Participating India Water Forum 'International Water Convention'

Krishnaa Human Initiatives participated in the India Water Forum ‘International Water Convention’ on Water Security and Climate Change:Challenges and Opportunities to have productive dialogue for exploring scope for sustainable water management in drought prone area of rural Bengal. IWF was held at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi between 13 & 15 April 2011. 

The global convention  showcased advanced knowledge and successful technologies developed in different countries and regions as well as promoted international knowledge networks and partnerships for addressing challenges related to Water Security and Climate Change. It also promoted new eco-friendly and sustainable strategies and technologies in the water sector through discussions, debates, and dissemination of information by various water sector stakeholders.

Sri Susanta Biswas, Secretary, Krishnaa Human Initiatives in an interaction with Dr. Sujana Dhar Scientist & Member of the organizing committee at India Habitat Centre in the India water Forum

Krishnaa Human Initiatives focuses on rural development through natural resource management with an emphasis on providing low cost technology by enhancing  traditional knowledge for rainwater harvesting, digging small well, water retaining by check dam and introducing micro irrigation etc. in saline belt of Sunderban and drought prone areas.

Exploring livelihood opportunities for the tribal at Jungle-Mahal

A two-member delegation from Krishnaa Human Initiatives visited Jhargram and adjacent area to explore livelihood opportunities for the tribals at Jungle Mahal. Sri G. K. Ghosh, President of Krishnaa Human Initiatives (KHI) & Sri Susanta Biswas, Secretary, KHI was in the delegation. 

Sri Gopi Kanta Ghosh, President, KHI, Sri Ashok Nandi, Executive Director, Jhargram Khadi & Village Industries Association and Sri Susanta Biswas, Secretary KHI, in a meeting in a tribal village

The initiative was strengthened by the active cooperation of Jhargram Khadi & Village Industries Association. Sri Ashok Kumar Nandy, Executive Director of the association interacted with Krishnaa Human Initiatives to draw a roadmap for the future work programs in this regard. 

Sri Susanta Biswas, Secretary KHI, interacting with Sri Ashok Nandi, Executive Director, Jhargram Khadi & Village Industries Association in a village near Jhargram

The team also interacted with technical experts from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, regarding technology transfer, training etc.

Sri Gopi Kanta Ghosh, President, KHI, Sri Ashok Nandi, Executive Director, Jhargram Khadi & Village Industries Association and Sri Susanta Biswas, Secretary KHI, visiting the saal leaves plate making unit to assess the market potentiality of the NTFP products

Convergence for Rural Health Care and Livelihood Security

Convergence of various schemes of Government Departments as well as proper natural resource management is necessary for rural health care and livelihood security, said Shri G. K. Ghosh, Retd. Jt. CEO, Khadi & Village Industries Commission and the Founder President of Krishnaa Human Initiatives (KHI). Shri Ghosh was addressing a workshop on Rural Health Care System and Livelihood Security held at Jadavpur University. He also informed that the citizen sector organization Krishnaa Human Initiatives is focusing on the convergence of different Government schemes for augmentation of livelihood opportunities for the people at grass root level through natural resource management.

Sri G. K. Ghosh, President of Krishnaa Human Initiatives (KHI) & Sri Susanta Biswas, Secretary, KHI
interacting in the workshop at Jadavpur University organized by the RC, NAEB, Ministry of Environment & Forest, Govt. of India

The RC, NAEB, Ministry of Environment & Forest, Govt. of India organized the workshop in the Administrative Building of Jadavpur University on November 02, 2010, with the august presence of distinguished personalities from relative fields. Besides, Shri G. K. Ghosh, Prof. A N Basu, former VC, Jadavpur University, Prof. S.  Dutta, Pro VC, Jadavpur University, Dr. D. K. Sharma, IFS, DIG, NAEB, Dr. A. K. Banerji, IFS, Former Senior Forestry Consultant, World Bank, Swami Vishwamayananda, Asst. Secretary, Ramakrishna Mission Ashram, Narendrapur and Shri Susanta Biswas, Secretary, KHI were among the guests. The Coordinator of the Regional Centre Prof. (Dr) Asis Mazumdar welcomed all.

The Coordinator of the Regional Centre Prof. (Dr) Asis Mazumdar (centre) & Shri Satyananda Das, Vice-President, Krishnaa Human Initiatives (extreme right) among distinguished guests in the interactive session of the workshop

The speakers emphasized on the need of research on Bioaccumulation of Pollutants etc. maintaining of database, cautious cultivation and profitable marketing. The importance of documentation of proven Traditional Knowledge as well as patenting of Indigenous Knowledge was discussed vividly. The speakers appreciated the view of Shri G. K. Ghosh and referred to the necessity of convergence and the problems of achieving the same.

Seminar on 'The Significance of Natural Resource Management in Rural Development'

Krishnaa Human Initiatives (KHI), a Citizen Sector Organization organized a seminar in Kolkata on “The Significance of Natural Resource Management in Rural Development”. Eminent speakers from relevant fields including dignitaries from Khadi & Village Industries Commission, Jadavpur University, Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre, Ramakrishna Mission, Vivekananda Institute of Bio-technology, Exide Industries etc. participated in the discussion.

Prof. Bikash Chandra Sinha, Padma Bhusan, the Homi Bhabha Chair Professor of Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre delivering his speech as the Chief Guest Speaker

Shri Sailesh Kumar Bandyopadhyay, Padma Bhusan, Member of Khadi & Village Industries Commission, delivering his presidential address

Prof. Bikash Chandra Sinha, Padma Bhusan, presently the Homi Bhabha Chair Professor at Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre graced the occasion as the Chief Guest Speaker of the seminar. Shri Sailesh Kumar Bandyopadhyay, Padma Bhusan, Member of Khadi & Village Industries Commission presided over the function.

Dr. Dinesh Srivastava, Distinguished Scientist, Head, Physics Group of Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre conveying his good wishes to Krishnaa Human Initiatives

Shri Keshav Kamble, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Khadi & Village Industries Commission conveying his good wishes to Krishnaa Human Initiatives

Shri Ashok Ghosh, Registrar of Societies, West Bengal conveying his good wishes to Krishnaa Human Initiatives.

Eminent personalities like Dr. Dinesh Srivastava, Distinguished Scientist, Head, Physics Group of Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre , Shri K.D. Kamble, Dy. CEO, KVIC and Shri Asok Ghosh, Registrar of Societies graced the seminar.

Shri Gopi Kanta Ghosh, President, Krishnaa Human Initiatives, delivering welcome address.

Shri Susanta Biswas, Secretary, Krishnaa Human Initiatives, introducing the seminar on "The Significance of Natural Resource Management in Rural Development”

 The Panel of speakers includes:

• Prof Bikash Chandra Sinha, Padma Bhusan, Homi Bhaba Chair Professor at Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre

• Dr. M.K. Das, Head, Regional Centre, BRIT, Radiopharmaceuticals Lab, Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre

• Dr. Bed Prakash SyamRoy, Former Spl Officer & Ex-Officio Spl Secretary, Development & Planning Dept, Govt. of West Bengal

• Dr. B. K. Datta, Director, Vivekananda Institute of Bio-technology, Ramakrishna Ashram, Nimpith

• Mr. Sudipto Roy, Chief Public Relations Officer, Exide Industries

• Swami Tattwajnanananda, Principal, Ramakrishna Mission Shilpamandira, Belur

• Prof Ratan Lal Brahmachary, Former Professor & Head, Embryology Unit, Indian Statistical Institute, Calcutta

• Mr. Salman Zafar, Renewable Energy Advisor

Smt. Moushumi Biswas, Governing Body Member, Krishnaa Human Initiatives
reading out the abstracts of the papers

There were participation in the seminar from reputed NGOs like, Chandrakanta Lalitmohan Resham Khadi Samity, Bharat Khadi Sevak Sangha, Jhargram Khadi & V.I. Association, Sundarban Khadi & Village Industrial Society, Joygopalpur Youth Development Centre, Kasturba Gandhi National Memorial Trust, Murshidabad Khadi Gramadyog Samity, Purusattam Resham Khadi Samity, All Bengal Publishers Association, Ananda Ashram Sarada Vidyapith etc.

Eminent social activist of  Sandeshkhali Shri Nirapada Sardar conveying his good wishes to Krishnaa Human Initiatives. Shri Sardar was elected to the West Bengal Legislative Assembly from Sandeshkhali assembly constituency in 2011

The Seminar on 'Significance of Natural Resource Management in Rural Development'
was held at Jivanananda Sabhaghar in Paschim Banga Bangla Academy

Banaja Shilpa Mela at Kolkata

Krishnaa Human Initiatives was associated with the  Regional Centre, National Afforestation and Eco-Development Board at Jadavpur University, Kolkata, a centre under the Ministry of Environment & Forest, Government of India in organizing Banaja Shilpa Mela at Gaganendra Shilpa Pradarshasala, Kolkata. Buyers sellers meet Banaj Shilpa Mela was organized to give tribal villagers a market exposure and establish convergence with various other organizations including Government departments for development funds, Bankers for regular credit flow, Insurance companies for social security and Corporate Sectors for infrastructure development and marketability of  the products.

Banaja Shilpa Mela was organized at Kolkata

Participants at Banaja Shilpa Mela

Participants at Banaja Shilpa Mela

The villagers from forest fringe areas of Purulia and 24 Parganas North Districts of West Bengal and from the states of Jharkhand and Sikkim participated in the event.

Exploring livelihood scope for women SHGs in AILA stricken village

A two-membered team from Krishnaa Human Initiatives visited AILA stricken villages to explore livelihood opportunities for local women self-help groups. The team visited many affected villages including Dhamakhali, Kumirmari, Khulna, Sandeshkhali, Hemnagar and interacted with 22 women self-help groups in a meeting at Dhuchnikhali.  The team consists of Shri Satyananda Das, IFS (Retd.) & Research Scientist, the Vice-President of KHI and Shri Susanta Biswas, Distinguished Documentary Filmmaker, the Secretary of Krishnaa Human Initiatives. 

Interaction with the local women self-help groups at Dhuchnikhali

In association with a local organization Joygopalpur Youth Development Centre as well as the active support of  local social activist and progressive political personality Shri Nirapada Sardar, the two-membered team from KHI explored livelihood opportunities for the local victims of AILA. 

Shri Susanta Biswas, Secretary, Krishnaa Human Initiatives,
visiting the AILA stricken villages at Sunderban

Besides exploring the traditional knowledge of the local forest fringe village dwellers regarding livelihood opportunities and local rural development as a whole, the team emphasized on various measures of Natural Resource management. As the organization, Krishnaa Human Initiatives, aims to play a significant role in augmentation of livelihood opportunities for the people at grassroots-level through natural resource management, the team suggested some viable methods which can easily be adopted by the local women self-help groups of the said AILA stricken villages. And the groups cordially welcome the suggestions by the team.

The AILA stricken river bank at Sunderban

Shri Satyananda Das, Vice-President, Krishnaa Human Initiatives
with local social activist and Member of Legislative Assembly, West Bengal
Shri Nirapada Sardar on a boat

Convergence For Sustainable Development

On the perspective of development of the country the need of convergence of different sectors are increasing. Eminent citizens of North 24 parganas have founded a citizen sector organization, named Krishnaa Human Initiatives with an aim to converge different sectors for sustainable rural development. The organization is founded in memory of Late (Smt.) Krishna Biswas who dedicated herself to progressive movement for the welfare of women and society. 

Shri Susanta Biswas, The Founder Secretary, addresses the Governing Body Meeting on the foundation day

Shri Gopi Kanta Ghosh, The Founder President, officially declares the foundation of Krishnaa Human Initiatives

Inauguration of Krishnaa Human Initiatives by distinguished personalities

Shri Gopi Kanta Ghosh, the Retired Joint Chief Executive Officer of Khadi and Village Industries Commission is elected as the founder President of the society. Shri Satyananda Das, IFS (Retd.); Smt. Moushumi Biswas, an Examiner of Central Board of Secondary Education & Teacher of Hindi literature & language; Shri Ramananda Chaudhuri, Khadi activist, Shri Susanta Biswas, distinguished documentary filmmaker as well as nationalized bank employee, teacher, homemaker, grassroots entrepreneur etc. joined as the founder members. The Organization got registered under The West Bengal Societies Registration Act XXVI of 1961. And is enlisted with the NGO Partnership System of Planning Commission, Government of India. It aims to play a significant role in augmentation of livelihood opportunities for the people at grass root level through natural resource management. Getting associated with this organization, distinguished scholars, working with Universities, Colleges and other reputed organizations, enriches the endeavor.

The Begining

Krishnaa Human Initiatives is a Citizen Sector Organization registered under The West Bengal Societies Registration Act XXVI of 1961 and enlisted with the NGO Partnership System of Planning Commission, Government of India. The Organization was founded in memory of Late (Smt.) Krishna Biswas who dedicated herself to the progressive movement for the welfare of women and society. It believes that proper management of natural resources is necessary for sustainable development and works with the grassroots-level organizations working directly with and for the underprivileged. 

In its journey towards a sustainable future, Krishnaa Human Initiatives focuses on:

§        The convergence of various Schemes, Departments and Organizations 

§   All sorts of Documentation of information including audio-visual presentation required for Sustainable Development

§         Providing Science and Technology  as well as convenient Entrepreneurship Development programs for developing areas

§     Providing low cost technology by enhancing  traditional knowledge for rainwater harvesting, digging small well, water retaining by check dam etc. in drought prone areas

§      Organizing both Farmers Field Schools (FFS) and Artisans Field Schools (AFS)

§         Bringing Rural & Urban NGOS together with strength to strength coalition

§         Organizing exhibitions, Seminars and workshops

§       Organizing various Fair for providing marketing link to rural poor through buyers-sellers meet  

The Organization is constituted with experienced as well as young and enthusiastic persons. The President Sri G.K. Ghosh, a Chemical Engineer, is the Retd. Joint CEO of Khadi & Village Industries Commission and The Vice-President Sri S. Das, an IFS (Retd.), is a Research Scientist in the Regional Centre of National Afforestation & Eco-development Board. Sri Susanta Biswas, the Secretary of the Organization, is a reputed Documentary Filmmaker whose documentaries participated in International Festivals as well as screened in important workshops and seminars of different ministries and telecasted in Doordarshan. The Executive Committee Members Sri R. Chaudhri, a Khadi & Village Industry activist and Smt. M. Biswas, an Examiner of Central Board of Secondary Education & Teacher of Hindi literature & language with other members strengthen the initiative. Being associated with this organization, distinguished scholars, working with Universities, Colleges and other reputed organizations, enriches the endeavor.

Since its foundation on July 3rd 2010 Krishnaa Human Initiatives has already -

§      took part in organizing ‘Banaja Shilpa Mela’ at Kolkata, preceded by a workshop, with the Regional Centre of National Afforestation & Eco-developmental Board at Jadavpur University under Ministry of Environment & Forests. The event was held between 16^th and 18^th July 2010, at Abanindra Sabhagriha and Gaganendra Shilpa Pradarshasala.

§     organized a seminar on “The Significance of Natural Resource Management in Rural Development”. The seminar was held at Jivanananda Sabhaghar in Paschim Banga Bangla Academy on 6^th August 2010. Distinguished representatives of esteemed organizations like Khadi & Village Industries Commission, Jadavpur University, Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre, Ramakrishna Mission, Vivekananda Institute of Bio-technology, Exide Industries etc. and the NGOs working in the grassroots level from Murshidabad, Sundarban, Jhargram, North & South 24 Parganas participated in the program. Eminent physicist Prof. Bikash Chandra Sinha, Padma Bhusan, Homi Bhaba Chair Professor of Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre graced the occasion as the Chief Guest Speaker and Shri Sailesh Kumar Bandyopadhyay, Padma Bhusan, Member of Khadi and Village Industries Commission presided over the function.

  

§       documented district wise floral calendar of four states of eastern part of the country such as West Bengal, Orissa, Jharkhand and Bihar and also working out other resources too.

§      explores livelihood opportunities for the local poor people and tribal in Jhargram and adjacent area as well as AILA stricken villages of Sunderban with women self-help groups and local NGOs.

§       participated in the workshop on Rural Health Care System and Livelihood Security organized by the Regional Center, NAEB, MoEF at Jadavpur University, Kolkata and International Water Convention on Water Security and Climate Change: Challenges and Opportunities organized by India Water Forum at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. 

Krishnaa Human Initiatives aims to play a significant role in augmentation of livelihood opportunities for the people at grass root level through natural resource management in its journey towards a sustainable future.