Donate to Poor, charity, human rights, Development, Women,PrimitiveTribal People

Women Empowerment,Women Rights

2011-01-20T22:06:00.000-08:00

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

2011-01-20T21:52:00.000-08:00

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

Food and Livelihood

2010-11-22T01:54:00.000-08:00

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

2010-10-10T23:50:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-19T22:44:00.001-07:00

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

2010-08-04T23:02:00.000-07:00

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

Participatory Rural Appraisal

2010-08-04T22:57:00.000-07:00

Participatory Rural Appraisa identify the old who are entitled for old age pension , single women ( widow ), Illiterates, waste lands, village without schools, the villages without electricity , people not in possession of lands, unregistered lands, prevailing problems in Daily Ration Depots, Job card holders under NREGS, non availability of roads and transportation facilities. ARTS has been addressing the identified problems and sorting out through implementation of above said programmes. The process is initiated through formation of communities into sanghas and federation of sanghas as Adivasi Sanghatitha. The major groups covered SHGs, Mutually Aided Co-operative Society members and Sanghas leaders. They strengthened the sanghas and federation. P R.As mobilizes the sanghas to impose confidence in Tribal community.
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.

Drought Mitigation Programme:

2010-08-03T05:40:00.000-07:00

The main interventions were
1. Support the grain banks through providing rice and ragi to meet the emergency needs
2. Promotion of kitchen gardens
3. Drinking water facilities
4. Gram Sabha to create awareness on NREGS
5. Health camps and Emergencies
6. Facilitation of Government Programme

1.Support the grain banks through providing rice and ragi to meet the emergency needs:

ARTS support to 20 CBOs in two district with the support of Action Aid, they are working in village level issues regarding the drought situation then ARTS and CBOs planned to create food security to every family through the promotion of grain banks by providing 10 tones rice and 5 tones through 100 grain banks to benefit 2450 poorest of the poor families ( 34 grain banks in srikakulam and 66 grain banks in vizaianagaram dist.),Totally.

2. Promotion of kitchen gardens:

ARTS support 100 kitchen gardens kits to 350 families in our 100 villages.

3. Support to Drinking water facilities:

ARTS supported Gravitation flow system in Chappaguda village to benefit 36 families and 15 bore wells repaired with the help of government in the area.

Health camps and Emergencies

Tribal Livelihood Development Programme

2010-08-02T05:38:00.000-07:00

ARTS is initiated to associate with 673 tribal families with 2410 population (768 male, 745female and 439 boys& 458 girls) of 18 habitations in Veeraghatam mandal of Srikakulam district. The families associated with ARTS belong to Savara and Jathapu.
The project is formulated to build the community capacities by federating SHGs, farmers and panchayats to develop the livelihoods of the communities. The following are the achievements in this year.

- Strengthening of 43 SHGs groups.
- Strengthening of 36 no. of elected panchayat representatives.
- Formation of federation.
- Developed 100 acres waste land of 120 farmers and 30 acres of podu land to create food security through agricultural development.
- 62280 person days and Rs. 49,82,400-00 wage leveraged by 582 families under NREG.
- Accessing rights on 876 acres of podu land with the help of FRAct- 2006.

Programme and Process:

Natural Resource Development, community Forest management, imparting training on Better agricultural practices, facilitation of forest and land rights, promotion of skill development programmes, preservation of culture, imparting education on availing govt. programmes on Panchayat Raj Institutions and development of leadership traits , conducting training programmes on health and nutrition and conducting training programme on child rights are the programmes undertaken by ARTS with the support of DKA Austria.

Sustainable Agriculture Impact of the Project:

2010-07-31T04:16:00.000-07:00

Impact of the Project:

1. Near Darimalli Village a pipe Aqueduct and 65 acres of land was brought in to cultivation.

2. A Check dam was constructed near Naidumalli village on Sunam Cheruvu under which 35 farmers got benefited .

3. A Form pond was formed near Darimalli and Sant;hamalli villages because of which 8 acres of land benefited

4. Under Afforestation, Dry land Horticulture and agro horticulture 18520 plants were distributed.

5. Stone Gully Plugs of about 160 cum in volume were constructed to stop soil erosion and protection to pineapple, turmeric and cashew plants.

In Kusimi village a diversion drain (retaining wall) was constructed as a result 27 acres of land got benefited.

6. About 14809 cum Water Absorption Trenches in foothills were formed to check the soil erosion. This has helped to grow cashew, turmeric and pineapple.

In sloppy lands, Continuous Contour trenches were formed 3624 cum in volume.These help checking soil erosion and recharge the ground water and keep the moisture available to the plants.

7. Stone bunds have been constructed about 2852 cum in volume across the hill slopes to check soil erosion.They helped in good crop returns from cashew, pineapple, turmeric papaya, ginger, tamarind, banana cultivated on the hill slopes.

8. The floods in the last year have resulted into a large depression in the soil in the down slope of Pamuguda CheckDam ;and it was stopping the water flow to the lands of Kusumiguda, Kusumi, Patruniguda, Santhamalli, Darimalli, Naidumalli, Masalaguda villages. The farmers have experienced losses in crop yields. Over flow weir has given solution to the problem of salutation of lands up to 2 acres . Now the water gets stagnated in the tank.

9.. The tank renovation work done about 14888 cum for Mallamma Cheruvu, Sunnam Cheruvu, Pamugadda Cheruvu, Malli Cheruvu has resulted into increase in the capacity of tanks.This helped in getting 270 acres of land into cultivation.

10. The waste lands were cleared, farm bunds were strengthen (14289 cum), land leveling was done to the 82 acres f wasted lands in Santhamnalli, Darimalli and Chilagam villages. Farmers started cultivating pigeon pea, maize, horse gram finger millet and vegetables in these lands.

In Kusumi area, there was around 70 acres of titled land. But the records were lying with ITDA and people lacked information about their lands. ARTS has facilitated sub division of the land and assigned it to the tribal people for cultivation. People started planting cashew and other crops in these lands. The project has facilitated titles for 35 acres of land for 20 families in the same area.
Due to high migrations in the project area there were many school drop out children in the area. Due to employment creation in the watershed area, people started returning their villages. Around 36 such children were identified and joined in the Child Labour School run by ARTS.

In Chilagam watershed area, because of the availability of 15870 person days for 350 people migration has been checked to some extent. An amount of Rs.1054733 was spent in the project towards this.

The capacity of the tanks were increased due to renovation of tanks and it resulted in increase of ground water level. The tube wells also shown remarked difference in water levels. The condition is favorable for jute processing and aqua culture .
In around 50 ha of land crop diversity has been practiced which can improve the soil health.

Group organization.Poverty needs

Sustainable Agriculture

2010-07-29T01:42:00.000-07:00

In the Chilagam watershed area watershed development committee was formed with 11 members. This committee meets twice in a month and discuss watershed works (Stone gully plugs, contour Bunding, drop wall structure, check dams and loose Bunding structures).

These issues are being explained to the community.The following issues were discussed in these meetings.
• WDF works •
Planting of Cashew, mango, teak stumps and Fodder seeds and encouraging pitcher irrigation.• Village level problems• Land pattas and land issues• Conduction of the Girijana Sameekrutha members meeting every month on 23rd and the strengthening of committee. • Conduction of the Meetings to create awareness on Non pesticide management practices, group building, management and environment.• Macs group’s formation and livelihood loan repayments.• Explaining of Issues like WDF maintenance fund and livelihood funds to the community. MEDP trainings and creation of proper marketing facility to the community.• Strengthening of VA’S functioning.• Conduction of the meetings with agriculture department and Horticulture department.• Conduction of Veterinary health camps and Gramasabha.• Land development• Cashew processing unit• Cashew processing and making of adda leaf plates trainings• NREGS works• Meetings with KVK ATMA team• PHC’S mobilization for Health camps in case of any health problems in the concerned working area.• Undertaking of exposure visits and explaining about WDF works to the visitors.• Overseeing of watershed works and ensuring the release of funds.• Survey number wise implementation of works identified in the net planning.

Promotion of women & child Rights by facilitating Women’s day,

2010-07-28T23:26:00.000-07:00

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. Featuring the futures 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 schoolsFeaturing the futures 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

http://artsindia.org/

Group organization.Poverty needs

2010-07-26T22:50:00.000-07:00

CHILAGAM WATERSHED DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

In the Chilagam watershed area watershed development committee was formed with 11 members. This committee meets twice in a month and discuss watershed works (Stone gully plugs, contour Bunding, drop wall structure, check dams and loose Bunding structures). These issues are being explained to the community.
The following issues were discussed in these meetings.

• WDF works
• Planting of Cashew, mango, teak stumps and Fodder seeds and encouraging pitcher irrigation.
• Village level problems
• Land pattas and land issues
• Conduction of the Girijana Sameekrutha members meeting every month on 23rd and the strengthening of committee.
• Conduction of the Meetings to create awareness on Non pesticide management practices, group building, management and environment.
• Macs group’s formation and livelihood loan repayments.
• Explaining of Issues like WDF maintenance fund and livelihood funds to the community. MEDP trainings and creation of proper marketing facility to the community.
• Strengthening of VA’S functioning.
• Conduction of the meetings with agriculture department and Horticulture department.
• Conduction of Veterinary health camps and Gramasabha.
• Land development
• Cashew processing unit
• Cashew processing and making of adda leaf plates trainings
• NREGS works
• Meetings with KVK ATMA team
• PHC’S mobilization for Health camps in case of any health problems in the concerned working area.
• Undertaking of exposure visits and explaining about WDF works to the visitors.
• Overseeing of watershed works and ensuring the release of funds.
• Survey number wise implementation of works identified in the net planning.
Group organization.Poverty needs
http://artsindia.org/

Non-profit, Non-Governmental Organization

2010-07-20T21:32:00.000-07:00

Community based watershed management program:

In the Vonigedda watershed area watershed development committee was formed with 11 members. This committee meets twice a month and discuss watershed works (Stone gully plugs, contour Bunding, drop wall structure, check dams and loose Bunding structures). These issues are being explained to the community.
The following issues were discussed in these meetings.
• Village problems like drinking water, land pattas and land issues.
• The mainstreaming 20 child laborers.
• PHC’S mobilization for Health camps in case of any health problems in the concerned working area.
• Planting of Cashew, mango, teak stumps and Fodder seeds and encouraging pitcher irrigation.
• Conduction of the Grameena Sameekrutha members meeting every month on 23rd and the strengthening of committee.
• Conduction of the Meetings to create awareness on Non pesticide management practices, group building, management and environment.
• Macs group’s formation and livelihood loan repayments.
• Explaining of Issues like WDF maintenance fund and livelihood funds to the community. MEDP trainings and creation of proper marketing facility to the community.
• Strengthening of VA’S functioning.
• Conduction of the meetings with agriculture department and Horticulture department.
• Conduction of Veterinary health camps and Gramasabha.
• Discussion of NREGS, RT1 act and Domestic violence act.
• Surveying of lands.
• Undertaking of exposure visits and explaining about WDF works to the visitors.
• Overseeing of watershed works and ensuring the release of funds.
• Survey number wise implementation of works identified in the net planning.
Impact of the project
• 133 landless poor families were given 89 Acres of land with pattas in the Vonigedda watershed area. In that land those families have planted horticulture plants. Presently they are earning between Rs.4000 to 7000 per annum.
• Irrigation facility was available to 248 acres of land with the construction of check dams.
• The canal coming from the hill was developed and ensured irrigation facility to 31 Acres of land with the construction of Drop wall structure.
• 188 families were benefited with the completion of Contour Bunding works in 144 Acres.
• Irrigation facility was available to 32 acres of land with the construction of Loose Bunding Structure in Koragam, Vykuntapuram and Uppinivalasa villages.
• Stone Outlets were constructed in 182 Acres.
• Milk collection centre was established in watershed areas. With this work 69 farmers will be benefited.
• Different crops like seasom, sunflower and vegetables were grown by 282 farmers.
• 250 kgs of fodder seeds were distributed to 32 farmers.
• 8 vermi compost units were constructed with 152 farmers as part of non pesticide management practices.
• Soil fertility tests were conducted in 60 farmer’s lands and analyzed the type of soil and which types of crops can be grown in such lands.
• 25 Macs sub groups were farmed through Grameena Sameekrutha and created livelihood resources to 82 women.
• Loans were sanctioned for sheep, goat and cattle rearing and salt business. The repayment was in process.
• The ground water level was increased by 3 feet with the watershed works.
• The annual income has increased by Rs.6000 to 15000 in the watershed area.

 In Vonigedda watershed area, because of the availability of 15870 person days for 350 people migration has been checked to some extent. Ant amount of Rs. 1054733 was spent in the project towards this.
 The capacity of the tanks increased due to renovation of tanks and it resulted in increase of ground water level. The tube wells also shown remarked difference in water levels. The condition is favorable for jute processing and aqua culture.
 In around 50 ha of land crop diversity has been practiced which can improve the soil health.

Drought Mitigation Programme, ArtsIndia Srikakulam

2010-07-19T03:00:00.000-07:00

Drought Mitigation Programme:
The main interventions were
1. Support the grain banks through providing rice and ragi to meet the emergency needs
2. Promotion of kitchen gardens
3. Drinking water facilities
4. Gram Sabha to create awareness on NREGS
5. Health camps and Emergencies6. Facilitation of Government Programme
Government Programme
1.Support the grain banks through providing rice and ragi to meet the emergency needs:
ARTS support to 20 CBOs in two district with the support of Action Aid, they are working in village level issues regarding the drought situation then ARTS and CBOs planned to create food security to every family through the promotion of grain banks by providing 10 tones rice and 5 tones through 100 grain banks to benefit 2450 poorest of the poor families ( 34 grain banks in srikakulam and 66 grain banks in vizaianagaram dist.),Totally.
2. Promotion of kitchen gardens:
ARTS support 100 kitchen gardens kits to 350 families in our 100 villages.

3. Support to Drinking water facilities:
ARTS supported Gravitation flow system in Chappaguda village to benefit 36 families and 15 bore wells repaired with the help of government in the area.

4. Gram Sabha to create awareness on NREGS.
Facilitated Grama sabhas and create awareness on NREGA programme , 14 Grama Sabhas are conducted and 12 group work applications are applied in the Grama Sabhas.
1360 families are received work under NREGS about 43 days in this six months through our facilitation process.
Natural Resource Management

Workshops,studies and training

2010-07-16T21:28:00.000-07:00

ARTS team participated in the following training programs.

* Training on Netplan, which is organized by ARTS – NABARD.
* Training on strengthening of SHGs by DRDA.
* Training on Watershed Management by NABARD- Hyderabad.
* Training on Ridge to vally concepts on water shed Management – WASAN – Hydeabad.
* Logical frame work by IGSSS.
* Waste land development exposure program G. Vdaigiri by IGSSS.
* Tribal Rights and Empowerment process by Action Aid.
* Training on Better Agricultural Practices.
* Training on Panchayat Raj intuition and women by CWS women Net work .
* Training on Gender Sensitisation by CWS – women Network and Action Aid- Hyderabad.
* Training on Leadership Training progamme by Manavatha Kendra – Mumbai.
* Vulnerable women & Sex worker Study in Srikakulam.
* Training on Rights Based approach by Action – Aid – Vishakapatnam.
* Training on AIDS/HIV spread by ARTS- SHP.
* Study on Hunger and food security in Tribal areas of Srikakulam by Action Aid & ARTS.
* Micro – level planning and community Forest Management by APSFD – Dhalapulli.
* Participated in Asian Social Form program – Hyderabad.
*Participated in Social Audit Process by Action – Aid – Malkangiri.
*and Personality development.
Training on MIS, Finance and Accounting System by FMSF – New Delhi.
Training on Behevioural communication change.
Sindromic case management.
Training on council ling skills.

The progress of the activities are reviewed on a weekly basis by the Project Director the project has developed a compresive training program for its staff. ARTS is developed an employee information system ie a directory of skills inventory. This contains information on each employee’s education, skills, experience and career aspirations (Computerized).

This will be reviewed/ updated annually during the performance appraisal and accordingly the training calendar will be drawn. This will also help to reflect in line with the organizations vision and mission and evaluate the project performance in reaching out to the most disadvantaged groups. The program staff is submitting their plans and reports to the Project Director on a weekly basis. The staff are provided training on different themes and issues.
Development Organization

Action in Rural Technology & Service, a development organization

2010-06-15T23:17:00.000-07:00

Action in Rural Technology and Service
ARTS main mission is promotion and strengthening of livelihood system in sustainable equitable manner by Natural Resource Management through Peoples Participation and its vision is to work towards a society based on human dignity, equality, co-operation, justice and peace

The overall strategy of the project is organising and strengthening men and women into groups and in the process strengthen and formalise the locally evolved institution to sustain the development process by networking, addressing the pertinent issues and accessing resources from various sources both government and non-government. All the 23 villages have formed into sanghas (groups). Each household has a man and a woman representative in the village sangha. The village level sabghas will be federated in the forth coming years to form a broad base/platform to raise and address issues. All the development and issues based work will be done through the sanghas with the facilitation of ARTS.

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Action in Rural Technology & Service

2010-06-13T21:32:00.000-07:00

Welcome to ARTS - Action in Rural Technology & Service, a Non-profit, Non-Governmental Organization based in Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh working for the upliftment of tribal people in Srikakulam & Vijayanagaram districts of Andhra Pradesh, India. ARTS is promoted by an young, dynamic & energetic pious person named Sanyasi Rao.

ARTS is a member in Srikakulam district Joint Forest Management Committee, Sub-Committee Member in ITDA, Seethampeta. And actively involving by networking with like minded NGOs in Srikakulam District by name Sri Seva Samakhya (SSS) and acting as convener for SSS, Eastern Ghat Joint Forest Management network promoted by SPWD, NAVADHANYA, New Delhi on Bio-Diversity etc.

Mr. N.Sanyasi Rao served as a Resource person for 5 NGOs for SPWD, for 10 NGOs for Action Aid on Water Harvesting and as a Research Associate for Echotec services, New Delhi on 'Farm Forestry in Andhra Pradesh' for the purpose of World Bank study.

Poverty ,NGO, Charity, Donor, Help, Rights ,donate to charity

2010-06-13T21:24:00.000-07:00

Action in Rural Technology & Service, a development organization working in the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. ARTS, a NPO based in Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh working for the upliftment of tribal people in Srikakulam & Vijayanagaram districts of Andhra Pradesh, India ARTS works with vulnerable people to improve their quality of life within defined periods of time. ARTS is a member in Srikakulam district Joint Forest Management Committee, Sub-Committee Member in ITDA, Seethampeta.