Grand Finale of Padatik Football League

The grand finale of Padatik Football League 2016 sets in motion at Harish Park on Saturday, 5th March 2016. The final was played in front of a packed audience, the neighboring areas.

Boshirhaat team met Durbar Sports Academy team in the final fixture of the competition, but before the football kicks off, the guests were feli

Prominent personalities from various walks of society and veteran football players were present in the event to convey their support. Dr. Debashish Kumar, (MMIC), Mr. Kartick Bandhyapadyay (Social Worker), Padmashree Mr. Kalian Mazumdar (Secretary, East Bengal), Mr. Goutam Ghosh (ExD.N.Chatterjee (Well Wisher of Durbar), were few of them.

This year there was a new twist. Players were divided into 16 teams. Each team is a franchise with an "owner".

In words of Dr Smarajit Jana, chief advisor of DMSC is to make them feel they are not isolated from the society.”

Every year Amra Padatik in association with DMSC organizes this league to engage these children in mainstream sports in order to regain their self esteem and share a sense of equity among all the children of the society. Durbar strongly belief that sports is the

a meeting on PrEP held on 9

and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) to discuss how projects are measuring ad

Grand Finale of Padatik Football League

The grand finale of Padatik Football League 2016 sets in motion at Harish Park on Saturday, The final was played in front of a packed audience, around 500 people from

Boshirhaat team met Durbar Sports Academy team in the final fixture of the competition, but before the football kicks off, the guests were felicitated by the member of Amra Padatik.

Prominent personalities from various walks of society and veteran football players were present in the event to convey their support. Dr. Debashish Kumar, (MMIC), Mr. Kartick Bandhyapadyay (Social Worker), Padmashree P. K. Banerjee, Padmashree Chuni Goswami, Mr. Kalian Mazumdar (Secretary, East Bengal), Mr. Goutam Ghosh (ExD.N.Chatterjee (Well Wisher of Durbar), were few of them.

This year there was a new twist. The tournament was designed like the IndiPlayers were divided into 16 teams. Each team is a franchise with an "owner".

In words of Dr Smarajit Jana, chief advisor of DMSC ““The basic idea to have such a league is to make them feel they are not isolated from the society.”

year Amra Padatik in association with DMSC organizes this league to engage these children in mainstream sports in order to regain their self esteem and share a sense of equity among all the children of the society. Durbar strongly belief that sports is the

activity to remove barriers between class, caste and occupation.

Basirhat emerged as the champions of the league defeating Durbar Sports Academy by 3goals. The Champion Trophy was handed over to the Basirhat team.

PrEP Implementers Meeting in West

A five member team from Durbar visited

Cotonou, Benin (West Africa) to participate in

a meeting on PrEP held on 9th

and 10th

March, 2016. The meeting was organized by

and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) to discuss how projects are measuring ad

15th March

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The grand finale of Padatik Football League 2016 sets in motion at Harish Park on Saturday, around 500 people from

Boshirhaat team met Durbar Sports Academy team in the final fixture of the competition, citated by the member of Amra Padatik.

Prominent personalities from various walks of society and veteran football players were present in the event to convey their support. Dr. Debashish Kumar, (MMIC), Mr. Kartick

P. K. Banerjee, Padmashree Chuni Goswami, Mr. Kalian Mazumdar (Secretary, East Bengal), Mr. Goutam Ghosh (Ex- Footballer),

The tournament was designed like the Indian Soccer League.

““The basic idea to have such a league

year Amra Padatik in association with DMSC organizes this league to engage these children in mainstream sports in order to regain their self esteem and share a sense of equity among all the children of the society. Durbar strongly belief that sports is the best

activity to remove barriers between class, caste

Basirhat emerged as the champions of the league defeating Durbar Sports Academy by 3-2

The Champion Trophy was handed over

PrEP Implementers Meeting in West Africa

A five member team from Durbar visited

Cotonou, Benin (West Africa) to participate in

March, 2016. The meeting was organized by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) to discuss how projects are measuring adherence,

March 2016

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impact and uptake by project population, a brief on the use of MEMS caps in various projects and challenges and lessons learned with MEMS caps across projects. The meeting was attended by partners of PrEP from Benin, Nigeria, Senegal, Kenya, Italy, South Africa and India (5 members from Durbar and 5 from Ashodaya). The meeting discussed on the following issues:

1. Participants discussed and assessed dashboard developed by BMGF 2. Participants identified missing metrics and any usability issues 3. Discussed how projects are determining common indicators of risk across different

populations.

A joint publication will be drafted on different project protocols where Community Engagement and Demand Creation for PrEP will be one of the sub papers of the publication. The purpose of the paper is

• to identify role of community in PrEP demonstration project

• to document methodology and challenges with community engagement activities for creating demand for PrEP

• How to build community ownership in sustaining PrEP.

• How to through influencing Government policies and programme on HIV prevention

There was discussion on few papers what could be submitted to Peer reviewed journal. It was decided that these papers could be developed based on PrEP demonstration project. The paper on Community Mobilization would be guided by Sushena Reza Paul (Ashodaya) and Dr. Smarajit Jana (Principal, Sonagachi Research and Training Institute)

Worker’s convention demanding minimum wage

New Trade Union Initiative(NTUI) is a trade union with an objective to strengthen and consolidate the efforts of the workers to establish worker’s right with special focus on unorganized labour sector. Durbar and its associate Binodini Sramik Union is a founder member of the West Bengal NTUI State Council. It was realized that the State of West Bengal is passing through a phase without any industrialization where the rights of the workers are constantly violated.

On 23rd February 2016, NTUI, West Bengal State Council organized a convention to discuss on various issues pertaining to the living and working conditions of the workers in West Bengal engaged in various sectors including Jute Mill, Tea garden and other unorganized sector. The convention was held in Bharat Sabha Hall where workers from different occupations including agricultural workers, Jute Mill workers, Domestic workers, sex workers, Hosiery workers, Tea garden workers participated. More than 150 workers attended the convention.

The discussion was focused on the role of the Government and Employers in protecting the rights of the workers vis-à-vis the profit consumed by the employers of the industry. The employers are aiming to make more profit, neglecting the rights of the workers where the

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Government is reluctant to implement and enforce existing labour laws. What has happened with the dire consequences in the Tea garden and Jute industry in the state of West Bengal. At point both the industries were profiting industry once which has turned out to be sick industry as the Government as well as the employers are reluctant to make change and implement laws of the country. Demand of neither Jute nor tea has decreased in the Global and National market and Government should take necessary steps to revive the industry. The situation is same or similar in nature in the pharmaceutical industry and the greatest lacunae found in worker’s movement is the lack of linkage and development between various workers’ movement in the country. Different speakers including Swapan Ganguly from Paschim Banga Khet Majur Samity, Somnath Ghosh from Hosiery Sramik Union, Pradip Roy from All West Bengal Sales Representative Worker’s Union, Anuradha Talwar from Tea Garden workers and Dr. Smarajit Jana from Binodini Sramik Union spoke about issues about workers strategic engagement in broadening their movement. The convention also created a space to discuss and share the issues and challenges of different working class with an aim to foster sharing of experiences. The convention came to an end with a assurance to build linkage through fostering learning and sharing experiences from among the different working sectors to build solidarity and support system.

Das Theke Das Hazar-protest against the brutal attack on Soni Sori

Soni Sori is a icon of protest against oppression and exploitation in Chattisgarh. Soni previously was brutally harassed in police custody and accused by false cases. Soni was acquitted from those charges and was living in Chattisgarh and continued her battle to protect rights of the local people. On 19th of February while returning home Soni was once again attacked by the unidentified hooligans who thrown some corrosive chemicals on her face. This is not just a isolated incident, people who are fighting to protect the rights of the indigenous people are under constant threat and harassment.

In order to protect the rights of the indigenous people in Chattisgarh and to condemn brutal attack on Soni Sori, Das Theke Das Hazar( a platform of civil society organizations and individuals to protest and prevent sexual violence) organized a street corner as an immediate response to the attack on Soni on 24th of February 2016 at Jadavpur 8B Bus stand.

The street corner with various colourful placards and banners expressed their solidarity with a view to sensitive civil society regarding the issue. Students, NGO workers, Trade unionist, individuals spontaneously attended the programme with slogan shouting, songs, skits and other performances. More than 20 organization and 150 participants attended the programme.

Amra Padatik participated in a consultative meeting on Gender

Gender norms, stereo -types is omnipresent in the percept and practices of our daily life. But effective dialogues and interaction between individuals and institutions around gender a prerequisite to break the stereotype. New Alipur Prajaak- an organization to protect child

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right organized a consultative Symposium named “Naha Mata, Naha Kanya”(Neither a Mother, nor a Daughter) at Rotary Sadan on 18th of February 2016.

The specialty of the symposium is to foster cross learning and to share experiences from among the children living under different circumstances including children from red light district, children from the slums, rural areas and others. The programme started with a performance by Asansol Udaan named “Aste ladies”(Slowly Ladies) depicting the gender stereotypes within the society. It was followed by a brief skit by Amra Padatik(the organization for and by the children of sex workers) which showed the recent raid by the police and common practices by the law enforcing agency. Amra Padatik showed that how a police raid can violate child rights in the name of protection which has happened in Kalna in the recent past. Leaders of Padatik strongly advocated that in the name of ensuring child rights these kinds of raids often violate rights of the children as well as the sex workers. They also shared that it is again a stereotyped assumption from the society that women cannot sale sexual services which is “forbidden” by the notions and practices of the society. As a result of which sex workers faces stigma and discrimination.

It was followed by a wonderful performance from the Diksha members and Rupantaran Trust members. The symposium ended with a promise to open up the dialogues and discourse about gender issues.

Reviving initiatives for Soni Sori- building solidarity among the civil society organization

Soni Sori is an icon for struggle for the Adivasis in Chattisgarh. She is a teacher in Dantewada who was sexually harassed in police custody. Her health was tremendously neglected and she became seriously ill. Her case was suppressed in Chattisgarh but with Supreme Court orders she was treated in Delhi and acquitted from false charges. Durbar initiated and provided secretarial assistance to build a open forum (named Soni Sori Mukti Morcha) demanding justice for Soni Sori followed by various kinds of protest activities including street corners, signature campaigns etc while Soni was in jail in 2012. As per Soni, it was very much touching experience in her jail to get those letters from the members of various civil society organizations.

After her release, Soni was living in Chattisgarh continuing her battle for her fellow citizens. On 19th of February 2016, while returning from home she was attacked with some harmful chemicals. It was not an isolated incident in Chattisgarh, the rights of the people are indiscriminately violated. Even the lawyers, media persons are threatened in the name of surveillance by the police and administration. Durbar being a core partner of Soni Sori Mukti Morcha felt a pressing need to consolidate scattered efforts undertaken by various civil society organizations which is taking place in the country. Durbar participated in the protest programme of Das Theke Das Hazar and organized a meeting steering a call to demand justice for Soni Sori and protecting and promoting the rights of indigenous people living in Chattisgarh.

Editor: Smarajit Jana

Bulletin team: Mousumi Chowdhury (Dam)

Published by Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee,

44 Balaram Dey Street, Kolkata -700006, India/ For feedback: durbar.communication@gmail.com; For

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