A thirteen member panel consisting of prominent Indian and international jurists, economists, scientists, retired government officials, and social and religious leaders have found the World Bank guilty of harming the environment and lowering the standard of living for most Indians.

From Sept 21 - 24, the Jawaharlal Nehru University campus for the first time saw a broad spectrum of Indian society come together to look at the damage caused by the World Bank to the country as a whole. Affected communities, expert witnesses, and over 40 concerned groups presented testimonies in order to evaluate the impact of the World Bank across 26 sectors of social and economic development in India. After reviewing over a thousand pages of transcripts the jury has put together an extensive and substantiated list of twenty-nine specific charges against the Bank. These findings are of critical importance in light of the pace in which current development policies are changing the country.

Charges in the final report include: failure in its mission to reduce poverty, advocacy of policies which contribute to increased hunger, contributing to the agricultural crisis, and deliberate posting of former staff in the Indian bureaucracy in order to influence policy, and diluting Indian environmental legislation.

" The evidence and depositions we have witnessed presents a disturbing and shocking picture of increased and needless human suffering since 1991 among hundreds of millions of India's poorest and most disadvantaged in rural areas and in the cities. It is clear to us that a significant number of Indian government policies and projects financed and influenced by the World Bank have contributed directly and / or indirectly to this increased impoverishment and suffering. All this has taken place while a minority of India's population that constitutes the middle class and rich has enjoyed the fruits of an economic boom...... India and the international community must join to hold the World Bank accountable for policies and projects that in practice directly contradict its mandate of alleviating poverty for the poorest."

- Preliminary Findings by the Jury of the Independent People's Tribunal on the World Bank Group in India

We hope that such a strong statement from this distinguished group will contribute significantly to the debate on the legitimacy of the Bank's operations in the country and as an institution. On the occasion of its anniversary we are happy to send you the final jury findings of the Tribunal.

The impact of this Tribunal has already been significant. The Tribunal process quickly inspired similar processes in The Hague, Netherlands and in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Copies of this report have been sent to the World Bank, Members of Parliament, relevant government ministries and the newly formed US Congressional Committee on the World Bank. To ensure that these findings generate much needed debate we need your active support.

The World Bank tribunal was the result of the combined effort of over two hundred groups who have strived since 2005 to organise this People's Tribunal and provide a just and unbiased forum for people who have faced the impact of projects and policies funded or promoted by the World Bank Group. Deepika D'Souza / Michele Kelley, The World Bank Tribunal Secretariat secretariat@worldbanktribunal.org Ph: 022 23439651.

Former President Clinton told a U.N. gathering that the global food crisis shows "we all blew it, including me," by treating food crops "like color TVs" instead of as a vital commodity for the world's poor.

Addressing a high-level event marking Oct. 16's World Food Day Clinton also saluted President Bush - "one thing he got right" - for pushing to change U.S. food aid policy. He scolded the bipartisan coalition in Congress that killed the idea of making some aid donations in cash rather than in food.

Clinton criticized decades of policymaking by the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and others, encouraged by the U.S., that pressured Africans in particular into dropping government subsidies for fertilizer, improved seed and other farm inputs as a requirement to get aid. Africa's food self - sufficiency declined and food imports rose. Now skyrocketing prices in the international grain trade - on average more than doubling between 2006 and early 2008 - have pushed many in poor countries deeper into poverty.

U.N. Secretary - General Ban Ki - moon told the gathering that prices on some food items are "500 percent higher than normal" in Haiti and Ethiopia, for example. The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization estimates the number of undernourished people worldwide rose to 923 million last year.

"Food is not a commodity like others," Clinton said. "We should go back to a policy of maximum food self - sufficiency. It is crazy for us to think we can develop countries around the world without increasing their ability to feed themselves."

He noted that food aid from wealthy nations could itself be a tool for bolstering agriculture in poor countries. Canada, for example, requires that 50 percent of its aid go as cash - not as Canadian grain - to buy crops grown locally in Africa and other recipient countries.

U.S. law, however, requires that almost all U.S. aid be American - grownfood, which benefits U.S. farmers but undercuts local food crops. Bushproposed earlier this year that 25 percent of future U.S. aid be given in cash. "A bipartisan coalition (in Congress) defeated him," Clinton said. "Hewas right and both parties that defeated him were wrong." Clinton also criticized the heavy U.S. reliance on corn to produce ethanol, which increased demand for the crop and helped drive up grain prices worldwide.

"If we're going to do biofuels, we ought to look at the more efficient kind," he said, referring, for example, to the jatropha shrub, a nonfood source that grows on land not suitable for grain.

The U.N. General Assembly president, Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann of Nicaragua, agreed, speaking of the "madness of converting crops into fuel" for cars.

CONNECTiNG

It has been a season of madness - these last two months. Besides bombs exploding causing death and destruction, were the inter-state political machinations that divided the country. Nehru's plan of dividing the country into linguistic states once again proved to be a failure as some people from Maharashtra lynched those who came to work here from other states. The violence had the proverbial backlash with Maharashtrians outside the State being subjected to threats etc.

This insanity can only be stopped if the government takes decisive action at those inciting such acts with thoughts that are traitorous. Such people are dangerous and should be considered traitors to the nation as they are destroying the very fabric of unity of the country. Politicians are only worried about votes, and themselves. And those who think otherwise are only fooling themselves unless they think have been promised part of the pie. The sad part is that there may not be any pie left at this rate.
Jai Hind.

- Rima Kashyap

Mumbai: PCGT launched a new helpline and a mobile RTI on wheels on Sept 29 in Mumbai at ICAI HAll. The RTI van went around the city and made stops to help people with RTI enquiries and ho w to file an RTI. After taking the message of the Right to Information (RTI) Act to about 80,000 people across Gujarat in the five months since it was flagged off, the country's first ever 'RTI-on-wheels' rolled into Mumbai. - the first time that 'RTI-on-wheels' would be going outside the state for RTI outreach programs.

'RTI-on-wheels' had travelled across Vapi, Valsad, Surat, Rajkot, Baroda, Surendranagar, Banaskantha districts and reached Mumbai on Sept 26. at the invitation of Public Concern for Governance Trust (PCGT),. The 'RTI-on-wheels'. a state-of-the-art mobile van (Tata Sumo) is equipped with an LCD projector, screen, computer with Internet connection, scanner, printer and copier and a small library.

Manned by two volunteers, this vehicle shows films on RTI, distributes pamphlets, holds public discussions on the Act and assists people to file RTI applications seeking information. RTI-on-Wheels has covered more than 80,000 people in various outreach programmes in more than 10 districts of the state of Gujarat.

The Mahiti Adhikar Gujarat Pahel (MAGP) run 'RTI-on-wheels' was flagged off on March 17 in Ahmedabad by Usha Dhavan, a physically challenged woman who had won back her STD-PCO booth using RTI after a two-year-long struggle. "Contact public concern for governance trust" <publicconcern@gmail.com> Tel: 23526426.

Pune: The practice of US lawyers offering their services free or at subsidised rates, is set for a pilot run in India through a tie up between the City University of New York (CUNY) and the Pune - based Symbiosis Law College. The Indian project will replicate CUNY Law's community legal resource network (CLRN) programme in and around Pune, promoting law as a social service and providing legal services to marginalised communities.

The two institutions will create a network of socially responsible law students, faculty members and local lawyers who will address the unmet legal needs of underprivileged and legally under - served individuals and communities. CLRN director Fred Rooney said, "Almost 80% New Yorkers do not have access to civil justice as the costs of seeking legal help are prohibitive. So, they have to forego seeking justice. Conditions are identical in India and in Pune. We have a successful model of providing pro-bono and low-bono (work done in social service, or for greatly reduced rates) legal services through our network of 300 lawyers in New York." CUNY will bring in the expertise of implementing the programme while Symbiosis will provide the local framework.

Symbiosis Law College will develop a mobile justice van that will travel in and around Pune, offering legal services to poor people who cannot afford private counsel. "We have set up an initial fund of Rs 5 lakh for the programme. We will partner with NGOs and social activists to offer legal services in venues where access to justice is severely limited," former law minister and noted criminal lawyer Ram Jethmalani, said adding that he would also contribute funds to the programme. Mr Jethmalani is professor emeritus of the Symbiosis Law College.

Ranchi: The Rajrappa Handicapped School in Sukrigada village of Ramgarh district is a boarding school in Jharkhand started by four disabled person in the village for disabled students. It now comprises of 13 staff members, including 10 teachers and almost every student, teacher and staff member there is a disabled person, but all the students dream of becoming a doctor, teacher or engineer.

It now has 150 students in Classes 1 to 10, and has become a source of inspiration to physically and mentally challenged people. All the staff members are physically challenged. But that doesn't stop them from doing everything. The school management charges no fees, and the food and lodging are free.

The Rajrappa school, was started in 1997 by a group of four disabled people with just eight students and is the brainchild of two disabled persons: Bhuneshwar Mahto and Deodhar Karmali. No government support reached them. In 1996, Govind Prasad Verma, a vetenary doctor, donated land in Sukrigada village and the school was started there with one room and eight disabled students. Now the school has 16 rooms and 13 staff members, including 10 teachers.

The school provides clothes, books and other things to students and it manages everything on the money donated by individuals and NGOs. In the last 11 years, the Jharkhand government has given Rs 2.4 lakh in assistance to the school.

"Someone has to take the lead to fight for handicapped people. We cannot depend on the government for education and jobs," Karmali, president of the school, said. "Our effort is to produce good human beings at our school. Only a good human being can serve society and the country. We are also trying to make our students capable of rubbing shoulders with general students."

He has been the Guest Editor of two Special Issues of Forest Policy and Economics. Visit websites of Network of Indian Environment Professionals http://www.envindia.com and Green College Network http://www.greencollegenetwork.com.

Rajib Gandhi Siromoni Award
It was on 28th August, 2008, when SHIS President Sabitri Pal was awarded Rajib Gandhi Siromoni Puroskar in Sri Sri Sai International Auditorium, Delhi, hosted by Integration and Economic Council of India. Sabitri was nominated from West Bengal this year for her relentless service in last 28 years for the remotely located poor people of West Bengal. His Excellency AR Kidwai, the Governor of Haryana, gave away the award to her in presence of distinguished dignitaries including Governors of Tamil Nadu, Sikkim and Nagaland Members of SHIS rejoice this great moment and want to share the joy with all.

Neerja Bhanot Award
The Neerja Bhanot award this year would be conferred on Mumbai-based social activist Chanda Asani for showing tremendous courage and commitment towards women empowerment, surmounting personal setbacks, including a broken marriage. Asani is associated with SNDT Women's University Rural Development Centre in Mumbai and Kalyani, a rural women's co-operative in Kulak village near Udwada in Gujarat. Through Kalyani, Chanda Asani co-ordinates with workers at the grassroot level, arrange non-formal education and training programmes and explores employment opportunities under a sustainable livelihood programme. The award, which will be conferred on Ms Asani on October five here, comprises Rs 1,50,000, a citation and a trophy.

_____________________________________________________________

Global Smokefree Partnership Award
Hemant Goswami has been awarded the "Global Smokefree Partnership Award" for his exceptional and outstanding commitment as a dedicated smoke-free and tobacco control activist to promote the implementation of the guidelines on Article 8 (smoke-free policies) of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). Hemant Goswami is credited with initiating the smoke-free movement in India and for making Chandigarh as the first smoke-free city not only in India but also the first one even in any third world country More than 300 "Right to Information (RTI)" petitions were filed by him over one year, which sought detailed information from each government department on the implementation and enforcement of various provisions of tobacco control laws and in case they were not implemented, the name of the person responsible for neglecting his / her duty. The Global Smokefree Partnership," a joint initiative of over twenty international organizations formed to promote effective smokefree air policies worldwide.

Alternative Nobel Prize 2008
Stockholm: For social justice and sustainable human development, practicing the Gandhian vision the founders of he Land for the Tillers Freedom (LAFTI), Krishanammal and Sankaralingam Jagannathan have been awarded the Alternative Nobel Prize 2008. LAFTI has been working since 1981 in Nagapattinam, Thiruvarur and East Thankavur districts of Tamil Naduto bring the landlords and landless poor to the negotiating table, to obtain loans to enable the landless to buy land and help them work at it cooperatively. By 2007 it had transferred 13000 acres to about 13000 families through social action and a land-purchase programme. The couple were inspired by Vinoba Bhave.

Freedom HIV / AIDS : awareness campaign goes wireless through mobile technology
An Indian software solution provider, ZMQ Software Systems, had recently taken the initiative to raise awareness on HIV / AIDS across India using mobile technology. Under the banner "Freedom HIV / AIDS", on December 1 2005, ZMQ released four mobile phone games to help combat the spread of the virus and fight stigma and discrimination. In the span of 15 months, the four games reached 42 million people in India, with a download of 10.3 million game sessions. The company received one of the World Business and Development Awards (WBDA) in New York. Websites: http://www.medindia.net, http://www.medindia.net/news/Freedom-HIVAIDS-Awareness-Campaign-Goes-Wireless-Through-Mobile-Technology-42232-1.htm.

Films:

Punches n Ponytails
a film on women boxing in India
(74 min / 2008)
by Pankaj Rishi Kumar

The film is a journey into the sweet science of boxing being practiced by two Indian women. Using cinema verité style and shot over a period of two and half years, the film articulates the boxer's concerns and share experiences and ideas about their future. From Dec'04 to May'07, I shot with two woman boxers as they tried to understand their bodies, their undying love for the sport and their constant struggle to realize their dreams. It was not important for me whether the two boxers won or lost, what was important was their negotiations with people and forces around them. The question for women boxers determined to stay in the game was not 'why?' but instead, as I came to ask myself in this film, 'why not?'.

Children of the Pyre
Directed and produced by Rajesh S. Jala

This film is a compelling real-life, self-narrative of 7 extraordinary children who make their living out of the dead at Manikarnika, the busiest cremation ground in India. Tempered by the heat of the pyre, strengthened in the face of adversities, crafted by the volley of abuses, watch these imps weave through the pyres and struggle through disdain to snatch their livelihoods. This film is a terrible saga of exploitation that celebrates the victory of innocence over the most harrowing realities of life.

The film has been awarded 'Best Documentary Film' at Montreal World Film Festival, Canada. The film has also been nominated in the competition at three other prestigious international film festivals: Pusan International Film Festival, Leipzig International Film Festival, and at the Sao Paulo International Film Festival. Contact: Mobile 9811011685, Email: rajeshjala@gmail.com or jalarajesh@yahoo.com. Film website: http://www.rajeshsjala.com.

The Great Indian School Show (2005),

Avinash Deshpande
In The Great Indian School S this film, Avinash Deshpande takes you through the surreal images of a school in Nagpur which is 'controlled' and 'watched over' by more than 200 CCTVs in classrooms and staffrooms. The Principal is convinced that the technology of CCTVs is the best thing to happen to education in India. Is it? 'look' at what the state of the art technology can do to the state of education in India.

Badabon - er Katha: A tale of the Sundarbans
Documentary by Moynul Huda, a joint venture by Steps Towards Development and Rupantor

The Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest in the world, lies on the Southwestern coastal areas of Bangladesh, forming a seaward fringe of the delta. The Sundarbans is intersected by a complex network of waterways, mudflats and small islands covered with mangrove forests, and presents an excellent example of ongoing ecological processes. The area is known for its wide range of fauna. There are about 334 species of trees and plants and 450 species of animals in this forest - a repository of diversity. Of these, there are 47 species of mammals, 270 species of birds, 45 species of reptiles and 200 species of fish. The documentary presents the scenic beauty of the Sundarbans in different seasons, as well as the dependency of humans to the forest for their livelihood.

No Country for Young Girls?
Directed by Indian journalist Nupur Basu-

This was one of the documentaries of a nine - part series being aired on BBC World under the programme title: "Life:living on the edge' in August / September. The series focuses on the dilemma of a character / or a community and the choices they face in a globalised economy. It relooks at the burning issue of female foeticide... estimates are that one million girls are being aborted every year in India, thanks to the unethical overuse of ultra sound machines to sex select and abort the female foetus in a 'son crazy' society... The story revealed through a personal narrative of a victim - a 27-year old married woman, a mother, who's been rejected by her husband and her in-laws for giving birth to daughters only... the irony is that Vaijainti lives in the same town visited by millions of tourists every year from India and abroad to witness love's most famous monument: the Taj Mahal.

Anamika
Film, 26 minutes

This film is about girls & women trafficked and forced into sex trade and their plight in brothels. The film is followed by discussions on the issue and our role as individuals in helping to challenge this form of slavery. Mitr - Sanketa is a registerd orgainsation and presently working on creating awareness on the issues of human trafficking. The program is called MAT-Movement Against Trafficking. The program constitutes of screening a film of 26 minutes. This is followed by facilitating group discussions on the problem. MAT can organise this film screening and facilitate discussion for 2 hours at workplaces / institution / slums / schools / colleges /clubs / The program is free of cost. Contact: Brinda - 9845518138 or Geeta - 9845445408.

Summer 2007
Produced by Atul Pandey, directed by Mr. Suhail Tatari and written by Mr. Bijesh Jayarajan.

This film is about youth who is struggling in the web of urban development phenomenon, who is going through an identity crises with no clue about rest of the country, their co-citizens, the income and wealth disparity that has come to fore due to lopsided economic activity. The film makers thought of reading the lives in the countryside from the point of view of reckless urban youth, and when they started writing the film, it was co-incidental that farmers suicides was on peak and so was consumerism and both were being written about. Contact: Pande - 9821349093, Tatari - 0920057745, Jayaranjan - 9820056229.

Karimnagar Film Society, affiliated to Federation of Film Societies of India, is organising the 'National Short and Documentary Film Festival - 2009' from 14 - 19 February 2009 at Karimnagar, Andhra Pradesh.

The festival will have two sections: the regular festival section with short and documentary films to be screened at main venue Film Bhavan and different college auditoria, and a competitive section for the short and documentary films, with cash prizes and 'Indian Roller Awards'. Last date for entries: 31 December 2008. Contact: Varala Anand varalaanand@yahoo.com, http://varalaanand-filmclub.blogspot.com / varalaanand.googlepages.com.

4th People's Film Festival

The 4th Loka Chitra Utsav on 14 - 16 November 2008 at Lohia Academy, Bhubaneswar will host a selection of works by Ajay TG, a filmmaker jailed for standing up for truth. The Loka Chitra Utsav is an open film festival, where people can send their films to be screened. We are looking for 'people-centric' documentaries, shorts, features, animations or any other kind of films. Films on children & childhood will be screened on the opening day on occasion of Children's Day on 14 Nov. Please submit your films in CD / DVD, supporting material like posters, leaflets, before10 Nov 2008. Contact: Gunjan Jain, Festival Co-ordinator Mobile: 919938240505, Loka Chitra Kendra, HIG-54, Sailashree Vihar, Bubaneswar - 21. Tel: 91-674-6529485.

ViBGYOR Short & Documentary Film Festival

The 4th Edition of ViBGYOR, a 5 - day non-competitive film festival will be held from February 4th to 8th, 2009 in Thrissur, Kerala. We invite for preview documentaries, short fiction, music videos, animation, spots & experimental films (Micro films, Mobilephone films etc). You may send the works made in the past 3 years but not been entered at ViBGYOR before. Documentaries are invited to the following categories:

1. ViBGYOR Theme Packages
- Gender and Sexuality. Dalit Reality. Indigenous People. Globalisation
- Nation State. Fundamentalism v/s Diversity. Region Focus – Pakistan
2. Focus of the Year: Food Soverignty
3. Global Concerns: Human Rights. Health & HIV / AIDS. Migration

Last Date for film submission: 30 November 2008. For Entry Forms, Rules & Regulations and for more information, log on www.vibgyorfilm.com, vibgyorfilmfest@gmail.com Send 2 DVD copies of your films along with the Entry Form, Film stills and Director's photograph to: ViBGYOR Festival office, 2nd Floor, Kalliath Royal Square, Palace Road, Thrissur, Kerala 680 020. Tel: 9447000830 / 94465299 91 / 0487-2330830.

World - wide documentary competition
The World Bank's Social Development Department has launched its world - wide documentary competition, "Vulnerability Exposed: Social Dimensions of Climate Change". The 2 - 5 minute documentaries will creatively showcase the social implications of climate change in the areas of conflict, migration, urban space, rural institutions, drylands, social policy, indigenous peoples, gender, governance, forests and / or human rights. There are two award categories: 1) Social Dimensions of Climate Change Award (general category) and 2) Young Voices of Climate Change Award (youth category). The general category is open to everyone; the youth category is open to entries submitted by filmmakers who are under 24 years old.

The award winners will be invited to Washington, DC for a screening of their film and to attend a series of networking and learning events organised by the Social Development Department, World Bank. Post your film on YouTube and fill out the online Registration Form at http://www.worldbank.org/sdccfilmcontest Can't post your film on YouTube? Send a compressed. wmv or quicktime file to socialdevelopment@worldbank.org. Slow Internet connection? Mail a DVD of your film to the Social Development Department: ATTN: Megumi Makisaka, Social Development Department. The World Bank, MSN: MC5-800, 1818 H Street NW, Washington DC 20011 USA. Email: socialdevelopment@worldbank.org.

Books

Water: Challenges & Solutions
Published by Center for Media Research & Development

This book is helpful to all of NGO's and Social Activist those who are working in the field of water. Cost of this book is Rs/- 400. Send bank draft in the name of Center for Media Research & Development, payable at Jaipur. Contact: Surendra Chaturvedi Secretary, CMRD, F-3, Balaji Apartment, A-35, Nemi Nagar, Vaishali Nagar, Jaipur (Rajasthan) Pin 302021. Mobile: 9828151843.

The Indian Approach to Climate and Energy Policy
By Divya Badami Rao and M. V. Ramana
Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, 3 July 2008

Along with China's newfound stewardship, international pressure seems to have finally prompted the Indian government to establish its own Council on Climate Change -- a high-level group of experts and senior government officials to advise New Delhi on measures it can take to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

On June 30, the Council released India's National Action Plan on Climate Change PDF. The 47 - page document primarily offers a list of eight technological efforts, the pride of place being given to research and development of solar energy. But the report doesn't set any concrete numerical goals for emission reductions-- or even for energy intensity.

Women's fundraising handbook
Authors: Global Fund for Women
Produced by: Global Fund for Women (GFW) (2005)

This handbook draws on the expertise of Global Fund for Women staff and provides advice on raising money to fund women's rights work. It is especially designed for first - time fundraisers and for women's groups in developing countries.

Available online at: http://www.eldis.org/cf/rdr/rdr.cfm?doc=DOC21830.

_____________________________________________________________

Avbl.: financial data of leading political parties in India Posted by: "Praful Vora" praful.vora@gmail.com sandhya_vora
Thu Sep 18, 2008 2:14 am (PDT)
Here are the links that inform of the financial details and the names of the corporate donors of the INC and BJP ...
http://www.utvi.com/news/latest-business-news-india/10344/bjp-fy07-income-rs-146cr.html
http://www.utvi.com/news/latest-business-news-india/10258/congress-assets---rs-228cr-.html

The Miracle of Democracy: India's Amazing Journey
by T S Krishnamurthy
Former Chief Election Commissioner of India
Harper Collins Publishers India, Rs. 395

Democracy as is ongoing in India, breeds Corruption. Consequences of a failed democracy will be a further serious damage to our nation & our people. Civil Society also needs to be focused on ensuring vast improvement by actively seeking professional inner party functioning & not get carried away on issues such as international politics, even matters such as Singur and the Nuclear deal as we can ill afford present mannerism of Governance in coming years from 2009 - 2014 and through State Elections within 2008.

The book is topical & provides factual data & a path for change - lateral thinking. The chapter 'The Need for Change' is of particular importance wherein is also stated when political "parties crumble under the weight of their own failure, they do not go down alone."

To buy the book, please log on to www.harpercollins.co.in
Contact: National Network For India Trust – NNFI, 131 - 132 Som Dutt Chambers 1
5 Bhikaji Cama Place, New Delhi 110066. Tel: 91 11 65684505 / 26161246
Fax: 91 11 26182867. E-Mail: electoralreforms@nnfi.org.in
Website: www.nnfi.org.in.

Dr. Prakash Amte inspires listeners
By Celin T Chacko

Mumbai: Dr. Prakash Amte addressed a diverse group of listeners at The Ninth Dr. Mabelle Arole memorial lecture organized by The Society for Service to Voluntary Agencies (SOSVA) at The Indian Merchants Chamber on Oct. 11.
>>>>
Ramon Magsaysay Award winner Dr. Prakash Amte was accompanied by his wife and co-worker Dr. Mandakini Amte for the lecture. A documentary showing three generations of Amte family and their work at Anandbhavan & Hemalkasa, gave a detailed insight into the nature of good work being carried out since 1949 from Anandbhavan.

Dr. Amte's passion for wildlife has inspired many in the tribes to accommodate animals within their habitat and live in harmony with them. Dr. Amte said, "The fourth generation of Baba Amte is now playing with the wild animals that stay with us". Contact SOSVA Mumbai Tel: 26555704, 26403490, 26411205 E-mail: sosva@hotmail.com, volact@hotmail.com.

NREGA Helpline

New Delhi The Ministry of Rural Development implementing National Rural Employment Guarantee Act has established a National Helpline in New Delhi in order to enable NREGA households and others to seek assistance from the Ministry for protection of their entitlements under the Act and also for proper implementation of the Act and the Schemes made under the Act. The Helpline consists of a toll free MTNL number (18001100707) for use by the NREGA households and other individuals and groups to raise their queries, submit their grievances and complaints and seek guidance from the Ministry on the following issues:

1. Register the complaint and record the details of complaint and the complaint.
2. Provide a code number to the complaint and give it to the user.
3. Request the State and UT Governments to take suitable remedial action on the complaint and send reply to the complainant under intimation to the Ministry.
4. Provide relevant information, which may be desired by the users relating to NREGA.
Contact: www.nrega.nic.in

Yet Another Home!

Kurukshetra: With the continued support from Yaakov's Light, Udayan Care is soon to open its 9th Home at Kurukshetra. This Home will be for girls (5th in succession). -- orphaned and abandoned. Udayan Care has affiliated with the Teach India campaign, and hundred volunteers will be located in the eight homes soon. Contact: Udayan Care, New Delhi. Tel.: 011-29840151 / 32603837. visit: www.udayancare.Org; e-mail: udayancare@gmail.com.

The bicycle project

Mumbai: Give your old bicycle to a village school child. In villages located a couple of hours outside Mumbai, there are several children walking miles to get an education. Going to school is the most important thing for these kids - and they know that. Which is why no distance is too long. We're asking you to help these children by being part of the bicycle project.
We're collecting old bicycles.. After giving them a new lease of life, we're going to deliver these bicycles to the village kids in and around Maharashtra. Phase 1 of this project will help children in the villages of Thappar Pada, Wada and Vikramgarh. You will be able to come and visit these children at any time if you wish to see how your simple gift of an old bicycle can make a huge difference to their lives.
Call Hemant or Sangeeta Chhabra 022 65701730 or 9820149022 or email: sangi2007@hotmail.com. They'd be happy to have the bikes picked up and refurbished at their own cost, after which they will pass them on to deserving village children.

International Day against Poverty

New Delhi: Marking the International Day against Poverty, UNDP India along with the Youth Parliament Foundation (YPF) hosted an event at the capital today. Dilli Haat was was the venue of 'Stand Up and Take Action' with a photo exhibition and a street play embracing the conviction of youth to realise the MDGs and eradicate poverty. The Stand Up and Take Action campaign is held worldwide from the 17 to 19 October every year. The photo exhibition was hosted on the theme 'Poverty with Dignity'. Contact: <editor@mdg-sa.net>.

LEGAL
HC Forms Committee for HIV/AIDS In Prisons

Mumbai: The high court in Mumbai, formed a committee to create guidelines aimed at preventing the spread of HIV in prisons in response to the increasing spread of the virus among inmates, the Daily News & Analysis reports.

Justices Ranjana Desai and DY Chandrachud requested that Advocate General Ravi Kadam work with the inspector general for prisons to complete a draft of the guidelines by Oct. 1. Desai said the guidelines should address prevention and treatment for prisoners living with HIV / AIDS. Chandrachud added, "The issue of sexual contact between prison inmates will have to be confronted."

The justices also discussed the idea of counseling centers in each of the state's 36 prisons and making antiretroviral therapy available in the prisons.

Job-oriented courses for minority students
Chandigarh: Free of cost training would be imparted in computer hardware, software and data entry, computerised accounting, air-conditioner and refrigerator and mobile repair. The National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) will start job-oriented courses for free for the students belonging to the minority communities in Punjab.

"Training would be imparted at its training centre at Focal Point, Rajpura in Punjab," NSIC Centre Head AK Verma said. The courses are being conducted in association with NMDFC, New Delhi and Backfinco, Punjab, Verma said.

He said the students would be imparted practical training for a period of six months and they would get a stipend of Rs 500 per month during the training period. The NSIC will also assist the trainees in getting jobs or starting their own businesses under self - employment schemes of Backfinco and NMDFC.

He said that focus would be on candidates belonging to the economically weaker sections in the age group of 18 to 35 years with Class 10 as the minimum qualification, adding that the training programmes would start in the last week of September. Check a website dedicated to minority scholarship. www.your-learning.info/scholarship.html.

HIV testing centre in prison opened

Tiruchirapalli, The Tamil Nadu AIDS Control Society has opened on Sept 13 an Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre at the Central Prison in Tiruchirapalli for HIV - affected prisoners and to detect fresh cases.

The Centre, would be manned by a counsellor and a lab technician. It would monitor the health condition regularly and create awareness on HIV and AIDS among the inmates. There were 14 HIV - affected among the 2000 prisoners. Similar Centres were already functioning at Puzhal in Chennai and at Palayamkottai Prisons.

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

Websites
For jobs for the physically disbled check these sites: http://ncpedp.org/index.php; http://www.jobs4disabled.com/news.php.

An interactive website on girl child issues was inaugurated on Sept 24 by CRY. The website: www.cry4girls.cry. Explores the reasons behind female infanticide and the social structure.org.

Azim Premji Foundation, with support from the National Knowledge Commission, has developed TeachersofIndia.org that will provide an online platform for teachers to share best practices and generate discussion in the teaching community.
_____________________________________________________________

Saving the girl child through street plays

Mumbai: "We were born into an unjust society and we are determined not to leave as we have found it" is the motto of the All India Catholic University Federation (AICUF). In keeping with the motto, students of the St. Xavier's College unit of AICUF, performed a 20-min. street musical based on the girl child titled Mujhe Jeene Do which highlighted issues of female infanticide, rape, eve-teasing and domestic violence.. at Carter Road Amphitheatre on the Carter Road promenade in Bandra (W), on September 7 and 8. (September 8 is celebrated as the day of the girl child).

The St. Xavier's College Unit of the AICUF has now formed a street play group called Less Than Perfect, that will perform across Mumbai. Mujhe Jeene Do was the first such play performed by the group and was well-received. And they would be happy to perform at other places.
Contact: aicufphoenix@yahoo.co.uk.

Draft Protocol vs. trafficking

New Delhi: The Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India has prepared a Draft Protocol on Prevention, Rescue, Repatriation and Rehabilitation of Trafficked and Migrant Child Labour* since there is an increasing trend of migration and trafficking of children for labour in different parts of the country€ ’¥In many of these cases, these children are being trafficked by middle men and agents who are bringing them to the employers. These children work under highly exploitative situations like very long working hours, paltry wages, unhygienic and most difficult working conditions. Such children mostly work in industries like zari making, jewellery units, domestic help, dhabas, tea stalls, etc€ ’¥Considering the complexity of the problem, a comprehensive multi-pronged approach to this problem is required.
Comments are invited by the Ministry.laborweb@nic.in.
You can access http://www.labour.nic.in/cwl/DraftProtocolPreventionMigrantChildLabour.pdf.

Finances of Pol. parties
Avbl.: financial data of leading political parties in India
Here are the links that inform of the financial details and the names of the corporate donors of the INC and BJP...
http://www.utvi.com/news/latest-business-news-india/10344/bjp-fy07-income-rs-146cr.html;
http://www.utvi.com/news/latest-business-news-india/10258/congress-assets---rs-228cr-.html.

Ganit ke Duniya

New Delhi UDAAN's latest venture has been to produce multi media educational CDs. They can be used / viewed as a valuable learning aid by a wide group of people. The first in the series is entitled "Ganit ki Duniya" & "The World of Mathematics." This 2 part programme (in Hindi and English) is based on syllabus designed by NCERT and Uttarakhand State Level Board for primary schools. The objective has been to not digitally reproduce what is already available in textbooks but to explain and understand basic concepts of a "dreaded subject," and see their application in our everyday life in a joyful and meaningful way. UDAAN Foundation has been working in the field of 'empowerment through education' in remoter areas of District Nainital, since 2005. Its focus is on fast pacing educational efforts through the use of contemporary teaching aids like e-learning.

Key initiatives of UDAAN have been: Setting up of UDAAN Shiksha Kendra in Mukteshwar where it conducts classes in computer education; In partnership with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) conducting the Adult Literacy Programme in different surrounding villages; Working in partnership with local schools e.g. Saraswati Shishu Mandir schools (at Ganguachor & Paharpani) to impart computer education to their children.

Youth for youth

Hyderabad: Dr. Reddys Foundation in collaboration with the Young Indians (Yi) wing of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) under a specific program CiiYi LABS (Livelihood Advancement Business School) has formulated a process of ensuring employment to the underprivileged youth of our city. LABS promotes tailor made programs targeted as elaborated above and so I take the privilege of inviting your organization to be a part of our program in helping us by guiding the youth to CiiYi LABS.

The first session was held on September 22 at CII- Yi LABS Centre.C/o Don Bosco High School, Borivali (W) Mumbai.
- Contact: -- Bhimraj Pawar (+9867961549) Gaytri Joshi 9860868586.

Chess competition for Blind

Baroda: Friends Society conducted a Chess competition for Blind students on Sept. 13 & 14. in which 18 persons participated. The best 3 children would be representing Gujarat at National level competition to be held in October / November 2008. One support we can provide to Ami Patel who organised these games is by arranging "Writer". As per normal schedule, the Xth / XIIth Board / University examinations are held in May & November. so that no deserving blind child is deprived of education. You may contact Ami at her residence no. 0265 - 2358787 / 2336223 / 09825062370.

_____________________________________________________________

Offer of land
We have 3 Acres of land with electricity and water, 57.2 Kms from Ahmednagar towards Aurangabad,11. 5 Kms from Highway, Motorable Road.

NGOs interested in setting up any land based activity such as School, Girls Hostel, Ophanage, Women's training institute for Below Poverty Line persons, etc. can contact Madhukar Kamble Email : metal_traders@rediffmail.Com (from karmyog.com).

Sex workers tele-conf
Bangalore: In a green panchayat hall mottled with post-rain fungus, some 35 women in the district town of Mandya sat in front of a TV set listening to a panel and asking them questions through a mobile phone, whenever they managed to get through to the studio. -- certainly the first of its kind in India, may be even in the world.

A medium, satellite-based interactive communication used by several State governments for a variety of development was used for the first time for HIV -- related outreach. The State Institute of Rural Development (SIRD) in Mysore is the hub from where the uplinking was done to Insat 2B, and then downlinked to extended C Band antennae at reception centres in the districtheadquarters.

H.L. Mohan of the Karnataka Health Promotion Trust, who conceptualized the marriage of their ongoing sex worker outreach with satellite TV technology, describes it as an experiment in bringing a shunned section of the population into the mainstream. "We had reservations about how taluk panchayats would react to these women coming into government buildings." But they came, and in a one-way video, two-way audio exchange, asked questions of, and got answers from people at the top echelons of the State's bureaucracy.

On World Hospice and Palliative Care Day
12th October, 2008: Dying people have rights to live their life peacefully till the last breath. Hospice and palliative care is dedicated to provide medical treatment that concentrates on reducing the severity of disease among people suffering with life threatening illness like Cancer, HIV / AIDS, etc. by giving them therapies and psychological support.

At Dean Foundation in Chennai, the principle of palliative care is to alleviate pain, reduce suffering and provide psychological / emotional help and a network of support for their parents' family and friends to improve the quality of life of the patient and his / her family in the slums or otherwise. Once they are contacted, doctors and nurses go to the house of the patient and give him medicines, drips or injections as the case may be. They hold a license for delivery of painkillers and all their treatment and medicines are free. They plan to set up a residential hospice in Coimbatore for which they have the land already and are fund-raising for the building. Contact: Dean Foundation, Chennai Tel: 044-26454949 / 26461391 email: deanf@vsnl.com.

_____________________________________________________________

Kiran Bedi TV show

Mumbai: Star Plus is producing a television series titled Aap Ki Kachehri a first of it's kind on Indian television will feature, Kiran Bedi, who will deliver justice in a swift and decisive court of Alternate Dispute Redressal.

A content team is being set up in Mumbai. Aap Ki Kachehri is a show with real people, real cases and real situations with an aim to educate and inform. Its objectives include getting the affected parties to discuss the issue, look at probable solutions to their problems outside of courts and also to educate others in similar situations. It will endeavor to give a fair hearing and will offer an unbiased forum for settling disputes between consenting individuals. The aim would be to achieve conciliation of both parties in this televised mediation.

Issues and cases featuring on the show will vary across genres. Family disputes, discrimination, cruelty, senior citizen rights, marital disputes, landlord tenant disputes, consumer rights, to name a few.

The channel has a website for the show http://starplus.indya.com/shows/serials. Those with disputes can contact us through letter (address given on site ) or email, Anusha Khan Aap Ki KachehriContent Head, Mumbai Synergy Adlabs.


Education for Devadasis children

Bangalore: To protect girl children of Devadasis from being victims of sexual abuse, EveryChild, an NGO began programmes under the Bidugade project with over 118 child activity centres to monitor trafficking in Belgaum and Bellary District. The child activity centres have programmes designed in four stages: Munnota for children till grade 4; Hejje - for grade 5-7; Thiruvu - grades 8-10 and Thalata for grade 10+. The children are enrolled in regular schools and come to the centre after school hours where they are taught the ill-effects of the Devadasi system, illiteracy, superstition etc. The 116 child motivators are from the area. The 114 Devadasi girls are monitored by a group from EveryChild.

Self-help for Greens Friends

Chennai: The new vermin-compost yard at Sholinganallur has helped 37 women tsunami survivors with a new vocation. Hand-in-Hand which runs 19 such yards in Kancheepuram district will runt his one also with the active involvement of the local body. The new yard, near the IT corridor will handle kitchen waste from 10 wards every day i.e. 2.5 tonnes from 4927 houses and petty shops. The yard has 20 concrete bins where different kinds of waste-organic, re-cyclable and inert materials - where the waste will be segregated. Each household gets two binds for bio-degradable and non-bio-degradable free with no collection fee. After a year the Self help group will be responsible for its sustainability. The panchayat has provided infrastructure - 16 tricycles, 10000 bins and supporting staff.

On stage in jail

Bangalore: After conducting a 45 day workshop in jails in the city, Sankalp oranised a performance of three plays at the Ranidra Kalakshetra to commemorate Gandhiji's birthday, on Oct 2 and 3. H.Katimani has been hold workshops for prisoners since thelast 20 years. With 15 actors and students of the Chamarajendra Academy of Visual Arts in Mysore s volunteers and the JCP believes is a great therapy for inmates. Contact 94480 88450.

World Elder's Day - Oct 1

Bangalore: The Nightingales Medical Trust launched a geriatric institute with research and training facilities. In the first phase a comprehensive dementia care centre is planned with technical expertise from Alzheimers Association. A 2 km walk onMG Road, seminars and meetings were held to observe World Elders Day by groups working for the elderly. Ashvasan Foundation held an entertainment programme and honoured elders who had excelled in their fields with a citation, shawl and Rs. 10,000 cash. Those felicitated were S.Hiremath (music); N.Lingappa, (Sports; Ranganayakamma (theatre); ME Guru (Art); C.Radhakrishna (Dance); and Chennamma (crafts) and honoured 30 members who had reached 80 years. SAndhyakirana in CHikkalasandra had a programme with the department of welfare of disabled and seniors.

In Mumbai, Dignity Foundation and ICICI Prudential had a celebration cum awards (for volunteers) programme at Sophia College Hall on Oct. 1 with Dr. Jce. Dhananjaya Chandrachud as Chief Guest.

World Alzheimers Day

On the occasion of World Alzheimer's Day on 21st September 2008 'Silver Inning Foundation' in association with 'ARDSI Greater Mumbai Support Group' had a Multidimensional programmes at various location and for people from different segment - Senior Citizens, Students, Para Medical and Police in Mumbai. These included Films at Harmony Center, Girgaum, HELP Centre, VT, and Senior Citizens Clubs; Sensitizing Programme for Para Medical professional at Nanavati Hospital, Vile Parle (W); Talk on Dementia for Students at S.V.T. College of Home Science Auditorium, (S.N.D.T.) Santacruz (W); Sensitizing programme for Mumbai Police Elder Helpline at Mumbai Police HO, Crawford Market Senior Citizen Club, Children's Acadamy School, Near Saidham Temple, Off W. Express Highway, Asha Nagar, Kandivli (E), Kandivali - 4pm to 6 pm - Anchor Prof. Sangeeta Rao.

The programme was organized in association with Alzheimer's & Related Disorder Society of India (ARDSI) - Mumbai Chapter, Harmony, H.E.L.P. Library, The Family Welfare Agency, Shree Manav Seva Sangh, Abhi to Main Jawan Hoon, S.V.T. College, FESCOM and AISCCON. Contact: Sailesh Misra www.silverinnings.org.

PFI programme for PLHA

Ukhrul:: A one day district level interaction programme for people living with HIV / AIDS (PLHA) and health care providers was held on Oct. 4 at Hamleikhong under the aegis of Population Foundation of India (PFI) and Ukhrul Network for Positive People (UNP+). Speaking on the occasion, State programme coordinator of PFI, Archana said, the main objective of the progamme is to reduce the growth of of HIV / AIDS in Ukhrul district which is increasing at an alarming rate.

Manipur HIV programmes lauded

Imphal, October 06: Acknowledging the efforts of the Manipur Legislature Forum on HIV / AIDS in combating HIV / AIDS in the State and the difficulties it was facing due to fund paucity, Union Labour Minister of State Oscar Fernandes has assured that funds would be sanctioned to the forum towards its campaign.

Addressing the second general body meeting of the forum at Manipur Legislative Assembly complex today, Oscar Fernandes who is also president of the Parliamentarians' Forum on HIV / AIDS while hailing the efforts of the State legislators, suggested roping in civil society organisations in their campaign against HIV / AIDS in the State.

Wellness Space for women

Bangalore: A women Wellness space was inaugurated on Oct 4 by Sukrut, an organisationwhich uses psycho-social porcessess to help organizations andindividuals achieve their vision. Contact: Shobha Managoli 9886783871.

RTI
Rural areas for RTI

Mumbai: As a new initiative, the Public Concern of Governance Trust (PCGT) as part of its RTI programme is working with empowering rural youth in the Kalyan-Ambernath belt, in partnership with the Bahujan Hitay Social Trust. The first workshop for the staff of the Trust and 2 youth members was held on Sept. 3, followed by workshops on Sept 20, Oct.11, and a residential training of trainers on Oct. 24. The camp scheduled for Nov. 4 will be for 200 household from Ambegaon and Ambewadi. The programme ends on Dec. 19. Through the programme, villagers will be taught about RTI and to express their queries so that they can be used for RTI. Contact: Shabnam publiconcern@gmail.com.

Bangalore: To create more awareness on the uses and application of RTI the Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement organsied a month long padyatra - Jagruti Yathre which culminated on Oct. 3 at the Gandhi statue inBangaloe. The walk by 30 youth began at Saragur - 350 kms away pssing through 110 villages and 10 towns in five districts and connecting with thousands of villagers on the way throughsong, theatre and pamphlets.

_____________________________________________________________

LEGAL

SC Lok adalat
The National Legal Service Authority (Supreme Court Legal Services Committee will organize a Supreme Court Lok Adalat on Saturday December 6 for settlement of cases regarding: Land acquisition and requisition matters; compensation matters; family law matters and others.

A list of the categories has been displayed on the notice boards and website http://supremecourtofindoa.nic.in or http://indiancourts.nic.in Parties willing for settlement of their cases may address themselves through their counsel, the Member Secretary, National Legal Services Authority by Nov. 14, 08.

The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 was enacted in the year 2006. Since a crucial step towards ensuring the success of any law is through monitoring its implementation. The Lawyers Collective in collaboration with the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD), National Commission for Women (NCW), and Bureau of Police and Research Development (BPR&D) had organized a National level conference titled "Staying Alive" on 26th and 27h of October 2007, with the support of UNIFEM South Asia Office.

A one day National Conference on the 14th November 2008 is being held at the India Habitat Centre, Delhi to release findings of the report on the implementation of the Protection of Women Against Domestic Violence Act 2005. The LCWRI sought to map the first year of the Act's enforcement with the intention of identifying best practices, shortcomings and suggesting remedial measures. The report put together data on infrastructure put in place under the PWDV Act and information on the operation of the law by examining the cases filed, proceedings adopted and reliefs obtained.

The objective of the 2nd Annual Monitoring and Evaluation Report is to study the different approaches adopted by the States in putting in place infrastructure of the PWDV Act; the extent to which gaps identified in the 1st report are being fulfilled, significant changes and additions made; how effective is the infrastructure in facilitating women's access to court and other services; and finally identifying the jurisprudence that is being evolved by the High Courts and Supreme Court on the PWDV Act.
Contact: Indira Jaising (Project Director) Lawyers Collective (WRI) New Delhi-Phone No.91-11-24373904,24372923.

Live-in amendment faces flak
New Delhi: NGOs have objected to an amendment which would allow widening the definition of 'iife' to include a long-term relationship. The 'Mothers and Sisters Initiative (MASI), and the All India Forgotten women (AIFW), because it was not based on any data. Activists have also demanded that people filing false cases should be severely punished for misusing the judicial process.

Oracle 'walks'

Bangalore: More than 800 employees of Oracle, and their families walked to raise funds for ASHA, an NGO working for the welfare of children suffering from autism and the Needy Heart Foundation. A part of the funds would also be allocated for the Bihar flood victims. The week-long fund raising activity raised Rs 10.75 lakhs.

Irish eyes are smiling

Darjeeling: After working for 20 years in the remote villages of West Bengal, Edith Wilkins from Ireland set up her own NGO, the Edith Wilkins India Street Children Foundation in January 2003 to care for street children. The Foundation, supported by her family, friends, the Irish government and the Irish embassy in Delhi, started with 30 children and now has 650 children who were child labourers, trafficked or sexually / physically abused. The school gives them an all-round education till Std. 10 through 5 groups.

Adopt a road

Bangalore: Tired of cribbing about the bad state of roads in the city, some citizens began the "Good Life Traffic Solutions" (GLTS) and in their vicinity began clearing the road of slabs, debris, filling potholes and blocked drains. Their activity brought them dividends and now they have prepared a manual of how other road-users can follow up in their communities. The Adopt-a-road campaign will identify 100 roads and divide them into half an kilometer slabs which will be looked after by companies, individuals and housing societies in the area with the costs specified and labour coming from the slum nearest. Write to info@gltfindia.org.

Mahapanchayat

In Delhi, members of the National Conference of Dalit Organisations and Amnesty International, India met Parliamentarians on October 17 to demand resources for the most vulnerable and socially excluded groups. Celebrities and thousands of people gathered for a mass mobilisation on Parliament Street.

In Daltonganj, Jharkhand, People from 600 villages and 18 districts also gathered on October 17 and 18 to demand poverty alleviation measures from the government and the achievement of the MDGs.

SAATHI new addresses

Kolkata and Bhubaneswar Offices of SAATHII have been shifted to new addresses. The changed contact informations regarding these two offices are as follows:

SAATHII, Kolkata Office: 229, Kalitala Main Road, Purbachal (North), Kolkata 700 078
Telephone: 91 33 2484 4835, 2484 5002.

SAATHII, Bhubaneswar Office: Plot No. 35/6, Madhu Sudan Nagar, Bhubaneswar 751 001, Telephone: 91 674 239 1245WSPA office in New Delhi.

AIDWA's NATIONAL CONVENTION OF MUSLIM WOMEN

On the 27th of August, more than eight hundred Muslim women along with other AIDWA members from all over India gathered at Mavalankar Hall, New Delhi to demand recognition as equal citizens and equal access to amenities like education, health as well as employment; they came to demand freedom from fear; they came to demand an end to communal violence.

Inaugurating the convention, AIDWA President Subhashini Ali said that the Convention was a culmination of a decade of AIDWA's sustained efforts in mobilizing and organising Muslim women on a wide range of issues that they themselves articulated in conventions and meetings that were organized, over these years, in areas, at block and district and state levels all over the country.

This was followed by 4 sessions, the first `Women and Work' had speakers who were themselves home-based workers and members of SHGs involved in productive work The second session on the Denial of Citizenship Rights was introduced by Sehba Farooqui, Secretary of the Delhi State AIDWA, who spoke about the harsh reality of Muslims being reduced to second-class citizens in parts of the country. A speech by Teesta Setalvad concluded the session.. The third session on Violence was introduced by Maimoona Mullah who decried the fact that Muslim women face violence not only outside their homes but within them from family members and from self-styled community and religious `leaders'. The final session, Negotiating the Public Sphere, illustrated the experiences of Muslim women as elected representatives and in public struggles.

Conferences held
The Centre for Internet and Society held a National Public Meeting on Software Patents at UTC, Bangalore on Oct. 4 which was organizerd by the Centre for Internet and Society; Free Software Users Group-Bangalore; Free Software Foundation of India; SPACE; IT for Change; Alternative Law Forum; Delhi Science Forum;and others.

EDA Rural Systems held a training course from Oct 21-24 in Gurgaon on 'Perspective Building on Social Performance Management and Reporting' --a systematic approach by micro-finance institutions to put their mission into practice. This course, originally developed by Imp-Act consortium was an opportunity to balance financial and social goals from the start. write to training@edarural.com, or Monika Agarwal at monikaagarwal@edarural.com.

_____________________________________________________________

Workshop on Gender, diversity and development was held from Oct. 20-24 at Visthar, Bangalore for Civil Society Organizations and all those involved in addressing marginalization and poverty. The workshop aimed at exploring the different dimensions of diversity, reviewing how development policies and practices have dealt with gender and diversity, and evolving perspectives and skills for integrating gender and diversity concerns into our organizations and programmes. Contact Visthar: 080- 28465294 / 5, 9945551310 (mobile), www.visthar.org; Mercy Kappen, mail@visthar.org; mercykappen@yahoo.com.

*Social Entrepreneurship Workshop - Strategic Planning for a Social Enterprise* wasthe first of a series of lectures / workshops arranged by The *Centre for Social Initiative and Management* *(CSIM)*, *Bangalore*, the School for Social Entrepreneurs, conducts part-time courses on social entrepreneurship and NGO management. A series of lectures / workshops in various domains in the social sector are planned in the next few months. Contact Centre for Social Initiative and Management Bangalore Ph. 25635398, 9886 833 665.

_____________________________________________________________

Carbon Revenues: A Source of Funding, a three Day Training From 4 - 6 Nov was held at Institute of Social Sciences - 8, Nelson Mandela Marg, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi.

For development agencies to make interventions that would help them earn carbon funds involves learning of tools, techniques and information required within the existing development interventions currently run or likely to be run in future viz. related to Natural Resource Management and Energy. Objectives of the Training: To understand the concept of carbon revenue and how it can generate funds Contact Bhavana GadreManager - TrainingTARA Livelihood Academy, Development Alternatives Group, New Delhi Tel. No: 011-26132718, Email Id: bgadre@devalt.org.

An interesting interactive management development programme / training on Climate Change: Adaptation and Mitigation in Action, is scheduled for first week of November 2008, at Institute for Rural Management, Anand. For further details see, http://irma. Shriprakashsingh. ssrajput@irma.ac.in.

The Social Responsibility Conclave, organised by the Net Impact Club of Indian School of Business, Hyderabad, is a congregation of thought leaders from various sections of the society - involving the industry, social enterprises, NGOs, business schools, academia, and politics. This year's theme for the conclave aims at generating insights, ideas and guidelines relevant to the industry in general and especially students from business schools. The theme for the conclave this year was: Business: A Power for Good on Oct 18.

The Project for Economic Education and the Nehru Centre had an interactive discussion Towards a New Health Policy - Some Tangible Solutions on Oct. 18 at Nehru Centre, Mumbai to note that even after the sixth decade of independence, the health and health care of the country is grossly unsatisfactory. While some talk of medical tourism, large sections of people continue to suffer without good heath care both in urban and rural areas; mismanagement and poor fund allocations have made governments marginal players in the health sector and policy reforms and new approaches are needed.

Training programme on Development Communication Advocacy, BCC, Main Streaming for State level District level & Block level Officers of State AIDS Control Society was held from Nov. 3 - 7 by the Indian Institute of Development Management at Bhopal. 3 batches of training on this subject for Gujarat State AIDS Control Society have already been held. Contact (0755) 2426109, 4295674 URL: www.iidmindia.com E-Mail: iidmbpl@gmail.com; iidmbpl@yahoo.com.

Media Persons, labour experts, trade unionists and jurists called for a concerted effort to eradicate the problems of child labour which was robbing millions of the country's children of their childhood and preventing them from realizing their full potential. Participating in a workshop on "Media and Child Labour", on Sept. 10 organized by the Delhi Union of Journalists (DUJ) in cooperation with the International Labour Organistion (ILO) and the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU).

SPJain Institute of Management and Research in collaboration with Alliance UK held a one-day seminar on "Towards a more valuable donor" for participants to gain a deeper understanding of donor motivation. The seminar was held at the college premises on Sept 15. Contact shaoli Chakravorty at mcrmm@spjimr.org.

_____________________________________________________________

The First Annual HIV Science Symposium 2008, co-sponsored by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi and Department of Biotechnology, New Delhi was held on Sept 22 / 23 to cover various topics encompassing HIV epidemiology, pathogenesis, host-virus interactions, immune responses to infection, disease progression, opportunistic infections, current treatment strategies, natural history of HIV disease in India, vaccines, sexually transmitted diseases, and co-infections with TB and hepatitis viruses.

At Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) Campus, Chennai-600113.
Visit: http://yrgcare.org/Science_symposium/index.html

*media matters* had its 4th annual workshop Participatory Communication & Action!- Approaches, Tools, Processes - a Six - day Residential; from Sep 25 - 30, 2008; at Talegaon, Maharashtra. The workshop sought to sensitize and build capacities of the participants to facilitate enabling and empowering processes with groups and communities Contact media matters Ambernath Maharashtra, Tel. 91-251-2606929; email: info@mmindia.org.

A half-day awareness workshop on Paper Recycling and Reuse organized by Technology and Action for Rural Advancement (TARA) in association with Development Alternatives and Jyothi Nivas College was held on Sept. 12 at *Jyothi Nivas College, Bangalore. The 'TARA Handmade Paper Recycling Unit* is a technology that has been successfully developed, field tested and implemented in over 30 educational institutions and government offices in the country. In Bangalore three such units have been set up at the Innisfree House School, Jyothi Nivas College and the Association of People with Disability.

A demonstration of the paper unit is part of the workshop. Contact Samir GoraBusiness Manager - TARA, Bangalore
Mobile: 9818349749 E-mail: sgora@devalt.org.