Monthly Archives: September 2023

CYSD’s Public Lecture Series on ‘Youth Work’

Addressing the audience, Dr.(Prof) Pitabasa Sahoo stated, “Today, 12th August, we are celebrating the International Youth Day globally and I am happy to acknowledge CYSD’s pioneering role in empowering the youth and uplifting the underprivileged communities of Odisha”.

He continued, “India’s ‘demographic dividend’ emerges from its diverse and youthful population, aged approximately 10 to 24, shaping the nation’s future. Addressing challenges in education, employment, and gender equality is vital, with youth engagement being pivotal. Government initiatives like NCC, NSS, and NYKS underscore their significance in nation-building. Through collaboration and action, India’s youth can drive positive change for a promising tomorrow. The government’s commitment to youth development is evident through policies, programs, and collaborative efforts, acknowledging the vital role of the youth in shaping India’s future”.

He tells us about SDGs, “The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are 17 interconnected targets aimed at addressing global challenges and creating a sustainable and equitable future for all by 2030. The SDGs build upon the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) but with a holistic approach and recognition of interconnected challenges. The 17 SDGs include goals like ending poverty, achieving food security, ensuring good health, promoting education, gender equality, clean water, sustainable energy, economic growth, industry and innovation, reducing inequality, sustainable cities, responsible consumption, climate action, ocean and land conservation, peace, justice, and partnerships for sustainable development.”

The ‘youth bulge’ highlights a demographic trend with a large young population, emphasizing the need for youth employment and peace-building. India’s youthful average age of 29 presents a “demographic dividend,” propelling a $5 trillion economy goal. However, challenges like education, employment, and gender inequality must be tackled. Youth contribute as human capital, driving innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic growth. Youth activism drives change for gender equality and environmental conservation. Their critical thinking, innovation, and tech skills enable effective advocacy via digital platforms. The Indian government has launched various schemes and programs for youth empowerment and development:

• Rashtriya Yuva Sashaktikaran Karyakram (RYSK): Through initiatives like Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS), National Youth Corps (NYC), and National Young Leaders Programme (NYLP), this program aims to foster youth leadership, engagement in nation-building, and personality development.
• National Service Scheme (NSS): Providing opportunities for community service and social development, NSS encourages youth participation in various community projects.
• Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development (RGNIYD): Dedicated to youth research and development, RGNIYD focuses on enhancing youth skills and knowledge.
• Green Skill Development Programme: Addressing skill gaps in environmental fields, this program, by the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change, offers training in areas like wildlife conservation and horticulture. It empowers youth to drive sustainable practices and promote a greener future.

In the transition towards a green economy, green jobs and skills are pivotal. They drive innovation, inclusivity, and sustainable growth while addressing global challenges like climate change. Youth involvement is essential in advocating for a greener world, fostering awareness, innovation, and community engagement. Collaboration between governments, businesses, and individuals is key to creating a resilient and sustainable future.

Aspirations of Train Tragedy Survivors

The June 2 Odisha train accident was a disastrous collision involving three trains that resulted in 294 deaths and left a large number of injuries. It is considered the deadliest rail disaster worldwide since the 2004 Sri Lankan tsunami train wreck. This tragic occurrence showed the remarkable bravery of survivors in addition to exposing flaws in railway safety. One of them, Gautam Kumar, demonstrates firm courage to keep going with his education and rebuild his life despite suffering severe injuries.

Gautam Kumar, a 17-year-old from the Bihar village of Rasonk, was undergoing treatment at Cuttack’s SCB Medical College and Hospital, accompanied by his mother Nirmala and brother Vikash. Despite having a head injury, Gautam occasionally smiles. Just days before boarding a ‘prestigious’ train to Chennai, he recalls dancing at his brother’s wedding on May 28. Gautam had received the highest marks in his intermediate exam, and in September, he hoped to move to Patna for coaching. He had plans to work as a daily wage laborer, save money, and spend his weekly days off visiting Chennai’s most popular sites before he began pursuing more serious studies.

Gautam and his fellow villagers boarded the crowded general compartment of the Coromandel Express traveling to Chennai. They were unable to find seats, so they ended up standing by the door for four hours while enjoying the fast-paced journey. A week later, Gautam found himself in a hospital bed with his left leg amputated. He responded with confidence when asked if he would continue studying, “I may not pursue science, but I will study for sure”, he answered to Kahnu Behura (lead volunteer, CYSD)

On the other side of this heartbreaking story, we come across Bulti Khatoon, a wife who has spent 20 days next to her unconscious husband, Sk Khokan, in the neurosurgery ICU of Cuttack’s SCB Medical. She was temporarily living on the hospital floor, with a bedsheet as a bed and a plastic bag as a pillow, this represents her will to overcome this challenge. Khokan is one of the severely hurt passengers from the same train accident on June 2.

Despite the intense heat and humidity, Bulti remains calm. Bulti excitedly awaits the day when she can feed Khokan real fruits and food he likes instead of having to use nasogastric tubes to provide him with nutrition.  Their younger son’s desire to attend school must wait while Khokan keeps his promise to go back home and fix their leaky roof.

Financial difficulties continued even after the government’s assistance. They were unable to cash the cheques. Similar struggles were found in the accounts of other victims at the hospital, as witnessed by CYSD’s lead volunteer, Madhusudan Das. In an effort to alleviate some of the financial burden of Gautam Kumar and Sk Khokan’s attendants at the hospital, CYSD also provided Rs.7000 and Rs. 5000, respectively so that they could meet their basic needs and transit expenses to go back home.

These stories of two families affected by the Odisha train disaster showcase the strength of the human spirit. Their dreams may be temporarily crushed, but their hopes remain intact.

Kupuli Guda is a small hamlet with approximately 20 households, located in the Kollar Gram Panchayath within the Boipariguda Block of Koraput District. This hamlet is well-known for its low-cost agricultural methods used for cultivating vegetables, paddy, and millet. All 20 households in the village have adopted Non-Pesticide Management (NPM), a cost-effective cultivation method that also reduces chemical residue on the harvested produce.

Buddhai Bhumia, a 35-year-old woman farmer from one of these 20 households, has been practicing NPM for the past five years on her three-and-a-half acres of farmland. Along with her husband, Gobardhana Bhumia, they manage to harvest two crops annually. The first crop is paddy, and the second consists of various vegetables such as Lady Finger, Beans, Chili, Cauliflower, and Cabbage, which cover half an acre of their land. They sow paddy in two acres and cultivate millet in the remaining one acre. Buddhai Bhumia shared, “In our three-and-a-half acres of land, we cultivate vegetables on half an acre, sow paddy on two acres, and grow millet on the remaining one acre.”

“For the past five years, my husband and I have been extremely satisfied with the consistently good yield we obtain each season,” Bhuddai said, her face lit up with contentment. Prior to adopting this approach, the couple had been using chemical pesticides on their farmland. “Initially, when we used chemical pesticides, we couldn’t even recover the amount we invested, and moreover, it was costly to purchase them from the market,” she recalled.

Now, Buddhai utilizes homemade organic pesticides and fertilizers in her farmland. This not only has reduced their expenses on purchasing expensive pesticides and fertilizers from the market but has also resulted in higher yields, leading to more profitable returns. She mentioned that she uses organic fertilizers like Handi Khata & Jeevamrut and organic pesticides like Neemastra & Agniastra.

Explaining the process of preparing Handi Khata, Buddhai detailed that equal parts of cow dung and cow urine are mixed with 15-20 neem leaves, 15-20 Arka leaves, 15-20 Karanj leaves, followed by 1 kg of jaggery and 1 kg of gram flour (besan), respectively.

When calculating her profits, she shared, “For the crop of lady’s finger, I have earned Rs. 2,400 so far, and I only invested Rs. 200 in seeds. I can harvest 150 kg of lady’s finger from a single batch of seeds.”

In a shift from traditional forest-based livelihoods to agriculture, tribal communities have transitioned towards cultivating cash crops, notably vegetables. The CYSD intervention has actively encouraged farmers to embrace year-round cultivation of cash crops, with Monsoon potato cultivation being a prime example of success in the Kashipur block during 2021 with collaboration with the District Horticulture Department. Among the beneficiaries, Subhasanti Majhi, aged around 45, and wife of Sadasiba Majhi, is a small-holder farmer residing in Pondkapadar village within Dongasil GP of Kashipur Block in Rayagada district. She is one of the 125 farmers who received 50 Kg of potato seeds from the Horticulture Department, with CYSD’s assistance. This support empowered her to venture into potato farming on a small, sloped plot of land After attending a village-level meeting organized by CYSD, Subhasanti embarked on the journey of monsoon potato cultivation. Despite initial nervousness due to the novelty of farming potatoes during the monsoon, she successfully navigated the process with guidance from the CYSD project team. Planting 51 Kg of potato seeds on July 18th, she overcame challenges posed by continuous rain and waterlogging. While several fellow villagers suffered complete crop losses, her strategically sloped land and effective farming practices enabled her to yield around 290 Kg of potatoes. Her achievements have sparked interest among other Self-Help Group (SHG) members in her village and nearby areas.

Witnessing the success, again Subhasnti received 51 Kg of Kufrijyoti potato seeds along with organic fertilizer from DDH with the facilitation of CYSD. Following proper seed treatment and bio-fertilizer preparation, she cultivated the crop, hoping for a fruitful harvest. Both Subhasanti and her husband, Sadasiba, worked diligently from land preparation to harvest, following the guidance provided by CYSD’s community mobilizers and experts.

Subhasnti’s potato farming was successful, as she brought in a total of Rs. 7,250 while investing Rs. 3,330, earning a profit of Rs. 3,920. With a grant of Rs. 550 as seed and bio-fertilizer support from DDH, as well as labor contributions from both husband and wife, the couple managed to make a profit of Rs. 3,920 within just three months. They sold approximately 270 kg of potatoes in Dongasil haat, while reserving 20 kg for personal consumption. Narasingh Saunta, the Sarpanch of the GP, praises this initiative and its positive impact on the community.

One of the 35 landless villagers in Jhirigaon, Kuni relies completely on the money she and her husband receives from MGNREGS jobs. However, they both work as farm laborers in adjacent communities during the wet season. In order to meet her family’s urgent needs, she also raises four to five native poultry birds. However, she claims that occasionally, due to various chicken diseases, she does not receive the required returns from this kind of revenue. Out of 15 chicks in the previous year, she lost all of them due to fowl pox and assaults by wild animals. As a result of COVID-19, the remaining birds were sold for a lower price, ranging from Rs. 200 to 300 each Bird She states that because individuals in her village cannot afford to pay for the vaccination, the livestock inspector rarely visits to vaccinate the village’s poultry birds. In addition, for unknown reasons, medications are not available to them. The majority of the villagers in Jharigaon raise 4- 5 poultry birds in their homes for meat and to satisfy a pressing need for cash by selling them at the nearby village market, despite the fact that it is not profitable to raise native poultry birds.

“We conveyed our issues to the CYSD-UANAT programme officials when they visited our village to conduct the survey, and they promised to provide 30 poultry birds for a select group of 16 families in our area. However, they also put a requirement on us to build a 10 x 8-foot chicken coop shed in our backyard. We quickly accepted the need because it would only cost us for bamboo or wood logs that were already available in our community”, according to Kuni. She continues, “We also constructed a lovely mud shed with bamboo, shattered bricks, and stones with assistance from the Project. Additionally, the Project helped us out by providing an iron fence, drinkers, and feeders for each of us. On February 11th, 2022, we received chickens that were 28 days old, and had received 15 days of starting food and litter. They frequently visited to check on the birds and taught us about basic bird care”.

Further, she states “We 16, along with other locals, attended a training session on this enhanced breed of poultry bird known as the ‘Kalinga Brown’ on February 23. This bird can lay up to 200–250 eggs annually and is raised for both meat and eggs. During these two days of orientation, we learned everything we needed to know about caring for chicks, including what to feed them, how to prepare their food, how to spot infections, and when to get vaccinations. I also discovered that even though this breed grows quickly, indoor farming greatly increases its food consumption. We also established a corpus fund to control vaccination expenses and stocked a basic medicine kit for our poultry birds. We looked after the birds in this manner. I currently have 25 chickens living in my poultry shed (11 female and 14 male). Although I haven’t sold any birds yet, they are now marketable, and at the going rate, I can easily receive Rs. 350-400 per rooster. If I sell 10 roosters now, I’ll make between Rs. 3500 and Rs. 4000, and starting next month, I’ll make an income of Rs. 5 from each egg.”

In the remote village of Ekari, which is also a Gram Panchayat in Kosagumuda Block of Nabarangpur District, you’ll discover small square pits measuring 4×4 or 5×5 feet in most households. These pits are covered with green nets to protect them from twigs, dried leaves, and mosquitoes. Upon closer inspection, you’ll find that these pits are used for cultivating Azolla, a type of feed for livestock, especially cattle and goats. But why is Azolla cultivation important?

Despite being the Gram Panchayat, this village is quite remote, and most residents rely on agriculture for their daily income. Similar to many other villages, the farmers in Ekari are limited to cultivating a single crop annually due to a lack of proper irrigation facilities. During the non-farming season, the women in these households make a living by collecting NTFP (Cashew nuts), but this couldn’t provide a substantial income.

To assist these villagers in achieving a stable income, CYSD, in collaboration with ITDA and the Veterinary Department, has supplied chickens and goats to several beneficiaries. Specifically, 55 families have received 25 chickens each. Additionally, 2 self-help groups (SHGs) have been given 32 goats each (30 Nos. female and 2 Nos. male) to establish goat farms. This support has enabled the beneficiaries to secure a steady livelihood. Dhanamati Majhi, a 29-year-old beneficiary who received chicken, mentioned, “Each chicken can lay approximately 40 eggs per year, and each egg is sold for ₹6/-. In case of emergencies, each chicken can be sold for ₹300/-.”

Moreover, to assist these people in generating more income with minimal investment, 25 families have been identified and introduced to Azolla cultivation. How can this plant contribute to cost reduction and increased revenue? Well, one of the significant expenses in livestock rearing is fodder for the animals, which can be a cost addition to these families.

With assistance from the Veterinary Department, these 25 families have received Azolla saplings along with Rs. 1,500/- for each family to establish an Azolla pit. The process involves filling the pit with water and allowing the saplings to grow for 15 days. Once Azolla is fully grown, a portion remains in the water while the rest is mixed into the fodder for cattle and goats. This not only reduces the cost of buying livestock feed but also fosters community building and interdependency.

In the near future, there are plans to generate revenue from Azolla. As the poultry and goat farms in the village are growing, the demand for Azolla is also on the rise. Therefore, villagers believe there is a promising opportunity to generate income by selling Azolla to fellow villagers whenever required.

In the remote areas of Kosagumuda Block in Nabarangpur District, there is a village called Udanguda in the Motigaon Gram Panchayath. With 40 households, due to a lack of knowledge about other livelihood opportunities, they have relied solely on agriculture. However, because there is no proper irrigation facility, they can only harvest one crop per year. During the non-farming season, they turn to Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP) to earn a living. Sustainable livelihood generation has been a major problem in villages like Udanguda. The lack of education and awareness about diversifying livelihood opportunities has made it difficult for these people to meet their basic needs. To help them earn a stable and profitable living, CYSD has launched the South Odisha Livelihood Program. Under this initiative, the people of Udangudi have been introduced to mushroom cultivation. Three women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) from the village have been identified and provided with training in mushroom cultivation through a collaborative approach with NABARD.

However, this intervention faced its own set of challenges. “Getting people to adapt to mushroom cultivation wasn’t easy,” shared Khagesh Bhatra, the Community Resource Person of Udanguda. Initially, when the training program was launched, only eight women participated. This was primarily due to a lack of awareness and knowledge about mushrooms and how to cultivate them. Even those who were enthusiastic initially encountered difficulties in grasping the mushroom cultivation process.

Gradually, however, these SHG members have gained a better understanding of the process and have begun to turn a profit. Witnessing the low investment and high-income potential, more women started attending the training program.

At present, 30 women from three SHGs have embarked on mushroom cultivation and are earning a very profitable source of income. Instead of relying on NTFPs during the non-agricultural seasons, these women farmers are now making a significant contribution to their household income, averaging around ₹14,000 annually. Each of these three Self-Help Groups consists of 10 members. Over the past seven months, each member has set up between 25 to 30 straw beds for mushroom cultivation. Depending on the type of mushroom being cultivated, each of these beds can yield 2 to 3 harvests. Every harvest typically produces mushrooms with a total weight of around 1 kilogram. In the market, each kilogram of mushrooms is valued at approximately ₹270 to ₹300. Considering the investment required to prepare the straw and procure the spawns for 30 beds, which amounts to ₹1,800, the returns are usually 9 to 10 times higher than the initial investment.

A collaborative approach is always the best way to yield evident results. When such collaboration is created to generate income, it can have a profound impact on increasing the earnings of everyone involved. One such success story is brewing in a remote village called Rampur in Kollar Gram Panchayat, part of the Boipariguda Block in the Koraput district. With around 75 households, like many others, this village relies primarily on agriculture for income. During the non-agricultural season, most farmers barely earn enough from their single-crop harvest.

CYSD, through its intervention, has promoted a Producer Group comprising 7 Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in the village, named Ma Tulasi. These SHGs empower women from these rural tribes to become independent and financially stable. In March of this year, Adisakthi SHG and Gramadevi SHG, out of the seven, came up with a collaborative idea to establish a vegetable nursery. The Watershed project in the area has provided each SHG with financial support of ₹25,000.

Without any further delay, an action plan was developed. Seeds were procured from a local seed vendor, and a mixture was prepared using cow dung and soil collected from the farmlands. Additionally, a fence was constructed, and a green net was spread over the prepared area. Polythene and packing bags were purchased. Various fruit and vegetable seedlings are currently being grown in this nursery.

Dauna Majhi, the president of Gramadevi SHG, explained that they cultivate seedlings such as Guava, Papaya, Chili, Drumstick, Tomatoes, and Brinjal. She emphasized that the nursery is helping them generate income, which is being used for the development of their SHGs and to support their livelihoods

She mentioned that the most popular seedlings they sell are Papaya at ₹10 each, followed by Drumsticks at ₹7 each. Additionally, Brinjal and Chili are sold in sets of 25 seedlings for ₹10 per set. Currently, the nursery holds seedlings worth ₹15,000.

Dauna also shared their plans to expand by planting these seedlings in a larger area, which would help generate more revenue while also meeting the demand for seeds. She expressed that with a bit more support, this nursery has the potential to provide an even better livelihood for the community.

Patiapadar is a small, remote village situated within the Kathapadagram panchayat of the Boipariguda block in Koraput district. The challenging terrain in this region renders the village virtually inaccessible for most of the year, particularly during the rainy season. Unfortunately, government schemes and policies rarely extend their reach to this village. With approximately 75 households, the nearest health facility is located 28 kilometers away, and the nearest school is 5 kilometers away from the village. This isolation not only disconnects the village from government initiatives but also deprives its residents of essential services such as healthcare and education.

The residents of this village primarily rely on small-scale and subsistence farming as their main source of income. However, even farming is restricted to a single annual harvest due to the absence of adequate irrigation facilities. Consequently, for the remainder of the year, most villagers are compelled to seek daily wage labor opportunities elsewhere.

The community and citizen leader of Patiapadar is Dharmendra, a 25-year-old farmer. He has actively engaged in identifying the numerous challenges faced by the villagers and working towards potential solutions. Dharmendra expressed his concerns, stating, “The residents of this village encounter several difficulties, ranging from an unstable income to the inability to access government schemes and policies. These circumstances have kept the people of this village in isolation. Witnessing the struggles of the villagers, I have always aspired to make a positive difference for them. My opportunity to do so arose through CYSD when I became a community leader.”

In this village, Dharmendra emphasized that community mobilization has posed a significant challenge. He explained that people in the village often lack alternative livelihood opportunities, leading them to migrate as daily wage laborers during the non-agricultural season. Dharmendra shared the common question he encounters when persuading them to stay, saying, “Whenever I try to convince them not to leave the village in search of livelihood, I always get the same question: ‘What other options do we have to earn a living?'”

Through the intervention of CYSD, Dharmendra identified individuals eligible for various pension schemes and ensured they received these benefits. During this process, he also encountered issues related to Aadhar linkage and the lack of proper documentation. Dharmendra took it upon himself to address these issues and raise awareness within the community about the importance of having the necessary documents.

However, Dharmendra’s primary focus is on addressing the central issue: preventing villagers from leaving in search of livelihood opportunities elsewhere. He expressed his goal, stating, “I aspire for our people to remain in the village, earn their livelihood here, and actively contribute to the village’s development. My aim is to assist them in creating sustainable livelihood opportunities that provide a stable income throughout the year.” Dharmendra’s determination to enhance the quality of life for his fellow villagers reflects his commitment to fostering lasting positive change within the community.

Dharmendra shared a remarkable incident from his experience, highlighting how he played a crucial role in saving the life of a 2-year-old child suffering from a heart ailment. He recounted the event, saying, “In May of this year, we became aware that a 2-year-old in our village was going through a severe heart ailment, requiring urgent medical attention. We took her to the Community Health Centre (CHC), where she was referred to the District Hospital for more advanced treatment. During this process, it came to light that the child did not have a birth certificate, making her family ineligible for government assistance.”

With very little time to spare, Dharmendra needed to act quickly. He approached the ASHA worker in his village to initiate the birth certificate application process, only to discover that the baby’s birth had not been officially registered. Dharmendra recounted, “The baby’s health was deteriorating rapidly, and time was running out. I immediately initiated the process to obtain the baby’s birth certificate. With the assistance of a legal advocate, we obtained an affidavit. This was submitted to the district collector’s office, and the process had begun. Within two weeks, the birth certificate was granted. It was then issued at the hospital, and the operation was successful. The baby is now healthy and hailing. I am incredibly grateful to have been part of a life-saving endeavor,” Dharmendra expressed.

Dharmendra’s heroic actions received substantial recognition, with extensive media coverage on TV channels and in newspapers, underscoring the importance of his life-saving endeavors.

He also emphasized the need for a well-structured plan of action to raise awareness among people about their entitlements. “My sole objective is to ensure that government policies reach the remotest villages like ours, and it is imperative that people are informed about their entitlements,” he added. Dharmendra’s dedication to bridging the gap between government policies and his commitment to empowering his community and ensuring they receive the support and benefits they are entitled to.