the north east cell. outline 1. case for a ne focus group within aid 2. background & processes...

The North East Cell

Outline

1. Case for a NE focus group within AID

2. Background & Processes that led to the creation of the

NE Cell

3. Objectives: Short-term & Long-term

4. Evolving Strategy & Mechanisms of Operation

5. Current NE Cell initiatives

• Issues

• NGO’s, CBO’s, Movements

• Ship of Hope Proposal

6. How can you be involved?

Region based cells

Concept of region-based cells in AID proactively identify NGO’s, CBO’s, movements

connect issues at grassroots with macro policy issues

institutional mechanism :a developmental strategy

based on a deeper understanding of key issues at the

grassroots in a ‘region’

focused outreach efforts

Background and processes that led to the creation of the NE Cell?

Very few projects in the NE – only with NEN Limited representation of NE community members in AID Limited connection with CBO’s / movements in NE Difficulty in site visits to the NE

Talk by Sanjoy Hazarika – Boston, DC, Bay Area a forum to reach out to the NE community members learning : grassroot issues that need to be understood

Involvement of local community members – helped in site visits: new projects thru’ NEN – RVC, ERLISID

Visit to the NE by AID volunteers Chapter at IIT, Guwahati Identified new NGO’s, CBO’s and movements

Realization on the need for a NE-Centred focus group of AID volunteers

Objectives of the Cell (Big Picture)

Short Term (next 1 year) Increasing AID's understanding of issues that affect

the marginalized sections of society in the NE Increasing AID's presence in the North East, by

identifying groups/movements/individuals we can work with

Long Term Implementing a paradigm for sustainable

development at the grassroots by identifying key issues that affect development in this region

This Page Will Always be Under Construction

Evolving Strategy/ Mechanism - 1 Part A : Focus Group Strategy/Plan

Further our understanding about problems and solutions specific to India's Northeast through

Research a brief study of the history of the North East India

(Assam/Meghalaya/Nagaland/Arunachal Pradesh/Manipur/Mizoram/Tripura)

books/papers/ngo-publications policy documents talk to experts via phone conf/f2f meetings/invited talks

etc. Projects

must learn about the districts where current projects are on Find projects in atleast 2 NE states other than assam by

end of year - ultimately have a presence in every state focus group members should make NE site visits


Evolving Strategy/ Mechanism - 2


Part A : Focus Group Strategy/Plan Develop "collaborative" network of partner NGOs/ CBOs/

Movements for AID in the NE set up aidnefriends yahoogroups to facilitate

"exchange of information" – BGVS, NGO’s, RVC (a CBO), individuals

intended for informational postings from aid & ngo partners

AID-Guwahati work closely w/ them to strengthen the group as well

as build close ties with ngos ensure aid-chennai/guwahati buddy idea is followed

thro and make it work as much as poss (will set good model for starting more aidindia chapters)



Part A : Focus Group Strategy/Plan Actively engage "NE community" in the US and other

parts of India publish monthly e-newsletter (site visit reports,

project updates, interesting tidbits) presentations/tabling at their events get them to sponsor a project/district/state

Mainstreaming the accumulated knowledge Articles in DISHAA, TMIA’s, Talking about NE efforts at chapter GBM’s Presentations at fundraiser events Documentation : of processes, of knowledge in the

public domain



Part B : Focus Group : Operational Mechanisms establish calendar of tasks on monthly basis meet once every month to discuss status and progress

localized learnings by DC/Boston/AA members should be captured and passed on to other members (meeting/dicussion minutes, presentation slides, notes etc)

develop a good database of ne-related resources (position papers, policy research, new articles/book chapters/magazine excerpts etc.)

actively "solicit" project proposals from other NE states close collaboration and follow up of current projects - atleast one

conf call per month to partner NGO write up an evolving "process document" on the entire NE effort

(keep it updated so we capture whatever new ideas are tried out!)

Current NE Cell initiatives

• Understanding the Demographics, Culture in the

districts and states in the North East

http://www.aidindia.org/twiki/bin/view/NECell/AidNeProcess

• Visit by members of the cell to the NE – identified ACRD,

and BGVS, Assam as groups we can work with

http://www.aidindia.org/twiki/bin/view/NECell/ProjectVisitReports

• NGO’s we are working with: RVC, Dhemaji, Assam;

ERLISID, Kokrajhar, Assam; NEN, Assam

New NGO’s: currently evaluating projects of : ACRD, Assam

Current NE Cell Initiatives: Understanding the Demographics, Culture in Project Areas

Total Area: 3238 sq.km Population: Males: 48%, Females: 52% % below poverty line: 53% Literacy rates: male: 44%, female: 14% Agrarian economy

Animal husbandry Sericulture (Muga), Fishing & Driftwood

business Average annual rainfall: 3000 mm - floods Harvest festival – Boghali Bihu (equivalent of Pongal/ Lohri), Rongali Bihu, Kati Bihu (based on agricultural seasons) The people – Mongoloids- Bodos, Mizos, Nagas, Mishings, Morangs and Chutiyas - Hindus Ahoms: Khamtis, Naras, Phakials,

Aitaniyas,Turungs and Khamjangs, all Buddhists

http://ignca.nic.in/craft252.htm

http://www.webindia123.com/Assam/People/People.htm

Current NE Cell initiatives

Deboo’s video

Outreach – Mainstreaming the isolation

Tabling at NE Cultural/ Community events – e.g. Bihu celebrations in Boston

Newsletters -- to the AID community -- to the NE community

Current NE Cell initiatives (contd.)

Photos from Boston BIHU

Ship of Hope

Current NE Cell initiatives (contd.)

NE Cell

Grassroot Boat Builders

Sanjoy Hazarika

MIT DtM

Independent Design Engineers

(Hari Nair)

IIT Guwahati

Taking advantage of what we’ve learned being part of AID

Sangharsh, Seva, Nirmaan

Studying the history and culture Conflict and Floods : 2 issues to be studied Relationship with new NGO: ACRD Outreach – tabling at NE events Ship of Hope

3D small-scale prototype Scenario analysis – effect of siltation and strength of

currents on speed Changes in design – based on inputs from the grassroots Setting up IDC, Guwahati

Plan over the next 6 months

Raise funds from local NE community for the Ship of

Hope

One chapter representative who can be a contact for

the cell – for projects as well as outreach efforts

Publicize work of the NE Cell in your chapter

Organize tabling events at NE cultural celebrations

Let NECell know if you happen know of anyone who will

be visiting the NE soon anytime

Engage the NE community in your city in AID

How can you be involved?

the north east cell. outline 1. case for a ne focus group within aid 2. background & processes...

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