OMRAH STORY.cdr

CASE STORY: Orissa Institute of Medical Research
and Health Services (OMRAH), Orissa
-Adam MacGregor, Volunteer
CASE STORY: Orissa Institute of Medical Research
and Health Services (OMRAH), Orissa
-Adam MacGregor, Volunteer
All children no matter where from, are recognized as
individuals with the right to participate in decisions
affecting their lives and those of their families; is my
vision. If children are most impacted by problems in a
society, then why not give them an equal hand in the
solution?
In Orissa, rural Eastern India, I saw it in action, through
the work of Orissa Institute of Medical Research and
Health Services (OMRAH), a CRY America-supported
project.
Partners with CRY since 1997, OMRAH works in 18-villages
in Nischintakoili block, Cuttack district, to ensure the right
to adequate government-delivered health care, education
and livelihood programs. Jagannathpur is a tiny hamlet,
with mostly scheduled caste community (the lower
sections of society).
Small hutments near Jagannathpur
Their hutments nestled among palm groves, bamboo and
rice paddies were enchanting , but the real wonder came
in seeing how the people organize themselves to claim
their rights from representative officials.
Parents can't afford to travel the distance. So children
petitioned through postcards to various governing bodies
to shift birth registration to the more accessible
panchayat (local village council) offices. To date, over 750
postcards have been sent.
Children in Jagannathpur
Here, the children play a huge role in the society's
progress. With direction from OMRAH, a children's action
group comprising 20 members from each village took up
the task of demanding a simplified birth-registration
process, a process critical to every child's right to an
identity especially school enrolment. Currently, the birth
registration has to be made at the block development
office located some 20 km away.
(L-R) Madhusmita Sahoo (class 6), Nirupama Behena (class 6),
Kalyani Panda (class 4)
Monalisha and Itishree
Through traditional song, dance and drama, the children's
group promotes social awareness on issues of education,
health, survival and protection from exploitation. One
program saw Itishree Panda, and Monalisha Sahoo, two
girls in 8th standard dressed as pandits under a banana
tree stress the need for citizens to not tolerate corruption
and seek government commitment to ensure rights.
Two others used comedy to show how to apply for a job
card through India's recently passed National Rural
Employment Guarantee Act.(NREGA). The NREGA legally
guarantees 100 days employment in every financial year
to adult members of a rural household willing to do public
work-related unskilled manual work at the statutory
minimum wage. In this region however, out of over 500
applicants in one village, only 100 received job cards and
even fewer were awarded work.
Efforts for rights are still underway in and around
Jagannathpur, but one thing is for certain. With OMRAH and
CRY America, the children are learning invaluable lessons in
democracy and responsible citizenship to become betterinformed people and see a better India for all.
Achievements 2008
1260
Health check up of
children done
10
Health committees
activated
2664
61
New births (0-1 yr)
registered
9
Number of children
removed from labour
80%
8
Villages that have
all children
enrolled in school
86
Immunization
coverage of
children
10
No of people Ration card Community level Children between
to whom sanctioned (card awareness cultural 6-14 yrs mainstreamed
that provides eligibility for
programme held in school
subsidized food grains)