Online library for sharing impact BY LIFE PROJECT TEAM!

One can also access the impacr studIes and the process of LIFE project intervention through its online library, which has developed inlast 6 months. The key topics at online library of LIFE project is as:

1. On Skill development

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4aAvx5cY00&feature=relmfu ( Impact of Rozgar Dhaba in LIFE project)

2. On Government schemes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXF4WGjaBz4&feature=relmfu (Micro-Planning workshop at Banswara)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4KhC2Z_0_4&feature=relmfu (Impact of LIFE Project: (Rajasthan): Deva LIFE has changed through RTI)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQsBN06REZ4&feature=relmfu (Now I have shelter....and security for food!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s18_O_g--NI&feature=relmfu (LIFE of Sita has changed)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QGeLgR6kuQ&feature=relmfu (many are still shelterless!)

3. On women empowerment

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uw_1FIyWOzY&feature=relmfu (Impact of LIFE project: SHGs now addressing the development issues of other villages also)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rP1KrKwXAz4&feature=relmfu (...moving together, making together a better tomorrow)

4. On Sustainable agriculture

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WMGdyXRJ1M&feature=relmfu (Double benefit from LIFE project to the community)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3f9orfGW-g&feature=relmfu (LEARN ORGANIC FARMING FROM LIFE PROJECT TEAM OF BANSWARA)

  LIFE project

Participatory micro-planning

(75% of Micro-plans approved in gram sabhas)

In terms of making governance more inclusive, concept of participatory planning has been introduced in the form of ‘micro-planning” in the project villages of LIFE project. Initially project staffs have been trained on it and later on the team has trained the CBO and PRI members and then the process of micro-planning has taken place in the project villages. In the micro-planning process community along with PRI members, KVK and agriculture department have developed the plan and the same has been presented in the gram Panchayat and in Gram Sabha.

Status of micro-plans developed by the community in LIFE project village

Status	Before the project	In last 30 months	In last 6 months
Knowledge on micro-planning	Not at all, no idea of it	Developed 20 micro-plans in 20 villages	Developed 20 micro-plans in 20 villages
Involved in micro-planning preparation	Not at all	Developed 20 micro-plans in 20 villages	Developed 20 micro-plans in 20 villages
Developed and submitted the micro-plan to the gram Panchahayt and presented the same to the Gram sabah	Never, even PRI mebers did not have any knowledge on it	Developed 20 micro-plans in 20 villages and presented in 8 concerned gram Panchayats	Developed 20 micro-plans in 20 villages and presented in 8 concerned gram Panchayats
Presentation of Micro-plan by female members of CBOs	Female memberes were never be the part of any planning at apnachayat level	4 micro-plans at Amplipada, Ambapada, Mundari and Mavashiya has been presented by the female members of farmers club	4 micro-plans at Amplipada, Ambapada, Mundari and Mavashiya has been presented by the female members of farmers club
Approved Micro-plan by gram Panchayat and Sabha	Not applicable	20 micro-plans have been presented and out of this 15 have ben approved by the gram Panchayat and gram Sabah. ( % micro-plans at Ajmer and 10 micro-plans at Banswara has approved)	20 micro-plans have been presented and out of this 15 have ben approved by the gram Panchayat and gram Sabah. ( % micro-plans at Ajmer and 10 micro-plans at Banswara has approved)
Work has initiated on the approved plan		Work has started in Gram Panchaayt-Godiyawas, (Ajmer) Mundari (Banswara) and Amblipad (Banswara) on the approved micro-plans	Work has started in Gram Panchaayt-Godiyawas, (Ajmer) Mundari (Banswara) and Amblipad (Banswara) on the approved micro-plans

Source: Application of monitoring tools and interaction with PRI members during the field visits

It is worth to know that its first time that in Banswara region the process of micro-planning has taken place and all the developed micro-plan have been discussed and approved by the gram panchayat.

What exactly micro-panning is able to bring change?

Change Dynamics	In Ajmer	In Banswara
Planning strengthen NREGA implementation	Although in Ajmer, the Panchayats are bit stronger, but with LIFE project and with the micro-planning concept, community is able to bring out the plan mainly related with NREGA ( as its 1st time they have developed  such plannings) and are also able to bring out the various NRM related work in their own villages which is one of the core component of NREGA , but hardly includes in the planning	In Banswara also micro-planning has maoinly focussed on the NREGA, but here the focus is on strengthening the payment system of NREGA and different plans in the form of ATM cards for the NREGA workers, insurance for NREGA workers have ishared by the community to make possible the timely payment of NREGA
Involvement of community in understanding the process of development planning	Now community is aware that they can also contribute for the planning of development projects even for NREGA, and thus are  the participation of community has increased up to 70% in the recent gram sabha meeting ( In April 2012)	In Banswar approval of 10 micro-plans , where community has involved has boost up the moral of community and now community members are working on the budgeting part of the proposed nd approved plan with PRI members.

Source: Interaction with community and reports of cluster coordinators

Here it is worth to know that  participatory development planning at Panchayat has given scope to the community and it also played and important role in mitigating migration ( specially at Banswara) .

LIFE PROJECT 30 MONTHS PROGRESS REPORT!

There is a popular line by a Hindi poet Dushyant Kumar as:

sirf hangama, khada karna, mera maksad nahi

saari koshish, hai ki ye, soorat badalni chahiye

mere seene mein nahi, to tere seene mein sahi

ho kahi bhi aag lekin, aag jalni chahiye

Poet Dushyant Kumar[1] wrote above lines on bringing change-describes that its not only we talk or shout about change…but instead we must bring change!  And with Caritas LIFE project we have tried to bring out some of the changes at grass root and at institutional level (which probably not happened earlier)! Lets see that in 30 months of the LIFE project implementation with 95% of total result achievement, what all are the changes (mainly 100%) in though process, and in practice has visualised at both grassroots and at institutional level (Both partner and donor agency)

Changes at grass root/community level!

Sustainable agriculture:

• Usage of HYBRID SEEDS is 100% out from the project field, not only that target community is not using it, also none of the community members in the project villages are using it. Certified seeds from KVK and local seeds are in use. This in turn is making farmers not to depend on market for farming, every year  to purchase hybrid seeds
• 100% of  target community started practicing cultivation with mix of synthetic inputs ( mainly DAP, but no UREA).  This in long run is improving the maintaining the optimum level of pH[2] of soil and thus improves the soil heal on hand and on other hand reduces the input cost up to 80%

Entitlements:

• with the expenditure of 559000 ( in 30 months)  on strengthening the function of Panchayats , we are able to systemise the operation in 8 Panchayats , this expenditure per panchayat is on an average 750000 , and with that now all these  8 Panchayats are functioning effectively . If with an average of 75000 (in 30 months) investment Panchayats operations could be strengthen,  then why not the  similar model of LIFE could be adopted. By the Rajasthan
• 20 micro-plans have developed and presented in gram Sabaha and 15 out of 20 get approved by gram Sabha. Community participation in development planning has begun in the region.

• 100% of target community in all the 20 project villages have access to NREGA and now 70% of the target community submit ritten application to demand work under NREGA.  This in long run is spreading the impact and also mitigating the migration pressure from the villages to the near by citities. In Banswara no migration after Kharif crop soweing.
• Godiyawas Panchayats ( LIFE project village & Panchayat in Ajmere) has become one of the best Panchayat in the state for implementation of NREGA ( almost 100% HHS have 100 days of work).
• If we compare the total budget of NREGA in last two years with the amount we have spent through LIFE project i.e. 159000/- its just .04% of the total budget of NREGA for the concerned 8 Panchayats, but with .04% amount we are able to strengthen the budget of INR 390600000[3] . From this we can easily understand that how it is important to have programmes like LIFE in strengthening the implementation of NREGA, else the amount of INR 390600000 is hardly used for building sustainable resources ( one of the key mandate of NREGA). Also it is worth to note that this amount is now reaching to the community and in other way it is mitigating migration.
• 100% of the eligible target community have received the benefits of government schemes.
• Rozgar Dhaba at Naulakha (Godiyawas Panchayata0 has officially become the part of of Panchayat as Panchayat Resource Center (PRC).  It has become the 1^st Village Information Center in India to be as PRC. And has strengthen the Panchayat process

 Community based & Managed organisations:

• Now 100% the CBOs ( farmers club, Women SHGs) are self managed and operates without any support from the project field staff
• 100% of farmers club formed under LIFE project are approved by NABARD and also started getting financial support. Its 1^st time that 100% of farmers club formed in any of the project at any of the partner organisation has get approved from NABARD.
• 100% of SHGS are linked with NABARD/bank and started availing loan for the livelihood based activities.

Changes at partner organisation level!

Fund leverage

• In last 30 months approximate fund release ((through Caritas India) is about INR 6000000 (approx round figure) and is able to cater 1572 target families ( 614 at Banswara and  958 at Ajmer)     , where as fund leveraged from the various government institutions is about  INR 6900000 and is able to cater 1777  deprived communities ( including target communities). From this its easily observed that in LIFE project till July 2012, not only INR 6000000 has been invested rather its INR 12900000  has been invested and thus the results are in front that almost 6 months in advance LIFE project is able to achieve the set results.
• Support/projects from government institutions: With Linkages and support in the project, it’s not only that it has impact on the community, but organisations also get support from the government institutions, SJVS Banswara has received two projects from NABARD.
• It is important to know that SJVS-Banswara has grown up with LIFE project in terms of establishing linkages, where as RCDSSS-Ajmer has grown up in terms of establishing systems like LIFE project. Now both the partner organisations are developing the projects for other agencies keeping LIFE as the base model for project development as well as project implementation. Now all the projects with both the partner organisations are result based and on monthly reporting systems ( which was earlier limited to activities and quaterly reporting )
• Visibility of Partner, the project , community and the donopr agency has reached throughout the globe with LIFE blog  ( www.liferajasthan.blogspot.com )which is India’s 1^st development project blog and has now crossed 30000 of viewership with daily updates.

Changes at Caritas India level!

• Now projects in Caritas India’ is also being developed on the base structure of LIFE project considering the Result Based Approach and thorough hand holding for the project at field level.
• With the initiation of LIFE blog and on social media, now there are around 9 development projects of caritas India have blog and are on social media sites.

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[1] Dushyant Kumar (September 27, 1931 – December 31, 1975) was a poet of modern Hindi-Urdu literature. In India, he is generally recognized as one of the foremost Hindi-Urdu poet during the 20th century. He was also a Dramatist, Litterateur and Gazal writer.

[2] The soil pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity in soils. pH is defined as the negative logarithm (base 10) of the activity of hydronium ions (H+ or, more precisely, H3O+aq) in a solution. It ranges from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral. A pH below 7 is acidic and above 7 is basic. Soil pH is considered a master variable in soils as it controls many chemical processes that take place. It specifically affects plant nutrient availability by controlling the chemical forms of the nutrient. The optimum pH range for most plants is between 5.5 and 7.0

[3] Source: NREGA official website www.nrega.nic.in ( work project amount) of concerned Panchayats

      I am a farmer, not a construction worker and would not migrate!

……..Mansingh Damor, 35 a Schedule Tribe farmer  from Amblipada village ( LIFE project village) form banswra , every year used to migrate to the neighbouring state Gujrat after the harvesting of rabi crop and drastic was he used to migrate with his all family members and used to do construction work there in Ahemdabad (Gujrat) or in Surat (Gujrat) and his life was just hand to mouth survival and that to without any propoer shelter/accommodation in Gujrat. Basically mansingh is a farmer , not a construction worker and in Feb 2012, he was there in village and met with field animator ms. Lata Damor, and shown his interest in knowing the cost effective technique of cultivation, jus as an interest and Lata asked her to attend the training programmes and farmers field school (which was suppose to start from the next week). Mansingh has attended the training, learn the techniques of preparation of organic inputs ( like amrit pani and dashparni ark) and also visited to the field of some of the farmers who all are practicing the same and finally used the organic inputs on his vegetable cultivation and find it a ‘moneyless’ cultivation and then he has constructed two vermin-compost units and now on his entire land along with his  he is doing vegetable cultivation as well as food and cash crop through organic inputs and is able to earn 500 per day with vegetable ( without any investment-just the labour cost only) selling to the market and has decided to  not to migrate and work as a farmer on his own land, because he is a farmer not a construction worker-says Mansingh.

“Mansingh is one example, there are many farmers from the field of  LIFE project villages who has promised themselves not to migrate , because now they have started visualising the benefit in agriculture and basically they all are farmers not the labourers or construction workers “

Sita Ram Rao National award to livelihood case model of LIFE project -Rozgar Dhaba

We are pleased to share with you the award for the Rozgar Dhaba model of LIFE project and the first book on LIFE project (through access publications) which includes the description of the LIFE project as one of the model project. (The book has been released by Country Head of Oxfam India ). Interesting part was out of the 11 top cases of livelihood only Caritas India case/model is from donor part rest all is from the implementing agencies like , AKRSP-I.  

The award has given in the India livelihood Conference jointly organised by access development services in support with XLRI, World bank, UNDP Oxfam India, Ford Foundation, MoRD on 29-30^th Nov 2012. Also the ceremony has given an opportunity to interact with the country heads of World bank, Oxfam, Ford Foundation and UNDP.

The key highlights of the function were:

• The World bank focus on innovative rural development models and country head highlighted the concept of blogging/social media and interaction with partner through it.
• Representation of heads of around 190 development organisations ( including 20+ funding agencies)
• The function has 45 minutes special session by honourable Minister of rural & Development Jai ram Ramesh  with the winners of livelihood case models, where he has explained well that how some of these models could be the part of NRLM. It was worth attending first of this kind of session.

LIFE project photograph in finals of World bank inequality picture contest!

We are happy to share that one of our photograph taken by us during the field visit has reached for the final voting list of World Bank Inequality  Photograph contest and final would win the applauds based on number of online votes for it. The photograph is titled as “The fearless turban Vs The fearful Veil” taken during initial meetings of LIFE project in Ajmer. Kindly vote for the photograph on the following link

https://pictureinequality.worldbank.org/contests/showentry/1367506

Key result achievement in LIFE project in NOV 2012@RCDSSS-Ajmer

·                     12 girls and 13 boys from 7 villages of Mavashiya panchayat go trained on computer operating and typing through vocational training for 20 days.

·                     76 Farmers of Kalyanipura, Nepoli, Surajpura, Laxmipura & Nolkha treated their rabi seeds with Beej Amritam organic culture.

·                     20 farmers of Devliya & Surajpura treated their seeds with Beejamrit and sown their field according to the instructions given by KVK experts in rabi crop.

·                     Disha Self Help Group of Gudha village mobilize a bank loan of Rs. 450000/- from ICICI bank last month through our support.

·                     Mrs. Sumitra w/o Teju established kitchen garden who is a member of Pipalde Rany SHG.

·                     17 farmers availed AI for their cattles.

·                     As implantation of Vilage Micro-plan in Nolkha village two bore-wells have been established by gram panchayat for solving problem of drinking water.

·                     Caste certificate application was facilitated for Jasraj s/o Ranglal Berwa for Widow Palanhar Yojana of Develiya village. 

Key result achievement in LIFE project in NOV 2012@SJVS-Banswara

·   12 farmers have received benefits though the free Demonstration plot of agriculture department.

·        24 farmers have received benefits though the Demonstration plot of agriculture department in 60 % and 20% subsidy.

·         51 Farmers are linked with panchayat through the MGNREGA training.

·  21 farmers have benefited through the vaccination and insurance schemes of vet nary department. 

·      275 villagers are aware about the RTI through the Nukkad Natak. 

·         24 farmers have prepared Amritpani and they are using it in present crops.

·    158 villagers have visited in Rozgar Dhaba in Nov 2012.