7 NEW Skilling Centres Launched

In 2018 7 new skilling centres were launched - taking the number of skill centres to 30.

• DDU-GKY, Hooghly, Kolkata
• Rawan (ATI)
• AU Finance,Jaipur, Rajasthan
• Dariba & Agoocha - Hindustan Zinc Ltd, Udaipur, Rajasthan
• Punjab Skill Development Mission, Bathinda, Punjab

Forging New Boundaries by Breaking Stereotypes

SEDI continued to forge new boundaries in gender stereotypes by enrolling girls across a variety of locations in Automobile Training, Assistant Electrician, Home Appliance Repair, Fitter Fabrication & Fitter Mechanical Assembly Course, Security Guard, Mason Training and LED Bulb Formation. Additionally the first boys commenced training in the Assistant Beautician course.

Residential Facilities Expand for SEDI Students in West Bengal

Sankrail became the second SEDI to establish a residential facility, to meet the housing needs of students who live in far flung communities. ACF also has a residential SEDI in Farakka which caters to the needs of 50 students. The facility was launched under the ‘Empowering India – Powering the World’ and Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushlya Yojana (DDU-GKY) scheme.

SEDI wins Multiple Awards

Through the year, SEDIs were recognised for their major impact and accomplishments in Skill Training, including The SKOCH Award of Merit for Women Empowerment; Best Training Partner from Rajasthan Skill Employment and Entrepreneurship (RSLDC); and an award from the Indian Chamber of Commerce for Employment Enhancing Vocational Skills.

SEDI Students Recognised for excellence

Many SEDI graduates were recognised this year. Taufique Ahmed was declared the Skill Ambassador of Rajasthan and was felicitated by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi. Pradeep Bagari, Dalchand Mewara and Poonam Gaur and Shankar Lal received the Skill Icon Award.

Increase in Average Salary Of Placed Trainees By 27%

SEDI graduates saw a jump in the average starting salaries this year. SEDI graduates are often sole bread winners in their families and their income helps to diversify and protect household incomes which are reliant on agriculture and labour.

120 New Placement Partners

Across SEDI locations, over 120 new placement partners were identified to help absorb and employ trainees upon completion of their courses. The diversity of industries has also expanded which translates into wider career options for SEDI graduates.

Students Spread Wings Abroad

Mohd. Salaam from SEDI Roorkee (Uttarkhand) has been placed in Fasliyah Group (Saudi Arabia) as an Electrician gaining an income of 1300 Riyal (Rs. 24,365). Additionally, SEDI Nagaur Graduate Taufique Ahmed working in Riyadh at Jan Burger, secured a new placement in the Maldives working for a Luxury Resort with salary of Rs. 40,000 per month.

Landmark Partnerships for 2018

A diverse range of new investors came forward this year to help expand the SEDI footprint and take skills training to rural youth across locations including National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSCFDC), NABARD, PSSDM, AU Small Finance, Hindustan Zinc Ltd, DDU GKY, Schneider Electric, Indusind Bank and HDFC Bank.

New Courses & Curriculum Upgrades at SEDI

To keep up to speed with industry demands, SEDI continues to expand its offerings and upgrade curriculum to stay in alignment with the needs of employers. Shrimp Farming, LED repairing and servicing, Hospitality for quick service restaurant trade and Microfinance Executive cum Tally GST Training are some of the new courses introduced.

Innovations in Skill Training

2018 saw a lot of innovation at SEDI, with both faculty and students going the extra mile to think outside the box. SEDI Welder Trainees transformed scrap materials received from Maratha Cement Works (Unit of Ambuja Cements) into Gym Equipment; Electrical Trainees prepared working models and prototypes from waste materials;

Rupnagar FPO gains APMC License

Rupnagar Producer Company limited (Punjab) secured a license to operate a stall at the Agricultural Produce Market - helping farmers sell produce at minimum support prices prescribed by the Government, in the wholesale market which is usually dominated by traders and middlemen. They partnered with Punjab State Civil Supplies Corp. Ltd & Punjab Agro to procure produce for 2018-19.

Technology Empowers Farmers

to bridge the digital divide, ACF collaborated with Jay Laxmi Agro Tech to install ‘Agri Poles’ in 5 locations of Chandrapur (Maharashtra). Agri Poles are an implement that give farmers access to WIFI in the area, and also a variety of crop specific Apps to support farmers in their operation. 320 farmers are currently using the apps to garner information on pests and various control mechanisms.

Drip Irrigation In Punjab

ACF overcame a significant hurdle, when they convinced 7 farmers in Punjab to install Drip Irrigation systems. Whilst Drip Irrigation is a major feature in other ACF locations, it was a tough sell in Punjab where farmers have access to free water and electricity to extract water from bore wells to flood irrigate their crops. In such conditions motivating farmers was an achievement.

Scaffolding & Rain-shelters Increase Profits

Farmers in Sankrail are capitalising on market fluctuations by using rain-shelters and scaffolding to grow vegetables in the off-season – increasing income by 128% (scaffolding) and 45% (rain-shelters). ACF monitored the market prices for vegetables, and supply of vegetables each season, promoting Scaffolding & Rain Shelters to counter water logging and increase profits.

Farmers Sell Cotton on MCX

For the first time in India, Cotton Farmers in Somnath (Gujarat) value added their cotton, bypassed middlemen, sold cotton bales and delivered the produce directly to the Multi Commodities Exchange (MCX), resulting in an extra Rs. 5.2 profit per kilo for every farmer. Producing 6000 tonnes of cotton every year this could generate an extra Rs. 3.12 crores profit in similar market conditions.

Women Train Cotton Farmers

At ACF’s Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), 17% of staff are female workers, tasked with providing knowledge and skills to male dominated groups of cotton farmers, to enhance farming techniques. ACF involved women in their field teams to change rigid mindsets and stereotypes.

FPO Starts New Feed Mill

To support farmers with quality feed at reasonable rates, the FPO in Kodinar purchased and installed a new milling machine that converts raw grains and seeds into premium feed for cattle. The feed is helping 34% farmers improve milk production, whilst creating a new profitable enterprise for members which saw 56% farmers increase their monthly profit by Rs. 1000-3000.

SUPPORTING AGRI-ALLIED SECTORS

Aquaculture, goat and cattle are three major agriallied sectors being promoted by ACF in various locations depending on the local situations. In all we have supported more than 9000 families in the year 2018-19. More than 60% of these are women farmers with 6000 of them trained on best practices to make rearing more scientific, leading to more than 70% adoption rates.

New Partners Expand Footprint

Four new partnerships helped increase the footprint of ACFs water interventions:
• IndusInd Bank helped ensure safe drinking water in Rajasthan.
• NABARD – full phase watershed in Darlaghat and capacity building phase of Springshed in Nalagarh was sanctioned.
• HDFC Bank – The Holistic Rural Development Project for Uttarakhand & Rajasthan received an extension.

5695 metres of irrigation channel constructed

Small channels are considered to be the life line of hill farming. With an aim to reduce the loss of water in Darlaghat, 1545 metres of irrigation channel was constructed. The irrigation channels are run from water storage tanks/checkdams towards farmers’ fields to avoid wastage of water through seepage and provide equal distribution of water in the fields.

Scientific monitoring of the watershed development approach

To improve the collection of monitoring data, a scientific system was introduced to record impacts of watershed ‘Ridge to Valley’ approach. Such scientific measurement is important to help redesign treatment of the area if no results are impacted. A water indicator instrument is used to identify the well water level in the area which is recorded on a monthly basis

Soil moisture

Various soil moisture conservation activities were conducted in core villages and watershed projects of Darlaghat. Field bunds were prepared by farmers on 815 Ha of land resulting in retention of rain water in fields. 16422 cum water storage capacity was generated by trenching 23396 cum - resulting in an increase in water table, better grass production and better plant survival.

Micro Irrigation: Efficiency increased by 30-40%

ACF promoted drip/sprinkler irrigation on 1534 hectares of land belonging to 829 farmers during 2018-19. This helped farmers to irrigate more crops with available water and also get higher production per unit of area. Community feedback from Talkola, West Bengal, where 72 tribal small & marginal farmers have installed sprinkler irrigation over 16 hectares, highlights increased income

Small Lift Irrigation

Farakka is a remote block in Murshidabad district of West Bengal - thus adopting new technology in agriculture presents a challenge. Farmer Clubs were formed in 18 different villages and in 2018, a lift irrigation system was installed in Kalaidanga village which is now managed by the community. 153 farmers have for the first time irrigated 281 bigha (47 Ha) land through this system.

71 drinking water sources benefit 8000 households

By reviving ponds, hand pumps, wells & filtration systems, ACF benefitted over 8000 households. ACF mproved traditional drinking water sources in all core villages of Darlaghat (HP); in Marwar Mundwa (Rajashtan), RRWHS were installed in all houses of 25 SHGs; 41 water wheels were provided in Sikar (Rajasthan); and in Ambujanagar, Gujarat, drinking water scheme for 1245 households.

Rainwater Storage Increased by 1.55 million cubic metres

Ambuja Cement Foundation’s Water Resource Management initiatives generated an additional 1.55 million cubic metres of rainwater storage in 2018-19 across locations. This was achieved via investment in water harvesting structures including 25 check dams, 48 ponds and 13 khadin and water tanks

Continuous Journey Of Salinity Mitigation

Under the Sujlam Siflam Jal Abhiyan initiated by the Government of Gujarat and implemented by ACF Ambujanagar, 1.88 Lakh cubic meter of silt was removed from 4 water bodies. ACF has implemented projects of mined out pits interlinking at Rampara and check dam construction in coastal villages. With Gujarat Green Revolution Company, the Government and ACF promoted drip irrigation covering 3674.25 hectare areas including 295.76 ha in 2018-19.

AAA Programme Rolled Out

Rabriyawas (Rajasthan) has initiated a new Model of AAA in which Anganwadi Workers (AWW), ASHAs and ANM work on the same platform to address MCH and Malnutrition issues. Currently running in partnership with the Government of Rajasthan, the MCH intervention is carried out in 29 villages covered through 1 Community Health Centre and 4 Primary Health Centres.

Tackling Malnutrition

ACF has initiated malnutrition interventions across 30 Anganwadi Centers of Dadri (Uttar Pradesh), covering 5 villages. ACF, in partnership with the Integrated Child Development Scheme Departments (ICDS), initiated a baseline study and proposed interventions to strengthen the resources of Anganwadi centres, develop capacities of ICDS staff and ensure participation of village level institutions.

Progress on NCD Programmes

ACF expanded its reach in NCD intervention by adding two new locations in Punjab and Uttarkhand - spreading awareness in an extra 20 villages, 9,270 households and 52,709 individuals. ACF has also aligned with the Government to conduct NCD programmes focused on Community Based Assessment Checklist (CBAC) to identify at-risk populations and provide referrals for diagnosis and treatment.

Adolescents Trained in Life-Skills & Sanitation Champions

Teenagers are educating peers on topics related to sex, gender equality, health & safety, nutrition, life skills, drug awareness and HIV/AIDS. ACF has trained over 842 peer educators across 10 locations - reaching 22599 adolescents. 150 Swachta Doots (Cleanliness Ambassadors) have been trained to educate/monitor peers & community on hygiene & sanitation behaviour.

Curative Healthcare Access Provided Through Medical Vans & Clinics

Mobile medical van services were provided in 6 locations (Chandrapur, Bhatapara, Dadri, Rabriyawas, Nalagarh and Darlaghat), and a number of special healthcare services were also provided including Gynaecology, Paediatric, ENT, Cataract Detection Camps, NCD screenings and diagnostic camps.

Institutional Delivery Hits 91%

Sakhis in Farraka have achieved a 91% Institutional Delivery rate–a huge increase from 2017-18 where the rate was a mere 64%. The Maternal & Child Health (MCH) programme is being implemented in 13 villages by 10 ACF Sakhis where the Government Health System has poor infrastructure and resources. Overall, in the last three years, institutional deliveries have increased significantly in ACF’s health intervention villages from 64% to 91%.

Tobacco Prevention Programme awareness

ACF initiated a wide scale Tobacco Control Programme across villages in Kodinar (Gujarat), Farakka (West Bengal) and Chirawa (Rajasthan) with the aim to sensitize Government Authorities and Village Level Stakeholders and train ASHAs, Sakhis, AWWs and other local stakeholders about the ill effects of tobacco and control measures for villages.

100 % Toilet Coverage in 146 ACF villages

ACF, in collaboration with communities, community based organizations, Self-Help Groups and Federations has achieved 100% toilet coverage in 146 out of 227 villages and the rest with 80% coverage. Sanitation drives were conducted in 227 villages with a major focus on covering the importance of constructing a toilet in every household.

Growth of Women Empowerment Programme

ACF facilitated forming 418 new SHGs reaching an additional 4800 women - with 51% being landless households and 46% representing small/marginal farmers. ACF focused on capacity building in the areas of group strengthening, accounting, leadership and income generation activities. ACF continued to support Federations as an apex organization of SHGs for wider reach and sustainability.

Dairy Business Expanded

The Amrit Dhara Milk Producers Marketing Co-Operative Society Ltd, an ACF promoted FPO, installed a Bulk Milk Chilling Machine with a storage capacity of 2000 litres of milk to support Dairy business growth. Currently 600 litres of milk is collected by SHG members with a hope of reaching 1500 litres within a year. The FPO was recently awarded the Best Performing FPO by NABARD.

Diverse Income Generation Activities

SHGs from Darlaghat sold 2 quintals of pickles via an exhibition organized by NABARD in Shimla. Additionally, skill training was provided on Hosiery Knitting Work with 95 SHG members participating, leading to the installation of a hosiery production unit in Darlaghat. In Lambiya village, Rajasthan 2 SHGs have engaged in Traditional Jewellery Making.

Awards & Recognition

The State Co-Operative Federation and the National Co-Operative Development Co-Operation recognised the Kodinar Women’ Federation for their outstanding work in the Women’s Co-Operative Credit Society. Additionally, Tara Sharma, President of Kasturbha Mahila Samiti, Rabriyawas was nominated for the Woman Exemplar Programme by CII Foundation for her contribution towards the betterment of women.

Sandvik India Gender Award for SMVSM

Shri Sorath Mahila Vikas Sahkari Mandali was conferred with the prestigious ‘Sandvik India Gender Award 2018’ in recognition of its significant contribution in empowering and transforming the lives of rural women through holistic initiatives. Based in Kodinar (Gujarat), this Women’s Federation, supported by ACF, won recognition under the category ‘Community Based Organization’.

SHGs Embrace Technology

ACF Darlaghat, in partnership with NABARD, is working towards the digitisation of SHG data in Kunihar and Nalagarh on the E-Shakti Portal. 450 SHGs have received training on the portal with the help of 15 animators selected for the project. The initiative will cover 45 Panchayats with 483 villages. Additionally, all SHGs of ACF are using the software to maintain records, with some SHGs piloting the use of an App to directly handle their data.

Women Benefit in Water & Agriculture

Capacity building was provided to over 12,000 women farmers as part of ACFs agricultural livelihoods programme and under Water Resource Management, 436 Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting Systems were constructed in the name of women beneficiaries.

Promoting Apex organization

It is important to support SHGs in building an apex organization at a block or district level to drive larger agendas for their volume of members.

Bridging Gender Gaps

It is important to bridge the gender gap across pillars: economic, political and social and break gender stereotypes associated with conventional sectors where women work.

CII & ACF Join Hands to Rollout Sports

Through the ‘Make India Play’ initiative, 10 primary & upper primary schools in Darlaghat (HP) are promoting sport activities in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industries, who provided curriculum & Teacher Training. A 3-day Physical Education Teacher training workshop was conducted to train teachers on curriculum along with techniques, games & assessment processes.

English Speaking Training

Schools in Chandrapur underwent an English Language Training for school teachers as part of a pilot programme, focusing on the areas of speaking, reading and writing. Conducted by Leap Forward, the initiative was the result of an Initial Mapping Test, which tested the abilities of students from 10 schools in Chandrapur, and highlighted a lack of reading, spelling and vocabulary skills.

Doubling Footprint in Chandrapur

ACF doubled its outreach, from 3 clusters to 6, thanks to a collaboration with the Government of Maharashtra. ACF built the capacity of teachers at 83 schools through need based training and workshops in subjects such as technology, language, science, scholarship and Navodaya exam practices. ACF also strengthened School Management Committees to generate greater community engagement.

ACF Expands Work into Tribal area

Under the Cluster Area Development Programme, ACF expanded its education footprint to the tribal community of Jiwati, impacting 21 schools. Teachers here, come from other areas and are not familiar with local tribal languages. ACF collaborated with the Government of Maharashtra to build the capacity of teachers, strengthen SMCs and upgrade infrastructure to improve education outcomes.

Students Appear in State Level Competition

Students from ACF Schools represented their school and community at a District Level Science Competition in Solan, where they presented a Model Garbage Collection Machine and Science Models ‘Forest Fire Extinguishers & Micro Organism to Macro Organism’. Their success at this level has seen them chosen to present at the State Level Competition in Darlaghat.