Work in India

Association For India's Development - Projects Database
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Integrated Development in Srikakulam District
Agriculture -Kitchen Gardens
Agriculture - Sayanna Gadda Floods
Energy - Electricity
Energy - Haybox
Children's Nutrition
Anganwadi Campaign
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Livelihoods - NREGA
Community - Vrddashramam
Rural Resource
Acknowledgements
Page 9 of 12

4.  LIVELIHOODS
4a) NREGA

    Implementation of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) started in  Srikakulam District in April 2008.  Along with Nisarga  and some other local organizations, AID India took up the responsibility to raise awareness, oppose bribes, and facilitate the process of applying for job cards, employment, wages and unemployment compensations especially among the Dalit and weaker sections of the community.  In July however NREGA work was abruptly halted throughout Andhra Pradesh owing to the strong lobby of farmers who depended on migrant labor which the NREGA had reduced.

    It is in this context that our work in NREGA has evolved in Visakhapatnam and Srikakulam Districts.  To give an example of our success in Srikakulam District, 500 people in Siripuram faced numerous obstacles in getting paid wages for 22 days of work.  After our campaign and intervention, these people received wages at about Rs. 80 / day /person for 14 -15 days.   7-8 days are still pending.  Detailed report of NREGA work of AID India along with Nisarga is being submitted separately.

    One of the things that NREGA as well as anganwadi campaigns have brought into AID India Srikakulam culture is the filing of RTI applications.  This year our workers have filed several applications and some of them have also gone to the appeal stages.  For example, in a case where information was not given within 30 days, we filed an appeal for waiver of photocopying fees that were charged.  These expenses of about Rs. 1500 were returned after a successful appeal.    Both at the mandal office and at the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) information requests from our workers are being taken much more seriously now than before.

4b) Jivika

    Jivika is the fair trade initiative of AID India, marketing goods made in eco-friendly and livelihood -sustaining methods, by raising consumer awareness on social and environmental costs of food clothing and other goods.  Primarily, Jivika markets handspun and handloomed (khadi) clothing, but also seeks out chances to promote sustainably harvested and healthy produce including ragi, brown rice, and ground nuts.

    Most of the khadi for Jivika products made in ARTRC comes from Srikakulam; much of it is spun and woven in Pondur itself.   AID India workers help source materials and a few tailors in Pondur mandal produce some of the inventory for the Jivika collection, particularly items for local demand, such as khadi grocery bags and haybox covers.
    
    As we plan to market organic farm produce we also want to ensure minimum wages for the farmworkers.  Currently in these mandals, harvesting workers get Rs. 40 / day  or half the minimum wage.  To make ends meet for the farmer while paying minimum wage to the farmworkers is a critical challenge.  We hope that consumer – producer links will help to raise incomes of both farmers and farmworkers at the struggling end of the agricultural spectrum.

 
 
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