Sustainable Option for Uplifting Livelihood project (SOUL) is being implemented in 20 villages of Kutuli, Kumbhikota and Gumma Gram Panchayats of Rayagada District since 1st May, 2013. This project is being supported by Indo Global Social Service Society (IGSSS) New Delhi. The project goal is ” Vulnerable rural communities enhance their overall welling, through the adoption of diversified and climate resilient livelihoods/enterprise, advancements in their nutrition status and more sustainable use of their natural resource base.
The major objectives of this project are:
- Vulnerable marginalized rural families increase their income through adoption of sustainabale climate resilient land and non-land based livelihoods options and enterprise
- Rural families improve their nutritional status through community measures like access to safe drinking water, sanitation, hygiene practices and diet diversification.
- Community Based Organizations functions as self-sufficent, sustainable and democratic spaces for space for local participation in matters of rural livelihoods and development
The activities which have been taken under this project are:
- Formation and strengthen of village level farmers on organic way of farming
- Convergence program with the line department for linkage establishment
- Promotion of village level seed banks
- Orientation to the CBOs and SHGs members on processing and marketing on NTFP
- Demonstration of low cost drip irrigation model for vegetable cultivation
- Promotion and demonstration of clean cook stove
- Orientation and demonstration of kitchen garden/nutrition garden at individual and institution level
- Orientation to VAT/PRIs/SHG/women/adolescent girls on social and behavior change communication towards safe drinking water, sanitation and improved hygiene practices
- Tracking of Diet Diversity by orientation to VAT/PRIs/SHG/women/adolescent girls and youths
- Orientation and exchange of learning and experience among the Village Action Team (VAT) members
- Block level interface meeting with line department
- Documentation on Climate Change impact