Benita P Toppo

I’ am Benita P Toppo and am currently employed with Air India, New Delhi. I appreciate the existence of this site as it is the only website which talks about the Adivasi community in Jharkhand and Northeast areas. I would like to register to this site and would like to contribute articles as well as [...]

News Updates - 07/04/2008

Conspiracy behind Adivasi violence
Assam Tribune
… section 90-95 of the Assam Police Act, says the Commission. It observes that the damage caused to the property and assault on public and on the Adivasis …

Rashmi Ekka

Rashmi Ekka is from Jamshedpur, India and is going to graduate from the College of Wooster, Ohio, in May, 2008. She is an economics major with minors in political science and religious studies. Her passion for microfinance has lead her to do research on it at the Indian Social Institute, New Delhi, write her junior [...]

Commercial Intern- Northeast Shores Development Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio Summer 2007

· Conducted a study on the business district of E 185^th Street in the North Collinwood area of Cleveland to assess the current economic situation and offered recommendations and suggestions for the revitalization of the area.

· Preparation of documents on the real estate situation of North Collinwood for Cleveland City Hall.

· Attended Cleveland City Hall meetings on Business District Revitalization programs.

Development Intern- Hard Hatted Women, Cleveland, Ohio Summer 2007

· Prepared grant proposals to fund Rosie’s Girls, which is a unique summer program for middle-school girls with a focus on developing their self-confidence by learning trades, such as carpentry, plumbing, electrician etc.

· Organized programs and activities to encourage and support women working non-traditional jobs.

· Managed the database using Raisers Edge.

Research Intern- Indian Social Institute, New Delhi, India Winter 2006

· Researched the growth of self-help groups and the microfinance industry in the state of Jharkhand, India.

Research Assistant- Religious Studies Department, College of Wooster, Ohio Fall 2006

· Proofread text, organized materials and created bibliographies for Dr. Mary Bader’s book titled, Tracing the Evidence: Dinah in Post-Hebrew Bible Literature and for a new course titled, Dinah in Scripture and Literature.

Ambassador from India, College of Wooster, Ohio Fall 2005 to Spring 2006

· The Ambassador’s Program is a highly selective program, aimed at increasing cultural awareness.

· Researched the Indian Caste System, issues of identity among Indians, Indian economy, religions, and politics in the summer of 2005 in India.

· Conducted programs and gave over 40 interactive presentations in college classes, local schools and other groups and organizations in Wayne County, OH.

· Reference:

http://www.wooster.edu/ambassadors/emeritus.html

EDUCATION
Bachelor of Arts- The College of Wooster, Wooster, Ohio

Expected graduation- May 2008

Major- Economics

Minor- Political Science and Religious Studies

Senior Thesis- Fulfilling the Promise of Microfinance: A Global Analysis on the Role of Joint-Liability in Achieving Profitability. This thesis resulted in an 180+ page research paper with econometric analysis and includes an oral defense.

Junior Thesis- Joint Liability versus Individual Liability in the Microfinance Industry. This thesis resulted in a 45 page paper which laid the groundwork for my Senior Thesis.

GRANTS AND AWARDS

• Copeland funds from the College of Wooster to travel to India and visit several microfinance institutions including SKS Microfinance and BASIX for my senior thesis.
• Funds from Center of Creativity and Innovation and Economics Department, College of Wooster to travel for StartingBloc Institute of Social Innovation.

PUBLIC AND KEYNOTE ADDRESSES

Specialize in speeches on Indigenous Peoples of the world, especially Adivasis (tribals of India) and the Caste System of India. Delivered about 25 speeches on this topic.

Most noteworthy among them are:

• “The Plight of India’s ‘Enduring People’.” Invited as keynote speaker on the occasion of Martin Luther King Day at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Wayne County. February, 2008.
• “Hope through Micro Lending.” Invited as speaker at Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Wayne County. March, 2008.

Both speeches available at http://www.uufwc.org/audio.htm

PUBLICATION

• Foreign Correspondent for Insight: Young Voices, a bimonthly magazine for Dalit (Untouchables) assertion.
• Writer for the International Insight column in the Wooster Voice.

CONFERENCES

• Observer at United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (April 21, 2008 – May 2, 2008)

• American Model United Nations, Chicago- Represented the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (Fall 2007).
• Entrepreneurship at Oberlin, Oberlin- Participant at ‘Inventing The Future’ symposium (Spring 2008).

SKILLS

Software- STATA, Raisers Edge, MS Office, Dreamweaver, Maple.

Computer Programming- HTML, JAVA, C++, C, and BASIC.

Languages- Fluent in English, Hindi and Urdu. Conversant in Bengali.

Date of Birth: March 4, 1986

Gender: Female

Martial status: Single

Sub-Tribe: Oraon

Contact: rashmiekka@gmail.com

News update - 04/04/2008

Bias cry from Adivasi group
Calcutta Telegraph
… on the Beltola violence in the Assembly, the All Adivasi Students Association of Assam (AASAA) today dismissed it as “one sided” and “manipulated”. …
Beltola clashes could have been averted: panel
Hindu
… has concluded that the meeting and the procession organised by the All Adivasi Students Association of Assam (AASAA) were [...]

News Updates 03/04/2008

Govt denies bid to gag Adivasi woman
Assam Tribune
Lakshmi Orang had reportedly made the statement at a press conference at Jamshedpur in Bihar on Monday, accusing the Assam Government of trying to gag her …