A Summary Report of SPED III Activities April 2012 – March 2013
A Summary Report of SPED III Activities April 2012 – March 2013
Nedumkandam is a Special grade Grama Panchayath with a total of 71.95 Sq.Km and having a population of 40655. In 1945, after 2nd World war due to severe food scarcity, the Tranvancore Govt. has planned to grow more food and encouraged people to migrate to high ranges to join in the Grow More Food Scheme of the Government. During this period, Mr. Pattam Thanupillai who was the Chief Minister of Travancore had distributed 5 acres of land to each family for cultivation. Initially the people got attracted to this place because of the fertile soil and the wet land which is very much appropriate for paddy cultivation. The name of this place ‘Nedumkandam’ came because of this wide spread ‘wet land’.
During the year we focused mainly on four issues such as lack of safe drinking water, proper waste management, low income and lifestyle diseases.
Safe drinking water:
80% of the people are depending upon agriculture. Due to global warming and climate change people are facing great difficulty for safe drinking water as well as for agricultural farming. Various efforts were taken in 6 villages to solve drinking water issue with the help and support of the VA T members and the villagers. There were several meetings at the village level including the Panchayath ward members and others to utilize the Govt. resources which are available in the village. Thus several Tarpaulin ponds, renovation and cleaning of unused ponds, repair of water tanks, well maintenance were made for drinking water purposes and irrigation facilities. It is a great support for the poor people who are able to enjoy safe drinking water especially during the summer.
Waste Management
There are 7 villages that brought this issue. Due to town area, people do not have much land to dispose their waste from the kitchen. Through this program distributed 240 Terracotta Tanks for waste disposal from the kitchen which can also be used as organic manure for vegetables and plants. Another aim was to encourage and promote kitchen garden so as to reduce buying vegetables from the market which are polluted by chemical pesticides.
Low income
In Nedumkandam Pachanyath there are several villagers who live below poverty line. In order to bring them up to the mainstream 7 villages have under taken Income generation Programs. These activities also aimed at food safety in the families.
Life Style Diseases:
The Changing life style has become a serious cause of concern in these high range areas like any other districts and states in the country since last 15 years. Life Style diseases (LSD) like Asthma, Diabetes, Cancer, Nervous Disorders, Kidney problems, mental diseases, Arthritis, Obesity, migraine and other chronic ailments are on increase though these are preventable. The reason for this is due to present food habits, the type of sedentary work, stress and tensions of life. The main livelihood and income of people comes from agricultural sector which is contaminated with the use of a lot of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. This is in turn adversely affecting the eco- system and the health of the people.
From the PRA done in the villages it was identified that the problem of ‘Life Style Diseases ‘as the 2nd prioritized issue. With this realization through the SPED III Program we took up the issue of LSD with the goal of improving their life style for healthy living. As part of the awareness program conducted on Life Style diseases, people got interested in Herbal medicines in order to reduce their intake of Allopathic medicines.
One day training on Herbal Medicines and its Preparation was conducted for the Village leaders of the 20 villages at the Centre. Getting inspired by this training, the VAT members of different villages asked for training at their village level with the aim of motivating and reaching this message to many more people in the villages.
Inspired from this training program, the VAT members of Pachady village organized one day training programme on herbal medicine in their village and they together prepared medicinal oil for cut injuries and wounds.Collection of different herbs, grinding and preparation took a lot of time, patience and hard labor. This medicine is very effective for all types of cut injuries, aches and pains. Since many people are getting motivated on the importance of herbal medicines and home remedies for simple ailments and the side effects of the allopathic medicines, the demand on the home made herbal preparations are on the increase. Now they are teaching others who are interested in herbal medicines and selling the home made herbal medicines to the villagers in a reasonable price and as an income generation.
In addition to this we are giving awareness program on nature cure by practicing nature life and promoting natural farming. Nature cure is possible through clear understanding of the cause of sickness, changing certain food habits and practicing a good and healthy life style. People are getting interested to know more about it. So there is an ongoing training program by Dr Jacob Vadakancherry is being conducted. It needs more time to convince people and it is a long process. Yet we feel that people are open to look for alternatives to live a better life.
Awareness and Training Programs
| Trainings cum awareness | Name of the village | No. of participants |
| Life Style Diseases | All 20 villages | 250 |
| Mushroom Training | Illikanam, Nedumkandam, Parivarthanamedu, Minorcity | 15 |
| TOT | Nedumkandam, Chembakakuzhy | 3 |
| Training and preparation of Herbal medicines | Nedumakandam, Kallar, Thannimoodu, Pachadi, Manjappara | 100 |
| Zero Budgeting and Natural Farming | Nedumkandam | 150 |
| Formation of Nature Club | Manjappara , Nedumkandam | 2 |
| Registration cards for Tailoring workers | Nedumkandam, Kallar and minorcity | 15 |
| Painting competition on Environmental pollution | Manjappara | 33 |
| Family counseling and student counseling | Nedumkandam, Kalkoothal, Thannimoodu | 10 |
| Life Skill Education program for Adolescents girls and boys | Chembalam,Parivarthanamedu, Nedumkandam, Minorcity,Kallar,Chakkakanam | 300 |
| Protest Rally organized for violence against women | Nedumkandam | 1500 |
| Care and support of HIV/AIDS infected and affected families | Idukki District | 15 |
Community action programs during the year April 2012 to March 2013
| Name of the activity | Number |
| Distribution of Chicks | 2103 |
| Goats | 12 families |
| Pigs | 4 families |
| Rabbits | 65 pairs |
| Tarpaulin ponds | 50 |
| Well / ponds cleaning | 3 |
| Well maintenance | 4 |
| Repair maintenance of water tanks | 4 |
| Tube well | 1 |
| Tree saplings | 5000 |
| Group Farming | 32 SHGs |
| SHG formation | 2 |
| Distribution of Terracotta Tanks | 240 |
| Treatment for Alcoholic patient | 1 |
| Maintenance of Toilets | 30 |
| House Repair | 2 |
Collaboration and Networking:
| Sl. No. | Agency Name | Purpose |
| 1 | ICDS | For Sabala program for Adolescent girls in Nedumkandam Panchayath for education , empowerment and to get skills in coping with emotions and changes during this period |
| 2 | Grama Panchayath/Block Panchayath | For implementing community actions like drinking water issues etc. |
| 3 | Lion’s Club | For conducting programs, trainings etc. |
| 4 | Sayujya Foundation , Kattapana | For care and support for HIV/AIDS patients |
OUTCOME
Created a lot of interest and enthusiasm among the beneficiaries specially with water problem
More unity to come together for programmes
Created more awareness regarding Life Style Diseases and its prevention and cure through Nature Life.
People are keen to know more about Zero budget farming
People were more aware to manage the degradable waste into organic manure and using this manure for the vegetable garden
Use of water economically and using the waste water from the kitchen for the vegetable garden
Improved the income of the families through chicks rearing.
Attitudinal and behavioral changes in 10% regarding Nature Life.
Emergence of good leaders and developed leadership skills
Enhanced the ability to think in a way to work for their own development
Impact on Staff/Lessons learned
- Experienced Good cooperation and support from the Director of HDS and Staff
- Annual Self evaluation with the villagers and CFT gave more clarity to focus more
- Better networking and collaboration with Panchayath and Gov.
- Increased skills and knowledge through various training programmes
- Leadership development
- Increased self confidence
- Good rapport with the people of 20 villages within this short period
- Able to identify good leaders in 20 villages
- Good cooperation and team spirit among the staff
- Timely guidance and suggestions from SAFP Regional Program officer is very much appreciated, yet the change of Personal is a concern.