“Development yatra”  of caritas India Chairman-To HARIT PRAYAS villages!

Nearly two year back HARIT PRAYAS project has initiated in 64 villages of three districts (Sagar, Jhansi & Chatarpur) of Bundelkhand region. The basic purpose of the project is to uplift the life of poor and marginalised (mainly SC & STs) and make them capable to have sustainable livelihood options in the form of low cost sustainable agriculture (Considering the highest rate of farmers suicide in India in Bundelkhand region) , access to entitlements and skill development of youths. In view of this HARIT PRAYAS has started with partnering 3 diocesan partners (SSSS-Satna, MVSS-Sagar & JCSS-Jhansi) in the Bundelkhand region in Jan 2011 and within two years the project has taken the shape of community movement, now HARIT PRAYAS is community movement in the Bundelkhand region and is transforming the lives of community mainly in terms of reaching to unreached and bringing out a model of sustainable agriculture.

Considering all this in June 2012 in annual PSC meeting of caritas India caritas India Chairman Most. Rev Bishop Lumen Monterio has expressed his interest to visit the field of HARIT PRAYAS and feel and learn from the change process happening at field and at partner level. In view of the same a “Development yatra to HARIT PRAYAS” has been facilitated from 5^th-9^th December 2012 which has included a team of Caritas India Chairman,   Asst. Director of Caritas India Fr. Paul, HOD of Caritas India-Mr. Nelson along with  the project officer and  has visited the 6 villages of HARIT PRAYAS in all the three districts.

During the visit there Most Rev Bishops of Satna, & Sagar has also joined along with the entire diocesan team.  The visit has mainly focused on interaction with the Most rev. Bishops, diocesan directors   and HARIT PRAYAS team and taking it as a model at the partner level not only to contribute changes at community level, but also to strengthen the capacity of the concerned dioceses.

In four days visit the team has visted 6 villages (-Kota &HARIT PRAYAS Majhota of Chatarpur, Dhobi & Parsai Khurd, Bamer & Chamurwa of Jhansi district), interacted with 300+ community members, discussion with 11 CBMOs ( Community Based and Managed Organisations), 8 farm field of farmers practicing 100 % of organic cultivation and caritas India Chairman has inaugurated -100% organic village –Kota (at Chatrpur), Musical album of HARIT PRAYAS ( at Chatarpur), Collective women Income generation shop of Agarbati-HARIT PRAYAS Majhota village ( Chatarpur), Community initiated Village Information Center-Parsai Khurd ( Sagar), HARIT PRAYAS news letter-Bamer village ( Jhansi) & HARIT PRAYAS Media coverage book-Chamruwa village (Jhansi)

Caritas India Chairman has appreciated the work taken by the HARIT PRAYAS project partners and shared that changes are visible in the field , where on the other hand Most Rev. Bishop of Satna and SSSS-Samaritans has shared that HARIT PRAYAS is role model project for their dioceses and is the best implemented project till date in Satna dioceses and now the dioceses is take it as base for developing and implementing other projects. Most Rev. Bishop of Sagar and MVSS-Sagar director has considered HARIT PRAYAS as a project which has enhanced the visibility of the context, community and the partner organisation and is systematic approach with a sound handholding support from Caritas India. In end sharing Asst. director of Caritas India Fr. Paul  focuses on moving foreword in terms of certification of organic cultivation and visualised the entire Bundelkhad as a organic cultivation belt, Mr. nelson has focussed on more strengthening the governance system through HARIT PRAYAS project and empowering the community to participate in gram Sabha and accessing the government services meant for the people.

The Development yatra has came to end with a good note that HARIT PRAYAS will always remain ever green as HARIT PRAYAS and keep on working with communities and partners to empower their capacities!