Citizen Government Meet addressing health concerns at high altitudes

As a part of Pragya’s rights based initiative supported by UNDEF, a Citizen Government Meet was conducted in Kinnaur to facilitate interaction between the health department and the citizens. The interactive session and constructive dialogues enabled the people to become aware of the various health related government schemes and provisions and to raise concerns regarding the services of the department. The event, attended by 38 participants, included representatives from 18 villages in upper and lower Kinnaur, members of the High Himalayan Forum (HHF), NGO representatives from across the district and officials from Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and Auxiliary Nurse and Midwives (ANMs).

The meeting started with a brief presentation of Pragya’s rapid participatory assessment of the healthcare status in Kinnaur district. Following this, Dr. S.S. Negi, representing the Health Department spoke about the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and the schemes available for citizens in Kinnaur. Concerns raised during the interactive discussion session regarding the status of Primary Health Care in remote villages included: lack of gynecologists at block level, incapacity of medical personnel and lack of knowledge regarding the major schemes for pregnant women and children among the community members. A request was put forward for the department to conduct more health camps at the block level instead of village level, where surgeries and eye-checks could be done. The issues raised were documented by the representatives from the health department and they assured further interventions in coordination with the state level machineries. (More about related efforts by Pragya)

Stakeholder Workshop to contribute towards ‘Protocol for Safe Working Conditions of the Migrant Road/Dam Workers’

A district level stakeholder workshop was conducted at district headquarter Keylong (Lahaul & Spiti) to draft policy recommendations for ‘Protocol for Safe Working Conditions of the Migrant Road/Dam Workers’. As part of a series of stakeholder discussion oriented workshops across various high Himalayan districts, the workshop explored various concerns shared by the migrant workers working in these harsh terrains and the employers and discussed possible solutions. (More about this Pragya initiative)

Clean water for Il Ngwesi community at Emurua Olaragai

As a part of the clean water initiative by Pragya in Laikipia and Samburu districts, a village level meeting was conducted in Emurua Olaragai village of ll Ngwesi community to map the local water sources and to identify the issues concerning these sources. Three important sources were identified - Oltamam Spring, Loiragai Spring and Looltuka Spring out of which, people prioritized the Oltamam Spring for protective measures. As a result of the intervention carried out in the months of July and August, about 30 households in Emurua Olaragai village now have access to clean and safe water evidenced by lesser incidences of water borne diseases in the area.

Training of ASHA workers for improved service delivery

A advanced skill building training was carried out for ASHA members (Accredited Social Health Activist) in Joshimath block of Chamoli district in Uttarakhand to impart necessary skills required for better service delivery. 33 ASHA members took part in the event where their knowledge on their responsibilities was tested; group activities and discussions were conducted on roles and responsibilities of ASHA, pregnancy care, postnatal care. The training as part of a larger health and nutrition programme supported by the Ashmore Foundation, UK also brought into light those areas where further training/workshops are required.

Culture Workshop at Darchula

For documenting the Himalayan cultural heritage, Pragya along with Heritage Conservation Council of Pitthoragarh conducted a grassroots workshop to identify the most threatened and vulnerable cultural forms. Scientific threat analysis tools were used in presence of experts of different cultural sectors from Rung and Kumouni communities. Through the workshop 15 culture forms under high threat of extinction were prioritised for detailed documentation. (More about Pragya's initiatives on Culture Preservation)

Field visits to remote lands in East Africa

Taking forward Pragya’s initiative to address the needs of communities in remote areas of the East African highlands and the indigenous peoples of the arid savannah lands in the region, Ms. Gargi Banerji and Mr. Sunil Pillai visited Kenya and held discussions with stakeholders in the target region.

The stakeholders they held discussions with included representatives of the NGO Coordination Board, ACORD, DFID and ICIPE. Field visits took them to Kisumu district in Nyanza province and Kakamega district (highland area in the Western province of Kenya), and they visited the programs run by WEAEP, a local NGO, and the Muliru Farmers Cooperative. They also visited the Il Ngwesi community (Maasai people) in the remote parts of Laikipia district (arid lands in the Great Rift Valley), where they interacted with traditional healers and studied village water needs. Pragya plans to consolidate the relations built during the visit and take its development actions in East Africa a step further.

Community toilets in Dalit settlements of Dolpa

Members of Dalit communities in Ralli village of Tirpurakot VDC in Dolpa District were very happy as the construction of the community toilet blocks were completed last weekend. 19 households would benefit from this initiative. This is part of a Pragya’s water & sanitation initiative in Nepal, which also has a focus on interventions related to potable water and irrigation. The initiative is underway in the high mountain districts of Dolpa, Humla and Mustang.