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Alternative Livelihoods Training Programmes A series of training programs has been organized and completed based on the Alternative Livelihoods Fair held in September 2003, where women signed up for training in the making of handicrafts and household items. So far 200 women have been trained in making incense sticks, coconut-shell crafts, sea-shell crafts, rexine bags, candles, and soap. The training programmes continue.
Participation in local crafts fair – Lokotsav March 2004
Women from different self-help groups participated in a local craft fair where they got the opportunity to market their products, and had an encouraging response from buyers. Women, both young and old, were eager to participate and brought their wares to be displayed and sold at this exhibition. Not only did they enjoy the experience, new to many of them, but also learnt about marketing, packaging and pricing, by selling their products alongside women from other SHGs around the country. Some of women from these mining areas are working on different marketing strategies like targeting popular tourist spots.
An SHG picnic was organized to bring together all thenewly formed self-help groups in an informal setting to discuss the different issues faced by them. The women addressed problems related to the functioning of their groups by interacting in small groups and thought of ways in which they could make their group meetings more interesting. They also identified ways to move forward with their newly acquired skills, especially with marketing finished products and sourcing raw material. The SHGs seem to be functioning well with savings being made regularly every month. Some women have begun taking loans internally to help them start out on alternative livelihoods, to help them with agriculture, and for other personal reasons. The study area now has around 50 SHGs with over 700 women as members. Savings vary across groups from Rs 25 a month to Rs 100 a month per member. The total savings generated amount to over Rs 450,000. On another front, The Minerals Foundation of Goa has initiated a “market day” at some mine sites to coincide with payday for mine workers. SHGs in the vicinity of these mines have been encouraged to prepare goods that they can sell at these markets including spices, snacks, household items, etc. One SHG has availed of a Central Government scheme that provides accident and health insurance for craftsmen engaged in producing handicrafts. This group has been involved in making products from coconut shells since their training programme was held in February 2004. A dissemination and consultation workshop was held on the 19th of March, 2004 to which representatives of government, community, and industry were invited. An update on the work done over the year was presented; stakeholders engaged in discussions and gave feedback based on presentations made at this workshop. Discussions were on the following topics: comparison of mining and non-mining areas on basis of natural resource use, agricultural status, availability of water, unemployment; declining agriculture, compensation payments and the attitudes of people in general; usefulness of acacia trees in aforestation efforts in this area; micro-watershed plans; pilot-scale trials of dump rehabilitation; pit-rehabilitation indicators; mine closure; using overburden material in alternative economic activities; international good practices followed in land and pit-water rehabilitation.
Study on hydrology and hydro geological aspects In order to assess the behaviour of the groundwater regime, flow nets of groundwater are generally used. In the present study such an attempt has been made for the S-3 micro-watershed. Both, the pre- and post-monsoon water tables were plotted and the flow directions assessed. The study will be extended to the remaining micro-watersheds. Groundwater recharges rates for different land use classes in the entire study area have been estimated using the sequential daily water balance model, BALSEQ. A detailed groundwater balance study was undertaken for all the 10 micro-watersheds in order to classify them according to the level of water stress. This involves estimation of the basin-wise water requirement based on sectoral demands and estimation of basin-wise groundwater draft in the mining area. Digitized maps showing land use patterns with the help of the latest remote sensing data (IRS) and water stressed micro-watersheds have been prepared.
Pilot scale experiment on dumps Three models of rehabilitation have been developed and these have been found to improve the physico-chemical properties of the soil, reduce soil erosion and improve water conservation as well as the green cover of the dump area. Monitoring guidelines have been established and monitoring is done on a quarterly basis. We have completed the monitoring activity for four quarters. Soil samples were collected from the dumps and were analysed for various parameters for these four quarters (September, December 2003 and March, June 2004). After treatment with necessary amendments, the dump material has shown a shift in its nature from acidic to basic. We also noticed that the levels phosphate and nitrates had increased and that the percentage of iron had decreased over time. In other words, the dump material showed an increase in levels of essential nutrients, which facilitate the growth of the species used in the experiment. Most species of plants and legumes or grasses (plant species: cashew, anola, etc., and grass/legume species: bamboo, agave, stylo-haemata, dinanath) grew well on these treated dumps.
Micro-watershed plans Micro-watershed plans have been prepared for six mining villages in our study area where natural resources have been severely affected by mining activities. Micro-plans for two villages, Sirigao and Cudnem, were presented to the stakeholders for feedback at a dissemination and consultation workshop held in March 2004. These micro-watershed plans were prepared by identifying and evaluating existing land and water resources in the village based on topographical and village maps. We also used remote sensing data and held discussions with the local community, village panchayat and government departments as well as mining companies operating in the villages, to provide us input in these plans. The plan covered the soil and water conservation measures needed in these two villages, possible alternative land-based livelihoods relating to agriculture, horticulture, rural development, and forestry, as well as a list of government funding options available. Potential areas for support from mining companies as well as local communities have also been identified. Funding options from other financial institutions and loan schemes are also being compiled. A dissemination meeting was held in the village of Cudnem where the micro-watershed plans were disseminated to the Farmers’ Association. This meeting was attended by the working committee of the association as well as a pancha (elected local government representative), who is also in the Association. Based on the dissemination of the micro-watershed plans the Farmers’ Association of Sakali Fal wada, Voili Fal wada, Chikhane and Karmale, expressed an interest in tackling issues relating to their farmlands. Discussion on the plans concluded with the Association members deciding to convene a meeting amongst themselves to draw up a list of issues they think are crucial to regenerating agriculture in their fields. Another meeting was held where these issues were discussed. These included desilting of fields, provision of water for agriculture through digging wells and equipping them with pumps. The association also suggested that the mining companies should deposit a lump sum of money in a bank account which would generate enough interest to provide compensation to farmers affected by mining. They also suggested that the principal amount would be under their control after the mining companies withdrew from the area. This idea needs to be developed further but is noteworthy because it has emerged from discussions within their association and reflects principles of sustainability. It was decided at the meeting that the Minerals Foundation would be approached with these issues and possible solutions could be worked out between the Association and the Foundation. The Foundation has expressed an interest in working with the Farmers’ Association to come up with solutions acceptable to all. A representative of the Foundation has agreed to visit the affected fields to get an idea of how best the matter can be taken up .
Training for trainers TERIs team involved in capacity building and institution building attended a five-day training programme on strengthening community institutions, including self help groups and watershed committees. The training programme was conducted by MYRADA, another NGO working intensively in the field of institution building.
This workshop had invitees from different levels of government and the industry present. The objective was to introduce the idea of partnerships and what it would involve to have regeneration through tri-sector partnerships and get different stakeholder groups to realize the benefit of working together. It also aimed at creating ownership of the project. A number of issues were discussed which dealt with the vegetating of reject dumps, alternative uses of abandoned mine-pits, groundwater problems, legal issues that relate to mines closure, as well as the difficulties of working through partnerships.
Workshop on Self-Help Groups, 7 - 8 May 2003
This workshop was
held on the 7 and 8 of May in the village of Pissurlem. Around 30 women
from the study villages
As a consequence
of this workshop the formation of SHGs has begun in our study area. There
are currently four SHGs one each in Pissurlem and Cudnem and two in Sonshi.
Each SHG has around 10-15 women. More such groups will be formed over
time. The formation of these groups is essential to the project as it
is these groups of women who, along with the men, will help develop village
level plans and for alternative livelihoods of their choice. They will
also bring women's issues to form an essential part of the micro-watershed
plan. Through these groups, we are working to identify and nurture potential
community leaders who will not only represent the community at the micro-watershed
planning stage, but will also help carry on the work started by TERI.
Rebuilding Agriculture, 12 – 15 May and 19 – 20 May 2003 Not long ago, agriculture was a way of life for many families in the hinterland of Goa. Over the last four decades though a number of changes in the region have resulted in a decline in the land now under cultivation.
In May 2003, TERI held two workshops for farmers in the area of Bicholim and Pissurlem. A number of farmers, who were interested, attended these workshops. Here they identified problems associated with agriculture, the reasons for their occurrence and possible remedies. Some of the solutions towards revival of agriculture, as discussed in the workshops, include soil conservation to increase soil fertility and hence productivity of land. Alternative farming practices such as organic farming, where natural fertilizers and pesticides are used, and EM Technology, can help address issues associated with decreased soil fertility. Rainwater harvesting was suggested to address shortage of water and could be an effective way to enable farmers to work their lands through the year rather than depend on a single kharif crop. Diversification of crops to include a number of cash crops would also increase profitability of agriculture. For example, growing medicinal herbs such as jhandu or other cash crops such as vanilla, bix etc., for which farmers can avail of government schemes and for which markets already exist can give a boost to farm incomes.
Another outcome of the workshops was the organization of weekly ‘office hours’ by the Zonal Agricultural Officer of Bicholim taluka, who has agreed to make himself and his officers available to the farmers of this area on the first Wednesday of every month.
Alternative Livelihoods Fair An Alternative Livelihoods Fair was held on the 9 October 2003. The response was heartening, with 292 women who came to the fair. Each of the trainers invited addressed the audience giving details about what the student will learn to make, the time commitment require for the course, the time required to become highly skilled in the craft, the availability of raw materials and ideas for marketing the product. The different training opportunities made available to the women included Agarbatti (incense), Artificial flowers, Bamboo crafts, Candles, Coconut shell crafts, Costume jewellery, Embroidery, Food preparation, Papier mache crafts, Pottery, Sea shell crafts, and Soap making. The morning was spent with each trainer speaking about his/her particular craft. This was followed by going the women around the room looking at the displays of crafts set up by the trainers. This was followed by lunch. The catering was done by one of the SHGs from Mayem village.
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