The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Success of project for tribals impresses EU official

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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Success of project for tribals impresses EU official

Santosh Patnaik

He attends convention of Community Action Groups

CARE-Sustainable Tribal Empowerment Project is funded by EU
It is implemented by CARE through partner NGOs

— Photo: K. R. Deepak

Lively interaction: Etienne Claeye, Minister Counsellor (Head of Operations), European Union, being greeted by a tribal Dhimsa dancer at a convention at Paderu.

PADERU: The success story of CARE-Sustainable Tribal Empowerment Project (STEP) in North Andhra has floored Etienne Claeye, Minister Counsellor (Head of Operations), European Union.

Mr. Claeye who attended the convention of Community Action Groups here, about 110 km. from Visakhapatnam along with Daniel Sinnathamby, Assistant Country Director, CARE India and Adviser (Development Cooperation), EU, was overwhelmed with the experiences narrated by CAG activists from 11 mandals in the district on how the project had helped in their empowerment.

The EU-funded project with a grant of Euro 13 million over the past five years is on the verge of completion. It is implemented by CARE through partner NGOs.

Revolving fund

“Though we had our own doubts at the time of funding the project aimed at empowerment of communities, we are winding it up with a sense of satisfaction. Now it is time for the EU to study the reasons and the methodology followed for action-oriented learning and try to replicate it elsewhere,” he said.

“With the initiative of CARE-STEP, we started Giri Laxmi Revolving Fund. We got a grant of Rs.1 lakh and made an earning of Rs.4,000 in our first attempt by lending Rs.30,000 to a local merchant.

Now our members are not looking at money-lenders when in distress and taking loans from us,” said Bullamma of Kinchumanda village in Dumbriguda mandal.

Laxmi of Kotthapalem village in GK Veedhi mandal mentioned how the project could provide food security by popularising Grain Bank concept. “Now, we are having a buffer stock by saving grains and using it whenever there’s shortage,” she stated.

Prasad of Chintapalle said they were able to bring tribal children back to school and fight against child labour. Siva Jyoti, 12, a dropout said after counselling by an NGO, her parents sent her back to school.

“Today, I am studying in a residential school in sixth class. I want to study well and get a job,” she said.

Basant Mohanty, Project Director, CARE-STEP, was present.

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