COVID SpurtsCreativity@COVA
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Annual Report of COVA Peace NetworkFrom 1st April 2020 to 31st March 2021 |
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Dear Friends and Partners, Hope you are fine and taking care! COVA had its Annual General Body Meeting for the Year 2021 on 3rd July 2021 and now we are happy to share this Annual Report of COVA for 2020-21.
The Pandemic and the floods in Hyderabad did not permit any scope for Jubilee Celebrations but drove COVA Peace Network to intense creativity in the service of people as you will find in the Activity Report appended. All these innovations that contributed to mitigation of suffering of thousands in dire need could be construed as a fitting commemoration of this Landmark in the journey of COVA Peace Network.
Transformation of COVA One significant development for COVA Peace Network during its Jubilee is the transformation of its name from COVA to COVA Peace Network as it was felt that the earlier name did not convey much about the nature of the organisation or its activities. Hence after intense deliberations, Members agreed and accepted that from now on we will be COVA Peace Network!
One can ask why change after 25 years? Well the answer is we have the spirit to improve and the guts to transform- just like we have been transforming the systems and society in our own small ways right since our inception!
The Year That Was Though it was a very difficult and challenging year, humanity indeed prevailed, generosity was unprecedented and all who could, reached out to all in need. It was a time of disease and death- but also a time when Angels appeared to walk the earth.
COVA Peace Network is grateful to all our donors and partners who showed remarkable concern for fellow human beings and contributed much more than usual, and perhaps till it hurt. This enabled COVA Peace Network to provide relief to over 34,000 families – in many cases it was enough for two to four months.
As always, the domains of engagement of COVA Peace Network extended from the slums of Hyderabad to educational institutions, middle classes, professionals, media, corporates and the governments.
Activities included relief, rehabilitation, advocacy for policy transformations and making of a documentary film.All this with just 6 full time staff members of COVA Peace.
Network!Goes to show the dedication and hard work of the staff and also the commitment and invaluable contribution of our Board, associates, volunteers and partner organisations that make it all possible!
Future Plans Innovations will continue as always!The Lockdown prevented the launch of many Path Breaker initiatives of COVA Peace Network during 2020-21 that we hope to take up now.
First would be Compassionate Citizenship and Responsible Activism Program to connect school students to social issues in Telangana State.
Second, Citizens Entitlements Campaign focused on backward areas of Hyderabad to ensure proper civic services to the excluded and marginalized.
Third will be an initiative to use cyber space to promote people to people contacts between SAARC countries through Hangout South Asia.
This was initiated by COVA Peace Network in 2014 but there were not many takers then for online meetings and the Program had to be shelved. COVID has now pushed people Online and so time has come for South Asia to Hangout!
Nomination to Telangana State Board for Social Security The undersigned is nominated as a Member on the Board and with the experience and contribution of COVA Peace Network to the marginalized, migrants and petty businessesIt will be an opportunity for meaningful contribution to improve the situation in the Unorganized Sector.
We hope all of you will take all precautions for your own safety and the safety of your family and community and support others in need in every way possible.
We are grateful to our Donors, Partners, Community Leaders and Volunteers whose trust in our Vision, partnership in our Mission and inspiring support in a variety of forms from financial donations, time, talent and expert guidance enables us to strive for and contribute to social transformation for an equitable, just and peaceful world for all. Please CLICK HERE to see the list of our Partners!
Take Care and Stay Safe
Mazher Hussain Executive Director COVA Peace Network Mobile: +91-9394544244 Email: Mazher@covanetwork.org
Contact us: COVA Peace Network # 18-13-8/A/508/B, Bandlaguda, Chandrayangutta, Hyderabad, Telangana 500005 Phone: +91 40 24442984 Mail: covanetwork@gmail.com Website: covanetwork.org |
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Constituencies Served |
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| Teachers of Private Schools- Students- Migrants- Refugees- Destitute- Floods Affected- Small Businesses- Service Providers and Volunteers of COVA- Voters of GHMC Elections | |
Part I: The Innovations |
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Success in Advocacy for Migrant Workers |
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| With the Lockdown from end March 2020, the Migrants were not getting their weekly wages and with their meagre savings depleted, they were on the verge of starvation. On COVA’s representation, the Government of Telangana immediately announced that free rations would be provided to all the migrant workers in the State through Government Ration Shops along with Rs. 500 in cash for sundry expenses using their Aadhar Cards as temporary Ration Cards.
Over 3.5 Lakh migrant workers in Telangana benefited from this scheme for two months. |
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Why Did Hyderabad Drown? A Documentary in English and Telugu |
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| COVA Peace Network, in collaboration with University of Hyderabad produced a Documentary on the flooding in Hyderabad in October 2020 titled:
Why Did Hyderabad Drown? The Documentary in English and Telugu deals with the Why and How of Flooding and Four Ways to get out of the Muck. This documentary will be utilized to create awareness among people and undertake advocacy with the government to take forward the Four Ways suggested through which lands of water bodies can be reclaimed and encroachments prevented to make life and property safe again. Click here to Watch Why Did Hyderabad Drown Documentary in English
Click here to Watch Why Did Hyderabad Drown Documentary in Telugu |
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Relief for Teachers of Private Schools and otherLower Middle Classes during Lockdown |
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| COVA Peace Network was the first to foresee the effect of Lockdown on Teachers of Private Schools and initiated relief measures from 1st Week of April 2020 – Many organisations adopted this initiative that benefited thousands of teachers in Hyderabad and other cities. COVA Peace Network also identified persons working in the service sector like travel, hospitality etc. designated them as The Neo Poor- due to their vulnerability becoming more acute than that of the Poor- and initiated support programs for them also. A Study is being planned on the topic of Impact of COVID Pandemic on The Neo Poor and Need for Subsistence Support from Government, Civil Society and Philanthropic Groups. READ MORE | |
Free Education for 2 Students for 1 Teacher Supported |
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| With the Lockdown in March 2020 and the abrupt closure of schools managements could not collect fees and pay salaries to teachers in April and thereafter. With the Pandemic expected to last for a while with adverse impact on the economy, there was apprehension that parents will not be able to pay fees when the schools reopen and large number of students will drop out. COVA Peace Network proposed that it will pay for the salary of teachers and the Management should permit two students to study free for every teacher supported. Managements agreed and many students are able to continue the studies when schools reopened for 2020-21. READ MORE | |
Creating Systems for Scholarships for SC, ST, BC andMinority Students |
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| Government of Telangana has provision for Pre Matric Scholarships for SC, ST and BC Students and there was an allocation of over Rs. 330 crores during the year 2018 that could be very helpful for the poor students to continue their studies.
However only 78 BC students and 80 SC students got scholarships in 2017 and 2018 respectively. This is because of the herculean efforts that were required to obtain the Caste and Income Certificates and to open bank Accounts required to apply for the Pre-Matric Scholarships. Moreover, there were no proper systems in place, heavy corruption and no awareness amongst the students, parents, teachers and managements of schools. COVA started crafting the systems and now it is relatively easier for the students to apply for the Pre Matric Scholarships. For 2019-20, 3522 students facilitated by COVA Peace Network have received scholarship between March and May 2020 totaling over Rs. 1 crore and 22 lakhs at an average of Rs. 3480 per student. Expenditure on each student was Rs. 80. So for every rupee of donation, students received Rs. 43.5 as scholarship. To know how this could become possible please READ ON. |
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Use of Technology for Community Outreach |
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| The Premier Program of COVA Peace Network of Pre Matric Scholarships received a big setback with the closure of schools. But crafting a new path, COVA Peace Network created audio visual and text messages in different languages and propagated these through different social media platforms to the students and parents with the help of managements and teachers.
Net Result: Despite the closure of schools, 4879 SC, ST, BC and Minority students were facilitated to apply for Pre Matric Scholarships from 1st April 2020 till 31st March 2021. It is expected that they will receive the scholarships by end May 2021 totaling about Rs. 1.45 crores. READ MORE |
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Part II COVID and Floods |
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Relief, Restoration, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction |
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| COVA Peace Network was proactive in providing relief to the affected first due to the Pandemic and then the floods in Hyderabad in October 2020. The interventions of COVA Peace Network encompassed the whole range from relief, restoration and rehabilitation to reconstruction. Communities served were refugees, teachers of private schools and local destitute families.
For the Report and a table detailing support provided to different sections of society please CLICK HERE |
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Field Study to Inform Policy |
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| COVA Peace Network collaborated with UNICEF and WNTA in a Project titled Community Based Monitoring to track the impact of the COVID Pandemic and the Lockdown on the marginalized sections of society. With the help of 24 dedicated volunteers, 460 vulnerable families in Hyderabad were tracked for 9 months to assess and understand the impact on these families and share the findings with the Government for informed policy formulation. This Study was undertaken simultaneously in 10 cities of India. READ MORE | |
Part III: Nurturing Citizenship |
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Partnering with State Election Watch |
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| As a Member of State Election Watch and an Observer with the State Election Commission of Telangana, COVA Peace Network facilitated awareness campaign amongst voters to increase polling percentage and ensure free and fair poll through community and social media outreach, media conferences and statements. For the impact of the Campaign please READ ON | |
World Water Day: Valuing Water |
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| COVA Peace Network and CII celebrated World Water Day on 22nd March 2021 on the Theme of Valuing Water. Faith Leaders spoke about the importance of water and its conservation in different scriptures and school students painted and prepared posters with slogans on the critical need to conserve water to save humanity. READ MORE | |
Career Counselling |
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| COVA Peace Network offers a range of programs to over 100 schools. But due to the Lockdown, all these programs had to be suspended from March 2020. But with the reopening of schools in February 2021, COVA Peace Network started Counselling and Career Guidance program to students on how to prepare for exams and options after SSC. For details, please CLICK HERE | |
Faith Leaders for Social Issues |
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| COVA Peace Network has catalysed an Inter Faith Forum with leaders from different faiths coming together to promote communal harmony and propagate positive messages on a range of social issues like participation in local governance, pulse polio, HIV / AIDS, clean environment etc. The Faith Leaders issue joint statements and also speak about the issues in their weekly congregations.
In April 2020, on a query from COVA Peace Network, Jame Nizamia, the oldest and leading Islamic Seminary of Hyderabad issued a Fatwa (a legal opinion issued by an Islamic Scholar) on the absolute need to save and conserve water based on the teachings of the Quran and the Practice of Prophet Mohammed. It is also planned to seek edicts from other faiths on water conservation to get larger following and better compliance from all sections of society. Please READ ON |
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Play on National Integration |
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| After a long COVID break, members of Koshish Theatre Group, a COVA Peace Network Affiliate, performed a Play titled National Integration at a star hotel for a select audience to standing ovation. CLICK HERE for the Play. | |
Part IV: Peace Initiatives |
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CHECKIT Program to Expose Fake News & Secure Cyberspace |
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| The CHECKIT Program initiated in 2018-19 is showing remarkable activity by decoding Fake News and propagating the decoded version. It is proposed to enlist Interfaith Forum to involve and request Faith Leaders to speak about instances of Fake News appearing in social media in their weekly sermons to enlighten their congregations and prevent them from falling prey. The CHECKIT Program will regularly share decoded material with the Faith Leaders. | |
Part V: International Engagements |
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Invitation for G 20 |
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| COVA Peace Network is involved with the G 20 Process and received an invitation to participate in the G 20 Summit of 2020 in Saudi Arabia but could not travel due to the Pandemic. COVA Peace Network plans to participate in the G 20 Summit in Rome in 2021 and lobby for acceptance of its Recommendations from the Study on Financial Inclusion in G 20 Countries. | |
Preparatory Meeting for BRICS Civil |
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| India is the Host for BRICS Summit 2021. COVA Peace Network participated in a preparatory Dialogue on BRICS Civil Forum 2021 and suggested that the Impact of COVID Pandemic on the BRICS Societies should be included as an Agenda and Civil Society Organisations in the BRICS countries should share their recommendations based on robust research with the Governments at least 3 months in advance for a possibility of inclusion of the Recommendations in the final Summit Declaration | |
Refugee Facilitation Center |
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| COVA is working since 2010 with over 5000 refugees from 12 countries living in Hyderabad by providing monthly ration kits to the most destitute families, education, health and livelihood support. Please READ MORE |
Current Annual Report
