Small infrastructure can ease the poor’s lives

Dalit’s livelihoods started changing with the effort of sub-metropolitan city Birgunj, Parsa. Poor and excluded community has started producing vegetables of 15 hundred killo and earning up to Rs. 30 thousands in few months. They are investing in quality education and health of their children.

The Citizen Awareness Centre (CAC) of 30 members of poor community formed in Birgunj sub-metropolitan city ward 26 (then Parsauni VDC) under LGCDP in year 2068 BS. Though this community is closed to Parsa district head quarter due to lack of awareness, their families was not access to various services and facilities. Daily life of the CAC members was so tough that daily required food was hardly get from agrarian labor work of other’s land. Their children health and education condition was also weaker. The higher expenditure from daily income was resulted heavy loan in high interest rate of local land lord and forced to work as bondage labor.

After CAC formation there were various social empowerment activities from social mobilizer of NGO CC. The awareness capacity increased as well improved in their expenditure habits. Their voice has risen for civil rights. Their investment prioritized in children education and health. With the support of LGCDP and Birgunj SMC Rs 1 lakh of LIP grant mobilizing as revolving fund, 13 members were engaged in various businesses like 9 members in vegetable farming, one each in vegetable trading, saloon shop, furniture and grill workshop. Besides, from the grant of LGCDP they have installed 2 shallow tube wells for irrigation and constructed community building along with toilet for CAC meeting.

The small infrastructure grant of Rs 3 lakh and 15 thousands was invested by CAC members in group farming in lease land for 3 years. They have purchased power tiller, irrigation boring, seeds, fertilizers and chemicals. They have jointly managed the 12 kathas of land for growing off-season vegetable production. In 3.5 month period, they have sold 1500 kg of vegetables like cauliflower, cabbage, radish, chili, pea and value of Rs 30 thousands. They may earn about 1 lakhs in one season. The CAC is also coordinated with agriculture service center for training on off-season vegetable production. They have planned to grow cucumber, bitter gourd, bottle gourds and pumpkin and cowpea in coming season. CAC coordinator said “doing collective work can increase the knowledge and skill”. They believe that community infrastructure grant can change their life and bring economic changes. They also believe that without money/grant and it’s effective utilization there will not be much effective use of knowledge and skill.

By: SM of Birgunj SMC, ward 26