Balivara Organisation For Fellow Feat Empowerment And Reconstruction

Balivara OFFER has always aimed at building self-reliant communities through various skill developments of individuals. It was a spontaneous outcome Read moreof a group of professionals, who went to participate in a workshop on volunteerism in 1994 and decided to form an NGO based on Gandhian philosophy. In due course, the thought was materialized and formed Balivara ORGANISATION for FELLOW FEAT EMPOWERMENT and RECONSTRUCTION [Balivara OFFER] in the year 1996 and subsequently registered under West Bengal Society Registration Act 1961. Balivara OFFER slowly but steadily started making progress in cooperation of some dedicated community volunteers, who were coming up to the level of expectation to look after the projects independently and together manage an institution. So, in the year 2000, the society decided to expand its activities all over Barrackpur – I Block with the financial support of DRDC, NABARD, UNICEF and Department of Science & Technology. Later more support has been received from CAPART, Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samity. A good number of SHGs have been formed of which at least 69% have got bank support and 51% group members have received skill development training. Farmers have also been imparting technology on eco-friendly cultivation method and now they are responsive to the harmfulness of chemicalisation. Some of them have already adopted organic farming and production of Vermicompost by the farmers and SHG members is a remarkable success. Since 2007 the Organisation has been providing Skill Development Trainings on various trades to the SHG members, Jute Diversified products (JDP) is ultimately making its space for income-generating intervention as jute is identified as a natural fibre and defined as an eco-friendly lucrative product. Considering the commercial viability of JDP, training programmes on production and marketing of various jute products were conducted and provided with the financial help of NJB. Overall 50 numbers of Training on Jute Diversified Products has been provided to more than 122 WSHGs in both North 24 Parganas and Pashchim Medinipur District. Results of these training have been incredible and encouraging. The groups have shown some remarkable performances in the production and marketing of JDP.  In Medinipur Central Correctional Home a good number of UT inmates are existing, who have been arrested by the joint force deployed by the Government to combat the recent insurgency in ‘ Jangal mahal’ . Most of them are from hardcore poor families having no alternative source of livelihood. They have been charged under the Unlawful Activity Prevention Act (UAPA), which compel them to stay here for about 3 to 4 years. Their family members are now in destitution to maintain the livelihood. We are clearly aware of the scenario and poor state of the concerned families as we are working at Sadar block. We are also quite proficient in JDP and Organic Farming. In this context, Balivara OFFER with the assistance of NABARD as well as the cooperation of the respective department has accepted the challenge to capacitate the UT inmates of Medinipur Correctional Centre. In recent year we endeavour promotion of orchard (WADI) with NABARD support at the extremist infested ‘ Jangal mahal’ so as to improve the livelihood pattern of Tribal. Agriculture continues to be the life thread of the nation. India is blessed with different agro-climatic regions, which can produce almost every crop. However, our farmers are facing several problems, the most important being agriculture becoming unviable for the farmers, as the income from agriculture is low and even declining in real terms in several areas. This, in extreme cases, forced them to take the ghastly step of committing suicide. However, we believe that in many, if not all cases, it would be possible to reverse the trend and increase the income of the farmers. This would be possible in several ways like increasing productivity, reducing costs, value addition, marketing support, etc. as has been successfully achieved in some cases, by the effort of Government agencies, Non-Government Agencies and institutions like NABARD, Banks, Agricultural Universities, corporate etc. In several cases, these efforts are yet to yield optimum results mainly due to inability to reach out to a large number of farmers- especially the small and marginal farmers in backward regions. Crop diversification is maintaining by the farmers but due to lack of proper knowledge and increase of inputs’ cost farmers are now being facing distress situation. In this respect, it is planned to disseminate the knowledge of sustainable agriculture. Apart from this, the farmers will have to be aware of the strategy to combat the situation of new economic policy in regards to agriculture. In this respect, villagers will have to be motivated to produce, multiply and maintain their own seeds on a scientific basis. It is also perceived that an inventory will have to be prepared to identify the local resources required for agriculture.  Within the Organisation a revolutionary change has taken place. The professional members, who for their job are in another state could not devote much time, have expressed their willingness to resign from the Executive Committee. We have taken it an opportunity and planned to induct representatives from SHG, which would in turn help to response the tune of poor people. A workshop for 5 days has organized with the participation of all members and staff to redefine the Vision, Mission, Role & structure of the Organisation.