• Community Mobilization
• Natural Resource Management Project
• Disability Support

Rajiv Gandhi Mahila Vikas Pariyojna, Uttar Pradesh

Rajiv Gandhi Mahila Vikas Pariyojna (RGMVP) was initiated in 2002-03 in collaboration with the Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust to facilitate the formation of SHGs in two districts of -UP: Sultanpur and Raebareli. In the last seven years, RGMVP's reach has extended to 55 blocks spread across 14 backward districts of the state. The programme now reaches out to over 2,33,594 families, 19,228 women's SHGs, 531 village level SHG federations and 15 Block level federations across the project area. The savings generated have been leveraged through borrowings from banks and invested in a diversified portfolio of income generating activities.

SHG Formation and Skill Development among Women of the Baiga Tribe, Chhattisgarh

The Baiga community in Chhattisgarh largely depends on forest and natural resources for its livelihood and is one of the poorest tribal groups in the country. RGF has partnered with Samarth to initiate SHGs in the area. The SHG members are gradually being trained on various livelihood options based on natural resources such as bamboo product making, grass products, organic farming, vermin compost making, etc. Currently, 200 women are a part of the project. We have made attempts to reach out to the community by conducting the Padyatra Programme (rally on foot) highlighting issues such as non-availability of government schemes and benefits. They community is also encouraged to develop micro plans which are presented at the

Natural Resource Management is the flagship livelihood promotion programme of the Foundation directly implemented in the remote villages of Rajasthan. The programme is implemented on the principle that because of water scarcity and growing competition large swathes of rural communities are pushed towards impoverishment and could threaten equitable and sustainable development, ecological balance and political stability. The increasing gap between the water availability and demand highlights the need to conserve, utilize and manage this important resource in a sustainable manner.

GEOGRAPHICAL COVERAGE

Foundation started its NRM interventions in the remote areas of the Rajasthan state covering backward villages of Jaipur, Pali and Karoli district. The project area was selected on the basis of the poor conditions of the natural resources and willingness of the partner community to participate in the programme. The extreme economic backwardness of the region may be attributed in some measure directly to environmental degradation arising from lack of appropriate planning and poor developmental interventions. The natural resources in the region are in poor conditions because the geographic location does not support the abundant rainfall, poor quality and excessive depth of ground water, absence of Perennial River, open scrub forests and huge withdrawal from limited ground water.

AREA OF INTERVENTIONS

The major focus of the programme is on augmenting village water resources, for increased availability of water. The core value of the programme is to incorporate strong participation of the community at every stage of implementation. Most of the interventions and project investments are made for improving the livelihood conditions of the partner community and increasing options for food security. In order to ensure sustainability and prolonged existence of the created structures village institutions are formed and capacitated for taking up desired measures.

Livelihood Promotion through rain water harvesting programme

Water harvesting Programme is RGF's only directly implemented initiative under its livelihood promotion portfolio. Livelihood options are generated through creation of water harvesting structures, initiating watershed activities, adopting and inculcating improved agriculture practices. At present the work is spread over in 115 villages, where 208 water harvesting structures have been constructed. The most pronounced benefit from the water harvesting structures has been in agriculture productivity. Because of water availability in wells and tube wells farmers have therefore been able to provide more irrigation to their crops which has led to increase in productivity, switch to more remunerative crops and increased net area under cultivation. To ensure that the communities have an ongoing stake in the assets being created, it is ensured that a minimum of 33 percent of the total expenditure would be borne by the community for works carried out on common lands whereas for individual and small user groups the contribution has been fixed at 50 percent or more.

List of water harvesting structures completed so far:

Completed Water Harvesting Structures 2008-09 (Karoli)

Institutional Capacity Building

Facilitating village institutions and developing their capacities on various aspects is the key implementation strategy. Right from the inception of the project implementation much emphasis paid to develop the capacities of the partner community. Capacity building is done at two levels, first to develop the institutional base of the community in each village institutions in the form of Jal Samittee and Jal Sabha are developed and they are capacitated to take appropriate measures for efficient use of their natural resources and develop democratic values at the community level. Secondly, technical capacities are developed in terms of improved agriculture, efficient water and resource utilization and participatory management.

Livestock Development

In order to assess the current status of livestock and scope of potential development in the project area, BAIF was commissioned to undertake a study. The study focused on improving basic veterinary services, augmenting the productivity of the livestock, improving the livestock holding pattern and working on the fodder demand and supply gap.

Based on BAIF's recommendations and our observations, RGF started working on breed improvement through artificial insemination. In collaboration with BAIF five sub centres are established, which are working on artificial insemination of cow and buffalo in the area. These centres are catering to our project areas and villages coming in the vicinity of 20 km around the project villages.

Integrated Development Programme

Dang area of Karoli district is categorized as most deprived and resource poor area of the Rajasthan state. Many of the interior villages lack basic fundamentals services like education and health. Due to the lack of resources and scattered nature of habitations the government service delivery is not functioning in a proper way. Looking into the dire need RGF started health and education interventions in the selected villages.

Help Line

One of the major problems faced by the community residing in the Dang area is lack of proper health facility. The habitation here is scattered in small hamlets and the terrain is very difficult, because of these reasons institutionalization of any services is very difficult. The local community was suffering a lot especially in case of pregnancy. Due to lack of any health facility in the nearby area the mother have to be carried long distances on cots by their men folk. Many of the mothers died because of untimely treatment and lack of proper care. Looking into the magnitude of the problem we started a helpline centre in our Chobeki Milan Kendra. One phone has been installed in the centre and number is given in all targeted villages. All pregnant women from our project villages were registered in our field office. By this helpline facility we provide transport facility to the mothers. Mothers who are availing this facility are also getting benefits of Janani Suraksha scheme. At present with this helpline we had promoted 36 safe and institutional deliveries.

Watershed Development

RGF has initiated one mini watershed of 600 hectare in Rahir village of Karoli district. A topographical survey of the entire area has been conducted, based on the finding of the survey we are in the process of conducting extensive participatory planning. The major focus would be on drainage line treatment, in situ soil conservation, livestock development, productivity enhancement, efficient water usage and other capacity building aspects.

Strengthening local governance of natural resources in Rajasthan

The Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (RGF) and GTZ are jointly implementing a project on 'Strengthening local governance of natural resources in Rajasthan' in the three Village Panchayats (Raiser, Thali and Neemla) of Jamwa Ramgarh block of Jaipur District.

The key interventions under the project are:

Capacity building of Jal Samitis, Panchayat members, Volunteers, SHGs etc.

Developing institutional capacities of the community is an important aspect of the project. The community based institutions in the form of Jal Samitis are formed in all project villages and various capacity building programmes/events were planned and organized. The basic idea for developing institutions and their capacity building is to hand over the work to them and ensuring sustainability to our efforts. Through several trainings, we are trying to build capacities of Jal Samiti members for active participation in the planning and implementation of development work for the villages and better management of work on water conservation in the long run. The Panchayat is the most important stakeholder for the local governance and the capacities of Panchayat members are being built so that they can takeover the work once the project gets over. Several trainings for the SHG members were organized for increasing their livelihood options. The volunteers have been trained on various issues for better implementation of the project at the field level.

Livelihood promotion

In the livelihood promotion our major thrust is on livestock development, improving water conservation and soil moisture through water harvesting structures, innovative agricultural practices and empowering women through Self Help Groups.

In order to assess the current status of livestock and scope of potential development in the project area, BAIF was commissioned to undertake a study. Basd on BAIF's recommendations and our observations, we started working on breed improvement through artificial insemination. In collaboration with BAIF two centres are established, which are working on artificial insemination of cow and buffalo in the area.

Construction of water harvesting structures is an important aspect of the project, which serves various purposes. On one hand there are benefits like increased moisture in the land, drinking water for the livestock and ground water recharge in the area; on the other hand, it's a very good way of educating the community about conservation of their natural resources and ensuring their participation in the project which will ultimately ensure the sustainability of our work in the project.

To facilitate the innovative agriculture practices two demonstrations farms are developed to showcase the result of improved agriculture. Water saving technology is also being facilitated through giving subsidy on sprinkler system and networking with the agriculture department for smoothen the process of getting the subsidy on sprinkler system for the farmers. Apart from this, we organize programmes like Kisan Mela for facilitating a platform where farmers can directly interact with government officials, representatives of companies making tools for agriculture practices and get valuable information about agriculture.

To ensure the participation from women self help groups have been facilitated. These groups are involved in saving and credit activities and are planned to connect with income generation activities.

The Foundation started the Motorized Vehicle Distribution programme in 1992 under which a motorized vehicle, especially designed to suit the needs of persons having physical disability of lower limbs, is awarded to selected individuals from various parts of the country. Through independent mobility the Foundation provides opportunities to the disabled at par to exercise choice and control on their future. Over the years, this programme has grown from a fledgling effort of awarding 1 vehicle in the first year to giving 30 vehicles till many years to then giving away a record number of 100 vehicles in 2005 and 150 in 2007. Not only the numbers have grown but also our trust in all the sponsoring companies who has shown great commitment by supporting us over the years . Most importantly, this programme has witnessed constant improvement in terms of refining the existing models and also designing an altogether new model. BINGO, the new design, a Kinetic Nova 135 cc scooter with stabilized wheels attached on both sides, was launched on 20 August 2006. This new model has features like an attached windscreen and canopy, ample storage space for crutches, safety protection, hand-operated lever for self-start, etc. Since the start, a positive impact has been generated in the lives of 790 disabled individuals from all over the country including the Lakshadweep islands. Through yearly feedback we note that most awardees have been able to fulfill their dreams, which include pursuing higher education, becoming financially independent or sustaining their jobs and expanding their businesses. Last year, a record total of Rs 93,38,506 for 143 Bingoes was raised from 38 companies and one individual donor. We are very grateful to all our donors.

LIFELINE EXPRESS CAMPS

The Lifeline Express Project is one of the Foundation's most important field-based programmes for prevention of disabilities, which utilizes the vast network of Indian railways to reach the remotest parts of the country where there is no access to medical services. In collaboration with the Impact India Foundation, Mumbai and local collaborators, the Foundation has till now organized 35 such camps all over India through which almost 35,931 disabled persons have been benefited. Lifeline Express (LLE) is a mobile train hospital through which diagnostic, medical and surgical treatment is provided for prevention and curative interventions to the disabled in inaccessible and remote areas of the country. Apart from curative surgeries for polio, ear and eye defects and cleft lip, assistive devices like calipers, crutches, Intra ocular lenses, hearing aids, etc. are also distributed free of cost. The camp lasts for a period of 21 days with equal days devoted to the treatment of those afflicted with polio, cataract, middle ear deafness and cleft lip. A large number of aids and appliances are distributed during each phase of the Lifeline Express camp. Two follow-up camps at an interval of three months each after the main camp are also conducted to ensure complete post-operative care to the patients. The entire service from their transport, stay at the camp, to food and medicines, is totally free of cost to the beneficiary.