CARE-SNEHAL Project

Promoting People's Institutions  for Charting a Developmental Course

VIKSAT started implementing the project “Promoting People’s Institutions for Charting a Developmental Course” supported by CARE India (Gujarat) in 14 villages of Santalpur Taluka of Patan District since April 2005. A preparatory phase of six months was provided to plan the phase wise activities for mobilization of people and identification of issues and accordingly plan for the next phase.

The project aims at holistic development of the region vis-à-vis access to basic services, livelihood options and overall empowerment of the community through awareness generation and building efficient people’s institutions. The objectives of the preparatory phase were as follows:
 

•         To organise people in community based groups

•         To identify the problem areas affecting the region

•         To develop a long-term plan for the comprehensive development of the region

•         To devise strategy for implementation of the long-term plan

Based on the initial survey conducted by VIKSAT and CARE in the project area, out of 24 villages 17 villages were identified based poor socio-economic status people and natural resources available in the village. VIKSAT was allotted 7 villages, which were categorised into two parts, 4 villages viz., Varnosari, Bamroli, Daldi and Aluvas were categorized as most vulnerable needing intensive effort for development while remaining three villages Charanka, Patanka and Bavarda requiring some software activities. Accordingly during the first phase three broad types of activities were carried out in selected villages – PLA, community mobilization and micro-project preparation.

-         During this phase initially VIKSAT developed rapport with the people for better understanding of the people and various communities. Introductory meetings in all 7 villages were carried out. Introduction about SNEHAL programme and major issues in each village was discussed. A workshop was organised at Santalpur to have better perspective of the SNEHAL programme and to create a common understanding among the team. Further, community wise Focus group discussion was organised as per the need like – hamlet wise meetings, caste wise meetings etc. During these meetings efforts were also made to know the possible solutions of the problems as per the views of the people in the communities. The FGDs were carried out with the groups exclusively working in the area of Animal husbandry, Agriculture, SHG, Coal makers including information related health and education etc.;

-         Base line survey was conducted for data and information collection regarding socio-economic status of the people and available natural resources in the area for their livelihood development. Primary data and information were collected from different communities like charcoal workers, saltpan workers, landless labourers and farming communities. Methodology followed for conducting base line survey consisted of questionnaires, PRA exercise and focus group discussions. Secondary data were also collected from Village Panchayat, District Panchayat and other line departments;

-         Awareness exposure visits to Gujarat and Rajasthan was organized to provide information on the various developmental activities going on in other areas. SHGs, VDC and other farming and non-farming communities participated during the visit. Training related to agriculture, animal husbandry and charcoal making and other IGP activities for women SHGs were carried out. Following the exposure visits and training programmes experiences were shared with the people for carrying out similar type of work in the region. Based upon the feed back and issues identified in the village, activities were planned and micro-plans were prepared;

-         With special focus on women during the initial phase, 14 SHG were formed in the project villages. Training and orientation programmes were organized for women SHGs. Training on leadership, administration and record keeping were conducted, in which a total of 75 women from project villages participated. Some micro-enterprise activities have also been identified and training has been provided. Charcoal making, sanitary pads and detergent powder making are some of the activities initiated in SGH groups;

-         The success of a developmental process in a given area depends upon the presence of local trained stakeholders. VIKSAT has identified village level volunteers who have been given preliminary orientation and training. Over the coming period of time, further training inputs will be provided so as to capacitate these volunteers with specific organizational and technical skills so as to help facilitate the implementation of the programme activities and carry forward the programme objectives. In all 13 volunteers have been identified and trained during the first phase.

-         As SNEHAL programme is an integrated development project, it will help in creation of assets in the village. In order to sustain the developmental activities and maintain the assets in long run, process of formation of Village Development Committees (VDC) have been initiated. Two VDCs in Daldi and Varnosari have already been formed. VDC will have the responsibility of co-ordinating the implementation of various development activities in the village under different thematic areas viz., Agriculture and animal husbandry, Charcoal workers, Women SHGs. VDC being a nodal committee will comprise of active members elected from each thematic groups. Latter during the implementing phase two separate Taluka level federations will be formed for women SHG and Charcoal community looking to the need and scope of the area.

-         Other activities included clean village campaign involving VDC, SHGs and school children and demonstration of soak pits.

Some Photographs from the project area