My Field Visit Report at Pollachi, Attapadi and Palakkad during 30th Dec to 10th Jan 21.

 

My Field Visit Report at Pollachi, Attapadi and Palakkad during 30^th Dec to 10^th Jan 21.

I made a short field trip during 30^th December 2020 to 10^th January 2021 to visit Pollachi, Attapadi and Palakad areas to see some of the micro level activities supported by CESCI.

At Pollachi Mr. Dhanraj is the person who is doing some activities among the tribal population in that region.  While visiting his office at Pollachi and having discussion with him along with some of the tribal group members I had a feeling that he is doing his work in a serious manner for the tribal people’s empowerment. In-order to carry forward his work he is trying to draw support from his well wishers in kind and cash. In the first look I can feel that the tribal people who came to visit his office seem to be happy to associate with Dhanraj.

Prabhu is the field staff who is assisting Dhanraj in the field level. Rajalakshmi is a tribal leader, she is also helping Dhanraj to extend his work in the tribal hamlets.

Rural Economy Program - Pollachi

Dhanraj is proposing to support for rural economy programs in his working areas. Each group required Rs.25,000/- to initiate their activities, all together one lakhs. All of them belong to Kallar, Kadar, eravalar, Malasar tribal groups.

1.      Bamboo Basket Making

2.      Minor forest products collection

3.      Thatch leaf making

4.      Tailoring Unit

He is finding difficulty to start new bank account for all the groups as the banks are not actively supporting to start accounts for the new groups because of the Covid situation. He will try to send the Filled MSM application by the end of January 2021 if the banks cooperate.

Rural Economy Program – Attapadi

On the 31^st December, visited Thampu office at Attapati and had a brief meeting with Mr. Rajendra Prasad, Ramu, Ramesh along with Dhanraj to understand the status of Umbrella project supported by CESCI. The small initiative become a very popular activity among tribal area and are about 300 women are got engaged in this umbrella making program. Thampu also received support and loan from various circles to scale up this business activity. The overall impression is good and right now they are in the position of developing this umbrella activity as an independent rural economy program and they know the ways and means. After visiting one of their umbrella making unit, I can realize the kind of work what they did. They also have about some three to four lakhs materials stock available in those units.

 

Thampu want initiate another activity in-order to support more tribal communities by collecting minor forest products and doing some value addition process. They have already started the business plan making process. 

Rural Economy Program – Bodhi Palakkad

On the 9^th January I made a short visit at Bodhi to see the farmer’s cooperative who came to Bodhi as part of their monthly get together. There are about ten different organic products stalls were organized with their products. A session on food and system of body was also organized by a qualified ayurveda doctor. Various items made out of millets, organic grocery items, traditional medicinal products, soaps, products made out of local cows urine and dung, were very attractive. The committed couple Senthil and Sheeba was very active this time to include much more organic items into this get together. Krishna Kumar and Beena are fully engaged to coordinate all these activities.

Discussion with Ashokan Nenmara

On the 9^th evening I had a brief meeting with Ashokan Nenmara at Bodhi centre to understand his proposal on the South Asian Bike yatra under the banner of Jai Jagat and his idea to train youth groups in peace and nonviolence.  Ashokan is enthusiastic to carry forward both activities and he is expecting guidance and financial support from us. In-order to continue this process on the proposed ideas I requested Ashokan to write a short note on his ideas and a clear proposal on both programs. I also requested Ashokan to make a detailed plan on his travel plan and what exactly he is expecting from us to support in terms of coordinating the Bike Yatra. Similarly he will also make clear note and share with Rajaji what he is proposing to train young people in peace and nonviolence in Kerala, whether in four districts or two districts.

Remarks and conclusion;

In my observation the overall situation is good at all the three areas. There are some communication gaps in the reporting part, otherwise things are progressing well with a focus into our larger vision of rural economy and organic promotion.  At this point I propose that Pollachi and Attapadi tribal groups can work together under the leadership of Dhanraj and Rajendra Prasad to create a kind of cooperative in-order to support the tribal people in those areas. It can be like a procurement, processing, and marketing activity. (Note: They have to work as a team very seriously by getting support from experience people)

Looking to the status of Bodhi and their team, while they are creating an organic farmers cooperative in their locality we can also think about to support their work by giving one or two oil crushing machines which are not used at CESCI organics in Nagapattinam. So that all together this will become a kind of model of collection, production and market under the community leadership.

I am requesting them to prepare a concept note and business plan on their ideas and based on their business plan we can think about to provide some economic support to initiate these activities.

With thanks

Biju

Note: There is also a discussion is going on to reorganize South India Adivasi forum under the grassroot leadership program of Ekta Parishad. Rajedndra Prasad and Dhanraj are willing to take lead role in this process.