Program and Projects : Work In Progress

Shikshan-Mitra expansion project has been launched in Nandurbar district since 1st June 09.

"Revitalization of Farming Systems in western Vidarbha, Maharashtra" A project "Revitalisation of farming system in western Vidarbha, Maharashtra" has been started under Sukhi baliraja Initiative programme in the month of April with financial support from Sir Ratan Tata Trust (SRTT) and Jamshedji Tata Trust (JTT). The project is being implemented in 6 distress district of vidarbha viz. Yavatmal, Amaravati, Wardha, Washim, Buldhana and Akola covering 15000 families over a period of five years. In Akola district only livestock development centers are started.

Adivasi Development Programme, Maharashtra (ADPM) commenced in June 2000. ADPM aims at providing livelihood opportunities and improvement in the quality of life of nearly 14000 tribal families from Peint and Surgana blocks in Nashik District and Mokhada block in Thane District of Maharashtra, over a period of 11 years. The project has been sponsored by Government of Germany through KfW (Germany) and NABARD (India)

Keeping in view the objective of the Reliance Industries, (former unit of IPCL) Nagothane to work for environmental up gradation through afforestation and horticulture, development activities were initiated in December 1985.

Amongst the natural resources, livestock has a unique place to support survival & growth of human civilization and hence the attention has been focused on developing appropriate technologies to enhance the productivity per animal at affordable costs. For it, BAIF-MITTRA has developed a comprehensive cattle development programme for providing livelihood to the rural people.

Swarnajayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana (SGSY) aims at establishing large number of micro-enterprises in the rural areas, building upon the potential of the rural poor. The SGSY emphasis is on cluster approach wherein a few key activities lead to development of the Swarozgari – the participant, as a viable enterprise. The objective of the SGSY is to bring assisted family above the poverty line by ensuring appreciable sustained level of income over a period of time.

Agriculture & related activity has been the major source of livelihood for almost all rural families of Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra. Therefore sustainable agriculture development to provide food security & gainful self-employment is of prime importance. Jan Samruddhi Programme focuses on development of rural families from operational area of Ballarpur Industries Ltd; Dist. Gadchiroli for achievement of food security through agriculture & livestock development.

Swarnajayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana (SGSY) aims at establishing a large number of micro-enterprises in the rural areas, building upon the potential of the rural poor. Emphasis is given to cluster approach wherein a few key activity inputs lead to development of the Swarojgari (Participants) to undertake viable enterprise - resulting in increasing his income to a level that is more than the poverty line.

The program is designed and implemented as a Special Project under SGSY (Swarna Jayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana). The grant funds are routed through the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA), to MITTRA, for implementation. Credit is mobilized through participants’ own savings and through bank linkage. The program implementation started from January 1st, 2004.

The program is designed and implemented as a Special Project under SGSY (Swarna Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana). The grant funds are routed through the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) to MITTRA, for implementation. Credit is mobilized through participants’ own savings and through bank linkage.

Tribals form approximate 9.27% of the population of Maharashtra State. The main tribal communities are Kokana, Mahadev Koli, Bhill, Gond Thakar, Katkari, Vavali etc. Out of these, Korku & Katkari are the primitive tribes.

The Comprehensive Rural Development Programme started in 1992 in Collaboration with MADER trust, of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) to address the development needs of the communities including the tribal people.

NABARD Supported Holistic Watershed Development Programme (NHWDP) was launched on 2nd October 2006 in six distressed districts of Vidarbha. The six distressed districts are Yeovatmal, Washim, Wardha, Amravati, Akola and Buldhana. The Watershed development measures are being taken up in 90,000 ha in these 6 districts as a participatory programme for micro level infrastructure development with regard to sustainable management of soil and water resources.

In most of rural areas families adopt mixed farming system where livestock is a major component and is integral part of family economy and agriculture. Agriculture is backbone of economy in Vidarbha region. However, agriculture production is unpredictable as it depends on rainfall which is often scanty and uncertain. This results in low agriculture production. Secondary opportunities like sustained income from livestock & land based business are negligible.

In most of rural areas, families adopt mixed farming system where livestock is a major component and is integral part of family economy and agriculture. Agriculture is backbone of economy in Vidarbha region. However, agriculture production is unpredictable as it depends on rainfall which is often scanty and uncertain. This results in low agriculture production. Secondary opportunities like sustained income from livestock & land based business are negligible.

In most of rural areas families adopt mixed farming system where livestock is a major component and is integral part of family economy and agriculture. Agriculture is backbone of economy in Westren Maharastra region. However, agriculture production is unpredictable as it depends on rainfall which is often scanty and uncertain. This results in low agriculture production. Secondary opportunities like sustained income from livestock & land based business are negligible.

NAIP is sponsored by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). ICAR has been in the forefront for providing research based agricultural services to Indian farmers through various programmes.

Holistic watershed development is a key to improve the natural resource base of degraded area. Soil erosion, land degradation, ground water depletion, shortage of safe drinking water, declining biodiversity are problems faced by majority of people. People living in rural areas face erratic monsoons and capricious market prices. Rural poor farmers have very little control over their destiny. Drought Prone Area Programme (DPAP) is designed on the approach of watershed management to improve the natural resources through community participation thereby supporting to improve livelihood of poor.