Halt domestic violence break the silence

1 out 3 women face violence behind closed doors…

Protection of women from Domestic Violence Act 2005 recognizes the right of women to violence free homes.It is a civil law aimed at providing relief to millions of women wives,mothers,daughters,live-in partners and sisters affected by physical, sexual, verbal,economic and emotional forms of abuse. To access these right, a woman can approach the nearest Protection Officer, Registered Service provider, Police Station, Magistrate or the National Commission for Women. A Domestic Incident Report (DIR) can be filled in by the Protection Officer or a registered Service provider.

Media Partnership Program

To mark the International Year of Sanitation (IYS) and as a run up to SACOSAN III, the Water and Sanitation Program South Asia (WSP-SA) is pleased to announce the Media Partnership Program for regional media professionals (in print, electronic, audio and audiovisual media) who have been writing/producing/documenting water, sanitation, hygiene and health related stories in their countries.

GUIDELINES

Applications are invited from media professionals (in print, electronic, audio and audiovisual media) that have been covering water, sanitation, hygiene and health as mainstream issues. Approximately thirty media professionals shall be selected to participate in SACOSAN III which will be held in New Delhi. The winners shall participate in the six-day SACOSAN event , from 16 to 21 November 2008, being organized by the Government of India (Department of Rural Development) at New Delhi. The selected professionals will also be invited to visit field-based innovative initiatives that have resulted in adequate provision of water and sanitation services, improved hygiene behavior and have had a positive impact on the health of the target populations.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION

Eligibility: Professionals with at least three years experience in print,electronic, audio and audiovisual media with general circulation are eligible to apply for the program.The program is open to media professionals from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh and is likely to be extended to Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives,contingent to availability of funding. Preference shall be given to entries received from women media rofessionals.

The following products are eligible: Newspaper entries (op-eds., features, news),Magazine entries, Television programs (news, talk shows, and documentaries),Radio programs (news, talk shows, and documentaries)and News portal entries (news, documentaries).Visit these links to access entry form and more information on the programhttp://www.wsp.org/index.cfm?page=page_disp&pid=18066/ http://www.wsp.org/index.cfm?page=page_disp&pid=18047

Candidates may submit several entries that have been published/broadcast between 1 August 2007 and 31st July 2008. The deadline for submission is 30th August,2008, 1700 hrs, IST. The entries should be submitted by email at wspsa@worldbank.org. The entries must state in the subject line “Media Partnership Program Entry” along with the name of the country (e.g. India). In case there is a problem in sending entries by email, please contact us for alternative arrangements.

Please see country specific addresses in the web links provided above.For print entry, include one original or electronic copy of the article (s)(i.e., masthead with tear-sheets or original clips).For electronic entry, a print-out/ print-screen version of article(s) must be included. For audio and audiovisual entry, include an electronic version (word or pdf) of the script/ transliterated version, and a CD containing the entry OR an electronic file below 5 MB for e-mail delivery.

Themes: The subject of entries should be on:

Best practices in water, sanitation, hygiene and health — Sanitation for Dignity and Health; Health impacts of water and sanitation ; Sharing experiences of local initiatives in water, sanitation and hygiene practices

Language: Entries will be judged in English. Please provide translated version of print entries or script/ translated English version for audio/ audiovisual entries

THIS INFORMATION WAS SHARED TO THE AUTHOR THROUGH A GROUP EMAIL.PLEASE SEND ALL YOUR QUERIES TO THE EMAIL MENTIONED IN THE POST

Website to track missing children

Anyone who has lost their child can post a message on this website and a search will be set in motion simultaneously in 40 cities in the country.  Launched by Don Bosco National Forum for Youth at Risk in association with UNICEF, www.missingchildsearch.net will be closely watched and monitored by child welfare organisations in all major cities in the country and a search will be generated immediately. The Don Bosco National Forum for Youth at Risk is a major partner of Childline India Foundation and extends service to hundreds of children who are victims of war, conflict, natural calamities, sexual exploitation, trafficking and HIV/AIDS. They also take care of street and working children.

Hardoi villagers to get land possession after 32 years wait

The five-days long fast concludes upon government assurance.The fast by dalit residents of Chamartola, Village Panchayat Jajupur, Tehsil Sandila, District Hardoi, was called off today (Friday, 1 August 2008), at 11 am, upon insistence by the retired IPS officer Shri SR Darapuri, who is also the Vice President of Dr Ambedkar Mahasabha. Shri Darapuri said that since the government has given assurance and has begun the process of land measurement as per records in order to give land possession to the 107 families.

These 107 families of Chamartola were given the land ‘patta’ 32 years ago, but couldn’t take the possession of the land which rightfully belonged to them. 17 members of these families began an indefinite fast on 28 July 2008 in front of Vidhan Sabha in the state capital Lucknow to demand possession of land which was allotted to them by the Village Panchayat 32 years ago. This fast concluded today on 1 August.

Dr Sandeep Pandey, Magsaysay Awardee (2002) and convener of National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM), said that a powerful landlord family, to which the present Gram Pradhan Advocate Nageshwar Singh also belongs, has been forcibly occupying the land allotted to 107 landless dalit families in this panchayat. After speaking to the district authorities, land plots of five families were re-measured on 31 July 2008, and handed over to them. The villagers fear that like before, after they have cultivated a crop, they will not be allowed to harvest it by the powerful people. The district authorities are assuring that it will not happen this time. On this assurance it has been decided to withdraw the fast.

The individuals who were fasting since 28 July, include: Babu, Kishan, Nekpal, Nanhakke, Moolchand, Bhole, Horilal, Bhagga, Dori, Santu, Ramlal, Prabhu, Chantu, Rajeswari, Sushila, Savitri and Chotakke.