RIGHT TO SUSTAINABLE
LIVELIHOOD
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Access to livelihood is the basic requirement of any human being. It is our desired objective to ensure that every person is capable enough to acquire basic needs like food, shelter, clothing, health care etc. through his own income. Sustainable livelihood calls for sustainable use of natural resources, maximizing human potentialities. Human resource is the most vital asset and it has to be nurtured through continuous capacity building programmes. Even the best talents of the globe need capacity building. |
The poor and disadvantaged communities also need cooperative environment not only to exist but also to grow. Cooperation is essential for ensuring financial support, production and services. Even cooperation with peer community may not be capable to compete in the context of present day market economy. Unfair trade practices have become the order of the day. The poor in collaboration with supporting stakeholders need to work together to protect their livelihood by policy intervention of National Governments and International Communities. |
Disaster is a natural phenomena of our globe. Even the super rich groups need support of Governments during and after disaster. The poor and marginalized community needs it more. Relief during and after major disaster is a natural human necessity |
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Natural Resource Management: ( NRM ): Natural resources like water, soil, air, biodiversity, minerals are a gift of the nature. The future generation of human beings has equal rights over the natural resources as the present generation. The modern man is highly sensitive to protect the nature for posterity. The traditional communities were proud of the nature like forests, springs, heritage sites etc. They were equally conscious about the requirements of the wild animals. Many a tribal group would not pluck jackfruits from the trees dedicated to bears. They would also never destroy trees.
The modern man unfortunately needs to be oriented and trained on the issues of sustainability and biodiversity which his forefathers were conscious by nature.
Sustainability is the philosophy of all livelihood programmes promoted by Vikash. |
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Soil Managemen t : We promote and facilitate soil management activities. Our focus is in vulnerable areas like eastern ghat (eastern mountain range) of India. Vikash undertakes training programme and gives a handholding support to the communities to execute soil conservation measures.
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Water Management : Fresh water is the key to life on earth. We have to preserve it everywhere at all times. Proper soil conservation measures mostly help in recharging ground water. To utilize the surface and ground water efficiently, water harvesting structures are developed. |
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Forestry :
Forestry has been providing livelihood to most of the forest dwelling communities. The indigenous communities’ life and life styles are intimately interconnected with forest. We also need forest to ensure the globe continues to be habitable.
Urban forests are maintained like at village Harapur near Bhubaneswar city.
Nurseries are developed to facilitate community forestry and to increase forest coverage. Plantation is taken up in the plain land and slopes. Plant intensity is also developed in the existing forests. |
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Sustainable Agriculture:
Research : Science has changed the globe and life styles. It has also contributed many unsustainable ventures. Modern agriculture is certainly unsustainable. We have to re invent the wheel. We have to learn from the traditions, give the scientific system and redesign sustainable farming practices. Vikash organizes participatory research on organic farming. Different inputs and systems are tried in geo-climatic situations to develop appropriate models.
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Organic ginger harvesting |
Expert of Vikash examining a pest in Microscope |
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Magic compost preparation |
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Extension :
While developing more models Vikash also is attempting to propagate organic farming systems.
Farmers are trained on organic farming practices. |
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Compost Pit |
Organic Potato crop demonstration |
Soil Testing Kit & Microscope at Krushi Suchana Kendra used for farmers |
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Micro Finance : Micro Finance has proven to be a tool for economic empowerment of the poor. It also empowers women socio economically. Vikash started its Micro Credit activities way back in 1991 with leprosy patients. The inmates of leprosy colonies were given credit to start enterprises and stop begging. In 1994 Vikash initiated a micro credit programme in disaster affected areas. From 1997 Self Help Groups of women are being promoted to take up savings, credit and micro enterprise activities. From 2003 onwards Vikash has been making efforts to bring all the groups and federations under cooperative frame legally. A three-tire structure has been promoted with groups at village level, unions at cluster level and federation at State level. The groups, unions and federations function as per the rules and guidelines. The unions and federations are registered as Cooperatives. Vikash plays the role of a facilitator without having any control in the management of the institutions. |
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Group
meeting is on to make critical decision on credit
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Leaders
training programme in a tribal area |
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Micro Enterprise : In
the past Vikash used to set up production centers managed by itself. In early 90’s it has set up an electronics
factory for employment of leprosy affected women beggars with disability. It was established in collaboration with a
big TV manufacturing company. Subsequently Vikash has become a facilitator. It
promotes individuals or group - owned micro enterprises in the farm and
non-farm sector. It organizes training
programmes, arranges credit, takes up counseling at individual and group level
to promote micro enterprises. It works
with women, tribal households, disabled persons including leprosy affected
persons and other marginalized communities for livelihood security.
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A women entrepreneur |
Sea shell craft |
A proud
women with the cow |
A elderly widow in her shop |
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Vocational
Training : Vocational training by Vikash was started with leprosy
affected persons on minor production activities. Subsequently, skill training
has been an important method for empowering the poor to secure livelihood and
get gainful employment. |
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| Training
on Appliqué work
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Training on Bamboo products
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Cooperative Promotion : The disadvantaged communities always had to be
content with existing growth. In the
market driven economy they need cooperatives more and more. Vision statement of
Vikash also looks for a society where cooperation is a way of life. It has promoted cooperatives for savings and
credit management. It is promoting
cooperatives for production and service activities.
In the past the cooperatives were under Government
control. To give legal strength to
cooperative initiatives and bring cooperatives under community management
Vikash advocated for a Self Help Cooperative Act in the State of Orissa. It formed an institution called “Committee
for Cooperative Reforms” to bring a new Act and also train the officials
and legislators including ministers. A
new Act called “Self Help Cooperative Act” was promulgated in Orissa.
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Fair Trade : World has become a global village. Even the remote villager is in competition
with a large producer in a developed country. The small producer is facing an uneven competition with the large
cooperate houses. Some of the cooperate
houses are much larger than Government. Hence, Government is becoming more and more incapable to protect the
small and marginal producers. The poor needs proper protective policy and
support to exist and compete. Vikash
advocates “Fair Trade”. |
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Disaster : Disaster is a natural phenomena all over the
globe. The developed countries have
invested properly to reduce the impact of disasters. The poor economies
are trained to live efficiently with disasters. Vikash takes up advocacy for prevention of disaster. It has been concentrating on flood issues in
coastal Orissa in specific. It
facilitates citizens group action for flood prevention and management.
Immediately
after disaster or during the disaster Vikash
takes up relief activities.
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Food packets being prepared for distribution |
Relief distribution in remote localities |
Temporary shelter |
Temporary community shelter |
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