If I were to conduct a field study - Deep Joshi, PRADAN

I guess I would begin by locating a village to study, would you not? I would choose a village I knew little about so that what I know does not bias my inquiry. Since it is a new place and I have a very poor sense of direction, I would mark it on some kind of a map with respect to places that can serve as reference points. That should help me make inquiries. I would also like to know how far the village is, how one reaches there, what kind of terrain one has to traverse, any landmarks, etc.

 You may well ask, “How would you do all this?” and I have no answer to give you. I think it is just as well that I do not have one answer, for there is no single answer, there is no single method! I know I would travel around the village ... walk, walk, walk. I would listen and talk with people as they are, where they are. I would keep my eyes open to see; I would keep my mind open and alert so that I observe what I see; I would turn in my mind what I have observed so that I reflect upon what I observed. I would discuss with my colleagues, others around me ... I would read if I can find something about my village or the region where it is located ... I would share with the inhabitants of the village what I have learnt so that they may educate me further. And in the end, if I have uncovered my own ignorance, may be it has been a worthwhile exercise... 

Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) is a private, non-denominational development agency, which develops sustainable solutions to poverty and marginalization. This new position offers an experienced professional, an opportunity to provide overall leadership and ensure delivery of a high quality Multi Input Area Development (MIAD) programme in the state of Bihar. The programme aims to improve the quality of life of marginalized communities by addressing their multi-faceted poverty through a multi-year and multi-sector approach and empower them to improve their socio-economic conditions. It also aims to engage with public systems to enhance capacity and delivery of development programmes. The programme currently works in four districts - Muzaffurpur, Samastipur, Kishanganj and Patna - and plans to expand coverage and diversify interventions significantly over the coming 1-3 years.

The State programme manager is needed to take the lead on development and direction of the state programme strategy and effective implementation and performance of the programme. He would also manage AKF’s human resources in the state, and enhance organisational development along with annual planning and budgeting processes for the state programme and monitoring progress and fund utilization

We are looking for people with minimum 8-12 years of work experience in rural development, including at least 3-5 years of experience at a senior position in leading the implementation of multi sector programmes and multidisciplinary team. The person should also have strong human resource and financial management skills, experience of working and liaising with the government at different levels, as well as establishing and nurturing partnerships with other stakeholders.

Location: Patna, Bihar

Interested candidates can write to akf.spmbihar@gmail.com with the subject line indicating Senior Programme Manager. Last date for application is 7th March 2011

Bihar Rural Livelihoods Promotions Society (BRLPS), an independent Society under Finance Department, Govt. of Bihar is implementing the Bihar Rural Livelihoods Project (BRLPS), otherwise termed as JEEViKA with support from the World Bank since October 2007. The project is working in 55 blocks of 9 districts in Bihar. The cost of the project is $ 99 Million. There are few opportunities available with us are as follows;

Few vacancies were announced at the State Level positions i.e., State Project Managers, Project Managers
Few vacancies were announced at the District & Block levels i.e., Manager-Thematic Area such as Livelihoods/Micro-Finance/Social Development/Monitoring & Evaluation/Communication and Block Project Managers

The interested candidate may visit our website at www.brlp.in or see the newspaper advertisement (ToI, HT) on 4th, 5th March 2011 (for district/block level positions, the advertisement was published in the Newspaper earlier, but you can see all the vacancy announcement in the website)

I assure you, this is one of the best project (among all the World Bank assisted rural development projects, implemented in India and outside). The project also offers you the opportunities to carry out innovations in different thematic areas.

Labels: Bihar, jobs, naukri, World Bank

This info was not readily available so I thought let me share the same to enable easier access. This might be useful while preparing sheets where you would like to restrict access to certain cell ranges to avoid accidental change

Day Sub_Zero

The Plan

We did the acco plan first as when i checked with tour operators, travel was the easier part but acco was difficult. I would advise to go along with West Bengal tourism offers in terms of acco as that provides you with the ringside view compared to the pvt operators where you might get the satisfaction of shelling out a bit more and settling for a bit less.

I did my booking through . It is really cool as you can book any of the WB tourism lodges / packages online.

I booked two days at Madarihaat (jaldapara forest) and two more at malbazar. I would on hind sight advise guys to book the hollong lodge which is inside the forest area. The madarihaat lodge came inclusive of food. At Rs. 1400 per night for two it wasn;t bad.

The Malbazar lodge was though a bloomer. It was not at all well maintained. The saving grace was this waiter out there who used to make some great coffee.

The travel plan was easier as had quite a number of choices. There are a couple of trains which goo all up to alipurduar and I advise people taking that one as it will reach you straight upto the dooars.

Day 1 - Madarihaat Tourist Lodge

Labels: Madarihaat Tourist Lodge

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Once there was a little island country. The land of this country was the tiny island itself. The total money in circulation was 2 dollars as there were only two pieces of 1 dollar coins circulating around.

1) There were 3 citizens living on this island country. A owned the land. B and C each owned 1 dollar.

2) B decided to purchase the land from A for 1 dollar. So, now A and C own 1 dollar each while B owned a piece of land that is worth 1 dollar.

* The net asset of the country now = 3 dollars.

3) Now C thought that since there is only one piece of land in the country, and land is non producible asset, its value must definitely go up. So, he borrowed 1 dollar from A, and together with his own 1 dollar, he bought the land from B for 2 dollars.

*A has a loan to C of 1 dollar, so his net asset is 1 dollar.
*B sold his land and got 2 dollars, so his net asset is 2 dollars.
*C owned the piece of land worth 2 dollars but with his 1 dollar debt to A, his net residual asset is 1 dollar.
* Thus, the net asset of the country = 4 dollars.

4) A saw that the land he once owned has risen in value. He regretted having sold it. Luckily, he has a 1 dollar loan to C. He then borrowed 2 dollars from B and acquired the land back from C for 3 dollars. The payment is by 2 dollars cash (which he borrowed) and cancellation of the 1 dollar loan to C.
As a result, A now owned a piece of land that is worth 3 dollars. But since he owed B 2 dollars, his net asset is 1 dollar.

* B loaned 2 dollars to A. So his net asset is 2 dollars.
* C now has the 2 coins. His net asset is also 2 dollars.
* The net asset of the country = 5 dollars. A bubble is building up.

(5) B saw that the value of land kept rising. He also wanted to own the
land. So he bought the land from A for 4 dollars. The payment is by borrowing 2 dollars from C, and cancellation of his 2 dollars loan to A.

* As a result, A has got his debt cleared and he got the 2 coins. His net asset is 2 dollars.
* B owned a piece of land that is worth 4 dollars, but since he has a debt of 2 dollars with C, his net Asset is 2 dollars.
* C loaned 2 dollars to B, so his net asset is 2 dollars.

* The net asset of the country = 6 dollars; even though, the country has only one piece of land and 2 Dollars in circulation.

(6) Everybody has made money and everybody felt happy and prosperous.

(7) One day an evil wind blew, and an evil thought came to C's mind. "Hey, what if the land price stop going up, how could B repay my loan. There is only 2 dollars in circulation, and, I think after all the land that B owns is worth at most only 1 dollar, and no more."

(8) A also thought the same way.

(9) Nobody wanted to buy land anymore.

* So, in the end, A owns the 2 dollar coins, his net asset is 2 dollars.
* B owed C 2 dollars and the land he owned which he thought worth 4 dollars is now 1 dollar. So his net asset is only 1 dollar.
* C has a loan of 2 dollars to B. But it is a bad debt.
Although his net asset is still 2 dollars, his Heart is palpitating.
* The net asset of the country = 3 dollars again.

(10) So, who has stolen the 3 dollars from the country? Of course, before the bubble burst B thought his land was worth 4 dollars. Actually, right before the collapse, the net asset of the country was 6 dollars on paper.
B's net asset is still 2 dollars, his heart is palpitating.

(11) B had no choice but to declare bankruptcy. C has to relinquish his 2 dollars bad debt to B, but in return he acquired the land which is worth 1 dollar now.

* A owns the 2 coins; his net asset is 2 dollars.
* B is bankrupt; his net asset is 0 dollar. (He lost everything)
* C got no choice but end up with a land worth only 1 dollar

* the net asset of the country = 3 dollars.

************ **End of the story; BUT ************ ***************

There is however a redistribution of wealth.
A is the winner, B is the loser, C is lucky that he is spared.
A few points worth noting -

(1) when a bubble is building up, the debt of individuals to one another in a country is also building up.
(2) This story of the island is a closed system whereby there is no other
country and hence no foreign debt. The worth of the asset can only be calculated using the island's own currency. Hence, there is no net loss.
(3) An over-damped system is assumed when the bubble burst, meaning the land's value did not go down to below 1 dollar.
(4) When the bubble burst, the fellow with cash is the winner. The fellows having the land or extending loan to others are the losers.
The asset could shrink or in worst case, they go bankrupt.
(5) If there is another citizen D either holding a dollar or another piece of land but refrains from taking part in the game, he will neither win nor lose. But he will see the value of his money or land goes up and down like a see saw.
(6) When the bubble was in the growing phase, everybody made money.
(7) If you are smart and know that you are living in a growing bubble, it is worthwhile to borrow money (like A) and take part in the game. But you must know when you should change everything back to cash.
(8) As in the case of land, the above phenomenon applies to stocks as well.
(9) The actual worth of land or stocks depends largely on psychology (or speculation)

Why Matheran:
- Very Convenient - just 80-km east of Mumbai.
- Pollution Free - No motor transport allowed within the matheran limits. Only such city in the world Other than Venice

Matheran is at an attitude of 2,500 feet. The sylvan green surroundings, the beckoning silence of the woods and the serene surroundings of this hill station are quite inviting (avoid visiting Matheran on weekends if your prefer peace and quiet). The silence of the woods is broken by the pranks of the mischievous monkey's who are found in abundance and they try to attract the attention of the visitor's for small tit-bits to fill their bellies, sometimes to the point of greediness.


How to reach Matheran:
- drive from Mumbai: it might take 2.5 - 3 hrs. Remember there is a uphill drive of about 7 odd kms on the way and the driver should have experience of driving in the hills.

- Best option:
Train to Neral. Neral is in central line in Mumbai subirban Railways. If you are travelling through air, Sion/kurla may be the nearest station to catch a fast local to Neral. For Neral one needs to catch trains to Karjat/ Khapoli. Trains are available almost every 45 - 50 mins. Get down at Neral.

Travel to Matheran from Neral:
Option A: Take a shared cab (currently Rs. 50 per person) from Neral to Matheran. You will have to get down at Matheran limits and then go to the townside on foot/ horseback. Journey time: 30 mins

option B: Take the Toy train......you must try it at least one way in the journey. It is advisable to book it online through indian Railways rather than going to Neral and buying it there. This is because there are only a few trains during the day and limited seats are available within the train. First Class ticket costs Rs. 210/- and second class 37/- (as on Jan 2008)

The trip has four stops. The train chugs through the hills with vivid glimpses of the ghats along the way. One gets enough soft drink and snacks choices along the way at stations. Remember those who are booked at MTDC resort should get down at Aman lodge stop or the penultimate one.
Journey time: 2 hrs

Where to stay?
There are private resorts of various choices. Try travelguru.com for some choices.


You may also like to book a MTDC resort which pretty nice accomodation. This can be done online, The rate are pretty reasonable ( Rs. 600 - 2000 per night). One thing to remember though that the resort is half an hour trek from the town.

Eating Out:
Khans - Hukkas and Kababs, janta Chikki and Fudge, Butter Sweet Corn

Shopping - Bargaining skill needed. footwear in day haats

Labels: Matheran