Breaking into The System: Success in Advocacy for Inclusion of the Marginalised- Activity Report of COVA from 1st April 2019 to 31st March 2020
COVA Network
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
Breaking into The System | ACTIVITY REPORT OF COVA From 1st April 2019 to 31st March 2020 |
Dear Friends, For many years now, COVA has been sharing the Activity Report of its Program for a Financial year on the 1st of April every year. But this year, due to the relief commitments we are undertaking during the National Lockdown to combat Coronavirus, we got delayed by four days. Perhaps not many times in history that humanity has faced such a challenge and it is the responsibility for each and every human being walking the planet to fully contribute to help prevent the spread of the Pandemic and also provide whatever sustenance and emotional support that is possible from us to our fellow beings in need- with priority to the marginalized and the destitute. We at COVA are doing our bit to support migrant workers, refugees and the transgenders to face the Lockdown with dignity and have also managed to a transformation of the Public Distribution System to include the Migrant Workers. We hope and pray that all of you will take all precautions for your own safety and the safety of your family and community and support others in need in every way possible.
Take Care and Stay Safe.
As in the past years, we shall be sharing the Activity Report of COVA in 3 Parts. This year it will be on 5th, 7th and 9th April of 2020.
Part I will report the transformations in the systems that COVA has been able to achieve in the areas of outreach of the Government to Migrant Workers during the COVID -19 pandemic, next is working for extending the scope of syllabus in schools from academic subjects to also include exposure and engagement of students to a range of social issues through the Compassionate Citizenship and Responsible Activism Program, third is a transformation in the banking system to enable small businesses to apply and avail loans from Banks online through the eMUDRA Scheme. And finally the efforts of COVA to setup systems and simplify procedure to enable SC, ST and BC students to access Pre-Matric Scholarships.
Part II, to be shared on 7th April 2020 and titled Nurturing Citizenship will provide detailed Reports and Impacts of the Programs of COVA with students and citizens in enhancing their understanding of their rights as citizens and also fulfilling their citizenship responsibilities by contributing to improving cleanliness and sanitation in Hyderabad and in becoming active agents for water Conservation.
Part III will be available from 9th April and will cover Peace Initiatives and International Engagements Peace initiatives will showcase the programs of COVA to check Fake News to secure cyberspace for positivity, launch of a network in Hyderabad to defuse the possibility of riots in the current scenario where the country is being polarized like never before and finally about the Exhibition on Pathbreakers explicating the exemplary contributions of Muslim women in Post Independent India to nation building and promoting gender equality and harmony.
Part IV, to be shared with Part III on Engagements with the International comprises work on issues of SDGs and Peace. This Part will also cover the work of COVA in providing subsistence, education, health and livelihood support for refugees living in Hyderabad.
Mazher Hussain Executive Director COVA
Contact us: # 18-13-8/A/508/B, Bandlaguda, Chandrayangutta, Hyderabad, Telangana 500005 Phone: +91 40 24442984 Mail: covanetwork@gmail.com Website: covanetwork.org | Part-I Success in Advocacy for Inclusion of the Marginalised
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CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC INTERVENTIONS | |
Transformation of the Pubic Distribution System and Subsistence Support to Migrant Workers and Refugees With the declaration of the National Lockdown on 22nd March 2020, COVA swung into immediate action and has started providing lunch and dinner to 1000 Migrant Workers that will be increased to cover 2000 persons from 3nd April 2020. COVA has also mobilised funds to provide Rations Kits for 800 Refugees and is seeking donations for the remaining 550 refugee families of the 1350 families that are living in Hyderabad. Distribution of Ration Kits has started. A landmark achievement has been the success of a representation of COVA to the Government of Telangana to provide rations to the Migrant Workers through the Public Distribution System that the Government announced immediately benefiting over 325,000 Migrant Workers in Telangana State. Click Here for more. | |
Recommendation for Online Loan Facility to Small Businesses Sees eMUDRA | |
| COVA had given 12 recommendations to the Finance Ministry of India based on a Study conducted for the G 20 Summit of 2013. Government had accepted 8 of the 12 Recommendations and 4 were included in the MUDRA Scheme introduced in 2014. One of the Recommendations that was not considered at the time was to facilitate small businesses for online loan applications. On 19th October 2019, the Finance Ministry of the Government of India announced the eMUDRA scheme to facilitate small businesses to apply and get loans online on the procedures suggested by COVA in the G 20 Study of 2013 and reiterated again in another Study of COVA for the BRICS Summit of 2016. READ MORE | |
Compassionate Citizenship & Responsible Activism Program of COVA To be in Telangana Schools | |
COVA has been organising the Compassionate Citizenship and Responsible Activism Program in schools of Hyderabad to take students beyond academic learning and expose them to a range of social issues to make them sensitive human beings and active citizens charged to make positive contributions to transform society. SCERT (State Council for Education, Research and Training) Government of Telangana has endorsed and accepted the Program and it is proposed to introduce this as Pilot in 500 schools in 10 Districts of Telangana in collaboration with the SCERT from the academic year 2020-21. If the Program comes out successfully, then it could be introduced in all the 29,000 schools of Telangana State in the coming years please CLICK HERE to read more. | |
Creating Systems for Pre Matric Scholarships for SC, ST & BC Students | |
Government of Telangana has provision for Pre Matric Scholarships for SC, ST and BC Students and there was an allocation of over Rs. 330 crores during the year 2018. However only 78 BC students and 80 SC students got scholarships in 2017 and 2018 respectively. The case with ST students is even worse as only 3 of them have applied in Hyderabad District till 10th October 2019. Hence there is almost total lapse of the budget allotted by the Government for this scheme. This is because of the herculean efforts that were required to obtain the Caste and Income Certificates and to open bank Accounts that were mandatory for applying for the Pre-Matric Scholarships. COVA realized that there were no proper systems in place, heavy corruption and no awareness amongst the students, parents and even many teachers and managements of the schools that are together contributing to the abject failure of this scheme that could be very helpful for the poor students to continue their studies. COVA started crafting the systems and now it is relatively easier for the students to apply for the Pre Matric Scholarships. COVA’s Target is to enable all SC, BC & ST students in Telangana to apply for and avail the Pre-Matric Scholarships. To know how this could become possible please READ ON | |
Part II Nurturing Citizenship | |
Civic Sense: Campaigns for Sensitizing Citizens to Rights & Responsibilities | |
Citizens Entitlements Campaign COVA carried forward this program initiated in 2018 to enable citizens of Hyderabad and Secunderabad to avail the 56 services offered by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), Water Works and Electricity Departments. Citizens Charters of these Departments specify the timeframe for each service offered and a complaint mechanism that is available to the Citizens in case of delays. The Highlight of the program this year was the partnership of different faith groups displaying posters and banners in their places of worship and making announcements during their weekly sermons to raise awareness about the 56 services offered and the Citizens Charters. The Archbishop of Hyderabad and Secunderabad issued a directive to all the churches under his jurisdiction to make the announcements for three weeks during Sunday Sermons. READ MORE | |
Saaf Hyderabad Shandaar Hyderabad (SHSH) Program | |
| Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation initiated the SHSH Program to generate awareness amongst the citizens to keep the city clean and to manage solid waste properly. COVA worked in one Circle of the Corporation and reached out to different sections of society to enlist them as partners in ensuring a proper civic environment. For the results and Impact of the Program Please Please CLICK HERE | |
Water Leaders and Conservation Alliance (WaLC) | |
COVA is a partner of the Water Leadership and Conservation (WaLC) network of Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB). The WaLC is a landmark initiative to bring awareness to the citizens of Hyderabad and Secunderabad on the need and techniques for water conservation. As part of this program, COVA has undertaken Door to Door Campaigns and extensive awareness programs reaching out to thousands of people in two constituencies of Hyderabad. Interfaith Forum Members of COVA also imparted awareness about the need for Water Conservation through their weekly sermons. The Schools also provided good support in enabling us to educate hundreds of students for water conservation. The result of the program was immediate with students taking out a Rally and undertaking Door to Door Campaign as part of the program on 30th January 2020, Martyrs Day. The Program was titled “Homage to Mahatma- Our Pledge to Conserve Water”. Please CLICK HERE for more. | |
Part III Peace Initiatives | |
CHECTIT Program to Expose Fake News and Secure Cyberspace | |
| The CHECKIT Program initiated in 2019-20 is showing remarkable activity by decoding Fake News and exposing the decoded version on a daily basis. It is proposed to enlist the Interfaith Forum to involve and request faith leaders to speak about instances of Fake News appearing in social media in their weekly sermons to enlighten their congregations and prevent them from falling prey. READ MORE | |
Hyderabad Peace Initiative | |
| COVA was formed in 2005 to address the menace of communal violence in Hyderabad. After extensive and systematic work in the sensitive areas of Hyderabad, COVA was also able to contribute to prevention of communal riots in Hyderabad. Fortunately, there have been no riots in Hyderabad since 2012. But the polarisation of society across the country and the recent riots in Delhi have shown that riots can now get started anywhere, including Hyderabad. Hence COVA, in collaboration with over 50 groups and individuals has started an initiative titled Peace Hyderabad to prevent any riots recurring in the city again. Details can be SEEN HERE | |
Exhibition on Pathbreakers: The Twentieth Century Muslim Women of India | |
| COVA in Collaboration With Muslim Women’s Forum, New Delhi And TMREIS (Telangana Minorities Residential Educational Institutions Society) Organised an Exhibition Titled Pathbreakers: The Twentieth Century Muslim Women Of India, from 3-7 August 2019 at Hyderabad. The Exhibition Shows 21 Muslim women who ventured into public life on the Eve Of Independence and became partners in building a new India. The main body of their work spanned from 1947 until the end of the century and has remained largely invisible, unrecognized and unsung. To know about the remarkable contributions of these inspiring women Please CLICK HERE | |
Part IV Engagements with the International | |
Contributions for the Voluntary National Report of India on SDGs | |
| COVA was one of the three facilitating organisations to enable the Minorities in India to participate in the processes to provide their inputs for the Voluntary National Report of India. It also facilitated the participation of Refugees in a National Consultation on Goal 6 of the SDGs. Please CLICK HERE for more. | |
Jai Jagat Global March to Commemorate 150 Years of Mahatma Gandhi | |
| COVA is also engaged with the Jai Jagat Global March to celebrate 150th Birth Centenary of Mahatma Gandhi. This March that started at Raj Ghat in New Delhi on 2nd October 2019 will conclude after one year in Geneva on 2nd October 2020 after passing through 11 countries and covering 11,000 km to spread the message of non-violence and inclusive development. | |
Refugee Facilitation Center | |
| COVA is working since 2010 with over 5000 thousand refugees of 12 countries living in Hyderabad by providing monthly ration kits to the most destitute families, education, health and livelihood support. Please READ HERE |