Contributing to local incomes

Nepal has an average per person income of less than 226 US dollars in a year. Especially in villages, people are dependent on their own farms for food, oils, and other day to day necessities. Traditionally, the only times they need cash is when they buy salt, sugar, tea, medication, and need to travel to other places. Even today, the barter system, exchange of items for goods, labor, and services, is still in practice in most parts of Nepal.

But as globalization takes effect in Nepal, traditional systems of commerce break down and there is greater need to immediate cash making enterprises. Many people who did not previously think they were poor suddenly come in contact with modern approaches and technology and find that there is very little that they can access through traditional means. This leads to the alienation of entire villages and regions.

Shanti Griha has helped many villages organize income generation activities that are based on ongoing practices related to agriculture and animal husbandry. Local communities have been given goats, bee hives, chicken and buffalos so that they can rear and sell as well as add to their diets through animal products. SG has provided training that allows villagers to recognize potential problems and diseases in animals and taught ways of dealing with them and has given contact information as to where professional help can be sought.

Improved seeds and saplings have been distributed and sources of better quality raw products have been shared so that villagers themselves can initiate contact and purchase what they need at reasonable cost. New irigation systems have been introduced and water harvesting systems have been installed so areas that see low precipitation can better use what they get. Farmers have been taught to make better quality natural fertilizers using commonly found grasses.

Sewing, carpentry, and electronic equipment maintenance and repair training, and workshops have been provided so that local people can make money providing services that their communities need. The types of training provided are selected looking at the need of the village, for example sewing in areas that do not have many tailors, carpentry in areas that need good furniture, and electronic equipment maintenance and repair training in highway junctions so that many villages can access services more easily.

Mushroom farming has been the one of the major training that has been given to the villagers. The people have been able to use the mushrooms cultivated by themselves for their daily consumption, to share with relatives and neighbors and generate reasonable income. Hundreds of kilos of mushrooms have been sold in the local market by the people of Bhandara and Birendranagar alone. There have been many more in Dhading, Syangja, and Kaski.

Fishery is another activity that has been initiated in the villages. Shanti Griha supported the villagers of Kaskikot with the leasing of a fishpond, nets, boats, and other accessories needing for fishery. The fishing community of Kaskikot is earning 40,000 – 60,000 Nepalese Rupees every year. There have been many trainings regarding fishery in our project areas.

A seven kilometer long Green road has been constructed in Syangja which have directly benefited 150 households along the roadside and 350 households in the nearby areas. More than 12,000 people have benefited from the road indirectly. Earlier the villagers had to walk 2-4 hours to reach the highway market, but now they can reach in half an hour on jeep by paying Rs. 20 per person. Things had to be carried on the back, up and down the hill, and the porters charged Rs. 8 per kg, while now the people just pay Rs. 2 per kg for the jeep.

In Malekhu Shanti Griha has been running a sewing training course. After completion of the course the trainees are given sewing machines and the needed materials to setup a small tailoring shop in their villages. In Gajuri, the tailoring course is limited to physically disabled persons. Food and lodging are provided free of charge and sewing machines and materials are provided at the end of the course.

In Kapilbastu a house has been constructed to be used as a mill. A rice processor and polisher, oil press, and a flour mill has been installed. 5,520 people from Dubia VDC of Kapilbastu and Sidhara VDC of Arghakhachi districts have benefited. There have been some hopes of employment in the eyes of the unemployed youth. The Adharbhoot Gramin Bikas Sewa (AGBS) are servicing the locals at a minimum rate. The income, 15 %, will go for the betterment of the organization (AGBS) and 85% will be used for income-generation programs, awareness campaigns on health and sanitation, and other productive programs for the betterment of the people of Dubia VDC.