Reduce Poverty for Indigenous Rat Catchers

Introduction:

Rat catching is certainly an occupation unique to only certain countries. The majority of three million Tribal community in India is involved in this line of work. Income levels depend on the number of rats killed in the field. The poor rat catching tribals are facing with severe occupational health hazards and also fetching very low income comparing to hard work they put in. We have innovated a new Technology through which they are able to get rid of all their occupational health problems and also income also increased four times. Hence they are the primary beneficiaries. The rat problem in Indian agriculture is so devastating that 20% to 30% of the potential output is destroyed by these rodents. We have six hundred million poor farmers in India and for them this loss is devastating. In India’s agriculture-dependent economy, each loss in productivity is crucial. By controlling the rat issue, the positive effects are staggering: with the resulting gains in productivity, we could feed our entire population of one billion three times a day for two months. Such is the annihilation of rats in agriculture fields. However, the farmers and economy as a whole will benefit as well.

Comments of some of the beneficiaries:

Ms. Lakshmi of Sirugumi villages said, “More income makes me elevated. I am able to send my two children to schools. We have achieved better health status in our family”.

Ms.Govindamma of Cherukkanur said,” I am aged to 65 years. I left rat catching activity at the age of 35 due to the hardship attached to the traditional technology. But, now, I am thrilled to restart my occupation with good income through the new technology introduced by CDDP.”

Ms.Valliamma of L.N.Kandigai said, “What the Government has not done to us (tribals) the CDDP and Global Giving are doing to us. We are very much thankful to them”

Activities contemplated under the help:

1. Selection of village and beneficiaries. 2. Conducting awareness meetings 3. Organizing health camp for the beneficiary families 4. Providing newly designed equipment for catching the rats to each of the families 5. Motivating the parents to send their children to schools once they get better income through use of new equipment 6. Promoting self help groups among women/beneficiaries of the global giving project.

Budget:

$50 per family

Global giving help till date:

Total amount received till date (29.6.2007) from Global giving: $1347 helps to benefit 27 families as listed above.

All families belong to tribal Irula rat catchers’ families living in interior villages of India.

Outcome of the activities:

1. 27 families from two villages are already received the new equipment and enjoy the benefits. Occupational health problems are completely eliminated. 2. All 27 families have already undergone health check ups through health camps. Treatment was arranged for deserving cases. 3. Awareness meetings were conducted for the beneficiaries of all thee villages. 4. 14 children are able to join schools and attend without break. 5. Two self help groups were promoted with 25 women of the two villages. They are involved in micro credit and other development activities for them.

Visits by Global giving volunteers/representatives to our project:

Ms. Prithi, who is a former Global Giving colleague, visited our project on 30th of June 2007 and very much impressed of the activities. She spent whole day in visiting interior tribal villages and met the beneficiaries and had discussions. She also witnessed the working of the new technology for rat catchers. She very much moved the way the tribal women involved in various activities of the project.

Earlier last year, Ms.Meredith, representing Global giving also visited and commended the working of the project.

We attach photos of their visits. We also attach a sheet with details of the beneficiaries of our work.

• List of Beneficiaries helped with GlobalGiving Funding (DOC)