Non-Timber Forest Products Exchange Programme India

14
Aug

Vikasa

VIKASA is a Service Society registered under the Societies Act of 1860 and has been registered under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India in 1987 for obtaining funds from foreign countries (FCRA No.010350038).

Since 1987, Vikasa worked with focus in Chodavaram and Madugula Mandals of Visakhapatnam District, with tribal families. Since inception Vikasa worked in the areas of land development, education and empowerment of women in different parts of the Visakhapatnam District.

Vikasa is operating in Visakhapatnam District with Chodavaram as its headquarters. Presently, its activities are spread in four Mandals in the Visakhapatnam District and two mandals in Guntur District.

VISION:

Social order that value the real significance of environment protection, social justice, women empowerment and sustainable development

MISSION:

 Work for the development of poor and marginalised communities
 Create better environment for the protection and management of natural resources
 Provide equal opportunities for all sections in the society

List of current Board Members:

Smt. Nau Gora, Chairperson
Shri P. Viswanadh, Director
Dr. Hema Parimi, Member
Dr. Jayaprada, Member
Shri Hari Subrahmanyam, Member
Shri D.S. Prasada Rao, Treasurer
Shri Sivaji, Member

Areas of work:
Agro-forestry and Wasteland Development: Past experiences

Vikasa has been working in the Madugula Mandalam of Visakhapatnam District since 1990. Vikasa has taken up Agro-forestry and Wasteland Development programmes in Avuruwada and Jalampalli Panchayats in that mandal covering more than one thousand acres of land belonging to the tribal communities who used to practice ‘podu’ cultivation on the hill slopes. Vikasa motivated people to stop ‘podu’ cultivation and take up plantation of cashew and other species on the lands. They also received training in performing Soil and Moisture conservation works on the lands.

Joint Forest Management was the next programme implemented in Avuruwada Panchayat covering nine tribal hamlets and 1200 hectares of reserve forestland. During the implementation of this programme a great number of community members have been trained in SMC techniques in that area.

Implementation of this activity in the two above-mentioned panchayats has taken nearly half a decade. During that time, Vikasa trained several staff members and community members in Soil and Moisture Conservation and PRA techniques. The trained staff members have been working with Vikasa in different projects since then, implementing programmes like Watershed Management, Water sanitation, Nursery techniques, and urban development.

JFM/CFM experiences:

VIKASA has been in involved in the process of formation of VSS in Chodavaram Forest Range of Visakhapatnam Division since 1993. The first VSS was formed in Tiruvada village of Medivada Section of Chodavaram range in 1994. The formations of VSS continued till 1998 and in all nine VSS were formed in the same section of Chodavaram Range covering around 500 families of tribals with an approximate forest area of about 1200 hectares.

Achievements since inception:

 Provided non-formal education to 33000 children under 14 years and enrolled 10000 into regular schools (approximately)
 Formation of women self-help groups (micro credit) in Chodavaram and Madugula Mandals and Bheemunipatnam Municipality with a membership of 10000. Savings of members at present is above 5 crores
 Natural resource management through agro-forestry, community forest management, wasteland development, micro-watershed management, horticulture plantations, nurseries etc. with coverage of over 5000 hectares in Chodavaram, Madugula and Dumbriguda Mandals.
 Formation of nine VSS with tribal communities in Madugula Mandal (Chodavaram Forest Range) of Visakhapatnam District with a coverage of 500 families and 1200 hectares of reserve forest area.
 Formation of men and women groups in fisher folk villages to provide livelihood support and prepare them to work for their rights.
 Formation of drinking water sanitation and personal hygiene promotion committees in 10 panchayats in Chodavaram Mandal to spread awareness on management of drinking water resources.
 Development of a Representative Watershed in Dumbriguda Mandal of Visakhapatnam District with a coverage of 1030 hectares of farmlands belonging to 180 tribal families across 8 hamlets with the support of INDO-GERMAN BILATERAL PROJECT.
 Development of 3000 acres of crop-free land in tribal areas with horticulture plants like mango, amla and other species.
 Promoted an informal network of six NGOs in the past three years (2011 to 2014) as part of Eastern Ghats protection and management Plan supported by ‘Eco-alliance’ through Keystone Foundation with focus on legal literacy, value addition of non-timber forest products and strengthening 60 forest protection committees in Visakhapatnam District.

Recognition:

In 1997, VIKASA was honoured with “Rajiv Gandhi Patri Bhoomi Mitra” Award constituted by the Ministry of Rural Development, New Delhi for its contribution in Wasteland Development.

Contact person:

Shri P. Visanadh,
Executive Director
MIG 33, Simhapuri Layout, Vepagunta, Visakhapatnam – 47.
Shri Visanadh’s Mobile: 09866118877.

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