News Update

Institutions Systems Branch (ISB)

· Training Systems Group organised the third batch of Development Management course for 61 MBA final-year students of Aravali Institute of Management, Jodhpur in TARAgram, Orchha, between December 30, 2007 and January 5, 2008.

· An International Training was organised in TARAgram, Orchha, Madhya Pradesh on:
(a) MEAL (Monitoring Evaluation And Learning) on January 15-17, 2008
(b) Drinking Water Quality Monitoring and Management on January 29-31, 2008

Environment Systems Branch (ESB)

· Workshop for CLEAN-India students on January 17, 2008 on mushroom cultivation conducted by Chido Govera from Zimbabwe.

· Delhi Mahila Kalyan Kendra, in association with the IAS Officer’s Wives Association, held a training programme on mushroom cultivation conducted by Chido Govera on January 18, 2008.

Technology and Action for Rural Advancement (TARA)

· TARA Paper - Facilities at Prakriti Shop, TARAgram, are being expanded to cater to the increasing demands of the retail market. The latest acqusition here is Tampattra palm leaves paintings, an ancient art of Orissa. It is hoped this will lead the way to many more additions in future.

· TARA Machines - A formal MoU of TARA with NABARD was signed on setting up flyash utilisation enterprises (in the form of flyash bricks) in the thermal plants belt in Nagpur and Chandrapur. This step will pave the way for benefits accrued in the form of carbon savings.

· TARA Eco kiln - The boom in construction industry has cast an upsurge on the demand for this eco-friendly, time-saving brickmaking technology. Also, the carbon savings augment the earnings of the enterpreneur manifold.

Technology Systems Branch (TSB)

· DA and ACC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a sustainable Community Development Programme at Wadi Cement Works in Karnataka, India. The programme will enhance ACC’s commitment towards socio-economic and environmentally sound development in the region. The project highlights the role of the civil societies in the development activities. DA has been able to achieve a new milestone in partnering with the corporate sector to realise sustainability goals on a large scale.

· basin SA documented a habitat-related case study at Bahirgaon village in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra, which depicts sustainable growth pioneered by the Panchayat. Six years after the first initiative, Bahirgaon stands as an outstanding example of Panchayat-led community participation in sustainable development activities.