20 Years of Disha
2002: Sustainable Activities

Ill effects of indiscriminate use of fertilisers and pesticides in the country and more particularly in western Uttar Pradesh were highlighted in a study titled Green Revolution, Equality and Environment Protection: A Study on Western Uttar Pradesh carried out during 1999 and 2000. To implement the recommendations of the study a small intervention was initiated for demonstration purposes that crops can be raised without use of fertilisers and pesticides.

The experimental farm measuring nearly 1 hectare is situated next to the Training Centre. Seeds for raising cereals, vegetables, spices, timber plants, fruit plants and flowers were sourced from different people and organisations. Special care was taken to get traditional seeds raised without the use of fertilisers and pesticides. Seeds were sown in stages according to seasons appropriate for them. The crops were monitored carefully so as to prevent any disease inflicting them.

Seeds of chilly, pumpkin, brinjal and tomato were distributed among 25 progressive farmers of the villages situated near the organisation’s headquarters. Many more farmers evinced interest in organic farming, but they were hesitant to adopt them for the fear of getting less yield from the crops.

A number of meetings were held with the farmers so as to motivate them to adopt sustainable agriculture techniques. In these meetings the farmers were apprised of the harmful effects of indiscriminate use of fertilisers and pesticides and the decreasing health of the soil. The farmers were given technical information about preparing better compost and other bio-fertilisers like vermi-compost and also means to control diseases and insects without applying harmful chemical pesticides.

Mother and Child Healthcare

This activity is being carried out in 10 villages of Sarsawa block. These villages are very remote and situated between three rivers Yamuna, Old Yamuna and Maskara. Every rainy season the villages are cut off from the rest of the district because of gushing water of the rivers. This peculiar situation of these villages has resulted in numerous problems before the residents. One area of concern is access to health services, more particularly mother and child healthcare (MCH).

Nearest primary health centres (PHCs) from the villages are situated at distances ranging from 7 to 22 km from the villages. Similarly nearest primary health sub-centres (PHSCs) are situated at distances ranging from 1 to 4 km. For getting a public transport residents in six out of 10 villages have to cover distances ranging from 0.5 km to 4 km. It is obvious that accessing health services is a Herculean job for the villagers.

At PHC and more particularly at PHSCs the facilities are not available and even if they are available they are generally not made available to the patients.

In this rather bleak scenario, a number of quacks have opened their ‘clinics’ in almost all the villages. These quacks are playing with the lives of the hapless mothers and fleecing them. Instances of patients losing their lives at the hands of the quacks are not very uncommon.

Being implemented with support from ITC Ltd., a leading corporate house of the country, this activity makes an attempt to address these problems. Ten village health workers (VHWs), one each for each village have been selected and trained. The VHWs are the nodal persons in their respective villages. Contacts have been established with the government’s health department. The VHWs work in close association with the government health workers and take active part in pulse polio, immunisation of mother and child and family planning.

Health camps are organised not only for mothers and children, but also for general people. The highlights of the camps are:

• Proper check-up of registered patients
• Timely immunisation of pregnant women
• Immunisation of children
• Timely check-up of malaria

Income Generation

A number of initiatives have been taken up in recent years to provide to the villagers options in income generation. One such initiative is imparting training to women and adolescent girls in the trade of readymade garments. Four batches of 30 trainees have successfully completed the training, each lasting six months. Many of the trainees have entered into trade after tying up with the traders in Saharanpur city.

Another area of developing income generation skills was in agro sector. The beginning was made with preparation of traditional items. Later, however, items like mushroom cultivation, incense sticks, etc., were taken up.

Elementary Education

Despite considerable progress in the realm of education, a considerable fraction of children are still out of school and the dropout rate is quite high. The situation is worrisome in 10 villages situated in the area between three rivers Yamuna, Old Yamuna and Maskara. Out of the 10 villages only four have schools situated in the villages.

To address this situation, Disha is promoting elementary education in these villages through 10 education centres. Nearly 300 children, who would have been otherwise left out of schools, have been admitted to these schools so as to prepare them for regular schooling. After one year of schooling aimed at developing basic reading and writing skills these children will be admitted to the primary schools.

Attempts are being made in these villages to add value to the existing primary schools. Under this uniforms, textbooks and exercise books are being provided to the poor needy children. Since these children start their education in a disadvantaged position, extra teaching for them has been arranged at the education centres to bring them at par with rest of the children.

The teachers at these educational centres are local and have been provided training in education by Disha.

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