| NEFORD Agriculture Development Program :
NEFORD undertakes activities aimed at increasing agriculture productivity through application of modern technologies matching needs of farm communities. The Program is implemented through community based groups using participatory approach. NEFORD plans and refines location specific technologies developed by Research Stations and State Agricultural Universities and blend the indigenous technical knowledge of farmers with the package of technology evolved by research institutions. Emphasis is given to increasing farmers' income through crop and farm diversification. Promoting agroforestry, horticulture, floriculture, cultivation of plants with medicinal value and fodder crops is an integral part of this approach.
Besides this various agro clinical services like soil, water, leaf and petiole analysis is for effective nutrient utilization and disease and pest analysis are also readily made available to farmers. Water, plant and fertilizer samples are being tested and as per the test report, the recommendations for use of fertilizers is being given to the farmers. Diagnostic services like identification of nutrient deficiencies in plants, identification of pest & diseases in crops and animals and related advisory services is provided to farmers. Various kinds of seeds, fertilizers and pesticides are being supplied on subsidized or no-profit basis. Seeds of new varieties have been provided to the farmers under this Program.
NEFORD Rural Development Program :
NEFORD recognizes that in order to ensure that the fruits of economic reform are shared by all sections of societies, five elements of social and economic infrastructure, critical to the quality of life in rural areas are health, education, drinking water, housing and roads. NEFORD Rural Development Program includes preserving water & environment, making available safe drinking water, micro-credit self-help groups, promotion of cooperatives and development of link roads and other infrastructure projects such as rural electrification & rural housing. Conservation of bio-diversity and agro-biodiversity, environment consciousness and regeneration, comprehensive watershed development and sustainable agricultural practices are some of the other thrust areas. NEFORD’s activities encourage increase in the bio-mass production by developing wastelands in the country. NEFORD’s Rural Development Program also undertakes development of desert areas and drought prone areas in the country. These aim at increasing the soil and moisture conservation and productivity of the wasteland of the degraded lands thereby increase the income of the people. Keeping in view the needs and aspirations of the local people and improving local governance, NEFORD also works for promotion of Panchayati Raj Institutions. Micro level planning related to rural employment or unemployment is a key issue. NEFORD has, therefore, initiated a micro-finance scheme to give credit at reasonable rates of interest to women and other under privileged groups.
NEFORD Children & Women Welfare Program :
NEFORD aims at overall development of children using an approach, which incorporates social, cultural and educational aspects and endeavours to reduce dependency of women through self-supportive and self-reliant programs. The children & women play a crucial role in diffusing knowledge to others and contribute significantly to the development of both their family and community. NEFORD promotes Non-Formal Education, Children’s Clubs, skill training, women’s associations and establishment of shelter homes for girls. NEFORD is contemplating an idea of setting up of the weaving unit for women to produce mats, table mats, bags of different shapes and designs, embroidery work and other craft items.
NEFORD has accorded a high priority to Women Empowerment through research studies, training and capacity building. Political Empowerment of women needs to be encouraged from village panchayats to the National Parliament. This helps in awareness building with regard to all governmental schemes, structure and function of panchayats, developmental programs, legal provisions with implications on women's lives, such as education of the girl child, child marriage, dowry, feminization of poverty, legal provisions for divorce and alimony and other gender issues. Economic Empowerment of women is promoted through organization of self-help groups, focussing on credit and thrift activities, meeting social financial needs and investments for initiating micro enterprises. While facilitating financial and institutional development for initiating economic activities, capacity building for income generation through training in various skills and trades and with potential for sustainability is a thrust area of NEFORD’s activities. NEFORD carries out Awareness Campaign against unsafe abortions, female infanticide, dowry and child labour.
NEFORD Education Program :
Though focus of NEFORD Education Program is on Children particularly the Girl Child, it also includes adult education, non-formal education and social education. NEFORD plans to setup its own educational institution covering both school level and college level academics. In addition, the Program also includes undertaking various short-term education and training courses. The program curriculum encourages learner-centered participatory approach. Group learning and Children’s participation is encouraged. Efforts are made to maintain such an environment, which makes lesson interesting and improves children’s understanding of subject. Teachers / Education volunteers working with NEFORD undergo training / orientation programs from time to time. With a view to inculcating reading habits amongst rural people, NEFORD plans to establish libraries in rural areas. These libraries would be equipped with computer and provided with internet access, where ever possible. NEFORD has already constructed a school building cum library facility in Mau, Uttar Pradesh. In the long run, it plans to develop educational infrastructure in rural areas of Eastern India, till such time it would hire premises or operate from other temporary arrangements to conduct its Program.
NEFORD Vocational Training & Information-Cum-Service Centre Program :
The major objectives of the Program are the upliftment of the rural downtrodden and development of rural society by improving their access to vocational training and information. NEFORD conducts various vocational training programs with regards to non-farm and farm activities for rural youths so that they can get self-employment opportunities in the rural area. The Program mandate also includes conducting survey and impact studies of various projects and schemes so that others can know the effectiveness of such activities/programs. It undertakes vocational training for the farmers, farm women, rural youth and grass roots level extension workers in the broad based agricultural production system. It aims at providing critical skills so that the trainees may confidently use it to increase agricultural productivity and become self-reliant through gainful self-employment. Various self-employment generating programs include dairy, goat rearing, poultry management, mushroom cultivation, nursery management, basic course in photography, advanced tailoring, arts & crafts, fruit and vegetable preservation, bakery and confectionery, bio-pesticide and bio-fertilizer production. NEFORD attempts at making women economically self-sufficient by enhancing their skills in manufacturing handicrafts, therefore equipping the women to earn a better income from home. Rural women artisans by and large earn very little, as they work for middlemen, who sell their handicrafts for a much higher profit. NEFORD provides training to rural artisans and actively support their marketing efforts. The revenue generated from the sale of the handicrafts goes directly back to the artisans, with no middlemen involved.
Empowering communities through knowledge is an important mission of NEFORD. Over the years, both Central & State Governments have initiated various poverty alleviation schemes & programs for the benefit of poor. Unfortunately, there is sheer lack of awareness regarding these schemes, amongst those for whom these are intending to serve. NEFORD plans set-up an Information-cum-Service Center. The Center would not only provide information on poverty alleviation programs but also on latest technologies & varieties, market information & intelligence and buyers & sellers guide on agricultural inputs and produce.
NEFORD Health & Sanitation Program :
The major objectives of NEFORD Health & Sanitation Program are to reduce population growth rate through smaller families, reduce infant mortality and improve health and hygiene. It aims at educating people about the importance of keeping their homes and the surroundings clean; improving sanitary conditions of the villages; protecting people from various diseases particularly those spreading out of water-stagnation and open defecation; inculcating a sense of hygiene and creating a general awareness in the villages regarding health, hygiene and sanitation and promoting own kitchen gardens to enable people to get nutritious and fresh fruits & vegetables. This helps in reducing malnutrition, anemic problems and incidence of diseases.
NEFORD organizes group meetings to bring about awareness regarding issues related to health & sanitation and impart health tips on a regular basis. NEFORD’s Health Volunteers conduct medical camps with focus on mother & child health and primary health care techniques. Specialist doctors and other medical practitioners visit such camps. Health of pregnant women in the target villages is followed up and these women have free consultation with NEFORD doctor. NEFORD also plans to launch Mobile Health Units. NEFORD conducts awareness campaign particularly with a view to educating men folk on Sexually Transmitted Diseases, AIDS and HIV. NEFORD’s Village Sanitation Volunteers along with villagers carryout Village Cleaning Campaign. NEFORD establishes partnerships with government, health service providers & local communities and strives for providing solutions that comprehensively meet health care needs.
NEFORD Disaster Mitigation and Vulnerability Reduction Program :
NEFORD recognizes the need for community to be fully geared to organize them in the event of any disaster thus minimizing the losses and supporting responses of organized civil society and government. Disaster Preparedness should start from the grass root level and NEFORD Community Based Disaster Preparedness Program is an attempt in this direction. Population in Eastern India is extremely vulnerable to recurring cyclones, floods and drought. To minimize the losses in such emergencies, it is necessary that a system be created for increasing preparedness at all levels i.e. government, civil society and community. NEFORD involves Gram Panchayats and the local administration in its Disaster Management Plan. Volunteers selected from villages are trained to face any eventuality and grouped to form various task forces.
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