Question 1

Regional Workshop on Right to Work for the Southern States in Kozhikode, Kerala

Accepted Answer

The Ensuring Social Protection (ESP) project successfully organised a two-day Regional Workshop on Right to Work, at Navajyothis Renewal Centre in Kozhikode, Kerala, bringing together 49 participants from Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. The workshop was attended by members of the ESP National Team, State Teams, and staff from partner organisations, creating a valuable platform for learning, collaboration, and regional networking.
The workshop commenced with a warm welcome by Fr. Roy Sebastian SJ, National Director, who set the tone for two days of collaborative learning and shared purpose. Throughout the workshop, he remained actively engaged with participants, making everyone feel welcomed, valued, and connected, fostering a spirit of unity that carried through the programme.
An interactive ice-breaker marked the beginning of the workshop, where participants paired with someone from another state, got to know each other, and introduced their partners to the group. The activity was enthusiastically received and helped build meaningful connections across organisations and states.
The first day focused on the evolving Right to Work framework, including discussions on the transition from MGNREGA to the VB-GRAM-G framework, implementation challenges, and state-level experiences. Participants also explored findings from the National Study on Primary Health Centres (PHCs), highlighting critical gaps in healthcare infrastructure and services. The day concluded with a session on the Child Safeguarding Policy, which emphasised the importance of creating safe and accountable environments for children and vulnerable communities.
The evening featured a vibrant cultural programme where participants from Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh presented traditional dances and songs in their regional languages. The performances celebrated cultural diversity while strengthening friendships and fostering a deeper sense of unity among participants.
The second day centred on strengthening advocacy skills through sessions on strategic advocacy, lobbying, and drafting effective representations, memorandums, and briefing notes. Following the lunch break, participants were introduced to the newly launched ESP Website and the new ESP visual identity. The session demonstrated the platform&#8217;s features and encouraged partner organisations to contribute stories and updates from the field.
The workshop concluded with a collaborative planning exercise, where each state team developed action plans outlining priorities, timelines, and strategies for strengthening Right to Work initiatives over the coming months. The plans were presented in a plenary session, encouraging cross-learning and future collaboration.
The workshop was facilitated by Mr. Rahul Singh, National Coordinator, whose technical sessions drew upon extensive field experience. He also presented the National Study on PHCs, the result of months of dedicated research and analysis. Sr. Ruby Mary Kujur, Program Officer, coordinated the overall programme and logistics, while the Kerala host team—Fr. Shin K. F., State Coordinator, and Mr. Arun Raj, State Level Trainer—played a pivotal role in planning and executing the event. Their tireless efforts in coordinating accommodation, hospitality, participant support, and venue management ensured the workshop ran smoothly from start to finish.
Ms. Aleena Biju, Associate Program Officer, presented the ESP website, introduced the new ESP logo, and explained the process for sharing field stories. She, alongside Mr. Abhijith V. K. of AADI, Attappady, also documented the workshop and provided technical support throughout the event, ensuring that the proceedings were comprehensively recorded.
The workshop concluded with closing remarks by Fr. Roy Sebastian SJ, who thanked all participants and partner organisations for their active engagement and encouraged them to carry forward the learnings into their work. The Regional Workshop successfully combined technical learning, practical skill-building, collaborative planning, and cultural exchange, further strengthening cooperation among partner organisations working towards securing the rights and entitlements of vulnerable communities.

Question 2

Gender Mainstreaming at Siliguri

Accepted Answer

From 26th to 28th May, ESP conducted a Gender Mainstreaming Audit in Siliguri, West Bengal, with partner organization HLDRC. This audit was carried out as part of the process of developing a Gender Mainstreaming programme across the ESP Network. Rahul, along with Gender Mainstreaming Consultant Ms. Alice Morris, facilitated the audit. Participants explored key gender-related concepts and current realities, and developed plans to integrate gender perspectives within their organizations. The findings from this audit will also support the implementation of gender mainstreaming across other partner organizations in the ESP Network. This audit laid the groundwork for advancing gender mainstreaming across the ESP Network through informed organizational planning and capacity building.

Question 3

New Secretary, CSEJ South Asia

Accepted Answer

During the last week of May, Fr. Jerald Dsouza joined our office in Delhi as the Secretary of CSEJ South Asia, under which the Ensuring Social Protection (ESP) Project operates. We warmly welcomed him and oriented him to the ongoing work and activities of the ESP Network. The induction of the new Secretary strengthened leadership and coordination, ensuring continuity and effective guidance for the ESP Network.

Question 4

Field Visits Across States: Building Stronger Partnerships

Accepted Answer

Following the ToT, the National Team began their field visits, which concluded in the first week of June. Fr. Roy, Rahul, and Aleena started by visiting partner organizations in Karnataka, while Sr. Ruby visited partners in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Subsequently, Fr. Roy and Aleena visited partners in Kerala, while Rahul travelled to West Bengal. These field visits strengthened collaboration with partner organizations, provided contextual support, and reinforced effective programme implementation across states.

Question 5

ToT 2026 in Bangalore

Accepted Answer

From 5th to 7th May 2026, a national-level Training of Trainers (ToT) was organized at the India Social Institute, Bangalore, for partner organizations of the ESP (Ensuring Social Protection) project. The workshop focused on the Right to Work, where the national team, along with consultants, discussed strategic planning and procedures to help ensure access to work for marginalized communities in the context of the Government&#8217;s transition from MGNREGA to the VB GRAM G Act. The workshop was attended by 34 participants, including State Coordinators (SCs), State Level Trainers (SLTs) and Unit Coordinators (UCs) from 15 states. This training strengthened the capacity of partner organizations across 15 states to respond effectively to changes in the policy landscape related to the Right to Work.

Question 6

DNH Training Bangalore

Accepted Answer

From 21st to 23rd April, Mr. Rahul Singh, Sr. Ruby Mary Kujur, and Ms. Aleena Biju from the ESP National Team participated in the &#8220;Do No Harm&#8221; workshop organized by Misereor in Bangalore. The workshop aimed to review project implementation strategies to ensure that project activities do not have any unintended harmful effects on beneficiaries. All partner organizations in India supported by Misereor are part of the Do No Harm (DNH) Network, and representatives from these organizations participated in the workshop. This workshop enhanced the team&#8217;s capacity to implement programmes that prioritize the safety, dignity, and well-being of beneficiaries.