Forest Communities Programme

I. Securing Forest Rights (IFR & CFR)

Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam districts in Andhra Pradesh, Adilabad and Nagarkurnool districts in Telangana, Malkangiri district in Odisha covering 700 Villages.  Period: 2008 onwards

 1. IFR

• 9460 Titles received (20045 acres) through CPF facilitation covering 535 villages belonging to Srikakulam and Visakhapatnam districts of Andhra Pradesh, Adilabad and Nagarkurnool districts of Telangana, Malkangiri district in Odisha.
• Discrepancies could be addressed in titles of 986 belonging to 42 habitations. These titles were reissued. It took lot of effort to pursue with the officials.
• 198 people whose titles have discrepancy of land extent claimed and the extent in the title issued have been resurveyed and titles are reissued as per the GPS coordinates submitted by community. 164 of acres additional extent of land @0.8acre/person they could get.

 2. CFR

• 700 CFR claims have been submitted so far in the States of AP, Telangana and Odisha.

II. Promotion of Agro ecological practices

Facilitating convergence and agro ecological practices for tribal farmers on IFR title lands: IFR title lands were not reached out by government earlier as they were seen as encroachments. Once the title is issued – bringing in convergence with the government agencies like MGNREGA, agriculture department and horticulture department and also involving the scientists of KVKs to provide guidance with regard to the interventions have been taken up

1. In IFR title lands
Chenchu Community in NSTR: 96 Villages, 725 Farmers, Period: 2009-13
Visakhapatnam and Srikakulam districts in Andhra Pradesh, Adilabad and Nagarkurnool districts in Telangana, Malkangiri district in Odisha: 100 Villages, 4982 HHs, Period: 2012 onwards

• 15171 acres of IFR title land has been treated by leveraging funds from MNREGA for land development. 3586 farmers could avail benefits and there is 28% net raise of income.

 2. Rejuvenation of existing Cashew plantation – 14 villages in Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh, 658 HHs, Period: 2015 Onwards

• 658 tribal farmers cultivating cashew on 658 acres land could be benefitted with an increase of 35% in the net income. This amounts to INR 6020/ acre/farmer/annum
• On seeing our work, the PO-ITDA of Seethampet developed a project on Cashew rejuvenation for the entire ITDA area and started implementation.

3. Promotion of horticulture plantations in IFR title lands – 22 Villages in Utnoor, Adilabad district, Telangana

• 500 Farmers (500 acres) benefitted through Horticulture plantation of Mango
• 321 farmers initiated cultivating of vegetables and pulses as intercrop in Mango plantations.

 

III. Water resource development through Watershed development projects in forest fringe areas 3 Projects in 2 locations (Adilabad and Srikakulam): 71 Villages, 7588 HHs, Period: 2010-20

• 16569 acres land treated. Increase in the extent of land under cultivation is 11%. 9.3% decrease in extent of rainfed agriculture land, increase in ground water availability by 66% and increase in moisture index by 166%.
• The IWMP Khandow project was appreciated by the District administration and the project officer was given an appreciation letter. The social audit team also noted that the project was implemented as per guidelines and in a participatory way.

IV. Value addition to Forest & Agri produce

1. Cashew nut processing – 14 Villages in Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh, 605 farmers, Period: 2015 onwards

• 294 cashew producers are benefitted with raise in annual income to the tune of 11.3%. This is because they have not processed their entire cashew, some they still continued with old practice of selling unprocessed cashew to earlier traders.
• One unintended benefit is (though not monetary), people started keeping some of the Cashew nuts processed, for their own consumption, which is good. Earlier they used to sell all produce.

2. Long Pepper – 15 Villages in Visakhapatnam district, Andhra Praesh, 676 farmers, Period: 2015 onwards

• 135 people who regularly collect long pepper are benefitted. Additional income of Rs39/kg. Making women take up the activity needed lot of persuasion. After seeing the returns they got convinced.

 3. Turmeric Processing – 15 Villages in Visakhapatnam district, Andhra Pradesh, 676 farmers, Period: 2015 onwards

• 162 farmers benefitted as the processing has been made easier. Processing time reduced along with reduction in drudgery and shelf life of turmeric enhanced.
• Additional income is Rs3/kg.

 4. Adda leaf plate Making – 262 Villages in Visakhapatnam district, Andhra Pradesh, 7780 HHs, Period-2005-08

• 7780 HHs benefitted through this activity
• Average Annual income increased up to Rs. 3000/- per family
• Contribution of this activity to the annual HH income is 22%

5. Safe and Sustainable Rock Bee Honey Harvesting – 126 Villages in NSTR, 1534 Honey Harvesters, Period: 2006-11

• After the training, the members use protective gear and harvest the combs twice in a season (80 Per cent)
• Reduced the drudgery involved in honey harvesting
• Honey price increased from Rs. 80/- to Rs. 158/-
• The average rate at which honey was sold recorded a 45% increase in the case of trainees and jus 11 % in the case of non trainees
• There is a 53% increase in income per annum per HH

V. Access to Entitlements to tribal communities

 1. Individual level Entitlements

          Health Service (Anaganwadi): 5523 lactating mothers, pregnant women and 0-5 years children accessing Anganwadi services.
          Current Year 2019-20: 2058

          Education (Primary School): 6668 children age group of 6-14 years accessing primary education.
          Current Year 2019-20: 2787

          Social Security: 3611 individuals accessed government schemes like widow pensions, Old age pensions, Physically challenged pensions, IAY,
          NTR Gruhakalpa.  Current Year 2019-20: 1667

          Livelihoods: 7709 individuals accessed various livelihoods schemes viz., selling NTFP to GCC, Livestock and Fisheries.
          Current Year 2019-20: 2102

          Agriculture: 6640 individual benefitted through Crop loans, farm machineries, and subsidies.
          Current Year 2019-20: 5974

          MGNREGS: 8357 Job card holders are receiving work.
          Current Year 2019-20: 5351

  2. Community level Entitlements

           Health and Sanitation: Construction and renovation of Anganwadi centres, Drainage for the village, Construction of ISL
           Leverage amount: Rs. 5752000

          Education: Construction and renovation of Primary schools, construction of school compound walls and kitchen rooms and toilets
          Leverage amount: Rs. 7305000

          Livelihoods: Irrigation canals, construction of mini tanks, common threshing yard, common platform for crop storage
          Leverage amount: Rs. 4626250

          MGNREGS: Farm Ponds
          Leverage amount: Rs. 287196

          Infrastructure development: Community meeting halls, CC & Metal roads, solar street lights, rural electrification, culvert construction
          Leverage amount: Rs. 27359700

          RWS: Construction and repair of drinking water pipelines, bore wells, construction of bore well platforms
          Leverage amount: 3737000

An amount of INR 4.90 crores leveraged in 72 habitations during the past five years (2015-20)

 Rural Communities Programme

 I. Health

I.1     Swastha Kutumbam Health Insurance: 265 Villages, Period: 2016-19

• 207416 Swastha Kutumbam Health Insurance cards issued to rural communities
• 37980 (24255 Female + 13725 Male) Patients availed treatment services in various empanelled hospitals in Vijayawada parliamentary constituency, Krishna district.

 I.2     Sanitation – Projects: SVM, ICEBERG, ICEBERG-Enhance & ICEBERG-RF: 265 Villages, Period: 2016 -18

• Total 7058 IHHLs were fully constructed
• 100 toilets along with 97 Hand wash platforms were constructed for Schools
• 84 toilets were constructed for Anganwadi centers.
• 184 soak pits were completed in schools and Anganwadi centers.
• Provided water pipe lines of 10000 meters for 80 GPs.
• Constructed 39 mini water storage tanks in 39 GPs for Drinking and Domestic water purpose.
• Distribution of 1010 TATA Swachh water filters for Anganwadi centers in all the 16 mandals of Vijayawada Parliamentary Constituency.
• 40 Battery Scooters were provided in 40 GPs for Solid Waste Management Sheds

 2. Implementation of Village Development Plans: 265 Villages, Period: 2016 – 19

• 265 Village Development Plans prepared and being implemented in 265 GPs
• 264 Village Development Committees formed
• 5500 households got benefitted through installation of 34490 meters of drinking water pipe lines in 100 villages.
• Constructed 133 mini water storage tanks in 39 GPs for both domestic and drinking water purpose.
• Installed 39 animal trevices in 39 GPs for the usage at the time of medical camps
• Provided 1010 TATA Swachh water filters in 1010 Anganwadi centers in 16 mandals
• District collector sanctioned an amount of Rs.10 lakhs for digging of perculation tank at Munagalapalli GP of Nandigama mandal, where 320 HHs were suffering with lack of domestick and drinking water facility.
• 10 Burial grounds have been renovated and 5 Village parks have been developed in convergence with MGNREGS

 3. Digital Initiatives:  

Digital Literacy Programme in Andhra Pradesh: 14582 Villages, Period: 2016-17

• 31,05,388 SHG members, 54619 Men and 12272 High School children were trained by 4454 Saathis

Digital Livelihoods Programme in Andhra Pradesh: 8812 Villages, Period: 2017-19

• 2,888 Saathis were benefitted through internet safety & security and other digital livelihood initiatives
• 2, 77,037 women beneficiaries were trained by Saathis

 Digital Livelihoods Programme in Andhra Pradesh: 686 Villages, Period: 2019-20

• 750 Saathis were benefitted through various digital livelihood initiatives

Digital Literacy Programme in Telangana: 3907 Villages, Period: 2018-19

• 9,74,490 Rural Women were trained by 967 Saathis

4. Informal Sectors Workers Initiative: 265 Villages, Period: 2017-19

• 12434 (Female 7477 and 4957 Male) beneficiaries were mobilized and registered
• 7722 (Female 4793 and 2929 Male) beneficiaries were provided counselled
• 5238 (Female 2971 and 2267 Male) candidates where enrolled for training
• 4780 (Female 2640 and 2140 Male) candidates completed training
• 3313 (Female 1832 and 1481 Male) beneficiaries were placed in various business establishments