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IBRAD launched the program “SANCALP” (Sustainable Action and Network through Community Leaders Programme) on its “Silver Jubilee Year” celebration (1985 – 2009) on the “WORLD ENVIRONEMNT Day” on 5th June 2009 with the vision of recognizing and develop community leaders to create a world of sustainable development. The program was inaugurated by Dr S.N Rai, IFS (Retd), the Former Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Karnataka. Besides, Dr. C. Suvarna Director, Conservator of Forests Andhra Pradesh, Prasenjit Biswas Conservator of Forests Tripura, Mr. Anand Babu Conservator of Forests, Chattisgarh, Mr. R.A Singh IFS, (Retd) Former Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Himachal Pradesh were the other delegates who also attended the programme.
The inauguration programme started with the welcome address by the Programme Director of IBRAD Mrs Raktima Mukherjee.
Address by Mrs.Raktima Mukherjee
It was cleared from her presentation that the main objectives of the programme are to identify and recognize the community leaders involved in NRM and documentation of outstanding accomplishments and constrains made in the field of NRM based sustainable livelihood. She clearly pointed out that the programme also includes training need assessment and capacity building at the community level for NRM based sustainable livelihood and providing a forum for advocacy for appropriate issue based policies to resolve conflict related to conservation vs. development.
Address by Prof. S.B.Roy
Address by Dr.S.N.Rai
Address by Mr. R.A.Singh
Address by Dr. C.Suvarna
Speech by Mr.Anand Babu
Address by Mr. Prasenjit Biswas
Some Community members and their leaders were also invited for the inaugural programme from different parts of West Bengal. After the speech by the delegates the Community Leaders were asked to share their experience regarding their process of Natural Resource Management and its effect on their livelihood in their respective areas. Sri Sudhir Bardhan from Janthibani village of Bisnupur who is active member of the Janthibani Forest Protection Committee describes how wood apple garland preparation (eagle marmelos) have helped them in solving their problem of unemployment and how they have jointly conserve and developed their forest since 1985. Their Janthibani FPC today have a bank balance of around Rs 1.7 lakhs.
Maskura Khatun of Purba Khilkapur village from Barasat describes how their SICO (self initiated community organizer) groups have come forward for the development of their village health scenario; they organized various trainings Programmes and health camps with the help of IBRAD at the community level regarding child health care and maternal health care system.
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| Sharing of experiences by the Community Leaders |
Abul Kalam of Matelli I block from Jalpaiguri mainly elaborates how their SICO group started raising awareness among their community people regarding education, health care and importance of forest to their livelihood. Their group even provides training to other nearby villages.
Bimal Sarkar of satbhendi village of Dhupguri, Jalpaiguri districts elaborates his experience on the problems faced by their villagers during the flood as the rivers in the terai regions suddenly changes their direction and causes massive destruction and also told us about the way how their group come up in collaboration with the WRIDD (Water Resource and Irrigation Development Department) to combat the problem faced by them.
Abu Tahaer was from Sahapur I of Islampur, Uttar Dinajpur. He came from one of the most underdeveloped area of West Bengal which is adjoined to Bangladesh. He defined that the main problem of his area has been health related. People here is affected by many epidemic diseases and it has high number of population effected with polio a few years back but their group has been able to bring changes in the mindset of the villagers regarding by organizing health camps, training, etc. He proudly told us that his area has now been declared as Polio free zone by UNICEF.
The inaugural programme was ended through the Vote of Thanks by Prof (Dr.) P.K.Roy Barman (principal, IBRAD School of management and SD). In his speech, he wished for further guidance, support and cooperation from all the delegates who were present on this auspicious occasion for the success of “SANCALP”. He also thanked all the community members and their Leaders for making the inauguration programme a success.
Main Highlights of the Program:
SANCALP: It is a program designed to promote Natural Resource Management (NRM) based sustainable livelihood by strengthening and developing community leaders through a web of national network.
Vision: To recognize and develop community leaders to create a world of sustainable development.
Objectives:
- Identification and recognition of community leaders involved in Natural Resource Management (NRM).
- Documentation of outstanding accomplishments made in the field of NRM based sustainable livelihood.
- Documentation of the constraints and challenges faced by the individual and community for the sustainable livelihood and documenting the learning.
- Training need assessment and capacity building at the community level for NRM based sustainable livelihood.
- Providing a forum for advocacy for appropriate issue based policies to resolve conflict related to conservation vs. development.
Collaborating states: West Bengal, Tripura, Chattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh.
Planning and Meeting of the Core Committee Members:
After closing of the inaugural programme, there was a meeting of the core committee contained some important and significant issues regarding SANCALP, all the delegates made their contributions in that meeting by providing essential inputs towards the success of the programme “SANCALP”.
Minutes of the Core committee meeting of SANCALP:
Core committee meeting for the programme SANCALP was held on 5th June, 2009 at IBRAD campus, Kolkata. The following members were presented in the meeting:
1. Dr. S.N Rai IFS (retd.), Former PCCF, Karnataka
2. Mr. R.A Singh IFS (retd.). Former PCCF, Himachal Pradesh
3. Mr. P. Biswas IFS. Conservator of Forest, Tripura.
4. Mr. B. Anand Babu. IFS, Conservator of Forest, (JFM). Chattisgarh.
5. Dr. C. Suvarna. IFS. Director, Andhra Pradesh Forest Academy.
6. Mr. B.N. Mazumdar. Engineer in Chief and Ex office Secretary, WRIDD.
7. Dr R.C Das. CIFE, Salt Lake. Kolkata 91
8. Dr. B.N Sarkar. Anthropological Survey Of India
9. Mrs. Mitali Chatterjee. Secretary, IBRAD.
10. Prof S.B Roy. Chairman. IBRAD
11. Mrs. Raktima Mukherjee. Programme Director. IBRAD
Dr S.N Rai chaired the meeting. Dr. Rai requested the members to present their views regarding the programme. Mr. Babu started the discussion with the topic that whether the Government official would be contacted or not. Then Prof S.B Roy, Chairman of IBRAD cleared the possibility of involvement of government officials. The government officials should be involved through supervision of field staff and their network.
Then Mr. Babu added that, the states which have less involvement of voluntary leaders, there officials may play a crucial role. He also pointed out that a “Development Model” for contributing to the income of the people should be incorporated in the programme. Prof Roy then clarified that, identification of the potential community leaders should be an important issue and they should be trained to enhance their capabilities in sustainable livelihood. Mr. P.Biswas raised the issue that, which will be the nodal department for this programme. He also pointed out that whether it is possible to have integration between the Departments and NGOs. Prof Roy said that different state Forest departments have already agreed to be the nodal department. Dr S. N Rai said that, strengthening of FDA is very important and this could be achieved through SANCALP. Mr. R.A Singh in his answer said that Forest department is very much willing to accept FDA and other projects to coordinate at district level. He raised the point that, conservation is the priority of the Prime Minister. Mr. R.A Singh raised the issue that what should be the source of funding? Prof Roy clarified that different state forest department have their own projects and programme which can be mobilized for travel expenses of participants during national convention. Like Tripura JAICA project has got provision for exposure visit. Same way ADMI project of WRIDD has some provision. IBRAD from its own source will organize local hospitality, field work & state level meetings.
Dr. Suvarna told that community leaders networking is a good initiation and rural development is much ahead in creating such forum. She pointed out that community resource person would become a bridge between line departments and NGO and individuals. She mentioned that some points in the operational guideline need to be clarified like which other line departments will be involved, Criteria for selection of community leaders etc.
Mr. B.N. Mazumdar shared that in West Bengal community members in collaboration with the govt. departments have initiated many innovative programs for water conservation & adoption of new technologies that can be documented as learning under the program.
Meeting of the Core Committee
There was also a discussion regarding the language of communication. It was decided that training module should be developed in different vernacular language with the support of interpreter. In the core committee meeting it was also decided that, the NRM based activities, which must be incorporated in the sustainable livelihood issues are Agriculture, Horticulture, Fisheries, Watershed, Water resource and irrigation.
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