The purpose and the scale of the program are to support the organization in improving its governance processes and establishing its financial systems; improve the nutritional intake of Adivasi farmers by introducing regenerative kitchen gardens and increase the income of farmers & livestock rearers through improved livestock rearing and feed fodder cultivation, in 2 Santhal villages of Kapista Gram Panchayat of Mohammad Bazar block, Birbhum district, West Bengal.
The project aims to address the acute livelihood and nutritional insecurities of landless and marginal Santhal households in Kadampur and Nabalakshmi villages of Kapista Panchayat, Mohammad Bazar block, Birbhum. These villages, with a combined population of around 2,700, face high-income vulnerability. Over 50% of households are landless, relying on sharecropping or daily wage labour to earn an average monthly income of ₹5,000. Their monsoon-dependent agriculture limits year-round cultivation, pushing many to work in construction, MGNREGS, and local industries for survival. Additionally, the community faces severe nutritional deficiencies, consuming a basic diet of rice, potatoes, and occasional foraged or homegrown vegetables, with limited access to protein and diverse nutrition.
The project seeks to enhance livelihood and nutritional security by leveraging local resources and traditional practices while addressing gaps through capacity building and community engagement. The livelihood strategy focuses on integrating livestock enterprises, including goat rearing and indigenous backyard poultry (BYP) with sustainable practices. Two Youth Clubs with 20 members each will be formed to spearhead village-level initiatives, while 20 progressive livestock rearers and 2 livestock entrepreneurs will receive modular training on livestock management, care, and feed cultivation.
To address nutritional insecurity, the project emphasizes regenerating traditional dietary practices and cultivating diverse local foods. Activities include establishing household nutrition gardens, promoting ethno-veterinary medicinal plants for livestock health, and organizing annual Santhal food festivals to revive traditional recipes and food practices. The focus is on preserving cultural heritage while enhancing the nutritional well-being of households.
A strong foundation for the initiative will be built through capacity-building training for both the organizational team and community resource persons. The training will strengthen financial compliance, organizational policies, reporting formats, monitoring, and knowledge management. The work culture will prioritize inclusivity, gender sensitivity, and child protection.
By fostering convergence with government schemes and collaboration with stakeholders, the project will build a sustainable ecosystem for the community. In the long term, the initiative aims to enhance income and nutritional outcomes, foster collective communitarian values, and empower 20 youth members as future village leaders. This transformative model will ensure livelihood security for 250 Santhal households, demonstrating the potential of integrated, culturally rooted development approaches.
Work location– Birbhum, West Bengal
Project Partner: Azim Premji Foundation
