RFBP (Rajasthan Forestry and Biodiversity Project), Phase II

About RFBP

RFBP is JICA, JAPAN funded mega project being implemented by Forest Department, Government of Rajasthan involving a dozen NGOs and consultants at state level and division level to enhance forest area and livelihood opportunities of forest dependent people and to conserve biodiversity by undertaking afforestation and biodiversity conservation measures through JFM approach, thereby contributing to environmental conservation and socio-economic development of Rajasthan.

The project will cover 650 villages during the project from 10 desert districts and 5 non desert districts of Rajasthan state. Apart from these districts project will also cover areas of in and around up to 2 km of boundaries of protected area of seven SANCTURIES of state.

Our part

One of the biggest achievement of NYVAS is getting an opportunity to transform the desert and so the Rajasthan. We have to implement the project at division level in Bikaner district. The division has been divided various clusters and each cluster comprises seven to eight villages. We are working in 24 desert villages of PUGAL, KHAJUWALA AND KOLAYAT TEHSIL of BIKANER District under RFBP, Phase II.

Major activities of project:

Micro planning

Micro planning is a backbone of all kind of activities for the Project. Micro plan lists out all activities required for proper integrated socio-economic development of the village and its inhabitants taking into account the natural, ecological, social, human, animal and skill based resources of the village. The preparation of micro plan shall be undertaken in all project villages by NGO with the participation of village members. Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) methodologies shall be used to identify and prioritize the various needs of the communities. The approved micro plans shall form the basis of the implementation of the project in the village.

Communication Extension and Training (CET) Activities

CET activities shall include organization of awareness Camps at VFPMC level arranged with support of NGO, workshops and seminars at DMU level as well as miscellaneous general publicity and documentation at the DMU level. The PMU prepares standard guidelines for publicity and documentation to be adopted by the DMUs.

VFPMC and Village Level Workers (VLW) - training and capacity building

One Village forest protection management committee (VFPMC) shall be formed and one Village level worker (VLW) shall be appointed in each of the project villages to support the VFPMCs in undertaking various project activities in the village. VFPMCs shall be responsible for hiring and monitoring the performance of the VLWs.

These VFPMC will organise and manage the plantation work and shall take care of exiting forest and increased forest cover during and after completion of the project. And to do so they shall be trained by us.

Identification, formation and Mobilization of SHGs

Identification of poor and forest dependent people shall be undertaken during micro planning. SHG of the poor and forest dependent people shall be formed by the NGO. On an average, 3 SHGs (newly formed and/or existing SHG) shall be targeted in each village.

Existing SHGs shall be taken up under the project only if they consist of the poor and forest dependent people and fits under the project guidelines.

IG activities to be adopted include:

Traditional skills based activities (such as handicrafts) Activities involving value addition of local resource (minor forest produce etc.) Agriculture and allied activities (especially improved animal husbandry) & Other Vocations and trades

Technical training/Skill up gradation for SHG Members

Training and workshop for skill improvement and livelihood activities are being organised for member SHGs. Some SHGs had been formed to support plantation activities through raising nursery of more than 1 lakhs plants capacity and remaining SHGs had been formed for livelihood generation activities.

A wide range of training options shall be identified under the project. This shall, inter alia, include vocational trainings (such as tailoring, weaving, agro products processing, handicraft, soft toys making) as well as training on value addition minor forest produce (MFP).

Year wise major activities of the project:

YEAR ACTIVITY TO BE PERFORMED EVENT
INDICATING COMPLETION
YR1-2 Awareness Generation awareness among stakeholders
YR1 PRA exercise Creation of required reports and conduct of exercise in the village
YR1 preparation of Micro plan report Document duly approved
YR1 Formation of VFPMC/EDC Registration of VFPMC/EDC
YR1 Training / capacity building of VFPMC/EDC  
YR2 Identification of potential IGAs Acceptance and Approval of report by PMU
YR2 Identification of potential SHG for identified IGA Acceptance and Approval of report by PMU
YR2 Formation of SHG Formation and registration of SHG
YR2 Capacity Building of SHG  
YR2 Activation of SHG  
YR3 Developing Credit Linkages for SHGs Receipt of credit by SHG
YR3 Value addition/ processing and production of output by SHGs Generation of product by SHGs
YR3 Development of marketing Linkages Ensured availability of market for sale of product
YR3/YR4 marketing of produce Sale of produce and receipt of income
YR3 review of Micro Plans Review report
YR1-5 Social Audit of Works and activities of VFPMC/EDC/SHG Conduct of social audit
YR1-5 Implementation of Micro plan Completion of activity
YR1-5 Functioning of VFPMC/EDC/SHG Conduct of required meetings
YR4-5 Repayment of loans by SHGs Repayment Instalments comes into VFPMC account
YR2-5 Convergence
Initiatives		 Implementation of activity
YR2-5 Audit of VFPMC/EDC/ SHG accounts Conduct of Audit and approval of audit report in general body Meeting of VFPMC
YR3 Development of Exit Plan Plan prepared by NGO. Approval of DMU
YR4-5 Implementation of
Exit Plan		 Implementation of activity mentioned in the exit Plan