News Update

Paper Presentation

• Title: "Subjective Wellbeing: The tangible and the intangible. Lessons from a women's mental health project in India"
  
• Forum: International Conference titled "From GDP to Wellbeing: Economics on the Road to Sustainability"
  
• Date: 3rd to the 5th of December, 2009
  
• Organizers: Department of Economics, University of Ancona, Italy
  
• Presented by: Dr. Kiran Rao
  
• Co-authors: Ms. V. Prameela and Dr. Smita Premchander
  

The paper shared some of the key learnings from the action research of Sampark that integrates mental health interventions within a developmental framework of micro-credit self-help groups. The paper was based on the outcomes of focused group discussions that were aimed at understanding the impact of the economic activity and the mental health intervention, the meaning of happiness and assess the level of wellbeing. While money and its purchasing power to fulfill basic needs was the tangible; social capital, in terms of good family and social relationships, and faith in God were the intangibles. Women, who had participated in both economic activity and mental health intervention, were higher on emotional wellbeing than women who had participated in the economic activity alone. This was largely attributed to the interpersonal trust and strong support networks that had developed among members of the counseling groups that resulted in their being able to give and receive emotional and instrumental support from each other. The study also highlighted that the women need to be further empowered to make policy makers more responsive to the needs of the community in order to improve the quality of their lives.

The presentation and the full paper (available at http://fromgdptowellbeing.univpm.it/doc/papers/GDP2WB_043.pdf) were well received. The work of Sampark was highly appreciated. The discussion and Q & A following the presentation mainly focused on the microcredit work and the formation of women cooperatives as well as the mental health intervention which participants found very unique in the developmental context. Dr. Smita Premchander's recently published book titled "Multiple Meanings of Money" generated a lot of interest and several of the participants wanted to purchase a copy of the book. There were papers from different parts of the world and a large number from the European Union.

Certificate Distribution to the Trainees

A total of 20 youth who had completed their training in different areas in the month of November and December at the Sampark Skill Training Centre in Koppal were awarded training participation certificates on 12th January 2010. Officials from the Directorate of Industries and Commerce (DIC) and Agricultural Department graced the occasion. The participants in this event included three women members of the IGP committees of cluster associations, 4 trainees who have completed their training and have started working and 20 trainees who recently completed training in tailoring, computers and driving.

Literacy Camp for Women

• Date: 20th to 23rd of January 2010

The second Residential Training Centre (RTC) for women literacy was conducted in Shingtalur at Veerabhandreswara temple complex. It was conducted from 20th to 23rd of January 2010. This place is 62 kms away from Koppal town. The venue was chosen as it was the closest to the villages that were covered under the second round. There were 12 villages covered, with 247 women, 47 children, 32 Literacy Facilitators (LFs), 8 cluster staff, 7 Sampark staff and 15 others. Fifty percent of the women who attended the RTC were above 50 years of age and showed keen interest in acquiring reading and learning skills.

In the 2nd RTC the Sampark staff could see the confidence in women when they started to learn in the camp. The staff noticed that the women were learning at a faster pace. This was because these women had been attending the Village Learning Centres (VLCs) that are being run by Sampark in their village for 3 to 4 days in a week for a period of one month.

Women's Responses

Pakrumbi aged 33 years from Belaghatti said, "I have not attended school in my life. After attending 4 days camp here I was able to learn alphabets and numbers. This was possible because the facilitators were able to teach me in a very simple manner and with a lot of patience. Now I really feel like attending school. This I cannot do but I will definitely attend the classes in the village VLC as I want to read and learn."

Manjula aged 39 years from Moranala said, "My parents did not send me to school to study. I would like to thank the Sampark team and the donors for providing me with this opportunity to learn."

Hussainbi aged 49 from Gudageri said, "I did not know how to read or write. When the VLC started in my village I took interest in attending classes and learnt a few alphabets. But after attending 4 days of camp in this temple I understood the fundamentals of reading and learning skills. This has prompted me to continue my learning in the VLC and I am looking forward to learning more."

Gangamma aged 25 years from Tigari said, "When I wanted to attend classes in the VLC in my village my husband did not agree because I have to give him food and complete the house work. Here in this place I was at peace and was able to concentrate on my learning and I have learnt to write my name and my husband's name. I have also learnt to read and write alphabets and numbers."