Centre for Social Research, under the Project: “Water Conservation and Climate Change Training of Trainer Program for the Women Elected Representatives in Rural India” conducted Hand Holding Programs in Bhinmal; Jalore. The Fourth handholding program was conducted on 13thJune by Ms.Amiya Devi (Aanganwadi worker; Badabhavdi) and Ms.Sangeeta Sharma (Sarpanch;Badabhavdi). Both Ms.Amiya and Ms.Sangeeta had received training on water conservation and climate change in 2016. This training was conducted in order to sensitize and build their knowledge on the above mentioned issue and to further make a cadre of active women leaders who spread awareness on the topic in the community and further train other local women through hand holding programs on the issue of water conservation and climate change. The participants of the hand holding programs were largely local women.
This hand holding was also attended by CSR team members. The hand holding began with CSR team members interacting with the all the participants about Centre for Social Research, its work and specific work under water conservation and climate project. Ms Sunita Sharma (local resource person; SARD) assisted the trainers in conducting the hand-holding Program held in Badabhavdi panchayat. The discourse that took place in this hand-holding was Ms.Amiya Devi (Aanganwadiworker; Badabhavdi) and Ms.Sangeeta Sharma (Sarpanch; Badabhavdi) shared with the community members their learnings from the training by utilizing the IEC material i.e. the Bandhanvaars which was handed over to the participants of the Training of Trainers conducted in 2016.
OUTCOMES
The hand holding program contributed towards building understanding of the community on water conservation, climate change, ways of conserving water, importance of growing trees etc.
OBSERVATIONS MADE BY LOCAL PARTNER
(1) Initially Sangeeta Sharma (Sarpanch /EWR ) had inhibitions towards conducting the training but with the support of the local partner and Ms.Amiya Devi she discussed the importance of water conservation and also shared her experience & learnings from the training conducted in 2016.
(2) There is a need of increase in number of hand holdings conducted by the EWRs / active trainers from the trainings as it will help them in enhancing their confidence level.
(3) There is a requirement of increase in number of trainings so that larger numbers of community members build their understanding on the connection between gender, water and governance.
OBSERVATIONS MADE BY CSR TEAM MEMBERS
(1) Ms.Ritika Bhatia held one on one discussion with Ms.Sangeet Sharma (Sarpanch) in which she discussed the water conservation issues and proposals initiated by her. Ms. Sangeeta mentioned that due to the existing patriarchal set up; most of her work was done with complete assistance from the Sachive and her Father in Law. The water related proposals are as mentioned below:-
– Pond deepening
– Provision of water tankers for dry villages which don’t have other water sources.
(2) It was observed that the community members were not well aware about the important dates of Gram Panchayat meeting as most of them had attended limited or no meetings.
(3) In comparison to the trainings and hand-holdings conducted in Abu Road and Jaipur the community and EWR’s in Bhinmal need more support and encouragement to build their own capacities and of the locals.
CONCLUSION
It is important to increase the number of trainings and hand holdings in Bhinmal as the community awareness level on the requirement of water conservation and climate change is low and they also need to take up the responsibility of becoming the change makers for the desired improvement.
