In the year 2011, GRABUU, along with Bharat Sevashram Sangha (BSS), jointly identified, planned and organized several Livestock projects for the villagers so that they can earn or add to their earning of livelihood by raising domestic animals. GRABUU – BSS volunteers bought and distributed the following animals among the villagers through their SHGs (Self-Help Groups, formed by 10 to 15 poor villagers who become member of a formal group to create a fund of their own by paying a small amount of money, say Rs.25.00 ($0.50) per month and they borrow money from the fund to invest in their micro businesses.) under two conditions: ONE: Each recipient must undergo compulsory animal husbandry training to raise healthy animals. TWO: The recipient must pass on within one year the same type and number of animals that he / she received to another SHG member. The person has the option of retaining the animal and paying its cash value to the SHG that would then buy Livestock for a new member. The second recipient will pass the animals on to the third and the third to the fourth, and so on, thus multiplying GRABUU’s original donation. Over time, thousands of villagers will be able to build assets in the form of Livestock and steadily increase their family incomes. The Livestock are:
2,890 Chicks
316 Goats
28 Sheep
319 kg Fingerlings
4,66,000 Earthworm to produce Vermicompost (a type of organic fertilizer)
We had two meetings with the villagers. On both the occasions, about 200 to 300 villagers came, mostly the recipients, village elders and school children. The recipients told their stories about how they were raising and caring for the animals that they had received from GRABUU, success stories, and the derived financial benefits. They also informed us about their commitment to pass on the animals as gifts to another SHG member within a year and their eagerness to participate in future projects. We visited several homes of the recipients and they proudly showed the goats grazing in the field, healthy chickens roaming in the yards, black moist mass of Vermicompost spread out in their vegetables gardens and the “Paner Boro” owned by some of the recipients.
Number of families benefitted: 837
The total cost of the project: Rs.756,889.00
($15,138.00)