Health, Education & Livelihood Activities

EDUCATION

Students from schools in the vicinity of the wetland will be engaged through a module on birds and wetlands, to enable appreciation of habitat and biodiversity conservation
Bring STEM education to schools, to enable children develop interest in sciences, with improved career opportunities in the future.
Support government schools in the project villages with improved infrastructure including refurbishment, teaching aids, technology tools such as smart classrooms, computer labs, science labs, library, sports equipment, improved toilets, solar electricity for power back-up, clean water, etc.
Provide mobility support for students, especially girls, through bicycle banks.
Promote cultural activities in the school, including traditional arts and craft.
WEC will transition to learning center in the evenings for children to engage with tutor for remediation leading to enhanced grade competency. Facility will have books, educational aids, etc.
Career guidance sessions, to be organized at the WEC
Mobile library with academic and non-academic books will be accessible to users across the five villages making reading a habit among children

HEALTH

Upgradation of local government health facilities and support healthcare services and programs at the PHC, health sub-centres and anganwadi centres.
Periodic health camps will be conducted by volunteer doctors
IEC activities pertaining to hygiene, handwashing, safe water use, will be conducted in the WEC premises, villages and schools
Improve health-seeking behaviour and healthy habits of the communities to prioritize prevention than cure.
Promote healthy nutrition among the community, especially mothers and children, to ensure their wellbeing.
Promote nutri-gardens and reduced use of pesticides in farming.
Support the ANMs, ASHA and AWW in undertaking periodic health drives and government campaigns.
Patient-transport facilities for inaccessible terrains or where public facilities are not available.
At least four health camps will be conducted by volunteer doctors
IEC activities pertaining to hygiene, handwashing, safe water use, will be conducted in the WEC premises, villages and schools

LIVELIHOODS

1. WEC-based livelihood interventions:

The village-products shop, mini-café, guide services, etc., will provides income generation sources for the local community, with priority for women entrepreneurs in areas of their choice. The village-products shop will stock products generated from the livelihood interventions, and also their local art and craft. In addition, they can sell any product that women’s self-help groups or micro-enterprises manufacture or produce. A week-end stall for local fresh (organic) produce can also be set up nearby the WEC for visitors to purchase. The mini-café will provide some income to the micro-entrepreneur who provides the services. Guiding assignments will provide some income to the local youth. Enterprising families in the villages can also offer lunch/catering service to the visitors, thereby providing wholesome rural hospitality.

2. Alternative Livelihoods by development of Water Hyacinth-based Craft Clusters

Waste to Wealth: Rotational Water hyacinth harvesting will be done covering 20-30% of the surface area at a time, and prevents "shock" to the ecosystem (e.g., sudden algal blooms from excess sunlight) and maintains some cover for rail and crake bird species. The harvested biomass becomes the raw material for the livelihood component. By creating a market value for water hyacinth fibers and handicrafts, the project incentivizes its harvesting on the basis of wise use of wetlands resources as per Wetlands Rules. The community stewardship will be built around Water Hyacinth-based livelihoods.

3. Ready-made garment manufacturing (wildlife clothing)

With thousands of birding enthusiasts supporting this program, the in-house demand for quality “wildlife clothing” can be met through local production of camouflage, green and earth-toned garments which are suitable for birdwatching and safaris.

Tailoring is a traditional livelihood skill for which training can be quickly rolled out in the project area to women who desire to earn a livelihood. A production center will be established with industrial-grade sewing machines, raw material and staff for training and market linkages chiefly with the birding community and private garment procurers.

Camouflage shirts and trousers; green, olive, brown and other earth-colored wear; caps and hats; bags; and such products with high offtake will be designed and manufactured at the Training and Production Center. Branding garments with birds Sarus and/or wetland conservation messaging significantly enhances value and visibility among the birding community. These clothes will be sold through the village-products shop at the WEC and online avenues, providing an income to a large cluster of women from the community.

Plans are underway to initiative other health, education and sustainable livelihood activities that would benefit the communities living in proximity of the wetlands.