Integrated Natural Resources Management and Poverty Reduction in Haryana

The Haryana Forest Department has lunched an ambitious projects namely "Integrated Natural Resource Management and Poverty Reduction in Haryana" with financial assistance from the Japan Bank of International Cooperation aiming at afforestation of approximately 50,000 ha, water and soil conservation, poverty reduction activities, technical assistance and institutional capacity development in 800 villages, 2004-05 to 2009-10.

The project is expected to create employment, increase income through the acquisition of income-generating skills, improve the social status of poor people by supporting self-help groups, supply forest products to the poor, increase production in livestock farming, and improve nutrition by securing access to water and by improving soil. 

Our Mandate

RDC’s mandate is to provide facilitating measures for reducing poverty by constitution of micro-institutions through Self-Help Groups (SHGs) of poor women & youths and providing them adequate support to take up income generation activities.

Project Districts

Mahendragarh, Rewari, Bhiwani, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad and Sirsa.

As per project guideline, we took up project works in 85 designated villages in 2004-05 and another 84 villages during 2005-06 spreading across 7 districts in southern part of Haryana.

RDC’s Progress

First Phase (2004-05)

There are 197 Self Help Groups (SHGs) formed in the first phase (2004-05) of the project in seven districts. These SHGs deposit their regular savings in banks and the money is used for micro financing within the group by giving loan to the needy members. There are 2531 members from 197 SHGs contributing around Rs. 20,34,953/- (Rupees twenty lakh thirty four thousand nine hundred fifty three) in total as group savings and the total inter-loaning amount is Rs. 12,74,410/- (Rupees twelve lakh seventy-four thousand four hundred ten) as of September 2006.

Second Phase (2005-06)

There are 227 Self Help Groups (SHGs) are already formed in the second phase (2005-06) of the project in the targeted seven districts. The process is still continuing. The group savings amounts around rupees four and half lakh.

The SHGs have also taken up various income generation activities such as dairy, wooden beads, paper plate, fishery, biscuit/bakery, tailoring/embroidery, vermin compost, note books, packaging material for sweets, general stores etc through financing under the Project scheme and from their micro financing activities.

Summary