Category: Phased Out Projects

Eco-friendly practices in a rural Government School in Banawasi, Kanakapura – a role model

The water shortage in many areas of Bangalore affects children studying in schools, especially those in Government managed schools. Rain water harvesting is a self-sustainable solution to overcome this shortage. With the support of AFP and Accenture, Vidyanikethan implemented eco-based and eco-friendly technologies and techniques  at the Government High School in Banawasi, Kanakpura, where about 400 children from rural areas study from 6^th to the 10^th standard.

Given the large expanse of the ground behind the school, Vidyanikethan also initiated a kitchen garden as a learning experience for the children. The school also installed solar panels to power its lights as there were prolonged power cuts in the area.  In many ways, with the support of AFP and Accenture, this school served as a model school to the other schools by its eco-friendly based practices.

 

The Department of Watershed Development, Government of Karnataka, and NABARD chose Vidyanikethan as one of its implementing agencies for its watershed projects at Alanatha, Kanakapura Taluk and Thattegere.  Vidyanikethan worked with the community in these areas and key local stakeholders in different phases. Vidyanikethan organized the following activities:

• Capacity building and awareness generation programmes through street plays and other innovative means
• Mobilized people to form self help groups to implement and maintain the watershed.
• Motivated people to give time for activities such as tank de-siltation, boulder bunds, boulder check, grass seeds, farm ponds, drainage line treatment etc.

 

Overall impact of the watershed development project at Alanatha and Thattagere

• Increase in ground water levels,
• Support to agricultural activities by better supply of water
• Adaptation of eco-friendly technological practices such as soil, water and bio-mass conservation, crop protection schools,
• Improved fodder availability for its livestock population,
• Improved afforestation and horticulture by planting more forest based and horticulture based trees.
• Formation of self help groups also led to groupd savings, empowerment of women through awareness and participation in watershed development activities,
• Opportunity for socio-economic development through training of vocational skills such as tailoring, making of bamboo based products.
• Reduction in migration to cities by increasing rural livelihood programmes.

Primary objective: To reduce poverty in the project working by providing opportunities for sustainable livelihoods to 1000 socially and economically marginalized families   living across 10 villages in Soundatti.

Impact

• Broadened the perspective of the women
  Changed their perception about their own role
  Started taking interest in the overall village administration
  Learnt about the various State and the Central Government schemes designed especially for BPL families and low income groups.
  Understood the importance of sanghas
  Improved practices related to child nurturing care, gender care, pre and post natal care, and new born baby care, protection from seasonal diseases.
  Monitoring the functioning of mid day meals and PDS due to which their activities became more regular

Rural Poor Development Project, supported by TdH-NL, was a major programme of Vidyanikethan. It was implemented in 25 villages of Mathagondapalli surrounding villages of Thally block in western parts of the Krishnagiri District of Tamilnadu during (   ). Subsequent to RPDP, TdH-NL supported CRPWC (Comprehensive Rehabilitation of Working Children)

Areas of work

Medical relief programmes, Education (formal, pre-primary, primary and Early Learning Centres, PLA (Participatory Learning Appraisals) Poverty Relief Programmes and Protection of Natural resources and the environment.

Strategies and interventions used for the implementation of the programme included community mobilization, sensitization programmes, capacity building, training programmes, counseling, referrals, motivating people to take part in community based participatory processes, especially women.

Impact of RPDP

Although the benefits of each intervention impacts primarily on the individual or the family, overall, the interventions in health, education and socio-economic empowerment of RPDP brought about a grassroots based social change in the rural economy.

By motivating the people to access to Government managed educational, health and other social entitlements programmes, RPDP has ensured the effective and appropriate use of the Government’s welfare schemes.  The interventions to address the personal well-being of women and provide them with opportunities in socio-economic development are empowering women at the village level. Overall, these activities harnessed the indigenous skills and resources for local employment and growth opportunities.

Project content to be updated soon…