Integrated Development and Tribal Livelihood

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.