6 September 2005
Dahod
Dahod Area Development Programme (ADP) is situated near Dahod City, in the northwestern state of Gujarat. The ADP comprises 45 villages, made up of 250 hamlets, and includes over 100,000 people. The majority of those living in Dahod are from the low caste ‘Bhil’ tribe. The other main tribal group is the Patelias.
Once covered by teak trees, today the undulating land is arid and rocky. The scant rainfall and easily eroded soil make farming difficult. Families who cannot grow sufficient food for their needs often move temporarily to the cities in search of work and food.
|
 Dahod ADP
|
Education
Dahod ADP establishes non-formal education classes for pre-school children and those who have dropped out of school. Classroom materials are provided and teachers are trained.
The ADP encourages attendance of government schools by providing children with uniforms, school bags and stationery. Young adults are assisted to attend vocational training.
Health
Traditional midwives learn pre- and post-natal care and hygienic childbirth techniques. Dahod ADP organises regular health clinics, distributes vitamin A to prevent night blindness and works with the Government Health Department to run immunisation campaigns.
Workshops are held on topics including health, hygiene, cleanliness and nutrition. Special events, such as HIV/AIDS awareness rallies and ‘healthy baby’ competitions, are innovative ways of raising community health awareness.
Water and agriculture
The main crops are maize, paddy, wheat and gram (lentils). Farmers are trained in improved agricultural methods, such as rotating crops, using organic fertilisers and better quality seeds and planting trees to prevent soil erosion. The ADP teaches alternatives such as flower cultivation, animal raising or fish farming to supplement family incomes. Farmers are also trained in disaster mitigation.
The amount of land available for production is increased through land levelling and soil improvement activities.
Dahod ADP preserves and enhances water resources by digging and deepening wells, creating small dams and harvesting rainwater. Lift irrigation schemes (where water is pumped up to fields) help farmers diversify their crops and harvest more than once a year, thereby increasing family incomes, reducing migration and improving nutrition.
Income generation
Families in the area have a history of debt. The ADP provides business skills training and offers low interest loans.
Women are able to devote the time they previously spent on collecting water to income generating activities.
Through ‘self-help groups’ people learn about saving and contribute regularly to group bank accounts. They can borrow from the group bank account to establish small business ventures, such as handicrafts, grocery shops, or milk co-operatives.
Community leadership
Each village elects representatives for its village development committee (VDC) which is registered with the government and linked with like-minded organisations for on-going assistance. VDCs take responsibility for planning, implementing and evaluating community development. Committee members are trained in leadership, project management and disaster mitigation. World Vision encourages women to take active roles in VDCs.
Sustainable development
World Vision started Dahod Area Development Programme in October 1989. The ADP is working with the community to increase its capacity to access resources for ongoing development without World Vision’s direct assistance. We will keep you updated on their progress.
|
