2023
National Forum Meeting in Sundarbans, West Bengal
Nature Environment and Wildlife Society (NEWS) organised a national forum meeting for GNF partners under Global Nature Fund (GNF) – BMZ, Germany project in Sundarbans on 21.06.2022 to 24.06.2022.
List of Participants:
- CReNIEO, Chennai, India
- NEWS, West Bengal, India
- BEDS, Bangladesh
- SACIWATERs, Hyderabad, India.
- Dr. Ralph Drija, SAIME Project, GNF.
Dr. Vincent and Mr. Meerasa and 3 beneficiaries (Mr. Saravanan, Mrs. Mutha and Mrs. Jeyachitra) fromKulathumedu village represented CReNIEO.
Participants visited the pioneer ChaitalIMA farm site with all the representatives and NGOs, farmers and then had a small meeting with farmer groupabout the Integrated Mangrove Aquaculture (IMA) activities under the SAIME – GNF project. They reartiger prawns in their own land in an eco-friendly manner, which means all the ponds are connected by natural water bodies. The place is very suitable for agriculture as it is closely connected with the beneficiary’s village.
On the 2nd day, CReNIEO presented its current project activities and other previous project impacts/outcomes during National Forum of BMZ Coastal Project Meeting. Other partners also presented their project activities and prepared a plan for future projects and funding for project sustainability. GNF Project Manager, Dr. Thies Geertzparticipated in the meetingonline.
Aboat visit to Sundarban Tiger Reserve (STR) was scheduled, followed by a visit to the central mangrove nursery in Manmadhannagar. CReNIEO participantshad a fruitful meeting with the women’s group.The women are actively involved in mangrove nursery cultivation and mangrove monitoring, as both the sites are very close to the villages which is another advantage.
Participants also had the opportunity to visit the BMZ coastal project area and interact with the community about their interests in restoring mangroves in the Sundarbans.
Development Projects
South Central India Network for Development Alternatives (SCINDeA)The previous three year phase was completed for both Yercaud Hills and at Pulicat. The New phase proposal for starting from 1st November 2017 to 30th October 2020 was submitted by the network hence has been approved.
- CReNIEO -Yercaud, 20 tribal villages will be covered.
- CReNIEO – Pulicat, 20 coastal villages will be covered.
- Revival of organic millet farming and propagation of Horticulture–Yercaud
- A pilot phase for 15 tribal farmers having lands between 05. to 1 acres was concluded in November 2017 and a final assessment is being made.
- A new project for which a proposal was submitted to GNF & SIKA has been approved for 25 tribal small farmers for a period starting from 1st November 2017 to 30th September 2018. The project involves training farmers in producing organic pesticides and fertilizers from local materials, land reclamations, water management, inter cropping and assisting the farmers with agricultural tools.
Revival of Mangroves , education on environment and income generation support for local communities The three year Global Nature Fund project in end of December 2017. The works involve making inter tidal flow canals in chosen mangrove sites using local labour. Promoting of homestead gardens and horticulture, monitoring the growth of mangroves, setting up a small central nursery, planting of multipurpose indigenous trees, environment education for adults and children, promoting common interest clubs, toilets form houses and animal husbandry for marginal fishing community, linkages with village administration and local government , publications and international experience sharing. Some of the targets, balance of canals, especially, toilets, and animal husbandry slated to complete for 2017 will be met in the first quarter of 2018.
Poverty alleviation and restoration of Mangroves- Mercedes Benz India This three year CSR project will be for three years and run concurrently along with Global Nature fund project over a three year period.
Visit of 20 students and staff of Srishti University Mysuru From 30th November to 3rd December there was an intense exposure for these twenty students at Pulicat. They also conducted an exercise Learning Assessment Test for the lower classes in our school. They also made an easy to make graphic presentation on the growth patterns of mangroves and other trees.
Development Projects:
Global Nature Fund Mangrove Restoration Project, Pulicat: The mangrove restoration project of Global Nature Fund ended in December 2015. There were some setbacks to mangrove restoration areas especially new saplings planted due to the unprecedented floods in December 2015. All the proposed activities were however completed.
Daimler (Mercedes Benz) is currently going on with a Mangrove restoration programme in Sengalneermedu area in which 140 meters of water canals have been dug during the year, Kitchen garden seeds have been distributed to 163 families, 55 horticulture saplings have been distributed and tailoring courses has been started for 16 girls from the villages. 15,000 new mangrove saplings have to be planted by December 2016.
A review meeting was held in Thailand at Trang, and Kabri Ms. Rao and Mr. Meersa attended the programme held during November 2nd to 8th 2015.
Network Projects.
SCINDeA Project Pulicat:| Programme | People covered. |
|---|---|
| Skills Development | 4 Wheeler driving course completed for 10 boys. |
| Income Generation Activity – Project Support with people’s contribution. | Fishing nets 17 Families, Share Auto – 1 Cloth Business – 1 Family, Petty Shop – 1 Family |
| Child rights modules, health and sanitation, gender – Training programmes for women and children | 376 women and children |
| Adolescents and life skill education | 155 School Children |
| Community leadership training and awareness on Government schemes | 75 members |
| People’s own initiative for accessing government schemes through panchayat | Village tar Road, Village cement roads Community hall & Fisheries building |
| Programme | People covered. |
|---|---|
| Skills Development | 10 farmers trained. |
| Income Generation Activity – Project Support with people’s contribution. | Goats – 11 Families, Carpentry tools – 3, Electrical tools – 3, Sewing machine – 4, Petty shop – 4, Pigs, cows, cloth business ( 30 families, De-husking machine |
| Child rights modules, health and sanitation, gender – training programmes for women and children | 2 schools |
| Adolescents and life skill education | 2 Schools |
| Community leadership training | 340 people covered |
| People’s own initiative for accessing government schemes through panchayat | 1. Busstops. 2. Income certificates, 3. Group Houses, 4. Aadhar cards, 5. Bank Loans and 6. Removal of liquor shop from a village. |
Development Projects:
Global Nature Fund Pulicat Mangrove Restoration Project, Pulicat The mangrove restoration project is going on and we have successfully planted around 15,000 mangrove saplings. 200 species of crabs shrimps and fishes have been identified and 36 local plant species. This current phase will be over in December 2015. A new programme under Daimler (Mercedes Benz) has been launched in Sengalneermedu area.
Scientist from Central Institute for Fisheries Technology, (CIFT) Cochin Dr. Remsen, Principal Scientist, Fishing Technology Division of CIFT, Government of India, visited Pulicat Lake with plans to implement some of the schemes of the Central government Under Tribal –sub plan like boats, fishing nets for tribal fisherfolk. He visited Kulathumedu village and other places in Pulicat.
Interactive, Structured, Multi-Model Clinical Guidelines to Improve Quality of care by Rural Health Care Providers in India From Advocacy to Action: A Project on Informal Health Care Providers – Symposium at Cape Town: The Third Global Symposium on Health Research Systems was convened in Cape Town South Africa. The symposium was held by collaborating with Private Sector Working group health systems, the Centre for health market Innovations (CHMI) and CReNIEO a debate was held to discuss the benefit and harm of informal health providers. Dr. Meenakshi Gautham was one of the panelists.
CReNIEO has registered Pulicat National Matriculation School staff under the State government’s Public provident Fund.Development Projects:
Global Nature Fund Pulicat Mangrove Restoration Project, Pulicat Two scientists from the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Aquaculture (RGCA) visited CReNIEO Centre at Pulicat on 5th February. for holding consultative meetings with Kalathumedu Village self Help group women to establish organic crab fattening aquaculture in the village.
Michael Bradley a marine biologist from James Cook University Australia spent from January 8th to February 5th at Pulicat studying the efforts made by CReNIEO at Pulicat to revive the mangrove forests in the wet lands.
On 4th February 2014 on World Wetland Day the children visited the mangrove nursery at our Campus.
SCINDeA Project Pulicat There was a programme and financial evaluation of the SCINDeA project at Pulicat. The evaluation was positive and some suggestions were given by the finance evaluator which has been shared with our auditors. As per BFW-EED guidelines the project funds are audited by Mr. John Ravindran and suitable replies and actions were taken as per the management letter. The programmes are on Income generations, skills training and informal education.
SCINDeA Project Yercaud The CReNIEO Yercaud project continues to implement projects related to income generation, skills training and farmers assistance. The separate SCINDeA audit report was made and a management letter was issued. The Yercaud staff also assists the tribal people to access government schemes.
Orissa Development Action Forum- ODAF This project for which CReNIEO is only a facilitator will come to a close in this phase which is to end by September 2014. The necessary letters have been sent to the Donor and to the ODAF management committee. At the appropriate time the Bank account at ING Vysa will be closed.
From Research to Advocacy and Action: A project on informal providers An international consultation on informal healthcare providers was held at the Muttukadu Centre on 21st and 22nd March 2014. Informal health providers are practitioners of medicine without a formal qualification medicine but provide quality of care. This consultation was with stake holders on their experience in dealing with this situation. Participants included government and NGO representatives from India, Bangladesh, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda
From Research to Advocacy and Action This is a 12 month project started from June 2013 and is funded by Center for Health Market Innovations. The goal of the project is to create advocacy and action on informal healthcare providers at the regional and global levels through evidence diffusion and coalition formation. The activities included are E –group moderation, stake holder’s consultation, documentation, publication and conferences. CReNIEO team has taken the google group moderation of an existing online discussion forum initiated by CHMI. This has been integrated with a website, the IPG, with added features to have membership directory, blogs, and videos and moderated email discussion.
Project Review Meeting, Ambalangoda, Sri Lanka, The third global Nature Fund project review meeting was held during 24th to 26th, November 2014 which was hosted by Nagenahiru Foundation, a Network partner of CReNIEO in the biodiversity restoration programme. Ms. Premanjali Rao and Mr. Meerasa made the presentations. GNF has also requested that a suitable auditor be appointed for the BMZ funds who is registered with the Chamber of Commerce. We had recommended Mr. J.K. Reddy and Co.
Millets – Yercaud staff and farmers Interaction with the principal, professors and students of the WCC Chennai. On 12 th September 2014 CReNIEO staff, Yercaud staff and two Yercaud millet famers had an interactive meeting with the Principal of Women’s Christian College, Dr. Ridling Waller and with Vice Principal , Dr.Janet Jeyasingh, Dr. Annette along with professors of the Home Science Department and plant Biology. Samples of the millets grown in Yercaud were displayed. Jayaprakash, Project coordinator of Yercaud made a presentation on the traditional cultivation of millets. The WCC professors explained on the innovative recipes they have made out of millets, for breakfast, health drinks, and confectioneries.
Mangroves-Internal Project Review Meeting On 30th and 31st of May 2014, internationally acclaimed Mangrove expert Dr. Kathiresan Head of the Department of Marine Sciences, Annamalai University along with marine scientist Dr. Nammalwar of Anna University and Dr. Jayabalan of Tamil University Thanjavur visited our mangrove resonation programme and reviewed the progress and appreciated our efforts with the Global Nature Fund (GNF) restoration Programme and gave some valuable suggestion for up scaling the efforts.
OthersForeign Contributions Regulation Act (FCRA) and others There are stringent provisions introduced in the Act from 2010 and all organizations have to renew their FCRA registration once in 5 years. CReNIEO has to submit the renewal application by end of 2014.
Projects submittedCReNIEO Executive Body The CReNIEO Executive Body meetings were held on 13th February 2014, 27th March 2014. The minutes have been circulated to the members.
Development Projects:
Pulicat:Global Nature Fund Pulicat Mangrove Restoration Project, The project on Mangrove restoration in Pulicat is going on and we have made the campus at Pulicat a demo centre where school children and people can visit. More than 1200 feet of canals have been dug in Thangal Village areas and we experience a marked improvement in the biodiversity with better growth of mangroves and visiting migratory birds. A review meeting was held in the first week of December 2012 with the GNF partners and other project holders for Sri Lanka, Thailand and Cambodia. A professional photographer from Sweden and a board member from GNF visited Pulicat in January 2013. The photo story will appear in a German Magazine sometime this year.
SHGs programme in Pulicat, There are 363 women Self Help Groups have been promoted by CRENIEO in Pulicat Region covering 22 panchayats with 71 villages comprises of 5187 women. CReNIEO continues the programme under the Tamil Nadu Corporation for Women.
SCINDeA Project: The SCINDeA project continues to work in 30 villages in and around Pulicat. The programmes are on agriculture, SHGs, Income generation, and Environment and sanitation. A survey programme for bio gas installation is under progress. As per BFW-EED guidelines the EED project funds were audited by Mr. John Ravindran and suitable replies and actions were taken on the management letter issued by him.
For the next phase it is proposed to have one CReNIEO SCINDeA project with two project areas-Pulicat and Yercaud as for both the projects it is the same FCRA account and both are CReNIEO project areas.
Yercaud:SCINDeA Project: The new project covers 30 villages. The activities are focused on youth and women’s empowerment, environment and homestead sustainable farming. A survey programme for low carbon farming is being done in Darmapuri region for The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Programme. As per BFW-EED guidelines the project funds are audited by Mr. John Ravindran and suitable replies and actions were taken as per the management letter.
Orissa Development Action Forum- ODAF , CReNIEO Continues to be the project holder for the ODAF – Nayagargh Project. The project is run autonomously with Mr. Sukant Kuamr Mohanty as the project coordinator. The entire funds are being transferred from Chennai to CRENIEO account in Bhubaneswar. The accounts are audited by Ms. Gopal & Associates and they have issued a management letter and the recommendations are adopted.
CReNIEO has communicated that for the next phase CReNIEO will not undertake this facilitation process due to manpower shortage, logistics, costs and it is inflating foreign receipts when CReNIEO does not been utilizing any of the funds for the past couple of years. Moreover CReNIEO has thru SCINDeA other projects from the same donor and implemented in CReNIEO’s own area. The current phase terminates on March 2014. The next phase ODAF proposal will not be sent by CReNIEO for the Nayagrgh field programme. It has been communicated that another member of ODAF located in the nearby region can take over the project.
The Informal Providers Project-CReNIEO/CHMI, CReNIEO has been involved substantial research, advocacy, and development of innovative programmes around informal front line healthcare providers in India for the past six years. This initiative has been done in partnership with a small group of well-established organizations and like-minded health professionals. During the last years, the core team has been working to create acceptance for non-physician clinical providers (or mid-level practitioners) like the present RHPs in India, and to develop a systematic process for building such cadres to meet the shortage of health human resources at the primary level in India.
In 2010-11, the Garhwal Community Development & Welfare Society(GCDWS) and CReNIEO jointly did a field study of the mobile phone applications called “Guidevue”, the interactive, structured multi modal clinical guidelines to improve quality of care by Rural Health Care Providers in India in the two districts in Tamil Nadu funded by ISIF- Asia. In 2011-12, CReNIEO jointly with GCDWS conducted a study to inform integration of Informal Health Care Providers in Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, North India and Guntur, AP, in Southern India with the support of the Research for Development Institute, Washington DC. A follow up study was done to appraise/gather detailed information about the development of RMP associations, roles and responsibilities of the local branches and their principal activities as well as the aspirations for the future. This was jointly conducted by Institute of Development Studies Sussex, UK and CReNIEO.
From Research to Advocacy and Action: A Project on Informal Providers 2013-2014 This is a 12 month project started from June 2013 and is funded by Center for Health Market Innovations. The goal of the project is to create advocacy and action on informal healthcare providers at the regional and global levels through evidence diffusion and coalition formation. The activities included are E –group moderation, stake holder’s consultation, documentation, publication and conferences.
CReNIEO team has taken the google group moderation of an existing online discussion forum initiated by CHMI. This has been integrated with a website, the IPG, with added features to have membership directory, blogs, and videos and moderated email discussion. We plan to utilize the e-forum as the main medium of communication and selection for the stakeholders’ consultation and selection of case studies for our documentation activity. Through this platform, we aim to create a lively and vibrant e-discussion group for exchange of information and ideas;
A Regional Stakeholders’ consultation is planned with a strong group of multi country stakeholders informing and enhancing the informal health sector globally and regionally in December. This consultation aims to learn from one another using the evidence about what can be done, how we can move forward, and how to make present interventions work even better. We aim to bring together researchers, practitioners, and few policymakers in this consultation to debate and engage with ideas, identify areas of collective action, and determine strategies for implementing some of these ideas.
Documentation of relevant experiences and themes are planned. This will be done with field travel and compilation of reports in forms of stories, blogs etc. This project also consists of publications of scholarly articles based on the IP study in journals.
We are currently putting together a panel for the Conference for Asian Health Systems Conference in Singapore (Dec 13-16, 2013) and also to attend the HRH Forum Brazil (Nov 2013)(in collaboration with CHMI). We’re delighted to announce that our proposal for a side event on informal providers has been accepted by the Third Global Forum on Human Resources for Health, which will be held in Recife, Brazil from Nov 9-13, 2013. The session will be organized by CReNIEO and R4D and will be styled as an open debate. The title of the session is “Unpleasant Reality or Pillars of Universal Health Coverage: An open debate about informal healthcare providers in Asia and Africa”.
Dr. Meenakshi Gautham will represent CReNIEO in Brazil.
IV. Others:Foreign Contributions Regulation Act (FCRA) and others, There are stringent provisions introduced in the Act from 2010 and all organizations have to renew their FCRA registration once in 5 years. CReNIEO has to submit the renewal application by 2014.
Development Projects:
Pulicat.1. SCINDeA Project: The SCINDeA project started a new phase in November 2011. The project continues to work in 30 villages in and around Pulicat. The programmes are on community health, SHGs, Income Generation Programmes, Environment and sanitation. As per EED guidelines the EED project funds were audited by Mr. John Ravindran and suitable replies and actions were taken on the management letter issued by him.
2. Global Nature Fund Pulicat Mangrove Restoration Project, Pulicat: A new project (proposal submitted in October 2011) commenced in February 2012 entitled ” Mangrove reforestation in South-East Asia – local action and cross-border transfer of knowledge for the conservation of climate, forests and biodiversity”. There are total four partners, one in Cambodia, one in Thailand and two organizations in Sri Lanka.. The total project period is from 1.01.2012 to 31.12.2015 and the total budget is Euro 131750. The Global Nature Fund is the main partner and project holder and the co-funding is from BMZ – The Federal Ministry for Economic Co-operation and Development in Germany and the Ursala Merz Foundation. The project work has commenced with land development, nursery development and environment education. The project coordinator of Pulicat attended a kick off workshop in Kabri Thailand.
3. SHGs programme in Pulicat. There are 364 women Self Help groups have been promoted by CRENIEO in Pulicat Region covering 22 panchayats with 71 villages comprises of 5196 women. CReNIEO continues the programme under the Tamil Nadu Corporation for Women.
Project Name: It is proposed to hence forth all development projects of CReNIEO at Pulicat be called as CReNIEO Research, Education and Development projects, Pulicat. SCINDeA had been using the old project name Integrated Fisherfolk Development Project (IFDP) in its project applications and all reports under this could be misleading as CReNIEO is the legal entity and not IFDP.
Yercaud.4. SCINDeA Project: The new project covers 30 villages. The activities are focused on youth and women’s empowerment, environment and homestead sustainable farming. The new phase started in November 2011. As per EED guidelines the EED project funds are audited by Mr. John Ravindran and suitable replies and actions were taken as per the management letter.
Project Name in Yercaud. It is proposed to henceforth call all development projects of CReNIEO at Yercaud as CReNIEO Research, Education and Development projects, Yercaud. SCINDeA had been using the old project name Servarayan Hills Tribal Community Development project (SHTCDP) its project applications and all reports under this could be misleading as CReNIEO is the legal entity and not SHTCDP.
5. Orissa Development Action Forum- ODAF CReNIEO Continues to be the project holder for the ODAF – Nayagarh Project. The project helps in promoting school education by running bridge courses among the Tribals and assists the people to access government schemes such as, land under forest dwellers rights and promotes sustainable farming through SRI methods.
CReNIEO Continues to be the project holder for the ODAF – Nayagarh Project. The project is run autonomously with Mr. Sukant Kumar Mohanty as the project coordinator. The funds are being transferred from Chennai to CRENIEO account in Bhubaneswar. A thorough pre audit check is conducted by the ODAF finance desk and the finance and programmes are monitored by the ODAF programme and monitoring and evaluation staff. The accounts are audited by Ms. Gopal & Associates and they have issued a management letter and the recommendations are adopted.
The new Standard Operating Practices (SoP) requires a change in signatories in the ING Vysya CRENIEO account in Bhubaneswar. The SoP says it is better if the signatories are from the project area otherwise signed blank cheques will have to be sent.
It is proposed to have Mr. Sukant Kumar Mohanty the Project Coordinator as a signatory along with .Mr. Manas Ranjan Mohanty Accountant.
6. A study to inform integration of Rural Health Care Providers into the formal Health system in India. This study was started in 2011 in rural and tribal districts Uttarakhand and Andhra Pradesh, The study aims to guide strategy formulation for upgrading, certifying and legitimizing Rural Health Care Providers (RHPs). The study was completed and report presented at the Review Meeting held at Dhaka, Bangladesh during 20-23 March 2012. As an extension of this study, Institute of Development Studies, Sussex, UK (IDS) and CReNIEO jointly will explore further with a more in-depth joint analysis and critical appraisal of existing data, supplemented with some fresh research.
7. Tamil Nadu Corporation for Development of Women Ltd.: An IFAD project for developing study materials for classes 6th to 12 std school children of financial literacy was developed and submitted. The final approval is awaited.
Others:
CReNIEO Infrastructure Utilisation: Some maintenance work was done at CReNIEO Yercaud centre. Contributions are expected which will enable CReNIEO to meet the maintenance costs.
Development Projects:
April 2011. ” Mangroves and Pulicat Lagoon – Experts consultation on CReNIEO performance Dr. Kathiresan, Professor, Mangrove expert, Centre for Advanced studies in Marine Biology, Parangipettai, Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu, Dr.T. Ramanathan, Mangrove expert, Centre for Advanced studies in Marine Biology, Parangipettai, Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu, Dr.S. Palraj, Conservator of Forest [Retd], Forestry expert, Dr. M.C. Sathyanarayana, Associate Professor [Rtd], Wildlife/Biodiversity expert and Dr. Nammalwar, Scientist, Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute and Principal Investigator, Centre for Ocean management, Anna University, Chennai have been invited as expert consultants.
Academic Consultations and seminars: On April 19th an expert consultation was held on CReNIEO performance in ” Mangroves and Pulicat Lagoon” Dr. Kathiresan, Professor, Mangrove expert, Centre for Advanced studies in Marine Biology, Parangipettai, Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu reviewed the project.,
A consultation on Research methodologies was held on 17th September. Eminent professors from the University of Madras and former VC of Bharathidasan University participated.
Yercaud.SCINDeA Project: The new project covers 30 villages. The activities are focused on youth and women’s empowerment, environment and homestead sustainable farming. The new phase started in November 2011. As per EED guidelines the EED project funds are audited by Mr. John Ravindran and suitable replies and actions were taken as per the management letter.
Rural Development Projects:
1. Network- Orissa Development Action Forum – ODAF, The ODAF programmes are continuing for promoting education for Adivasi school drop outs, 841 students have been assisted. 20 village Educational Development committees to revive education have been established to assist in the running of government schools.
The project helps the people to access government schemes such as PDS and MGNREGS Better cultivation practices such as systematic rice intensification schemes have been introduced. 1292 acres have been brought under organic farming. 50 acres of wastelands have been developed into cultivable lands and 32 acres of land has been brought under afforestation. 12000 horticulture plants have been distributed to 400. Village pumps sets for better irrigation has been provided. 380 under 5 malnourished children are being taken care of. 4 villages have established seed banks. 700 applications for Forest Dwellers Rights have been made and about 80 land rights have been awarded. Mr. Sukant Kumar Mohanty is the project coordinator and on behalf of CReNIEO Mr. Premchandran is the Project in charge and represents CReNIEO in ODAF.
2. Integrated Fisherfolk Development Project (IFDP) Pulicat. The IFDP-SCINDeA project continues to work in 30 villages in and around Pulicat. The programmes are on community health, SHGs, Income Generation Programmes, Advocacy, Environment sanitation and peoples movement. The on going projects under IFDP include community based intervention on STI/HIV/AIDS. The other projects of IFDP are,
Global Nature Fund Pulicat Mangrove Restoration Project : 22,600 saplings of Avicenna marina were collected and saplings are being grown in Pulicat. 5800 saplings have been planted in suitable sites at Thangal village. Channels have been dredged for 300 meters for inflow and outflow of water. New sites have been identified in Nellore area for planting of mangroves. A GPS unit to identify and mark the sites has been purchased.
Women and school children are being oriented about mangroves and a long term plan is being drawn up to replicate the efforts in new areas. Dr. Udo of GNF Mr. Jim Enbright of MAP visited the project. The restoration programme is supported by the German Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Protection and Nuclear Safety. The project is through Global Nature Fund.
Global Nature Fund Education on Climate issues for children and Community: Under this programme children of various schools are taught about their local environment and about global warming, climate change, carbon emissions, carbon trading etc. Competitions are held regularly in the schools. A school environment day was celebrated.
Ms. Premanjali Rao visited Mexico and presented the progress of the projects. The Global Nature Fund, Germany has granted full membership to CReNIEO from this year onwards.
Lake women’s Advancement Project – SHGs There are 261 women Self Help Groups promoted by CRENIEO in Pulicat Region comprising of 3864 women. There are 24 boys groups with 352 members.
The Servarayan Hills and Tribal Community Development Project – Yercaud. 30 villages are covered under the SCINDIA project. The activities are focused on youth and women’s empowerment, health, environment and homestead farming. The project has constructed 35 low costs toilets for select families. There is an ongoing programme on STI/HIV/AIDS. The project has promoted women self help groups and boys self help groups. The project’s mobile lab operates in the remote villages and conducts various tests. 35 families have been provided with agricultural implements 35 families were provided with goats and one village is being developed into a green village.
DST-Floriculture Project -Yercaud The project trained tribal farmers to raise floriculture crops for additional income. The flowers are Rose and Chrysanthemum 10 farmers with 2 to 3 cents of land each have set up a method demonstration plot. The simple green house was set up as a demo unit.
- 3 . Workshops and Training Programmes:
- Importance of Minor millets for nutrition in Yercaud February. 2010.
- Environment Education for school teachers July 2009.
- 4. Proposals Submitted
- A comparative Study of Facilitating Factors and Barriers to Achievement of MDGs 4, 5 and 6 in Districts with High, Medium and Low Health Indices in Tamil Nadu, India. (LoI)
- Imparting Training to Community based organizations like SHgs, PLFs – (TNVRC- TNCDW) EOI.
- Skills development through accredited courses of the TNOU at Pulicat – to CLWR.
- Food security for coastal regions proposal to European Union (EU) through Global Nature Fund.
- Environment Education for women and children of Hill regions of Yercaud – CLWR.
- Enabling Future Generations in Pulicat Lake to Understand and Act on Environmental Issues and Climate Change
- Proposal In the Making:
- Reviving Minor Millets in traditional tribal farms of Yercaud.
- Mangroves revival project and mangroves mapping.
- Comprehensive Health project in Yercaud.
- Orissa Development Action Forum – Proposal for 2011 March to 2014.