EMPOWER & IGNITE THE YOUTH FOR A BETTER NATION

Project Karigari – provides youth & women with livelihood options through various vocational training in the areas, based on beneficiaries’ preferences and aptitude. Under Karigari 150,000 youth and women have been trained during year across India. Literacy India has turned 25 this year and since inception our primary beneficiaries have been Girl Child, Young Girls and Women. Scores of Successes in gender equality has been due to overwhelming response from them. United Nation`s SDG 2030 Treaty wherein 17 nations including India signing up in later years confirmed our work in this area before SDG came in force. However recent setback due to Pandemic demands aggressive work in creating livelihood options specially for Youth and Women. We firmly believe that if we “Empower one Women we help not only her Family which includes health and education of her children we in turn empower the entire community.

 About Community & LI intervention

Most of the villages under Manoharthana Taluka are small with huge employment issues. The total number of villages in the taluka is 187. Most of the male and female population are either manual laborers or engaged in agricultural work. Manoharthana lies in the Jhalawar district of Rajasthan. It acts as a small business hub for hundreds of villages which are situated adjacent to it for activities like grain and oilseed trading. It also has a sabzi mandi for agricultural crops. This area is different in natural vegetation compared to the desert lands of other parts of Rajasthan. The land here is substantially greener. The area has a historically rich heritage and is also blessed with monsoon rains which is a rarity for a region in Rajasthan. It is located on the borders of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, at a distance 3 km from Madhya Pradesh.

Indore village also known as Nangniya Khedi is situated in Manoharthana block of Jhalawar district. It is situated in an interior area and is 20 KM away from the block headquarters of Manoharthana. 40 families of the Kathodi tribe live in the village. The Kathodis are a nomadic tribe who live in the forests and the mountains. They make katha from the Kher forests and also make a living by engaging in fishing and agricultural work. Most people live in thatched huts made from bamboo and plastic. People in the village have major issues with their source of livelihood, safe drinking water, sanitation, high levels of illiteracy and a complete lack of even basic educational facilities. Indore village is one of the most backward villages in Manoharthana block. Community lives like Nomads and always struggle for two times of meal.

Men and women engage in seasonal farm labor. They cut and collect wood from the forest and then sell it to earn their livelihood. Few families also do goat rearing. Children attend government school near the village but due to their dirty clothes the other students do not mix with them and they feel isolated in the classrooms. This is the reason the students miss their classes frequently and are very poor in their academics.   Literacy India started to educate the children here. A teacher was hired to teach the children in the community as well as in the government school where they frequently missed their classes.

 In the 1^st phase of project Literacy india provided Livestock Rearing for this community. Livestock rearing plays a major role in the rural economy, with goats providing a valuable source of livelihood and pathway out of poverty - particularly for women. It is now a crucial part of the Agro-Based Livelihoods programme. Women, landless agriculture labourers and marginal farmers rear 2-3 goats as a source supplementary income. Literacy India project karigari support Goat Based Livelihoods to uplift and empower rural families- providing Goat Based Livelihood. the initiative started in with landless agriculture labourers, tribal community at Indore village Manoharthan Rajasthan and in several villages of Purulia District.   To encourage goat-rearing as a significant livelihood activity, the resources of the area and the target population were mapped as well for breeding additional male Goat of Sirohi Breed provided to group.

Nandu Bai ( Name Changed) Now found the way of Livelihood     

Location: Rajasthan

Nandu Bai ( Name Changed) is a 35-year-old woman who lives in Indore village of Manoharthana block Jhalawar. She has two children and a husband in the family. Her family used to collect dry wood from forest and carry out labor work in farms occasionally. There is no sustainable/ permanent livelihood opportunity for the community.In our survey and assessment, Nandu Bai( Name Changed) expressed her interest about goat rearing. Literacy India provided goat to her. She looked after the goats in last one year and now she has five goats. Goats also are source of milk for the family. Till now she sold two male goats worth 10000/ each.She is happy that along with other work she has other source of income.

Links:

• Journey of Literacy India|People and Projects|2021|25Years