BORBEEL (NAGAON), Aug 13 - With an aim to uplift the socio-economic status of around 400 families, an integrated tribal development project was launched here on Thursday. Supported by the NABARD, this project, which is the first of its kind in the North East, will cover a total of 16 villages under the Borpathar Gaon Panchayat of the Kathiatoli Development Block in Nagaon district.
What is significant about this project is that the beneficiaries can expect the dividends within three months by undertaking agri-related activities.
The area endowed with the bounties of nature is not yet developed due to lack of connectivity and necessary intervention by the government agencies. Dominated by Bodo, Karbi, Rabha and Garo communities, the livelihood options are very limited and since the families opt for only one cultivation annually, they are economically weak.
However, within the confines of their thatched houses, the tribal families weave dreams of a beautiful future for their children. So this project, which is being implemented by Kalong Kapili, a society for rural development, has come as a viable option for these families to improve their living standards and ensure a promising future for their children.
Under this project which is an integrated approach towards economic sustainability, the families will be involved in fishery, pig farming, local layer farming, agriculture and horticulture which are the main components of the project.
"The land of the project area is contiguous but due to lack of irrigation facilities, the land is not used in the winter season. So in the project, there are also provisions for soil conservation and water resource management,� said Jyotish Talukdar of Kalong Kapili. He added that the families have evinced a keen interest in going for multiple cropping as some crops can be harvested within a short span.
�Our target is to enable a harvest within three months of the implementation of this project,� said Talukdar, adding that other issues such as women development, capacity building and community health would also be looked into.
Launching the project at a function held here, AP Sandilya, NABARD CGM, urged the people to work hard and avail of the opportunities to improve their economic condition. He said that the NABARD was looking towards implementing more such projects in the region for the development of the tribal communities.
�There is need for intervention in such areas and we are confident that with enhanced productivity and market linkage, there is going to be an economic resurgence in the area,� said Sandilya, adding that the NABARD�s contribution was a grant of Rs 198.96 lakh. There is a loan component of Rs 30 lakh.
The function was also attended by Ranjit Kumar, AGM, NABARD, Pranjal Sarma, District Fisheries Development Officer, DJ Sarma, Fishery Officer, Meen Bhawan, S Sarma, Project Officer, AACP, Khanapara, Babul Bora, former RM of the AGVB, Guwahati Region, and others.
