STAFF DEVELOPMENT

Selection of Staff

The initiations of the project took keen interest in recruitment of development educators (field staff) in the beginning of 1981. The selection of candidates was based on the nomination of the candidates by the leaders of the JELC and Adivasi Mission Board. The candidates selected were local persons and were selected on the basis of their commitment to work in the rural areas possessing experience of the English and Oriya language. The candidates were dream form adhivasi and harijan communities of Koraput district. The age group the candidates was 19 to 30, Educational level varies from matriculation to university graduation. Teaching cultivation and so me skills was the occupational background of the selected staff (18 people-1981)

As the project expanded, the need of experienced and highly educated staff increased. and personnel were employed from other states of India, suitable and educated for the programmes. Today people from Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Orissa Work side by side with the local field staff.

Training of Staff

In January 1981, the field coordinator organized a introductory session at Jeypore in which all the 18 selected candidates for the post of field staff actively participated. During this meeting, the role of the field worker and other related development issues were discussed. The field workers were very eager to undergo useful training. The meeting made them understand the rural realities of the social situation and execute educational, organizational and developmental programmes in the rural areas. This preliminary discussion provided background knowledge on development education.

The candidates were then imparted further training at center for promoters of Rural Development (CPRD) in Hyderabad, during the period of February to march 1981. During the training period, the trainees were also exposed to filed work, these candidates were trained to fit into complex rural setup through a multi disciplinary course.

After their two months training programme, the field workers also attended a field level training organized in the village of Doliamob, during this programme, various aspects were deaf with i.e., role of field worker in rural development, realities inside rural India, development education etc. the field workers also got awareness of their responsibility while staying at their native places for a period of two months. The staff is regularly trained on important and up to date issues. in 1997 the staff was imparted training on office management, promotion of agricultural activates, movement building for tribal liberation, fund raising issue of displacement, child labor, climate change bio-diversity etc.

Staff Meeting

During the first one and a half years of the project work regular and periodical staff meetings were organized to bring sharp focus on the project and the programmes in details, to clarity in development. to critically analyse progress and generally share experience and exchange ideas and views. The staff meetings and the staff consultations thus have proved to be very useful and necessary for getting clear insights into social, economic and political problems encountered by the poor in their day to day struggle for existence.

The project conducted in 1997 coordination meetings, field staff meetings and general staff meetings at different times for monitoring and analysis the planned activities. Because of this, staff was able to share their strengths and weakness of the progrmmae implemented staff discussed on solving problems related to programme activities, preparation of reports, building report with people and strategies to involve people in their own development.

The staff continues with regular meetings everyday meeting with the coordinators and monthly meetings of the cluster coordinators along with other sectors.