Katigal is one of backward village in Maski taluk, Raichur Dt. Sri. Pampanna s/o Nagappa, is 5 son of the family. He has completed his study of 2nd PUC after his marriage. His family is economically very poor. His parents are small marginal farmers. He received only 2.5 acres of land from his parents and continued farming in his agri land with just one crop. With this he has incurred regular loss and reeling under much financial crisis. It was very difficult for him to meet family expenses and children’s education. However, he has great desire to come out of this crisis.
In this situation, when BDDS conducted training to volunteers, he has received much information on best practices for sustainable agriculture. He convinced by this, discussed with U3 staff, received suggestions. At first, he with the help of JCB, removed stones and flattened the field and adopted mixed cropping. He started cultivating cucumber in ½ acre, Green chilli in ½ acre, Alasandi(Cow pea) in ½ acre, Brinjal in ½ acre and Tomoto and Monkey finger crops in remaining ½ acre of land. He is also growing hyacinth bean (Avarekayi) along the field bunds. As a result, now he is getting Rs.5000-6000/- per week by selling crops and getting good profit of out of it.
With this, his financial problem are solved and helped to meet both family and children’s education expenses. He has learnt a lesson of best use of mixed and multi cropping. He is very happy to share that mixed cropping is best idea and method for sustainable and profitable agriculture for both for him and his agri land. Now, he is also added Sajje(Pearl millet) and Sunflower in his mixed cropping.
He is very much happy to thank UJJIVANA staff, BDDS and Caritas India for helping his lead a good life.
A Public Awareness & Sensitization Program on Solid Waste Management was held in Adigondanahalli village, Attibele district, Bangalore rural area on 15.08.2023. The program was organized by BMSSS & District level Kolping Federation. The program aimed to educate and inform the community about Solid Waste Management Practices and to emphasize the importance of waste management principles such as segregation at source, reduction, recycling, reuse, and composting in order to raise environmental awareness.
The implementation process included planning meetings with SHG groups of Adigondanahalli village, Cluster, and District level Kolping federations. Discussions were held with local village leaders, members of the Gram Panchayat office, Parish Parish, Rev. Sisters, and villagers. Printed pamphlets in Kannada and English, banners on Solid Waste Management, placards, slogans for the rally, and a petition to submit to a government officer were prepared.
The program included a rally and tree planting, with speeches delivered by distinguished guests such as Mr. George from Meraluru Gram Panchayat, Mr. Shambappa KPCC, Mr. Thimmaraya Reddy from the Government milk dairy, Fr. Rojo Thomas from St. Joseph Parish, Sr. Phili, and Sr. Merline from Carlo Cavina school. A total of 300 members and students participated in the program.
The Federation members actively organized the rally, distributed pamphlets, and planted saplings. The villagers were impressed by the sensitisation program, with men expressing interest in forming a male SHG and planning for organic agriculture in the village.
All the stockholders are supported for the success of our program. Right now, the villagers are separating their waste and putting it in the vehicle provided by the gram panchayat.
Anniganahalli is a one of the village from AlurTaluk Hassan district. The girl of this village Bhoomika is stading in first year PUC in St. Philomena’s P U Collage at Hassan. But her family forcefully decided to arrange her marriage with a boy of their relationship and stopped her to going to college. At this time the girl shared this matter with her friend and requested for help to stop her marriage and provided all her documents related to age and invitation. Her friend Moulya is bringto the notice of this issue to our CMSSS staffs.
First contact with Organization
Chikmagalur Multipurpose Social Service Society (CMSSS) staff bring to the notice of this issue in SHGs and issue was discussed very seriously in S.H.G meetings and thus reported in the Cluster federation meetings too. The issue is reported to Child help line and Women and child welfare department. The department officials visited the spot at Marriage day, her family members tried to hide the marriage from the officials but the officials show all concerned proof of the marriage and inform them to stopped the child marriage and seriously warn them to not repeat the marriage until the girl will be complete 18 years.
Grateful to CMSSS
Now the girl is continuing her studies and village people of Anniganahalli weregrateful to CMSSS for trained the people in right based way and very thankful to the CMSSS Staff for the motivation and support given to SHGs people to take up the issues when their rights are violated.
Achieving the impossible through possible ways
Mrs. Gracy Pinto hails from Kutrupady Village of Kadaba Taluk. By profession she is a Teacher with 42 Years of teaching experience in three various Schools. Because of her outstanding teaching performance she has bagged the Taluk level Best Teacher Award in the Year 2002-03 and District level Best Teacher Award in the year 2008-09.
In the Year 1996-97 she became the Jecirate President of ‘Kadaba-Kadamba’ and thus got into the social service field. By knowing from some other members, she became a member of DKRDS SHG in the Year 2010. At the initial stage, she was unaware of the functioning of the concept of Self Help Group, but she was having a strong zeal to attain her desired goal in her life.
The various training in the SHG level has made many changes in her life. She gained confidence and courage in performing her role effectively. It was in the Year in the year 2022-23 she became the President of Rotary Club Kadaba and thus dedicated herself to the service of the poor. She served as the Committee member of ‘Kannada Sahithya Parishad’ and now she is the member of ‘Karnataka Folk Parishad’.
At present Mrs. Gracy Pinto serves as the Vice President of Kiran Taluk Level Federation Kadaba and member of Snehakiran District Level Federation. She stands as the best example if we utilize our leadership skills towards the betterment of the society to its fullest extent. It was because of the various motivational training she got in the SHG level supported by DKRDS. With a grateful heart she acknowledges and says thank you for all those who were behind in her success venture.
Introduction – The empowerment of women occupies a primary place in the activities of MSSS and is very much reflected in the vision of the organization. The women are coordinated into community-based organization in order to amplify their socio-economic capabilities which enables them to take up political tangents of accessing rights and entitlements. The overall goal is to promote the self determination of women from particularly marginalized sections of society. As a result, they are able to jointly claim their rights from family to society.
Data – The members of Mayura Mahasangha, located in Kanagalsara village, 5 km from Umlebylu gram panchayat of Shimoga taluk, have identified the problem of the community and solved it.
Mr. Raju was appointed as water operator by Gram Panchayat to release drinking water in Kanagal Sara village, who was found irresponsible and was letting the water not in the proper intervals. Very often a lot of water was wasted sometimes he doesn’t let out water at all. There was complaint that he never washes the tank at all. Villagers noticed that day by day the health of the people in the village started to deteriorate; Cold, fever, cough, swelling of feet and hands and vomiting became more and more common in every family member in the village. The members of the Mayura Mahasangha seriously discussed the problem and wanted to find out the root cause of it. Various opinions came up and finally one member suggested to check the drinking water tank and found that there was a dead rat lying in a rotten shape and many maggots around. They took this matter to the gram panchayat and reported to the President and PDO and under their instruction, the panchayat staff immediately inspected the place and reported back. The panchayat authorities ordered for a medical checkup in the village and fired the water operator for his irresponsible and careless behavior. He immediately cleaned the water tank. The members of the Mahasangha reported about the spread of chikungunya virus, dengue fever and malaria… etc, the health staff organized a health inspection camp in the village of Kanagalsara and gave them the necessary medication and treatment. The villagers appreciated the efforts of the members of the Mahasanga which was instrumental for this intervention. Of course the members also are happy that they could intervene and solve this crisis. They are thankful to MSSS organization as well as KROSS for strengthening and enabling them to reach this level.
Methodology – Identification of issue, discussion and analyzing: taking various opinions. Finally physically identifying the root cause and further steps to resolve the issue. Self-appreciation and sense of satisfaction of the ability to solve a major issue of the village.
Mrs. Kala, 34 years of age, resides in Hegganduru village, Hunsur Taluk, with her husband, Mr. Suresha, aged 43, and their daughter and son. With 18 years of experience in agriculture, Mrs. Kala owns 4 acres of land where she cultivates Maize, Chilly, and Tobacco. Agriculture sustains her family, but she had been heavily dependent on fertilizers and chemical pesticides.
In 2021, ODP animator Miss Susheela visited her and encouraged her to join the FPO. Mrs. Kala became a member and underwent training on organic farming facilitated by ODP. She gained insights into soil and water analyses, and the benefits of organic farming. Recognizing her potential, she was selected as a model farmer and made a local contribution of 2500 rupees.
Following the guidelines, Mrs. Kala had her soil and water tested by ODP, and sought recommendations from the agriculture officer at RSK. Implementing their advice, she began using micronutrients, farmyard manure, organic manure, and pesticides on her Chilly crop. This resulted in a profit of 8500 rupees in 10 gunta of land.
Impressed by her progress, Ms. Susheela encouraged Kala to apply for a district-level award to the Extension Education Unit in Naganahalli. After thorough verification, a technical team visited Mrs. Kala’s land and home to confirm her organic cultivation methods and utilization of available schemes. Consequently, she was honored as the “Taluk Level Progressive Women Farmer-2022” at the Krishi Mela in GKVK, Bengaluru.
Mrs. Kala noticed that organic farming reduced expenses while improving soil health and yield. She credited her newfound knowledge to the training provided by ODP and expressed gratitude to ODP for their support during difficult times. She now actively encourages other farmers to join FPOs and adopt organic farming practices for enhanced soil health and better yields.
Name: Sakshi : Age 19
Village: Jalsangi
Siblings: 4
Age: 5 years
ADDRESS: Jalsangi,
District: Bidar
Before Intervention:
The child Sakshi is 5 years old, and lives with her parents, siblings and other members of her family in a joint household. During the day, she is taken care of by her mother while her father works coolly. Sakshi is unable to walk and has a speech impediment. The parents have not fully taken care of this child; their thinking is that medicine would not help the child recover from disability. It is because of this, that family members did not take her to any hospital for treatment.
After Intervention:
The Early interventionist from ORBIT was able to identify the child Sakshi through an Anganvadi visit. About this the early interventionist visited her house and convinced the parents, giving them awareness about the possibilities of cure through treatment and other exercises. We have registered this child with the help of Anganwadi Teachers and suggested to the parents that the child needs physiotherapy. After the assessment, intense service was provided for the child with the involvement of parents.
Achievement:
The child started walking slowly without the help of others. The mother is convinced about physiotherapy and other treatments for the betterment of the child. The Early interventionists from ORBIT are making all the efforts to bring changes in Sakshi’s life by visiting the houses, giving her exercises, holding her hand making the child to walk, making the child repeat some words like Amma, Appa, etc. As a result the child now talks a few words like papa mamma etc. She is walking slowly without support. Regular follow-up is done by the early interventionist. The neighbors also appreciate saying that there is much difference in Sakshi after the intervention of ORBIT.
Mrs Geetha (name changed) is the wife of Anand Kumar. She lives in Bibi galli Humnabad Taluk Bidar District. It is their own house that they live in. The responsibility for the house is taken care of by her husband who is the head of the household. The man is a good man, he knew clearly that his wife is mentally ill, yet he cared for her lovingly even though he knew that she was sick. Mrs Geetha was a housewife who performed all her household duties faithfully and dedicatedly. They have three children, two girls and one boy. They went to a Govt School in Humnabad. Mrs Geetha worked hard. Though she was a housewife, she accomplished all her work diligently.
In the year 2008, his behavior of Geetha changed day by day. She stopped eating regularly, got angry, and was irritated by her husband and children. Smiling, crying, and talking by her, when someone talked with her she got angry, fought with her family members, etc. Having noticed these changes her husband took her to Eragadda Hospital Hyderabad. After the consultation of the doctor, she was advised to take regular medicine.
In the year 2019 the Navajeevana staff from ORBIT visited her house as they were talking they realized that she was a person with a mental illness. She continued to tell them that she is under medication from Hyderabad Hospital, and sometimes she stopped taking medicines due to economic problems. By here this staff of Naajeevana used this opportunity to help Mrs Geetha as it was possible. They told her about the free mental health camp that is conducted at Govt Hospital Humnabad every Wednesday. They collected all the data of the person and made a record of it.
The staff of Navajeevana continued to visit her house, made a follow-up, and checked whether she is taking the medicines regularly. After two years there was a change in Geetha she was able to manage her house. She continued to come to Govt hospital for the district mental Health program every month. As a result, Geetha was able to recover day by day and found joy in her face.
Rita Vas, born in Kerala, Rita Vas relocated to Mumbai for livelihood opportunities. In 1989, she settled in Mudaru Karkala upon marrying Richard Vas. Rita and her husband struggled to make ends meet in Mumbai, running a small shop and street-side hotel for 25 years. However, due to her husband’s declining health, they returned to their hometown, where they faced familial challenges, including mistreatment from in-laws.
Undeterred by hardships, Rita displayed remarkable resilience. Utilizing their savings, Rita purchased land and rehabilitated an existing house. In this barren land, she initiated agriculture, cultivating areca, coconut, and pepper. Despite her illiteracy in Konkani and Kannada, Rita actively engaged with community initiatives, becoming a member of the Amoolya Self-Help Group (SHG) in 2014. Regular attendance at SHG and Mahasangha meetings enabled her to access various government schemes and facilities, including housing assistance, agricultural support, and widow pension.
Rita’s compassionate nature extended beyond her immediate family. Despite her own struggles, she extended support to marginalized individuals within her community. Notably, she provided employment and comprehensive care to a mentally challenged widow, Jayashree, and her daughter Vani. Rita ensured their financial stability by offering full-day wages for part-time work and shouldering their medical expenses, exemplifying her commitment to community welfare and empowerment.
Rita Vas’s journey embodies the transformative power of resilience, compassion, and community solidarity. Through her actions, she not only overcame personal adversities but also uplifted those around her, fostering a culture of care and empowerment within her community. Rita’s legacy serves as a testament to the profound impact individuals can have in creating positive change, even in the face of daunting challenges.
In a world often characterized by self-interest, Rita Vas stands as a beacon of hope and inspiration, demonstrating the immense potential for individuals to catalyze transformative change through compassion, resilience, and community engagement. Her story underscores the importance of nurturing empathy and solidarity, highlighting the critical role of individuals like Rita in creating a more equitable and compassionate society.
