Welcome

GRAMYA VIKASH MANCHA (GVM)

(A unified platform for progressive contemplation)

Vision: “GVM envisages a peaceful, prosperous, egalitarian and exploitation free society in every village”

Mission: GVM exist to empower the rural community particularly the underprivileged and women to take control over the social institutions and to improve their quality of life , thereby create

a society where these people can live with dignityAddress

NO. 1 BARDHANARAP.O: DAKSHINGAON

PIN: 781350DISTRICT : NALBARI

ASSAM , INDIAPHONE: +91-3624-283740Email: gvm_ngo@sify.com

Organizational Profile• Gramya Vikash Mancha (GVM) is a non for profit, Non

Government Organisation based in Nalbari District and has been working for the rural poor through the implementation of various development programmes

• GVM came into existence in 1999 and registered under the Society Registration Act XXI of 1860 on 14th September, 2000

• Presently working in 4 districts. Nalbari, Baksa (BTAD), Kamrup (Rural) and Barpeta. The Area covers 11 dev. blocks and 400 villages

• The major working areas are Economic Empowerment, Social Empowerment and Social Justice, Humanitarian Response, Development & communication

Organisation Staff Strength

• Full time volunteers: 82

• Part time volunteers: 347

• Technical / Professional Consultants:12

Partners• Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department of the European

Commission (ECHO)• Actionaid India• Jamsetji Tata Trust/ Sir Dorabji Tata Trust• Save the children• Unicef• Child Rights and You (CRY)• Aide et action• National Agricultural Bank for Rural Development, NABARD• Indo Global Social Service Society (IGSSS)• PRADAN• Help Age India• Rashtriya Gramin Vikash Nidhi• North East Development & Finance Corporation (NEDFi)• North East Network (NEN)• National Council of Rural Institute (NCRI)• The Hunger Project• Association for India’s Development (AID)

On going programmes

• Promotion of Diversion Based Irrigation in Nalbari, Kamrup (Rural) and Baksa districts of Assam – supported by JTT

• Mobilizing Community on MGNREGS for ensuring sustainable employment and development- Supported by Actionaid India

• Peoples Empowerment for Accessing Right to Livelihood – Supported by IGSSS

• Extension of SRI and Promotion in Assam – Supported by PRADAN

• Promotion of Livelihood through Water Hyacinth Craft – Supported by NEDFi

• Adolescent Education in Assam – Supported by SDTT• Child Rights project in Nalbari district of Assam – Supported

by CRY

Humanitarian Aid programmes implemented for Flood affected families in

2012-13• Emergency Response to the Victims of Flood in Assam-2012• Assam Flood 2012 Response Programme• Support to flood affected families in Assam• Emergency Flood operation in Nalbari district of Assam• Rapid Flood Response in Nalbari District of Assam• Humanitarian Assistance to vulnerable population affected by flood in

Assam• Assam Flood Humanitarian Response

• Supported by ECHO, JTT, Actionaid, Save the children and HelpAge India

Nalbari, Baksa, Kamrup (rural) district

Pagladia River Basin (Source: Geology department, GU)

Promotion of Diversion Based Irrigation in Nalbari, Kamrup (rural) and Baksa districts of

Assam

Project Profile Project title: Promotion of Diversion Based Irrigation in

Nalbari, Kamrup (rural) and Baksa district of Assam Supported by: Jamsetji Tata Trust Implemented by: Gramya Vikash Mancha Project period: 1st April 2012 to 31st March 2015 (3 years) Project area: Nalbari, Kamrup (rural) and Baksa district Total Sanctioned Amount (for 3 years): Rs. 288.25 lakh Total sanctioned amount (For 1st year): Rs. 85,27,000.00

(Rupees eighty five lakh twenty seven thousand only)

Objective & Strategies of the implemented Project

Objective:

• The developmental objective of the project is “To improve the quality of life of 50000 families from excluded section of society in Nalbari, Kamrup (rural) and Baksa district of Assam within three years “

Strategies:

• Protect natural water bodies and reduce vulnerability through community mobilization

• Socio-economic upliftment through introducing effective use of diversion based irrigation system

Process adopted for implementation• The project started with initiating a social debate on action-reflection of different

socio-economic issues. It was basically through using PRA tools and techniques. After series of discussion and debate we with active participation of local community prepared cluster wise report, what we named “Participatory Vulnerability Analysis (PVA)” report.

• On priority basis the problems are taken into account and discussion initiated for finding effective and sustainable solution for such problem, both in village and cluster level.

• Cluster level coordination committee have been formed to coordinate, review and monitor all process and programmes in cluster level. Again, cluster has also been divided in some sector, comprising 5-6 villages and sector level representative and coordinator identified.

• A network committee among all farmers has been formed, comprising five representatives from each cluster. This committee review and monitor all process and programmes of the project in central level.

• Based on the Action Plan prepared by the community, Gramya Vikash Mancha has initiated the process of implementation of all the major community activities like Restoration of water bodies and construction of improvised Sluice Gate, irrigation bandhs. Need base capacity building programmes and interface programmes with development authorities.

Situation of natural water resources in Nalbari and Kamrup (Rural) districts..

Situation in BaksaWhere there is a great scarcity of Water and water is precious than any other elements..like property, land and house..

• PVA was conducted in each Cluster to get all kind of information of the villages like Mapping of the villages, Socio-economic background, livelihood analysis, population break-up, resources, different vulnerabilities, historical background, coping mechanism etc. It shows the use, impact and problems in accessing natural water resources.

• All major activities like Restoration work of canal, Construction of Irrigation based structures, Capacity Enhancement programmes are implemented based on the Community action plan prepared by the community…….

Participatory Vulnerability Analysis (PVA)Report

Participatory Vulnerability Analysis (PVA)Report

Restoration of canal in Kamrup (rural) district

Dredging of a new canal in Jaha village of Nalbari district

Restoration of a dying canal in No.1 Bhogpara village in Baksa district

Farmers during the Restoration of canal in No.1 Bhogpara village in Baksa district

Farmers during the Restoration of Bhoma canal in Kamrup (rural) district

Cleaning of water hyacinth in a blocked in Bakrikuchi village of Nalbari district

Cleaning of water hyacinth in Kawoimari canal of Jaha Cluster

The situation of Badna Jan (canal) in Kamrup (Rural) District

Cleaning of Badna Jan (canal) in Kamrup (Rural) District

• Approx. 60 kms. of canals were restored (through Cleaning & Dredging work) so far in the 7 clusters under Nalbari, Kamrup (rural) and Baksa districts

• Total 25055.92 bigha (7639 acre) of agricultural land is expected to be benefited by the Restoration work

• A large area of land has been resumed for agricultural activities after a long time

• Canal Management Committees are formed in Kamrup (rural) district which is a new intervention area under the DBI Project

• An Exposure visit was organised for the farmers/ fisherman of Kamrup (rural) area to replicate the canal management system of the strong Dong Bandh Committees of Baksa

• The Dong Bandh Committees of Baksa has their own traditional canal management system since more than 70 years with their written constitution

Restoration of natural water bodies

In Baksa, 2500 people work altogether to maintain the bandh in Pagladia river to get water every year for cultivation and their household need

The Bandh Dong Committees has strong rules & members from each family has to contribute their labour to maintain the Bandhs and Dongs which is the

only source of water for the villages in Baksa

Every Winter in December more than 2500 people from 40 villages repairs the Bandhs and Dongs (Canal) for 4 consecutive days at the source of Pagladia and

Diring river

Use of Canal water in Rabi crops under one Farmers group at Bardhanara village

Use of Canal water in Rabi crops under one Farmers group at Bardhanara village

Use of Canal water in Rabi crops by using water pumps in Raimadha village, Nalbari district

Use of Canal water in Rabi crops by using water pumps in Raimadha village, Nalbari district initiated under the PDBI project

Use of Canal water in Rabi crops by using water pumps in Raimadha village, Nalbari district initiated under the PDBI project

Group farming was promoted under the DBI project by using Canal water in Rabi crops through water pumps in Chatama village, Nalbari district

Capacity Enhancement programmes organised on preparation of Vermi compost among farmers

Capacity building programme on Vermi Composting

Capacity Enhancement programmes organised on preparation of Vermi compost among farmers

Vermi Compost units promoted in lieu of chemical fertilizers and used in Group farming

Capacity Enhancement programmes organised on water hyacinth based crafts among poor woman in the project villages

More than 200 poor woman are now engaged in product making from water hyacinth and generating income for their families promoted through PDBI

project and NEDFi

Food processing trainings are organised in Baksa and Nalbari district among woman groups that can generate income by using locally available fruits and

vegetables

Capacity building programme on Food Processing

Food processing trainings are organised in Baksa and Nalbari district among woman groups that can generate income by using locally available fruits

and vegetables

Group farming by woman Groups in Jaha cluster

Group farming by woman Groups in Pagladia cluster

Farmers Convention

Farmers Convention & Media Interface programme

Through continuous mobilisation a farmers convention was organised in Baushi Udaypur village of Nalbari district where farmers from 3 - districts Nalbari, Kamrup (rural) and Baksa gathered in a common platform to raise their voice on farmers issues and interacted with leading media representatives

• 510 farmers from 3 Districts and 6 nos. of state level media agency both from electronic and print media participated in the event

• The Farmers Convention is an attempt to ground a multi stake holder dialogue process across the state where the farmer communities will be in the centre stage of policy framing

The Major Issues of Concern

The event started in three different groups under the 3 broad heads at 3 different locations within the venue. Under the 3 broad heads the participants after thorough discussions on their concerns and demands shared it with the media persons with fact and figures:

• Production related challenges facing by Agriculture and the allied sectors

• Market related challenges facing by Agriculture and the allied sectors –like minimum support price of rice

• Positioning the “Farmers and Agriculture and the allied sectors” in the present (neo) development process.

The Major concerns raised and discussed in the farmers convention cum Media interface programme

Farmers raised their issues in interaction with media

The meeting concluded with the decision to submit the concerns and the demands raised by the farmers to all the Ministers and Members of

Assam legislative assembly

• The event has been covered in details by 5 nos of state level daily vernacular on the very next day of the event.

• Till date 6 nos of daily vernacular have started covering the issues raised by the farmers in the editorial page.

• A talk show have been organized by one of the electronic media in and around the concerns raised by the farmers on the convention-cum-interface event engaging 5 nos of distinguished social workers cum activists across the state.

• A talk show was been organized by the same electronic media on the concerns and issues raised by the farmers under the theme “Market related challenges facing by Agriculture and the allied sectors” engaging 10 nos of farmers participated in the convention-cum-interface meeting under the head.

• GVM is working jointly with a selective farmers group to put the concerns and the demands in a systematic way and submit the same to all the Ministers and Members of Assam legislative assembly.

Outcome of the Farmers-media interface programme

Regular Networking meetings organised among farmers and cluster representatives from Nalbari, Kamrup(R)and Baksa districts to review

implemented works and planning of activities

Interface Programmes organised in Kamrup (rural) and Nalbari district to initiate face to face interaction of Agriculture Department with farmers to

generate awareness to access Government schemes and services

• In 2009-10 and 2011-12 total 101.96 Kms of canal restored in 5 clusters. This year total 60 kms of canals been restored through cleaning work (till January 2013). The restoration work would benefit 6465 farmer and fisherman families . Total 25055.92 bigha (7639 acre) of agricultural land is expected to be benefited by the Restoration work

• Mainstreaming and renovation of the canals would again revive the natural irrigation system and reduce the problem of water logging at the time of flood. This will eventually reduce the gradual increase of poverty due to regular floods and migration to other areas in search of alternative livelihood

• Installation of improvised Sluice Gate (1 No.), Concrete Low Bandh (3 Nos.), has reduced regular person days involvement in such process and provide opportunities to involve in agricultural activities

Significant Outcome

• The restoration of natural canals/ dongs/ creeks has helped the farmers to initiate farming and cultivation in areas which were facing water logged situation in Nalbari and Kamrup (rural) district.

• Through Networking and advocacy meetings and community dialogue at village level a large group of farmers/ fisherman/ woman groups have been organised in a common platform to initiate community action to resolve common issues

• Capacity building trainings enabled rural woman and youth and farmers/ fisherman to initiate various income generating activities which would eventually enabled them to increase their level of income and reduce their vulnerability.

• Networking and linkage with resource based institutions; Govt. departments have paved the way to generate awareness among the targeted community and leveraging of community work through Govt. schemes and services.

Significant Outcome

• On 27th June 2012 the first wave of flood came in Kamrup (rural) and Nalbari district through the breaches in the embankment

• Total five breaches took place and inundated nearly 45 villages in Kamrup and 46 villages in Nalbari district

• The second wave of flood came in August as the incessant rainfall in the upper reaches of Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh

• The ethnic conflict inflicted in Bodo Territorial Autonomous Districts (BTAD) on 18th July 2012 and soon spread to the entire lower Assam within a week. BTAD area (that includes Baksa district), Kamrup (rural) and Nalbari district was strictly came under the vigilance of the Administration after the occurrence of a number of unlawful incidents like killings of people by miscreants, blazing bus and vehicles and bridges.

Challenges

• The sudden occurrence of both natural and manmade disasters has disrupted smooth implementation of all process and programmes in the villages for more than three months (Starting from mid of June to end of September).

• Community meetings, Restoration works and other field based programmes could not be organized in many villages during high flood time in Nalbari and Kamrup (rural) districts and in Baksa due to the ethnic conflict.

• In Baksa tension prevailed since mid of July till mid of September due to the ethnic conflict which triggered violence by miscreants in many villages. The disruptions slowed down the implementation of all activities for more than three months.

Challenges

• More emphasis will be given to multiple cropping and group farming

• Strengthening of the Canal Management Committees specially in Nalbari and Kamrup (rural) area to sustain the works implemented under PDBI project

• Leveraging of DBI works into Govt. schemes like MGNREGA• Awareness and mobilisation of the community on protecting

natural water resources and grow awareness on the effects of climate change on agriculture practices

• Create a common platform for the marginalized farmers to raise their issues and can pave ways to access to their rights

Way Forward

Thanks