Seven Sisters Development Assistance

0 | P a g e

Annual Activity report

of the

Seven Sisters Development Assistance (SeSTA)

(2011 -2012)

Seven Sisters Development Assistance

Seven Sisters Development Assistance

1 | P a g e

Content Governing Board 02

Chapter-I: Introduction 03

Chapter-II: Our Work 04

Chapter-III: Our Outreach 05

Chapter-IV: Our Major Programme 06

Promotion of Peoples Institutions

Promotion of System of Rice Intensification

Promotion of improve Maize Cultivation

Promotion of Minor irrigation works

Strengthening Traditional Water Harvesting Structures

Chapter-V: Overview of outcomes of our interventions 08

Chapter-VI: Auditor’s Report 09

Seven Sisters Development Assistance

2 | P a g e

Governing Board

Prof.(Dr.) D.C. Goswami

Chairperson Former Head, Dept. of Environmental Sc.

Gauhati University

Dr. Amiya Sharma

Vice-Chairperson Executive Director, RGVN

Mr. Sarat Ch. Das Treasurer CEO, Grameen Sahara

Dr. H.C. Bhattacharyya

Member Director, Extension Education

Assam Agriculture University

Mr. Mumai Pheiga

Member Secretary, Development and Relief

Department , RNBA

Mrs. Hemalata Devi

Member Retd. Vice Principal, Bongaigaon College

Prof.(Dr.) Mukulesh Barua

Member Principal

Girijananda Chowdhoury Institute of

Management & Technology(GIMT)

Dr. Homeswar Kakati

Member Associate Professor, Dept of Physics,

B Barooah Collage

Mr. Aswini Bhattacharjya

Staff Nominee Executive Director, SeSTA

Mr. Parag Boruah

Staff Nominee Director, Strategy & Programme, SeSTA

Advisory Board

Mr. Achintya Gosh Advisor Programme Director, PRADAN

Seven Sisters Development Assistance

3 | P a g e

Chapter-I: Introduction

Seven Sisters Development Assistance (SeSTA) is an evolving professionally managed development

organisation in Northeast India. The idea of SeSTA is conceived by a group of young development

professionals and is registered under Societies Registration Act, 1860 in the year 2011 to catalyse

development activities in NE-India though the process of “Nirman” (constructive development) by

working for improved livelihood system and better wellbeing status of rural community of the North

Eastern States of India.

SeSTA pronounced ‘Chesta’- literally means ‘effort’ in Assamese. So, SeSTA is conceived to put

effort as catalyst for economic development of the NE- India by building capabilities of poor

communities, promoting and strengthening their institutions so that they could come out the vicious

cycle of contested identity war, poverty and able to participate in the global economy. Professional

Assistance for Development Action (PRADAN), a National level NGO supporting the initiative of

SeSTA with financial assistance from Sir Dorabji Tata Trust (SDTT), Mumbai.

SeSTA believe that the active participation of every citizen irrespective of their cast, religion and

ethnicity with a sense of equality and democracy is crucial for sustainable development. In this

process of development SeSTA play a role of facilitator to bring such change with a group of well

educated, pro-poor, caring and sensible professionals. Accelerating the process of transformation from

illbeing to wellbeing with equity, with interventions to enhance wellbeing of the poor community of

the rural areas of NE-India by strengthening their present livelihood is core focus of SeSTA.

Vision of SeSTA

SeSTA envisages a vibrant, democratic and developed society with peace and harmony where every

citizen is empowered and lives a dignified life.

Mission of SeSTA

Catalyzing inclusive and sustainable development in NE-India by enhancing capabilities of

the rural communities.

Major objectives of SeSTA

To accelerate inclusive and sustainable growth in the NE-India by improving

agriculture and allied activities through providing techno managerial guidance

To encourage, strengthen and improve traditional livelihood system in NE-India by

providing technical support in the field of Integrated Farming System (IFS),

sericulture (muga, mulberry, eri) activity, handloom and handicrafts

To promote and strengthen People’s Institution in the field of microenterprises and

small scale industries in the rural areas.

To promote and strengthen people’s institution that reinforces the positive forces of

cooperation, transparency, equity, justice and responsible citizenship.

To provide comprehensive set of rural development services by developing and

promoting appropriate prototypes, designs and technologies related to development of

rural communities, to test their application in the ground, and to act as resource centre

on such matters.

Seven Sisters Development Assistance

4 | P a g e

Chapter-II: Our Work

SeSTA is come into exist for catalysing development activities in NE-India by working for improved

livelihood system and better wellbeing status of rural community of the North Eastern States of India.

To achieve the objectives of SeSTA, our major focus are-

Promote and strengthen People’s Institution

SeSTA promotes and strengthens people’s institution like women Self Help Group(SHG)s,

Farmers group(FG)s, Federate bodies of SHG and FGs and Producers’ Institutions that

reinforces the positive forces of cooperation, transparency, equity, justice and responsible

citizenship. SeSTA also works with existing village level institutions like Gram

Panchayat(GP) and other social forums.

Strengthen and Improve Rural Livelihoods System

For improving rural livelihood, SeSTA works on the three pillars of livelihood triangle-

People, Resource and Activity. SeSTA belief that change could be sustainable when we

bringing change on ‘being level’ of individuals for it SeSTA’s major focus of building

capabilities through training and handholding supports. Managing natural resources in an

integrated way is important for the sustainability of rural livelihood. In this regards SeSTA

works of improvement of soil health, water management and conservation of natural

resources. In case of livelihoods activities, SeSTA provide services like- scientific

understanding of the activity and economical sustainability.

Seven Sisters Development Assistance

5 | P a g e

Chapter-III: Our Outreach

North-East India is the operational area of SeSTA. At present SeSTA is working directly in

Chirang and Bongaigaon district and indirectly in Nalbari, Baska, Gaolpara and Dhubri districts of

Assam.

SeSTA works with rural communities of the NE-India to build their capabilities for strengthening

their livelihoods. SeSTA’s main target communities are ST, SC and OBC families living in rural

areas. At present SeSTA is working with the Bodo and Santhal communities living in BTAD area,

minority community living in char area (flood affected area) and Koch rajbanshi community of Lower

Assam rgion. Most of our target community belongs to BPL families. Our major focus is women, so

by our approach we enter into the community through women SHGs.

68%

11%

7%

14%

Demographic details of SHG members

OBC

ST

SC

Others

Number of District 6

Number of Block 9

Number of GP /VCDC 31

Number of Woman SHGs 108

Number of Farmers Groups 57

Number of SHG members 1347

Numbers of Farmers 4234

Seven Sisters Development Assistance

6 | P a g e

Chapter-IV: Our Major Programme

3.1 Promotion of Peoples Institutions

SeSTA promotes and strengthens people’s institution that

reinforces the positive forces of cooperation, transparency,

equity, justice and responsible citizenship. Under this

programme last year SeSTA promoted 108 Self Help

Group (SHG)s and 57 farmers group (FG) in Bongaigaon

and Chirang districts. These SHGs and FGs were formed

and nurtured with the support of Professional Assistance

for Development Action (PRADAN). SeSTA played a

role of a facilitator under this programme. All financial

expenditure was made by PRADAN.

3.2 Promotion of System of Rice Intensification

SeSTA with the support of PRADAN and SDTT,

Mumbai is introducing SRI methods of rice cultivation

with small and marginal farmers. The all expenditure

incurred in the programme directly made by the

PRADAN or by the partner organisations. In the last

khariff season, SeSTA assisted 893 farmers directly 554

farmers through other partner organisations (Total 1447

farmers). In ongoing summer paddy SeSTA directly

working with 777 farmer and indirectly with 1880

farmers in six district of Assam (total 2657 farmers)

3.3 Promotion of improve Maize Cultivation

SeSTA is promoted improved maize cultivation by

applying SRI principles with 98 farmers in 5 villages of

Bongaigaon district. The expenditure incurred in this

activity was directly made by PRADAN. SeSTA

provides training support to the farmers.

3.4 Promotion of Minor irrigation works

Under the promotion of minor irrigation work to increase

the irrigation area, SeSTA with PRADAN installed 11

numbers of STW and 1 well and distributed 25 numbers of

pump set with could easily ensure irrigation nearly 50 ha

land. The expenditure incurred in this programme is directly

made by PRADAN.

Seven Sisters Development Assistance

7 | P a g e

3.5 Strengthening Traditional Water Harvesting

Structures

SeSTA with PRADAN renovated one traditional water

harvesting structure dong which is diversion based

irrigation system in the land near to small hills. This

worked was carried out in Boitamari village. The

renovation of this structure ensure khariff paddy around

100 acres of paddy land. The expenditure incurred in this

project is directly made by PRADAN, SeSTA worked as a

facilitating agency for this work.

5.6 Conducted awareness programme on SRI

5.6.1 Harvest Festival and Krisak Samaroh

SeSTA organised four Harvest Festival and Krisak

Samaroh in four different blocks of Bongaigaon and

Chirang district in collaboration with PRADAN and

farmers groups to create awareness among the farmers on

SRI methods of paddy cultivation. The expenditure

incurred in this programme is made by PRADAN and

from contribution of farmers.

5.6.2 District level Workshop

Three district level workshop were organised by SeSTA in

Bongaigaon, Nalbari and Dhubri with the finalcial support

from PRADAN. The major objective of these workshop

was to create awareness on SRI method of paddy

cultivation among the different stakeholders of the district.

5.6.3 State level Workshop

On state level workshop on “Agriculture in Assam: SRI and

Issues for sustainability” was organised jointly by SeSTA,

RGVN and Actionaid on 20th March at Guwahati. This

programme was supported by PRADAN and SDTT,

Mumbai. Participants from different government, NGOs

and academic and research institute participated in the

workshop. The major objective of this workshop was to

discuss the issues related to agriculture in Assam and share

experiences of promoting SRI methods of paddy cultivation

among the participants.

Seven Sisters Development Assistance

8 | P a g e

Chapter-V: Overview of outcomes of our interventions

SeSTA in support of PRADAN able organised 1347 women into 108 Self Help Group (SHG)s. These

SHGs able to mobilise nearly 12 lakhs of savings from the members. Out of these 108 groups 52

groups open their saving accounts in respective banks. Membership trainings were conducted for

the 60 percent SHGs. 4 cluster level federations were formed and SHGs. SRI and improved vegetable

cultivation was promoted in the SHGs to strengthen the livelihood of the SHG members.

4104 families were covered under the SRI promotion activity. 78 percent of the farmers got more

than 3.5 ton paddy yield per hectare which is 1.5 times more than their conventional productivity.

One maize cluster is developing in Bongaigaon district of Assam through our intervention in maize.

98 household adopted maize as a cash crop in the area, the crop is under growing stage. A good

impact is created among the nearby villagers.

Seven Sisters Development Assistance

9 | P a g e

Chapter-VI: Auditor’s Report