North East Diocesan Social Forum (NEDSF) had been working with UNICEF since August 2005 for a project on Polio Eradication & Routine Immunization (PE&RI) in five districts of Assam (Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Goalpara, Dibrugarh & Karimganj) covering a total of 28 Blocks. The partnership was later extended to cover issues pertaining to key community behaviours to have an impact on maternal mortality and infant mortality.

The project “Manthan” was started in March 2008 and was planned under two phases where the first six months i.e. till July 2008 concentrated in key behaviours of BCC and system strengthening at the village/GP level.

 The project, focused on pre-defined areas where the 56 Animators worked with the government counterparts, ANM and ASHA from the Health & Family Welfare, AWW and Supervisors from Social Welfare, Sanitary Mart/ Production Centre functionaries from the PHE/TSC and Teachers of Primary Schools from the education sector. The common thread to knit all the functionaries and the functions was the elected Panchayat representative at the Gaon Panchayat and village levels.

Objectives of the Project:

The project aimed at strengthening of the existing system and capacity building of the existing frontline functionaries with the non-government organizations working as catalysts for change. The objectives of the project which were streamlined are -

(a) Primary Objectives –

(b) Secondary Objectives –