|
| |
 |
Tree-based farming with preference for drought tolerant fruit species is being promoted to improve the productivity and employment potentials of degraded lands. Tribal Rehabilitation through development of orchards, popularly known as wadi, on degraded lands owned by the poor tribal families was launched in Vansda block of Valsad in Gujarat in 1982. The participants are assisted to develop 0.4 ha orchards with fruit species of their choice. Fodder and fuel species are established on field bunds and the interspace is used for cultivating food crops. Women are active partners, and a special component of drudgery reduction and capacity building is also introduced. |
| To encourage women empowerment, a traditional tribal custom of Wavli which ensures complete right on their earnings from vegetable cultivation, was extended to many income generation activities. The wadi programme has checked seasonal migration and ensured women's empowerment, food security, improved quality of life and a clean environment. Presently, over 40,000 ha of orchards have been successfully developed, benefitting over 0.1 million families particularly those belonging to scheduled castes and scheduled tribes in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. The participant families have planted 40-60 fruit trees and 400 forestry saplings in each wadi and are earning Rs 20,000-35,000 per year after 4-5 years when the orchards start bearing. Income from intercrops, vegetables and raising of fruit and forestry plants and various non-farm activities sustain them during the gestation period. This programme is a role model for rehabilitation of eco-system and environment while eradicating poverty. |
| |
| Empowerment of Women |
| Empowerment of women is the most critical component of all the development programmes of BAIF. Women empowerment has been initiated through drudgery reduction, gender sensitisation and capacity building after formation of self help groups. Activities like safe drinking water, smokeless woodstoves, installation of flour mills, primary health care, hygiene and sanitation, nutritional gardens and skill-oriented training are being promoted to reduce drudgery. Gender sensitisation is being initiated to ensure that women
are positively impacted by development programmes, and are given equal opportunities to get their due status in society. |
 |
Subsequently, they are encouraged to come up with individual and group enterprises to generate income opportunities apart from contributing to their own agriculture and livestock husbandry. Over 8000 self help groups are associated with various projects. Many women have also assumed leadership in their community, cooperatives and Panchayati Raj Institutions. |
| Vikasarth - The Development Finance Division has been established to strengthen availability of financial services to the rural poor through savings, credit and insurance. The groups have collectively saved 10 crores and accessed cumulative credit of Rs 22 crores, with over 1200 groups taking loan from banks for credit needs. |
| Community Health |
 |
Community health is an integral part of various development programmes of BAIF particularly wadi and women empowerment. Combating malnourishment and child mortality is a major challenge in tribal areas. To address these grave problems, BAIF has promoted grain banks managed by local SHGs. The women SHGs operating in these areas have made a special loan provision to procure food and medical treatment during emergencies, to ensure health and nutritional security. Training of tribal healers for promoting health care and nature cure has made a significant impact on community health. 100 tribal practitioners have been empowered to take up community health service and to link it with qualified medical practitioners in towns and to handle complex cases. This has shown the way for better health care at a reasonable price, without disturbing the traditional systems. BAIF has also been encouraging families to avail of various attractive insurance schemes. |
| |
| Renewable Energy and Environment |
 |
To conserve energy, protect the environment and improve the quality
of life, promotion of smokeless woodstoves, biogas plants, solar cookers and lamps are being promoted. Community biogas plants for electricity generation have been installed on a pilot scale, which are successfully maintained by women groups in Karnataka. Technical services are being provided to many industries to develop industrial greenbelts and recycling of bio-degradable wastes. The Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India has nominated BAIF as the Regional Resource Agency for coordinating the National Environmental Awareness |
Campaign in Maharashtra, Goa and Dadra and Nagar Haveli. |
| |
| Training in Sustainable Development |
Dr. Manibhai Desai Management Training Centre at Warje in Pune aims at transfer of technologies and replication of our successful programmes on a wider scale. Apart from tailor-made short duration training modules, demonstrations are also organised at BAIF campuses at Urulikanchan, Amrai and Peint (Maharashtra), Lakkihalli (Karnataka), Vansda, Nanodra and Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Chaswad (Gujarat). Several documentary films and books have been brought out to promote various technologies on natural resource management and environmental protection. BAIF is publishing a House Journal and Newsletter to share its field experiences with other organisations.
|
|
| Recognitions |
| BAIF is recognised as a Research Institution by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, University of Pune and South Gujarat University, Surat. Contributions made to BAIF are exempt from Income Tax under Section 35 (1) (ii). We invite donors to be our Patrons. |
|
|
