In order to enhance the livelihoods of the community members in a sustained manner, it is not only necessary that they are capacitated on improved agricultural practices but preservation, management, and regeneration of natural resources including land, water, and the forest is equally important. Keeping this in mind, the organization promotes activities like land development, creation of irrigation infrastructures, and horticulture promotion.
Agriculture is one of the primary sources of livelihoods of the tribals, the effort is being taken by the organization to improve the agricultural practices resulting in an increase in productivity of crops and thereby ensuring year-round food security and enhanced income. Improved practices such as line sowing, System of Rice Intensification, use of organic manures and pest management practices, improved variety of seeds, mixed cropping, crop rotation, crop diversification, community farming, kitchen gardening, etc. are being promoted. Convergence with mainstream agencies and schemes are being done for better quality inputs, farm implements, extension services, etc. Some of these include RKVY, NHM, OTELP, Agriculture and Horticulture Department.
CYSD takes up the capacity building of community-based organizations (CBOs) to enable and empower them to take up responsibilities for implementing the programs. Training on different themes such as gender sensitization, leadership, maintenance of village infrastructure, PRI, rights of tribal, communications, self-evaluation, group dynamics, grass-root organization management, funds management, and accounts, etc. are being provided to the members of the community-based institutions. Training is also being provided on participatory planning processes, land and water management, agriculture and horticulture development, off-farm activities like poultry, goatery, dairy, pisciculture, duckery, and vocational skills to unemployed youths.
Community-based institutions form the base for promoting livelihood interventions. The basic community-level organizations at the village level are the Self Help Groups, producer groups, and the Village Development Committees at the micro watershed level. Besides, community organizations like Vana Sanrakshana Samiti (VSS), Common Interest Groups, User Groups and SHG federation at the cluster level are also promoted. The focus of the activity is to empower women members to take a lead role in livelihood activities, to assert their rights over productive assets, and access inputs and services related to livelihoods from mainstream agencies
Odisha was battered by a Super Cyclonic Storm on 29 October, 1999 that made landfall near Paradip (43976). The estimated maximum wind speed reached 260-270 kmph in the core area which produced a huge storm surge that led to sea-level elevation of more than 20 feet and took away valuable lives of nearly 10,000 people. It was accompanied with exceptionally heavy rains which led to devastating floods and cut off the State from the rest of the country.
The extent and severity of the destruction caused by the cyclone was unprecedented:
Immediate Response
As soon as the fury of the cyclone abated CYSD began relief and rescue work in both urban and rural areas. At the same time it facilitated a collaborative civil society response to the disaster which led to the formation of an alliance of NGO’s and came to be known as the Orissa Disaster Mitigation Mission (ODMM).
Relief to Urban Slums
Relief and Rescue in Rural Areas
In rural areas CYSD operated from 19 nodal points to carry out relief and rescue work in 411 affected villages in 6 districts.
Food Relief: Community kitchens were set up in 335 villages providing food relief to 162,942 people.
Salvage and Retrieval Work, such as clearing and cleaning roads and water bodies, removing corpses and carcasses, retrieving school structures and individual houses, and repairing small bridges. These activities improved sanitation and made villages accessible.
Health :
The cyclone brought with it fears of an epidemic, such as cholera. Non-availability of drinking water, prolonged exposure to wind and rain, and lack of food and shelter were all factors responsible for widespread infection. Severe colds, coughs, fever and gastroenteric disorders were reported in most villages. CYSD facilitated the formation of health teams which carried out health check-ups at mobile health camps and at nodal dispensaries. 25,062 patients were treated, 5000 under-five children were treated.
Shelter :
Temporary shelter materials were distributed to needy families. Food support for renovation of shelters under the Food for Work programme (FFW) was also provided, and as such 1,647 thatched houses were built for the most destitute.
Education :
Hunger, homelessness and loss of their everyday life-world, threatened school children with permanent disorientation in cyclone affected areas. With schools destroyed, books lost and parents focused on finding relief, children had nowhere to go. CYSD quickly responded by: Reviving schools by erecting makeshift shades and structures under the FFW programme. 49 schools were thus restarted within weeks of the cyclone. Midday meals were provided for about 1 week in 45 primary and high schools, and until the government resumed interrupted delivery of the Mid Day Meal (MDM) scheme. Book Banks were formed in 246 schools with 10 sets of books provided for each class. In view of loss of study days, examination guides and test papers were also distributed in these schools, and special coaching classes were held in 19 villages. Learning materials were supplied to existing Non Formal Education Centres (NFECs) and women’s groups were helped to establish 16 new NFECs.
Restoration and Rehabilitation :
Once the immediate response and relief work came to an end, CYSD shifted the focus of its support to longer term restoration and rehabilitation. The population in the cyclone-affected areas faced a bleak future and were threatened with endemic food insecurity. Restoring livelihoods was of paramount importance, with agricultural regeneration given top priority.
Relief and Restoration :
Agriculture Regeneration Programme
Kitchen gardens, summer crop, monsoon crop carried out in 144 villages benefitting 6,000 farming households.
In January 2019, a community monitoring process was done by CYSD at five villages of Nuniapalli Panchayat of Bolangir district, revealed that many fold issues were faced by the communities related to basic health services and benefits of pregnant women, lactating mothers and pre-school children. First and foremost was that the malnutrition rate was high in these villages. Second issue was related quality VHND as the pregnant and lactating mothers were not attending it regularly. Third issue was that the ambulance driver was asking for money for picking up for delivery and dropping off after delivery from the families of the pregnant women. Even the hospital staffs i.e. doctors and nurses were asking for money after delivery. Fourth issue was that the sub-centre was never opened and people were not able access health services. Fifth issue was that the cash benefits under JSY and MAMATA schemes were not received by and distributed to the beneficiaries regularly and evenly. The sixth issue was that the quality and quantity of the chhatua was not good and owing to this, the beneficiaries do not prefer to have it.
In five villages of Nuniapalli Panchayat (i.e. Khaliapali, Amaramunda, Laxampali, Nilachpali and Jhakarpali) , there is a total number of 69 pregnant women, 48 lactating mothers, 342 adolescent girls, 248 children in the age group of 6 months to 3 years and 208 children in the age group of 3 years to 6 years.
During a panchayat level community monitoring process, it was identified that the pregnant women and lactating mothers are severely malnourished and most of the mothers are identified as high risk mothers (red card holders). Due to lack of appropriate information regarding importance of VHND, they were not attending the VHND sessions regularly. Around 20 per cent beneficiaries did not receive the monetary benefit of JSY and MAMATA scheme even though they are eligible. In this circumstance, a panchayat level action plan was organized by covering all these villages of Nuniapalli panchayat. To grace the occasion, the CDMO, the BDO, CDPO & block chairperson of Agalpur block along with the Sarpanches were called off.
It was commonly agreed that, kitchen garden will be promoted at each and every household of these villages to promote healthy and organic eating habits; all PRI members took the responsibility to monitor VHNDs; ASHAs were promised to ensure participation of pregnant women and lactating mothers at the designated VHNDs; ANM was agreed to make herself available at the Sub-center; CDMO, Block Chairperson and CDPO have jointly promised to ensure regular and evenly distribution of cash benefits under JSY and MAMATA scheme. Along with this, quality and quantity assurance of Chhatua was promised too.
At present, link is established with the horticulture department to mobilize seeds for household level kitchen garden. While other PRI members are visiting the VHNDs to ensure full attendance, Sarpanch is monitoring the entire process. The cash benefits under JSY and MAMATA is now being received regularly and distributed evenly among the beneficiaries after successful intervention from these administrative officials such as CDPO and CDMO. After facing threats from local people ambulance driver, nurses and doctors are not asking for money for pickup and delivery respectively. In addition, good quality Chhatua is being provided to the beneficiaries after successful intervention by the Block Chairperson of Agalpur block.
Dasami, aged 38, belongs to the cultivator’s family of Bhujabal village in Kolnara block of Rayagada district. She used to help her husband in agricultural work. Both the couple was happily managing a six-membered family including 3 sons and a daughter with the earning out of cultivation. Unfortunately, Dasami lost her husband in a road accident 11 months back. Being widow, the entire burden of earning and educating the kids was on her shoulder. There was no other way for her than going out in search of job as daily wage labour. But as she belongs to Gouda (milkman) caste, her community did not allow her to work with the people of lower castes. Even she was warned, if she violates the social norm, her family will be isolated from the community.
With the intervention of CYSD Child Development Project team and after several rounds of discussions with the community leaders she was allowed to work outside, but she was scared of the isolation. Hence, she got herself engaged in household cultivation and in the fields of her neighbours as agricultural labour. During the last Ravi Season, she was provided with input support, like capacity building, vegetable seeds, Poles, G.I. wires and fencing materials to start intensive vegetable cultivation following Trellis method. She worked hard and abled to manage her family out of the income from vegetable crops.
During the Corona Pandemic, it was a great challenge for Dasami to maintain her family as the vegetable garden, the only source of income, was unattended owing to lock down. Due to lack of irrigation and non-availability of labour to look after, the vegetable plans dried up. Seeing her misery, she was facilitated to make job demand under MGNREGA. Immediately Dasami was provided work in village road construction which was indeed a great support to address to save her kits from starvation.
In the ongoing Kharif Season she has been supported with Paddy Seeds, Organic Manure and Vegetable Seeds for cultivation in her own land. Besides, she is linked with Odisha Livelihoods Mission (OLM) and MGREGS for developing Nutrition Garden under ‘Mo Bagicha’ programme. By now, she has completed transplanting of paddy. By selling vegetables in local market, grown in her own land, she is earning Rs.500/- on every alternate day. She has also completed 36 man-days work under MGNREGS and received the total labour payment.
“I am indeed thankful to CYSD Programme Team for extending timely support to my family, motivating the community leaders to allow me for working as a daily wage labour getting out of gender barrier and providing input support to carry forward household agriculture and vegetable cultivation”, shared Dasami cheerfully.
Forty-seven years old Jamuna hails from Sialijoda of Saharapada block in the Kendujhar district. She happens to be one of the members of Om Shanti SHG established by CYSD in 2010. She is having a family of five members, comprising of her husband Mr. Upendra Mohanta, a married son, daughter-in-law, and 3 years old granddaughter. Academically, Jamuna has only learnt to put her signature. The family was dependent largely on agriculture for their subsistence. The erratic monsoon and other factors lead to an inadequate yield from their limited land of 2 acres. Approximately they had an income of Rs.12000 to 15000/- per year which happens to be meagre for a family of five. And it was insufficient for managing the year round food and other expenses. As an alternative income, Jamuna was rearing some chicken and ducks too. But, the uncertainty of survival of the poultry birds was an alarming issues since the increase in epidemics affected the survival of the birds.
Jamuna being a regular attendee in the monthly meetings of SHG, she was keenly interested in the discussion related to business promotion, though initially she lacked confidence to initiate a bigger venture.
In one of the meetings, the Livelihood Expert of CYSD discussed about the income enhancement plan through duckery and poultry farming. He explained the preventive steps required for the protection of birds from diseases and other essentials, like availability of duck shed, water points, etc. Jamuna made up her mind to get more number of ducklings and develop a farm house for birds. With this intention, she took a loan of Rs,10, 000/- from SHG and bought 200 ducklings. With proper care and protection the ducklings started growing rapidly and after 3-4 months she started selling the ducks. In total she earned a profit of Rs.18000 from the investment of Rs.10000/-.
Jamuna says “Ducks do not get attacked to epidemics easily. Only they need some feed and water to swim. I have prepared a shed for them in consultation with the local veterinary doctor. The ducklings are ideal pets and I get immense happiness to be with them.”
With this amazing profit she decided to continue the duck rearing activity. As she had to procure husk for ducks regularly, hence subsequently opted to set up a rice processing unit to collect the husk. For this purpose she applied for a loan from Indian Overseas Bank and ultimately got the machine installed. Out of the rice processing and duck rearing she was able to repay the entire loan. Her husband was engaged in the rice processing unit, while she herself concentrated on the duck raring. This added to her confidence level to continue duck rearing for consecutive five years, then after she has started a broiler farm last year. Her son and daughter-in-law are looking after the management of chicks.
CYSD-Plan project has been promoting the SHG and building the confidence of the members to be successful entrepreneurs like Jamuna. Now, Jamuna has become a role model in her SHG and the family members often consult her for any new business endeavor. The Bank Manager of BOI expects Jamuna would continue the spirit of entrepreneurship and the bank would also continue supporting her with financial assistance for initiating any venture in future. A life of dignity is the right of every citizen. Jamuna’s life has been changing through a gradual empowerment process. Self-employment is a significant step towards sustained income to get out of the shackles of poverty.
In the month of January 2019, a community monitoring process was conducted at the Biranarayan Pur village of Kotapeta panchayat of Rayagada block. During the process the beneficiaries of Birnarayan Pur AWC revealed that, the pre-school education was practically inattentive along with the nutritional aspect of children in absence of a fully functional Anganwadi center.
Biranarayan Pur is a village coming under Rayagada block of Rayagada district. There are a total of 153 beneficiaries in the AWC. Of them, 7 are pregnant women, 10 are lactating mothers, 20 are adolescent girls, 38 children are between the age of 6 months to 3 years and 38 children are in the age group of 3 years to 6 years.
A community monitoring process was done by CYSD at Rayagada district on basic health services along with the nutritional aspects of pregnant women, lactating mothers, adolescent girls and pre-school children reveals that the most basic ground level institution i.e. AWC of Biranarayanpur village is not able to function well in absence of its own functional building. The Anganwadi Worker (AWW) is neither able to store the food grains properly nor able to do the pre-school activity effectively. As per the AWW she not able to keep the learning materials and books safely as the building is deteriorating day by day. In rainy season the situation worsens. During the process, the beneficiaries, i.e. pregnant women, lactating mothers and adolescent girls were interacted and they too revealed the same situation.
During a plan of action to smoothen the service of Anganwadi centre, the Anganwadi worker explained about the difficulty she is going through in providing the services and issue was considered as a priority subject. However, in the same interface it was decided by the service users that the mothers and adolescent girls will be taking the issue forward and the Ward Member was very spontaneous to help them out in this regard. In the course of action plan, it was commonly agreed that an application is to be submitted to BDO through CDPO for construction of a new Aaganwadi centre with proper and basic facilities. The Adolescent Girls Club took the responsibility to write the application and give it to BDO through ASHA and ANM. As a part of the action plan the application was written by Sanjukta Saraka, a member of the Adolescent Girls Club, and was given to BDO.
At present, the construction for a new Aaganwadi centre has started at Birnarayanpur Anganwadi Centre.
The tribal-dominated district of Malkhangiri, a conservative and reserved zone, is as affected and ridden by Child Rights violations. It was a preconceived and stereotype notion that the children are safe in Malkangiri area because of rich cultural and societal practices, but the veracity of the ground situation was exposed after CYSD started its Child centric programme intervention in the district and motivated the communities to raise and register such child rights violation cases with the appropriate authorities.
Within the two and half years of intervention, the programme team has observed that cases like illegal migration of children to other states, early marriage, sexual abuse/harassment, sexual exploitation and child labor are rampant in Malkangiri. As per National Family Health Survey (NFHS), Malkangiri district accounts for the highest rate of child marriages in the State where 39.3 percent of girls are married off before they attain the legal age of 18 years. Because of huge school dropouts & irregular education in the district, children and young girls are falling in the trap of marriage, migration, child labor, exploitation & sexual abuse. CYSD realized that these issues can only be tackled in a strategic manner, especially close coordination of the community, administration and civil society organizations. So the organisation started its intervention in 9 GPs under 3 blocks of Malkangiri by organizing children, youth and elders at the community level and established networking and coordination with district child protection unit as well as likeminded CSOs at the district level.
As a result of above intervention at grassroots level, the cases of child rights violation are being taken seriously by the administration. It has triggered motivation among members of Child Protection Committee at the Panchayat and Block levels, as a community driven effort, to deal the menace of child rights violation. At the same time, the organization has also built the capacity of child club, youth club, and adolescent girls club, traditional leaders of the village & SMCs of school on child rights / protection & available mechanisms. Because of taking a lead role for the cause of children in Malkangiri, CYSD became the member of different forums across the district like, Committee for Child Care Institution Monitoring, District Sponsorship & Foster Care Committee, and Committee against Child Marriage.
Simultaneously, the cases of child rights violation reflected increasingly in CYSD’s operational area either by the community or children registering the cases in ChildLine service, police station and child welfare committee for support service. Approximately, 10 cases per month have been registered at the above institutions for appropriate solution. Some successfully resolved cases are highlighted hereunder:
These are some of the resolved cases for the children’s best interest, but still there are some challenges in the ground level and need further engagement towards policy level changes and sustainability. What will be the future of that pregnant girl child? Who will take care of her child, pre-natal & post-natal care? What about the societal and family acceptance? If she does not get any compensation from CWC than how will she manage her life? How to resolve the life threatening cases of those frontline workers. These are some emerging challenges still unresolved, however, CYSD has been constantly in process to do more study and research in this field to bring more child friendly rules and policies in place.