Sustainable Development through Dairy Products for 50 Women from Rural Villages

Project location: India, Vallur Mandal, Kadapa District
Project start date: April 2009 - Project end date: March 2010
Project number: 2008-38
Beneficiary: Integrated Rural Women & Child Welfare Social Service Society

Final Report June 2010

The Nando Peretti Foundation had awarded a grant to IRWCWSSS to start the project in March 2008. But due to some statutory problems  the project started  during the 2nd week of April 2009. The main aim of the project is to empower the women and increasing their family income levels through buffaloes program.

During the month of March 2009, the Executive Committee of IRWCWSSS met and identified 25 women beneficiaries from Nanubalu Palli village. A seven days Orientation and Training Camp conducted at Nanubalu Palli Village from 14th to 20th April 2009. The Selection and Implementation Committee, which formed at the time of training were purchased 50 buffalo units and distributed the same to the beneficiaries on 20th April 2009. After completion of distribution the Selection and Implementation Committee members collected a donation from each beneficiary towards Revolving Fund per month and kept in their self help groups accounts. By using the Revolving Fund amount the Committee purchased other units and distributed the same to the remaining beneficiaries in the same village.

Before receiving the 2nd and Final Installment, IRWCWSSS requested the Selection and Implementation Committee to identify another batch of beneficiaries in the same village. They identified the beneficiaries and form them as self help groups. On 5th to 9th October five days Orientation and Training Camp conducted at Nanubalu Palli Village. Dr. P. Obulesu, Veterinary Doctor from Valluru and Mrs. Margaret Reeta, self help groups Motivator were invited for conducting the training classes on how to raise buffaloes units, Veterinaray Care and benefits of forming self help groups and maintain them. IRWCWSSS has also invited elderly people who are engaging in the buffaloes rearing and arranged classes with the beneficiaries to share their experiences and where to purchase buffaloes with lesser rates and where to market them for getting good prices. The beneficiaries were informed of the objectives of this programme and their roles and responsibilities towards sustainability of the project for a longer period.

The Selection and Implementation Committee has selected the 25 women out of 75 families in the Nanubalu Palle village and 6 beneficiaries from Joseph Pet Village to distribute buffaloes units. The criteria to select the beneficiaries is low income levels of the beneficiary family, shown interest to join as member in self help groups, willingness to participate in the training programme, rearing of buffaloes, provide necessary shed and space for buffaloes unit at their houses and also to pay a fee each to the Implementation Committee per month for Revolving fund.

During the 2nd week of October 2009, along with village elders and Dr. P. Obulesu, Veterinary Doctor, the Selection and Implementation Committee went to Kamalapuram, Khazipeta, Valluru and Ambavaram villages of Kadapa District and purchased 31 selected buffaloes from different persons and made arrangement to transport them to Nanubalu Palli Village on 15th October 2009.

On 15th October 2009, the Selection and Implementation Committee has distributed the buffaloes to the beneficiaries at Nanubalu Palli Village. All the buffaloes units along with implements such as utensils, buckets, chains were distributed by the B. Arulaiah, President, Mrs. G. Elegibeth Rani, Secretary and Mr. P.J. Sundar Rao, Treasurer of IRWCWSSS.

After completion of distribution the Selection and Implementation Committee members collected a fee from each beneficiary towards the Revolving Fund per month and kept in their self help groups accounts.

By utilizing the Revolving fund and raising some advance from its members, IRSCWSSS has purchased another 13 buffaloes and distributed the same to another thirteen women in the Joseph Peta village. At the end of November 2009, 75 beneficiaries benefited from this programme.

The Selection and Implementation Committee Members collected funds from 75 beneficiaries. The Committee purchased another 25 units and distributed the same to final batch of beneficiaries at Patha Pulluru Village of Valluru Mandal, Kadapa Mandal on 15th April 2010. The Committee decided to stop the collection of Revolving fund from the previous batches and to collect nominal amount from the fresh batch and to handover to the self help groups of beneficiaries to meet the needs of health-care of milk animals and also for replacement of old animals to young animals. Due to this activity all the beneficiaries will continue their activity without any problems. IRWCWSSS has to play facilitator role and encourage the beneficiaries to take their own decisions.

Success Indicators Observed after implementation of this project:

- The monthly income of the beneficiary families was increased from Rs.2100/- to Rs.3,600/- per month.

- The beneficiary families health status increased due to consumption of milk, curd and other milk products.

- The Social Status of the beneficiary families increased and now they are able to raise loans locally.

- The children of beneficiary families regularly attend schools and continue their education.

- The beneficiary families are are able to purchase good clothes and other family requirements without depending on others.

- The self confidence levels of the beneficiaries were increased.

These are the indicators of success of this project that IRWCWSSS has observed from April to June 2010.