TIMELINE: December 2014 – November 2017
The Agrarian Prosperity Programme is in continuation of the efforts of partners in reducing poverty of the community in Gumla district of Jharkhand, through increased food security and livelihood options. Under the programme, agricultural production has been increased by 20%, income sources have been diversified and community’s access to social benefits and Government schemes augmented through a rights based approaches in ten villages of Palkot block in Gumla.
Implementing Partner : NayaSaweraVikas Kendra, Gumla, Jharkhand
Geographical coverage : 10 Villages of Palkot Block, Gumla District, Jharkhand
Demographic coverage : Total households covered-1269 with a population of 6235 people; comprising 3120 males, focusing Tribal community.
About the programme
Jharkhand figures 18th out of 23 states on the Indian Human Development Index. In Jharkhand state a major section of the community is dependent on agriculture as the main source of livelihood and nearly 70% of the population are small holder or marginal farmers with less than one hectare of farmland. During the monsoon, there is high soil erosion and a high runoff rate resulting in low-input and low-yield subsistence agriculture. Food insecurity is particularly serious in Jharkhand its population suffer from chronic hunger seasonal food insecurity. Rural communities in this region have limited access to social entitlements due lack of awareness of their rights, the tedious process of claiming entitlements and capacity to submit a claim especially when faced with challenges of infrastructure and living in Naxal areas.
The target community is primarilyTribal,40% of whomlives below the poverty line and 30% face hunger with an average food availability of four to six months in a year. The targeted Tribal communities are dependent on subsistence farming and minor forest produce (MFP) to supplement their food requirements mainly during the stress period. The area’s physical and political terrain has marginalized these communities, with poor infrastructure, lack of access to government entitlements, education, health, and livelihood opportunities.Hence, Caritas India was propelled to promote systematic knowledge on sustainable agriculture practices through establishment of a dynamic knowledge based platform with ownership of local people to share experiences and gain access to timely information for better production and collaboration with local authorities for technical support and marketing of farm produces.
The approach focused around assembling the community members and building their capacities to plan for their own development. They lead the process of planning, preparing and implementing the village plan for overall improvement in their living conditions. Improvement of the democratic self-governance is another thrust areas and the community members are helped in ensuring their concerns find their way into the village development plan. The community members engage in programmethrough various village level committees like farmers club, village committee, water management committee, and women self-help groups etc. and provide feedback about the quality of development work.
INTERVENTION & INNVOATION
Kurumis one of the remotest villages of APP programmesituated in Palkot block of UmraPanchayat in Gumla. Surrounded by the dense forest, natural stream, river and undulating topography, 134 smallholder and poor farm families here depend on single paddy cultivation. 60% migrated to nearby cities in search of their livelihood. Heavy soil erosion insulates them from the mainstream society for almost 4-5 months. Accessing water for domestic use and cultivation was a daunting task for them. River located a few kilometers away from the village was the only source of water for this village. Since the five hamlets in the village are scattered and located either on the mountain or in the valley, villagers could not come together to addressing the water issue. A pond and well sanctioned by the Gram Sabha went dry in summers, leaving the villagers craving for drinking water.
The water was blocked at the starting point by a masonry wall, which was constructed at a distance of 880 meters from the community. Three outlets at different points were constructed for irrigation purpose and the fourth outletin the village was set up in the primary school. The uniqueness of this irrigation system is that, water from a perennial stream was drawn through an inlet pipe to the community with the help of gravitational force where neither mechanical power nor fuel energy is required. A natural filtering system has also been installed for purification of the flowing water for the safety of water for drinking and domestic purposes. The joy of villagers knew no bounds once the flow irrigation system opened. Now they have round the clock access to water for taking up yearly three cropcultivation. The system is being maintained by the village committee since 2013.
Appendix:
Documentary Film by Doordarshan
Publication:
Booklet on Case Study – “Reaping a better future”
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