplies and inventory, monitoring the status of buildings and equipment, and summarizing information about staff.

15.  Management of Organizational Change/External Relations.

16.  Program Planning / Design/Evaluation. Assess the need for new services, establish program goals, design programs, plan service delivery mechanisms, secure support and resources, prepare staff, and evaluate program differences.

Analysis of rankings of the importance of each of these sixteen clusters of practice tasks indicated that persons engaged in direct service jobs were most likely to engage in the activities described in clusters 1-9 while those in supervisory or administrative jobs were likely to find clusters 11-16 most important in their work. All workers were somewhat evenly involved in cluster 10, Self Development/Information' Transmission. It is evident from these data that social workers have varied jobs that require competence to perform many tasks. It takes rigorous professional education to master the necessary competencies to enter social work practice prepared to provide the services required by persons in need.

To prepare a competent social worker following Suggestions are given to the academic institutions:

1.                  The academic syllabus for the social work students needs a revision.  Along with the theoretical aspects, greater time shall be reserved for skill development aspects. 

2.                  The language skill though a technical skill, is also the part of communication skill.  Especially, the English language being a problem for the rural social work students, Schools of social work are called for taking initiatives to conduct the language courses with emphasis to English Language.

3.                  The social exposure is lacking especially in the rural areas.  Academic institutions are recommended to maximize the social exposure.

4.                  The managerial and leadership skills can be cultivated only through the process of trainings. The skill development programmes are to be the part of academic education so that the learners are able to relate the theoretical aspects to the present day situation.

5.                  The parents of the learners and the management of the academic institutions are to be kept informed about the needs and requirements of the present day organization and secure their cooperation and support for the overall well being of the individual social worker and society as a whole.

6.                  The academic institutions should take initiatives to remind the corporate social responsibility and keep in touch with the social/business units that operate in the mainstream of the society for student benefits.

Dr. K. G.PARASHURAMA,

Associate Professor and Head,

Department of P.G.Studies and Research in Social Work,

Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara College,

Ujire- 574240, Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka, India

CAPART

(Council for Advancement of People`s Action and Rural Technology)

The voluntary sector in India has played a major role in rural development, through mobilising  communities and catalysing people`s initiatives for change, as well as through direct implementation of interventions around specific issues.

            Formal recognition of the role of voluntary organisations in the Seventh  Plan documentled to the formation of the Council for Advancement of People`s Action and Rural Technology (CAPART) in 1986, as a nodal agency for catalysing and coordinating the emerging partnership between voluntary organisations and Government for sustainable development of rural areas.

            CAPART was formed by amalgamating two agencies the ‘Council for Advancement of Rural Technology’(CART) and ‘People`s Action for Development India’ (PAD). CAPART is an autonomous body registered under the Societies Registration Act 1860, and is functioning under the agencies of the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India. Today, this agency is a major promoter of rural development in India, assisting over12,000 voluntary organizations across the country in implementing a wide range of development initiatives. 

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

            1. VOs should have been registered under the Socities Registratoin Act, 1860 or a State amendment thereof or the Indian Trust Act, 1882 or the Religious and Charitable.

            2. Institutions Registration Act, 1920 

            3.VOs should have complete 3 years from the date of registration on the date of application field with CAPART.

            4. VOs should have a bank or post office account for atleast three years preceding the date of filing of application to CAPART for funding.

            5. Rural development should be one of the objectives in the Memorandum of Association of the VOs.

            6. VOs should be working with beneficiaries in rural areas even if the VOs headquarters is located in an urban area.

            7. The area of operation of the VOs must be rural, meaning thereby a village included within the jurisdiction of a gram panchayat. Areas included the limits of Municiple Corporations, Municipalities, Notified Area Committees and Town Panchayats will not be considered as rural areas.

            8.  VOs should comply with the requirement of Income-Tax Department (PAN,12A) or should have atleast applied for the same.

            9.  The organization should be broad based and represntative in character. The members of the Executive Body/ Managing Committee of the organization should not be related to each other or belong to the same family. There may be maximum two relatives/family members in the Governing/Managing/Executive committee of the organisation. But only one of them could be co-signatory of the bank account operations.

            10.VOs should not have been put on the CAPART`s list of organizations to which funding has been cancelled or suspended for acts of omission and commission.

            11. Members of the sanctioning committees of CAPART, namely, Executives committee.National Standing Committee/ Regional Committee or their family members and /or relatives should not be the office bearers of the VOs seeking assistence from CAPART

            12.There should not be more than three ongoing projects under implementation by the VO with funding by CAPART on the date of application field with CAPART.

DOCUMENTS TO BE SUBMITTED ALONG WITH THE PROPOSAL (COPIES SHOULD BE ATTESTED BY A GAZETTED OFFICER)

            1. Registration certificate ( authenticity of the registration certificate in case of amendments ,if any, subsequent to the registration of the VO.)

            2. Bye-laws of the VO ( authenticity of thebye-laws in case of amendments ,if any, subsequent to theframing of bye-laws)

            3. Latest composition of the Managing committee/ Executive Body indicating the authenticity from the registration authorities.

            4. Annual Report of the VO for the last three years .

            5. Audited accounts, viz., Reciept and Payment Accounts , Income and Expenditure Account and Balance Sheet along with Auditor`s certificate and report for the last three years.

            6. Documents relating to PAN number and exemption order under 12A obtained from Income-tax Department or request letters sent to Income -Tax Authorities for obtaining these documents.

            7. Bank/Post office pass book reflecting the transactions for the last three years.

            8. Certificate from the Bank Manager/Post Master stating that the account operative for the three years.

            9. The project proposal should be forwarded to CAPART accompanied by a resolution of the organisation duly signed by the sitting members of the Executive Body /Managing Committee of the VO. The photographs of all the sitting members of the Committee duly self-attested by the members with their complete, latest addresses should be mentioned in the resolution.

            10. Other documents relevant to specific project proposal i.e. land pattas in respects of housing, land development programmes, NOC/permission from the owners of the common property, etc should accompany the proposal.

            11. Certificate that the concerned project has not received, is not receiving and will not receive or apply for receiving any funding, either completely or partially, from any other Governmental, non- governmental, international or any other agency , for the same project covering the samebeneficiaries.

GUIDELINES

            CAPART gives priority to voluntary organisations with a good track record and proven competence in community mobilisation empowerment  of dis advantaged groups.

            Organisations accessing CAPART support for the first time are required to submit their proposals only directly to concerned regional Committees.

            Projects proposals must be submitted in the proper format ( included in each of the scheme guidelines) and must be accompanied by a complete organisation profile in the appropriate format ( also included in the scheme guidelines) .

CAPART Headquarter

 Council for Advancement of People`s Action and Rural Technology(CAPART) India Habitat Centre, Zone-V-A, 2nd Floor Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110003

Phone No: 91-11-2464 8607, 2464 2393, 2464 2395

Fax: 91-11-2464 8607, 24625822

email: capart@capartq.delhi.nic.in

Website: http://capart.nic.in/

Dharwad:

Shri Shashi Mohan, Regional representative and Mamber Convenor Regional committee, CAPART

No.304 “Indira Niwas” , Bharti Nagar, 3rd Main Road Dasanakoppa Circle, District Dharwad, (Karnataka) 580001

Phone: 0836-2770764

Fax: 0836-2110810

email: capartrcdwd@rediffmail.com,

smohan@capart.nic.in

REGIONAL COMMITTEES:- Ahmedabad: Bhubaneshwar: Chandigarh: Dharwad: Guwahati: Hyderabad: Jaipur: Lucknow: Patna:

Desmond, Deeds and Democracy

Desmond, Deeds and Democracy

-Umashanker Periodi

Being with Desmond was a nice feeling, it was fun and I learnt a lot of thing both for my professional and personal life. Many things that he shared did not make meaning when I was with him. But later the meanings Unfolded and fell into the context. He was great because he was simple and practiced what he preached. My take away from Desmond is plenty and priceless. In different context and with different people I have enjoyed sharing my interaction with Desmond; here in this context I would like to share the following.

Democratic Process:

            Desmond was a hard core democrat. He believed in democracy and he preached democracy. The difference is that he has not only preached but practiced it in his life and in the management of Deeds. Deeds weekly meeting was a structured democratic SPACE for the meeting of the staff. It was here that we would report of the work done in the week, future plan for the next week and then there was a space for the open discussion. The power of the space was that you could question anybody and everybody including Desmond. In this space you were heard. Your idea could be anything but you had the right to be heard. I have seen many times when Desmond would disagree with what you say but fight for your right to express your thoughts in public. This is some thing I feel what he was able to prove in his weekly meetings.  In these meetings he was successful in creating a space which is devoid or hierarchy and transparent.

            Looking back I feel that Desmond believed very strongly in innate the dignity of human beings and then from this emerged his strong belief in democracy. It is this concept that I have taken from Desmond. I have benefited a lot form this take away. Today, when I am dealing the programs of huge scale. I make it a point to religiously have meetings of all the people involved to share and end engage themselves. I call them review meetings. In Deeds we used to have these  meetings for a small group of eight. But now, we have a group of fifty. I did experiment with having regular meetings for more than 100 people. I have heard people complaining  that  democracy  will not work when the number is huge. But my experience is that with meticulous planning and detailed preparation you can have the democratic space for any numbers and this will elicit a lot of respect for you.

            Preparation, Preparation and Preparation:

            “What are the most crucial aspects for a success of training program”? This is the question Desmond asked me in the initial days of my joining Deeds. I listed out many crucial aspects of training like concept, method, materials, atmosphere etc. Desmond looked at the list and with his usual style looked at me. I new from his face that I had not got the answer right. I waited for his answer. He said “No.1 preparation.” I was curious to know the second one. After some time he said “No.2 preparation” and paused a little, I was guessing  and he said “No. 3 PREPARATION!. He not only said that but this is how he used to prepare for his trainings. Once the training dates are confirmed he would concentrate on the preparation. His strength was collecting relevant and new material. He would collect them from all types of sources. Those were days when we had no computers and network.

            But Desmond had his own networks to collect information. He was using the print media and radio very creatively. He would find out and identify relevant program from the BBC and listen to it in the middle of the night.  With the collection of the materials, he would focus on the design of the training and in a log book design the entire training program session by session. Details of minute by minute planning would be neatly written by him. In my long association with Desmond, I have never seen him even once going to a lecturer without preparation. Even if it is a small crowd, the topic insignificant, organizers not serious, Desmod would be serious! It is Desmond who gave me the funda that your preparation time should be four times of your performance. So for a one hour lecture he will sit and prepare for minimum four hours without any distraction.

            This funda of Desmond I have taken seriously. It is this preparation which has helped me a lot. Now when I get offer for training programs which is new and huge,  I always think of Desmond. I collect enough materials on the topic then I  focus on preparation. In fact I know that if people like my training it is not because of the magic I do or my superior intelligence. It is simply because I do more preparation.

Documentation:

            The first training program that Desmond and  Margaret conducted was very well documented. Most of the learning comes from this document.  revisiting it, re looking at it, re designing it and re building on it. The same document evolved in to the famous Training manual. “From a Developmental worker to an activist”. Desmond was very particular about the Documentation. That's why I feel that the older minutes of weekly meeting  of Deeds can be accessed even today. Desmond had very interesting way of helping people document. Whenever we shared with him some new thoughts and interesting ideas he would give a piece of paper and say “write it down for me I will look at it later”. After a few days when we have forgotten about it, It was  Desmond who came to us  with that same piece of paper and asked us to elaborate on it.

            While conducting the training program he would ask us compulsory to write the process in detail. I was irritated since I was not confident of my English. His concept was very clear he would force me to write immediately after the training program and after few days give it back to me with his comments on the report. The comments would never be judgmental. It would be of higher order asking for clarification, questioning some statement, asking for evidences to substantiate few statements. To correct the language, he would have a single thumb rule “READ IT LOUDLY”. He would say”” If it is smooth and sounds right for your ears, it is fine, if there is a jerk and  distracts you , the sentence needs correction do it  immediately and repeat the process!””

            This rule has helped me a lot while writing. I followed Desmond's dictum of setting high standard for the journals and magazines that I have edited. He would always say you should have the courage and guts to dream. When ever I complained of writing  to Desmond he would say “ Uma you speak very well why not write as if you are speaking to me” It is only later that I was able to comprehend  what Desmond was speaking was based on authentic theory of learning and language learning.

Integrity:

            I think it was my third month in Deeds. I was in -charge of training programme and was handling the cash. At the end when I wrote my expenditure statement things would not tally. There was a deficit of some one hundred and fifty rupees. I submitted the statement to Fransis our accountant and looking at the statement he said speak to Desmond. I knew that Desmond was a nice person and I was sure that he would accept the statement and give me some advice to improve my accounts.        

            Looking at the statement suddenly Desmond became serious and angry. Before I could say any thing he gave his decision “pay the deficit amount immediately'' this was shocking for me. I had not expected it from Desmond. Any how I paid it. A week later Desmond spoke to me and said there should be no compromise on integrity. You have to be very strict and uncompromising on this issue, you have a responsibility and you are answerable to people's resources. It was Desmond who strengthened this value of integrity in me. He would never give in. This value of     his sometimes would land him in trouble and disadvantage position but his stand was always clear. No compromise on integrity. This uncompromising integrity has stood by me in all my major assignments where I had to deal with crores of rupees. I still remember the 150 rupees I had to pay Desmond for not keeping the accounts.”

Little things matter:

            For all of us Desmond was important. why? Its was after many years that I found out the answer. It was not because Desmond was a great trainer, not because he was a great writer…it was because we were important for him. Each one of us who closely worked with him could feel this” For Desmond I am important” he was concerned about us and had showed that concern. He would find time in his busy schedule to talk about our family, our plans, our apprehensions, our fears and emotions. He had a passion to excel in professional engagement and at the same time he took personal relationship very seriously. His relationships were very intense and deep. I remember when he invited us on Christmas day the invitation  was so powerful and intense  that even now we keep visiting Desmonds house without fail on Christmas Day. It was nice to see him cook special dishes for us and bake special cakes for our children and treat us with love and care. For him each one of us  and every thing was important. Things which appeared silly for others were serious and important  for him. He would understand what a small child needs in the midst of a huge crowd and cater to that child. The best part of the Desmond was his out look towards life. He would say when ever you get in to the process of change  the path is full of hurdles. Don't worry and don't panic ask your consciousness if it says you are right do not worry even if the whole WORLD  is against you, proceed happily, they will follow you later”

Umashanker Periodi

Head, Child Friendly School Initiative,

Azim Premji Foundation, Bangalore

     

PAPER PRESENTED IN THE WORKSHOP IN MEMORY OF DESMOND IN MANGALORE.

Glossary

'Professional Self' (ವೃತ್ತಿಸ್ವತ್ವ)

Professional self is a two different word "Profession" and "self"

The word 'Profession' is derived from the Latin word "Profess" which means to take decision on a particular idea and stick on it.

Self means Ego, Person as a whole.

In general we use the terminology 'Professional self' with the statement saying people could have their professional self in their work place and return home at the end of the day with their personal self. Again next morning they could back to their professional 'self' and perhaps put the personal self  back into a cupboard and this was to lie their till they were ready to pick it up and leave the agency after their working hours. In the practice of social work professional self has a special position as compared to other practice of social work professional self has a special position as compared to other professions.

Professional self is an aspect of  one's Personality. So Professional self that is professional me or professional personality with the growing awareness of professional social work finds innate dignity in other human beings and deals with them due regard and consideration.

Catharsis (ಭೇದಿ ವಿರೇಚನ: ತೀವ್ರ ಭಾವದಿಂದಾಗುವ ಮನಶ್ಶುದ್ಧಿ)

Catharsis is the most oftenly used technical term by the Psychiatrists and Social Wrokers while handling individuals problems.

The term Catharsis means the process of “descharging built up aggressive” energy means it is a process of  releasing strong emotions through a particular activity or experience such as writing or verbal interactions which helps you to understand those emotions. This accompanies with post traumatic events in order to bring them to resolution.

It assumes the past traumatic events and the feelings engendered by them have not been resolved and that unresolved emotions are affecting current behaviour, thoughts or feelings.

This will be used as most prioritised technique in all the models and approaches of social work specialy in Crisis Intervention Model Of Social Case Work.

ಸೆರೆಬ್ರಲ್ ಪಾಲ್ಸಿ

            ಮಿದುಳಿನ ಅಪಕ್ವ ಬೆಳವಣಿಗೆಯಿಂದ ಪ್ರಮುಖವಾಗಿ ಸ್ನಾಯುಗಳ ಸಮನ್ವಯತೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಮತ್ತು ನಿಯಂತ್ರಣದಲ್ಲುಂಟಾಗುವ ತೊಂದರೆಯನ್ನು 'ಸರೆಬ್ರಲ್ ಪಾಲ್ಸಿ' ಎಂದು ಕರೆಯಲಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಹುಟ್ಟಿದಾಕ್ಷಣವೇ ಈ ಸ್ಥಿತಿಯಿದ್ದು ಜೀವನ ಪರ್ಯಂತ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಯನ್ನು ಅಸಮರ್ಥನನ್ನಾಗಿ ಮಾಡುತ್ತದೆ. ಮಿದುಳು ನಿಯಂತ್ರಣ ಮಾಡಲು ಅಶಕ್ತವಾಗಿರುತ್ತದೆ. 

ಆಟಿಸಂ

            ಬೆಳವಣಿಗೆಯ ರೋಗಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಅತಿ ಪ್ರಮುಖವಾಗಿ ಮಾತು ಮತ್ತು ಭಾಷಾ ಬೆಳವಣಿಗೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ನ್ಯೂನತೆಯಿರುವ ರೋಗವೆಂದರೆ 'ಆಟಿಸಂ'. ಈ ರೋಗದ ಪ್ರಮುಖ ಲಕ್ಷಣಗಳೆಂದರೆ ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ ಸಂಬಂಧಗಳ ಬೆಳವಣಿಗೆ ಅಸಮರ್ಪಕವಾಗಿರುವುದು, ಸಂವಹನ ಕ್ರಿಯೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ದೋಷವಿರುವುದು, ಮತ್ತು ಏಕರೂಪದ ಪುನರಾವರ್ತೀತ ವರ್ತನೆಗಳು. ಈ ಲಕ್ಷಣಗಳು ಸುಮಾರು ಮೂರು ವರ್ಷದ ಮೊದಲೇ ಕಾಣಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲು ಪ್ರಾರಂಭವಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಇವರ ಪೂರ್ವಬಾಲ್ಯಾವಧಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಇತರ ಬೆಳವಣಿಗೆಗಳು ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯವಾಗಿದ್ದು, ಕ್ರಮೇಣ ಈ ಲಕ್ಷಣಗಳು ಬೆಳವಣಿಗೆಯಾಗುತ್ತವೆ. 

Reconstructing Communities

With the People

5 mins, English, 2006,

Directed by K.P. Jayasankar

A moving statement from Baba Amte upon the conferment of Doctor of Literature, honoris causa by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences in a remarkable life spanning 92 years, Baba Amte has fought for forgotten causes, given voice to the voiceless and bought hope to thousands…

“Work with the people and not for the people” - Baba Amte

Reconstructing Communities

52 mins, Part I &II, English, 2002

Directed by K.P. Jayasankar and Anjali Monteiro

On September 30, 1993, an earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale devastated 67 villages in the Latur and Osmanabad districts of Maharashtra, India. The death toll exceeded 8000 and over 16,000 were injured. This video critically explores the possibilities and limitations of community participation, in the 52 villages that were relocated, under the aegis of the Maharashtra Earthquake Emergency Rehabilitation Programme (MEERP). This World Bank funded project, implemented between 1993 and 1998, focused on housing, infrastructure, social, economic and community rehabilitation and the preparation of a Disaster Management Plan. It had community participation as a key modality. Tata Institute of Social Sciences was the community participation consultant, for the villages to be relocated. Through case studies of selected villages, the video examines the processes and dynamics of community participation in a pre-determined, target-driven project, for post-disaster rehabilitation.

TOI Lead India “Tree”

An inspiring documentary  , you can watch in google.

Hold the sky to stand, and walk with the wind in your hands,

Be the front-runner; because when you walk, Hindustan (India) walks with you.

Lend your hand to pull out the Sun in the morning,

Fill your hands with sunlight, and throw it around,

Keep you legs on the horizon, and walk with pride,

Hold the sky to stand, and walk with the wind in your hands,

Be the front-runner; because when you walk, Hindustan (India) walks with you.

Odhni: A Collective Exploration Of Ourselves, Our Bodies

23 mins., English and Hindi versions, 1993

Directed by: K.P. Jayasankar and Anjali Monteiro

Based on a workshop with a group of women on the theme of self-image and sexuality, this video expresses women's perceptions of the relationships of power that impinge on women's bodies and their selves. Through a process of sharing and exploration, the group attempts a critique of the dominant modes of power that are immediate to their lives.

2nd prize, Health and Population category, International Video Festival, Thiruvananthapuram, 1995.