Environmental conservation builds families, India

Since December 2006, Sahyog is working with 66 SHGs with 1,026 members of which over 70% are women. In their latest report, Sahyog has coordinated six monthly project meetings from July to December 2006. The average attendance has been 50 men and women. These meetings provide opportunities for SHG members to discuss savings and loan repayments, to share experiences and to also raise issues that concern their communities.

Sahyog has also facilitated, at least, six trainings for 60 to 100 participants in income-generating skills, organizational skills, SHG management and microcredit. Sahyog’s staff also received training to improve their project monitoring skills and document management.

In their natural resource management activities, Sahyog is in the process of constructing four water harvesting structures. They are currently performing a feasibility study for seven proposed sites for these structures. Sahyog is also preparing an action plan to develop fencing and soil water conservation measures for 20 hectares of land. Sahyog has also promoted horticulture among its members and in December 2006 a total of 61 families have planted 857 Aonla trees (Indian gooseberry), 704 lemon trees and 19 mango trees.

During the last six months, Udaipur received more rainfall than average, which caused damage to crops, houses and irrigation wells. Also people became infected with diseases on a large scale. Sahyog decided to implement mobile treatment camps in remote villages by mobilizing support from the health department and other agencies.