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Achieving Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Sustainability Goals for Developing Countries

The 13th Annual Global Water Alliance Conference on Achieving Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Sustainability Goals for Developing Countries organised under the aegis of Rural Development Forum, IEI in Kolkata on 6-7 January 2020 jointly with Global Water Alliance,Philadelphia, USA in partnership with Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur and Water Management Forum, IEI. Major objective of the Conference was to identify the progress of developing countries regarding the implementation of social, economic and related policies and projects, in achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) for water, sanitation and hygiene for all. Further, site visit to WASH and Arsenic Projects in rural areas was a part of the Conference. Findings and recommendations were placed during the Conference.

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Field level livelihood programme at Tribal villages under Manbazar Block, Purulia:

The programme was to impart training to tribal women of Self Help Group in two villages for generating self employment with orientation on backyard poultry farming, challenges and sustainability issues. Training and necessary advice was given by a Veterinary Officer of Manbazar Block in presence of BDO, Manbazar. The training/ orientation programmes were also addressed by Mr S P Datta, Prof Anirban Gupta, Mr Debananda Basak of RDF, by Mr Amitabha Mishra of May I Help you, a Manbazar based active NGO and Dr Kabita Maiti of SATHEE. Vaccinated Chicks were distributed among participants explaining them the necessary care requirement, business development and chain method of growing so that other women could also start backyard poultry farming for their livelihood.

One day training programme on RPWD Act 2016, CBR Strategies and ADL jointly with HOPE Institute at Durgapur:

Interactive Training programme for the teachers in this field is conducted by Mr. Muhuri, well known expert and trainer. The programme is attended by Shri S P Datta, Prof. Anirban Gupta and Shri Debananda Basak from RDF. The programme was intended to train the trainers to rehabilitate physically challenged persons in the main stream of the Society.

Three day Workshop for Fishermen on Sea Safety, Navigation, Engine Hauling and Repairing :

The workshop was organized at Frasergunj near Fishing Harbour. Casualty of fishermen going to seas for fishing is very high all over the world with India no exception. RDF identified during working in villages that in many rural areas, particularly in coastal districts, fishing is the main livelihood. But unfortunately in each year many earning members of rural families do not return or become physically incapacitated. Instances of exploitation were also there. The interactive training programme was intended to apprise fishermen of use of safety tools and to take immediate action in case of adverse situation.
Trainers and particularly Commandant, Coast Guard, Frasergunj made very useful presentations with live examples.

  • Training programme should be institutionalized in true sense of the term. 
  • Persons intending to go for fishing must be qualified through theoretical and hands on training and should have license from competent authority after completion of initial training. 
  • Periodical in-service training must be compulsory for extension of validity of license. 
  • Since poor people mainly join the profession, there should be very nominal charge for license. Issue of license must not be taken as revenue generation. 
  • Training of trainers should also be arranged so as to have a large pool of trainers and there should be institutional arrangement to remunerate qualified trainers. 
  • Redesigning of vessels so as to avoid getting stuck in shallow waters.  
  • There should be efficient arrangement for checking quality of safety gears so as to eliminate chances of using faulty safety gears. 
  • There has to have clear laid down guidelines for owners of the vessels for proper care and safety of all the staff deployed in sea bound trips till their safe return.   

2-day Webinar on Technology for the Unreached - Policy and Implementation:

The programme was organized jointly by RDF, Technology Alumni Association of IIT Kharagpur and SPADE on 26 September 2020 and 02 October 2020. The dates were chosen to commemorate 200th birth anniversary of Pandit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar and 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi as both the stalwarts contributed immensely for the unreached and their vision and mission are very much relevant today. The programme was inaugurated by Er Narendra Singh, the then President IEI. Presenters were eminent experts from within the country and abroad. Take away from the webinar in the form of Learning Points from Deliberations and follow up steps recommended for Policy level and Practice level were circulated to the concerned stakeholders.

Webinar on Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray & Rural Development and Recent Aspect:

On the occasion of 160th Birth Anniversary of Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray. a webinar befitting Atmanirvar Bharat was organized jointly with the Science Association of Bengal. The Speakers were Mr Dipak Kumar Das, Mr S P Datta, Mr Debananda Basak, Dr Subhabrata Roy Chowdhury, Dr Arnab Banerjee and Dr Parijat Chakraborty.
The focus of the deliberations was education to cater the need of employment in rural area particularly self employment for efficient utilization of natural and human resources in rural areas.

National Science Day programme at Shamshernagar Cyclone Centre, Hingalganj Block, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal on the theme Future of Science, Technology & Innovation (STI)-Impacts on Education, Skills and Work:

The programme was attended by a large number of students, villagers and others. There was awareness programme and demonstrations on necessities in villages. Students participated in quiz contest on basic science.

Seminar on Low cost housing, drinking water and sanitation jointly with Tripura State Centre at Agartala:

The Seminar was inaugurated by Sri Susanta Chaudhury, Hon’ble Minister of PWD (DWS) Department, Government of Tripura. The seminar was conducted in three technical sessions. Impressive presentations were made by different senior engineers from different organizations. The interactive sessions were participated very actively by the attendees including the students.

Training programme on Fish Quality Management, Conservation and Dry Fish Technique at Khejuri, Purba Medinipur:

The training was given by Mr Atanu Roy, State Co-ordinator, NETFISH-MPEDA, Government of India. The programme is attended by Mr S P Datta, Past Chairman, RDF, Prof. Anirban Gupta, Director, RDF, and Mr Debananda Basak, Chairman, RDF.

2-day Webinar on Present Status of “Looming Water Crisis” in West Bengal on 7 & 8 June 2022:

At the invitation of B R Ambedkar Institute of Panchayat and Rural Development of Government of West Bengal, RDF joined the programme and Prof. Anirban Gupta, Director, RDF and Ms Dhruba Dasgupta addressed the webinar cum training programme. There were more than 300 participants comprising mostly civil service officials and panchayat functionaries. The Institute expressed interest to have more joint programmes with RDF.