Dona Pattal
Dona Pattal
Prasana Iyengar- Coordinator
Chaupal Gramin Vikas Prashikshan Evam Shodh Sansthan is a voluntary organization based in Chhattisgarh state of India, working primarily with tribal communities. The organization registered in 2006 under the Societies Registration Act and under Foreign contribution regulation act since 2010. Chaupal works on a broad range of areas from village level monitoring of government’s schemes especially related to food, health and livelihood, community mobilization through awareness building around issues of tribal people related to livelihood, forest rights, nutrition and health and strengthening local governance. Documentation of field level work informs larger state and national level policy and advocacy that is done by the organization.
The project intends to improve income through up skilling and livelihood generation of adivasi and traditional forest dweller community in Surguja. This will be done through setting up a leaf plate manufacturing unit for 15 villages belonging to 6 revenue villages (gram panchayats) covering a population of about 8000. It would serve as a model sustainable rural enterprise for the local people. The local community would be up skilled from their present perennial vocation of Sal & Siali leaf collection to a collective of leaf stichers and leaf plate manufacturers as part of the project. Once established, the project activities would be expanded to 15 gram panchayats. Sustainability of the project has been accounted for at each step and this fund would act as a seed for future growth of the local community.
The proposed solution is distinct as machine stitching of leaf plates has been usually done with Siali leaves and the project is the first one to introduce it to Sal and Siali leaf. The innovation lies in creating nano stitching units which would become the feeder industry to an already existing leaf plate making industry (which is undergoing a sea change due to increased levels of mechanization and innovation). The solution envisaged is a modified input change that can lead to huge change in the employability and income levels of a large number of tribal rural women already involved in the trade.
The project intends to introduce a new product line and production technology for making strengthened Sal and Siali Leaf Plates. It intends to increase the income of the leaf plate collectors and stitchers by skilling them to make machine stitched leaf plates required for production of high quality strengthened Sal and Siali leaf plates. The project will be located in Batoli block of Surguja district of Chhattisgarh.
The project will extend for a period of 3 years. A total of 6 revenue villages (Gram panchayats) would be part of the project area in the first year. Members from 150 families would participate in leaf collection from the forest. These families would also be upskilled to perform leaf stitching using sewing machines. The families from marginalized communities will be a focus area. Leaf collection is a part time activity usually done by elderly, those with disease related infirmity and young adults. This activity will be supported as it forms an essential raw material for the leaf plate manufacturing unit. This will add to the yearly income of the households involved. After 3 years, 500-600 families from 15 villages would participate in leaf collection and leaf plate manufacturing work.
A cohort of 25 selected adults from these initial 150 families would be recruited as village fellows for training for the first 3 months after which they would be supported through the sales from the manufacturing unit. They would be engaged full time in leaf plate manufacturing, marketing and sales of leaf plates to wholesalers and retailers.
Household members from the remaining 125 households would be skilled in the project activity as part of community efforts in upskilling and livelihood generation.
The proposed solution is distinct as machine stitching of leaf plates has been usually done with Siali leaves and the project is the first one to introduce it to Sal and Siali leaf. The innovation lies in creating nano stitching units which would become the feeder industry to an already existing leaf plate making industry (which is undergoing a sea change due to increased levels of mechanization and innovation). The solution envisaged is a modified input change that can lead to huge change in the employability and income levels of a large number of tribal rural women already involved in the trade.
The project intends to introduce a new product line and production technology for making strengthened Sal and Siali Leaf Plates. It intends to increase the income of the leaf plate collectors and stitchers by skilling them to make machine stitched leaf plates required for production of high quality strengthened Sal and Siali leaf plates. The project will be located in Batoli block of Surguja district of Chhattisgarh.
The project will extend for a period of 3 years. A total of 6 revenue villages (Gram panchayats) would be part of the project area in the first year. Members from 150 families would participate in leaf collection from the forest. These families would also be upskilled to perform leaf stitching using sewing machines. The families from marginalized communities will be a focus area. Leaf collection is a part time activity usually done by elderly, those with disease related infirmity and young adults. This activity will be supported as it forms an essential raw material for the leaf plate manufacturing unit. This will add to the yearly income of the households involved. After 3 years, 500-600 families from 15 villages would participate in leaf collection and leaf plate manufacturing work.
A cohort of 25 selected adults from these initial 150 families would be recruited as village fellows for training for the first 3 months after which they would be supported through the sales from the manufacturing unit. They would be engaged full time in leaf plate manufacturing, marketing and sales of leaf plates to wholesalers and retailers.
Household members from the remaining 125 households would be skilled in the project activity as part of community efforts in upskilling and livelihood generation.
Thank you Prasana for advocating for the tribal people
