SIGMA SOCIETY FOR EDUCATION RESEARCH AND TRAINING Balakrupi Bazar, Mandi - 175001 (H.P.) India Tel: 0091-1905-221875 Mobile: 0091-94180 92871 Email: The Sigma Society for Education Research and Training (SERT) is a Non Governmental Organization (NGO), non profit making organization, established at Mandi, a district in mountainous state of Himachal Pradesh, India, during April 2002 with the main objective of bringing out the sustainable development of the underdeveloped rural hilly area of the state. This objective is proposed to be operationalisation by infusing the compatible technology at the farms, improving upon the existing land use and cropping patterns and simultaneously tackling the various social issues like the low literacy levels, high drop out rates from the school, degeneration in the social institutions and host of other problems. Factors Decelerating the Rural Economy of the State: The following factors have been identified by the workers and researchers of the SERT 1. Sub-optimal land use pattern 2. Inefficient cropping pattern 3. Traditional agronomic practices 4. Very low capital formation 5. Production pattern not compatible with the market demands 6. Lack of awareness about the niche provided by the local topographical, climatological and ecological endowments 7. Low literacy level 8. High drop out rates from educational institutions 9. Non-adoption of the high pay-off commercial crops 10. Low availability of development infrastructure These few are important of the plethora of problems adversely affecting the rural development of the state of Himachal Pradesh. What We Want to do Our aim is to uplift the rural and downtrodden communities of not only the State of Himachal Pradesh but also the other hilly regions of India. How We Want to do it We will achieve our objective through devising optimum land use and cropping patterns, infusing the appropriate green technologies and introducing ancillary agricultural occupations especially the non-land based enterprises. Our efforts are also directed towards improving the social capital and on farm capital formation. What have we done so far We have adopted one village, Maigal, located at about 10km from Mandi town and have started the following activities. 1. Vegetable cultivation on about one hectare of land. We have been able to convince eight families to make land allocation for the purpose. Improved vegetable seeds were made available to them and farm camps, courtesy Department of Agriculture, were organised to make the farmers aware of the agronomic and marketing practices involved in this venture. 2. Two families have been facilitated to purchase the improved Jersey variety of cows, substantially increasing the milk availability with the family which improved the nutritional intake of the family members and also the family income increased. 3. About 35 women of the villages were organised into four self-help groups wherein they contribute very small amount of money every month and they are provided credit from banks which is four times the money collected. This amount can be used by the members for their production or consumption needs. This has liberated them from the clutches of the non-formal credit at exorbitant rates of interests and other terms and conditions. 4. Village cleanliness drive was started improving upon the sanitary condition of the village. 5. Drives has been initiated by organising the women of the village, against brewing and heavy consumption of illicit liquor in the village. 6. Camp was organised to make the villagers aware of the various development programmes and schemes of State and Central governments which can benefit them greatly. 7. Scientific study of the village has been initiated so that the strengths and weaknesses of the village, resource endowments, ecological variables, etc. could be quantified for finalising the village development plan. What are our strengths: 1. Committed and motivated members 2. Support from some prominent sections of the society 3. Technical manpower What are our weaknesses: 1. Weak financial position 2. Resistance from vested interests 3. Unavailability of relevant research material 4. Lack of awareness about latest technologies for rural development 5. Unavailability of success stories in the field of rural development and environmental conservation 6. Indifferent attitude of governmental agencies 7. Have to wait for two more years before we become eligible for the consideration of national and international development agencies. What difficulties we are facing 1. Non-cooperative attitude of certain sections of society 2. Political interference 3. Paucity of funds for undertaking the development works 4. Opposition from illicit liquor brewing lobby What we want from you 1. Provide us with literature pertaining to rural development methodologies, case studies, success or failure stories or any other relevant materials 2. Advice on what we are doing 3. Share your experiences in the fields of rural development and environmental conservation and rehabilitation with us 4. Addresses of similar organisations 5. And, most importantly, we will be grateful for your financial assistance and contributions for the noble cause of development of the poor and downtrodden sections of the society so that they stand firmly on their own feet. You can send your contributions, financial or otherwise to the Secretary of the SERT.