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 socioeconomic 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 socioeconomic 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.
1

Date
8.4.13 --11.4.13

Description
National Seminar on the theme Role and Relevance of Traditional Knowledge Systems organized by SPARDHA and Lok VIgyan Kendra, Funded by UCOST and ICHR. Exposure visit to SOS organic, Chitai organized by NABARD for the NGOs. One day programme at Hotel Pitamber by NABARD on financial inclusion through SHG and JLG. One day awareness programme for bank officials on SHGs and JLGs. 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. Workshop for the promotion of Bee keeping, organized by Bee Keeping Expansion Centre, Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), Haldwani. 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.

2 3 4 5

07.08.2013 18.10.2013 07.11.2013 28.11.2013

31.01.2014

06.02.2014

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

National Seminar

From 8.4.13 to 11.4.13

National

SPARDHA and Lok Vigyan Kendra jointly organized a

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.
1

Date

Description

No of Participants

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. Community Development Programme based on digital photography and videography supported by Govt. Women Polytechnic, Almora. Community Development Programme based on Aipan (Kumauni Traditional Art) supported by Govt. women Polytechnic, Almora.

30

05.08.13---31.01.14

30

02.09.1328.02.14

30

02.09.1328.02.14

Community Development Programme based on Bee Keeping supported by Govt. Womens Polytechnic, Almora. Beautician and Cosmetology, Manorath Bhawan, Selakhola, Almora; supported by NIESBUD, Dehradun. ESDP on Fashion Designing, Manorath Bhawan, Selakhola, Almora, supported by NIESBUD, Dehradun. One day awareness/motivation programme on Self Employment at Govt Rural Polytechnic, Takula, Almora jointly organized by SPARDHA and K.V.I.C, Haldwani. ESDP on M.S. Office and Internet, Dug Market, Bageshwar, supported by NIESBUD, Dehradun. ESDP on Desk Top Printing (D.T.P.), Pindari Road, Bageshwar, supported by NIESBUD, Dehradun. ESDP on Beautician and Cosmetology, at Golnakarariya, Almora, supported by NIESBUD, Dehradun. ESDP on Fashion Designing, at Shailanandpur, Almora, supported by NIESBUD, Dehradun. ESDP on Beautician and Cosmetology, at Shailanandpur, Almora, supported by NIESBUD, Dehradun. Entrepreneurship Development Programmes under Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) organized by SPARDHA and NIESBUD

30

08.10.13---18.11.13

27

09.10.13---19.11.13

27

05.12.13

200

25.2.1431.3.14

26

25.2.1431.3.14

26

10

25.2.1431.3.14

25

11

25.2.1431.3.14

25

12

25.2.1431.3.14

25

13

28.2.14---12.3.14

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.

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 socioeconomic 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.

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

on been engaged in other different activities focused 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
Groups

the year

2013-14, about 50 new Self Help (SHGs) were formed and saving linked in BlocksLamgara, Tarikhet and Bhikiyasain. Some of earlier SHGs achieved the Cash Limit (C.C.L.) linkage and got the of about Rs 2.5 L, in all. Other in the process of achieving CCL The total saving of all the crossed Rs 10 L mark. The SHGs a very significant role in bringing the sociodevelopment to the region, and meeting the SHGs supported by NABARD- Development of rural areas

the Credit credit SHGs are linkage. groups has are playing economic purpose of 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
Agriculture as 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 hope for the poor people of the region. a ray of

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