Food and Livelihood

Food & Livelihood
Tribals once known for their self sustained economy are now under the threat of losing their livelihood and food and on the verge of extinction due to non tribal intrusion and exploitation, severe natural resource depletion, land alienation, displacement and intrusion of multinational companies.

In the light of Supreme Court guidelines to ensure right to food, work, pension and nutrition through implementation of centrally sponsored schemes; ARTS started working on the effective implementation of the schemes since 2004.



    Public Distribution System
    Anthyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY)
    Annapurna
    Old Age Pension
    National Family Benefit Scheme
    National Maternity Benefit scheme
    Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS)
    Mid Day Meals
    Food for Work
    Sampurna Grameena Rozgar Yojana

The major activities evolved under this sector are:

    Support to vulnerable groups
    Promotion of grain banks
  Streamlining PDS
Promotion of market committees
  Value addition training of forest products for women and other income generation programmes

Women Empowerment,Women Rights

The tribal communities in Srikakulam and Vizianagaram district are economically backward and women among them are most marginalised and vulnerable. So one of the initiatives of ARTS was empowerment of tribal women. The programmes helped 96 women headed house holds to start their income generation programmes. ARTS directly supported 91 Women through various economic activities like sheep rearing, petty shops and Poultry. ARTS mobilized support from Indira Kranthi Patham (IKP[1]) and Integrated ribal Development Agency (ITDA[2]) to more than 200 vulnerable women in self help groups.

[1] Indira Kranti Patham (IKP) is a statewide poverty reduction project to enable the rural poor to improve their livelihoods and quality of life through their own organizations.

[2] The ITDAs are generally contiguous areas of the size of a Tehsil or Block or more in which the Tribal population is 50% or more of the total.

“My New Life…Buddamma in her petty shop

Ms. Buddamma is from Regidi village and she is head of her household. Her family depends upon her daily wage work. She had 5 children, but 4 children died. Presently one son, Ravi is staying with her. He was studying intermediate and it was very difficult for Buddamma to support Ravi’s education. At that time ARTS has provided Rs. 6,300/- to Ms. Buddamma to start a petty shop through village sangham. Ms. Buddamma is running the petty shop well; she is selling for Rs, 100 to Rs. 150 per day. She is repaying Rs.300/- to the sangham every month. Now she has
overcome her financial problems and her son got job as army. Ms. Buddamma says “The support given by ARTS is very much useful and helped to start a new life.

Ensuring an Entitlement by Realising the Rights of the Communities in NREGS

ARTS is working in 3 panchayts in Seethampet mandals of Srikakulam district in Andhra Pradesh. These selected villages cover from exclusive Tribal population of Pedaram , Kadagandi, Shambham Panchayats. In this process, promoting 4 CBOs in these panchats and Mandal level Federation in Seethampet Mnadal.

Objectives:

Ensuring an entitlement through NREG Programme for promoting natural resource development and food security of poor and marginalized

Activities:

• Ensuring the entitlements
• Building participatory &transparent planning process and implementation systems at Panchayat level
• Capacity Building of Communities and field functionaries
• Innovations and pilots
• Evolving as resource organization
• Policy Advocacy

Major Achievements:

• 895 job cards issued after our programme initiation
• Demanding wage seekers for minimum wage per day Rs 80/- to 100/-
• Receipts are providing for Work applications
• Funcationalisation of Graveness system at pachayat level
• Participatory planning for identification of works by the communities for their resource development
• Funcationalisation of wage seeker groups
• Formed Mandal and panchayat level federations
• Facilitation of Grama Sabhas in all panchayts with funcationaries
• IEC material on our programme
• Documentation - results, experiences and impact with case studies and photo graphs

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Food and Livelihood

Tribals once known for their self sustained economy are now under the threat of losing their livelihood and food and on the verge of extinction due to non tribal intrusion and exploitation, severe natural resource depletion, land alienation, displacement and intrusion of multinational companies.

In the light of Supreme Court guidelines to ensure right to food, work, pension and nutrition through implementation of centrally sponsored schemes; ARTS started working on the effective implementation of the schemes since 2004.

The schemes are – Public Distribution System, Anthyodaya Annayojana (AAY), Annapurna, Old Age Pension, National Family Benefit Scheme, National Maternity Benefit scheme, Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS), Mid Day Meals, Food for Work and Sampurna Grameena Rozgar Yojana. The major activities evolved under this sector are – support to vulnerable groups, promotion of grain banks, streamlining PDS, promotion of market committees, value addition training of forest products for women and other income generation programmes.

My Secure Food: This is a case study of Talagapu Narayanamma (50 years) who is a widow and lives with her 15 year old son. She doesn’t have any land. She earns her living as a daily wage earner, while her son helps her in the domestic work. She holds an Antodaya card, and receives 35 Kgs of rice every month. But she was able to purchase 35 Kgs of rice due to shortage of money and the rice she receives was not sufficient for the entire month.

Last year Narayanamma was supported with 120 Kgs of rice from the grain bank which was promoted by ARTS with ActionAid’s support. She is happy to get timely support from ARTS and ActionAid.

ARTS Annual Report – 2009 – 10

Action in Rural Technology and Service (ARTS) has register as society under the societies Act1860 in May 1993. It has been a registered under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India in 1998 for obtaining funds from foreign Contribution. ARTS has registered with the Department of Income Tax for the grants received.
Action in Rural Technology and Service (ARTS) is working towards tribal empowerment to improve livelihoods through Natural Resource Development in Kurupam, G.M. Valasa and G.L puram Mandals of Vizianagaram Districts and Burja, Seethampet, Veeraghatam mandals and Amadalavalasa, Rajam, Palakonda (towns with distressed women) in Srikakulam District and also promoting 28 tribal youth working in 414 tribal habitations in Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts with support of Action Aid India, WASSAN-FORD, DKA-Austria, NABARD, Aid et Action, SERP-IKP-DRDA, RVM/SSA - DPEP,NCLP and VARA Kommun - Sweden.

In this period project focused on the strengthening of communities into sanghas and federation of the sanghas as “Adivasi Samakhya”, Girijana Sanghtiha, Girijana Samikurutha, Girijana Nava Chaitanya, Grmmena Samikurutha, Adivasi Sanghtitha and Narichetana at project level. The major programme focused to mitigate drought situation in Srikakulam and Vizanagaram districts.
The organization promoted grain banks, kitchen gardens, seed banking and implemented Skill Development Trainings, Community Managed Watershed Programme, Community Managed Sustainable Agriculture, Women & Child Rights and also facilitated programmes to implement NREGS, Forest Rights Act & Land Rights at community level through gramasabhas in rights approach to improve the livelihoods of the communities. The major groups covered in this period are women, farmers,, sanghas leaders and elected members of PRIs in the village.

The Communities are surfed with drought in this area at the same time Kurnool received floods and damaged the lives in that area. Our communities came forward and collected rice, tamarind, dhall and blankets for rehabilitation of flood affected communities. Ms. A. Siri - R.D.O – Palakonda f lagged our material van to reach Kurnool. The youth provided rehabilitation services in flood affected areas of Kurnool and provide ration to the communities with the help of Net work of voluntary organizations of Kurnool (Action Aid partners).

The Major Programmes facilitated in the year 2009-10:

- strengthening of sanghas and federation
- Facilitation on better agricultural practices and soil & moisture conservation through community based watershed programme.
- Facilitation of Maa Thota Programme in 300 acres under Tribal Development Fund
- Facilitation and documentation of land and forest land rights
- Facilitated campaigns on extension of 5th Schedule and Panchat Raj extension to Schedule areas to promote tribal governance
- Facilitated Campaign on Food Rights of communities from Bhamini Mandal – Srikakulam to Bhadrachalam in the tribal region
- Promotion of livelihood skill development programmes through Bio-Compost, Vermi Compost, Adda leaf making, Broom making, Cashew processing and revolving fund support to petty business like sheep, dairy, weavers, salt vendors etc…
- Promoted food crops and kitchen gardens with 1200 families to ensure food & nutrition


- Promotion of women & child Rights by facilitating Women’s day, Agricultural Women’s day, Awareness on domestic violence Act and child malas.
- Promotion of Tribal identity and culture through Adivasi Malas
- Promotion of NREGS and Grama Sabhas
- Facilitated communities for flood relief continuations and rehabilitation at kurnool


ARTS has brought many changes in the lives of tribal children living in Sikakulam and Vizianagaram of Andhra Pradesh state in India. Action Aid has been working here with local organization ARTS since 2001 and thanks to your support that we have been able to improve the quality of poor Tribal people’s lives so that they could live with respect and dignity and able to raise their voices to access their rights.

In this update we want to share with some of our successes and achievement over the past years. ARTS is working in Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts with 6493 tribal families living in 165 villages for the past 9 years. Our main aim has been to strengthen the community and enable them to get enough food and resources for a livelihood. The major emphasis is on food security & livelihood through land, forest land rights & governance, women and child development. Thanks to your extended support. These successes and more were only possible because of your sponsorship of a child. On behalf of children, families and their communities I thank you for your generosity and support to our work in Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts.

Education:

ARTS started its work in the interior tribal villages where community not aware of education and not sending their children to school. There were government schools in the area but people were not aware of the admission system. 268 Children were regularized to join in schools and out of this 6 members have got Govt Jobs in various departments. With the intervention of ARTS, there was change in the lives of children either through providing mid day meals in the schools, to retain the children in schools with joyful life and mobilise the resources for professional studies. The following case study shows how it was possible.

“Aspires to become an Engineer”:

Yendayya belonged to Tiyyaliguda village in Vobbangi panchayat, Kurupam Mandal of Viziaanagaram District. The village is located on the hill top and 46 kms far from the Mandal Headquarter. In this village 45 Savara families are residing. He studied in Vobbangi village till 7th Standard and then he completed 8th standard from Tikkabai Ashram School. He was bright and smart student and securing Distinction marks in all his academics. His parents were illiterate but he has determined to study well, come up in life to have his own identity. This determination led him to secure 537 marks out of 600 in the secondary school certificate (S.S.C) and was the topper in the Mandal. The parents had mixed expressions of sorrow and joy, because of their poverty their son’s further education may not be possible to pursue. Ravikiran, a member of CBO identified the problem of Yendayya’s family in the village and he brought to the notice of Mandal Education Officer (MEO) for support. He brought IIT application sent through online. He also met Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) Programme Officer and district Collector. Both of them responded positively came forward to remit the fee of Rs. 36,000. The constant effort of ARTS CBO Ravikiran brought a success. Yendayya says “I am indebted to ARTS CBO Ravikiran, ITDA P.O, Collector and education department for their empathetic cooperation. Now my final goal is to become an Engineer.”

Leadership training programmes

Leadership training programmes have been conducted and 36 members were imposed the leadership traits for acquiring self reliance and to represent the problem facing groups themselves.

Adivasi Sanghatitha has been conducting periodic monthly meetings in villages to entail on people about awareness of rights and availing govt. welfare oriented measures and programmes. They could represent their problems in Mandal offices and ITDA’s themselves by availing these training programmes.

The programmes resulted into making dignified livelihood. Self help Groups have been strengthened by formation of Mutually Aided Co-operative Society Sub groups and there by single woman dependents were given sheep and goats to eke out living. The women were encouraged to run grain banks to have sound economic status. Women entrepreneurship was encouraged . Grain Banks were established as a part of right to food and food security.

PRA.s could identify about 70 dropouts in education and basic skills in 18 villages. By running National Child labour programmes, skill development schools such as Tailoring and Fashion Technology, Two Wheeler Mechanism, the 70 dropouts could be reduced to 10 dropouts since 60 dropouts could be brought into mainstream.

ARTS has strengthened cultivated lands by safeguarding water resources and converted barren lands into fertile lands .200 acres of land development and 60 acres Slope Agriculture Land Technology (SALT) activities have been undertaken . In 60 acres traditional crops were sown. As a part of 200 acres Land development each Below Poverty Line family was encouraged to sow cashew, mango plants.

Value addition training programmes are conducted to avail the Natural resources and scares resources. They could get products and finished goods by imbibing Natural resource management.

The people are vulnerable to unfair trade practices by traders. The tribals were provided weighing scales to check the practices.
The training was conducted to realize the importance of Herbal Healers, indigenous medicines and naturopathy which are abundant in tribal forests. The experts in the field imparted the training.

In 18 villages Panchayat presidents, and ward members were enlightened about their powers duties and responsibilities. They were educated and trained for proper utilization of their powers and responsibilities. This could be achieved by PRIs effort. The members could identify their village problems and put forward these problems in mandal and district level authorities for solutions They have been educated to be aware of the importance of 5th schedule and 1/70 Act.

Grama sabha is the mechanism through which Govt. can identify the problems and find out the solutions. The village people can bring up the problems relating to village to govt. organizations. Through village people, members and Govt. officials participation.

Self help Groups

The programmes resulted into making dignified livelihood. Self help Groups have been strengthened by formation of Mutually Aided Co-operative Society Sub groups and there by single woman dependents were given sheep and goats to eke out living. The women were encouraged to run grain banks to have sound economic status. Women entrepreneurship was encouraged . Grain Banks were established as a part of right to food and food security.
PRA.s could identify about 70 dropouts in education and basic skills in 18 villages. By running National Child labour programmes, skill development schools such as Tailoring and Fashion Technology, Two Wheeler Mechanism, the 70 dropouts could be reduced to 10 dropouts since 60 dropouts could be brought into mainstream.
ARTS has strengthened cultivated lands by safeguarding water resources and converted barren lands into fertile lands .200 acres of land development and 60 acres Slope Agriculture Land Technology (SALT) activities have been undertaken . In 60 acres traditional crops were sown. As a part of 200 acres Land development each Below Poverty Line family was encouraged to sow cashew, mango plants.
Value addition training programmes are conducted to avail the Natural resources and scares resources. They could get products and finished goods by imbibing Natural resource management.

. The people are vulnerable to unfair trade practices by traders. The tribals were provided weighing scales to check the practices.
The training was conducted to realize the importance of Herbal Healers, indigenous medicines and naturopathy which are abundant in tribal forests. The experts in the field imparted the training.
In 18 villages Panchayat presidents, and ward members were enlightened about their powers duties and responsibilities. They were educated and trained for proper utilization of their powers and responsibilities. This could be achieved by PRIs effort. The members could identify their village problems and put forward these problems in mandal and district level authorities for solutions They have been educated to be aware of the importance of 5th schedule and 1/70 Act.

Grama sabha is the mechanism through which Govt. can identify the problems and find out the solutions. The village people can bring up the problems relating to village to govt. organizations. Through village people, members and Govt. officials participation.

Working together for poverty Eradication