BRAC representatives on a 4-day exposure visit to Bandhan

Commemoration of World Tuberculosis Day

Bandhan organizes extensive skill development training sessions on health

5,000 beneficiaries now under ABHA project

Trustees and donors of Freedom from Hunger visit Bandhan

      

Bandhan ventures into untouched tribal belt with its health services

In order to provide holistic support to the poor community, Bandhan has been organizing health camps in various districts of West Bengal since May 2011. As of now 30 health camps organized by Bandhan have catered to 6,046 patients in 7 districts of West Bengal. This particular initiative was deemed necessary in Chhilimpur since the area belongs to an isolated tribal belt devoid of any health infrastructure. The local tribal population is predominantly engaged in the adjacent stone-crusher units and therefore, prone to health hazards like tuberculosis, asthma, dysentery and the like.


The health camp organized on January 20, 2012 witnessed a total footfall of 474. A team of 4 doctors examined the patients. They were provided with health check-ups which revealed a preponderance of diabetes, asthma and cases of worm infestation. In addition, complimentary medicines for the detected ailments were distributed based on the medical findings. Honorable MLA, Mr. Avijit Mukherjee complimented Bandhan for venturing into such an untouched area with its health services. He closely interacted with 30 Health Volunteers (Swastha Sahayikas) of Bandhan.

Prior to this, an eye camp was also held at the same place on January 19, 2012. It revealed 41 cataract cases out of a total of 330 attendees seeking ophthalmic attention. Surgeries in association with Susrut Eye Hospital are on the cards too.

Team from Ethiopia on an exposure visit to Bandhan

The 3-member Ethiopian team also visited Bandhan's Targeting the Hard core Poor (THP) Program. They interacted with both ongoing and graduate beneficiaries and this helped them understand better the process of integration to mainstream finance. The concluding day was reserved for a debriefing session at the Head Quarters with Mr. Chandra Shekhar Ghosh, Founder & Mentor, Bandhan, who readily responded to their queries. Also present were Mr. Debasish Ray Choudhuri, CEO and Mr. Rama Prasad Mohanta, Project Coordinator, THP, Bandhan Konnagar. The team returned with a gamut of ideas and learnings which would help them to add value to their existing program.

Bandhan invited on panel at 4^th Livelihoods India Conference

The poorest and vulnerable households are often not reached through the typical programmes designed for poverty alleviation and livelihoods promotion of the poor. The session focused on how to integrate livelihoods, financial services and market development strategies for economic empowerment of the poorest. It explored and highlighted experiences in several areas, including enterprise and market facilitation programmes; savings-led microfinance; asset-and-cash transfer; and value chain development approaches methodologies designed to respond to the specific needs of the poorest.

Bandhan was represented by Ms. Piyali Bhattacharjee, Senior Manager-Research and Development at the panel in presence of other distinguished panelists. The event was also attended by Mr. Debasish Ray Choudhuri, CEO and Dr. Swapan Kr. Sinha, Program Coordinator, Bandhan Konnagar, the CSR arm of Bandhan.

Mr. C. S. Ghosh on the panel of Health Session at Microfinance India Summit 2011

In the context of the turn of events over the past one year in the Indian microfinance sector, the overall theme of the Summit was Bridging the Hiatus, Building Trust, with a view to look ahead and rebuild the sector. The break-out session titled Health and Microfinance: The Case for Integration held on December 13, 2011 under the aegis of Microcredit Summit Campaign and Freedom From Hunger explored the need and opportunities of synchronizing health with microfinance by sharing the successful efforts of some leading practitioners of microfinance and health in India. Mr. Chandra Shekhar Ghosh, Chairman & Managing Director, Bandhan participated in the above-mentioned session as a panelist.

      

Bandhan organizes a Workshop on Community Health

Mr. Dilip Ghosh, IAS, Mission Director (NRHM), Commissioner, Department of Health & Family Welfare, Government of West Bengal presided over the workshop as the Chief Guest. The workshop was sub-divided into several break-out plenary sessions which were attended by notable dignitaries on the panel viz. Dr. S. K. Lahiri, Community Medicine, R. G. Kar Medical College, Dr. Sekhar Chakraborty, Director, National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, Dr. Akhil Bandhu Biswas, Director, Institute of Health & Family Welfare, Dr. Kaninika Mitra, UNICEF, Dr. D.N Goswami, Jt Director, West Bengal State AIDS Prevention & Control Society, Dr. Anirudha Sengupta, NPSP, World Health Organization.

They pointed out the anomalies in the domain of community health and also explored how NGOs can chip in. The contribution NGOs can possibly make through advocacy, mobilization, spreading awareness about entitlements was explored in great depth. The event was a success as it assimilated the experience of thinkers from diverse backgrounds, thereby creating a knowledge-base from where NGOs can imbibe.

      

Regional Conference on HIV/AIDS organized by CII and IBT

The conference focussed on the Challenges and Opportunities of the Business Response to HIV/AIDS by showcasing the partnerships between business, government and civil society which have extended the reach of programs through shared infrastructure and human resources.

The Conference covered expected roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders, including industry to help expand access to and quality health services through its resources, expertise, and infrastructure and to share experiences in health.

Dr. Swapan Kumar Sinha, Program Coordinator, Bandhan Konnagar, the development arm of Bandhan attended the conference.

      

      

Workshop on Livelihood Promotion and Market Linkage organized by Bandhan

Bandhan Konnagar, the not-for-profit arm of Bandhan organized a Workshop on Livelihood Promotion for the Poor & Marketing Linkage on September 23, 2011 (Friday) at ICMARD Building, Kolkata. The program was inaugurated by Mr. Ashim Mukhopadhyay, Chief General Manager, Natural Resource Management Center, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) in the presence of Mr. Dilip Kumar Pal, Project Manager, ISGP, Joint Secretary to the Government of West Bengal, Dr. Pijush Kanti Pramanik, Director, Horticulture, Government of West Bengal and Mr. Chandra Shekhar Ghosh, Founder & Mentor, Bandhan. The ensuing plenary sessions chaired by Mr. P. S. Banerjee, Ex General Manager, NABARD also included policy makers, practitioners, academicians and industry representatives. The workshop revolved around three major segments:

• The overview- broad perspectives on the opportunities & challenges in livelihood promotion in West Bengal
• The practice - Strategies, models, success stories & learning from the farm and non- farm sectors
• The practice - Strategies, models, success stories & learning from the farm and non- farm sectors

The objective of the workshop was to elicit opinions from practitioners and stakeholders on the roadmap towards creation of sustainable livelihood for the poor and the meeting of minds from varied fields ensured its success.

      

Health Workshop

Indian Institute of Public Health, Gandhinagar in association with Freedom from Hunger and Microcredit Summit Campaign organized a high-level workshop entitled ‘Linking Health and Microfinance in India: Improving Incomes and Promoting Universal Health Care Access for the Poor’ on July 26-27, 2011 in Ahmedabad. The aim was to bring leaders together from the microfinance sector and the public health sector, along with innovative health practitioners, policymakers and donors for dialogue to examine the potential for linking health providers and microfinance practitioners to reach many millions of poor families in India with essential health services to improve health and protection from the crippling costs of illness. It also explored intersecting goals, objectives, activities, and research requirements to build this new field of microfinance and health protection.

Mr. Chandra Shekhar Ghosh, Mentor, Bandhan Konnagar was the distinguished speaker at the seminar ‘Linking Health and Microfinance — A Promising Strategy to Improve Health along with Financial Security of the Poor.’ The following session on ‘Adding health services to microfinance – Successful examples from the field’ witnessed Ms. Maneeta Rathore, Senior Manager, Institutional Finance, delivering a presentation on Bandhan’s intervention in health.

      

Celebrating Forest Week 2011

During National Forest Week(14^th July to 20^th July ), tree-planting ceremonies were observed at different Branches across West Bengal. More than 2500 plants were planted by the students. It was meant to facilitate environmental awareness . “One tree one life” was the slogan for the school students. The students also voiced their protest against rampant deforestation.

      

Bengal Chamber Of Commerce And Industry Organizes Workshop On CSR

The CSR and Skill Development Committee of The Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry organized “An Experience Sharing and Learning workshop on CSR at the Rotary Sadan, Kolkata on June 10, 2011.

The workshop provided a forum for discussing guidelines to sustainable models of CSR. Industry representatives with hands on experience on successful CSR practices shared their perspectives. The workshop focused on sharing of ideas and brainstorming on achieving value for business from effective approach to CSR.

The workshop was attended by Mr, Debashish Roy Chowdhury, CEO, Bandhan Konnagar.

      

Bandhan organizes health camps for its
hard core poor beneficiaries

Bandhan in its unique way of reaching out and providing holistic support to the beneficiaries of its Targeting the Hard Core Poor (THP) program is organizing health camps in 13 branches across 6 districts of West Bengal viz. Murshidabad, Nadia, Hooghly, Bardhaman, North 24 Parganas and Kolkata from May 16 – June 29, 2011.

This initiative was deemed necessary since it has been observed that these poorest of the poor frequently suffer from health hazards due to malnutrition and unhygienic living conditions. Struggling to acquire at least two square meals a day, these hard core poor stand helpless when diseases and common ailments come knocking at their doors.

It is estimated that around 1,300 THP beneficiaries and their families would be provided health check-ups during the above mentioned period. Nearly 18 to 20 types of medicines for common ailments like fever, diarrhoea, dehydration, aches, vitamin deficiencies, and the like are being distributed on the advice of the doctors. Other than weight and blood pressure measurement, instant blood sugar tests are also being conducted. People with serious ailments are being referred to nearby hospitals.

The first such health camp took place at Konnagar in Hooghly district of West Bengal on May 16, 2011. The other camps as scheduled will soon follow.

      

Third Global Graduation Meeting in Paris

The third Global Graduation Meeting took place in Paris on March 24 – 25, 2011. The same was organized by Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP) and the Ford Foundation. The event was a global effort to understand how safety nets, livelihoods and microfinance could be sequenced to create pathways for the poorest out of extreme poverty.

Mr. Chandra Shekhar Ghosh, Founder, Bandhan and Ms. Piyali Bhattacharya, Senior Manager, Research & Development attended the meeting as well as the preceding workshops on March 22-23, 2011 to turn the spotlight on Bandhan’s unique development initiative viz. Targeting The Hard Core Poor (THP) Program. Mr. Ghosh participated at a panel discussion on Strategic Alliances.

      

Bandhan’s non-formal schools celebrate annual sports

The team of Bandhan’s Education Program has been busy organizing annual sports for its 107 non formal primary schools. Annual sports for 45 schools have already been conducted between February 11 to 23, 2011. Sports for remaining 62 schools are scheduled to be organized before the end of March 2011.

The sports meet at each of these schools were declared open by releasing balloons. The event began with a March Past by the students and the same was followed by the inaugural speech of the Chief Guest.

The local authorities and elites of the villages and of course the parents of the school children were cordially invited to grace the occasion. They whole heartedly attended the event and this served as a major encouragement for the children. Various games viz. Maths and Biscuit race, 100 Meters Race, Cock Fighting, Jar breaking, Go As You Like and many others were organized for the children. The distinguished guests delivered speeches that basically revolved around encouraging these young talents to pursue education in earnest while also participating in extracurricular activities.

Before the crowd dispersed from the grounds, prizes were distributed to the winners by the guests, teachers and the staff. To be mentioned here, that some of the members of the senior management team of Bandhan made individual contributions for the prizes of the sporting events. The days were full of fun and frolic. It would not have been possible to organize these events successfully had it not been for the help and unstinted support of the community. Our special thanks to them! The gathering dispersed with promises of similar events next year.

      

Government summons Bandhan’s health volunteers for vaccinating the children

Office of the Block Medical Officer of Health, Government of West Bengal requested Bandhan to send their health volunteers of Bagnan II Block branch (Howrah district of West Bengal) for vaccinating the children in brick fields during the period February 13 – 15, 2011 in the interest of public services.

Bandhan readily accepted the request and the vaccination program was successfully completed. The health volunteers contributed to their best for vaccination of the children in brick fields.

      

Eminent US photographer visits Bandhan

Ms. Annie Griffiths, one of the most esteemed photographers of National Geographic and Exeutive Director of Ripple Effect Images (a non-profit organization) visited Bandhan on January 29, 2011. Ms. Griffiths had actually been invited to Kolkata as a Key Guest and Lecturer at the Kolkata Book Fair. She had expressed her keen desire to interact with Bandhan’s beneficiaries. Bandhan arranged for her to travel to Canning situated in the district of South 24 Parganas, West Bengal to see the development activities. She had the opportunity to visit one of the schools run by Bandhan and also met beneficiaries of the Targeting the Hard Core Poor Program. Later on the same day, she visited Bandhan’s Head Office to interact with Mr. Chandra Shekhar Ghosh, Mentor, Bandhan Konnagar. She was overwhelmed to see the initiatives taken by Bandhan for the betterment of women. This was her maiden visit to India and she went back with memories of inspiring stories to narrate.

      

Bandhan supports government Polio Vaccination Program in remote brick fields

In an effort to reach out to untouched areas with polio immunization initiatives, Bandhan undertook Polio Vaccination Programs at remote brick fields of Howrah district, West Bengal on the request of local authorities. The program was conducted on January 23-24, 2011.

428 children belonging to families of brick-field workers were identified through an intensive survey who had purportedly missed earlier vaccination programs. The health team comprising of Health Community Organizers and Regional Managers engaged themselves actively in the initiative and treated these children with the required vaccine. The mothers of these minors went back with awareness on the necessity of polio immunization and they were encouraged to continue the process.

      

Cultural Programme by the students of Bandhan’s non-formal primary schools

A cultural programme by the children of Bandhan’s non-formal primary schools was organized on January 20, 2011 at Moulali Yuva Kendra, Kolkata. The event was inaugurated by Ms. Santana Lahiri Ghosh, Chair Person, West Bengal State Social Welfare Board and Mr. Prashanta Bhattacharya, Director-Textile (Sericulture), Government of West Bengal in the presence of Mr. Chandra Shekhar Ghosh, Mentor, Bandhan Konnagar.

The programme consisted of recitation, solo and group songs, dance performances and a short play performed by the once non-school-going and drop-out children who have been successfully reinstated in 107 schools under the development initiative of Bandhan, viz. Bandhan Education Program (BEP). The programme was a smash hit at the turnstiles and a packed auditorium broke out in applause as the children danced to the pulsating beats of songs. Vying for attention too were recitations by a bunch of tiny tots.

A thought-provoking play, “Raj Darpan” brought to light the hitherto dormant talents of the children. The finale to the enchanting evening was an aesthetically-choreographed “Vande Mataram” where the children decked up in traditional attire blended their movements with the patriotic spirit of the song. The zeal of the staff from Bandhan Education Program was palpable and it helped to make the entire event flawless.

      

Bandhan’s Annual Picnic

The Annual Picnic of Bandhan was held at Bandhan’s upcoming training center at Rajpur in Kolkata on January 30, 2011. All the employees of Bandhan’s Head Office along with their families had a day of fun and frolic.

An inaugural choral rendition kickstarted the day. As it progressed the crowd was kept hooked on to a host of entertaining games and cultural events. The day-long antics of the boisterous kids kept everybody on their toes and brought out the child in them. Exhilarating solo performances by some of the talented attendees made the audience asking for more. The aroma of a sumptuous spread was wafting in the air since morning and the participants gorged it all till the last morsel. The day concluded with a Prize Distribution ceremony and a closing address by Mr. Chandra Shekhar Ghosh, Mentor, Bandhan.

      

Bandhan now develops women as drivers

Bandhan launched a new initiative under the umbrella of Employing the Unemployed (EUP) program. This program is about developing women as drivers. It is in collaboration with For-She Travels & Logistics Pvt. Ltd. The program envisions to empower poor women by imparting training on driving, soft skills, language skills and self-defense mechanisms. This rigorous training will be followed by provision of license and recruitment thereafter.

The program was launched at Sion, Mumbai on January 13, 2011 in the presence of Dr. Swapan Gorai, Professor, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Dr. Prem Kumar, Manager, Bank of Travancore, Chembur Branch, Ms. Alka Saxena, CEO, For-She Travels & Logistics Pvt. Ltd and Mr. Chandra Shekhar Ghosh, Mentor, Bandhan Konnagar.

Bandhan has tied up with For-She Travels & Logistics Pvt. Ltd. in their unique effort to reverse the notion of gender-based segregation of trades.