|
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
| Himachal Pradesh - Activities |
| |
Darlaghat
The areas of our intervention in Darlaghat include natural resource management with community involvement, health and education. A comprehensive and integrated approach has been adopted for watershed projects. Two such programmes were undertaken in 2009-10.
Dhundan Watershed Development Project
In this project community members have been organised into a registered Watershed Development Committee. The committee ensures participation of the people in all aspects of the project from planning to implementation and maintenance.
During the reporting year, the drainage line was given treatment in a “ridge-to-valley” approach. A grant of Rs 9,80,000 was received from National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). Loose stone check dams (LSCDs) were constructed on small streams, followed by gabion structures on the gully where the water had a high velocity. A water storage tank was also constructed.
Trenches were constructed in the beneficiaries’ pasture land. They act as water recharging units that increase the soil moisture and consequently the fodder production by as much as 30%. Following the trenching, 3500 saplings were planted in the area. Farmers went on an exposure visit to National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), Karnal, where they learned about animal husbandry and dairy farming.
ACF-SRTT Alikhad Watershed Development Project
This project is being implemented in Kashlog Panchayat. Awareness camps and training programmes were held on herb plantation and mushroom cultivation. Trenching was completed in 14 Ha of land. To make fodder available to farmers the year round, silvi pasture land was developed and in addition, over 3000 fruit trees were also planted.
Two irrigation water storage tanks were built with a contribution from the villagers amd 850 mt of irrigation channels were laid, and 19 gabion structures constructed to check the excess flow of water in the gullies. The project was monitored by the Watershed Committee. The of the villagers are susceptible to destruction by wild animals. Low cost bamboo poly houses are being promoted to protect small land holdings of the farmers. Six orchards were cultivated in the area.
ACF has been promoting organic farming in Darlaghat. Farmers prepared and used organic manures like Jiva Amrit and vermi-compost. They were encouraged to develop a seed bank in their own villages. Training programmes were also conducted for them. To supplement incomes, horticulture plantation was promoted. Over 2500 mango, lemon, orange, guava , pomegranate and amla trees were planted by the farmers. Mushroom cultivation was introduced in Darlaghat in 2007-08 and in 2009-10, 39 farmers were cultivating mushrooms. A committee called Darla Khumb Utpadak Samiti (with 60 members) has been set up by the community, under which the farmers jointly work towards the promotion and cultivation of mushrooms. This committee was registered and is working towards building capacity amongst the farmers with the help of ACF, the Horticulture Department of the Government and National Research Centre for Mushroom.
The Skills and Entrepreneurship Development Institute (SEDI) continued working towards equipping the local youth with skills and helping them find employment. In 2009-10, the institute expanded its scope to include social and cultural activities. In 2009-10, over 540 persons were trained at the institute. Some of those trained have got loans from Punjab National Bank for starting their own enterprises.
The school support programme by ACF runs in 44 schools in Arki tehsil. Women from the community, known as balmitras, are trained by ACF and these women work with the schools to improve the quality of education being provided there. ACF has undertaken a range of activities in schools for overall development of the children. Libraries have been set up to inculcate the habit of reading in them, and to improve their language skills. Children are given an opportunity to hone their public speaking skills at balsabhas. They are given ample opportunity to intersperse learning with fun at fun fairs or bal melas. Training programmes were organised for Government teachers.
In Darlaghat, 39 women have been trained as Village Health Functionaries (VHFs) and provide primary healthcare and referral services to the villagers. In 2009-10, three VHFs were selected by the Government to train as yoga teachers. They now conduct yoga classes in middle and senior schools. ACF regularly conducts training and monitoring programmes for the VHFs. The VHFs engage with school children through khelwadis at which they deal with issues of health, sanitation and preventive healthcare through fun and games. In the year 24 Village Health and Sanitation Committees were formed in the villages. Doctors in the area refer patients to the Ambuja Diagnostic Centre for testing. Over 1,310 patients were tested at the centre during the year.
Over 110 Self Help Groups(SHGs) are now in operation in Darlaghat and 20 of them have linkages with banks. Training sessions on livelihood generation, dairy farming and fruit and vegetable processing were held for the women. An exposure visit was organised to National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal. ACF was successful in liaising with the Government to start knitting classes for 30 SHG members. The final products will be sold at Government emporiums.
ACF helps the local community in the development and maintenance of footpaths, community centres, anganwadis, school buildings, drinking water storage tanks and irrigation channels. The people participate in executing all these activities. During 2009-10, 255 metres of footpaths were constructed in the area.Three school rooms were put up and three other rooms were repaired. A bridge was built at Fugwana village. Further, 337 metres of irrigation channel were laid, and 4 bore wells and a traditional drinking water source were rejuvenated. A playground was levelled and enclosed with a 125 ft retaining wall.
Nalagarh
Our activities in Nalagarh increased considerably after our involvement in the area in the year. A series of training sessions for farmers was organised, where topics like vegetable cultivation, integrated pest management (IPH), vermi-composting and net houses were discussed in the classroom, side by side with on-farm training.Five vermi-compost pits were built on farmers’ fields, and the compost produced used by the farmers themselves, and also sold to ACL’s Horticulture Department. Farmers learned about dry land farming, water recharging systems, drip irrigation and sprinkler methods during an exposure visit to the Regional Research Station, Balachor.
Animal husbandry and health camps were organised, where animals were given treatment, vaccinations, de-worming and mineral mixtures by a veterinarian. The farmers were given tips about cattle care like their nutrition, vaccinations, common diseases, their symptoms and treatment at these camps. They were introduced to dairy farming through exposure visits to various dairy farms.
The Nalagarh region suffers from poor soil quality due to a lack of proper irrigation. ACF took up the task of treating the nalas to address this problem. The depth of the ground water here is about 125-150 ft, with potable water available at 300-350 ft. There is a need for interventions to recharge the ground water. A plan for a micro watershed was developed for an area of 40 Ha and treatment from ridge was done by constructing gabion structures as gully control structures.
Health camps were organised in schools in Nawagraon and Dugri villages, where 300 children underwent health checkups. The children were taught about dental hygiene, prevention and anaemia and personal hygiene by the doctor at these camps. A well-equipped diagnostic centre established in Nalagarh offers a range of pathological tests at subsidised rates. The centre is staffed by qualified technicians and has already serviced about 1400 people so far.
It was observed that schools in the area lacked basic infrastructure. ACF provided seating facilities to the Government schools of Nawagraon village, and constructed two rooms and renovated one in the primary and middle Nawagraon school. Teaching-learning materials and sports kits were provided to the schools. An inter-school sports tournament was organised at the Government Middle School, Nawagraon. Schools from Nawagraon, Kashmirpura, Soban Majra and Kotla Kalan participated in kho-kho, kabaddi and volley ball competitions. In addition, a teacher-training programme was conducted.
A beginning was made in women’s development with the establishment of 3 Self Help Groups (SHGs) in Nawagraon village. The groups have a membership of 30 women. They were taken on exposure visits to various dairies to learn about dairying as an income generating activity. The groups have also started the process of inter loaning.
Nawagraon village had very poor infrastructure, without even a proper access road. ACF constructed a 1000-metre road and 500-metre drain during the reporting year. Construction of the building of the Senior Secondary School, Nalagarh has commenced. The Foundation Stone was laid by the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh on 10th December 2009.
|
|
|
|