DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

Sustainable Rural Livelihood Programme (SRLP)

Rationale of the Project

Sankhuwasabha, a north-eastern hill district of Nepal, constrains development efforts due to the rugged topography, poverty, poor infrastructure, widespread mass illiteracy, poor facilities in health, diseases, insufficient livelihood options, traditional farming systems, displacement of government services providing mechanisms, etc. The selected Village Development Committees (VDCs), namely Matsyapokhari, Diding, Sitalpati and Dhupu; are isolated, remotely placed and have a higher number of ethnic people and Dalit (the so-called untouchable caste group) members than the national average. Farming is the main livelihood activity of the people in the areas, but the production level is very low, which is not enough for six months. This district falls behind in education, especially for women. According to population census 2001, the female literacy rate is 34%, which is well below the male literacy rate which stands at 45%. Malnutrition, poor health and sanitation habits, and poor living conditions are some of the causes of diseases and physical weakness of the people, which are rampant in the project areas. In a study carried out by the RRN-project team,It was observed that 90% of the total households have no toilets. Similarly, untrained birth attendant have been carrying out practices of pre-natal, natal and post-natal care; and child deliveries.

The goal of the project is to achieve poverty reduction and improved quality of life of socially excluded and marginalised people in a gender sensitive and environmentally sustainable way.
The project purpose is to strengthen the on-going livelihood support mechanisms and to improve the access to locally suitable and viable livelihood alternatives for target groups.
General Objective
To empower community through capacity building of local development organizations and to help them to improve their livelihood.

Specific Objectives

- To create awareness for improving education and skill, status for income generation;
- To improve household and environmental sanitation;
- To strengthen infrastructure development;
- Institutionalization of self-help groups (SHGs).

Beneficiaries

Target & benificiaries of the project

Results

The impact of this project has been shortly described in following different headings:

Awareness, Education and Skill Improvement

A total of 306 participants have been benefited from 15 NFE classes. It has enhanced their capacity of independently conducting group activities, organizing the celebration of different national and international events and initiating and completing locally initiated activities. The literacy and numeracy skills gained through NFE classes were reinforced by their exposures to different national and international human rights, women rights and child rights issues. A large number of rural women and socially excluded people participated in the program, which resulted that the participants are now legally literate and can discuss about legal aspects in any forum. The project activities proved to be beneficial for women as they are now talking about gender related issues easily and freely with enhanced confidence.

Income Generation:

For the upliftment of socio-economic status through the income generation activities, kitchen gardening trainings were conducted and have encouraged the farmers for vegetable cultivation. Construction of community buildings have facilitated the SHG for conducting the various local programs such as campaigns, meetings, etc. in the community.

Technically empowered skilled labourers are providing the services of masonry and plumbing for repair and maintenance of the constructed schemes with the financial support of a revolving fund developed by the monthly savings of users. This has ensured the sustainability of constructed schemes.

Institutionalization of Self-help Groups (SHGs):

The project has paid special emphasis to develop and strengthen the institutional capacity of the SHGs and their federations by supporting them on their bid to institutionalize themselves as viable and active self-help groups. They are progressing towards achieving the goal and by now they are independently able to conduct group meeting, maintain the records of saving credits, and select the appropriate participants for the training.