Chapter IVVSS and other Institutions / Programmes
The VSS and Kudumbashree
The people living in fringe areas as well as that deep inside the forest are absolutely poor. Many of them are destitutes. Several Self Help groups have been formed under the VSS. Most of them are women SHGs. In this context linkage with Kudumbashree is a sine qua non for the betterment of these people especially poor women.Activities of the Kudumbashree are co-ordinated by the District Mission Co-ordinator at the District level, assisted by two Assistant District Mission Co-ordinators. The VSS executive may get in touch with the Kudumbashree Charge Officer of the Panchayat and make use of the empowerment opportunities facilitated by Kudumbashree Mission Co-ordinators. They can impart expertise in saving, thrift, informal banking system, contigency loan, income generation loans, provide guidance, training in mobilisation of resources, processing and grafting of forest product, marketing and recreational facilities, management skills, entrepreneurial skills, training to prepare Hand book, Bala Sabha activities etc. to the groups. The skills so imparted would help them in seeking a livelihood. FDA as a legal entity may assume the role of a coordinator to establish the link with Kudumbashree. The District Mission Coordinator may be made an ex officio member of FDA. The Review Meetings are held once in three months. By attending these meetings the District Mission Coordinator can evaluate and monitor the activities of Self Help groups and provide necessary assistance/guidance.
VSS & Western Ghat Development ProgrammeEco Preservation and restoration, conservation of bio-diversity and sustainable livelihoods are the main objectives of WGDP programmes. Resource analysis, socio cultural requirements, economic viability peoples' participation etc. have to be considered, before undertaking a WGDP Programme. In Kerala, the PFM norms are adopted in the implementation of WGDP programmes on water-shed basis.
Heavy rainfall and constant (frequent) human interventions result in loss of soil fertility, in the forest areas. For this, awareness creation as envisaged by the PFM becomes essential. Further, for ensuring sustainable livelihood programmes to the people especially in the Western Ghat region, the PFM approach is the appropriate strategy. In this context VSS becomes instrumental in providing livelihood support systems to the people by way of employing them in herbal cultivation, horti crops, raising nursery plantations etc. in the forest areas.
VSS, which is approved and registered with the Forest Department authorities, is as good as any other agency for implementing WGDP programmes. Channelising the funds through FDAS may avert official bottlenecks. Funds may be provided after obtaining approval/sanction for the projects. GPCA (Gene pool conservation area) a joint endeavor of local and scientific communities for bio-diversity conservation is one such project. This project has been approved by WGDP, in March 2002. An Operational Manual is under preparation for the project. Another project is for developing standard prescriptions on the harvesting of NTFP for sustainable management, as Participatory Research Development Activity of VSS, Kerala Forest Department and Scientific Community is on the anvil and awaiting approval. Activities like rain water harvesting, processing, cutting and grading activities of NTFPs collected etc. identified in the micro-plan may also be taken up in this manner.