Programmes

Background

In India 80% of the population is depend on the natural resources for their livelihood but these natural resources are degrading due to various reasons and the common people are losing their rights over it. In Natural Resource Management Agriculture constitutes to its major share and about 70% of the population is depend on it and the agro allied activities.

Land Degradation as a Global Problem

Land degradation is a process that leads to reduction the productivity of land for useful purposes and is typically a result of soil erosion, wind erosion, water erosion, soil salinization, water logging, chemical deterioration, or a combination of these factors. Land degradation is a global problem where marginal lands are turned into wastelands and natural ecosystems are destroyed. The immediate causes include deforestation, poor management of water resources, inappropriate land use practices, overuse of chemicals, fertilizers and pesticides, and disposal of domestic and industrial wastes. The underlying driving forces include rapidly increasing population, economic policies that over-exploit natural resources, and rapid and often poorly managed industrial and urban development. The impacts of land degradation are severe on both the human society and ecosystems.

Impact of Globalization, Privatization and Industrialization

• Loss of natural resources
• Impact of Green Revolution
• Political intervention
• Market access only few people

People’s perspective towards Natural resources is depend on

• Rights of the people
• Access on the market
• Decision making
• Equal distribution of resources
• Conservation of natural resources
• People’s involvement
• Food security
• Right for development
• Share in economy

   
Direct intervention in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh states on water conservation and agriculture and livelihood.

Name of the projects as per the states


GOVERNANCE

Democracy, this is defined as for the peoples, by the peoples and of the peoples. In democracy all development initiatives have to be carried out with the consultation and participation of peoples or communities. But in present period it is almost controlled by some handful and influential peoples. The decentralized approach becomes centralized maneuver or the peoples’ oriented approach become persons’ oriented approach. The concept of democracy has deviated far from the original path. It is now become huge challenge to drag the system on the appropriate path and making the system transparent and accountable.

Democratic and people centered Government are two major consequences of the Indian Constitution(1950). It stated in the introductory part that”we the people of India, with the participation of all peoples will develop the Country as socialist, secular and democratic country. This will provide social, economical and political Justices along with equal status and equal opportunities to all peoples”. 57 years have been passed but still we could not be successful to achieve the focused goal.

In the above context the Government effort toward making effective Governance is matter of concern for us. It has been observed the marginalized and underprivileged peoples’ participation in the Governance and decision making are almost low or negligible. In terms of effectiveness and efficacy the performance of local self governance is very weak and fragile. Therefore an effective and focused plan of action is need to be developed to enhance the capacity of the different stakeholders of the Local Self Governance.

Toward the self sustainable governance, in 1992 73rd & 74th amendments(column 9) and 1996 “Tribal self rule” came into existence. Both the rules have given utmost importance to local culture and development process and given additional thrust to expedite the process of development.

For making “equitable society” the rights of the destitute and poor peoples were taken care off by the Organization. In human rights framework the Organiztion has given greatest preference to Human rights followed by the five core values.

Huge chunk of Indian population (80%) are living in villages and Grampanchayats are responsible to look after the development process of the villages. In this context YUVA Rural envisaged that active participation of PO/PI can be a medium to solve the problems of poor and governance related issues. That has motivated the Organization towards the process of social transformation the “Governance and Human Rights” to be given priority and involved in the strategic intervention. YUVA Rural is working in 3 states of Vidarbha of Maharashtra state, Betul district of Madhya Pradesh and Kutchh district of Gujarat state. Some of the issues on which YUVA Rural works are listed below:

•      Gram-Sabha & 73rd amendment
•      Political education, participation and leadership of underprivileged
•      Accountability & transparency
•      Peoples’ participation in decision making and democracy
•      Cooperative
•      Focus on education, shelter, health and employment
•      Participation and contribution in different social & economical processes
•      Political education & capacity building of youths
•      Following government policy and negotiate for change, if required

Gender & Other Forms of Social discrimination

• YUVA (Rural) perceives all human beings equal; every body should get equal opportunity, equal status, and equal rights.
• Lot of discrimination occurs due to sex, caste, religion, and economic, political and social status.
• Women are discriminated on account of economic independence, fundamental rights, low social status, violence and many others.
• Which shows that half the population does not participate in decision-making process?
• Similarly people are discriminated on account of caste and religion because of which unable them to fulfill their basic needs like water, education.
• Society cannot develop if it is based on discrimination. YUVA (Rural) will address on such discrimination and will make efforts to have just and equal society.

Thematic objectives

• To integrate gender perspective into all our existing programme as non- negotiable.
• To develop and implement mass/popular education.
• To develop programme /campaigns to reduce vaw by 30%.
• To evolve people’s initiative at different level as inbuilt mechanism towards controlling vaw.
• To study the social customs and policies promoting vaw.

• To study the loopholes in law and to create advocacy and lobbying mechanisms to bring about the changes.
• To promote women’s equal rights and access over economic resources.      
• To promote direct qualitative participation of women in governance by 50 % .
• To intervene in the areas of areas of social customs, superstitions  and communalism that are the root causes of social discrimination towards change
• Health education and awareness generation including health facilities and health rights. 
  

Our understanding

• Women Oppression- social factor not biological factor
• Occupies subordinate position
• Patriarchy- root of gender inequalities
• Control of men over women labor, resources, sexuality, fertility & mobility
• Gender Justice-integrated approach
• Dismantling patriarchal system & structure
• Focus is not only on women empowerment but  relationship between men and women
• Increased equality for women relative to men
• Discrimination seen on the basis of religion, cast, class etc.

Felt Critical issue to be addressed

• Huge Variance in Male and female ratio
• Physical, Mental and sexual violence
• Sustainable development of society directly associated with sustainable development of men & women
• Social acceptance to discrimination
• 50% population underdeveloped & unsustainable
• Women considered oppressed amongst oppressed

Major Achievements

• Developed gender identity at State & National Level
• Under the gender thematic area linkages are made with diverse alliance Member like NYK, NSS, MAVIM, YWCA, ICDS, PHCs,CASA, MLAs, Govt. Officials, PRI, Police Personnel, Judiciary, NGO & CBO members.
• We Can campaign Maharashtra was selected by funder to give exposure to a team of 13 NOVIB partners came from Netherlands and south Africa.
• Under WE CAN Campaign 40,000 Change Makers have been developed
• Organised state level assembly of 250 star change makers from over all Maharashtra at Sawantwadi.
  
• Regional lead partner and regional campaign facilitators of we Can campaign went to Rajasthan for sharing and learning from the partners as an exposure.
• The Concept clarity of VAW has reached to 1,50,000 peoples in Maharashtra
• Many Private & Government organization started approaching us to learn the various process undergoing under the Gender Programme
• Institutionalization process on MVP has been completed
• MVP members started paying their membership fees for the sustainability purpose.
• MVP boards have been put up in 28 villages.
• Around 66 MVP members contested election, out of those 27 have been elected as PRI members
• Around 200 MVP members have been developing as entrepreneur & started their business
• Advocacy process of DV act has been initiated
• Selected as a Core Member at the State level DV act committee and also playing the role of service provider.
• 250 women atrocity cases handled in BCC
• Altogether 14 legal aid Camp held in collaboration with Judiciary under NALSA.
• 4 entrepreneurship trainings have been imparted to 100 single women beneficiaries under social justice programme in Raper Taluka
• 100 SHGs under NABARD programme initiated in Raper
• Organization building of Paralegals started at State level
• Around 300 women of various SHG have formed Federation in Betul, MP
• Leadership of the Federation also been taken up by the women leader
• 50 Change Makers developed in Betul under WE CAN CAMPAIGN
• The process of  we can campaign initiated at Gujarat  level in 10 talukas and also became the part of steering committee.
• Women entitlement process of joint ownership of land has been carried out in 45 villages & 230 individual cases
• The release of WNTA gender policy has been done on the auspicious occasion of women’s day in 7 regions of Maharashtra

Key Concern

• Political Empowerment of women in PRI & cooperative is essential in MP
• Linking up & addressing the issues of girl’s education, health, child marriage, satha-gatha through we can campaign in MP & Gujrat
• Lacking the capacities of research and documentation among team.
• Involving media is challenging
• Breaking misconceptions & Myths   against women.
• Balancing the qualitative and quantitative outcomes.
• Need to develop capacities related to health issues.