Project Report Empowerment of Women through Convergence of

Service Providers to Improve Child Sex Ratio” in District Fatehgarh Sahib in the State of Punjab, India

Sponsored By:

National Mission for Empowerment, Ministry of Women & Child Development, Government of India

Implemented By:

Voluntary Health Association of Punjab SCF 18/1, Sector 10-D, Chandigarh

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements...................................................................

Abbreviations.................................................................................

Executive Summary......................................................................

1. Brief description about the Project

1.1. Objective of the Project

1.2 Brief description about project focused Areas 1.2.1 Area and Location

1.2.2Administrative Division 1.2.3 Population

1.2.4 Total No. of Blocks

1.2.5 Sirhind Block

1.2.6Climate, Rainfall and Soil

2. Project Activities and key findings of the Project.

3. End Evaluation Report’s Main Findings

4. Some of the measurable outcomes from the project

Annexure

Photos

list of Newspapers Clippings

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We take this opportunity to express our sincere thanks to all the

stakeholders for their support and cooperation during implementing this

project. We are especially thankful to National Mission for Empowerment,

Ministry of Women & Child Development, Government of India and all

concerned officials for providing timely support and guidance during

implementing this project. We are also especially thankful to the

programme team and field level staff members at all locations for

coordinating and helping at every stage during implementing this project.

Finally, sincere gratitude and thanks are due to all the stakeholders and

specially women who were participated various village, block, district and

state level activities and support us. Thanks to the all participants for kindly

sharing their experience, views and opinions with VHAP team. Thanks to the

all stakeholders of the project site for participating in Focus Group

Discussions, interviews and other interactive sessions.

We also appreciate the presence of Government line agencies during various

interactive sessions. Our sincere gratitude for the valuable time provided to

us by Deputy Commissioner, Additional Deputy Commissioner of district

Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab. Thanks to all colleagues of VHAP for their kind

support.

Manmohan Sharma

Team Leader

ABBREVIATIONS

ANM - Auxiliary Nurse Midwife

ASHA- Accredit Social Health Activist

FGD- Focus Group Discussion

ICDS- Integrated Child Development Scheme

MGNREGA- Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act

NGO -Non Government Organisation

PRI -Panchayati Raj Institution

MM- Mahila Mandal

SHG- Self Help Group

CBOs-Community Based Organisation

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

VHAP is a community based organisation working in Punjab since 1994. Its

initial focus was to address the issues of the poor and vulnerable

communities. VHAP began working in partnership with local NGOs,

networks, federations and community groups to address the underlying

causes of poverty, conflict and vulnerability through promotion of gender

and social inclusion, rights based approach and social obilization. Women

Empowerment is one of the core priority programs that focus on economic,

social, political, and cultural aspects of women’s life.

VHAP started a one-year project “The Project Entitled “Empowerment of

Women through Convergence of Service Providers to Improve Child Sex

Ratio” in District Fatehgarh Sahib in the State of Punjab” .The project

started in March 2014 and completed in June. 2015. The program was

implemented in 10 selected villages of one block. The targeted beneficiaries

of the program were specially women and adolescent, who vulnerable and

socially excluded. Besides implementation at field level, this program also

worked at blocks and district level. For effective implementation of this

project District-level coordination and convergence Committee was formed

by representatives from various District level departments.

Activities such as Capacity building, Community mobilization and support,

Sensitization etc implemented in this project are relevant with the local

situations, plans/ policies of the Government of Punjab. The VHAP team

found the local CBOs and NGOs, So that they advised to implement such

practices in their working area of operation.

The series of efforts made by VHAP through advocacy campaign, awareness,

and training to concerned stakeholders for promotion of community

involvement plan of action is commendable. Information available from field

and documentation justify VHAP’s planned activities to support the priority

set by the NMEW and the level of coordination maintained with its

stakeholders and line agencies.

1. Brief description about the Project

The National Mission for Empowerment of Women (NMEW), Ministry of

Women and Child Development, Government of India (GOI) has

implemented the programme through partner organization for pilot

convergence models for empowerment of women with thematic focus. The

Mission is mandated to facilitate the processes that contribute to economic

empowerment of women, eliminate violence against women, social

empowerment of women with emphasis on health and education, gender

mainstreaming of policies, programs and institutional arrangements and

awareness generation and advocacy for bridging information and service

gaps. The pilot convergence models are meant to demonstrate convergence

of programmes and schemes in the field level. It is borne from the fact that,

better convergence between the schemes, especially, flagship schemes in

terms of planning, process and implementation will bring substantial

improvements in overall development outcomes. Though, large public

investments are made by Central and State Governments through schemes

and programmes in various sectors like health, education, employment and

social security etc., the primary focus is always on meeting goals of the

respective ministries and departments. The pilot convergence models

present an opportunity to optimize these efforts through inter-sectoral

coordination to meet the larger objective of overall development and

empowerment of people, especially the women.

The intensive work under the Pilot has been implemented at the Gram

Panchayat level. The pilot project has expected convergence of government

and certain other service providers to work towards improving child sex

ratio. For the state, the burning issue of child sex ratio that has emerged in

last few decades needs to be dealt in multifaceted and at multiple levels. The

issues of Reproductive & sexual Health Rights need to be probed and Family

Life Education has to be adopted as essential and complementary

measurers to avoid aversion to girl child. Project Goal is to support

convergence of women empowerment related programs of all government &

other service providers in improving child sex ratio.

1.1 Objectives of the project:

To synergize the stand alone efforts of related departments and other

service providers through inter-sectoral coordination to meet the

larger objective of overall development and empowerment of women;

To create awareness about entitlements flowing through schemes and

programmes;

To harness strength of collective bargaining for rights, strengthen

community involvement in monitoring mechanisms, involve and train

relevant stakeholders and

To energize the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and facilitate

organizing Mahila Gram Sabha in selected villages and build their

capacity for sustaining the Pilot.

1.2 Brief description about project focused Areas

1.2.1 Area and Location

Total area of Fatehgarh Sahib District is 1,180 square kilometer. It is

situated in Punjab state of India. It is bounded by Ludhiana and Ropar in

the North, Patiala in the South, parts of Ropar and Patiala in the East and

parts of Ludhiana and Sangrur in the West. It is situated between 30

degree-38' North 16 degrees-27' East and is 50 Kms. towards the west of

Chandigarh, the capital of Punjab.

District has some of the key facts:

Average literacy rate of District is 79.35 percent.

Male literacy rate is 83.33 percent.

Female literacy rate is 74.80 percent.

Average density is 509 per sq. km.

Total Population is 600,163. ( Census-2011)

Male Population is 320,795.

Female Population is 279,368.

Female Sex ratio is 871 females per 1000 males.

Child sex ratio is 842 females per 1000 males.

1.2.2 Administrative Division

S. No.

Particulars Amloh Sub-

division

Bassi Pathana

Sub-

division

Khamano Sub-

division

Fatehgarh Sahib

Sub-

division

Total

1. No. of villages 103 100 76 175 454

2. Area (in hect.)

a) Geographical Area

26120 20657 19593 48409 114779

b) Net Cultivated Area

23167 18124 17885 42852 102028

c) Banjar 171 6 10 54 241

d) Forest 423 620 475 504 2022

1.2.3 Population

As per the census 2011, the district has total population of 227905 which

constitute 10.52% of the total state population. The density of population

per sq km is 50. The schedule tribe and schedule caste population form the

93.2 percent and 0.9 percent of the total population respectively.

1.2.4 Total No. of Blocks

1.2.5 Sirhind Block

The total area of the Block is 30,786 hectares. The town of Sirhind is famous

for bus/truck body building as well as for the manufacturing of

centrifugal/submersible pumps. There are some units of mining machinery

and toughened glass as well. Some products manufactured by these units

are import substitutes. Paddy and wheat are the main crops of the block.

Irrigation is done mainly through tube wells which are supplemented by the

canal water.

1.2.6 Climate, Rainfall and Soil

The soil of the district is mainly alluvial type but it also has loam to heavy

loam and sandy loam soils in certain parts of the district. The climate of the

district is extreme being very hot in summer and cold in winter. The

temperature ranges from 45 degree C (in May/June) to 4 degree C in

December/January. It has a sub-tropical continental monsoon climate. The

rainfall in the district is mostly satisfactory.

The economy of the district mainly depends upon agriculture. The district is

well irrigated with tube wells and canal irrigation being the main sources of

irrigation. Wheat and Rice are the main crops sown in the district.

Project focused area is fully dominated by a patriarchal culture. Women are

subject to subordination while the ability of men to earn money and their

traditional role as a provider entails them with higher economic and social

status. Women’s role in decision-making and control over resources is

negligible in most households. Issues concerning property, marriage,

expenditure and education are men’s business and women can exert little or

no influence over them.

2. Project Activities and key findings of the Project.

Brief description of activities carried out during the project

period

First Quarter: March, 2014, and April-June, 2014:

The project was started with hiring of staffs for implementation of the

project. One project coordinator, two field supervisors and one part time

accountant were hired. After their recruitment the staffs were provided

training on the project implementation. They were oriented on the project

objectives, goals, activities and the project results. They were also briefed on

the project’s background, the need for interventions and intended impact of

the project as well as their roles & responsibilities. Some of the others

activities were-

Introduced the Project in the selected 10 villages

Discussed and consulted block as well as district level govt. officials

about the project

Discussed with different stakeholders such as PRIs members,

SHGs/Club members, Community leaders, ASHA Workers, ANMS,

School Teachers and Village Health and Sanitation Committees of the

selected 10 villages about the project aims and objectives

Baseline survey data collection was started in10 selected villages

10 Girl Child Forums (one in each selected village) were formed.

Focus Group Discussions were conducted in each selected village

One to one meetings were done with pregnant mothers and targeted

couples

Meeting with District Education Officer, Fatehgarh Sahib for participating

school children in the rallies under this project

Meetings with concern School Principals/Heads for finalising rally

schedule

Girl-Child Forums ‘meeting conducted in the 3 villages- Pandrali,

Madhopur and Bhatt Majra.

Five rallies were organised on “Declining Sex Ratio and save Girl-Child”

in five villages- Jallha, Lataur, Madhopur, Bhatt Majra and Bibipur.

Organized motivational meeting between Facilitators and Service

Providers- on focusing “Declining Sex Ratio and save Girl-Child” at village

Pandrali.

Regular follow up by Project Staff of newly birth child and pregnant

mothers in the Project area

Meeting with PRIs elected women representatives for Mahila Gram

Sabhas in their respective village

Girl-Child Forums meetings were conducted

Meeting with staffs of Community Health Centre, Primary Health Centre

and Health Sub-Centres

Developmental meetings with Deputy Commissioner and other

district/block level officials.

Conducted Project Review / Staff meeting.

One to one meeting with women members of Gram Sabhas with

motivational campaigning towards ensuring the participation in proposed

meetings of Gram Sabhas.

Birth/Death data collected from the selected villages.

Baseline survey data was compiled and analysed.

Baseline Survey: In the months of April, May and June 2014, a baseline

survey was conducted in selected area to collect and compile actual data

on various indicators such as total population, sex ratio, number of

children, etc. A questionnaire was developed for collecting information by

research experts, who were hired as consultants for the project and the

staffs were trained for filling up the questionnaire. The survey had been

conducted in 10 selected villages. One day orientation was organized at

Chandigarh office for the project staffs to undertake the survey. The staffs

collected information both qualitative and quantitative from primary and

secondary sources with the help of different stakeholders.

Note: Baseline Survey Report have been already submitted

2nd Quarter: July-September, 2014:

Updated Birth/Death registration data.

Conducted meetings of Girl-Child Forums in the selected 10 villages of

the project.

Meetings with Deputy Commissioner and other district/block level

officials.

GroupWise meetings with Community leaders, Panchayat members,

Teachers, Anganwadi workers, Anganwadi Helpers, ASHAs, Members Mid

day meal of Schools, Pathis of Gurudwars, Pujaries of the temples, Dais

and Chokidars of the project areas.

Listing of the eligible couples.

Listing the adolescent Girls and Boys.

Conducted Project Review / Staff monthly meetings.

Training programmes for service providers

Organized Capacity Building Workshop for 100 front line ASHA Workers

to orient them on Reproductive & Sexual Health Rights and measures to

be taken to safeguard the same

Conducted Quarterly Meeting of Service managers (Health) Service

Providers (Agriculture), Education Department & others for better

coordination.

Group wise meetings with Community leaders, Panchayat members,

Teachers, Anganwadi workers.

One to one meetings with Target Couples.

One to one meeting with adolescent Girls and Boys.

Agenda wise planning meetings with village level facilitators.

Organized Capacity Building Workshop for 100 front line Anganwadi

Workers to orient them on Reproductive & Sexual Health Rights and

measures to be taken to safeguard the same

Meetings attended by concerned officials/ institutions.

Group wise motivational meetings with Community leaders, Panchayat

members, Teachers, Anganwadi workers etc.

Motivational meetings with Target Couples, Pregnant mothers, Lactating

mothers etc.

Motivational meeting with adolescent Girls and Boys.

Conducted Project Review / Staff meetings.

Monthly registration of the Birth/Death etc. got done in the selected

villages.

Counselling one to one and collected Data from 100 villages of Sirhind

Block, to understand the reason for death of children among 0-6 age

group.

3rd Quarter: October –November, 2014: Conducted meetings of Girl-Child Forums in the selected 10 villages.

Updated Birth/Death registration in the selected villages.

Conducted Project Review meeting with the project staffs

Meetings with the concerned govt. departments.

Conducted Group wise meetings with Community leaders, Panchayat

members, women Panchayat members, School Teachers, Anganwadi

workers and ASHAs workers etc.

Conducted training with Adolescent girls and boys on Family Life

Education.

Conducted Awareness Programs at the village level on the issue of

“Decline Sex Ratio” of their respective villages.

Organized Training cum sensitization workshop for NGOs/ CBOs of

District Fatehgarh Sahib for ‘Women Empowerment and Improve Child

Sex-Ratio’ with Share their Expertise, Replication and Sustainability of

the project.

Conducted Awareness Programs at the village level on the issue of

“Decline Sex Ratio” of their respective villages.

Organized, three training workshops (on dated 12-11-2014, 17-11-

2014 and 19-11-2014) of Panchayat Representatives and

Community leaders, Line Departments on the implications of

declining child sex ratio –its faction as institution of governance to

safeguard Reproductive and Sexual Health Rights as well as to

oversee implementation of PC-PNDT Act.

Facilitated Mahila Gram Sabha Meetings in all 10 selected villages.

4th Quarter-April-June, 2015

Conducted meetings of Girl-Child Forums in the selected 10 villages.

Monthly registration update of the Birth/Death etc. has been done in

the 10 selected villages.

Conducted Project Review / Staff meetings.

Meetings attended with concerned officials/ institutions etc.

Group wise motivational meetings with Community leaders, Panchayat

members, Teachers, Anganwadi workers etc.

Conducted District level Cross learning visit / exposure tours for Stake

holders from selected 10 villages to Panchyats Panjoli Kalan and Talwara

on dated 18-04-2015.

Conducted meetings of Girl-Child Forums in the selected 10 villages.

Registration update of the Birth/Death etc. has been done in the

selected villages.

Conducted Project Review / Staff meetings.

Meetings attended with concerned officials/ institutions.

Conducted 18 Training Workshops (9 for Girls and 9 for Boys) on

Family Life Education with Right Based Approach to Adolescent

Girls and Boys in the remaining 9 selected villages.

Conducted Awareness through Naatak Shows in the selected villages on

Save Girl Child as well as improving sex ratio.

Meetings attended with concerned officials/ institutions.

Conducted 3 Workshops (at Villages Pandrali, Jalla and Lataor) on

Incorporating Agenda of Sex Selective Abortion through PC-PNDT,

MTP and DV acts to Women Members of SHGs and Mahila Mandals.

Conducted Cross learning visit / exposure tour (21-05-15 to 23-05-

2015) to District Kangra (Himachal Pradesh) for Stake holders from

selected 10 villages.

Inter District Exposure Visit Report

On 18th April 2015 an exposure visit was organised in the two villages

namely Panjoli Kaalan and Talwada of district Fatehgarh Sahib. Five women

each from 10 selected villages were selected for this visit. The meeting

started at around 11 a.m. They all were welcomed by the Panchayt of the

village at the memorial place of Tohda in which Sarpanch Jasvir Kaur and

panch Satpal Kaur, panch Kulwant Singh, panch Sukhjinder Kaur, panch

Karnail Singh participated.

Firstly, welcomed all the members present over there. Then he told that the

population of the village is 1078 in which 527 are males and 551 are

females. After that he said that the Voluntary Health Association Punjab

surveyed our village because this organisation is working on the issue of sex

ratio in our district. He said that there are only two main reasons behind the

female foeticide i.e. either social factors or economic factors.

Also he said that the economic factor is primarily dominated by the wedding

expenditure of the girl in the form of dowry. He said that during the old

times the marriage event was very simple where he quoted an example in

which Guru said that a daughter should be wed off by giving 1 rupee & 15

paisa followed by “aanand karaj” and lunch. But nowadays all these rituals

are complicated by us. He said that the women play an important role in

female foeticide because she herself doesn’t want a girl child at her home.

Talking about the social factors he said that we thought if a baby boy is

born our generation will continue further. But the panch added that a

generation is not moved further by boys but it’s all dependent on our

thoughts. In year 1977 Mangal Lal sold out 2.5 acres of his land and

constructed a school with the money he gained. And now this school has

upgraded itself to be a secondary school. He said that in old times people

did not educate their girls due to which we have lagged behind in various

concerns. Because if the girl is educated that means the whole family is

educated.

He said that nowadays the girl’s modesty is attacked. If the society starts to

behave with each and every female around as their own daughter and

mother then this problem can be tackled.

He said that if the government takes strict measures against the dowry

system then the issue of female foeticide can be overcome. Also he states

that from next year he is going to start a new scheme in their village under

which he will make a fixed deposit rs.25000 on her name without any

discrimination on the basis of caste, creed and color. He also mentioned that

he has opened marriage palace to conduct wedding events for the poor

people. And the “raagi” who perfoms the “anand karaj” at the girl’s wedding

will not charge any money. Earlier there were 2 cremation grounds in their

village but now they are merged and converted into one. He said that till

now 140 IAS officers and 3 university Vice Chancellors have visited their

villages.

Shamsher Singh Dhillon: He is the manager of Punjab & Sind Bank. He

stressed that the main reason for the female foeticide is dowry.

Principal Narinder Kaur: She welcomed and thanked all the people present.

She said that first of all we should eradicate the anti social practices.

Jaswinder Kaur: She is working on sex ratio in Sirhind block. She said that

the work done by her and their organisation in the villages. Along with them

there are around 100 ASHA workers, 100 aagnawadi workers and 24

persons from other departments are conducting Mahila Gram sabha in

these villages.

Also we are going to conduct a meeting of adolescent boys and girls on the

issue of reproductive health along with exposure visit of 20 people.

Sushil Moudgil: At the end project advisor Sushil Moudgil extended his vote

of thanks to everyone and said that the sex ratio of this village is

appreciable. He congratulated everyone for the progress of the village.

Report of Interstate State Exposure Visit

Visiting District & State: District Kangra, Himachal Pradesh

Visiting Schedule 21-23 June, 2015

Total No of Participants =25

4. Participants Profile Sarpanchs-1, Panchs-3, ASHA worker-,

Anganwari Worker- Youth Club members-, Self Help Group-

Objective of the Exposure Visit:

To learn and understand various mechanisms and strategies of

Convergence, networking, capacity building in terms of sustainability

and replication

To understand the

functioning of

convergence model

of Panchayat in

Himachal Pradesh

To observe,

understand and

learn the various

activities etc and

explore the

possibilities of replication in their own village.

To understand the role of Panchayat to implementation the different

Schemes,

To understand the process & the role of Line departments in the

program implementation.

As per the approved plan activity under project “Empowerment of Women

through Convergence of Service Providers to Improve Child Sex Ratio in

District Fatehgarh Sahib in the State of Punjab” by The National Mission for

Empowerment of Women (NMEW), Ministry of Women and Child

Development, Government of India (GOI). Voluntary Health Association of

Punjab (VHAP) was organised an exposure visit of Panchayat elected

members, CBO members, and NGOs members to the state of Himachal

Pradesh during 21-23 June, 2015, inviting participation from 10 selected

villages. Mr. Pawan Kumar and Shamsher Rana members of VHAP had

coordinated the exposure visit with the support of Jagori Garmeen Trust,

Dharamshala District Kangra, and Himachal Pradesh.

A detail discussion was

made regarding

objective and key

learning of the exposure

visit, in which all

participants were

requested to learn from

the experience of

Himachal Pradesh in

the field of local self governance, rural development, women empowerment

and their convergence. In this session major part of deliberations were

focused on replication of successful models and best practices. VHAP staffs

explained the route chart and the visit plan and requested the participants

to extend full co-operation in terms of discipline and punctuality. During

first day journey team were also visited some historical places like Jawala Ji

Temple. On 21 June, 2015 in the morning all the participants were boarded

in taxies from their respective villages and reached Dharamshala on 21st

June, 2015in the late evening.

Second day of exposure visit (22nd June, 2015)

On the second day of

exposure visit, the

participants were

assembled in the lawn of

Jagori Grameen Trust.

Pawan Kumar (VHAP),

Shamsher (VHAP) and

Chanderkanta from Jagori

Grameen Trust were briefed

about first day visit plan. Team were reached around 11.00 am in Kholi

Panchayat Office. On the second day of event the participants were taken to

Kholi Gram Panchayat under Kangra block of Kangra District, Himachal

Pradesh which is acknowledged as best Gram Panchayat and has been

awarded by the state Govt. for MG-NREGA schemes implementation during

2014-15. Mr. Kewal Chaudhary, Pamchayat Pradhan/ Sarpanch, other ward

members and government officials welcomed Punjab visiting team. Initially,

Mr. Pawan Kumar from VHAP discussed with participants about the project

of titled “Empowerment of Women through Convergence of Service Providers

to Improve Child Sex Ratio in District Fatehgarh Sahib in the State of

Punjab”. This Project has been implemented in 10 selected villages in

Sirhind block of Fatehgarh Sahib District in Punjab which has its identity of

being at the worst sex ratio in the country, where child sex ratio was 766 in

2001 Census. This project has been sanctioned by The National Mission for

Empowerment of Women (NMEW), Ministry of Women and Child

Development, Government of India (GOI). The pilot convergence models are

meant to demonstrate convergence of programmes and schemes in the field

level. It is borne from the fact that, better convergence between the schemes,

especially, flagship schemes in terms of planning, process and

implementation will bring substantial improvements in overall development

outcomes. The pilot project models present an opportunity to optimize these

efforts through inter-sectoral coordination to meet the larger objective of

overall development and empowerment of people, especially the women. The

intensive work under the Pilot has been implemented at the Gram

Panchayat level, whereas linkages at district and block level and

engagement of such higher level institutions are essential to ensure the

sustainability and replicability of the initiatives. The proposed pilot expected

convergence of government and certain other service providers to work

towards improving child sex ratio. VHAP has been engaged PRIs, SHGs,

Mahila Gram Sabha, Mahila mandals, ICDS – Anganwadi workers, frontline

staff of Department of Health – ASHA workers and Department of Education

– Teachers. Here the participants were impressed upon the structure and

functioning of Gram Panchayat.

The participants were also briefed on the subject of Panchayat governance

as per the rules and regulations set by Himachal Panchayati Raj Act- 1994.

Special discussion was taken in the GP on various initiations taken by the

Gram Panchayat for social mobilization and promoting civic sense of general

public in order to achieve total sanitation. The team visited some site of MG-

NREGA nearer to the Panchayat Office. A formal meeting was organized near

Panchayat Office where Team interacted with around 150 members

including Mahila Mandal, SHGs members and youth mandal members

narrated different works done by them in the villages. The Committee

members shared the impact of watershed in the Villages, viz., increase in

conversion of cultivable waste land into agricultural land, mono cropping to

double cropping, increase in ground water table, availability of water in wells

and in summer season, exposure visits and trainings to improve agriculture

system. Mr. Pawan Kumar from VHAP thanks to the Panchayat and other

members for their work and expressed gratitude towards community

participation. After this team were visited some historical places nearby

Dharmashala, Kangra.

Third day of Exposure Visit (23rd June, 2015)

On the day of event the participants were taken to Kholi Gram Panchayat

under Kangra block of Kangra District, Himachal Pradesh which is

acknowledged as best Gram Panchayat and has been awarded by the state

Govt. for MG-NREGA schemes implementation during 2014-15. Mr. Kewal

Chaudhary, Pamchayat Pradhan/ Sarpanch, other ward members and

government officials welcomed our visiting team with a high dignity. Initially,

Mr. Pawan Kumar from VHAP discussed with participants about the project

of titled “Empowerment of Women through Convergence of Service Providers

to Improve Child Sex Ratio in District Fatehgarh Sahib in the State of

Punjab”. This Project are implementing in 10 selected villages in Sirhind

block of Fatehgarh Sahib District in Punjab which has its identity of being at

the worst sex ratio in the country, where child sex ratio was 766 in 2001

Census. This project has been sanctioned by The National Mission for

Empowerment of Women (NMEW), Ministry of Women and Child

Development, Government of India (GOI). The pilot convergence models are

meant to demonstrate convergence of programmes and schemes in the field

level. It is borne from the fact that, better convergence between the schemes,

especially, flagship schemes in terms of planning, process and

implementation will bring substantial improvements in overall development

outcomes. This project presents an opportunity to optimize these efforts

through inter-sectoral coordination to meet the larger objective of overall

development and empowerment of people, especially the women. This

project is expecting convergence of government and certain other service

providers to work towards improving child sex ratio. VHAP has been engaged

PRIs, SHGs, Mahila Gram Sabha, Mahila mandals, ICDS – Anganwadi

workers, frontline staff of Department of Health – ASHA workers and

Department of Education – Teachers. Panchayat Pradhan (President) was

given useful information through hour’s long dialogue on the structure and

functioning of Kholi Panchayat in which they highlighted many innovations

and best practices in the field of MG-NREGA, Gram Sabha, Women

empowerment Mahila Mandal, Self Help Groups etc.

Here the participants were impressed upon the structure and functioning of

Gram Panchayat. The participants were also briefed on the subject of 3-tier

Panchayat governance as per the rules and regulations set by Himachal

Panchayati Raj Act- 1994.

Special session was taken in the

GP on various initiations taken by

the Gram Panchayat for social

mobilization and promoting civic

sense of general public in order to

achieve total sanitation. The team

visited some site of MG-NREGA

nearer to the Panchayat Office. A formal meeting was organized near

Panchayat Office where Team interacted with around 150 members

including Mahila Mandal, SHGs members and youth mandal members

narrated different works done by them in the villages. The Committee

members shared the impact of watershed in the Villages, viz., increase in

conversion of cultivable waste land into agricultural land, mono cropping to

double cropping, increase in ground water table, availability of water in wells

and in summer season, exposure visits and trainings to improve agriculture

system. Mr. Pawan Kumar from VHAP thanks to the Panchayat members for

their work and expressed gratitude towards community participation.

After this the Team proceeded to CDPO office Kangra Block. Here the Team

visited the CDPO office. The Team was pleased to see the office discussed

with CDPO and his team members. The team was pleased to see the growth

of Himachal Pradesh Anaganwari improvement.

After this the Team proceeded to CDPO office Kangra Block. Here the Team

visited the CDPO office. The Team was pleased to see the office discussed

with CDPO and his team members. The team was pleased to see the growth

of Himachal Pradesh Anaganwari improvement.

Learning from the Visit:

The visiting group very much impressed on the effective implementation of

various schemes under different sectors which are asunder-:

Child and Women development

Social Welfare

Rural Development-MG- NREGA

Health

School education

By interacting their counterparts, the elected representatives of Punjab

got an opportunity for cross learning and to see the best & model

initiatives in the field of rural development.

All the participants were liked the rural culture, heritage & environment

of Himachal Pradesh.

The villages visited are clean and hygienic.

Gram Panchayat have greater say in the implementation of major

flagship programmes in terms of health, education, women and child

development agriculture and other social welfare schemes and closely

monitor their activities.

62 Women participated in this inter district Exposure Visit.

233 Adolescent Girls participated in Training Workshops on Family Life

Education with Right Based Approach.

Naatak (Play) shows on Save Girl Child as well as improving sex ratio

have been organized in which 650 women were participated

380 Women Members of SHGs & Mahila Mandals, participated in the

Workshops on Incorporating Agenda of Sex Selective Abortion through

PCPNDT, MTP and DV Acts.

Convergence Meetings with schools children on Family Life Education

with Right Based Approach to Adolescent girls and boys.

Convergence Meetings were attended with Service providers of various

concerned Departments.

Conducted Cross learning visit / exposure tours for different

Stakeholders from selected 10 villages to the inter district Panchayats.

Conducted interstate Cross learning visit / exposure tours for different

Stakeholders from selected 10 villages.

Meetings of Girls-Child Forums (as small forum of Nari ki Choupal) being

conducted in monthly basis.

Capacity building trainings to 433 Adolescent Girls & Boys of the

selected villages.

Awareness through Play (Naatak) shows was a best practice for villagers.

The day to day activities carried out under the project like capacity

building of ASHAs, AWWs, Sarpanchs, Members of Panchayats,

Community leaders, NGOs, CBOs, SHGs, Mahila-Mandals and

Adolescents etc. are key factors to building a foundation for long term

change and permanently impacted.

Conducting monthly review meetings of Project Staff, Village level

facilitators at Project office Sirhind as well as day to day closed

coordination, reporting and supervision.

Executive Director with technical and administrative staff of VHAP has

been contributed time

in streamlining and

monitoring the

project progress on

day to day basics.

Field Staff of the

Project have been

provided with a

reporting their monthly progress.

Created awareness about entitlements, strengthen communities by

developed capacities (on various concerned issues) of ASHAs, AWWs,

representatives of various leading NGOs/CBOs, representatives of

Panchyats, Community leaders, Adolescents Girls / Boys, Members of

SHGs and Mahila Mandal as well as general public of the villages.

Energized the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), facilitating Mahila Gram

Sabha meetings by encouraging one to one women to participation and

started discussions with the issues of Child Sex Ratio, empowerment of

women, development of girl child and build their capacity for sustaining

the Pilot.

Workshops on Incorporating Agenda of Sex Selective Abortion through Pre

conception and Pre Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex

selection) (PC-PNDT), Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) and Domestic

Violence (DV) acts for the Women members of SHGs and Mahila Mandal

were organized on dates 15-06-15 at village Pandrali, 16-06-15 at village

Jallah and 19-06-15 at village Lataur. These workshops successfully

conducted with actively participations of the 380 Members from various

CBOs, SHGs and Mahila Mandals. In the workshop the following issues

being highlighted and defined in detailed:

Discussion on declining sex ratio (0-6) in the targeted villages/ areas.

MTP- Act, 1971

The Pre-natal Diagnostic

Techniques (Regulation

and Prevention of Misuse)

Act, 1994 & Amendment

Rules 2002-03 (PC-PNDT

Act) and heighted that the

main purpose of the Act

was to play the role of a

prevention and send out a strong message against sex selection.

One of the major reasons for the decline in CSR is attributed to the

introduction and proliferation of modern technology such as ultrasound

that enables sex determination, thereby reinforcing societal mindsets for

son preference.

Status of implementation, arrangements, actions and progress under the

PC-PNDT Act in the district of Fatehgarh Sahib.

Discrimination against women and girls is widespread in India and

manifests itself in many ways; including gender- biased sex selection as

well as practice of sex selection is evident in the severe decline in the

Child Sex Ratio.

The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, its

definition, process, services, duties and responsibilities etc.

Declining of child-Sex ratio, women empowerment, De addiction,

education, scholarship schemes, transportation facilities to women and

school going girls, Proper environment to protect girls, Skill development,

livelihood schemes, employment, Sanitation and sewerage, Safe drinking

water, old age/widow pension, Increasing incidents of flirting with girls,

Domestic violence, Debtness, Benefits from govt. to Women and Girl-

child on various stages, Inflation, Practice of dowry and early marriage of

girls etc.

All the activities being undertaken under the Project tried to better result

oriented and greater convergence among the representatives of Front

lining workers in the areas, PRIs, concerned Govt. officials, NGOs CBOs,

SHGs and Mahila Mandals etc. with their activities and schemes etc.

1. Number of women resource centres created, if any

A total of 10 women resource centres were created in the Anganwari

centres in the project area.

2. Including Information pertaining to element of inclusiveness:

number of women reached out, vulnerable and marginalised women

brought into the ambit of the project etc.

The project has emphasized on gender inclusion throughout the project

design and implementation. Women & girls have been involved at

various stages of the project implementation. Number of Women

Reached out-1440

3. Describe the element of innovativeness brought in the project –how

it is different from other similar projects

The project was focused on building local capacities of different

stakeholders such as PRIs representatives, ASHAs, Anganwari Workers,

ANMs, and SHGs/CBOs etc. It has been established an enabling

environment within its focused areas. It also has built the relationship

between local communities and others stakeholders in relation to gender

issues and this relationship will ensure the sustainability of the women

issues even after this project.

Engagement of stakeholders from different departments, elected

representatives and district administration has increased the potential

for effectiveness of targeted interventions and sustainability. Now

different stakeholders are working together with bringing awareness,

bridging social gaps about the Schemes, activities and programs

implementing by the different Government departments to empowerment

of women and holistic development of girl child.

The programme was very innovative because we have collected data from

100 villages of Sirhind block to understand the reason for death of 0-6

age groups children. Woman and Girls forums are running the group’s

activities for sustainability of woman and empower of groups and

beneficiaries.

4. Convergence efforts initiated-convergence with line departments,

convergence with other agencies including networking with other

NGOs in the locality/district/states, with State resource Centre for

Women (SRCW), academic institutes etc. You may include pictures;

enclose guidelines /notifications issued by other departments

towards Convergence, if any. Convergence may also include

resource sharing with other agencies, if so document the same.

As per proposed in the project proposal, training workshops have been

conducted for NGOs/ CBOs of District Fatehgarh Sahib towards Alliance

for ‘Women Empowerment and Improve Child Sex-Ratio’ with Share

their Expertise, Replication and Sustainability. Following respective

departments has been involved during the project period.

District Administration (Deputy Commissioner )

Department of Health and Family Welfare

Department of Women and Child Development

Department of Education

Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj

Zila, Parishad

Department of Employment

General Manager, Distt. Industries Centre

District manager, Khadi and Village industries Board

Co-operative Societies

Department of Transport

Zila Nehru Yuva Kendra

Department of Social Welfare

Department of Agriculture

Violence against Women Cell

District Nodal Officer PC-PNDT Cell

Manage, Lead Bank of the district

AGM, NABARD

Animal Husbandries, Dairy Development, Bee Keeping and Fisheries

etc.

NGOs working for empowerment of women and child development

programmes

No of convergence meetings have been attended by the service provider of

various concerned departments for better coordination. I think this

convergence mode will works also in future.

5. Capacity building (include pictures)-

a) Of the stake holders

b) Line departments

c) Community members

d) Volunteers

(Include training modules, manual material developed for training,

any other material)

e) Training strategies adopted

f) Tools developed including communication tools

g) Contextualizing material modules (existing and new)/translation

in local language)

Organized Capacity Building Workshops for 100 ASHAs and 109

Anganwadi Workers of Sihind block on improving sex-ratio.

Charts, literatures and booklets in local (Punjabi) language on Safe

Immunization, Care of Mother and Child, Safe Delivery and Jitthe

doctor na howe (In Absence of Doctor) has been distributed among the

different stakeholders.

Organized District level Stakeholders / Departmental meeting for

better convergence.

Organized Training Workshop for NGOs/ CBOs of District Fatehgarh

Sahib towards Alliance for ‘Women Empowerment and Improve Child

Sex-Ratio’ with Share Expertise, Replication and Sustainability.

Following training contents through lectures by Resource Persons,

literatures and discussions:

i. Session of Introduction, Welcome and objectives of the

Workshop

ii. Focus on Census Data-2011 of Punjab as well as new data of

selected villages

iii. Role of NGOs/CBOs in preventing the Sex selection and

declining sex.

iv. Reproductive & Sexual Health Rights.

v. Sharing of Expertise, Replication, Sustainability and

Questions/ Discussion Session.

Organized, three trainings workshops (on dated 12-11-2014, 17-11-

2014 and 19-11-2014), of Panchayat Representatives and Community

leaders, Line Departments on the implications of declining child sex

ratio. Following training contents through lectures by Resource

Persons, literatures and discussions:

i. Session of Introduction, Welcome and objectives of the

Workshop

ii. Program Sharing and Convergence Possibilities by Govt.

Departments and Panchayats

iii. Highlights and status of the Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques

(Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1994 & Amendment

Rules 2002-03.

iv. Role of Gram Panchayat/ Community Leaders in preventing the

Sex selection and declining sex-ratio by focusing the Gram

Sabha and Mahila Gram Sabha.

v. Open Discussion on Project strengthening and voluntary

activities to be taken by Panchayats All Participants

Workshops on Incorporating Agenda of Sex Selective Abortion

through Pre conception and Pre Natal Diagnostic Techniques

(Prohibition of Sex selection) (PC-PNDT), Medical Termination of

Pregnancy (MTP) and Domestic Violence (DV) acts for the Women

members of SHGs and Mahila Mandal were organized on dates 15-

06-15 at village Pandrali, 16-06-15 at village Jallah and 19-06-15 at

village Lataur. These workshops successfully conducted with actively

participations of the 380 Members from various CBOs, SHGs and

Mahila Mandals. In the workshop the following issues being

highlighted and defined in detailed:

I. Discussion on declining sex ratio (0-6) in the targeted villages/

areas.

II. MTP- Act, 1971

III. The Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention

of Misuse) Act, 1994 & Amendment Rules 2002-03 (PC-PNDT Act)

and heighted that the main purpose of the Act was to play the role

of a prevention and send out a strong message against sex

selection.

IV. One of the major

reasons for the decline

in CSR is attributed to

the introduction and

proliferation of modern

technology such as

ultrasound that

enables sex

determination, thereby

reinforcing societal mindsets for son preference.

V. Status of implementation, arrangements, actions and progress

under the PC-PNDT Act in the district of Fatehgarh Sahib.

VI. Discrimination against women and girls is widespread in India

and manifests itself in many ways; including gender- biased sex

selection as well as practice of sex selection is evident in the

severe decline in the Child Sex Ratio.

VII. The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, its

definition, process, services, duties and responsibilities etc.

6. Document best Practices (stories emerged during the course of

implementation)

Developed Photos and Video Clips of the activities carried out during

the quarter like Capacity Training Workshops of Representatives of

NGOs/CBOs/ Panchayats/ various Communities etc as well as

Facilitation of Mahila Gram Sabha Meetings in all selected 10 Villages.

One to one meetings done with women who have one and two girl-

child and uniqueness lead to empowerment of women and

development of girl-child.

I. 10 Mahila Gram Sabha have been facilitated in these villages. A

total of 1250 women were participated in these Mahila Gram

Sabhas.

Mahila Gram Sabha Meetings

Sr. No Date of the Mahila Garm

Sabha

Name of Panchyat

1 02-12-2014 Taana

2. 09-12-2014 Pandrali,

3. 12-12-2014 Bibipur,

4. 16-12-2014 Mirpur

5. 20-12-2014 Bhattmajra

6. 21-12-2014 Lattaur

7. 23-12-2014 Madhopur

8. 24-12-2014 Rajinder Nagar

9. 25-12-2014 Jalla

10. 25-12-2014 Hussainpur

First time in these 10 Panchayats of the Punjab State Mahila Gram Sabha were

organised with the facilitation of VHAP the Project “Empowerment of Women

through Convergence of Service

Providers to Improve Child Sex

Ratio” The representatives from other

focused villages PRIs representatives

also participated in these meetings as

special invitees under cross learning

activites of the this project. , the Gram

Panchayat inspired by the Activities/

Interventions undertaken by VHAP and

sponsored by National Mission for

Empowerment of Women, Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of

India.

In these Mahila Gram Sabhas issues

related to women empowerment and

development of g have been discussed

and the decision taken in the mahila

sabha also will be discussed in the

gram sabha meeting. For the example

one major decision taken by Tana

Panchyat during the meeting of Mahila

Gram Sabh- They will deposit Rs.

5100/ in the name of the girl-child after birth from January 2015 onward in their

village.

Some of the other issues related to women as well as girl children were:-

II. Problem of public transport service: The women discussed about the

poor bus service in these village. It creates difficulty especially for the

women, small children and the elderly.

III. Shortage of school teachers: There was shortage of teacher in the

school of these villages and it’s a big problem for school students

specially girl child student.

IV. Employment: There was

lack of sources of

employment in the village so

MG-NREGA scheme should

be implemented properly.

V. Panchayat Ghar: The

women demanded for

panchayat ghar in their

village so that there should

be no hurdle for organisation of the meeting of Gram Panchayat.

VI. BPL Card: There are many poor people in our village so BPL cards should

be issued to these people.

VII. The peripheral area should also be demarcated.

Village Tana Story----------------

A Mahila Gram Sabha was organised in this villages. This was first time

happened in this village. In this Gram Sabha some of issues related to women

empowerment and development

have been discussed and the

decision taken in the mahila

gram sabha One major decision

taken by Tana Panchyat during

the meeting of Mahila Gram

Sabh- They will deposit Rs.

5100/ in the name of the girl-

child after birth from January

2015 onward in their village. Till

the end of December, 2015

Panchayat project has been given to 3 girls of amount Rs. 5100/ - to each of

them.

7. IEC material developed for –

a) Awareness generation programmes organized (Sharing of soft and

hard copies of IEC material with NMEW and SRCW is encouraged

and recommended. Soft copies of NMEW and MWCD logos shall be

shared so that IEC material can be branded properly with logos)

Charts, Pamphlets, Literatures and Booklets in Punjabi and Hindi

languages on Safe Immunization, Care of Mother and Child, Safe

Delivery and Jitthe doctor na howe (In Absence of Doctor), were

distributed among trainees as well as the stakeholders.

b) Activities carried out in Nari ki Chaupal (a concept note on Nari

ki Chaupal is shared herewith

Meetings of Girls-Child Forums (as small forum of Nari ki Choupal)

were conducted on monthly basis.

Encouraged and facilitated to the Mahila Gram Sabha Meetings in all

selected 10 Villages dedicated to women and related issues such as

AWC, health, sanitation, drinking water, prevention of violence against

women and children, prevention of dowry and female foeticide etc

c) Number of women participated and number of issues discussed

(detail them)

A total of 1440 women were participated and discussed on the following

issues:

The Improve Child-Birth Sex-Ratio, gender inequality, high-lighted

sensitive issues, why sex determination tests,

Awareness on her political and social rights, problem solving

negotiation and persuasion,

Issues of Sex Selective Abortion through Pre conception and Pre Natal

Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex selection) (PC-PNDT) have

been discussed

Issues of Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act 1971 and

Domestic Violence (DV) acts with CBOs of focused areas have been

discussed.

Self confidence, leadership and Decision making skill, avoiding

frustration by Strong will power,

Women and Girls child empowerment through education, skill

development and livelihood convergence by knowledge as well as links

with the govt. schemes like- Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, right to

education, ICDS, NRHM, IAY, MGNREGA, NRLM, TSC, Food Safety,

VHSNC etc.

8. Issues and challenges which emerged in convergence; issues

emerged in the Implementation of the project.

Mobilization & sensitization of the community in rural areas is a very

challenging task, due to unavailability of these communities during the

day time & their disinclination towards community interventions.

Maximum of the PRIs Elected Representatives at village level are self-

centred with vested interests & motives rather than being focused on

issues concerning community development.

Change the mindset of the rural communities especially in Punjab

state is very challenging task.

Old Custom, tradition with rigid mindset is still present in the society.

Lack of immediate problem solving system towards addressing and

issues raised by Women in the meetings of Mahila Gram Sabhas.

9. Local issues expressed by women

Transportation facilities to women and school going girls, broken and

unpaved roads, drugs & alcoholism, domestic violence, lack of skill

development and livelihood programmes, employment, sanitation and

sewerage, Safe drinking water, old age/widow pension, Debtness,

Benefits from govt. schemes such as MG NREGA, IAY etc, Practice of

dowry.

10. Describe the new strategies adopted by the project in convergence

in capacity building and in resolving issues.

Trust building, organizing awareness rallies, one to

one/GroupWise/Mohalla wise/category wise motivational campaigns,

Convergence with all concerned village/ block /tehsil /district and state

level officials.

Constituted/formed Girl-Child Forums in the all selected villages by

involving of each category/ sections wise representations with closed

coordination.

Community groups focused

on gender issues, Girl-Child

Forums.

VHAP believes in building

capacity of children for

sustainable growth and

development. We facilitate

formation of children’s groups with the help of different stakeholders in

the communities. This encourages equality in treatment of girl and boy

child, provides them with platform for self expression, and builds their

confidence through various motivating activities such as rallies etc.

11. Potential of replicability and up scaling of the project in other

areas.

Capacity building trainings to front lining workers, PRIs member

including Sarpanchs/Panchs/ Community leaders and local NGOs

members, interventions of such activities and day to day motivational

awareness campaigns run by Project staff is a key factor for building a

foundation for long term change and permanently impacted.

The strategy has been to evolve innovative and locally appropriate

models of communities and stakeholders with scale-up and replicability

potential.

Facilitated the Meetings of Mahila Gram Sabhas in all selected 10

villages.

The strategy has been evolved innovative and locally appropriate models

of communities and stakeholders with scale-up and replicability

potential. We have successfully conducted District Level Stakeholders/

Departmental meetings, Trainings for Capacity Building to ASHAs and

Anganwadi Workers from nearby 100 villages of the Sirhind block with

the propagation of aims, objectives and positive impacts of the

interventions under the project.

12. Monitoring mechanism of the project-including review meetings

held, maintaining database.

Conducting monthly review/Staff meetings at head office Chandigarh.

Conducting weekly review/Staff meetings at Project office Sirhind as well

as day to day closed coordination and supervision.

Monthly Meeting of women’s and girl’s groups, Linkages with various

departments etc.

3. End Evaluation Report’s Main Findings

Effectiveness and Sustainability:

The assessment of the VHAP’s effectiveness in contributing to the

achievement of the Outcome is mostly positive. All of the project activities

during the project period have contributed positively to some aspects of

women’s empowerment. This was achieved through the combination of

policy level interventions, with on the ground level initiatives. The different

activities wise reports have enriched the development debate and efforts

have been exerted to ensure that gender discrepancies are documented and

brought to the attention of donors and policy makers. These reports are

definitely NMEW’s flagship achievement, representing a significant

contribution to the three dimensions of the Outcome, the political, economic

and social. As for NMEW’s contribution to the political empowerment of

women, in terms of community engagement and equitable representation in

elected bodies, this is long term process requiring sustained efforts to

educate society (women and men), as well as political structures. Having

noted this, this project enhancing the Knowledge Policy Analysis Skills of

Female PRIs members to strengthen their Oversight & Legislative Functions,

resulted in a moderate but visible increase in women’s representation in

Gram Sabha (local popular councils).

The evaluation concluded project’s efficiency was enhanced its

partnership strategy and the efforts to foster inter-agency cooperation

and “Deliver as One”. The high levels of cooperation established with line

departments as well as with local organizations have had a positive impact

on the level of engagement of local counterparts and their willingness to step

up efforts, invest resources and even enact legislation in order to achieve

results. Inter-agency cooperation has also progressed.

The Strategy & Action Plan together with the trainings received by

program management staff, were instrumental to the efficient delivery of

outputs. The project strategy was developed in 2014 as part of the project

management response of NMEW to the “Gender Challenge”, and the need for

project to be more careful in monitoring the integration of gender across all

program activities, and more particularly in program areas where gender

issues are less visible. The Strategy emphasized the importance of being able

to examine the causes of gender differentials in each sector and to

understand the critical underlying factors. The Strategy recommended that

VHAP staff and their project staff should be capacitated to undertake simple

gender analysis, and include sex disaggregated data and gender sensitive

outputs and results in all their documents. The issue of gender relations is

still very much overlooked in the formulation of the projects and therefore in

the monitoring process which is mostly focused on quantitative measures.

If we examine the issue of sustainability on the project level, we will

note that adequate measures have been instituted in project

implementation intervention areas. All projects activities are implemented

on the basis of outcomes. The capacity of the civil society has been

reinforced through trainings, and various forms of technical assistance

including systems and tools. Awareness raising activities have been

implemented; and, finally whenever possible, interventions were

accompanied by or embedded within integrated community development

packages. The sustainability of results however, is challenged by two main

factors. First, changing societal beliefs is a long term process requiring

sustained efforts and financial resources which might not be readily

available. Second, most of the interventions tackled by the VHAP on the

social and political front were organized. These two institutions have

provided an enabling environment for activities and legislation related to

women’s empowerment.

Recommendations and Conclusions:

Some of the project activities implemented by VHAP during the project

period are very worthy and unique. At the time of implementation, the VHAP

was breaking new ground, for example the facilitating first Mahila (women)

Gram Sabha in these 10 selected villages. However, it is now time for other

organizations also to replicate these efforts for other intervention area of the

state as well as country. There are certain areas where the NMEW has

comparative advantage and where it can add significant value. NMEW

should focus on these areas of interventions, and step up its efforts to

develop umbrella programs with different community level organizations.

Moreover, when considering critical intervention areas, a partnership

scoping exercise should be undertaken to determine the comparative

advantage of various partners, and their readiness to commit financial and

technical resources to the implementation process as well as to monitoring

activities.

Enhancing the Knowledge of Women PRIs members to Strengthen their

Oversight, Role and Functions

The stated purpose of the project is to Empowerment of Women through

Convergence of Service Providers to Improve Child Sex Ratio” in

District Fatehgarh Sahib in the State of Punjab to be achieved through

two indicators. These are as follows:

Strengthening Women PRIs representatives capacities

Making visible to the public the performance of women PRIs

The initial time period of the project had some outputs with related activities

focusing on raising awareness on the initiative and mobilizing support for it,

capacity development of women PRIs on Panchayat rules and procedures,

advocacy, lobbying, human rights and gender issues, as well as, promoting

networks and partnerships among PRIs and civil society, especially NGOs

working with women issues.

The Constituting a forum of different stakeholders at block level was

provided with VHAP and NMEW assistance to develop their capacity so

that they can deliver better service in their respective working areas. The

purpose of their involvement was to enhance the role of civil society in

women empowerment and increase awareness of their role in different

sectors but more specifically in the fields of women empowerment.

Women’s Access to Political and Economic Empowerment, are areas of

intervention that require sustained attention, significant intellectual and

financial resources, and most importantly, credibility. The NMEW is well

positioned to support efforts in these critical areas of women’s

empowerment. In this context, the involvement of the community through

VHAP and others civil society organizations will enhance the impact of the

project and the sustainability of the political participation mechanism.

Consideration should be given to including interventions geared to women’s

political and economic empowerment within the framework of broad

national programs rather than projects. In the area of Political

Participation, the Women Political Empowerment led by NMEW conceived

as an umbrella program, provides a platform for NGOs collaboration that is

worthy of consideration. Similarly, in the area of Economic Integration,

NMEW is advised to support an umbrella program under which, donor

resources would be pooled. Similarly a more systematic process of ensuring

the mainstreaming of gender in all projects would include the conduct of

gender analyses at the project formulation stage and the review of all project

documents to make sure that mainstreaming efforts are adequately

documented.

Approach: The approach to undertaking the evaluation of progress made

towards the expected outcome relied on action framework. Within this

analytical framework the inputs of the program, those of various

stakeholders as well as exogenous factors are considered in explaining

changes incurred to the Outcome. The findings of the evaluation as they are

presented in this report are not intended to establish attribution, rather to

suggest a plausible association between the changes incurred and the

NMEW program. A thorough review of documentation provided by the VHAP

monitoring team and by the projects was undertaken. Also, consulted were a

selection of project areas and data deemed relevant to the development

context in Punjab and to the issue of women’s empowerment. Individual and

group discussions were conducted with project staff and local NGOs

including Government departments.

Information from secondary sources was cross-checked with information

from interviews and meetings with the different stakeholders.

The triangulation of information sources and data helped in the validation of

findings, as well as is shaping the conclusions reached.

Key Investigation Areas and Evaluation Criteria:

The main key evaluation investigation areas reflecting the four categories of

analysis are laid out. These investigation areas were broken down and

adapted as relevant to the project under consideration. Moreover, the

evaluation was based on the criteria laid out in the project outcome as

follows:

Relevance: The responsiveness of the Outcome and its constituent activities

to the context of the women’s empowerment status during the project time

period and its continued relevance within the context of changing needs

resulting from shifts in the economic, political and social environment.

Efficiency: Progress achieved given the resources allocated, including the

timeliness of the financial and non-financial assistance provided by different

stakeholders, and the adequacy of the monitoring and reporting processes

Sustainability: Sustainability will be considered on three fronts: the

capacity and awareness raising created through the various program

components; national ownership/commitment to the program outcome; and,

the measures taken to maintain and further the progress achieved by the

program and its constituent components after the assistance has ceased.

Limitations:

The main limitations encountered during the project revolved around

accessibility of the people. In addition, the availability and access to some of

the government and other stakeholders as well as representatives of PRIs

was not always easy.

4. Some of the measurable outcomes from this project are as

follows:

Project Intervention District has some of the key facts:

Average literacy rate of District is 79.35 percent.

Male literacy rate is 83.33 percent.

Female literacy rate is 74.80 percent.

Average density is 509 per sq. km.

Total Population is 600,163. (Census-2011)

Male Population is 320,795.

Female Population is 279,368.

Female Sex ratio is 871 females per 1000 males.

Child sex ratio is 842 females per 1000 males.

Child Sex Ratio: The Selected 10 sample villages have following sex ratio

given in the tables. This shows that all the villages have low Child (0-6) sex

ratio.

Table: Child Sex Ratio of 10 selected villages of Sirhid Block

S.No Village Name Child (Sex Ratio)

2011

Girl (Sex Ratio)

2001

1 Mirpur 714 826

2 Bibipur 847 836

3 Rajinder Nagar 722 759

4 Madhopur 775 865

5 Jallha 841 898

6 Lataur 777 830

7 Tanan 805 894

8 Pandrali 341 847

9 Bhat Majra 880 953

10 Hussanpur 730 745

Source: Director Census Operations, Punjab

Table: After the project village wise child Birth data is given below

Name of the village Total

Boy Girl

Pandrali 4 8

Mirpur 4 3

Rajinder Nagar 6 5

Hussainpur 7 4

Madhopur 1 8

Lattaur 8 7

Tanna 3 2

Jallah 9 8

Bibipur 6 1

Bhattmajra 3 7

Total 50 53

Table: Details of Girl-Child Forums in the Project Area.

S.No Name of the

Village

Name of the

Chairperson

Name of the

Secretary

1. Madhopur Jaswinder Kaur Ranjit Kaur

2. Bhat Majra Manpreet Kaur Vijay Rani

3. Lataur Gurmeet Kaur Paramjit Kaur

4. Jallha Jaswant Kaur Hardeep Kaur

5. Rajinder Nagar Amarjit Kaur Dipinder Kaur

6. Tanna Charanjit Kaur Manjit Kaur

7. Bibipur Ranjit Kaur Jaswinder Kaur

8. Mirpur Amandeep Kaur Harbansh Kaur

9. Hussainpur Paramjit Kaur Raj Kaur

10. Pandrali Ranjit Kaur Rajwant Kaur

Girl Child Forum in each village was formed.

Focus Group Discussions(FGDs) were conducted in all 10 village

Awareness rallies were organised on “Declining Sex Ratio and save

Girl-Child” in all villages

Regular follow up by Project Staff of newly birth child and pregnant

mothers in the Project intervention area

Meetings with PRIs elected women representatives and 10 Mahila

Gram Sabhas had been facilitated in all 10 villages

Birth/Death data was collected from the all 10 villages on monthly

basis

Baseline survey data was compiled and analyzed.

GroupWise meetings was conducted with Community leaders,

Panchayat members, Teachers, Anganwadi workers, Anganwadi

Helpers, ASHAs, Members Mid day meal of Schools, Pathis of

Gurudwars, Pujaries of the temples, Dais and Chokidars of the project

areas.

Capacity Building Workshop was organized for 100 ASHA Workers to

orient them on Reproductive & Sexual Health Rights and measures to

be taken to safeguard for the same.

Training cum sensitization workshops were organized for NGOs/

CBOs of District Fatehgarh Sahib for ‘Women Empowerment and

Improve Child Sex-Ratio’ with Share their Expertise, Replication and

Sustainability of the project.

Facilitated Mahila Gram Sabha Meetings in all 10 selected villages.

Training Workshops were conducted on Family Life Education with

Right Based Approach to Adolescent Girls and Boys in the

remaining 9 selected villages.

Awareness through Naatak Shows was conducted in the selected

villages on Save Girl Child as well as improving sex ratio.

Cross learning visit / exposure tour were also conducted for Stake

holders from selected 10 villages.

Meeting with PRIs members of Project Area for Future

Planning

A meeting was conducted with PRIs members of 10 selected villages. A total

37 PRIs members (Sarpanch and Panch) from these 10 selected Panchayat

were present in this meeting. The objective of the meeting was:

To thank to all of PRIs and other stakeholders for making the program

such a successful

To honour the all of PRIs and other stakeholders for making the

program successful

To build future strategy for the sustainability and replication of the

activities done under this project.

To explore the possibilities of its replication in their respective village

without our support

Summary: The meeting started with a welcome address by Mr. Pawan

Kumar followed by a round of introduction of all the participants present.

He said the project has been implemented by Voluntary Health Association

of Punjab (VHAP) with the focus in 10 villages of Fatehgarh Sahib District.

These 10 villages are from Sirhind block. The project area is selected with

the consultation of Fatehgarh Sahib District Administration. These 10

villages are selected in Sirhind Block of which has its identity as the worst

sex ratio in the country, where child sex ratio was low as per Census-2001.

As per Census-2011 while it has shown considerable improvement to reach

843, still fits it into the criteria of the National Mission for Empowerment

districts below child sex ratio 900. The target areas are situated at rural

backward area needs special attention to work for empowerment of women

through convergence model. This programme was targeting women in10

villages of Sirhind Block in District Fatehgarh Sahib of Punjab to facilitate

the processes that contribute to empowerment of women, especially social

empowerment of women with emphasis on health and education, gender

mainstreaming of policies, programs and institutional arrangements,

awareness generation and advocacy for bridging information and service

gaps. The convergence model was meant to demonstrate convergence of

programmes and schemes in the field level. These targeted women receive

intensive leadership and community mobilization trainings with convergence

model as part of this programme. VHAP focused on Capacity building of

women and Sensitization of community, govt. and various stakeholders

under this program. Our main was aim to build strong mechanism within

existing system to develop better coordination for linkages and collaboration

to empowerment of women. The intensive work under the Pilot has been

implemented at the Gram Panchayat level, whereas linkages at district and

block level and engagement of such higher level institutions are essential to

ensure the sustainability and replicability of the initiatives. VHAP has been

engaged PRIs, SHGs, Mahila mandals, ICDS – Anganwadi workers, frontline

staff of Department of Health – ASHA workers and Department of Education

– Teachers. He said now this project has been completed. He expressed

many thanks to all PRIs members and others department officials for their

support and cooperation throughout the project period in these 10 selected

villages. He also urged to all members present in this meeting, please

continue all the activities initiated in your respected villages during this

project. All participants agreed on this request and express their positive

concern about the some of the activities such as organising Mahila Gram

Sabha, Girl Child Forums Meetings, continue discussion on sex ratio of their

village etc. In the last all participant received appreciation letter from VHAP

fir their kind support and cooperation.

Way Forward:

All the participants agreed that the following activities will be carried out as

a follow up action:

Share their experiences with other PRIs members during block as well as

District level PRIs meetings

They will hold at least one Mahila Gram Sabha meeting in one year

Continues follow-up of Girl Child Forums

Formation of more SHGs and Mahila Mandal in their village.

Set up a display board in their Panchayat office and continue updated it

with new Birth and Death data.

Discuss with different department authorities for regular follow up about

their schemes and program.

To explore the possibility of replicating this models without VHAP

support.

To improve community management system using the lessons learned

from VHAP.

Focus on women and girls related programs

Annexures

Table: List of the selected villages under this project

SI. No Village Name Block Name Name of the

District

1 Mirpur Sirhind Fatehgarh Sahib

2 Bibipur Sirhind Fatehgarh Sahib

3 Rajinder

Nagar

Sirhind Fatehgarh Sahib

4 Madhopur Sirhind Fatehgarh Sahib

5 Jallha Sirhind Fatehgarh Sahib

6 Lataur Sirhind Fatehgarh Sahib

7 Tanan Sirhind Fatehgarh Sahib

8 Pandrali Sirhind Fatehgarh Sahib

9 Bhat Majra Sirhind Fatehgarh Sahib

10 Hussanpur Sirhind Fatehgarh Sahib

Table: Quarter wise Birth Performance (April-14 to December-14)

Name of

the

village

1st Quarter

of 2014

2nd Quarter

of 2014

3rd Quarter

of 2014

4th Quarter-

January –

March and April-

June,2015

Total

Boy Girl Boy Girl Boy Girl Boy Girl Boy Girl

Pandrali - 2 - 2 2 2 2 2 4 8

Mirpur - - 2 - - 2 2 1 4 3

Rajinder

Nagar

1 2 1 2 1 1 4 2 6 5

Hussainp

ur

2 1 1 1 - 1 4 1 7 4

Madhopur - - - 5 - 1 1 2 1 8

Lattaur - 1 5 3 1 3 2 - 8 7

Tanna 1 1 1 - - - 1 1 3 2

Jallah 2 2 4 4 1 1 2 1 9 8

Bibipur 1 - 2 1 2 - 1 - 6 1

Bhattmajra

- - 1 3 - 1 2 3 3 7

Total 7 9 17 21 7 12 21 11 50 53

Table: Details of Girl-Child Forums in the Project Area.

S.No Name of the

Village

Name of the Chairman

/Chairperson

Name of the Secretary

1. Madhopur Mrs. Mrs. Jaswinder Kaur Mrs. Ranjit Kaur

2. Bhat Majra Mrs. Manpreet Kaur Mrs. Vijay Rani

3. Lataur Mrs. Gurmeet Kaur Mrs. Paramjit Kaur

4. Jallha Mrs. Jaswant Kaur Mrs. Hardeep Kaur

5. Rajinder Nagar Mrs. Amarjit Kaur Mrs. Dipinder Kaur

6. Tanna Mrs. Charanjit Kaur Mrs. Manjit Kaur

7. Bibipur Mrs. Ranjit Kaur Mrs. Jaswinder Kaur

8. Mirpur Mrs. Amandeep Kaur Mrs. Harbansh Kaur

9. Hussainpur Mrs. Paramjit Kaur Mrs. Raj Kaur

10. Pandrali Mrs. Ranjit Kaur Mrs. Rajwant Kaur

Table: Mahila Gram Sabha Meetings details

Sr. N. Date Name of Village

1 02-12-2014 Taana

2. 09-12-2014 Pandrali,

3. 12-12-2014 Bibipur,

4. 16-12-2014 Mirpur

5. 20-12-2014 Bhattmajra

6. 21-12-2014 Lattaur

7. 23-12-2014 Madhopur

8. 24-12-2014 Rajinder Nagar

9. 25-12-2014 Jalla

10. 25-12-2014 Hussainpur

Photos

Interaction with CBOs

Mahila Gram Sabha Meeting Photos

Images of Convergence Meeting of District Level Stakeholders/Departments

list of Newspapers Clippings