Farmers from the Naxal affected Sons village under Chatra district of Jharkhand passing through a very serious phase of extremism. Due to its geographical topography and dense forest, naxal outfits are quite active in this area. The forest is full of a variety of medicinal plants, Kendu leaves, Bamboo, Sal, Teak, other timber species and a wide range of carnivorous & herbivorous wild animals but the village is completely left out from the Government social and welfare schemes.

Located in the middle of the forest, the village hardly has very basic needs for its inhabitants. The community is still untouched in terms of urbanization/modernization. Majority of the farmers still following the traditional farming system organically.

Farmers lack the know-how of new agriculture technique and scheme for their upliftment. But facilitation by Caritas India and back from the government schemes has enabled many to make the leap and change what farming can be.
Jan Vikas Kendra supported by Caritas India entered the village with its Swadhikar programme (later changed to Gram Nirman) in the year of 2014, a Village Development Programme in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh to address the critical concern of the most vulnerable section of the community. As a part of program intervention, several activities/programs carried out at different levels (Village, Panchayat, Block, Districts & State) on different issues. Interface meeting with Govt. department & capacity building on smallholder to access schemes from Govt. departments, agencies, institutions etc. for better livelihood option to have increased income.

Sandeep Baxla and Daoud Baxla are the two marinalised smallholder farmer from the village to express their willingness to change their situation. The two men attended several capacity building programs and interface meetings with Government departments organised by Janvikas Kendra under the Gram Nirman program.

Having increased knowledge of different schemes through the programme meetings, Sandeep started visiting Govt. departments, agencies, institutions etc. to avail the welfare scheme and entitlements for his better livelihood option. Gram Nirman team helped him to link with National Horticulture Mission and access scheme for Mango plantation. Sandeep has total 9 acres of land out of which he has done Mango plantation (total 270 mango plants) in 5 acres of upland land. He has dug small Dova (small pond) where water is stored for irrigation in Mango plan. He has invented “Tapak Irrigation System”. In every mango plant, he has tied used water bottle for making a small hole from which water drips slowly to the roots and provide moisture to the plant.

He has also accessed the drip irrigation system and poly house for nursery development. The drip irrigation system has been installed in the field for tomato, potato, chili, green pea, etc. and poly house yet to be installed with the help of technical experts. Next, he has planned to plant Papaya in between two mango plants. He is one of the most enthusiastic and progressive farmers in the village, motivating other farmers for better livelihood option using new techniques of farming.