Manuvikasa

MANUVIKASA develops water harvesting structures of various form and dimension in synchronization with geographic situation such as rainwater harvesting soak pits and structures in the high land / hilly areas, individual farmer owned farm ponds in mid land or farmlands, and rejuvenation of community lakes that are typically found in plateau region. All these forms of rainwater harvesting structures significantly contribute to the enhancement of surface ground water table that decreases the dependence on deeper ground water table through bore well / tube wells. As of now we have rejuvenated more than 200 lakes with farmers contribution. MANUVIKASA provide machineries to remove silt from the lake bed, beneficiaries have to transport this silt to their farm land with their own cost. This silt is fertile and farmers use this as manure.

Manuvikasa's activities under the "SHG Promotion-Skill Development" programme target marginalized farmers, small producers, and landless farm labourers who belong to non-organised groups. This vulnerable section, particularly women, faces multiple challenges related to health, education, employment, and social security. They encounter difficulties in accessing credit, lack essential infrastructure and technology support, and are significantly underserved by the formal banking system. Manuvikasa aims to bring these unorganised groups together by forming Self Help Groups (SHGs) or Joint Liability Groups (JLGs). These groups, established by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) with anti-poverty agendas, empower women, develop leadership abilities, increase school enrolments, improve nutrition, and promote birth control. Financial intermediation is viewed as a means to achieve broader developmental goals. Manuvikasa's previous efforts in the Uttara Kannada District, supported by the Edel Give Foundation, have focused on livelihood development for women and small farmers. It has identified that financial inclusion, access to natural resources, skill building, entrepreneurship development, and employment creation can double the income of low-income groups. Manuvikasa aims to extend its reach to 10,000 families through federations, cooperatives, and farmers' producer organisations (FPOs) while providing vocational skills, entrepreneurship development, and financial inclusion opportunities. Additionally, it has been assisting women in securing employment through the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Marginal farmers, small producers and land less farm labors are recognized under non-organized group. Especially women under this vulnerable section have lot of problems related to health, education, employment, social security and so on. These land less and marginal farmers are facing enormous problems related to credit access, lack of infrastructure, lack of technology support etc. Indian economy is dominated by small farmers and land less labour but the contribution to the GDP is very less. Most of the vulnerable sections in the villages are deprived of formal banking system and are in the strong clutches of money lenders, who charge enormous rate of interest. Nationalized banks and other commercial banks are unable to meet the credit needs of the poor. Few micro finance institutions are also working only in urban and semi urban areas and not penetrated into remote villages. The challenge is bringing these unorganized groups into one single entity. This is possible if these groups are gathered in a Self Help Group (SHG) or Joint Liability Group (JLG). Self-help groups are started by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that generally have broad anti-poverty agendas. Self-help groups are seen as instruments for goals including empowering women, developing leadership abilities among poor people, increasing school enrolments, improving nutrition and the use of birth control methods. Financial intermediation is generally seen more as an entry point to these other developmental goals, rather than as a primary objective. Through these groups women will be empowered in educational, economical, political and spiritual fields. Last three years we have implemented livelihood development programme for women and small farmers in the District of Uttara Kannada with covering 09 Blocks with the support of Edel Give Foundation and we have low touch with remaining 02 blocks.