Jeevana Sravanthi Drought Association is working on Gender equity because there is a big difference and inequality between men and women. As a part of motivating the wome n towards self-sustainability, self-employment is the only way. Hence we started Self-help Groups in Siddarampuram village, in Bukkapatnam Mandal with 53 women and started savings since 2007. They opened bank account in the ING VYSYA Bank, Bukkapatnam branch in the name of their SHG and started thrift and credit activity.
Preparation of Paper Bags:
As a part of eco-environmental protection and to avoid the use of plastic, JSDA has taken up this activity with the women groups. This activity not only helps in environmental promotion but also in creating an income generating activity to the women at their households itself.
The women were trained in the preparation of different types and sizes of paper bags. JSDA contacted different local shop owners and arranged the marketing linkages with petty shops and restaurants in Puttaparthi town. At present, these women are also given trainings to the school children to prepare the Bags during the holidays.
Self- sustainability through Self- employment - Buffaloes Distribution:
All the families in the S. C. Colony, Siddarampuram are agricultural laborers. Due to drought situation farmers are not giving proper work to the laborers. Hence we distributed 25 buffaloes to the 25 members of Jeevana Sravanthi women Sanghas. The beneficiaries are saving their amount in their saving bank account in Bukkapatnam.
Main Objectives for Buffaloes distribution:
Create assured income to the families for meeting the minimum basic needs;
To promote nutritional health by way of assuring that the families include milk, curd and buttermilk in their daily food;
To promote Bio-gas / Gobar gas at the society / family level to minimize / discourage cutting and felling of trees for want of fire-wooed.
To promote Organic farming using the animal excreta.
BIO GAS:
As a part of promoting biogas as a mean of cooking, JSDA initiated this programme on a trial basis. In general, middle and lower-middle class families in the rural areas use firewood for cooking purposes. This method of cooking emits lot of Smoke which is harmful to health, and it also promotes cutting and felling of trees and different forest species of plants for firewood purpose. JSDA initiated the setting up of Bio gas plants in association with Natural Energy Development Corporation of Andhra Pradesh (NEDCAP). As a part of this 5 Bio-gas units are started and the beneficiaries are using bio-gas for the cooking needs of their families. It is very encouraging to notice that the Women are expressing their happiness in using biogas thereby giving an indication that we can promote the same technology in the other villages and with the other families.
