The Sylvan Saga From Dusk to Dawn Published by: Assam State Rural Livelihoods Mission Year of Publication: 2019 The Sylvan Saga: From Dusk to Dawn Message (Dr. J.B. Ekka), IAS Principal Secretary, P&RD Department Govt. of Assam Assam State Rural Livelihoods Mission (ASRLM) is a flagship program of the Ministry of Rural Development which is supporting the Self Help Group for improving the socio-economic status through collectivization, access to credit and strengthning the existing livelihood activities. Skill development of the youth is also another aspect of the ASRLM for providing livelihoods through employment of the rural youth. I am pleased that ASRLM is bringing out a compendium on Good Case Studies and Replicable Practices named “Sylvan Saga: From Dusk to Dawn” with stories from the field, which will be released on the occasion of the SARAS Fair, 2019, Nagaon. These good practices demonstrate diversified fields where SHG members have been able to make a change in their lives. The release of this compilation brings out a bouquet of rural women led success stories which can be replicated across the states. I would like to congratulate the Assam State Rural Livelihoods Mission team on their commendable efforts and determination which is instrumental in bringing out this compendium. I sincerely, hope that all the stakeholders’ associated with the women Self Help Group members will keep up the good work with full energy and bring out many more success stories in the near future. (Dr. J.B. Ekka), IAS Principal Secretary, P&RD Department Govt. of Assam The Sylvan Saga: From Dusk to Dawn Message (Nandita Hazarika), ACS State Mission Director, ASRLM The compendium of good practices is the first attempt by Assam State Rural Livelihoods Mission to document some of the life changing stories of SHG members. It is a tribute to those women who have risen from extreme difficulties and poverty and are now change makers in the society. Their story is a story of grit and determination and stands as a beckoning light to all others who are still struggling to make ends meet. The compendium is therefore aptly named as “Sylvan Saga: From Dusk to Dawn”. In this journey of change, there are a large numbers of players ranging from officials to community cadres and I want to put on record my sincere gratitude to all of them for all their good works and initiatives, without which the change could not have happened. Assam State Rural Livelihoods Mission works for the empowerment of rural women by taking them on a path of sustainable livelihood. It also works for providing skill training and placement to rural youths and bringing them to the mainstream. The journey so far has just been a baby step that ASRLM has taken considering the mammoth task of bringing the rural women out of poverty and empowering them both socially and economically. The woods are lovely, dark and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep... (Nandita Hazarika), ACS State Mission Director, ASRLM The Sylvan Saga: From Dusk to Dawn Words from the Desk… The Assam State Rural Livelihood Mission (ASRLM) was established as an independent and autonomous body under Society Registration Act XXI of 1860 by Panchayat & Rural Development Department, Government of Assam on 11th Nov’ 2011; to implement the “Deendayal Antodyaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission” (DAY-NRLM) scheme launched by the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Government of India in June 2011. DAY-NRLM is subsequent to the “Swarnajyanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana” (SGSY)which was started as a flagship program of the Union Government in 1999. The core belief of the DAY-NRLM is that each and every poor woman has some unique ability to “Do Something” to come out of poverty. This inherent capability and “Nothing to Lose” attitude of the poor can be further uplifted only when they are organized into institutions truly owned by them. Thus, they need to be capacitated through proper handholding support in the beginning till they can motivate themselves to start their own intervention for sustainable livelihoods. Thus, the scheme targets to bring at least one woman member from each identified rural poor household and mobilize them into Self Help Groups (SHG). DAY-NRLM, “The Mission for Poverty Reduction” is an extensive programme with implementation structure at the State, District, Block and the Panchayat level. It is also implementing “Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana” (DDU-GKY) from the year 2015 with an aim to provide full time jobs to youths with regular monthly wages by developing their skills. At present ASRLM has reached all 33 Districts and 219 Blocks of Assam. In every nook and corner of the state of Assam, at least one official of ASRLM is providing relentless service to uplift the socio-economic status of the rural women. About The Good Practices Compendium: “Champions do not do different things; they just do it differently” Some women are fortunate receiving quality education, earning decent livelihoods and leading a successful life. However, there are the less fortunate ones who have to struggle for everything in life. Some of them may have formal education but fails to earn their livelihoods. Some of them are married off at a very early The Sylvan Saga: From Dusk to Dawn age and gradually lose their own identity. Some of them are not getting married due to financial constraint or for some other reason. Some of them are victims of domestic abuse and so on. The list of adversities of these people goes on. But because they have seen the deeper aspect of the life, they have earned whatever they have achieved. They have experienced life so closely that they can mitigate the risks in life. ASRLM works with these less fortunate women of the society, who possess all the quality to change the scenario of rural Assam. This compendium is all about these rural women who have tried to overcome their challenges and utilize their opportunities for development. They are the real champions of life. They have faced all adversities but have come out with flying colors. ASRLM is therefore bringing out the compendium showcasing the case studies of these champions. They are our “Unsung Heroes”. My special gratitude to all the people working in the mission as this compendium is the reflection of their hard work. Thank You would be too subtle a word for our State Mission Director, Mrs. Nandita Hazarika, without whose continuous guidance and directions, this compendium would not have seen the light of the day. This trial of publishing a good practice compendium of ASRLM will be considered as successful only if more and more people get motivated towards obtaining quality life by possessing necessary skills for earning sustainable livelihoods. Unwarranted mistakes, if left any, are the limitations of the knowledge of the undersigned. On behalf of ASRLM, (Anindita Deka) CONTENTS: Sl Page GOOD PRACTICES: LIVELIHOOD & MARKETING No. No. 1 Keeping the Tradition Alive: Muga Farming 1-2 2 Traditional Bhaona Costumes & Ornaments Making 3-5 3 Cane & Bamboo Craft 6-8 4 From Household Practice to an Entrepreneurship Venture 9-10 5 From Extreme Poverty to Sustainable Livelihood 11-12 6 Earning Sustainable Livelihoods through Livestock Rearing 13-14 7 KHADI: The Weapon to Earn Freedom, the Weapon to Earn Livelihood 15-16 Journey from Homemaker to a Successful Extension Worker, Breaking 8 17-18 Established Social Norms 9 Sustainable Livelihood by Doing Multiple Activities 19-20 10 Weavers Collective 21-22 11 A new hope in the Horizon: Quail Farming 23-24 12 A Journey from a Homemaker to an Entrepreneur 25-26 13 Multiple Non Farm Livelihoods: A SHG Member to an Entrepreneur 27-28 14 A Proud Farmer: Veronika Mech 29-31 15 Banana and Papaya Inter Cropping 32 16 Earning Sustainable Livelihood by taking Multiple Activities 33-34 17 Integrated Fish and Duck Farming 35-36 18 Lighting Life through the SoUL Project 37-38 19 One Stop Facilitation Centre for Gamosa in Dibrugarh District 39-40 20 Multiple Farm Livelihoods 41-42 21 Shital Pati Craft: A Cluster in Goalpara 43 Implementing SRI & SCI Cultivation: Some Case Studies under The MK- 22 44-46 SP-Annual Action Plan Project 23 Livelihoods through Handloom & Handicraft 47-48 24 Value Addition to Traditional Assamese Mekhela Sador 49-50 25 From a Homemaker to a Successful Tailor 51 Sl Page GOOD PRACTICES: LIVELIHOOD & MARKETING No. No. Becoming Role Model by Gaining Sustainability by Adopting Multiple 26 52-53 Livelihoods Activities 27 Becoming an Entrepreneur through Pickle Making 54-55 28 From a Daily Wage Earner to an Employment Generator 56-57 29 When there is a Will, There is a Way 58-59 A Case Study of Perseverance and Dedication: CHANURA CHOUKHAT 30 60-61 MARUP SHG Sl Page GOOD PRACTICES: IB, CB & SD No. No. 1 Empowerment of Women Through Adult Literacy Programme 63-64 Bal Sabha (Balya Xabha): A Platform to Identify and Address Issues of 2 65-66 Children and Adolescents 3 A Deaf and Dumb School by a SHG Member 67-68 4 Mission Concern: A Guardian of Orphaned Children 69-70 Community Managed Low Cost Water Purification System in Tea Garden 5 71-73 Areas of Assam Under “Swachh Khowa Pani Yojana” 6 Sunrise Tutorial Centre 74 Evaluation and Need Based Assessment of Community Cadres Under 7 75-76 ASRLM Sl Page GOOD PRACTICES: SPECIAL INITIATIVE No. No. “AAIDEUR CHORA”- Promoting Electrol Participation in Assam Lok Sabha 1 78-79 Election 2019 through Community Cadres 2 Mission Egg: Economic Empowerment & Nutritional Security 80-81 3 Tamul Plate Industry 82-83 4 MAHILA BAZAR: Providing Space to Sell SHG Products 84-86 5 Special Mass Mobilization Drive in Tea Gardens of Charaideo District 87-88 6 Paper Bag – Minimizing Uses of Poly Bags - Reuse and Recycle 89 7 “Stree Swabhiman”- Taking Care of Menstrual Hygiene 90-91 Sl Page GOOD PRACTICES: SPECIAL INITIATIVE No.