We started working with Action on Disability
and Development (ADD) early in 2009.
ADD mentors disabled people working together with their communities to share their personal experiences. Group members prioritise the areas that would improve their inclusion in society. Working across 3 states in India Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh they have identified a need to improve agricultural skills and incomes.
We are funding a three-year project, investing in building the agricultural livelihoods of disabled people in rural India. Our money will be used mainly for loans to support people in taking forward their new skills and ideas. The increased income will support the people involved and have an indirect impact on the communities they live in. We think it’s great that this project will not only help build sustainable futures for these marginalised people and their families, but also allow them to participate more fully in their communities.
Founded 25 years ago Action on Disability and
Development (ADD) have a vision where all disabled people are able to
enjoy their rights, fulfil their responsibilities and obligations and
participate as fully as they choose at every level of society. They
support organisations of disabled people and have been working in India
since 1987.
In India three-quarters of the disabled population live in rural communities and less than 2% receive vocational training in rural areas. ADD India works to get people educated with the skills they need for their livelihoods and gets people in communities together to prioritise what they want to do. Ultimately these groups become able to promote their needs without ADD’s support and also mentor new Self Help Groups.
Microfinance, small loans administered and revolving through community groups, is often used in India to help build incomes, but disabled people are often excluded from local groups. ADD plan to set up microfinance access specifically for disabled people in 10 groups across 3 states, offering relevant training and mentoring too.
ADD India, working with local partner organisations across 3 states will invite people to participate in a presentation of the project, telling them about its objectives and goals and next, up to 15 people will secure small loans from each of the 10 local partners, so at least 225 people are likely to be supported over 3 years. The groups will do a variety of things:
- Training to support people in running the groups as well as more specific skilled based training on things like irrigation, crop diseases, animal husbandry, ways to earn income through agriculture and financial skills on managing loans.
- Encourage activities like growing and selling vegetables and fruit, keeping cows and selling their milk, raising silkworms and growing mulberry for the leaves to feed them (mainly in Karnataka).
- Administer small loans to group members for things like leasing land to grow things on, leasing farming equipment and animals for ploughing, buying animals like goats, sheep and cows, and buying supplies such as vegetable seed, small tools and quickly growing fruit trees.
ADD will support the project by mentoring the leaders, building awareness and monitoring all the finances. They work closely with the participants making sure that they are consulted throughout the decision making processes to ensure agreement and understanding.
The project will not only increase income for the people taking part but allow them to participate fully in the economic and social fabric of their communities.
www.add.org.uk