CAST NAVDANYA EXPERIMENTAL FARM

CAST in Collaboration with NAVDANYA is setting up A Biodiversity Experimental Farm at the western top of KHUGA DAM, where farming is done in 100 % organic. Seed banks and Training center is part of the project. Farmers will be trained in organic method of farming and preservation of Indigenous seeds in a traditional and indigenous method. Processing of Natural Manure and Fertilizers and Insecticies, pesticides using medicinal plants and animal waste.

STEP TAKEN

Social evil is incidental to social change. Social change is the response to the changing economic and political environment. No single factor, however strong does by itself cause the change. It is always the cumulative effect of numerous factors working in combination.

CAST works for eliminating social evils causes of – HIV pandemic, poverty, sex works, corruption, and various immoral practices that relentlessly deterred the schemes and process of development in our community which affects our most private emotions, sexuality, health, education, our security and trust in relationship and in the future. Consequently, everyone in the community needs direction advance in creating safe and secure environment in which everyone feel welcome, accepted and important. Which precisely are possible when everyone is treated equally and his or her needs are fully considered.

We pressed for policies for the relegation of such evils, bases our activities on the principle and stand to liberate those unable to and incapable to free themselves from their compelled situations not of his / her choice - improve the quality of life for and of HIV pandemic stricken people, short-term employment scheme, increase awareness, consistency, morality, civic-sense, and that sprouted through proper education, introducing micro-finance, experience, providing comprehensive training and by giving correct / constructive information can possibly develop positive changes to protect the latter affecting the life of people in general.

CAST presented a virtually methodological framework since 2003 in support of social transformation prioritized advocacy to expand effective implementations and functioning of CAST objectives where communities voluntary and involuntary action in correlation with church organizations as a core platform and community based organizations, government agencies, and officials involvement is sought, became the requisite platform where these competing campaign views were cautioned.

Transitional therapeutic activities to eliminate discriminatory spirit and practices, and developed political participation of people traumatized for being entangled with such situations. social compulsions work to find solution and the issues is to be settled in accordance with the norms and values, customs and laws. These cannot be outride disregarded as de-constitute the inner mechanism of society to regulate its working, to defuse tension and to stimulate social action.

1. Counseling, Awareness campaign through home- based and residential based.

Efforts to reach every people, families, churches, leaders, or organizations with accurate
information, education, and training.

2. Legal services program to help emancipated from their impoverished situations.

3. Promoting support in the groundwork and functioning of activities for the then elimination of
social evils in villages.
4. Introducing integrated programs - education, training, counseling, HIV treatment, preventionand
care, and community mobilization & sensitization towards such evils hang on and within
Churachandpur district of Manipur.

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5. Providing opportunity –

e.g. poverty stricken family in Churachandpur, young man, son of a poor widow. Newly married could not manage due to unemployed, financial bankruptcy and vice versa. Acknowledging his potential and skills in computer operating, we pilot him to work in one computer training center. Today, earning an adequate amount of income, this family contentedly enjoyed a good state of life.

6. Bilateral support of the program initiatives in Churachandpur and monitoring to:
• Ensure that the activity have been implemented appropriately as planned

• Emphasize the accountability that incarceration and forced institutionalized play in accelerating evils and the policy changes that can help elimination

• Sponsor , co-sponsor policy dialogues, conferences, satellite sessions, and a study tour to explore solutions and manifest lessons erudite through research, program for capacity building, and motivating community for social transformation.

7.Enhance support and funding for and political commitment to the provision of treatment, micro-
finance program.

8.Care service provider, primary health care, and education and grants to support community
mobilization, monitoring of funds and other social development program .

9.Networking and technical support to organizations, churches, and people involved in program for
community development (socially, economically, and politically) in villages (rural, urban) within
Churachandpur District of Manipur.

10. Team work on issues varied as HIV prevention & care, home based care, Income Generating
Program, referral services, and media campaigns.

11.Ensure transparent procurement of micro-finance program and the challenge of the logical /
methodical exclusion of underprivileged and poverty stricken people, families from the society.

ABOUT US

Community Action For Social Transformation, established in 2003,at Gangpimual village , Churachandpur District, Manipur State INDIA and got registered under section 7(1) of the Manipur Societies Registration Act.1989 (Act, No. 1 of 1990) with a registration No. of 145 of 2003, dated 15th Dec.2003.
It is a non-profit , non-political but a voluntary organization with no source of funding.
The main aim of the organization is to Re-build a Moral- Ethical society through elimination of various hidden and non- hidden social evils that hindered the growth and development of societal life today.
In order to developed and worked out various objectives at different fields of life, CAST has the conviction: to base church as the core- platform for dealing different issues and be the foundation of TEAM formation for wider range of public and civil society involvement and loyalty to the programmes. Linkages with other sectors introducing socio-economic, Health development programmes are also a must, as social change and transformation happens causes of cumulative actions.
In management regards, CAST has a unique(flexible and federal)
mechanisms of administration. The organization is having 45 committee members. Out of which, there at the top, is Managing committee comprising of 7 ( seven) members, who advised and monitored the system.
The Secretary, who represents the Managing committee and undertakes the whole functioning of the administration. He / She is responsible to the managing Committee and the Chairman.
Regarding programme management, CAST have enough & efficient staff comprising of 1),Project Manager, 2), Programme coordinator , 3), Two Out—reach worker/ counselor 4), accountant/data entry operator 5), Volunteers.
Besides the above mentioned staff, implementation of programmes solely rely on the initiatives of various TEAMS and Leaders at the local levels.
Teams signifies people who are co-operating works/assists at the village level. Church is playing a vital role in transferring the principle and vision of CAST at a large extent.
In financial matter, the organization barely manage to survive with the contribution / donation received from various committed community members, well-wishers / sympathizers and Churches. CAST solely worked by “FAITH” with fervent prayer and getting financial or moral support directly or indirectly from the society etc. The organization properly maintains separate books of Accounts, which depicts a transparency in the utilization of financial. The internal Auditor appointed by the Managing Committee made assessment of financial position of the organization- monthly and on annual basis. He maintain Accounts of receipt and expenditure from time to time and obtained the approved of the Managing Committee, if be need. He made financial report at the Annual General Meeting of the Managing Committee of CAST organization. Once the organization is funded by any funding / donor agencies, thorough accounting system will be in place to satisfy the funding agency with periodical financial statements and annually / yearly audited accounts as per the requirement of the funding / donor agency.


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OUR VISION

• Individual with proper goal
• Maximum resources of the Community utilized
• Community / Church playing positive role.
. Focussing Health Sector of the Rural Community
• Addressed HIV/AIDS issues with the affected/ infected people families.
• People consciousness on health and sanitation
• Socio-economic Independence
• Parents having utmost priority to their children.


OUR MISSION

• Commitment to responsiveness,
• Innovative & flexible in dealing various, social, moral, ethical & day-day hidden & non-hidden issues
• Providing motivation & effective counseling and awareness to individual/Family/General/ Community especially upon the poor, un-attended, stigmatized and marginalized people.
• Creating and enabling the environment for a sense of responsibility with a spirit of Empathy, Sympathy, Loyalty and ownership by the community in general.



OBJECTIVES

• Promoting Social Consciousness about the value of life.
• Socio-Psycho & Technical support.
• Sensitizing/Advocating the rights and status of people in the community
• Identifying and implementing favorable programmes focusing on sustainability.
• Promoting better referral linkage to access maximum resources from existing resources.
• Empowering and capacitating to people for accessing resources available. Promoting life skill to young people to keep themselves safe from risky behavior.
• Rehabilitating/Re-building a moral society .
• Dealing with HIV/AIDS issues at the most extensive level.
• Creating friendly environment to easy address of health related issues.
• Elimination on the concepts of Stigma & Discrimination in different aspects of life and creating supportive environment
• Promoting the ability and involvement of each individual in the community and family.

CAST Conceptual / Theoretical Models:

BULLET POINTS / HINTS
 Methodological framework for capacity building.
 Community ownership, empowerment and mobilization.
 Felicitation in social transformation.
 Reliance.
 Sensitization and Awareness programme.
 Safe Space.
It is essential to spice up certain comprehensive indicators that will indicate up to what extend and how far activity is achieving the objectives. For instance, if a plan is setting up for PHC within rural areas, we need to measure whether it has in fact been executed as planned. Besides, monitoring is necessary for regular checking which gives appropriate direction and information for effective management of programs. Again, example, regarding to any issue arise that can deter the on going process of our activity. Finding in an appropriate time can help and develop to a broad range of implementing our objectives.
• Identification of approach, which has to be scientific, based on understanding program.
• Model should be Dynamic and situation: specific (success + dependent.)
• Translation experience: Substantial practice.
• Program, logic, and Model: cause – programming – quality.
• Good Research Aligned with program: relevance + needs+ strategy.
• Training + Design: participation – understanding – governance – quality.

CAST has a broad concepts which are inevitable foundation in tackling any issue.
I . Working in-TEAM:
Working in-group can help to make changes in people’s personal lives and in the wider world. They can improve personal situations- by reducing their sense of isolation, providing them with support and information, or improving their chances of economic security. They can also the broader situation of people marginalized, less visible due various factors such as poverty or HIV/AIDS infected or affected people- and of people vulnerable to HIV and of several ailments like that of opportunistic infections – by stimulating and lobbying for altering in factors which lead to poverty, discrimination and a range of inequity. Many support groups have been set up by “professionals” – physicians, counselors, tribes / religious leaders – endeavor for people noose at no-win situation in spite of their ailing traits. However, many groups established in this manner.
The essence of mankind- physical, mental / psychological and spiritual / soul. Precisely, when physical is concern through constant operation, intervention and exercise or experience the old and outdated achievement or consent can somehow be mended. Liberating oneself from a mire or dire strait situation into mainstream by arresting the exact location where the going get collapse and trapped somewhere down the track. By and large mental or psychological factor loomed large in consideration because it cannot be nailed. Through positive psychotherapy and counseling, focus group discussion, or positive recreational session was worth helpful.

II. Empowerment and sustainability:
The project contributes in building the capacity of staff and teams at the civil society level for implementing a wider range of activities among the different population.
The main aim of the project is to rebuild a moral- ethical society with various health care association. Therefore, capacitating teams at the village level is a must which will cover a broader range of civil involvement and greater coverage of socio-civil issues. For this, CAST has a strong advocacy, community mobilized and participant strategy.






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Through in depth study of various chronic problems that perpetually nerve-racking the community, it has been ascertain that one of the positive ways in tackling it, is through provision of primary education. It is indeed injustice to children dropout from schools out of sheer poverty or ignorance and lack of motivation on the part of parents. What a waste of young human resources! Significantly, education has made a lot of difference to the status enjoyed by people. It is one particular field where one has been totally empowered. Everyone is responsible to sacrifice a little bit here for the sake of gains elsewhere. It is one of the main key tools for empowering people economically, socially, psychologically, and emotionally. It could be wearing, but we need to take it on our stride because education and experience can only mold a person how to be a tightrope walker. Education has sought to remove the threat that still block the way of the poor, less visible or less assertive people within the community from joining the mainstream of society. Since 2004’ CAST enacted a new policy or law seeking opportunities in different walks of life.


III. Community/ Civil Involvement:
The community / Civil will be involving through the programmes like FGD , meetings, self Help Group and the functioning, planning-review meetings and the decision making process.
One of the enduring manifestations of social evils is that the expertise and assurance of those victimized community/Civil is critical to effective Action and Transformation. In an environment with such chaotic-driven evils, where those marginalized by such menace are often less visible, less assertive, and neglected population enabling / transforming community engagement means confronting legal challenges. People more easily engage people affected by such putrid situations than any officials who frequently seek to control them rather than to offer assistance.
Despite social stigma, un-institutionalized discrimination, atrocities of law enforcement and lack of economic resources, a growing number of organizations are advocating for the needs of social development. Besides, collaborative fund for HIV/AIDS Treatment, Harm Reduction, or De-addiction preparedness, international and national funding agencies.
So far, for Community Action for Social Transformation Program, financial and technical assistance to help, create, organization run by and for committed volunteers do not happen yet. But as F.B.Os. Community Action for Social Transformation program has been emerged here in Churachandpur town for the past 3 years. Lacking several infrastructure and program for development and transformation (socially, economically, politically) for these people anticipated with a very realistic aims & objectives and with accurate implementation and transparent administration.

IV. Primary Prevention & Health Care:/Re-integrating into family
Primary prevention is the basic need of every issues before it come up in the surface. CAST a society who believe in the Capacity of the people and the resource which is within itself, respond on primary prevention by providing basic information on how prevention is cause effective before the outbreak of issues.
Everything begins from home. Noble and descent life activated from a caring family. It can offer a ready-made support of children who lack ingenuity, skills, and health and are left under-nourished. Considerate parents at home were the best instruments to proffer a nourishing future to their children. It was evident to prove that improving the health, skills and in reducing the risk of that of impaired growth / under-nourished lives of children – mentally, physically and of their spiritual context at their infancy stages. With time, children could conclusively perceive how to avoid, riveting hurried decision unless by verifying secure future or certainty.

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Parents should realize that the healthy nurturing and care given during the first years of a child’s life are most crucial, in order to build children most likely to become caring, loving and secure. For instance, just a hugging or kissing at their first few years of life is far better off to passed a positive / constructive directions than thousands of rebukes when after reaching their adolescent stages without digging up accurate manner / behaviour for a lengthy span period of phase in between. Apparently, in favour of this vital issues that deserved a complicated phase in life- individual and social, which in addition build up / increased social disorder and atrocities CAST notice why and how children become family or social burden? How those who do not wield much influence be treated? Adversely, how and where? All these sort of unhealthy lifestyle influenced them? Which however is the main cause of increase in chemical dependency / addicted to abusive drugs and illicit relationship. So, firm and consistent caretakers who are democratic leaders are noticeably essential.
CAST is also working with eligible NGOs and agency working in different health care setting which resources are tapped from them through networking and referral system. The community have the strength to respond by inviting/approaching NGOs and organization working on health issues to mobilize the need of primary prevention in the community with the support of CAST.

STRATEGIES

PROJECT PLANNING:


I. Elimination of Social Evils through Services:
1. Support / Pressure Groups & Legal Support
2 . Research & Capacity Building
3 . Income Generation Program
4. Addressing Health Issues



II. Elimination of Social Evils through Technical Assistance:

Adaptations of appropriate and relevant program for assistance to poverty stricken families, treatment for HIV, substance abuse, and function to help fight myriad evils within the society and program for prevention. Sensible networking with churches, local organizations (community), NGOs/CBOs/FBOs, pressure groups/ SHG/support groups, etc… has significantly provided ingenuous information, resources, and support available for elimination of such social evils. The requisite for facilitate in scaling up such services at the regional level, however remain intense.



III. Elimination of Social Evils through Advocacy:

Guiding principle based on evidence rather than ideology. CAST program for elimination of social evils cannot be effective without building positive networking involve- churches, local organizations, government / NGOs, and community support. CAST have been linked with professionals, policymakers at local and regional level:

IV. Elimination of Social Evils through Community Organizing:
Support and capacity building approach for the community. Greater involvement and participation of people in the formation of social transformation policy, community are own best advocates. CAST encouraged active and maximum participation of the communities .

V. Bi-lateral Coordination:

Working with other people or linking / collaborating with other organization: Church organizations, NGOs, local organization strengthens our own work and can lead to a wider impact on society by “pooling our resources together ” and building links / relationship with others can:
• Influence other people or community more easily and make them aware of the
existing problems and needs to improve the quality of life and for initiating
constructive methods, structuring for the overall positive approach and long-term
solution.
• Increase the effectiveness of our own work, for example, by benefiting from the
skills and experience of other groups (NGOs or local organization)/ people.
• Widen the impact of our work, for example, by enabling our successes to be adapted
or replicated by Churches, government agencies and other partner NGOs.
• Overcoming threat / barriers to our activity, for example by helping to change laws
which allow companies, officials to dismiss prejudices or classification of HIV
infected person and other general employees.

It can be useful to form local partnership with other NGOs, government and community groups. Regular meeting and be in frequent in touch with such collections or individuals who work in similar areas, helps to share ideas and to cooperate on work. Networks with different organization or individuals can richly offer:
• The privilege / opportunity to compare ideas and experiences
• A forum for sharing information.
• A forum for collaborating on a specific activity.
• A collective voice to challenge people in decision making or powerful positions.
These networks may be groups working on a range of issues, but through experience, it was useful to make this personal contact and participation in network with other organizations provide technical support to develop our objectives.

VISION AND MISSION

Vision:

World of hope and Socio-Ethical order where everyone candidly enjoys their privilege. Live in peace, security and sober in a secure, supportive and enabled environment.

Mission:
CAST strive to Re-build Moral- Ethical Society.
Exploring factors that influence our life and lives in the community / society effect our own
situation through:
• Rescinding social evils, human rights violation, poverty and illiteracy that shake our moral
society.
• Re-integrate substance abusers, illiterate adults and those HIV/AIDS infected and
affected population by providing vocational training, counseling and re-integrated
them into family through Church leaders, local authorities / organizations(civil society) in
order to promote self-sustaining enterprises.
• Improve primary health care and services components through service providers.
• Seeking support system from decision makers, policymakers,
• government, and public agency.
• Greater involvement of people and by increasing the visibility and
making people more aware of their situation.

INTRODUCTION

Introduction:
“Mission without vision or action without vision, both wrap up nothing but track down with the drain. Whilst mutual merged of the two fabricate affirmative outcome.”
Churachandpur situation overview…
Churachandpur, situated in the indo-Myanmar international boundary part of India with a population about 1.4 lakhs (according to 2002-2004 census) inhabited by multi-culture or tribes who dually suffers and remains under the bondage of diverse evils: Richly configure with different tradition & culture. Close & integrated society with modern lifestyle, where one could valuably feel the blissful atmosphere and sensation of love, peace, liberty and unity with much anticipation. Also, who dually suffers and remains under the bondage of diverse evils: Drugs, limited medical facilities, rapid propelling of sero-prevelence of blood borne diseases, stigma & discrimination, socio-economic crisis, poor educational opportunity, illiteracy, in-diligences, moral-ethical lapse, separatism, revolution, violence, dissertation, sexual lust, that was once individual/family problems has now become a global menace or national to mentioned:

Lives in an open air freshness and free from the monotony and dullness of the universe. The vagaries of nature have direct impact on our town. CCPur is left pensive thoughtful and believes in density. CCpur thus lives in a world of its own.

Later, with the changing of time & situations, misery, isolation and various factors of social evils made the image of distress. The phenomena is now undergoing significant change due to ethnic diversity and economic determinations which brought divisions of society at large … Consequence to this, commercialism, monetization of economic relationship, factory and workshop employment for many, popularization of Mass Media of leisure and entertainment which is slow but steady growth in the mixed cultures of modern CCpur and that is attempts by social and linguistic groups to leave in segregated areas and to develop a community life based on regional and linguistic affinity. Each linguistic groups has built up its own voluntary organization to cater to the social needs.
The new life in CCpur alters family relations. The parents and well children are thrown out of the family to seek recreation & entertainment outside . Husband and wife shares a common social life a both are educated have a new emotional relationship. Different factors influenced the attitude of People in CCpur Towards Women, Children -their education , employment and disciplining Children. In other sense, disciplining mankind into-increasing income, and other accessories for comfortable living and to improve the quality of life.
Our society is a pluralistic society. Here, we the caste hierarchy, religious diversities and social antagonism .it creates conflicting interests and multiciplity of conflict groups. besides, there has been a constant youth unrest & deliquencies which is a sociological process of development. The developmental process of life in C.C.PUR encountered a great evil which break down the historical social process to which no remedy against such situation.



A brief notion or practices may be regarded an evil by one society, while another may not. As a result, due to inherited nature of individual, the family reasons, decline of the sacred element, economic insecurity /poor economy, lack of idealism and ethical and sociality, political insecurity and change of environment brought unforgettable event in the history of CCPUR - ethnic crisis--- lasted for four years with un-ending destructive impacts on socio-economic, political, cultural and the destroy of moral-- ethical society.

Acculturation and assimilation of new groups within the social folds is another result. Increase in the number of deserts , homeless, orphans, drug abuse/alcoholics, child labour, youth unrest and crime, sex works, thefts, violence, corrupted and illegal economy etc. are the features of life in C.C.PUR today. The most dreaded and hidden is the high prevalence of HIV transmission and other dangerous Blood borne virus that fragmented the integrity of social life.

We are a society of extreme, a handful of rich, strong and capable concentrated privilege /wealth and assets while multitudes do not have even the means to meet their necessaries & survivals. The cried of nature on this situation to day is Re-building of Moral¬¬¬¬¬—Ethical society for the creation of a new World of hope and Socio-Ethical order where everyone candidly enjoys their privilege. Live in peace, security and sober in a secure, supportive and enabled environment.