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Focus on NGOs: The Kripa Society By Namaram Kishalaya The Kripa Society was established in the year 1994 by ex-Intravenous Drug Users (IDUs) who have undergone treatment at different treatment centers of Kripa Foundation together with some non-drug users who are committed and interested to work in the field of HIV/AIDS and drug abuse prevention program within the community. The society was formally registered under Societies Registration Act, 1989 (Manipur) in the year 1997, April. Its registered office is at Keishampat Thokchom Leikai, Imphal and the administrative office is located at Lalambung Makhong, RIMS Road, Imphal, Manipur. The primary objectives of the society are to bring relief and succor to the suffering of HIV positive people and their families and to prevent the spread of the virus in the community. This may be done through behavioral intervention, medical means and through vocational guidance and economic rehabilitation measures, as well as assistance in the formation and managing of self-help groups to induce within the victims a positive, healthy and productive change in lifestyle to enable them to continue to maintain their health until the terminal stage. The
Kripa Society is having 32 full time members and a managing committee consisting
of five (5) members to look after the functioning and the management of the
organization. They are as follows: The organization has its own rules and regulation/bylaws (enclosed as annexure). The president is the Chief Functionary of the organization. He/she handles all the transaction of the society in consultation with the other member of the managing committee. Since its inception, the society is engaged in various activities, particularly in the field of drug abuse and HIV/AIDS prevention and control programs. The society is doing commendable work in terms of care and support to people with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and IDUs by providing psycho-emotional support and means for income generation, vocational guidance to the people with HIV/AIDS, especially HIV positive IDUs and their spouses and family members by mobilizing manpower and financial resources from among the members. Rapid Intervention and Care (RIAC) The Kripa Society is also a partner in implementing the Rapid Intervention and Care (RIAC) project, a project of NACO, implemented by the Manipur State AIDS Control Society in collaboration with the NGOs. The Kripa Society is implementing it in ward no 7, 8, 9 and 10 of Sagolband and Keishamthong assembly constituency of Imphal West district. Under this intervention project, the Kripa Society is giving different types of services, such as education and counseling to the IDUs, needle and syringe exchange services; condom promotion, home-based nursing and palliative care service to HIV symptomatic clients, etc. As of March 1999, 71 (seventy-one) IDUs has been receiving services from the Kripa Society, 10 (ten) HIV symptomatic IDUs also receiving psycho-emotional support and care service, 12 (twelve) spouses of IDUs has been given counseling services from the society. Twelve (12) community sensitization meeting had been organized and conducted during the said period. A drop-in-center has been also established under this project at Lalambung Makhong, RIMS Road, Imphal, 92 (ninety-two) clients (IDUs) visiting the center regularly, as of March 1999. Forty-three (43) IDUs had been referred by this project to various treatment facilities in the state during this said period. One Supervisor, one counselor, one health worker and five volunteers are employed as part of the project team under this project. HIV/AIDS and STD Intervention: The Kripa Society is also implementing “Intervention for Prevention of HIV/AIDS and STDs among IDUs and their Sex Partners” in Sagolband and Uripok area of Imphal West district, since March 1999. The Manipur State AIDS Control Society supports the project with financial assistance. Under this project, as of April 1999, two peer educator training, one capacity building program for women, four focus group discussion of IDUs, and one attitude-changing program for females have been conducted in the project area. One full-time project manager and five volunteers on a part-time basis are working under this project as part of the project team. Capacity Building & Training of NGOs and CBOs: The Kripa Society along with the Institute of Social Diseases (ISD) has been identified by the Manipur State AIDS Control Society as a training organization to provide skill and capacity-building training to the partner NGOs of RIAC. Till March 1998, the Kripa Society, in partnership with ISD organized and conducted 16 training programs for the RIAC partners with financial assistance from the Manipur State AIDS Control Society. Under this training program 55 volunteers, 11 supervisors, 11 health workers and 11 counselors of the RIAC project has been imparted with various skills and knowledge in regards to HIV/AIDS prevention measures. The Kripa Society jointly with the Psychiatry Department of the Regional Institute of Medical Science (RIMS) organized and conducted a 7-day training program on HIV/AIDS counseling from 1st to 7th February 1999 in Imphal. The training program was supported by Manipur State AIDS Control Society. In addition, the Kripa Society has given training to the newly established NGOs who are committed and willing to work in the field of HIV/AIDS program but who does not have the experiences and the necessary skills. During the month of November 1998, a three-day state level training workshop for the NGOs was organized and conducted by Kripa Society on November 14, 15 and 16, 1998 in Imphal. Twenty-three (23) NGOs from different districts of Manipur participated in the training workshop. The workshop was inaugurated by the NGO Advisor of Manipur State AIDS Control Society. The training workshop was sponsored by MACS. The Kripa Society in collaboration with the trained 23 NGOs organized 23 community sensitization meeting at different places of Manipur as a part of the observation of the World AIDS Day 1998. The program was supported by the Manipur State AIDS Control Society. The Kripa Society with financial assistance from the Manipur State AIDS Control Society has organized and conducted Community Leaders’ Training at Andro and Golapati. The program was conducted in collaboration with Esewossa and People’s Welfare Society. Workshop, Conference, Seminar, Study Etc. The Kripa Society jointly with the Wide Angle Social Development Organization and Social Awareness Service Organization (SASO) organized a 2-day workshop on HIV/AIDS, Law, Ethics and Human Rights on March 23 and 24, 1999 at Hotel Excellency, Imphal, Manipur. The workshop was supported by OXFAM (India) Trust. Various eminent human rights activists, lawyers and scholars of the state participated in the said workshop. Mr. Yambem Laba, member, Manipur State Human Rights Commission as the chief guest of the inaugural function, inaugurated the workshop. Dr Khomdon Lisam, project director of MACS was the guest of honor of the occasion. The Kripa Society organized and conducted a one-day NGO workshop on Harm Minimization Strategy by mobilizing resources from among the members of the organization and other NGOs. The workshop was attended by representatives from 15 major NGOs of Manipur such as Lifeline Foundation, Institute of Social Diseases, Center For Social Development, Social Awareness Service Organization, etc. In addition, Kripa Society at the request of the Manipur State AIDS Control Society initiated the development of the interview schedule for the Need Assessment Survey of the IDUs, sex partners of IDUs and the general population. The Kripa Society jointly with the Kripa Foundation, Imphal conducted a survey to study the sexual behavior and injection practices of the IDUs during the month of December 1997 in Sagolband, Uripok and Thangmeiband area. Income Generation and Vocational Guidance: The Kripa Society organized and conducted various programs at different levels. The society has been able to give training to more than 75 ex-IDUs in cane and bamboo work by organizing an income generation and vocational guidance cum production center during the year 1996-97. The trained IDUs have been provided with tools and equipment to start home-based small-scale entrepreneurship. The product of these trained IDUs, especially the cane hangers have received appreciation from various cities of India, such as Delhi, Bombay and Calcutta. There are two full time trainers at the Kripa Society in this area. They impart training to the IDUs who are undergoing treatment at de-addiction centers. Networking The Kripa Society is having a successful networking and referral system with various institutes and agencies in Manipur and outside the state. The society is associated with COCP (M) for years and provided volunteers to man the “service cell” of COCP at Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital and Regional Institute of Medical Science in a weekly rotation system. The society is also a member of the NGO core group of the COCP. The Society is also a member of the Manipur NGOs Federation on HIV/AIDS, a common platform of 36 NGOs working in the field of HIV/AIDS in the state of Manipur. The Kripa Society is having referral and networking support system with Institute of Social Disease, ISD, Shine de-addiction center, Center for Social Development, Social Awareness Service Organization (SASO) and Kripa Foundation. Since its inception, the society has referred more than 200 IDUs from different parts of Manipur for treatment at various drug treatment centers in the state. Fifty-six (56) HIV symptomatic IDUs were given home-based care in collaboration with other agencies working in the field of AIDS, out of which 15 has already expired. Among the members of the Kripa Society, four were trained as HIV/AIDS counselors, three were trained as trainers for HIV/AIDS and drug abuse prevention and control program, two members were trained for vocational and income generation activities, six were trained in the field of nursing and palliative care. There are nine full time staff under the Society and five part time staff and more than 30 volunteers are enrolled as peer educators who are working in the community. Back to Top FrontPage Manipur Profiles Features Potpourri Opinions Editorials Books Photos Links Archives Contact Policy/Disclaimer |
