Tuberculosis is a contagious disease

World TB Day at BISWA

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................

PRINTED MA TTER MATTER

PIN-........................................

and it spreads through air to victimise a healthy person. It affects a person when the body immune system is unable to resist it. Even though it is fatal but it is also preventable & curable. In such a situation an NGO like BISWA has a vital role to bring awareness among people through its programme. These are the gist of what Mr. K.C.Malick, ChairmanBISWA and other speakers tried to deliver on the occasion of 'World TB Day' as observed on 24th March at BTI, BISWA. It was chaired by Mr. Malick. At the outset Mr. Shiv Prasad Meher, ManagerPublic Relations delivered his introductory speech on that occasion. He also anchored the meeting. Soon after him, Mr. Bhawani Shankar Mishra, Manager- Health, Dr. Ramesh Chandra Satpathy Assistant Manager- Health, Ms Ashisbala Dash Deputy Manager - Public Relations, Ms Murchhana Mohapatra Assistant Manager- Health, Ms Mamata Sahu Chief Manager Micro Finance & Mr Aravinda Das a guest spoke to the occasion. They elaborated mainly on the symptoms of TB, how to control it, our national

programme on it, how to fight the TB menace with promoting DOT & what role our community organisers and self help groups can play in this context. The programme was organised by Dr. Rajaram Sarangi, Assistant ManagerHealth. Ms Mamata Sahu, Chief ManagerMicro Finance handed over a bank draft of rupees one lakh to Ms Hemangini Panda, widow of late Mr Ashok Das, an exemployee of BISWA, who lost his life in a road accident. It is a custom in BISWA to extend group insurance coverage to its employee soon after they are employed. Mr Aravinda Das, the elder brother of the deceased, extended his whole hearted thanks to BISWA for this noble gesture and said that this humble contribution is very much important to his brother's family in this period of critical juncture. It would not only provide them a moral support but also it would become a sizeable financial help to the family after properly invested. The meeting was concluded with vote of thanks from Manager-Public Relations.

Published by Debabrata Malick, Chief Editor. The Link, at BISWA Computer Section, Danipali, Budharaja, Sambalpur. PIN-768004 Ph.No- 0663-2533597, Email: thelink@biswa.org

The Link
FOR PRIVATE CIRCULATION ONLY
Volume-99

Communicate Minds

1st April 2009

FORTNIGHTLY

ADVISORS
If you want to subscribe online The Link, please

Ticket

Khirod Ch. Malick Pitabasa Sethi Duryodhan Malick Ajoy Shroff Shiv Prasad Meher Bibhu Prasad Mohanty Prasant Kumar Sahu Dr. Jharana Mishra
In this Issue... Editorial Triple Jump visited BISWA Other news of BISWA

The Link
Chief Editor Debabrata Malick Editor Ashisbala Dash DTP Govinda Ch. Tripathy
Central Office
BISWA At- Danipali, PO- Budharaja Dist. Sambalpur, PIN-768004 Tele fax- +91-663-2533597 Email:biswamalick@rediffmail.com, kcmalick@biswa.org www.biswa.org ORISSA Gada Gopinath Colony, In front of High School, Plot No. E/7, PO: Rasulgarh Bhubaneswar-751010 CHHATTISGARH K-7, Sector-2, Agrasen Nagar, In front of Deendayal Upadhyay Nagar Thana Ring Road No.1, Raipur Chowk, Raipur (C.G.)

Dr Sudhakar Panda, Chairman Odisha

Finance Commission paid a visit to BISWA on 20th March 2009 in the afternoon. He had a discussion with Mr K.C.Malick, Chairman BISWA in the latter's office chamber. The discussion was mainly focused on the future prospect of BISWA in the recession affected financial world on the one hand and the ongoing process of general election on the other hand. The stagnation experienced everywhere due to recession was lamented and it was expected that there would be bright morning after this ongoing dark night in the fiscal world. Dr Panda made a short round of

the Central Office of BISWA by visiting some of its prominent departments as escorted by Mr. Shiv Prasad Meher, Manager- Public Relations. He also had a brief discussion with its officials at their tables. He was greeted by one and all with smile and folded hands at their respective tables. He was pleased to see the silent & disciplined working atmosphere in the office of BISWA and expected a bright future of it. He was seen off at Sambalpur Railway Station by Manager Public Relations as he left Sambalpur by Bolangir-Puri Intercity Express in the evening For Bhubaneswar. 4

To,

Dr. Sudhakar Panda visited BISWA

State Offices

s Xania Wong, DirectorSeedimpact, Hongkong came to Sambalpur for three days to visit BISWA. She came to Central Office of BISWA on March 23rd in the morning & met Mr. K.C. M a l i c k , Chairman BISWA. Earlier she was greeted & welcomed by Mr. Shiv Prasad Meher, Manager- Public Relations BISWA at Hotel Sheela Towers that day. She attended a staff meeting of BISWA at BTI in the chairmanship of Mr. Malick. At the outset she was given a formal welcome by Mr. Meher with a brief introduction of her. Each and every staff member gave a self introduction before her as per the tradition of BISWA. Mr. Malick painted a brief and colourful picture of the organisation in his deliberation. He outlined some of the major activities of BISWA with explaining before the guest the BISWA module of self help groups and structural description of the organisation. Then she was made to understand the single window system and various other activities of BISWA with its convergence on poverty reduction. It was also disclosed before her that BISWA has determined its own target to create one million employment opportunities with contribution of 5% to the gross domestic production (GDP) of the country by March 31st 2011. Ms Wong said in her deliberation that her organisation 'Seedimpact' does link the investors' funds to solve the poverty problems

Seedimpact Visited BISWA

in country like India and others. They are mainly focused on the developing countries in Asia. Her organisation is also engaged in fund raising from investors for Micro F i n a n c e Institutions (MFIs) like BISWA. The very purpose of it is to empower people in Asia to combat poverty. The criteria for the investments are to generate social and financial impact with a growth rate and sustainability. She was very much impressed with the structure as well as the human resources of BISWA. She met & interacted with different departmental heads of BISWA, Mr. Duryodhan Mallick - DGM, Mr. Pabitra Mishra - AGM, Mr. Debabrata Malick - Chief Manager -IT, Mr. Rakesh Das - Chief Manager Risk Management, Mr. Santanu Dash Manager Human Resources, Mr. Sambit Satpathy - Manager Insurance & Mr. Asis Sahu - Manager Credible Micro Finance Private Limited. She was also made to visit the World famous Hirakud Dam and expressed her amazement by its huge structure and spread. She was also made to visit the district office of Sambalpur, ADC office Jharuapara, SHGs at Hatpara & Ambedkarnagar, Hathibari Health Home and Common Facility Centre at Rengali. Her entire tour and visits were managed & coordinated by the Public Relation Department of BISWA.

91+663 2533597(O)

The Link

Dist-Sambalpur

P.O-Budharaja

B I S W A

PIN-768004

At-Danipali

E ditorial
Micro Plot
BISWA, as a philanthropic organisation, has started its operation in the field of social development initially with micro credit only. Then the focus was enlarged towards micro finance with covering other components of 'financial inclusion' as prescribed by the government policy. In due course it covered micro insurance, micro enterprise and micro marketing etc. Then after developing the network connection with 'Rural Development Institute (RDI)', there is another feather going to be added on cap of BISWA and that is 'micro plot'. It mandates at least a plot of own in one's name. "Securing land rights for the worlds' poorest" is the mission of RDI, as per its India Programme Manager. Of late he visited BISWA with a compact team from RDI that has all praise for this organisation. During discussion between both the organisations, the importance of at least a plot to build a house for one is accepted. Such a possession not only instils confidence in one's mind but also provides a dignified way of life to lead. This is of equal importance for all. As such the Government of Odisha has realised this fact and that is why it has taken up a project in the name of 'Basundharamo Jami mo diha'.

K.C.Malick, Chairman BISWA. At the outset the guests were formally welcomed by Mr. Shiv Prasad Meher, Manager- Public Relations. Mr. Malick laid the importance of motherland as well as a piece of own land in one's heart. Such a possession enhances one's confidence and belief in one's authority. In this connection RDI is doing an incredible job, he praised. He further added that we have to learn how to address such an issue of owning a piece of land for all and particularly for the landless poor. He also presented a brief profile of BISWA before the visiting guests. Speaking to the occasion, Mr. Gregory appreciated BISWA and its leadership and said it is amazing. Then coming back to his mission, he said that we are here to find ways and means to enable people to own a piece of land in their name. Such a possession would enable one to believe in one's existence. Then only one may think about other developmental issues like health, education and finance. So ownership of a piece of land is an issue of prime importance for RDI. We are looking forward to work with BISWA and with that intention we are here today. Then Dr Nanda said what he thinks about this

programme. He said Mr. Gregory has earned sufficient experiences in this matter, as he has worked in the Latin American countries for so many years in this mission. The situation in India and those Latin American countries are more or less the same. As BISWA is already operating in the fields of social development with micro finance, micro enterprise, micro insurance and micro marketing, so this would be your new field of 'micro plots' for the poor. The work is already in progress in our State of Odisha, as 2.72 lakh people are identified for this project named "Basundhara- mo jami- mo diha". Such a project would enable its beneficiaries to live a life with dignity. Praising BISWA, he said it is our privilege to work with such a large organisation that has penetration in almost all fields of works. He concluded his deliberation with a remark, "there is no alternative to hard work, so we have to work hard to achieve our goal". Mr. Jayant Swain, Manager-Programme, BISWA took the guests from RDI for a field visit to Kakudipali village in Maneswar block of Sambalpur district to meet some beneficiaries under project Basundhara. They were happy to see that some landless poor are really benefitted by availing a micro plot from the Government. The plots are not only found occupied but also they have already erected their house on it. It really thrilled them.

RDI visited BISWA

ecuring land rights for the worlds' poorest", with this mission Mr. Gregory Rake, India Programme Manager (Country Chief) of Rural Development Institute (RDI) visited BISWA on 26th March 2009. He was accompanied by Dr. Ambika Prasad Nanda, Odisha State Chief of RDI & his colleague Mr. Shishir. They were given a standing ovation and warm welcome in an all staff meeting of BISWA at BTI in the chairmanship of Mr. 2

"S

Capacity Building Programme (CBP) for District Adolescent Resource Team (DART) Members on Adolescent Health and Development Project took place at Institute of Psychological Education and Research, Kolkata. Mr. Shiv Prasad Meher, Manager Public Relations & Dr. Diptibala Pattnaik, Consultant SWADHAR both represented BISWA and participated in it on behalf of DART (NYKS), Sambalpur. It was organised by Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) & Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development (RGNIYD) for five days from 13th to 17th March 2009.The inaugural session was chaired by Mr. Sovan Kumar Bhattacharya, Zonal Director of NYKS and Dr A. Radhakrishna Nair; Faculty Head of RGNIYD graced the occasion as the chief guest. Mr. Amitava Sanyal, President of Bandhan (an NGO) and a prominent social worker of Kolkata with Ms Divya, Faculty Member of RGNIYD, both as the course coordinators, also graced the dais on that occasion. Since it was a zonal level training programme, so DART members from Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Manipur, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim participated in it. Soon after the inauguration, there was an introductory session that enabled the participants to know each other for better interactions in the next days. Then the objective with the five days schedule of the training programme was explained with establishing the ground rules for smooth facilitation. The resource persons then clarified the concept on Teens Clubs run by NYKS, Village Counseling and Village Counselors'

CBP for DART Members

Programme. Then lessons were given on Life Skills that is required by the adolescents at rural level. In an attempt to Understanding Adolescence, the participants were taught Adolescents' Concern and Needs, Rights of Adolescent Child, Profile of Adolescents in India & Adolescence - a period of change. Then the focus of the training was made on Need and Importance of Career Planning and Development, Counseling on Adolescent Reproductive & Sexual Health, HIV/ AIDS, Counseling pertaining to Family, Financial and Psychological & Social Issues. There were trainings on Handling the Adolescents & Members of Teens Clubs, Concept of Village Counseling & Action Plans. There were detailed trainings on Adolescent Reproductive & Sexual Health , Male & Female Reproductive System, Myths & Misconceptions, Eating Wisely- Nutrition, Safe Motherhood and Having Children by Choice & not by Chance & Having a Baby at the Age of Twenty. The training programme was concluded in the evening of the fifth day. The valediction session was chaired by Mr. Sovan Kumar Bhattacharya, ZD- NYKS Kolkata, whereas Mr. Amitava Sanyal, Ms Jayita Dasgupta, Ms Divya and Dr. Gangadhar Mohapatra graced the occasion as invited guests. The five days training programme came to its end with vote of thanks tendered by Ms Divya. 3

Eye Camp at Rairakhol

F our eye camps in a series were organised by BISWA in the Rairakhol block covering its four grampanchayats, Luhapank, Badabahal, Bansajal and Kadaligarh. These camps were organised on 18th, 20th, 22nd & 24th of March 2009 respectively in those grampanchayats by staff of Rairakhol ADC office of BISWA. A number of 47 persons were taken for their eye operation out of 55 persons found as fit cases for cataract eye operation, though altogether a total number of 268 persons were examined with only 8 persons as left out cases in these camps. The 47 persons were taken to Dhenkanal for removing the cataract from their eyes. They were given spectacles after their eye surgery and brought back to their respective villages. Such eye camps are regular features of health programmes of BISWA. The selected persons from these camps are taken to own eye hospital of BISWA, situated at Dhenkanal.