Projects
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LAFTI's broader aim of raising the social status of Harijan people (the untouchable) is
reflected in all its projects. Apart from their specific goals, the projects create
opportunities for promoting a sense of purpose, power and independence,
especially for women; create a new atmosphere of social cohesion though working
together in community activities; and generate participation between the beneficiaries,
the government and the public in raising social standards of the poor in society.
In its areas of operation, LAFTI advocates the formation of GRAMA SABHA (Village
Community), MATHAR SANGH (Women's Forum), Youth Forum and Labour Bank:
Village Community is the basic organization at the village level whose members
comprise all adult men and women residents. It meets regularly to discuss
problems and evolve action plans. It collects monthly contributions of Rs. 5 (Rupees)
per family in a bank deposit towards the village common fund.
Women's Forum consists of all adult women. As the land title is given to women, they
take active part in land development and other programs. These include child health,
nutrition, sanitation, small savings, goatery, backyard horticulture and more.
LAFTI also organizes Youth Forum, by recruiting the youths in each area for community
actions such as road laying, planting of trees, construction of latrines.
A "Labour Bank," the total number of days offered by individuals for labor, is a collective
pool for Grama Sabha to utilize for community work like repairing roads.
The Goat Project aims to offer minimal income to the landless poor whose sole
source of income comes from farm labour if and when this is available. It has been
boosted by donations from the UK; each goat costs just over 10 sterling pounds and
so far 200 goats have been distributed to families; this is a self-generating scheme,
with subsidized repayments forming funds for further purchase and distribution of
goats in each village community.
Proposal for a Combine Housing & Income Project is ready for funding. Under the
scheme, each family is distributed land for construction of a small house for dwelling
and plantation of coconut trees for income generation; they are also given a buffalo for
milk production and breeding. The costing for each unit is approximately Rs 60,000
(600 sterling pounds), and LAFTI hopes to build 50 housing units in each area of its
operation. The government subsidized housing schemes and bank loans form the
bulk of the funds for the project; negotiations with the local ONGC for subsidised
installation of a biogas and gobar (Eru fuel) plant, village community labour force and
LAFTI's vocational training workshops will all make this a worthwhile and feasible
project.
The beneficiaries are expected to contribute in other ways to the wellbeing and welfare
of the village community including building children's play grounds, youth clubs; adult
education classes, and much more.