Daijiworld News Network –Beltangady (VM)
Beltangady, Apr 23: With its novel and dynamic projects centered around the rural masses, the Sri Kshetra Dharmastala Rural Development Project (SKDRDP) has carved a niche for itself in the area of social upliftment and self employment. This nationally acclaimed institute has even received words of appreciation from the President of India A P J Abdul Kalam. Growing from strength to strength and encompassing several elements of the rural life, SKDRDP is at the threshold of its silver jubilee year of working in Beltangady taluk.
The yeoman service in the taluk has brought about rapid progress in the 81 villages of the taluk where a total of 152 Pragatibandhu Federations have been formed and 1,688 SHGs floated. The SHG movement has covered around 20,600 families and over 35,298 beneficiaries which sums up to 14 per cent of the total population.
In the past 25 years, SKDRDP has brought about several community programes which include distribution of rice, plants, agricultural equipment and uniforms to the members of the federation. Various training progrmmes, like sanitation, irrigation, setting up of gobar gas plants, environment conservation and bee keeping are also held to make people self-sufficient.
Few of the major works here include extension of school ground, road development, construction of houses for the poor and voluntary service to develop religious centers under public development programmes.
SKDRDP has set up Jnanavikasa centers for the all round development of rural women. With ‘Siri,’ rural development project, it has empowered rural women of the beedi industry.
SKDRDP, involved in many avenues for the welfare of agriculturists, is providing financial assistance even to rubber plantations. It provides financial assistance to purchase cattle, encourages animal husbandry and poultry farming. It provides financial assistance for electricity connection, solar lighting, construction and repairs to houses and pipe distribution. Of the total 81 villages, 47 villages have been declared total insurance villages by it.
The de-addiction camps have successfully changed the rural life. SKDRDP which was established in the taluk during 1982 has not restricted to DK alone while it has extended to Udupi and Uttara Kannada district. It has ignited the development activities in more than 900 villages.
It has brought 7,500 acre of barren land under cashew, rubber and agriculture crop. It provides agricultural information through Krishi Mela. Around 1,500 school dropouts have been brought to school.
The SKDRDP model today has not only been studied nationwide but even international agencies have come forward to replicate it.