Project Back Ground West Singhbhum district in Jharkh<strong>and</strong> has 15 blocks & two administrative Sub-divisions. Chakradharpur is one of the poor tribal blocks in the district. Catholic Relief Services (CRS) who have been working in the area approached GEF/UNDP, SGP, CEE to link the program with Mahatma G<strong>and</strong>hi Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS) to enhance incomes. The district is full of small hills, with alternating valleys, undulated l<strong>and</strong>s, steep mountains, <strong>and</strong> deep <strong>for</strong>ests on the mountain slopes. The district contains one of the best Sal <strong>for</strong>ests. The area is known commonly as SARANDA (seven hundred hills). The project was envisaged to be implemented in three revenue villages (Dukri, Kimirda <strong>and</strong> Kudahatu) with nearly 5000 local tribal communities. The locals belong to Munda, Ho, Mahto, <strong>and</strong> Orao tribes <strong>and</strong> communicate in local languages as Ho <strong>and</strong> Mundari. They are very much attached to 4Js i.e. Jamin (l<strong>and</strong>), Jungle (<strong>for</strong>est), Jal (water) <strong>and</strong> Janwar ( animal). This area is located in the upstream belt thus is seen as upl<strong>and</strong>s. Due to limited investments by people as largely they migrates <strong>and</strong> unchecked de<strong>for</strong>estation has exposed l<strong>and</strong> causing heavy soil erosion. The locals were largely depending on agriculture, although small l<strong>and</strong> holdings do not meet their needs <strong>and</strong> migrate over 6-7 months in short spells. Cultivation is rain-fed <strong>and</strong> mostly farmers grow paddy. Average rainfall is around 1300 mm. To address this problem the local NGO Samekit Jan Vikash Kendra (SJVK), planned with the community in three villages measures <strong>for</strong> protecting <strong>and</strong> promoting ecological balance. Village development committees (VDC), Kissan Samiti, Self Help Groups (SHGs), Forest Protection committees were <strong>for</strong>med at the community level. <strong>L<strong>and</strong></strong> development actions planned e.g. Staggered Contour Trenches (SCT), Gully plugs, farm bunding, small earthen <strong>and</strong> stone check dams, pond renovation, Name of the Organization Samekit Jan Vikas Kendra (SJVK) Geographical Area 3 tribal villages involving 522 households (HHs) of Dukri, Kimirda, Kudahatu of Chakhradharpur Block, West Sighbhum, Jharkh<strong>and</strong> No. of Beneficiaries ST-418 Families, SC-19 Families, OBC-9 Families & others 90 SGP Grant ` 22,77,300 Co financing ` 108,03,752 ` 1,03,10,200 (Cash) ` 4,93,552 (Kind) Project Period June 2009 to June 2012 Project Partners MGNREGA, Women's Cooperatives, Birsa Agriculture University (BAU), Ranchi, Agriculture technology management Agency (ATMA), Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), West Sighbhum, ICDS, Education Department, Water <strong>and</strong> Sanitation Department, Punjab National Bank, Gramin Bank, PRADAN, Block Agriculture Department, Prime minister Rojgar Yojna, PHD, Health Department <strong>and</strong> Forest Department. water management, vegetable cultivation, pulses & cereals productions, orientation on government schemes, soil & water conservation, micro planning, exposure visit to Agriculture University & also demonstration on agro enterprises, market linkages & organic farming practices. The NGO SJVK approached Global Environment Facility (GEF), United Nation Development Program (UNDP), Small Grants Program (SGP), <strong>and</strong> Centre <strong>for</strong> Environment Education (CEE). After series of meetings a project was approved. Project Goal Protect <strong>and</strong> promote an ecological balance through a range of low cost, simple, community led, easy to manage l<strong>and</strong> development <strong>and</strong> agricultural practices sustainably. Project Objectives Rural communities protect <strong>and</strong> manage their natural resources by demonstrating the Public Private Partnership (PPP) approach. Establish the Village Development Committee (VDC), Kishan Club (KC), & women Self Help Group (SHGs) to link with other institutions (Government & Non Government) to do village micro-planning <strong>and</strong> mobilize resources. Project Strategy To achieve the above objectives, the project used tour strategies during project implementation. • Public Private Community Partnership: The NGO used the participatory methodologies, created awareness, <strong>and</strong> educated communities about their entitlements <strong>and</strong> rights <strong>for</strong> better utilization of <strong>and</strong> protection of natural <strong>and</strong> manmade resources <strong>for</strong> sustainable livelihoods. • Community-led Process: Formed <strong>and</strong> strengthened the institutions (SHGs <strong>and</strong> Farmers Club) as the entry point actions with the community followed by <strong>for</strong>mation of Village Development Committee at village level. Community selected the VDC members in Gramsabha <strong>and</strong> 50% female membership was ensured compulsory. • Convergence Strategy: Collaboration with different stake holders (Government, NGOs <strong>and</strong> Communities) <strong>for</strong> Integrated village development plans. Project Activities Formation of 04 (four) Village Development Committees (VDCs) The 04 VDCs <strong>for</strong>med <strong>and</strong> are consisting of 20 members each <strong>and</strong> in which 15 are male <strong>and</strong> 5 female members. VDCs have been <strong>for</strong>med to create links with the MNREGA, <strong>and</strong> other programs in various departments <strong>for</strong> livelihoods, <strong>for</strong> training, in<strong>for</strong>mation access <strong>for</strong> new schemes <strong>and</strong> other issues. The Village Head (Munda) appointed as the president of VDC helps the decisions taken in interest of locals. Total 60 male <strong>and</strong> 20 female members are representing four VDC in three villages. Formation of 13 Farmers Clubs In project villages 5 new farmers clubs (FCs) <strong>for</strong>med <strong>and</strong> the NGO SVK activated existing eight clubs. The Clubs have been <strong>for</strong>med with a special purpose to get loans <strong>for</strong> agricultural purposes, each FC consists of 10 to 20 members <strong>and</strong> has conducted regular monthly meetings <strong>and</strong> savings in their group <strong>for</strong> fund raising. These 11 groups consist of 224 members who have done the savings of Rs. 215,844 <strong>and</strong> accessed a loan of Rs 120,000 from Bank. They are giving inter loans at 5% rate of interest per annum. The bank linkages have been done with Punjab National Bank, Chakradharpur. Formation of 16 SHGs SHGs have become a major plat<strong>for</strong>m <strong>for</strong> uniting people in the villages. These are seen by communities as small units of coming together <strong>for</strong> financial support, decision making, sharing roles <strong>and</strong> responsibilities. The SHGs group consists of 10–20 women <strong>and</strong> men. There are 16 SHGs have <strong>for</strong>med with 256 members in three project villages with a total savings in 3 years Rs 180,000 <strong>and</strong> having inter loaning between the members <strong>for</strong> both productive <strong>and</strong> consumption loans. They have been <strong>for</strong>med to take <strong>and</strong> give loans <strong>for</strong> enterprises. Capacity Building Program /community dynamism In order to empower villagers various trainings like micro planning, agro- enterprise <strong>for</strong> villagers, common property resource management, group management including financial aspects, dimension, height, soil <strong>and</strong> water harvesting structure, natural resource management, accessing government schemes, water management, repair <strong>and</strong> maintenance <strong>and</strong> common property resource management (CPRM) were conducted at the village, block <strong>and</strong> district levels. Construction of Nala bund/Gully plugs The Project villages are located in just below the low ranges of mountains. During the rainy season the runoff is very high <strong>and</strong> this results into heavy soil erosion. In 600 to 700 hectares of the <strong>for</strong>est l<strong>and</strong> in four sites, 243 Nala bunds/gully plugs were constructed & assembled which prevented the soil erosion & checked the speed of water flows downwards. After the construction of these structures 73% soil erosion has been stopped. Now farmers are able to produce pulses, vegetables, cereals & paddy twice in a year. Farm bunding In 80 acres of l<strong>and</strong> the farm bunding had developed, where vegetable <strong>and</strong> pulses cultivation has been done. Farm bunding has not only checked the water but also has had fertile soils behind the bunds, leading to check the soil erosion. Farmers perceptions has voiced an increase in agriculture production by 20 % to 30%. Staggered contour trenches (SCT) These simple, low cost measures have all helped in increasing the soil fertility <strong>and</strong> erosion, created new area under agriculture <strong>and</strong> stagger contour trenches were developed so that the water is contained <strong>for</strong> sometimes in these trenches. The structure of SCT is 1.5 feet height X 1.5 feet breadth X 6 feet length. The outcome of the SCTs are to store water, stop soil erosion, increase moisture in agriculture fields <strong>for</strong> crops, healthy plants <strong>and</strong> trees in the area takes place. A total of .335 trenches were done. Pond construction <strong>and</strong> renovations One new pond (60*60*10) constructed in Dukri village <strong>and</strong> 26 ponds are repaired under the project <strong>and</strong> also co-financing from the state government. 200 families are getting benefits from these ponds. As a results that farmers have been farming vegetables, seasonal crops, pulses, fishery, mixed crop <strong>and</strong> also adopted new technology like SRI, etc. One Earthen (Boulder Check Dam) One boulder check dam constructed in Kimirda village. More than 40 acres of l<strong>and</strong> irrigated. Fifty farmers getting benefited from this dam & the paddy production has increased up to 100 quintals per annum. One Gabion Structure One gabion structure constructed in Dukri village, due to this the soil erosion has stopped <strong>and</strong> the erision checked.
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