Programme Initiative Loka Kalyan Parishad
Women In Agriculture –Strengthening Livelihood Thorough Natural Resource Management (Mahila Kishan Swashakti Programme or MKSP)
Mahila Kishan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP):
Government of India some time back has launched the National Livelihood Mission (NRLM), a significant programme aimed at eradication of acute poverty and hunger in the rural areas. Under this programme at least one member from each identified rural poor household, preferably a woman, would be brought under the Self Help Group (SHG) network in a time bound manner. Subsequently, both woman and men would be organised for addressing livelihoods issues i.e. farmers organisation, milk producers cooperatives, weavers associations, etc. All these institutions are inclusive and no poor would be left out of them. NRLM would ensure adequate coverage of vulnerable sections of the society such that 50% of the beneficiaries are SC/STs, 15% are minorities and 3% are persons with disability, while keeping in view the ultimate target of 100% coverage of BPL families.
An important sub-programme of this flagship programme of the Govt. of India, is the Mahila Kishan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP).
33% of the agricultural laborers in India are women and about 80% of the economically active women are engaged in agriculture. But due to various reasons they are not duly recognized as farmers and often remain outside the consideration of many service providers particularly those related to agriculture. It has been the concern of the Govt. of India to bring them under focus so that these women can have their rightful place in the agriculture sector.
Through this Programme, Mahila Kishans will be facilitated to be brought into sustainable agricultural practices to address the food and nutrition security issues through effective capacity building and hand holding through:
- Establishment of partnership (Public-Private, Private-Private) on the Basis of sharing of resources.
- Land based cultivations through natural resource management. (SRI, TPS, SWI emphasized)
- Integrated pond management.
- Reclamation of degraded resources, common property resource management.
- Nutrition Garden for those having homestead lands.
- Community nutrition gardens for landless families.
- Convergence to governmental programmes like NREGA, TSC, Individual Benefit Scheme (IBS) as well as group activities, Backward Area Grants etc.
At the end of this project period, the groups along with their community architecture will be merged with the NRLM of the State.
By the end of the project period 60,000 BPL families Mahila Kishan would be mobilized into around 6,000 SHGs and strengthened and enhanced their livelihood security and reduce their food insecurity.
In quantitative terms, potentially empowered women farmers would be able to improve farm and non-farm production of each family (cereals, pulses, vegetables, rearing of small animals (goates,sheep,chicks,ducks,rabbits etc.)and micro-enterprises a cash income of Rs. 3500 – Rs. 4000 per month, at the end of the project period in the intensive action area.
Mahila kisans will be part of the process of local level governace through participatory democratic process.
An asset amounting to a minimum Rs. 20,500 per family would be generated at the end of the project period from the sources like grain bank, plantations and animal resources, Group-owned progeny orchards, agro-forestry, economic plantation in the Common Property Resource etc. excluding income from the non-farm other type of micro-enterprises.
6000 SHGs would be ultimately federated in the Maha Sangha (SHG Federation at Block level) in accordance with the existing structure of the state in this respect. The groups along with their community architecture will be merged with the NRLM of the State at the end of this project period.
NPM and NRM - based sustainable agricultural practices will bring back the low input cost, eco-friendly agricultural environment in the rural areas through profitable Decentralized Natural Resource Management against the rampant use of costly chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
A development model will be established which may be replicated in other areas of the state through empowerment of Mahila Kishans under People’s Institutional framework encompassing village level to District level connected with sustainable agricultural practice.
Capacity Building and Advocacy for a local participatory self governance for poverty reduction through Information, Education & Communication (IEC III)
The objectives of IEC III:
a) Facilitate improvement and efficiency in planning & implementation of Millennium Development Goals by PRI [poverty reduction; infant mortality rate (IMR); maternal mortality rate (MMR); primary education] through proper decentralized and integrated planning and appropriate utilization of funds
b) Enhance grassroots democracy through empowerment of local people and encouragement of their participation in local self-governance leading to reduction in poverty, improvement of health an education.
The activities that are undertaken to fulfil the goals.
- Engaging in partnerships with the 3 tier Panchayat system for mutual support for effective implementation to achieve the goal.
- Mobilisation of women in Self Help Groups (SHG) and their empowerment to take part in local governance through active participation in policy formulation and implementation of local affairs
- Organizing sensitization and capacity development programmes for improving awareness and understanding of the citizens and civil society institutions on matters local governance; entitlements; PRI
- Capacity Development Programme to increased capacity of PRI to enable them to discharge their roles and responsibilities and engage in participatory and de-centralized governance.
- Development of IEC materials for generating awareness of people and PRI.
- Strengthening of district and state level advocacy networks to assist and put pressure on the PRI to effect change
- Partnership building of local CBOs and their capacity development to enable them to assist the PRI and ensure their accountability.
Integrated Watershed Management Programme
Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP)
Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP)
Project implementation started: October, 2012
The aim and objective of IWMP is to bring about incremental changes in Agri based production in rainfed areas. The integration of untapped natural, farm and social resources is the thrust area. The challenge in the rainfed area is to improve rural livelihood and the methodology to be adopted is participatory watershed management.
IWMP-3, 2011-12 Tantipara, Rajnagar, Birbhum
Block |
GP |
Mouja |
Total household |
Total population |
Rajnagar |
Tantipara |
6 |
4489 |
18714 |
Chandrapur |
17 |
|||
Bhabhanipur |
1 |
|||
Total |
3 |
24 |
4489 |
18714 |
Main objectives of watershed development programme
- Conservation, development and sustainable management of natural resources (arable & non-arable lands, water, animals, vegetation and social) including their use.
- Enhancement of agricultural productivity and production in a sustainable manner.
- Restoration of ecological balance in the degraded and fragile rainfed eco-systems.
- High water use efficiency
- Livestock, Pisciculture, other household production / development
- Development / conversion of waste land.
- Reduction in regional disparity between irrigated and rainfed areas.
- Creation of sustained employment opportunities for the rural community including the landless.
Main Outcomes of IWMP:
- The project will be continued by Watershed Committees who will manage the project by using Watershed Development Fund.
- Improvement in the irrigation potential by adequate availability and use Ground & surface water.
- Improvement in the availability & access to safe drinking water.
- Improvement & extension of drainage.
- Intensification of integrated & multi cropping.
- Increased productivity of crops, fruits, etc.
- Increased income of household.
- Enhancing sustainable environment.
Entry Point Activities:
- Mobilization of Watershed Association/ Committees.
- Mobilization of SHGs.
- Agro based activities included Seed distribution, Agro forest nursery & Introduction of new crops like Brocculi, Mushroom, Red Cabbage, etc.
- Promotion of Animal Husbandry through distribution of Chicks & ducks.
- Strengthening of infrastructure by providing sheds for ICDS(Anganwadi Kendra), burning ghat.
- Capacity development of SHGs, farmers, etc.
- Awareness programmes on agriculture, IWMP, etc.
- Liaising with PRI for implementation of IWMP.
- Use of Participatory Rural Appraisal.
Socio-economic Development of Communities surrounding Damodhar Cement Works in Five Gram Sansads of Baliatora Gram Panchyat under Sunuri Block, Purulia
The proposed project intends to initiate a community development program in 5 (five) Gram Sansad areas of Baliatora Gram Panchayat, which is one of the most backward Gram Panchayats (GP) of Purulia district. Many of the families living in these areas suffer from food insecurity for about three months of the year. Large scale migration in search of employment by the men-folk of these families adds to the economic and social problems of the women.
The project aims at mobilization of people particularly women in SELF HELP GROUPs (SHGs) and facilitates a process of empowerment towards better living condition & social status by ensuring participation in the process of development and access of services, entitlements and other opportunities of the Government & other institutions.
Some of the thrust areas of this programme:
- Encouraging farm and non-Farm based activities in the form of micro-enterprise related to saving and credit mechanism by the SHGs for income generation.
- Promoting integrated farming based on natural resource management through sustainable use of farming knowledge & resources.
- Planting FFFFT (Food-Fodder-Fuel-Fruit-Timber) trees for multipurpose use (for fencing, fodder, fuel, fruits etc.).
- Encourage to ‘Save water’ for safe drinking, domestic need, for animals/birds & farm use to promote better sanitary & health conditions and improved environment at community level.
- Involvement of Local Self Governments/Panchayati Raj Institutions in the process for mainstreaming the activity and ensure sustainability of the initiative and ownership.
- aiming to development of Awareness on community services of basic health, education, hygiene & sanitation and culture community ownership.