Monthly Progress Report- December 2009

Planning and policy advocacy

• As desired by the Hon’ble CM of Rajasthan, a detailed presentation was made by the Project Director, RMoL on 7th December, 2009 on RMoL efforts in the state and its contribution to livelihood enhancement at the policy level. The Chief Secretary, government of Rajasthan and the Principal Secretary, Labour and Employment also graced the occasion.
• The 5th Project Steering Committee (PSC) meeting of RMoL was held on 8th December, 2009 in the chambers of the Chief Secretary, also the Dy. Chairman, RMoL with representations from Principal Secretary, Planning; Principal Secretary, Labour and Employment; Secretary, Finance; UNDP team from Delhi and RMoL team. The PSC approved the UNDP budget for RMoL of Rs. 4.66 crore for the AWP, 2010.
• The UNDP, India issued appreciation letter to RMoL for establishing itself firmly at the state level and its contribution, views and technical inputs which are in increasing demand by the state government, district administration, civil society, private sector and communities. The letter further mentions that UNDP’s livelihood promotion programme has gained a lot from this partnership which is being extended to other states that UNDP works.   
• As desired by the government, initiatives have been taken towards registration of Rajasthan Institute of Security Education (RISE) under Rajasthan Societies Registration Act, 1958 to provide an umbrella body and an institutional cushion to the project.

Skill Development

• So far 730 skill training programmes have been approved for sanctioning to 277 training providers under the current financial year 2009-10. In principle 224 organizations have been issued the financial sanction. Financial sanctions have been issued for 327 programmes. Total 146 programmes have been completed so far and 150 more are ongoing.
• As desired by the government, RMoL keeps record of all skill training programmes under various initiatives of the government of Rajasthan. In total 122346 people have been given training under such initiatives of the Government through different departments/agencies viz; RUDA, RKCL, Commissionerate of Agriculture, DWCD, SGSY, RMoL etc. 
• As decided by the department of Panchayati Raj, GoR, the skill development training programmes under BRGF scheme have to be streamlined and get implemented by RMoL in 12 economically backward districts. The fund allocation of Rs. 3.75 crore for FY 2009-10 rests with RMoL as well. RMoL, in this regard is working in close coordination with BRGF, SC/ST Corporation and TAD.
• Development of remaining part (i.e. 65%) of the course on ‘household wiring and repair of domestic appliances’ has been completed, the CD will be ready for distribution in January, 2010. 
• The course content in Hindi on diesel engine and pump set mechanic and repair and rewinding of electrical motor and transformer winding have been finalized in coordination with ITIs and ITCs.
• Out of the state government budget of RMoL, a sum of Rs. 30 lakh has been sanctioned to DWCD for brand marketing of DWCD mobilized SHG products in the name of Amrita and Rs. 40.45 lakh to RUDA for upgrading handicraft items.  

Initiatives for Livelihood Promotion

• The draft final report of the study on ‘Perspective Plan and Strategies for Fisheries Development of Rajasthan’ has been submitted by Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE), Mumbai and the same is being shared with the department for fisheries, subject specialists, experts, practitioners etc for their feedback. The report will help in development of fisheries policy for the state. The final consultative workshop for sharing the study findings will held in Jaipur on 15th January, 2010.
• RMoL has approved CIFE to undertake work of developing GIS based Decision Support System (DSS) for fisheries development planning of Rajasthan. The DSS will consist of validated geospatial database of all individual aquatic water bodies in 11 districts, their pre-monsoon & post monsoon surface area, aquatic vegetation and turbidity, topographic features, socioeconomic and livelihood parameters, leasing details, technology adoption and marketing details, etc.
• Under the pilot project for promotion of fisheries cluster in Banswara district, ponds have been identified and water area of 111 acre is being finalized to benefit at least 100 fish farmers. The outside suppliers of fingerlings are being located for delivery in view of non availability of it in Rajasthan.
• Under the pilot project for cluster based sheep breed improvement, around 15 health camps have so far been organized with the help of department of animal husbandry. These health camps have immensely benefitted animals and have made villagers aware about the importance of animal health and breed improvement in enhancing income of sheep farmers.  
• Under the ‘Financial Literacy’ project, during the month, out of planned 35 training programs, a total 36 training programmes were conducted in different places of Tonk district and a total 1532 participants were trained and benefited from the training programmes. Out of the total, 1030 participants were from Minority Communities. A total 126 training programs have so far been conducted till Dec. 2009 and a total 5565 women participants have been trained out of which 2251 are minorities.
• The draft baseline survey report on the financial literacy project has been submitted to RMoL. The Final Report would be submitted in the month of January 2010.
• A refresher training program for 22 Prachetas of DWCD was organised by RMoL from 29th to 31st December at HCM-RIPA (OTS) Jaipur. EDI Ahmedabad imparted the training. It was completed successfully and was appreciated by trainees.
• The rapport building exercises have been conducted in all the deras of Kanjars. The information from the baseline survey is being consolidated and a detailed implementation plan will soon be finalized.  10 individuals of the Kanjar community in Jhalarapatan were taken for a two day exposure visit to dari weaving cluster of IFFDC in Dungarpur and to the SHGs/ Cooperative/crop and livestock programme in Pratapgarh.
• MoU has been signed with Sh. Rajnish Tuli, independent consultant, for conducting study on status of beggars in Jaipur. The recommendations will guide on rehabilitation procedure for beggars. Fresh proposals are being invited for conducting similar study in Jodhpur.
• Two batches of security training have started under Rajasthan Institute for Security Education (RISE) project by Jaipur Ex-Servicemen Welfare Cooperative Society Ltd. Other two agencies i.e. CAPSI and SIS will start respective trainings by the end of January.
• Under the establishment of Rural Employment Exchange project, a revised strategy has been chalked out and the open bidding is being done for implementation of project in three broad implementation heads.
• Under the ‘Establishment of Construction Academy’ project, MoU has been signed with National Academy of Construction, Hyderabad for transfer of know-how and facilitation in running of courses. The agency will support the construction academies in Rajasthan for three years.
• Under the project ‘support services for migrant labour’, more than 1000 migrants have been registered and more than 2000 labourers have been offered services such as identity card, legal counseling, skill training and placement etc.
• Under the project ‘promotion of small and micro-enterprises’ a total of 52 enterprises have so far been supported as part of the project in Udaipur district. This will benefit 63 families in total.
• Under the project ‘promotion of diary cluster’, 28 women SHGs have been formed with a representation of 322 families in Tonk district. A viable milk route in Deoli cluster has been worked out and seven MMCs have been working in the area.
• Under the financial inclusion project, BASIX Academy in partnership with IIBF has completed the training and certification of 200 youth under banking business correspondence/facilitation system. These trainees have appeared in the BC/BF examination conducted by IIBF and would be issued certificate soon.
• A Public Private Community Partnership (PPCP) model has been developed by signing of MoU between RCDF and Maitree Samiti which is to be further signed by RMoL as the coordinator. Three more PPCP models are to be finalised soon.

Monitoring and Coordination

• The National Workshop on ‘Livelihoods for Persons with Disability: Issues and Options’ was organised during 15th-16th December, 2009 in Jaipur. The Hon’ble Chief Minister of Rajasthan inaugurated the two day event. More than 80 participants from across India representing government, NGO heads, practitioners, researchers and persons with disability took part in the proceedings.  
• A meeting with New Concept Information Systems Pvt Ltd., the M & E agency posted by UNDP was arranged to discuss and finalise the contours of the M&E tools. Letters have been issued to RMoL partners to cooperate with the agency in finalising system.

Initiatives at RMoL District Offices

• The District Collector, Dungarpur nominated the District Manager, RMoL, Dungarpur, in the District Committee for Non-alcoholism (Zila Madya Nishedh Committee) and assigned the task of designing livelihood programme, implementation procedure and ToR under Nav Jeevan Yojana for rehabilitation of people involved in illegal liquor making. This programme will be implemented by NGOs initially for 225 families.
• The first meeting of the ‘District Level Convergence Committee’ was held on 24th of December 2009 in Tonk under the chairmanship of District Collector. It was attended by district level officers from NABARD, Lead Bank, Agriculture, Horticulture, Employment Office, Rotary Club, Land Resources, SDM-Tonk, Animal Husbandry, Dairy Union and SGSY. The Chairperson advised to identify villages for developing these as Model Convergence Villages and prepare a concept note with practical implementation aspects before the next meeting.
• The District Collector, Rajsamand, directed the District Manager, RMoL, Rajsamand to prepare action plan for provision of skill training programme for youth engaged in producing allied marble products. The same has been done by the DM, RMoL. These youth can be linked with RMoL sponsored programmes implemented by ITIs.