Collective farming among women@ Jeevika Indore

Revolving Six SHG women farmers of Naharkhodra village at Khurda cluster have been selected and animated them for initiating collective farming on cooperative principles to enhance the ownership and rights of women over the land and its products for their economic security. The process is in progress with meetings and interactions.

International women’s day celebration@ Jeevika Indore

World women’s day was celebrated on 12/March 2014 at both the clusters attended by large number of women from target villages. The program was organized with the help of SHG members, volunteers and Jeeviak team. The women group of Khurda cluster consisting of 112 members have decided to visit Mandu forts. Jeevika team facilitated the conveyance and food facility. During the Mandu tour Jeeviak team members animated them on the objectives and future plans of Jeevika intervention. At the Mandu fort, they were given information about the historical importance of Mandu due to the courageous princess Rani Rupmati. It was inspiring for the women learn about the power of women.

Grading and revolving fund @ Jeevika Indore!

At Mehendipura and Muwad villages of Dhani cluster two SHGs Bhgwanti group Muwad and Rajeswari have obtained revolving fund from NRLM department with the help of Jeevika team. Each group received Rs. 15000 from the department. It was given after doing the grading process to evaluate the status and performance of the SHGs.

JEEVIKA Farm Fest @Jhabua

JEEVIKA Farm Fest @Jhabua

Establishment of Soochna Dhabas and its functioning@JEEVIKA Umariya

Ojective:

The initiative is to establish resource based Rural information Centers with all the facilities.

Organizing many programs at Soochna Dhaabas in order to create awareness amongst the villagers.

At Every Soochna Dhaabas our efforts are to promote SHG and local institution based collective & self-sustaining operations.

There are 10 Soochna dhabas have been established so far at the villages of project area. This philosophy is based on experiences of tribal Indian which could never grow in Rural India due to lack of proper infrastructure of Roads, Hotels, Power, transportation and communication. Soochna Kendra (Dhaabas), are complete solution in this regard. This is where Jeevika initiative differs from any other rural initiative.

The growth is always dependent on the direction an organization takes and this requires partnership and associations enabling healthy participatory and progressive attitude. Jeevika with partnerships like Local PRIs, Local leaders, govt bodies, State Bank of India, KVK, Lok Sewa Kendra, NABARD, etc. form an alliance to provide a solution for development and growth of "Soochna Dhabas" at each and every village of the project area.

Jeevika's ambitious plan of establishing Soochna Dhabas to reach out to every individual to village level, establish connectivity to the remotest area makes it unique and attracts education, entertainment, SHGs, NGOs and agri production under one roof. It consists of: Multilingual Knowledge system without barriers. , FM RADIO, News Paper, Magazines, Educational materials and Employment initiatives. These dhabas are self sustaining in nature and effectively serve the purpose of providing a fully equipped modern center in the village.

We are looking forward to turn it towards "soochna Dhabas" cum "Resource Centers" where people can access the facilities their own. It will help the community to own the project and will help to sustain forever.

By JEEVIKA Umariya Team

Efforts make changes at Tivni Nal-Jal Yojna @JEEVIKA Umariya

Village- Tivni

Village Tivni is situated in the Pali block of the Umariya District, which is 25kms away from the Pali Block Headquarter. The major occupation, here, is agriculture. Along with the discussion with villagers in regard to the awareness about rights and duties of the Gram Sabha and to know the issues related to drinking water and sanitation. During the discussion it was found that the village is suffering from the problems of drinking water availability, sanitation and open defecation. The hand pumps are seasonal in nature and get water during July-December and remain dry during rest of the months. These hand pumps supply water for 5 -6 months in a year to the village.

In these circumstances, the villagers especially women and girls have to travel 1.5-2 kms to collect the water from bore well and have to carry this head load which takes 4-5 hours a day. It was also found that few families have toilet facilities and rest of the people defecate in areas nearby to the village which leads to the problem of sanitation and women feel ashamed. The dependency on underground water has increased. When villagers were asked about the approach of Gram Sabha or Panchayat for resolving the water and sanitation issues; they told that Gram Sabha is just for name sake, only on 2 or 3 occasions like 26 January and 15 August, Secretary and Sarpanch visit their village and take the signatures of villagers. The villagers showed their anger towards Panchayat and government that as being a small village with less population they are unable to avail the benefits of any government scheme.

Intervention:

During the this year mobilization of community through nukkad natks, rallys and meetings village tivni under the “Drinking water and Sanitation Program” organized by Jeevika team in order to strengthen the role of Gram Sabha, The general information was collected and tried to built the confidence among the villagers.The intervention was made in the form of making people aware by organizing rally at village level and the issue was discussed among the community. People were made realize that government is not solely responsible for improving their life style but it’s their responsibility too. They need to recognize the strength of Gram Sabha and come forward for development of their own village.A ray of enthusiasm was observed among the villagers through continuous discussions, home visits and personal interaction, focusing on changing unhealthy practices and creating awareness about rights and responsibilities of Gram Sabha. As people are now willing to change their drinking water and sanitation system, a working plan was made with the help of available resources and potential solutions, which was approved by the community at Gram Sabha.

Outcomes:

During the program of clean drinking water availability, focus was drawn on the duties and responsibilities and capacity building of Gram Sabha which resulted into organization of Gram Sabha where significant participation of men and women was observed. After the meetings of Gram Sabha, the people of tivni drafted an application to create pressure, a meeting was held with the officers of PHE to avail the facility of Nal-Jal-Yojna.

This led to confidence building among the community members for Gram Sabha and realized the power of Gram Sabha. The proposal has been passed and the village has been awarded as Nal-Jal Yojna. People may get the sufficient water soon as the work is in progress.

By JEEVIKA Umariya Team

Strengthening NREGA@JEEVIKA Jhabua

Dhawdapada is one of thevery backward village of Jhabua, where there was no Gram Sabha and dissemination of government schemes were very low. Benefits of government schemes were limited to few members of village, which are close to PRI members.

When Jeevika Project started to work in villages, we spread awareness about agriculture and good governance. On 26th January, 2014 there was first time when villagers participated in gram sabha and applied for various government schemes.

In March 2014, 75 villagers got job under MNREGA scheme, for pond construction at Bamniya worth of rupees 10800000 /-, which is more than 5 Km far from village. According to MNREGA guidelines, if working site is 5 KM far from worker residence, registered at job card, workers have right to get travel allowance. Initially MNREGA workers were not getting ant travel allowance. Jeevika staff motivated them to get travel allowance and demand for it to site engineer. When workers demanded it, initially engineer himself didn’t know about it so he denied their request. But workers again requested for it, then engineer enquired about it and found it true, so he agreed to pay them 10 rupees each per day.

Travel allowance has been transferred in their respective accounts. Villagers thanked Jeevika staff for giving such important information and helping their livelihoods

by JEEVIKA Jhabua team

“Jeevika” for Saving Biodiversity......@JEEVIKA Jhabua

Jhabua is a bio-diversifical rich area. It has many types of known and unknown crop cum herbal varieties, which can be identified by very few persons of community. Jeevika took an initiative to bring this concern in community’s mind. We took meetings at each village and collected some very rare varieties of crops, especially millets. We, with few farmers, went to KVK-Jhabua and met Mr. Tomar about it. We also given them our sample seeds with details and tried to complete patent formalities. Following seed samples have been submitted at KVK-Jhabua: 1. Hamli,

2. Kodra,

3. Pan Veliya,

4. Maize Local Variety,

5. Paddy Local Variety,

6. Bhaadli,

7. Powadiya,

8. Rajan.

We are planning to patent these varieties on farmers name and promote our farmer clubs as producer group, so that farmers’ income level can be raised through market linkage of local varieties.

By JEEVIKA Jhabua team

Innovative & Advanced Cultivation Training......@JEEVIKA Jhabua

Training cum exposure visit has been organized at BadaJualwaniya on 29th March, 2014, for all selected model farmers and other interested farmers. Training has been facilitated by F.C. and all C.C.s. Training has been conducted at our model farmer’s farm, named Raichand Ji.

First, we welcomed all participants and after a formal introduction, we asked our farmer Raichand Ji to share his agricultural expertise with farmers. He told us seed management, mixed cropping, hedawadi plantation, fluctuation of agricultural production and prices etc. He told that these all problems can be solved in a collective manner, like kisan club, CBO etc., because here farmers can discuss their problems and take appropriate steps. After that, we invited farmers to ask their problems and other aspects of agriculture. Appropriate solutions have been told by all facilitators, to farmers.

Farmers have been invited for exposure visit of Raichand farm. There were many fruit and flower plants along with mixed cropping. Farmers were motivated and asking their queries to farm owner Raichand. He told them all about his practices and motivated them to do the same. He told his annual agricultural income is more than Rs. 4,00,000 and also he can serve better nutrient to his children and grand son for better health (His case study has been attached with this report).

After exposure visit, lunch has been served. Food was completely traditional and we all liked it. During lunch, we discussed about traditional seeds and farming practices. We told farmers that it is full of nutrients and easy to grow. Some farmers asked for traditional seeds, which have been given by us later. Some farmers were ready to grow a fruit garden and asked us for support, we told them to link with different government schemes.

Farmers were very excited about mixed cropping and hedawadi plantation concept and decided to do the same. We can say just before harvesting, our training will give us definitely positive results.

Jeevika Team has started education centre, entitled ‘Bachcho Ki Duniya’ @JEEVIKA Shehore

Jeevika Team was visiting schools and meeting the children for last three months and the team found that education status is very poor and the percentages of dropout children very high as well as Child Rights are violated. Children do not take interest in education and as a result, they do not go to school regularly. We had a discussion on this matter with school teacher, parents, community and children. Later, Jeevika team took initiative and opened Education Centre entitled ‘Bachcho Ki Duniya’ in Veerpura village. In this centre, activity games, Study, moral class, training, counseling of parents and child, etc. are going on. At present, 20 tribal children have registered. Our intention for opening this centre is that it should provide necessary help to protect the rights of the children. Also, motivate the children to go to school regularly.

By JEEVIKA Shehore