Ashapradeep Bureau
A day long programme of Media interface has been conducted by CFAR Bhubaneswar with support from Azim Premji Philanthropic Initiatives at Hotel Presidency Bhubaneswar on September 22, 2017. A total of 35 community leaders from fifteen settlements of Bhubaneswar and media personnel from 15 leading press and electronic media participated in the programme. The programme has to show case the innovative model of Community reporter to the people for governance reform. The thematic are of the programme was on the Decent work as a part of Sustainable Development Goal.
The programme was formally flagged off by a welcome address given by Ms. Rosalin Patnaik, field Coordinator , CFAR and the facilitated by Ms. Mamta Singh, Assistant Project Coordinator, CFAR. She expressed her heartfelt thanks to all community leaders to attend and conduct the programme. She shared about the progress card of CFAR starting from its work, activities and area of intervention. Se addressed the gathering (community coordinators and media friends) by sharing the objective of the programme. She stated that the overall objective of the programme is “mainstreaming the marginalised community women by helping them getting their rights and entitlements and giving them a platform where they can directly share their struggle and steps to achieve scheme benefit with a special focus on desent work for unorganised workers of urban slum”.
Community Advocate, Ranjulata Nayak from Harijan Sahi shared about condition of scavengers of her community. She said how these people have been deprived up their basic amenities as globs, mask and also denied to take leave. Their job are in risk if they rais their voices against their violation of rights. After intervention of Prayas they not only get their rights and entitlements but they get organised as a scavengers. Now they at least demand about their equal wage and intime payment from the organisation they are working for.
Ms. Kuntala Pradhan from Maa Mangala Sahi told about her jounrney from house wife to a tailor master of BMC. After attending community meeting a process of strengthening community of Prayas, she associated with NULM. Her hidden skill as a tailor has been appreciated by BMC and now she is working as tailor instructed to up grade the skill of women on tailoring. She expressed her happiness as now she is contributing in the economy of her home.
Ms. Nishamani Sahu, fifty three years old construction workers shared her struggle of her life as worker. She had to face harassment, wage discrimination, physical abuse for her livelihood. But She through CFAR raise her voice against inequality and violence in work place. She is now helping young workers to say no to inequality and violence.
Menaka Kinner a transgender leader shared her life story as a transgender how deprived from all rights as a citizen. She now able to get Ration through the advocacy of CFAR in scheme inclusion of third gender. She described that she organising her community to inclusion in NULM to enhance their economy.
Sameer Ranjan Dash, Project Coordinator CFAR spoke the journey of CFAR starting from 2009 in Odisha and about intervention under AAPPI Project. He mentioned how CFAR engage in strengthening community and form different kind of leaders (Community Researchers, Community Advocates). Now the innovation is the community Reporters. They will act as a bridge between community and Government. They will be the direct voice from community who make people realize their condition though mass media. The 10 community reporters are now being strengthen by CFAR to play as messengers for governance reform. A small booklet on the best practices of community advocates has been released in the programme.
Ms Pujafula Pattanayak, State Project Manager CFAR stated briefly about the focus of CFAR to achieve the goal of Sustainable development goal. According her speech, SDG is the global goal, a universal call to action to end poverty, protecting and enjoy peace and prosperity. In the 8th Goal of SDG, decent work CFAR focus on the social protection, wage equality. Universal assecc to essential health care income security is the demand of community workers from Govt. She special emphasised on gender equality as major agenda of CFAR.
At the end Sukant Kumar Sahoo gave Vote of thanks to All.
