Project TRUTH
by Mumbai Educational Trust
This project is for the holistic development of the indigenous people located in denuded forest areas 40 km. North of Mumbai. The key innovation of the programme is the adoption of conventional options to development projects so that indigenous people will opt faster to these as they ensure sustainable self-employment. Our experience of distribution of goats and sheep to the women was far more successful than distribution of high yielding milch cattle. The sheep and goats survived on natural fodder abundantly available while the same required to be procured or specially grown for the cattle. Now introduction of superior quality sheep and goats is being undertaken with success benefiting more than 200 families. With the easy availability of forage resources in area and low investments for purchase of sheep and goat, the programme is self-sustainable in nature. It has already made 200 families self sustainable as the flock of animals go expanding bringing in additional revenues as envisaged in MDGs.
We have also launched a unique sweet water fish culture programme for tribal beneficiaries whereby artificial ponds are developed for fist breeding and production using rain water harvesting and induced growing of algi in the ponds to build eco-sustainable fish culture and production systems, which provide a sustainable source of income and employment to tribals. Construction of ponds and training has been launched to ensure total coverage of beneficiaries between 3-4 years. This is a unique eco-conservation and sustainable self-employment initiative, which will lead to water conservation as well as lift the poor tribals above the poverty line. This process of fish culture is eco-friendly and self sustainable in nature and once training is done, the beneficiaries will continue to reap the harvest thus ensuring sustainable development of the beneficiaries.
Another unique initiative based on developing the high potential of young children and their ability to excel in local arts and crafts has been launched. The specially dedicated state run tribal children schools are full of highly talented and naturally gifted young children. Initiatives aimed at motivating these children to excel have been well received. A center for promoting tribal art and culture has also been well received.
A programme involving generation of electricity from bio-waste including locally grown weeds from denuded lands has been well received by the indigenous people. A captive plant producing electricity in the region has been fully supported by the tribals since they would get good returns by harvesting the weeds grown on their denuded lands for generating electricity. This will ensure round the year employment to the tribals from harvesting local weeds at remunerative prices. The nationwide scarcity of electricity may be a boon to the rural poor as it will offer them full productive employment and decent work. Since the weeds are grown naturally and bio waste is an inevitable outcome of farming operations, once the equipment is installed, the beneficiaries will continue to harvest the benefits ensuring sustainable development as envisaged in MDGs.