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Annual Report 2016 3

CONTENTS

Foreword 6

Statistical Overview 8

Leadership 9

AKRSP(India)’s Development Approach 11

State Reports 12

THEMES 18

Community Institutions 18

Gender 26

Strengthening Local Governance 28

Sustainable Agriculture 30

Livestock Development 33

Water Resources Development 37

Soil and Water Conservation 40

Decentralised Drinking Water Systems and Water Testing Laboratories 42

Sanitation 44

Renewable Energy 48

Education 50

Skills and Entrepreneurship 54

OUTREACH 56

VADVAI: Capacity Building Initiative 56

Partnership with Civil Society Organisations 58

NEW INITIATIVES 60

Multi-thematic Rural Transformation Initiatives 60

Research and Documentation 61

Our Team 62

Financial Summary 64

Media Coverage 66

Donor Partners 67

Office Addresses 69

Annual Report 20164

Annual Report 20166

FOREWORD

The year that was from the desk of CEOFor rural India, 2016 largely provided a good monsoon and reasonably good yields though Saurashtra and Dangs in Gujarat had poor rainfall, affecting agriculture and drinking water availability. Demonetisation however impacted the rural economy (November 8, 2016 was right in the middle of Kharif sales & Rabi input purchase). Only time will tell whether the impact was short term or medium term. AKRSP(I) has initiated steps to build capacities of rural citizens to manage in the changing economy.

Civil Society Organisations did not have a great year ; first there was the potential application of the Lokpal Bill on all their Trustees/Senior Office bearers and then the suspense over the renewal of the FCRA. And yet it is a sector which is never short of optimism and hope; new organisations emerged while the older ones continued with vigour.

AKRSP(I) in 2016:

Overall, 2016 became a year of many firsts; the first time AKRSP(I)’s programmes in Madhya Pradesh and Bihar became large (Overall AKRSP(I) crossed staff strength of 400), the first time we had the chance to influence policy in Bihar, the first time we took up large-scale work with small ruminants and the first time we ran a development management course for tribal youth.

Women’s day celebrations were big events with thousands of community members gathered to celebrate the day. Padyatras were very effective in Dangs along with leaders’ conference held during the event.

Education programme saw expansion during the year with all three states now having education as integral part of programme portfolio. Under education, we have interventions for early childhood development (ECD) in Gujarat and Bihar in partnership with the government supported anganwadi system. There are two approaches for children between 6-12; in Gujarat we provide additional support (Learning Enhancement Programme) in 40 schools while in Bihar, we have now graduated to working with entire Primary Schools under the School Improvement Programme. Learning levels amongst children witnessed improvement in 2016.

Sanitation Programme continues to grow despite many challenges at ground level. Three schools in Gadu and Sayla regions won Swachh Vidyalaya Puruskar recognising the quality of work done by the team. The unprecedented focus by the government on sanitation has helped thousands of women own and access toilets, and AKRSP(I) is partnering with the government in all 3 states for facilitating the clean village approach amongst communities. One downside of the time-bound approach is the tendency of some officials to over-state the achievements; declaring villages and districts open-defeacation free ahead of schedule. This poses a severe challenge to field staff and local government officials as they seek to separate the genuine from the exaggerated information.

Some exciting models emerged under Irrigation development namely irrigation market development through solar pumps in Bihar and diversion based irrigation in Madhya Pradesh particularly deserves commendation. We also saw success of check-dams programme in Netrang through support from CSR. Drone based videography of land and water related activities in Dangs and Netrang provided an overview, which was missing earlier. PIM also saw scaling-up in South Gujarat, through various follow-up efforts from the team. There is need for policy influence to develop context programmes to enhance water control for tribal communities.


Solar programme for irrigation and domestic use continues to impress us. We hope to touch 50 solar irrigation systems soon. The current outreach is 700 farmers, which is a good progess for a relatively new programme. It is also heartening to notice various models of solar irrigation and domestic lights being piloted by our team.

Agriculture now includes several types of activities across all geographies of the organisation. We plan to enhance Pulses production in Bihar, which is a national priority. Goat rearing program continues to grow in Madhya Pradesh and now in Bihar. Poultry in Madhya Pradesh shows high potential. Dairy Programme for the poorest reduced as there was a change in government policies in Gujarat. Organic cotton and drip irrigation in cotton continues to scale-up with the support of CSR support. Many challenges exist in both of these initiatives. Conservation Agriculture brought us accolades at many platforms, our case study won a national level award in addition to opportunity to present our work in World Agronomy Congress. We expect this to grow in coming years at higher pace. SRI too needs our attention to make it more result oriented. We expect horticulture trees to start fruiting in near future. Attention needs to be shifted to productivity and marketing of horticulture produce. Farmers’ institutions also saw some progress; however there is long way to go before they become self-reliant institutions owned by the farmers themselves. Micro-finance activities helped women in starting many new micro-enterprises using their own savings, bank credit and Nabfin credit. Skills development related activities were affected due to piling up of receivables from government. Team is trying to establish fee based structure as mitigation measure. New courses on trades like nursing and beautician were started by the team during the year. Stitching courses for young girls and women in Bihar and Madhya Pradesh are in high demand due to employment opportunities available locally.

Good governance is on the way to become an integral strategy of our work in tribal dominated regions of AKRSP(I) geographies. Studies have shown that mobile based extension system is very effective in reaching remote tribal areas with useful information. Governance team is playing important role in social security, empowering PRIs, health and education related entitlements to poorest.

We entered into partnerships with many new donors during the year in addition to continued support from existing donors. This year also saw visits of many high rank government officials including chief minister of Bihar visiting our work there. Our work was continuously highlighted by media throughout the year.

The overall expenditure was Rs.78 crores, 36% more compared to 2015. Audits and financial reports are now the time-consuming cost of doing development work and AKRSP(I) submitted 426 financial reports across 64 projects. The systems developed ensure transparency for communities, government and donors.

Staff strength increased beyond 400 in 2016; 8 new offices were opened in rural areas, taking the total offices to 61.

In Learning and Sharing, two end-term evaluations including the European Union funded project on drinking water and sanitation in Bihar and the Tata Trusts funded project on livelihood enhancement in Madhya Pradesh were completed. While several other research studies and baseline studies are done regularly by AKRSP(I), some studies have a major impact on policy/programme collaboration. One such study was that done on potential for Irrigation Development in Dangs. This report has been found to be of use by the government, and it is likely that their own investment in Dangs will be influenced by the study recommendations.

Annual Report 20168

Details Achievement in Year 2016 Cumulative Till 2016CoverageVillages (no.) 256 2289Households (no.) 31200 249372Village Institutions (no.) 920 11232Women’s Institutions (no.) 553 6735Rural Governance Panchayats Strengthened (no.) 96 96Gram Sabhas/Mahila Sabhas Strengthened (no.) 96 96Citizens Benefitted (no.) 15939 33557Sustainable AgricultureSustainable Agriculture Practices (households) 7984 28061System of Root Intensification (households) 3126 28383Conservation Agriculture (households) 96 153Agri Input Supply (households) 12870 65853Agri Equipments (households) 954 10225Farmer Producers Organisations (no.) 10 18Soil and Water Conservation (ha.) 993 50260Agro Forestry/Horticulture (households) 1560 18831Vegetable Cultivation (households) 7575 38785Water ManagementCanal Irrigation Societies (no.) 18 165Lift Irrigation Devices (no.) 7 968Check Dams and Irrigation Tanks (no.) 35 1395Well Irrigation (no.) 245 1411Farm Ponds/Bori Bandhs (no.) 115 1992Water Use Efficiency Devices (ha.) 1171 14317ForestryJoint Forest Management (no. of villages) 0 83Livestock DevelopmentDairy (households) 42 5194Poultry (households) 524 1201Goat Rearing (households) 8667 12557Pashu Sakhis (Paravets) trained (no.) 68 126Veterinary Services provided (households) 8667 15079Renewable EnergySolar Powered Irrigation Schemes (no.) 5 10Alternative Energy Coverage (households) 797 71106Drinking Water and SanitationRoof Rain Water Harvesting Structures (no.) 0 10615Drinking Water Supply Schemes (Village/hamlet) 30 314Sanitation Units (households) 17792 33423EducationAnganwadies/ECDs Supported (no.) 119 158Children in Anganwadies and ECDs 2389 5239School Improvement (no. of schools) 239 239School Children (no.) 17446 17446Learning Enrichment Program (no. of schools) 20 30Skill DevelopmentNumber of youths trained 1603 29522Number of youths placed 339 4521

STATISTICAL OVERVIEW


LEADERSHIP

Board of Directors-2016

1. Nasser Munjee Chairperson

2. Bakul Virani Director

3. Isher J. Ahluwalia Director

4. Kasim Ali F. Merchant Director

5. Madhu Sarin Director

6. Munir Merchant Director

7. N. Venkatram Director

8. Pradip Khandwalla Director

9. S.B. Ravi Pandit Director

10. Tinni Sawhney Director

11. Wajahat Habibullah Director

12. Apoorva Oza Secretary

Audit and Investment Committee

1. Bakul Virani Member

2. Sanjay Gupta Member

3. Apoorva Oza Member

4. Alok Krishna Secretary

Auditors

Statutory Auditors M/s Haribhakti & Co Mumbai

Internal Auditors Manubhai & Shah LLP Todi Tulsyan (for Bihar)

Bankers

State Bank of India, Navrangpura Branch, Ahmedabad

State Bank of India, Vadaj Branch, Ahmedabad

Axis Bank, Ashram Road, Ahmedabad

Annual Report 201610

Vision, Mission and Values

Vision

AKRSP (India) can contribute in India to the creation of an enabling environment in which rural people can identify their needs and priorities and with professional support, organize themselves to improve the quality of their lives

- His Highness the Aga Khan

Mission

AKRSP (India) exists to enable the empowerment of rural communities and groups, particularly the under-privileged and women, to take control over their lives and manage their environment, to create a better and more equitable society

Values

• Empowerment

• Equity

• Transparency

• Collaboration

• Professional Excellence

• Responsive to Change


AKRSP (India)’s development approach has two main goals. They are, organising people for collective action, and addressing rural inequities. Keeping these goals in mind, it undertakes the following interventions and activities:

Alternate Energy

• Biogas• Solar Lighting Systems• Acrylic Sheets

Savings and Credit Groups

• Self Help Groups• Community Based Savings

Groups

Non-Farm Livelihoods

• Animal Husbandry• Bamboo Crafts• Skill Building & Placement

(Yuva Junction)• Tailoring Centers

Forestry

• Joint Forest Management• Farm Forestry

Agriculture

• Promotion of Biopesticides and Organic Compost

• Horticulture

• Creeper Vegetable Cultivation• Input Supply• Collective Marketing• System of Root Intensification (SRI)• Vermicompost• Group Wire Fencing• Conservation Agriculture• Organic Agriculture

Water Resource Management

• Lift Irrigation• Small & Large Water Harvesting

Structures• Micro Irrigation Systems• Group Wells• Participatory Irrigation

Management• River Basin Management

Soil and Water Conservation

• Land Levelling• Contour Bunding• Gabions• Gully Plugs

Education

• Early Childhood Development Centers (ECD)

• Anganwadi Support• Learning Support Centers (LSC)• Family Literacy• Learning Enhancement

Programme (LEP)

Vadvai

• Capacity Building• Exposure Visits• Advisory Services• Certificate Course in

Development Management

Research and Communication

• Studies on Field Implementation• Research• Audio Visuals• Documentation and

Dissemination

AKRSP(INDIA)’S DEVELOPMENT APPROACH

Promoting self-reliant com

mun

ity organizations which address

rura

l in

equi

ties.

EnhancingIncomes

SustainableEnvironment

Reducing Drudgery and

Improved Healthfor Women

Access to Education and Technology

Bihar ProgrammeStarted in 2008, Bihar programme has grown rapidly in these recent years. AKRSP(I) continues to implement developmental activities through Multiple Input Area Development (MIAD) approach. At the end of year 2016, we are operational in 350 revenue villages of 12 blocks in 2 districts of Bihar. Major interventions in Bihar includes:

• Drinking water and sanitation

• Goat rearing

STATE REPORTS

Muzaffarpur

Samastipur

• Agriculture extension and farmers’ institutions

• Irrigation

• Promoting women’s savings groups

• Solar Energy

• Early childhood development and primary education

• Skills development for youths

Major Highlights of Year 2016

• AKRSP(I) has signed an agreement with government of Bihar for providing technical support on community owned rural drinking water schemes.

• Organisation continues to implement comprehensive programme on rural sanitation focussing on open defecation free villages including villages under Ganga Action Plan in collaboration with government.

• A large scale community based goat rearing programme has been initiated in both the operational districts focussing on improving incomes from goat rearing.


Coverage

Districts BlocksSamastipur Pusa, Tajpur, Samastipur, Mohanpur, Mohaddinagar, Sahpur Patori, Kalyanpur

Muzaffarpur Sakra, Muraul, Bandara, Mushari, Bochaha


• An innovative pilot on enterprise based model of solar-pump irrigation systems has been initiated in collaboration with International Water Management Institute (IWMI-Tata Program)

• A programme has been initiated to strengthen early childhood development activities in Anganwadis focussing on comprehensive development of children in age group of 3 to 6 years.

Visitors

• During Nishchay Yatra, Chief Minister of Bihar Shri Nitish Kumar visited two villages where AKRSP(I) has promoted community owned drinking water schemes. He was accompanied by senior government officials who briefed Honourable Chief Minister on community owned model of drinking water.

• Principal Secretary, Rural Development Shri Arvind Chaudhary along with other senior government officials visited our work on drinking water and sanitation.

• There were several visitors from our funding partners, academic institutions and other organisations.

Coordination with Government Programmes

• AKRSP(I) is actively engaged in facilitating sanitation activities at large scale in Bihar. Focus is on ensuring open defecation free villages. There is close partnership between government departments and AKRSP(I) in this regard.

• AKRSP(I) has signed a state level agreement with Department of Panchayati Raj for technical assistance in implementation of rural drinking water schemes.

• AKRSP(I) is implementing a goat rearing programme with the support of Jeevika.

• AKRSP(I) is engaged in improving learning levels of children in government primary schools and Anganwadis.

Madhya Pradesh ProgrammeStarted in 2004, Madhya Pradesh programme has grown to a larger programme. Over the period of time AKRSP(I) has taken up activities in several developmental areas including livelihoods, health and education. At the end of year 2016, we are operational in 242 revenue villages of 7 blocks in 5 districts of Madhya Pradesh. Major interventions in Madhya Pradesh includes:

• Promotion of women self help groups (SHGs) and their federations

• Natural resources management

• Extension of sustainable agriculture practices

• Farmers’ organisations

• Goat rearing and poultry


• Strengthening rural governance

• Solar energy


• A diversion based irrigation pilot scheme has been operationalized in Sedhwa block of Barwani district.

• Poultry has been established as a key livelihood generating activity for tribal households.

• 59 Pashu Sakhis are providing vaccination and deworming services to over 5000 goat and poultry rearing families.

• Women’s day celebrations across all blocks in Madhya Pradesh programme area saw participation of over 5000 tribal women from various villages. Several key elected representatives and government officials attended these events.

• Strengthening of six women’s federation is undertaken during the year. These federations are active in financial services, livelihoods and governance space.

• Tissue culture based pomegranate orchards are promoted with 44 farmers. Initial results are highly encouraging

• AKRSP(I)’s sanitation activities were covered by Aakashvani radio station in Khandwa and aired in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

• Over 8000 citizens regularly get information on government schemes through voice messages on mobiles. 2022 people benefitted from various schemes.

• There is substantial increase in participation of women in Gram Sabhas due to AKRSP(I) efforts.

Khandwa

Burhanpur

KhargoneBarwani

Dhar


Coverage

Districts BlocksKhandwa Pandhana and KhalwaBurhanpur KhaknarKhargone ZhirniyaBarwani Niwali and SendhwaDhar Dharampuri


Visitors

• Divisional Commissioner, Indore Division Shri Sanjay Dubey along with District collector Khandwa and other senior government officials visited our sanitation related work in Khandwa district

• District collectors of Burhanpur, Khargone, Barwani districts attended Women’s Day Celebration organized by women’s federations promoted by AKRSP(I)

• Late Shri Rajendra Dadu and Smt Yogita Borakar, MLAs attended Women’s Day Celebration organized by women’s federations promoted by AKRSP(I)

• State level officials from Bhopal visited our work on watershed development in Khargone and Barwani districts

• AKRSP(I) received several visitors from its funding partners, academics and other organisation during the year

Coordination with Government Programmes

• AKRSP(I) has signed a non-financial MoU with government to facilitate Swachh Bharat Mission in tribal villages of Madhya Pradesh

• Over the period of time a large scale watershed development programme has been implemented with the support of rural development department of Madhya Pradesh

• There is close working partnership with various departments at block and district level particularly in rural development, agriculture, veterinary, health and social justice departments

• AKRSP(I) promoted SHGs and SHG federations have received good amount of support from State Rural Livelihoods Mission and banks

• AKRSP(I) has several initiatives in Madhya Pradesh around agriculture development and financial inclusion with the support of NABARD


Gujarat ProgrammeAKRSP(I) started its operations in Gujarat in 1986 in the then districts of Surendranagar, Bharuch and Junagadh. Over the years the programme has expanded and entered newer geographies and is now active in 12 districts and 27 blocks of the state. The work in Gujarat is in 3 distinct regions: the coastal saline region with its headquarters in Mangrol, the drought-prone region with its headquarters in Sayla, and the tribal south Gujarat region with its headquarters in Dangs and Netrang. The year 2016 saw consolidation in the new coastal districts like Devbhumi Dwarka, Porbander, and Morbi. Major interventions in Gujarat include:

Coverage District Current blocksSurendranagar Sayla

ChotilaRajkot Jasdan

Vichhiya Morbi Vankaner

Tankara Bharuch Netrang

Zaghadia Narmada Dediapada

Sagbara Surat Mandvi

Umarpada Mangrol Mahuva Bardoli

Navsari Chikhali Vansada

Dangs Ahwa SubirWaghai

Junagadh Mangrol Malia

Gir Somnath TalalaVeraval

Porbandar PorbanderDevbhumi Dwarka kalyanpur

Khambhaliya


• Dairy and agriculture based livelihoods

• Natural resources management: irrigation, watershed etc

• Micro Enterprise Development

• Solar energy for irrigation and drinking water pumping

• Improving local Governance (Panchayati Raj Institutions)

• Early childhood development and primary education

• Skills development and placement for Youth

• Certificate course on development management (CCDM) for tribal youth

Porbandar

Junagadh

Bharuch Narmada

Navsari Dangs

Surat

Rajkot

Surendranagar

Dwarka

Morbi

Somnath



• The work in participatory irrigation management in south Gujarat expanded, with agreements of almost 9000 hectares benefitting more than 10000 tribal farmers being signed with the Irrigation department

• A part of the rivulet in Dediapada was treated with 7 new and old checkdams, leading to substantial irrigation increase for farmers in 2 villages

• Solar energy expanded its footprint in the tribal region, with both irrigation and drinking water systems being set up in remote areas

• The work in Morbi district has now become multi-thematic with interventions in sanitation, primary education and skills for youth in addition to the work on agriculture.

• A feasibility study on potential for irrigation in Dangs has been shared with the Government to help identify potential sites for checkdam repairs

Visitors: Besides heads of various CSR supporting AKRSP(I), district collectors and DDO’s in several districts visited AKRSP(I) work in the field.


THEMES

Promotion and strengthening of community based organisations is core of AKRSP(I)’s work since the beginning. Over the period of time we have promoted range of community organisations based on community needs.

COMMUNITY INSTITUTIONS

• Availing the schemes and entitlements for its members i.e insurance, ration card, pension schemes, etc.

• Ensuring basic services like drinking water, sanitation and supply of rations

• Land entitlement for women

• Involved in micro enterprise development activities

WOMEN’S FEDERATIONS

Women’s federations have played critical role

in women empowerment. Based on the context and needs

these federations have taken up several activities for the benefit of their

members. Following major activities have been taken up by various women’s federations

promoted by AKRSP(I) during year 2016

• Majority of the federations are ensuring schemes and entitlements for their members. Federations have ensured

Rashan Cards, Widow Pensions, Elderly Pensions etc., for eligible members of the federations.

• All federations liaison with block and district level government offices for ensuring basic services like drinking water, sanitation and supply of

rations.

• Couple of federations in South Gujarat are working on land titles for women.

• One federation in Coastal Gujarat is working on domestic violence and other domestic disputes for ensuring legal justice

for their members.

• Federations help their members in getting economic benefits like saving accounts, bank credit, agriculture

activities and micro enterprises. Several types of micro-enterprises have led to economic

security for women.

• Several federations helped their members getting flagship insurance

schemes promoted by government.


Since the inception of the organisation, we have believed and encouraged the participation of the community in all our projects. Community’s involvement creates a sense of accountability and responsibility towards achieving the desired outcomes. The projects where the CBOs have participated actively have witnessed a better success rate.

Women Inspirations Women from AKRSP(I)’s intervention area in Junagadh (Gujarat) have formed a committee to fight against gender injustice. They are a part of the women’s federation called the Maliya Mahila Manch. The success story of these women has featured on online portal People’s Archive of Rural India. They have formed a Nyaya Samiti – a justice committee – to address cases of domestic violence and other vulnerabilities. To read the complete story of success please check web-link: https://ruralindiaonline.org/articles/a-league-of-extraordinary-women/?utm_content=buffer85b3b&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

The story has been contributed by Gurpreet Singh who works at the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme on projects related to sustainable agriculture and conservation of natural resources.


List of Blocks where Women’s Federations are Promoted by AKRSP(I)

Challenges:

There are many challenges in increasing effectiveness and reach of these federations. Some federations keep growing their services over the period of time while others have stagnated over the period of time. Federations require further strategic support in becoming self-reliant so that they are able to take new issues which are of prime importance to their members. AKRSP(I) is trying to design a strategic support program for these women’s federations.

Tribal South Gujarat

Blocks• Sagbara• Dediyapada• Netrang• Mandvi• Vansada

Blocks• Dedtalai• Pandhana • Zhirniya

• Khalwa• Niwali• Sendhwa

Madhya Pradesh

Blocks• Wankaner• Maliya• Mangrol

Saurashtra, Gujarat


Self Help Groups (SHGs)Women Self Help Groups are engaged in ensuring financial services for their women members. A large proportion of SHGs have also taken up micro-enterprises as livelihood activity either as a group activity or supporting individual members. SHGs have also played important role in motivating their members in taking up sanitation activities at household level. By the end of year 2016 total numbers of SHGs promoted by AKRSP(I) has reached 3522. Additional around 2000 SHGs are working either independently or managed by federations directly without any support from AKRSP(I).

Women Self Help Groups are engaged in ensuring financial services. SHGs have taken up micro-enterprises as livelihood activity and active particpation in the sanitation related activities.


Village Development Committees (VDCs) and Village Organisations (VOs)Village Development Committees and Village Organisations are designed to work on holistic development of villages particularly in tribal dominant regions where villages face challenges on several fronts. VDCs have membership of both men and women members with equal representations while VOs have only women as members. These platforms often work very closely with Panchayat and government grass root service providers at village level to resolve critical problems in the village. During the year 2016 AKRSP(I) worked with 146 VDCs and 56 VOs.

Canal Irrigation Management Societies (CIS)Participation of farmers in the management of canals is critical to effective and efficient use of water from medium and larger irrigation schemes. Canal irrigation management societies play important role in equitable distribution of irrigation water, repairs and maintenance of canals, crop planning and collection of water charges. During the year 2016, we worked with 11 canal irrigation management societies which managed over 10000 hectares of irrigation.

Watershed Development Committees (WDCs)Watershed Development Committees coordinates the watershed works at village level in addition to ensuring norms around management of natural resources within villages. AKRSP(I) worked with 31 committees during the year. These committees have faced severe shortage of resources during the year due to change in government policies on watershed management works.

Goat Rearing Groups (GRGs)Goat rearing groups are platform for goat rearing households particularly women to learn best practices of goat rearing, collectivize the efforts on getting inputs like preventive veterinary services, feeds etc., and better prices for goats. During year 2016 AKRSP(I) worked with 40 goat rearing groups on various aspects. It is planned to evolve these groups in producers’ organisations for providing stability to the initiative. Two producers companies have been formed in Madhya Pradesh which will focus on goat rearing and poultry related services to their members.

Progress of the SHGs during 2016 is given below:

Canal irrigation

management societies play

important role in equitable distribution of

irrigation water, repairs and maintenance of

canals, crop planning and collection of

water charges.

No. of SHGs directly facilitated

by AKRSP(I)

3522No. of SHGs having bank accounts

2433No. of SHGs

receiving credit from banks

759

Cumulative saving (Rupees

in Lakhs)

861 lakhs

Bank loan outstanding

352 lakhs

Revolving fund received from

NRLM

107 lakhs

Internal Loan outstanding

578 lakhs



Farmer Producers Organisations (FPOs)Farmer Producers Organisations are slowly beginning to provide important services to their members. Focus of AKRSP(I)’s work during the year was building governance and business capacities of these farmers organisations. Marketing of commodities like groundnut, pigeon-pea and cotton, supply of poultry feed, supply of poultry chicks, supply of quality agri-inputs and supply of organic manures and pesticide received good response from members of these producers companies.

Drinking Water and Sanitation Management Committees (WATSAN Committees)Management and maintenance of drinking water and sanitation infrastructure post construction is very critical for continuous access of these services. Drinking water and sanitation committees are playing important role in facilitating social norms around sustainable use of such infrastructure. These committees also help in liaison

Water shed Develop-ment Committees coordinate the watershed work. WDCs also ensure norms around management of natural resources within villages.


with Panchyat and other departments wherever required. Monitoring the use of toilets built under Swachh Bharat Mission is continuous activities for these WATSAN committees. During the year 2016, AKRSP(I) worked with 388 WATSAN committees in as many villages across all three programme states.

School Management Committees (SMCs)School Management Committees are Right to Education Act (RTE) mandated committees for community participation in ensuring compulsory and quality education of children. AKRSP(I) is working on strengthening these committees so that they can play active role in education of children at village level. SMCs are encouraged to participate actively in various school development activities like planning, budgeting, enrolment of children, retention of children, infrastructure maintenance and grievance redressal. During the year 2016, AKRSP(I) worked with 284 SMCs in Gujarat and Bihar.


Women Empowerment is core of several initiatives across all programme geographies of AKRSP(I). Reduction in drudgery for women was part of our interventions during inception phase of the organisation. Activities like biogas, common land development etc., were part of our interventions which had good impact in terms of reducing drudgery for women. In mid 1990s, organisation started focussing on gender aspects in all its programs which were primarily focussed on natural resources and agriculture at that time. Women participation in NRM institutions, planning and execution of projects was given priority during this period. Over next one decade several new initiatives like financial inclusion, women’s federations, livestock development, drinking water and sanitation had huge positive impact on lives of women.

Current focus of AKRSP(I) is on creating transformative impact on lives of women particularly from marginalised communities. There are several initiatives where women are leading change in their communities. Women groups formed by us have started leading improvement in grass root governance, changing regressive social norms, improving livelihoods of the poorest and ensuring entitlements for the poorest communities.

Some of the current initiatives where women are leading change at grass root level are:

• Project Mesha which is implemented in Bihar has the goal of empowering 50000 women from marginalised communities through improvement in income levels from Goat Rearing. Women are the exclusive participants of the project and we intend to increase their participation in goat value chain at all levels including at input, production and market levels. Improvement in preventive veterinary care services for goats in the region is led by Pashu Sakhis who are trained in providing these services.

• Project Transform Rural India which is implemented in Madhya Pradesh has the goal of bringing multi-dimensional transformative change in the lives of 12000 families from tribal communities of the region. Women are primary change leaders for bringing about this transformative change in rural governance, livelihoods, health and education.

• Project Gramin Sushasan Pariyojana which is implemented in tribal areas of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh has the goal of improving rural governance in these areas. Large scale Mahila Sabhas are promoted in villages to ensure that women not only participate in Gram Sabhas but also get success in getting their problems resolved through Panchayats and other government departments. Mahila Sabhas help women to prioritise their issues and put it in more articulate ways in Panchayats and government departments.

• Women’s groups and federations are actively leading sanitation activities at community level through leading

GENDER

“The cases we resolve act as moral support to other victims of violence. Our clients persuade other women and give them the courage to stand up against the tyranny of a male-dominated society. Isn’t this a form of empowerment – to speak up against what is wrong?”

Hiraben Parmar, she works as para-legal worker from Maliya Mahila Manch


Flag Bearers

of Sanitation Project

Gramin Vikas Mahila Mandal (Womens Federation) in Mangrol

is providing special sanitation loan to families up to Rs. 10K so that initially,

it helps the family to start the construction work. Mahila Manch has received Rs. 10 Lakhs

as revolving fund for promoting sanitation.

The loans have benefitted many households. The Federation

has also conducted various IEC activities to spread

information about the Sanitation Project

and benefits of constructing

a toilet.

behavioural change, providing monitory support to poorest households and coordinating with government agencies on ground.

• Women’s federations are also playing critical role in ensuring entitlements like social security, land rights, supporting victims of domestic violence etc., for their women members. Several hundred women have secured land titles in last couple of years through efforts of these federations.

• Young girls from extremely poor communities like scheduled tribes are successfully trained on various vocations and placed in several corporations. These girls have become icons in their communities which were largely isolated from mainstream economic development. In majority of the cases these girls are sending remittances to their families which are extremely poor and hardly have other means of improving their livelihoods.

AKRSP(I) is putting intensive efforts to improve its own capacities in designing and implementing gender transformative initiatives on the ground. In the year 2016, over 300 team members of the organisation went through trainings on gender aspects. First phase of the trainings focussed on applying gender lenses on self while in subsequent phases team capacity will be built on frameworks and operational handholding required for transformative programs on ground.

• Nearly 300 team members associated with different Programmes/Projects of AKSRP(I) across all three states, went through a Basic Gender Training and a Training on the organisation’s Policy for the Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal of Sexual Harassment at workplace.

• Group processes were done with women in 5 clusters of Khandwa and 3 clusters of the Dangs. We will have 8 new registered Women’s Federation early next year.

Phases of the Gender Sensitisation Training:

• Phase I: Basic Gender Sensitisation Training, which is aimed at developing a conceptual clarity and also at helping the participants reflect on Gender and Self.

• Phase II: Training on AKRSP(I)’s Policy on Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal of Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace. The offer letter provided to new joiners carries a copy of the Policy.

• Phase III: Advance Training on Gender, which entails understanding the need to talk about and understand Gender in our work-space. Also Gender Analysis Framework has been developed and information on different approaches to ensure gender mainstreaming.


The approach/strategy of the project is to bring three stakeholders – citizens, PRIs and government administration on one platform and to enable communication among all these stakeholders.

Increased Access to Information and Entitlements of Public ProgrammeVarious mediums adopted by the team to disseminate information to the communities.

The information shared with the community consists of various social schemes such as health, education, livelihoods, and social security. As the community is empowered with information related to various schemes, the success rate of their effort to access schemes has increased during the year.

Total number of trainings:

No. of Trainings/Exposures: No. of Training

Total Participants

Sub-committees of PRI 8 404

Panchyat Members 17 795

Service Providers 2 33

Government Officers 0 0

Volunteers 10 500

CBO (SHG/FG/PG/Federation) 34 3710

Nagrik Mitra/Radio Reporter 17 92

88 5534

Improving Effectiveness of Local Governance InstitutionsAlong with empowering the community members it is also important to improve the effectiveness of development programme through strong governance institutions, like Gram Sabha, Gram Panchayat and committees of Gram Panchayat. In 2016, 17 trainings for elected members, 8 trainings for sub-committees and four exposure visits were organized.

The total outreach during the year:

Outreach Male Female

Personalised communication channels

Nagrik Soochna Kendra 3207 1629

Nagrik Mitra 8614 7195

Camps 1481 880

VI meetings 2272 4254

Broadcasting channels

Voice Messaging 6480 909

Video Shows 169 183

Campaigns 410 339

Total 23619 16625

STRENGTHENING LOCAL GOVERNANCE


Activities Taken up to Strengthen Local Governance• Preparing integrated Village Development Plans:

17 VDPs have been successfully prepared by the Gram Panchayats.

• Sushasan budget for Gram Panchayats: Sushasan Nidhi is very critical and unique intervention of our programme for improving the overall governance and service delivery at Gram Panchayat level.

• Facilitate Gram Panchayat to undertake pro-active disclosure: the painted boards on the public spaces were used to display information on I - Khedut portal, Gram Sabha, schemes, etc. Pamphlets of schemes, toll free numbers for schemes, banners on schemes, were displayed in the GP office and GP members were educated by demonstration on importance and obligation of Local Governments for displaying public utility information.

Research and DocumentationThe Governance unit in AKRSP(I) undertook various research and documentation studies to influence the local service delivery, budget allocation decisions and policies of the government.

• Research on sickle cell anaemia in Zhirniya block of Khargone district.

• Study on functioning of Mahila Sabha and Gram Sabha in Narmada district.

• Study on status of Janani Suraksha Yojana and Kasturba Poshan Sahay Yojana in Narmada district.

• Joint study with district administration in Aravalli, Gujarat and identifying alternative solutions.

• Advocacy for Issue of caste certificate for gond tribe in Madhya Pradesh.

• Manual for Mobile Mahiti Karyakarm and digital camp and along with training modules on good governance, citizenship, ICT and e-governance.

• Case studies: Access to information and entitlements – named as Jaankari se Adhikar and Empowered Panchayat led good governance practices

Overall Achievements• Saturation of pension schemes demand in project area.

• Zhirniya block registered highest demand for residential hostels admissions within the district.

• Increased demand and supply in livelihood schemes related to agriculture and poultry.

• School Management Committees started taking lead in school management to solve children’s problem related to class room, drinking water and mid-day meal.

• Regularisation of services of Anganwadi and demand for new anganwadis.

• Voice of women being heard in Gram Sabha and administration after Mahila Sabha.

• Panchyat office started providing services to citizens from Panchyat office with information, forms and online services.

• Panchayats started taking leadership role in issues related to education and livelihood.

• Panchyats capacity to plan, implement and manage projects independently and taking up responsibility for pro-active disclosure.


Being based in rural areas, agriculture is integral part of our interventions. Core goal of the agriculture programme is food security, income enhancement and sustainability.

In the Sustainable Production organisation has been promoting System of Root Intensification, Conservation Agriculture, landless garden, Kitchen garden, Non-Pesticide Management, Organic Farming Amrit-Krishi, Integrated Pest and Nutrient Management, Soil health card based advisory. During the year, our extension team worked on various crops including, millets, paddy, pulses, soybean, vegetables, groundnut, cotton etc.

Conservation Agriculture which was started with challenges of acceptance by farmer for cultivating crops without ploughing has seen new direction as many farmers are now adopting this on their own.

SRI has now been extended to other crops such as millets, gram, soybean, in Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.

In the component of Risk Reduction, interventions such as farm pond and solar based irrigation, drip irrigation promotion was done. In the event of long dry spells during monsoon, provision of support irrigation becomes very significant.

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE


Group Irrigation Case Study: As a part of innovation in on farm sector, AKRSP(I) has successfully demonstrated group irrigation system with farmers collectives. The credit of success goes to its mechanism which is based on participatory approach and farmer collectiveness. During the year 2016, in Bihar, AKRSP(I) has supported to establish 7 units of new Group Irrigation systems at both the districts i.e. Samastipur and Muzaffarpur. It’s covering 552 farmers with irrigation support on 152 acres land round the year. An internal study reveals that the cost on irrigation has drastically cut down up-to 46% which is a great relaxation for the farmers in terms of reduced spending on input cost of irrigation.

The upcoming year will see an enhanced focus on covering maximum farmers in crop insurance scheme under the Prime Minster Fasal Bima Yojana. This will be an extension of our work in risk reduction which becomes telling in the changing climate. Intervention such as solar shock wire fencing will also be extended to the region of Dwarka district in a new programme to reduce the risk of animal attack on crops.

Farmer Producers Organisations (FPOs) promoted by AKRSP(I) have been championing the linkages with market across various geographies. A total of 17 FPOs have been promoted with a total of 11707 members collecting Rs. 32,11,000 as shared capital. Post demonetisation some FPOs got benefitted due to government procurements. Mangrol Magfali producer company can be seen as successful stories which did a turnover of Rs. 1.79 crore in the last quarter. In totality the FPOs promoted by AKRSP(I) did a turnover of Rs. 3.61 crore for marketing products Cotton, Groundnut and pulses for 2220 farmers. Many FPOs and villages institutions also worked towards input supply to remotely located villages. Input such as seeds, bio-pesticides was supplied to 4395 farmers of an amount of Rs. 1.61 crores. Other activities under the component were, processing, collective input supply, seed production and supply, cattle and poultry feed supply etc. SHGs also initiated the processing units on small scale in some regions.



LIVESTOCK DEVELOPMENT

Livestock plays very critical role in risk mitigation in addition to income source for rural people. In the regions where adequate land and water resources are available, dairy has emerged as an important income source for the farmers. Goat rearing and poultry are less input intensive hence suitable for farmers having low resource base. Over the period of time AKRSP(I) has worked with all three sector; goat rearing, dairy and poultry.

Goat Rearing Goat rearing is practiced at large scale in Madhya Pradesh and Bihar. Generally most marginalized communities are engaged in this activity. AKRSP(I)’s goat rearing programme has several key interventions leading to increase in productivity and income levels.

Outcomes

• Within a year’s time period mortality rates have decreased to around 6% from prevailing 20% to 30% mortality rates in villages. It leads to direct impact on income levels.

• Majority of the Pashu Sakhis are able to generate additional income in the range of Rs. 500 to Rs. 2000 per month from their services.

• Mobilisation efforts put by Pashu Sakhis have helped in effective implementation of vaccination drive run by government.

• Production of feed block at local level is emerging as good micro-enterprise activity for women’s groups.

Goat Rearing Fact Sheet 2016

Particular Achievement in 2016Number of villages covered under goat rearing program

249

Number of goat rearing households covered

8667

Number of Pashu Sakhis trained 107Number of households received vaccination services

8667

Number of households received deworming services

8093

Number of households benefitted from improved feed

2937

Visitor’s Quote

Selection of Pashu Sakhis appears to be good, there appears to be a demand for their services already.

The three day training given to Pashu Sakhis is discernible.

– Dr. Chanda Nimbkar, Nimbkar Agricultural Research Institute (NARI)

Future plan also includes marketing of goats through producers’ organisations to ensure better prices for farmers.

Key elements of goat rearing program

Women into Goat Rearing Groups (GRGs) to create platform for extension of best practices and collective action.

Capacity building and knowledge extension is largely around housing, preventive healthcare, breeding, feeding and financial services.

Facilitation of government schemes including vaccination drives and health camps in villages.

Creating a cadre of women extension workers called pashu sakhis to provide preventive health services for goats. Pashu Sakhi’s services include deworming, vaccinations and knowledge extension. Pashu Sakhis charge for their services from the goat rearers to ensure the viability of their services.

PoultryMembers of women self-help groups (SHGs) in Madhya Pradesh have taken up poultry as income generating activity. The Tribal households are involved in Poultry at large a scale. In Madhya Pradesh AKRSP(I) is working on both the models of poultry; improving existing backyard poultry and promoting commercial poultry as micro-enterprise.

Making provision for vaccinations in

poultry birds through Pashu Sakhis

Improvement in feeding practices

Linkages for chicks

procurement

Facilitating government schemes around backyard

poultry

Market linkages with traders for purchase of full

grown birds

Promoting low cost shelters

Facilitating women to get credit services from their self-

help groups and banks

In addition to this one pilot is underway to develop a viable model for rearing of indigenous poultry bird, Kadaknath.

Essential elements of our intervention

Poultry Fact Sheet 2016

Particular Achievement in 2016

Number of villages covered under poultry

54

Number of poultry rearing households covered during the year

1240

Number of households started new poultry units with shelters

200

Households benefitted from government scheme on backyard poultry

324

Number of households received vaccination services

1240

Number of birds vaccinated during the year

44044

Chick rearing centre 1


Outcomes from Poultry Intervention

• Households which adopted micro-enterprise model of poultry are earning income in the range of Rs. 30000 to Rs. 60000 per annum

• Mortality rates in poultry has been reduced with vaccination and other practices

• Activity is largely adopted and run by women which led to economic empowerment of women

• Most of the backward linkages like chick and feed purchases are done by farmers’ producers companies hence these companies are able to generate sustainable business



DairyDairy emerged as a very important livelihood activity in areas where irrigation areas has increased due to constant efforts of government and other development agencies. Tribal region and Saurashtra region in Gujarat benefitted most from this.

Major highlights of year 2016:

• AKRSP(I) partnered with Godrej Agrovet Ltd. (GAVL) for capacity building of dairy farmers around better husbandry practices. Experts from GAVL trained a cadre of master trainers who further trained farmers on this. Total 1832 dairy farmers of Gujarat are trained under this initiative.

• Cattle vaccination was facilitated in 33 villages benefitting 1666 dairy farmers.

• 42 households facilitated to receive bank loan for dairy activity during the year. Over last five years more than 1000 families have benefitted from various government schemes and bank loans.

WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT


Water Resource Development for IrrigationThe single greatest constraint for small farmers to have higher agriculture productivity and diversification is water control. With an increasingly erratic rainfall, irrigation, both for supporting during the rainfall gaps in the monsoon crop, and for water availability in winter and summer is critical and defines the difference between a viable and impoverished farming. Most rainfed large farmers are much worse off than smaller, but irrigated farmers.

AKRSP(I) supports the villagers for greater water control, not only through supply side solutions but also by managing demand through promoting micro-irrigation schemes and agriculture interventions like SRI, Conservation agriculture, which reduce the water demand.

AKRSP(I)’s interventions can be categorized broadly into:

• Recharge the groundwater: Indirectly supporting irrigation. Interventions under this category are percolation tanks, checkdams, watershed work etc.

• Provide direct irrigation from surface water sources (canals, dams and rivers) and groundwater (groupwells, borewells etc). Interventions include partipatory canal management, checkdams (both new and repair, boribandhs, mini-lift irrigations schemes, groupwells, farm ponds etc.)

Another recent categorisation would be based on the energy source used for lifting water : with solar fast replacing the traditional electric/diesel pumps.

In 2016, AKRSP(I)’s irrigation programme received a boost with support from CSRs. This was very timely as the traditional government programmes, which fund water resource management like IWMP (Integrated watershed management programme) and MGNREGA have restricted their contribution on the ground. In addition to this, the irrigation department in Gujarat too signed an MOU with AKRSP(I) to scale-up Participatory Canal Irrigation Management in South Gujarat. AKRSP(I) facilitates the formation and empowerment of canal irrigation societies who distribute the water equitably, collect water rates and manage the repairs and rehabilitation of the canal structures. Over time, these canal societies become independent of AKRSP(I) and directly interface with the Irrigation Department.

More than 1500 farmers accessed irrigation for the first time, and about 3000 farmers had greater water control (Quantity and time decided by farmers) from Participatory Canal Management.The bulk of the interventions were in the tribal regions of Madhya Pradesh and South Gujarat, though group irrigation (some with solar) in Bihar and farm ponds in Coastal Saurashtra did have an impact.

Overall 34 checkdams (10 repaired and 24 new) and 81 boribandhs were constructed, while 245 dug wells were repaired and made

functional. To reduce water extraction, 7 group borewell schemes were promoted. Women increasingly prefer the solar irrigation schemes to the diesel engine, not only because of the

economics but also because their dependence on the often-absent men is reduced, as the solar power does not need the cranking of the diesel, and its easy to operate the switch.

One unique initiative in Madhya Pradesh was the stabilisation of a traditional irrigation approach called the ‘paat’ system, wherein water is diverted from

rivulets and transported many kilometres, across hillocks, without an energy device; just by using digging canals in a way that the potential and

kinetic energy of the water is optimised. This is a great traditional skill but requires very frequent maintenance, and since villagers

have lesser time, the systems remain unused. AKRSP(I) staff worked with those skilled villagers and put up structures and pipes to minimise maintenance.

There were 3 major trends in 2016:

1. An increased focus on repairing/rehabilitation of existing water resource assets (checkdams, dug wells, diversion based irrigation systems)

2. A greater focus on smaller schemes which are better managed (mini-lift irrigation, groupwells, farm ponds)

3. Energising schemes, through solar, where the scheme had become inoperational due to lack of power or unviable because of diesel.

AKRSP(I) has signed an agreement with Irrigation Department for PIM and initiated work in Tapi and Surat district of Gujarat. Under this agreement the area to be covered is Ukai Left bank main canal with a command area of 9632 hectares. A total of 48 villages of Vyara, Valod and Mandvi block of Tapi and Surat district (South Gujarat) will be covered under the initiative. This will benefit approximately 15000 farmers mainly from tribal communities.


Where we

startedAKRSP(I) appointed

a community organiser in 1989 specifically to motivate

and organise these farmers, and this process took 3 years (the society

was registered in 1991). There were developments in other countries where

successful implementation of Participatory Irrigation Management had improved the irrigation

performance. AKRSP(I) took the initiative to plan exposure trips for the senior level irrigation officials to the

Philippines.

Participatory Irrigation Management was initially started in Gujarat since the end of 1980s on a basis of collaboration between the Irrigation

Department and NGOs such as Aga Khan Rural Support Program in India AKRSP(I) and Development Support Centre (DSC). The irrigation project

in Pingut (Bharuch district) was the first when irrigation management was transferred to WUA. The Irrigation Department of state decided

to pilot Participatory Irrigation Management work in 13 pilot projects and the state had issued additional 35 orders to

facilitate and create enabling environment for establishing and implementing WUAs. Based on experience of

these 13 pilot project state finalized Participatory Irrigation Management Act in 2004.

As a part of that till today AKRSP(I) has worked in South Gujarat for 22000

hectare area and 10000 hectares is under implementation, so total

32000 hectare area covered under PIM and 34000

households in 270 villages covered

under it.

Participatory Irrigation Management

• Formation of 17 water user associations with a membership of 2994

• MOU of 4 water user associations

• Awareness Programme with support from irrigation department

• Individual contact of farmers, joint meetings (irrigation department, farmers and AKRSP(I))

• Irrigation management responsibility taken by 3 water user associations

• Water charges paid to irrigation department Rs. 3,67,509 and got rebate of 50% from government


Village: Guradpani Block: Sendhwa, Advance Gabion

Eco-restoration and regeneration of natural resources is one of the prime activities of the organisation. Plantation has always been the focal point of work. The regeneration plan was developed on the basis of regional agro-climate; prevailing existing ground conditions and need of the people. The regeneration activity undertaken was as per the regeneration plan designed and implemented with the active participation of the community. Under regeneration the indigenous plant species has been promoted. The plantation was done on common land as well as private land to encourage local community towards the development of green belt in the area. A total of 70634 saplings of different native species have been planted in private land plantation under farm forestry, which has benefited 1333 farmers covering 706 ha area. As well as 30000 saplings of different native species have been planted in common land covering 75 ha area.


In Madhya Pradesh core watershed activities are being carried out in 18 villages of Khalwa block, 6 villages of Zhirniya block, 8 villages of Sendwa, 11 villages of Dharampuri and 13 villages of Pandhana block through Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP). In the Dangs district of Gujarat, land development work was undertaken in 36 villages during the year.

Under watershed the focus is on two activities namely area treatment and drainage line treatment. Under area treatment earthen field bunding, stone field bunding, farm forestry and common land plantation, under drainage line Gabion and loose boulder structures/nala plugs were constructed. These treatments will not only be helpful to reduce soil erosion but also conserve flowing rain water.

Area TreatmentIn this year field bund/stone farm bund constructed on 983 hectares in private land, and benefited

1359 farmers. These activities helped in checking the soil erosion and augmenting the ground water recharge and soil moisture conservation in field.

Drainage Line TreatmentThe various soil and water conservation measures have been implemented,

which includes 94 gabions and 164 gully plugs/Nala plug have been constructed.

These activities helped in checking the soil erosion and augmenting the ground water recharge. The development of

gabion and gully plugs has reduced the flow of runoff and checks the soil erosion. The effect of the reduced

soil erosion can be seen through silt deposition upstream side of gabion and boulder gully plug.

SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION


Exposure visit WDC members at Ralegan Siddhi of Zhirniya block

Capacity Building of CommunityAs part of training and capacity building, watershed committee members of three micro-watersheds namely Borwal, Mandwabhatti and Sindwari, Zhirniya block were taken for an exposure visit to Ralegan Siddhi. Mr. Anna Hazare facilitated an hour-long session on Leadership and Importance of Participatory Planning.


Access to Potable Drinking WaterOverview

Despite progress in many other infrastructure provisions, providing access to potable drinking water remains a challenge in most rural areas. The complexity of this issue is that this problem defies natural conditions; Medium rainfall regions of Saurashtra and Madhya Pradesh, and high rainfall regions like Dangs in Gujarat have problems of access, while the shallow groundwater regions of North Bihar and Coastal Gujarat have problems of water quality. The Government has invested substantially to address this problem, and its impact can be seen in states like Gujarat (Where challenges persist to some extent), which created a special purpose orgnaisations like WASMO (Water and Sanitation Management Organisation). Bihar and Madhya Pradesh will need investments, and special purpose organisations to address the problem on a large scale. The increased sales of household RO units depicts that there is an increased awareness of the link between water quality and health, though the trend may be more urban than rural.

AKRSP(I)’s work in drinking water is in the states of Gujarat and Bihar. Madhya Pradesh team has recently piloted similar schemes in couple of villages. The work can be categorised as follows:

1. Promoting/improving private, household owned drinking water assets (Roof rainwater harvesting structures in Gujarat and handpumps in Bihar)

2. Promoting Village/hamlet level systems in collaboration with community institutions (panchayats/collectives etc), most of which provide water access at household/neighbourhood level.

3. Promoting and operating low cost, block level water testing laboratories, which test water samples and educate villagers on water quality.

4. Work pro-actively with the state governments to learn and share lessons to align policy and practice.

In 2016, 30 new schemes benefitting 2600 households were handed over to community instituitions, and 6 old structures were repaired. In addition, support to the water committees in more than 100 villages continues where implementation had started two years back. 6 schemes in Dangs and 2 in Bihar were energised through solar power, and this was fairly unique as there are few examples of solar powered drinking water systems overall.

There was a relative slowdown in Gujarat as the older projects in Dangs and Saurashtra came to an end, hence no new roof rainwater harvesting structures were constructed. The water testing laboratories in Gujarat and Bihar tested 767 samples, with a contribution of INR 35-50 per sample made by the community. It was to ensure that the operational costs (Excluding staffing) of the laboratories are covered.

In Gujarat and Bihar, the sanitation programme focussed on all the villages where drinking water was provided. Hence there are over 100 villages/hamlets, which have 100% access to potable drinking water and sanitation now. This would not only ensure that water quality remains good, but also make the sanitation use sustainable as in many areas lack of water is a major reason for non-use of toilets.

In terms of policy advocacy, the government of Bihar found the community based drinking water supply scheme promoted by AKRSP(I) to be worthy of replication. Hence the senior officials visited these hamlets and an MOU was signed with the Panhayati Raj Department to provide support as and when required.

DECENTRALISED DRINKING WATER SYSTEMS AND WATER TESTING LABORATORIES


Community owned mini drinking water supply scheme – Government of Bihar is scaling-up through “Har Ghar Nal ka Jal scheme”Availability of safe drinking water has been a major problem in Bihar. In the rural northern Bihar, shallow hand pumps are the predominant source (around 87% of all the sources) of drinking water. Due to low water absorption capacity of soil, waste water of the hand pump is pooled near the source itself, making it highly contaminated. Collectively, stagnant surface water, poor sanitation conditions and absence of drainage around water sources lead to permanent ground water contamination.

In this backdrop, AKRSP(I) in 2009-10, examined water sources in its intervention areas in both Samastipur and Muzaffarpur districts of Bihar. The results revealed bacterial contamination in nearly 85 per cent of the sources. Based on these results, both curative and preventive interventions were undertaken such as awareness and sensitisation among communities, construction of concrete platforms near hand pumps and establishing mini water testing laboratories to provide safe, potable drinking water.

Subsequently, working with the community, AKRSP(I) worked hard to develop an alternative model that shall provide safe and potable drinking water to the ultra-poor with a view to bring down their health expenses. In this context, AKRSP(I) piloted two different models of community owned mini drinking Water Supply System (COMDWSS) with financial support of European Commission and Water Aid in two different Gram Panchayats of Samastipur and Muzaffarpur districts. This intervention aims at providing safe, potable water 24x7 with least wastage. Hence, a model was designed for hamlets with high density population having scattered settlement. Herein, various stand posts are erected in different settlements and are connected through PVC pipelines. Each stand post is equipped with two auto lock taps and specially designed platform to collect water, optimally. At present, this model of erecting stand posts is being promoted and accepted. Water charges are regularly paid by community themselves hence operations, repair and maintenance of the schemes is assured without external help. The first community owned mini drinking water supply scheme is been commissioned in May 2013 at Dhobi Tola in Mohamadpur Kouri Panchyat of Pusa block. After successful demonstration of model, AKRSP(I) has established many such schemes in different hamlets to meet out the community demand and emphasis was laid on the quality of water also.

The consistence and wider acceptance of the community along with the active participation ensured the installation of 57 community based drinking water schemes in these last four years. Certain drastic changes in terms of community awareness and sensitisation along with the ownership of women have led to the successful implementation. Hence, the model of community owned mini drinking water supply scheme was shared at different platforms. It was shortlisted in Bihar innovation forum by Government of Bihar, at the same time Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Government of India also shortlisted it under Innovation III, where it was presented at national level.

This model was visited by Principal Secretary, Department of Panchayati Raj, Government of Bihar along with other state officials. Department found it suitable for replication under the planned “Har Ghar Nal Kaa Jal” scheme of the state government.

An MoU has been signed with the state government where AKRSP(I) will provide technical support for implementation of this scheme in over 1.25 lakh rural hamlets of the state.

AKRSP(I) is implementing a comprehensive sanitation programme in the states of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar since January 2015.

The broad objectives of the sanitation initiative:

• Making villages open defecation free (ODF) through facilitating household level toilet construction (IHHLs) ensuring its usage

• Integrate school WASH program through facilitating hygiene promotion practices among children, teachers and SMCs

• Focus on solid and liquid waste management

• Focussing awareness on menstural hygiene and its management among adolescent girls and women


SANITATION

To achieve desired objectives AKRSP(I) has followed broad strategies and approaches that includes;

of household level toilets units with its usage and monitoring by Nigarani samities to sustain the ODF status of the village

100%Coverage

Facilitation through awareness and intensive Behavioral Change Communication (BCC) through village level community led institutions

Technical Support - demonstration of model toilet units, mason trainings and helping VOs/GPs to establish sanitary marts.

Facilitating implementation through panchayats/Village organisations/Federations/SHGs

Convergence and

collaboration with on-going government programmes

Geo tagging of

toilet units through AKVO

apps

To geo-tag the toilet unit constructed, AKVO-

FLOW, a web based system for uploading the baseline data

and photo of the toilet has been introduced. A staff has been trained

for use of the technology through a training organised by AKF and

AKVO-FLOW team in Delhi. From July ‘16 onwards

our field teams are updating the data

on AKVO regularly.


Progress in 2016

Exposure visit:

1. Our team from Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh visited the exemplary works done by Gram Vikas, a Odisha based NGO on village cleanliness, sanitation and drinking water.

2. To ensure sustainable use of the toilet constructed, toilet users trainings sessions imparted and also taken over to exposure visits to some model villages like Badalpur in Junagadh and Punsari in Sabarkantha district so that they could see and interact directly with villagers of the model village that how they keep their toilet clean and what are the mechanism by which they keep their village clean.

Government officials made visits to the AKRSP(I) project areas.

IEC ActivitiesAs a part of Behavioural Change Communication strategies; series of community mobilisation activities and events were organised, which included awareness meetings and training sessions of women SHGs, Panchayat members, WATSAN committee/VHNSC members to make them aware about the health and hygiene issues and make them realise importance of improved sanitation practices i.e how human excreta pollutes drinking water and food and creates impacts on our personnel hygiene and village cleanliness.

One of major activities has been the community led total sanitation exercises (CLTS), which is a triggering exercise organised in many villages.

Initiatives on Menstrual Hygiene Management

AKRSP(I) has also initiated Menstrual Hygiene Management as an important component of ODF. Awareness on menstrual hygiene aspects and knowledge on its improved practices among the adolescent girls and women is one of the important part of rural sanitation programme as it is linked with overall healthy living of families along with improved sanitation practices. We have developed the strategy to integrate it with overall health and hygiene awareness training to women and adolescent girls so as to inform them about the scientific aspects of

A total of 16 villages in Gujarat and 68 wards in Bihar has reached the stage of 100% coverage and declared open defecation free.


menstruation cycle and what are the improved practices that women are practicing in rural habitations of our country.

Attempt has also been made to include Asha and Anganwadi workers in the campaign. Mapping of prevailing practices on MHM done with adolescent girls in schools and in villages of Gadu/Sayla and Madhya Pradesh regions.

In Gujarat 2800 units of sanitary napkins have been distributed to women members of SHGs and Kishori groups (Adolescent) in Sayla, Gadu and Dangs. The idea is also to develop the local entrepreneur itself among the women SHG or federations who then supply the napkins at a affordable cost in village.

In Madhya Pradesh, the team works with the women’s federations on this issue. During the federation meetings 3 entrepreneurs in each federation area further create awareness and linkages with ASHA workers. The entrepreneurs are procuring cost-effective and affordable sanitary napkins to distribute within the federation area.

Financial Support for Toilet ConstructionSome federations and SHG groups/VOs have initiated the process of providing loans to the families from the Revolving Fund. In Madhya Pradesh in 3 clusters (Dedtalai, Pandhana and Khalwa) a total of 488 toilets have been constructed. Similarly women federations in Mangrol (Gujarat) have facilitated 163 toilet units in 7 villages with the financial support from various sources.

Solid and Liquid Waste ManagementIn Madhya Pradesh the team has promoted construction of soak pits at both streets and household level. They have piloted this initiative in 10 villages and facilitated construction of 26 soak pits at hand pump spots and 386 soak pits at household level. The team is trying to develop 2 complete model villages on the basis of ODF with 100% coverage, usage of toilets, school wash and provision of drinking water, domestic water etc.

Recognition and partnership:

• AKRSP(I) has been recognised as Key

Resource Center (KRC) in 4 districts in Gujarat viz. Junagadh,

Devbhoomo Dwarka, Surendranagar and the Dangs.

• MoU with Government of Madhya Pradesh as implementation partner of toilet units

through 43 GPs of Burhanpur, Khandwa and Khargone districts

• Recognised as Development partner in Bihar for

Muzaffarpur and Samastipur districts and signed MoU

for block support approach for

Pusa block of Samastipur

district.



AKRSP(I)’s renewable energy programme is 30 years old, with its initial interventions in biogas technology in Gujarat. While this programme grew, it had limitations as poor households in Madhya Pradesh and Bihar, who did not own cattle, could not benefit. Over time, other technologies like solar and wind became accessible as costs declined. AKRSP(I) then promoted solar lanterns for lighting, and solar pumps for irrigation. These offer great promise in most rural areas as the last mile connectivity costs for electricity connection is high. AKRSP(I)’s programme promotes the following technologies:

1. Solar lanterns/table lamps, micro-grid systems for lighting and home use

2. Solar pumps for irrigation and drinking water

3. Biogas technology and efficient cookstoves for cooking (Both of these have scaled down recently)

AKRSP(I)’s approach is to incentivise collectives and individual entreprenuers to extend the technology and also be responsible for repairs/replacement. Shops have been set-up in Bihar and Madhya Pradesh where renewable energy products are sold by these entreprenuers.

In 2016, 5 solar based irrigation systems were promoted in Gujarat and Bihar while 6 drinking water systems were promoted in Dangs, providing assured drinking water in an area where voltage fluctuation had made water supply uncertain. Overall 50 KW of solar panels have been installed in 2016.

Solar lantern promotion continued through the entrepreneurs; direct extension by AKRSP(I) was for 106 lanterns in a remote area.

Group Irrigation ModelA normal 5 HP AC submersible pump is providing approx. 1 lakh litre per day in 30 meter head on a clear sunny day at average of 5.5KWH/SQM/day. This amount of water is able to irrigate 20 - 25 acres of land which are dependent on seasonable crop. A group irrigation system is functioning through a deep borewell having depth of 400 ft (depending on water table). A circular iron made tank has been installed with indicator of overflow and has been connected with main output pipe. The rounded tank has 4-5 outlet pipes which connects the main pipeline located at different locations of the farm field. Different distribution pipelines are connected with main pipeline to provide sufficient water to the farm field. The advantage of the model is to provide irrigation water to at least 2 main pipelines which are connected with sub-distribution pipelines. Hence this will provide water to at least 4 farm plots at a time, located at different patches of land.

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Madhya PradeshOur focus is to provide clean and safe energy to households so that they do not suffer without electricity connectivity. In the region, some villages which are situated in remote locations are facing problems due to lack of power connections hence use kerosene lamps for lighting purpose. During 2016 AKRSP(I) has successfully provided lighting to 106 households through promotion of solar lantern.

BiharFarmers in Bihar do not have access to reliable power for irrigation purpose, mostly dependent on poor quality diesel pumps. Hence in the year 2016, we have scaled the Solar based Group Irrigation system under the Alternative Energy Programme.

Farming households depend on fuel to meet their irrigation requirements. This in return has a huge cost implication on the farmers.

AKRSP(I) has innovated a unique model of irrigation system to cope up with this situation. Keeping in mind 24/7 water requirement and any time all weather solution for irrigation, a dual powered, high capacity AC submersible pump is installed in 400 ft deep bore-well to provide adequate contamination free water for wider use. Solar PV providing DC electric supply to convertor transforms DC supply to AC, which is required to run 5 HP submersible pump. This can be connected with grid power in case there is fog or cloudy weather to provide uninterrupted power supply. The model has been successful mainly due to community ownership in participation.

Impact of Group Irrigation Model

• Stabilised agriculture as water is available whenever it is required.

• Increase in food production and thereby increase in income level as the land turns into irrigated land.

• Enhancing food security with the increase in variety of vegetables/crops production.

• Increase in nutrition level of food intake through production of variety of vegetables/crops hence, availability of nutritious food basket.

• Maintaining soil fertility by practicing crop rotation

• Minimise the rate of migration in the village.

A unique solar irrigation pilot was initiated in Bihar, wherein solar entreprenuers would sell water to other farmers through their pumps.


Our Education initiative expanded into new areas that include coastal Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh with two new projects being initiated in these geographies. In Madhya Pradesh, AKRSP(I) initiated a multi-thematic development approach having education as one of the key focus in one of the blocks. In Gujarat, a reading programme was added to the school governance and remedial education components while the school improvement and early childhood education work continued in Bihar.

School Improvement Programme:

Gujarat• Launched a Reading Programme with 10 Village libraries

• 3 LRCs continued functioning

• Conducted trainings for village volunteers (citizen educators)

• Prepared Teaching and Learning Materials for LRC Balmitras/teachers (TLM)

• Pilot Initiative in Dangs: Remedial classes for learning deficit children especially of migrant families

Enhancing Learning through TLM

Teaching learning material can help engage students and enhance their learning experience - the materials help to involve the students,

promote interaction, and enable faster learning and better comprehension. AKESI team helped in assessing the needs

of the children following which relevant material was purchased for different learning areas such as music

area, puzzle area, block area, quite area, language area and home area, which were then distributed to Anganwadi centers. An exhibition of TLM was

also organised so that community is aware of the learning methods.

Learning Resource Centers (LRC)Three learning resource centres (LRC) that were launched last

year continued functioning in three villages of Sayla, Chotila and Wankaner block. A class of 30 students continues to meet learning

deficits of children from villages where each center is located. Balmitras who manage these centres visit four nearby schools in the afternoon and teach

Gujarati and Mathematics to the students especially of third standard through the medium of TLM, during school hours. Approximately 365 children are covered within

these three centers.

Progress of Education Programme in Gujarat

Intervention 2016 Achievements

Institution StrengtheningSchool management committee

186

Learning enrichment centers

15

Learning resource centers 4Pre-School Education Teachers and facilitators 39Children 3037Parents and caregivers 6074Primary Education Teachers trained/supported 23Learners reached 25988

Fight against Child Labour- Special Initiative

There is a high migration trend in this region, especially amongst the daily wage-earning households. In absence of support structure and schools, children from these families end up doing labour on field or in factories. To counter the effects of migration on school going children, AKRSP(I) has put special emphasis on children belonging to migrant families.

• Establishment of Seasonal Hotels

• Identification of migrating families

• Meeting with relevant stakeholders for supervision and functioning of the hostels

• Connection established with grand parents


EDUCATION


DangsA pilot initiative covering two villages was initiated in 2016 with remedial classes for learning deficit children especially of migrant families. Furthermore, infrastructure improvement for two anganwadis/ICDS centers was also taken up along with cultivation of vegetables. Capacity building activity of both School management committee members and Anganwadi workers was also organised during 2016.

Bihar The ‘School Improvement Programme’ (SIP) continued in Samastipur and Muzaffarpur districts of Bihar. The programme aims to improve the quality of education in government schools and to empower school management committees (SMCs) in these schools.

Major activities taken up during the year included the following: demonstration of child centered teaching methodologies by AKRSP(I)’s cluster coordinators in government schools, facilitation of organisation of SMC meetings, encouraging enrolment of students, facilitating academic discussion/support in Cluster Resource Centre meetings, tackling problems faced by teachers in conducting activities, facilitating formation of Bal Sansad (Children’s Parliament) and Meena Manch (Girl’s Empowerment Growth) along with capacity building of the SIP team.

AKRSP(I)’s cluster coordinators primarily focused on relationship building and orienting the school teachers and Cluster Resource Centres (CRCs) on the role of AKRSP(I) going forward. Through rigorous dialogue, head teachers were motivated to engage with SMCs to discuss school development activities and are beginning to show initiative.

Features of the center

This center is located in the center of the village so that community members can take advantage of it.

Guidance for children willing to study in 10th and 12th standard is provided at these centres.

It also covers four nearby schools.

Students up to 12th standard and community members come to fetch information regarding government schemes.

Funds are received from the community in cash and kind. Currently the electricity bills and rentals amounting to Rs. 1000 per month per centre are being borne by the community in these villages themselves as their contribution to learning improvement in their villages.

Value addition:

Remedial classes have been started in LRC centres after detailed planning was prepared by all Balmitras. The activities are going on as per the schedule and planning. Furthermore, weekly planning on standard wise activities to be done was discussed in LRC meeting. Baseline test of 535 children of 15 schools were conducted.

Memory games such as Samaan chupai game, Language improvement games, activities that developed Maths skills, Drawings, Puzzles as well as moral and social stories through videos. These social and moral videos helped children to develop a better understanding of their rights and moral duties, responsibilities.

SMC Trainings were organised in 207 schools in the two districts. Encouraging observations in terms of improved participation of government teachers was evident in these schools. Teachers were requesting inputs for better lesson plan development and relevant trainings to adopt these.


Strengthening School Management CommitteesThe School Management Committee meetings are held monthly in the

schools. AKF cluster coordinators participate in these meetings with an aim to strengthen the discussion and make the members aware of their

roles and responsibilities. A vision for healthy and educated children is collectively discussed.

SMC orientation trainings was organised in 110 schools in Bihar, to introduce AKRSP(I)’s intervention in schools to the SMC members and to make them understand their roles and responsibilities. These trainings served as an engagement tool to get SMC members involved in the school development activities for improved learning of children. In absence of official communication from SSA, the Block Education Officers (BEOs) helped organise the trainings and convince the schools. SMC members were suggested to help get all children of school going age enrolled in school and maintain regular attendance.

Focus of SMC is on:

Sharing with the parents the quick guidelines for improving the learning environment at home, child centred

activities and basic necessities for school.

With the help of cluster coordinators, SMC members do some thinking through on the role of teacher and parents in

the development of children’s academic progress.

Making drinking water available, participating in tree plantation, implementation of Swacch Bharat Mission, school repairing, school development etc.

Actively participating in ensuring high enrolment of children in schools.

Submission of birth certificate at the time of admission has been made compulsory.

CRC MeetingsCRC meetings were supported in 16 clusters of Samastipur. The CRC meetings are developing into a platform for discussion of issues beyond administrative issues. The AKRSP(I) cluster coordinators are attending the meetings to encourage dialogue about student learning.

AKRSP(I) cluster coordinators shared with the government teachers simple things they could do to improve their performance such as development and adherence to a classroom routine so that specific time could be allotted for different subjects. The project teams also facilitated a session on procedure of assessment of children, data collection about various aspects related to children.

Bihar Coverage:

Particular Unit 2016 (ECD) Centers 15+84Teachers and facilitators No. of teachers and facilitators in ECDs 15 [plus 84 ICDS centres]Children No. of children in ECD+ICDS centres 567+ICDS centre childrenParents and caregivers No. of parents and caregivers of ECDs 552+ICDSSIP Government Schools 207Teachers No. of teachers trained/supported 371Learners No. of children supported through primary education

initiative27567

Madhya Pradesh

In Madhya Pradesh with technical support from NGO Samavesh, the baseline for primary education status in Khaknar block, Burhanpur district was completed and a plan drawn up for implementation of capacity building of primary school teachers, head teachers as well as block and cluster resource centres of Khaknar block was completed in year 2016.

Early Childhood Development Bihar

‘Supporting Early Childhood Development for Bihar’s most marginalised communities’ Project continued with financial aid from Rizwan Adatia Foundation and technical support from Aga Khan Foundation (India) in order to extend best practices to neighbouring Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)- government and ECD centres. Children between the age groups of 3 to 6 years from marginalised communities, particularly from scheduled caste and minority groups do not have adequate access to formal and informal quality of pre-primary learning opportunities. The project aims to improve the access to these children and provide the opportunity for quality pre-primary education, through provision of quality early childhood development programmes.

2 ECD centers (Sataanapatti and Fazilpur) are currently running with the full support of community. Hygiene Awareness campaigns in 4 ICDS centers of Pusa block were organized in collaboration with Health team of AKRSP(I). Carried out meetings and training of core committee of VSS of ECD centres and Parent Core Group of ICDS with an aim of sensitizing parents and community towards their roles and responsibilities of not only for betterment of their ward.

AKRSP-(India)

continued to strengthen

14 ECD resource centres in rural hamlets

across Muzaffarpur (7) and Samastipur (7) districts in Bihar.

AKRSP(I) is also supporting 84 government run ICDS centres inclusive

of 42 ICDS centres in the districts of Muzaffarpur and Samastipur

each, through technical assistance for making pre-

primary learning joyful and effective in

Aaganwadis.

Early childhood and Primary Education

Gujarat

ECD_Coastal Gujarat

Anganwadi workers_35

Children_1050

Communities/Villages_21

Central Saurashtra_School

Improvement

Children_30000

Villages_180

Bihar

ECD

Samastipur

84 ICDS centres+7

Preschools_

Muzaffarpur

84 ICDS centres+7 Preschools

School Improvemnt

Samastipur

Primary Schools_86

Muzaffarpur

Primary Schools_82

Madhya Pradesh

Burhanpur

ICDS centres_

Primary Schools_20



Yuva Junction was initiated in 2015 with the aim to reach out to the youth in the project areas of AKRSP(I) and provide them skill training. The skill development arm – “Yuva Junction” has expanded its horizon in the year 2017 by venturing into new sectors like Health Care as well as Beauty & Wellness along with its trainings in existing areas like Retail and ITES sectors.

Both the Bed Side patient assistant and beautician have been introduced with the objective to enhance income level of the girls either through self-employment or wage employment. It has been seen that rural parents are quite comfortable in sending their girls in Health Care sector and beautician course. Trainings in these trades helps inclusion of girls for undertaking economic activities to ensure their financial independence and their well-being.

There is a lack of emphasis on employability skills of the students who are enrolled in ITIs. Hence the programme focus on the students enrolled in ITIs both current students and those who couldn’t get employed at the time of passing out. Linkages have been established with Technical training units of Government on Gujarat to offer training on employability skills to enrolled students.

Yuva junction has currently adopted the Modular Employable Skills (MES) curriculum approved courses by the National Council of Vocational Training (NCVT) for FAD601 (Retail Sales Associate), ICT 701 (BPO), & 705 (Accounts) and conducts internal assessment to ensure high quality of training.

CentersThe courses on the four skill sectors namely Retail & ITES, Beauty & wellness and Healthcare is being carried out in 12 centers – 10 in Gujarat and two in Bihar.

Mentoring and Assessment The candidates undertake tests on fortnightly basis as to enable the trainers to gauge the learning levels of the candidates. Besides this, baseline and end line tests are helpful to the trainer to understand the learning levels of trainees. AKRSP(I) has also placed library in the premises to inculcate reading habits among the students.

Employability Skills at ITIs

ITIs of Hazira (Surat) and ITI Samastipur (Bihar) have been adopted to offer the courses on employability skills along with the course the students are enrolled in. At present 135 ITI youth are enrolled in the training.

Yuva Junction

aims at providing holistic

training to youth of all strata of the society.

The training module ensure job preparedness by coupling

it with modules in the English language, basic IT literacy, life skills

and My career modules. Training comprises of digital lessons,

theory-based lectures, role-plays, presentations

and on the job training when

applicable.

SKILLS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Entrepreneurship In this era of start-ups, there are various initiatives with entrepreneur icons from marginalised communities like Dalits and Minorities but no prominent faces from the Tribal Communities. Keeping this as background AKRSP(I) has initiated a programme with focus on supporting youths from tribal communities who are willing to take up entrepreneurship as career option. We aim to provide support to youths on trainings, mentoring, networking, seed funding, financial linkages and other need based support. We have identified first cohort of youths and initiated processes to help these youths build sound enterprises.

The Big LeapName: Bharti Vasava Village: Sim Amli, District: NarmadaEducation: 12th pass Workplace: U.S.Pizza, Ahmedabad.

Bharti is from a remote tribal village Sim Amli in Sagbara Block, Narmada (Gujarat). She lives with her mother and grandmother. When she was a kid, her father abandoned her and her mother. As a result of which they have to move into her Uncle’s house. Both of them were financially dependent on the Uncle. After completion of 12th standard she started working as an Anganwadi worker at a salary of INR 3000 a month.

Bharti got Yuva Junction’s information from one of the community mobilizers who advised her to contact the Yuva Junction for further details. She got herself enrolled and successfully finished the course of 3 months at Yuva Junction Selamba.

After completion of course, she was offered a job in U.S. Pizza, Bharuch with salary of INR 6000 a month. Initially like any first time migrant, Bharti faced many problems related to accommodation and transportation but her will power to earn for her family kept her going. Her hard work helped her to be promoted to U.S. Pizza, Ahmedabad with higher salary of INR 7000 a month. She now manages to remit INR 3000 every month to her mother and also saves more than a thousand rupees.

“My entire household is really thankful to the Yuva Junction for giving me such opportunity to survive in the world. Yuva Junction has given me courage and confidence to overcome the battles in life”, says Bharti.



Vadvai is the Knowledge resource and services unit. It has gone beyond the selected geographical project areas of AKRSP(I) and is continuously striving towards fulfilling its stated vision through various capacity building programmes, direct field support and advisory services. The initiative is called Vadvai as it draws inspiration from the Banyan tree which spreads its roots around a strong hove.

Enabling the Tribal YouthCertificate Course in Development Management (CCDM): The Curriculum has been designed to enable the tribal youths to work as change agents for their own communities. Right from the conceptualisation of the project, it was envisaged that Certificate Course in Development Management (CCDM) would be a programme to meet the requirements of a grassroots development professionals. Emphasis has been put on both classroom learning and field exposure.

The module consists of:Understanding Development, Project Management, Financial Management, Natural Resource Management and Livelihood, Understanding Tribal Society with special reference to MP and Gujarat tribal culture, Digital Literacy, Life Skills and Functional English.

AKRSP(I) has a pool of experienced staff with accumulated knowledge of rural development including tribal development programme. They are utilized to enrich the learning experience. Community leaders are engaged to enrich the learning of the students.

29 tribal youths with over 50% female participants joined this course. Most of the participants have already been placed in different reputed development agencies and working for the betterment of the society.

Vision: To facilitate wider outreach of the demonstrated community based approaches for livelihood enhancement by disseminating its grassroots learning at the local, state and national level

With the objectives of:

• Enabling organisations for effective and better implementation of programs by incorporating grassroots learning (of AKRSP (India))

• Disseminating lessons learnt through field demonstrations

• Building capacities and providing handholding support to other development organisations

• Influencing government policy through advisory services and capacity building

Vadvai has been recognized as State and National Level Resource Organisation for Integrated Watershed Management Programs in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) in all NRLM states.

VADVAI: CAPACITY BUILDING INITIATIVE

OUTREACH


BRLF for Certificate Programme in Rural Livelihoods (CPRL) Bharat Rural Livelihood Foundation (BRLF) has launched its ambitious programme named Certificate Programme in Rural Livelihoods (CPRL). It is a multi-thematic multi-centre course for tribal youth. Vadvai was given the responsibility of conducting modules of Watershed Management, Participatory Drinking Water Management and Participatory Irrigation Management. First batch of CPRL successfully got trained in these modules at our Campus. Facilitator Manual and Student Manual were also developed in-house for these modules. The feedback of the CPRL participants has been positive and encouraging.

PartnershipVadvai has developed collaboration with many reputed organisations to effectively achieve its objective. This year, with the launch of CCDM course, various expert organisations were involved to run the course in an effective manner. Bhasha, Samarthan, Sadguru Foundation, BAIF, Deepak Foundation, QUEST Alliance were among these organisations.

Clientele of Vadvai:Tata Power Reliance FoundationGujarat Rural Development Department WALMI DEEP TrustGHCL CSR


AKRSP(I) believes in strong partnership with civil society organizations for increasing the effectiveness of grass root actions and scaling up the impact. This is in addition to promotion of several grass-root civil society organizations generally known as community based organizations (CBOs). Over the period of time there are several partnerships developed with many CSOs which are mutually beneficial. AKRSP(I) has contributed to co-creation of some CSOs while it has partnered with some CSOs for taking benefit of their technical expertise in specific areas.

A. AKRSP(I) as Member of Co-ideated CSOs• Coastal Salinity Prevention Cell (CSPC): CSPC is jointly promoted by the Tata Trusts, AKRSP(I) and Ambuja

Cement Foundation. A process of rapid sea water ingress is observed along the 1600 km long coastline of Gujarat; which is mainly due to large scale ground water extraction for agriculture as well as industrial purposes. The problem of salinity has caused social as well as economic unrest among the coastal communities. The CSPC tries to enhance the quality of life of coastal communities through developing and strengthening various interventions focusing on thematic areas such as access to safe drinking water and sanitation, natural resource management and promotion of sustainable agriculture practices in saline conditions and non-farm based livelihoods in partnership with government, civil society organizations and other stakeholders. Currently CSPC reaches out to over 100000 households in 11 districts of coastal Gujarat. CSPC is also trying to take lessons to other states through outreach programmes.

• Working Group for Women and Land Ownership (WGWLO): The Working Group for women and land ownership (WGWLO) is a network of 35 NGOs and CBOs in Gujarat, working on the issue of agriculture land ownership from livelihood security, rights and empowerment angle for women. WGWLO has pioneered unique concept of Swa-Bhoomi Kendra which are located within community based organizations promoted by several NGOs in Gujarat for providing legal and other help to women on land rights. Over the period of time WGWLO has trained a cadre of women para-legals providing help to women at grass roots. Network is also working closely with government functionaries to smoothen the processes of land transfer in the name of women. Recently network has planned for providing agriculture extension services to women farmers in Gujarat.

PARTNERSHIP WITH CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS


• Charkha, Gujarat: Charkha is a development communication network for ensuring news related to grass roots reaches mainstream media. Over the period of time it has helped positive news of grass roots to media through its networking efforts. In addition it also conducts communication workshops for NGO workers. In the past it has come out with several documented reports highlighting efforts of development works at grass roots. Charkha is looking for resources to continue and expand its work in future.

• Sajjata Sangh: Sajjata Sangh is a network of Non-Government Organisations engaged in natural resource management and agriculture development through a participatory process in different parts of Gujarat. It has roles of knowledge sharing, capacity building, research and policy advocacy in addition to pilot new initiatives targeted at agriculture development. Currently it focusses on ensuring remunerative market for farmers who are members of farmers’ institutions in Gujarat. Sajjata Sangh has plans to support farmers on adoption of sustainable agriculture practices to achieve more resilient livelihoods from agriculture.

B. CSOs Providing Technical Expertise to AKRSP(I)• ANANDI: ANANDI is providing capacity building support on gender issues for AKRSP(I) team in Bihar. The

focus of support is on women empowerment through goat rearing initiative.

• Samavesh, Bhopal: Samavesh is providing technical support to AKRSP(I) on improving learning levels of children at primary education level in Madhya Pradesh.

• GALVmed: GALVmed is providing technical knowledge to AKRSP(I) team of Bihar on preventive healthcare for goats.

• Chetna, Ahmedabad: Chetna is providing technical support to AKRSP(I) on primary health and nutrition in Madhya Pradesh. The focus of partnership is on maternal and child health in tribal villages of Madhya Pradesh.

• Utthan: Utthan is providing technical support to AKRSP(I) on rural sanitation. The focus of partnership is on building capacity of AKRSP(I) team on good quality construction of toilets, behaviour change and monitoring of toilet use in rural areas.

• TRI Foundation: TRI foundation is providing technical expertise and networking support to AKRSP(I) in piloting a multi-thematic transformative rural development initiative in Madhya Pradesh.

• Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF): DEF is providing support to AKRSP(I) in terms of digitizing its HR and Administrative processes. In addition they have trained participants of certificate course in development management on digital skills.


Poverty in poorest regions of India is outcome of several factors affecting the lives of people living in these regions. These factors broadly includes regressive social norms, gender based discriminations, lack of economic opportunities, poor health, poor education quality, poor governance and poor general infrastructure. Unfortunately poorest regions are poor on all these fronts leading to perpetuation of poverty, generations after generations. It is also noticed that outcomes on all these fronts are interlinked hence it is essential to work on all these fronts simultaneously to achieve sustainable and transformative results at individual, family and community level.

There are some efforts in last couple of years to evolve a conceptual and operational framework for multi-thematic interventions in rural areas to bring transformative changes. Transform Rural India (TRI) which is a joint initiative of Tata Trusts and Civil Society Organisations is a comprehensive initiative at block level. TRI interventions are collaborative in nature, bringing together several expert agencies in same geography. This initiative build on strong community based organisations which can be great vehicles of becoming change agents at grass root level. The broad framework is shown as a diagram.

AKRSP(I) is implementing this initiative at Khaknar block of Madhya Pradesh. In addition we are also implementing similar multi-thematic initiatives in Bihar and Gujarat in a few villages.

Economic Prosperity

Improved Learning Outcomes

Improved Governance

Women Empowerment

Clean Drinking Water and Safe

Sanitation

Improved Maternal and Child Health

Improved Nutrition

Strongly mobilised community based

organisations (CBOs)

MULTI-THEMATIC RURAL TRANSFORMATION INITIATIVES

NEW INITIATIVES


During the year, the major focus of the Research unit was on carrying out baselines for some new projects including the several projects in Bihar, Education projects in Dwarka district and Burhanpur district in Madhya Pradesh, documenting stories of change across all three regions, managing midterm reviews, end term evaluations and internships. In addition, the team in Madhya Pradesh, continued implementation of a drop box based Information system based on learning from the Dangs team which helped streamline information flow for reporting on multiple projects through the year.

Evaluation of Projects: Two end term evaluations including the European Union funded project on drinking water and sanitation in Bihar and the Tata Trusts funded project on livelihoods were completed.

Documentation and Research: Table 1 below gives a list of completed documents for the reporting period.

RESEARCH AND DOCUMENTATION

Bihar• Stories of change based on AKRSP(I)’s work on drinking water and sanitation in Bihar• Evaluation of the project: Water for good health and sustainable livelihood

Surendranagar,Gujarat

• Lead us from darkness to light : The LEP class of Vitthalpar village – a case study• Improving the quality of mid-day meals. The case of School Management

Committee of Vidi Jambudiya village• Assessment of Maturity of School Management Commitees in Wankaner block,

Morbi District

The Dangs, Gujarat

• Assessment of potential of water resource development in Dangs district, Gujarat• Improvement in livelihoods through water harvesting and conservation related

interventions by AKRSP(I) in Dangs

Tribal MP and Dangs

Conservation Agriculture – Sustainable Agriculture Innovation: A case from tribal regions of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat

Coastal Saurashtra,

GujaratBaseline on Anganwadi quality improvement project

Madhya Pradesh

MGNREGA: From Wages to Sustainable Development. End Term Project Evaluation


CEO

COOThematic Managers/Senior Managers

Cluster Manager

Development Organisers

Development SpecialistRegional/Area Manager

Managers Managers

CTO CFO HR/Admin

Structure (Management Structure and Organogram)The team sitting in the Ahmedabad office consists of all programme vertical/business Heads, the Chief Operating Officer and the Chief executive Officer.

OUR TEAM

AKRSP(I) plans to adopt new learning approach through videos known as blended learning. During the year, team from AKF Geneva facilitated two training for our selected staffs on topics such as script writing, operating the camera, script presentation in front of the camera and video editing.

AKRSP(I) as partner in SBI Youth Fellowship Program

It is a 12-month fellowship where approximately 10 fellows each year are placed with us. One-week orientation for SBI fellows was organised, which included classroom sessions and field visits. There is also a review workshop organised mid-way through the fellowship. Few projects initiated by these fellows were taken forward and scaled-up by our team.

Capacity BuildingThe Human Resource team strives to meet the capacity building

requirement of the team members across all levels and geographies. Some of the capacity building activities are rolled out keeping in mind that a personnel is

responsible to lead multiple projects.

2013

3242014

370

2015

3422016

405

Composition & StrengthThe central office of AKRSP(I) is based in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. There are six area offices

where the operations is being implemented. Four out of the six area offices are located in Gujarat while one office is located in Bihar and the other in Madhya Pradesh.

Each area office has teams deployed to look after the implementation and day-to-day operations of the projects.


HR/OD Update HR Review – The Year 2016

2016 was a major year for AKRSP(I) as its staff strength crossed 400. The sad news is that we lost two of our senior staff; Pravinsinh Jadav and Natvar Virani. Both had worked for more than 25 years with AKRSP(I) and dedicated their lives to achieve AKRSP(I) mission. Total 153 staff were recruited during 2016 out of which 71 were new positions and around 82 were replacements. The major recruitment was done in Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Ahmedabad.

Capacity Building

Middle management staffs are expected to manage more than one project as AKRSP(I) is expanding both thematically and geographically. Hence, to strengthen the capacity of the team to manage multiple projects efficiently, training was organised for selected staff among middle management across three states. TOT (training of trainers) is necessary as training has become an integral part of many of the projects. Hence TOT was organised for selected Madhya Pradesh staff with a focus on adult learning principals, different training methods and tools, feedback techniques, etc.

As we know, AKRSP(I) is rapidly growing in last 2 to 3 years in terms of staff and projects. To cope with such expansion, reflection workshop was organised exclusively for regional and area managers on the themes of change management, stress management, external liaison, and empowerment. Similar trainings were organised at the regional level. For, smooth and effective work execution among finance and admin team, reflection workshop was organized focusing on process gap identification and strengthening the processes.

New InitiativesAKRSP(I) collaborated with Academy of HRD to guide and facilitate us to implement HR activities such as stress management, TOT, Counselling, etc. Two employee surveys were conducted; one was job satisfaction survey with all staff and another one was ORS (Organisation Role Stress) with senior and middle management staff. Job Satisfaction Survey categorised four areas of satisfaction: organisation, supervisor, team and own work. The highlights of the findings are shared here:

Results of Survey Done with All Employees of AKRSP(I)

[AKRSPI’s mission and vision inspires me to work with enthusiasm and commitment]

Pe

rce

nt

0

20

40

60

Stronglydisagree

Disagree Neither agreenor disagree Agree Strongly Agree

[AKRSPI’s remuneration and compensation plan is fair]

Disagree Neither agree nor disagree

Agree Strongly agree

Stronglydisagree

Pe

rce

nt

0

10

20

30

40

Disagree Agree

[My supervisor recognizes and praises me when I do a good job]

Pe

rce

nt

0

10

20

30

40

50

Neither agree nor disagree

Strongly agree

Stronglydisagree

[My team works well together]

Pe

rce

nt

60

50

40

30

20

10

0Disagree AgreeNeither

agree nor disagree

Strongly agree

Stronglydisagree

[I understand and support AKRSPI’s Values in my day-to-day actions]

Pe

rce

nt

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Disagree Neither agreenor disagree

Agree Strongly agree

[I feel satisfied with my job and the kind of work that I do]

Disagree AgreeNeither agree nor disagree

Strongly agree

Stronglydisagree

Pe

rce

nt

0

10

20

30

40

50


FINANCIAL SUMMARYTotal financial expenditure of AKRSP(I) during the year 2016 was Rs.78.05 Crores.

Funds flowed through AKRSP(I) accounts

Community contribution in kind

Funds flowed directly to community institutions or beneficiaries, facilitated by AKRSP(I)

4%

42% 54%

Components of Financial Utilisation

92%

4.4%

2.1% 1.5%

Programme Expenditure Capital ExpenditureAdministration Expenditure Outreach Expenditure

Utilisation Head In Lakhs In Percentage

Programme Expenditure 7,187 92

Administration Expenditure 341 4.4

Capital Expenditure 165 2.1

Outreach Expenditure 112 1.5

Total 7,805 100


Grants from Foreign Sources

Grants from Indian Organisations

Government Support

Community Contributions

His Highness Support

Revenue Income

Corpus Interest Income

23.3%

13.1%

22.2%

35.1%

1.3%1%

4%

Sources of Funds

Sources of Funds In Lakhs In Percentage

Grants from Foreign Sources 1,821 23.3

Grants from Indian Organisations

1,027 13.1

Government Support 1,732 22.2

Community Contributions 2,744 35.1

His Highness Support 102 1.3

Revenue Income 73 1

Corpus Interest Income 306 4

Total 7,805 100

Saurashtra

Ahmedabad

Bihar

Madhya Pradesh

Tribal South Gujarat

17%

18%

15%

45%

5%

Region-wise Financial Utilisation

Region Wise Utilisation In Lakhs In Percentage

Bihar 1,341 17

Madhya Pradesh 1,416 18

Tribal South Gujarat 1,170 15

Saurashtra Gujarat 3,467 45

Ahmedabad 411 5

Total 7,805 100


MEDIA COVERAGE

Anganwadi Workers Training

News Paper: Prabhat Khabar–Model Anganwadi

Date : 8 March 2016

News Paper : Hindustan, Date : 11 February

News Paper : Hindustan, Date : 29 March 2016

News Paper: Divya Bhaskar

News Paper: Gujarat Samachar


DONOR PARTNERS

European Union


Muzaffarpur Central OfficeAga Khan Rural Support Programme (India)Rana Dheerand Prasad Singh,Near North Bihar Agro Agency,Chakkar Maidan, Tel-0621-2223355

Madhya Pradesh Field OfficeAga Khan Rural Support Programme (India)HIG-7, Scholar Den School RoadDindayalpuram ColonyKhandwa (M.P) – 450001Tel-Fax: 0733-2249292

Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (India)9th -10th Floor, Corporate House,Opp. Dinesh Hall, Off. Ashram Road, Ahmedabad-380 009Tel: 079-40069127, 27540421, 27542158Fax: 079-66312471

SAURASHTRA REGION

TRIBAL SOUTH GUJARAT REGION

BIHAR REGION

MADHYA PRADESH REGION

Surendranagar/Rajkot/Morbi Field OfficeAga Khan Rural Support Programme (India)Nr. Shree Raj Shobhag AshramSayla – 363 430Dist. SurendranagarTel-Fax : 02755-280668

Junagadh/Devbhoomi Dwaraka/Porbandar/Somnath Field OfficeAga Khan Rural Support Programme (India)“Bhavani Krupa”,Mangrol- Porbandar Road, Traffic Points Char Rasta, Gujarat - Central OfficeAt: Mangrol, Tal. Mangrol, Dist. Junagadh – 362225Tel. No. 02878-223486

Bharuch-Narmada-Surat Field OfficeAga Khan Rural Support Programme (India)Movi Road, Netrang, Dist. Bharuch-393 130Tel: 02643-282127Tel-Fax -283331

Dangs/Valsad/Navsari Field Office Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (India)Mr. Chandubhai P. Ghavani’s Residence,Shramjivi Vasahat, Rani Faliya above Forest Check Post Taluka Ahwa, District: Dangs

OFFICE ADDRESSES

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