• Identify and develop both individual and group project proposals.
• Assess market feasibility of proposed projects. Understand the processes involved in funding like budgeting, accounting, book keeping, repayments, reporting and community contributions.

The five days training included sessions on:

• CBO/ NGO/ SHG formations and socio-economic rehabilitation through co-operatives and self-employment
• Identification of livelihood options that can be taken up in self settled leprosy colonies
• Basic knowledge on planning and implementing small/cottage enterprises
• Developing viable & sustainable project proposals on such enterprise to seek funding from SILF
• Importance of Marketing the products produced by them
• Process of Budgeting and Accounts Keeping
• Monitoring & Evaluation of project proposals
• Writing reports on project proposals

Resource Persons:

• Mr. Uday Thakar: Secretary, National Forum, is an apex body of the self settled leprosy colony association. He focussed on the need for rehabilitation for people affected by leprosy and their family members.
   
• Ms. Hema Bhalerao: Consultant. She helped in developing the Curriculum for the Training.
   
• Mr. Ramesh Gorvadkar: He has extensive experience in CBO formation and legislation.
   
• Ms. Veena Halwae: Deputy Programme Coordinator, BAIF. She has conducted various trainings on SHG and Microfinance for empowerment of the marginalised communities.
   
• Ms. Sneha Kamlapurkar: Team Leader, Urban Microfinance Programme, Development Support Team (DST), Pune, where she looks after planning, budgeting and financial management of projects.
   
• Mr.Vivek Sinare: Area Manager (Pune & Mumbai), MITCON Consultancy Services Ltd, an organization focussing on Entrepreneurship and Leadership Development among people.
   
• Mr. Sameer Kulkarni: MITCON Consultancy Services Ltd. He focussed on the importance of communication skills.
   
• Ms. Aruna Ashtekar: Freelance Development Consultant. She offers services to civil society organizations on project preparation, appraisal, monitoring, evaluation and documentation.
   
• Mr. Ashok Budhkar: Director (Finance), MCCIA (Pune). It is one of the premier organizations of Commerce. He imparted the skills of maintaining accounts and budget to the beneficiaries
   
• Ms. Mini Bedi: Managing Trustee, DST. She has vast experience in the field of Community Development, Gender, Micro-Finance, Disaster Management and Institutional Development, and is associated with many development organizations like International Association for Community Development, Scotland; Voluntary Action Network India; Sa-dhan; Rehabilitation India; Shanti Educational Trust and Centre for Community Economics and Development Consultants Society. At the training, Ms. Bedi focussed on the processes of MIS and project monitoring and evaluation.
   
• Ms. Medha Ranade: Trustee and Secretary, DST, trained the beneficiaries in report writing
   
• Ms. Amarjit Talwar and Ms. Anjana Saraf (ILU) undertook field visits and encouraged community interaction to assist in development of viable project proposals by the beneficiaries.

In addition, the training also provided an opportunity to inform the participants about SILF’s process of selection, implementation, monitoring and reporting of projects.

About International Leprosy Union (ILU), Pune

ILU works as a catalytic agency to give leprosy a human face, by eradicating the stigma attached to it. For further details, visit www.ilu.org.in/index.html