Prerak initiates devpt projects in tribal villages of C’garh

Source: News Bharati      Date: 11/30/2011 6:05:50 PM

Empowerment of villages will certainly trigger the nation’s development and keeping this view in mind, 'Prerak' has been playing a key role in transforming the face of Chhattisgarh’s tribal villages.
Established in the year 1988, 'Prerak' aims to create a society where basic needs of every individual like food, shelter, health and education can be addressed irrespective of caste, creed, religion, gender and language; where justice, equality, liberty and human rights are assured; where cooperative culture is the way of life. It has aimed to create just a process of rural development where the most backward classes of Chhattisgarh especially women can be empowered and move progressively towards the path of Gram Swaraj.
Leadership skill development: Seminars, training programmes, workshops and many other educational programmes are organized for the village leaders and other officials to promote capacity building/leadership quality in the community.
Income generation programme: 'Prerak' has initiated many income generation programmes for the economically backward tribal people so as to uplift their standard of living. Group farming; paddy cultivation using modern technology; collection, storage and sale of Non-Timber Forest Produce (NTFP) like honey, mahul, and shal leaves, Mahua flower etc; brick making; fish rearing, etc are some of the activities that are being run with this purpose. The organization has also established dal mill, oil and lac processing units and others for promoting income generation programme and NTFP activities.
Women empowerment through micro-finance: 'Prerak' gives priority to women for getting the ownership of the parental property and social participation with any organization activity so that they are able to learn the strategies to develop the leadership skill and talking style with community, and able to promote self income generation activities. Presently, there are 65 self-help groups (SHGs) in Mainpur block. 112 SHGs are formed and linked with banks. Some of the SHGs are engaged in income generation activities such as fisheries, collection and sale of non timber forest produce. Some of the SHGs are managing the mid-day meal. Prerak has taken initiative to federate the SHGs and in future has planned to transfer the federation into multiple self-help cooperatives. Training is imparted to develop the skills of SHG leaders & members.
Vasundhara Agricultural Demonstration Centre: Herbal plantation and agriculture demonstration centre is situated 3 km away from Gariaband Office at village Bhilai. Around 100 types of different medicinal herbs are planted for demonstration. For the demonstration in agriculture, NADEP manure tank, wormy wash and wormy compost pit are demonstrated. Traditional local paddy seed collection and multiplication work is going on. Around 225 local paddy seed has been collected. Useless upland and sandy land in the area, are made appropriate for crops and vegetables cultivation. Demonstration is given at this centre so that the farmers can learn and practice in their own fields.
Agricultural development: Lac is one of the most important non-timber forest produce available in the area for household income. In many parts of Chhattisgarh, lac is cultivated, but due to lack of technical knowledge and unavailability of seed, people don’t have much production. For lac cultivation, this organization has financial support to its beneficiaries and advanced method of lack cultivation has been introduced. Training and exposures are being conducted to promote 'Madagascar Technology' of paddy cultivation.

Contact
Prerak
Opp Govt Hospital,
Rajim
District-Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India
Pin code – 493881
Tel/Fax: 07701- 235180
E-mail: prerak2@rediffmail.com , prerak.gbd@gmail.com
How to reach
Rajim is located at a distance of 35 km from Raipur.
By air: Nearest airport is Raipur Airport. This airport has frequent flights to many destinations (locally) including Delhi, Kolkata, Indore and Bhopal. Flights are also available to Nagpur, Ahmedabad, Bhubaneshwar and Hyderabad.
By train: Trains to the city of Raipur can be taken from Delhi, Nagpur, Mumbai and other cities like Chennai and Bhubaneshwar.
By road: State transport buses are available.

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