…an additional central assistance of Rs.1,400 crore for Bundelkhand region

The union government Thursday approved funds, to the tune of Rs.1,500 crore ($300 million) for Bihar and Rs.250 crore ($50 million) for Odisha, to meet expenses incurred on existing and new development projects in the backward regions of the two states.

The union government also cleared proposals for a Rs.1,400-crore ($280-million) additional development fund for the Bundelkhand region straddling on both sides of the border of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, at a meeting here gave its nod to the proposals under the state component of Backward Regions Grant Funds (BRGF). "The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs today (Thursday) approved the proposal for continuing the special plan for Bihar in 2012-13 with an allocation of Rs.1,500 crore based on the enhanced level of cost of Rs.9,985.54 crore of all existing projects, revised cost of existing projects, and the cost of new projects, if any, that may be approved by the empowered committee," a government release said here. The committee also gave its nod to "continuing the special plan for the Kalahandi-Bolangir-Koraput (KBK) districts of Odisha in 2012-13 with an allocation of Rs.250 crore."

It also approved a proposal for "continuing the special package for implementing drought mitigation strategies in Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh in 2012-13 with an additional central assistance of Rs.1,400 crore."

The BRGF, which aims to catalyse development in backward areas, was approved by the CCEA in August 2006.In its present form, the BRGF has two components - a district component which covers 272 backward districts in 27 states (including 22 additional districts covered in 2012-13) and a state component, which includes special plan for Bihar, special plan for the KBK districts of Odisha, a special plan for West Bengal (covered in 2011-12), Integrated Action Plan (IAP) for select tribal and backward districts (covered in 2010-11) and a Bundelkhand package (covered in 2009-10).

The implementation of the programmes is being done by the state governments and is aimed at accelerating socio-economic development. "Through the continuation of the special plan for Bihar, KBK districts of Odisha and the Bundelkhand package in 2012-13, accelerated socio-economic development of backward areas covered under the programmes is expected to take place," the release said. All the 38 districts of Bihar, eight districts of the KBK region of Odisha and 13 districts of Bundelkhand region will be covered under the fund.

"These programmes are continuing programmes and were under implementation during the 11th five-year plan," the release said.

Source: http://www.supportbiz.com/articles/news/more-funds-bihar-and-odisha.html

VISIT  TO HARIT PRAYAS PROJECT BY MOST Rev.BISHOP OF SATNA DIOCESE

On 9^th of October, 2012 the Most Rev. Bishop of Satna Diocese along with Director (SSSS) Fr. Joseph, Fr. Celebestian visited one of the project villages of Harit Prayas, Majotta. The purpose of the visit was to perceive the changes took place in the project area of Harit Prayas.

The community members of Majotta villages welcome their visitors with Harit Prayas theme song. The women of SHG group welcome with folk song. In the Majotta village Organic farming has been adopted by a number of farmers. It has helped the community members in increasing their livelihood means. The household income has increased (report on this has been shared earlier) and the farmers have organised themselves in form of farmers’ club. The visitors interacted with the farmers. Farmers shared that Harit Prayas has brought a big change in their life. Promotion of organic farming, conducting several village levels training programmes for farmers and induction of traditional wisdom on sustainable agricultural practices have brought a revolution at village level. They took the team members to their agricultural plot and showed them groundnut organic crops. They also differentiated the organic crops with inorganic one and explain it in details. Two members of farmers’ club Mr. Haridin Patel and Uddipal also showed other Rabi crops, based on organic farming.

Later, the visiting members interacted with SHG members who are going to  involve in Income Generation Activities (IGA). The level of confidence among the community members has risen. Now the women from poor and marginalised community, who have organised themselves into a women’s club (SHG) have access to Government schemes. This has been possible due to training provided to them at village level workshop, under Harit Prayas project. 

Empowering dalit women in Bundelkhand region@HARIT PRAYAS Jhansi

दरवाज़ो के चौखट पे अब मैं नही रहती,

चार दीवारे अब मेरी दुनिया नही,

मैं सिर्फ़ दर्दो में सिमटी नही हूँ,

हरित प्रयास से मेरी दुनिया बदल गयी है,

बंद चार दीवारो से बाहर में आगाई हूँ,

कई बहनो से मिल रही हूँ.....

और अपनी नई दुनिया बना रही हूँ.....

-विनोद पांडे

On Oct 11 2012 HARIT PRAYAS team at Jhansi has organised an unique programme to empower dalit women in the project villages and to closely understand their small-small concerns.  Team members of HARIT PRAYAS especially female team members have facilitated the programme and created space for women to share their happiness and concerns with open heart. The event has named as …ek shaam Nari k Naam” i.e. an evening for women. This unique event has generated a close impact and trust of women community members on HARIT PRAYAS and HARIT PRAYAS team has played the role of counsellor by listening them with all patience and supporting them morally! Sr. Anna and Ms. Malti the cluster Coordinators counselled women on their emotions, feelings and their role in society and home. This 3 housr of evening in Bedora HARIT PRAYAS project village (in Babina Block-Jhansi) has initiated a step to morally empower women of Bundelkhand region! The evnt also tried tto addres the domestic violence happening with women in project villages!

Some facts about status of women in Bundelkhand region:

• There is a TV serial name “Phir Subah Hogi” on ZEE TV clearly states how women in Bundelkhand are morally down, even are not allowed to share their feelings! In such scenario with HARIT PRAYAS we are able to create a space for women (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExlKpBrtdt0)
• Domestic violence is common in Bundelkhand and largely uncontested. Among the forms of violence practised are literal demonstrations of the phrase naak katwana - the woman's nose is chopped off (http://bundelkhandinfo.org/people/status/valorised_real.html)
• Women from SC groups are also vulnerable to sexual assault exercised by upper caste men. (http://bundelkhandinfo.org/people/status/valorised_real.html)
• A 2004 nine-state study of violence against women, supported by Oxfam (India) Trust, reported this narration of an SC woman from Chhatarpur district (http://bundelkhandinfo.org/people/status/valorised_real.html)
• Dalit women in Bundelkhand struggle to salvage both dying water resources in the semi-arid region and their dignity (http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/society/article3646345.ece)
• Women's work is statistically less visible, non monetized and relegated to subsistence production and domestic side. The non paid work includes domestic chores like cooking, cleaning, child care and care for the elderly and the handicapped-traditionally understood as women's work. Subsistence activities like kitchen gardening, post harvest processing, feeding farm hands, live stock maintenance, gathering of fuel, forest produce, unpaid family labour in family farm or enterprise are all done by women who are reported to be "non working housewives". If women's work is rendered visible, especially unpaid household work, there will be dramatic change in perspective towards perceiving (http://planning.up.nic.in/apd/hdr-2006/chapter-6.pdf)

Hopefully HARIT PRAYAS team at Jhansi would continue this type of evenings in each and every village at least once in a month!

Let’s come together to bring change in life of women’s in BUNDELKHAND REGION!

Let’s make change possible!

For more on HARIT PRAYAS log on www.haritprayas.blogspot.com of be our development friend on facebook and on twitter ( now HARIT PRAYAS is on twitter also)

Gone are the Days of Sufferings

Baghora village is a very backward village of Babina block. It has 50% of tribal population. In Mahamaya Awas Yojna, Ms. Rabia w/o Mr. Sripat, Ms. Yashodha w/o Mr. Biran, Ms. Sunita w/o Mr. Vijay, Ms. Kamla w/o Mr. Malkhu and Mr. Kalicharan s/o Mr. Sura was selected to get their house built as the beneficiaries of scheme. They all had got their account opened in nearby bank but they got only the first installment of Rs. 11,000 in their account which helped them in starting their dream home project after that any kind of money could not be availed by them from the government. It is because the regime of state has been changed. This fact is being acquainted with the officers at block level but it all was futile.

So Under Harit Prayas this problem was taken seriously and with the initiative of Harit Prayas Project, a block level meeting was held on 18 October 2012, in the presence of Block Development Officer to redress the grievances of the beneficiaries. In the meeting the above mentioned 5 beneficiaries had submitted their complaint in written to the officer. The BDO inquired the matter to the secretary of the related department and after 4 days the beneficiaries got their remaining amount of 37000/ each in their account.

Now they are getting their dream home built. All are happy and thanked to project Harit Prayas and after being inspired the other villagers are also heading towards their rights.        

A participatory learning meeting on Women S.H.G. functioning accomplished@Jhansi

Sister Anna, Cluster Coordinator, Team HP formed an SHG named “Sabla” Self Help Group under Harit Prayas Project on 27 September 2012. It was initially formed on 15 October 2011, which had 12 members; 10 were of BPL families, 2 were of APL families. The inter loaning within the group is going on well in the stipulated time.The account of the group was opened in Punjab National bank, Rajgarh on 18 August 2012- Account no. is 1147000110051269. It is operated by Ms. Vimla (President) & Ms. Gita (Secretary).

15 women members of SHG’S from Bamer namely - Maa Santoshi, Maa Saraswati and SHG’S from Imilia namely Parwati gathered information about the Sabla SHG, Rajpur. Firstly, they made themselves acquainted with one another and later on they elaborated on details regarding establishment of the group, and the causes of establishment. Furthermore docunments of the group were put forth.

Seeing the Sabla SHG from Rajpur village, women members of Imilia, Bamer got inspiration and assured that they will also form SHG like Sabla so that seeing their group other will also get inspiration. 

Farmers demanded govt. officials in their meeting!

This is an interesting thing to read which  deals with the working of CBOs formed under HARIT PRAYAS project. In the village HARIT PRAYAS Majouta the farmers club has almost finished its one year of formation/establishment. The objective of the farmers’ club is to have a discussion on organic farming methods and increase agricultural output which results in increased income of households.

Initially the farmers were not aware of the concept of Farmers’ club. There were several Whats, Why and Hows were in their mind about the need and importance of Farmers’ club. Team members of HARIT PRAYAS project worked hard and as a result the community members formed a farmers club. The meeting of Farmers Club takes place monthly and continuously. The method of organic farming, importance of savings, awareness generation about government schemes etc are being discussed by the members of Farmers Club.

A new initiative by the Farmers Club members: This month the farmers club of Majouta village written applications, duly signed by all the farmers of the club, to Panchayat Secretary, Agricultural Extension Officer and Sarpanch, requesting them to participate in the monthly meeting of their Farmers’ Club. The farmers are of the view that if these officers and the village pradhan do participate in their meeting, it will be a boost for their farmers club, as the club will be linked with the government officers and village representative. The club may also get assistance from these stakeholders in future. 

Harit Prayas Project

Monthly Progress Report (MPR)

Month:September 2012

Partner name: Samaritans social service society, Satna

CONTEXT:

In this month community members were busy in reaping activities of waste plants (kharpatvar) in their agricultural field. This month we adopted some strategies to achieve our targeted result because of these strategies we are able to generate result in our field which was difficult to achieve in this busy time of our community.

PROJECT ACTIVITIES:

S.no	Name of Activity	No. Of Units	Participants	Remark
1	Project Orientation Program with village community.	02/02	Karondia-33 (F-13,M-05) &  Lehar-26(F-07,M-19)	Target community members actively participated in this activity
2	Panchayat level trainings for 50 PRI & community on government Livelihood schemes	01/01	Taleiyya-10(F-3,M-7)	Government Livelihood schemes were discussed like NRLM, MGNREGA
3	Village level promotion and training for 40 community people on sustainable IGPs	01/01	Majotta-35(F-17,M-18)	Sustainable IGPs are very much crucial for the community members. More training programmes to be conducted.
4	Village Awareness Camp	01/01	Motidungaria-23(F-07,M-16)
5	Panchayat-level orientation program for 40 PRI & CBO members   on FRA	01/01	Saleiyya-18(F-13,M-05)	FRA being sole important act for forest dwellers, the orientation programme is important for target community members.
6	Training on MGNREGA at Village level	01/01	Udaipura-19(M-19)	14 applications have been filled.
7	Staff Meeting		Zonal Office , Khajuraho
8	Staff Meeting & Training on Government Scheme		SSSS, Samaritan

Activities in Details......

Project Orientation Program with village community:

A Project orientation program with the village community has been organised in Karondia & Lehar in which there is 33 & 26 total no. of participants were present. In this program we mainly focused the Mgnrega & other government Schemes. And motivated the community file written application to avoid all problems occurring in mgnrega.

Village level promotion and training for 100 community people on sustainable IGPs:

We organized this program in Village Majotta in total no. of participant were 35 (F-17 & M-18). We imparted them different option of IGPs and community member also discussed with us what option should be better for them .

Panchayat level trainings for 50 PRI & community on government Livelihood schemes:

This training was organized in Village Taleiyya in this total no. of participants were 10 (F-3 & M-7). In this training we provided all the details related to the other govt. Schemes it includes Oldage pension, Widow Pension, Ladlilakshmi Yojna & Disabled pension, we also provided them the application forms of these pension schemes & provided them the all information related to it.

Village Awareness Program: -

This Program was organized in Village Motidungaria, total no. of participants were 23 (F-07 &M-16). In this training we have provided them training on how to make organic pesticides & various ways of doing better organic farming.

 RESULTS

Agricultural Area:

Organic Pit-Taleiyya-01 & Dharampura-02

Organic farming Practices by 43 people.

S.no.	Village	No. of people	Purpose
1	Dharampura	05	Amrit Pani/Pesticide
2	Kota	03	Amrit Pani/Pesticide
3	Udaipura	01	Amrit Pani/Pesticide
4	Phelepura	01	Amrit Pani/Pesticide
5	Saleiyya	02	Amrit Pani/Pesticide
6	Motidungaria	03	Amrit Pani/Pesticide
7	Amronia	02	Amrit Pani/Pesticide
8	Silone	03	Amrit Pani/Pesticide
9	Bhusore	01	Amrit Pani/Pesticide
10	Majotta	02	Amrit Pani/Pesticide
11	Kawar	03	Amrit Pani/Pesticide
12	Motigarh	10	Amrit Pani/Pesticide
13	Adiwashipura	07	Amrit Pani/Pesticide
14	Dewra	06	Amrit Pani/Pesticide
15	Lehar	10	Amrit Pani/Pesticide
16	Tapra	04	Amrit Pani/Pesticide
	Total	43

Mgnrega Entitlement: (85 people filled written application)

Now a day’s our team is mainly focusing on written application under MGNREGA ,this month our 85 community member have filled written application and all the pautis are received by the members and we are maintaining all the photocopy of pautis at a cluster level as a record & proof.

List of people filled written application under Mgnrega

S.no.	Village	No. of Application
1	Karondia	25
2	Motigarh	10
3	Adiwashipura	02
4	Dewra	02
5	Lehar	04
6	Tapra	04
7	Udaipura	14
	Total	61

Other govt. Schemes:

List of people filled application:-

S.no.	Govt. Scheme	Village	No. of Application
1	LLY	Motigarh	03
		Dewra	05
		Saleiyya	02
		Majgwakala	01
		Majotta	02
		Bhusor	01
		Silone	02
		Kawar	01
2	Old Age Pension	Kawar	02
		Bhusor	01
		Taleiyya	02
		Saleiyya	05
		Motigarh	02
		Adiwashipura	02
		Dewra	04
		Lehar	07
		Tapra	02
		Udaipura	04
		Dharampura	05
		Patra	03
3	Widow Pension	Udaipura	01
		Dharampura	01
		Patra	02
4	Disabled Pension	Dharampura	01
5	Indra Awas Yojna	Motigarh	02
		Lehar	02
		Majotta	02
	Total		68

Interloaning:

S.no.	Village	M.M/K.C	Amount	Interest Rate
1	Dewra	K.C	500	2%
2	Bhusor	M.M	500	2%
3	Kawar	M.M	500	2%
		K.C	1000	2%
4	Karondia	K.C	500	3%
5	Silone	M.M	500	2%
6	Motidungaria	M.M	2000	2%
		K.C	1000	2%
7	Saleiyya	M.M	500	2%
8	Udaipura	K.C	500	2%
9	Kota	K.C	400	2%

LINKAGES & LISIONINGS:

We have developed the linkages with Hargovind Garg S.D.O Agricultural Department, Rajnagar Block & D.D Gangele Assistant Director of Fisheries department Chhatarpur & Bajju Khan  of Dainik Bhaskar (Media ).

And with the community based organisation by regular visits & trainings conducted in different villages.

Old networking with Gram Panchayat, Rojgar Sewak is being refreshed with help of different training programmes at village level.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION –

Monitoring and evaluation is done by following ways-

·    Monthly meeting & evaluation –Monthly meeting of Harit Prayas Program, Satna were held every month in Zonal Office Khajuraho in which program coordinator and all animator present their monthly report over their present month activities and it is evaluated with the action plan given by them in starting of the month. Monthly meeting is also held at end of the every month in satna head office with the director in which project Manager & field coordinator participate.

·    Weekly monitoring and evaluation – Weekly monitoring and evaluation is also made by Project manager and coordinator in the field itself by surprise visiting.

·    Documentation – Documentation all activities were systematically documented in soft and hard copy in centre and field level. The major heads of files/register/documents categorized as Program register, Monthly meeting report register, Attendance register and animators diaries etc.

CHALLENGES FACED DURING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROJECT (DURING PARTICULAR MONTH):-

·         People were busy in reaping the waste plant (Kharpatvar) in the agricultural field.

·         Season Problem- Rainy.

SSubmitted by HARIT PRAYAS Satna team