A staff well-equipped with required knowledge and skills would certainly lead to better execution of the tasks, which in turn, would produce better outputs of the project/ programme implemented.

A two-day training programme to build the capacities of Sanjivani outreach workers and community educators of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat was held on 21-22 and 23-24 February 2023 respectively. It was organised at Kripa Training Center- Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh and Kaira Social Service Society-Ahmedabad in Gujarat. In total, 22 staff members, 2 Diocesan Directors of Ujjain and Ahmedabad and a programme associate actively took part in the programme. The training programme was designed as per the expected outcomes of the project which envisages strengthening indigenous farming systems by increasing climate resilience and reducing the community’s dependency on external farm inputs. This community-led initiative draws learning from People-Led Empowerment (PLE) model practised by Caritas India and her partners and is guided by four fundamental principles of

(i) Sanctity of self-reliance of communities
(ii) Centrality of people-led processes
(iii) Primacy of community resources (wisdom, efforts and materials) and
(iv) Importance of collectivism as organised action.

The project is intended to help pandemic-affected Adivasi and Dalit communities, in achieving nutritional and livelihood security by empowering them and increasing their self-reliance.

During the training programme participants increased their knowledge on two major aspects of the project components including, the importance and benefits of sustainable agriculture practices and resilience farming, especially focusings on methods of sustainable agriculture, diversifications of food crops, various types of composts, integrated nutrient management and integrated pest management. The other major component of the training programme was good governance, where participants enhanced their knowledge on the important role of CBOs, roles of leadership and social audit.

One of the major highlights of the training programme was to organise an exhibition of traditional food crops and forest-based vegetables that have been promoted to meet the challenges arising due to drastic climate conditions in the agriculture sector. There were 66 and 98 varieties of traditional food and forest-based vegetable seeds respectively, and some fresh fruits and vegetables were displayed during the exhibition by Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat partner staff respectively.

 More than 330 young students’ boys and girls, teachers and school principals also visited the exhibition. These students received information on the importance of organic and traditional crop cultivation and the importance of a nutritional kitchen garden. “We are so happy to see for the first time, so many varieties of traditional food crops and forest-based vegetable seeds’ said one of the visiting students. Some students took vegetable seeds and promised to develop kitchen gardens on their balconies and on terraces.

Disseminating learnings, knowledge and experiences with others especially the young generation has proven to be a positive dividend for human society. The programme was an attempt in a similar direction of amplifying that positive impact.