RJSS | Rashtriya Jharkhand Seva Sansthan

Responsible Mica Initiative

Mica is a major source of livelihood for the community mainly in Koderma, Giridih, and Nawada districts of Jharkhand and Bihar state. However the larger part of mica workers are in informal employment and exposed to vulnerabilities. With change in the Government policies the mica business has confined more to the surface mica waste collection (locally known as dhibra) and it’s processing. The policy changes have adversely affected the mica workers with low wage returns and exploitation by employers putting them in the vicious cycle of poverty manifesting to hunger, food insecurity, high rate of undernutrition, engagement of children in mica collection and debt traps. The women and child population are the worst sufferers of these poor socio- economic conditions.

RJSS in collaboration with CESAM is initiating the project in 8 villages of Koderma district. The project mainly focuses on the issues like Child Protection, Natural Resource Management, Livelihood, Health, Education and Women Empowerment.

Activities under Project

In each project area, connecting the family and community with government scheme was our main goal. RJSS garnered much needed government support in ensuring people’s access to government schemes. We have successfully added 1823 people in 8 villages. Some of these schemes are mentioned below:

Safe Drinking Water for healthy life

In order to provide clean drinking water, community drinking water minaret was constructed in the village of Donaiya, due to which people in that village are getting clean drinking water, as well as hand pump repairing in village Angar and water supply from old hand pump in village Pehelni was arranged which is befitting around 245 families.

Community Irrigation Centre

A Community Irrigation Center was constructed in the village Pehelni at the Assets Building, where around 40 acres of land is being irrigated. Cash crop vegetable cultivation has been started in 200 decimal. The villagers have produced 30 quintals of Green pulse from this community irrigation center. The center is a self-run center which is operated by the villagers with their own contribution. This source of irrigation will play an effective role in changing the life of this village.

Livelihood Enhancement Scheme for extreme poor family

Primary assessment of livelihood and on demand of the villagers, 18 women from 8 villages have been given sewing training which will be the medium of income generation program and will be helpful in operating their family. Total 10 women were trained under this scheme and linked to the employment in the year 2019-20.

Beautification of the school

For providing materials and resources to the government school, maintenance of quality education, regular attendance of teacher, awareness of school management committee for their roles and responsibilities and for the creation of educational environment, wall writing was done and teaching materials have been made available in 4 schools of the project area i.e. Pelhani, Samaydih, Mohanaria and Khawasdih, which helped in the awareness of the children and educational progress is seen among these children. Apart from this, 39 irregular children have been also enrolled to the school.

Training of School Management Committee (SMC)

In order to impart responsiveness to the school management committee on their task and responsibility as per the norms of Right to Education Act 2009, the training of the members of the school management committee of 8 villages was organized in 2 cycles which has increased the motivation level of committee members and other officials.

Special Educational Center

In 2 villages of project area i.e. Angar and Mohanaria of Ambabad Panchayat, Special Education Centre is being operated by the organization, in which initial assessment (Hindi, Mathematics, and Practical) for weaker children of class 3 to 5 has been done and based on this valuation their grade (A, B, C, D & E) has been decided. Keeping in mind the learning outcome system for the basic education of the children from class 3-5, 3 children in Mohanaria of Angar have been taught by building curriculum, which has led to the development of educational level in children.

Training for Financial Literacy

Five-day training on Financial Literacy was provided to targeted families to explain their income and expenditure, savings loan, financial target and insurance facilities under different government schemes. The training was provided to them as per the CESAM Network.

Formation of Bal Manch

Bal Manch has been formed in 8 villages of the project area. The main objective of this initiative is to increase the interest and self-confidence of children towards academic educational cultural development. In this process, 40 children from 8 villages participated in which the officers were elected by adopting the democratic election process. The children are now able to understand their basic rights.

Educating children through Game

In 8 villages of the Project area, the girls’, as well as boys’ soccer team, have been formed by Bal Manch in all the villages to create awareness for sports among the girls along with boys of the region. This action has increased the confidence and interest of girls towards game.

Scholarship for the meritorious students

10 needy meritorious students of Ambabad Panchayat who are getting secondary education and whose financial condition is not good got a scholarship of Rs 1000 from the organization and also encouraged to complete their education for 6 months.

Life Skills Training of Bal Manch

Life Skills Training was organized for the members of Bal Manch where many activities have been carried out through sports which has helped to identify confidence and skills in children and also enhanced their decision making ability.

Interface meeting with stakeholders of project area

Interface meeting was organized with community, public representative, departmental staff and block development officer of 8 villages of Ambabad Panchayat for all round development of the area. In this meeting, 122 villagers along with public representatives and other officials were also participated.