CYSD

“With the implementation of the Agriculture Production Cluster (APC) programme in my locality, I was motivated to cultivate different seasonal crops adopting new ideas and technology. Now, I am earning around Rs. 30,000 out of vegetable cultivation in a season. Being a marginal farmer, earlier I used to cultivate only rice and millet-based crops in the traditional pattern of cultivation, but the income was hardly meeting the needs of my family”, says Dauna from G. Maliguda village.

Dauna Mali is a marginal woman farmer from G. Maliguda village of Kollar Gram Panchayat in Boipariguda Block of Koraput district. She is a very active member of the Pragati Producer Group and supports her husband in agriculture-related works. Following the traditional method of agricultural farming, both the couple were cultivating only rice and millet-based crops and hardly earning Rs 8000 to Rs 10000 in a year. With this meager amount, it was very difficult to manage the family. In the meantime, CYSD intervened in their Kollar Panchayat and facilitated the producer group members to adapt the Agriculture Production Cluster approach in their cultivation. Being an active member of the Pragati Producer Group, Dauna was quickly motivated to initiate cultivating different crops including vegetables along with other members through new ideas and technology. Gradually, she started cultivating Cauliflower, Brinjal, and Beans in her farmland during Kharif and Rabi seasons including summer.

During this Rabi season, Dauna was supported with 120 grams of Cauliflower seed inputs. She raised nursery and planted the sapling in 0.70 cents of land and protected the cropping area with green fencing boundary. Through attending orientation programs organized by CYSD periodically, she has acquired basic knowledge and skill on various steps of cultivation, nursery bed preparation, pest and disease management, main field management, winter crop selection, and appropriate application of pesticide, fertilizer, and manure in farmland for nutrient enhancement, so on.

 Having this agricultural knowledge, skill, and own interest in farming, with hard work, she has stood as a successful farmer in cauliflower. “This time, I had made an investment of Rs. 9500/- for cauliflower farming. As of the end of November, I have sold only 40% of cauliflowers earning Rs 12000, but yet to sell 60% of cauliflower”, says Dauna. 

Indeed, Dauna has become an example for other farmers in her village. She is well managing her family without any financial burden now. “Adaption of the APC method in agriculture has brought a transformation in the standard of living of my family. I look forward to chasing the new ideas and techniques toward cultivating more such vegetables”, she added. 

“I have never envisaged that a small initiative of backyard poultry rearing will one day bring changes in my life and livelihood. I had no space to accommodate 10 poultry birds initially, but now more than 60 are being well sheltered”, says Daimati Bhumia from Kupuliguda village of Koraput district.

Kupuliguda is a small tribal village under Kollar Panchayat of Boipariguda block.   Bhumia, being a poor tribal woman, was struggling to find out a way for sustained livelihoods by rearing 10 poultry birds in her house without a proper shed till end of 2017. During those days, buyers were coming to her doorstep to procure the poultry birds and she used to sell those with an estimated cost in absence of weighing machine. Her earning was hardly exceeded to Rs. 2000 per annum previously.

During 2018, with the intervention of CYSD in Kollar Panchayat for livelihoods promotion activities, Farmers’ Producer groups were formed through the Agriculture Production Cluster approach. Daimati was encouraged to become a member of the Pragati Farmers’ Producer Group in her village. Through attending regular meetings and orientation programs, she got to know the prospects of livestock rearing – as a better option for livelihoods. “With the facilitation of CYSD and support from ITDA, I have built a poultry shed and procured chicks phase-wise. Following the guidelines of a government scheme, I have segregated the birds and provided them with separate shelters. Now, I am owning around 60 poultry and ensuring vaccination to them on regular intervals”, shared Bhumia.

Bhumia’s keen interest and hard work enabled her to become a successful backyard poultry farmer in the village. She earns an average annual income of Rs.20000. Besides, she is involved in various agricultural activities to supplement her income.

“Adaption of APC approach in livestock farming with the intervention of CYSD has brought a big transformation in our lives and livelihoods”, added delightful Daimati.

Being a skilled person, Ranjan Mohanta from Kundala village in Mirigikhoj Panchayat of Saharapada block, Keonjhar district was working as a technician in a private company in Maharastra. His monthly income was just sufficient to meet his family’s needs. The unpredicted Corona pandemic, followed by lockdown and shutdown, has taken away his job. He was forced to come back to his native place struggling throughout his journey. A happy family’s all hopes and aspirations were ruined by the unseen virus. His family members found it challenging to meet their daily needs. Life became a living hell! Ranjan was on the verge of losing his energy and confidence. Without any livelihoods option, he completely got disappointed.

“While I was thinking about how to survive, fortunately, I got a telephone call from the Citizens’ Support Centre of CYSD, asking me whether I want to undergo reskilling on Mushroom Cultivation. I could not imagine that such an opportunity will come to me at this critical hour. Without any second thought, I replied, certainly, yes”, shares Ranjan. He enthusiastically contacted the point person, got himself registered and received the Reskill Training on Mushroom Growing being organized from 10 – 14 October 2020 (at the Rural Livelihoods Training Centre (RLTC) of CYSD at Kapundi. He got an alternative way to start-up. “Now, I have started my own set-up as a mushroom supplier and earning my livelihoods reasonably”, says Ranjan, a renewed agri-entrepreneur.

“Because of the abrupt lockdown and shut down owing to Covid-19 pandemic, I had to return to my home leaving the workplace. I lost my employment. Livelihood became a big challenge for survival of my family. Covid-19 pandemic ruined all my dreams”, shares Sabitri.

Sabitri Mohanta from Barbir village in Saharapada block of Keonjhar district was working in a Tamil Nadu based private garment company. Somehow, she was managing the needs of her family with the limited income. She was hopelessly wondering, if an alternative option of earning could be available locally.

“I received a call from CYSD’s Citizen Support Centre asking me, if I will be interested to join a training programme on Mushroom Cultivation for an alternative source of livelihoods. I could not control my happiness, immediately I replied, Yes, without any hesitation”, shares Sabitri.  Following the procedures, she registered her name and received a five-day training (from 5-9 October 2020) on Mushroom Growing organized at the RLTC of CYSD in Kapundi. With limited investment she has started her own enterprise. “On an average, I am producing 2 kg of mushrooms per day and selling @200 rupees per kg in local market. Besides, my family consumes the surplus mushrooms as nutrition supplements. Indeed, mushroom cultivation reskilling has given me rebirth. I am planning to set up a permanent enterprise in my village investing some more amount”, says aspiring Sabitri.

The worldwide spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has been severely affecting the global economy and as per the recent updates almost one-third to half of the global population have gone through the critical and compulsive lockdown and shut-down for a quite long period. More than one in 10 workers have lost their jobs in just past few months – no work, no pay. Vulnerability has crept into their daily life; unrest like situation has arisen everywhere. The risk is higher particularly for daily wage workers with minimal social security; and the implications on the rural poor and marginalized sections with inadequate economic and social safety nets is severe. They are back to their native villages for a safe life. The surge of returnee migrants to rural pockets of the State throws a challenge of acute unemployment while the agri-allied sector creates an opportunity for these migrants’ engagement to address the zoomed employment crisis.

In this context, CYSD in collaboration with RCRC Network has taken an initiative towards skill development of the returnee migrants. About 150 returnee migrants were identified in Saharpada Block of Keonjhar district through a quick assessment, those who expressed their interest for alternative livelihoods in and around agri-allied sector.

The study reveals that there is demand for mushroom in the local market and has good return on the investment along with additional nutrition supplement. In this process, 83 migrants (53 female & 30 male) who had shown their interest and committed for initiating alternative livelihoods were trained as Mushroom Growers and Spawn Producers. The design of the programme is aligned with NSDC (National Skill Development Corporation) framework. The 5 days training programmes conducted in batches by Kalinga Mushroom Research Unit were residential and held at CYSD’s Rural Livelihoods Training Centre at Kapundi in Saharpada Block.

Life of a woman is full of challenges and obstacles, right from shouldering household responsibility and commitments at home and managing fulltime at workplace. The life of a working woman is revolving and juggling with numerous responsibilities at work place, some of them are loaded with daily routine life at home. Many women are grinded between these two phases of life running behind office work and managing all domestic affairs. Previously women were educated for the sake of getting married to better candidates and starting new family. But, nowadays they utilize their education and skill productively. Here is a story of a village girl, Manjulata Mohanta, who struggles to reconcile her commitments for the family.

Manjulata, is a volunteer who serve as a connect between the school and parents. She supports the school teachers as well as parents in ensuring that children are regular in schools, not engaged in domestic work or whiling away time, they get school uniforms, bags, stationery, properly cooked mid-day meal, etc.

Manjulata was born and brought up in a farmer’s family along with five siblings – four sisters and one brother. Her father used to do agricultural work and daily wages work, and her mother is engaged in cooking midday meal in a government run primary school. From an early age, she understood the survival strategy like fighting back the poverty boldly and bravely. Despite financial hardship, she had completed her higher secondary education.

Her dream of studying higher education remained in halfway due to financial constraints. She was compelled to acquaint with daily labour work like, pond digging, iron rods lifting or cutting, leaf plates making, and continued to supplement her family income. During that period, she got a marriage proposal from her boyfriend having government job. Unfortunately, the young man betrayed Manjulata and created nuisance, even one day she was kidnapped by his friends and sexually abused and harassed for three days. After some days the kidnappers released her and threatened to kill her if she suits any Police case. Initially, she couldn’t sleep being plagued by nightmares. It became difficult for her to trust people. Due to heavy stress and depression she attempted to commit suicide by jumping to the waterfall at Bhimkund. But, the will of God was something else! Immediately some local people rescued her and admitted in hospital.  She got a new life!

Two local UP School teachers namely Mr. Biswanath Bindhani and Mr. Nalaraj Sethy counselled Manjulata to overcome from the tragedy. She got engaged in different co-curricular activities of the school. In 2007, she found a job in ‘Pratham Odisha’ as Block Coordinator where she was facilitating training to Cluster Resource Coordinators on teaching techniques. She became independent and self-reliant when received handsome monthly salary. She could spend some amount of money on her sisters’ study and marriages. She reflects, “Now, I am self-reliant, earning through a dignified job and living an independent life. Why should I go for suicide instead of giving back to society using whatever I have learnt, getting a new life?’’

In 2010, she resigned from Pratham Odisha and applied for a job in government sector but could not succeed. Then she joined CYSD as a ‘Community Teacher’ in its Child Development Project at Thakurmunda for girls’ impact education program. At the closure of impact education program, she was recognized as the best teacher out of 36 teachers.

Then, she was involved in “Combatting Child Domestic Labour” program of CYSD, as community volunteer-teacher and assigned to look after Benuadhar village of Bhaliadal Gram Panchayat, Thakurmunda. For easy and better monitoring purpose, she used to stay with the community people. Having long experience in education systems, she applies those in community special coaching centers. She has been guiding and counseling young girls regarding menstrual hygiene and sex education to protect themselves from harmful diseases.

Due to single, sometime people of her community pass filthy comments, but this does not make any different for Manjulata. She reconciles to live alone. She is determined not to tie the knot, because she knows the art of living without a man’s support. She owns a motorcycle for movement, has saved some money in bank and able to support her family out of her monthly income.

Moreover, Manjulata is well capacitated in the area of interpersonal development which helps her leading a confident and dignified life in the social sector. She has drawn a bead on awareness building of youth to respect women and protect young girls.

Manjulata says, “I don’t wish people to look at me and feel pity. Like a light, the time will pass away.  I’m still alive. I thank God for giving me such lesson! And I want to help prevent this not to happen anyone else.” 

“All our lives, we were dependent on agriculture for our livelihood. We have faced a lot of problem in accessing drinking water and irrigation due to shortage of water. During the summer months we had to walk around 3 km to collect drinking water from a nearby forest spring for which we had to suffer many hardships”, says Madhaba. He never expected that a small initiative of minor irrigation support through a dug well on a small piece of farmland would one day change his fate and ensure sustained income for his family.

Madhaba Muduli is a small tribal landholder from P. Sujuli village in Nandigam Gram Panchayat of Koraput district. With technical support and guidance of CYSD programme team, he along with a fellow villager Chittam Paraja decided to dig a well of 25ft depth on his own land for better irrigation. In the FY-2019, along with support of Rs.138500/- from ITDA, Koraput under the MGNREGA Plan, the well was successfully dug.

In tribal hinterland of Koraput, agriculture work mostly depends on the rains. Given the facilities of micro irrigation, the people here can irrigate their farm land throughout the year and bring better yield. “Better irrigation facilities have brought us more yield and has improved our lives,” says Chittam Paraja. “The dug well helped us irrigate approximately 5 acres of our own land and improved our cultivation along with ensuring the availability of clean drinking water. With expert advice, we applied cow dung for the revival of the soil nutrition; took measures for preserving the soil erosion; and made the soil suitable for varieties of crops as well. Last winter the farm land brought good yield of vegetables, like beans, cauliflower, tomato, zinger and eggplant, etc., which helped us to earn around Rs.28000/- in both phases of the season. This dug well has become one of our permanent assets, and we look forward to cultivating seasonal vegetables. The endeavours have changed our lives for good and enabled our children to get proper education too,” says Madhaba.

Madhaba and Chittam have set an example for rest of the village farmers. It is path breaking to see such efforts come to fruition and this would pave the way for the rural farmers and those whose earning is based on agriculture to improve their lives.

The mantra of Gopabandhu “Let my body mingle in the dust of my motherland and let my countrymen walk across it; and let my flesh and bones fill in the potholes of my country’s self-independence”, always encourages me to work selflessly in this Covid-19 pandemic situation, says Umachanda Baral, a community organizer. For the last couple of years, he has been working in different parts of Malkangiri districts and helping the poor and distressed primitive tribes.

Sudden lockdown declared by the Government owing to the pandemic created fear and anxiety in the minds of innocent tribal women, children and old age people. Umachanda, was the first person who motivated a band of volunteers of CYSD to create mass awareness among the tribal people, especially in Bonda Ghati (the most underdeveloped area of Malkangiri). From 23rd March, 2020 Umachanda also mobilized other volunteers to join his crew and organized awareness campaigns in the communities about use of facemask regularly, practices of frequent hand wash, maintaining social distance, etc. using loud speaker / mike. He covered around 42 villages, distributed survival kits to 150 families and hygiene kits to 120 families.

Both the Block Administration and District Administration were amazed seeing the enthusiasm of Umachanda. To his surprise, the PD-DRDA helped in obtaining a Covid-19 Entry Pass through the BDO, Khairiput and allowed him to continue this novel work in this pandemic. The BDO and PD-DRDA sought the support and cooperation of Umachanda during their relief mission at Bonda Ghati for helping the Bonda people. This mission would not have become successful without Umachanda’s active involvement.

From that day Umachanda never looked back. He contacted CYSD Project staff in Malkanagiri and sought the technical support on how to facilitate job opportunity to the vulnerable families during the Corona pandemic. He was advised by the Livelihood Promotion, Expert to create job demand for the people under MGNREGS work and help them engage in Mo Upakari Bagicha scheme through Odisha Livelihoods Mission.

Till now, Umachanda has facilitated job opportunity for 85 families under MGNREGS and linked 75 families in Nutritional Kitchen Garden (Mo Upakari Bagicha) scheme with the help of Sarapanch of concerned Gram Panchayats.