Society to Uplift Rural Economy

(SURE)

Organisational Profile

SOCIETY TO UPLIFT RURAL ECONOMY (SURE)

Post Box No. 29, Gurudwara Road, Barmer (Rajasthan) – 344 001
Phone : 02982-230865, 230801, 221026 Email : surebmr@rediffmail.com

Society to Uplift Rural Economy (SURE)

Foreword
It all started when Padamshree Shri Magraj Jain, a noted social worker of Barmer district of
Rajasthan, started his carrier as a teacher and retired from Central Govt. Service as Regional
Coordinator of Nehru Yuva Kendra and took lead in founding this NGO called the “Society to Uplift
Rural Economy” popularly known as SURE.

Shri Jain was moved to see the plight of rural poor in Barmer district and took pledge to work for
the empowerment and upliftment of the vulnerable and marginalized people living in the
countryside of the district. SURE, under the able and dynamic leadership of Shri Jain decided to
develop sustainable models for the deprived lot inhabiting desert villages. Barmer district suffer
heavily because of inhospitalities and vagaries of climate culminating into recurrent droughts.
The obvious result is that Barmer is the most backward district in the country reeling under
poverty, illiteracy and cast and gender discrimination.

Ever since SURE came into being some 13 years ago we took up projects supported by the
Government and Non Governmental agencies to implement development health, income
generation, nature resource management, livestock improvement, conservation of biodiversity in
situ and the like. SURE is of firm belief that the development efforts must be propoor and pro-
environment if holistic development of human nature is to be achieved. SURE has been
successful in involving people in planning and implementation wherein people’s science and new
technologies coupled successfully to achieve desired results. SURE made especial efforts to
maintain dignity of poor people especially backward class women by awakening and involving
them on different fronts, which we consider paramount in any developing society.

SURE was fortunate to have had support received from a large number of administrators,
technocrats, activists and social workers including late Sanjay Gosh who strengthened SURE’s
foundation through action.

Madan Lal Singhal

Advocate
Chairman, SURE
From the Desk of the Secretary…….

It is a matter of great pleasure for me to share with you the organizational profile of SURE. This
report brings out the activities of the organization carried out in the last 13 years.

SURE has taken several new initiatives in the field of handicrafts, health, community based
rehabilitation and sanitation with support from different agencies. As a result, the geographical
coverage of the organization has increased manifold as the organization now covers the entire
Chohtan Block, half of Shiv Panchayat Samiti and Dhorimanna of Barmer district and Sam Block of
Jaisalmer district.

SURE has started a resource cum information Centre at Chohtan to provide all kinds of
development and legal information to the community. However, SURE does not see its role
merely to provide information but to go further and support the marginalized sections in
receiving their due. Another important effort on the part of SURE has been to create a separate
identity for Block Level Committee formed to take up issues at the Block level. Block Level
Committee has been renamed as Thar Jagruk Manch with its management entirely in the hands
of the community.

The highlight of the last year has been the successful completion of the Ballika Shivir for the
adolescent girls who had completely lost track of education. The camp, of six-month duration,
concluded in August 2002 with 95 girls completing the camp successfully. SURE has started
another similar Shivir in September 2002 in our field at Ramsar.

The most striking achievement was successful completion of Blind residential camp for the blind
and low vision children. This camp was of seven months duration, concluded on 31st March 2004.
14 such blind children were educated through Braill script and given mobility orientation.
Organisation is also striving for their socio-economic rehabilitation, till now 4 such persons are
economically rehabilitated.

I would like to acknowledge the self less effort of our staff and volunteers, who overcame
numerous odds in their service to the community members of Barmer.

I would also like to thank our Chairman, Board members, funding partners, partner NGOs and
district administration for their support and guidance.

Magraj Jain
Founder & Honorary Secretary, SURE
Society to Uplift Rural Economy (SURE) has came in to being in the year 1990 & it
is the result of inspiration of late Sanjay Ghosh and the aspiration of Padmashree
Magraj Jain to work for the rural suffering masses at large in this border desert district
of Rajasthan. This organisation has been working with strong believes and
commitment to work for the socio-economic upliftment and to enforce self-
dependency by improving the livelihood conditions of the rural poor, especially rural
artisans & relentlessly working with these masses and artisans, helping them in
getting the recognition of their work and culture.

The organisation is working in the Barmer and Jaisalmer districts of Rajasthan, which
are situated on Indo-Pak border. Our focus areas are Livelihood, Income Generation,
Natural Resource Management, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Education, Health,
Women Development and socio-economic rehabilitation of blinds/ physically
challenged persons as well as poor community. The Meghwals, Bhils (Dalit
Community) and the migrants form Pakistan are the major target groups of the
organisation.

SURE’s Vision is a society where

♦ All social and economic relationships must be non exploitative
♦ There is a ‘just’ social order
♦ Women are empowered
♦ There is opportunity for the downtrodden to develop by their own
efforts

SURE’s Mission is
To work for sustainable development of the villages and the
improvement in quality of life of deprived people (tribal, SC and other
backward communities, especially women of all castes and class)
through capacity building and appropriate programme interventions.

Goal
To ensure the participation of the poor and marginalized in the
development process through collective decision making and
development of democratic leadership within the ambit of local
community institutions and Panchayati Raj Institutions and to ensure
that the process of development is sustainable.
 A brief glimpse of projects undertaken by the SURE :

Sl. Support About the Project Nature of work/

No Programme Agencies Achievements
1. Krishi Vigyan ICAR, New TOT programme in Adoption of new and locally
Kendra Delhi agriculture, Animal viable agricultural seeds,
husbandry, Home 4000 farmers benefited,
science and other self- Invention of RM-40
employment initiatives. improved variety pulse
2 Upgradation, Intercooperati It is to restore, preserve 1609 F-1 progeny, 13
Preservation on and promote the service giving bulls in 13
and indigenous Tharparkar villages, 13-breeder
breed of cattle with due association and 8 women
Improvement of
emphasis on groups are actively
Tharparkar regeneration of involved, 95 scrub bulls are
Cattle Breed in commons. castrated and 75 bulls are
Barmer shifted.
3 Rajasthan CASA An integrated rural Organisation of SCs/STs
Development development program communities in thrift group,
Project creating village level
infrastructures
4 An Integrated Action Aid An integrated rural Community mobilization &
Rural development program their capacity building,
development NFEs, training to mid wives,
project 55 SHGs of men and
women, facilitating in
creating village
development funds etc.
5 KHOJ Project VHAI Provision of Health Treatment & Vaccination to
Services in border pregnant and infants,
villages community mobilisation,
promotion of homeopathic
medicines.
6 Craft Development To help the traditional 600 artisan are associated
Development Commissione handicraft worker in with the regular income
Centre r (H), New restoring this culture generation programme
Delhi
7 Lok Jumbish & Programme To help the children Environment building in 47
Shiksha Karmi of Govt. of who are not going to village and formation of
Rajasthan school and the drop prerak dal in 39 village,
outs with only aim to adolescent girls forum in 14
help them in linking villages
them with the formal
educational system
8 Emergency Save the To help the drought Proving wage employment,
Drought Relief children affected persons/ water, supplementary
Programme community nutrition, construction of
(Temporary tanks and tanklis,
project) agricultural support.
9 Agricultural Agriculture It is mainly to focus the Extension services have
Extension Ministry, need of the farmer to been provided to the
Project Govt. of India practice the low cost villagers by organising
technology farming several demonstration prog.
practices and imparting and farm day.
awareness about these
technologies
10 Women Science and To empower the women Training has been imparted
Technology Technology of the rural area by to women based on their
Centre Ministry, providing multiple need need in farm & non-farm
Govt. of based training activities, establishment of
India. computer centre for women
11 Baba Saheb Development For promotion of micro Formation of 33 SHG groups
 Hastya Shilpa Commissione enterprise in handicraft and linkage with banks,
Vikas Yojna, r (H), organising skill Upgradation
Ministry of training and design
Textile, GOI development workshop.
12 Water and Department It aims on awareness Practice of safe drinking
sanitation of Science generation for the safe water and maintaining the
project and drinking water and village clean
Technology, other health disorder
GOI
13 Community Sight Saver It is especially for the 500 cataract patients are
Based International people who are operated, 35 blind has been
Rehabilitation , Mumbai suffering from the eye orientated for taking up all
disorder. his daily activities, ensuring
project for blind
community participation for
people organising eye screening
camp, Blind residential
camps for blind children.
14 Community Cairn Energy It is an integrated Community awareness &
Development India limited community mobilisation to facilitate the
Programme for (CEIL) development program. process of linking them with
the integrated govt. programme,
development of encouraging youths to take
the poor up self-employment
activity.
15 Sheep rearing RURAL Non Breed improvement of 10 SHGs has been formed
and breed up Farm the indigenous sheep and effort is being made to
gradation Development develop these groups in the
Agencies form of cooperative and
Programme
(RUDA), capacity building to them.
Jaipur
16 Dalit and women Christian Aid It is an integrated Dalit Jagruk Samiti Has
Development community been formed of 20 villages
development program and these are acting as
pressure group for govt.
schemes and Dalit rights.
17 Food Security Dan Chruch Advocacy against food Village level committees
Programme Aid rights have been formed in 20
projects villages.These
committees are working as
pressure group for govt.
schemes like ICDS,PDS
Anganwaadi,NREGA etc.
18 Dairy Cairn Energy Pilot Project undertaken We have formed milk
Development India Pty. by Cairn and IFC and producers cooperative
Programme Ltd. implementing partner society in 13 villages and
and SURE for the established computerised
International development of Dairy milk collection centers in 13
Finance cooperative society in villages to generate income
Cooperation 20 villages for rural poor and three
(World Bank) society have been linked
with SARAS (Govt Diary)
 A brief of the issues and activities, which SURE has undertaken

Livelihood

A. Income generation programme

There are very less income generation opportunities are available at the village and distinct level. Among the
major sources of livelihood agriculture, livestock, handicraft and agricultural wage labour are the prominent. In
livelihood sector our organisation has been giving due emphasis since its inception. Organisation has very clear
understanding on this aspect for the selection of beneficiaries. Organisation has been doing handicraft work
with SC women by organising them in to thrift groups. These groups either supported through giving job work of
handicraft or by giving them credit support. Few of the groups are also trained in vocational courses like
stitching, vermin-composting, vegetable cultivation etc. The inhabitants of this area has to continuously face the
drought situations affecting their prime source of livelihood i.e. agriculture therefore organisation intends to link
more and more marginalised persons with these activities, which could be termed as best coping mechanism at
a given point of time and space. Some of the initiatives as a part of the income generation programme could be
summarized below:

I. Self Help Groups

SURE has endeavored to organise the women, belonging to Meghwal community, a Schedule Caste group,
into Self-Help Groups (SHGs). In total 150 SHGs with the membership of around 2000 women have been
formed in 90 villages of Chohtan, Shiv, Sindhri and Barmer Blocks in the last seven years. Till date, the total
savings of the women members amount to over Rs 3 lakhs. The remarkable achievement of the programme
has been inculcating the sense of self-dependency among the women who are now well versed with the
banking procedures and are operating the bank account of their own. These groups are mainly thrift groups and
members are involved in saving and credit activities. The income generation programme of SURE revolves
around these groups.

II. Handicraft Programme

The simplicity of the desert, the colorless landscape is balanced by the brilliant range of the colors found in the
textiles and crafts of Rajasthan. The color and vibrancy of Rajasthan extend in to the embroidery as well.
Meghwal women, especially the migrants from Pakistan, are known for their traditional skill of embroidery and
patchwork. The wealth of the stitchery, motifs and Design, is spread across the state, each region and
community practicing its own style. Appliqué is also used extensively in Rajasthan mainly for canopies, friezes
and Quilt.
Even after their skills are commercialized but artisan gets not more than 8% of the price. Because this is very
unorganized sector the middlemen are pocketing most of the profits. By realizing all these facts organisation
has pledged to get their due and continuously working with them and helping them in recognizing their art and
fair wage.
Traders and intermediaries, who used to exploit them by paying them pittance for their intricate work, market
mostly their products. SURE started working with these women artisans to upgrade their traditional skills and
provide them with regular employment at fair wages. This also brought them name and fame to the outside
world. SURE has been able to support around 600 artisans and sell handicraft products worth around Rs 93
lakhs. Out of which SURE has provided wages to the tune of Rs 22 lakhs by the end of March 2004. Efforts
have also been made to develop the entrepreneurial skills among the women by providing them intensive
trainings and organising exposure visits to the markets. From time to time organisation organises design
development workshop to provide them new design inputs and other necessary skills to enable them in making
market oriented products. They are quite often taken to the exhibitions also to interact with the buyers for who
they produces the items. All these help in boosting their moral and doing better than before.

III. Credit Support

Recognizing the fact that credit is a major bottleneck of all the economic developmental activities SURE has
been providing credit for agricultural inputs, asset creation and enterprise development on regular basis. A sum
total of Rs 30 lakhs has been provided to around 600 families of Schedule Caste and schedule Tribe, who are
organised in the form of Self Help Groups (SHGs). The credit programme is undertaken with the support from
Action Aid, India and Voluntary Health Association of India. SURE has handed over Rs. 35 Lakh all those
amount, which were given as loan to different group as a revolving fund for Gram Kosh, Yuva Kosh, and Mahila
Kosh. Then these groups are also motivated to take assistance from banks also.
 Agriculture & Animal Husbandry:

I. Krishi Vigyan Kendra and Transfer of Technology:

SURE has established Krishi Vigyan Kendra in the year 1992-93 in Barmer district with support from
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to promote appropriate technologies in agriculture in
this drought prone district. Krishi Vigyan Kendra attempts to build capacities and provide exposure to the
farmers of the region as well as transfer of technologies from laboratory to field. Several agro- based
technological innovations have been made in the field for greater production such as RM-40, a improved
variety of Moth(Pulses). Till date, around 4000 farmers have been trained in modern agricultural practices
and many farmers have got benefited from first-line and other demonstrations. Apart from this, Women
Technology Centre, a new initiative focusing women empowerment has been taken up to revive the
indigenous medicinal plants and to impart computer training to them.

II. Upgradation & Conservation of Tharparkar breed of cattle in Chohtan and Sheo block of
Barmer district :

Cattle rearing is the second most activity after agriculture in this drought prone area. Geographically, this
district is fourth largest in Rajasthan and hence a significant amount of land comes under pasture, which
has facilitated in possessing large no. of livestock. Earlier this area was famous for the great Tharparkar
Breed (an indigenous breed of cattle) and was catering the livelihood of most of the inhabitants. But over
the period of time this breed degraded due to mis management and individualistic decision making of the
persons. Realising the importance of this breed organisation has managed to influence Intercooperation
and now SURE is implementing a project on conservation and upgradation of Tharparkar breed of cattle
with support from Intercooperation.

Tharparkar, an indigenous breed of cattle, is highly suitable for the area given the fact that it is a dual-
purpose breed, its milk yield is high and it has high resistance to heat and disease. However, due to
recurrent droughts and erosion of traditional management systems, this breed is at the verge of
extinction. The project aims to revive this breed in 15 villages. Ensuring high level of community
participation we are implementing this project. Organisation has formed breeders association in all the
respective villages and 8 mahila mandals are also formed to ensure their participation. Although breed
improvement demands very large gestation period, organisation stepped in with four years of constant
support from IC/ SDC. The first phase has been remarkable, we have got approximately 1609 F-1
progeny. Regular treatment and vaccination has also contributed significantly in achieving this stage.
 Group organization

SURE believes that any development intervention could only leads to a success when there are effective
and strong village institutions. Keeping this objective, different types of groups have been formed such as
youth groups, women groups, Prerak dals, village health committees, village level health committees,
breeder association etc. to take up different activities with people participation and for the successful
implantation of the programme so that sustainability of the programme could be assured. These groups
are given necessary inputs to look after the activities by their own.

A. Youth groups: Youth groups have been formed in the villages where organisation has been
working and they are capacitated to take up village developmental activities and to have watch
on the ongoing activities of govt. and voluntary organisations.

B. SHG: Formation of self-help group has been the part of women empowerment and 165 such
groups are already in existence.

C. Prerak dal For the successful implementation of the educational activities in the villages. This
group monitors the ongoing different activities.

D. Village health committee: For the promotion of the health programmes in the villages and to
monitor the different activities in the village related to the health issues organisation has formed
these groups.

E. Thar Jagruk Nagrik Manch: Organisation has facilitated a process of organising village youths
belonging to SC community at the Tehsil level. This manch having the representation of youth
groups and women SHGs. This group is actively working at Tehsil level for creating pressure of
the govt. delivery system so that marginalised people could not left from the benefits.

F. Breeder association: For the promotion of the Tharparker breed in their own villages. These
associations take care of the pure variety of the bulls, which has already been given in the
villages and watch all other ongoing activities at the village level.
 Health

A. Malaria control:
The desert district of Barmer, along with Jaisalmer, is endemic to malaria. The Indian Council of
Medical Research (ICMR), which has undertaken a critical research of the Thar region after the
outbreak of malaria in 1994, found this zone to be highly vulnerable to Plasmodium falciparum(PF).
The malaria outbreak in 1994 affected the entire district and resulted in great loss of lives. SURE
mobilized all possible resources to halt the menace of this dreaded disease in 40 border villages. Blood
slides were taken on the spot and testing was done immediately. 855 cases were found to be positive
and these patients were provided with free medical treatment.

B. Linkages with DOTS programme

The growing incidence of T.B. has been serious threat to this area. Mostly the border areas of the
district are very much prone to this disease. Furthermore, unawareness among the masses about this
communicable disease and increased rate of defaulters doubly intensifies the situation. Therefore
organisation has been continuously involved in spreading awareness among them by organising
identification & treatment camps. Further our field staff also interacts with the villagers and discusses
the same. Organisation has managed to open a homeopathic hospital where sputum testing is done
which helps us in linking the identified patients with the govt. DOTS programme.

C. Addressing the issue of high infant mortality and maternal mortality

SURE has attempted to address the concern of high infant and maternal mortality and morbidity rates.
Around 200 Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs), belonging to 80 villages, were trained and provided
with kits to conduct safe deliveries. Regular follow-up is being done to monitor the work being done by
these TBAs. Immunization of mother and child is being undertaken regularly in 18 villages of Chohtan
block.

D. Training to Midwives
Midwives are the primary health actors at the village level to attend the pregnant ladies and infant born.
Therefore the crucial issues involved in it are the capacity building of the midwives and remuneration
that they get from benefiting household. It has been observed that midwives (commonly called Dais)
are untrained and getting very less remuneration for this arduous work. Looking on to these facts
organisation has started imparting training to these midwives and spreading awareness about their
importance at the village level.

E. Community based rehabilitation programme for blind

Health has been ever felt need of the poor and due to carelessness and avoiding the preventive
measures many of them succumbed to the different kinds of disorders and blindness is one of them
consequently. Focusing to the blind people due to cataract, cases has been identified and get them
operated so that they can see again this world. Those who are permanent blind, attempt has been
made to make them capable so that they could not depend on other for their need.

F. Health camp
Recognizing the importance of curative services SURE has been regularly organising eye, women
health as well as other camps for the people in Chohtan block of Barmer district.

G. Homeopathic hospital
SURE is running a homeopathic hospital in the village R.B. Ki Gaffan. This village is one of the remote
villages in the border area and out of all basic amenities. Around 18000 villagers are benefiting from
this hospital.

H. Water and sanitation programme

Safe drinking water and hygienic living condition plays a major role for having good health. It has
proved that most of the infectious disease is caused due to contaminated drinking water and poor
hygiene of surrounding areas.

SURE has taken initiatives for ensuring safe drinking water and has been trying to create awareness in
masses for better hygienic condition. The project has been implemented with the support from
department of science and technology in which organisation has constructed 40 toilets and same no. of
bathrooms to enable the women folk to protect them from embarrassing situations. Our effort was to
have a significant change in the attitude of the people and was successfully done. School going
children and other awareness generation method has helped in mobilizing the common masses to
adopt this technology. Several garbage pits are drugged to help the masses in putting all their waste
material in those pits.
 Education

A. Balika shivir
The most remarkable achievement of SURE in past year has been the organisation and management of a
six-month non-formal residential education camp for the girls in the age group of 8 to 14 years. The
camp was organised only for those girls who had completely missed out on education. These girls
either because of gender biasness or because of hectic household work missed out primary education,
which thought to be the basic right of human beings. SURE, organise these girls and provide six month
educational training in a residential camp. Camps were run with the following objective:

a) To provide quality education equivalent to level of Std III and Std V to different girls.
b) To create awareness regarding health, hygiene and the various aspects related to adolescents.
c) To build self-confidence among girls. This would involve providing practical knowledge and
exposure and focus on overall personality development of the children.
95 girls completed the six-month camp, out of which 51 girls completed education equivalent to Std V
and the remaining 44 attained the level of education of Std III. All these girls have joined mainstream
education.

B. Lok Jumbish Programme:

SURE has been implementing this educational project in two clusters of Barmer district. It involves
formation of Prerak Dals and Mahila Samuh in 120 villages of Barmer.

C. Marushala (Desert School)

Marushala are centers for a quality education among children of age group 6-14 years. Marushala were
being rung in distant two hamlets and benefiting 175 children. The most remarkable achievement of this
programme has been the increase in enrolment and retention rate of the girl child. Community itself is
managing this school.

D. Maushmi chhatravas
Migration is one of coping mechanism of the villager in this drought prone area of Barmer district.
During drought condition villagers migrates to some other place in search of work. Due to migration,
children remain left out of the education for 3-4 months. To continue their education SURE has been
organizing the Maushmi Chhatravas for the retention of the children so that their education continues.
Children stay in the chhatravas until their parents do not come back.

E. Balwari centre (Baby Crèche):

Balwari centre is being running by SURE for the children of age group 3-6 years to prepare them for
formal education. Around 350 children are currently benefiting from the Balwari centre.
 Human Resource Development

A. Training (Community)
Organisation has huge human resources for imparting various trainings to the stakeholders and these
persons are utilised during imparting trainings.

1. Training of Birth Attendants (Dais):

SURE has attempted to address the concern of high infant and maternal mortality and morbidity
rates. Around 200 Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs), belonging to 80 villages, were trained and
provided with kits to conduct safe deliveries. Regular follow-up is being done to monitor the work
being done by these TBAs. Immunization of mother and child is being undertaken regularly in 18
villages of Chohtan block.

2. Training of Women for SHGs (Self Help Groups)

Several SHGs has been formed and training has been imparted to them so as they can maintain
their record and cashbook of the daily or monthly activities. Training was given on inculcating
leadership qualities among women.

3. Youth group
Youth have great potential in bringing about the social change. Therefore, to enhance their
capacity, training has been imparted to them on different issues related to their community to raise
their voice against atrocities.

4. Breeder association
Breeder association is the group of the villagers who are interested to improve their breed of cow.
To build up their capacity of the breeder association training has been imparted to them so as they
can maintain the pure breed of the Tharparkar which is handed over to the community and to take
up preventives and curative measure to protect their cows from any loss due to disease and
carelessness.

B. Exposure visit (Community/Staff)

Exposure visit has been the part of the human resource development and SURE perceived that it has been
the eye opening moment for the community. Members of different groups have visited to different
organization carrying out the similar activities.

Information Centre

Government of Rajasthan has given right to people to take information legally. Recognizing the opportunity,
SURE has taken initiative to provide the information to the villager by setting up information centre at
Chohtan block. Purpose of this centre is that villagers of Chohtan block benefited by getting information
about the various government programmes, which has been meant for the benefit of the poor. Organisation
also provides legal assistance to the needy person as and when required.
 Panchayati Raj Institution (PRIs)

Recognizing the opportunity provided by the 73rd Amendment to the Constitution, which ushered in
Panchayat Raj with statutory powers, SURE has initiated the process of linking all its development
programme with Panchayat Raj Institutions. SURE has started a Resource centre to cover 51 Gram
Panchayat with the objective to build the capacities of Panchayati Raj leaders and create awareness
regarding Panchayati Raj and the powers bestowed to the common people. An important concern for the
organisation has been to ensure meaningful role of women in Panchayat bodies. Hence, it has given
special focus on building the capacities of women Panchayat representatives, who were elected on
reserved seats and also to ensure greater participation of women in Gram Sabhas and Ward Sabhas.

Natural Resource Management

A. Regeneration of common land (Oran & Gochar)

Organisation has started this activity as a result of felt need for the ecological sustainability of this area. The
desert districts are reeling under continuous drought thus affecting the whole socio-economic conditions of
desert dwellers. The fragile ecological conditions don't favour the livelihood of human as well as livestock
population at large. Due to recurrent famine this area faces acute shortage of fodder, water and failure of
agriculture.

Therefore organisation has started rehabilitating the common lands in three villages one at Jaisalmer and
two at Barmer district. In all these efforts organisation has tried to ensure community involvement in
planning and implementation. Local trees and grasses are planted to increase the vegetative cover.

B. Rain water harvesting structure

The common rainwater harvesting structure, which is found in this region, are tankas and Nadis. SURE has
taken initiative to facilitate construction of Nadis and community tankas. During drought relief works
organisation has facilitated the deepening of Nadis and construction of underground water tanks. Till last
year organisation has constructed more than 150 tanks and 20 nadis are repaired.