ANNUAL REPORT

2013-14

SPARDHA

Society for Peoples Action and Rural Development in Himalayan Area Ishwari Bhawan, Pokharkhali, Almora-263601

DETAILED ACCOUNT OF ACTIVITIES

The year 2013-14 has been full of activities

ranging for forming Self Help Groups (SHGs),

organizing awareness programmes,

entrepreneurship skill development programmes,

participation in district and state level meeting

conferences and workshops to organizing a

national seminar based on Traditional Knowledge

systems. The organisation has not even slightly

deviated from its path towards the socio-

economic development of

the region

especially the

rural areas of districtAlmora. By the efforts of

the organisation, the changes are visible at

community level. Thousands of people have

gained some kind of skill based on different

trades. Through these programmes the people

have become aware of the unemployment

situation in the country. Now they know that

the job opportunities are shrinking as

compared to the rising working age people. They

are now confident enough to take up

entrepreneurship as their career option and

many of them have already started some kind

of income generating activity. With the kind

support of NABARD (National Bank for

Agriculture and Rural Development), the

organisation is contributing to the socio-

economic development while meeting the

credit requirement of the poor rural people

through Self Help Groups (SHGs) and Joint

Liability Groups (JLGs). The organisation has also

been promoting Bee keeping practice in the region right from its

inception in 1994. And during this period it has trained thousands of people; and

now most of them are rearing honey bees. This activity, as a side line business, is

significantly adding to their income without disturbing the main occupation, and

also contributing to the environment conservation.

SPARDHA has continuously been working to materialize its vision- prosperity with

sustainability that is sustainable development without disturbing the natural

environment. Participation

The organisation actively took part in many programmes and exposure visits all through the year 2013-14 organised by NABARD, K.V.I.V. and Regional Office,

Uttarakhand Gramin Bank. The SPARDHA representatives also took part in National

Seminar and personated papers, through power point presentation.

Sl. No.

Date Description

1 8.4.13 --11.4.13 National Seminar on the theme Role and Relevance of Traditional Knowledge Systems organized by SPARDHA and Lok VIgyan Kendra, Funded by UCOST and ICHR.

2 07.08.2013 Exposure visit to SOS organic, Chitai organized by NABARD for the NGOs.

3 18.10.2013 One day programme at Hotel Pitamber by NABARD on financial inclusion through SHG and JLG.

4 07.11.2013 One day awareness programme for bank officials on SHGs and JLGs.

5 28.11.2013 One day Sensitization programme on Scheme for Development/ Strengthening of Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure, Grading and Standardization. Organized by- NABARD Consultancy Services Pvt. Ltd (NABCONS) in collaboration with National Institute of Agricultural Marketing (NIAM), Ministry of Agriculture, Govt of India at Krishi Vigyan Kendra (K.V.K.), Matela, Almora.

6 31.01.2014 Workshop for the promotion of Bee keeping, organized by Bee Keeping Expansion Centre, Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), Haldwani.

7 06.02.2014 One day seminar for the promotion of Self Help Groups (SHGs) and Joint Liability Groups (JLGs), organized by Regional Office- Uttarakhand Gramin Bank with the support of NABARD, at Almora.

8 One day workshop on Intellectual Property Right (IPR), at regional office, NIESBUD, Dehradun.

National Seminar

From 8.4.13 to 11.4.13 SPARDHA and Lok Vigyan Kendra jointly organized a National Seminar on the theme Role and Relevance of

Traditional Knowledge Systems, today, in the

serene and salubrious environment of Khali

Estate, Binsar Almora. The seminar was

funded by Uttarakhand State Council of

Science and Technology (UCOST) and

Indian Council of Historical Research

(ICHR). The objective of holding the

seminar was to discuss and reach some

conclusion to safeguard the traditional

knowledge of the region, which is fast vanishing

due to the ignorant attitude by the new generation. The

delegates were from all across the country as well as from

Kyoto, Japan. The delegates included- Padm shri Prof. Shekhar Pathak, renowned

archaeologist Prof D. P. Agrawal, Director General of National Council of Science

Museums, Kolkata, Dr G. S. Rautela; Prof Ajay Rawat, an

activist/environmentalist; a successful

entrepreneur Mr Shabeer Imani from

Bombay; Former Vice President of Tata

Consultancy Services (T.C.S.) Mr Shivanand

Kanavi; Prof Vibha Tripathi & Prof Ajit

Tripathi from Banaras Hindu University,

Varanasi; Prof T. Osada; renowned

archaeologist Dr O. C. Handa; Prof

Shahida Ansari; Prof Jeewan S

Kharakwal; Dr Madhu Jain. The local

delegates included Prof Diwa Bhatt; Prof V.D.S. Negi,

Mr Deep Chandra Bisht, Ms Mukti Dutta, Dr C.S. Chauhan, Kailash

Rautela, Lalit Joshi, Pankaj Tamta, Vinayak Pant, Ruchi Rawat etc. Moreover,

Scientists from Vivekanand Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan, Almora and a

large number of students from Kumaun region actively participated in this

important conference.

The organisation has joined hands with Lok Vigyan Kendra, an organisation based at

Almora, in the past also to organize the seminars and other academic activities.

Entrepreneurship Skill Development & Awareness

Programmes

During the year 2013-14, the organisation conducted entrepreneurship skill

development progfammes based on

different trades. The programmes proved

successful as many people who underwent

the skill development programs have set

up their own small enterprises.

The detailed description of the programmes

is as follows:

Sl No.

Date

Description No of Participants

1 21.6.13 ---05.07.13 Candle Making Training Programme, at Petsal, Almora; the programme was financed by District Industries Centre (D.I.C.), Almora.

30

2 05.08.13---31.01.14 Community Development Programme based on digital photography and videography supported by Govt. Women Polytechnic, Almora.

30

3 02.09.1328.02.14 Community Development Programme based on Aipan (Kumauni Traditional Art) supported by Govt. women Polytechnic, Almora.

30

4 02.09.1328.02.14 Community Development Programme based on Bee Keeping supported by Govt. Womens Polytechnic, Almora.

30

5 08.10.13---18.11.13 Beautician and Cosmetology, Manorath Bhawan, Selakhola, Almora; supported by NIESBUD, Dehradun.

27

6 09.10.13---19.11.13 ESDP on Fashion Designing, Manorath Bhawan, Selakhola, Almora, supported by NIESBUD, Dehradun.

27

7 05.12.13 One day awareness/motivation programme on Self Employment at Govt Rural Polytechnic, Takula, Almora jointly organized by SPARDHA and K.V.I.C, Haldwani.

200

8 25.2.1431.3.14 ESDP on M.S. Office and Internet, Dug Market, Bageshwar, supported by NIESBUD, Dehradun.

26

9 25.2.1431.3.14 ESDP on Desk Top Printing (D.T.P.), Pindari Road, Bageshwar, supported by NIESBUD, Dehradun.

26

10 25.2.1431.3.14 ESDP on Beautician and Cosmetology, at Golnakarariya, Almora, supported by NIESBUD, Dehradun.

25

11 25.2.1431.3.14 ESDP on Fashion Designing, at Shailanandpur, Almora, supported by NIESBUD, Dehradun.

25

12 25.2.1431.3.14 ESDP on Beautician and Cosmetology, at Shailanandpur, Almora, supported by NIESBUD, Dehradun.

25

13 28.2.14---12.3.14 Entrepreneurship Development Programmes under Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) organized by SPARDHA and NIESBUD

20

Exposure visit to the Organisation

An exposure visit of about 100 students from Kendriya VIdyalaya, Almora to the Honey Processing Unit of SPARDHA was held on 23.11.2013. The students along with

teachers were told about the basics of bee keeping and the importance of bees in

balancing the eco- system. They were told that bees are the best agents of cross

pollination which plays an important role in enhancing crop yield especially of the

cash crops. Besides, the whole process of honey processing was explained to them.

A team of 15 students led by Prof C.S.S. Thakur, Head of the Department of Sociology and Social Works, R.D. University, Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh) visited the honey

processing unit of SPARDHA on 20.2.2014, as a part of their study tour. The objective

of the exposure visit was to know about the contribution of the NGOs to the socio-

economic development of the region. There was held a formal session in which the

students were told about the different activities of the organisation and the prospect

of bee keeping in the region, and what impact bee keeping practice has

made.

A group of 12 farmers led by Mr Jitendra Sharma, Assistant Project Coordinator, Aroh

Foundation, from Chaukhutiya area, visited

Honey processing unit of SPARDHA on 11.3.14.

The group was exposed to the honey processing

and the apiary. The participants were told about

the importance of bee keeping and its role in

enhancing the crop yield and environment

protection.

Other Community Development Activities

The organisation has also been engaged in other different activities focused on community development like tree plantation,

meet with experts, water harvesting and

other community programmes.

Formation and Saving Linkage/ Credit

linkage of Self Help Groups (S.H.Gs):

During the year 2013-14, about 50 new Self Help Groups (SHGs) were formed and saving

linked in Blocks- Lamgara,

Tarikhet and Bhikiyasain. Some of

the earlier SHGs achieved the Cash

Credit Limit (C.C.L.) linkage and got the

credit of about Rs 2.5 L, in all. Other

SHGs are in the process of achieving CCL

linkage. The total saving of all the

groups has crossed Rs 10 L mark. The SHGs

are playing a very significant role in bringing the socio-

economic development to the region, and meeting the

purpose of SHGs supported by NABARD- Development of rural areas

through credit.

Activities through Farmers Club:

Many activities were carried out during the year through farmers clubs. During meet with expert programmes, the experts from different fields such as Agriculture Scientist, Veterinary Officer, Bank officials,

soil conservationist and environmentalists

were invited to disseminate their

knowledge among the members of the

farmers clubs at the unofficial forum of

the clubs. Activities like vaccination of

animals against common diseases, soil

testing for retrieving the lost nutrients,

distribution of medicines for cattle

against the khur paka, Mukh Paka and

other diseases were carried out.

SPARDHA is committed to the socio-economic development of the region and has been successful in transforming the lives of the people

especially the resourceless rural people. SPARDHA has become a ray of hope for the poor people of the region.

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