Location: Gasuapara Block
Project Implementing Agency: A·chik Welfare Society
(AWS)
Livelihood linkage on local resources and its enterprise development
The concept of management and conservation of local resources can only be practical if it also results in improved incomes and livelihoods. The first priority of local resources includes all habitations like land, forest, water and catchments followed by skills and community participations, which results in secured enterprise development and livelihood incomes through proper utilizations in a sustainable manner. This also results in increase food productions and subsequently food security. Besides these, the water resources provided secured water supply for drinking and improved irrigation; community forests or village reserved forests linked with bamboo reserves, cane and timber reserves are also becoming increasing popular among the communities because of the direct benefits they derive out of such reserves for livelihoods and improved income as evident also from the project interventions. The group members of some of the SHGs are highly potential in designing dresses, handicrafts, rural artifacts, etc. (Buga Meram Ku·cholsan SHG achieved 2nd runners up in District Level Exhibition conducted by District Administration, SGH.)
National Food for Work Program
The implementation of project is focused on philosophy of unity and integrity in every possible way to meet the needs and challenges of the people by creating better opportunities for the welfare of the community. The communities are enhanced to link more extensively with government line departments to avail socio-economic, infrastructure or any kind of assistance. Taking all these chances, the communities are introduced National Food for Work Program (NFWP) by the Block Development Officer for extensive involvement of their livelihood activities on such centrally sponsored schemes for earnings and infrastructure development like road connectivity, etc.
Joint Forest Management
The idea of framework measurement of social capital at the local decentralized institutions related to forest protection committee, where most of the members live below poverty line and are dependent on food-livelihood security from forest resources has been introduced as one of top priority for the people. The criteria to build the community participation and capacity building are related to equity measuring social capital of institutions including broad-based understanding of group activities, equity in benefit flows, and livelihood impacts and reductions in vulnerabilities, group-based natural resource regeneration/conservation, internal norms, mutual trust and role of clarity. The idea is to build strong relationship between the concern department and the communities. Activities like Bamboo rehabilitation program started at Drong Songmong opened up the employment opportunities to the people of adjoining villages.