ANNUAL REPORT - SeSTA Report 2012-13 Sustainable Livelihood Sustainable Future ABOUT SeSTA Seven...

ANNUAL REPORT2012-2013

Seven Sisters Development Assistance (SeSTA)

SeSTA’s Presence

Contents

01

02

03

04

05

06

07

08

09

10

About SeSTA

Our Vision and Mission

Rays of Hope

Reaching the Unreached

Our Efforts

Community Development

Agriculture

Livestock Development

Youth Development

LITTLE - LAB

Extension of our Experience

The Financials

Governance

Our Team

Acknowledgements

�

Annual Report 2012-13

Sustainable Livelihood Sustainable Future

SeSTA 2012-13: A Snap Shot

2011-12 2012-13Out Reach of direct engagementDistricts 2 3

Blocks 4 6Panchayat/VCDC 23 41Villages 62 86

Households 2682 6461

Social Mobilization (SHG)No of SHG 108 165Total Women Members 1317 2142Nos of Clusters 2 8

No of Federation 0 1

Agriculture (Direct and Partnership with NGOs)No of SRI Paddy farmers 4234 8685No of SRI Maize farmers 98 199No of SRI Vegetables farmers - 155No of families doing Vermi –Composting - 567Low cost Farm eqquippment to Farmers 4234 8685

Irrigation support to FarmersNo of Shallow Tube Well installed 11 42

No of Pumpsets distributed to Farmers 25 68

No of Well constructed 1 3

No of Diversion Based Irrigation Structure Renovated 1 1

Livestock DevelopmentImproved pig rearing (No of families) 0 45


Sustainable Livelihood Sustainable Future �

ABOUT SeSTASeven Sisters Development Assistance (SeSTA) is a professionally managed development organisation in

Northeast India. The idea of SeSTA is conceived by a group of young development professionals and was

registered under Societies Registration Act, 1860 in the year 2011 to catalyse development activities in

NE-India through the process of “Nirman” (constructive development) by working for improved livelihood

system and better well being of rural community of the North Eastern States of India.

SeSTA, pronounced ‘Chesta’- literally means ‘effort’ in Assamese. So, SeSTA is conceived to put effort

and work as a catalyst for economic development of the NE- India by building capabilities of poor

communities, promoting and strengthening their institutions so that they could come out of the vicious

cycle of contested identity war, poverty and able to participate in the global economy.

Our Logo Eight different coloured circles signify eight NE-States of India. The seven different

colours also signify rainbow diversity in NE-India in terms of culture, ethnicity,

language, topography etc. The white coloured central ring signifies North Eastern

Region (NER) peoples’ aspiration for peace and harmony. The green coloured ‘S’

signifies ‘SeSTA’s endeavor for sustainable development in the NER. The triangle

signifies- being (dignity, self-respect and value), doing (skill set and ability) and

having( knowledge and resources) level of the community. SeSTA is working to

catalyze the development in NER by working on these three dimensions. The triangle also means the

livelihood triangle (People, resource and activity) & IPR framework

�



OUR VISION AND MISSION

Our VisionSeSTA envisages a vibrant, democratic and developed society with peace and harmony where every

citizen is empowered and lives a dignified life.

Our MissionCatalyzing inclusive and sustainable development in NE-India by enhancing capabilities of the rural

communities



RAYS OF HOPECase study-I One seed revolution at Dhaknabari

Dhaknabari is a village situated in Boitamari Block of Bongaigaon district, 2 kms away from the NH-31.

In the year 2010, during the summer paddy season, 11 farmers cultivated through the SRI methods

of paddy cultivation. Due to proven incremental production in SRI methods of paddy cultivation,

120 farmers joined the SRI methods of paddy cultivation in kharif season this year. They have chosen

Ranjit variety (certified seeds from KVK, Kajalgaon) for cultivation. The result was encouraging. Farmers

like Mr Maheswar Rabha, Mr. Dhani Barman, Mr Jameswar Barman got 18-20 mons (i.e. 720-800 kg)

per bigha yield whereas they used to get only 12 mons / bigha by their traditional practices. Seeing

the stupendous result in Dhaknabari village as many as 500 villagers from nearby villages joined the

revolution. They cultivated paddy during the Rabi season this year. KVK’s contribution in this regard

was to deliver good quality seeds and training inputs to our extension workers.

�



Case study-II A journey from SHG to Federation

Diptibala Roy is a member of Apsara Self Help Group of Labdanguri village of Borobazar block of Chirang

district of Assam. She joined the SHG in the year 2011 with a hope to come out from the trap of poverty.

Agriculture is the mainstay of her family comprising of her husband and 3 children. Before joining the

SHG she was not sure about the benefits of a SHG. Diptibala visited the Damodar Mahila Sangh in

Hazaribagh district of Jharkhand. The visit built her self- confidence and she discovered the power of

‘Women- Collective’. After her return to her village, she shared her experiences in Jharkhand with the other

women of her village.

It started with 15 numbers of SHGs in 2011, now the women of the area have organized themselves into

80 SHGs and 4 cluster bodies and one district level federation. Last year the 80 SHGs of Bodobazar block

celebrated a day as block level SHG Federations Meeting. Almost a thousand SHG women- members

sat together for the first time in a common forum shared their experiences and took an oath for women-

empowerment, unity, and their prosperity.

Now, Diptibala is proud of her initiative of mobilizing women into SHGs and contributing to form SHG

cluster and organizing the block level federation meeting.



Case study-III Harvesting Potentials

Gopinath Basumatary, is a 43 years old farmer from a very

interior village called Dangsibari under Dottopur- Bamungaon

VCDC in Sidli Block of Chirang district. He is a matriculate. He

has a family of 6 comprising his mother, wife and three children

studying in school. He grows paddy in both Sali and Ahu season.

Basumatary produces around 70 mons of paddy in his 5 bigha

of land under SRI method of cultivation. In another 1.5 bigha he

grows vegetables. He keeps some rice for consumption and he

sells the rest. It earns him around Rs. 10, 000- 15, 000.

Basumatary learnt about SRI method of paddy cultivation

in a meeting organized by SeSTA in his village four years back.

He got interested in the potential of SRI farming. He started SRI in one bigha of land. He got 15 mons of

paddy which was almost double the quantity he used to get through the traditional method of paddy

cultivation. Thereafter he increased the land under SRI production to 5 bighas. He has been continuing

cultivation through SRI method since the last 4 years. Earlier from 15 bighas of land he could somehow

fend for his family. Nothing was left to sell. On top of it he had to spend a lot on seeds, labour, fertilizers

and irrigation tax. But now the production from 5 bighas is not only enough for family consumption but he

is also able to sell some in the market.

10



REACHING THE UNREACHEDOur Target Communities and Outreach

Reaching out to the rural poor households and enhancing their capabilities for a sustainable livelihood

can bring about a change in the life of disadvantaged. NE- India is the operational area of SeSTA. At

present SeSTA is working directly in Chirang, Bongaigaon and Kamrup districts and indirectly in Nalbari,

Baksa, and Dhubri districts of Assam.

SeSTA’s main target communities are ST, SC, OBC and minority families living in rural areas. Last year,

SeSTA worked with 6461 families in 86 villages in 6 development blocks of 3 districts of Assam. Most of

the families we worked with belonged to the Bodo, Santhal, Rabha, Garo, Koch Rajbanshi and minority

communities living in Char area (flood affected area). In Assam the Santhal families come under OBC

categories where as in the rest of India they are included under ST category. The condition of the Santhal

community is very dismal in comparison to other communities. Most of SeSTA’s target communities live

below the poverty line. Gender is a major focus area of our work and it is addressed in our interventions.

Through the promotion of SHGs, SeSTA hopes to address the issue of gender equality.


Sustainable Livelihood Sustainable Future 11

OUR EFFORTSCommunity Development

SeSTA promotes and strengthens people’s institution like women Self Help Group(SHG)s, Farmers group(FG)s,

Federate bodies of SHG and FGs and Producers’ Institutions. Through these people based institutions we

reinforce the positives forces of collectives, cooperation, transparency, equity, justice and responsible

citizenship. SeSTA also works with existing village level institutions like Gram Panchayat(GP) and other social

forums.

Promotion and Nurturing of SHGs

SeSTA promotes and nurtures Self Help Group (SHG)s of women to promote mutual help among the

members, saving and credit habits and women empowerment. SHGs are the platform for the livelihood

promotion and well- being development in SeSTA’s target villages. Last year SeSTA promoted 57 new SHGs

in Chirang district of Assam. Presently 165 SHGs are functioning in Borobazar and Sidli block of Chirang

district.

12



Agriculture

In our working areas it is observed that agriculture despite being the main means of livelihood it is still poorly

developed. Food security from own production is still a big crisis; most households depend on rain for irrigation.

The resources for agriculture are also in bad shape, due to affects of riots and floods most of the families have

lost their bullocks which is negatively affecting the entire crop cycle. Seeing the context, we have put our best

efforts for poverty alleviation through improvement in agriculture production system. Our work in agriculture

can be divided into three parts-

i) Enhancing yields of paddy, maize & vegetables using SRI practices: This includes- SRI demonstration in

crops, providing farm implements for optimum farm management, technical capacity building, building

skills of local resource persons

ii) Promoting soil health improving practices, using vermin-composting: This includes- demonstration of low

cost mobile vermi-bed, technical capacity building and growing crops using organic fertilisers

iii) Irrigation infrastructure promotion: This includes- installation of Shallow Tube Wells (STW) & Diversion Based

Irrigation (DBI) structures in areas with very low irrigation support, providing trainings for pump set operations,

formation of Farmers Groups for better management

OutReAcH OF OuR DIRect AND INDIRect eNGAGeMeNt IN AGRIcuLtuRe

Programmes Families covered Area Covered SRI Paddy 8685 1687 HaSRI maize 199 20.14 HaSRI vegetables 155 18.35 Ha

Promotion of vermin-composting to enhances organic fertiliser use 567 164 MT of CompostProviding low cost farm implements to optimise farm management practices 8685

Irrigation support through installation of shallow tube wells, diversion based irrigations 213 96.5 Hac of Land



In the year 2012-13, we worked directly and indirectly with 8685 families to cultivate paddy, maize

and vegetables adopting SRI Principles across Bongaigaon, Chirang, Dhubri, Nalbari, Baska, Sonitpur,

Dhemaji and Karbi- Anglong District of Assam. Per family additional food grain received through SRI

method of paddy cultivation was on an average 0.25 MT. We experienced higher yield in case of

SRI in summer paddy, here one contributing factor is alternate drying & wetting as it is cultivated

only under irrigated conditions. The results of SRI method of maize cultivation was encouraging,

average yield obtained was 13.2 MT/Ha and highest yield is 16.8 MT/Ha. Farmers were able to earn

cash income of Rs 10,000 from 0.2 Ha of SRI maize. SeSTA promoted SRI method of vegetables with

155 families in Chirang and Bongaigaon districts of Assam. In vegetables , SRI techniques has given

a good vegetative growth in the early stage. Chilly yields are quite high and farmers have earned

around Rs 15,000 on an average from just ½ bigha( 0.1 Ha ) of land.

1�



Livestock Development

Assam has a sizeable tribal population who are traditionally engaged in pig farming. Keeping this in

mind, SeSTA conducted a feasibility study to assess the potential of pig farming activity in providing a

stable non-farm income for the rural poor. With the findings of the feasibility study, a pilot project around

improved pig farming was started at Chayani Barduar block of Kamrup district. The basic premise of the

pilot project was to identify whether well-targeted interventions to improve pig production could deliver

significant livelihood benefits for tribal and other marginalized groups in the region. Last year we worked

with 45 families in 5 villages in improved pig production. These 45 families took Hampshire and T&D

(Tamworth & Desi) cross breed piglets for rearing. Our intervention in pig rearing was designed to provide

–i) Veterinary support through Subject Matter Specialists, ii) vaccination in collaboration with Microbiology

Department of College of Veterinary Sciences, iii) Capacity Building of farmers through training, exposure

visit and handholding supports.


Sustainable Livelihood Sustainable Future 1�

Youth development

In Assam 53.1 percent population falls in the age group 15-35 against the 51.5 percent of the India.

North-eastern youth belongs to a socio- economic region, which is starkly different from rest of India. They

face a lot of challenges in order to establish themselves amidst a very chaotic situation. Northeast India

is reeling under the shadow of under- development in every sphere. There are only a few good institution

for higher education. This is one of the reasons why lakhs of students migrate every year to other places

in India for higher education. Many students who go out also do not return to their home states due to

various reasons. Unemployment is, no doubt, a national problem in India but the problem has assumed

greater significance in Assam due to the economic backwardness of the State. Further, the incidence of

unemployment is more pronounced in the rural areas since it also characterized by under-employment

or seasonal unemployment. To engage the huge number of educated and unemployed youths

appropriate counselling guidance and vocational education is the need of the hour. SeSTA plans to work

with 5000 unemployed youths in the coming 5 years by helping them to find gainful engagement. SeSTA

will create a mechanism to equip these youths with necessary skills for employability. Presently SeSTA is

conducting a study to understand the condition of the Youth in Assam under prevailing conditions. Based

on the results of the study SeSTA is planning to work on the issues of the youths of Assam.

1�



LITTLE-LAB

SeSTA believes that development needs innovation and incubation of new ideas. So, LITTLE- LAB is our

programme where we invite new ideas for rural development from our staffs. We shortlisted the ideas

of our staffs and then design the shortlisted ideas for field level piloting with a required preparation. Last

year SeSTA piloted the idea of commercial eri-silkworm rearing with 36 women farmers of Bodobazar

block of Chirang district of Assam. Presently SeSTA considered three livelihood activity under the LITTLE-LAB

programme- Eri-silk worm rearing, Horticulture development, and Handloom and Handicraft.



ExTENSION OF OUR ExPERIENCE Partnership with other NGOs for extension of SRI technology to farmers

Last year, SeSTA made partnership with Gramya Vikash Manch(GVM), Nalbari and Gauripur Vivekananda

Club, Dhubri to extend SRI method of paddy cultivation on Nalbari, Baska and Dhubri district of Assam.

We conducted one basic 3-days orientation training on SRI for Co-ordinators and extension workers of the

2 NGOs. A group of cadres (one for 50 families), identified by the community were trained and engaged

to handhold the community and ensure proper practices in every farmer’s field. SeSTA also conducted

two day Refresher training for SRI co-ordinators and skilled extension workers for Integrated Disease and

Pest management in SRI Paddy where Scientist from Agriculture University acted as Resource Person.

Participants were taken for field visit to apply their learning in field and provided with one hand book

on ‘Integrated Disease and Pest management on Paddy Cultivation’ developed by SeSTA . These NGO

personnel, trained by SeSTA, have fulfilled their responsibility for these cadres’ as well as farmers’ training.

SeSTA also made partnership with farmers clubs promoted by NABARD in 3 districts of Assam. During

Kharif season of last year we selected 3 farmers clubs to extend SRI technology in Sunitpur, Dhemaji and

Karbianglong. The result of the partnership approach was encouraging

1�



THE FINANCIALS

20





GOVERNANCESeSTA’s Governing Board consists of eleven members from different professional background. Out of the

eleven members two are nominated members from SeSTA’s staff. One third of the honorary members on

the Governing Board, as may be decided by the Governing Board shall retire by rotation every year. Such

retiring member who are otherwise eligible to be member of the Governing Board may be co-opted by

the Governing Board for another term of 3 (three) years at a time.Four meetings of the Governing Board

and an Annual General Meeting of the General Body were held in 2012-13. Two members were took

retirement from the governing board and one new members joined in the governing board last year.

Mr. Mumai PheigaSecretary, RNBA

Mr. Aswini BhattacharjyaExecutive Director

SeSTA

Prof. DC GoswamiFormer Head Dept Env.Sc.

Gauhati University

Dr. Amiya SharmaExecutive Director, RGVN

Mr. Sarat Chandra DasCEO, Grameen Sahara

Dr. H. C. BhattacharyyaDirector, Extension EducationAssam Agriculture University

Dr.Mukulesh BaruaPrincipal, GIMT, Guwahati

Ms. Hemalata DeviRetd. Vice PrincipalBongaigaon College

Ms. Ajanta PhatowaliDGM, IDBI Bank, Kolkata

Mr. Parag BoruahDirector, S&P, SeSTA

Dr. Homeswar KakatiAssociate ProfessorB.Borooah College

Mr. Achinta GhoshDirector, Kabil, New Delhi

Advisor, SeSTA

22



OUR TEAMAswini BhattacharjyaExecutive Director

Parag BoruahDirector, Strategy & Program

Khanindra KalitaDirector, Micro enterprise

Lutfur Rahman, Project Manager

Gunjanan W Shyam Project Associate

Arunima KalitaProject Assistant

Debasis AcharjeeAssistant, Account and Finance

Dr. Rashiduz ZamanProject Assistant

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

Jayanta TalukdarField Coordinator

Kesab RoyField Coordinator

Nausad AliSkilled Extension Worker

Ziabur RahmanSkilled Extension Worker

Najimul HaqueSkilled Extension Worker

Swmdwm BrahmaSkilled Extension Worker

Dipak RoySkilled Extension Worker

Sukur Ali AnsariSkilled Extension Worker

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

OUR TEAMAswini BhattacharjyaExecutive Director

Parag BoruahDirector, Strategy & Program

Khanindra KalitaDirector, Micro enterprise

Lutfur Rahman, Project Manager

Gunjanan W Shyam Project Associate

Arunima KalitaProject Assistant

Debasis AcharjeeAssistant, Account and Finance

Dr. Rashiduz ZamanProject Assistant

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

We gratefully acknowledge the financial support from Sir Dorabji Tata Trust (SDTTTT) Mumbai and all kind

of support provided by Professional Assistance for Development Action (PRADAN), New Delhi to make our

journey possible to bring all the changes in the lives of rural poor. We are also thankful to Kabil, New Delhi,

College of Veterinary Science, Khanapara, Guwahati and Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kajalgaon,Chirang.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Seven Sisters Development Assistance (SeSTA)Bagheswaripara, W.No. 3,

Near Doordarshan Relay CentreBongaigaon, Assam-783380

Phone No. 03664-230031E-mail: [email protected]

www.sesta.org.in.

ANNUAL REPORT - SeSTA Report 2012-13 Sustainable Livelihood Sustainable Future ABOUT SeSTA Seven...

Documents

Transcript of ANNUAL REPORT - SeSTA Report 2012-13 Sustainable Livelihood Sustainable Future ABOUT SeSTA Seven...