Village Grain Bank Project

Transcription

1 Village Grain Bank Project A joint Project of Government of Uttarakhand and United Nations World Food Programme Completion Report Implementing Agency ViIl. & P.O. Sumankyari, Nainbagh, Tehri Garhwal (Uttarakhand) Telephone: , gvkindia@gmail.com; Website:

2 Village Grain Bank Project A joint Project of GoUK and WFP Project Completion Report Project Introduction It has been experienced that the food grain scarcity in the remotest areas of hills is still a big problem and challenges to get the enough food grains in the some months of every year. It is all happening due to natural calamities. The village grain bank scheme of Government of India (GoI) can generate a hope for the chronically food scare areas to ensure food and nutritional Security of the vulnerable section of the community. The main objective of the scheme is to provide sustainable household food Security during the period of natural calamity or during lean season. The food grain banks are setup in food scarce areas such as drought prone areas, tribal areas and remotest/inaccessible hilly rural areas. The scheme envisages inclusion of all willingness of BPL, AAY, SC, ST and other needy families in the villages in food deficit areas/villages. The scheme mainly aims to promote the community participation, ownership, specially of rural women and the scheme proposes that the food grain banks will be established, make functional and managed through existing/formed women self help groups (SHGs). As per the organization s proposal the scheme is being implemented in the currently running programme areas. As the most of villages are chosen through existing Ajeevika (IFAD) project. All 55 Grain Bank villages are in the jurisdiction of the Ajeevika villages. So NGO is integrating it with other related programs also. Requirement of the proposed new scheme Current year and many years of past period has shown the dry season experience and it has left its bad effect on the Garhwal hilly Agriculture which has been told us its unpredictability and food grains; the same as other Indian areas the situation is being faced by rural hill villages. The lives of the poor s in rural areas are closely governed by cyclical nature of seasonal changes. Seasonal food storages on annual basis and often aggravated by periodic natural disaster such as droughts, clouds burst, heavy rains, cyclones, heavy snowfall and unexpected forest fire destroy crops & houses. One of the reasons of food scarcity is migration of population due to drastic climatic changes, mainly on top hills of Garhwal region. Most of farming in mountains of Uttarakhand is 1 Page

3 rain fed and hence a large part of the rural communities are dependant of rain fed agriculture, income and expenditure, consumption and migration patterns will all remain linked to seasonal cycles. Hence seasonality factor has been taken into account for designing food security intervention in Uttarakhand. As it is well known that there have been various attempts to analyze and explain the interrelationship between seasonality and employment, food storages, poverty, under nourished, stress and gender bias. In the Districts of the Garhwal hills it is known that many of households report seasonal hunger. Seasonal food storages are more concentrated among SC/ST and OBC households as well as marginal farmers. Therefore as per above description the concept of establishment of Village Grain Banks for the vulnerable section of the community are bring a hope for vulnerable section. Process used to establish the Village Grain Banks Garhwal Vikas Kendra has initiated the Grain Bank project as per the given points below in the close guidance of World Food Program First got about this scheme through advertisement and submitted technical and financial proposal accordingly. After screening of proposals, GVK got selected to implement the scheme in the 55 villages of Tehri, Dehradun and Uttarkashi Districts. Signed MOU by GVK NGO with UNWFP in the month of December A meeting was held at Nainbag NGO office by State Officials of UNWFP, Dehradun for pre orientation of the Grain Bank Project and discussed field related issues. GVK NGO conducted sensitization meeting in month of December 2009 and January 2010 for Gram Panchayat members at block level about the need of grain banks and sensitize them. Lifting of Rice was done in the close coordination and support of the District Coordinator UNWFP; Tehri and State Office WFP, Dehradun. Grain was lifted form FCI Vikas Nagar, Dehradun for all 55 VGBs in three districts. For lifting the grains from FCI; local trucks were hired through market survey. Further from block to villages the local taxis/utilities were hired. 2 P age

4 While there was no provision of the field staff in the technical & financial proposal but with the consultation of WFP, NGO finalized 01 Project Coordinator, 05 block coordinators for the implementation, reporting and field based support of VGBs. After that NGO started screening of villages and NGO was given a week time for changing any village with reliable reasons for changing it. Executive committee has been constituted in all the 55 villages. Village facilitators were also identified in all the 55 villages for the documentation and reporting. An orientation workshop was organized for the Executive committee and village facilitators of all 55 villages as well as NGO field staff at Nainbag, Tehri on dated January These Training was initiated and facilitated by Mr. Virendra Verma, District Coordinator WFP, Tehri Garhwal. The beneficiaries have been identified as per norms of grain bank scheme by the executive committee members. Norms and procedure for facilitation and transaction were also finalized by the executive committee and beneficiaries. WFP officials also did some village s rapid survey through random sampling and baseline survey for all beneficiary families was done by GVK. As Garhwal Vikas Kendra (GVK) is running Ajeevika (supported by IFAD) Project in which GVK is already working at some villages of the Jaunpur block, Tehri. So the existing field staff is also working for Ajeevika and village grain bank project. Grain Bank villages selected from Ajeevika area because of the idea to sustain these grain bank project through integration with Ajeevika activities; GVK has also integrated it with SRI and SWI activities for better production and return of grain in time. Orientation of 55 Village Grain Bank Executive Committeemembers done through the technical support of the WFP in February and March In above orientation, the beneficiary members were also involved at village level. Gram Pradhan is the Convener of the committee so they were also invited in the training. 3 P age

5 After completion of village level orientation trainings, the field monitoring visits were made by block coordinators for orienting the beneficiaries on norms and procedure of VGBs. Block level trainings were conducted for the executive committee members of all the 55 VGBs in month of April 2010 for on documentation, reporting and conflict management. At the time of the field visits by the block coordinators and project coordinator made many efforts for motivating beneficiaries and make them fully convince about the grain banks that this is not the grain for donations but it is for bank from where they can take grain on loan in urgency and grain crises. After orientation on Baseline survey by WFP; the study was undertaken in May Quarterly review meetings were organized by the WFP for the NGO as well as field staff for periodical appraisal of Grain Bank Schemes. WFP also provide support and guidance during the meeting and field visit in filling the gaps and making efforts for project's betterment. The above was brief about the initiatives taken under the project activities and the project is still under progress. The progress of the project is assessed under certain areas which show the impact of the project briefed ahead. The achievement and impact will be mainly highlighted in bold font. Grain Transportation As mentioned above the grain is provided through WFP and GoUK. It was lifted from FCI to selected blocks and then was transported to villages. At the walking villages the grain was lifted through mules and on the back of the villagers. After the collective efforts the grain could be safely reach till the target spot and it was under safe custody of the Executive committee members. Storage space in villages and Security When the grain was sent to the villages it was kept in the temporary site through the Gram Pradhan and after that executive committee had placed the grain in the main 4 P age

6 storage places like house of executive committee member, panchayat ghar, temple, milan kendra and kothars. So the storage is being considered at village level for its final storage for future. The proposal for construction of the stores is also has been initiated through WFP under MNREGA and NGO has worked out at village level for donating the land by villagers for the construction of the Grain Bank store if the GoUK give the approval for the construction of the store under MNREGA. Achievement is this that villagers could be able to understand its importance and willing to provide the land on voluntary basis for the construction of the grain store. They are also carrying the grain themselves and maintaining the store. Wooden Pallets Possibly the wooden pallets could be made for the safer storage of the grain; mainly which is kept in the sacs. Also the polythene sheet could be availed to the VGBs to spreading over the pallets. These sheets will keep safe the grain from moisture and water etc. Three types of storage bins This is also experienced that the storage bins are consuming more money in the transportation of these villages. So these bins can be made in at least three sizes so they can be kept inside the bigger bin and will be easy to carry them to the villages and when the transportation money is saved so it could be used for making more bins and its helps in the storage of different type of grains in VGBs. Small container for weighing During the distribution of the grain, the grain is to be weighing in different quantity for the beneficiaries and the bags received from Govt. is approx 50 kg, so it is difficult to weigh these bags by the women members. Therefore a tin container for about kg will be helpful for the weighing of the grain in small quantity. Linkage with MNREGA: It is seen and experienced that the storage place for the VGBs is a big demand by all the VGB committee members as well as beneficiaries. In this first phase of the VGB project the storage has been managed at local level in very difficult manner in view of space; the members provided on local contribution basis but it is not the permanent space for the future and safety of the grain. So it is highly suggested to integrate VGB project with MNREGA at state as well as central level for the provision of construction of the store for VGBs. As currently there is no provision of constructing room under the scheme so at the WFP & State Govt. level it could be taken in account of national main cell of the MNREGA for provision and sanction for the construction of 5 P age

7 storage for the VGBs. For next phase of VGB scheme, it is suggested to plan for construction of storage place in linkage with Government scheme. Enlisting Beneficiaries The initial task for enlisting the beneficiaries from the village was really challenging. Initially the villagers thought that we shall be left over from the benefit of the grain. So everybody tried to put his/her name in the list but according to the norms of VGBs scheme, it is only for the BPL families. So other needy families of these villages were not get benefited. Mainly BPL families were given priority and then any widow or separated women were also considered in the list. As per the quantity of grain provided the beneficiaries were also selected as it is. Maximum 100 kg grain loan provision is there in the rules within a year. Now the list is being followed for the benefits of the beneficiaries and at some villages the other than beneficiaries are also got help during heavy rainy season but the grain was provided from the account of the enlisted beneficiaries. Beneficiaries in group as SHGs: In the above context the beneficiaries to be selected and enlisted by the common consent of the PRIs/Gram Pradhan and community members in the meeting. So it is to suggest that the all selected beneficiaries can also be in a form of SHG for next phase of the grain bank project. The beneficiaries could be men or women or might be equal in the numbers. So all the beneficiaries can be dividing in two or more and if the members are less than then one SHG could be in picture. They also can be interlinked with any other related program and bank too. So the provision of the SHG trainings and other logistic support can also be added on in the budget of the next phase of the project. The strengthening of the VGB committees and beneficiaries in view of SHG will be beneficial for the VGB project for the sustainability of the project. The bank account of the SHGs Vs VGB committee/beneficiaries could be same. Just they have to maintain the separate records of the finance in the concern register. Equal Participation It would be better that if the women & men participation in the VGB committees is equal. So they can be given the equal posts. So they will perform in similar capacity by holding the key posts such as Adhyax (Presentation) and Koshadhyax (Treasurer). One male or female member could be nominated as record keeper or Sachiv (Secretary). 6 P age

8 Formation of rules The formed Village Grain Bank Executive Committee members and beneficiaries together made the rules and bylaws for running the grain bank. After the compilation of the rules from all 55 villages WFP made a compact rules booklet and then NGO get printed it for all the villages. The rules are now being followed by all the beneficiaries and NGO staff is trying to make it sustainable for future. This is also an achievement that the rules could be formed for future replication. Acceptance In the starting of the project, it was seen deeply that villagers are unknown about the concept of the village grain bank. Most of the villagers thought that it is sent by Govt. for the relief for the villagers because at that time the climate was so dry and the people were waiting for rains. Also everybody was saying that if there is no rain then how the grain will be returned. So villagers did not accept it as grain bank and they told that it is not possible for the villages to give grain in place of grain. They most of were saying for the money in place of grain taken from grain bank. It took lots of efforts to tell the villagers that this is the Village Grain Bank not PDS and not fare price shop. It now has been seen that the beneficiaries are taking grain on loan and following the process of the bank and rules formed for the functioning of the grain bank. They now take loan from the bank in urgency and returning in fixed tenure. Although this time in rainy season the return is slightly delayed due to land slides near the villager s agriculture lands. They even did not get grain from PDS and other sources during rainy season so they got rice from village grain banks. Now the acceptance percentage is very high. Integration with other projects This is also comes under the integration of the project activities with other related projects. As the villages were selected through Ajeevika project and it is kept in mind from starting of the project that the grain banks could be sustained. NGO has also initiated the other projects such as SRI and SWI interventions are incorporated within the project village which is helping villagers for their better production and it is making easier the return of the loaned grain. NGO has also made linkages with other NGOs working in the grain bank villages; mainly at Uttarkashi & Dehradun District. This initiative has been given a hope of the sustainability of the project. As the tenure of the project initially was for 12 months but it has been extended for couple of months on no cost basis. So the integration of the activities is showing the good results currently. 7 P age

9 Loaning & returning in view of Grain Initially is was seen that no one will accept the return of grain in place of loaned grain but it was told by WFP that we have to stick on the rules and keep continuous feeding to the target groups. So NGO did as it is in the District coordinator of WFP. In starting it was difficult to tell them that this is loan not free help. So initially small amount of grain was given as loan to the beneficiaries and seen that then most of beneficiaries lifted the grain; some of them returned the grain at once in other form of grain which was decided by the village committee. It is clearly mentioned in their bylaws that which type of grain will be returned in place of rice. Those who do not grow grain in their fields or don t have any land so they will also return grain from other sources in the installments. Impact is that the beneficiaries are now well known that they have to return the grain with fixed rate of interest in fixed interval so they can get again the loan from the grain bank. Suggestion for Provision of two Grains: In this first phase of the VGB project only the rice was provided so it is only the suggestion that possibly two grains as per need can be provided in view of RICE & WHEAT; so the pre need assessment will help in this matter among the selected community members. This will give positive support from the community side and the beneficiaries will also take part with more interest. As at many villages in first phase this observation was also received. Also some beneficiaries returned the wheat in place of rice. They also get two type of grain from PDS too. Further selling & buying of grain The grain is being stored in store in provided tin bins. The returned grain is in the form of self grown rice, mandava, chaulai, jhingora, red rice, rajma and market rice. Wherever the rice is coming in return they do not have any problem of selling it in market but those who are getting other grains they have to further sell it in market and buy new required gain. Some of villages have shown interest that they will keep 02 types of grain in future. Some of villages at Uttarkashi receiving red rice so they will sell it to the Himachal traders on higher rates and they will buy more white rice for grain bank. The change is there that villagers have understood that they have to run the bank themselves now so they are planning for its increase in quantity so they could also 8 P age

10 increase the beneficiaries. They are getting ready to return back the loaned grain and finding the market source. Ajeevika is also helping them for the better marketing of collected grain. It is also an empowerment that the committee members are receiving back the good quality grain so they will not have any problem for selling it. Grain Vs Money: It is seen by NGO and the WFP officials and it was taken critically that beneficiaries are entertaining the money in place of rice. So the message was gone that the grain is being sailed by committee members but the fact was other way behind it. Actually receiving the multiple grains from the beneficiaries in return is fine but the storage of those grains and further selling those in market in small small quantity in not worth practically. This practice can also make the members as well as beneficiaries puzzled by doing extra efforts while there are such ways are identified by them too; as to receive only 1 2 grains in return in major quantity which are being produced locally or available in nearby market or available in PDS etc. Are easier to return by the beneficiaries and further sailing in open market is also easier for the committee members. At some villages mainly at Jaunpur (Thatyur) block, it is seen that the committee members provided grain in place of money in return; they told that it is safer that if they do not return any money and many of the beneficiaries lost their fertile lands in last year s heavy rains as well as many did not have any production and many of them do not have any land so they are nil with grain for all the time. It is also experienced by NGO staff that receiving mix grain in returning is very difficult to store and sell in market for buying new and fresh grain for further distribution. The space & containers for storing the multiple grains is very tough at current situation of the project. So if the money is received in place of grain should be deposited in bank account soon for its safety and they should calculate the money as per the current market rates including transportation rates. Also this should not practiced at all villages only where the big problems arises due to n o production, no land and crops destroyed by the flood etc. Meetings and interactions At each village they have decided to hold monthly meetings; it was also kept in mind at the time of formation of the committees that SHG members were recruited in the committees so they are holding monthly meetings with SHG meetings. It is also seen that whenever any one from NGO and WFP and any Government officials are visiting the village, the members are interacting with them with great enthusiasm and discussing about the ways of success. The practice of regular meetings and interactions are 9 P age

11 enhancing their capacity and empowering them for running the grain banks smoothly in future. They have understood that if they will run it successfully they will get help of grain in any emergency. Maintaining records & registers It was also a big challenge that who will maintain the records under grain bank scheme at village level because in starting of the project NGO field staff did hard work for maintaining the records and then village facilitator took this responsibility in their hands. First attempt of making registers were made by block coordinators with facilitators. Initially Gram Pradhans and facilitators kept records in their note books but then WFP provided the formats for the registers. Registers were provided to each village committee; one for meetings and one for records of grain loan. It is being seen that now the male & female members are maintaining the records. Some of them who are illiterate are taking help of their school going children. The facilitators are still helping the committee for maintaining the records as they are from the village itself. It is also an achievement in such short time of one year that community has become aware for taking full charge of grain banks to run these on their own efforts. Printed Stationary & other Items: The experience has been gained from the field that if the low cost printed material for record keeping will help the VGB committee and the record keeper at village level. The registers can also be modified as per the experience from the 1 st phase of the VGB project. As registers of loaning cum stock register & meetings register, as well as the following materials Passbook The passbook is formed and distributed to all the beneficiary. It constitutes information personal detail along with detail of grain transaction.lit was observed that pass book is bit costly item for all the beneficiaries and also has small size so it to suggest that it could be made in the card form in two fold and single sheet. The cards will be having two records; at left inside the grain loaning information & at right inside the grain return & interest return with the column of signature. Loan from Loan forms is used in 1 st phase of the VGB project this form is used in A4 size paper but in 2 nd phase the form could be designed in a receipt form in a bind book. It could have two parts so the records can be kept with VGB committee too. 10 P age

12 Bylaws The bylaws could be printed in the bulk in a booklet form with the editing of some good photographs. So this booklet can be called VGB project manual. This will contain bylaws / rules & regulations; general information about VGB, storage, community contribution and other detailed information as well as some key success stories. Sign Board The sign board of the grain banks can also be made by using tin with good water proof paints or the good hard plastic boards will be long life. Also possibly a notice board on tin or could be painted on the VGB front wall. IEC material The IEC or the awareness material can also be finalized from the starting of the project mainly the handbills to be printed and used at the time of orientation of the beneficiaries/ PRIs and community members. Solutions of defaulters At some villages it is not yet experienced those beneficiaries are showing their quality as defaulter that they will not return the grain. Committee members say that if some one not gives back the loaned grain then they will make efforts together and members have full hope that everybody will return the grain. The return process has been little late due to rainy season because some beneficiaries lands have also flown away in flood. They are willing to return the grain but have demanded for some grace period for it. The committee members are feeling empower for taking back the grain from the beneficiaries who have taken loan from grain bank. It is also good thing that at Chakrata and Mori block; villages Sayana (Sarpanch) have been involved in committees who solve all the cases at village level only so he will be very useful in it. Gram Pradhans are also kept in committees as convener of the committee. Benefits in rainy & dry seasons In last year, it was heavy rains in the area and all the roads were block for 1 to 2 months and no grain was reached from Govt. side at PDS. At this time our grain banks were a big help for all the villagers. It was seen by nearby villagers where grain banks are not present. They recognized the importance of the grain banks. So the grain banks have helped villagers a lot even if they are not beneficiary member. Therefore rainy season gave lots of pains to villagers but grain banks filled up their wounds and helped them to recover the grain problem as well as fighting with hunger situation. 11 P age

13 Local initiatives and community participation Community was very doubtful in starting of the project. They were confused that why to support this grain bank who are saying for return of the grains which Govt. has sent for their help but after the continuous efforts they are now understood its importance even the non embers are also demanding of grain from grain banks. Some of villagers are contributing for grain banks on voluntary basis. Such as they are drying grain under sun together, donating containers on voluntary basis for storage, putting herbs/leaves for protecting grain from insects/pests, searching better way to run it successfully, taking self decisions, maintaining records, recovery of grain from beneficiaries, holding meetings and awaking villagers for contributing in grain banks. Women Empowerment Grain bank has been very useful for village women. As the women goes to markets far away to take the grain from big shops on loan and the shopkeepers cheat them a lot. They charge them high rate of interest and threat them for recovery of money and some time capture their fertile lands too. Women carry heavy weight from the market and waste their lots & energy. So the grain banks has given them a great way that they can take grain on loan from grain bank on easy way/rules from the village premises only so they save lots of time, energy and tension of cheating. So they could have spent their spare time in their other works at home and better care of their children. This is a big reason that women feel more satisfy and empowered now. Effect on local migration It was seen in starting of the project and during baseline survey that some of the villagers are migrating from the village due to grain crises. Some of them going far away for working and getting grains but after establishment of the grain bank many of poor villagers are now working locally for earning the money from other works and they buy the grain for their home and some quantity for return of grain loan. So it has reduced the local migration rate. In future the successful grain banks will make villagers not to move from the village for getting grains from out side but the outsider will move to villages to get the grain from grain banks. 12 P age

14 Benefits to landless families It was reflected in first 2 months of the grain bank project that many of villagers do not have agriculture land so how they will return the grain. Although they were buying the grain from local fare price shops and borrowing from shopkeepers on high rate of interest. Actually the shopkeepers were always giving them the money on loan and they were then buying the grain from their shops only. So they were making efforts to repay the loan to the shopkeepers and if they were little late were facing the hunger situation but now they do not need money to take grain loan from the grain banks and even if the head of the family is sick or out of family for short time; the another member of the family can receive the grain and no one will get hungry in the family and when the head of the family is gets fine and he/she can return grain from out side also. So the landless beneficiaries are also getting help from grain banks. This shows the happiness on the faces of landless beneficiaries as they feel that if there are some BPL beneficiaries having lands are getting grain on loan on same rules and the landless beneficiaries are also getting grain on same rules. So they are feeling no gape for getting loan from grain banks. Great Success at some villages At some villagers some great efforts have been made by the members as mentioned below At village Kharsadi of Mori block of Uttarkashi District has shown good efforts of success as the facilitator of the village fixed the sign board by making its wooden frame on his own initiatives, they are gathered without any prior information when any one come from GO side or WFP side. They also helped a local school s hostel called Kastoorba Gandhi School where the poor village girls live in hostel and they did not get rice from Govt. side due to road block so the grain bank gave the grain on loan to them so they could eat the food and then after opening the roads they returned the grain. At village Bhuiyasari, Jaunpur (Thatyur) block of Tehri District members are donating the containers for storage of grains. They have putted leaves/herbs in the bins for protecting grain from the pests etc. They also prepared a hanging container for weighing the grain for beneficiaries. They also decided to take good 13 P age

15 condition grain in return as they returned back the bad quality grain was being given from beneficiary side. So it shows their efforts of ownership. At village Banasari, Jaunpur (Thatyur) block of Tehri are kept plastic sheet under the roof of the grain bank store and they are drying the grain under the sun and got back some amount of wheat in return. They want to keep 02 types of grain for future need in grain bank. At village Pokhari of Chakrata block of Dehradun District it has been observed that villagers have involved Sayana in committee and they say that he deals all the cases of the village at village level only; means no one case go to police etc. they say that the grain bank will be the sustainable asset & solution for us for future fear of grain crises. At village Moltadi, Purola, Uttarkashi it is come out from the village women that there are two women SHGs. They are facing storage problem in the village so there self suggested that they want to divide the grain bank in two part among 02 women SHGs and they will take care of their own grain for storage and other things and there will be no problem of storage initially. In future they could find the proper way of storage. So this also shows the empowerment of the women members and the need of Village Grain Bank which also comes under success of the project. Most of the villages are now feeling that the grain banks are very much useful for them and it can fulfill their grain needs during the natural disasters and other calamities. They themselves say that if they will run the grain banks successfully will help them in future; these comments are showing the success of the grain banks. Now in rest of extended time period the efforts to be made for the sustainability. Villagers say The most of villagers are saying that if the grain banks were not there during the road blocks at heavy rains time in September & October 2010; we could not get grains from anywhere because the foot paths were also damaged to walk for local market place. Therefore the grain banks helped a lot to beneficiary members and non beneficiary members as well as general community members through grain bank Executive Committeemembers. 14 P age

16 Model for replication This could be say that the grain bank model of the Uttarakhand could be replicated at other places of the state and out of state. As the manual, IEC materials, training curriculum and main thing is experience is there and also the lessons are there to be keep in mind for better implementation of the grain banks. Other quantitative achievements 1. Total Grain received, Total Grain loaned and total grain returned The below table shows the total progress of the loaned grain Vs total grain received from WFP & GoUK. Approx 129% of grain has been loaned after returned grain to the beneficiaries. Approx 50% of grain has been returned in the form of various grains decided by the committees in return. Approx 26% grain is stored currently in the stores which also includes the returned quantity of grain. It is expected that the rest of loaned grain will be returned within 2 3 months. The returned process has been delayed due to last month's natural calamities due to heavy rains in last year. Block Grain Received (Qtl.) Grain Received (Kg.) Loaned Grain (Kg.) Returned Grain (Kg.) Balance in store (Kg.) Jaunpur Naugaon Mori Purola Chakrata Total Jaunpur Naugaon Mori Purola Chakrata Total Grain Received (Qtl.) Grain Received (Kg.) Loaned Grain (Kg.) Returned Grain (Kg.) Balance in store (Kg.) 15 P age

17 2. Attendance of Grain bank member in monthly meetings At least one meeting has been organized on monthly basis at all 55 villages in last 8 to 9 months of the project. Approx 18 participants from each village attended the meeting on monthly basis. As total 1200 beneficiaries are selected at all 55 villages. Below table shows that the impact of the acceptance of the rules and grain bank's concept it also came out through the monthly meetings. More villagers are also attended the meetings who were not in the list of beneficiaries. Block Total Meetings Total Attendance Jaunpur Naugaon Mori Purola Chakrata Total Total Meetings Total Attendance 0 Jaunpur Mori Chakrata 3. Total trainings done at block & village level with attendance in the trainings The initial orientation training was conducted at Nainbag for all the NGO staff and village facilitators in first month of the project implementation. 03 block level trainings have been organized by the close coordination and guidance of WFP. As per targeted 5 members from each village total 825 participants to be present in 3 block level trainings but due to heavy workload of work mainly on village women the total 551 participants attended the training which was 67%. At village level 55 orientation trainings were organized by NGO field staff and in these trainings 1244 participants were present which was out of target because the other community members and 16 P age

18 PRI members also were also attended the village level trainings. The target of village level trainings was 1200 so the attendance at village level training was 104%. Block Level Attendance Village Level Attendance Trainings (Block Level) Trainings (Village Level) Block Level Trainings Attendance (Block Level) Village Level Trainings Attendance (Village Level) Total Beneficiaries BPL card Holder, APL and AAY card Holders When the project was implemented in the target area; enlisting the beneficiaries was the big task. In the starting villages thought that everybody can get the rice from the stock. While making the list of beneficiaries participants from the village meting told that BPL families are also getting Govt. grain from PDS as AAY; they told that APL who are poor and not in the BPL list also should be in the list, but as per the rule & majority of the community; the BPL card holder families were putted in the list of beneficiaries. Therefore as per the below table and graph shows the category wise status of the beneficiaries. 100% enlisted families are BPL card holder. The achievement shows that BPLs are getting benefit of the grain banks. By increasing the grain the beneficiaries will be increased every year. Block Total Beneficiary BPL Card Holder APL Card Holder AAY Card Holder Jaunpur Naugaon Mori Purola Chakrata Total P age

19 Total Beneficiary BPL Card Holder APL Card Holder AAY Card Holder 0 Jaunpur Naugaon Mori Purola Chakrata Total 5. Total Beneficiaries OBC, SC, ST and General Categories As per the above analysis of beneficiaries is card holder wise; same as the cast or category wise analysis is also done. Under cast wise beneficiaries are 51.3% OBC, 32% SC, 10.3% ST and 6.4%. The category wise data shows that most of OBCs, SCs & STs are putted in the list of beneficiary. 6.4% beneficiaries are from general category; which is done through the common consent of the grain bank committee members and beneficiaries. At present there is no dispute regarding the beneficiaries list among the community members which shows the big achievement of the right selection of the beneficiaries. Block Total Beneficiary OBC SC ST General Jaunpur Naugaon Mori Purola Chakrata Total Total Beneficiary OBC SC ST General 0 Jaunpur Naugaon Mori Purola Chakrata Total 18 P age

20 6. Block wise Grain Bank Committee members In the formed grain bank management committees the female beneficiary members are enrolled. It was kept in mind that the existing SHG members to be given priority in management committees. Block Total Beneficiaries Number of Female participation Janupur Naugaon Mori Purola Chakrata Total Linkage of Grain Banks with SRI & SWI initiatives The villages of grain bank project were also selected through Ajeevika project for the sustainability point of view. So the project is also integrated with the other initiatives of GVK NGO in the grain bank villages. It was thought that if the production of the villagers is increased then the return of the grain will be easy for the beneficiaries of grain banks. So increasing the production of the rice a new innovative technique called SRI is implemented in 22 villages (40%) and for increasing the production of the wheat 08 (14.5%) villages are chosen. The results have shown the amazing results. Although it is little time taking techniques but less seed is required and production is 4 times more. Block VGB Villages SRI Villages SWI Villages Jaunpur Naugaon Mori Purola Chakrata Total P age

21 8. Grain Loaning interval and return time Under the grain bank project the bylaws say that the grain is being provided at the time of any urgency of grain, natural calamity, general need, grain crises and in other reasons for grain requirement from grain bank. The grain loaning period is 1 to 6 months and the loan return period is 3 to 6 months. If some one does not return earlier loan grain then he/she will not get any grain till return of last loan of grain. The rules are being followed now by all the villages. This shows an achievement that members have been well oriented about the bylaws formed by them so it will help in sustaining the grain bank initiatives. 9. No. of Grain Bank villagers owned the activities Grain Bank project has almost completed its 12 months and now the village facilitators have been merged in grain bank committees and some of them are not working. Now the process of handing over the activities to the grain bank committees in under progress and the current results show the impact of ownership of activities. Approx. 51% of grain bank management committees owned the activities which were earlier being done by village facilitators or NGO staff; it has been seen in these villages that the committee members are found empower for taking all charge of responsibilities to run the grain banks on their own capabilities. Block Total No. of Villages No. of villages owned Activities Jaunpur Naugaon Mori Purola Chakrata Total P age

22 Total No. of Villages No. of villages owned Activities 10 0 Jaunpur Naugaon Mori Purola Chakrata Total 10. Gram Pradhans involved in Grain Banks & no. of female & male Gram Pradhans In the grain bank villages Gram Pradhans are involved as head of the grain bank committees. Out of all 55 villages total 40 Gram Pradhans are involved in grain bank's committees because 40 Gram Panchayats are being covered; so 20 Gram Pradhans are Female (50%) and 20 Gram Pradhans are Male (50%). Female participation is the strength of the project which is leading for their empowerment. Block Total No. of Gram Female Gram Male Gram Pradhans Pradhans Pradhans Jaunpur Naugaon Mori Purola Chakrata Total Jaunpur Naugaon Mori Purola Chakrata Total Total No. of Gram Pradhans Female Gram Pradhans Male Gram Pradhans 21 P age

23 11. Record keeping by female members Grain Bank project is showing its success through the involvement of the village women and active men. The below table telling the involvement of the male and female members in maintaining the records of grain bank. Table & graph shows that 43.6% executive committee members are involved in maintaining the records while 56.3% take help of their family persons for record keeping. So the results show that women involvement might be increased. It is also positive sign that all 55 villages are covered that the record keeping is being done by the female members on their own capability. This has to be maintaining in rest of project months. Block No. of Grain Banks Female members Female member maintain record take help of by them self family member Jaunpur Naugaon Mori Purola Chakrata Total Types of grain decided for repayment Rules for the grain banks have been formed by the Executive Committee members and beneficiaries themselves. The rules differ village to village as per the situation of the village mainly about local productions, financial status of the families and availability of the facilities and transportations etc. They also decided a local price of the provided rice which is in between Rs and Rs This amount is decided because of other types of grain for return the loan. So they also have decided the rates of other grain to be taken as return. So they get back the decided grain as per the rates and quantity. As per the below table, 35 villages (63.6%) have been decided to take back the rice in place of rice; which includes red rice too. Other 20 villages (36.4%) have been chosen 3 4 types of grain such as Chaulaee, Mamdava, Wheat and rice. Grain Type to Return No. of Villages % of Villages Only Rice % Chaulaee, Mandava, Wheat & Rice % Total % 22 P age

24 No. of Village % of villages 0 Only Rice Chaulaee, Mandawa, Wheat & Rice Total 13. Integration with other projects (No. of VGB villages Vs projects) Grain Bank project is being integrated with ULIPH (Ajeevika) project from starting in all villages of Jaunpur, Naugaon, Mori and Purola. As it is also mentioned in given table about SRI and SWI initiatives. 63.6% villages are being integrated with Ajeevika project, 40% villages are integrated with SRI and 14.5% villages are being integrated with SWI initiatives. SRI and SWI will increase the grain production of the villagers which will help beneficiaries in fulfill their daily grain need & also return of the loan grain. Block Total Villages ULIPH (Ajeevika) villages SRI Villages SWI Villages Jaunpur Naugaon Mori Purola Chakrata Total P age

25 Total Villages ULIPH (Ajeevika) villages SRI Villages SWI Villages 0 Jaunpur Naugaon Mori Purola Chakrata Total 14. Linkages with PDS In starting of the grain bank project it was observed that there will be some problem in liasoning with PDS. At present it has been seen that 46% PDS are linked with Grain Bank project which is almost 100%. PDS cover all Gram Panchayats. At present there is no any opposition found from PDS side; while during the heavy rain season there was no grain due to road block so they suggested their customers to get grain from grain banks. So PDSs are also linked with Grain Banks. Block Total Villages Integration with PDS Jaunpur Naugaon Mori Purola Chakrata Total Total Villages Integration with PDS 10 0 Jaunpur Naugaon Mori Purola Chakrata Total 24 P age

26 15. No. of VGB villages ready to provide land/space for the construction of storage house In the meetings in last months it has found that villagers are ready to provide land for the construction of grain bank stores. The grain bank stores are proposed to construct under MNREGA scheme. It is also positive sign that the community has understood the importance of the Grain Banks. Therefore they became ready to give land for the storage facility. Community members are also willing to take the responsibility of constructing grain bank stores. PRI members and Gram Pradhans are already given in written at most of villages for the land provision. Block No. of Villages ready to provide land for construction of grain bank store Jaunpur 15 Naugaon 10 Mori 10 Purola 10 Chakrata 10 Total No. of VGB committees are working without any help of facilitators now Village facilitators were identified to support VGB scheme on voluntary basis in all the 55 village grain banks. Total Village Facilitators helping on voluntary basis As per the above details the project is on successful track and it has been done in only 12 months of the project period. It is now a big challenge that the above mentioned achievements to be continued to be sustained for future too. Many of the grain bank villages are showing the better efforts to replicate for further extension of the grain bank project in nearby villages. In the starting phase of the project no one was aware about the grain banks; they even do not know about its name. At present it can be seen that every one is aware about its concept, benefits and it is the need of every village. They say that this is very good project for the poor community members who don't have much capacity of grain storage because they do not grow that much grain in their infertile lands. They are now safe for taking loans from local landlords on high rate of interest and compel to repayment on landlords way with cheatings. Many of them have lost their lands, ornaments and other properties by landlords. They now feel more 25 Page

27 comfortable that they can get grain on loan even if they are sick, out of village, natural disasters, no grain due to land slides and other reasons. They now can get loan through easy process and can return by their own formed rules. The grain bank committee is also from their village and the beneficiaries are also their relatives. They do not have any fear of heavy penalties such as loosing lands and other properties. Therefore it could be tell that the grain banks are big asset for the community members. The impacts show the success of the project interventions. While this is pilot project for Uttarakhand state but it can be replicated in other needy areas. Another three months are there to do the rest of things for the betterment of the project. One more training is to be done so the rest of the issues will be covered in the final training. This report will also help to make the efforts more strongly in next extension months. 26 P age

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