SEARCH’s developmental work is focused in 5 districts of Andhra Pradesh state viz; Krishna, SPS Nellore, Prakasam, Chittoor, and Guntur. Working in the critical domain areas of Basic Sanitation, Livelihoods and Environment we have undertaken several projects in each domain in our 24 year history. Our work has so far reached more than 150,000 people from rural communities mainly, farmers, fisherfolk, children, women and youth.
Natural Resources are severely stressed and losing their natural renewing characters owing to climate change. SEARCH is working towards fighting this through our sustained approach of watershed management and drought proofing which has led to bio diversity regeneration, recharge of groundwater levels which has led to increased crop productivity, fodder and water availability.
Our activities with the support of village level institutions
- Watershed development in dry land areas
- Establishment of Rainwater harvesting systems
- Regenerating of water bodies
- Reviving lost bio diversity
- Restoration of commons through village institutions
Our efforts have led to
- Increase in Soil Organic Carbon
- Increase in Ground water Level
- Reduction in Soil Erosion and increase in soil moisture
- Increase in Crop Yields
Impact
Created 390,000 cubic meters of water resources.
Since the year 2014, Cleanliness and Sanitation have become major focus areas not only for the Government and Administration but also for common people. Millions of Indians have had access to toilets at home and thousands of villages have been declared Open Defecation Free. There however, is also a second phase to the SBM which is getting every village to ODF+ status by ensuring sustainable waste management practices.
Currently, bad waste management practices across the country has an adverse effect on every aspect of life – health, nutrition, development, economy, dignity and empowerment. The primary goal of our solid waste management program is to reduce and eliminate adverse impacts of waste materials on human health and the environment and to support economic development and superior quality of life.
Our activities under RSWM
- Participatory Rural Appraisal
- Baseline Survey & Assessment
- Behavioral Change Communication (BCC)
- Awareness through IEC activities
- Institutional Building & strengthening
- Capacity Building Training Programmes
- Local Convergence
- Participation of 435,000 households in 738 villages
- 57,000 MT of total waste collected
- Reduction of landfill from close to 100% to less than 10%.
- Formation and strengthening of 507 Village Sanitation Commitees.
Beneficiaries
17 Lakh people
Sustainable Agriculture:
For the Indian farmer the need of the hour is to synergise modern agriculture research with their indigenous wisdom to enhance the resilience of Indian agriculture to climate change. If not done properly, it can threaten livelihood for them and food security for all.
We have chosen the route of Organic farming to encourage the farmers to adopt Sustainable Agriculture practices instead of Chemical fertilizers usage for reduced input cost and healthy food products. We have initiated Farmer Field School (FFS) as a tool for implementation of SAP by the farmers collectively in their respective fields.
Our efforts have led to:
- Decrease of 40% in investments in pest and disease management for Chilly
- Training of 350 master farmers in the project area who in turn trained another 700 farmers.
- Soil erosion being controlled in 5916 hectares for soil and moisture conservation
- Adoption of water management techniques by 655 farmers like Drip, Sprinklers, Mulching with the support of Government departments.
- A model where yield increased by 30% at the demo plot against a control plot.
Beneficiaries
2.5 Lac people
Hygiene is a vital link between water, sanitation, and health. Our WASH program ensures lasting health benefits through safe and clean water and adequate sanitation facilities while educating communities about the importance of good hygiene and equipping them with the knowledge and desire to achieve sustainable solutions. Our WASH intervention is being carried out in 10 villages with a total population of more than 40,000 people.
Activities under WASH Intervention
- Open defecation free villages
- Construction and 100% usage of toilets
- Promoting Environment cleanliness and personal hygiene
- Promotion of Water and Sanitation committees for sustainable operations
- 1549 Toilets being built in 10 villages.
- 100% usage in all 10 villages through community sensitization.
- All 10 villages being declared open defecation free (ODF).
- Initiation of Community Owned Decentralized Rural Solid Waste Management Programme as Phase 2 (ODF+).
- Provision of pipelines for Drinking water for schools.
- Construction of Hand wash stations in 3 schools and 2 Anganwadi center.
Beneficiaries
7500 people
Nearly 86% of farmers are small and marginal with average land holdings in the country being less than 1.1 hectares. These small, marginal and landless farmers face tremendous challenges including access to technology, access to quality inputs, finance and marketing. FPOs help in the collectivization of such small, marginal and landless farmers in order to give them the collective strength to deal with such issues. SEARCH has been promoting FPOs in collaboratin with NABARD.
Activities under FPO intervention
- Mobilizing farmers in groups at the village level and build their Producers Organizations (FPOs)
- Strengthening of farmer capacities through agricultural best practices
- Ensuring access to and usage of quality inputs and services for all members
- Facilitate access to fair and remunerative markets through marketing opportunities
- Promotion of FPOs dealing in various commodities like Flowers, Marine and Aqua Products, Vegetables, Dairy and Millets
- Empowerment of about 10000 farmers from 70 villages.
- Enhanced productivity and reduced input cost for all members.
- Mobilization of INR 23.5 lakhs of share capital from the members of these FPOs.
- A business turnover of INR 56.24 lakhs in 2019-20
- Promotion of 228 JLGs (Joint Liability Groups) with 1140 farmers leading to INR 1.89cr mobilized as credit from banks.
Beneficiaries
2.5 Lac people
With the support of SSA (Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan), we have implemented programs like Special Residential Center (RSTC) for school dropouts to help them continue their education. The hostel ensures the availability of good food and shelter who are supported as they prepare for mainstream education. This intervention has impacted 150 children who had dropped out of school along with their families.
Another intervention is the Seasonal Hostels for children of travelling workers in Guntur District with an aim to prevent them from dropping out of school. In the last three years, we have supported 180 children in three villages through special care and support while their parents travelled for work and prevented school dropouts.
Our efforts have led to:
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- Provision of quality education for 330 children
- Availability of Books, Pens, Playing tool kits etc for 10 schools
- Availability of books for school libraries
- Improved health condition through Nutritious food
Beneficiaries
330 children
Empowering women with skills can set into motion a poverty-breaking chain reaction in our society. To ensure women in our intervention area are self-reliant, our Skill Development initiatives have trained them in various skills including Jute bag making, Advanced Tailoring, Fabric painting, Dry Fish Making, Ornamental Fish Breeding, and Epicultute.
Our efforts have led to:
- 1600 women being trained in various income generation skills
- Dignity for women through improved participation in household decision making
Beneficiaries
1600 women