SES India – empowering Indian girls
ProMosaik’s Denise Nanni and Milena
Rampoldi continue their search
around the world to discover new organisations that support human rights and
oppose social injustice, and are now meeting with Sandeep of SES India which struggles with
poverty as
the origin of all problems in Indian society. SES also promotes empowerment for
Indian girls who experience numerous disadvantages compared to boys of the same age.
Rampoldi continue their search
around the world to discover new organisations that support human rights and
oppose social injustice, and are now meeting with Sandeep of SES India which struggles with
poverty as
the origin of all problems in Indian society. SES also promotes empowerment for
Indian girls who experience numerous disadvantages compared to boys of the same age.
How was SES founded and how did it
evolve throughout time?
evolve throughout time?
Shohratgarh
Environmental Society (SES) is a development organisation informally
born In 1985 because of concerns regarding the safety of drinking water in Shohratgarh. Its founding
by that town’s teachers of Shivpati Degree College was
just a beginning in a small cabin and it subsequently initiated an iodine awareness programme including education for elderly people. It has since
been a long journey from 1985 to 2017 and there is no doubt whatsoever that the National Environment Awareness Campaign was
the first breakthrough in that journey. With time, we moved from smaller to
bigger issues which sometimes proved to be a challenge to mankind and sometimes to the environment. We named them climate change, flood ,
drought (disaster issues), mother-child health, gender issues, and livelihood and agriculture as viewed from a social perspective, We were not able to handle issues
without community support, CBOs like SHGs etc. The journey had started from Shohratgarh and passed through different
districts of Uttar Pradesh in India. We are now
committed to taking it to higher level.
Environmental Society (SES) is a development organisation informally
born In 1985 because of concerns regarding the safety of drinking water in Shohratgarh. Its founding
by that town’s teachers of Shivpati Degree College was
just a beginning in a small cabin and it subsequently initiated an iodine awareness programme including education for elderly people. It has since
been a long journey from 1985 to 2017 and there is no doubt whatsoever that the National Environment Awareness Campaign was
the first breakthrough in that journey. With time, we moved from smaller to
bigger issues which sometimes proved to be a challenge to mankind and sometimes to the environment. We named them climate change, flood ,
drought (disaster issues), mother-child health, gender issues, and livelihood and agriculture as viewed from a social perspective, We were not able to handle issues
without community support, CBOs like SHGs etc. The journey had started from Shohratgarh and passed through different
districts of Uttar Pradesh in India. We are now
committed to taking it to higher level.
What are the main social and
environmental issues in the region where you operate?
environmental issues in the region where you operate?
The core of the problem stems from poverty with the district siddharthnagr where we are based,
being one of the most backward districts of Uttar Pradesh. Poora awareness and
its implementation as law is the
leading cause for many social problems so that the issues we are covering are:
being one of the most backward districts of Uttar Pradesh. Poora awareness and
its implementation as law is the
leading cause for many social problems so that the issues we are covering are:
– Working with farmers on adaptive practices and
enhancing their income in flood prone villages.
enhancing their income in flood prone villages.
– Due to lack of awareness , there is high maternal
and infant mortality rates in comparison to national and state average.
and infant mortality rates in comparison to national and state average.
– Due to Social structures, girls are not empowered as
are boys. Consequently there is high rate of drop outs from schools.
are boys. Consequently there is high rate of drop outs from schools.
– Since most of girls are regarded as a liability, they tend yo be married off before the legal age of 18.
This is also one of reason for high MMR and IMR.
This is also one of reason for high MMR and IMR.
– There is poor access to safe drinking water and
proper sanitation.
proper sanitation.
– Talking about “Sex” is still taboo amongst
the community, leading to poor reproductive and sexual health of youth.
the community, leading to poor reproductive and sexual health of youth.
–
Climate change is affecting agriculture in the area as measured by agricultural growth ,
Climate change is affecting agriculture in the area as measured by agricultural growth ,
How do you promote community
empowerment?
empowerment?
Our community workers are our link to the community with most of them being from those village targeted in the programme.
Normally, it takes about six months to develop rapport with the community
stakeholder. Once a trusting relationship is established with our worker, we organise participation in meetings and training. During that process, they develop a friendly relationship
with our community workers that enables them to frankly share their
problems and viewpoints.
By engaging them from the
planning to the implementation phase,
we achieve the desired outcome.
Normally, it takes about six months to develop rapport with the community
stakeholder. Once a trusting relationship is established with our worker, we organise participation in meetings and training. During that process, they develop a friendly relationship
with our community workers that enables them to frankly share their
problems and viewpoints.
By engaging them from the
planning to the implementation phase,
we achieve the desired outcome.
What action do you carry on to
promote women’s rights and empowerment?
promote women’s rights and empowerment?
As I have already mentioned, the social structure of
the community is the biggest hindrance in development and empowerment of girls
and women. First, we collectivise them into groups such as
Mahila Mandal and Nari Sangh of which there are
around 200 active in the field. Through various interactions we are able to identify the natural leaders
amongst them who then become the focal point in their particular community. We
also engage with their male counterparts who also need to understand the pros and
cons of social structures, cultures, and traditions that exploit women in the community.
They are also engaged through meetings and capacity building. In past, we
raised the voice of women farmers to be recognised as such. We have worked on
functional and financial literacy for women. Some of our women farmers were
involved in goat rearing which added to their existing incomes.
the community is the biggest hindrance in development and empowerment of girls
and women. First, we collectivise them into groups such as
Mahila Mandal and Nari Sangh of which there are
around 200 active in the field. Through various interactions we are able to identify the natural leaders
amongst them who then become the focal point in their particular community. We
also engage with their male counterparts who also need to understand the pros and
cons of social structures, cultures, and traditions that exploit women in the community.
They are also engaged through meetings and capacity building. In past, we
raised the voice of women farmers to be recognised as such. We have worked on
functional and financial literacy for women. Some of our women farmers were
involved in goat rearing which added to their existing incomes.
Do you cooperate with local
authorities and institutions? If yes, how?
authorities and institutions? If yes, how?
Yes, we co-operate with local authorities and
institutions
in accordance with our
programme guidelines. At panchayat level
(group of villages), several committees were formed to
execute village development. But most of them are on paper or not active. For
example we have activated 20 Village Health Sanitation and Nutrition committees in of our
programme. Similarly, our team has helped the authorities to organise village health nutrition day. Our Project Coordinators are
always in regular touch with local authorities and institution so as to benefit
the community at
large.
institutions
in accordance with our
programme guidelines. At panchayat level
(group of villages), several committees were formed to
execute village development. But most of them are on paper or not active. For
example we have activated 20 Village Health Sanitation and Nutrition committees in of our
programme. Similarly, our team has helped the authorities to organise village health nutrition day. Our Project Coordinators are
always in regular touch with local authorities and institution so as to benefit
the community at
large.
