Social Action For Community Alternative Learning

Farmers in Orissa are small and marginal land holders who practise rain-fed agriculture.Paddy and maize cultivation is blindly being followed by the tribal farmers in the hilly regions therby risking the primary livelihood.The tribal farmers in Gajapati traditionally grow millets, local variety pulses and vegetables in a mixed system of farming sustaining adverse impacts of weather thereby providing food and nutrition.Local food varieties such as millets, vegetables and variety of pulses are encouraged among farmers thus restoring traditional food habits. Food fairs, demonstration fairs and seed exchange fairs are regularly organised to spread awareness not only among the farmers but also among the govt officials. Food demonstration camps are conducted at AWW centres and Primary schools. As a result, farmers are promoting system of millet intensification thereby increasing quintals per acre .

Varieties of Millet and pulses were grown in the hinterlands of Gajapati by the tribals. But now only a few varieties of millets and pulses are available with the farmers, with the farmers are more inclined for hybrid paddy and maize cultivation. SACAL’s intervention on millet cultivation started way back in 2008, with 1.2 acres in Halapanka village. After a successful pilot, millet and indigenous pulses and crops are being promoted extensively to secure production against the impacts of climate change and erratic rainfall. Food fairs, demonstration fairs and seed exchange fairs are regularly organised in the field locations to spread greater awareness not only among the farmers but also among the govt officials and general population. Food demonstration camps and food serves are also being conducted at AWW centres and Primary schools. which have resulted in expansion of millet cultivated land. Farmers are promoted to adopt system of millet intensification and line sowing methods.

SACAL endeavours other off-farm livelihoods among the landless and resource poor families through promotion of livestock rearing, poultry rearing, mushroom cultivation and bee keeping. The families are selected by the community based organisations such as SHGs and VDCs on the basis of the criteria set by them. SACAL provides them financial, technical assistance and capacity building trainings. Then financial support is channelised through the respective VDCs. The VDC procures necessary goods and items, which is finally given to the beneficiaries. The VDC develops a monitoring and evaluation mechanism which is strictly adhered till the beneficiary completes one whole year successfully in the enterprise. Meanwhile SACAL team extends critical support to the beneficiaries through extension services.

Strengthening and capacitating village and Panchayat level institutions is at the core of every community development initiatives of SACAL. It is ensured that each initiative must be participatory, need based and people centric in nature. Unless people own, control, manage and act towards their own development, community development would be hard to establish. SACAL merely plays the role of a facilitator, while the community themselves take collective action in the struggle for their development.

"SACAL has successfully experimented with rainwater management in Padmapur village, demonstrating significant economic and environmental advantages. Economic and Environmental Advantages are:
1.Low Cost
2.Environmental Benefits
3.Water Table Rise
4.Preventing Flash Floods
5.Increased Crop Yield
6.Reduced Flood Discharge
7.Benefits for Small Farmers
8.Perennial Water Sources

Overall, the rainwater management approach offers a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution to water security, benefiting both agriculture and the community's overall well-being."

"Gajapati and Ganjam regions have widespread issues of malnutrition, malaria, tuber, and otculosisher communicable diseases. Limited access to healthcare due to poverty, ignorance, and illiteracy hinders early treatment-seeking behavior in rural areas.

SACAL has implemented an empowerment-based health and nutrition program in 60 villages in Mohana block since 2012. They've engaged community-based organisations to empower, educate, and take ownership of health and nutrition programs in their localities.

Innovative Approaches:
1.Food and Seed Fairs
2.Baby Shows
3.Kitchen Garden Promotion
4.Millet-Based Recipes
5.Health Camps
Impact seen are-
1.Increased knowledge and practice of personal protection measures against malaria.
2.Improved access to healthcare services through ASHA workers and health counselors.
3.Enhanced skills of ASHA workers.
4.Early diagnosis of malaria and tuberculosis at the village level.
5.Greater awareness about common ailments and early detection in villages."