Integrated Development and Tribal Livelihood

Madhya
Pradesh
Land Degradation
INVESTING IN FUTURE
Integrated Development
and Tribal Livelihood
Empowered lives.
Resilient nations.

Project Background
Greater concern for addressing the rights of the
marginalized women, creating sustainable
livelihood options for tribals and access to
social welfare schemes of the Government,
Pradeepan started working in 1995 in Betul District
of Madhya Pradesh.
Initially to have a greater rapport and trust with
locals, the NGOs activities focused more on
spreading awareness among the tribal communities
on education, healthcare, rights, and better
governance through panchayats. During this period
Samarthan NGO based in Bhopal (MP) guided
Pradeepan in creating local capacities in
working/empowering panchayats/local governance
issues at village level.
Understanding the need to create a sustainable future
for tribals, Pradeepan widened the scope of its
activities and started the process of linking
panchayats and working with the poor, unreached
communities living by the protected forest areas,
with extremely limited resources and no options for
better livelihood opportunities.
Pradeepan approached GEF, UNDP Small Grants
Program for linking the actions through Panchayats
and Mahatma Gandhi National Employment Rural
Guarantee Act, (MNERGA).
Pradeepan, jointly with Centre for Environment
Education (CEE) developed a model for sustainable
development, based on the principles of community
participation and land degradation issues. It aims to
give the local communities/gram sabhas control over
resources, and decisions for better food security.
Name of the Organisation
Pradeepan, Betul, Madhya Pradesh.
Geographical Areas
Forty Villages in Bhimpur Block,
Distt. Betul.
No. of Beneficiaries
2039 Households in 40 Villages. A
Population of 25,000 persons.
SGP Grant ` 19,86,000
Co-financing
` 72,20,400
Project time period
February 2008-December 2012
Project Partners
The project was linked with Mahatma
Candhi National Rural Employment
Gurantee Act (MNREGA) in 15
Villages; Indira Gandhi Awas Yojna;
Block Funds of Rural Development;
Gram Sabhas of 40 Villages. Forest
and Imigation Dptt. State of Madhya
Pradesh (MP)
Special importance and position is given to
women in the program, engaging in addressing
consumption, productive and strategic needs of
women. Efforts have been made in building on
the traditional farming methods and practices,
local knowledge for sustainable agriculture,
water conservation, storage of grains, fruit
plantations, adoption of non-polluting
cookstoves (chulhas), self employment of
women, small forest produce conservation are
some of the activities undertaken.
The project with GEF SGP was developed with
Gond tribals living in Bhimpur panchyat with
a population of 2039 tribals. With the
livelihoods of these Gond tribals depending
completely on the forests, and no means of
transportation to reach Kutanga the nearby road
head, no to limited access to health, education,
employment, credit, information to resources
and schemes the idea deserved attention. With
increasing pressure on the forests, increased
demands for wood and fodder, encroachments
on forestland led the NGO Pradeepan to
develop an integrated plan for biodiversity
conservation and land development and
address the issues of tribals.
Project Objectives
Ensure involvement of tribal communities and
judicious use of resources to address their
livelihood and food security issues around the
protected areas.
Project Purpose
Pradeepan, with GEF/UNDP CEE support,
developed an innovative project addressing:
• Empowering Gram Sabhas for better
involvement of women in management
and better utilization of natural and
financial resources.
• Creation of small women kinship,
common trade/area based local
institutions, women led groups for benefit
of tribals in environmental protection and
protection of local resources and
advocacy of the same.
• Facilitation and enhancing leadership in
women in managing their risks and
financial capital. Check violence against
women, crime, dowry and AIDS.
• Leveraging MNREGA, funds and
resources link its activities with Forest
Rights Act (FRA); and Local State & District
Government Plans.
Project Activities and Results
Following a more process and a participatory
approach, led the project to document decisions on
village actions at community/SHG levels; minutes
of regular meetings at the village level and special
trainings, skill building exercises organized by the
team of NGO. Two/three volunteers were selected
at village levels to facilitate the process of
participation, trainings and exposure visits were
organized for farmers, women and the community
at large. This process approach laid the foundations
in the program.
• Special attention was paid to the skill
enhancement of forest and environmental
committees.
• Campaigns organized especially for protection
of forest and sustainable agriculture,
encouragement of local seeds, conservation of
water resources and better utilization of the same.
• Skill enhancement of 40 Gram Sabhas was
undertaken. 165 meetings for 1946 men and
1030 women were held on a range of issues;
water management; rules and regulations of
Gram Sabha under the GOI MNERGA. There was
special focus of how women address their
needs/priorities.
• Skill development of women was undertaken
which focused on the handling of forest produce,
medicinal plants. Fish breeding was taken up
with 200 families and in the first year a benefit of
Rs.2000 each was earned by the women. 10
women were able to repay their loans in one
season. This activity has been scaled to benefit 30
households in 2nd year.

Some examples the project addressed in meeting gender needs
Practical Needs Productive Needs Strategic Issues
Reducing time in collection of fuel
wood.
Simple, energy efficient grinding
mills.
Improved health and light conditions
because of cookstoves.
Increasing skills, capacities &
opportunities for doing activities in the
evening hours.
Creating skills in managing small
enterprises; funds for investment in
small businesses; and ensuring better
savings in expenditure.
Increased diverse enterprises; milk;
diary and poultry.
Making life safer for women reduced
drudgery.
Ensuring control over resources and
fund management their own
households SHGs.
Allowing access to information and
opening new opportunities for incomes
and new given status in society.
• 20 Microplans of 20 villages with focus on MNREGA actions undertaken; this also included a range
of exercises, like village social and natural mapping exercises; diagrams-highlighting social and
power structures in villages; and building long term perspectives of locals for better livelihoods.
These exercises strengthened the mutual atmosphere of trust, and delivery, the farmers interests
started emerging to address the rights of ownerships in actions.
• Under the MNREGA work for KAPILDHARA well blasting and repairs carried out in 101 wells of 553
families across 12 villages at a cost of Rs. 26, 29, 000. Proper community agreements were made in
villages Khamapur, Dori, Dadari and Baklikhera.
• Development of village ponds (2) small concrete check dams (4), permanent road repairs (nearly 5
kms), small culverts (3) undertaken in Chunabhura, Makanda and Dandari at a cost of Rs.11,29,000
as co financing through Panchyat funds. This process enhanced the community trust with the NGO.
• Small actions like linking the creation of job cards under Mahatma Gandhi National Employment
Rural Gurantee Act. (MNERGA) undertaken for the first time in the region and impacted for assured
livelihoods of 164 families. This facilitated Panchayats to clear the pending dues under NREGA for
Rs.4.5 lacs as labour payment. The NGO all along guided and supported by SAMARTHAN, the local
resource agency working for better governance and GEF/UNDP SGP for field based livelihood
activities.
• Due to emerging relationships with the forest department and proper systems followed in support of
the work undertaken by mostly illiterate tribal Gond communities. The labour charges for 35 laborers
for 6 months were paid (Rs.1,47,000 was disbursed from the Forest Department). Forest department
also paid to villagers in Gadakher village Rs. 125,000/-
• Direct benefit of Rs 5, 95, 000 was created
through SHG loans for 17 poor homeless
families. This was created to develop small shops
and local enterprise and artisans as repair shops
for the bullock carts; cycle repairs and tailoring
units. 44 senior citizens and economically weak
people integrated under social security pension
of Rs. 200 per month is paid to them.
• Integration of 23 farmers with agriculture
department under NADEP. 20 villagers covered
under the CM's Awas Yojna. More emphasis has
been on developing business enterprise on
introducing cash crops of chilies and papayas.
More than 57 farmers earned in three crops
nearly Rs 25,000-35000 as profits in 6/7 months.
Project Impacts
Through this project under the MNREGA; work was undertaken
for sustainable livelihoods and food security. Pradeepan has been
seen by a range of stakeholders as a mutually support institution
leading to leverage resources and ensure delivery.
• Private land improvement of nearly 70 hacters, leading to more
than 20-70% increase in productivity and also nearly 50 % shift
from low income to high income crops e.g. wheat, chick pea
from minor millets etc.
• An outlay of Rs. 2,09,000 provided to 95 families for
development of toilets under the rural sanitation program of the
State of Madhya Pradesh & UNICEF.
• 20 Gram Sabhas made focused work plans towards livelihoods
and sustainable development. This planning integrated into the
gram sabhas planning. A new approach led to long term
resilience of tribal communities – in one voice. Nearly 112
women SHGs formed with 520 women members, enabling a
saving of Rs 3.2 lacs and also accessing nearly Rs 10 lacs as
grants/loan.
• Women started participating in Gram Sabhas. They have
especially started raising issues of development, livelihoods,
water sanitation and hygiene. Women are seen as internal
champions and leaders of tomorrow. In Pradeepan
communities and project staff have acquired new skills
particularly in social and institutional analysis and an ability to
seal ideas and manage change.
Recognition Rekha Gujre
Rekha Gujre was selected for an award in January 2012 by the
Earth Day Network for her contributions to the environment and
women empowerment she was also felicitated by UNDP Country
Office, India for the exemplary work she has undertaken in the
remote tribal areas with women, creating local enterprise and
increased rural incomes.
Lesson
In increasing the effectiveness of sustainable livelihood approaches and environment protection, we
certainly to build rapport and trust before major investments in villages. Also we need to pay adequate
attention to link communities t markets. Actively engage with people to understand the complex issues of
livelihoods analyse the internal (village level, communities dynamics) factors and external (stakeholder)
factors affecting ad influencing the sustainable livelihoods. These analysis helps and provides important
insights into "why people remain poor" and what meanies need to be adopted to mitigate poverty.
Rekha Gujre and Manoj Gujre
Director and Sr. Project Manager
Gram Post Borgaon (Jin), Distt. Betul (M.P.) 460001
Ph.: 91-07141-231969, 264663
Mob.: 09406936755, 09425132968
+91 898574184
Email: pradeepan_05@yahoo.com
Regional Co-ordinator
Flat No 10, Garden Estate,
167/1,168/1, New DP Road,
City International School,
Aundh, Pune
Tel: 020-5887009
Email: ceecentral@ceeindia.org
Colours 9810037571/SGP/April/13
Text: Mr. Prabhjot Sodhi, Manoj Gujre and Anil Arora
Country Program Manager
GEF UNDP Small Grants Programme
Centre for Environment Education
C-40 South Extension-II, New Delhi-110049,
Ph.: 011-26262878-80
Email: prabhjot.sodhi@ceeindia.org
Website: www.sgpindia.org,www.ceeindia.org