The state of WB is one of the poorest states in the entire country. Poverty is more prevalent in rural and tribal areas of the state. The tribals of the state have historically remained poverty-stricken and impoverished. BAHIRKANCHALI SRISTI EDUCATIONAL SOCIETY is trying to implement several programmes for the benefit of the dalits & adivasis in its operational area.

WB Tribal Empowerment Livelihoods Project (OTELP +)
BAHIRKANCHALI SRISTI EDUCATIONAL SOCIETY is proud to be associated with OTELP + to work as a field NGO (FNGO) in Dabugaon Block of Nawarangpur district of Odisha. The goal of the project is “to ensure that livelihoods and food security of poor tribal households are sustainably improved through promoting a more efficient, equitable self-managed, and sustainable exploitation of the natural resources at their disposal and through off-farm/non-farm enterprise development.”

Objectives of the Programme:
The major objectives of the project are to ensure that the livelihoods and security of poor tribal households are sustainably improved through promoting a more efficient, equitable, self-managed, and sustainable exploitation of the natural resources at their disposal and through off-farm/non-farm enterprise development.

Programme Strategy:
• Build the capacity of managerial groups as individuals and grassroots institutions.
• Enhance the access of poor tribal people to land, water, and forests and increase the productivity of those resources in an environmentally sustainable and socially equitable way.
• Encourage and facilitate off-farm enterprise development focused on the needs of poor tribal households.
• Monitor the basic food entitlement of tribal households and ensure their access to public food supplies.
• Strengthen the institutional capacity of government agencies, PRIs, NGOs, and civil society to work effectively for participatory poverty reduction with tribal communities.
• Encourage the development of a pro-tribal enabling environment by ensuring that legislation governing control of and access to development resources by poor tribal households is implemented effectively and by recommending other policy improvements.
• Build on the indigenous knowledge and values of tribal communities and blend these with technological innovation to ensure a speedier pace of development.

Programme Area:
The OTELP is being implemented in about 17 villages covering 6 G.Ps in Dabugaon Block of Nabarangpur district in the southern part of the state.

Programme Activities:
During the reporting period, the organization implemented the following activities to meet the objectives of the project.

(A) Empowerment of the Community:
Empowerment of the community is the basic vehicle of the programme on which the entire programme hinges. SHGs are expected to carry out most of the income-generating activities. During the reporting period, the organization promoted 116 new SHGs with membership in excess of 3009 women in these groups. Under the project, the leaders of these groups were provided training on leadership, group management, record keeping, accounts keeping, EDP, etc., so that they can run their groups independently. A seed capital of Rs. 2,64,000/- was provided to about 116 groups to strengthen their activities. Revolving funds of Rs. 1,20,000/- were provided to four women SHGs to start up backyard poultry businesses. The organization provided the necessary training to these women so that they can run these units on a self-sustainable basis.

(B) Agro-Horticultural Activity:
The organization is continuing with the agro-horticultural activities to address the issue of malnutrition among the dalits & adivasis, especially the women and children. One of the main reasons for the increased malnutrition of women and children is the lack of intake of nutritious food. Due to extreme poverty, poor households cannot afford to buy vegetables and fruits. To address this problem, BAHIRKANCHALI SRISTI EDUCATIONAL SOCIETY has been providing saplings for backyard plantations. During the reporting period, about 700 households were provided vegetable sapling kits consisting of Tomato, French beans, Brinjal, Radish, Papaya, Banana, etc. Another 400 families were provided fruit-bearing saplings like mango, lemon, guava, papaya, drumstick, Amla, and Chakunda for sustainable income over a long period.

(C) Agricultural Activity:
In the target project area, the people depend mainly on agriculture and related activities for their livelihood. However, the yield remains low due to the mono-cropping practice and traditional farming methods. Under the project, the organization provided training to the farmers on improved agricultural practices like farm mechanization, use of bio-fertilizers, use of bio-pesticides, and certified seeds. The organization also provided inputs for alternative crops like wheat, sunflower, pulses, etc., for mixed farming to raise their income. During the year, the following farmers were supported with various agricultural inputs:

Crop/Inputs & No. of families

• Sunflower Seed: 185
• Potatoes: 324
• Pulses: 176
• Onion: 670