ANNUAL REPORT 2017-18

Towards Sustainable Livelihood

DARABAR SAHITYA SANSAD (DSS)At-SODHUA, P.O-DALAKASOTI, Via-BALIPATANA

Dist- KHURDA, PIN-752102, ODISHA, INDIA TEL. (FAX)-0674 2468529, 2468744

Email: darbar4@rediffmail.com, darbar4@gmail.comWebsite: dssodisha.org

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USHA Sewing Training to women entrepreneurs Demonstration of organic manure preparation

Blanket distribution in a tribal village in Kandhamal A street play on Violence against women

DMD, CGM, NABARD visiting DSS Samunnati Finance officials visit to DSS

Livelihood credit programme visit by Rang De official Women cooperative visit by Madhyam - AWO officials

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About DSS …..The history of Darabar Sahitya Sansad ( DSS ) dates back to early nineties. A group of adolescent boys used to flock around a rural library in village Nischintapur, reading books and magazines and discussing on literary development. Two consecutive severe floods devastated the area during the year 1980 and 1982. The boys could not keep quite. They helped the govt. machineries in evacuating the people as well as distributing the relief materials. This small taste of social work prompted them to come to a common platform “a society” which could provide them the strength and the opportunity for youth work and social development. Finally a society was formed during 1982 with the name “Darabar Sahitya Sansad (DSS) - a people’s court for social justice , on a platform of young and literature loving people.

VisionDSS visualizes, self-sufficient and self managed villages in Odisha where each and every individual across the communities, live in peace and harmony without fear of discrimination or denied justice. Every individual to maintain a prosperous life with self-dignity and concern for community and environment at large.

MissionThe Mission of DSS is to help the poor and marginalized sections of the society in building their confidence and capacity for managing their socio-economic and political development process. DSS aims at working with geographically vulnerable communities as well as socially vulnerable groups like Women, Scheduled castes, Artisans, Landless labourers, Marginal farmers, Migrant workers etc, with their participation and ownership of the process.

Area of OperationDSS operates in 150 villages of 4 districts of Orissa viz. Puri, Khordha, Balasore and Kandhamal.

Legal Status• Registered under the “ Societies Registration Act of 1860 ”- No.-719/279 of 1984-85. • Registered under “Foreign Contribution Regulation Act of 1976, Ministry of Home Affairs - Govt. of India - No.-105020062• It is also registered under section 12(A) and 80 G of Income Tax Act of 1961.• It is registered under NITI Ayog Unique ID - OR/2016/0103762.

Board MembersSl. No. Name Designation Occupation

1 Dr. Adwaita Kumar Patra President Agriculture consultant.

2 Mr. Subash Chandra Nayak Vice- President Educationist

3 Mr. Kedareswar Choudhury Secretary Social Dev. Worker

4 Mr. Rajanikant Mohanty Asst. Secretary Social Dev. Worker

5 Mr. Mohan Ku. Baliarsingh Member Development Consultant

6 Dr. (Ms.) Anusuya Dash -do- Doctor (Sr. Lecture)

7 Dr. (Ms.) Srita Bhol -do- Educationist

8 Ms. Menaka Pradhan -do- Women development Activist

9 Ms. Laxmipriya Sahu -do- Women Development Activist

10 Ms. Nibedita Nanda -do- Craft Teacher / Designer

11 Ms. Manorama Barik -do- Women Dev. Activist

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Enterprise promotion for womenDSS has been promoting Self Help Groups with poor women and facilitating compulsory savings and credit activities among themselves.Secondly DSS provides hand holding and capacity building support to SHGs and their federations at GP level through

• Promoting SHGs, JLGs, Cooperatives for livelihoods security.

• Promoting and strengthening GP and Block level federations of SHGs to promote self help and livelihoods.

• Conducting regular training and exposure programmes for women group leaders to increase their managerial capacity.

Enterprise promotion during the year With borrowing from Rang De.Org, Bangalore DSS continue advancing small loans to enterprising women members of the SHGs, JLGs and cooperatives for income generation.

During the year• The total credit disbursement has been Rs.1,29,04,000

to 730 enterprising women on various farm and non farm activities.

• DSS has repaid Rs.1,18,39,027 to Rang De with an outstsnding of Rs.70,70,934.

• DSS not only advanced credit but also conducted number of training programmes and market linkage programmes in both farm and non farm enterprises.

Story of changeKalpana Sethy married to Narahari Sethy a resident of Ariso village in Balipatana block of Khordha district some 14 years ago. Narahari a landless person was less educated and was doing casual labour and some times doing vending in local market. Kalpana studied up to graduation was not able to find a way to increase the family income as the family was toiling with poverty. They did not have a proper house. Children’s education, daily food and household need, expense of ailing parents in laws etc were mounting. In the mean time Kalpana came across the field level animator of DSS Annapurna, who showed her the way of forming a Self Help Group( SHG) in her village and start small savings. Gradually the SHG with 10 women members grew with savings under DSS guidance. Kalpana took a small loan of Rs 5000 from DSS and started Goattery at her home. Subsequently she took 4 doses of yearly loan of Rs.10000, 15000 and 18000 and enhanced her business. She started with 2 goats and now she has 17 goats. She has been repaying her loan instalments regularly. Her husband is also helping her in Goat rearing. He has also strengthened his vending business. Now after

4 years the family is quite happy that they have been able to send their two children to good school (English medium). They are constructing their pucca house. They have also purchased some household equipment including a Television. Kalpana is now a proud wife, a proud SHG leader and a proud entrepreneur and thanks DSS for the small loan assistance.

Craft based Livelihood ProgrammeWith support from Tata Trusts, DSS has been implementing a Craft based livelihood project at Barkhama Dhokra cluster in Baliguda block of Kandhamal district.The programme has 3 major objectives viz 1) Enhancing the income of 125 artisan households to double, 2) Increasing the crafts production volume 3 fold and 3) Provide wage employment to artisans for at least 200 days a year.

Achievements during the year• One skill upgradation training has been organized where

30 low skilled artisans were trained in advanced skill and technique of Dhokra making.

• The Raw material Bank has been functional which lends the raw materials to artisans and receives the finished products back. During the year 505 kg of Brass and 52.225 kg of wax have been supplied 45 artisan families.

• Under the design development programme the designer deputed by Tata Trusts has conducted a two day Teracotta design workshop at DSS head office. New designes were developed as product mix with Dhokra. 45 new prototypes were finished and presented to Jinger hotel, taz khazana and Tata Trust office.

• 80 sets of improved tools were procured and 22 sets have been distributed to artisans to improve the quality of the products.

• A product catalogue was designed and printed( 500 copies).

• The marketing unit has attended 17 state, national and international exhibitions and sold Handicraft worth Rs.412,402.00. It has also received purchase order worth Rs.506,874.00 from outside.

• In order to boost the Dhokra sale DSS attended market testing events at Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Bhubaneswar.

• An external capital fund of Rs.3.71 lakh has been mobilized from Rang De to establish a micro venture for continuing the production and sale.

• Monthly tracking of the business by artisans have been done by the project team

The project has been able to enhance the artisan in income, cluster production and working days by 50%.

ACTIVITIES (2017-18)

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Promotion of organic farming and sustainable agriculture practice for women farmers With financial support from Madhyam foundation, Bhubaneswar and AWO International- Germany,DSS conducted the above programme targeting 1000 women vegetable growers in 30 villages in Nimapara(Puri dist) and Balipatana( Khordha dist.). The major focus was on training the producers in organic farming, crop planning, book keeping, market management, cooperative management etc. Assistance in shape of water lifting pumps, grading centre, bore well, sales centre etc were provided to boost their income.

Achievements during the year

1. During the year one more cooperative was formed in Balipatana block taking the total no of cooperatives to three. 143 share holders( women ) were enrolled.

2. Trainings imparted:• Training in organic veg cultivation-2 (127 farmers)• Sensitisation Training on Gender based discrimination- 5

(142 farmers)• Field level training on promotion of cooperatives: 6 (189

cooperative leaders)• Orientation meeting for vigilance committee members

on Gender based violence (23)• One interface meeting was conducted with line

departments.

3. State level trainings for staff: All the 3 project staff have been trained thrice at state level by Madhyam.

4. Organic coverage: 212 acre have been covered under organic practice yielding 9761.16 quintals of vegetables.

5. Marketing Linkages: Marketing has been done in local outlets, weekly haats and supplying to Bhubaneswar markets.

6. 535 women farmers practice organic farming in 33 villages, 9 GPs of 2 blocks in Puri and khordha district.

Besides the organic vegetable cultivation the project also emphasized on “Social security” and “ Gender based Discrimination”1. 348 women have been benefitted under different social

security schemes.2. 148 women farmers have been benefitted by convergence

with govt agriculture,horticulture and sanitation schemes.

3. 22 domestic violence cases were mediated

Promotion Of Farmers Producers Organisation (FPO) ProgrammeWith financial support from NABARD Bhubaneswar, DSS started a 3 year long FPO programme where 2 FPOs were formed in

Balipatana block of Khordha district and in Nimapada block of Puri district. Both the farmer producer Organisations have been registered as Producer companies.

• 416 women farmers (vegetable growers) have been enrolled in two companies.

• The 20 board of directors have been trained at DSS head office in company management process. 3 no of in house trainings have been conducted.

• Both the CEOs (Chief executive officers) have been trained.

• Both the companies have organised Vegetable and Pulses collection and marketing.

• Both the companies have got the SEED License from State seeds corporation and have done input( seed) marketing. 48 members got subsidized paady seeds during Khariff season.

• During the year a total business turnover of Rs 14,98,827.00 was transacted where both the companies have earned a profit of Rs 1,45,013.00.

• 85 members have been assisted with green gram and oilseed seeds from Govt agril department.

• PIMC (Project implementation and Monitoring Committee) meetings have been conducted regularly and NABARD DDM have visited the field.

The companies are trying hard to generate own income and access loan fund so that they can manage after NABARD withdraw after 3 years project period.

Seed Village ProgrammeWith financial support from NABARD DSS implemented a “Seed village” programme in 3 villages of Balipatana block. 68 Green gram farmers were targeted where they have been supplied with improved seed, fertilizer, pesticide as well as periodic technical advise. The main objective of the programme was to enhance the production of Green gram up to double. By the end of March-18 the following activities have been conducted

• One training has been conducted on green gram harvesting where 28 farmers participated.

• 88.50 quintals were produced from 65.90 acres of green gram cultivation by 67 farmers.

• 77 farmers (320 kg) were assisted with pulses and oilseeds from Govt agriculture department.

Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)With financial support from NRLM/OLM/Madhyam foundation DSS continued the MKSP programme in Balipatana block targeting 600 women farmers in sustainable agriculture practices. During the year the following activities were undertaken

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• Training programmes: DSS conducted training programmes on, Organic ways of cultivation, SRI paddy Sustainable agriculture, Basic agriculture and Plant protection under 7 programmes.

• Training to community on SRI and sustainable agriculture: 2 programme were organized where 50 women farmers participated.

• Training on Basic agriculture and plant protection: 5 programmes were conducted at village level where 148 women farmers participated.

• 38 individual Cold chambers constructed in the houses of 38 Mahila Kisans for vegetable preservation.

• 10 no of weeder were provided to 10 sub producer groups for use in SRI paddy.

• 87 seed mini kit were mobilized from Govt horticulture department for 87 women farmers.

• 7 sprayer machines were mobilized from government.• 54 women farmers were assisted under “Swachh Bharat”

sanitation scheme of the Government.• 348 women farmers have been linked with different

social security schemes of the Govt like MNREGA, Janani Surakhya Yojana, Mamata Yojana, Old age pension, Widow pension, Balika samruddhi yojana,Sukanya Yojana,PMJDY, BKKY etc

Above all the two cooperatives formed have been strengthened with handholding support from the project team. They have undertaken the organic farming practice as well as sustainable agricultural practice among the women farmers.

Usha Silai School ProgrammeWith financial support from Usha International through Gram Uthan, DSS conducted 2 batches of Sattelite Sewing trainings for sewing teachers at Nimapada block of Puri district. 15 young women sewing teachers got trained in advanced sewing technique, new designs by Usha International. The target is to further train 150 new women entrepreneurs in sewing/ tailoring skills during coming year.

Financial Literacy ProgrammeWith financial assistance from AXIS Bank and Gram Uthan, DSS conducted 8 no of Financial literacy programmes in Khordha and Puri districts tragetting women SHG leaders and Cooperative leaders . The programme mainly targeted the women SHG members in rural area to get the awareness on financial inclusion, digital transaction, digital literacy etc. The programmee were conducted by eminent resource persons/ retired bankers/ trainers from the financial field. The programmes got overwhelming acceptance and participation by women SHG members.

GRLTP2 no of Group Leadershp Training Programme (GRLTP) were

conducted in Balipatana block in order to make the women group leaders aware about government schemes, financial literacy and group management techniques. 106 women leaders participated in these programmes. The programme was supported by NABARD.

Karigar Sahayog ShivirDSS conducted a “ Karigar Sahayog Shivir” at Baliguda where 300 artisans participated. They were made aware about Govt handicraft schemes. 95 artisan identity cards were distributed. Local govt officials participated as guests. The programme was assisted by DC( handicrafts).

Emmergency reliefDSS emergency team has been active this year who have done blanket relief to 50 needy tribal women at Baliguda, Kandhamal dist. Secondly the team have distributed polythene, blanket, flatten rice etc assistance to a household whse house was burnt due to fire in Balipata block of khordha dist.

Domestic violence against women progWith an aim to create awareness among people about the domestic violence, DSS conducted 5 no of street plays in different villages of Balipatana block. DSS has developed a street play team from among the SHG members who are performing on domestic violence.Secondly under the women farmers programme DSS has formed vigilance committees taking women members to register and solve the Domestic violence cases in villages. 2 such committees are working under 2 cooperatives.

Old Age programmeDSS conducted 2 workshops on the problems of older people at Balipatana and at DSS-Sodhua. The objective was to create awareness among the stakeholders about the problems of older people. Eminent speakers from NGO, Govt, Police dept participated. 107 old people from the local area participated in the programme. DSS looks for taking up older peoples problems in coming year.

Kabi sammelanDSS conducted a Kabi sammelan( Sita Kabita Asara) on 31st Dec 2017 where 14 local poets participated and recited their poems on winter and new year. Around 60 participants attended as audience.

Documentary FilmsDSS filmed 3 documentary films on the life and livelihood of 3 women entrepreneurs who have been assisted with livelihood loan by DSS. The films have been circulated among different stakeholders.

7Our Auditor:

Sanjeev Kumar & Associates475 (P), Essen Den, Asian Plaza, Khandgiri, Aiginia, Bhubaneswar-19

Donors who supported this year• Madhyam Foundation/ AWO Intl.• Madhyam Foundation/ NRLM/OLM• Tata Trusts• NABARD• Usha International• DC (Handicrafts)• Rang De.Org

Plan for coming year• Promote campaign agaist Domenstic Violence against women in 4 blocks.• Promote 1500 enterprises for women.• Promote livelihood for 200 tribal artisans.• Promote Sanitation and Renwable energy for 500 poor households.• Promote organic farming in 100 villages.• Promote Climate change education/ DRR education in villages and schools.• Promote vocational skill for 200 youth and women.• Promote Age care services for older people in one district.

DARABAR SAHITYA SANSAD (DSS)At-SODHUA, P.O- DALAKASOTI, Via-BALIPATANADist.-KHURDA, PIN-752102, ODISHA, INDIA TEL. (FAX)-0674 2468529, 2468744Email: darbar4@rediffmail.com, darbar4@gmail.comWebsite: dssodisha.org

A View of DSS Head Office

It is wonderful to see the outreach programme of DSS. Had the opportunity to meet women involved in varied and diverse livelihood activities. Keep up the good work

Manjita DeviRang De, Bengaluru

During the period of 3 days visit, it was excellent experience. People are doing good job here.It is good to see that people are working with their own interest. It was good cooperation from members, POPI and FPO..

Sindhusnata DasIntern, NABARD, RO, Bhubaneswar

I spent the day working with different members of DSS and they were certainly helpful in completing my research task. From taking photos to helping fill out survey, we completed the tasks in a much faster time. Thank you so much especially for hosting and launch, which was delicious.

Emma YingistResearch student

USA

Thank you, wonderful work.MASAKA ONO

Japan

Very hardworking organization, ThanksTejas Soni

Designer, Tata Trusts, Mumbai

What they say about DSS . . .

Very wonderful experience. Thank you for taking the time to show us around and teach us more about DSS. The hard work and dedication in this organization is remarkable and shows what a humble hard working organization this is. Thank you again for the amazing experience. It was truly appreciated.

Subhashri Mira Das, USA

Exellent work done by DSS and ably led by Kedar babu. Best wishes and looking forward to a fruitful association.

N. GaneshSamunnati Finance, Chennai

Thank you for the hospitality and warmth. Great to see the strong connect that DSS has with the communities. Especially enjoyed meeting the Dhokra artisans in Kandhamal district.

Tanvi Negi, Rang De, Begaluru

Fruitful discussion with DSS. Effective management. Good hospitality. Thanks

S. N. SahooBM-Odisha Gramya Bank, Banamalipur

On behalf of AWO International, South Asia, I would like to thank DSS for their hospitality and the ongoing project support/ implementation.

Mannuel PalzAWO International, South Asia office,

Kathmandu, Nepal

Route Map

To Chennai To KolkataBhubaneswar

Puri

DSS

Balipatana

Uttara Chhak

Nimapara

Pipili

Konarka

Visited the organization DSS, working as POPI. So far 2 FPCs have been formed and started their economic activity and marketing their produce. The initiative of DSS is praiseworthy.

B. B. Sahoo, DGMBIRD, Bolpur. West Bengal

Visited POPI on 7.3.18 and attended the PMRC.It gives me immense pleasure to address the members of FPO operating in Puri district. I have interacted with them and discussed the problems and prospects of the organization, support required from POPI and NABARD. Role of POPI ie DSS is promoting and nurturing FPO is also very note worthy.

P. K. Das (AGM- DD-R)NABARD, Odisha RO, Bhubaneswar

Visited for a training programme for women farmers on organic farming. The endeavor in the field of organic farming by the organization is praise worthy. I wish all success.

Dr. P. K. PandaAssistant Director, Horticulture,

Bhubaneswar

Visited Darabar Sahitya Sansad on 28.3.18. Attended training of farm women on organic farming. Good endeavor.

District Agriculture Officer, Bhubaneswar

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