The project aims at ?Improving Agro Ecology and Livelihood Approaches for Primitive tribe Saharias of Gwallior Chambal Region? in the location of core 7 Gram panchayats (19 villages, 3782 HHs) and Dissemination 11 Gram panchayats (31 villages, 5672 HHs) of Block Karahal, Sheopur District of MP. The organisation is working in and around the Kuno National Park with the PTGs (Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups) - Saharias, mainstreaming them into a more agriculture based systems for greater conservation and livelihood. The prime objectives of the project are Improvement of Agro Ecology and ensuring sustainable biodiversity through strengthening of CBOs in convergence with Govt. Programs and schemes for livelihood of Sahariya especially related to agriculture and natural resources, NREGA and to promote use of alternate energy efficiency-smokeless stoves for reduced dependency on forests by the local communities.
The strategy of the NGO (Non Government Organisation- The Implementing Organisation) will be in a way to promote cooperatives and village level entrepreneurship. 57 CBOs? will be created mainly women?s group, with the help of village cadres consists of elders, women, youth and children and they will independently implement all the project activities. Survey will be conducted to find out different Govt welfare schemes like MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act), NRLM (National Rural Livelihood Mission), Agriculture and Horticulture, Forest Department, revolving fund of SHG?s from Banks by way of regular meetings and workshops along with other stake holders for the dissemination villages. The CBOs thus already created and trained in the core villages, will help to replicate the activities in the dissemination villages.
Project Activities:
? Baseline survey and PRAs for better community trust in 7 GPs and 19 Villages.
? Formation and strengthening of 19 SHGs (Self Help Groups) / CBOs (Community Based Organisation), and Cadre committees at village level.
? Training of SHGs and Cadres formed.
? In agriculture diversification the NGO will demonstrate (5 demonstration in each GP with Sahariya farmer on the following crops Arhar, Moong, urad pulses, mix crop (Bajara, arhar, Moong, Urad, and ramas) mix crop (Wheat, Arhar, Gowar) Groundnut.
? Training and demonstration of Non Agricultural activities to ensure their livelihood and value addition in the produce.
? Ground Water Management Initiatives through the Community Based Natural Resource Management CBNRM)
Community management of groundwater
i) Impact of artificial recharge on different aquifers,
ii) Groundwater management as part of 'common property management of natural resources'
iii) Impacts of watershed development on groundwater systems.
? Demonstration of honey processing units, facilitating marketing linkage and demonstrate value addition in MFP collection and marketing.
? Back yard nutritional vegetable gardening-
? Exposure visit and skill building training for value addition of collection of raw material, storage, processing of MFP.
? Providing necessary tools and equipment for honey collection.
? Exposure visit for women Groups to other SGP project.
? Mason Training for Construction of smokeless stoves.
? Construction of improved smokeless Chullah.
? Facilitating and motivating Villagers to have Gram Sabhas, social audit and Jansunwai so that the govt. services could be ensured.
? IEC material development.
? Conducting experience sharing Workshop with stakeholders
? District & Block Level workshop With Line Department For Sharing Project Objectives
Project Outcomes:
? Energy efficiency with 500 families using smokeless chulhas.
? Enhanced traditional skills* of 2000 Saharia Community members will result in improving their lifestyle.
? Agriculture productivity will increase yield up to 1.5 to 2 quintal per hectare through improved agricultural ecology and sustainable biodiversity.
? Introduction of diversified agricultural pattern through change in cropping pattern with mixed cropping in 100 hectare area.
? Increased market capture opportunities for 1000 Saharia families through value addition in the minor forest produce.
? 57 CBOs, farmer?s club and SHGs will be formed and strengthened which will lead to development of leadership abilities of community and govt. program knowledge which will further help them to secure their right.
? Community will raise their voice against social and gender discrimination, through training and other IEC activities.
? Govt. system will work more effectively through regular convergence and networking and 1500 families will get benefit from different government schemes.