From November 2019, Caritas India started implementing the FARM III programme in district of Golaghat under Sarupather Block in Assam. Tengaholla (No.1) is one of the project villages with 99 Households covering 425 populations under Tengaholla GP. The targeted population of this village are Adivasis surviving on agriculture as their primary source of livelihood.

Seva Kendra Dibrugarh (SKD), the local partner of Caritas India facilitated the community on farming and various income-generating activities during the implementation of the programme. The pandemic Covid 19 paralysed the programme activities just as they were getting started. Thousands of migrant workers from other parts of the country returned home during the pandemic after losing their jobs. Last year, a small number of migrant workers were given chicks to start alternate sources of income. The members of the team continued their handholding support to the migrant workers to make the maximum profit possible. They even facilitated other migrant workers to go for an alternative solution to meet their wants. Moreover, they have suggested options of pig & goat rearing, poultry and other agriculture activities for income.

Nobin Dhanwar, one of the migrant workers of Tengahulla was engaged in one of the companies 3M Car Care dealing in car detailing, wash & wax, exterior & interior in Kerala. He was earning Rs 14,000 per month with which he used to manage himself and even supported his family. Due to the covid 19 pandemic, all the companies were closed down, finding no option and solution he returned to his village. He had the same problem as any other migrant worker: he was jobless and wandered endlessly in search of work and alternatives, only to come up empty-handed.

During these periods of problems, team SKD met him and discussed several alternate livelihood solutions; like Poultry, Goat farming, Piggery and other agriculture activities. He also attended the project activities and programs on different Income Generation Activities (IGA). He witnessed the Caritas India’s Covid 19 response to the migrant workers who were given hens, and he even saw how the recipients returned the chickens after the number of hens had increased after seven to eight months. All this was an inspiration for him. SKD team played a major role in motivating him. Nobin gathered enough confidence and started the farm with zero budget, finding alternative support from other sources.

He also decided to start pig farm but didn’t have any resources so he approached few people who had materials stocked but unutilized, they supported him with materials for the construction of the farm, and have made an agreement that he would return the favour in cash or in kind. This way he started the construction work. He has now planned to start the farm with ten piglets which costs Rs. 6,000 per piglet. He is expecting Rs. 2,00,000 after eight to ten months.

Nobin Dhanwar said, “I am happy and confident in doing this and I am inspired because of the SKD team. Many of my friends are encouraged by my presence, and my parents, too, are encouraging me in this work.”

Nobin is a true example for others, especially the migrant workers to start their livelihood with sheer hard work and dedication. The SKD team continues its effort to facilitate and strive to support the vulnerable people in need for their long-term sustainability and development.