Baseline average before intervention

1. A common thread running through all the upcoming depictions is the economical, political, social and personality uplifting of people in the Wardha district, with whomChetana-Vikas has been working for past several years. These stories convey one thing above everything else: each one of us is extraordinary, but those of us who are forced to lead an ordinary life do so purely as a result of circumstances. A slight facilitation, in the right direction, with the right methods is all it needs to rise and bloom. Chetana-Vikas is proud to be associated with these and several such people. We want you to know them, too.

2. Net Income through years Baseline averagebefore intervention Janardan’s family of four sat down for food after completing the work in the fields. The lunch was a wholesome meal of 'Jowar' roti and 'moong' dal, made up of stuff they grew in their 4 acres of shallow drylands. Janardan and his family represent the group of villagers who have not eaten expensive pulses like moong, udad, peas & fruits since the past 35-40 years. The diet was mostly wheat from public distribution system and less expensive vegetables from market. Drought Years Opportunities Chetana-Vikas offered: After coming in contact with Chetana-Vikas and initiating new techniques in his dryland fields, Janardan has increased production as seen in the graph above. The basket accommodates at least 35-40 different types of food crops. Especially important as India stands as low as 67 out of 84 countries when ranked recently by global hunger index 2010, released by International Food Policy Research Institute. Today: In his own words, “If I would not have been following this self-reliant farming , I would have had committed suicide like others…”

3. “Where is the chair used by the Sarpanch (elected village-head)”, asked Indubaithe newly elected Sarpanch of Pimpalgaon, to the men members of the council, who hid the executive chair because she was a low-caste and that too, a woman. Angry male egoswanted to get her election nullified. Indubai was your quintessential "behind the scene" woman found in any Indian village. Opportunities Chetana-Vikas offered:A member of Self-Help-Group run by Chetana-Vikas; continuous exposure to new ideas opened up Indubai’s mind to her own capacities. She is responsible for bringing forward all the women of her village as active & vocal members for village development. Today:Benefiting from special trainings for Sarpanches, schemes like, providing Low-cost toilets, smokeless stoves, water harvesting structures, constructing a building to facilitate hygienic delivery of babies under medical supervision, starting a bus service to her village are only a few examples of the dynamic leadership that Indubai projected for village development. In her own words, “Each scheme brought to the village has been an independent fight against corrupt and lazy government officers...” .

4. "There, that should take care of the 'cream' on your land" said Varlujito the small landholder. The 'cream' here is the fertile top layer of the land that supports the crop growth. Increasing deforestation and other practices make the top soil predisposed to erosion. It takes 500-1000 years for this important natural resource to form in nature, and one monsoon season to wash it off. Opportunities Chetana-Vikas offered: A 7th standard dropout, he was spotted for his special ability for fast measurements, calculations and understanding basic maths. He was given a training to be a "Village Engineer" by Chetana-Vikas. Today, he goes about the village fields and streams to give layout for constructing appropriate earthen structures, allowing efficient soil and water management. These structures also help the farmers to adapt to erratic rainfall induced by global climate change. This appropriate technology applied by such barefoot engineers has increased crop yield from their rainfed lands by upto 30-50%. Also recharges the ground water in nearby wells. Today:In his own words, “My capacities were lying dormant, until Chetana-Vikas gave them a direction & purpose…”

5. After waiting for hours by the roadside, the group of women led by Yashodhara, captured the Kerosene dealer and marched to the council office. The burning issue, was irregular, not at fixed price and less quantity of kerosene supplied, which they should have got as their rightful share through the government public distribution system. The diverted kerosene entered the black-market and not their homes. Ultimately the women had their way. Opportunities Chetana-Vikas offered: Yashodhara, an illiterate, backward caste woman, small landholder, has already educated her son to become a Teacher. Through SHG membership, regular exposure & experiences, keeps a watchful eye on any irregularities committed in her village. She was singularly responsible for renewing the BPL list of her village where the rich people had deviously enrolled and poor left out due to ignorance. Todayin her own words, “I am not afraid to accost any difficult government officer or police to make things work & moving in my village…”

6. "SICKLE“, a sharp instrument used by women to cut grasses, seen on the right, came in handy for Jyotsna of village Sonegaon. Widow within months of marriage, Jyotsna is a 4th standard dropout. She became the prime object of men for demanding sexual gratification. Every night she tried to sleep, keeping this sickle by her pillow, widely alert to slightest sounds. Opportunities Chetana-Vikas offered:During this difficult phase, Jyotsna joined a group of women working with Chetana-Vikas. A monthly saving of Rs. 50 allowed her to take a loan of Rs. 2,000 and start a small business of bangles and stationery and became financially independent. Her journey had begun. Today:She is a pioneer of the women’s movement against alcoholism & other social issues, fighting corrupt police and goondas and has also made her son a civil engineer. In her own words, “I’ve come a long way from those sleepless nights…”.

7. Educational status of women involved Graduates Illiterate 8 - 12th Standard 1 - 7thStandard Social status of women involved Economic category of women involved Land holdings of women involved Others Backward Castes (S.C.) (above 20 acres) AbovePoverty Line (A.P.L.) (6-20 acres) Backward Tribes (S.T.) (Landless) BelowPoverty Line (B.P.L.) Other Backward Classes (O.B.C.) Nomadic Tribes (N.T.) (1-5 acres) The Self-Help Groups at Chetana-Vikas are not just for a lending-repayment activity. Efforts are to make these groups an organized vehicles of change agents for ensuring social, political and livelihood rights through empowerment -for self and for community. The bar graph on the right shows the yearly turnover. In year 2009-10, about 3,833 women took part in activities achieving a turnover of Rs.14,042,590. Atleast 475 businesses were taken up as part of this turnover. The pie diagrams depict the type of women who are taking benefit of these activities. Annual Turnover (in Rs.) – of women’s Self-Help-Groups, their Federation and amount mobilised from Banks

8. Gender Analysis of Farmers Social Status of Farmers Involved Female Land holdings (mostly drylands) of Farmers involved Others Backward Castes (S.C.) (above 20 acres) Backward Tribes (S.T.) Male Other Backward Classes (O.B.C.) (0- 5 acres) (5-20 acres) Type of Farmers who have taken up the challenge of Agrarian crisis "Bring home the gratifying feeling of having helped the underprivileged, and thus enkindling this light at both ends !" Have a joyous Deepavali ! Thank you !