Orissa Nari Samaj
The Orissa Nari Samaj is a federation of 55 block level Tribal Women's Organisations in 14 districts of Orissa. It is a unique spin-off of THREAD's Training Methodology.
Empowering the Adivasis and their overall well-beingThe operational field of THREAD spreads across three regions which cut across 14 districts — with a predominant adivasi population. While the state of Orissa has a large tribal population (22.2%), there are altogether 63 tribes in the operational areas of THREAD. However, there is a small segment of Dalits too. THREAD believes that their development programmes should aim at an integrated development of the Adivasis.
Promoting People's Organisations and Building Mass movementThe flagship of THREAD is Orissa Nari Samaj which has 53 registered Samajas (CBOs) which oversee the functioning of cluster level committees and 3255 village level Sanghas with the total members of 250,000.
Strategies of ONS to position itself as an empowered tribal women's organization:
A. Campaigns for advocacy and policy level impacts:
The campaigns are organized through the network base of ONS. These campaigns have not only sought the support of like-minded individuals within the community but also of the ONS supported PRI leaders.
- Rallies and campaign on atrocities on women which concluded in a while paper on women and all-women police station.
- Campaign and lobbying with organizational support of THREAD (training, education material) on BT Brinjal. The state of Orissa has banned BT Brinjal.
B. Motivating and Training Adivasi Women to enter PRI:
While the ONS nominated 2400 candidates for PRI elections in 2007, 1290 have now been elected, forming a critical mass in local governance. Behind this achievement is the work of THREAD in motivating, training and educating these women.
Promoting an Empowering Model in GenderWith a large collective base of 250000 members and more importantly with 1290 elected members in PRI, ONS has a large public and political presence. The profile of ONS underscores four or five critical areas in women's empowerment.
Making a difference in Local Governanace
- PDS at Door Step
- Declaration & Panchayat as GM free
- Maintaining ICDS activities
- Proper distribution of BPL cards
- Regular functioning Palli Sabha
THREAD's initiatives in organic farming and promotion of collective farming have begun to make a difference for select farming households.
Health Care1170 women (one health worker for two or three villages) health volunteers under Samajas who have been trained by the Regional Centres.
The health initiatives are currently supported by herbal gardens in the regional centres and in the 212 villages and they are up scaled.
The health initiatives of THREAD-ONS is being strengthened further by harnessing and harvesting the rich natural resource base of tribal region.
Renewal of Core Tribal Values and CultureFor the adivasis, identity with their community has always been a core value. Values such as sharing, community living, preserving their tribal dialect, living with nature and celebration of agricultural seasons are closely embedded in tribal culture which THREAD values.
While the adivasis are divided into tribes with singular identities, THREAD has worked to promote a common plural identity which aims to dilute inter-tribal conflict.
Promotion of Organic Farming and Campaign for GM Free Organic Agricultural StateTHREAD approach to organic farming is placed in the ecological context of its operational areas which is drought-prone, with poor agricultural yields and degrading lands. For the adivasis land has always been the bedrock of their culture — providing a major source of livelihood. Vagaries of weather, pull of urban culture and lack of employment have been alienating adivasis from their lands and habitat.
A singular achievement of ONS. Thanks to the relentless campaign of ONS, the Orissa government has also banned BT Brinjal which has saved an estimated .362 indigenous varieties in Orissa.
Establishing Community Schools of EcologyTHREAD has leveraged the ONS Samajas to establish 22 community schools of ecology. These schools of ecology have begun to promote models of convergence which at a larger level gives primacy to tribal way of life that promotes their well-being. To illustrate, these schools of ecology currently gives focus not only to promotion of organic farming but also herbal medicines.
Pilot Projects (Food Security)There are now 800 organic farmers who have organized themselves into an Association. These encouraging trends have paved the way for setting up two pilot projects the objectives of which are demonstrating the impact of adopted techniques to promote food security through grain storage. These models would later be replicated in other blocks. Finally THREAD aims to unpscale these efforts through mainstreaming by the government.
Training and other managerial services offered for Community Based OrganizationsSiddharth Village Community College of Ecology in three regional centres offer following services for CBOs:
Training Services:- Panchayat Raj System and Leadership in local self-autonomous Govt.
- Group mobilization & formation technique, group dynamic and problem solving.
- Organic farming techniques for men & women farmers (Cultivation, manure making, preparation of pesticides)
- For health workers on herbal treatment.
- Block brick making for construction of eco-houses
- Participatory Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation
- Large scale interactive process for organization growth
- Staff development & deployment for CBOs
- Documentation of project proposals and progress reports
- Financial management services for CBOs
Orissa Nari Samaj - A Mass Movement
The 55 block level tribal women's organisations catapult into a movement to address various issues affecting the marginalised people.
