The Dumka community programme
The Dumka community development programme is located in Jarkhand
State, north-eastern India. World Vision reaches 36 villages with a
total population of more than 67,000. World Vision’s partnership
with Dumka started in 2006, and is envisaged to continue until
2021, when the community will be equipped with the resources and
skills to continue its own development. In the past year,
significant improvements were made in the areas of health and
nutrition, and food security.
Issues covered: Health and nutrition,
food security and water
Updates on World Vision's work
Health and nutrition
- Health checks were carried out and about 200 community members
with medical needs were referred for appropriate medical care. At
least 185 children were assisted with emergency treatment.
- 5000 pregnant and breastfeeding women, as well as mothers with
young children, were educated on the importance of breastfeeding
and complementary feeding, and nutrition for children.
Food security and water
- The installation of a water pump has helped 80 families grow
and irrigate 8000kg of wheat on 3.4 hectares of once-barren land.
This means families have more nutritious food to feed their
children.
- The renovation of two ponds to improve crop production and
ensure food security benefited 244 farmers and their families.
Life on
the ground in Dumka
Bicycles open up educational opportunities
Seventeen-year-old Joseph proudly shows
off his new bicycle, which makes it easier to get to school.
Over the past year, World Vision and the Dumka community focused
on improving the learning environment and access to education to
help break the cycle of poverty. Even though the education
programme is in its early stages and is to be a focus of
development in the years to come, it already has had a positive
impact on the community. Primary school enrolment has increased
from 2789 children in 2010 to 2829 in 2011. And in the remote
village of Asanbani, 30 children can now attend their nearest
secondary school 25km from home, as they have been supported with
bicycles, thanks to the generosity of New Zealand child sponsors.
One of these students is Joseph, 17. Had it not been for the
bicycle, Joseph would have had to discontinue his education and
become a farm labourer. His parents could not afford transport or
residential accommodation close to the secondary school. Joseph is
now in year 11 and he has great hopes for the future.
India at a glance
India is the world's second most populous country and the
seventh largest country by area. Since the I980s, India has been
making unprecedented progress in its own history, but there are
still wide disparities in access to healthcare, education and
infrastructure. The number of poor living below NZ$2 a day has
increased from 421 million in 1981 to 456 million in 2005.
