Baldyachapada
Hirve, Palghar
Intervention
Integrated Village Development
Donor
Bharat Serums Vaccines Ltd
Grassroot Partner
Diganta Swaraj Foundation
Diagnosis
A village with a 100% tribal population surviving on erratic agricultural income, Baldyachapa had poor infrastructure for electricity in homes and schools, and poor health indicators due to lack of proper nutrition and clean water to drink. The gross poverty and desperate need for intervention was magnified by the high levels of migration.
Intervention
Putting into action our transformation model, we provided all homes with solar home lighting solutions consisting while the ZP Primary School was provided with a Solar Power Pack and additional engagement tools like 2 pre-loaded e-learning pen drives that have the curriculum in a very engaging format, increasing productivity inside and outside the home, and also lowering the school dropout rate. The reduced dependence on kerosene, minimized carbon emissions and its resultant effects on health and the environment, while also creating an element of cost saving.
Transformation
To make a sustainable change and address the root of their poverty, we designed an intervention that brought water, and consequently consistent income and improved health indicators to the lives of the villagers. A solar lift irrigation system using a 10KW Solar PV System was designed to pull water from the River Kunti to two tanks.
To install the mini solar grid, one of the villagers, Shri Manohar Gahale donated part of his land and was very keen to see the future of the village youth improving as a result. The first tank stored water for the irrigation of farmlands of 16 farmers while the second tank proposed to irrigate the farmlands of 7 farmers. A Skyjuice ultrafiltration unit provided easily accessible clean drinking water to all the villagers, fighting the ill health and waterborne diseases faced by them.
Impact
As of this year, 32 farmers are now part of the agricultural fold, cultivating 18 acres of farmland. They multicrop fenugreek, ladyfinger, coriander, maize, millet, beans, and jasmine, earning an increased income for the village of over Rs. 3,00,000. A cold storage room provided to them with the support of IIT, is used to store the jasmine until it can be taken to main markets, increasing the market value of their produce.
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