'Samrath' bringing joy in lives of people in Chhota Udepur

Enhancement of Tribal Development Outcome project also known as Samrath is being implemented in 50 villages of Chhota Udepur in collaboration with CARE since last year. Field level Animators were specially trained to achieve the objectives. Various needs of individual and community have been addressed to make life more comfortable. Not only that every category of population has been included. The purpose is to create enabling environment by building capacity of all the stake holders and establishing linkages among them so that the community benefits through institutional delivery mechanism.

The results have been very encouraging. This is a story of Bandla village in Chhota Udepur taluka.

Old age brings about dependency, physical as well as financial. If some old people have their own income, then they are fortunate. Animator Jaganbhai realized this and identified all men and women above the age of 65yrs belonging to BPL families. None of them were either aware about the scheme or knew how to apply for old age pension scheme. Jaganbhai helped them to fill up the application forms and completed the procedure. 67 years old Nathubhai has started receiving the pension. He says proudly,” I can use my money as and where I like, without depending on anyone, especially during my illness. Even my neighbor, an old woman, who needed a drip, could do so from her pension money”

Dursingbhai from the same village was busy digging up a group well with other 10 farmers under the same project. At 50’ they have already found the water. Construction of the well will provide water to 22 to 25 acres of land belonging to 11 farmers. Under his leadership, they will reap collective benefit. In the earlier year, Dursingbhai had opted for drip irrigation for his 4 acres of land. He had to pay only Rs.7, 000/- for the facility. He received 70% subsidy from the government and 20% from SFT. Earlier the maize yield form his farm was just enough for his 25 members family. After drip irrigation he also grew chilies and earned about Rs. 95,000/-. He also grew paddy which was enough for the whole year for the entire family.

In the same area where Dursingbhai lived with 14 other households, there was no electricity. Everyone had to use lamps with kerosene. Sometimes even that was not available. Animator Jaganbhai prepared the papers for them to apply for the electricity. Now there is electricity in his area. Similarly many villages like Bandala, Gunata, Katara, Vagalvada which were covered under ETDO project have received benefits.