LIFE project has been an
innovative and first project based purely on RBM for Disha - RCDSSS, Ajmer in
the field of promoting sustainable livelihood in 10 villages of 2 gram
panchayat of Shrinagar block in Ajmer district. The focus of program was to
increase agriculture and livestock production of poor and marginalized farmers,
promoting non-agriculture and alternative livelihood options especially in
youth and women and increasing community participation in governance to
mobilize maximum benefits from of govt. schemes and programs (mainly those
based on employment and income) for poor and vulnerable community. Along
with compilation of results, learning and challenges; the approach of Result
Base Management (RBM) was also incorporated in the project planning, monitoring
and evaluation process it its 2nd year. And now the project has
completed its final year successfully with 94% of result achieved.
Highlights of the project :
·
In the term of accomplishment of planned activities; 2044 (99.75%) were
conducted out of which 1102 (54%) are unbudgeted activities including
community meetings, formation of CBOs, interface with KVK and other line
department, vaccination camps, village development micro-planning and quarterly
network meeting with PRI and other stakeholders.
·
143.5% resources (Rs. 5706210/-) of project fund (Rs. 3975879/-) were
leverage for 973 poor, widows, oldage, orphans, disabled and marginalized and
small farmers through various schemes run by KVK, Ajmer, NABARD, Agriculture
Department, Social Welfare Department (through Panchayat) and National Dairy
Development Board (NDDB).
·
Services of Krishi Vigyan Kendra Ajmer has been extended to the villages
of Life through effective liaison, support and interest: Total 348 farmers
received benefit of Rs. 206105/-
·
372 farmers increased their agriculture and livestock production upto
15% through enhanced knowledge and practice of organic farming and livestock
management methods.
·
53% sowing area of Rabi Crop (Oct. – Mar.) is increased in the project
area after three years of intervention due to increase moisture, water
efficient agriculture practices and good rainfall during even during winter.
·
172 Farmers including 58 female farmers were organized in 9 Farmers
Club, conducted 271 monthly meetings and mobilized 90,000/- from NABARD for
sustainability of clubs and enhance knowledge on improved farming and bank
linkages.
·
79 Farmers become model farmers through Learning and practice in Life
and doing sustainable agriculture in 109.2 hac. of land. Similaraly, 223
Farmers are adopting good practices recommended for organic and sustainable
agriculture through Life in 258.72 hac. of land.
·
Total 122 youth were served through the project in terms of giving them
training, knowledge, support and information and handholding support for
enhancing their livelihood. Out of this 91 youth were trained and 35 youth have
initiated self entrepreneurship.
·
287 women were organized in 19 self help groups, conducted 580 meetings
to enhance their knowledge, saving and collective approach towards their social
and economical issues they suffered off.
· Village Developmet Micro-Plan were developed by CBOs for all villages
and 4 approved by the Panchayat and being implemented. Total 39 proposed works
were sanctioned and some are already implemented by the panchayat.
· 84 eligible people got benefit of different social security schemes. Out
of this 71 are getting monthly pension regularaly ranges from Rs. 500/- to
750/- per month each. 13 BPL families got a good shelter through Indira Awas
Yojana through our handholding support in application and followup.
Rojgar Dhaba has been an
innovative product of this project which has awarded by IIM Ahmadabad for the
field of Innovation in Rural Development. Four such centres were established in
the project and at the end of project total 21882 people were served in 15
months through its various services. 57 Youth were trained out of which 4 got
placed and 10 were self-employed. 4 persons got benefit of social security
schemes and 24 other agriculture related schemes of value Rs. 154400/-.
Challenges and
shortcomings are always deep-rooted with success. We also faced some big and small challenges;
we overcome with most of them but some remained in the form of shortcoming of
the project.
·
Result of Pastureland development in two village having farmers club
manage could not be achieved due to lack of community land and disputes over
the available pastures. Encroachment over community land is widespread in all
the villages though a farmers club of Surajpura has been able to remove it from
over 24 hac. of pastureland.
·
Govt. has not announced any constitutional gram sabha for last 1.5 year,
so as the gram panchayat. Therefore, we could not strengthen social audit
process through our micro-plan and people’s participation.
·
The result part of Skill building and placement of youth has been also challenging
due to very least educational qualification, early marriage and early
engagement in work (labor, driving, mining etc.
In nutshell we can call Life project
a big successful effort of Disha and CARITAS India – Spain that established
another benchmark for working for promotion of organic farming and sustainable
livelihood. The report would speak more about the results, achievements
and learnings of the project.
By RCDSSS-Ajmer LIFE project team on Feb 20th 2013
