1). Barua Kollan.

Barua Kollan, is a village dominated by tribals exhibits the following characteristics.

  • Maximum families live below poverty line.
  • No employment during the month of June.
  • Scarcity of any type of skills.
  • Underpaid for the work they do.

Through a participatory survey utilizing different tools like Resource Mapping, etc. in the month of March 2003, it was found that the village had many mango orchards. The villagers never sold the mangoes to anyone. They just ate the mangoes. As the mangoes represented an economic opportunity, it was decided that setting up a unit that uses the mangoes as its raw material could create employment and income.

Aims and objectives

The main objective of the program was to create employment opportunities through an alternative multi-lateral entrepreneurship development program at the grassroot level.

It was aimed at developing alternative employment opportunities at the village level through a participatory approach.

In order to achieve the above aims and objectives, Deendayal Research Institute implemented the multi-level employment generation program during April-June 2003 for the benefit of all categories of people — from very poor to very rich, who would be involved or have some kind of contribution during the implementation of the program.

The Institute, as the implementing agency, decided to guide and facilitate the program on value addition. It was decided to implement the program in partnership with the owners of mango orchards. There are 22 orchard owners in the village belonging to the higher socio-economical segment, and they have about 124 mango trees under their control. Apart from them the tribal people were also considered partners. Krishi Vigyan Kendra Majhgawan, Deendayal Research Institute, was appointed as the nodal agency. The owners of the orchards were to provide the necessary raw materials for the employment generation program.

In the first phase of the program’s implementation, the mango producer’s SHG was formed for collection and procurement of raw mangoes. As the second step, the leader of the group initiated talk with the Institute’s representative for procuring the required quantity of mangoes. After discussions, the SHG agreed to deliver the mangoes at the weighing counter that was set up in the village. The next step, they carried out the grading of the mangoes along with the Institute’s representative.

In the next stage, the tribal people of Barua Kollan carried out the value addition work.

First a list was prepared (with the help of Samaj Shilpi couple posted in the village) of those families who were interested in carrying out the value addition work. Then those selected, collected their quota of mangoes, which depends on the collection of the day, from the distribution counter.

At this stage they carried out the value addition work, which was as follows:

  • Cleaning
  • Peeling
  • Cutting
  • Applying proper treatment.
  • Returning the value added mangoes at the counter.

The Institute was involved, apart from coordinating, maintaining and decision taking, in the following activities:

  • Developing the Action Plan.
  • Identifying raw materials based industries.
  • Contacting the mango growers to form SHGs and then provide mangoes.
  • Providing equal quantity of mangoes to people.
  • Coordinating the total work of value addition.
  • Providing fair prices to all segments of the society.
  • Maintaining the quality of the work carried out.
  • Motivating the people involved to open savings accounts in post office in order to receive payment.
  • Maintaining the job book.
  • Making payments.

During implementation, the Institute faced the following problems:

  • The orchard owners were reluctant to sell mangoes as they never sold mangoes in the past.
  • Institute was late in starting the value addition work.
  • People were hesitating to open savings account.

The experience gained has helped the Institute to take some decisions with regard to carrying out value addition in the future. These include:

  • Mangoes from neighboring regions to be collected as well and diverted to this village so that people may receive more work.
  • Targeted intervention is required for quickly addressing issues of poverty alleviation.
  • Training can be provided to tribal people in procurement technology so that the Institute is involved only in stocking the items.
  • High disparity in availability of mangoes is to be reduced by properly managing the SHGs.
  • Alternative employment opportunities are to be provided for longer periods.

Mango orchard owners received attractive prices for the mangoes for the first time in the village itself. This saved their mangoes from getting damaged during transportation. They also benefited by getting fair prices for their produce. They were also freed from the malpractices of traders in weighing.

The hygienic conditions sought by the Institute during the production process ensured that the tribals were also clean.

The program has given the locals a very income opportunity during a period when they do not have any other work options. It helped them to earn a lucrative amount in a short period of time. They have started cultivating the habit of savings for the first time.

2). Patni.

Patni, a village dominated by tribal population, exhibits the following characteristics.

  • Maximum families live below poverty line.
  • No employment during the month of June.
  • Scarcity of any type of skills.
  • Work is not paid at proper rates.

Through a participatory survey utilizing different tools like Resource Mapping etc. in the month of March 2003, it was found that the village has many aonla orchids. The villagers never sold the aonla to anyone. They just ate the aonla. As aonla represented an economic opportunity, it was decided that setting up a unit that uses the aonla as its raw material could create employment and income.

Aims and objective

The main objective of the program was to create employment opportunities through an alternative multi-lateral entrepreneurship development program at the grassroot level.

It was aimed at developing alternative employment opportunities at the village level through a participatory approach.

In order to achieve the above aims and objectives, Deendayal Research Institute implemented the multi-level employment generation program during April-June 2003 for the benefit of all categories of people — from very poor to very rich, that would be involved or have some kind of contribution during the implementation of the program.

The Institute, as the implementing agency, decided to guide and facilitate the program on value addition. It was decided to implement the program in partnership with the owners of aonla trees. There are about 800 aonla trees under their control.. Apart from them the tribal people were also considered partners. Krishi Vigyan Kendra Majhgawan, Deendayal Research Institute, was appointed as the nodal agency. The owners of the trees were to provide the necessary raw materials for the employment generation program.

In the first phase of the program’s implementation, the aonla producer’s SHG was formed for collection and procurement of raw aonla. As the second step, the leader of the group initiated talk with the Institute’s representative for procuring the required quantity of aonla. After discussions, the SHG agreed to deliver the aonla at the weighing counter that was set up in the village. The next step, they carried out the grading of the aonla along with the Institute’s representative.

In the next stage, the tribal people of Barua Kollan carried out the value addition work.

First a list was prepared (with the help of Samaj Shilpi couple posted in the village) of those families who were interested in carrying out the value addition work. Then those selected, collected their quota of aonla, which depends on the collection of the day, from the distribution counter.

At this stage they carried out the value addition work, which was as follows:

  • Cleaning
  • Blanching
  • Applying proper treatment.
  • Returning the value added aonla at the counter.

The Institute was involved, apart from coordinating, maintaining and decision taking, in the following activities:

  • Developing the Action Plan.
  • Identifying raw materials based industries.
  • Contacting the aonla growers to form SHGs and then provide aonla.
  • Providing equal quantity of aonla to the people.
  • Coordinating the total work of value addition.
  • Providing fair prices to all segments of the society.
  • Maintaining the quality of the work carried out.
  • Motivating the people involved to open savings accounts in post office in order to receive payment.
  • Maintaining the job book.
  • Making payments.

During implementation, the Institute faced the following problems:

  • The owners were reluctant to sell their aonla as they had never sold aonla in the past.
  • Institute was late in starting the value addition work.
  • People were hesitating to open savings account.

The experience gained has helped the Institute to take some decisions with regard to carrying out value addition in the future. These include:

  • Aonla from neighbouring regions to be collected as well and diverted to this village so that people may receive more work.
  • Targeted intervention is required for quickly addressing issues of poverty alleviation.
  • Training can be provided to tribal people in procurement technology so that the Institute is involved only in stocking the items.
  • High disparity in availability of aonla is to be reduced by properly managing the SHGs.
  • Alternative employment opportunities are to be provided for longer periods.

Aonla tress owners received attractive prices for the aonla for the first time in the village itself. This saved their aonla from getting damaged during transportation. They also benefited by getting fair prices for their produce. They were also freed from the malpractices of traders in weighing.

The hygienic conditions sought by the Institute during the production process ensured that the tribals were also clean.

The program has given the locals a very income opportunity during a period when they do not have any other work options. It helped them to earn a lucrative amount in a short period of time. They have started cultivating the habit of savings for the first time.