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The North East Cell

The North East Cell. Outline. 1. Case for a NE focus group within AID 2. Background & Processes that led to the creation of the NE Cell 3. Objectives: Short-term & Long-term 4. Evolving Strategy & Mechanisms of Operation 5. Current NE Cell initiatives Issues NGO’s, CBO’s, Movements

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The North East Cell

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  1. The North East Cell

  2. Outline • 1. Case for a NE focus group within AID • 2. Background & Processes that led to the creation of the NE Cell • 3. Objectives: Short-term & Long-term • 4. Evolving Strategy & Mechanisms of Operation • 5. Current NE Cell initiatives • Issues • NGO’s, CBO’s, Movements • Ship of Hope Proposal • 6. How can you be involved?

  3. Region based cells • Concept of region-based cells in AID • proactively identify NGO’s, CBO’s, movements • connect issues at grassroots with macro policy issues • institutional mechanism :a developmental strategy based on a deeper understanding of key issues at the grassroots in a ‘region’ • focused outreach efforts

  4. Background and processes that led to the creation of the NE Cell? • Very few projects in the NE – only with NEN • Limited representation of NE community members in AID • Limited connection with CBO’s / movements in NE • Difficulty in site visits to the NE • Talk by Sanjoy Hazarika – Boston, DC, Bay Area • a forum to reach out to the NE community members • learning : grassroot issues that need to be understood • Involvement of local community members – helped in site visits: new projects thru’ NEN – RVC, ERLISID • Visit to the NE by AID volunteers • Chapter at IIT, Guwahati • Identified new NGO’s, CBO’s and movements • Realization on the need for a NE-Centred focus group of AID volunteers

  5. Objectives of the Cell (Big Picture) This Page Will Always be Under Construction Short Term (next 1 year) • Increasing AID's understanding of issues that affect the marginalized sections of society in the NE • Increasing AID's presence in the North East, by identifying groups/movements/individuals we can work with Long Term • Implementing a paradigm for sustainable development at the grassroots by identifying key issues that affect development in this region

  6. Evolving Strategy/ Mechanism - 1 This Page Will Always be Under Construction • Part A : Focus Group Strategy/Plan • Further our understanding about problems and solutions specific to India's Northeast through • Research • a brief study of the history of the North East India (Assam/Meghalaya/Nagaland/Arunachal Pradesh/Manipur/Mizoram/Tripura) • books/papers/ngo-publications • policy documents • talk to experts via phone conf/f2f meetings/invited talks etc. • Projects • must learn about the districts where current projects are on • Find projects in atleast 2 NE states other than assam by end of year - ultimately have a presence in every state • focus group members should make NE site visits

  7. Evolving Strategy/ Mechanism - 2 This Page Will Always be Under Construction • Part A : Focus Group Strategy/Plan • Develop "collaborative" network of partner NGOs/ CBOs/ Movements for AID in the NE • set up aidnefriends yahoogroups to facilitate "exchange of information" – BGVS, NGO’s, RVC (a CBO), individuals • intended for informational postings from aid & ngo partners • AID-Guwahati • work closely w/ them to strengthen the group as well as build close ties with ngos • ensure aid-chennai/guwahati buddy idea is followed thro and make it work as much as poss (will set good model for starting more aidindia chapters)

  8. Evolving Strategy/ Mechanism - 3 This Page Will Always be Under Construction • Part A : Focus Group Strategy/Plan • Actively engage "NE community" in the US and other parts of India • publish monthly e-newsletter (site visit reports, project updates, interesting tidbits) • presentations/tabling at their events • get them to sponsor a project/district/state • Mainstreaming the accumulated knowledge • Articles in DISHAA, TMIA’s, • Talking about NE efforts at chapter GBM’s • Presentations at fundraiser events • Documentation : of processes, of knowledge in the public domain

  9. Evolving Strategy/ Mechanism - 4 This Page Will Always be Under Construction • Part B : Focus Group : Operational Mechanisms • establish calendar of tasks on monthly basis • meet once every month to discuss status and progress • localized learnings by DC/Boston/AA members should be captured and passed on to other members (meeting/dicussion minutes, presentation slides, notes etc) • develop a good database of ne-related resources (position papers, policy research, new articles/book chapters/magazine excerpts etc.) • actively "solicit" project proposals from other NE states • close collaboration and follow up of current projects - atleast one conf call per month to partner NGO • write up an evolving "process document" on the entire NE effort (keep it updated so we capture whatever new ideas are tried out!)

  10. Current NE Cell initiatives • Understanding the Demographics, Culture in the districts and states in the North East http://www.aidindia.org/twiki/bin/view/NECell/AidNeProcess • Visit by members of the cell to the NE – identified ACRD, and BGVS, Assam as groups we can work with http://www.aidindia.org/twiki/bin/view/NECell/ProjectVisitReports • NGO’s we are working with: RVC, Dhemaji, Assam; ERLISID, Kokrajhar, Assam; NEN, AssamNew NGO’s: currently evaluating projects of : ACRD, Assam

  11. Current NE Cell Initiatives: Understanding the Demographics, Culture in Project Areas • Total Area: 3238 sq.km • Population: Males: 48%, Females: 52% • % below poverty line: 53% • Literacy rates: male: 44%, female: 14% • Agrarian economy • Animal husbandry • Sericulture (Muga), Fishing & Driftwood business • Average annual rainfall: 3000 mm - floods • Harvest festival – Boghali Bihu (equivalent of Pongal/ Lohri), Rongali Bihu, Kati Bihu (based on agricultural seasons) • The people – Mongoloids- Bodos, Mizos, Nagas, Mishings, Morangs and Chutiyas - Hindus Ahoms: Khamtis, Naras, Phakials, Aitaniyas,Turungs and Khamjangs, all Buddhists http://ignca.nic.in/craft252.htm http://www.webindia123.com/Assam/People/People.htm

  12. Current NE Cell initiatives Deboo’s video

  13. Current NE Cell initiatives (contd.) Outreach – Mainstreaming the isolation • Tabling at NE Cultural/ Community events – e.g. Bihu celebrations in Boston • Newsletters -- to the AID community -- to the NE community Photos from Boston BIHU

  14. IIT Guwahati Current NE Cell initiatives (contd.) Ship of Hope Grassroot Boat Builders Sanjoy Hazarika Independent Design Engineers (Hari Nair) NE Cell MIT DtM

  15. Taking advantage of what we’ve learned being part of AID • Sangharsh, Seva, Nirmaan

  16. Plan over the next 6 months • Studying the history and culture • Conflict and Floods : 2 issues to be studied • Relationship with new NGO: ACRD • Outreach – tabling at NE events • Ship of Hope • 3D small-scale prototype • Scenario analysis – effect of siltation and strength of currents on speed • Changes in design – based on inputs from the grassroots • Setting up IDC, Guwahati

  17. How can you be involved? • Raise funds from local NE community for the Ship of Hope • One chapter representative who can be a contact for the cell – for projects as well as outreach efforts • Publicize work of the NE Cell in your chapter • Organize tabling events at NE cultural celebrations • Let NECell know if you happen know of anyone who will be visiting the NE soon anytime • Engage the NE community in your city in AID

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