Integrated socio-economic development of five selected villages of Jhabua block of Jhabua district

Integrated socio-economic development of five selected villages of Jhabua block of Jhabua district is sponsored by CAPART (Council for Advancement of People’s Action and Rural Technology), New Delhi. Since the past 3 years, project activities are being undertaken by NCHSE. Soil & water conservation and social mobilization activities are successfully carried out in the project area. Some of the notable results are:

• Large scale of people's participation reflects their close association with the developmental activities. Now villagers understand the importance of Gram Sabha and more and more people attend meetings.
• Through soil and water conservation treatment there has been an absolute increase in cultivated area by 79.82 ha. Absolute increase in irrigated area is 111.50 ha. Water level has increased by 3-4 feet in the post monsoon season. There has been reduction in the degree of migration. Reduction in the practice of bonded labour can also be witnessed.
• Watershed development committee introduced a distribution system for fuel and fodder in the village.
• Now people are more aware of the need for sanitation, which has been demonstrated through construction of low cost toilets, soak pits, NADEP, smokeless chulhas and simple health and hygiene related habits. Increase in awareness on the health front is demonstrated by 100 per cent child immunization coverage and increase in accepting family planning methods. 12 informal literacy classes are conducted to educate the villagers of the project villages.
• 28 women SHGs having 251 members have been formed in the project villages. Out of these 121 members are engaged in 10 various income generating activities. The SHGs successfully deal with the necessary banking jobs and attend the group meetings regularly. Proceedings of the meeting are duly written without any extraneous influence.