Caritas Germany supported ‘Sabal’ programme is bringing nutritional and food security to the underprivileged Korku tribe to reduce the disastrous malnutrition situation.

Korku is one of the backward tribes of Madhya Pradesh living under the perennial poverty and illness. Korku tribe became the news in 2008 when the Asian Human Rights Commission released a report claiming the death of 62 korku tribal children due to malnutrition.

Sabal programme in Khalwa block of Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh is ensuring food security and enhancing the nutrition status of the Korku community to tackle the chronic and widespread malnutrition.

Caritas India has organised a two days meeting of the Sabal partners on 14-15 February 2019 to review the progress and plan the future strategy to implement the programme initiatives in a better way. Dr. Saju MK, Zone Manager of West briefed about the Sabal programme and shared the objective of the review and expected outcome of this meeting.

Peter Seidel, Project Officer of Asia Desk at Caritas Germany present at the review and planning meeting says: “we must not just anticipate community’s problem rather go directly to the community and understand their expectation for the success of the programme”.  He was sharing his view about developing a concrete strategy for Sabal by identifying the real grassroot problem of the people.

“Through Sabal, we must aspire to empower the Korku community in such a way that they not only address their food and nutrition insecurity issues but also other problems faced within the community”, says Rajesh Upadhyay, HoD of Partner Support Service from Caritas India. He further shared that since its inception Caritas India has been working on nutrition for all the people.

One of the greatest achievements of the programme is the greater realization of the benefits of Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) among Korku tribals for village development. The programme has successfully constituted 409 CBOs under this programme.

The attempt to bring the food security is progressive as 1879 farmers have started organic methods of sustainable farming and treated 1239.5-acre farmland during the Kharif and Rabi (winter crop) season.

The system of local self-governance has improved, 7050 Korkus attended 92 Gram Sabhas (community decision-making meeting) and submitted 185 applications demanding inclusion of Korku language in schools and Anganwadi, the inclusion of millets in PDS system, and rights under Forest Rights Act and PVTG rights. They had also submitted 442 applications to seek job opportunities under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

After the intervention in the areas, Children attendance has raised to 70% due to the introduction of TLMs and toys in Anganwadis. The impact of Sabal strategy to increase the child attendance has convinced the District Collector of Khandwa to renovate 13 Anganwadi Centres into ‘Adarsh Anganwadi’ or model Anganwadi and introduced translated educational primers in English, Hindi, Korku and Nimadi.

All the partners presented similar key achievements, challenges, learning during the course of 3 years of Sabal implementation from 2016 – 2018. The presentations ended with productive feedbacks & suggestions by all the participants.

The partners also had setup models of Sabal results which included – organic solutions, models of Korku village, the dress representing Korku culture and various Korkus traditional delicacies for the dignitaries. Sabal team also performed Nukkad Natak on “Migration and Its Challenges”.

The review and planning meeting was well attended by Project Officer of Asia Desk at Caritas Germany, Mr. James, Consultant to Caritas and Mr. Rajesh Upadhyay, HOD Caritas India.