Developing the community, one village at a time.

Holistic Village Development in villages of Jawhar Block

Project Background

Today, what we find in tribal communities is subsistence agriculture, fast depleting traditional resource base, fast degrading natural resources, poor health, poor reach of services and migration for survival. Against this background, the tribal communities find themselves at the (non) receiving end of a plethora of inadequate development schemes which are difficult to access and have little impact. To ameliorate the situation, a Holistic development programme is planned for two tribal villages namely Kashtipada and Sambarpada from Jawhar Block of Palghar. This project is being implemented by BISLD with the support of Panasonic Life Solutions India Private Limited. BISLD have experiences of project implementations in Jawhar: especially related to all the elements of livelihoods, food security, such as income generation activities, nutrition, and agriculture, horticulture and community health.

As the implementing partner of the project, BISLD has been focusing on Sambarpada and Kashtipada villages of Nyahale Budruk gram panchayat. Community welfare and quality of life are at the core of the programme. They have also been ensuring sustainability through nutrition, and agriculture, horticulture and community health.

Primary aim of these projects is to facilitate holistic development activities by productivity enhancement and positive behaviour change at the community level leading to improvement in income, quality of life and diversifying livelihood sources.

The envisaged impact of the program is the ‘Establishment of effective model for holistic village development and sustainable development through community participation.

Target Areas/Location: Project is being implemented in Sambarpada and Kashitpada (02) villages of Jawhar block of Palghar District.

Location Map of Sambarpada & Kashtipada Village of Jawhar Block of Palghar District

Figure 1: Location Map of Sambarpada & Kashtipada Village of Jawhar Block of Palghar District

Target Group and beneficiariese

District Block Villages Total families in the Village Total Populations Farmers SHG's Member Students
Palghar Jawhar Sambarpada 35 189 26 20 21
Kashtipada 57 309 49 60 34
82 498 75 80 55

Target Group and beneficiariese

1. Improved households income and productions

Interventions are

  • Tree Base farming-Wadi
  • Floriculture
  • Vegetable Cultivations
  • Water Resource Development for Agriculture

2. Qualitty of life:

Interventions are

  • Safe Drinking Water
  • Community health
  • Education
  • Women Empowerment

3.Sustainability (Strengthening of Collectives)

Interventions are

  • Develop Community Resource person
  • Established forward linkages
  • Strengthening and capacity building of village committees

Progress towards Outputs/Outcomes:

SAFE DRINKING WATER THROUGH SOLAR BASE WATER LIFTING SCHEMES

The most important achievements of the project was that it made safe and potable drinking water available to the community. The project had supported installation of two separate Solar Based Drinking Water Lift Scheme in the both villages in the year 2017-2018. The systems were installed with solar energy of 06 KWp, i.e. 03 HP in Sambarpada and 05 HP in Kashtipada. The solar base lift irrigation schemes consist of Solar Pump set, Rhino Water Storage Tanks, Solar Systems with proper fencing, Permanent Water Resource Development (New Well construction) and Water Distributions through Stand Posts and Community Water Filter.

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Both villages Sambarpada and Kashtipada formed a water user committee which is undertaking the functioning of the system, daily functioning, cleaning of storage tanks, water filters as well as collecting monthly amount from each houses of the villages.

The scheme is being functional to make water available for drinking as well as domestic usage from the last two years. It helps with the availability of potable drinking water at village level, reduce the women drudgery, helps maintain cleanliness & hygiene in the toilets. Now women are engaged in farming activities, giving time to family, and also increased involvement in SHGs and their income generation activities.

INTERVENTIONS ACHIEVEMENTS: TREE BASE FARMING – WADI

The project has been leveraging available natural resources to the farmers in the village. Agri. + Hort. + Forestry Model (Wadi) was introduced in June 2018, which is very cost effective and also provides long term source of income to the family. Project was introduced on half acre land to cultivate Mango (10) and Cashew (20) fruit along with forestry (200) trees.

During the year, the project supported knowledge as well as material inputs to ensure survival of the plantation. This includes the critical support of grafts for gap filling and technical supports for aftercare management. Farmers themselves contributed with full enthusiasm in labour work of aftercare managements of fruit trees along with forestry trees plantation. The activities like weeding, basin preparation, earthing-up, putting the fertilizers, sprayings, maintenances of fencing etc. are done by farmers. The results of the intervention: The plantation has kept around 94 % in fruit trees and 76 % in forestry trees. Farmers own waste land is converted into permanent assets by fruit tree & forestry tree plantation. Project had achieved 100% planned target of families (75 families) both villages under this intervention. Total 37.5 acre un-utilized land is converted into productive land. The income from fruit trees will start from the 03rd year onwards. It shall continue up to 30-40 years.

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INTERVENTIONS ACHIEVEMENTS: FLORICULTURE

Jasmine is a perennial flower crop selected for cultivation under the interventions of floriculture. The model is introduced on 07 guntha area of the farmer which is intercrop as well as sole crop along with low cost drip irrigation unit. During the year, jasmine cultivation has been completed by 26 farmers and since inception 77 farmers. 10 farmers have started to harvest Jasmine flowers and collectively sold to Dadar flower market. During the year, project has given technical support, critical input and low-cost drip units to Jasmine growers. This intervention shall give farmers a regular income up to Rs. 2000 to 5000 per month and farmers shall able to earn monthly basis payment through collectively sales of the flower. Till mid-March, a total of 496 kg Jasmine flower bud has been sold to Dadar Market and fetched a market price of around Rs. 120 to Rs. 400/- per kg. Farmers are also earning an income of Rs. 1.20 Lakh from jasmine flowers.

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INTERVENTIONS ACHIEVEMENTS: VEGETABLE CULTIVATION

The commercial vegetable cultivation has introduced the adoption of trellis system in Kharif and rabbi seasonal cultivation. It is the additional source of income for farmers. Farmer cultivated vegetables on 10 gunthas area, with crops like Bitter gourd in Kharif and Cluster bean for rabbi. Crops are selected on the basis of local and distance market demands, and available source of water for irrigationn. In rabbi crops cultivation is achieved due to group solar lift irrigation schemes. Around 46 farmers engaged in rabbi vegetable cultivation by using group solar lift irrigation scheme and cultivating crops like chili, onion, tomato and brinjal etc.

The intervention had achieved a, commercial Kharif vegetable cultivation, cultivated second crop in rabbi season as well as enhanced the technical skills and knowledge of farmers. And 46 Farmers have got additional income of Rs. 2500 to 15000/- from cultivation of Kharif and rabbi season vegetables. Remainder of the 29 farmers Kharif vegetable crops were affected due to heavy rains.

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INTERVENTIONS ACHIEVEMENTS: WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT (WRD)

WRD interventions were carried out to provide support to farming system i.e. agriculture and horticulture. This intervention project has supported 03 solar base lift irrigation schemes with 15KWp (3+3+5HP) as well as 11 small lining farm pond which are harvest/store rainwater in monsoon. This intervention has benefited 68 farmers and 37.5 acres of land.

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INTERVENTIONS ACHIEVEMENTS: COMMUNITY HEALTH

Project carried out 03 sub interventions in the Health component i.e. Nutritional Garden, Clean Kitchen and Awareness on health, sanitation and hygiene respectively. The project introduced seasonal and perennial types of nutritional garden (Kitchen Garden). The kitchen gardening (nutritional garden) activity is being done by all the 82 Households. The support is provided through 15 different types of seasonal vegetable seed kits and 04 different perennial species saplings. The vegetable seed kits consist of leafy vegetables, fruit vegetables, beans and perennial saplings of Papaya, Guava, curry leaves & lemon etc. These vegetables are available up to the month of December. Some farmers also dried the vegetables for use during summer. They are using fresh and dried vegetable for consumptions. From perennial species now available Papaya fruits. It resulted in change of food habits and made fresh vegetables/fruit & dried vegetables available throughout the year.Clean kitchen activity: Under sanitation activities it was proposed to have a clean kitchen, bathroom etc. up to 36 families undertook this activity.

Awareness Camps: Eye check Camp was arranged with collaboration of Matoshree Seva Trust, Mumbai one of the partner NGO of PLSIND.

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INTERVENTIONS ACHIEVEMENTS: WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

Sambarpada and Kashitpada villages have a total of 08 women SHGs which have a total of 80 active members. The project has been undertaken by these women SHGs members who conduct regular meeting, arrange awareness sessions etc. The project is also helping SHG groups for the start-up enterprises. Now all these 08 SHGs are undertaking the income generation activities (IGA) like nursery establishment in groups, goat rearing activities etc. Women are also engaged in their own farming activities like Wadi aftercare, floriculture and vegetable cultivation.

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INTERVENTIONS ACHIEVEMENTS: STRENTHENINGS OF COLLECTIVES

Capacity Building & Strengthening of the Village Committee, Establish Forward linkages, and CRPs.

The intervention has been carried out for project sustainability through the village committee’s capacity buildings and strengthening, establishing forward linkages and developing community level resource persons. Under the project, 02 water user committees and 01 village level committee common for both villages are formed. Support is being given through trainings and regular meetings. Project links farmers to the existing FPO for the marketing of Jasmine flower buds and will also link them to the farmer's cooperatives for Mango and Cashew marketing in the future. It also arranged gave the farmers an exposure to the Dadar flower market. The project also supported establishment of a village level collection centre for the collections and collective marketing of agri. produces.

Project trained village level community resource person (01), who trained under project support and gave technical support/guidance to the village farmers, SHGs and committees.

Project also supported the farmers through the field level technical trainings, demonstrations to carry aftercare managements of plantations, plant protections & nutrition managements, harvesting of flowers, as well as skill enhancing.

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PROJECT’S INNOVATIONS:

Under innovation, a crop model project is being developed using digital technology model.

Lemon grass and a seedless Thai variety Guava was cultivated on 01 Guntha areas by 02 farmers. 40 saplings were also provided to around 04 farmers. Thai Guava variety shall reap fruits in 8 to 10 months’ time. These models can be replicated and could also be an additional source of income for the farmers.

eDost: It is with this aim of unlocking the potential of digital products and services in rural areas that the concept of eDost has been envisaged. eDost is typically a digital village catalyst, preferably woman, who earn income by offering various generic digital services., BISLD has helped Pramila Nilesh Govind a lady who is giving services, in registrations process of Pay nearby Services (Agency of Aadhar enable Payment System AePS Service Providers) and has also provided training and regular guidance.

This model is giving relief to villagers as mobile banking service are available at doorstep in villages under critical conditions of COVID-19. Pramila Tai has so far undertaken transactions of more than Rs 20 thousand reaching out to nearly 76 beneficiaries so far. This model, therefore, incorporates door-step demand-based service delivery, incentive mechanism, provision of value-added services and localised cash recycling. She/eDost provides services Cash withdrawal, money transfer, mobile & DTH recharges, Balance enquiry and Bill payments etc.

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PROJECT’S EXPECTED OUTPUTS/OUTCOME:

1. Entire population from both villages (82 families & 499 population) would have access to drinking water, water for domestic use and access to sanitation facilities through the development of resilient water supply systems. (Project has established Solar Base lift Schemes).

2. Improved nutrition among all households (82) through the availability of sufficient and nutritionally rich foods through kitchen/nutritional garden.

3. Created sustainable farm base livelihood sources in both village farmers. 91 % farmers of the village (75) have Wadi (tree base farming), 87 % farmers in floriculture.

4. Improved 75 farmer’s income and productivity through adoption of improved practices in traditional crops, rabbi moisture crop cultivations, Tree base farming-Wadi, floriculture and vegetable cultivation.

5. 100 % villagers / communities have enhanced knowledge on cultivation practices, nutrition as well as hygiene, water and health.

6. Well-equipped school that have been providing quality education.

7. Empowerment of 08 Women Self Help Groups, 2 water user committees and 1 village planning committee.

8. Availing the renewable sources, using 15 KWP solar energy for lifting water for drinking purposes in two villages, 3 irrigations schemes and power supply to the 2 primary schools.

PROJECT EVENT: ARRANGED TREE PLANTATION DAY WITH PLSIND’S MD & EMPLOYEES:

The Symbolic Plantation event was arranged on the occasion of World Environment Day The Managing Director and employees of Panasonic Life Solution India PVT LTD had participated in a tree plantation programme. The employees enthusiastically planted trees on a farmer’s plot. They had performed the plantation in groups.

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PROJECT PHYSICAL PLANNED ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS

SN Community Welfare Activities Unit Physical Achievements Remarks
1 Quality of Life
1.1 Safe Drinking Water Number 02 02 Community led water filter installed for drinking purposes
1.2 Reconstruction - maintenaence & repairing of drinking water well Number 01 01 The damaged Sambarpada drinking water well has been repaired & is undergoing maintenaence
1.3 Community Health Families 82 82 Supports of KG seeds/Saplings and Clean kitchens & Eye-check up camps
1.4 Women Empowerment
A Support for IGA Member 40 40 SHGs members (since inception 80) invested to increase goat population as an invested to increase goat population as an development.
B Capacity Building Member 80 80 Strengthening of SHGs through meetings, regular Savings, record keeping and awareness regarding nutrition’s, hygiene and sanitations.
1.5 Quality Education School 02 01 Schools are now digital and have green energy sources
Renovation of Kashtipada school building in has restarted which had been halted due to COVID-19 situations.
2 Livelyhood
2.1 Productivity Improvement Farmers 75 75 Adopted improved practices and increasedproduction traditional crop by 10% - 30%.
Area increased in rabbi season cultivation.
2.2 Water resource development Farmers 75 68 Total 03 solar base group lift irrigation schemes and 11 small farm ponds which can harvest rain water and can use it for protective irrigation.
Proposed additional 02 group solar base lift irrigation scheme Farmers 16 03 In process, will be completed by Feb'2021
2.3 Floriculture Families 75 71 Jasmin 10 R cultivation modal using micro-irrigations system
2.4 Vegitable Cultivation Families 75 75 Kharif & Rabbi vegitable cultivation
2.5 Tree based Farming Families 75 75 Support of Nutrition & plant protection inputs for plantation.
3 Strengthening Collectives
3.1 Develop community level Resource Persons (CRP) Number 01 01 Trained 01 CRP and training a local resource person for the villagers
3.2 Strengthening of villagers Number 02 02 Formation of 01 village Level committe for training exposure
3.3 Collection cum information center Number 01 01 Established collection center which will provide equipment for collective marketing and also provide market information.
4 Project Innovation
4.1 Demo / Model Plots Number 10 06 Lemon grass & seedless Guava plots - supportd with saplings during the month of January
4.2 eDost Number 00 01 An innovative mobile banking service model has been started at village level.

Composition of CSR committee

  • Mr. Manish Sharma
  • Mr. Yoshiyuki Kato
  • Mr. Tsuyoshi Yoto
  • Mr. Yasuhiro Masui
  • Mr. Toshinobu Kawasaki