Vermi compost becomes income source to tribal SHG

Agartala, July 11 (UNI) Weeding out menace of tribal insurgency for self-determination, Chargharia, about 50 kms from the capital city, has rushed forward with an eco-friendly business for self-employment.

Bekhuk Chichha, a Self Help Group(SHG) of 11 sisters, was waving off the flag of development in the interior village and had become a source of inspiration to many, as most of the members hailed from agri-labourers' community and tribal clan.

It is true that nine Below Poverty Line cardholder ladies and two others of this SHG, spreading its activities in an unknown tribal hamlet, are growing paddy and vegetables besides, fishery, banana plantation and piggery projects.

Inspired by the production, they have stated a vermi compost plant, which were being used as fertilizer in their field and the additional portion are being sold locally at a reasonable rate.

Traditionally, the tribals are habituated with Jhum (Shifting cultivation) production and the women members produce and merchandise tribal costumes of simple but intricate designs with their hand-driven looms, the art they are inherited.

Organic farming initiative got appreciation and wide acclaim by the scientists of Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the villagers began to use organic manure.

With the appreciation from the experts, the SHG has now emphasized on getting berth in world organic map by institutionalising production, certification and marketing the organic produces.

According to State Agriculture Department officials, the transition into the organic method of production was realised many years ago but the cultivators follow time-tested Indigenous Farming System (IFS) - essentially organic in nature with the use of indigenous technical knowledge in agriculture and allied sector.

Income per month increased upto thousand rupees per head and the group has achieved gradation two as per scheme of the Swarojgari Yojana.

The group leader described how they used 800 grams of seed in each hectare or mixed cow dung with Urea in reduced quantity.

Agriculture department is very helpful. For paddy cultivation and vermi compost projects they opted for assistance under the 'Technology Mission'.

Once it was a militant-prone area and no communication was with the mainland. Two months back, a road communication was built up but a regular service of passenger vehicle to Mandai Bazar is yet to begin.

Shanti Debbarma, mother of two little children, has already started thinking of a dream- should the group be made more stable, she could send her children to a city for better study.

Shova Debbarma, second in command of the SHG, is more specific with hope, ''Presently we may not depend only on the SHG for livelihood but it is possible, when we start rubber plantation and more.'' The Bwkhuk Chichha members are involved in many other social activities too and they are now partners of adult literacy programme.

Sabita, a group member could not recognise her name written on a paper but now she is the member to say 'put it on record, I can read and write.' UNI BB AA LL SS1123