In the initial years of Gram Vikas' interventions it was noticed that the forests of Kerandimal were receding by about half a kilometer every year caused by commercial exploitation and unsustainable practices. This was due to the Shifting cultivation practice that the villagers at the foothills practiced. In order to prevent this, the villagers had to be introduced to alternate livelihood options or atleast other means of sustainable agricultural practices.
The primary occupation of the people of Bikaspur was agriculture, selling of forest products such as fire wood or wage labour. Gram Vikas introduced them to other options such as goat and bullock rearing, pond revitalization and pisciculture and masonry. The people were organized in Self Help Groups and given assistance by various micro credit and micro finance schemes by way of linkages with banks. Currently papaya cultivation is one of the prime activities of the SHG. Formation of women's SHG has even empowered the women folk. Previously they did not own the land for agriculture. Now they own their lands because of the individual saving schemes. Food security has been assured by the formation of grain banks and stores.
The Gram Vikas Housing Policy was one of loan and livelihood. Hence, it was of utmost necessity to enable the people to pay back the loans which they had taken for their houses. Till date the repayment has been very good with not a single defaulter.
|