The main stay of the economy of Sankrail is both agriculture and industry. Population growth and rapid industrialization have resulted in fragmentation of land which is influencing the livelihood pattern of the rural community. Frequent occurrence of cyclones like Amphan, Yaas and erratic rain fall cause massive devastation of personal property, agriculture and allied operations. In Farakka the cropping pattern of the area is converted to another cropping pattern due to climatic change, irrigation partiality, low market level, high costing of pesticides, divert economic opportunity, high level of migration of labour towards Kolkata and other states for construction and overall low marginalized income. The majorities of PHCs and BPHCs are understaffed, have limited electricity supply and are poorly managed, resulting in underperformance and underutilization of existing facilities.
Ambuja Foundation ensures safe drinking water and develops irrigation infrastructure in West Bengal. Establishment of check dams ensure storage of water for longer periods – increasing groundwater levels, recharge of hand pumps, wells and other drinking water sources, and in-situ water conservation with increased soil moisture. River Lift Irrigation Systems have provided assured irrigation facilities to marginal, tribal farmers - stabilising agriculture production, increasing food production, cropping intensity, crop productivity and income levels.
People Benefitted
land under Irrigation
Cum storage created
Ponds revived
Handpumps installed
River Lift Irrigation system installed
Check Dams constructed
Sprinkler Irrigation System installed
Ambuja Foundation supports farmers through the provision of scientific inputs, technological advancements, promotion of sustainable farming practices and capacity building of farmers - with an objective to double farmer incomes, improve standards of living, and reduce risks and vulnerabilities. A successful partnership with NABARD and the WB Horticulture Department has helped in achieving scale. Vegetable farmers have been motivated to change their traditional seasonal cultivation to off-season cultivation under rain-shelters and the cultivation of creepers under scientific scaffolding - improving the quality of produce and aligning with market demand.
Increase in Farmers Income
covered under System of Rice Intensification
Increase in Rice Production
of fish farmers due to promotion of mixed aquaculture
for women through Poultry & Goat Rearing
Farmers covered under improved vegetable cultivation
Realising the plight of women, Ambuja Foundation West Bengal harnesses the power of rural women as breadwinners, community leaders and change-makers. By engaging women via SHGs and ensuring their participation, Ambuja Foundation helps rural women have a voice and achieve socio-economic empowerment. Self Help Groups and Village Organisations, along with grassroot women leaders, play a key role in implementing the Women Empowerment Program at West Bengal.
Rural Women
Crore corpus generated
SHGs
Rural women engaged in income generating activities
Additional Income annually
In West Bengal, a lack of access to quality health care services and lack of awareness on health and hygiene are the major challenges faced in rural communities. Maternal Child Health is implemented through Sakhis with the aim to reduce the Infant Mortality Rate and Maternal Mortality Rate in hard to reach areas. Ambuja Foundation works with preventive and promotive healthcare to bring sustainable change - working on 1000 days intervention, adolescent healthcare, and WASH. In addition, TB, Anaemia, Menstrual Hygiene Management and Malnutrition are other areas of intervention.
Institutional Delivery
Mother & Child Immunisation
Reduced Infant Mortality Rate
Reduced Neonatal Mortality Rate
Truckers covered under Trucker’s Intervention programme
Reduced STI within Trucker Community
Reduction in HIV+ truckers
ODF Villages
Adolescent Peer Educators
In West Bengal, Ambuja Foundation has three SEDI Centres – one at Farakka and two at Sankrail. The main objective of these SEDIs is to secure socio-economic empowerment and career progression of youth through skilling and placement. SEDIs in West Bengal are promoting job roles in trades like Automobile 2 Wheeler & 4 Wheeler Service Technician, Sewing Machine Operator, Smartphone Repairing, Beauty & Wellness, Sales Executive, Customer Care Executive, Refrigeration & Air Conditioner, Electrical, Welding, BCBF & EV Service Technician.
Youth trained
Youth placed
Average annual income
Female Youth trained
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A significant program area in West Bengal is maternal and child health (MCH), which adopts a 1000-day intervention approach through Village Health Functionaries (VHF) or Sakhi to reduce infant mortality rates (IMR) and maternal mortality rates (MMR) in remote areas. Under MCH intervention Institutional Delivery at Farakka increased from 48% to 98% and child Immunization increased from 47% to 100%.
Ambuja Foundation Farakka has promoted 14 River Lift Irrigation Systems which have created significant impact on supply and demand of water for irrigation. Lift Irrigation systems have provided assured irrigation facilities to farmers and stabilised agriculture production and increased food production - increasing income levels of small, marginal and tribal farmers across 852 ha of land.
Ambuja Foundation has promoted off season vegetable cultivation via rain shelter, polyhouse or tunnel, and scaffolding - increasing the income of 1500 farmers by 45% to 200% (depending on the structure). Aquaculture provides a significant additional source of income for farmers in West Bengal, and Ambuja Foundation promotes scientific approach to production to ensure higher yields of fish and prawns. Ambuja Foundation Farakka has initiated strawberry cultivation which flourish in the cold winters, enabling farmers to capitalise on seasonal opportunity and high profitability.
Livestock rearing plays a major role in the rural economy, with goats providing a valuable source of livelihood and pathway out of poverty. But many goat keepers experience high herd mortality and poor returns. To tackle this, Ambuja Foundation formed Goat Based Livelihood Groups in Farakka and Poultry Based Groups in Sankrail; develops a cadre of 'Pashu Sakhi' for door to door vet care services; improves breeds by using new, desired and healthy breeding buck; promotes proper feed/fodder management and growth monitoring; ensures proper goat shed and coop management and hygiene; and facilitates collective selling on the basis of live body weight. Innovating further, a Goat Bank model has been kick-started in Farakka, which provides all goat-related services at one place for farmers. And facilitates collective purchases of chicks through Backyard Poultry Houses
Safe drinking water has been a major issue in Sankrail because of the high TDS and presence of high metals. To ensure supply of safe drinking water, Ambuja Foundation promoted 5 community-based RO Plant in collaboration with local Gram Panchayats which benefited 2800 Households and reduces the occurrence of water borne diseases.
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Establishment of water resources like Check Dam and River Lift Irrigation systems, Ponds and Micro Irrigation systems have created huge impact on supply and demand of water for irrigation and livelihood in the region. On the supply side, the check dams, Village ponds ensured storage of water for longer periods and on the demand side it has significantly contribute to the increase of percolation and ground water recharge, increase in the groundwater level, recharge of hand pumps, wells and other drinking water sources, in-situ water conservation, increase soil moisture. This supply of water relieves some hardship as the water supply is closer to families, making it more convenient for daily tasks to be carried out.
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A 'neonatal death' is defined as a death during the first 28 days of life and globally, this period carries the highest risk of mortality, per day, than any other period during childhood. Ambuja Foundation decided to tackle the problem and the root – by promoting institutional delivery. And in just 5 years, the institutional delivery rate increased from 48 % to 98%.
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Anwar Hossain runs a local dhaba on the outskirts of Sankrail, West Bengal - a favourite among truckers, who flock there for refreshment, rest and respite. Anwar is one of over 40 Volunteer Peer Educators operating around trucking terminals in Sankrail who helps steer truckers to Ambuja Foundation’s Health Care Centres for free health check-ups, testing and treatment referral.
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Once a part of subsistence farming, rice is now helping farmers in West Bengal prosper! Since inception, Ambuja Foundation's SRI initiative has increased from 73 farmers in 2008 to over 2500 farmers in 2022. And farmer profits have increased 30%. Today, some of these farmers are sending their children to agricultural universities - to take family farming to an all-new level.
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