Projects
Contents |
Health
Health care, specifically curative medical care, has been chief entry point of VGKK into the Soliga community. Even in this regard, it was a hard struggle to gain acceptance.
- 20 bedded Tribal Hospital with laboratory, X-ray and Operation Theatre providing free Medical care.
- Telemedicine and screening for Rheumatic heart disease.
- Mobile Medical Unit.
- Community based preventive, promotive and rehabilitative programmes through local health workers.
- Sickle cell anaemia research and screening work; Training programme for Dais, health workers and house surgeons.
- Control/eradication of Leprosy, Tuberculosis, Epilepsy, Blindness, Cancer; Mental health, Dental health and Community Based Rehabilitation Programme.
- Nutrition, Safe drinking water & Sanitation.
- Traditional Medicines & Revitalization of Local Health Traditions.
- Tribal Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) programme.
Education
Specialty of our school is emphasis on tribal culture, language and environment specific education with vocational education.
- School (Pre-school to Class X) for more than 500 tribal girls and boys with hostel facilities for 200 students with a sports school.
- Four Non-formal schools in remote forest areas.
- Pre-University College.
- Industrial Training Institute & Job Oriented Course in Forestry.
- Drama school .
- Science college & ANM Training school.
Vocational Training & Production
The project imparts training to women, men and school drop-outs in the various cottage industries like weaving, incense-stick making, coir-rope making, bakery, tailoring and knitting, handicraft, beekeeping, carpentry and printing.
The adverse living conditions in the forest with no land and other means of livelihood cause great hardship to the inhabitants. And the Soliga community is no exception. A vocational training scheme, therefore, assumes a vital role. Initially, the training Programmes were conducted mainly with the help of the District Industries Centre (DIC), Government of Karnataka. The subsidized bank loans to the trainees have helped immensely in setting up the cottage industry.
The project imparts training to women, men and school drop-outs in the various cottage industries like weaving, incense-stick making, coir-rope making, bakery, tailoring and knitting, handicraft, beekeeping, carpentry and printing.
The functionary; in charge of the vocational training centre, assisted by trained assistants, provides follow-up advice and support to start cottage industry units in distant hamlets. Continued technical advice and problem-solving efforts are also provided by VGKK.
This centre was started in 1997 with the help of NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development) Bangalore to help rural and tribal youth to gain self-employment.
- Candle Making
- Screen Printing
- Note-book Manufacturing
- Leaf-cup Manufacturing
- Hand made Paper Unit
- Cane & Bamboo handicraft
- Agarbathi (incense sticks)
- Tailoring and Knitting
- Carpentry
- Welding
- Honey Processing
- Food procvessing (with CFTRI, Mysore)
- Herbal Medicine Processing unit
- Cloth Weaving Bakery
- Agro - forestry
- Bakery
Community Organisation:
- To organize tribal people, wipe out the fear and remove inaction in the community.
- To inculcate self-help and cooperation by making them aware of their potentials.
- To fight for implementation of constitutional rights for the tribals.
- To promote tribal culture and restore the old valuable practices like Nyaya (Justice).
- Help form Peoples Organization (Soliga Abhivrudhi Sangha) at village, taluk and district levels.
- The Sangha addresses problems through their solidarity.
- Sangha also takes part in planning and implementation of development programmes through Government and other agencies.
- Self Help Groups.
About 25,000 tribals in 5,000 families live in Kollegal, Yelandur Gundlepet Chamarajanagar and Nanjanagud taluk of Mysore district, spread over 150 villages. While Soliga, Bettakuruba and Jenukuruva are found in Gundlepet and Nanjanagud, in the other taluks only Soligas are found.
These people live on small agriculture in the forestland, labour, forest produce collection and also basket weaving. They count upon forest for their living.
Peoples organizations formed by tribals themselves have been working for their development.
The SASs (Soliga Abhivriddi Sanghas) have opened offices at the taluka level and form the hard core functionary units.
As a federation of these taluk bodies, there is a district tribal development Sangha that has opened an office at Chamarajanagara.
The district federation is charged with the responsibility of steering the tribal development and organization of entire tribal population of the district.
Networking & Advocacy
- Participation in "Tribal joint Action",a federation of voluntary organisations working for tribal people.
- Promotion of Tribal Federations.
Conservation & Livelihood Security
- Sustainable harvesting of NTFP and processing - Honey , Amla and herbal medicines.
- People's action against forest fire , poaching and quarrying.
- Capacity building of TribalCO-operatives.
- Environment education in the school.
- Conservation education and eco-tourism.
- Sustainable agriculture - organic farming and seed bank promotion.
