IEC or Information, Education and Communication is a strong and essential tool to bring in behavioural change in a community or a specific target group. Moreover, it can also be used as a training instrument to build capacity and synthesize content that can deconstruct complex concepts into simple meaningful inputs that are easy to comprehend. 

Parisar developed IEC material related to single-use plastic to explain the concepts to street vendors in the simplest possible form. 

The IEC material was mainly designed for people in leadership positions amidst the street vendor group. The design of the content was in the form of a pictorial calendar that is relatable and easy to carry for multiple meetings. 

To help the leaders explain the concepts better, a trainer manual was also designed simultaneously. This trainer manual had detailed instructions on the content and how to explain the same to the street vendors. 

The IEC calendar and the trainer manual were developed in three languages, namely English, Hindi and Bengali, considering the demography of the project sites. 

Parisar further plans to develop pamphlets for the street vendors that will contain a summary of the training content in an extremely simple and minimal way. 

Capacity Building is an essential component to enable various stakeholders to research, comprehend, plan and execute a study or project. Plastic being a comparatively newer and lesser explored topic in the development sector demands dire need of handholding at various stages. 

Parisar is involved in direct and indirect capacity building of street vendors in 5 cities of India namely Kolkata, Nagpur, Delhi, Udaipur and Jamshedpur. This mainly includes training workshops, handholding and support in understanding the concept of ‘Single Use Plastic’, its composition, hazardous effect of plastic, especially single use plastic on health and environment. It further empowers the street vendors about information on the single use plastic ban imposed across India since July 1st, 2022.

Sexual Harassment at the Workplace

What is sexual harassment? 

According to the Sexual Harassment at the Workplace Act of 2013, sexual harassment includes any one or more of the following unwelcome acts or behavior (whether directly or by implication), namely:

1. physical contact and advances
2. a demand or request for sexual favours 
3. making sexually coloured remarks 
4. showing pornography 
5. any other unwelcome physical, verbal, non-verbal or gestural conduct of sexual nature

Creating a hostile environment as a result of an unwelcome act or behaviour mentioned above is also sexual harassment. 

Uptil when can a complaint be filed?

The Complaint can be filed with the Internal Committee in writing within 90 days from the last incident. Confidentiality will be maintained.

Members of the Internal Committee

The Lungs Billboard titled 'My Right to Clean Air', was inaugurated by Mayor Murlidhar Mohol on JM Road on 27th Decemeber 2021. This was a joint initiative by Parisar and the Pune Municipal Corporation  to create awareness on the health impacts of breathing polluted air. The launch event was attended by the Additional Commissioner, PMC Shri Kunal Khemnar, Environment Officer PMC, Shri Mangesh Dighe, and the Parisar team. Dr. Swapnil Kulkarni, Consultant Pulmonologist and Director of Birth and Breath Clinic was also invited to speak about the impact of breathing polluted air on the human body.