Evaluation and Documentation Unit

EVALUATION AND STUDIES DIVISION

EXPLORATORY STUDIES

ASK has been involved in conducting research as well as studies primarily on issues of social development. These studies being conducted are action-oriented with a focus on in-depth study of both secondary and primary data. Both qualitative and quantitative aspects are focused in these exercises. ASK has conducted the following research and studies:

Research on “NGO-Government Partnerships in the area of Health” ” with Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bangalore.

Since August, 03 ASK has been involved in doing a research with IIM, Bangalore. The national level study being guided by Prof. Gita Sen from IIM, Bangalore seeks to document the experience of NGOs from the different states in India, in engaging with the government. Many NGOs not only have enormous experience over decades in interacting with government, but also valuable perspectives on this issue. It is an Endeavour to get a more comprehensive picture of these perspectives on NGO-Government interactions. The research will be useful for all the stakeholders in the development and health arena. It can be a tool for understanding the government better, for relooking at organizational strategies, for identifying and lobbying concerns at a national level etc.

Good Governance Study in North east India

Conducted a study on good governance in the states of Meghalaya and Assam for Bosco Reach Out an NGO based in northeast. The study was conducted to understand grassroots governance systems among various tribes and find out the scopes for future intervention. The study also focused to understand the government systems and its linkages with grassroots institutions.

Situational Assessment of the children at Risk in Guwahati, Assam & Shillong, Meghalaya

The study was conducted in collaboration with Bosco Reach Out to assess and analyse the situation of the children at high risk in these two cities. Almost all types of children who are living under difficult circumstances / at-risk situations, like children at the railway stations, Street Children, Child labor, Slum dwelling children, Children with disability & children under institutional care were covered under this study. Various aspects of the lives of these children like education, health, employment status, expenditure & savings pattern, Knowledge on HIV AIDS and Sexually Transmitted diseases, drug addiction, sexual practices, trafficking , status of disability, mobility pattern, influence of various stakeholders etc. were covered under the study. The findings highlighted the vulnerable situations of the children and the need to address the concerns. Areas were identified where need based interventions should be made.

Study on Strategies to improve Cataract Surgical coverage in Haryana for London School of Tropical Medicine & AIIMS.

Conducted PRA in the villages of Haryana to ascertain the level of accessibility to Cataract treatments and also ascertain the hindering factors. The study also included a gender component especially to determine the access and control of rural women on these services and to look into the factors which prevent them. It further included seeking the perceptions of the various stakeholders in this regard.

Study on identification of alternate sustainable employment opportunities for the beedi workers in Tamil Nadu

Conducted a study to identify alternate sustainable employment opportunities for the beedi workers in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, for Working Women's Form (WWF) India. WWF in partnership with International Labour Organization (ILO) is implementing a pilot program for the economic diversification and training on alternate income generating opportunities for these women beedi workers. One of the pre requisites to achieve this mission was a baseline study on the available income opportunities. An intensive study was carried out where interactions were held with several relevant informants who enabled in the identification of feasible activities.

Study for identification of viable Micro enterprises in the districts of Mau and Ballia for PGCS, Varanasi

In this study done by ASK and PGCS together the micro-enterprises were studied in the context of raw material and investment needed, requisites, manpower requirement, market details, income and returns, risks and problems. The identified micro-enterprises were categorized as: Land Based Enterprises and Non-Land Based Enterprises which have been further classified into Service, Manufacturing and Processing and Trading. An important component of the study was to explore possibilities of assistance to the target community initiating these enterprises from other institutions both, GOs, and NGOs in the form of monetary support, training, research, demonstration. Another major feature in this study was to ascertain the feasibility of the identified micro enterprises from the gender point of view. Since women would also constitute the target groups it was imperative to understand the existing gender scenario in the region, identify any gender issue if any, and identify enterprises which women could also undertake. The study also included looking into other issues related to group dynamics, caste which could have a bearing on the sustainability aspects of the micro enterprises.