Rajasthan is the largest state of India in terms of area. Most of its area is occupied by the Great Indian Desert (Thar Desert). The borders of Rajasthan are shared with Pakistan in the west, Madhya Pradesh in the southeast, Gujarat in the southwest, Punjab in the north, and Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to the northeast. Total area of Rajasthan is about 342,239 square kilometers, occupying 11 percent of the total geographical area of India. Jaipur is the capital city of Rajasthan. The main features of geography of Rajasthan include the Thar desert and the Aravali range. The Aravalli range runs from the southwest to the northeast of the state, covering more than 850 km of area.

Rajasthan has India's largest desert known as the Thar desert. It is also called as the 'Maru-kantar'. Bikaner, Jodhpur and Jaisalmer are the three cities of Rajasthan, in close proximity to the desert. At one side of the Aravali range, there is the desert and the forest belt is on the other side. The forest vegetation occupies about 9.36 percent of the total geographical region of Rajasthan. The only hill station in Rajasthan is the Mount Abu. It has the highest peak of the Aravali range, known as the Guru Shikhar Peak.

Topography

The geography of Rajasthan is enriched with variable topographic features. The dry and the parched region is predominant in the major portions of the state. The main features of topography are rolling sand dunes, river-drained plains, rocky terrain, wetlands, plateaus, barren tracks or land filled with the thorny shrubs, wooded regions and ravines.

Discipleship Centre is committed to the commitment of all our partner funding organizations bringing about a reduction in the level of death and suffering from natural and man-made disaster events through a strategy that combines changes at the community level with changes to national and international policies and practices.

1. Disaster Risk Reduction Project: Natural Disaster Risk reduction through policy change, Capacity building and Community based Mitigation and preparedness programme – funded by DFID, through the partnership of Tear Fund UK
2. Capacity building of communities and promotion of Traditional Systems of National resources in Deserts of Jodhpur (Rajasthan) – sponsored by tear Australia

Activities

1. Community mobilization
2. Safe drinking water
3. Improved infrastructure
4. Health & safety
5. Community empowerment
6. Alternative Livelihood  
7. Livestock Management

Capacity Building of communities and promotion of

Traditional systems of national resources in deserts of

Jodhpur (Rajasthan)   - April 2009 to March 2010

Capacity Building of CBOs

9 villages have an information centre each and these centres are functioning well. Each centre is equipped with a radio, newspapers, and application forms for availing various government schemes such as widow/ old age pension, renewal/ issue of ration cards, caste certificates, income certificates, etc.  Forms are also available for those families who are very poor and need to be included into the Below Poverty Line category. 

5 volunteers were trained to manage the information centres. The volunteers also help in the dissemination of knowledge to the illiterate and in filling the application forms. Two interface meetings were organized.

Panchayati Raj Training- Two training programs were arranged.  48 VDC members from 8 target villages and 90 members from 9 villages were present during each meeting. Through these training programs people are aware of the functioning of the panchayat, different development schemes that come under the panchayat and the various roles and responsibilities of community leaders.

Women Empowerment and Health

MED - Two training programs were conducted. An average of 180 SHG members from 9 villages participated in the training.The resource person for the 1^st training was from the KVK (government based agricultural centre).  The trainer for the second program was from an NGO called SURE that specializes on the promotion of MED activities for rural women. 11 women were motivated to start their own businesses such as petty shops, flour mills, embroidery and tailoring. They have added on to their family income and enjoy a higher standard of living.  Economically and socially they are better off than before.  Health of the families has improved and they are capable of educating their children.

60 women are presently engaged in embroidery and handicraft works.  Women are selling the embroidered pieces (mostly the traditional scarves, cushion covers, bed covers, table covers, etc.)

SHG - At present only 8 SHGs have opened their respective bank accounts.  During the meetings the other groups were also motivated to do so. 

12 TBAs were trained and equipped with delivery kits. Trained TBAs have started using the delivery kits and the enhanced knowledge gained through the training has brought about reduced maternal and infant mortality rates. The TBAs work closely with the ASHA workers and ANMs in each village and motivate women to go in for institutional deliveries.

Two health awareness training programs were conducted.  On an average 40 women participated in each of the two   training programs.  The emphasis was on HIV/ AIDS, STD, TB, family planning and common seasonal diseases.  Awareness was also provided on water borne diseases and safe drinking water.

Livelihoods

Veterinary training - 10 volunteers were trained through resource persons from CAZRI.

Promotion of collective marketing - 8 women belonging to 3 SHGs are involved in the collection of ber (tropical fruit), Products from indigenous trees were also marketed but on an individual basis.

16 women have been trained in tailoring. Of the 16 women who have been trained in tailoring, 5 have purchased sewing machines and are earning from their homes.

19 youth completed the following skill training courses and they have started earning Rs 150/- to 250/-per day

·         6 in carpentry

·         1 in masonry

·         2 in motor repairing

·         10 in stone art and masonry

Disaster Preparedness and NRM

Training of VDC on disaster preparedness - 35 VDC members participated in the training. This training was conducted by Disaster Management expert Dr.A.K Mathur and Mr. RR Meghwal from CAZARI. The participants have an increased knowledge of drought situations and various coping options open for communities living in such areas.

50 farmers are growing Daman grass in their fields on the mud boundaries surrounding their land.  This is providing fresh grass to the cattle during the season.  The grass and leaves from the indigenous trees and fruit from the Kumbhat are dried and stored for the dry months. 

400 trees have been planted.  The Khejri saplings were purchased from CAZRI and the Forest Department and distributed to the families.

3 cisterns were constructed in 3 villages.

·         Gangawash

·         Bailaroni

·         Jasti

The cisterns have enabled the families to have an access to clean drinking water. 16 were constructed in the target villages through government schemes.  

Staff Capacity Building

5 staff attended three training programs arranged by CAZRI.  They were trained on the natural resources available in the arid regions and how to make maximum use of the same.  They also gathered information on grafting of trees and effective use of pesticides during crop cultivation. 

Impact and sustainability

The Sarpanch of village Jasti is a VDC member.  This is a major breakthrough in the area of sustainability.  As panchayat leader he in a key position to ensure that government schemes reach the villages and that maximum number of people benefit from the same. 

More number of people has been motivated to take up alternative livelihoods.  In the present scenario of continuous drought situations it is necessary for the people to be less dependent on agro based activities. 

The trained TBAs are playing a major role in reducing maternal/infant mortality rates.  

Women are empowered enough to come forward and participate in community based activities. As CBO members they are taking an initiative and participating towards the welfare of their villages. 

All the families have easy access to drinking water due to the construction of cisterns.  Since women don’t any more have to walk long distances to collect water they have more time to devote to their families.