Social Activities Back Shri Kshethra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project (SKDRDP) founded in the year 1982, on the

occasion of the installation of 39 feet monolithic statue of Lord Bahubali in Dharmasthala, is the fondest of Dr. Veerendra Heggade's dreams realized. Ever since, the project has encompassed various aspects of rural development to make the rural living an enjoyable process. At present SKDRDP is active in 13 districts of Karnataka state, is engaged in intensive fight against poverty, ignorance, illiteracy, alcoholic abuse, gender discrimination, division of villages on the lines of caste, creed and money power. Results have demonstrated that problems can be over come by participation and by optimum utilization of resources, provided there is a vision and a dedicated team work. Objectives of the project

To work towards the upliftment of the rural poor To organize the rural populace in mobilizing the rural infrastructure for a swift development To utilize locally available natural and human resources for progress To introduce gainful sustainable means for development of agriculture To encourage farm sector and the non-farm sector activities To blend integrity, discipline and values in the process of development To facilitate participatory community and village development programmes

Pragathi Bandhu-prosperity through labour sharing Small and marginal farmers of the project area are organized under the unique Pragathi Bandhu Model of Self Help Group. These are small groups comprising of 5 to 8 neighbourhood small farmer families. The groups engage once in a week labour sharing, thrift and micro credit. Participatory labour sharing technique has galvanized the progress of the stakeholder families and unity in the neighbourhood in the true sense. The labour sharing has helped thousands of small farmers to achieve important farm works like fencing, well digging, land leveling, house/ shed construction through participatory labour. The success of the SKDRDP programme is mainly due to Pragathi Bandhu model. Jnanavikasa Kendras (JVKS) JVKs are unique centres of socio economic empowerment for unlettered, underemployed rural women without lands. In the JVKs women empower hygiene, children education, clean surroundings, better living through interaction. Normally shy woman unsure of herself transforms herself into a confident, self respecting, determined woman, through her participation in JVK. JVKs train the women in various production activities like floriculture, dairying, vegetable cultivation, home industries etc.

Pragathinidhi- A credit++ micro credit initiative Microfinance(mF) is one of the key areas which SKDRDP is handling since 1992 and has gained expertise in mF over the years. The stakeholders financial needs for livelihood promotion, consumption, productive agriculture and to develop infrastructures such as house, toilet, electricity, gobargas etc. are met with the funds provided by microfinance. The funds required for lending are sourced through the savings of the members which is deposited with the group's account. Another source of funds is bank loans. The funds provided under the programme are called as 'pragathinidhi'. The members availing Pragathi Nidhi pay back in weekly instalments. SKDRDP today is the biggest NGO mFI in the country. Sampoorna Suraksha-Comprehensive insurance First of its kind in the country trying to reach out the poorest of the poor the Sampoorna Suraksha, promoted by SKDRDP is quite unique in nature. For a nominal premium of Rs. 1050/- p.a. the scheme, covers a family of five members against hospitalization expenses upto Rs. 25,000/-, maternity facilities for the housewives, life insurance for the earning member of the family and post hospitalization expenses. Natural calamity and damages to the properties are also partly covered with lesser and additional premium respectively. The scheme also assists the stakeholder of the project to get financial assistance from pragathinidhi to meet the hospitalization expenses if any in excess of the sum assured. Sustainable farming Farm sector plays a vital role in rural life and more than sixty percent of people depend on it for livelihood. With this in mind the project has focused on agriculture as a major rural development programme. The farmers owning less than a hectare of land are the target groups of the project. The project has devised innovative methodology to obtain optimum results. Farm Planning The stakeholder prepare a five year farm plan/ family plan after discussing the requirement within the group. A plan devised to develop the small agricultural plot into a high yielding commercial garden is taken up. Fencing, digging open wells, water conservation techniques, planning plantation crops, short duration crops, creation of family assets which include house, toilet, electrification etc. are planned for a period of time. A separate record is maintained in each family to implement and review the plan. More than Four Lakh families have prepared their plans and have implemented them successfully. Cultivation is taken up in accordance with the plan. A combination of long term commercial crops with the short term crops is practiced to ensure economic stability. Commercial crops such as rubber, cashew, arecanut and vanilla are encouraged with the project providing the beneficiaries with the saplings at subsidized charges along with the

improved variety of high yielding seeds/saplings. Crops such as ginger, turmeric, vegetables and other crops are encouraged in the hilly areas. Fruit and Flower crops are also encouraged. Quality Seeds SKDRDP promotes farmers nurseries and has developed its own nursery to provide quality seed material to take up various plantations. SKDRDP coordinates with various seed manufactures to promote supply of quality seeds and take up new crops besides coordinating with various line departments like horticulture, agriculture, forest etc. in equitable distribution of seed and other facilities to the deserving farmers. Water Harvesting One of the earliest plans prepared by the pragathi bandhu is to dig open well and acquire water pumping systems and supply system. Normally the wells are dug by the group members. Pragathinidhi loans are availed to acquire the irrigation equipments. To meet the water requirements irrigation facilities are taken up by the stakeholders which includes the pump sets, sprinklers and aid to dig wells as this is the only water source in many places. Crops such as arecanut, coconut, banana and vegetables are cultivated in irrigated areas through organic methods.

Labour Sharing

JVK Meeting

Farm training

Cashew Plantation

DVH with beneficiary

Annual Krishimela Annual Krishi Mela or agricultural fair is conducted for three days at project level in a selected village. The mela imparts information on diversified subjects in farm practices. This also acts as a focal point for meeting between the farmers, Government officials, agriculture scientists, machinery, seeds and fertilizers manufacturers etc. The participants and the visitors both gain from this mela.

Energy Conservation Earlier most of the stakeholders were so poor that they couldn't afford electricity. But today, they have capacity but cannot get electricity. Continue attempts are made to seek an alternative source to electricity. The efforts resulted in the utilization of renewable energy resources such as Gobar gas and solar energy. This also facilities and encourages conservation of energy and environmental protection. Today the thousands of house are independent of the conventional electricity and are harvesting these renewable energy sources. The project area perhaps has the largest concentration of Solar Home Lighting Systems in the smallest geographical area any where in the world. One of the novel ventures that SKDRDP took up was the installation of a 10KW Pico Hydro Electric Project in Banjarumale tribal area of Belthangady taluk. As a result of SKDRDP's effective intervention, the tribal families of the Banjarumale forest have contributed almost 50% of the Rs. 13.00 lakh project and installed electricity. Environment and forest Conservation The programme aims at involving the rural people and students in conserving the environment and forest. Awareness programmes, mass plantation of saplings at schools, forest land and agricultural land are organized as a part of this campaign. Road side tree plantation, medicinal tree plantation, promotion of moolika vana, devara kadu are taken up. Audio visual medium, handouts, pamphlets, Films on environment are employed to create awareness among the public. Conservation of water, soil, forest, watershed activities, organic cultivation are few subjects dealt in these programmes. Swagruha (own house) Under the Swagraha Scheme selected families are assistance with a long term(520 weeks) financial assistance of up to Rs. 1,00,000 to construct modest houses. Besides cost effective technologies are also imparted to beneficiaries of Swagraha Programme. Suraksha - Comprehensive health initiative. The project also focuses on health and sanitation programmes due to its vital role and impact on the society. 'Suraksha is dedicated to the family's health and involves awareness programmes on health, heath camps, construction of toilets etc. Free medical services are provided to all the needy through the mobile medical clinic operating in the project area. The project also network with the health department whenever the need rises. It facilitates public vaccination programmes. Jana Jagruthi: Mass Awareness against addiction

This programme is the first of its kind in the country in trying to wipe out the menace of alcoholic abuse and one of the successful social movements in coastal Karnataka. The forum has waged a war against alcoholism and is involved in organizing awareness camps. Informal but scientific de-addiction camps are organized with people participation. Eminent personalities and professionals take part in the camps as resource persons. Though Janajagruthi thousands of alcoholics have been reformed and today, are a part of the mainstream society. Nava Jeevana Samithi a forum for monitoring the de-addicts in the initial stages are formed to ensure the de-addicts remain so. SIRI- Group enterprises The SKDRDP has promoting economic empowerment among the poor landless families by introducing various income generation activities both in production and service sector. Self help groups are motivated, trained and assisted in setting up various group ventures. These groups are given professional assistance in acquiring the skills, finance, raw materials procurement, production and marketing of the products. A brand name "SIRI" has been created to market the products produced by the groups include, fast moving chemical products like detergent cake, detergent powder, phenyls, washing liquids, scouring powder, candles, incense sticks etc., confectioneries sweets and condiments, packed foods, pickles, ready made garments, etc., are being manufactured and sold under the brand name "SIRI". Sujnana Nidhi scholarship scheme To create awareness among the SHG members about the possibilities in the technical education and to motivate them to send their children to technical institutions for education, SKDRDP has initiated a Scholarship Scheme. Under this scheme a scholarship of Rs.1000/- per month to 100 students every year will be given for students getting admissions to technical courses like BE, MBBS, BAMS, BDS etc. The scholarship is available till the end of the said course. Similarly a scholarship of Rs. 400/- per month to 900 students every year will be given to the students getting admission to technical courses like TCH, DPEd, BEd, Nursing, ITI, Diploma courses etc. Thus a total of 1000 students will get the Sujnananidhi benefit every year. Since inception a total of Rs. 4.00 crores to 5,937 students has been disbursed. The SKDRDP initiative has been costing the temple to the tune of Rs. 50 to 60 million every year. The project has received a lot of goodwill and financial support from banks, philanthrophic organizations and individuals, Government departments, etc. to perform its role in community development. Staffing

The SKDRDP has a well oiled team of animators, guided suitably by a team of experienced rural development functionaries and experts. The project has on its rolls, nearly 3759 dedicated workers. The project is monitored very closely by an executive committee and the Board of trustees headed by Dr. D. Veerendra Heggade and represented by Shri D.Surendra Kumar, Mr.R.V.Shastry former CMD of Canara Bank, progressive thinker and banker Shri K.M.Udupa, Mr.Shanbhogue, Chartered Accountant Mr. Uday Kumar Shetty, Advocate and members of the Dr.Heggade's family. Mrs.Hemavathi Heggade, wife of Dr.D.Veerendra Heggade has taken keen interest in implementing various programmes of SKDRDP. Besides being a trustee she has personally conceived schemes for women empowerment and take active part in implementing them. SKDRDP has also been guided in its efforts from time to time by Shri D.Harshendra Kumar, Secretary, Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Educational Society. Recognitions: Shri Kshethra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project has been recognized at the National level for its multi faceted activities.

FICCI ( Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry) Award-1995 IMC (Indian Merchants Chamber) Award-1998 Spandana Award for Jana Jagruthi Programme-2000 Padmabhushana Award to Dr.D.Veerendra Heggade-2000 NABARD Award-1999-2000 & 2000-2001 Chaudri Charan Singh Award - 2003 Changemakers Award for Pragathibandhu and Sampoorna Suraksha programme 2008 "Pingara Rajyothsava award - 2010 Certificate of Merit from LIC for Jeevanmadhura programme - 2010 Microfinance India Institution of the Year 2010 (Large MFI) by HSBC & Access Development services - 2010

Social Activities Back For Shri Veerendra Heggade, one of the prime areas of concern has always been the youth and their future. Realizing that rural youth were falling into despondency due to lack of employment opportunities, he is in his own inimitable way, set to work. Educated rural youth have always tended to migrate to urban cities, as the rural areas are primarily agrarian and do not offer them too many job opportunities. In 1982, Shri Heggade started the first Rural Development and Self-Employment Training Institute (RUDSETI) at Ujire. This programme, with the active support of Syndicate Bank and Canara Bank chalked out an innovative approach to help the rural youth stand on their own feet. RUDSETI identifies opportunity avenues, trains participants in developing the desired skills and assists them in their entrepreneurial activity. A highly practical concept, this programme caters to the needs of both boys and girls. RUDSETI has developed a highly successful training module that is today followed in 24 locations around

the country. So far, Rudseti has trained 2.41 lakhs youth of which 1.69lakhs trainees have settled with their self employment ventures. The most astonishing fact is that over 70% of the trainees who attended and took maximum interest have all successfully established entrepreneurial ventures, a spectacular and realistic result that no organization on similar grounds has been able to achieve so far. Many of the trainees aspiring to establish new business ventures also get bank finance and guidance from the RUDSETI. The secret of RUDSETI is the intense amount of planning and research that is undertaken to identify opportunities for the young generation with some hands on experience. In the pre-training phase of the programme, candidates are selected on a scientific assessment of their abilities. The selected candidates are then given lectures on motivation, conviction and entrepreneurial competence to stir in them the confidence that they can reach their destination. These sessions help on pushing the students a little harder than their actual ability so that they are in a position to comprehend and overcome any obstacle they might face in the future. Apart from this, the training provides technical skill and know how in the field that they have chosen. Later the training familiarizes them with the steps needed to set up their own business. RUDSETI received the FICCI award for rural development for the year 1998-99 in recognition of its role in helping rural areas develop. RUDSETI trained women entrepreneurs consistently win the national award from IMM-NABARD. Some of the typical Entrepreneurship Development Programmes (EDP) for first generation entrepreneurs are: Agricultural EDPs, Product EDPs and Process EDPs. RUDSETIs are currently located at: Karnataka Tamil Nadu Andhra Pradesh Kerala Maharashtra Rajasthan Haryana & Delhi Orissa Uttar Pradesh Punjab Madhya Pradesh Ujire, Dharwad, Udupi, Chitradurga, Mysore, Bijapur, Nelamangala Madurai Vetapalam, Ananthapur Kannapuram Talegaon (Near Pune) Jaipur, Baran Gurgaon Bhubaneshwar Ghaziabad, Agra Jalandhar Bhopal

Gujarath West Bengal Bihar

Nadiad Berhampore Hajipur

Performance of RUDSETI up to March 2011 Total locations Total States Total number of youths trained Total number of settled candidates Total settlement rate Rajasthan States Rudset Broucher Agriculture-EDP 24 14 2,60,116 1,84,350 71% Jaipur, Baran, Bhilwara

General-EDP

Product-EDP

Process-EDP