In partnership with International Centre for Research on Women (ICRW) a private, nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., USA and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, USA, the “Development Initiative for Supporting Healthy Adolescents (DISHA) Programme” was implemented in the five Panchayat (Shiulibari, Kelahi, Piyasola, Bewa, and Sahadal) of Jamtara district and in one Panchayat (Raikinari) of Dumka district, both in the state of Jharkhand, India, to improve the reproductive health and general well-being of 2,000 married and unmarried boys and girls ages 14-24 in 30 villages under the project area through a multi-sectoral and integrated approach that addressed youth reproductive health and the socio-cultural and economic factors that influence it. Within three years of implementation, the project has achieved the following :

• Raised the level of awareness of the target youth population regarding reproductive health (RH) issues through the 156 village-level DISHA youth groups organized under the project.

• Trained 125 peer educators who have acquired the skills in facilitating village level meetings.

• Trained 72 depot holders who have provided social marketing and RH counseling services to their peers.

• Identified some members of village level DISHA youth groups to participate in NABARD funded livelihood program (Rural Entrepreneurship Development Program).

• Delayed Marriages. Enabled parents to delay marriage of their adolescent children, specially the girls.

• In villages such as Petajam and Sarkanda of Raikinari Panchayat women protested against the early marriage of their daughters.

• In certain pockets of the project area i.e. Bheladih (Pipla village) and Baniatola (Raikinari village) in Jojodih Panchayat, in villages of Sahadal Panchayat, in Bengali Para (Shiulibari village) and Mominpara (Kelahi village), etc.

• In Mondal Tola of Raikinari Panchayat where early marriage was predominant, the parents began to realize the consequences of early marriage on the health of their daughters.

• Social marketing on the use of contraceptives is effectively promoted by the depot holders at the village level resulting the drastically increasing demand and use of contraceptives among the target groups.

• Formation of Youth Resource Centers & increase in the involvement of youths in public welfare activities more particularly on health and hygiene.

• Better coordination among the Youths Workers, Peer Educators and Health Workers in the context of community health.

• Group encouragement for continuous savings
• Promoting bank linkage
• Convergence of all components with livelihood
• Listing opportunities of various trades and Spotting other opportunities
• Capacity building of staff and selected groups
• Business planning (including plan, steps, budgeting & costing)
• Fund raising and going into production and marketing/selling

Badlao Foundation, in partnership with the Department for International Development (DFID) through the Poorest Areas Civil Society (PACS) Programme, implemented “Gender and Development : A programme for Community Empowerment in Santhal Parganas” covering six districts : Godda, Pakur, Sahebganj, Deoghar, Jamtara and Dumka since 2001for a period of 7 years. This is a holistic effort to empower the poor. Key accomplishments of the programme, to date are :

• 782 members of groups became functionally literate.

• District level seminar on tribal women’s land rights conducted and memorandum served to Govt. for necessary policy change.

• Formation of 100 Self Help Groups and developing livelihood promotion activities through integrated approach.

• Leadership development has been initiated in Mahila Sabha & Saving habits have been cultivated in the groups.

• Increase in information/awareness among women on issues related to gender equality & development of skill thro training/orientation.

• Awareness generation on prevention of Malaria, Kala-Ajar, Tuberculosis and convening of Health Camps in coordination with Govt.

• Awareness generation on natural resource management and conservation through community efforts.