Location: Jodphur Setting: Urban Established: 1993 Staff: 10

Community Development: Capacity building; Community empowerment; Community mobilization/organization
Environment/Appropriate Technology: Natural resource management; Water, Organic/sustainable agriculture
Human Rights: Advocacy; Poverty, equality and social justice
Organization Objectives

Jai Bhim Vikas Shikshan Sansthan was organized in order to create awareness and to organize minority populations in India, especially Dalits and women, so that they can improve their living standards by asserting control over all the processes affecting their lives. The organization is operating with the aim of empowering minority communities-- especially women and children, strengthening Panchayati Raj Institutions (rural government structures), strengthening the ability of Dalit community leaders to act on behalf of their community, generating livelihood options for the underserviced and protecting the rights of the people assured by the constitution of India.

JBVSS started its campaign to protect the rights of the mine workers in 2008. JBVSS is operating with the aim to change and improve the current paradigms that are affecting mine workers in Western Rajasthan. The organization is connected directly with more than 8000 mine workers and their families residing in Jodhpur District. The mine laborers of the area, under the guidance of JBVSS, have formed an organization called Jodhpur Pathtar Kamgar Union, which is a common front of the laborers to fight against atrocities committed by mine owners, such as bondage labor, discrimination regarding wages of male vis-à-vis female workers, child labor, etc. There are currently approximately 500 members of this union.

DAMN was established in 2001 to provide a common platform for women working to confront issues related to women’s rights, in particular Dalit Women, and property rights issues that they struggle with in Rajasthan. Presently, DAMN is working in all the 9 blocks of Jodhpur with 45 panchayats and more than 1000 members.

In Rajasthan, Dalit communities are suffering the worst forms of neglect and struggle. The cases of atrocities, rapes, exploitation, domestic violence, and gender/caste/class based discriminations are daily occurrences in the Dalit community. JBVSS is currently operating two Dalit Resource Centers in the Jodhpur area to help the victims of atrocities. The Dalit Resource centers play a vital role in lodging First Information Reports (FIR) in police stations, providing information regarding government policies and—most importantly—developing leadership skills in these minority communities.

JBVSS has formed five self help groups in which 52 female members work together to develop their capacities and resources for self-improvement.

JBVSS believes that children also have a right to take part in the decisions that affect their futures and their environment. JBVSS facilitates the efforts of children in local schools by forming Bal Mandals (Children Clubs). These Bal Mandals hold monthly meetings with children with their parents and senior community members.

JBVSS works to promote environmental sustainability through activities such as promoting traditional water harvesting practices, kitchen gardens and implementing environmentally appropriate technologies.

Interns wishing to work with JBVSS should come prepared to study the organization's activities, beneficiaries, and relevant issues in order to develop a thorough understanding of the work.

• Organize, coordinate and/or participate in campaign for proper identification of mineworkers and proper labor consent agreements to be required by the government
• Conduct and document campaign history and processes
• Document case studies
• Develop and conduct appropriate trainings, workshops and/or camps in health and safety
• Conduct research and documentation regarding environmental issues and best practices
• Conduct or facilitate workshops in environmental management, local agriculture, etc.
• Conduct research on the children clubs, create profiles of the children clubs
• Create and Update website

• Strong writing, researching, and communication skills
• Minimum 9-week commitment
• Background in agriculture, environment, outreach
• Background in human rights, health (child/maternal), women's issues, education (for workshop design and implementation) or environmental issues
• Willingness to work extensively in the field, even during hot summer months

Interns will be supervised by Premleta Rathore, JBVSS Secretary and Mr. Tulisidas Raj, JBVSS Founder.
Note: Responsibilities offered to each participant will be proportionate to their level of experience. Participants who are new to development work may predominantly support and assist current project agendas, while those with much applicable experience may be able to assume greater responsibility. Research projects are strongly encouraged by this organization to support each program’s objective because minimal resources are currently allocated for research.

JBVSS’ office is located in the northeast of Jodhpur, less than a kilometer away from a main road and interns can commute easily to the office via city bus or tempo (shared rickshaws). The four room office is located on the second floor of a building and has a kitchen and an attached (Indian-style) bathroom. One room is dedicated to administration and another is a meeting rooms for the mine labor union, while the others are used for multiple purposes. The office has a laptop and a broadband internet connection so interns would be best served by bringing their own laptop, though the office often suffers from power outages which can interrupt work for short periods.

Only a few of the staff, including the supervisor, speak English. The communities that the organization works with also do not speak much English; therefore interns wishing to achieve immediate impact should begin learning the basics of Hindi and practice using tools for cross-cultural communication.

Jai Bhim Vikas Shikshan Sansthan is a non govt., non political, non religious and non profitable organization registered under society’s registration Act 1958 and eligible to work in entire Rajasthan state. Jai Bhim was established by a group of human right activists in 1993. The organization is working on the philosophies of Dr. Ambedkar, which means fighting against the social evils through the weapons of law. Through this ideology the organization is concentrating on two important movements as Social freedom movement and Movement for Economic freedom.

JBVSS is working in Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Barmer and Jalore districts and also we are working in entire Rajasthan with other partner organizations to advocate for the rights and livelihoods of marginalized communities such as Dalits, women and children.