COMPENDIUM OF ENTRIES

NATIONAL WORKSHOP ON GOOD

PRACTICES IN RURAL
DEVELOPMENT SECTOR

SAANSAD ADARSH GRAM YOJANA

Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India
 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This compendium of Good Practices by Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India

presents findings of good practices in various sectors of Rural Development by bringing experiences
from existing initiatives and documenting them for rural planning and implementation. These Good
Practices aim to present current innovative and established practices for Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana
(SAGY) Grams suggesting ways and developing systems for replication of these good practices at a
larger scale.

Although it has been well known that many of these projects have been successful at the micro-
level, very little documentation has been done on micro-level implementation of the rural development
programmes. Therefore, it was decided to research and compile as a document, the best practices for
implementation at micro-level the rural development programmes in the field of Education, Drinking
water, Health, Banks and other financial services, Nutrition, Common Service Centres, Sanitation,
Transport, Agriculture/Allied sectors, Roads and communication infrastructure, Manufacturing
including rural industries, Energy/Renewable Energy, Irrigation & Water Harvesting (Natural Resource
Management), Employment /livelihood opportunities, Bio-Diversity, Food security, Housing,
Development of Elderly/ Youth/ Children/Persons with Special Needs, ICT for Rural Development and
others.

Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana was launched by the Hon'ble. Prime Minister on 11th October,
2014 with a vision to translate the comprehensive and organic vision of Mahatma Gandhi, of an ideal
Indian village into a reality, keeping in view the present growth challenges that the Indian villages
face. As the programme aims at overall development in a time-bound manner, this workshop will be
highly beneficial for all stakeholders to learn, improvise and implement in their Gram Panchayats.

Ministry of Rural Development kept the identification of good practices exploratory and
participatory in nature. By an open advertisement, entries were called for, from Central Ministries,
PRIs, Civil Society Organisations, community-based organisations and individuals. The instruments
of enquiry were kept open-ended to gather qualitative inputs from the programme functionaries and
the beneficiaries.
Eligibility of Applicant
a) The nominations were open to legal residents or organisational entities of India only.

b) Individuals, Organisations (both Government / Private), Collectors, Charge Officers, PRIs, non-
profit or community-based organisations could participate.

Eligibility of the Initiative / Good Practice

a) The initiative should have positively impacted a reasonably larger area - at the minimum one
Gram Panchayat or equivalent. Gram Panchayat equivalents are those with population above
3000.

b) The initiative should be in operation for more than two years in the rural area. (Areas included
within the limits of Municipal Corporations, Municipalities, Notified Area Committees and Town
Panchayats will not be considered as rural areas.)

c) The initiative should be replicable and sustainable.

Method and Process of Application

a) The only mode of entry was through the online portal on the website http://www.saanjhi.gov.in.
physical entries were not accepted.

b) The web form was made available which contained mandatory and optional fields. Besides the
write-up, relevant photographs were to be attached as well as evidence of any recognition or
award that may have been received for the initiative.

Shortlisting Process
The case studies and examples of good practices were to be shortlisted in two phases.

a) State level shortlisting

b) National level shortlisting

State level shortlisting: The entrant selected the same State where the initiative has been in operation.
Once the entry was submitted, it was forwarded to the respective State government. State
Governments examined the entries by referring to the submitted information and by field verification.
Each State shortlisted respective entries and recommended them for the consideration of MoRD.
National level shortlisting: After the recommendation, valid entries were made available to the
National Level Committee for the final selection. Recommended entries were examined in detail by
the National level committee by calling entrants for more information and by making field visits. Tata
Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai was assigned the task of shortlising of entries and field
visits of entries selected at the National Workshop at Bhopal. A total of 592 entries were received and
after scrutiny, 82 entries were finally selected. Out of these 82 initiatives selected by Ministry of Rural
Development, 31 are being presented at the ‘National Workshop on Good Practices in Rural
Development Sector’ during 23rd-24th September, 2015. Very brief description is presented of these
initiatives in the following pages. The entries are sorted in No Particular Order. The details of the
complete intervention will be made available online at http://support.saanjhi.in for downloading.

The thrust of this workshop is on the all-round economic and social transformation of rural
areas, through multi-pronged strategy in areas like agriculture, animal husbandry, roads
(communication facilities), health, education, housing, employment and nutrition initiatives which
have aimed at reaching out to the most disadvantaged sections of the society. There are many such
established micro-level Good Practices across India which perhaps were not documented so far and
as a result were not available for others to read and benefit. However, we sincerely hope that this
initiative of the team working towards the success of Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana will set a benchmark
and ignite rural transformation by bringing about many more Good Practices.
 INDEX

S.No. Contents Page No.

1. Belargaon Self-Governance Model 1

2. Bio-Industrial Watershed – An Innovative Approach in Enhancing 4

Productivity and Profitability of Small Farmers through Climate
Resilient Agriculture and Water Use Efficiency

3. Cattle Breed Improvement Programme (CBIP) through the 9

Establishment of Integrated Livestock Development (ILD) Centres for
Providing the Services of Artificial Insemination & Veterinary First Aid to
Cows & Buffaloes at the Doorsteps of the Farmers

4. Clean Energy Entrepreneurship Model 12

5. Community Managed Innovative Goat Rearing Model 15

6. Community Procurement 19

7. Constructive Work as Self-Governance: Improving Lives in Delwara 23

8. Empowering Fisherman through Mobile Advisory Services, 27

Department of Fisheries, Odisha

9. Eraviperoor Gram Panchayat 30

10. Lighting up the Lives of Unemployed Rural Youth 33

11. Gyanarjan Process of Reengineering for Qualitative Education in Mandla 36

12. Krushi Samruddhi/CAIM (Convergence of Agriculture Interventions 39

in Maharashtra at Warud (Amravati)

13. Light for Education 46

14. Mahatma Gandhi Dispute-Free Village Mission 48

15. Making the Panchayat Swachh Panchayat 52

16. Movement and Action Network for Transformation of Rural Areas 56

S.No. Contents Page No.

17. Nigrani Dal-Bhil Women from Remote India Torchbearers in 59

Fighting Against Malnutrition

18. Nimachalkhurd Gram Panchayat 63

19. Panchayat Training cum Quiz 65

20. Participatory Natural Resource Management Programme 67

21. Real Rural Boostup Initiative 69

22. Road Infrastructure, Drinking Water, Electricity and Sanitation 72

Transformed into Decent Living

23. Sambalpur Gram Panchayat 75

24. Small Scale - Low External Input Floriculture (Fulsheti): 77

Agriculture Livelihood Option for Tribal Farmer

25. Strengthening Good Governance through Village Governance Fund 79

26. Sustainable Livelihoods Promotion - A Pathway for Rain-fed 82

Marginal Farmers to Come out of the Agrarian Distress

27. The Ekjut Initiative: A Participatory Learning and Action Cycle with 87
Women’s Groups to Improve Maternal and New-born Health Outcomes

28. Thikekarwadi Gram Panchayat 91

29. Total Sanitation Programme Named Susthira Suchithwa Programme 95

30. Traditional Community Managed Irrigation System in 98

Subankhata Baksa District

31. Wealth from Waste to Transform Mellli Dara Into A Swachh Gram Panchayat 102

32. Action Against Malnutrition (AAM) 107

33. Anandshala Making Learning Joyful 107

34. Annapurna 108

35. Biodiversity, Tourism and Community Advancement 109

S.No. Contents Page No.

36. Building Alliances for Holistic Interventions and Actions for Women 110

37. Case Study - Salya Pamar 110

38. Collective Farming 111

39. Comprehensive Inclusive Banking and Payment Platform in Rural India 111

40. Construction of Storage and Sedimentation Tank at GP Jhanda Khurd, 112

District MANSA

41. Construction of 8 IAY Houses in Cluster Approach 112

42. Education of Tribal Girls - “AMAR NANI PROJECT” 113

43. Empowering Society through Women Empowerment 114

44. Gifted Children Scheme 114

45. Gram Panchayat Organisation Development 115

46. Gramoddhar Backyard Poultry Farming 115

47. ICT Based Information Services to Farmers 116

48. Improving of Life of Rural People through Education, Health and 117
Livelihood Based Activities

49. Indo – German Watershed Development Programme Ahmednagar 118

50. Integrated Water Resource Management by the Participation of 119

Women Community

51. i-Saksham 120

52. Khedut Saathi 120

53. Livelihood and Food Security 121

54. Moving towards Self-Sufficiency 121

55. Nairmalya Vahini 122

56. Nirmala Bhavanam Nirmala Nagaram 123

S.No. Contents Page No.

57. One Village One Biogas Plant Rural Economy Devek 124

58. Padkai Bench Terracing 124

59. People’s Biodiversity Register (PBR) - A Step Towards Adaptation to 125

Climate Change

60. ‘Pratibha’ Library & Counseling Centre 126

61. Preparation of Methodologies and Tools for Vulnerability 127

Assessment for Climate Change Adaptation Initiative

62. Prevention of Land Degradation by Developing Agroforestry with 128

Participation of Small and Marginal Land Holders and Tribal
Communities (A Rural Livelihood and Environment
Conservation Programme)

63. Promotion of Organic Farming for Tribal Farmers of Akole with 129
Relation to Climate Change

64. Rebuild Livelihood of Disaster Affected Families Through Handloom Industry 130

65. Reconstruction of Earthquake Damaged Rural Houses in Thekabong 131

Parkha GP, East Sikkim Following the Devastating Sikkim Earthquake
of 18th Sept, 2011 in the Challenging Physical Landscape of
the Sikkim Himalaya

66. Reversing Environmental Degradation and Rural Poverty through 132

Adaptation to Climate Change in Drought Stricken Areas in Southern India:
A Hydrological Unit Pilot Project Approach

67. Reviving a High Value Native Cash Crop (Large Cardamom 133
Amomum Subulatum) to Create Pathways Out of Poverty in
Manebong Sopakha GP in West Sikkim

68. Reviving Mountain Springs as A Climate Change Adaptation Initiative 134

in the Drought Prone Locations of Sikkim

69. Role of Village Action Team (VATs) in Implementing Climate Change 135
Adaptation Strategies to Ensure Food Security of Marginal and
Landless Tribal Farming Communities

70. Rugna Seva Prakalp Miraj 136

S.No. Contents Page No.

71. Samarth Kisan Producer Company Limited 136

72. Strengthening Transparency, Accountability and Public Service 137

Delivery in the Rural Development Sector in Sikkim

73. Strengthening Women's Collectives for Active Citizenship 138

Leading to Convergence, Economic Prosperity and Well-being

74. Sustainable Livelihoods through Convergence Under MGNREGA in 139

the Himalayan State of Sikkim

75. System of Crop Intensification for Productivity Enhancement to 140

Improve Food Security in the Poverty Stricken Bundelkhand Region

76. System of Rice Intensification (SRI) 140

77. Transforming Rural Health Through BAPD Scheme 141

78. Village Level Service Delivery System 141

79. VISHRAM- Vidarbha Stress and Health Programme 142

(The Vidarbha Psycho-social Programme)

80. Wadi Ushers in a Silent Revolution in the Lives of Tribals of South Gujarat 143

81. Water Distribution through Mobile Technology 144

82. Weather - based and Farmer-centric Agro-meteorology 145

WORKSHOP ENTRIES
 National Workshop on Good Practices in Rural Development Sector

Belargaon Self-Governance Model

Title of the Story Belargaon Self-Governance Model
Location Dhamtari District, Chhattisgarh
Sponsoring Organisation Gram Panchayat
Sector Strengthening local governance

Self-initiative by Belargaon Gram Panchayat towards strengthening local governance is an

initiative for transparent and accountable governance. The intervention was done by the Gram
Panchayat. The Panchayat initiated this process out of their own desire and will, with the vision of a
few elected representatives in the year 2009. It is this motivation on the part of the community and
the Panchayat which is making this a unique initiative in terms of processes initiated which resulted
led to desired outcomes.

Activities Planning and Implementation

Elected representatives of the Panchayat in consultation with community in Gram Sabha takes
takes various decisions regarding programmes/schemes to be implemented. The Panchayat even calls
for special Gram Sabhas if required. They have also hired six staff members to carry out routine tasks
like looking after cattle (Awara Maveshi), Nal-Jal Yojana, Gram Samasya, Tax Collection, Sweepers
and Data Entry operations. The staff are paid out of the funds of the Panchayat.

Beneficiaries
The primary stakeholders i.e. community members have benefited through programmatic
intervention especially families in the BPL category who have benefited from different government
programmes as well as programmes/schemes run by the Panchayat itself. They have generated
sustainable livelihood sources and ensured 100% enrolment, retention in schools, promoted girl child
education.

Unique elements of this intervention could be listed as: Unique way of generating resources
through taxation; Investing in diversifying sources of taxation; Using the generated resources in the
welfare of community and needy; Almost “Nil” police cases; Resolution of all issues and conflicts
through Gram Vyavastha Samiti; Panchayat working on all 7 days of the week; Patwari (Revenue
officer) operataing from Panchayat office; Post Office being located on the Panchayat premises; 6
staff members who have been hired are paid by the Panchayat for carrying out specific tasks; As a
result of these initiatives, family income varies from ` 40,000 to ` 5-6 lakh per annum, with average
income of ` 70-80,000 per annum with no instances of out-migration and few in-migration cases.
Noteworthy aspect is that the Panchayat has creatively generated their own resources. The Panchayat
has diversified their sources of revenue by constructing markets (total 50 complexes, 22 by Gram

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Panchayat) and allocating them to vendors for sustained income. Apart from collecting taxes and
generating revenue, the Panchayat has innovatively used these resources for the best interest of the
community. The Panchayat has provided housing to left out BPL families through constructing and
repairing their houses. It has provided educational support to children with disability, invested in
building and strengthening basic amenities like the Panchayat building. They are into real
empowerment process, whereby the community members are organised to take collective decisions.
As a result, all the problems and nuisances are largely addressed by the Panchayat and no police
cases are registered. The decision making is influenced by human factors and not strictly by norms
and guidelines.

Impact
The intervention has had a visible impact resulting in 100% children enrolment in schools. The
condition of housing and drainage improved. People now have sustained income sources because of
well managed market processes, the village has a well equipped and functional Public Health Centre
(PHC), grievance redressal mechanism are fully functional and designed with high user compatibility.

Sustainability
Basic infrastructure is in place, systems and process are well established, and people are
motivated and participate in Gram Sabha and decision making process. The ownership on the part of
community will help to sustain the development. Community is aware, informed and empowered to
engage and negotiate with different stakeholders. As Panchayat generates their own resources, they
do not have larger dependency on external forces for development. They have diversified the sources
of revenue to ensure regular inflow of funds through taxes. All these factors like positive leadership,
community ownership and financial independence will help in keeping the development model
sustainable.

Replicability
There is a very high possibility of this model being scaled up/ replicated, as it is not dependent
on external factors or support. A positive, collective leadership can help replication of the model as it
was done in the present case. The most favourable factor is the power of taxation provided by State
Government and Belargaon has really used the opportunity in the best interest of Panchayat.

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 National Workshop on Good Practices in Rural Development Sector

Bio-Industrial Watershed – An Innovative Approach in

Enhancing Productivity and Profitability of Small
Farmers through Climate Resilient Agriculture and
Water Use Efficiency
APP ID 437
Title of the Initiative Bioindustrial Watershed – An Innovative Approach in Enhancing
Productivity and Profitability of Small Farmers through
Climate Resilient Agriculture and Water Use Efficiency
M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai
State TAMIL NADU

Bio-Industrial Watershed Initiative by M.S.Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF)

Bio-industrial Watershed : An Innovative Approach in Enhancing Productivity and Profitability of

Small Farmers through Climate Resilient Agriculture and Water Use Efficiency. Bio-industrial Watershed
is a programme of MSSRF and is supported by several partners for various components through
different time periods. It was initially conceived for 5 years, however based on the project’s basic
achievements, various components are continuing. The programme is now 8 years old and it envisages
to reach its expected maturity level in another 2 years.

About Intervention
Community managed bio-industrial watershed for sustainable use of natural resources and
enhanced livelihood is an initiative undertaken at Upper Vellar watershed area comprising Thalinji,
Ennai and Katuvampatti Panchayats of Annavasal block, Illuppur taluk in Pudukottai district. It is
reported that these three village panchayats were targeted initially and in 2013, two more village
panchayats, namely Idayapatti and Eswaran Kovil were added. During the field visit, the resource
person visited Ennai, Thalinji, Meigoundanpatti, Melappannai, Eruthupatti, G.N.Patti, and Illuppur
villages. The learning from the field visit and observation is as follows:

R It was learnt that selection of suitable seed variety for blackgram is a unique research activity
in this project. It is successful as the process of seed treatment and learning from trial and
demo plot had been properly documented and disseminated to the needy farmers for wider
adaptation

R At Meigoundanpatti, community percolation tank is a hallmark activity. A piece of common

land measuring 200 feet by 120 feet, was under encroachment. The project team succeeded in

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negotiating with the encroachers and with community participation a percolation pond was
dug at six feet depth. After proper fencing, technique of ‘terrace’ cultivation was adopted and
banana, vegetable, varieties of grass and Azolla were cultivated. As water was harvested in the
community percolation pond, seven wells which were located in the vicinity of the pond, were
recharged with water. A total of sixteen farm families have benefited.

R The activity of rehabilitation of open well is a suitable programme for the farmers. Many farmers
tried with digging of tube wells. But due to problem in soil condition the yield of water is very
poor. Hence the farmers are encouraged to rehabilitate open wells. It is learnt from Mr.V.Durai
of Melapannai that he availed a sum of rupees around 1.2 lakh from the CSR of Hindustan
Petroleum Corporation Ltd. The depth of his open well was 20 feet and he dug 15 feet further
and the ground water was recharged well. Hence he reclaimed an acre of his fallow land and
commenced Horticulture planting along with organic vegetable cultivation which extends
financial support to the project activities.

R A farmer namely Mr. Innacy of Eruthupatti undertakes organic vegetable cultivation at a small
plot of 0.20 cent. On this land he grows bitter-gourd, snake-gourd, ridge gourd, and beans. He
uses bio-inputs and has harvested 12 times during past two months. He is likely to harvest
another fifteen times in the coming three months. He expects an income of around ` 20,000
from the organic cultivation. Earlier he used to get a meagre amount of ` 2,500 from the same
piece of land over which he cultivated chilly and brinjal only.

Major Activities
R Soil and Water Conservation – through participatory renovation of water bodies

R Enhancing agriculture productivity and production - through participatory varietal selection,

seed production and technology transfer, ensure timely and quality inputs, enable credit facility

R Aggregation of agriculture produces – through village level community for aggregatiing produce
of pulses, groundnut and organic vegetables

R Storage, Value addition and Marketing – through setup / hiring of warehouses, establishing /
hiring processing units, linking with rural and urban markets for fair prices

R Establish allied farm based enterprises – through collective action of farmers on establishing
integrated milk dairy, eco – poultry units and linking with fair market

R Community Institution – by establishing Farmer Producer Organisation, namely “Illuppur

Agriculture Producer Company” to take up strong community participation in all developmental
interventions

Activities Planning and Implementation

The programme interventions are discussed at the MSSRF by the staff every month while all
the interventions are discussed with the higher level committee of Farmer Producer Organisation,
which also meets once a month. This practice has been in place for the past two years.

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Focussed Intervention Activities

R Soil and water conservation – Enhanced groundwater level, assured irrigation to the first crop,
option to cultivate a subsequent crop, conversion of fallow land to cultivable land, area under
horticultural plantations has increased.

R Strengthening crop production – Identification of good quality seeds through participatory

varietal selection process, seed production and distribution, crop demonstrations for importing
knowledge on best cultivation practices, knowledge dissemination through Farmer Field schools.

R Introduction of organic agriculture practices, use of organic inputs to grow vegetable, pulses
and groundnut. This also led to soil health improvement, increased biodiversity, fetched premium
price from market.

R Aggregation of agriculture commodities – Assured fair price for the farmer, reduction in drudgery
of farmer, ethical trade practices in weighing and sales proceedings.

R Processing and marketing – Establishment of local processing units like dal mill which provide
extra price realisation from the market.

R Integrated dairy enterprise – Credit facility for purchase of milch animal, technical assistance in
animal health care for better yield, Aggregation of milk produced through milk collection centres,
Market tie-up with bulk buyer enabled better price for the milk producer.

R Eco – Poultry enterprise – Credit facility to construct poultry shed, availing one day old chick,
service availability of bird health care, “buy back” arrangement enabled the farmer to an ensured
income.

R Information dissemination – Getting information on better water management practices,

Integrated Pest Management (IPM), Integrated Crop Management, animal health care through
Voice SMS, teleconference meeting with experts, projection of documentaries on best practices
by Village Knowledge centres and other IEC activities.

Continuous knowledge enhancement by getting various capacity building trainings and exposure visits.

Case - 1
“At MelaEnnai village a farm pond was dug on the field of Smt.Lakshmi, with the financial
assistance from the Department of Agriculture. She informed that to augment the water supply in
the pond, Lakshmi spent an additional amount and now pond’s expanse is over half an acre. At the
time of the visit by the resource people, the water level was at two feet depth and it could be run
through a PVC pipe to irrigate the crop. Due to gravity, water from the farm pond could reach the
field easily. Her paddy crop grew giving a good yield due to availability of water and application of
green manure. Realising the scope, she reclaimed another two and half acres of unused land. Now it
is suitable for paddy cultivation. She informed that the guidance and support of project team are the
motivating factors for her success.

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Case - 2
“At Thiruvannar Kovil Patti, the Thiruvannar kulam was de-silted further into two feet depth.
One of the two sluices were not functioning due to damaged condition. The other sluice too required
repair and maintenance work. These issues were resolved with community participation and help
from MGNREG programme. Further, the farmers requested to construct a new weir, to drain out
excess water and this work was also carried out. As a result, livelihood of 69 farmers was ensured as
a total of 55 acres of their land could be available for agriculture. They informed that they could raise
paddy, groundnut, pulses, and ragi crop on their field. This is a fine example of successful community
participation, resource mobilisation and good leverage of government programmes. The Watershed
Association of Thiruvannarkulam has ` 60,000 in their bank account and propose to plant trees saplings
along the bund of the tank. Their attempt at pisciculture was not as promising, as water level reduced
due to failure of monsoon during last year.”

Benefits to Stakeholders
Case - 1
“At Thalinji the Chinnakanmai used to be filled with silt due to soil erosion and so the pond’s
filling capacity was reduced. Among the stakeholding farmers of this tank, around 75% belong to SC
community. With the support from Department of Agriculture Engineering and local village panchayat
the tank was de-silted. To prevent inundation of a dalit hamlet due to severe flood during monsoon,
a protective bund was also constructed. The farmers converted the tank as an integrated farming
system model cultivating vegetables and organised fish culture. Their earning was around ` 15,000
during last year.”

Case - 2
“The farmer namely Mr.Ponnan, aged 45 of Thalinji village successfully raised organic vegetable.
He used to plant onion, tomato, cluster bean, ladies finger, cowpea and sunflower (for pest control).
The farmers usually gain knowledge on integrated pest management and crop management. The
MSSRF arrange for marketing of the organic vegetable produce.

Case - 3
Another successful experiment is regarding intensified horticulture planting by growing trees
for timber, planting valued trees like teak, kumizh, and fruit bearing trees like mango. The sapling
have been provided free of cost to the needy farmers by the Department of Horticulture. Mr.Poonachi
of Meigoundanpatti village has raised tree plantation successfully in his three acres of land after
reclaiming the same.”

Elements of Sustainability
The intervention, namely ‘Community Managed Bio-industrial Watershed for Sustainable Use
of Natural Resources and Enhanced Livelihood’ is a successful experiment. The major factors
contributing to its success are community mobilisation, institution building, bio-industrial enterprise
activities, convergence of various government line departments and proper utilisation of CSR
assistance. The importance of institution building has been seriously considered and recently Elluppur

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Agriculture Producer Company Ltd was formed. Activities like marketing of organic crop at local and
outside markets was commenced. A premium of 20 to 30 per cent is expected. At present the company
is housed on the campus of district regulated market in Ellupur. Land measuring 4.50 acres was
purchased at Easwaran Kovil village. Fund was raised to construct a building and other multipurpose
infrastructure for Agriculture Producers Company. The share of ` 10.00 lakh paid by farmers and
another amount of ` 10.00 lakh – flow-back money of the project are readily available to sustain the
follow-up activities by the company. The resource person during his visit attended the meeting of
Agriculture Producers Company and it is found that the shareholders had good confidence and capacity
in running the company.

This intervention is promising in terms of sustainability as it is buillt around strong social

capital through the Farmer Producer Company. The company is transparent and democratic in its
functioning; ensures financial capital as revolving fund for credit facility and working capital; and
ensures effective convergence of Government and non-government agencies.

Ability to Replicate
The programme model has full potential for its scale-up and replication provided that core elements
are put in place.

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Cattle Breed Improvement Programme (CBIP) through

the Establishment of Integrated Livestock
Development (ILD) Centres for Providing the Services
of Artificial Insemination & Veterinary First Aid to
Cows & Buffaloes at the Doorsteps of the Farmers
APP ID 425
Title of the Initiative Cattle Breed Improvement Programme (CBIP) through the
establishment of Integrated Livestock Development (ILD)
centres for providing the services of Artificial Insemination &
Veterinary First Aid to cows & buffaloes at the doorsteps of
the farmers
J K Trust Gram Vikas Yojana
State CHHATTISGARH

Cattle Breed Improvement Programme, JK Trust, Chhattisgarh

Cattle Breed Improvement Programme is an initiative of J K Trust- Gram Vikas Yojana and
interventions are spread in the States of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Madhya
Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Jharkhand and Telangana.

Activities Planning and Implementation

Integrated Livestock Development Centre (ILDC) - Cluster approach for doorstep delivery of
animal breeding and other veterinary services; Van Bhagini Project - ILDC fully managed & operated
by tribal lady gopals; Mobile Veterinary Clinics- to provide much needed professional veterinary
service to dairy farmers in remote areas; Call Centre approach: India’s first call centre exclusively for
dairy farmers was established in Haryana; Fodder Multiplication & Fodder Seed Development Centre-
initiated in Chhattisgarh.

Self-Sustainability: To provide sustainability to the centre's post-project implementation by ways

like:

R Gross Survey to identify possible number & location of proposed ILD Centres to avoid overlapping
of services provided by other agencies.

R Selection of candidates for Paravet training preferably from the area of the centres & 4 months’
Paravet training.

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R Selection of Monitoring Officers & one month induction training.

R Procurement of AI equipments & other assets required for establishment of ILD centre.

R Baseline survey of the area covered by centres to identify the breedable animal population &
beneficiaries.

R Establishment of ILD Centre & commencement of AI & other veterinary services.

R Regular District & State Level review meeting to keep track of progress.

R Providing regular MIS reports.

R Refresher training to gopals and monitoring officers.

R Mid-term and final Impact evaluation of the programme.

R Operating centres into Self-Sustainable Mode after completion of the project period.

Benefits to Stakeholders
Community nutrition has been enhanced and livelihood of the people has increased. Animal
husbandry has helped offshoot new outcomes in terms of adoption of organic agriculture, fodder
cultivation and enterprises like milk chilling centres and milk cooperatives.

Sustainability
The main objective of the programme is to upgrade the local indigenous low milk-yielding cows
by crossbreeding them with the use of frozen semen from highly pedigreed exotic/indigenous bulls.
The resulting crossbred / upgraded calves will be better milk yielders and will help in improving the
socio-economic status of the farmers especially the ones who are landless, marginal landholders and
poor. The programme is being implemented through Integrated Livestock Development (ILD) centres.
One ILD centre covers all the villages (approximately 5-10) falling within a radius of 5 – 8 kms. Hence
depending on the size of the block, the number of centres to be established is decided.

Each of these ILD centres, are operated by a local educated unemployed youth called “Gopal”.
He is given four months intensive training to carry out Artificial Insemination in cows / buffaloes and
other allied veterinary services, by qualified veterinarians at different training centres located at
Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.

The programme operator (Gopal) will be provided with a motorcycle and AI equipments. He
goes to the doorsteps of the farmers and carries out artificial insemination of cows and buffalos and
provides other veterinary support services. Thus, an important feature of this programme is the
doorstep delivery of services. The project is formulated in such a way that after completion of project
period in five years, the project / innovation can sustain on its own system without receiving financial
support outside.

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Financial Sustainability
Under this programme, financial support is required from outside agency at initial five years for
purchasing of vehicle for mobility in the field, AI equipments and to bear the recurring cost. During
the five years of project period, there is a provision for charging fees from the beneficiaries for various
services provided to them. The amount of fees is increased gradually every year, so that a sufficient
corpus fund can be generated during this period. The corpus fund generated along with the increased
paying capacity of beneficiaries helps to continue the project in operation after completion of project
period.

This project is a sincere attempt by J K Trust in the field of animal husbandry to provide the
breeding, feeding and other veterinary support services to the dairy farmers with an inbuilt objective
of taking these services timely to the doorsteps of the farmers, who otherwise may not get access to
them. With the help of this programme, farmers get upgraded and cross breed milking animals, results
in increase in milk production by rearing less number of animals. Ultimately economic status of farmers
gets improved and hence they become capable to pay for the services being provided to them. The
recurring cost includes cost of semen, liquid nitrogen, AI consumables, mineral mixture, feed
supplement, medicines, etc.

Social Sustainability
With the support of strong Project Monitoring team, implementation of project gives good
result. They do have sufficient management, technical and field monitoring manpower to implement
the Project.

J K Trust promotes women for their participation in dairy farming. Rearing of animal and dairying
work can be done better by women as majority of women-lstay at home. Dairy being a part-time
work, they can do this work along with their daily routine work. They promote forming the SHG
groups of the beneficiaries in the villages so that with the help of their participation, the programme
can operate on sustainable mode in future.

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4
Clean Energy Entrepreneurship Model
APP ID 594
Title of the Initiative Clean Energy Entrepreneurship Model, Swayam Shikshan
Prayog
State MAHARASHTRA

Clean Energy Entrepreneurship Model by Swayam Shikshan Prayog

Clean Energy Entrepreneurship Model initiated by the organisation Swayam Shikshan Prayog (SSP),
has its intervention in around 3000 villages of Maharashtra and Bihar States.

Activities Planning and Implementation

The project aimed at the empowerment of women by engaging them in economic opportunities
and entrepreneurial ventures related to better access to clean energy. In addition to the technical
training on clean energy education and marketing, the initiative empowers women with a leadership
development thrust for which regular workshops are being conducted. The transformation of Sakhi
(Women Energy Entrepreneur) is envisioned along several transformation quotients such as
entrepreneurial, social, and financial.

The selection of Sakhis is generic and based on pragmatic approaches about the presence of
entrepreneurial capabilities among rural women with prevalent exposure and demonstrated potential.
The Sakhi identification approach includes directly approaching pre-existing small- scale women
entrepreneurs, locating high performers from SHGs, seeking references from Gram Panchayats and
Sarpanches and references from existing Women Energy Entrepreneur. The selection of villages is
done on the scale in terms of households. For a village of 300 households, only one Sakhi is selected.
Both selection processes, Sakhi and the village, indicate programmatic thrust on a practical product
marketing and outreach model. The products sold under this initiative are uniquely sold through
women only and no commercial houses or shops aimed at profit making are included. The financial
process involves purchase of clean energy products from the organisation by Sakhis and sells it in
local weekly markets or home-based sale to needy consumers.

Stakeholders
Sakhi (key stakeholders)- 1010 women clean energy entrepreneurs. Other Stakeholders: rural
community- 1,010,000 people/202,000 Households. 1,010,000 people in the community and 1010
women entrepreneurs are direct beneficiaries. Corporate partnerships with 15 entities are the indirect
beneficiaries.

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Benefits to Stakeholders
The intervention has benefited rural communities to enhance their access to the latest green
energy instruments such as solar lights and smoke-free stove. As rural green technology providers,
the Sakhis have benefited in terms of additional income generation with a recognisable contribution
to the cause of green energy. The community has been assisted with access to clean energy instruments
and awareness about clean energy through 3212 w power awareness meetings, 961 weekly market
sales, and 547 wall paintings. Sakhis have 1010 women clean energy entrepreneurs and 1,010,000
people/202,000 households’ stakeholder groups are in rural community. The corporate partners could
scale up their supply chain with the help of Sakhis and leveraged sale of solar lamps and smoke-free
stoves in challenging rural markets.

Accrued Benefits
The rural consumers who have purchased the clean energy products reported a sense of
happiness. Mainly, having a convenient energy and lighting source is highly rewarding for the rural
population. With traditional lighting devices, mobility of rural population was curbed during the night
hours. With clean energy instruments, the rural consumers have received an affordable and convenient
source of energy and report satisfaction. Particularly, in adverse weather conditions such as heavy
rains, procuring a matchbox or kerosene was a challenge for people staying in remote villages. Such
situations lead to accidents and inconvenience.

With the handy and renewable clean energy devices, the rural population is provided with
modern technology, which gives them a sense of satisfaction. Furthermore, there is good provision of
maintenance services by Sakhis. However, the time taken for trouble shooting is more, which causes
inconvenience to the consumers. In addition, sometimes the dysfunctionality of the solar devices is
due to the lack of training of the consumers about operating the devices and that creates a negative
perception about the maintenance services in the mind of the consumers. The corporate partners
have shared a sense of gratitude for enhancing rural outreach of their clean energy products.

Unique Features of the Intervention

The clean energy entrepreneurship model is unique for its thrust on women-led enterprises,
gender-centric intervention focus, and creation of network of such entrepreneurial women. SSP
involves only rural women and the target consumers are rural population, which is unique. Although
it is a market-based partnership, such kind of demographic justice oriented focus makes this
intervention unique. In addition to the entrepreneurial skills, further training, and the capacity building
of women for leadership are other unique features of this intervention. Furthermore, the product
basket offered by Sakhis is designed based on the initial field experiments and testing highlighting the
action learning approach. In contrast to market-based distribution of clean energy product which
are limited to big towns and marketplaces, Sakhi model has shown its immense outreach to rural
population without keeping profit motive in mind. This is an unique feature in terms of developing
and providing access to clean energy technology for remote and deprived rural population.

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Elements of Sustainability
The intervention is mainly social in terms of the replication and adoption of the clean energy by
a large number of rural population. While Sakhis have been promoting more number of Sakhis to
create high outreach, thereby increasing the entrepreneurial network, there is a possibility of barefoot
availability and outreach of clean energy devices. Simultaneously, there is growing energy awareness
and clean technology awareness among rural groups, which will lead to the regular purchase of clean
energy technology and use of it. There are 1010 Sakhis working across the project areas, and the
number is growing.

Ability to Replicate
The organisation has demonstrated a gender-centric model through women entrepreneurs that
have been helpful to enhance the outreach and accessibility to clean energy for the rural population.
Ability to tap the rural market with an innovative model for engaging women entrepreneurs holds
promise of replication across the rural regions in the country. This model also involves creating
awareness about clean energy, which helps in educating people about their accountability towards
the environment. This is an unique feature as other market players in the clean energy business are
more likely to sell the product without educating the consumers. The comprehensive model is
potentially replicable due to its entrepreneurial design and characteristic value that it endorses in
terms of promoting women entrepreneurs and selling products in rural areas only.

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Community Managed Innovative Goat Rearing Model

APP ID 524
Title of the Initiative Community Managed Innovative Goat Rearing Model,
Jharkhand State livelihood promotion society, Rural
Development Department, Govt of Jharkhand

State JHARKHAND

Community Managed Innovative Goat Rearing Model, by Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion
Society

Background
Community managed goat rearing practices programme at JSLPS is the need of the community
for minimising the risk of high mortality, morbidity, low growth and less kidding. The project is
implemented in stages viz State level plan is made for capacity building practices and the same is
planned at micro level at district and block level in order to implement the programme. An annual
action plan at the beginning of the year is prepared, based on needs of the community through SHG,
village organisation. The plan is further consolidated at block and district level, then the budget and
activity is approved as part of district plan, all the approved activities are implemented through
district and block.

The intervention is purely community driven. The awareness building in community is through
door to door awareness by the community cadre, video produced by the community, acting by the
community, using local language and dialect and real practices shown by the community itself. This
makes the awareness drive unique, self-sustaining, fast with replication potential. The Goat Club is
working with a group of goat rearers in the village, it is ex body of producer company. Service provided
is in terms of social capital. SHG women members of the same locality make the intervention
sustainable, even if the organisation withdrwas after certain time, it is the Community Livestock
Manager and the community youth person who are responsible for backward and forward linkages.
The person will remain with the community and will serve the community. This is the basic thought in
running of the model.

Major Activities
The intervention being a livelihood intervention, major activities of the intervention include
awareness building through small videos supported by NSO Digital Green, awareness building through
street play; mobilisation of the farmers at SHG/village organisation (VO) meeting, door to door
mobilisation by trained Aajeevika Pashu Sakhi and Community Livestock managers (CLMs); formation
of goat club- a group carved out of SHG members who are practising goat rearing; Baseline covering
mortality rate and morbidity rate, number of goats, kidd etc.; create social capital in the form of
Aajeevika Pashu Sakhi at village level; Creating Community Livestock Managers(CLMs) to work in a

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cluster and to support 10 Aajeevika Pashu Sakhi (APS), trained on preventive care and ethno medicine
(Herbal Medicine); capacity building of APS and CLMs and regular refresher and follow-up training;
promoting scientific goat rearing management practices to increase hygienic standard of rearing goats
such as introduced water turf, feed manger, etc.

The intervention activities also include introducing timely vaccination and deworming, ethno
medicine (Herbal Medicine) of goat at their doorsteps by Pashu Sakhi; community managed Goat
Resource Centre (GRC) at block level formed from different goat clubs at village level in the block;
community insurance to safeguard from risk shocks, managed by the community; promoting integrated
goat model with Backyard Poultry and Duckery; marketing of their goats at live body weight; natural
breeding/breed improvement; grazing field management, development and promotion; castration/
dehorning/deworming; feed management/supplementary feed; backward and forward linkage; credit
channelisation through SHG and financial organisation; Goat manure; extension CRPs –Senior Aajeevika
Pashu Sakhi; Aajeevika Pashu Sakhi and CLMs works on service charge model; Online Management
Information System(MIS), etc.

Key Benefits to the Stakeholders

The poor people could recognise goat rearing practices as business enterprise, could regain
faith on goat based livelihood intervention by decreasing rate of mortality, morbidity and by getting
benefits of community insurance, sustainability through strengthened community institution (Goat
Club) and Social Capital (Aajeevika Pashu Sakhi), ensured transparent marketing system by introducing
live body weight selling of their goat, community managed producers’ organisation (GRC) to manage
goat based livelihood.

The indirect benefit from the project is immense as it has substantiated the livelihood of the
poor by decreasing mortality and taking the model as business which was earlier missing, the farmers
could earn more and it has improved their living conditions, they are being respected among the
family members. Their lending capacity as well as decision making capability has increased. The farmers
are more aware about selling goats, have developed bargaining power. They are able to speak in front
of big gathering, can train the members and able to work in other blocks too.

Key Stakeholders
Community/Farmer (Goat Rearer), Aajeevika Pashu Sakhi from the community, Community
Livestock Managers from the community, SHG/VO/Cluster federation and Bank. Other Stakeholders
include JSLPS, The Goat Trust, Veterinary department (Govt. of Jharkhand), Drug Store (animal health
care Medicine and Vaccine) and stall-feed material stores.

The farmers perceive the intervention as a blessing, as a new dimension of the goat based
business has been added to their livelihood it has decreased mortality, has increased their herd size,
body weight, thus increased the income. It has come as a boon as goat rearing had become low
earning business and its revival has been a blessing. A direct benefit that the farmer sees is increase
in body weight of goat in shorter time period, increased kidding rate, negligible mortality rate, less
morbidity, assured marketing support, increased income through live body weight selling, community
insurance coverage to safeguard their immediate shock.

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Uniqueness and Sustainability of the Programme

The intervention is purely communitised, it has potential to sustain, to grow fast, to alleviate
poverty fast.

Awareness Building: The community cadre move from door to door as it increases their business.
Video produced by the community by pooling local talent, dialect, and real practices makes it easy for
villagers to assimilate the information.

Goat Club: The Goat Club (a group of goat rearers in the village) ,is an ex body of producer company.

Social Capital: The service is provided by the SHG women member of the same locality which makes
the intervention sustainable, even if we withdraw after certain time.

Community Livestock Manager: A community youth person is responsible for backward and forward
linkages, the person will remain with the community and serve the community - The community is
willingly paying service charge to Aajeevika Pashu Sakhi (The service charge is very low here).

Selection of Community Cadre: The APS and CLMs have been selected by the community itself.

Extension and Replication Model: The extension and dissemination is done by the community itself.
The senior Pashu Sakhi is for the extension services.

Community Monitoring and Evaluation System: The monitoring and evaluation system is done by
the community itself.

Digitisation of Process: The online MIS system is unique in the country , which reflects a transparent
system, monitoring and evaluation system robust and strong.

Online Entry by Community Person: The honorarium support to the social cadre is monitored through
daily activity, which is fed by the active women. Self- sustaining service Charge Model- The model is
not based on salary, it is purely based on service charge model. Goat Resource Centre (GRC)- An
unique model in the country, a resource centre catering to all the needs of animal health care.
Community Insurance: The intervention is unique, it is run by the community and claim made by the
community.

Impact
Community managed innovative goat rearing model taken by JSLPS with a view to providing
sustainable livelihood option to the marginal communities in such blocks of Jharkhand where even
meeting bare cost of living was difficult, has met with success. Financial support that is assured
through goat farming in the backyard with easy adaptability is highly laudable. All the members are
those who are goat keepers and none of them are provided with goatry from the institutions but are
trained on livestock (goat) management.

Right from the identification of Pashu Sakhi (goat farmers) followed by imparting of training for
five days at Goat Trust located at Lucknow. the goat rearers undertake deworming of the goat,
immunisation, sickness treatment and create linkages to the GRC (Goat Resource Centre). This has
given a great sense of empowerment to the goat rearers.

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Goat Resource Centre (GRC) is a goat business facilitation centre to facilitate input linkage,
enhance access to knowledge and skills for improved goat farming through training and demonstration
and provide goat business linkages on cost recovery basis to rearers. It will be a cluster level association
formed with the goat rearers from adjoining 15 to 20 villages within a periphery of 8 km radius with
15 to 20 village level Goat club. The programme covers 12 blocks with 120 villages of Jharkhand. It
makes as effort for social capital, promoting goat rearing management practice, community managed
GRC and goat insurance. Till date nearly 13000 farmers have directly benefited through this programme.

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Community Procurement
APP ID 224
Title of the Initiative Community Procurement, Assam Rural Infrastructure and
Agricultural Services Society
State ASSAM

Community Procurement under Assam Agricultural Competitiveness Project, Aaranyak

Introduction
The “Community Procurement Project” is a part of the larger vision of the Assam Agricultural
Competitiveness Project (AACP) which was launched with the objective to increase the productivity
and market access of targeted farmers and community groups. The project activities have been
predominantly pro-poor, directed primarily at small and marginal landholders, poor fishing
communities and the landless. It also reached out to women. The idea of ‘community procurement’
was conceived during a field visit, when a farmer raised a question: “We may be poor, but since we’re
paying half the cost of the pumpset, don’t you think we should have a right to select the type and
model"

Thus, the innovative process of ‘Community Procurement’ came up which is demand-driven and
based on the four basic principles:

1. First, farmer groups must be able to choose the brand-model of pumpsets themselves from a
pre-selected item/rate databank drawn up through a State selection process and procure them
at their preferred choice of time.

2. Second, the bulk purchase of pumps likely to bring in economies of scale whereby suppliers
offer the low prices that are typically associated with centralised procurement. Driven by the
open competition and the potential size of the market opportunity, pump-set manufacturers
would offer lower competitive prices.

3. Third, driven by an open competition and the potential size of the market opportunity, pumpset
manufacturers would provide better after-sales service to attract and retain farmers’ as
customers.

4. Fourth, an audit process to verify that pumps are actually delivered and installed. The audit
process would also verify that pumpsets have actually been procured by intended farmer groups,
delivered, installed, and used by them.

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Major Activities
Activities Planning and Implementation : The project involves participation of NGOs for facilitation
and social mobilisation of the community. As part of social mobilisation, NGOs are generating
awareness among the community regarding project benefits and requirements for availing of those
benefits. NGOs assist in forming groups among farmers (mostly small, marginal and medium farmers)
having common interest called Agriculture Service Groups (ASG) as this group formation is a prime
criterion for availing of benefits under the project. The applications received for procurement are
screened by the NGOs and then the departmental extension machinery scores the screened
applications and submits it to the Executive Engineer - Agriculture for sanction, approval, etc. Once
the approved applications are provided to the district level officials, the selected beneficiary groups
are informed through the NGOs.

The processes engaged at planning and implementation of collective action of stakeholder groups
and innovation has not only increased transparency and accountability in procurement, but has also
been improving people’s lives.

Beneficiaries
The project benefited the farmers in several ways.

R Increase in purchase of pumpsets: A total of 100,000 STWs were provided to 100,000 farmer
groups comprising total 306167 farm families. Empowering communities accelerated the
implementation pace of STWs and the project could achieve a mammoth 90,000 STWs in seven
years as against 10,000 STWs in the initial three years when community procurement was not
involved.

R Empowered informed decisions leading to ownership of assets: The community procurement

process allowed manufacturers with varying capacities and sizes to apply. Instead of a single
supplier being selected through International Competitive Bidding, the process resulted in over
15 qualified suppliers with over 25 models for the farmer groups to choose from. This range of
choice and the accompanying autonomy allowed farmers to buy the pumpsets they knew and
found reliable, resulting in complete ownership of the asset. Farmers have also been able to
build relationships with local dealers for efficient after-sales service.

R Lower costs : In most cases, the unit cost of pumpsets was reduced by up to seven per cent
below the market price as the suppliers were local and no longer had to distribute pumps
across the State.

R Prompt after-sale services : The use of local dealers allowed communities to get prompt after-
sales service, with dealers providing services proactively as a marketing strategy.

R Significant improvements to agricultural productivity: This has helped in increasing agricultural

production making the State self-sufficient and now Assam ranks 8th in paddy cultivation. The
impact assessment report of March 2015, of Independent Monitoring & Evaluation Consultant
mentions that productivity of Boro Paddy (Summer Paddy) where STWs are mostly used, has
risen to 5.5.ton/ha from 1.5 ton/ha at pre-project i.e. an increase of 267% over baseline. Similarly,
productivity of mustard, cabbage and cauliflower increased to 1.1 T/ha, 10.6 T/ha and 9.8 T/ha

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from 0.6 T/ha, 7.0 T/ha and 5.6 T/a at pre-project, respectively. Further, cropping intensity has
increased to 200% from 130% at baseline. Marketed surplus of paddy (Boro), mustard and
vegetables increased by 45%, 279% and 255% from baseline. Assam has won several national
awards for improved productivity and for ensuring food security.

R Food security & engagement in other livelihood options : Most of their produce is now being
marketed rather than consumed by the family, resulting in significant increases in income which
indicates they can invest in other livelihood options.

R Better Quality of Life: During the field visit, people mentioned that they now have better
health, better education for children and better housing.
R Reduce corruption and better relationship with the government: Transparency and
accountability which was the core of procurement process may have reduced corruption and
other bottlenecks. People are re-establishing faith in government processes which is a positive
sign for good governance
R Capacity building of local NGOs: The project had NGOs as their partners to implement the
initiative. This benefited the local NGO’s in terms of building their own capacities.

Case Study - 1
Rakibul, 32 year old, was an unemployed educated youth for past 6 years. He studied till BA
2nd year. Agriculture was not an option as the output was not only low but also not enough to sustain
his family. He thus left for Delhi and did odd jobs to survive. When he came back, he read in the
newspaper about the opportunity to procure pumps for STWs which meant more water implying
more produce. Immediately he formed a group ( three people) and purchased the pumpset.
Today, after six years, his life has transformed. He proudly showed his earlier residence and his
present one and the difference was stark! He was able to purchase more land, a television and a
motorcycle.

The unique element of this intervention : was surely the process of “Community Procurement”
This was for the first time implemented by and is an excellent process through which State machineries
are more transparent and accountable to people. The procurement process had transparency and
accountability inbuilt in its programme thereby setting a very good example of good governance.

The project had the community participation at all levels which transferred the ownership to
people. This is one of the finest examples of participatory development as against the top-down
approach. Procurement of the pumpsets was not an end in itself. The contact established with the
farmers' groups now have become a network for ARIASS. These contacts are now utilised to
disseminate information about other schemes of line departments, especially of fishery, dairy, and
so on.
Sustainability
The intervention was participatory as a result of which people felt as partners and took ownership
of the intervention. It is often seen, when people are not consulted, ownership is less. Farmers were
happy about the purchase and took care of the pumpsets. Maintenance was high and utilisation of
the same was maximum.

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Elements of Replication
Community Procurement was an initiative of AACP. The project was successfully completed in
March 2015 but has not ended. The success of the project has paved the way for the next phase
where now the idea is to market the increase in agricultural produce which is a dire need in Assam.

The project has become a model for others to follow. Other States like Maharashtra and Rajasthan
sought training and are now implementing similar process.

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Constructive Work as Self-Governance: Improving Lives

in Delwara
APP ID 105
Title of the Initiative Constructive Work as Self-Governance: Improving Lives in
Delwara Seva Mandir
State RAJASTHAN

Constructive works as Self-Governance improving lives in Delwara: Seva Mandir

Seva Mandir, one of the pioneer social organisations functioning towards development of the
underprivileged communities since sixties has initiated democratic and participatory platform for
community empowerment, drinking water, solid & liquid waste management, youth activities, heritage
& community walk and model for good governance through Nagrik Vikas Manch.

Major Activities
Works undertaken under the “Constructive work as Self-Governance improving lives in Delwara”
could be listed as:

1. Restoration of Palera pond by cleaning the catchments and by deepening the pond, which has
increased the water storage in the pond which in turn has increased the water table of the
Delwara Peri urban area.

2. Delwara township is served by the PHED water supply based on the various step wells existing
in the township area since from the ancient times. With the restoration and renovation of the
traditional step wells these have now become sources of perennial water supply.

3. PHED has constructed new water storage tank and is planning to change the old existing pipeline
in the township area.

4. Cleaning of roads in every ward of Delwara by Arogya Mitra with support from Seva Mandir.
Segregation of the organic & inorganic household waste and its door to door collection by the
sanitation workers is an initiative taken under solid waste management. Developing organic
manure from the solid organic waste by decomposing it for 45 days.

5. Construction of toilets in Delwara for making Delwara Open Defecation Free (ODF).

6. Developing water supply and sewerage system in the Bhil Basti which is one of the hamlets of
Delwara. Water posts are developed for water collection with a nominal tariff of ` 35 per month
per family.

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7. Constitution of mohalla samiti for maintenance of the solid waste management, repair &
maintenance of the water supply and sewerage system.

8. Nagrik Vikas Manch (Civil Development Forum) developed as a platform for having discourse of
development and for providing good governance to Delwara.

9. SHGs are being formulated for the income generation for women of Delwara and linked with
Sadhana, a profit making organisation, sister concern of Seva Mandir dealing with the sales and
marketing of women apparels.

10. YRC (Youth Resource Centre) developed with Seva Mandir is an initiative for development of
youth. Skill development of youth with a view to making them self reliant and grooming their
career as per their interests.

11. Trained Local youth as Guide, livelihood training for youth by YRC (Youth Resource Centre).

Activities Planning and Implementation

Every Mohalla Samiti conducts meetings to discuss issues pertaining to the cleanliness of the
surroundings, water supply system of their mohalla, drainage and safe disposal of the solid and liquid
wastes of their neighbourhoods, development of infrastructure, plan capacity building of their SHG
members, etc. These plans are put up to Nagrik Vikas Manch. The Manch then approves after due
discussions with all Mohalla Committee and forwards the same to Seva Mandir for approval and
execution. Staff of Seva Mandir handhold the committees during implementation and along with it
regular monitoring and review work. Nagrik Vikas Manch tries to get support from the Gram Panchayat
and other concerned departments for implementation.

Benefits to Stakeholders
The groundwater table has risen due to cleaning in the catchment area. Restoration and
renovation of ponds and step wells has provided uninterrupted water supply to the residents of Delwara
across the year. Solid waste management & segregation of organic & inorganic household wastes as
well as house to house collection of waste has improved community sanitation and provided clean
environment to Delwara Township.

Employment to the local poor resident of Delwara as Arogya Mitra and persons involved in
segregation of wastes before decomposing the same for preparing organic manure. Earnings from
selling of organic manure has added to the corpus of the society. Proper disposal of human excreta by
constructing toilets & sewerage lines as well as recycling of sewerage water provides safe and healthy
environment to the residents of Delwara. This is a step forward towards making Delwara ODF.

Women of Mohalla Samiti are empowered to carry out their responsibility towards development
of their neighbourhoods. Women have started participating in development activities and due to this
community solidarity is on the rise. Women of Mohalla Samiti are also constituting Self-Help Groups
(SHGs) and organising skill development trainings to members of SHG for increasing their income by
linking them with Sadhana.

Nagrik Vikas Manch has provided a platform for good governance. Youth have found new
methods for livelihood.

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Accrued Benefits
The intervention of the water supply in Bhil Basti is very efficient and water drudgery of women
has been reduced very much. While in the peri-urban township water supply is on alternate days, this
basti gets supply daily. Efficient system for waste collection and disposal adds to clean environment
and women have a key role in decision making.While women are augmenting their income by stitching
apparel, the youth are discovering their hidden talents.

An Arogya Mitra says, “I don’t need to ask for cash or kind from each house and feel humiliated.
I get a fixed salary every month. My interaction with other super castes has hugely increased and I am
no longer treated like an outsider.”

Key Benefits
Social : Communal harmony in the neighbourhood by way of participative action on all fronts.

Political : Transparent and democratic system of Nagrik Vikas Manch has shown path of good
governance to the existing governance system of the Gram Panchayat.

Economical : Different capacity building and skill development trainings are being given by the
organisation and linking the trained manpower with different income generating activities and
programmes leading to improved economic status of the community of the Delwara peri-urban area.

Small intervention of cleaning of ponds and step wells created sustainable and perennial water
sources in the village bringing in tow a host of other benefits as a trickle down effect.

Elements of Sustainability
Formation of various forums like Mohalla Samiti, Nagrik Vikas Manch and its democratic way of
functioning- election every five years, elections and process of electing office bearers, by voting by
chairperson and secretaries of the Mohalla Samiti, formation of the executive committee and three
committees for administration, sanitation and health & education affairs of the village. Corpus of 39
lakhs developed by the committee is very important from the point of sustainability of the project.

Ability to Replicate
Structure and system of functioning of Nagrik Vikas Manch and Mohalla Samiti is easily replicable
to any part of the country with proper handholding from the trained NGO/ CBO in the initial stage of
the initiation of the project. The Sewerage system and water supply developed in the Bhil Basti can
be replicated in hilly habitation. Similarly, segregation of garbage and its proper disposal can be
replicated and scaled up in entire country with minimal HR support and developing a corpus through
user charges.

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 National Workshop on Good Practices in Rural Development Sector

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 National Workshop on Good Practices in Rural Development Sector

Empowering Fisherman through Mobile Advisory

Services, Department of Fisheries, Odisha
APP ID 111
Title of the Initiative Empowering Fisherman through Mobile Advisory Services
Director Of Fisheries, Odisha
State ODISHA

Empowering Fisherman through Mobile Advisory Services, Department of Fisheries, Odisha

The Department of Fisheries has identified IFFCO Kisan Sanchar Limited (IKSL) as implementing
agency to jointly develop an information advisory services model for dissemination and collation of
latest and timely actionable information to fishermen. The scheme is leveraging mobile phones for
updating the farmers with experts’ inputs on fisheries. The service operates through Green SIM card
which provides subscribers with regular network services, just like any other SIM card, and in addition
it also provides free voice and SMS services with relevant content. Also, the scheme provides Helpline
and Phone-In programs for the benefit of the fishermen. The Directorate of Fisheries supports through
adequate number of experts through a Kisan Call Centre (KCC) managed by IKSL.

Green SIM services is a packaged service available exclusively on the Airtel network and
marketing and distribution is managed by IFFCO Kisan Sanchar Limited (IKSL).

Activities Planning and Implementation

In the intervention, the fishermen are broadly categorised based on their information needs
like Inland Fishermen, Marine Fishermen (Telugu Fisherfolk as sub-category) and Chilika Fishermen
(Brackish water). Each category receives five voice messages in the local dialect for a duration of one
minute.

Major part of the content is provided by the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information
Services (INCOIS). It covers topics such as potential fishing zones and life-saving weather warnings. It
also includes information on prevailing fish market prices, government schemes, fish conservation,
alternate livelihoods, financial literacy, eco-tourism, care and management, seasonal diseases, fish
feed, fish culture and pond management.

The fishermen receive four messages everyday based on the segment he/she belongs to (+ one
emergency message when needed) on fisheries, health, education, government schemes, etc. The
major benefit has been in terms of life security for the fishermen during natural calamities as they
receive information in advance (which happened during two recent cyclones, namely "Phailin" in
2013 and "Hud Hud" in 2014).

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 National Workshop on Good Practices in Rural Development Sector

Intervention
Potential Fishing Zones (PFZs) and prevailing market prices have proved to be beneficial for the
fishermen. The information has helped to locate fish in potential areas where they congregate, saving
on valuable fuel and human drudgery. The search time has been reduced by about fifty per cent and
the fishing period has reduced from 3-5 days to 1-2 days. The PFZ map helps in locating the fish shoals
in the open sea with the help of Global Positioning System (GPS).

Unique Elements of the Intervention

Customised information to user groups has proved to be beneficial and voice mail services,
perhaps have been used for the first time in the fisheries sector.

Impact
The internal evaluation results are positive in terms of information dissemination but not so
much in terms of practice/adoption/follow-up or its translation to economic benefits (Our evaluation
was restricted to marine fisherfolk who are most vulnerable). However, the exercise covers large
number of inland fishermen numbering 1,26,486 and 60,595 marine fishermen and 13,473 brackish
water or Chilika fishermen.

Elements of Sustainability
From the ecology point of view, information dissemination may help the government to enforce
ban on fishing to ensure conservation of marine fish resources and save human lives in the event of
natural calamities. Fishermen’s interest will be served when this information also brings economic
benefits for traditional fisherman through technology adoption.

Ability to Replicate
This intervention has already scaled up from 1 lakh fishermen to 2 lakh fishermen and can be
made to reach 12 lakh fishermen in Odisha and possibly to other States. However, finding technology
solutions like PFZs to traditional fishermen and offering marketing alternatives will make information
more relevant and help in scaling up further.

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9
Eraviperoor Gram Panchayat
APP ID 614
Title of the Initiative Eraviperoor Gram Panchayat
State KERALA

The Eraviperoor Gram Panchayat has carried out several initiatives for the overall development
of the panchayat. Interventions have been carried out in the e-Governance, Education, Environment
conservation, water supply, waste management, institution building and for improving service delivery
of government schemes.

Under the E-Governance sector, certificates like marriage, birth and death have been made
online which can be issued to the villagers without much difficulty for the villagers. The notices and
information regarding various important issues are provided through voice and text messages for the
benefit of the villagers. All salaries and honorariums of the board members are paid through banks.
A record room has been set up to trace the records and documents without any delay. Ten softwares
developed by the Information Kerala Mission have been installed and are being applied for facilitating
e-Governance. The office building of the Gram Panchayat has been connected through wi-fi internet
networking technology. Total Quality Management system has been adopted and ISO 9001-2008
Certification has been achieved for the Panchayat Office making it one of the few such panchayats in
the country.

In the education sector, a village knowledge centre has been established having a reference
library and a coaching centre for civil service and other competitive examinations. Sanskrit, yoga and
art and culture classes are organised for inculcating cultural values into students. Also, a directory for
the history, culture and indigenous knowledge of the village has been prepared to conserve traditional
wisdom.

For conserving environment, an environment gram sabha was organised for creating awareness
on waste management and other environmental issues. Twenty thousand seedlings of shade trees
were distributed to ensure better environment in the future. A biogas plant and vermi pipe-ring
compost units were distributed and a modern slaughter house, a modern fish market and a WATSAN
park was constructed for improved waste treatment. Also, a plastic tar road was constructed from
the plastic waste collected by the women in the village making the village a model in waste
management. A government land which was being used as a dumping area has been converted into
a children’s park.

Various initiatives have been carried out specifically in the Scheduled Caste colonies to improve
the situation of drinking water supply by making effective use of the Scheduled Caste development
fund. This has improved drinking water supply in 50 households in the village.

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 National Workshop on Good Practices in Rural Development Sector

Rejuvenation of a dry river was done through the funds of MGNREGA for catering to the needs
of the villagers and for increasing the groundwater level. Various initiatives like cultivation on fallow
land, distribution of banana seedlings, subsidy for seedlings and fertilisers, poly houses, etc have
been taken for promoting agricultural activities.

Yoga classes have been started through eight centres for curing and preventing diseases. Karate
classes are organised especially amongst girls in the age group of 10-15 years for teaching them self-
defence and also improving their self-confidence.

Special committees for redressing grievances of women have been formed and since 2010, 173
out of the 182 petitions have been amicably settled.

The panchayat has received various prestigious awards such as State best Bio-Diversity
Management Committee Award 2013-14, Arogya Puraskaram 2013-14 and as best panchayat for
implementing Pain and Paliative scheme 2013-14. The Sweeden based International Centre for Local
Democracy has elected the panchayat as the best Panchayat for its diversity of project implementation
and visited the panchayat with its research team comprising members from eleven Nations. It has
been elected as Model High Tech Green Village and thereby received an additional State government
aid of ` 3 cr. in the year 2013-14. The plastic waste management project implemented in the panchayat
was elected as the district level model project.

Numerous initiatives taken in the village lead to substantial development in the panchayat and
also ensured a better future for the coming generations.

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10

Lighting up the Lives of Unemployed Rural Youth

APP ID 131
Title of the Initiative Lighting up the Lives of Unemployed Rural Youth, GMR
VARALAKSHMI FOUNDATION
State ANDHRA PRADESH

Skill Development Initiatives: GMR Varalakshmi Foundation

GMR Varalakshmi Foundation started the Skill Development Initiatives on 01/01/2003 covering
all the villages and mandals of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram & Visakhapatnam districts of Andhra Pradesh
and is still an ongoing project.

Major Activities
The foundation aims at providing livelihood through skill development and runs vocational
training which will lead to wage or self-employment. The foundation also runs entrepreneurship
development programme for the benefit of youth.

Planning and Implementation of the Activities

The foundation runs its vocational training programme through its centres

1. Nagavali Institute of Rural Entrepreneurship development which is in collaboration with Andhra

Bank as part of RSETI. The Training Expenses for the centre are shared by GMR foundation and
Andhra Bank on 50-50% basis while the whole infrastructure was created by GMR foundation.

2. Jarjangi Institute of Rural Entrepreneurship and Girijana Institute of Rural Entrepreneurship

Institutes which are totally funded by the GMR Foundation.

Intervention
Government department in the past have paid for trainings in the past but for very small number
of candidates. Presently the total cost of training is borne by GMR foundation. There is no cost collected
from the key stakeholders who are youth in the age between 18 to 35 of both genders who come for
training to the institute. The cost towards their food, accommodation and training is totally looked
after by the institute. The details of the expenses are reflected in the annual report.

Beneficiaries
The key stakeholders who are part of mobilisation of the youth are the district administration,
Local Banks, Self-Help Groups, and NGOs who motivate the youth to go for trainings. The direct
stakeholders are youth, their families and the villages from where the students are coming for the

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 National Workshop on Good Practices in Rural Development Sector

institute. All the districts where GMR Foundation is working have largely tribal population where
youth formerly before this project started did not have any awareness about skill development trainings
which can help them earn livelihoods. Presently these youth have access to quality training leading to
livelihoods and are able to earn to take care of three times meal a day which was not possible for
them earlier. The external and internal audits also reflect the same that these trainings have raised
hopes among the youth that they can get trained and earn livelihoods especially without migrating
to other cities.

Unique Features of Interventions

1. Pre-Assement test done before the candidate is selected for a particular training which is unique
compared to other skill development initiatives.

2. Skill Gap analysis done by the organisation which narrows down to village level within the
districts.

3. Collaboration with Andhra Bank for setting up RSETI for skill development initiatives.

4. Employment within the district which is preventing migrations.

Sustainability
Employability skills has been the primary focus of all the State governments as there is
tremendous scope of employability with new emerging markets. The vocational training provided
through NSDC, State Government schemes and various departmental schemes lead to employability
but the training imparted by the GMR foundation can be termed as unique and sustainable due to
following:

1. The model of collaborating with Banks for RSETI for skill development can be looked as an
alternative model for skilling for self-employment within the district compared to wage
employment for which youth need to go outside the district. This model can be replicated
across all the States as part of collaboration with banks for skilling under RSETI.

2. The pre-assessment test done before the students join the training can be adopted which helps
in selecting the right candidate for the right course and ensures that person does training by
choice. It is found in skill sector generally that candidates either do not complete the training or
leave job in the first month of employability. Such intervention of doing pre-assessment for
right candidate for the right job will help in sustaining the skill interventions.

3. Skill gap analysis within the village before the mobilisation of youth for a particular training is
also an adoptable model which will help in ensuring livelihood for the youth who have got
trained instead of only getting trained leading to no livelihood.

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11
Gyanarjan Process of Reengineering for Qualitative
Education in Mandla
APP ID 516
Title of the Initiative Gyanarjan Process of Reengineering for Qualitative Education
in Mandla Tribal Welfare and Development Department
State MADHYA PRADESH

Improving the quality of education was a big challenge in Mandla district. Two students, in the
year 20l2-13, made to the merit list of State. District collector met them and heard their stories on
how they made it possible. Their stories were defining moment for administration to take some
corrective measures to make education more effective in the district. Everything started with better
focus on planning and execution of plans. For better planning, administration took the following
steps:
Planning
(i) Academic Initiatives
1. Analysing the course for l0th and 12th standard
2. Preparing a calendar for completion of course in academic year
3. Finalisation of time-frame for each chapter (subject-wise) with the help of teachers
4. Assessing the difficulty of teachers about understanding of subject, lack of reference
material and requirement of training
(ii) Non-Academic Initiatives
1. Assessing infrastructural gaps such as physical space for laboratory, library
2. toilets for girls, place for cooking food etc.
3. Assessment of need of reference material and books
4. Assessment of status of water supply, access to schools in remote areas
(iii) Use of Information Technology
1. Developing a monitoring tool for monitoring the progress and completion of course
on time with the help of NIC
2. Training principals on using this web based application
3. Using the data generated through web based application for ensuring the completion
of syllabus in time

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Implementation
R The implementation started with sharing the academic calendar with teachers. The
yearly academic calendar was shared with all the teachers and all the principals in
164 higher secondary schools

R Teachers were asked to ensure two things

a. Completing the chapter within prescribed time during the academic calendar;

b. Sharing the date of completion of each chapter with district administration

using the web based software designed by the NIC;

R Principals had responsibility to monitor timely completion of subjects, specially

subjects related to science and mathematics;

R Principals also had the responsibility to assist the teachers in completing their targets
and if there are any major issues then share the same with district administration;

R Infrastructure was designed and created at the level of schools. The administration
adopted a strategy of creating one institution of excellence in each block and that
was named as Navaratna. Thus, nine institutions of excellence were established-
one each in all the nine blocks of the district.

Benefits Accrued
Parents feel that it is a good initiative and for the first time administration is informing them
about the progress of their children. Teachers feel that they are getting support from administration,
they are also getting assistance in completing their task and for the first time proper library, laboratory
and other important facilities are installed in the school. The teachers were happy to see the
establishment of smart classes. Administration feels that educational system can be made effective
with better planning.

Intervention
The District Administration realised that it can make the system more effective by reorganising
the system within available resources and manpower. Assistant Commissioner, Tribal, District Collector
and education department collectively started thinking and identifying the gaps in the education
system.

District administration had brainstorming session at their end and after initial discussion they
decided to:

(a) Involve teachers in planning and designing the time-bound calendar for each subject;

(b) Involving other departments to fulfil the gaps;

(c) Changing the academic calendar in semester system;

(d) Involving the parents in sharing feedback on progress of students.

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 National Workshop on Good Practices in Rural Development Sector

System has been effective as per the record made available by district about results and dropout.
The success of 17 students in IIT and JEE is also an important indicator. Facelift of school premise has
also been useful as it has filled the infrastructural gaps.

Unique Elements of the Intervention

(i) The intervention is unique as it has achieved the almost impossible task of completing the
course in time without any additional budgetary requirement or even any extra support in
terms of administrative orders and rules;

(ii) One important feature of the intervention is developing a working relationship between different
departments to achieve the objective of making education system more effective. NIC, Tribal
Department, Education Department and PHED have worked to fill the gaps and Public Works
Department has been efficient in completing the task of creating infrastructure in time;

(iii) Reinforcement of existing budget, manpower (although the available ratio of manpower to
sanctioned post is low and there is shortage of manpower) and other resources to make system
more effective;

(iv) Encouraging the most important stakeholder, the teacher, to take initiative.

Sustainability of Interventions
The intervention has high chances of success because it has focussed on developing system at
block and district level like: (i) Using data generated through web based application about progress in
completion of syllabus in time; (ii) The project has supported the existing system of planning and
monitoring within the education system.

Replicability
The district itself has scaled up the intervention from class 10th and 12th to class 9th to 10th
and class 11th to 12th. The learning can easily be replicable in other districts of State as the system is
same across the districts in the State.

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 National Workshop on Good Practices in Rural Development Sector

12

Krushi Samruddhi/CAIM (Convergence of Agriculture

Interventions in Maharashtra at Warud (Amravati)
APP ID 593
Title of the Initiative Krushi Samruddhi/CAIM (Convergence of Agriculture
Interventions in Maharashtra at Warud (Amravati) IFAD-
International Fund for Agriculture Development SRTT – Sir
Ratan Tata Trust Govt. of Maharashtra
State MAHARASHTRA

Krushi Samruddhi - Convergence of Agricultural Interventions in Maharashtra (CAIM), Warud

(Amravati, Maharashtra)

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is the implementing agency project-CAIM which covers six
districts in Vidarbha region, with a population of around 11.2 million of which 45% are below poverty
line and 75% of households being rural households.

The intervention reported here from Warud block is in Amravati district of Maharashtra covering
totally 15 villages. Warud is one of the “Over-Exploited” Talukas, where farmers do not get good
prices; agricultural productivity is low; status of women is low; and livestock development is a matter
of concern.

The project is based on a ‘Consortium Model’, which was envisaged to bring services to the
farmers in an integrated manner. Consent was sought from each of the Consortium Partners towards
common cause of the project i.e. economic upliftment of farmers. The strength of each partner is
being utilised in order to achieve a win-win strategy for farmers as well as each partner. The partners
are : BAIF (Livestock Development); KPSS (Institution Building); Jain Irrigation (Soil & Water
Conservation, Technology Dissemination ); NRCC (Technology Dissemination); TESCO (Market Linkage);
Food Cert (Market Linkage- through Certification); Dhan Foundation (Institution Building); Jeevan
Vidya Mission (Social Innovation – Mindset Change); and Taluka level Government Organisations.

Activities Planning and Implementation

Involving the Community through VDCs, SHGs, VLCs, Producer Groups and Joint Liability Groups
(JLGs), depending upon the nature of the activity, using participatory processes was the first step. All
activities were planned and implemented in association with respective VDCs, SHGs, VLCs, Producer
Groups and Joint Liability Groups (JLGs).

The stakeholders were provided information on available government schemes, convergence

plans were prepared, followed with support to ensure that the activities in collaboration with Gram
Panchayats were undertaken.

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 National Workshop on Good Practices in Rural Development Sector

Major Activities
Project started with building capacity of the beneficiaries through various trainings, providing
suitable information from time to time to keep up with changing needs of the market. Awareness and
training were the key steps as part of all activities during the interventions.

R Institution Building was designed to realise a solution that sustains through many ways. They
were – 1. Creation of Consortium Partners, 2. Village Development Committees in each village,
3. Aggregation of Producer Groups, 4. Activating the Self-Help Groups, 5. Creation of Joint Liability
Groups, and 6. Collaboration with existing Taluka Government and Consortium partners.

R To solve the basic problem of low water level in the targeted area, various soil and water
conservation activities were to be taken up so as to help in increasing the groundwater level.
These included - creation of graded bunds, cement plug de-silting, broad based furrows and
irrigation.

R The farmers/producers were aggregated as a Producer Group and were connected to the market
directly through various consortium partners and contacts in the market. This was done to give
them exposure to the world beyond local traders.

R In order to increase the productivity and address questions asked by farmers – the farmers
were registered in the ‘mKRISHI’ platform for Technology Dissemination. This included access
to best practices, answers to frequently asked questions of farmers, and alerts in local language
to the farmers on their mobile handsets. Also farmers were given various FFS (Farmer Field
School) demonstration through government schemes and IFAD sponsored Demonstration Plots.

R Branding and value addition to the Farmers’ Produce was possible through Quality Certification.
In this intervention, two international certifications with Global acceptance were implemented-
namely, Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) for cotton and Good Agriculture Practices (GAP) for orange.

R Collective input procurement of seeds, fertilisers, and pesticides for Producer Groups was
undertaken in order to reduce the input cost of the farmers. The VDC- Village Development
Committees-were involved and transactions were made through VDC accounts.

R Small and medium enterprises were set-up to increase the income level of farmers as it could
act as supportive agricultural activity. Focus was on women’s empowerment. Group of farmers
or women from self-help groups were motivated to start their own businesses at small or even
medium level for which TCS helped them to connect to all requirements like loan from banks,
business plan preparation, knowledge about market connect, etc.

R Livestock development was another focus (Backyard Poultry & Household Dairy) of intervention
in which BAIF assisted with their expertise.

R Social Innovation was introduced by the consortium partner – Jeevan Vidya Mission-to encourage
farmers in the direction of entrepreneurship development, positive mindset and collective work,
knowledge sharing and delivering with quality.

R TCS, Mumbai Innovation Labs, has invested in the project in terms of 2/3 of field staff salary for
the last three years, the cost of Group Lead and free mKRISHI platform for farmer expert connect.

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Intervention-Community Empowerment
Village Development Committees/ Village Level Committees: VDCs/ VLCs are the key / leading
community institutions formed and nurtured for village level planning, implementation and monitoring
of livelihood interventions. They assumed ownership of the soil and water conservation supervising
its work. A few VDCs took initiative and requested government departments for undertaking soil
and water conservation work.

Joint Liability Group: Joint Liability Groups consisting of minimum of five members formed in each
project village for enhancing the credit flow. The members are from small, marginal households and
landless households. One of the major purposes of the groups is to form mutual guarantee groups for
bank/MFI credit. Joint Liability Group) got empowered to start their own business.

Farmers/Producer Groups: Farmer groups are cultivating the common commodities. Farmers groups
are guided in an intensive manner for at least a whole main crop season, to ascertain that the promoted
practices are well understood and correctly applied, which achieved through the trainings,
demonstrations and mKrishi platform. The farmers/producers realised the collective power for input
purchase, direct sell market linkage. The Producer Groups together and also got themselves certified
with international standards like Better Cotton Initiative and Global GAP.

Self-Help Groups: The project improved the functioning of the existing women SHGs, the rejuvenated
non-functional SHGs and established new SHGs. Efforts are made to ensure that each of the projects
HH is linked to the SHGs. All the productive SHGs are linked directly and exclusively to the banks for
micro-finance and undertaking livelihoods activities. SHGs - Got empowered and their self-confidence
rose on implementation of several interventions like SPARC Units, Poultry, Milk Units, Goatery, etc.

Accrued Benefits
The beneficiaries are very satisfied as their income increased. This has generated more interest
in the interventions, especially in the enterprises. The beneficiaries are now ready to put more
investment. There has been social and economic development of the stakeholders through various
activities.

Elements of Sustainability
This project has been successful in demonstration of a sustainable solution for agriculture with
the consortium model with government of Maharashtra as one of the key partners. The “Units” in
this Programme comprised: 1) VDC - Village Development Committees, 2) SHG - Self-Help Groups, 3)
JLG - Joint Liability Groups, and 4) PG - Producer Groups. This model is likely to sustain as the Consortium
Partnership includes Government collaboration and as the approach includes end user participation.

Ability to Replicate
The intervention has replicability due to several factors. For example it has a multi-disciplinary
full time team of qualified and experienced professionals; field tested resource material in local
language; field-tested Operational Plans ready for implementation; development of 15 demonstration
villages, which has the potential to act as Model for other organisations and replicate similar activities
in other villages. It has a network of like-minded NGOs - for up-scaling / replication. With the Global

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 National Workshop on Good Practices in Rural Development Sector

GAP certification, Producer Groups have realised the potentials and possibilities of export market.
Once the export market gains momentum, this is likely to increase interest in good agricultural
practices; Extensive experience in various trainings, covering more than 1600 farmers through BCI,
GAP, LEISA trainings and others have resulted in better understanding of cultivation practices.

The members of the

Village
Development
Committee of
Chandas village
along with the
Project team during
the visit of RP on
12.8.2015. The VDCs
hold their regular
meetings in the VIC.

A Backyard Poultry
Unit owned by a
landless farmer.
Giriraj breed of
chicken are
distributed with
30% subsidy from
IFAD. The project till
date has facilitated
91 such units.

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National Workshop on Good Practices in Rural Development Sector

To solve the basic

problem of low
water level in the
targeted area,
various Soil and
Water Conservation
activities were
taken up so as to
help in increasing
the groundwater
level, including
Cement Plug De-
silting of nullah.

A Village
Information Centre
at Chandas village.
Such VICs
established by the
Project in 13 Gram
Panchayats provide
a meeting ground
and information
kiosk for farmers.

Reading materials
related to modern
agricultural
practices available
at the Village
Information Centre
helps in
dissemination of
information.

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A Seed Drill which is

owned by the SHG.
This is one of the
agricultural
implements that are
given on rent to
needy farmers. This
is a real boon to
marginal farmers
who cannot own
such modern
implements.

A Rotta Wetter and Bed

Maker which are owned
by the SHG. These
agricultural implements
are given on rent to
needy farmers. Besides
being helpful in
improving the quality of
soil, such implements
help marginal farmers in
enhancing their
agricultural production.

A Mini Dal Mill

(which can also
clean wheat) owned
by a Women’s SHG
which is set up with
part financial
assistance from
IFAD. Such
initiatives have
given sustainable
income to SHGs.

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National Workshop on Good Practices in Rural Development Sector

A bigger Dl Mill
(which can also
clean wheat) owned
by a Women’s SHG
which is set up with
part financial
assistance from
IFAD. Such
initiatives have
given marginal
farmers easy access
to modern facilities
giving them
freedom from
drudgery and a
sustainable income
to SHGs.

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13
Light for Education
APP ID 79
Title of the Initiative Light For Education
SELCO Foundation
State KARNATAKA

SELCO Foundation introduced an innovative solution to the problem of unreliable power supply
faced by students of Karnataka. The organisation intervened to provide students with high quality
study lamps that could be charged at a central charging station using solar energy in the school and
enabled them to study at night in areas that had poor or unreliable electricity supply. Major activities
undertaken were providing of “LED Study Lamp”, “Centralised Solar Charging Systems” and “Pocket
Size Battery”.

Each student had been provided with a pocket size, lightweight battery and a LED study lamp.
The lamp was placed at home where students study at night. The batteries were carried to school
every day for charging through the Centralised Solar Charging System. This provided light at least four
hours a day.

This provided safe, bright and sufficient light for students to study at night. The lamp does not
emit harmful smoke or heat, like a kerosene lamp. It had been proved to be a cost-effective due to a
shared and centralised solar charging system. At the same time, drop-outs in schools had reduced as
every day the students had been going to school for charging the batteries. Technically the performance
of the central system was much better than individual solar panels in portable lantern models especially
during rainy weather.

The students were charged a minimal amount as an initial deposit so that in future replacements
of lights would be taken care of and they could own the system in a long run. In association with the
Parents Teachers Association and School Development Committee a particular amount in the budget
for such innovative practices could be earmarked that had a positive impact on learning outcomes
and improving attendance of students.

Strong support from the school authorities, parents and local community organisations could
be the major success factors for the initiation and sustainability of the project. Government agencies
could also play an active role in mobilising the communities with the help of Gram Panchayat and
local community based organisations by creating demonstrations and awareness programmes.

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14
Mahatma Gandhi Dispute-Free Village Mission
APP ID 146
Title of the Initiative Mahatma Gandhi Dispute-Free Village Mission
Government of Maharashtra
State MAHARASHTRA

Mahatma Gandhi Dispute-Free Village, Pune and Raigad Village Panchayats of Maharashtra

The Home Department of the Government of Maharashtra launched the innovative scheme
for Alternative Dispute Resolution in 2007 aimed to address the issues with efforts from the community
for speedy disposal. It was observed that at the village level, disputes often arise over petty issues.
Even though initially few people may be involved, petty disputes if unresolved can contribute to
contention and result in distrust which can further decline mutual relations and are a potential threat
to the peace and harmony of the community. The Mahatma Gandhi Tantamukt Gaon Mohim is a
village level Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) system which seeks to work with a two-pronged
strategy, first, it has a preventive role by virtue of which there is a conscious effort made by the village
community to prevent the occurrence of any passive or regressive conflict – dispute in the village and
second, to resolve existing disputes at the village level through people's participation and initiative.

The salient features of this mission are: 1

1. Formation of Tanta Mukt Samitis at each and every village in the State.

2. Identification of existing disputes, classifying them into criminal, civil and revenue.

3. Noting them down in a register maintained by the samiti.

4. Preventive schemes and measures to ensure that disputes do not occur.

5. Resolution of existing and new disputes in a democratic, fair and participative manner.

Major Activities
1. Resolution of pending compoundable criminal civil revenue and other disputes by Village
committee,

2. Celebration of festivals with communal harmony,

3. Empowerment and delegation of responsibility to villagers to resolve disputes,

4. Precautionary and preventive steps

1. http://www.mahapolice.gov.in/mahapolice/jsp/temp/disputefree.jsp (Source : Maharashtra Police website)

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Design and Process

The initiative focuses on formation of a committee at the village level with 45 members which
includes around 30-35% women. The village level committee should have representation from all
communities and sects in the village. The chairperson and member secretary of the committee are
selected by the gram panchayat. For the purpose of implementation, there are committees set up at
State, district, tehsil and village level which review the progress. There is a district and village level
committee which enforces the programme. The villages performing well on resolving disputes and
maintaining peace and harmony are rewarded by the State government.

Impact
Pune district where 790 out of 1,134 villages have become ‘dispute-free' in the last two and a
half years. It is acknowledged by the State government that high amount of civil, revenue, criminal
and other cases are resolved at the village level.

1. The initiative has shed enormous load of petty cases to the law enforcement bodies and judiciary.

2. The initiative has strengthened the community participation in the matters of village
development which has strengthened the governance at the local level.

3. The intervention has strengthened the decentralised model of governance and has paved way
for inducting transparency and accountability to the processes.

4. The village level committee has been empowered in the process to flag issues concerning citizens
with the administration and have been a strong facilitator for the village development.

5. The committee for dispute-free village has helped to share the burden of panchayats by carrying
out activities of bridging community gap and resolving contentions among groups.

6. The most important aspect of the intervention is that is has been able to successfully bridge the
gap between police and citizens and has provided a platform for the two to come together for
reflection and planning experiences and engage into affirmative action.

The project has been able to evolve the necessary conditions of leadership and people’s
participation which has contributed in creating an environment for collaboration to sustain peace
and harmony in the villages. The initiative has been successful in creating a forum for the police to
engage with citizens and be partners in the change process. The project has the ability to replicate
especially for the States where the law and order is a matter of concern with respect to the limited
resources of managing the ground conditions.

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Committees
Committee President Members Member Secretary

State Level Chief Minister, Home Representatives from various Principal Secretary –
Minister (Joint ministries of the government Home
President)

District Level Guardian Minister Members of Parliament & Assembly Superintendent of

and other district officials & Police
representatives

Tehsil Level Tahsildar (Revenue Govt. officials at Tahsil Level

Officer)

Police Station level Police Station Officer Representatives of various village

(P.I. / A.P.I.) committees & council

Enforcement Committee
Committee President Member Secretary

District Level Collector Superintendent of Police

Village Level Nominated Member Revenue Officer or Village Development Officer or

by the village council Coordinator ( Police Patil)

Activity Calendar
1. 15th August-Inauguration of Dispute-Free Villages Campaign.

2. August-Meeting of Gram Sabha

3. September-Compilation of Pending Disputes

4. September to April-Re-solvement of Disputes by Village Committee

5. 1st May (Maharashtra Day) Village Committee declares village dispute-free

6. June-Assessment by Internal Committee (from District)

7. July-Assessment by external committee (from other District)

8. 15th August-Declaration rewards by State

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15
Making the Panchayat Swachh Panchayat
APP ID 416
Title of the Initiative Making the Panchayat Swachh Panchayat
State ARUNACHAL PRADESH

Making the Panchayat Swachh Panchayat : Village Panchayat, Dagam Village, GP:55, Lable-IV, Upper
Subansiri District, Arunachal Pradesh
The Dagam village is located in very remote location of Upper Subansiri district of Arunachal
Pradesh with no road connectivity till date. The villagers need to walk for 2 hours in tough and steep
mountain terrain and also cross the River Subansiri to reach the village from last road head. Traditional
sanitation practices followed by the villagers were very unhygienic which included:
1. Open defecation in which most of the villagers used to relieve themselves from top of the
bamboo house; Pigs and dogs below the platform would consume it.
2. Used bamboo sticks to clean after relieving instead of water.
3. No separate space for pigs, hens, dogs. It was like all living together.
Though the villagers were suffering from various health issues, they were reluctant to change
their age old habit. Therefore the major challenge was to change the mindset of the people. Besides,
lack of proper water supply in the village was also one of the major constraint on the villagers to start
using the toilets. However, the village panchayat, under the leadership of Mr. Tapak Dagam, succeeded
in getting water supply to the village and changing the mindset of local villagers by taking up series of
activities as mentioned below since 2009:
1. Series of awareness and sensitisation programmes for villagers were organised with support
from various government officials and experts.
2. In the year 2009 with financial support of ` 12,00,000.00 under National Rural Drinking Water
Supply programme, constructed filtration, reservoir tanks and six water pipe platform in the
village.
3. Constructed 15 units low cost toilets (11 units for individual households of the village, 2 units
for village school, 1 unit common use and 1 unit for Anganwadi) in the year 2010 with financial
support of ` 10,000.00 under National Rural Health Mission.
4. For every household separate pigsty and place for hen, goats etc. were constructed with available
local resources.
5. Local villagers were mobilised to contribute by providing construction materials like 2 pc of CGI
sheet, bamboo, timber etc. by every households for the construction of toilets, pigsty and place
for hen, goats.

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6. Provisions of daily wages under MGNREGA (at the rate of ` 95.00/day/head for 22 people for
10 days) were utilised for paying daily wage to villagers engaged in the construction works.

7. Village Panchayat prepared a bye-law and constituted Village Level Sanitation Committee to
prevent any unhygienic sanitary practice like open defecation

8. In the year 2012, award money of ` 50,000.00 received along with Nirmal Gram Puraskar was
utilised for maintenance of constructed toilets and water supply in the village.

9. In the year 2014, award money of ` 10,00,000.00 received along with Panchayat Sashaktikaran
Puraskar 2012-2013 and Rastriya Gaurav Gram Sabha Puraskar 2012-2013 were utilised for
improvement of facilities in village school which includes full electrification, construction of
toilets (2 units), repairing of class rooms and proper water supply for the school.

The objective that was set for the implementation of the project was to make Dagam Village,
Lable- IV Gram Panchayat open defecation free (ODF). Activities as per the set objectives are decided
according to the availability of fund from various sources at given point of time. However, for finalisation
of activities for implementation as per the fund availability, village level consultation meetings are
organised. After the completion of decided activity, meeting of Panchayat members is held where
finer details of expenditure are discussed. The works are planned and executed in a very transparent
manner. Village panchayat maintains official reports of work being carried out, all the papers of
payment, meetings minutes, bills, payment receipt, and any documents received and submitted to
government.

Impact
There has been an increase in level of awareness among local villagers regarding the usefulness
of proper sanitation. Initially reluctant to change age old practices, villagers are now realising multiple
benefits of having and using proper toilets. Success and recognition of the village at state and national
level is helping in motivating villagers from other districts to adopt similar practices. A better
infrastructure facility in the village school has also helped to ensure higher enrolment of students in
the school.

Due to successful implementation of the project, the village environment has become clean
and more hygienic. Flowing of dirty water along the slope and exposed human excreta are no more a
sight in the village. Besides, villagers have also become more aware about their personal hygiene and
cleanliness inside the houses.

The key benefits of the intervention that they have highlighted are as follows:

1. There has been sharp decline in instances of diseases like dysentery, typhoid and diarrhoea in
the village and as a result there is decline in taking medicine from PHC.

2. Earlier due to open defecation, cases of dog injuring pigs were very common leading to conflicts
among owner of dog and pig. Now after villagers started using toilet and stopped open
defecation, there are no more reports of such conflicts among villagers.

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3. Skin diseases and mite infection which were very common in the past as pigs, hens and dogs
used to share very close space with human have now reduced sharply. According to villagers
damage of their house from teak has also become very rare.

4. Recognising the effort the Govt. of India awarded the GP three awards namely Nirmal Gram
Puraskar-2011-12, Panchayat Sashaktikaran Puraskar 2012-13, Rashtriya Gaurav Gram Sabha
Puraskar 12-2013. The Gram Panchayat (Village) has now come into the limelight and become
a model and epitome for the entire district to emulate upon.

5. Recognising the dedication and sincerity of villagers to work for the development of village by
overcoming all constraints, the government also extended support to electrify the village.
Villagers who are settled outside also provided assistance to villagers in the form of colour TV
with Tata Sky connection for every house in recognition to the achievement of the villagers.

Sustainability
The local villagers as have realised the importance of sanitation and the benefits, are no more
depended on government support for maintenance of the toilets and water sources. Even at the time
of construction of toilets, the villagers have contributed in addition to support they received from
government and even now they maintain their toilets and work towards improvement of existing
facilities at their own.
Elements to Replicate and Scale up
Present initiative in Dagam village has become a model for others to follow and adopt. District
Administration is using the success of this village to mobilise villagers from other villages. Mr. Tapak
Dagam has been nominated as one of the Resource Persons by District Administration to mobilise
villagers to stop open defecation. Mr. Tapak’s approach has been adopted and the 148 Gram Panchayats
under 11 CD Blocks have benefited. He regularly visits and interacts with inhabitants of 9 villages. So
far in 4 villages, the villagers have successfully implemented the project to stop open defecation
namely Menga, Radhing, Dolum and Lipajaying. Thus, it is observed that the initiative has the potential
to be replicated and can be scaled up provided the communities have support from passionate and
devoted volunteers and facilitators like Mr Tapak. The dream of clean and green India can be a reality
once the communities decide to find their way.

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16
Movement and Action Network for Transformation of
Rural Areas
APP ID 512
Title of the Initiative Movement and Action Network for Transformation of Rural
Areas Charity Water Karl Kubel Stiftung Odisha Power
Generation Corporation Steel Authority of India Limited
State ODISHA

Movement and Action Network for Transformation of Rural Areas (MANTRA), Gram Vikas, Odisha

“MANTRA” targets social transformation using water and sanitation as an entry point. The
formation of Village Committees was for construction of combined facility of toilets with bathrooms
construction, overhead water tank and piped water supply to all households; introducing the concept
of creation of corpus fund, payment for services by the community and putting in place the governance
system for maintenance of infrastructure created for water and sanitation.

Activities Planning and Intervention

The Gram Vikas makes its intervention only when 100% households agree for water and
sanitation coverage. Hiring of local youth to provide repair and maintenance service ensures successful
implementation of the activity.

Benefits to Stakeholders
Gram Vikas has promoted the practice of hygiene and sanitation by overcoming the problem of
open defecation, through construction of toilets and bathrooms with 24 hrs water supply through
pipeline.

The community has immensely benefited through this intervention in terms of hygiene and
sanitation at village level. This has also enhanced the dignity of women who were defecating and
bathing in open spaces. The decline in incidence of health problems due to lack of hygiene was endorsed
by the community during field visit in all the three villages.

Impact
Access to toilets with continuous supply of water, bathing facility contribute to improved personal
hygiene, change in attitude and behaviour towards hygiene and sanitation which has started impacting
neighbourhood villages.

The management of the water and sanitation facilities created was handed over to community
with well developed processes in terms of its maintenance and sustainability. Representation of women
in the governance village committees through membership is 10 members.

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Benefits Accrued
The beneficiaries including members of the village committee opine that they are quite satisfied
with construction of toilets and bathrooms in their households and maintain them well. They have
understood the role of hygiene and sanitation and are putting efforts to make these interventions
sustainable. In their words main benefit is that the women of the village do not have to defecate on
both the sides of village roads and bath in open in unhygienic village water bodies. This has also given
them dignity in life. Thirdly, they get 24 hrs water supplies. This has also reduced the incidence of
water born diseases like dysentery and diarrhoea.

Elements of Sustainability
The creation of institutional mechanism like village committee (a registered institution) with
provision for corpus fund and maintenance charges by the community along with hiring of plumber
for maintenance of the infrastructure created ensures sustainability of the interventions.

Ability to Replicate
It is observed that 100% coverage of the households has been done under “MANTRA” in three
villages with household numbers ranging from 76 to 148. The intervention is successful across the
three villages and therefore do not see any obstacle in its scaling up. However, at locations where
demographic profile varies in terms of caste distribution, greater social mobilisation will have to be
made for cent percent coverage.

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17

Nigrani Dal-Bhil Women from Remote India

Torchbearers in Fighting Against Malnutrition
APP ID 546
Title of the Initiative Nigrani Dal-Bhil Women from remote India torchbearers in
fighting against malnutrition, Indo-Global Social Service Society
IGSSS
State MADHYA PRADESH

Hunger and Malnutrition Eradication (Humane) Programme at Jhabua by IGSSS

The project Hunger and Malnutrition Eradication (Humane) programme is supported by Welt
Hunger Hilfe (WHH) under its innovative project named as “Fight Hunger First Initiative”.

Intervention
There is a system of ongoing monitoring of the programme in which the team has been recording
outputs, based on monthly field visits from zonal office and weekly visits by project Coordinator.
IGSSS has a Program Quality (PQ) Department which reviews all projects being implemented by the
organisation. IGSSS ensures that the programme adheres to certain basic quality standards keeping
the DAC criteria in mind (relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, impact and sustainability); more focus
on the capacity building of watch groups as they have started corresponding with the officials hence
focus on operational part. Focus is on spreading of intervention in more villages and covering
panchayats so that the impact can be seen. Literacy and legal literacy is required as they have taken
up issues like implementation of PESA, Wages, MGNREGS, PDS and women issues.

The women watch group found it easy to take up any matter at village and official level as
collective group. Earlier they were suppressed by their families also but now they are in numbers,
collective actions are possible and are their strength.

Major Activities
Formation and strengthening of women’s watch group for access and monitoring of entitlements
(ICDS, MDM, PDS and NREGA); Formation and strengthening of nutrition committee; Community
based monitoring meetings and health awareness programme. Training, counselling on health/
nutrition best practices for mothers' groups, adolescent girls and pregnant/lactating women;
demonstration of Kitchen/Nutrition Garden at homestead and community level; demonstration of
preparation of Nutri-rich diet for mothers group and Nutri-mix preparation training for mothers group
for community management of moderate acute malnourished children; screening and referral services
for severe acute malnourished children to nutrition rehabilitation centre by watch group member by
using of mid upper arm circumferences (MUAC), capacity building of PRI and village stakeholders on

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food and nutrition security issues, capacity building of grassroot service provider such as Anganwadi
worker, ASHA and ANM; convergence and networking workshop between ICDS, Health and Education
departments at block and district level; Liaison with line departments and advocacy & networking.

The Women Watch Groups (Nigrani Dal) has been constituted in every target village with active
participation of women. Team has provided detailed series of capacity building programmes for
leadership development, communication and monitoring skills for their orientation. Women watch
groups are working as change agents for their community. They know well about the various acts
related to food and nutrition security, NREGA, RTE, PESA and well aware about direct beneficial
schemes. They discuss their issues in their meeting and prepare work plan to solve the problem. They
also identify deprived families of government schemes. They prepare their application and submit to
related department and are linked with schemes. Similarly they take initiative to improve key indicator
of health and nutrition in their village. They are taking responsibility of their hamlets and ensuring
participation of 0 to 5 year children and pregnant/lactating women in health, nutrition related activities
such as VHND, health camp, Bal Suraksha mah etc. By using of MUAC tape they screen the malnourished
children and get them admitted to NRC. They are vigilant of the activities that the government institute
takes up so as to ensure the quality of services is maintained. They also help the grassroot service
providers for improving their services.

Beneficiaries
9674 families have benefited and have been linked with several government schemes related
to food security, social security, NREGS etc. 120 severe acute malnourished and 297 moderate acute
malnourished children were cured and became healthier after having benefited through various inputs
related to health and nutrition. 264 nutrition gardens have been established at household level. 1150
families have received vegetable seeds and masala kits from horticulture department. 70 families
have revived their food practices by growing minor millets and traditional seeds. Similarly they now
use organic pesticides and compost at the household level. 202 school dropout children have been
re-admitted in schools by organising admission campaigns. 17 % increase has been recorded in
vaccination amongst children and pregnant mothers. Increase has been recorded in institutional
delivery. Increase has been observed in safe drinking water facilities in 9 hamlets of seven villages
through the effort of village health sanitation and nutrition committee (VHSNC) members. 98 out of
122 Anganwadi centers, 36 out of 50 VHSNCs and 23 out of 31 PDS centers have been effectively
implementing their services after the effort of watch group members. 28 CC road, three pond
deepening, 23 poultry shed, 58 Goatery shed, 94 irrigation wells have been constructed and 19 fruit
orchards have been developed with the convergence of NREGS scheme. They received daily wages as
well as various infrastructures were created in the village. 1578 families have constructed toilets
under the Swachh Bharat Mission after the approval of Gram Sabha.

Voices from the field

“We felt the Power of Unity and now we are able to solve any problem of the village” Ms. Tola
w/o Mansingh, Watch group member from Dungra Lalu Village

“I appreciate effort of IGSSS staff on improvisation of health & nutrition status of children. They
mobilise community and link with various campaigns such as Suposhan campaign, Child Protection

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campaign etc which is appreciable and commendable. I am happy to say that in many villages, women’s
groups have monitored the Anganwadi centre and solved the clutters. It is a unique and sustainable
example to solve any problems.” Mr. Kamal Singh Ningwal, Child Development Project Officer, Jhabua.

The unique elements of the intervention are Convergence model between community and
government; ownership and participation of women and women led groups; Strategic Capacitating
of women and service providers; and addressing problem of malnutrition from a social rather than a
medical perspective.

Impact
23000 families were benefited by food and nutrition schemes through formation and
strengthening of Watch Groups, Village Level Committees and service providers. Secondly the
behaviour and attitudinal changes have been visible at the community in the care of pregnant and
lactating women, child care and nutrition which are long lasting changes and in fact is priceless
contribution to the community by the project. Institutions and community owned system is taking
care of the malnourishment and care of the pregnant and lactating women and girls at the community
level.

Sustainability
The interventions can only be sustained if the women groups are properly oriented in planning
and implementing action plan on identified issues. Their linkages and coordination with various
structures is important. The interventions have been replicated from 10 initial villages to 50 villages
which will help in understanding of issues and support to the collective decision making.

Ability to Replicate
It is possible to scale up the model as has been done in 50 villages.

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18

Nimachalkhurd Gram Panchayat

APP ID 611
Title of the Initiative Nimachalkhurd Gram Panchayat
State MADHYA PRADESH

The Gram panchayat Nimachalkhurd falls under Tiwarni Block of Harda district and is located
35 km away from the district headquarters. The GP has attempted a few notable participatory
initiatives.

Underground Drainage System

A few years back, this village faced the problem of stagnating water at various points in the
village leading to breeding of mosquitoes and diseases. According to the provisions of the Gram
Panchayat, the solution to this problem also lay in the hands of the various members of the Gram
Panchayat and the Gram Sabha. The Nimachalkhurd Gram Panchayat believed in the democratic way
of decision making and hence, a meeting of the Gram Sabha was called in the year 2011 where
opinion of the villagers was sought regarding selection and finalisation of an apt social welfare
scheme . The local villagers asserted that the construction of an underground drainage system should
be of the highest priority. Since the Gram Panchayat’s financial capacity did not allow them to undertake
the project, the Gram Sabha came up with the proposition that they were ready to contribute 50% in
the project and the remaining 50% will be provided by the Gram Panchayat. After much deliberation
and resolving the matter of financial funding for the project and the estimated total cost being ` 2.4
lakh, the project was approved by the Gram Panchayat and was started under their supervision. The
various ward members helped in supervising the project in their wards and this way, without including
any sub-contractor the project was completed.

After the completion of the project the villagers felt a sense of pride and solidarity as work was
accomplished by the Gram Panchayat. Through a system of communal partnership, an underground
drainage system with 4 inch broad PVC pipeline was created in the entire village. Below the roads,
chambers were created where the pipelines merged and the wastewater would be collected. Now,
the villagers are more aware and feel that they have a responsibility and duty towards their village.
Along with the elimination of the problem of water collection, there has also been an improvement
in the state of drinking water and a decline in the mosquitoes and diseases in the village.

100% Tax Collection

For the mobilisation of funds and resources, the Gram Panchayat decided to collect taxes from
the villagers and hence called a meeting of the Gram Sabha for a discussion on matter where after
hearing the side of the Gram Panchayat and the work they had done over the time, the villagers
agreed to pay their due taxes regularly. Awareness on payment of taxes for the improvement of the
village was generated among the villagers by Gram Panchayat Sarpanch Smt. Mayavati Longre.

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The Gram Panchayat collected the taxes in a proper manner as per the procedures underlined
by the Department of Panchayati Raj. Nimachalkhurd Gram Panchayat achieved their target of 100%
house tax collection for the year 2012-13 and the entire collection of Rs. 46,196/- was properly entered
into the Demand, Collection and Balance (DCB) Register. At the end, during audit the records of the
Gram Panchayat were also found to be satisfactory.

Total Sanitation Programme Under The Nirmal Bharat Abhiyaan

The Gram Panchayat decided that the next step towards a more hygienic and healthy
environment should be the elimination of open defecation in the village. In the year 2008-09, the
Gram Panchayat started the ‘Total Sanitation Programme’. Some of the initial challenges that the
Gram Panchayat faced were that people were not habituated to use the toilet and hence went out in
the open for defecation. The Sarpanch of the Gram Panchayat Smt. Mayavati Longre along with ASHA
members, Anganwadi helpers and Self Help Groups went door to door to spread awareness about
the usage of toilets and convinced people to start using toilets and stop defecating in the open as it
was unhealthy and many a times, there was a risk of various diseases being spread by defecating in
the open.

All the households were then motivated to construct toilets for which they were also given a
sum of ` 4,600/- by the Gram Panchayat. From the aid of Nirmal Bharat Abhiyaan, public toilets at
various places were constructed. In schools and anganwadi centers, awareness programmes about
proper sanitation were given. Children in schools were encouraged to wash their hands before taking
their mid-day meals. Through a system of communal partnership and combined solidarity of the
Gram Panchayat along with the Gram Sabha, a welcome change was brought in the lives of the people
of Nimachalkhurd Gram Panchayat who now live by the philosophy of healthy living along with
cleanliness in their village.

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19

Panchayat Training cum Quiz

APP ID 127
Title of the Initiative Panchayat Training cum Quiz
Thakur Pyarelal Institute of Panchayat and Rural Development
Nimora, Raipur
State CHHATTISGARH

State Institute of Rural Development, Nimora, Raipur (CG)

Panchayat Prashnottari Karyakram is an initiative of SIRD, Nimora of Raipur (CG) which has
been spread to around 9734 gram panchayats.

Major Activities of the intervention include Development and Publications of Books (Panchayat
Prashnotri Pustika), Training of Master Trainers and Elected Representatives, Software Development,
Development of Process Guidelines and Exposure visits.

Activities Planning and Implementation

The planning has been done and the process frameworks and guidelines have been developed
by the SIRD team.The implementation has been collectively done by Zila Parishad, Master trainers
and Internal Taxation officer.

Benefits to Stakeholders
The information and knowledge disseminated on roles and responsibilities, different programmes
and schemes, panchayat planning and taxation has improved awarness amongst panchayat elected
representatives. People are now more informed as a result their confidence level has increased, their
work is now more organised and revenue from taxes has increased in some of the panchayats.

Impact on the environment is that discussions are now more around agriculture, watershed
management, health, sanitation, forest and drinking water which would lead to strengthening ecology
and environment.

Unique Elements of Intervention

The process has generated interest to learn and know about the roles and responsibilities of elected
representatives, government schemes, programmes and Indian Constitution.

Sustainability
Knowledge and confidence may sustain with the individual but as election is carried out after
every five years, such process needs to be repeated. Monitoring and follow up needs a systematic
approach.

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A lot of time and energy has been spent on conceptualisation, building resource books for quiz,
developing process guidelines and frameworks, designing and implementing the quiz process. As a
process, it has been outlined that the first year after election, should be devoted for orientation of
elected representatives with quiz. The second year should be devoted for refresher training and quiz.
The third year for training and quiz for steering committee members and fourth year for refresher to
make the programme complete.

To have effective implementation of the process and to yield positive results, continuity and
frequency of the quiz is very important.

The state level programme was broadcasted online through ISRO. There was huge demand of
books which were developed for quiz competition. The experiences of Panchayat quiz were also used
in the urban municipalities. This model was tested on Panchayat but the process can be replicated in
any government programmes.

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20

Participatory Natural Resource Management

Programme
APP ID 387
Title of the Initiative Participatory Natural Resource Management Program
Royal Bank of Scotland Foundation (RBSF)
State MADHYA PRADESH

Participatory Natural Resource Management Programme, Mandla in Madhya Pradesh

Introduction
WOTR started working in the tribal dominated district of Mandla in Madhya Pradesh with the
objective of strengthening the livelihoods through better management of rainwater. Agriculture is
the main source of livelihoods for tribal communities in Mandla. Forest produce and cattle rearing
are other two sources of earning for the tribes, mostly Gonds, in the district. Till 2007-08 the status of
agriculture was not good and people were able to take only one crop that is, Kharif Crop in a year and
if the rains were not good then they had no other option but to migrate to Jabalpur, Nagpur, Raipur
and other nearby cities in search of livelihoods.

Intervention
WOTR realised that supporting tribes means helping them in improving their agriculture in a
better way and irrigation is the key for improvement. The project started in January 2009 and went
on till December 2011.The technical team formed for better irrigation facilities studied geography of
the area and possibility of working on developing sustainable model of watershed with community
ownership. With their previous experience they realised that ownership will come only if the
community is able to contribute and manage the project right from the beginning.

Strategy
WOTR selected three villages for intervention one in Bijadandi block and two in Narayanganj
block of the Mandla district. The strategy was to start the work on watershed development with
community involvement in all activities such are planning, execution, review and management.

(i) The initial idea was shared with community and the concept was finalised incorporating the
feedback of the community;

(ii) The organisation finalised the design of the watershed and shared the short term and long
term benefits with the community;

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(iii) Lastly the organisation proposed that it will work on the proposed project if the community
takes the responsibility of starting the work on their own meaning labour contribution with
technical support from WOTR team.

Major Activities
The intervention included Human Resource Development; Soil and Water Conservation Activities;
Drainage Line Treatment; Rejuvenation of Well and Irrigation Systems; and Agriculture Interventions.

Impact
Benefits to the community include Wage Employment to the villagers; increase in water table
and increase in irrigation; increase in crop production and ability to harvest second crop; income
generation activities; doubled Wage rate; increase in forest coverage; and availability of fodder.

Beneficiaries
a. Farmers: Migration has stopped, production and productivity has improved;

b. Women: who can now find work in village itself and are able to improve their earning
and dependency on traditional money lenders has also reduced;

c. Landless Families: Wage opportunity within village has improved.

Elements of Sustainability
The project implemented by WOTR has made a very good beginning in developing a model of
watershed with ensuring community contribution in reality. The project started with dialogue with
community, communicated the vision of project to community and started with community
contribution. Investment from the project started at least 4 months later when community has
contributed the labour worth 4 lakhs in each village. This shows the kind of efforts put in to mobilise
community and making things transparent between community and the project team. The approach
adopted by the project itself is a model of learning for similar initiatives going on in the country.

Ability to Replicate
Project is replicable in other areas for its efforts to mobilise community for participation in
discussion, contribution in the project cost and taking the responsibility of management.

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21

Real Rural Boostup Initiative

APP ID 103
Title of the Initiative Real Rural Boostup Initiative
Central Board For Workers' Education ( MoLE, GoI)
State MAHARASHTRA

An initiative by Central Board of Workers' Education (CBWE), Real Rural Boostup Initiative was
pioneered in the year 2008.

Major Activities
Rural women who are in unorganised labour sector are organised to create their own revolving
loan fund, managed at community level with minimal cost and revolved among members for financing
livelihood activities. Interest earned is shared among members as a dividend annually. The major
activity is banking at community level by the aggregating capital fund from members that are usually
100- 250 women and provide finance to members for inventing in Income Generating Activities (IGP).
Though the membership is individual, members are organised under small Self-Help Group typically
comprising of 10 – 20 members.

Usually each member makes a one time contribution of ` 1000 to 1500 ( equal amount decided
by members ) and creates loan fund of ` 2 to 3 lakh in one to two months and immediately starts
extending loan to its needy members for IGP at the rate of 24 p.c. per annum with reducing balance
method. This collective of SHGs is called RRBIs unit. The operations are managed by nominated
executive committee who work as honorary office bearers and cost of operations is very minimal.

Activity Planning and Implementation

The project has evolved over a period of time by social entrepreneurial efforts of
Mr. B.G. Kurvalkar who is Education Officer with CBWE. As part of workers’ education programme he
organised training workshops for unorganised rural labour making them aware of social security
measures. Along with that he also started motivating these workers' groups for undertaking income
generating activities and the importance of saving. He observed that cumbersome process of availing
of loan from banks and inability of banks to provide timely adequate credit facility is a major
impediment in the process of livelihoods development endeavours.

When he realised that banks really do not consider financial needs of rural poor and Self-Help
Group, he understood that there is a need to devise effective ways to meet the credit needs of rural
households which are essentially small groups with smaller savings. Rather the commercial /financial
institutes charge exorbitant interest rates and follow stringent terms that add unnecessary burden
on repayment schedule which often does match with cash flow of the household. His assessment of
the problem led to the idea of creating community level banking.

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The project was initiated to overcome issue of financial exclusion by creating alternate system
of banking that is simple, participatory, accessible and importantly managed by the community itself.
Mr. Kurvalkar experimented this concept of RRBI in Madhya Pradesh and with experience developed
procedures and systems. Based on that experience CBWE has taken up project in five districts of
Maharashtra in the year 2008 under the stewardship of Mr. B.G. Kurvalkar and has set up 15 RRBI
units.

Training
As a part of that mission, the CBWE organises two days training programme for rural unorganised
labours which has a provision to pay ` 200 per day attendance allowance. Participants of training
programme receive ` 400 as a compensation for devoting two working days to attend the training.
After understanding the concept of creating revolving loan fund at community level and need to
overcome poverty by taking up income generating activities, the participating group takes initiative
to implement the concept in their village.

The initial capital of ` 400 per member readily becomes available from CBWE for contributing
their share in revolving loan fund that provides 24 p.c. returns annually in the form of dividends to
each member. As per the rough estimate, ` 4 lakh have been utilised for training programmes by
CBWE in last eight years which has been invested in revolving loan fund by the workers.

Beneficiaries
CBWE is able to organise rural unorganised agriculture labour and facilitate their financial
inclusion and develop long term association to improve their condition. CBWE, rural women and Self-
Help Groups, landless labourers and low income household are the major important stakeholders.
Banks and Village Panchayats, NGOs working in the region are other stakeholders.

Accrued Benefits
From the viewpoint of women who are unorganised agricultural labour, this intervention is a
powerful tool to overcome financial barriers and augment income of the family by investing in small
income generating activities like dairy, goat rearing, flour mills without any mortgage or overwhelming
documentation process.

i. Members also earn small but assured income from small investment they make by
contributing in revolving loan fund which is also an opportunity for them of saving money
for future needs.

ii. Collectives of SHGs with substantial membership from amongst women provides
opportunity to them to voice their view. NGOs, village panchayat and government officials
reach out to them as an important CBO.

iii. Several finance companies operate in the region and provide credit facility at exorbitantly
high financial and non-financial costs. This community banking helps to avoid such
exploitation and meet financial needs on own and share benefits

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Sustainability
As the concept of intervention is based on community managed banking service with self-
sustaining model, the RRBIs operate quite independently on their own once the training is given.
Sakhi RRBIs (SHG Collective) based in Gadhinglaj has been operating from last eight years
independently. That indicates the intervention has integrated sustainability component adequately.

Replicability
The intervention is very simple in nature and has great relevance for community to adopt. As
SHG movement in India has advanced and reached all corners of the country, the concept of RRBIs for
Community Banking would be replicated successfully in other regions and villages. Because financial
capital is essential for low income households to overcome poverty.

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22
Road Infrastructure, Drinking Water, Electricity and
Sanitation Transformed into Decent Living
APP ID 531
Title of the Initiative Road Infrastructure, Drinking Water, Electricity and Sanitation
Transformed into Decent Living
District Administration
State ANDHRA PRADESH

Nernoor Gram Panchayat, Nellore District in Andhra Pradesh

Introduction
Nernoor Gram Panchayat at Gudur mandal of Nellore district received attention of the District
administration, being an underdeveloped and remote Gram Panchayat. Nernoor Gram Panchayat
has a population of 1848 with two Revenue villages and three habitations and one of them is
Puttamrajukandriga. Puttamrajukandriga is a part of this Gram Panchayat, selected as adoption village
of cricket player Mr. Sachin Tendulkar, paved way for the district administration to dovetail its own
development funds with the MP Local Area Development Scheme Funds (MPLADS) to take up
development activities in this Gram Panchayat.

Activities
Implementation of the programme was initiated in November 2014. Civic facilities such as roads,
individual sanitary latrines and drainage system, village infrastructure such as a school complex,
anganwadi, playground, and community complex to serve as knowledge centre were taken up. The
school soon would have a proper kitchen cum store and a dining hall which is crucial for implementation
of the mid-day meal scheme, providing cooked food for all students. Each house is now connected
with a tap water connection making drinking water available within the premises. The underground
drainage system and the sanitation facilities covering all households in the village improved the hygiene.
All the lanes in the village were covered for street lighting. A cremation platform in the burial ground
with water and sanitation facilities was taken up.

Funds and Expenditure on Works

The estimated costs of the physical works/structures are ` 5.79 crore The District Administration
sanctioned ` 3.0 crore and ` 2.79 crore were provided by Shri Tendulkar out of his MPLADS fund.
Over the last 10 months (up to July 2015), works with an expenditure of ` 3.37 crore (` 2.8 crore
district administration & ` 57.8 lakh, MPLADS) were taken up.

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Livelihood Promotion
Besides, the district administration paid attention to the livelihood needs of the community.
A minor irrigation tank was developed and pisciculture was introduced, which could help the fisherfolk
in the village on one hand and generate some revenue for the Gram Panchayat on the other. During
2014, in the presence of Shri Tendulkar, about 8000 fingerlings were stocked in the 1 ha minor irrigation
tank, which helped generate revenue of ` 1.4 lakh through an auction of fish in the next 8 months.
The fisheries department provided subsidy of ` 50,000 for feeding cost.

The Jeevaraksha Nidhi, insurance programme to sheep and goat is implemented to support
shepherds of the village. The horticulture department has supported 32 farmers to develop their
fruit orchards covering 25 ha, with a subsidy amount of ` 1.47 lakh and distributed hybrid vegetable
seed mini kits for the villagers to take up kitchen garden activities. As part of the farm mechanisation
programme subsidy and bank loan facility was provided to purchase a tractor for the village.

Outcomes
The village with improved civic facilities has improved overall sanitation and hygiene. Water
connections to each house reduced the drudgery of women to fetch water from distant sources. It is
too early to understand the impacts on their health, nutrition and livelihoods as the intervention has
begun less than a year ago. However, a good platform has been created for making a model village
with community ownership, convergence of government department’s schemes and leadership of
district administration demonstrated over this period of time.

Future Trajectories
Livelihood promotion and housing were two major priorities for the villagers and very well
prioritised by the implementing agency. Plans are afoot to develop fruit orchards with drip and micro-
irrigation, introduce backyard poultry, skill building for youth to create livelihoods in the village with
convergence of various government programmes. About 250 households were identified under the
Indira Awaas Yojana for construction of houses. However, considering the requests of the community
and possibility of improved housing schemes of State Government being made available to the village,
they could soon have model housing facilities –a prerequisite for decent living.

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23

Sambalpur Gram Panchayat

APP ID 613
Title of the Initiative Sambalpur Gram Panchayat
State CHHATTISGARH

The Sambalpur Gram Panchayat had a population of 5500 people. The Gram Panchayat has
been active and has been taking initiative for implementing developmental model in the areas of
income generation, irrigation and starting the weekly market in the village. For this four water ponds
were restored which were on the verge of drying up and the gram panchayat rented a pond to the
‘Fisherman Cooperative’.

‘Jai Ganga Maiya Vikas Samiti’ and ‘Danteshwari Self-Help Group’ received one pond each. This
had resulted in the Gram Panchayat getting an annual income of ` 25,000 and became a good source
of livelihood for the fishermen as well. Earlier, only 10% of the villagers gave taxes but after the
panchayat explained the villagers the benefits of the same, people have started paying their taxes
for the betterment of the village and its economic development. The Panchayat now receives regular
taxes from 90% of the people and collected a total sum of ` 12, 51,479 during the year 2012-13.

The tax collected was utilised to construct a community complex with 23 shops which was
given on rent/lease at the rate of ` 400-600 per month, this resulted in the Gram Panchayat getting
an annual income of `1, 29,000. The Gram Panchayat had also taken the initiative to start weekly
markets and annual fairs in the village where the shops were given on rent/lease, this had resulted in
the gram panchayat getting an annual income of ` 3 lakh. The gram panchayat made various efforts
to mobilise their own resources and funds which had given them a sense of confidence and a new
direction to their working.

In the office of the Sambalpur Gram Panchayat, 15 chairs were to be brought, for which a notice
was put up on the notice board of the office and at various other places in the village through which
people were invited to send their price proposals and the person who offered the least price was
given the contract. Bid opening was transparent, and conducted in the presence of people.

Sambalpur Gram Panchayat had shown smartness in their approach towards implementing a
new developmental model in the village which can be sustained due to inflow of regular income. The
model has a great replicability quotient.

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24

Small Scale - Low External Input Floriculture (Fulsheti):

Agriculture Livelihood Option for Tribal Farmer
APP ID 343
Title of the Initiative Small Scale - Low External Input Floriculture (Fulsheti):
Agriculture Livelihood Option for Tribal Farmer
Maharashtra Institute of Technology Transfer for Rural Areas
((MITTRA), Nashik, Maharashtra
State MAHARASHTRA

Floriculture (Fulsheti), Agriculture Livelihood option for tribal farmer model was initiated by
the organisation, Maharashtra Institute of Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (MITTRA) with an
objective to promote sustainable floriculture among tribal farmers in Palghar district, Maharashtra.

Brief Description of the Intervention

MITTRA (A development organisation promoted by BAIF) has developed a model of floriculture
suitable for small and marginal farmers. This model has been tried with success in predominantly
tribal pockets of Jawhar, Vikramgad, Dahanu and Palghar talukas of Palghar district. It’s a model of
Jasmine cultivation on Five Guntha i.e. 500 sq. meter (0.05 ha). The model is locally called as ‘Fulsheti’.
The income for these farmers, who were entirely dependent on agriculture, was very low because of
dwindling natural resources and fragmented landholdings. The basic open field floriculture model of
Jasmine (200 plants) cultivation on Five Guntha i.e. 500 sq. meter (0.05 ha) requires a low investment.
The gross income ranges from ` 33,250 to ` 38,380. The flower producers in each taluka have formed
their own groups - ‘Vrindavan Pushp Utpadak Sangha’. Flowers are collected from each field. The
producers supply even small quantities, as low as 100 grams. The collected flowers reach Dadar Flower
Market in Mumbai by 11 am. The activity is sustainable due to efficient marketing.

Major Activities
The intervention being a livelihood intervention, the major activities undertaken as part of
intervention include selection of farmers, orientation meeting, technical trainings, selection of flower
crop, plantation, aftercare, formation of “Sangha” (People Organisation), and market exposure.

Major changes brought about by the intervention:

1. Minimum gross Income (Annual): ` 35,000-40,000 from 0.05 ha. Jasmine Cultivation.

2. Flowers worth ` 600 lakh marketed between 2007-2014 in Mumbai.

3. Created Livelihood for 2000 Tribal Farmers in Palghar district.

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4. Enhanced Family Income led to Stoppage of Migration in Participating Tribal Farmers and
Improvement in their Quality of Life.

This innovation has shown a new way for solving problems of the poor tribal farmers, migration
due to non-availability of year round employment in the village. This innovation has enabled the
farmers to earn more income from their small land with degraded soils.

Sustainability
This innovation will sustain on its own because income from jasmine flower is possible even
under unfavourable conditions-low input cost, faster income generation within six months of
plantation. There is demand for flowers all the year round and both production and marketing aspects
of this innovation have been stabilised which will propel the activity in future without any outside
financial support.

Replicate the Intervention

This model is feasible to be replicated because

R The plants are hardy in nature

R Low irrigation requirements

R Collective marketing

R Continuous income

R Excellent livelihood activity for small and marginal farmers

Land needs small plots of land and can be undertaken on medium to poor qualities of land, not
favoured for cultivation of crops. Such land would have remained uncultivated without this innovation.
The vegetation cover helps in arresting soil erosion. This innovation has helped in conservation of
soil. Encouraged by success, the number of plants have been increased to 400 by additional plantation.

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25

Strengthening Good Governance through Village

Governance Fund
APP ID 540
Title of the Initiative Strengthening Good Governance through Village Governance
Fund
Kutch Nav Nirman Abhiyan
State GUJARAT

Strengthening Good Governance through Village Governance Fund, Kutch Nav Nirman Sangathan

Introduction
The Village Governance Fund (VGF) project is implemented in Kutch district of Gujarat by the
Panchayati Raj Institution ( PRI ) outreach wing of the Kutch Navnirman Abhiyan (KNNA, a coalition of
local NGOs) called the “Setus”. The Setus conducts various programmes for the capacity building of
elected representatives with firm belief in strengthening the local bodies which can further catalyse
the social change process at the grassroots. The VGF was launched with the idea to build capacity of
the local bodies, empowering them to initiate, plan and implement developmental programmes,
During the process, the local bodies were provided access to funds which provided them opportunity
to demonstrate effective and efficient ways of fund utilisation at the grassroots.

The Village Governance Fund (VGF, formerly Village Development Fund) provides untied financial
support to selected Gram Panchayats (GPs) while simultaneously ensuring that (a) the planning on
the usage of the financial support involves the village community, including its weaker sections, and
addresses their stated requirements, (b) usage of financial support adheres to high standards of
transparency and accountability, and (c) activities relating to the financial support are coordinated by
the elected representatives of the villages using the processes laid out in Article 243 of the Indian
Constitution. The broad purpose of the VGF is to encourage the process of decentralisation and
devolution of power as envisaged by the 73rd Constitutional Amendment by strengthening the ability
of PRIs to function as effective institutions of self-governance.

Major Activities
The intervention focuses on addressing the needs of the most vulnerable in the community.
Setus evolved a definition of vulnerability and tried to nurture sensitivity towards the vulnerable
amongst the responsible citizens of the village. This initiative also aimed at reviving the traditional
practice of the village community, to mainstream its vulnerable lot. Setus also facilitated formation
of a committee to create a corpus of revolving fund, oversee the credit and payback and thus supported
the vulnerable from taking up their own initiative.

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The communities face a constant challenge of managing the small but unmet needs, thus, in
order to make the communities self-sufficient, the efforts were concentrated on mobilising the village
to undertake the work by themselves. After the contribution from the village community was over,
the village was supported with the funds from Setus to fill the gap in case of an emerging deficit. This
fund was called an 'innovation fund' which paved way for community participation in works that
benefited the whole community. The activity helped village communities to prioritise, develop, plan
and implement their own developmental needs - with the mandate and ownership of the gram sabha,
it also facilitated the leadership capabilities of the members in local body.This enhanced their
engagement in the governance processes of the village. The above elements contributed to evolving
the concept of Village Development Fund (VDF).

It was observed that if the Panchayati Raj Institutions are empowered by building capacity and
are provided access to alternative development funds, it is possible for the local bodies to evolve
processes of accountability and transparency and set systems and procedures for governance which
can contribute more effectively in shaping transformative processes at the grassroots. Thus, the Village
Development Fund (VDF) was conceptualised and introduced as an 'untied fund' which allows the
communities to collectively identify, prioritise, plan, allocate and implement their own programmes
through the panchayats.

The concept of a Village Development Fund (VDF) which was later known as Village Governance
Fund (VGF), to transform the equation between donors, NGO & community & create platforms for
Panchayats to sponsor and monitor the development of their villages. The organisation facilitates the
Panchayats to plan, budget, make proposals, seek funding, implement, supports monitoring & audit.
It’s an opportunity for Panchayats to hone their skills & legitimise their position as effective and
responsive units of local self-governance.

An impressive achievement has been the regularisation of tax collections by many VGF
Panchayats. This is a strong indicator of elected representatives' improved governance capacities, as
well as citizens' awareness regarding good governance practices. The intervention is an excellent
model which demonstrates that if the local body institutions are empowered by continuous capacity
building and sensitisation process, it is possible for these institutions to evolve into effective and
efficient agents of good governance at the grassroots. Building local governance capabilities is a
continuous and prolonged effort, the VGF intervention provides a good beginning.

There is substantial scope (and need) for upscaling and replication. Considering that
decentralisation process has to be strengthened in the country, it is of significance to encourage and
evolve institutions by providing them knowledge support and opportunities to access funds. Good
governance can only be a reality once the grassroots institutions are strengthened.

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Protected Grassland created

by Patiya Panchayat (Anjar
Block), Gujarat

A pukka kui / cemented-

covered well constructed
for drinking water for the
community, drinking
water for the cattle, the
construction is anchored
and supported by
Rampar Gram Panchayat
using VGF funds.

Women Sarpanch of
Khari Panchayat
(Bhuj Block) who
participates in
capacity building
programmes
organised by VGF.

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26
Sustainable Livelihoods Promotion - A Pathway for
Rain-fed Marginal Farmers to Come out of the Agrarian
Distress
APP ID 421
Title of the Initiative Sustainable Livelihoods Promotion - A Pathway for Rain-fed
Marginal Farmers to Come out of the Agrarian Distress
Initially by AWO International, Germany, later by Dept. of
Agriculture and Marketing, GoM
State MAHARASHTRA

Sustainable Livelihoods Promotion – A pathway for rain-fed marginal farmers to come out of the
agrarian distress, AFARM

This agriculture based livelihood initiative is a project initiative of Action for Agricultural Renewal
in Maharashtra – AFARM (An Association of Civil Society Organisations engaged in rural development
in Maharashtra).

Working on the issue of agrarian vulnerabilities of small and marginal rain-fed farmers in the
wider context of agrarian crisis is important and strategies such as reducing input expenses, livelihoods
enhancement, establishing market linkages, advocacy on increasing the minimum support price of
agricultural produce ,organic agriculture and working with landless on livelihood enhancement are
very relevant.

The strategy was to work with grassroots based network partners at grassroots level in the two
worst-affected (highest number of farmer suicide cases over the last two decades) districts (Yavatmal
& Amravati) and consciously choosing to work in those villages with more number of suicides (to a
certain extent).

Major Activities
Community Institution Building and Capacity Development : Organisation of small farmers into
different committees, Self-Help Groups (SHG), Producer Groups, Joint Liability Groups, Gram
Panchayats, and their capacity development through trainings, exposure visits, preparation and
circulation of IEC material, Livelihood Literacy Classes, Peer Learning Workshops, and hand holding
support for backstopping.

Increasing Cropping Intensity and Crop Productivity: This was achieved through Soil Moisture
Conservation Measures, Rain Water Harvesting, Recharging of open wells, and promotion of micro-
irrigation systems.

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Promotion of Packages of Practices of Organic / Low External Input and Sustainable Agriculture
(LEISA) Farming: Through Farmer Field Schools, Field Demonstrations and trials, Farmers’ Training
and exposure visits.

Creating the access to small farmers for improved implements: Through community managed
agricultural implements depot.

Facilitation for Pro-poor Marketing Linkages: Training of producer groups on quality, grading,
packaging, primary processing of produce, value addition, establishing marketing linkages with the
traders and wholesalers by the producer groups, collective procurement of agricultural inputs and
marketing of produce through the farmers’ groups.

Micro-enterprise promotion: Training and technical support to SHGs and farmer groups for taking up
agriculture and livestock based micro-enterprise, to diversify lvelihood options including accessing
credit from banks. Facilitation for convergence of government schemes for promotion of livelihoods
of poor communities is another major activity.

Activities Planning and Implementation

Community mobilisation through adoption of the participatory processes and allowing adequate
gestation to shape into effective Shetkari Vigyan Mandals (SVMs) and its sub-committees. SVM
members equipped with the information of the available govt. schemes and the process of preparation
of the convergence plans, follow-up support to ensure that the SVM mobilises funds for livelihoods
development in collaboration with GP. Handholding and troubleshooting support to local CBOs
(Shetkari Vigyan Mandals, Implements Bank Groups, Producer Groups, SHGs) for sustaining their
groups and linking them with the long-term objectives.

Promoting active participation of women in decision making in all CBOs; Organising Livelihood
literacy classes for women to enhance the knowledge and skill pertaining to Low External Input and
Sustainable Agriculture (LEISA), micro-enterprise and women rights; empowering women group to
address the social issues (alcoholism, child abuse, domestic violence, etc.); participatory net planning
& execution of in- situ soil moisture conservation measures and rain water harvesting, recharging of
open wells and micro-irrigation systems with community contribution ranging between 10 to 50% of
cost; agriculture training & extension activities emphasising organic / Low External Input and
Sustainable Agriculture (LEISA) through on field demonstrations & trials and organisation of farmers’
trainings & workshops, farmers’ exposure visits.

Establishment of Community managed Agricultural Service Centres to create the access, within
the village, for seed, implements, organic inputs, marketing access and soil testing; Pro-poor, non-
exploitative marketing facilities realised through (i) orientation and training of producer groups and
micro-entrepreneurs on quality, grading, packaging, primary processing (ii) establishing marketing
link with the traders and wholesalers by the producer groups. (iii) collective procurement of agricultural
inputs and marketing their produce, through the farmers' group at the village level.

Promotion of livestock based livelihoods for diversification of activities to reduce risk and cluster
approach to ensure quality and specifications; under this, dairy, goat rearing and poultry enterprises
undertaken by landless, women and other marginalised HHs by accessing credit from bank under JLG
financing model.

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Beneficiaries
Low External Input and Sustainable Agriculture (LEISA) practices are nature and people-friendly.
Adoption of LEISA, especially against the backdrop of harsh experience of ‘chemical agriculture’ has
been internalised by the farmers, giving positive results and ensuring sustainability.

Farmers have shifted from mono cropping to diversified cropping patterns that has helped in
improving health of the soil which has led to maintenance of productivity of land. In situ soil moisture
conservation, recharging of groundwater sources & promotion of water saving technologies / micro-
irrigation is believed to sustain farmers in coming years particularly during drought like situation.

Key Benefits through Intervention

R Capacity of producer enhanced by organising poor farmers to manage their resources sustainably.

R Sustainable agriculture practices established through technology transfer helping farmers to

improve the efficiency of land, water and human resources.

R Income of poor HHs improved through micro-enterprises by improving their access to quality
inputs, technology, credit and marketing.

Benefits to Communities
R Village Development Committees/ SVMs: VDCs/ SVMs are the key / leading community
institutions formed and nurtured for village level planning, implementation and monitoring of
livelihoods interventions.

R Joint Liability Group: Joint Liability Groups consisting of minimum of five members formed in
each project village for enhancing the credit flow. The members are from small, marginal
households and landless households. One of the major purposes of the groups is to form mutual
guarantee groups for bank/MFI credit.

R Farmers / Producer Groups: Farmer groups are cultivating the common commodities. Farmers
groups are guided in an intensive manner for at least a whole main crop season, to ascertain
that the promoted practices are well understood and correctly applied, which are achieved
through the Farmer Field Schools and training and demonstrations.

R Self-Help Groups: The project improved the functioning of the existing women SHGs,
rejuvenated non-functional SHGs and established new SHGs. Efforts are made to ensure that
each of the projects HH is linked to the SHGs. All the productive SHGs are linked directly and
exclusively to the banks for micro-finance and undertaking livelihoods activities.

Sustainability
AFARM believes that the innovation model it has created is sustainable because it has taken
into consideration following aspects:

Small Farmer Committees, SHGs, JLGs are capacitated to sustain viability and consistently provide
hand holding to its members whenever necessary. Suitably linked with resource agencies (KVKs, Govt.
depts.), financial institutes, agricultural input providers and market aggregators. The process of

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federating small farmers committees at cluster level in the forms of producer companies is believed
to strengthen and progress towards sustainability. Quality of natural resources is not only conserved
but also enhanced on account of several measures initiated in the innovation. Innovation envisages
integrated approach in agriculture and allied activities to enhance symbiotic effect on each other.
LEISA practices are nature and people-friendly. Shift from mono cropping to diversified cropping
patterns has helped in improving health of the soil which has led to maintain productivity of land. In
situ soil moisture conservation, recharging of groundwater sources and promotion of water saving
technologies, micro-irrigation is believed to sustain farmers in coming years particularly during drought
like situation.

Impact
Livelihoods have been enhanced due to increase in income, reduction in production cost,
diversification of income sources, creation of individual and community level assets and establishing
backward-forward market linkages (for collective sale and purchase). LEISA, organic practices and
innovations have been adopted by the target group and certain traditional practices revived. Protective
irrigation has been created through various water-soil conservation measures, which in turn has
contributed in reducing the production costs as well as vulnerability and distress of the farmers. This
livelihood enhancement has brought in assured incomes, increase in income, diversification of income
sources, regular cash-flow and has in turn contributed to enhanced availability of foodgrains at
community level with consequent positive repercussions on access of health care and education
(continue formal education up to graduation and masters).

Social structures viz. saving and credit groups-SCG and Shetkari Vigyan Mandals (SVM, Farmer-
Science Groups) have been formed as per plan. The SVMs have been registered under the relevant
law and have started functioning with representatives from the community selected / nominated for
governance and management responsibilities. Women have an active participation in the functioning
of these social structures.

A politically neutral platform (SVM) focussing on farmers’ issues has been created wherein
women and men and farmers and landless can participate, leading to a sense of unity amongst the
community. This has also enabled the communities to work on local issues, which has resulted in
leveraging of a significant amount of government resources and entitlements (employment, water-
soil conservation, bank loans and such) at the village level for livelihood enhancement. One of the
implementing partners (Apeksha Homeo Society) has initiated the process of evolving a federation of
the SVMs in its project area (i.e. a federation of 5 SVMs from 5 villages of Amravati district). This is the
logical next step in the SVM social structure and might be beneficial for taking up local- regional level
advocacy issues and backward-forward market linkages.Quite a few SVM members have been elected
to Panchayati Raj institutions and they have continued the work initiated as part of the project by
focusing more on leveraging government resources for their villages.

SVMs have also taken up advocacy on the issues of small farmers at local level while the project
has taken up the same at regional, State and national level. AFARM and implementing partners, by
networking with other organisations and activist groups, have helped in creating a broader advocacy
forum that has influenced the national policy on determining the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for
agricultural produce. The MSP of pigeon pea has been increased already. A people’s draft, as an

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alternative to the Maharashtra State government’s draft on the organic agriculture policy, was
developed by AFARM and implementing partners and network alliances and other activist groups.
This people’s draft has been accepted by the government for consideration and a committee has
been set up by the government to revise its draft based on the alternative (people’s) draft. An advocacy
forum has also influenced the State govt. policy pertaining to agriculture. As a result, the State
government has set up the State Rain-fed Farming Mission to deal with issues of rain-fed marginal
farmers.

The project has definitely contributed in creating a sense of unity amongst the stressed
community and has contributed in reduction in the vulnerability of the small and marginal farmers
leading to no suicides and some reduction in seasonal migration in the project area. Good project
management systems (planning, financial, monitoring and review) are in place in the network which
has helped to better implement the project across four partners in two districts.

Resource Person
interacting with
stakeholders and
Project Officials on
12.8.2015 in a
meeting convened at
Nimla village.

Members of the
Baliraja Shetkari
Utpadhak
(Farmers’
Producer) Company
and Project
Officials after a
meeting during
RP’s visit on
12.8.2015. The
Company has 270
shareholders.

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27
The Ekjut Initiative: A Participatory Learning and
Action Cycle with Women’s Groups to Improve
Maternal and New-born Health Outcomes
APP ID 117
Title of the Initiative The Ekjut Initiative: A Participatory Learning and Action Cycle
with Women’s Groups to Improve Maternal and New-born
Health Outcomes
Health Foundation, London
State JHARKHAND

Introduction
A Participatory Learning and Action cycle with women’s groups to improve maternal and new-
born health outcomes is the project executed in West Singhbhum and Sarikela Kharsawan districts of
Jharkhand and Keonjhar district in Odisha.

Activities
Neo natal care and maternal health is the major intervention activities wherein a participatory
learning and action cycle with 244 women's groups was implemented in 18 intervention clusters
covering an estimated population of 1,14,141. The participatory groups met on a monthly basis,
guided by a facilitator, throughout the three-year study period. They used a participatory learning
and action cycle, in which maternal and new-born health problems were identified and prioritised.
Strategies to address these problems were developed, implemented, and evaluated with the support
of the entire community.

Thus, the approach is a mix of didactic, interactive and participatory methods, demystifying
technical subjects, so that the community members can also understand them. The methodology is
based on adult learning processes that help internalisation and critical thinking. It helps in developing
problem solving skills in the community to find feasible solutions at local level. Along with it, the peer
support and the pathway of diffusion of learning within the community enhances herd effect and
helps in better adoption of the altered behaviour. Moreover, being facilitated by local people, and
employing locally relevant contexts helps community to identify with the problem and search for
solutions.

In the Participatory Learning and Action cycle, the PLA meetings are phased out and spread
over sufficient time period to allow the community time to reflect, discuss and think through the
issues.

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Participatory Learning and Action Meetings

To address underlying causes of malnutrition, monthly PLA meetings are conducted with
women’s groups to address issues like early marriages, birth spacing, nutrition in pregnancy and water
and sanitation. The meetings aim to catalyse individual and community action for maternal and child
health and nutrition.

Home Visits: A single home visit to each pregnant woman in the third trimester of pregnancy with
counselling on maternal nutrition, followed by monthly home visits to all children under two, with
counselling for growth promotion. At each visit to a mother and child, she asks about current or
recent illness, takes a mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) measurement for children over 6 months,
then engages the mother in a dialogue about feeding, infection control and care giving practices.
Home visits address the immediate causes of malnutrition, a Suposhan Karyakarta visits home of
every pregnant and lactating mother in the project area and counsel her on infant feeding practices,
protection of young children from infections, appropriate child caring practices and proper dietary
intake of mothers, etc.

Surveillance: Mothers and their children are followed up at seven time points under the surveillance
system: in the third trimester of pregnancy, within 72 hours of birth, and at 3, 6, 9, 12 and 18 months.
Anthropometry data on mother and children’s nutritional status is also being collected through a
mobile-based data collection and digital data management platform.

Strengthening Village Health Sanitation and Nutrition Committees (VHSNCs): Village Health and
Nutrition Committees are being trained on health and nutrition of mothers and children. Quarterly
participatory meetings with VHSNCs which involves participatory discussions to sensitise members
to issues related to inequity and exclusion from health and nutrition services and entitlements, as
well as identifying and addressing gaps in health and nutrition services.

Impact
The benefits of the intervention to the stakeholders are multiple. The fairly simple home-care
practices discussed in the women’s group meetings in the Ekjut trial probably addressed important
causes of death among groups with high rates of neonatal mortality. Neonatal death often results
from a combination of and interaction between morbidities. Therefore, the spin-off effects of
addressing one risk factor on other risk factors are arguably greater among the more vulnerable. This
has been reported for immunisation, refuting the replacement mortality hypothesis. Similarly,
addressing infection brings greater survival benefits to babies of low birth weight. Likewise, the
observed improvements in hygienic practices in the trial may have had stronger effects on mortality
among the most marginalised groups. If similar behavioural improvements have stronger mortality
effects among vulnerable groups, this is arguably even true for babies born in these groups in the
risky winter season, especially those who are born too small or prematurely or both. A major success
of the intervention described here was its strong effect on the NMR in winter among the most
marginalised groups.

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The different stakeholders' groups were SHG groups, other women groups, ASHA workers, ANMs,
AWWs, Village Health Committee, Traditional Birth Attendants, Pregnant mothers, Lactating mothers,
etc. The number of different stakeholders who benefited directly was 25,184 pregnant and lactating
mothers.

Benefits to the community and its immediate ecology/environment were done in three main
ways: First, most of the groups were initially closed because they dealt with micro-credit activities,
but with the addition of the participatory cycle, groups became open to all community members and
men, relatives of pregnant women and frontline government workers were free to attend. Second,
members shared their problems and strategies with the wider community during village and cluster-
level meetings. Third, community members, including men, offered support in the implementation
of the groups’ strategies.

Ekjut’s strategy seems to work well, with the use of regional targeting (selecting underserved
areas in poor districts in poor States), combined with an universal strategy at the community level
(ensuring that no person is omitted and that social cohesion is not disrupted by over-targeting or by
inclusion or exclusion criteria), while ensuring that the messages and activities of the intervention
are understandable for and refer to those who need them most.

The unique elements of the intervention that makes this intervention different from other similar
interventions are six broad, interrelated factors that influenced the intervention's impact: (1)
acceptability; (2) a participatory approach to the development of knowledge, skills and 'critical
consciousness'; (3) community involvement beyond the groups; (4) a focus on marginalised
communities; (5) the active recruitment of newly pregnant women into groups; (6) high population
coverage. Hypothesis is that these factors were responsible for the increase in safe delivery and care
practices that led to the reduction in neonatal mortality demonstrated in the Ekjut trial.

Sustainability of the Intervention

Participatory interventions with community groups can influence maternal and child health
outcomes if key intervention characteristics are preserved and tailored to local contexts. Scaling-up
such interventions requires (1) a detailed understanding of the way in which context affects the
acceptability and delivery of the intervention; (2) planned but flexible replication of key content and
implementation features; (3) strong support for participatory methods from implementing agencies.

Two additional features of the intervention built on the participatory principles inherent to the
women's group intervention but were unique to the Ekjut trial in their intensity and focus are: the
involvement of the wider community, including local community health workers, and the active
targeting of marginalised groups and pregnant women.

Ability to Replicate
The Ekjut trial is an example of a successful participatory intervention that has shown a tangible
impact on seemingly intractable health outcomes. Participatory community mobilisation interventions
may influence maternal and child health outcomes if their key intervention principles are preserved
and tailored to local contexts. Scaling-up this community mobilisation intervention will require a
detailed understanding of the way in which changing contexts, delivery mechanisms, and

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implementation styles will affect key characteristics of the intervention. If combined and locally tailored,
community mobilisation, improvements in health services, and the involvement of community health
workers have the potential to yield lasting change for mothers and new-borns. For countries where
maternal and new-born mortality rates remain unacceptably high and other interventions such as
home visits have not yet reached adequate coverage, community mobilisation interventions such as
the Ekjut PLA cycle can lead to substantial change.

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28
Thikekarwadi Gram Panchayat
APP ID 612
Title of the Initiative Thikekarwadi Gram Panchayat
State MAHARASHTRA

Millions of households in rural India still suffer from a chronic lack of access to modern energy
solutions while they also face the brunt changing climates. Women being the primary managers of
energy, water and essential services suffer the most and must be placed at the heart of efforts to
deploy lasting solutions. The w-POWER programme places women at the core of creating green
economics in underserved parts of rural India. It enables a market based solutions connecting all the
vital dots including women entrepreneurship, clean energy awareness and last mile access of clean
energy products, making it a sustainable and scalable model. Women are trained as clean energy
entrepreneurships equipped with entrepreneurship skills and clean energy knowledge and launched
as clean energy entrepreneurs called as sakhis. The sakhis create clean energy awareness and generate
demand for clean energy solutions. The network of clean energy entrepreneurs is linked to corporate
network of product and technology providers, and sakhis deliver affordable last mile clean energy
products at the grassroots level. While initially the sakhis deliver solar lanterns, advanced smokeless
cook stoves, water purifiers, as sakhis gain experience and increase their risk appetite they venture
out to start micro-enterprises such as bio-mass pelletizer units and generate big ticket products such
as pre-fabricated toilet units, solar home lighting systems, etc.

To support the growth of women entrepreneurs, the model creates an enabling ecosystem
through partnership with various public and private stakeholders supporting the women entrepreneurs
with technologies, clean energy knowledge, and innovative finance mechanisms to fund enterprises
as well as consumers. The initiative frames the bigger picture acknowledging the role of women at
the centre of addressing energy security analysing grassroots realities of the clean energy market
thus creates a sustainable and inclusive ecosystem for rural women entrepreneurs. Till date the
programme has not only empowered women as entrepreneurs but also as social change makers,
transforming grassroots realities with generating consumers from conventional to clean energy
adaptors and promoters. More than 1000 women have evolved creating lasting impact in lives of
over one million families every day. The major activities undertaken as part of the intervention are;

1. Baseline survey: A baseline survey was conducted in target districts of Bihar and Maharashtra
for identification of villages for project implementation, assessing clean energy awareness and
identification of scope for women entrepreneurs in clean energy and allied businesses.

2. Selection and training of women entrepreneurs (Sakhis): Women entrepreneurs were identified
based on eight sakhi pre- requisites being previous entrepreneurial experience, sustained
commitment to business & social objectives, willingness to invest time and money and having

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family support. After the identification and selection, women by constant guidance and hand
holding support by field supervisor.

3. Creating clean energy awareness: Women entrepreneurs create clean energy awareness and
generate demand for clean energy solutions as entrepreneurs are trained on basic
entrepreneurship and technical knowledge on clean energy. Trained women entrepreneurs
launch their clean energy business at the grassroots level. They popularise clean energy through
community group meetings, weekly market stalls and demonstrations, outdoor display of
hoarding/wall paintings on clean energy and distribution of leaflets. The activities were
strengthened by initiatives taken up by women entrepreneurs evolving as marketing best
practices and strategies as below:

R Spreading a strong word of mouth, segment their consumers and differential marketing
pitches at each segment

R Creating a database for potential consumers

R Demonstrating their clean energy products being most powerful medium, providing the
consumers with a look and feel and building their confidence. Group demonstrations at
SHG, anganwadis, schools, etc., and door to door awareness campaigns and
demonstrations for lead generation, organising weekly market stalls and demonstrations
in own village as well as catchment villages.

R Targeting the men and creating awareness and convincing them through the three hour
unique window during the morning hours, when most of the women are engaged in their
household chores and men are free and available in groups at various common meeting
places such as small shops, temples, tea stalls, etc. Converting shop owners and opinion
leaders to early adopters instrumental in introducing the sakhi and her ventures to a
wider audience.

4. Creating network of women entrepreneurs: Women entrepreneurs associated with the clean
energy business are linked within a network facilitating peer learning, knowledge exchange and
a single entry point of interaction with public and private sector stakeholders.

5. Establishing clean energy hub: The Clean Energy Hub aims to bridge these existing gaps in the
rural energy ecosystem by acting as a “span breaker”. It serves as a consumer experience zone
and provides rural last mile access to the private sector and other stakeholders. It provides
access to technology, finance and markets to the women’s clean energy network. It bridges
gaps including the high cost, management complexity of rural distribution channels, absence
of a business support structure and constraints of financial institutions and connects the public
and private partners to the clean energy entrepreneur’s network. Exposure visits to the Clean
Energy Hub has enabled the network of Sakhis to enhance their understanding of various clean
energy products and develop their business associations.

6. International Knowledge Transfer: w-POWER being a global initiative SSP collaborated with
wPOWER of clean energy hub Africa to transfer knowledge and share lessons on innovations
and best practices.

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The key outcomes of the programme are;

R Enhancing rural women’s skills and opportunities: Enabling model to provide on-going support
to women entrepreneurs for enhancing their skills and business knowledge leading to economic
growth opportunities in clean energy business. Till date, more than a 1000 women entrepreneurs
have launched their clean energy business outreaching to over one million people in rural
hinterlands of Bihar and Maharashtra.

R Private sector directly engages women entrepreneur networks: Facilitated by clean energy hub,
private sector companies are involving women in the energy value chain – product design and
development, promoting rural businesses, marketing and distribution. Women entrepreneurs
have enabled feedback to private technology developers, making clean energy products more
consumer centric, affordable and relevant. Till date, 15 long-term partnerships have been
established with the women entrepreneurs’ network.

R Transformation of entrepreneurial, social and financial dimensions: wPOWER ushered in a holistic

transformation in the lives of women associated with the network building their capacities,
providing customised coaching support and encouraging them to play a central role in bringing
awareness. Sakhis experience an uplifting of their social status and also at the household level,
supporting increased incomes, savings, and improved credit portfolio.

R Changing grassroots realities around clean energy markets: The energy scenario in target villages
of Maharashtra and Bihar is characterised by unreliable grid electricity supply and regular power-
cuts, forcing most rural households to fall back on conventional energy sources like kerosene
for meeting their lighting needs. Similarly, in case of cooking, rural households primarily depend
on firewood thereby exposing themselves, particularly women and children, to indoor pollution
and the lethally harmful health effects. The wPOWER programme has brought about a
remarkable change in the lives of many rural consumers by raising their awareness and
encouraging them to adopt and transition to clean energy products usage.

The intervention is achieving sustainability as the several women entrepreneurs have

experienced transformations while others are on their learning curves moving on the footsteps on
progressive and transformed sakhis. Entrepreneurial, social and financial transformation has
empowered them to take their entrepreneurial journey forward even after the programme concludes
and venture out into new, innovative micro-ventures related to clean energy and expand their business
and product portfolio. The clean energy users also experience transformations and encourage others
to adopt clean energy. The communities adopting clean energy solutions are realising the long-term
benefits of using clean energy and eventually villages have been transformed developing clusters of
green communities. Extending the efforts women entrepreneurs also are highly motivated and place
their efforts converting all households in the village as clean energy users.

With reaping benefits of clean energy cooking and lighting solutions, the demand for big ticket
clean energy products used for commercial purposes will also increase, wherein either at the moment
energy solutions are not available or delivered by non- renewable such as diesel run power generators.
The rise in demand for agriculture equipment such as water pumps, harvesters, rice mills, flour mills,

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etc., provides immense opportunities for women entrepreneurs to grow their clean energy business.
The communities have become motivated and keen to adopt clean energy technologies, transforming
their villages from non-users to clean energy adopters and promoters. With promising business
opportunities, the market based solution to improve clean energy access is a sustainable model in
near future. Till date, 1,010 Sakhis have been initiated in clean energy business and outreached over
one million people. With completing the project target of launching 1000 clean energy entrepreneurs,
SSP is now focused on capacity building of entrepreneurs and supporting increased magnitude of
awareness generation activities through the Clean Energy Hubs. SSP has attracted involvement through
long-term agreements with private sector companies, government agencies, financing institutions,
NGOs, etc., supporting the sustainability of the model.

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29

Total Sanitation Programme Named Susthira

Suchithwa Programme
APP ID 30
Title of the Initiative Total Sanitation Programme Named Susthira Suchithwa
Programme
Kadirur Gram Panchayat Office
State KERALA

The Kadirur gram panchayat has initiated a rigorous Information, Education and Communication
campaign. The IEC campaign aimed at awareness creation about the importance of clean air, water
and unpolluted soil for all living beings. Degradable waste was composted at the source itself and the
non-degradable waste (mainly plastics and other items) were collected from houses, markets, schools,
public places. The waste was collected by the ‘Susthira’ volunteers. The waste collected was sorted
and sent to recycling units.

The committees were formed at the panchayat, ward and neighbourhood level with a focus on
waste management, special gram sabha and neighbourhood meetings were organised to address the
issues of waste management. This increased participation of people, especially women, in the gram
sabhas.

Activity Planning
Panchayat level Suchithwa Samithi : Firstly a 51 member panchayat level Susthira Suchithwa Samithi
was formulated. This samithi comprised elected members, implementing officers, political workers,
members of cultural organisations, clubs, Kudumbasree, self-help groups, govt.servants, merchants,
health workers, Ex-service men and so on. 30 beneficiary groups of the Jalanidhi were also included.

For conducting rigorous Information, Education and Communication campaign, a 12-member

facilitating team was formulated. The facilitators were entrusted with the responsibility of providing
awareness to Ward Suchithwa Samithi meetings, Ayalkoota Suchithwa samithi, and so on. The
panchayat suchithwa samithi is entrusted with overall coordination.

Ward level Suchithwa Samithi : Ward member is the chairman of the 13-member ward level
committee. Members consist of ADS members, Kudumbasree President and Secretary, local political
leaders, implementing officers, political workers, members of cultural organisations, clubs,
kudumbasree, self-help groups, govt. servants, merchants, health workers, Ex-service men and so on.

Neighbourhood Suchithwa Committee : An NHG is constituted for every 70 households. 6-10 NHGs
were formed in each ward. An executive committee of 7 members, selected from the NHGs, along

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with Kudumbashree members, Health Workers and ASHA workers constitute the Neighbourhood
Suchitwa Committee. They are responsible for waste management activities.

Facilitating team : The panchayat has formulated a 12-member facilitating team for giving classes to
ward samithis and NHGs. The members of these samithis were trained by the District Suchitwa Mission,
Kannur. The facilitating team members now function as Resource Persons at the district level.

Self-Help Groups : For the smooth conducting of the Susthira Suchithwa Padhati, the gram panchayat
has constituted 30 self-help groups under the Swarna Jayanthi Gram Rozgar Team. This group is also
monitoring the work of plastic collection by the Kudumbasree volunteers.

Panchayat Level Suchitwa Samithi For Schools : At the panchayat level, a Panchayat level Suchitwa
Samiti for Schools was formed. The Education Standing Committee Chairman of the Panchayat chairs
this committee, which includes the School HeadMaster, PTA Chairman, Mothers’ PTA Chairperson,
and another senior teacher from each school. This committee coordinated the overall school level
Suchitwa Campaign in the panchayat. The panchayat selected and awarded the Best Performing Schools
with respect to the cleaning campaign every year. This committee also organised various kinds of
competitions for the students, on the theme of sanitation.

Suchitwa Box : The panchayat placed 104 Suchitwa Boxes. Each of the boxes catered to 70 households.
The Suchitwa Volunteer has the lock and key of this box, which will be kept open for two hours on
every Sunday, where members of the locality are expected to come and drop clean and dry plastic
waste. A mini lorry, driven by a woman driver collected the plastic waste from all of the 104 Suchitwa
Boxes. This driver and five other full time Suchitwa Workers were paid a remuneration of ` 300 per
day through a project of the panchayat approved by the District Planning Committee.

Benefits to the stakeholders : Given the fact that this project aimed at the waste management of the
entire Kadirur Panchayat area, one can assume that the entire panchayat has benefited from this
project. However, various committees and people’s organisations formed for this purpose, such as
Panchayat Level Suchitwa Samiti and its members, SHG groups, Kudumbashree volunteers, cultural
activists, PTA members, Residents Welfare Association members, etc were key stakeholders in the
process.

Collection and removal of plastic waste benefits the immediate environment in a significant
manner. Processing of degradable waste at source helps to improve the quality of the environment.
Planting of trees will further help in reducing air pollution. The cleaning of water bodies, ponds and
tanks, and using it as a swimming pool, ensures the water quality of these water bodies, and contributes
to the health of the people who use it. The gas crematorium which is under construction will help in
controlling the pollution of the area.

Impact
With the Susthira Suchitwa Mission Programme, the entire panchayat area looks clean and
neat. Roads and public places were not littered with waste. The students were aware of the dangers
of plastic waste. A number of competitions had been organised for school students around this theme.
A Suchitwa Committee is very active in institutions such as anganwadis, schools, banks, and so on.
Once the ponds and other water bodies were cleaned and converted into swimming pools, littering

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of water bodies came to an end. Around 2000 people, including men and women, were trained to
swim. People were happy about this initiative of the panchayat.

A large number of people have been involved in the planting of trees and raising nurseries. The
overall environmental awareness about the need to take care of trees and prevent soil erosion, has
been in this panchayat. It is claimed that this panchayat has a reduced incidence of epidemic diseases
like dengue fever, viral fever, chikungunya, hepatitis and so on, as compared to neighbouring
panchayats.

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30
Traditional Community Managed Irrigation System in
Subankhata Baksa District
APP ID 160
Title of the Initiative Traditional Community Managed Irrigation System in
Subankhata Baksa District
State ASSAM

Background
The area has witnessed armed conflict in the past. Living and working together on dong bundhs
has played a role in mitigating the inter-community conflict and paved way for integration, peace and
political stability amongst the diverse communities. The people in the catchment area are able to
harness water resources through the critical, lean months and do not necessarily depend upon other
sources. Many farmers are able to harvest four cash crops (lentils, mustard, vegetables and paddy).

Water from the dong bundh system is the primary source of water for the community. They use
the water for multiple purposes – irrigation as well as household purposes (primarily non-drinking
purposes). The system manages the ecosystem of the area as well as reduces the disaster risk. The
dong passes through the forest area and provides continuous supply to the habitat. It diverts water
from the main river and reduces the risk of flood and soil erosion. It improves the livelihood of the
community (farming can be done in the winter season as well). It provides support to raise livestock.

Socially, the system has played a significant role creating harmony amongst the diverse
community members. The area has seen one of the worst armed conflicts during the Bodo movement
and Ulfa insurgency. The need of water in an otherwise deficient area (during non-monsoon season)
made it imminent to the communities to shed their differences, organise themselves by building
social capital in order to maximally benefit from the natural capital (river water) through dong bundh
system.

Governance Structure of the Dong Bundh System

A dong is managed by a traditional body of representatives comprising village headmen and
elders of the adjoining villages of a dong who share the water resources. The committee takes all
decisions regarding the operation and management of the dong. Over a period of time, several sub-
committees have become more formal in structure with President, Secretary and Treasurer. Some
have also opened bank accounts where an annual membership fee from the members is deposited.
All committees have a constitution that includes rules, regulations and by-laws. However, the executive
members of the committee remain the core of governance structure. The committees monitors strictly
on supply and use of water. A dong is opened for stipulated number of hours at periodic intervals for
a village so that people can store water in their pond or irrigate their field. Then another dong is
opened for other villages and likewise the system of water distribution is followed.

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Though dong bundh management keeps on going throughout the year, the main construction
works are undertaken between January and March. During this time, the main river channel is cleaned.
It involves the manual removal of obstructing boulders and desiltation of the river channel. ‘Porcupines’
are built from locally available materials such as bamboo and timber poles. They deflect and channelise
the stream as per requirement. Winter season (October to April) is the critical period during which
there is water shortage and actual water management and distribution is required. The committee
and sub-committees ensure that water is distributed judiciously and equitably during the lean period.

Dong Bundh Sub-committees

95 villages spread over a catchment area of 120 sq. kms. covering population of more than
35000. The sub-committees play a critical role in controlling floods and related disasters and providing
food security in the area. It works to protect the key water sources within the protected area.

The entire planning and execution of the dong bundh system is under the control and
management of the community owned “Uttar Anchalik Dong Bundh Committee”. The committee is
a registered society that was officially recognised in 1954. Under it, there are 13 sub-committees
which have different villages under their respective command area.

The entire cost of maintenance and repairing the dong bundhs is managed by the sub-
committees. There are constitutional guidelines to do financial management of the system.

Few examples are as follows –

Rule for the governing committee:

There is prohibition to add new land for water supply and land from forest area until it is declared
as revenue land. If new land is added for water irrigation, then the beneficiary has to pay penalty. The
members can use a plough for free in lieu of their services in the committee.

Rules for the Communities of the Area

From mid-April to mid-October, the cultivators and land owners should be present during
shramdaan (contribution through labour) for repairing and construction of canals. The disabled, women
and children pay money (` 15 per head) instead of contributing through labour. Each plough farmer
has to give 20 kgs of rice and non-plough farmer 10 kgs of rice to the governing committee of the
village. The committee decides the time of ploughing. If someone found started ploughing earlier is
levied a fine. Fine is levied on the defaulters (absence from or turning up late for shramdaan, and
loan defaulters). Fine is also levied on those found defecating or throwing animal carcass in the dong
(` 501 to 1001). The sub-committee can supply water to a new household or village without the
approval of committee.

The intervention area BTAD has VCDC (Village Council Development Committee) instead of gram
sabha. The dong bundh committee and sub-committees are an integral part of the local VCDC. They
are active throughout the year to manage and administer water distribution in the upper stream,
middle stream and lower stream. The dong bundh system has traditionally been managed by the
community for the past 70 years or so. It is an example of community participation through a
community owned governing system. This already developed social capital can be channelised further

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to work on other themes like education, health and other forms of livelihood promotion (primarily
off-farm and non-farm).

Replicability: The dong bundh system can be used as a model for communities living on the periphery
of Protected Areas in the bhabhar belt of Indian sub-continent. The construction of micro-dams,
channelising ‘wild’ river water as per a systematic plan through canals is almost a century old practice.
It has socio-cultural as well as ecological significance. This model demonstrates the capability of the
community to mobilise and organise to manage a natural resource by forming committees and sub-
committees with autonomy. It reveals that traditional practices of harvesting water are dynamic and
work as per the need of the situation and change in the environment and ecology. It shows that
economic benefit (irrigation and reduction in disaster) from such a management of natural capital/
resource is crucial for the survival of the traditional practice.

Sustainability
The dong bundh is a completely community owned practice being done since pre-Independence
time. Over a period of time, it has achieved several remarkable milestones in responding to the water
requirement of the people and area. Despite the absence of any substantial support from the State
(irrigation, rural development or forest department), the community took it upon itself to deal with
the water scarcity. It epitomises the belief that traditional knowledge of the community along with
social harmony does not have to wait for state or civil society intervention to make its ends meet.
However, their engagement can further augment the process, no doubt. The process/system was
initiated by the community long before agency joined to further strengthen it. As enunciated earlier,
the economic return from the system has played a vital role in sustaining the system. The legacy of
managing the dong bundhs through committees and sub-committees from one generation to the
other is amply manifested.

Impact
The dong bundh system is one of its kind indigenously developed, community based intervention
which is fulfilling multiple purposes apart from providing irrigation water. It is based on the social
capital and minimally dependent on external monetary support. It’s an age old traditional practice.
The agency (Aaranyak) started work with the community people in mid-2000. It has strengthened the
system by intervening in areas like mitigating human wildlife conflict (through electric fencing),
plantation of saplings to be used as porcupines, promoting ecotourism, distributing saplings of timber
trees to community members (reduce collection of timber from forest), documentation and publication
of dong bundh system (published in IUCN, 2014), exposure trips of students, support local NGO
partners, enhancement of local knowledge, organising summer school and promoting off-farm and
non-farm livelihood activities. However, it can be said that the traditional dong bundh system is
community based intervention being managed and controlled by the people themselves. The credit
for its performance and sustainability should largely go to the community members.

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Wealth from Waste to Transform Mellli Dara Into
A Swachh Gram Panchayat
APP ID 373
Title of the Initiative Wealth from Waste to Transform Mellli Dara Into A Swachh
Gram Panchayat
Government of Sikkim
State SIKKIM

Wealth from Waste to Transform Melli Dara Gram Panchayat into a Swachh Gram Panchayat

Wealth from Waste to Transform Melli Dara into a Swachh Gram Panchayat is the initiative by
Melli Dara Paiyong Gram Panchayat. Melli Dara Paiyong Gram Panchayat established the waste
management unit in consultation with Maple Orgtech India Ltd. in 2009. The main reason was to
manage garbage of Melli bazaar. Hence GP started collecting garbage three times in a week and turn
into compost using EM method.

Major Activities
(a) Collection and segregation of garbage into degradable and non-degradable (b) Making compost
and packing the organic manure (c) Selling non-degradable waste to scrap dealer. This project is
hundred per cent public funded. Total funding was ` 9 lakh from Rural Management and
Development Dept. (RMDD), Govt. of Sikkim and one vehicle from Indo-Swiss Project, Sikkim.
Out of total funding, ` 5 lakh was spent to set up waste management unit (5 km from Melli
bazaar), ` 1.44 lakh for staff salaries and ` 2.56 lakh as consultation and training fee to Maple
Orgtech India Ltd. The per capita cost of this intervention is around ` 172. Interestingly the
project was able to recover its cost within first two years.

Stakeholders
1330 households (5245 persons), 177 different types of traders and farmers. From this project,
Gram Panchayat’s own income increased by ` 5.15 lakh. The benefits of this intervention include
clean and healthy environment, employment of five persons. The overall attitudes of stakeholders
are positive towards this project. The project is efficiently reusing and recycling the waste. These
types of activities have both direct and indirect effect. The direct effect includes revenue of GP, clean
environment, etc. On the other hand, indirect effects include reduction or prevention of greenhouse
gas emissions, release of pollutants and requirement of landfill space, etc.

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Impact
The success of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan also depends on the nature of solid waste management
mechanism adopted by both rural and urban India. Management of solid waste reduces the adverse
impact of the waste on the environment and human health. This project is efficiently reusing and
recycling the waste. These types of activities have both direct and indirect effects. The direct effect
includes revenue of GP, clean environment, etc. On the other hand, indirect effects include reduction
or prevention of greenhouse gas emissions, release of pollutants and requirement of landfill space.

Elements of Sustainability
The Gram Panchayat collects a nominal charge from the residents a garbage fee of ` 50 and
` 30 monthly from enterprises and households, respectively. ` 150 month is charged to vegetable
shops, hotels and saloons. ` 1.80 lakh/annum is collected as garbage fee. The Gram Panchayat sells
the compost manure at the rate of ` 20/kg to generate revenue. The revenue from the compost
manure is about ` 3.10 lakh/annum. Annually, scrap to the tune of about ` 25,000 is sold by the SWM
Unit. The total income earned from the unit is about ` 5.15 lakh per annum. Five members are
employed for the unit comprising one supervisor, three helpers and one driver for the utility vehicle
meant for collecting and transporting garbage to the Waste Management Unit. The monthly
expenditure for the salaries works out to be ` 36,000, which is met from the revenue earned by the Unit.

Ability to Replicate
The initiative has been successful at Melli Dara Paiyong Gram Panchayat. It has a semi-urban
cluster. The houses in the villages are in cluster form. This facilitates easy collection of garbage. Every
Gram Panchayat generates waste that is effectively managed by the Gram Panchayat through
compositing. The initiative can be replicated in other Gram Panchayats that are located in tropical/
sub-tropical belts. It can be replicated in densely populated Gram Panchayats, where houses are
located in clusters.

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Action Against Malnutrition (AAM)

APP ID 124
Title of the Initiative Action Against Malnutrition (AAM)
TATA TRUST
State JHARKHAND

The objective of the intervention is to provide health facilities to children (in the age group of 6
months to 3 years) suffering from acute malnutrition. A participatory approach has been employed
to address the issue. Community crèches have been started after identifying malnourished children
and healthy food, early referral and early childhood care is being provided through them.

As a result, the referral to malnutrition centres has increased considerably. Also, after three
years, the project will be able to share the data related to improvement in the status of underweight,
stunted and wasted and Mid Under Arm Circumference (MUAC) measurement along with secondary
indicators related to Integrated Young Child Feeding (IYCF).

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Anandshala Making Learning Joyful
APP ID 409
Title of the Initiative Anandshala, Making Learning Joyful
QUEST Alliance
State BIHAR

Anandshala is a model that ensures that every student stays, engages and learns in school by
fostering positive relationships with children, teachers and parents using interesting mediums like
arts, language and sports. Activities like early warning system were undertaken to identify the
disengaged students. Also, capacity building of teachers and headmasters was done for having a
child-centric learning environment. Parent engagement tools like board games, tracking posters, regular
open houses with parent and child activities were developed to help parents see value in education
and engage with their children’s learning process. As a result, besides identification of disengaged
students, increased involvement of students and parents in the learning process has also been ensured.

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Annapurna
APP ID 518
Title of the Initiative Annapurna
Jeevika
State BIHAR

The objective was to enable the poorest of the poor to have the access to good quality food-
grain throughout the year without any gap to ensure better nutrition, especially for women and
children.

Food security intervention had been introduced to address the food requirement of the poorest
households. The community managed food procurement and distribution mechanism through the
help of SHG members. It had been limited to wheat and rice only.

This was an innovative financial “credit” product that provided a single window within a village
(VO) for purchase of foodgrain, packing, distribution of foodgrains and recovery/ repayment of the
outstanding credit making it accessible for the poor, especially for SCs/ STs.

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Biodiversity, Tourism and Community Advancement

APP ID 305
Title of the Initiative Biodiversity , Tourism and Community Advancement
Society for Biodiversity , Tourism and Community Advancement
State HIMACHAL PRADESH

The overall objective of the intervention is to promote income generation activities amongst
poor women through saving and credit groups and establishing market access. Scheduled Caste widows
and deserted women are almost universally included among the poorest category of people, but
coverage under government programmes like widow pension scheme is seen to be poor In the 11
Panchayats of the eco-development zone, the proportion of Scheduled Caste population to the total
population is 31.50%. Recognising that in such a situation reducing poverty has to begin with the
poorest and that often these poorest are women, a local Community Based Organisation, BTCA,
planned an intervention aimed at enhancing income of poor women along with their social and political
empowerment through an instrument called "Women's Saving and Credit Groups". The GHNP (Greater
Himalayan National Park) authorities joined hands with BTCA and the two have been working together
in the area since late 1999. In the present case, 16 women members of S&C groups, including animators,
contested the Panchayat elections in November 2000 and out of them seven were elected either as
members of the Panchayat (representing a Panchayat ward) or some as Panchayat President. It is also
significant that this is the first time that sustainable village/hamlet level organisations in the hills of
Kullu have emerged. The Park authorities and the forest department have a ready market for the
vermicompost, which is bought through the CBO, BTCA. Some fraction of the sale proceeds goes to
BTCA (after agreement with the groups) to help the organisation towards attaining financial viability.
Presently, 19 hectares of forest land involving an equal number of groups has been planted up at the
rate of 22,500 plants per hectare, and the first harvest is expected to begin end 2002.

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Building Alliances for Holistic Interventions and

Actions for Women
APP ID 549
Title of the Initiative Building Alliances for Holistic Interventions and Actions for
Women (BAHINA)
State MAHARASHTRA

The main objective was to establish a close network of legal aid and counselling service centres
at the cluster level through a cadre of trained village level community workers. In order to achieve the
objective, BAHINA adopted a holistic approach for the implementation of the project which includes
improvement in the status of deserted and socially marginalised (DSM) women by ensuring better
access to social, legal, and economic resources. As a result, the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and
local government systems have become more responsive and the local communities have been
sensitised and motivated to carry out development activities.

37

Case Study - Salya Pamar

APP ID 355
Title of the Initiative Case Study - Salya Pamar
Zilla Panchayat, Datia
State MADHYA PRADESH

The objective of the intervention is to integrate the twin goals of poverty reduction and
environmental regeneration through participatory watershed management. The watershed
development programme is unique in nature as it provides an opportunity to the local people to
identify, analyse and make plans for local development. Major activities undertaken as a part of the
intervention are construction of dam and demonstration of innovative crop technology to farmers.

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Collective Farming
APP ID 200
Title of the Initiative Collective Farming
Kudumbashree Mission
State KERALA

Collective farming is a novel intervention of the Kudumbashree Mission under which rural
landless women are mobilised to form joint liability groups of 4-10 members to undertake agriculture
on lease land availed from both public and private agency. Each of the groups are provided with a
unique identification number at the Gram Panchayat level. Community organisation of the
Kudumbashree is undertaken and each of the groups are graded with a tool co-developed by NABARD
leading to credit linkage of these groups from banks. These groups are provided with periodic training
and capacity building activities to ensure better skill development on agriculture and allied activities,
market linkages and value addition.

39
Comprehensive Inclusive Banking and Payment
Platform in Rural India
APP ID 195
Title of the Initiative Comprehensive Inclusive Banking and Payment Platform in
Rural India
Socio-Economic Development Association
State MANIPUR

The intervention was done to bring in people living in remote and inaccessible areas under the
banking system. A mobile or tablet based application using the Aadhaar Biometric Authentication
Module is being used for doing the payments at doorsteps. An inclusive model benefiting both the
villagers as well as merchants has been developed making it sustainable. As a result, a comprehensive
inclusive banking and payment platform is developed which is catering to the banking needs in the
rural areas of Manipur.

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Construction of Storage and Sedimentation Tank at GP

Jhanda Khurd, District MANSA
APP ID 339
Title of the Initiative Construction of Storage and Sedimentation Tank at GP Jhanda
Khurd, District MANSA
Public
State PUNJAB

The project was undertaken to address the scarcity of clean drinking water. A drinking water
tank with a capacity of 48 lakh litres was undertaken under MGNREGA through which 122 households
were provided employment. This tank would supply 70 ltrs of water per head per day.

The Gram Panchayat collects money from every household for the drinking water supplied; this
would help in the maintenance of the water tank making the model sustainable. As a result, the
villagers in Jhanda Khurd are getting safe and pure drinking water at their doorsteps.

41

Construction of 8 IAY Houses in Cluster Approach

APP ID 95
Title of the Initiative Construction of 8 IAY Houses in Cluster Approach
State MIZORAM

The objective was to provide proper shelter and to promote social integration by means of
providing houses in a cluster approach to the landless families. The construction of the houses was
done through converging with government schemes like MGNREGA and 13th Finance Commission.
Apart from providing housing facilities, villagers were also provided with basic needs like water and
solar electricity. The district administration had also started livelihood activities like pig rearing and
construction of tea stalls for improving their economic condition.

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Education of Tribal Girls - “AMAR NANI PROJECT”

APP ID 554
Title of the Initiative Education of Tribal Girls -“AMAR NANI PROJECT”
Aide et Action
State ODISHA

Amar Nani project of Aide et Action has enabled more than 6000 girl children to access quality
education in a tribal dominated district of Nabarangpur in Odisha.

The main aim of the project was to enable girl children access to quality education. In order to
achieve this objective, the project focused on quality education, behaviour changes, empowerment
of female and addressing on other social issues existing in the area with the active and extended
support of CBOs, CBIs, PRI members, block level officers, teachers, parents, media, etc. Thus ensuring
greater assimilation and retention of tribal girl children and working towards strengthening their
rights and entitlements which will be sustainable in nature.

More than 1065 number of new children were enrolled in the formal schools from the 10
operational Gram Panchayats. All 618 dropout children are regularised through the project activities.
65 out of 90 School Management Committees under operational villages have been made active in
school governance.

Moreover, the community took greater degree of ownership and accountability within their
teams. This project took the attention of United Nations Girls’ Child Education Initiative (UNGEI) and
was selected as successful model for documentation of good practices in girls’ education and gender
equality during the year 2014.

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Empowering Society through Women Empowerment

APP ID 304
Title of the Initiative Empowering Society through Women Empowerment

State MADHYA PRADESH

VAMA’s innovative approach to its core area of poverty alleviation is driven by values and
commitment. VAMA has taken initiative to educate women through financial literacy by conducting
classroom trainings, lectures from various bankers and insurance persons, creating awareness through
nukkad natak and songs. Under financial literacy, initiatives like creating awareness on financial concept,
personnel finance, and management of money amongst people, financial planning and budgeting.
Build up the habit of saving amongst women, connect people to bank through saving account and
micro-insurance, Entrepreneurship skills development through financial literacy.

44
Gifted Children Scheme
APP ID 113
Title of the Initiative Gifted Children Scheme
GMR Varalakshmi Foundation
State ANDHRA PRADESH

GMR Varalakshmi Foundation at Rajam provides quality education for the bright children with
poor financial backgrounds through ‘Gifted Children Scheme’. Under this scheme, the children are
supported right from KG to PG or till the child joins their first job.

A good number of employees of the GMR Group sponsor the educational expenses of such
children every year.

Under this scheme, each selected child is provided books, bags, uniforms, bicycles for those
who are from interior villages and other stationary items. Their schools fees are also included in the
scheme. The children are even encouraged to participate in extracurricular and cultural activities.
Quarterly meetings with the parents are conducted to review the academic performance of their
wards.

Currently, 162 children are receiving benefits through this scheme.

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Gram Panchayat Organisation Development

APP ID 407
Title of the Initiative Gram Panchayat Organisation Development
Avantika Foundation
State KARNATAKA

Avantika Foundation had worked towards developing the organisational capacity of Gram
Panchayats in Karnataka and building effective leadership amongst elected representatives, officials
and other stakeholders in decentralised governance through Panchayati Raj Institutions.

According to the objective, in the two Gram Panchayats named Oorkunte Mittur and Dibburhalli,
where the project was implemented since 2011, GPOD followed the following steps: developing a
vision and mission (to build momentum for change), process mapping (to enable process-oriented
functioning), developing a Gram Panchayat Organisation structure (to build accountability, ownership
and distributed leadership), perspective and annual planning (to build skills of prioritisation and
knowledge of resources), handholding implementation of plans and strengthening citizen engagement
with the Gram Panchayat.

This gave the Gram Panchayat members an understanding about the functioning of Panchayti
Raj and developed their organisational skills too.

46

Gramoddhar Backyard Poultry Farming

APP ID 138
Title of the Initiative Gramoddhar Backyard Poultry Farming
Enactus SSCBS
State HARYANA

The main objective was to provide alternative livelihood to villagers and improve their economic
condition through engaging them into poultry farming. The model involves adopting a family interested
in poultry farming and helping them breed kuroiler chicks and sell their meat and eggs. The major
interventions under the initiative are poultry farming, skill development, infrastructure building,
awareness camps, market research. Intervention has resulted in substantial increase in family income.

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47

ICT Based Information Services to Farmers

APP ID 53
Title of the Initiative ICT based Information Services to Farmers
GGRC, GSWMA, NABARD, SFAC
State GUJARAT

The main objective was to facilitate ICT based Information Services to Farmers by linking farmers
to markets, training and hand-holding support, critical information on daily farming needs such as
weather forecast, market price of crops at mandis, tips that helped in improving crop productivity,
health and hygiene tips, education and women empowerment module, financial literacy, etc. For this
Reuters Market Light (RML), a pioneering and a multi-award-winning service, offering a bouquet of
ICT solutions across the entire agro value chain was engaged. RML services played an important role
in empowering farmers and improving their lifestyle since October, 2007 and had reached out to
more than 14 lakh farmers till date.

Gujarat Green Revolution Company (A special purpose vehicle created for the widespread
coverage of micro-irrigation system throughout the Gujarat State) with RML initiated this project to
provide customised services to the farmers in Gujarat through specific information based on their
crops, geography and overall farming profile.

Gujarat State Watershed Management Agency (GSWMA) had taken an initiative to build the
capacity of these farmer communities by engaging RML to provide farmers real time information
through mobile based platform regarding packages of practices, disease and pest occurrence, and
Market information.

Small Farmers’ Agri-Business Consortium- RML’s Krishidoot was an ICT based aggregation and
transaction platform for Agro Communities, launched jointly by SFAC and RML in 2013. The main
objective of the Krishidoot was to bring together the Producer Communities (farmers and farmer
groups) and Agro Businesses (agro buyers, sellers, service providers and government institutions) via
an ICT based platform

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Improving of Life of Rural People through Education,

Health and Livelihood Based Activities
APP ID 66
Title of the Initiative Improving of life of Rural People through Education, Health and
Livelihood Based Activities.
Ananta Welfare Society
State TRIPURA

The main objective of the intervention is to improve living condition of the villagers through an
integrated approach focussing on education, livelihood, and health. Ananta Welfare Society has
initiated several interventions like awareness campaigns, agriculture training, weavers training and
providing study centres for dropouts. In order to reduce the dropouts, the society is providing coaching
to school children, running study centres and English primary centre. Health initiatives include both
preventive and curative measures while livelihood interventions include training on agriculture and
allied sectors besides weaving and handicraft based activities to promote sustainable livelihoods
opportunities. These interventions finally succeeded to leave an impact to educate students from
remote areas with a special emphasis on the SC, ST and OBC students. It has also created health
awareness on diseases and their preventive measures, simultaneously income generation trainings
for sustainable livelihoods have also been started.

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Indo – German Watershed Development Programme

Ahmednagar
APP ID 414
Title of the Initiative Indo – German Watershed Development Programme
Ahmednagar
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GIZ
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development
State MAHARASHTRA

The project had been implemented in two major phases; 1. Capacity Building Phase (CBP)
2. Full Implementation Phase. This was followed by a short Interim Phase (IP). The Feasibility Report
was prepared during the IP. The CBP was implemented and supported by the Watershed Organisation
Trust (WOTR) and the FIP by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).
During the implementation, the Phase-wise planning was prepared and implemented as per plan.
The Participatory Net Planning tool was used to prepare the feasibility report. The Gat number-wise
planning of each farmer was prepared mutually with the consent of the farmer.

During the CBP, a number of awareness programmes, exposure and training programmes were
conducted. The Community Based Organisations (CBOs); Women Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Village
Watershed Committee (VWC), Forest Protection Committee (FPC) and Samyukta Mahila Samitee
(SMS) were formed unanimously in the Gram Sabha. In order to support the VWC at village level,
local level youths were trained to work as Field Supervisors (‘Panlot-Sevak’- Watershed Volunteers).
To support and guide the VWC for the implementation in the village, WOTR appointed a qualified
project team of three staff members.

A small area of around 100 ha was selected for treatment in CBP area. After successful
implementation of CBP, NABARD appraised this phase and sanctioned the IP. During the IP, the
Participatory Net Planning tool was used for preparing the Feasibility Report. After sanctioning of the
project by NABARD, a joint account of VWC with WOTR was opened. The sanctioned project funds
were released to the VWC’s bank account by NABARD.

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Integrated Water Resource Management by the

Participation of Women Community
APP ID 497
Title of the Initiative Integrated Water Resource Management by the participation
of Women Community
Parmarth Samaj Sevi Sansthan
State UTTAR PRADESH

The main objective of this initiative was to reduce the vulnerability of the community by
increasing the participation of women in Integrated Water Resource Management. Parmarth carried
out several activities like preparation and implementation of Water Security Plan, formation and
strengthening of CBOs, Pani Panchayat, Village Development Committee and encouraged women’s
participation in decision making.

As a result of these initiatives, livelihood opportunities in the agriculture and allied sector have
immensely increased. Also, drinking water storage capacity has increased from 4 months to 8 months
in the village and women’s participation in the decision making of village developmental work has
improved.

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51

i-Saksham
APP ID 327
Title of the Initiative i-Saksham
PMRDF Jamui and Munger
State BIHAR

i-Saksham sees education, digital literacy, awareness about socio-economic issues, and vocational
skills as core tools to bring capabilities to individuals and societies. i-Saksham acknowledges the need
and urgency to bridge learning and skilling gap in un-reached areas and provide quality learning at
door steps of people residing in the most backward areas of the country. It aims at doing this through
local i-Saksham community tutors-cum-entrepreneurs called ‘Saksham Mitra’. It trains and provides
them with capabilities and resources to empower their community through education and awareness,
while earning a livelihood for themselves. i-Saksham channelises learning content from various sources
and put them on a solar powered tablet. The device is operated by a trained local youth called ‘Saksham-
Mitra’ on loan/lease basis for self-learning and educating children. Currently i-Saksham is working in
Jamui and Munger Districts of Bihar, India. It plans to expand its work to other difficult and remote
areas, reaching out to more than 5 million families through 50 thousand i-Saksham community tutors-
cum-edu-preneurs by 2025.

52

Khedut Saathi
APP ID 589
Title of the Initiative Khedut Saathi
Awaaz De
State GUJARAT

Khedut Saathi brings innovations and information intended to improve productivity and
encourage stronger agricultural practices through a universally accessible platform - mobile phones
and voice technology - to reach the small farmer who can implement new techniques and technologies.
Major activities undertaken as part of the intervention are Agricultural research, Collaborating with
media house to script and produce podcast episodes in local dialects and contexts, Disseminate through
voice messaging platform, Analyze feedback, Conduct surveys and focus group discussion.

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Livelihood and Food Security

APP ID 276
Title of the Initiative Livelihood and Food Security
Concept Society
State MADHYA PRADESH

The Objective of the intervention is community advocacy through people's organisations for
the creation of sustainable livelihood opportunities and the elimination of all kinds of discrimination
and oppression with special regard to the improvement of the status of women. Major activities
undertaken as part of the intervention are Soil and Water Conservation, Land Development, Agriculture
Development, Organic Farming, Promotion of Irrigation Sources, Gender Mainstreaming, SHGs,
Strengthening of CBOs or Proper Implementation of Public distribution system, MNREGA, Forest right
Act.

54

Moving towards Self-Sufficiency

APP ID 481
Title of the Initiative Moving towards Self-Sufficiency
Gram Panchayat
State SIKKIM

By effectively deploying user charges from villagers, this initiative has ensured livelihood and
maintenance of assets of Gram Panchayat. In order to move towards self-sufficiency, the Gram
Panchayat has taken a number of steps to raise revenue. A concept of user charges was developed in
which the people will pay the definite charges like drinking water user group, garbage disposal charge,
work registeration, single window system, utility vehicle hire, trade/hawker license, parking fee,
construction fee, environment tax, dispute redressal, issuance of NOCs fee, bazar tender, toll tax etc.
By this initiative total revenue of ` 17,21,390 was collected and the Gram Panchayat has been able to
employ 10 persons in various capacities from the revenue earned. The revenue raised by the Gram
Panchayat is used for minor repairs and maintenance of assets in the Gram Panchayat in addition to
paying the salary of staff engaged by them.

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Nairmalya Vahini
APP ID 84
Title of the Initiative Nairmalya Vahini
Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement
State KARNATAKA

The objective of the intervention is to strengthen the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Education
(WSHE) in the schools and communities and thereby bring about a positive behaviour change among
the people in water and sanitation practices, as evidenced by enhanced personal hygiene, improved
access to safe drinking water and an overall reduction in the incidence of waterborne diseases. The
major activities undertaken as part of the intervention are:

R Building the capacities of the Government Education and Health department personnel.

R Behaviour change and communication activities with respect to Water.

R Promoted Sanitation and personal hygiene activities.

R Promoted environmental hygiene in the schools and villages.

R Promoted water sanitation messages through Child-to-family and child-to-community linkages.

R Documented the process of the implementation.

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Nirmala Bhavanam Nirmala Nagaram

APP ID 569
Title of the Initiative Nirmala Bhavanam Nirmala Nagaram
State KERALA

The objective of the initiative was to bring in positive change in attitude of people to keep
Alappuzha waste free through healthy sanitation practices and safe waste management.

People were sensitised on the issues of waste and public health through massive campaign special
programmes such as Water and Sanitation Clubs (WatSan Clubs), formed in schools to make students
the agents of change. Segregation at source and disposal of biodegradable discards at source were
encouraged through providing subsidies for setting up pipe compost units and biogas plants at
household level. Bulk waste generators such as hotels, restaurants, community halls, meat shops
were linked directly with private entrepreneurs to recover biodegradable discards as feed for piggeries.

Community aerobic compost units were set up along the sidewalk of main streets in the city to
dispose biodegradable discards generated in the public places, markets and houses who cannot afford
own facility to manage biodegradable discards. Plastics were collected periodically from households
and sent for recycling. Trained local people and municipal workers to provide technical support for
the infrastructure created, simultaneously continuous monitoring and mentoring programmes were
designed to build sense of ownership and pride among municipal workers to continue the campaign
and process.

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57

One Village One Biogas Plant Rural Economy Devek

APP ID 345
Title of the Initiative One Village One Biogas Plant Rural Economy Devek
Power Project Development Management Services Pvt Limited
State MAHARASHTRA

“One Village – One Biogas Plant, Rural Economy Development Model”, presents an innovative
approach to a low project cost, continuous electricity generation using energy crops such as Napier
grass. In addition it provides an integrated rural development model that facilitates Organic farming,
Dairy development, Biogas bottling, Cold-storage and other alternate use of the by-products such as
rich manure, fodder, biogas, exhaust-heat and electricity of the project. Napier grass was cultivated in
5 acres of land. The cultivated Napier grass was partly used as fodder for cattle and partly for biogas
generation for hostel mess.

It was observed that due to consumption of Napier grass, the milk production was increased
and health of cattle was improved. The biogas which is produced contains 65 percent methane this
was used for cooking purpose. This methane rich biogas is also utilised in engine generator to generate
the power, while the liquid manure and solid manure are available for use in the rural area. The bio-
manure produced has high nutrient content suitable for cultivation of crops.

58

Padkai Bench Terracing

APP ID 451
Title of the Initiative Padkai Bench Terracing
Maharashtra Arogya Mandal, Pune
State MAHARASHTRA

The objective of the intervention is to focus on identification and integration of traditional

knowledge and local practice for the village development with low cost technological options and
ensure 100% participation of all the sections of the society. The major activities undertaken as part of
the intervention are bench terracing, NRM mapping, Self-Help groups and financial management.

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59

People’s Biodiversity Register (PBR) - A Step Towards

Adaptation to Climate Change
APP ID 320
Title of the Initiative People’s Biodiversity Register (PBR) - A step towards adaptation
to climate change
Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Embassy of
Switzerland in India (SDC), National Bank for Agriculture and
Rural Development (NABARD)
State MAHARASHTRA

This is the initiative under Promotion of Climate Change Adaptation in Semi-arid and Rain-fed
Regions of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh by Watershed Organisation Trust. The
implementing strategy was to develop concepts, conduct trainings, awareness building, data testing,
validation, feedback, improvement and upscaling. WOTR adopted National Biodiversity Authority
guidelines to establish PBR. The guidelines were reworked to make it easy for implementation. In
order to take that forward WOTR staff at various levels was trained on the subject. While training the
implementers, PBR of some villages was initiated to test the pitfalls of data collection, interpretation
and presentation. Following that Biodiversity Management Committees (BMC) were formed in selected
villages. Data collection was carried out with the help of BMC. Collected information was validated by
BMC and local community members in Gram Sabhas. The data of approved PBRs was then transferred
to the physical registers. This stepwise process allowed Wasundhara Sevaks (field implementers) to
get acquainted with the process of how to organise information.

PBRs endorsed by the MSBB are valid legal documents. This has established community’s rights
over their traditional knowledge, indigenous grains and natural resources. Any commercial proposition
aimed at usage of the knowledge or biological product will be screened through BMC of the village.
Agencies which are interested in using these products will be charged royalties/fees decided by BMC
or share part of benefit with the community.

One of the aspects of PBR initiative was to document traditional varieties of crops. It emerged
from PBR that the traditional varieties are on decline and some are near extinction. Some farmers
from project villages have come forward to conserve the vanishing varieties of rice. They attempted
to conserve Zini, Kalbhat, Tamkudai, Raybhog and Dhavul varieties of rice.

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60

‘Pratibha’ Library & Counseling Centre

APP ID 133
Title of the Initiative ‘Pratibha’ Library & Counseling Centre
GMR VARALAKSHMI FOUNDATION
State ANDHRA PRADESH

The objective of the intervention is to help youths to prepare for various job oriented competitive
examinations through various activities including career counseling, distributing free books and free
coaching classes etc. The major interventions under the project are:

Maintaining an updated database and creating awareness about various employment opportunities.

Distribution of free books for various competitive examinations and general awareness.

Providing an atmosphere for students to sit and refer/read books, journals and papers.

Career counseling sessions for the youth to enable them make informed decisions about their career,
dissemination of information regarding various job notifications through various means.

Support to fill application forms, Free/subsidised coaching classes for various competitive examinations
with the help of expert faculty members.

Conducting communication/ soft skills classes etc.

Conducting mock tests, mock interviews, guest lecturers etc.

Organising group discussions, motivational lectures etc

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61

Preparation of Methodologies and Tools for

Vulnerability Assessment for Climate Change
Adaptation Initiative
APP ID 558
Title of the Initiative Preparation of methodologies and tools for vulnerability
assessment for climate change adaptation initiative
Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Embassy of
Switzerland in India (SDC), National Bank for Agriculture and
Rural Development (NABARD)
State MAHARASHTRA

The objective of the intervention is to create and document knowledge products; their
dissemination to the communities, Policy makers and implementing agencies for studying multi-
sectoral vulnerabilities in the context of climate change adaptation. The major activities undertaken
as part of the intervention are:

R Preparation of methodology for vulnerability assessment.

R Conducting of Action Research Studies/Impact Studies/Thematic Studies in the project.

R Training of public/private/civil sector agencies at national and international level.

R Audio-visual documentation of processes, impacts, learnings undertaken.

R Setting up of mobile extension services to raise awareness on climate change issues with films,
on-site advisories and guidance as well as providing agriculture and livelihoods related services
across Maharashtra and adjoining states.

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62

Prevention of Land Degradation by Developing

Agroforestry with Participation of Small and Marginal
Land Holders and Tribal Communities (A Rural
Livelihood and Environment Conservation Programme)
APP ID 351
Title of the Initiative Prevention of Land Degradation by developing Agroforestry
with participation of Small and Marginal Land Holders and Tribal
Communities (A rural livelihood and environment conservation
programme).
Integrated Development Society
State MAHARASHTRA

Integrated Development Society’s (IDS) main objective was to create awareness among the
local communities about the values and importance of agroforestry, strengthening the community
based structures and improving the soil fertility and land degradation issues.

In order to tackle the issues, Jangle Sajav Groups had been formed, horticulture and agroforestry
were adopted, farmers mela and capacity building programmes for the farmers had been conducted
from time to time. This effort resulted in taking up 100 acres land that would be covered under
agroforestry.

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63

Promotion of Organic Farming for Tribal Farmers of

Akole with Relation to Climate Change
APP ID 380
Title of the Initiative Promotion of organic farming for tribal farmers of Akole with
relation to Climate change
Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Embassy of
Switzerland in India (SDC), National Bank for Agriculture and
Rural Development (NABARD)
State MAHARASHTRA

The WOTR team initiated a four-fold practice in agriculture in the tribal area of Akole, SRI in
paddy cultivation, organic soil management, use of bio-extract for pest and disease control and efficient
water management practices. Farmers were trained in SRI agro-techniques of paddy crop, organic
farming and bio-pesticide formulations. Various exercises were conducted to strengthen the
communicative skills and group building of farmers. Field based demonstrations were conducted on
Systems of Crop Intensification. Trainings were conducted in preparation and application of
vermicompost and organic formulations like amritpani (made from cow dung, cow urine, besan neem
leaves, water, jaggery), jeevamrit (made from cow dung, cow urine, besan, neem leaves, water, jaggery),
dashparni ark (extract of ten plants along with cow dung slurry and cow urine) and Neem Seed Kernel
Extract (NSKE) etc.

As a result of this, the average yield has increased by more than 16%. More than a hundred
farmers of paddy (rice) in Akole block in Ahmednagar district have been able to reduce the use of
pesticides, chemical fertilizer and their cost and achieved increased yield and productivity of rice
while reducing cost of cultivation. To ensure sustainability farmer groups have been formed for paddy
cultivators and these active farmer groups are in the process of establishing Farmer Producer Company
(FPC). These farmer groups meet frequently, share knowledge and continue to implement new and
innovative agricultural methods.

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64

Rebuild Livelihood of Disaster Affected Families

Through Handloom Industry
APP ID 211
Title of the Initiative Rebuild livelihood of disaster affected families through
handloom industry
State UTTARAKHAND

The main objective of this initiative was to promote self-sustaining livelihood for 83 disaster
affected families that would generate sustainable income ranging from 3000-6000 per month for
each stakeholder.

They focused on local sheep wool carding, spinning, weaving, knitting, embroidery and painting
for handmade tags products, finishing, washing, packaging, labelling and finally leading to marketing.
Following this, 83 families were benefitted.

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65

Reconstruction of Earthquake Damaged Rural Houses

in Thekabong Parkha GP, East Sikkim Following the
Devastating Sikkim Earthquake of 18th Sept, 2011 in
the Challenging Physical Landscape of the Sikkim
Himalaya
APP ID 366
Title of the Initiative Reconstruction of Earthquake Damaged Rural Houses in
Thekabong Parkha GP, East Sikkim following the devastating
Sikkim earthquake of 18th Sept, 2011 in the challenging physical
landscape of the Sikkim Himalaya
Prime Minister's Special Relief Package following the
devastating Sikkim earthquake of 18th Sept, 2011
State SIKKIM

To mitigate, develop, and improve the lives of those vulnerable to intense natural disaster
earthquake on 18th September, 2011 which left widespread destruction in its wake, Government of
Sikkim with the help of Prime Minister's Special Relief Package, implemented ‘Reconstruction of
Earthquake Damaged Rural Houses (REDRH)’ with the aim to reduce the number of casualties and
economic losses from future house damage in Sikkim’s seismic areas. The REDRH project being
implemented by the Rural Management and Development Department, Government of Sikkim aims
at reconstructing 7,972 houses damaged during the earthquake. The unit construction cost is Rs 6.15
lakh per house of which the grant component is Rs 4.89 lakh, with a total central allocation of Rs
389.83 crore over a period of four financial years.

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66

Reversing Environmental Degradation and Rural

Poverty through Adaptation to Climate Change in
Drought Stricken Areas in Southern India: A
Hydrological Unit Pilot Project Approach
APP ID 557
Title of the Initiative Reversing Environmental Degradation and Rural Poverty
through Adaptation to Climate Change in Drought Stricken
Areas in Southern India: A Hydrological Unit Pilot Project
Approach, Global Environment Facility
State ANDHRA PRADESH

Strategic Adaptation to Climate Change (SPACC) is an initiative to strengthen the capacities of

the farming community to cope with the climate change impacts. The Project was implemented in
the Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh, India which is classified as “Scarce Rainfall Zone”. The duration
of the project was 6th Dec, 2010 to 30th June, 2014.

Through an innovative farmer driven grassroot level environmental action, which takes into
account the effects of climate variability and change, the project contributes to the rehabilitation and
protection of critical ecosystems, and improved soil carbon sequestration by raising agricultural
productivity. The project was funded by GEF (Global Environmental Facility and co-financed by FAO of
UN).

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67

Reviving a High Value Native Cash Crop (Large

Cardamom Amomum Subulatum) to Create Pathways
Out of Poverty in Manebong Sopakha GP in West
Sikkim
APP ID 369
Title of the Initiative Reviving a high value native cash crop (Large cardamom
Amomum subulatum) to create pathways out of poverty in
Manebong Sopakha GP in West Sikkim
MGNREGA
State SIKKIM

The objective of the intervention was to revive large cardamom which is a valuable native crop
by providing technical and financial support from MGNREGA. This initiative was taken up in farmers’
fields to revive their orchards which had been destroyed by spread of fungal and viral diseases. Large
Cardamom being a perennial plant this amounted to a one time support to the farmers whose
contribution would be tending the plants after the orchards had been established.

In the year 2011, the Gram Sabha passed a resolution to take up large cardamom plantations in
all seven Gram Panchayat Wards of Maneybong Sophaka GP with funding support under MGNREGA.
Accordingly, in June 2011, large cardamom plantation was taken up in all the 7 villages, covering 77
hectare with an investment of about ` 24 lakh. About 3.50 lakh large cardamom suckers were planted
in the fields of 120 farmers spread across all the wards. Unlike the traditional practice of growing
cardamom as a agro-forestry crop under the shade of trees, the villager adopted the new practice of
growing cardamom in dry fields, which were more accessible for tending, applying manure and winter
irrigation.

The cardamom plants started bearing suckers from the 2nd year onwards and the villagers
benefited from their sale. Some farmers transplanted these new shoots to cover additional area thereby
increasing the cardamom coverage by another 50% by the 3rd year. The cardamom harvest started
from the 3rd year from 2013 onwards and on an average a household sold about 40 kg of large
cardamom at an average market price of ` 1100 / kg. This yield provided an additional income of
` 44,000 per annum per household to about 120 families in Maneybong Sophaka Gram Panchayat.

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68

Reviving Mountain Springs as A Climate Change

Adaptation Initiative in the Drought Prone Locations of
Sikkim
APP ID 398
Title of the Initiative Reviving mountain springs as a climate change adaptation
initiative in the drought prone locations of Sikkim
Rural Management and Development Department
Government of Sikkim
State SIKKIM

The objective of this initiative is to promote “Dhara Vikas”, a unique spring-shed development
model to revive critical springs, streams and lakes to enhance the groundwater recharge and manage
spring discharge. Around 80 per cent of the State rural households depend on springs for drinking
water and irrigation throughout the year. Over the years, many of these traditional water bodies have
become either dry or discharge water seasonally. In order to address this menace of water insecurity,
the Government of Sikkim conceptualised and pioneered a Spring Shed Development (Dhara Vikas)
initiative with an objective to revive springs, streams and lakes in the State.

The impacts of this initiative enhanced the hydrological contribution of the mountain ecosystem
as water towers and revived 50 springs and 4 lakes in 20 drought prone Gram Panchayats.

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69

Role of Village Action Team (VATs) in Implementing

Climate Change Adaptation Strategies to Ensure Food
Security of Marginal and Landless Tribal Farming
Communities
APP ID 575
Title of the Initiative Role of Village Action Team (VATs) in implementing climate
change adaptation strategies to ensure food security of
marginal and landless tribal farming communities
Indo-Global Social Service Society
State ODISHA

Indo-Global Social Service Society (IGSSS) along with its local NGO partner (IDS) started a project
on Sustainable Options for Uplifting Livelihood in 2013 with the objective of reducing food insecurity
and climate vulnerability of the families. In Panchada Gram Panchayat of Laxmipur Block, Koraput the
farmers were facing the problem of poor agricultural production due to climate change as a result of
which they were moving away from traditional agriculture practices and using chemical fertilizers
and hybrids.

To address this, Village Action Teams (VAT) were formed in every village of the project, with a
special focus on gender equity and equal participation of all sectorial groups in the village. The focus
was to facilitate and enable the community to develop micro plans for their respective villages. These
plans were prepared by the VATs and presented in the Gram Sabha for approval of the community in
large. Community nurseries were raised at Gram Panchayat wherein 5000 seedlings of cashew and
4000 seedlings of papaya and drumstick (draught tolerant) were raised. Fallow lands were developed
for landless farmers in which VAT facilitated villagers to develop wastelands and channelize perennial
water source and these were incorporated into the micro-plan of the village. Convergence with Soil
Conservation Department and mobilising resources (labour) from MGNREGA was done to develop
the land into agricultural land.

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70

Rugna Seva Prakalp Miraj

APP ID 190
Title of the Initiative Rugna Seva Prakalp Miraj
IGSSS, CAPART, CSWB, SNL, Maharashtra Foundation, CASTROL
State MAHARASHTRA

The main objective was to improve the health education, mother and child care services,
promotion of herbal medicines, sanitation, women empowerment, livelihood promotion and flood
relief work in Sangli and Solapur districts of Maharashtra.

In order to achieve this, they conducted health camps, distributed medicines, conducted health
awareness programme, plantation of herbs & kitchen garden, livelihood activities, promotion of Self
Help Groups (SHGs) and thereby linking with Government programmes.

This resulted in the reduction of Child mortality rate, participation of women PRIs, increase in
household incomes through SHG promotion programme and small successful home-based enterprises.

71

Samarth Kisan Producer Company Limited

APP ID 572
Title of the Initiative Samarth Kisan Producer Company Limited
District Poverty Initiative Project (DPIP)
State MADHYA PRADESH

The objective of the intervention is to develop self help groups of all small and marginal farmers
for providing them reasonable prices for their primary produce. The major interventions under the
project are backward and forward linkage of the group's, financial assistance and training of modern
technological based agriculture. Apart from that the organisation is facilitating farmers in soil testing,
production of bio-fertilizers and market linkage of their products.

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72

Strengthening Transparency, Accountability and Public

Service Delivery in the Rural Development Sector in
Sikkim
APP ID 383
Title of the Initiative Strengthening transparency, accountability and public service
delivery in the rural development sector in Sikkim
Rural Management and Development Department,
Government of Sikkim
State SIKKIM

The intervention was initiated by Rural Management and Development Department,

Government of Sikkim in the year 2008 with an objective of shifting from contractor driven to people
centric development. 31 Gram Vikas Centres were established to provide administrative, accounts
and technical support to a cluster of Gram Panchayats. Each cluster office, supports a group of about
6 Gram Panchayats having a population of about 15,000. This cluster facilitation team comprises of
about 35 functionaries on deputation from the Panchayat, Rural Development, Education, Forests,
Engineering, Horticulture, IT, Personnel and Finance Departments.

Further an additional functionary (Gram Rozgar Sahayak -GRS) was provided at the village level
to support the employment programs which helped in bringing jobs unders MGNREGA. 63000 out of
93000 households were provided employment for more than 70 days. The efforts also helped in
making Sikkim as the first and only Nirmal Rajya in the country having achieved 100% open defecation
free status in the entire gram Panchayats.

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73

Strengthening Women's Collectives for Active

Citizenship Leading to Convergence, Economic
Prosperity and Well-being
APP ID 553
Title of the Initiative Strengthening Women's Collectives for Active Citizenship
leading to Convergence, Economic Prosperity and Well-being
PRADAN
State CHHATTISGARH

The main objective of the intervention is to bring changes in the development ecosystem for
ensuring quality of life in Chhindhbharri and other villages, of Dhamtari district. In order to achieve
the objective, PRADAN team started its operations with convergence between different government
schemes for holistic development of the villages. This intervention involves various activities like
social mobilisation especially the women, by forming SHGs (Self Help Groups).Capacity building within
community, resource mapping and social mapping. Due to this different departments came forward
to help the community in linking their plan with existing schemes. It positively effected various sectors
like rural development, agriculture, horticulture, and fisheries. Finally resulted in 114 acres of land
developed and made suitable for cultivation. All families are food secure throughout the year with an
additional income of ` 25,000-30,000 per year. The intervention has positively impacted the assets,
attitudes, access, and abilities of villagers towards making their village a better place to live in.

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74

Sustainable Livelihoods through Convergence Under

MGNREGA in the Himalayan State of Sikkim
APP ID 377
Title of the Initiative Sustainable livelihoods through convergence under MGNREGA
in the Himalayan state of Sikkim
Rural Management and Development Department
Government of Sikkim
State SIKKIM

Rural Management and Development Department Government, of Sikkim, initiated to promote

MGREGA through convergence to create multi-stakeholder partnership and to create income
generating assets in the lands of the poor. To achieve the same Operational Guidelines regarding G5P
(Gram Panchayat Pro Poor Perspective Plan) were formulated which ensured livelihood activities and
also resulted in Participatory Identification of the Poor (PIP). Further Guidelines regarding convergence
with IAY ( Indira Awas Yojna ) and CMRHM (Chief Minister’s Rural Housing Mission) and guidelines
regarding convergence for creation of horticulture plantations, animal husbandry shelters, creation
of irrigation tank, were formulated in which seamless convergence of MGREGA with others schemes
was elaborated .

The investment of ` 36.24 crore from MGNREGA could bring in an additional investment of Rs
71.59 crore from other departments/agencies resulting in a total investment of ` 107.82 crore in
convergence mode alone. Already one-third of the investment under MGNREGA is in convergence
mode in the housing sector, water storage infrastructure, horticulture plantations, animal shelters
and spring shed development.

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75

System of Crop Intensification for Productivity

Enhancement to Improve Food Security in the Poverty
Stricken Bundelkhand Region
APP ID 607
Title of the Initiative System of Crop Intensification for productivity enhancement
to improve food security in the poverty stricken Bundelkhand
region
Sir Dorabji Tata Trust Mumbai
State MADHYA PRADESH

The objective of this intervention is to significantly improve the food security of farming families
in the poverty stricken Bundelkhand region of central India. Major activities undertaken as part of the
interventions are Promotion of System of Crop Intensification for rice, maize, arhar in kharif season
and for wheat in rabi season with approximately 3500 farmers (17500 population) over 705 hectre
land, creation of farmers group, capacity building of farmers and partner organisation, creation of
talent pool of innovative and progressive farmers, advocacy workshop at various levels.

76

System of Rice Intensification (SRI)

APP ID 328
Title of the Initiative System of rice intensification (SRI)
WASSAN
State TELANGANA

The objective of the intervention is to improve the paddy production by using System of Rice
Intensification (SRI) method. The System of Rice Intensification is a method of paddy cultivation by
using less water which reduces the input cost and increases the productivity. The major activities
undertaken as part of the intervention are training and exposure visit of farmers, knowledge about
bio-fertilizers and pesticides etc.

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77

Transforming Rural Health Through BAPD Scheme

APP ID 134
Title of the Initiative Transforming Rural Health through BAPD Scheme
Ministry of Rural Development
State MIZORAM

The objective of this intervention was to transform rural health through providing better health
facilities at the doorsteps of patients. Khawbung Primary Health Centre, one of the main health centres
available within the block caters not only to the needs of Khawbung village, but also to nearby villages.
Realising the needs of the people, the PHC has been equipped with ultra sound machine and x-ray
machine for improved diagnosing and investigation of diseases. As a result, the villagers no longer
have to go to the district hospital for availing of ultra-sound diagnostic facilities as it is now available
within the block itself.

78

Village Level Service Delivery System

APP ID 247
Title of the Initiative Village Level Service Delivery System
Collector of North Goa, Government of Goa
State GOA

The Village Level Service Delivery System, an initiative of the District Collector, North Goa has
resulted in reduction of time-limit for delivery of various services. Through this system, the applicant
submits his application to the concerned talathi (in charge of a cluster of revenue villages) along with
all the relevant documents and the talathi, in turn, uploads the application along with the mobile
number. After the report is submitted by the talathi to the Mamlatdar (head of a taluka revenue
office), an SMS alert with acknowledgement number is sent to the applicant. Hence, the applicant
need not make frequent visits to these offices to know the status of his application. This has resulted
in streamlining the entire delivery system and has reduced crowding at the respective offices
substantially.

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79

VISHRAM- Vidarbha Stress and Health Programme

(The Vidarbha Psycho-social Programme)
APP ID 372
Title of the Initiative VISHRAM- Vidarbha Stress and Health Programme (The
Vidarbha Psycho-social Programme)
Sir Dorabji Tata Trust
State MAHARASHTRA

The main objective of the intervention was to establish a sustainable rural mental health
programme to address the psycho-social distress in agricultural communities in Vidarbha
(Maharashtra). For this purpose, Sir Dorabji Tata Trust carried out an initiative to build awareness
through community mobilisation. Community groups were formed to create awareness among villagers
which helped to reduce social stigmas and discriminations. The main strategy of the initiative is to
create a cadre of grassroots level mental health promoters to identify patients at an early stage who
were suffering from psychological disorders. As a result, patients have recovered with the help of
regular psycho-social counseling and by creating linkages with government and private health
providers.

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80

Wadi Ushers in a Silent Revolution in the Lives of

Tribals of South Gujarat
APP ID 473
Title of the Initiative Wadi Ushers in a Silent Revolution in the Lives of Tribals of South
Gujarat
BAIF DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH FOUNDATION
State GUJARAT

The objective of the initiative was to lead a better quality of life and sustainable livelihood for
tribals.

In order to achieve their objective, they promoted agro-horti-forestry on degraded unproductive

lands owned by tribal families through cultivation of mango as the main crop along with the cultivation
of vegetables as inter-crops for income generation during gestation period. This reduced the migration
and increased livelihood opportunities.

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81

Water Distribution through Mobile Technology

APP ID 523
Title of the Initiative Water Distribution through Mobile Technology
Kutch Nav Nirman Abhiyan
State GUJARAT

This initiative was undertaken to improve service delivery mechanisms by the local government.

Groundwater table was saline and hence the villages borrowed water from other villages which
were 20-25 kms away from the water pipelines. Many other villages were also dependent on these
pipelines. Pipeline breakage and insufficient release of water were the main issues of concern. Gram
Panchayats were under constant pressure from the villagers. Finally the Panchayats decided to develop
a separate water scheme in association with WASMO (Water and Sanitation Management Organisation,
Government of Gujarat). A separate borewell near Kumbhardi village, 13 km from Ner Amarsar Gram
Panchayat was developed at the cost of ` 40 lakh. Since the borewell was located far, its management
was time consuming.

In order to save money and time, relevant information was taken regarding the technology of
switching the “water motor on-off” through mobile phone. After full consensus of all the members of
the Panchayat, the Sarpanchs decided to purchase it. Through this they could easily “switch on / off"
the water motor with their mobile handsets.

In the present context, none of them visited the borewell on a regular basis. Villagers admired
the technology.

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82

Weather - based and Farmer-centric Agro-meteorology

APP ID 401
Title of the Initiative Weather - based and Farmer-centric Agro-meteorology
Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), National
Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD),
Hindustan Unilever Foundation (HUF)
State MAHARASHTRA

The main objective of this initiative was to reduce risks and improve agricultural productivity
and emphasise on environment-friendly integrated solutions resulting in sustainable agricultural
practices.

In order to achieve the objective, Watershed Organisation Trusts (WOTR) had installed
60 Automated Weather Stations (AWS) in project villages. This formed a dense network grid ranging
from 3-5 km which provided weather information on an hourly basis (weather based local-specific
agro-advisories) through SMS. At the same time, the system also helped to capture feedback from
the field, enabled learning and provided better customisation with the tuning of advisories. Due to
this initiative, the agricultural productivity increased on an average range of 20 - 30%.

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