Fellowship

Social entrepreneurs lead and innovate wide-scale social action to effectively and efficiently benefit needy populations. The Deshpande Foundation believes that social entrepreneurs are essential to the social development sector and supports social entrepreneurship as a core activity. As such, the Deshpande Foundation has initiated the Deshpande Fellowship Program (DFP), a unique opportunity for budding social entrepreneurs.
The Deshpande Fellowship Program is a six-month-long opportunity for young social leaders to be trained in the knowledge, skills and practices necessary for success in the development sector. The training will be both classroom and field-based, with emphasis on active and applied learning experiences. Using both prior and Fellowship experiences, Fellows will then be expected to design and implement a social innovation with a partner institution in the Sandbox.
Overall Objectives for Deshpande Fellowship Program
The six-month training of the DFP aims to:
Build the Fellow's knowledge of the history and current context of development and social entrepreneurship, both in India and Internationally;
Establish the soft-skills necessary to be effective managers and leaders;
Train the next generation of social entrepreneurs and change agents in specific technical skills, providing them with the tools needed to leverage their efforts for significant change;
Prepare a human resource network to innovate and implement efficient, scalable approaches for resolving the world's most intractable challenges facing developing economies.
Technical and soft skills included in the DFP training include, but are not limited to, the following:
Computers and software: Using MS Office Suite, managing databases
Finances: Fundraising, drafting budgets and business plans, understanding financial ratios
MIS: Designing M/E systems, collecting and analyzing data
Observation skills: Identifying problems and solutions
Communication: Gaining interviewing skills, learning to communicate effectively with government officials, academics and donors
Writing: Writing grants, case studies, press releases, etc.DFP in Action
With our inaugural session already complete, we can be confident that the Fellows we train are highly skilled, ambitious workers with an agenda to drive change. In the past, the Fellows launched their own newsletter, organized their own community service excursions, managed successful fundraisers and connected with the foremost social entrepreneurs in the Sandbox area. I encourage youth to become part of the action.
Your Opportunity to Get Involved
Interested (20-28 years) candidate may apply for Cohort-III before 1st May 2009. The application is also available on Web site in both Word and Excel format: http://www.deshpandefoundation.org/. or send an email to ajaykumar.s@dfmail.org or call at 0836-2378430/Mob.9008459503.

Source:
Deshpande Center for Social Entrepreneurship
Deshpande Foundation
BVB College of Engineering & Technology
Vidyanagar, Hubli 580031Karnataka0836-237-8430

Guest Speaker

On March 13, 2009 Mrs.Chetna Gala Sinha, Founder and Chairperson of Manndeshi, Mhaswad came as guest speaker to address the fellows. It was a session in which she shared about her personal life, the way Manndeshi came into existence, the challenges she faced to build it etc.

Ms.Sheela Munro, Program Manager, Manndeshi, Hubli and Ms.Rekha, CEO, Manndeshi, Mhaswad also accompanied Ms.Chetna for the session. The session began through welcome speech from Ms.Meenakshi, fellow, DFP and brief introduction about the guest speaker by Mr.Devdanam also fellow of DFP.

Ms.Chetna started her words saying its privilege to address the students group, as most of her talk and communication will be with higher officers. She is educated in the field of Economics and during student life she had Public movements. During the moment, she came across a person and accepted him as her life partner. Husband was from an agriculture family, different in caste and class, it was a challenge to she took where she saw different corners of life. It was her first exposure to agriculture and farming family.

About the organization: In 1987 Chetna along with her husband, went to Kolapur from Maswad to sell two tons of onion they grew, but the amount they got was lesser than what they had to pay for transportation. This gave her a thought to start up a Credit Co-operative Bank for farmers with the share value of Rs.10/-. During those days, it was monopolized by NABARD and the village had municipal council. This was observed till 1991-1994, during this period she found that women are better money managers and thought of starting something for women that can give financial stability. Then she started a women bank, for which she started working from the grass root level, writing proposals and thus it was started from the scratch. As per the rules it needed 5,00,000/- to start the bank, but at the end 6,00,000/- was collected with each person contributing Rs. 25/-. When approached the CGI of RBI for license, the proposal was rejected for the reason most of the women were illiterate and they can’t handle the financial aspects.

This was a setback for Ms.Chetna, and she went back crying, but the village women didn’t give it up. They all took it as a challenge and committed for study so that they are no more called as illiterate. When again proposal was made same question raised, but that time the women were so confident to challenge the officers with the skill they had to calculate the rate of interest. At last, the license was approved in August 1997. In the past ten years, the bank has 1,20,000 clients and has a share of 20 crore and with this huge amount, Manndeshi started Non Banking Finance Company. In the beginning no one came to take loan and shared a story in which husband tried to manipulate the situation and to borrow one lakh.

Meanwhile a video on Manndeshi was shown to the fellows. Later on she continued saying the bank has door step banking system in which the loan amount can be paid at door step. A pigmy collector collects the amount as per their convenience, where it can be paid daily, weekly, fortnightly or on monthly basis. The pigmy collector gets 3% of the amount collected.

In the year 2006, Business School on Wheels was started for the rural women which trains women on Computer and Tailoring. According to Ms.Chetna, women think reality where as men aspires. When asked the reason behind name Manndeshi, it says Mann-River (in maswad which is almost always dry), and in Marati it means Sand and Deshi is local.

The other activities are providing scholarship of girls, providing bicycle without interest on it. HSBC is also supporting in lending money under its Corporate Social Responsibility and also Business school of education. When asked about her vision, she said the focus is on expanding whole of Maharastra and North India specifically in Gujrath.

After Deshpande Started supporting Manndeshi, it started a new branch in Hubli, Karnataka during August 2007. Then the Program Manager, Ms.Sheela answered for the questions asked about the Hubli branch. She shared about the challenges, saying she was worried of what can be done with the bus sent from the head office for the purpose of training. Those were the days she even thought of sending it back.  But after all the hard work now the situation is entirely changed and expressed the feel of joy to say, now two more buses are needed as the enrollments are taking place even long way back. The session was very much interactive, all the fellows got chance to ask questions and were addressed from the guests. Manndeshi has no funding from the Government, Ms.Chetna doesn’t not entertain as she faced the different views while tried taking those funds.

By answering the queries, the session concluded by vote of thanks form Ms.Usha, fellow, DFP followed by photo session.

Thus the session gave an insight about the social concern of enlightening and upliftment of rural women with a concept of Enterpreneurship.

Holi Hai........

Holia... me udai re Gulal.........

These lines were made truth today when all DFP fellows came out from the hostel and moved on streets. Actually in Hubli, karnataka Holi is celebrated on the fifth day of Holi fire. We all were dancing, singing and playing dhapppli on the road. After playing Holi at hostel we all reached to our DCSE Director, Mr. Naveen Jha's place. Here along with colony people and Sand Box fellows Taryn and Lesley we enjoyed Holi. We also had gujhia, chips and namkeens offered by Naveen.

Guest Speaker

Dr. J.K.Hiremath, founder of 'Manovikasa' started this organization in 1994 for special children (rehabilitation center for mentally retarded children). His daughter is the inspiration for starting this special school. She suffered from meningitis and died in the year 1994. This incident made him to run this school for special children. Dr. Hiremath visited Deshpande Foundation on 6 March as Guest Speaker and spent his valuable time with all DFP Cohort II fellows. He shared all about Manovikasa and his efforts.

Dr. Hiremath was working in an American organization resigned his job came to India & in 1994 he started a small day care center with two rooms from 10:30am to 4:30pm for mentally retarded children. This grew into a residential school by 2003.

Reasons for the development of mental retarded

v  Age of the mother

v  Mental & physical health of the mother

v  Genetic abnormalities

v  Mother’s addiction to drugs

v  Malnutrition

v  Half attempted abortion

v  Use of un prescribed drugs

v  Accidents

v  Epileptic attack by hormonal change

v  Forceps delivery

v  Alexia

v  Prolong delivery

v  Cesarean

v  Low birth

Functions of Manovikas

Being a neuro clinical psychiatrist Dr.Hiremath design the perfect residential arrangement for the mentally challenged children. He could also successfully design the activities of Manovikas. They are,

·         Visiting the villages & building the awareness.This includes early identification, facilities available from the government, diagnosis & issue of certification.

·         Convergence service. They have adopted 7 districts in Kanpur, each village is having some SHGs which helps in the taking care of the children, for this parents of the children are charged Rs2/-

·         Upanayana. Here they train the parents as co-therapists. Different therapies will be given to the child. Like,

ü  Hydro therapy

ü  Sand therapy

ü  Jump fit therapy

ü  Multi sensory stimulation therapy

ü  Squint correction therapy

ü  Physiotherapy

ü  Vita therapy

ü  Speech therapy

ü  Drooling therapy

·         Special education system. Here level assessment of the children is done by check list. They follow the individual rehabilitation program (IRP), in which each child will be having its own curriculum. Basic knowledge like Time, Money, Writing name, Signature was taught to the students. For female domestic ability development program is also conducted. Music therapy, sports, yoga, dance is also part of the school activities.

·         Residential service. They teach self help skills like, Toilet training specially reporting, eating, bathing, grooming, for female menstrual hygiene. They also take children for excursions.

·         Achievements of school.

Ø  Gold medal in china in swimming

·         Challenges face.

Ø  Meet the parents expectation

Ø Rehabilitation of children in home

·       Contact:

Ph.-9243281756  e-mail:manovikasa@yahoo.com

District Level Campaign on International Women's Day

We all Deshpande Foundation Fellows celebrated International Women's Day on 8 March with new initiative. 

The main objective of this one day campaign was to encourage women to ask for their rights, sensitization of men and boys to stop discrimination and violence against women and give equal respect to all women and girls and secure equal participation of women.

Process: One Idea(6th March) --> Sharing with all(6th March) --> Strategy making (same time) -->Collaborative efforts(continue) --> Preparation -->Continue Follow up --> conducting of activities/programs --> With enjoying the Task --> Done.

All fellows conducted 21 street play activities in different communities, villages, public places around Hubli-Dharwad District of Karnataka. In these programmes along with 18 fellows a mass of local people participated. Ajay Suman Shukla and Chandru Lamani facilitated and coordinate all fellows in conducting activities and other related works. Till the end of the day fellows conducted activities in 21 places of Hubli-Dharwad like: Gantikeri, CBT, Anand nagar, Nekarnagar, Old Hubli, Devinagar, Chetana colony, Railway quarters, Unkal, Bhairidevarkoppa, Navanagar,Gamanagatti of Hubli and Navalur, Sattur, Gandhinagar, Ambedkar Colony, Jannatnagar, Tejashwininagar, Laxmi singanakere, Nehru nagar and Srinagar of Dharwad area. By visiting these places and conducting street plays message was passed to more than 5000 people.

RTI Mudule Session

3 Day Session on Right to Information

Right to information Act, 2005 came into force on June 21, 2005. This Act gives a democratic right to all Indians to retrieve the information from government/public offices as a citizen of India.

Ashutosh and Tippanna facilitated the RTI session for three days. During the first-day session I learned very good information that had not heard before. I learned about different definitions of the Act, information and records. The definition of records includes advices, opinions, memos, circulars, documents, micro-films, etc. A Section of the Act called [4 (1) (a) and (b)] of RTI Act 2005 is very important. This section covers all information about a particular department under ‘Suo-Motu’. I learned how to write an application under section [4(1)(b)]. We can get the information from the constitution state legislature and government bodies and government aided bodies and the organization that is funded by the government. Suo-motu is a publication published by each government offices every year about the organization, and it covers 17 points. If a citizen is applying for Suo-motu  all concerned departments are governed to give all the information covering 17 points under section [4 (1) (b)].There is no charge for this information. Meaning one can take this information free of cost. Also departments are required to maintain all information and records every year.

On the afternoon of the first day I went to Karnataka Water Board to file an RTI application under section [4(1) (b)] of Suo-Motu. I was with my co-fellow Laxmish. He filed an RTI there. In this department the related officer received the application easily.

By the second day I knew about section [6 (1) (b) ] of RTI Act, 2005 and the application format to file an RTI application. According to this act anyone can access the particular information about any issue from government/semi-government department. To get this information we must write an application in our own words specifying the exact point we need. There is no certain format for writing the application. While submitting the application form we should attach Rs 10/- postel order or demand draft in the favour of the related department. There is a provision to get the information within 30 days after filing the application. But in the case that the requested information is related to other departments, five more days can be added to the 30 day limit. If any officer does not accept the application or is not ready to give the information, the applicant can ask for the reason in written form from the officer.

If information is not given within the fixed period one can apply to a higher authority, state information commission or central information commission. The commission should reply within 90 days from the original application date.

After noon I went to the Women and Child Welfare Department to file an RTI application under section 6 (1) (b) for taking the information about the implementation status of Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 of Dharwad District. In this department after some query I filed the application successfully. 

The third day was a recap session of the previous two days. It was very nice to recall all the lessons I learned. Then I learned about section 7 (1) of the Act that is very important to take the information within 48 hours in case of life and death matters. Meaning if somebody’s life can be safe from the related information so that information can be taken from the related department within 48 hours under section 7 (1).

Section 8: Refusal of an Application. The government department can refuse an application for particular reasons: information related to defense ministry, communal harmony related information that can be cause of riots, individual’s life sentence, etc.

Section 18(1): Complaints. All kind of complaints can be done under this section of RTI Act, 2005.

I also learned powers of SIC and CIC. In the afternoon all fellows went to different communities of Hubli city to conduct awareness programmes for RTI Act, 2005.