Citizens Foundation is dedicated to making a significant impact on the lives of underprivileged communities by focusing on poverty reduction and the alleviation of inequality. Our mission involves not only creating employment opportunities for impoverished households but also helping highly vulnerable households transition towards sustainable livelihoods and economic stability. Our efforts have reached diverse communities in regions like Jharkhand, Assam, Sikkim etc, each characterized by unique cultures, resources, and geographical challenges. They are particularly committed to contributing to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals.

Citizens Foundation engages extensively for enhancement of livelihood to reduce poverty and inequality by generating employment among poor households and by moving highly vulnerable households into sustainable livelihoods and toward economic stability. The organization has worked for diverse communities in Jharkhand, Assam with varied culture, resources and geography with respect to the five among other targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The target Goals are No Poverty, Zero Hunger, Gender Equality, Reducing Inequality and Life Below Water.

Kitchen Garden

Intervention

A key intervention through the Holistic Rural Development Program (Parivartan) supported by HDFC Banks, is initiative for distribution of seeds and helping create kitchen gardens near hand- pumps or where families are disposing of waste water or in the backyard of the Kitchens. Kitchen gardens small plots of land where families can grow a variety of fruits and vegetables. These kitchen gardens are meant to increase food diversity in the diets of the participating families and reduce reliance on the market for fruits and vegetables.

Citizens Foundation with the support from HDFC banks Parivartan project, trained and supported the beneficiaries in the 10 Project villages in Rangiya and Hajo Block of Kamrup rural district of Assam. The Field mobilisers together with the staff were also sensitized on the importance of kitchen garden before they worked with the beneficiaries.

According to one of the beneficiaries Rani, “Kitchen gardening is the easiest way of growing desirable fruits and vegetables on our own piece of land, it gives direct access to diverse nutritionally rich vegetables”

Outcome:

The kitchen garden has been impactful for Rani’s family. The initial batch of seeds has grown into a beautiful, diverse garden which includes cabbage, cauliflower, KnolKhol, chilly, Pumpkin, Coriander, Beans, green leafy vegetables, Brinjal, Radish.
Rani’s also proudly exclaims that “Because of my kitchen garden, we have vegetables in our own backyard and this provides me with nutrition as it is organic, also I save money which was to be spent on vegetables every week on the market”.

Horticulture Plot

Intervention

Citizens Foundation in support with HDFC Banks Parivartan trained Farmers like Pradip Kalita on “Horticulture Cultivation”, the farmer also familiarized with technologies for improving Soil health condition, foliar nutrition and Plant protection aspects. The farmers were also trained for making organic manure like vermi-compost and participated in the Integrated Pest Management training. The farmers used the crops highly in demand in the nearby market for the Horticulture plot.

Outcome:

Mr. Pradip Kalita with support from HDFC Parivartan and Citizens Foundation implemented the scientific practices and other farmers started suit to adopt these practices with the expectations of achieving higher yield and income. He has earned around Rs. 30000 /yr. He also states that “In near future more farmers will be encouraged to cultivate 0.5 acre horticulture plot for better agriculture outcomes and sustainability”. Presently The 0.5 Acre land of Pradip Kalita is a model for farmers in the village of Sauramuri, under Kamrup Rural Assam.

Solar Irrigation: Intervention

Solar irrigation is a revolutionary system for agriculture in Assam. This doesn’t require any fossil fuel or electricity that is why it is one of the most cost efficient irrigation facilities, it just needs some solar panels which collect the solar power and convert into electricity which run a submersible pump for pulling out underground water. In HRDP funded by HDFC Bank’s Parivartan established 6 nos. of solar powered irrigation system has been established in Hajo and Rangia block. Groups of farmers are running it to irrigate their land and collect a nominal amount of money from the water users for further maintenance of the system.

Outcome:

Total 160 farmers are getting irrigation facility with zero expenses. Now they can use their farmland in all seasons. Earlier before the intervention they were unable to do rabi crops and oilseed due to shortage of water in the season. They have now doubled their income through farming throughout the season. The cost of farming has also reduced due to less consumption of fuel or any other electrical power. It can irrigate almost 105 acres of land throughout the season. Lack of water and dependency on rain is no more a key issue for the cultivation in any season.

Education

Renovation of School

Rural Education and adequate infrastructure is on the top of the Government of India's priority list. In order to ensure greater participation of adolescence girls and boys in elementary education, Citizens Foundation in collaboration with HDFC Bank Parivartan has targeted for renovation of schools that can be easily accessed by the girls, separate toilets for girls, smart class, library, running water facility, mural painting and learning materials to accessibility of quality education. So far under HRDP project 2 nos. Schools and 5 nos. Anganwadi centre were renovated with basic amenities.

Observations and impact:

1. The school has sufficient teaching staff and provides a quality education to the students.
2. The school, after getting support from HDFC Bank has sufficient furniture, books and shelves.
3. Easily connect and advance learning opportunity with outside world through internet and smart class.
4. The developing the required infrastructure and facilities for the school is going to have far reaching impact on spreading the quality education amongst the students studying in the rural areas Schools.

Renovation of Anganwadi (Pre-school)

Citizens Foundation in collaboration with HDFC Bank PARIVARTAN decided to renovate 5 nos. of Anganwadi Cnetres in Rangia and Hajo development block for improvement of quality education through infrastructure development, roof sheet change, Hygiene toilet, Safe drinking water, Floor, cushion for comport sitting, ceiling for reduce heat, Mural painting for visual learning, fencing for protection of children’s and TLM for easy learning process more interesting.

Through this intervention there will be expectation there has been an increase in enrolment of children after the pandemic scenario. More than 150 childrens will be benefit from this ICDS centres. Rather than this the children were getting safety and joyful learning through TLM, and also accessible and approachable vicinity for women who are accessing to the ICDS.

Conducting Health Camps

Intervention: To Conduct Health Camps in the Project Villages.

Outcome: Conducted Annual Health Camps benefitting 860 beneficiaries at GPU Level by Health & family Welfare Department, Govt. of Sikkim, along with COVID response activities as per demand and convenience of Community.

Impact: Along with Physical Health checkup and COVID tests, people got mental health counselling as well which was an inevitable benefit for the community in the crisis of pandemic.

Value Addition in Anganwadi Centers

Intervention: To upgrade the infrastructure and interiors of Anganwadi ICDS and make it child friendly.

Outcome: Upgraded 6 Anganwadis in Project villages in civil work (repaired toilets, kitchen doors, water tanks, etc.,) and renovation of interiors making it child friendly.

Impact:Not only children but pregnant and lactating women got benefit of the renovation facilities.

Implementation of SCA to TSS and CCD Programme Mushroom Cultivation

Mushroom production is an important subject to Indian agricultural economy. Crop promoting and diversification is increasing employment opportunity. Mushroom has contains useful utility in reducing malnutrition and poverty. Apart from this, there is an important way to increase the income. In today’s changing economic environment and economic security because its production is based on agriculture remedies, it does not required sunlight and soil .In this cultivation, need for small capital and land in addition. Mushroom cultivation, need for small capital and land in addition. Mushroom cultivation will improve our socio economic condition of our farmers, Youth, Especially women’s and solve the unemployment problems of both literate and illiterate of the rural and semi urban area. After production of mushroom is goal manner convert into compost. In the past mushroom were often collected in forest and hilly area but today it is artificially made in more than 100 countries in the world including India. Various types of mushroom like button mushroom, Oyster Mushroom and Milky Mushroom etc milky mushroom etc. Are grown the level of business in India.

About the project:

This project is all about to identify to range of livelihood options persuade by the SHGs group with special references to Mushroom cultivation. Also improve agriculture technologies and practices to facilitation of market linkage for agricultural product.

Objective

Objective of the project to improve the Socio-economic condition of the farmers and village community in the district of Dumka, Godda & Sahibganj of Jharkhand. The project enhances income generating activities which can be under taken by Scheduled Tribes (STs) poor farmers/SHGs (Female) with resources at command. The main objective of the project will be for farmers and SHG groups of the women to reach economic self-reliance as entrepreneurs through income generation. At the same time, we also aim double the income the farmers/SHG. The main objective of the exercise is to present a small scale viable bankable model production unit using modern technology.

Outcome and impact

Beneficiaries were provided with 3 days training along with technical support, monitoring, counseling and exposure visit to mushroom farms. They learnt about the technique of mushroom production. All the necessary equipment including hand spray, mushroom bag, bamboo structure etc. were distributed for mushroom cultivation. They have been able to harvest two productions of mushroom with over 100 kg productions and sold the mushroom in the local market and earned approximately Rs 5,000 with only two productions. Women Entrepreneurs are now continuing with the production with acquired skills and resources and is planning to expand the production with their income. The intervention is directly contributing to income generation of 500+ women and all the potential women of 6 villages. These women are now recognized as entrepreneurs who are now selling value added products and earning a better income.