Samuha - Ann Report 16-17samuha.org/docs/Samuha-AnnReport16-17.pdf · • I Sambhav • RenukaAradya. Annual Report 2016-17 4 PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY ... *Rs.10,81,366 was paid to T

Board members President N Samson, GRAM,

Nizamabad Vice President G Nagarajan, IRDT,

Dharmapuri Treasurer Pradeep Esteves,

Context India, Bangalore

Member HR Prakash, ARTIC, Srikakulum

Member Dr Gurveen Kaur, Centre For Learning, Hyderabad

Member Raja Menon, Jeevike, Kolkatta

Member Dr Suman Balan, Bengaluru

Member Ram Prasad, Friends of Lakes, Swachha, Bengaluru

Secretary T Pradeep, SAMUHA, iSquareD,

aKasmika, Bengaluru Auditors Rajagopal and Badri

Narayanan, Bengaluru Ofc of the Director

Director Narayanswamy M Director, Social Justice YJ Rajendra Director, HIV/AIDS Gender, Learning

Sanghamitra Iyengar

Deputy Director, Disabilities

B Hampanna

Deputy Director, Operations

SS Ghanti

Deputy Director, Sustainable Agriculture

D Saravanan

Asst Director, Koppal MB Kukanoor

Institutional Advisors Micro Credit Mental Health

RL Acharya Manohar MR

SOCIAL INCUBATION To-date, SAMUHA has incubated the following independent entities that continue to work in development. − Mahiti, an internet resource group

for non-profits Tel: +91.80.49058333 www.mahiti.org

− Suvidya, an educational resource group Tel: +91.9980131765

− Jana Sahayog, an organization of People Living in Slums Tel: +91.80.22128565

− Samraksha, an organisation working in health and development with special focus on reproductive sexual health and HIV/AIDS Tel: +91.80.26604563 www.samraksha.org

− iSquareD, an organisation focusing on social enterprise. iSquareD or i2D takes its name from the 3 words “Innovation, Internet and Development.” Tel: +91.80.23519569

− Samarthya, an organisation working with People with Disabilities. Samarthya takes its name from the Sanskrit for ‘Potential’. Tel: +91 8539 234449 www.samarthya.org

− aKasmika, a privately held IT resource group, focuses on building GIS/MIS Data Backbones to bring primary data centre-stage in decision-making Tel: +91.80.23510327 www.akasmika.net

SAMUHA is especially appreciative of the consistent support it has received over the years from: • MS Rajagopal of M/S Rajagopal

andBadriNarayanan,Chartered Accountants, who continues to provide on-going institutional advice over and above the call of audit

• SCI Germany volunteers who continue to provide cross-cultural learning and valuable field support

SAMUHA acknowledges and is thankful for the support it received from the following organisationsand individuals during the year. Partners

• Hindustan Unilever Foundation • Ford Foundation • Infosys Limited • FRLHT • Samuha Overseas Development

Association, Canada • Deaf Child Worldwide • Give India Foundation • Carers Worldwide • SCI Germany • The Association of People with

Disability • National Trust • GiftAbled Foundation • Zilla Panchayat, Raichur • Taluk Panchayat,Deodurg • Stockholm Environment Institute, USA • University of Colorado Denver • Pragathi Krishna Gramin Bank

Friends • NS Hema (family) • Olive Travers • Florian Kaade • Dr Ravindranath A Bhovi • Niranjan Khatri • Anupama Khatri • I Sambhav • RenukaAradya

Annual Report 2016-17 4

PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY

The following disclosures are based on Credibility Alliance Norms and pertain to the last audited period.

DETAILS OF BOARD MEMBERS AS OF 31ST MARCH 2017 Name Position on Board No. of

meetings attended

Remuneration and reimbursements in Rs.

N Samson President 1 0

G Nagarajan Vice President 3 0

Pradeep Esteves Treasurer 3 0

HR Prakash Member 3 0

Dr Gurveen Kaur Member 0 0

Raja Menon Member 3 0

Dr Suman Balan Member 3 0

Ram Prasad Member 3 0

T Pradeep Secretary 3 0

*Rs.10,81,366 was paid to T Pradeep towards consultancy & professional charges towards developing and maintaining a GIS/MIS Data Backbone for the HUF-SAMUHA Partnership in his capacity as Proprietor, aKasmika, an IT resource group. The data backbone has the capacity to host 100,000 farmers at the household and plot levels and provides aggregated reports at household, village, Gram Panchayat, taluk, district, state, India and partner levels. DISTRIBUTION OF STAFF ACCORDING TO SALARY LEVELS AS OF 31ST MARCH 2017 Slab of gross salary (in Rs) plus benefits paid to staff (per month)

Male staff Female staff

Total staff

Less than 5000 0 0 0

5,000 – 10,000 52 28 80

10,000 – 25,000 68 7 75

25,000 – 50,000 7 1 8

50,000 – 1,00,000 3 0 3

Greater than 1,00,000 0 0 0


INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL No International Travel was undertaken by any of the Personnel and Board Members in this financial year.

STAFF REMUNERATION [Gross yearly salary + benefits] IN RUPEES

Name Designation Remuneration (in Rs.) [Gross yearly + benefits]

Operational Head of the organisation: (including honorarium):

Narayanswamy M Director 10,46,676

Highest paid person in the organisation (staff or consultant):

D Saravanan Deputy Director, Agriculture

10,20,000

Lowest paid person in the organisation (staff or consultant):

Basavva Cook 67,568


PUBLIC MONEY

- BALANCE SHEET AS OF MARCH 31st, 2017


-INCOME and EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT AS OF MARCH 31st, 2017


- RECEIPTS and PAYMENT ACCOUNT AS OF MARCH 31st, 2017


DIFABILITIES

Samarthya is a difability resource group. SAMUHA collaborates with Samarthya to run projects catering to a wide array of needs. DISHA Centre In Nov 2016, Samarthya started a DISHA centre supported by the National Trust in Koppal. The DISHA centre caters to children with difabilities and their families through day care and prepares children for school-readiness together with therapy support. Currently 18 children are enrolled in DISHA centre, Koppal. Early Intervention Centre The Centre continuously aims at addressing development delays in children as early as possible in order to prevent or minimise these. Samarthya works closely with ASHA workers, RBSKs, VRWs and MRWs for referrals and makes sure they are aware of issues through continuous engagement and training. Achievements: • 327 children received disability assessment-follow-up • 591 children received early intervention support • 5 children with clubfoot received plastering and correction • 2 children with cataract and one child with heart surgery received surgery through RBSK

scheme • 1,072 RBSK, ANMs, ASHA workers, ICDS teachers, School teachers and NGO staff

were provided early intervention training. Deaf children The major focus of this intervention is screening and identification of children with hearing problems as early as possible. After identification, staff provide regular communication therapy and home based support to the children and their families. Once children enter school, staff members offer special training, and support to teachers and peers.Samarthyaalso conducts short stay camps during the year for intensive support in sign language training and communication exercises for the children. As part of this programme 300 Deaf children (<14 years) were supported this year. Deaf youth In order to support deaf youth (14 to 24 years of age), Samarthya operates a community based intervention, and in addition conducts several short stay camps in a year. As part of its advocacy, Samarthya facilitated a meeting between deaf youth and their parents along with the Deputy Commissioner, Koppal in order to draw attention to the 3% reservation fund towards hearing aids, appointing of sign language teacher, issues related to pension and new employment opportunities for deaf youth.

Coverage: 348 villages across Koppal and Raichur districts of Karnataka, providing Services to over 2816 people with difabilities {from the differently abled} (PWDs).


Achievements: • 370 deaf youth and 300 deaf childrenwerecovered under the programme • 61 children were evaluated during the Audiogram and Early Intervention camp for deaf in

partnership with Dr SR Chandrasekhar Institute of Speech and Hearing, Bangalore (90% were identified with severe hearing loss)

• 350 ICDS/school teachers/IERTs received training on inclusive education • 11deaf youth participated in 10th standard supplementary examination. Seven passed • 10 Deaf club members were invited by Utsav organizers to perform Bharatanatyam and

Mime show • Deaf club members gave nine programmes in schools and communities through mime

shows and action songs. • Starkey Foundation with Red Cross conducted camps in Deodurg, Koppal and Bangalore

providing BT hearing aids to 83 Hearing Impaired children • GiftAbled India organized training for 48 deaf youth & parents on personal hygiene and

health. • Dr Shantha Radhakrishna from Wagdevi Foundation, Bengaluru, trained staff on deaf

education • The Deodurg Taluk Panchayat and Red Cross Koppal sponsored buses for HI children to

go to Bangalore to get hearing aids. Functional Adaptation Functional Adaptation allows home-bound PWDs the freedom to move around in their own homes and surroundings. Homesareadaptedto meet the needs of individual PWDs, ramps are built, toilets made accessible or doors widened to allow wheelchairs. The project is now working to sensitise local governments more aware of the adaptations mandated under the law, and are now starting to include advocacy as its second responsibility. Achievements: • 22 functional adaptations for 12 PWDs completed • Improved accessibility provided in the Social Rehabilitation Centre(SRC) for People with

Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI). Orthotic and Prosthetic workshops Samarthya’s Orthotic and Prosthetic workshops are located in Deodurg, Raichur and Koppal. Mobility is one of the most important factors that enrich quality of life of a PWD. In order to achieve the highest degree of mobility Samarthya supports people with disabilities with custom made solutions to best meet individual needs. Where required, Samarthya also helps individuals by raising funds for their requirements. Achievements: • Aids and appliances were produced during the year for 330 PWDs (Koppal, Raichur and

Deodurg) • 303 PWDs accessed repair services. • An IcoTech Machine was installed to improve quality production. The workshops at

Koppal and Deodurg were renovated with the financial help of Andrea Mendoza • The Mudugal Taluk Panchayat sponsored aids and appliances worth Rs 102,000. 21

people benefited.


Carers Group To achieve recognition, inclusion and support services like social, physical, emotional and economical quality of life for Carers of persons with difabilities and mental health issues we facilitate organized groups of care givers, PWDs self-help groups, Deaf clubs, Taluk/district/ state level federations and network. They have a united voice to advocate for the rights of PWDs toaccessibility and Government schemes. Our first phase of working in Koppal taluk was completed this year with support from Carers Worldwide after three years. In this period, 60villagesin15 Gram Panchayats in Koppalwere covered under the programme. Although there are many more carers, we work with a selectedgroup of 300carers who are most vulnerable in these 60 villages. 10SHGs at the village level and 2SHGs at the city level (one SHG comprises of 15carers) and one Carers Federation at the Koppal district level have been facilitated. The carers federation was registered under the Societies Act 1960 this February 2017. Achievements: • 276 carers were supported • 12 active carer groups (3 engaged in savings and loans) have now enrolled 150 Carers • 60 villages were covered in Koppal • Income Generation support was provided to 5 carers • Vocational training was provided to 10 carers.

Social Rehabilitation Centre for Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI) Samarthya operates a short-stay residential facility - Social Rehabilitation Centre (SRC) for people with Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI) to “promote social inclusion of persons with spinal cord injuries, and to enable and empower them to become contributing members of the society”. The facility can be availed by 15 men per batch for up to three months. Achievements: • 42 persons with SCI received services for three months each. That’s a total of 3780

mandays • The HospetFM Radio Station interviewed SCI clients to create awareness • 169 persons with SCI received home based rehabilitation services in Koppal and Raichur

through CBR project • 11 IGPs were support • 42 mobility aids were provided • Nutrition bank and compost training were provided to 35 DYPs and 9 staffmembers

where SCI clients made vegetable seeds packets, which were provided to Caregivers who are using it in their kitchen gardens.

• 1 nutrition bank was established at Samarthya SRC campus for papaya, curry leaves, lemon and drumstick plants. (372 plants have been distributed. The group under its sustainability drive has also sold 46 solar lights in the communities so far).


Tailoring Centre In order to improve economic condition of families with members with disability, Samarthya operates a tailoring training centre at Koppal. Trainees complete a six-month basic training course and start with simple tailoring work. Samarthya also provides the families with a sewing machine enabling them to work from home, which is often the only option for caregivers of children with disabilities. Former trainees have formed a Self-Help Group promoted by Samarthya. Achievements: • 22 candidates benefited from 7 regular training and 15 refresher courses • 13 candidates were helped to obtain sewing machines • Two SHGs with 24 members are functioning actively.

Women with Disabilities Women with Disabilities need more protection and more support as they are even more marginalised due to gender bias. They face social, legal, and practical barriers in claiming their human rights on an equal basis compared to their male counterparts. Samarthya ensures that women with disabilities receive equal attention and equal opportunities. Samarthya in partnership with SMRC, Orissa and CBR Network, Bangalore work with women with disability across project area ensuring:

− Zero tolerance against domestic violence on women with disabilities − Promotion of health rights of women with disabilities − Awareness of schemes and laws on gender issues and disability rights for women with

disabilities Achievements: • 140 women with disabilities were covered • All 140 women attended 7 training programmes • 29 women started small business in sheep rearing, petty shop, etc. • 20 women received mobile phones • 50 women accessed counselling service

Other Achievements: • 39 short stay camps were held benefiting 219 people with hearing impairment, 25

persons with spinal cord injuries and 35 mentally challenged persons • Home-based services covered 1197 people • 6,500 calendars, sign language charts, aids appliances, Spinal cord, early intervention

and parents’ group activities, pamphlets were distributed • 247 Children and adults successfully accessed Government schemes for monthly

pension, identity card, Aadhar card, opening bank account etc. • Medical camps were attended by 442 children for early intervention and 35 SCI • 210 beneficiaries were sanctioned a total of Rs 293,375 out of 423 applicants under

Niramaya Health Insurance scheme • a Swavalambana health insurance camp was held for 60 participants • 1 Computer and English speaking training was held for women staff members • 2 Carers and 1 PWD from Koppal received state awards


COVERAGE 2016-17 Electrifying

SangayyaHiremata from Raichur enrolled for our three-month rehabilitation programme at the Social Rehabilitation Centre (SRC) for people with Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI) earlier this year. Sangayya had completed ITI and joined Karnataka Electricity Board as a lineman. As a lineman, he had to climb electric poles to repair these all the time. One day he was electrocuted and thrown off the pole, injuring his spine. He could no longer stand and walk after this. He was completely dependent on his carer for mobility.

Difabilities Total Male Female Locomotor 1161 658 503 Speech & Hearing 736 413 323 Visual 72 42 30 Mentally Challenged 50 26 24 Cerebral palsy 378 250 128 Multiple 24 16 8 Mentally ill 24 16 8 Developmental Delay 131 76 55 Spinal Cord Injury 240 199 41 Total 2816 1696 1120


During the three months,Sangayya underwent a structured rehabilitation programme receiving counselling, adaptation skills, physiotherapy, paramedical support and friendship from the other clients attending the SRC.He not only got better but has now reported back to his job and is able to work normally becoming an inspiration to many.

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

The HUF-SAMUHA Partnership (HSP) was initiated in 2014-15 and has now completed its third year. In 2016, the project entered Sindhanur taluk, which is the third taluk to be covered in the project, and the second taluk under Raichur district. The project comprises an operational area spread across two districts (Raichur and Koppal) of North Karnataka. With land under two CADAs (Command Area Development Authorities) of the Upper Krishna Project and the Tungabhadra Left Bank Canal, the project works to optimize agriculture returns and enhance climate adaptation through water conservation as a national model for canal-irrigated paddy cultivation. HSP has added 28 new villages from Sindhanur taluk of Raichur district under TLBC command area this year,bringing the total to 81 villages in three units: Deodurg, Karatagi and Sindhanur. During 2016-17, the Kharif paddy crop was successful in all 3 Units. Unusually, UKP command area in the Deodurg taluk got water for a 2nd crop during Rabi 2017, while low rainfall led to the cancellation of canal water for Rabi for the second consecutive year in the Tunga area. A preliminary study of the new villages was carried out followed by village entry processes. These consist of conducting gramsabhas, pre-season workshops, enrollment of farmers in the new project unit at Sindhanur, while the existing units started their seasonal operation with pre-season meetings. 2652 paddy farmers were enrolled during Kharif 2016 with 3629 ha. 23 new farmer clubs have been formed at Sindhanurthis year. 196, 27 and 21 new JLGs were formed at Sindhanur, Deodurg and Karatagi, respectively. The project works today with a total of 81 farmer clubs and 557 JLGs. Farmers were trained through Farmers field schools (FFS’) on sustainable agriculture practices (such as integrated crop management covering Nutrient management, Water Management, Line planting of Paddy, and Pest management with Non-Pesticide Management approach. A total of 239 FFS trainings sessions were conducted during Kharif 2016 across the 3 project units. Inputs such as Neem cake, Panchagavya, Herbal leaf extract, Pseudomonas and Beauveria were organized on need basis for the project farmers. Internal Control System (ICS) for the project was established for the new and existing project villages and documents related to all project KPIs were systematically maintained.

Coverage: 3813 farmers and 5011 acres in Deodurg and Sindhanur Taluks of Raichur District, and Gangavathi Taluk in Koppal District


A total of 33 Master farmer meetings were conducted and 121 weekly staff review meeting were conducted. 1 Exposure visit, 6 trainings and 12 monthly project reviews cum planning meetings for Project Field Team were conducted for efficient operation of the Project across the project units in 2016-17. Reference plots were established and the total water saved by project enrolled and influenced farmers, was computed at 24.08 billion litres of water during Kharif 2015 across all 3 units and from Rabi paddy at Deodurg. 1161 farmers with 1381 ha were influenced by the project. 316 ha of tail-end lands belonging to 604 farmers were brought under assured irrigation through improved water management practices adopted by project enrolled and influenced farmers in upper and middle reaches across the project units. NPM paddy was produced by 469 farmers from 878 acres during the year at Deodurg. For the first time, NPM paddy was grown successfully by 39 farmers in 48.5 acre at Sindhanur and for the second season by 33 farmers in 36 acres in Karatagi in the pesticide dominated TLBC command area. NPM paddy farmers at Karatagi and Sindhanur gained a net additional income of Rs 8,935/acre and Rs 8,387/acre respectively, due to NPM-cum-Line planted approach promoted. Project farmers gained a net additional saving of Rs 3,980/ac, Rs 5,623/ac and Rs 3,755/ac at Deodurg, Karatagi and Sindhanur respectively during Kharif 2016 and Rs 2,927/ac at Deodurg during Rabi-2017. Non-Pesticide Management and Organic farming related agricultural inputs were supplied to NPM paddy farmers. This helped them to avail good quality inputs in time at a reasonable price at the village level. In 2016-17, 15 tons of Neem powder was arranged to NPM paddy farmers at the village level. Similarly, 3.28 quintals of Cow pea seeds was organized for 48 farmers who had adopted alternative cropping in 70 acre during Rabi. Increased net production of project paddy is 1208 tons and 212.4 tons at Karatagi and Sindhanur, respectively. The additional agriculture production of other crops (maize, sorghum, Bengal gram, sunflower, cotton) in the tail-end regions due to assured irrigation was 318.4 tons, 214.2 tons and 280 tons at Deodurg, Karatagi and Sindhanur respectively during 2016-17. 36,252 person days were generated in the tail-end region from assured irrigation created through demand side water saving. Of these, 21,747 were women days and 14,505 men days. Total enhanced income generated through integrated Crop-cum-Water management in paddy and additional production with assured irrigation was Rs 4.71 Crores. Of this, Rs 4.1 Crores is from increased paddy production and Rs 0.61 Crores is from increased production of other crops at the tail-end. A total of 21,624 women were benefited in the project. Of this, 21,203 benefited due to low/no exposure to hazardous synthetic pesticides in paddy due to Non-Pesticide Management approach and 421 women laborers were benefited through training on Line planting of paddy. 4,417 households benefited including project enrolled, influence and tail-end farmers. Of this 1,517 households are from SC/ST communities.


Water management, Line planting and Non-Pesticide Management cropping of paddy, are the major knowledge products gained by farmers in the project that has enhanced their economic livelihoods. A total of 9 field events were conducted in the 3 units. 646 farmers participated and benefited. Visiting officials from CADA and DoA appreciated the efforts of HUF-SAMUHA Partnership in the command area. They encouraged and urged farmers to go for judicious usage of water in paddy and moving towards light-crops in the command area to combat tail-end deprivation. Experiments were conducted on Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) and Diversified Cropping System (DCS) to develop suitable models for better water use efficiency and productivity in the command area. During 2016-17, the Kharif paddy crop was successful in all 3 Units. However, for the second consecutive year, low rainfall led to the cancellation of canal water in the Tunga command for Rabi and farmers were shocked to see their double crop wetlands being reduced to dryland due to Climate Change. It was a rude reminder for them that they were as vulnerable as dry land farmers. As an alternative cropping, 48 farmers took up Cow pea in 70 acres during Rabi at Deodurg. Failure of Rabi crop due to lack of water in canal for the second consecutive year in TLBC command area, affected the achievement of many project KPIs (key performance indicators). Despite this, or because of it, the year was a rich experience for the Project in understanding issues better and in working with the Tunga communities in the region. Based on 3 years of experiential learning, the project believes that concept of judicious usage of water across the command area is the need of the hour. Despite low rain fall coupled with alternate release of water in the TLBC, the Project has demonstrated that project farmers who practiced Water management had an average net additional gain of Rs 4,579/acre/season. 245 farmers practiced Line planting in 995 acres and 541 farmers have produced NPM paddy successfully in an area of 963.2 acre during Kharif 2016. Farmers who practiced Water management along with NPM (Non-Pesticide Management) package of practices + Line Planting have been able to optimize their crop returns with an average net additional saving of Rs 9,258/acre during Kharif 2016 which is due to input saving and increased yield from Line Planting. In Kharif 2016, HSP has demonstrated its adaptation capacity by achieving an average water savings of 1.6 million litres/acre in the Krishna region, and an average of 2 million/ litres/acre in the Tunga region. Rabi crop at Deodurg in UKP command area, received water for the first time in three years and the project was able to save 1.43 B/l. In 2016-17, HSP achieved a total saving of 24.08 B/l. The Demand side project helped 604 farmers with 316 ha to get assured irrigation at the tail-end. With low rainfall in the region, the impact of Climate Change is being felt on canal-irrigated lands for the second consecutive year. Lack of Rabi paddy in the Tunga command area for 2 consecutive years followed by reduced and alternate release of water during Kharif has forced the Project to revise its KPI targets. In addition, the project has revised its budget to support an additional no-cost one-year extension.


As of Mar-2017, HSP has achieved a cumulative water savings of 45 billion litres. To meet its revised commitment to achieve 447 billion litres by 2020, HSP will now concentrate on the same 81 villages, instead of expanding its operational area to 180 villages as originally planned. Farm Gate Procurement service (FGP)of NPM paddy has been a regular and unique activity of JSMBT (Janara Samuha Mutual Benefit Trust, a CBO of women from the two districts) since 2009. JSMBT helps farmers to a get reasonable price for their produce without any commission. Transparency is maintained in weighing the produce and guaranteed timely payment are the other benefits they reap through this service. It has facilitated procurement of 585.2 tons of NPM paddy worth of Rs 1.09 crore, from 148 members in 2016-17 to Safe Harvest, a committed commercial entity for NPM produce in India. FIELD INNOVATIONS Water Vedikes:It is an informal forum for project farmers to come together and discuss issues related to water in agriculture, and as an interface with the local CADAs. Two Water Vedikes have been informally formed since 2014-15, each one at Deodurg and Karatagi. The following issues were identified and discussed by the farmers. • Insufficiency of water in lateral and FIC affecting Tail-end farmers • Damaged FICs requiring repairs • Water measuring and regulating gates at Distributary, Lateral and FIC levels.

Community Visioning: Community baseline/visioning and perspective building on gender and water have now been subsumed under SDGs. A separate web platform is being created for this. This demonstrates how communities are able to undertake needed actions, and post-action, relates this to the appropriate sub-SDG. These actions demonstrate Social Good, as an alternate to SROI (social returns on investment) where, often, the process of monetising the good, results in the good itself being obscured. The process was facilitated by Samrakshawhowitnessed and reported some startling behavior related changes in the community. In Bommanahalli, many young men have been spurred by the process to give up drinking. Changing behavior related to alcohol can be fairly challenging. This process seems to offer a supportive space which works at two levels. First it motivates people to give up the practice. Second, it creates a supportive environment where other community members encourage people to change and appreciate attempts to change. It helps the community also realize that it is only through support and encouragement of the affected people, and not berating them, that they remain motivated to change their behavior. This coupled with medical support to handle withdrawal symptoms can be quite effective to maintain the change over a long period of time. When it comes to resource mobilization for development activities, communities have in the past demonstrated their enterprise by mobilizing funds or human resources from multiple sources – different government schemes, community contributions etc. This was further underscored in this quarter, where at times, individuals made a substantial contribution in order to attain a community dream. Community perspective on gender: The perspective building process gives scope for appreciation of men and women who are circumventing patriarchal norms and trying to ensure equality of men and women in different ways. For instance, parents who encourage girls in their higher studies, girls who are working outside the village, girls who are riding


bikes, young men who are teaching their sisters to ride bikes, or couples who disclose that the husband and wife jointly decide about number and spacing of children are looked on as inspirational examples. Because these people are from within the community and are socialized within the same norms but are able to go beyond these norms and try to ensure equality, their examples are motivating others also to overcome the norms. 25 case stories have been developed. Awareness &Behaviour Change: Broadcastsand Narrowcasts covered all the 81 villages including narrowcast in 28 new villages from Sindhanur project area. The topics were related to MGNREGA, Agriculture crop residue used as compost, sheep rearing, and fish farming. Along with how to make saline land fertile, Bund plantation, and usage of neem cakes. One of the outcome of the radio programme was that Shri Nagaraj from Somanalli village, Shri Veeresh from Huligudda village and Shri Mallapppa from BR Gunda brought 13 sheep for rearing an alternate livelihood program initiated and promoted by HUF-Samuha. The farmers later participated in a question-answer session. 10 radios were distributed as prizes at this event. During the Kisan day, AIR recorded sessions by resource persons from various departments on importance of Trench-cum-Bunds, Soil fertility, organic seedling, DCS cropping. This was broadcast for 5 days. Each topic was divided into two modules. Research & Media Field Work: CMRIT (CMR Institute of Technology) is presently operating an institutional water fellowship which is presently exploring the following technologies: Sewage Sludge, Atmospheric water, Seawater to farming water, Indigenous desalination membraneandPollution Fish. Water Talks - Internet TV: The earlier design specifications for an Internet radio were widened to allow narrowcasting of audio, visual and texts as development communications through Cable TV. The prototype Internet TV (iTV) which was designed in the reporting period and presented during the HUF annual programme review has not been able to overcome internet download and audio issues in the open. A contents team is now in place and has created test programming content. Narrowcasts using iTV are scheduled for the coming quarters. iTV: 200 minutes of videos on visioning or the dreams and gender have been produced. Pilot on Water Monitoring Technology:2Gate and flumes functionality was tested in the farmer’s plot. GSM and GPRS network functionality were tested and the results were accurate this time. However, the prototypes are yet to be established. Despite, extension-based water saving efforts have been recognised by farmers who found that less water gives good results. At present land situation is very bad with seepages in the field. At the farmer level, there is a need to orient the farmers about the water requirement for each crop: what is the right measure of water to get a good yield. Farmers need to accept and understand usages of the water under given control system.


Preparation of Herbal extract by Lakkanna

World Water Day. This was celebrated in 5 Gram Panchayats on 22nd March 2017. 168 men, 202 women, and 192 children and 26 members of Samuha staff participated. GIS/MIS Data Backbone

The GIS/MIS Data Backbone for HUF partners has been rolled out and partners are using this to enter quarterly KPI achievements. Issues have been reported in data entry and report generation and these are being rectified on an on-going basis. The application now allows all HUF partners to enter their quarterly achievements and generates an aggregated report for each level. A village module that will allow partners to enter KPI data at the village level with the supports required for assurance is also ready, it is being field tested. Similarly, one partner module in which data is entered at project, village, and farmer and plot levels to allow KPIs to be computed in real time and displayed online is ready and is being field tested. Poison free, low water Paddy is Possible Master Farmer Lakkanna of Hosakalgudi HosaBiralaKalgudi is a small hamlet of 250 households in Navalihobli. The HUF Samuha team identified and trained 32 small and marginal farmers through Famer Field School (FFS) on low water paddy cultivations and farming through non-pesticide management. Lakkanna is one of the farmers from the group. He tried line planting of paddy under NPM method in his 1.5 acre land. He is master farmer of the village. He also applied neem cakes

and Chili garlic extracts as advised. Through this integrated approach, he has observed that there was no attack of BPH (brown plant hopper) on his crop, which is otherwise endemic to the region. Cost of cultivation was reduced by Rs 5000/acre compared to conventional approach. Earlier his spending on pesticides was around Rs2000 to 3000.

His net income per acre during Kharif 2016, was Rs

48,150 compared to the conventional net income of Rs 38,582, earning him a net additional income of Rs 9,568 per acre due to integrated NPM cropping and Line planting approach. Apart from this, as an active Master farmer, Lakkanna prepared 80 litresof chili garlic extract for which he spent around 600 rupees and 30 litres were distributed at Rs 30 per litre among the farmer group. He collected Rs 900 towards the same and gained rupees 300.

Coverage: 24 Partners from 40 Districts in 11 States


Lakkanna in his line planted NPM paddy field

The group consists of 32 farmers. Lakkanna has distributed 28 bags of neem kernels in the group and also guided them on the proper usage and benefits to his fellow farmers. The farmers are very happy with neem kernel application and they have all prevented BPH attack and have spent the least towards this prevention. Lakkanna has also raised green gram, cowpea, chrysanthemum, as border crop around the field and this has substantially reduced the pest

attack. CONVERTING TRADITIONAL PRACTICE INTO A COPPER DEVICE TO REDUCE RECURRING CONTAMINATION OF DRINKING WATER AT THE HOUSEHOLD LEVEL

FRLHT (Foundation for Revitalising Local Herbal Traditions), Bengaluru, in its avatar as the Trans Disciplinary University (TDU) has been working on a copper device as a water filter to meet current-day requirements. It has tested its copper device in different sites in India and in Africa. While it has established the efficacy of these filters in a limited manner in the lab and in the field, it is now exploring large scale dissemination of these filters through marketing. SAMUHA has agreed to work with FRLHT in the Deodurg taluk of Raichur district for one year to 1. disseminate safe drinking water and hand wash practices across the 150 villages it works

in in the Deodurg taluk of Raichur district. 2. promote and make available the FRLHT copper device through iSquareD (a charitable

trust promoted by SAMUHA to explore, support and manage social enterprises) to these 150 communities, and others.

3. support FRLHT research on the impact of these copper devices through data and feedback on the use of the copper device that will be gathered from a percentage of the households who purchase the copper devices.

During this period, the project has selected 5 villages for Research and the following activities have been initiated:

− Water sampleswerecollected from 4 villages by TDU teamfor water quality tests. − The project team conducted GramSabhas in 5 villages, and 434 families participated. − The focus group discussions have been conducted in 4 villages to understand

communitiesviews on health and hygiene practices in the village. 35 members participated in these FGDs.

− The project team has surveyed 487 families with 755 U5 children for involving these families in the research.

− 5 members of project team participated in a communication workshop held in Mysore.

Coverage: 150 communities in the Deodurg taluk of Raichur District


PUBLIC RESOURCES

MGNREGA: the HUF-SAMUHA Partnership continued to monitor how much work was being implemented under the Rs 208 Crores MGNREGA perspective plan that it had facilitated the Raichur Zilla Panchayat to undertake the previous year. In that year, Rs 12.4 Crores of works against this perspective plan was undertaken as a drought relief measure. This year, HSP is able to report the following achievements: 1. 1 facilitator in each of the 5 taluks was formally introduced through a note from the CEO,

Raichur ZP, asking each of the 53 Gram Panchayats to use their support in implementing the MGNREGA perspective plans for their Gram Panchayat .

2. In this quarter HSP reportedacumulative spending against this plan of Rs20 Crores. 3. The Raichur ZP organised a workshop on 3rdJan 2017 at Hatti for an orientation and

presentation for micro watersheds. The transect walk was conducted as a practical field experience inPamankallur Gram Panchayat.

4. This resulted in the creation of action plans for 11 micro watersheds at a cost of Rs 92,016,307.

5. Within this, 963 labour groups, 131 farmer groups covering 709 farmers from 258 villages in 53 Gram Panchayats benefitted from MGNREGA works. This covered 3381 acres and an expenditure of Rs 6.88 Crores on NRM works between Jan to March 2017.

Coverage: 258 villages in 53 Gram Panchayats in 5 taluks of Raichur district

Copper Filter Awareness Programme, Deodurg


Trench-Cum-Bund leads to Higher Yields MGNREGA work has been carried out in various villages of the project area in Deodurg Taluk. HosurSiddapura is a village with 350 families, and is about 26 km away from Deodurg Taluk. In this villages, land development works under MGNREGA like nalabunds, bund formation, and farm ponds are being developed. Hanumantha, a farmer fromSiddapura village owns 4 acres of land and lives in a joint family of eighteen. He has immensely benefitted from the MGNREGA scheme. He shares, “I have finished my schooling and also and ITI course and always wanted to continue my education. But after my father’s death fifteen years ago, my mother raised all of us. I came into farming to support my family and have a passion for the same.” Two years ago, the Samuha team approached Hanumantha and guided him to dig Trench cum bunds around his 4-acre farm. Hanumantha submitted an application under MGNREGA and had the trench cum bunds formed in 2 acres. He recalls “We used to get a yield of 6 to 7 bags of Bajra from the 2 acres and would fetch around 6000 to 7000 rupees as profit. After the TCBs were formed we have harvested 30 bags of Bajra and sold for Rs 50000. I realized that this was due to moisture retention in the ground as there was no run-off which helped in better yield.Hanumantha wanted to form TCBs around the remaining two acres’ land, so in the current season he applied under MGNREGA for this also. Though it has been 20 days since the monsoon has retreated his farm remains healthy and green. Hanumantha is expecting a good yield this year also. He has cultivated half acre of green gram and 1acre of pigeon pea and two and half acres of Bajra. He has already harvested 2quintals of green gram. Hanumantha recalls that earlier his entire cultivation from seeds to harvest was under debt. This season he has farmed with the profits from last year. This has improved his economic status. Soil and water conservation has taken place. His brother and sister in law who used to migrate to Bangalore in search of jobs are now staying back working under MNREGA in the local panchayat. Under MGNREGA, Hanumantha and family are able to find jobs at the local panchayat area and are also able to cultivate a better crop that has helped them to improve economically. AWS – Alliance for Water Stewardship:Community water stewardships are now being implemented in 5 villages, with support of their respective Gram Panchayats. During Jan to March, a surveyof5 villages where 2573 TCB had earlier been dug, found 303 TcBs (12%) were fully closed; 1531 TcBs(60%) partially closed; and 740 TcBs(29%) in good condition. Amongst these, composting was undertaken in 367 TcBs. The survey showed us that the importance of the TCB and Bund plantations were not understood properly. Through Green flow programmes, training was conducted in HosurSiddapur. Farmers from five villages participated and received training on the importance of TCB and bund plantation, compost pit and its impact on green flows.

TcB farmer Hanumantha, HosurSiddapura


B R Gundavillage has become a model for MGNREGA related works. The deputy commissioner has appreciated this work and has highlighted, its activities in various platforms. During this quarter, B R Gunda, Somanamaradi, Sampathrayanadoddivillages have been identified for undertaking a micro watershedwith 645 families covering 559 hectares of land.The Gram Sabha was conducted from 10thFeb 2017 for 5 days. This meeting led to planning and processing by the department and a micro plan has been created for Rs 2.44 Crores, of which Rs 2.27 Crores is related to NRM works. 5 village VCCDCs(Village Climate Change and Development Committees) and PPR (private property resource) representatives were trained for water and soil conservation. A total of 46 men and 10 women participated. CLEAN DEVELOPMENT MECHANISM (CDM) JSMBT – CDM COOKSTOVE PROJECT

SAMUHA supports the JSMBT CDM cookstove project supported by the FairClimate Fund, The Netherlands, in the Deodurg taluk of Raichur district. This is India’s first CDM cookstove project. The following stove stats present the latest overview of the project.

Project Villages 150 Operational villages including wards 150 100.00% Targeted households 21500 No of eligible households 26016 121.00% Total Chulika biomass cook stoves to be delivered. 43000 No of Chulika delivered to-date. 42426 98.67% No of households registered 18107 84.22% No of Chulika stoves installed till date. 36102 83.96%

Coverage: 18,107households, from 150 villages in Raichur District of Karnataka


Smokeless environment allows us to sit together and eat in the kitchen

Gabbur, which is 28 km away from Deodurgis a village comprising of 8 wards. Janara Samuha Mutual Benefit Trust (JSMBT) has installed 568 Chulikas here. Shivalingamma of Ward 1 shares her experience with Chulika Stove. Shivalingamma recalls “Earlier children could not sit inside the house when I was cooking, the entire house used to be covered with smoke”. Shivalingamma is using the Chulika stove for the last three years. She says “My children are able to sit inside the house and have their food. This stove has some modern features. The biggest advantage of Chulika stove is it does not cause eye irritation because there is very less smoke emanated.” “I am also able to save firewood, and my time spent on cooking. And health issues have reduced”, says Shivalingamma.


YELBURGA CDM COOKSTOVE PROJECT

This project is supported by Infosys. The following stove stats present the latest overview of the project. Progress as of March 2017

Project Villages 110 Operational villages 41 37.27% Targeted households 21500 No of eligible households in 110 villages 30397 93.02% No of eligible households in 41 villages 10640 94.10% Total Chulika biomass cook stoves to be delivered. 43000 No of Chulika delivered to-date. 6000 13.97% No of households registered in 41 villages 2819 26.49% No of Chulika stoves installed till date. 5596 13.01%

Through this project, SAMUHA intends to disseminate Improved Cook Stoves (ICS) in 110 villages covering 24 Gram Panchayats in Yelburga Taluk of Koppal District, Karnataka. The project will replace inefficient traditional cook stoves in 21,500 households, in a biomass deficient district of Koppal, Karnataka State in India. This district has greatly diminished biomass resources and the wood demand far exceeds the available renewable woody biomass. CHULIKA cook stoves will save 2.31 t of CO2/yr/family in this region. The project activity is expected to prevent 46,668 tCO2 emissions in a year by implementing CHULIKA stoves in 21,500 households. The following activities have been carried out as part of the project roll out and implementation:

Coverage:2819 households, from 41villages in Koppal District of Karnataka

S No Activities 1 Opinion Leaders Meeting2 GramSabhas 3 VCCDC Formation (including wards)4 GramSamstha Formation5 Roti making competition6 Chulika User Group meetings7 School Awareness 8 Tree plantation with school children9 Lap pals distribution for school children10 Kitchen gardens 11 Chulika stove blessing programme

One bundle of firewood for a week

Heremyageri is a small village with Infosys-supported CDM programme has distributed CDM Cookstoves to 28 families from this village.

Annual Report 2016-17

Villages Opinion Leaders Meeting 109

106 VCCDC Formation (including wards) 49

Formation 109 competition 6

Chulika User Group meetings 8 13

Tree plantation with school children 2 Lap pals distribution for school children 3

12 Chulika stove blessing programme 1

One bundle of firewood for a week

with 218 families, 15 km from Yelburga. SAMAUHA under CDM programme has distributed CDM Cookstoves to 28 families from this

26

. SAMAUHA under the CDM programme has distributed CDM Cookstoves to 28 families from this


CDM cook stove has been installed on 1 July 2016 at Yamanoorsab's house. His family consists of 6 members which includes his wife and four children. They do not own a land and make a living by working a labourers. The family uses the CDM cook stove from cooking to boiling water for bathing. Maboobi says that her kitchen has remained smokeless from the day she started using the Chulika stove. When she lights the stove, initially there is smoke and once the firewood catches up, then there is no smoke and nobody in the neighbourhood knows that she is cooking. Earlier when she was using the traditional stove to cook, smoke from the stove would fill the kitchen. She recalls, " Iused to cursedoing my kitchen workand used to think when I will finish cooking. I prepare variety of dishes using this cook stove. Cooking is done in no time and I now have enough time to complete other tasks.” She used to travel 1 km to collect firewood every 3 to4 days. Searching for firewood used to take up a day,andwe were unable to earn a daily wage that day. The Chulika stove uses less wood and firewood collection has decreased to just once weekly.

MICRO CREDIT

JanaraHana /People’s Money is the micro credit resource group of SAMUHA. JanaraHana works through 4 Mutually Aided Cooperative Societies (MACS) in Deodurg, Nagalapur, Tawaragera and Hasagal that work as apex bodies for their respective SHGs. SAMUHA also continues to grow as a Business Correspondent for Pragathi Krishna Gramin Bank for Raichur and Koppal Districts for promotion and credit linkage of SHGs and JLGs. This operation is presently administered through 12 branch offices in 2 districts. As part of this, during this financial year, 2354 SHGs were linked and Rs.34.45 Crores credit was disbursed. At the end of this financial year, micro credit intervention coverage was 3267 women’s Self Help Groups from 438 villages, with an outstanding of Rs.22.99 Crores.

Coverage: Over 32000 women, 3267 SHGs, across 438 villages in Koppal and Raichur Districts


Annual Day Celebrations of Munjawu Women’s Self Help Groups

On 6.1.2017, Munjawu women’s self help groups in Hirewankalakuntahobli in Yelburga Taluk of Koppal District have celebrated the annual day. Over 950 women from 43 villages participated in the programme. The awareness programme was organised on the ill effects of child marriage and anemia amongst pregnant women. The occation also marked the ceremonial celebration of 201 women’s first pregnancy and falicitation of blood donors who have donated for maximum number of times. Basket weaving – strengthening a traditional livelihood and themselves Shri Maliyamma Devi Munjavu Mahila Group which was formed on 21.1.2016 with a small saving of Rs 50 has grown to a saving of Rs1100 per member.

The characteristic of the group is that 8 members of the The 8 members belong to the Medar caste, baskets, plates, flower baskets, and other ornamental designs and sell it in as wholesale market. Their work was not recognized and they did not have any financial backup to invest in the required raw high interest ratewhichthey were not able to afford. financial support and the Shri Maliyamma Devi Mahilasavings each. Within 3 months, theybought the required raw material Kampli etc. With these inputs, they were able increase their production and took their marketing beyond Karatagi and were able to earn livelihood. They took Rs15000 credit each in the second year and increased their capital investment in the raw material. They weaved varieties of designs and sold them at a margin of Rs. per product. They started to sell their produBusiness has also expanded to other these goods. Today one woman in this village earns on an average Rs. 300which has increased self-confidenceRekhaMedar, says" We were afraid of losing has been a blessing in disguise which has supported us in gaining financial growth."

Shri Maliyamma Devi Munjavu

Annual Report 2016-17

of the group is that 8 members of the 10-member group are Medar caste, the bamboo weaving community. They weave and other ornamental designs and sell it in the

work was not recognized and they did not have any financial backup to invest in the required raw material. All the credit in the open market

they were not able to afford. Their community were in dire need of Shri Maliyamma Devi MahilaMunjavuwas started with

, they availed a loan of Rs 5000 each. With bought the required raw material and other necessities from Bellary, Hospet, Gangavathi,

they were able increase their production and took their marketing beyond Karatagi and were able to earn more, repay the loan and

in the second year and increased their capital investment in They weaved varieties of designs and sold them at a margin of Rs.

per product. They started to sell their products in Karatagi, Surpur, Shahpur, Koppal, Bellary. Business has also expanded to other big towns and clients come to this village in want of these goods. Today one woman in this village earns on an average Rs. 300-500 per day and

onfidence and economic stability. One of the group membersays" We were afraid of losing our family occupation but the Munjavu group

has been a blessing in disguise which has supported us in gaining financial growth."

Maliyamma Devi MunjavuMahilaGroup

29

group are self-employed. bamboo weaving community. They weave

the retail as well work was not recognized and they did not have any financial

All the credit in the open market came with a community were in dire need of

with a mere Rs50 . With Rs50,000, they

other necessities from Bellary, Hospet, Gangavathi, they were able increase their production and took their

repay the loan and improve their

in the second year and increased their capital investment in They weaved varieties of designs and sold them at a margin of Rs. 10 to 20

pur, Shahpur, Koppal, Bellary. towns and clients come to this village in want of

500 per day and One of the group members,

he Munjavu group has been a blessing in disguise which has supported us in gaining financial growth."


CITIZENS FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE

As reported in the previous annual report, the Social Justice unit of SAMUHA successfully completed the implementation of Action Research on the condition of Devadasis and their families in Kushtagi taluk of Koppal district. The project was sponsored and funded by National Mission for Empowerment of Women (NMEW), Government of India (GOI). During the pilot phase, the Devadasi Resource Centre was equipped to address Devadasi issues,andto ensure Devadasi women’s participation in various rehabilitation programs in Koppal district. The active participation of Devadasi women and their children resulted in the Vimuktha Devadasi Mahila Vedhike consisting of Devadasi women and their children being established. After the pilot study, the government did not come forward to take the outcome of the project to the next level. Which in hindsight may have been a good thing, since this gave the Vedhike and the Social Justice unit an opportunity to show what they could do on their own. A brief report of the Vedhike’sactivities and the outcome are given below: I. Tangible results: a. Livelihood related outcomes (531 families benefitted)

− bore wells dug last year for Devadasi families : 22 (6 pending) − bore wells approved in March this year as special package : 100 − families to get housing loan and subsidy approved : 106 − house sites approved this year for site-less families : 118 − Devadasis & children who received animal husbandry loan : 45 − Devadasis who got loan for animal husbandry this year : 90 − Devadasis who got loan for sheep & poultry farming this year : 50

b. Employment opportunities (9 employments on contractual basis) − youth (child of a Devadasi) who secured contract job in Veterinary hospital : 1 − Devadasis & their children who secured a job on contract basis in Hostel : 4 − youth (children of Devadasis) secured contract job in Banks : 4

c. Education & training (23 children of Devadasis enrolled & studying) − school dropouts enrolled to continue education in BIRDS residential school : 12 − children who are pursuing short term nursing residential training in BIRDS : 4 − children being trained as Lab Technician residential training in BIRDS : 6 − children being trained in computer training in BIRDS : 1

II. Intangible results a. Strengthening Vimuktha Devadasi Vedhike - Intervention strategies

− Enhancing independent decision making of the Vedike: The core committee meets regularly for its monthly meeting and planning sessions. This is also a mechanism to ensure periodical review of the progress made and the challenges faced. These meetings have been effective in creating a democratic decision-making space where planning and implementation decisions are taken collectively, thereby reducing the

Coverage: 531 Devadasi families in the Tavargere taluk of Koppal district


highhandedness of officials and preventing middlemen from intervening in the work of the Vedike.

− Hobli level committees of Devadasi families for self-sustenance of the Vedike: The Hobli level committees serve as grass roots organizations with all the Devadasis and their children as members. In the quarterly meetings, members discuss and assess their needs and problems, speak about mechanisms to deal with them, raise issues of atrocities and non-cooperation of authorities etc. This ensures bottom-up, need based, democratic decision making process, resolution of conflicts, and boosts the morale and confidence of the members.

− Observance of prescribed procedures and formalities to establish claim as a matter of right: Established procedures and formalities prescribed by the government are followed to make claims on resources. Applications are submitted as a matter of right and entitlement to Gram Panchayats or other concerned departments, acknowledgements from the concerned departments are collected and carefully preserved. This ensures accountability on the part of authorities to respond to the applications made.

− Monitoring the progress by periodical visit to offices: The core team of the Vedike undertakes periodical follow-up visits to the taluk & district level departments to check whether the necessary action has been taken with regard to processing the applications submitted. The Hobli level committee members visit all Gram Panchayats in their jurisdiction and ensure that their applications are being processed.

− Drawing public and media attention: Electronic and print media are being used by Vedike to not only assert their identity but also to challenge the deliberate delays and denial of rights and entitlements of Devadasi families. Media intervention has been used to check the highhandedness of authorities, to expose the exploitation of middlemen and politicians. The media has also been a good tool to caution those promoting the dedication system so that such practices can be prevented.

b. Negotiation strategies At the taluk level − The Vedike held meetings with Executive Officer,Kushtagi Taluk Panchayat,

several times on the issue of identification and certification of Devadasi families with no agriculture land, no house sites, no proper house, no other source of livelihood, no employment, no BPL cards, no health cards and in case of sick and disabled persons being in the family. Even though more than ten meetings were held over a period of one year, the officials in the department did not bother to take action.

− Protest in front office of the Executive Office: The Vedike, after giving advance intimation to the Executive officer and the police, took out a day and night protest condemning the delay in works applied for. This was held in front of the Kushtagi Taluk Panchayat office. The protestors demanded quick action to conduct survey in order to prepare the list of Devadasi families. This protest ensured that the work was done by officials in three days.

− TheVedike has been in touch with Taluk andGram Panchayats and the response has been comparatively better.


At the district level − The core team has been in touch with district level government authorities such as

the Deputy Commissioner and the ZP Chief Executive Officer for district development programs. The members have been pursuing them to allot schemes under the general quota for a few families and are also seeking their assistance in getting their application forwarded with a recommendation for special package from the state ministry. The key functionaries at the district level are now very familiar with the Vedike and their needs and problems.

− In one instance, the Deputy Commissioner visited the spot and directed the officials to present budget estimate for construction of bridge and approach road to Devadasi lands, which were otherwise made inaccessible during the rains by a stream.

At the state level − Negotiation with Social Welfare Minister for special package for speedy

rehabilitation:The Vedike represented the need for a special package for the rehabilitation of Devadasi women and their family members. A series of meetings were held with Shri H Anjaneya, Minister for Social Welfare, Government of Karnataka. The Minister, after their logical persuasion, agreed for borewell scheme for 28 families. Due to the work of the Vedike in the field, he also said he would consider allotting house sites, provide for the construction of houses, allotting agriculture land for livelihood, and providing loans for self-employment. He then approved all this as a special package and ordered for allocation of funds accordingly. This has created a precedent for other Devadasi families in the state to demand state entitlements.

− 3 rounds of negotiations were held with Shri Basavaraja Raya Reddy, Minister for Higher Education and district in-charge Minister for his support and approval for special package.The demand has been accepted.

A societal precedence − Property entitlement upheld by the court:Renuka is a Devadasi woman living in

Garjinala village, Tavaragerahobli, Kushtagi taluk of Koppal district. Gaddeppa and Renuka have been living together as husband and wife from the beginning and have three male children. The whole village is aware that Renuka is the second wife and that the 3 children are born to Gaddeppa. o Gaddeppa wanted to distribute his agriculture land to both wives, He, accordingly,

informed both his first and second wives. However, the children of the first wife objected to his decision. In this context, Gaddeppa filed a case with the Tahsildar and got an order allowing him to transfer 1.20 acres of land to Renuka.

o The first wife filed an objection with the Tahsildar that resulted in Gaddeppa approaching the court. The court upheld the Tahsildar’s order. It was at this juncture that the local leaders intervened, called both the parties and resolved the grievance between them. The leaders accepted that both the wives have a right to land. Thus, Renuka is entitled to the 1.20 acres of land or to receive the value of that land in cash ieRs 2 lakhs.


o The community, revenue department and the local court � upheld the acceptance of Renuka as a wife rather than as a Devadasi in a live-in

relationship, � upheld her right to land and property. It is important to note that the Vedike

extended its moral support and guidance in addition to protecting Renuka and her family from assault from the other side. This is a precedent created which can be used for future cases.

TOWARDS STRENGTHENING OF NON-PESTICIDE MANAGEMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND TWEAKING MARKETS IN FAVOUR OF SMALL HOLDER FARMERS

SAMUHA is a founding member of the NPM Initiative, and through this one of the early promoters of Safe Harvest Pvt Ltd. JSMBT, a CBO, is a shareholder of SHPL. SAMUHA has been working with Safe Harvest to expand urban markets for safe food, strengthen a credible standards-based supply chain, and increase income of small farmers producing pesticide-free food. This includes 1. building capacities of community organisations on NPM based farming practices 2. building capacities of CBOs on supply chain management and logistics 3. creating and operating a platform and facilities for testing, certification, traceability, and 4. developing a market for NPM produce

The success of the project will be measured over two years by the following key indicators of progress and impact: − 20,000 farmers to adopt and practice Non Pesticide Management of Agriculture (NPM)

protocols and cultivation practices and linked to the supply chain and the markets. − 16 farmer producer organisations to adopt NPM standards and practices by the end of

the project period − Will target to ensure that atleast 50% of farmer organizations will have women or

tribals/backward caste farmers as majority members. − Will target to achieve a 30% increase in the net income of 75% of target farmers by the

end of the project period. − Capacities of farmer producer organisations to be built and strengthened to carry out

aggregation of a minimum of 4000 metric tonnes of various commodities and subsequent marketing of atleast 50% of the same. The aggregated volumes will be of agri produce cultivated without the use of synthetic chemical pesticides.

− 7 partner farmer producer organisations to be assisted in accessing debt from financial institutions to streamline their aggregation and marketing activities. The farmer organisations will also be networked with Small Farmers Agri Consortium (SFAC), Ministry of Agriculture, Govt of India.

Coverage: Small and Marginal Farmers across partner States


SAMUHA collaborates closely with Safe Harvest towards these ends. In the month of Nov and Dec 2016 capacity building of farmers and volunteers associated with partner organizations located in Karnataka, Telangana, MP and Tamil Nadu on quality standards of NPM agri commodity, introduction of innovative logistics systems and support to partner organisations in raising debt for commodity aggregation funds from non-banking financial institutions were carried out. 2 Trainings on quality standards on NPM paddy were conducted in Deodurg, Raichur, for farmers who had agreed to aggregate and collectively sell thus enjoying economies of scale. Training was on sample collection and testing for moisture content and quality of the produce. The sample/s were later sent to FSAAI accredited lab for testing for pesticide residues to enable farmers to access unbiased information. More than 150 farmers participated in collective aggregation of NPM paddy post the exercise leading to collective marketing of more than 8000 bags of sonamasuri NPM paddy. Internal audit and training on quality parameters and aggregation of farmers associated with SEEDS Farmer Producer Company Limited, Madurai, was also carried out in December. Training and capacity building of lead farmers and representative tribal women farmers belonging to four women farmers SHG federations in Dewas M.P was held in Feb and March 2017. Training included close to 120 lead farmers and 50 personnel belonging to the SHG federations. All the events were organized in collaboration with Ram Rahim Pragati Producer Company Limited. Training of 1 farmer coop was held on assessment of quality of NPM produce and a visit cum training was organized for office bearers of the coops to a mill in Gulbarga, Karnataka, to build awareness on the impact of raw material quality on recovery percentage and quality of the final product. NPM jeera farmers participated in a training organized with support from Adesar Producer Company Limited in Kutch, Gujarat. This training was exclusively on aggregation and innovative logistics system. The training led to the farmer’s collective being able to sell 16 tons of NPM jeera. An intensive review of harvesting operations at Tandur, Khairatabad, Telangana, of NPM farmers associated with WASSAN was taken up in December 2016 and January 2017. The review also included shareholder farmers of Hasnabad Producers Company Limited. The review led to an annual calendar being put in place for Hasnabad Producer Company Limited for training on NPM cultivation processes. Post the review training of farmers on innovative logistics processes and quality parameters was carried out. Simultaneously,Niwali Producer Company Ltd, Madhya Pradesh, was supported in carrying out an internal audit of those farmers who are engaged in NPM groundnut cultivation. Post the audit the farmers were supported in carrying out collective aggregation and marketing of NPM groundnuts. The grant also helped facilitate the agreement between the local miller and the producer company for deshelling of groundnuts. This helped the farmers gain a better price post value addition. Samuha co-hosted with SPS, the National Conference on Producer Collectives and Safe Food markets. This was held at Institute of Rural Management (IRMA) in Anand on 2nd and 3rd Feb 2017. More than 10 partner farmer producer organisations along with representatives of NABARD, NBFCs and market entities participated in the conference. This will go a long way in encouraging farmers to take up NPM cultivation practices and help in establishing


quality parameters acceptable to market. Avanti Finance, a financial institution set up by the Tata Trusts, was approached to help meet the financial needs of farmer organizations. This task is one of the major deliverables under the project. Representatives of Avanti Finance visited two of the partners - Janara Samuha Mutual Benefit Trust (JSMBT), Raichur, and Raithula Mandala MACS, Tandur, to explore the possibility of providing debt finance to strengthen the efforts of the two organisations towards market linkage. Avanti has now given in principle agreement to the proposals. Meanwhile visit was also organized of the representatives of Ananya Finance a NBFC promoted by Friends of Women World Banking, Ahmedabad to JSMBT, Raichur, Gramchethana, Bagalkot, and SEEDS, Madurai. The three partner organisations received a total debt fund to meet their working capital requirements to the tune of Rs3.5 Crores. The grant was utilized to also lab test the agri commodities aggregated by different farmer organisations from their members for 149 pesticide residues. In order to meet the latest requirements of FSSAI guidelines the commodities are also being tested for heavy metals and aflatoxins. The test reports are now being utilized for purposes of raising awareness amongst consumers and farmers and also for purposes of quality related training exercises. This though has led to excess spend on testing than budgeted for. Collaborative communication material has been designed and is being used for unconventional products like Millets. The material helps generate dialogue on different ways to consume millets and the associated benefits. Material has been distributed to various organisations on our practices. Visits to various partner locations related to internal audit or capacity building programmes are being documented and this will help in sharpening our communication about the NPM movement. Modern retail formats in urban centres are being approached in order to acquire space for carrying out sampling exercise of NPM commodities. This also provides a great opportunity to conduct intensive interactions with potential consumers of safe food. In the month of January 2017, capacity building of farmers and volunteers associated with partner organizations located in AP and Tamil Nadu was carried out. The activities included training of farmers of partner organizations on quality standards of NPM agri commodity and innovative logistics systems Consumer awareness programmes were carried out in Bengaluru and Hyderabad. The material gleaned during the Nov-Dec visits to partner locations has been converted into online and offline material ready for dissemination. Through Safe Harvest, NPM partners participated and received an enthusiastic response from those visiting the National Organics and Millets Mela, the 21st edition of Oota From Your Thota. An article on pesticide-free management of agriculture was published in a popular web platform (Yourstory.com). Consumer awareness programmes was taken up in the cities of Bengaluru and Hyderabad. With Safe Harvest, the project participated in Woodside Farmer's Market, Chennai, and information about Non-Pesticide Management of Agriculture was disseminated through appropriate communications. NPM foods continuetobe displayed in exhibitions in Bengaluru (20TH December Oota From Your Thota). 6 exhibitions were held in Infosys, Hyderabad, on NPM produce in partnership with a market player in Nov and Dec 16. Infosys employees enthusiastically participated and showed great interest in NPM products and commodities. This will now become a regular feature. Through Safe Harvest, the project has established contact with like-minded


institutions like Visthar, where we conducted a presentation. Contact was established with Thoughtworks, an IT organization, where a presentation on NPM was delivered. We have also reached out to academic institutions like MANAGE with information on NPM. The entire process of paddy procurement has been documented. The same has translated into content-rich posts on social media through Safe harvest. Efforts to make short stop-motion videos to help ease the understanding of NPM practices are underway. Other partner locations which were visited for purposes of documentation are :

− Aadesar Vistar Khet Utpadan Producer Company Limited: The entire process of Jeera (Cumin) harvesting and procurement has been documented.

− Vedic Organics: The entire process of sugarcane harvesting has been documented. The process of conversion of sugarcane into jaggery powder and sugar was evaluated and documented.

− The above efforts led to the documented content being translated into posts on social media.

New organisations of farmers have now been brought under the NPM fold. 2 of the new organisations are from the Araku Valley, Vizag, AP. PREM, Berhampore, Odisha has approached Safe Harvest for training their farmers in NPM protocols and processes. The Samuha-Safe Harvest team will soon be travelling to Berhampore to further explore the possibilities. Araku Valley farmers have already been supported with market linkages and have started selling their agri commodities collectively. Nageshware Charitable Trust, Nagpur a NABARD funded organisation working with honey gatherers belonging to Gadchiroli district, Maharashtra too have been brought into the NPM fold and have started marketing their honey with a new identity.


DONATING TO SAMUHA We think SAMUHA’s work is worth supporting. If you agree with us, there are different channels through which you can contribute to SAMUHA. To make a donation, please write a cheque addressed to SAMUHA and post this to: SAMUHA Vithalapur Road Kanakagiri, Gangavathi Taluk, Koppal District Karnataka, India, Pin: 583 283 You can also transfer your funds directly into our A/Cs. However, because of FCRA (Foreign Contributions Regulations Act) issues, please read the following carefully to make our accounting simpler. Under FCRA, the source of our donations is critical. • If you are an Indian passport holder, please make your donation to the SAMUHA Indian Money A/C. The details are given below. • If you hold a passport, other than Indian, the please send your donation to the SAMUHA Foreign Money A/C. FOREIGN MONEY SAMUHA Bank of India SB A/c No. 840910100005023 No.71, Richmond Road, Bangalore 560 025. SWIFT Code: BKIDINBBBCB IFSC Code: BKID0008409 MICR: 560013009

INDIAN MONEY SAMUHA State Bank of India SB A/c No. 62087266538, Kanakagiri, Gangavathi Taluk, Koppal District PIN - 583283 IFSC Code: SBIN0020214


You can also donate to SAMUHA through The SAMUHA website: http://samuha.org/index.php/support-samuha Presently, you have a choice to support our work in 3 categories: Rural Development, Urban Development, Institutional Support. GIVE INDIA If you are a Give India supporter, you can log on to www.giveindia.org and make an online donation to SAMUHA. http://www.giveindia.org/GetOrganisationProfile.aspx?ngoid=103 SODA, Canada If you are in Canada, then please donate to: SAMUHA Overseas Development Association Box 27, Summit Lake, BC V0J 2S0, Canada SODA is a registered Charity. For details on giving and tax benefits, please contact Hilary Crowley - [email protected] http://samuha.ca SAMUHA eV, Germany SAMUHA eV has been registered in Germany by a group of Returned Weltwaerts Volunteers. SAMUHA eV now offers Tax Exemption for donations made through it. As soon as the payment gateway for this is functional, we will provide links on the www.samuha.org website, directing interested donors to this site. INTERESTED IN OUR WORK? If you would like to volunteer or want to tell us how you might be able to support our work, please call Narayanswamy M at +91-9448385412, or e-mail him at [email protected] SAMUHA Annual Report 2016-17 Published by T Pradeep, Secretary-SAMUHA

Documents

Samuha - Ann Report 16-17samuha.org/docs/Samuha-AnnReport16-17.pdf · • I Sambhav • RenukaAradya. Annual Report 2016-17 4 PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY ... *Rs.10,81,366 was paid to T