To help in regenerating the livelihood cycle so that earthquake-affected community begins some work to earn livelihood by doing land and water development work. Besides providing embroidery work to skilled women in Tharad taluka.
After the earthquake entire life came to standstill, as people suffered huge losses to life property and livelihood sources as well. And often-initial phase was marked by rescue and relief work provided by the voluntary action. As most of attention, during this phase is towards relief. But often the regeneration of livelihood sources is neglected. There fore people suffer further agony and distress for how they would be rehabilitated. The regeneration of livelihood sources is one of the steps towards to the process of rehabilitation and also rebuilding the hopes and community empowerment to look forward.
To regenerate livelihood sources process, which is community based and improving local land conditions to enhance the agricultural productivity through water management techniques, creating of water pond and farm bunds was conceived for providing work to affected people. Three villages, Dhadhara in Banaskantha, Alampura and Vannod in Surrendernagar district were selected for livelihood programme.
Dhadhra village was also one of the earthquake affected village, where people had suffered the huge damages to their houses and due to earthquake, entire life of village, like other affected parts of the state, came to standstill. The affected people were desperately looking for some help. As the Vav taluka in Banaskanth district is drought prone pockets due to natural conditions and also its location in arid areas of Kutcchch and Pakistan. The people of village were passing through successive second year of worst drought conditions. The earthquake not only shattered the houses but also their confidence, as the community found itself more pitiable conditions without any livelihood.
| Total land of village: | 800 hectares |
| Land under the proposed project: | 250 hectares |
| Total population of village: | 3500 persons |
| Caste wise population: | |
| Schedule caste population: | 650 |
| Schedule tribe population: | 50 |
| Other backwards caste: | 2800 |
| Landholdings in village | |
| Marginalized farmers: | 250 |
| Small farmers: | 65 |
| Medium size land holder: | 55 |
| Big farmers: | 10 |
| Total: | 380 |
DISHA's Karyakartas work in the region under the Fellowship Programme for voluntary initiatives. The fellows have been involved in earthquake relief work by various initiatives like food for work, providing food, clothes, vassals, water tank and medicines.
The project was taken up with following broad objectives.
A committee was formed, having members from dalits, OBC, and other vulnerable people from Dhadhra village, the committee was named as "Dhardhra Gram Samitee". Priority was given to schedule caste, woman and widow headed families and other backward caste people.
Technically the plots were selected at distance so that entire land of village 250 hectares enhances moisture retention capacity, thus helps other adjoining plots as well. Assistance from engineer was sought for selecting the plots and type of slope and corner of agricultural plot, where water ponds should be created under the projects.
Several meetings from 15th May to 30th May were held in village with potential beneficiaries, whose plots were selected for creating water ponds and Bandpada ( farm bunds)
The following is the list of the 339 beneficiaries,
| Beneficiaries of livelihood water | Embroidery work | |
| Other backwards caste | 149 | 10 |
| Schedule caste | 52 | 50 |
| Others | 75 | 3 |
| Total | 276 | 63 |
The beneficiaries were apprised about the objectives of project. Beside meetings were also held with landless agricultural labourers, who would be involved in digging work to earn wage for their livelihood. The wages were fixed as Rs.40 per day's work and as per the measurement of work done. As wage was also based on measurement so those labourer work more get more wages and rate was Rs.3.33 for cubic feet of land work.
50 beneficiaries plots for creating water ponds, measuring 25 feet length x 25 feet breadth x 6feet depth of the pond. The total land digging work is 3750 cubic feet's, therefore for 50 water ponds, total digging worked out to be 1,87,500 cubic feet.
25 beneficiaries were selected for Bandpada (Farm Bund) each measuring 1914.4 cubic feet, therefore for 25 farm bunds, total digging worked was 47,8,60 cubic feet.
On 29th May Gram Sabha was called and consent letters for participating in the regenerating livelihood project was received. Basically the consent letter was for the beneficiary (direct beneficiary, in whose, plot water pond would be created) will contribute 5% of cost for maintenance charge of water pond and also participate in saving activity by paying Rs.5/- per day from wages. Those beneficiaries receiving the organic fertilizer and seeds will bear the 50% of cost. And all agreed to consent letter to pay from earned wages. In the meeting it was decided the payment of wages would be paid after measuring the amount of work done by each group of members.
On 30th May the work was assigned to all participating beneficiaries. The beneficiaries were divided into groups and pond measurement was given to them by marking the land by chalk powder. At the beginning itself it was decided that the work should get completed before the on set of monsoon and there is no point of digging water pond after the rainy season or when the rainy season is over. Keeping in the mind general setting up of monsoon season. It was decided the work should get completed by end of June and need be, complete work by engaging more affected people at work.
The work was started on 30th May itself. To supervise the work, an engineer and assistant were also appointed. Monitoring was also conducted day-to-day basis.
At the end of first week after the measurement of work executed by each group, payment was made to participants.
Initially work of water pond was taken up for completion, total 279 people from the said village, were engaged for completing the task. And after that completion of contour bund work was taken up.
By the end of June, almost majority of work was complete and first monsoon shower was received on 3rd July in Vav taluka.
The following is the dates, when the payment was made to workers
Here is statistics for completed work:
| Total budget for 50 Water ponds: | Rs.6243375 |
| Total budget for 25 Farm bunds: | Rs.159375 |
| Total budget: | Rs.783750 |
| Total human days work produced at Rs.40/day: | 19593.75 |
| The total savings was made: | Rs.80,000/- |
The meeting was conveyed, which was attended by 100 beneficiaries to find out the possible solution so that the farmer can begin ploughing and sowing activity, when it rains. It was decided that each beneficiary farmer should provide 50% of cost for buying the seeds and fertilizer and the remaining 50% of cost should be provided as subsidies to them on the condition, if they get good harvesting, they should deposit food grain to start grain bank for preserving the seeds or the same could be given to landless people or widows unable to get livelihood.
The farmers raised issue saying since their land is affected by the salinity and chemical fertilizer will harm their soil and they requested, if they could be provided organic fertilizer, which could withstand the adverse impact of salinity and still provide good harvest. As the ground water in the pockets is also saline. Hence it was decided they should be provided organic manure.
Each beneficiary was provided
The seeds were purchased from local agricultural market but the organic fertilizer, which is not available in local market, was purchased from co-operative far off. The selection of seeds was decided after having meeting with beneficiaries' people.
As Millet is staple food of community in Vav and Tharad taluka and majority of people grow this crop in every season. The millets also grow in low rainfall. And grass of it is used as cattle fodder.
Local Gawar is also grown in wide area due it quality of consuming less water for growth and it used as fodder as well green vegetable.
Castor is grown as the soil of the region is saline and the castor grows well in saline soil and it also requires less amount of water. It has also demand in local industry. Hence the selection of seeds was based community's wisdom and knowledge, having less risk factor.
The seeds and organic fertilizer was distributed to participating beneficiaries on 6th and 7th July so that with first shower of rain they can sow the seeds hence the material was given to them at right and opportune time.
The beneficiaries expressed deep satisfaction over the entire work and they have sown the seeds. They have also expressed hope if it rains good they will have cent percent harvest after two years of drought.
63 women in Tharad's Shivnagar area were selected under the livelihood regeneration activity. All skillful women were selected for embroidery work, We received request from more than 1000 women for livelihood work but could accommodate only 63 women due to financial constraints, as the embroidery work requires investment till the women complete finished articles and marketing of finished items.
The participating women were selected from most vulnerable having no source of income. Initially 50 women were selected but later on 13 more women were accommodated in the programme. The women were provided the clothes, beads, thread and other material require for the embroidery work. The material was purchased from Bhuj (kutchh district, which is the neighbouring).
Meeting was organized with participating women, in the meeting women suggested that, they should be given the embroidery materials and they would work at their home, as they have to do their households work and at their convenience they would complete the embroidery work.
The material was distributed to women and women have put their skills beautiful skills on the cloth with colourful thread. The women designed many items like Bukani, Tapal cover ( post collecting pocket), chair seat cover, kusum cover, colorful strips, wall hanging pieces, foot wear cover and other.
Each woman was provided 1 meter of cloth, thread and beads and women were asked to start their work as per their inherent skills. The entire work was conceived in two phases beginning from 1st June to 30 the June and 1st July to 31st July. The women were asked to
deposit their finished cloths product after every ten days and get the require materials for work.
The women worked with material for two months, as and when their products were complete, were deposited with the Mandal.
The women in span of two months completed total 912 beautiful embroidery pieces. Meanwhile, the karyakartas searched for potential buyers, who could give worth amount.
Here is statement, showing the items sold and amount collected.
| Sr | Buyer | Item | Quantity | Unit-Rate | Total-Amount |
| 1 | Devabahi | Bukani-A | 65 | 225 | 14625 |
| 2 | Hansbahi | Bukani-B | 17 | 200 | 03400 |
| 3 | Hansabhai | Bukani-C | 35 | 175 | 06125 |
| 4 | Ravabhai | Cover | 375 | 25 | 09375 |
| 5 | Ravabhai | Topla-cover | 175 | 25 | 4375 |
| 6 | Pethabhai | Kamarpatta | 8 | 200 | 1600 |
| 7 | Khemabhai | Chakda | 85 | 95 | 8075 |
| 8 | Khemabhai | Cover | 95 | 65 | 6175 |
| 9 | Khemabhai | Kusum-Cover | 57 | 200 | 11400 |
The total amount collected for the 912 items is Rs.65150
The 912 pieces of embroidery items were made in 27 days and each participating women received Rs. 1034 their wages as per following.
| Total number of women: | 63 |
| Total amount received by way of selling: | Rs.65150 |
| Therefore each woman received | Rs.1034 |
| Per day income of each women | Rs.39 |
| Total work days produced were | 1628 |
| Thus total work days were produced | 21221.75 |
As the mandal is still left with some material, which has been given to women. The women will complete remaining embroidery work very soon.
The women have expressed deep gratitude and appreciation for help for earning the livelihood under the project. They were happy as they did not have to migrate for livelihood and they lived in their native and were sure about the income through embroidery work.
Prior to beginning, more number of women wanted to work but due to small grants we could begin work with 63, though we were supposed to work with 50 women. Thus 13 more women have benefited.
We express, on behalf of community members of Dhadhra village, deep gratitude and appreciation to JCI (Janpath Citizen Initiative and HIVOS, RNE, Royal Netherlands Embassy for providing the grant to execute the livelihood regeneration programme For rebuilding hopes.
Sonabahi Jaipal
Govindbahi Parmar
Mahender N.Jethmalani