Trainees (Summer School)

GRASSROOTS INSTITUTE at Grassroots India, New Delhi

Summer School: On-Field International Practical Training on HUMAN DEVELOPMENT ISSUES IN MOUNTAIN AREAS from 3 to 30 June 2007 at Seraj Valley in Kullu District, Himachal Pradesh, India. 

COURSE CONTENT 

. People's Health . Dalits in Himalayan Society . Culture, Institutions and Development . Policies Affecting Mountain Sustainability . Issues of Graziers and Transhumants . Women Issues and Empowerment . Panchayati Raj System . Sustainable Agriculture 

PRACTICALS 

From Monday to Wednesday the lecture series will be organized every week. On Thursday and Friday the participants will visit the sites, villages, jungle or towns for observing, studying and practicing on relevant topic. On Saturday each participant will independently visit villages to study on the given topic and thus complete the assignment, or some filed visit may be completed on weekend. Each participant will stay as paying guest with a family in a village and in the end produce socio-economic, politico-cultural or development profile of the village. Participants will have to accommodate (for learning purpose) in the local living, food and transport conditions, which are typically mountainous and rural but one of the most beautiful and adventurous. 

ITINERARY 

People's Health Banjar CHC Sub-centre Jibhi Missionary Hospital, Jibhi Village visit 

Dalits in Himalayan Society Villages of Palahch & Chanon Panchayats 

Culture, Institutions and Development Malana Thati Bir village fair 

Policies Affecting Mountain Sustainability Sainj hydro power project 

Issues of Graziers and Transhumants Rolla in Great Himalayan National Park Nahin village 

Gender Issues and Women Empowerment Bala Gaad area 

Panchayati Raj System Paldi Valley 

Sustainable Agriculture Kalwari village 

ACCOMMODATION & FOOD 

The participants will stay in villages near Banjar town as paying guest of identified families. Grassroots Institute has already identified such families who will host the participants. One participant or two will stay in a village. The accommodation to be provided to the participant will be separate room in family house. Toilet bath will be separate. Host family will take care of cleaning, washing and maintaining the room. 

Traditional and delicious food will be served by the host family in breakfast and dinner from Monday to Saturday. On Sundays the host family will provide lunch also apart from breakfast and dinner. For lunch between Monday and Saturday, the Institute will take care of through the supply of a caterer. Special dietary requirements of a person will cost extra if ordered. 

Participants can wash their wearing clothes themselves or can get help of a laundry in town of Banjar. 

TRANSPORT 

On arrival of Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, Palam Domestic Airport or any of 3 main railway stations of Delhi, a chartered van will pick up the participant in case he/she intimates in advance. The participant will be brought to a Hotel on 1st or 2nd June 2007. In the evening of 2nd June 2007 a 30 seater AC bus will carry all the participants who assemble at Delhi. This bus journey would be overnight journey to Banjar (Kullu) in Himachal Pradesh. The same bus will carry the participants back to Delhi on completion of month-long training program. Thereafter, the participants will be free to go back home or to travel India as per their own plans. 

While undergoing the course and staying in villages, each participant will get up early in morning and catch the local bus on specified time to reach Banjar town. Similarly, in the evening the participant will catch the specified bus and reach the village. Host villages are in 10-15 kms radius from Banjar. Traveling by a local bus will offer exclusive experiences and one can make many friends in the buses. If going on field visit, all participants will travel together in the local bus. 

ABOUT THE AREA 

Banjar is located about 21 km inside the highway from Delhi to Kullu/ Manali. Before 24 km of Kullu city, there is eastward diversion from highway. This town is located in the heart of Seraj Valley, one of the most beautiful mountains in Western Himalayas. The area is in 20 km radius of Banjar expanded into 4-5 sub-valleys. Tirthan is the main river that is famous for trout fish. World famous Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) is in the vicinity; rather some of the field (villages) in which Grassroots India works exists in national park boundary. On one side of Banjar are alpine meadows with 2-3 freshwater lakes (high altitude lakes). Traditional communities have intricate linkages with the nature, and nurture the ecosystems especially agro-ecosystems. People practice natural religion; they have extremely rich culture. Violence is just zero in the area, rather it is most peaceful in the country. People are caring, friendly, humble and hospitable. One can see further details of nearby locations by searching on www.greathimalayannationalpark.com, www.himachaltourism.nic.in, www.travelmasti.com/shoja-retreat.html 

CERTIFICATE: On completion of the training course, the participant will be given a certificate. 

LANGUAGE 

Language of instructions will be English. However, if some guest faculty speaks Hindi, a translation back up will be provided. The local communities usually speak local Kullavi language or Hindi or Punjabi. Some youths speak English too. At the time of field visit, several translator or interpreters will accompany. In the village of accommodation, someone in host family would communicate in English. Those facing much difficulty may be given assistance of a guide speaking English. Participants can also learn bit Hindi just to somehow manage the situations. 

GUIDANCE & HELP 

Grassroots Institute will depute some guide and facilitators who will keep on assisting/helping the participants in their training related problems or in personal problems. 

RESOURCE PERSONS 

For the training course 2 resource persons will work full time. At least 2 sessions/field facilitators work full time. Additionally, about 5 guides/helpers will take care of associated queries, help, assistance, etc. For each of the topic in syllabus of training, 1-2 Guest Faculties will be invited on respective days. Most of the resource persons engaged will have rich field experiences in order to give more and more field/practice inputs. 

ELIGIBILITY: Applicant for the training should have completed or studying the UNDERGRADUATE or GRADUATE/ POST-GRADUATE in any discipline. Those having work experience also can apply. 

AVAILABILITY OF SEATS: The training course has 30 seats only. Half of the seats are reserved for female candidates. 

DEADLINES 

1st Priority: 10 May 2007; 2nd Priority: 15 May 2007; 3rd Priority: 20 May 2007 

HOW TO APPLY 

Interested candidates may e-mail asking for Application Form. The completed application will also be submitted through e-mail within the specified deadline. 

SELECTION PROCESS 

Selection process will be done on the basis of priority dates of application. Those applying in 1st Priority Deadline will be given priority in selection and be offered of places. If seats are vacant, the applicants applying after 1st Priority Deadline will be given offers. At the last, if any seat remains vacant, the person applying after 2nd Priority Deadline will be given offer. Some of the applicants will, however, be kept on waitlist. 

FEES & EXPENSES 

a) Training Course Fee: 400 EURO (for non-South Asian applicants) or Rs. 20,000 (for South Asians). Fee will paid by the participant after receiving the Offer of Admission, but on or before 25 May 2007. This could be transacted into our online bank account or be sent through payroll. 

b) Accommodation, Transport & Food Expenses: 200 EURO (for non-South Asian applicants) or Rs. 10,000 (for South Asians). Expenses of accommodation and food will be paid in 2 installments; first installment will be deposited in cash on the date of joining of the course. Transport expenses will be paid directly by the participant. A break up of the expenses will be provided to participants along with the Offer of Admission. 

c) International/National Travel (till Delhi): It varies with place of start of journey. The participants will incur all costs directly. 

d) Optional Excursion Tour of 4 Days (1-4 July 2007): 100 EURO (for non-South Asian applicants) or Rs. 5,000 (for South Asians). This amount will collected from interested participants on 20 June 2007. On completion of the course on 30 June, an excursion tour will be organized. It will begin from Banjar and traverse through Shojja, Jalori pass, Annie, Rampur-Sarahan, Bislev Pass and would end in Batahd. Journey will be covered by bus, but include trekking into alpines with virgin jungles, hills, lake, snow and wilderness. This tour will be incredible and ever memorable for each and everyone. 

e) Incidental Expenses including Cost of Medicines: Nothing is fixed. It depends on person to person. With the Offer of Admission it will be advised to bring medicines for some of common diseases in India and the area. Banjar has fairly good health facilities, but not comparable to cities of India. 

f) Visa Cost: The foreign participants will have to arrange for the visa to enter India. Generally a tourist visa is applicable for joining training. All costs will be borne by the participants only. 

SCHOLARSHIP 

Since we have not yet developed strong linkages with donors for this particular training course, we are not able to offer any scholarship this time. Yet we can produce Offer of Admission well before the start date if someone is interested to apply for scholarship to sponsoring agencies. 

OTHER INFORMATION & CONTACT 

For any other query regarding the application process, one can write e-mail to: 

GRASSROOTS INSTITUTE
c/o Grassroots India Trust:
1st Fl, Railway Reservation Building, 50A, Street 17
Zakir Nagar, Opp.
New Friends Colony A-Block,
Okhla, New Delhi - 110 025

Tel: 011-26983449, 26955452, 9868466401
Fax: +91-11-26936366
http://humandevelopmentissues.blogspot.com