The project aims at ?Conservation of agro-biodiversity by providing alternate livelihood options to the forest dependent community in islands of Sundarbans?. The project will be implemented in Two remote and vulnerable island villages, viz., Purba Gurguria (1264 HHs) and Madhya Gurguria (936 HHs). Dissemination will take place in 3468 HHs. of Sundarban area under Kultali Block, South 24 Parganas District, West Bengal.
The project is trying to initiate the activities in untouched, very vulnerable and backward villages on the fringe of forest, no alternate livelihoods, dependency upon mangroves and forest NTFP. Through this project, first time any natural farming activities have being taken up. Through enhancing community investments in agriculture and fuel wood efficiency cook stoves, environment protection is the prima facie in the islands. 30 new SHGs will be formed and 10 Inactive old SHGs will be strengthened in order to implement of the project activities. The old SHGs of the organisation will also provide technical and resource support to the new SHGs and beneficiaries for self-employment and livelihood generation. The beneficiary will also refund the savings to respective SHG as systematic SHG approach by self oriented revolving fund. Thus the project will be completely community driven. The project activities have already been planned after PRA exercise in the community and this will help in quick implementation of the main activities. A huge amount of co-financing from the community will be generated because of extensive participation of the community. While simultaneously, the proposal will make links with the Directorate of Industrial Training, Govt. of West Bengal and the Directorate of Technical Education and Training, Govt. of India, West Bengal Biodiversity Board, Environment Department, Govt. of West Bengal; Sundarban Affairs Department, Govt. of West Bengal; NABARD, local Bank for the cash co financing to make the programme a model in the local region. More over SHGs and the NGO will generate co finance from Self-Employment Department, Govt. of West Bengal; Forest Department, Govt. of West Bengal; District Horticulture Department, Govt. of West Bengal; District Agriculture Department, Govt. of West Bengal; District Animal Husbandry Department, Govt. of West Bengal; MoEF, Govt. of India; Rice Research Centre, Govt. of West Bengal; Department of Science & Technology, Govt. of West Bengal, etc. It is expected that nearly 30% of the income level of the community will increase while decreasing the dependency on the natural resources. Women have been provided a greater role in terms of the livelihood promotional activities through the SHGs. The activities can be scaled up in the neighbour villages of the Sundarbans eco system. The project proposes to document the success stories and to share and replicate in the adjacent area.
In nutshell, the project Objectives can be outlined in three following points:
? Create resilient communities so as to overcome risks, migration and distress selling of assets; through increased incomes and investment in agriculture and aquaculture activities.
? Protection of Environment and health of women through extensive use of fuel efficiency cook stove (Chulla.
? Bringing notice of the vulnerability of the project area to the different funding agencies and State government and spread the message of UNDP initiatives, to the adjacent areas.
Following Project Activities will be carried on, in order to achieve the project objectives:
? Developing the Village Plans in 2 villages with Communities using PRAs, and other participatory technologies.
? Developing the plans using the village revenue maps; for the 560 hactares areas in doing the demonstrations in both rabi and kharif seasons.
? 30 women SHGs/Institution for Sustainable Actions to access bank credit through linkages.
? Local Actions to conservation & livelihood established through various government programs. taking up fisheries programs
? Community Seed Banks; and also taking up biodiversity registers and the BMCs to be established as pilot in the areas.
? Demonstration Field and Introduction of SRI with nearly 1000 farmers.
? Through 560 energy efficient 2 pan-cook stoves installation to reduce the use of fuel wood consumption for energy efficient cook stoves.
? Capacity Building of Staff and Communities (Training, Workshop, Seminar)
Project Outputs:
? Reduction of forest dependency: Alternate livelihood through skill development training provided to 350 forest dependent people;
? In situ conservation of at least 50 indigenous varieties of seeds through SRI ( paddy) and conservation of at least 10 locally extinct/endangered fish species;
? Involving 1000 farmers in seed conservation and modern agricultural activities;
? Formation of 30 new SHGs and nurturing inactive old SHGs;
? Saving 2700 metric tons of fire woods, i.e., 1.92 kgs CO2 = 5185 metric tons
? Peoples Biodiversity Registers and formation of the (BMCs) Biodiversity Management Communities for 2 villages;
? Introduction of modern farming practices with 1000 farmers in nearly 560 hectares.
? Dissemination of the project concept in more than 3000 (HHs) households.