Integrated Development for ensure quality life of the Marginalized people

The vast majority of West Bengal depends heavily on rain-fed agriculture for their livelihoods. The availability of water and quality of soil therefore dictate their economic health. In the deeper parts of West Bengal people faces various challenges due to climate change. With rising sea levels, islands are disappearing and the increased salinity in the water and soil is severely affecting the crops. There have been serious disturbances of hydrological parameters and change in fishing patterns, resulting in disastrous consequences for the fishermen community. Frequent cyclones and erratic monsoon rain pattern are giving serious threat to the livelihoods of thousands of people. The soil deprived of moisture, caused crop failure year after year, plummeting people to extreme poverty or migration. If the current trends in terms of loss of bio-diversity, degradation of natural resources and increasing vulnerability to climate risk continue, the eco-region will be severely damaged within few decades. Several habitations will be sub-merged under sea water, thousands of people will be homeless, wild life will be destroyed, and overall, the entire area, including the city of Kolkata will be prone to frequent cyclones.

The right resource management, agricultural techniques, various livelihood development programme along with necessary skilling and training, vulnerable communities can be better placed to tackle the vagaries of nature.

 i.   Livelihood and Skill Development, introduction of various livelihood opportunities i.e. poultry farming, kitchen garden, honey collection, pisciculture (fishery) etc. and also skill development programmes.

 ii.   Ensuring education and promotion of SMART School

iii.   Providing support in terms of Sanitation and hygiene at community level and school level

iv.   Awareness programmes on maintaining basic hygiene and sanitation

 v.   Construction of safe drinking water

vi.   Extend handhold support to farmers’ community of Sagar Island for sustenance and enhancement of their product and productivity through demonstration and dissemination of skill, knowledge and modern agro technology;

vii.   Analysis of Climate Change impact and build up all possible solutions;

viii.   Build the capacities of and promote entrepreneurships among the rural youth

ix.   Promote practice of Organic Farming at micro level;

 x.   Set up saline tolerant Seed Banks for Agriculture, Horticulture and Mangroves;

xi.   Set up various Agricultural Models for widespread knowledge dissemination on high utilization of all available Natural Resources among the Rural Agrarian Communities e.g. Cultivators, Fishermen etc.

xii.   Set up an Agro – Equipment Bank and finally

xiii.   Create a community based institution that continues to work as source for knowledge and needed resource support and build strong climate resilient community.

xiv.   Construction of Climate resilience community

The Integrated Development programme seeks to bring about dignified and healthy living among the rural communities and strengthen community self-governance. This programme attempts to provide rural communities, with tools and means to grow and prosper. In short this programme aims to create a society where all the people will enjoy equal rights and access to equal opportunities.