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Evolution
Saath’s work
with the vulnerable communities in Gujarat was limited to the urban
sector till the January 2001 earthquake in Kachchh. Saath responded to the disaster by choosing
to work in Khadir, the most remote part of the district. Reaching and
coordinating relief in the earthquake struck villages of the project area
marked Saath’s entry in the rural sector in February 2001.
For the next
three years, Saath implemented a well thought out rehabilitation plan.
With the rehabilitation phase coming to an end, Saath moved on to
mobilizing the communities in Khadir to participate in social development
initiatives focusing on natural resources management, agriculture, and strengthening
village level institutions. The post earthquake requirements of the
communities also merited a considered attention to health and education
as the two very important thrust areas where activities were initiated by
Saath.
Consequently,
Saath decided to expand its work in new geographic areas and replicate
the learning, the experience, and the best practices of its urban
community development model in the neighboring districts of Kachchh like
Rajkot and Surendranagar.
In July 2006, Saath’s rural
initiatives grew from Rajkot
by including Surendranagar district with more complex interventions
ranging from linking rural artisans to the market to creating village
level institution to improved access to water and sanitation
Surendranagar
In
Surendranagar district SAATH’s area of operation comprises of three
talukas; Muli, Wadwan and Limdi
in 20 villages with artisan
communities, covering 2000 artisan families with 185 groups. The main
objective is to enhance the livelihood securities and increase access to
basic services such as nutrition, health, and education, drinking water
facilities for the most vulnerable and marginalized communities.
Processes
Initiated
Ø Initial contacts with the communities
Ø Meetings held on Craft related issues, social
Issues
Ø Need assessment / Problem identification
through general & livelihood focused PRAs
District wise Federations
District wise federation is in process where:
Ø 11 members from each cluster elected by the
members to form executive body at the cluster level
Ø 3 members from each cluster elected by the
members form executive body at the
district level
Tangalia
Asoociation
Tangalia is a unique
craft related to weaving and is practiced by Dangasia community in 42
villages in the district. SAATH has facilitated a business/trade
association which is already registered as a
society and is presently in process of procuring a GI patent for the same.
Malia
In Rajkot district SAATH’s presence is in Maliya
taluka in 15 villages, working with marginal communities like fisher
folks, charcoal workers, farmers, salt pan workers, women members. More
than 150 groups formed with 1500 membership.
Processes Initiated
Ø Initial contact
with the village community through Gram Sabha and hamlet wise meetings
Ø Need assessment
and problem identification through PRA & H/H Survey
Ø Preparing the
Village Action Plan (VAP)
Ø
Gram sabha was organized with the help of
panchayats and government functionaries where visual presentation of the
PRA and H/H survey was made by the team members
Ø The VAP
finalized during the gram sabha and resolution passed
Ø Capacity Building of the village
leaders
Changes Observed
Ø Developing
ownership: VDC
now continuously plan, implement and monitor all the physical activities
in the village including selection of deserving beneficiaries
Ø Transparency in
system: VDC
maintains all the register and payments is released only after
authorization
Ø
Resolution of conflict: is done by the
VDC in the Gram Sabha
Ø
Sharing Information: Villagers are
asking questions to all the people’s representatives and government
functionaries regarding their rights
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