The program team of the Caritas India U3 program from Telangana and Karnataka gathered at Dharwad, Karnataka between 12 July – 14 July 2023 to review the progress of the program.
Thirty-six participants including Diocesan Social Service Societies (DSSSs) chief functionaries, project implementors, and community educators came to share the program achievements and activities conducted during the reporting period, i.e., January 2023 to June 2023.

Fr Peter Asheervadappa, Director, Belgaum Diocesan Social Service Society (BDSSS) welcomed all the members of the Caritas India U3 Phase III team and shared that the activities of U3 program going on in the 15 target villages of Belgaum diocese.

“Laudato si’ and Sustainable Development Goal of UN are being promoted by Caritas India in all her programs,” informed Dr. Haridas V. R, Lead – U3 Phase III. He insisted participants protect mother earth as humankind is highly dependent and connected to nature for all our needs.

Assistant Executive Director, Caritas India, Fr. (Dr.) Jolly Puthenpura while sharing the current fund scenario emphasized working beyond the project mode to bring more results from the project implementation.

Fr. (Dr.) Paul Moonjely, Executive Director, Caritas India also encouraged the participants to work towards achieving the set goals of the project on time.

The initiative of brown rice promotion, tree plantation, and water conservation was majorly highlighted by Lodi Multipurpose Social Service Society, Warangal; Belgaum Diocesan Social Service Society, Belgaum and Sevasangama Development Society, Kalaburagi respectively.

Sharing about the Management Information System (MIS) developed for the project, Mr. Dileesh Varghese, Lead-MEAL, Caritas India, explained and urged the participants to furnish data using google drive. Mr. Nixon Mathew, Program Finance Associate, South Zone, Caritas India also enhanced participants’ knowledge of GST and essential documents to be maintained in the organization.

Dr. Haridas shared about the Community Carbon Collective (CCC) and stressed five aspects covered under CCC, i.e. soil and water conservation, waste management, apiculture (beekeeping), multi-species tree planting, soil health management through natural farming/ organic farming, and renewable energy. He requested the participants to select one target village and create a model village.

Participants visited Chandragiri and Honnapur villages under the U3 Phase III program for exposure to meet a proactive farmer, Mr. Ramanna, who is practising organic farming. He has demonstrated the preparation of Go Krupa Amrutham, Neemaastra, Brahamstra and Jeevaamrutha in the field. Mr. Ramanna informed 14 other farmers will be practising zero-budget natural farming under the U3 target villages. Mr. Veeresh, a young farmer from Honnapur village gave a tour of his land where he is implementing integrated family farming practices such as vermicomposting, fish rearing, goat rearing, apiculture, cow rearing, poultry farming, variety of tree plantation, etc. He also demonstrated the preparation of vermi-wash. The participants visited Ms. Nagavva’s farmland and learned about her apiculture farming, goat rearing, fish rearing, and mixed cropping.