: Shohratgarh Environmental Society (SES)

Implementation capacity

By Peer Water Exchange Posted on Wed 07 Mar 2012, over 12 years ago

SES has a long history of work in the same area, which is highly commendable.

Thank you for sharing the history of your water work - appears to have been mainly awareness campaigns over many years. Can you expand a bit on how these were conducted?

- what materials have been developed and evolved?
- what targets were set and how was success measured?
- any follow-up to the awareness to see if impact was generated?
- were the campaigns in different areas or repeated in the same?

Thanks,
Rajesh

Implementation capacity

By Shohratgarh Environmental Society (SES) Posted on Mon 26 Mar 2012, over 12 years ago

Dear Rajesh Ji,

Here are answer of your queries

In 1985, when SES started its journey. Founders did not have a planned roadmap and did not know destination.It was firm belief of founders that – in this journey, they will explore new areas . Organization in all those
years, gained rich experience on diverse issues and skill.In most of them it wass succeeded.Drinking water was one of reason for inception of SES. In Uttar Pradesh, Awareness is emphasized by local organization & funders as well.On Awareness on drinking water & sanitation,organization has worked with renowned organization like OXFAM, Catholic Relief Services, Unicef.In Initial period, awareness is conducted through mass campaign, rally, door to door interaction.As time passes, organization has learned awareness campaign is one sided affair. It is dissminating information or knowledge which it wants to share with community.There were discussion in the organization " whether we are targeting community with right approach- the one way...." In last One decade, organization has introduced participatory approach in all its programme(Not Only Water issue).It is done through small meeting in village with involvement of PRI, ASHA, Village health/water sanitation committe. In some programme, it has invited experts , functionaries from government department.School children are one of key focus area as SES believe that it is easy to imbibe community sense at early stage of life.In last few years, organization also noticed that most of Non Governmental Organization are not rightly aware about issue. SES has introduced seminars/workshop for those organization. Recently, It has conducted four workshop on "Climate Change & Its impact on Wash." More than 400 NGOs has participated in it.

Over the years, several materials has been developed. Sometime water issue was related to health , sometimes livelihood or climate change.Thorough discussion is done within organization.A small survey is done about knowledge & information on community "do's & dont's".It determines what kind of information they are devoid of... on the basis of that ,SES determines what is inevitable to their lives & rights & included in material.See video of the latest resource material developed.(See video: http://youtu.be/GqZOzIGRy-0)

SES do aim for high target but realistic one. SES always try to aware people on their understanding. For Example: it is very difficult to let community understand their life in terms of water foot print. Our target area is agriculture dominant. We aware them how water abundance or lack can impact their livelihood & ultimately basic rights like education or health.
As I have aleardy maintained the area is agricultural dominant. For Example: District Siddharthnagar is rice rich area. People are practising traditional method of growing rice.In last few years, flood has become regular event causing loss of water. In changing climate scenario, we have noticed precipation in th field varies from its earlier situation. As a daptation practices, we have introduced System Of Rice Intensification(SRI). It consumes less water & enahnce productivity of crop double.SES see water as importnant denominator in social & economical aspect.SES do not measure success by only water or agriculture specific. Ultimate outcome of any social cause/work, how people are living their life & what is standard of that life...

Follow up is done for most of project.If it is not possbile it is integrated with other running project in the area.

Some Campaigns are reapeated as change in behaviour and attitude is not very easy.It depends on community & how do they understand the adapt awareness current. But , SES campaign is not restricted to one area. The campaign is in around various location of district Siddharthnagar, Basti,Mahrajganj, Gorakhpur,Bahraich, Sravasti & Lucknow.

Staff, skills,and communications

By Peer Water Exchange Posted on Tue 20 Mar 2012, over 12 years ago

Its clear that Sandeep brings networking and internet skills - in the attach profile, it shows FB, twitter, etc. Though in that his role is not mentioned!

Can you expand on the staff picture - how many in Lucknow and how many in Shohratgarh?

Are there any others in your staff (esp. in Shohratgarh) who can participate in PWX, understand the process, and contribute their experience while learning from others and existing knowledge base?

What communication channels do use from the field to your office? How do you track project progress now as opposed to historically? Would you use SMS?

Thanks,
Rajesh

Staff, skills,and communications

By Shohratgarh Environmental Society (SES) Posted on Mon 26 Mar 2012, over 12 years ago

Dear Rajesh Ji,

Here are answers for your queries:

There are total 53 staff in SES. Only 10 staff are permanent. Rest are on project basis. Though, SES try to retain skillful & productive staff if project ends. There are 49 satff in Shohratgarh & 4 in Lucknow.

Definitely, there are staff who would like to part of PWX & its process.
There is hierachy in organisation. A reporting system where it already mentioned "Who will report whom ..?"There is simple fortnightly & monthly reporting format from where progress of project is determine.Senior management visit the field and camp office without any information and check the work.Annual Performance appraisal is also done in SES. As per hierachy staff is in regular touch through mail or SMS.

As for as role of Sandeep Srivastava, He is serial thinker. In last three years, he has shown direction to the organization.He always try to adapt good thing from others/organization. For Example: It has learnt txt web
(9243342000) from PWX. He has find it useful. Recently in his two project ,he has instructed team leader to find feasibility of internet-sms system. He belives, it can empower communityFor example: Right of MNREGA can be
disseminate to community & community based organization .

As per knowledge/information, SES has furnish above information.Hope, Answer will satisfy you.

Re: Staff, skills,and communications

By Peer Water Exchange Posted on Thu 29 Mar 2012, over 12 years ago

Thank you for the response, it clarifies.

One question: do you use 'mail' or 'email'?

One more question, just to learn more about your organization: what are the computer facilities in Shohratgarh and how many of your staff are computer literate (e.g. have emails)?

Regards,
Rajesh

Re: Staff, skills,and communications

By Shohratgarh Environmental Society (SES) Posted on Thu 29 Mar 2012, over 12 years ago

Dear Rajesh,

Yes, we use mail regularly.There are 6 computers & 4 laptops in Shohratgarh. Except Outreach workers (Community worker), all our staff are computer literate & use e-mails as per need of work.Staff use e-mail id allocated to staff. Others are organizational official e-mail id i.e sesindia@sesindia.org , Secretary & Acting Secretary e-mail id,

Thanks,
Sandeep