IFAD President, Dr. Kanayo F. Nwanze visits the Uttrakhand Livelihoods Improvement Project for the Himalayas
The ULIPH reports on the President's visit to their state.
On learning about the visit plan of Dr. Kanayo F. Nwanze, President, IFAD, Rome, the Uttarakhand Government declared him as the State Guest and committed the provision of necessary security, lodging and boarding facilities and travel arrangements including helicopter for the field visit.
Dr. Kanayo F. Nwanze, President, IFAD, Rome and his delegation members comprising of Mr. Mattia Prayer Galletti, Country Programme Manager, IFAD, Ms. Farhana Haque Rehman, Chief Media relation, IFAD, Mr. Vincent Darlong, Acting Coordinator, IFAD, India and Mr. Shaheel Rafique, Implementation Support Specialist, IFAD, India were welcomed by the Project Director, ULIPH & staff on arrival at the Jolly Grant Airport on 25 November 2009. Thereafter the President and his delegation was escorted by the Project staff to Hotel Madhuban where the stay arrangements were made. The delegation members proceeded to the Chief Minister Secretariat after a short break in the hotel.
The Hon. Chief Minister, Uttarakhand, Hon. Rural Development Minister, Uttarakhand, Chief Secretary, Uttarakhand and senior officials greeted Dr. Kanayo F. Nwanze, President, IFAD, Rome and his delegation members on their arrival in the Chief Minister Secretariat. After presentation of the customary greetings the introductions of the guests was made. This was followed by the welcome speech by Chief Secretary, Uttarakhand. While highlighting the work done by the Government he urged for further cooperation with IFAD especially in emerging areas related to knowledge distribution & technological environment in context of climate change for integrated livelihood sustainability.
A short film was screened by ULIPH in which the achievements of the project as well as the aspirations of the project SHG and Federation leaders were brought out very succinctly. This was followed by a crisp presentation by the Project Director, ULIPH highlighting the progress made by the project and the challenges forward particularly related to climate change, food security and poverty alleviation in rural areas.
Thereafter the floor was opened for remarks of invited officials from the State Government. Brief comments were made by Principal Secretaries, Finance, Externally Aided Projects, Secretary, Rural Development & Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Uttarakhand. The officials informed on the characteristics of the mountain areas that can be turned into an opportunity if the niche areas are harnessed optimally.
In his address Dr. Nwanze stated that before reaching Uttarakhand he had an interaction with the Project Directors of IFAD supported projects in India and the work of ULIPH was found to be satisfactory. He briefed the audience about the objectives of IFAD to eliminate poverty through active participation of local people with their available resources, knowledge and interest.
The Hon’ble Chief Minister, Uttarakhand Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank welcomed the IFAD President to Uttarakhand. While elaborating on the initiatives taken for the all round development of the state, the Chief Minister said that the Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyaya 108 Emergency Services were operational in all development blocks reaching out to the remotest areas of the state. ‘This has led to providing support to more than 80 thousand women and children for emergency health needs,’ he added. Besides, health cards had been issued to all BPL families to provide free medical services in government hospitals. Under the Devbhoomi Muskan scheme, he said that children belonging to the weaker sections of society were being provided higher education. Referring to the industrialisation of the state, the CM stated that the investment in the state had reached Rs. 4431 crores, so far, with 237 industries granted approval. An additional 2318 industrial units were in the process of being set up with an investment of Rs. 16,000 crores leading to employment generation opportunities for 2 lakh people. Uttarakhand had hydro power generation potential of 40,000 MW, he stated, out of which 3146 MW had, so far, been harnessed. Under the Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali Self Employment scheme for tourism promotion and creation of job avenues, he maintained that stamp duty limit had been increased form Rs/ 10 lakhs to Rs. 20 lakhs. With a view to providing basic facilities like education, transport, Panchayat Bhawan, agri.-input centre, primary agriculture, cooperative society, bank, post office, electrification, drinking water, irrigation, telephones, etc., 670 villages of 95 blocks had been selected under the Atal Adarsh Gram Yojana. As the state was contributing to the maintenance of the environment of the nation with its 65% forest cover, Dr. Nishank disclosed that the Central Government had been requested to provide a Green Bonus to the state. Presently, 12,089 Van Panchayats were conserving an area of 5.5 lakh hectares of forest. For the long term watershed development schemes, he said that Rs. 2200 crores had been earmarked.
Referring to the Uttarakhand Livelihood Improvement Project for the Himalayas funded by the IFAD, Dr. Nishank informed the delegation that it was being implemented in 959 villages covering 17 blocks of 5 districts. He said the desired result from the project had started emerging with formation of 3804 self-help groups, 80 federations, saving of Rs. 344 lakhs and inter-loaning of Rs. 651 lakhs by the SHGs. Besides, Rs. 87 lakhs had been provided as seed capital to SHGs and cash credit limit sanctioned through the banks had been Rs. 494 lakhs.
Dr Nishank informed that climate change has a relevant affect on the himalayan region and that urgent steps be taken to conserve it. He disclosed that Uttarakhand had difficult geographical conditions and IFAD should expand its collaboration through development projects. He said that the state shared international boundaries with China and Nepal, and thus had some responsibilities towards the nation for security issues. He apprised the members of IFAD that Uttarakhand had been poised as a niche destination for development of herbs, spiritual and rural tourism, hydro power, renewable energy and alternative medicine organic activities, etc. The Chief Minister disclosed that melting glaciers, unprecedented rains and long periods of summer were some of the factors affecting the life of the people of Uttarakhand. He said that the schemes being implemented by the state government needed to be coordinated in an integrated manner so that the challenges especially those related to climate change could be tackled and also contributed to the livelihood of the persons living in these areas.
As a token of appreciation of the visit of Dr. Kanayo F. Nwanze, President, IFAD, Rome and his delegation the Chief Minister presented mementoes to the visiting members. The list of persons who participated in the meeting are given as Annex-I. Details of the programme are given as Annex-II.
The guests were escorted for dinner which was hosted by the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Uttarakhand Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank in the presence of Hon’ble Rural Development Minister, Chief Secretary and other officials.
On 26 November 2009, Dr. Kanayo F. Nwanze, President, IFAD, Rome and his delegation members were taken by helicopter to Tehri district to see the work being carried out by ULIPH in the field and interact with the SHG & Federation members. The programme details are given as Annex-III. During the field visit the IFAD delegation members, Principal Secretary, Externally Aided projects, Project Director, ULIPH and staff accompanied the IFAD President. Cultural program by troupe from Jaunpur block added color to the proceedings as well as passed on important messages to the audience.
The IFAD President visited the Kuroiler & candle microenterprises established by the project and held interactions with Mr. Bhoop Singh, kuroiler mother unit entrepreneur and members of Chandrabadni SHG engaged in candle enterprise. Later on the IFAD President inaugurated the Chandrabadni Self Reliant Cooperative office cum market centre and held detailed interactions with the SHG & Federation members in the federation office. The discussions with the SHG & federation members revolved on the process adopted for planning as per the needs of the federation members and the role of the project facilitators. IFAD President commented that the microenterprises being promoted by project can lead to poverty reduction and that the investment in agriculture needs to be increased. He suggested that the project facilitate in linking the SHGs with banks and the market which will further empower them and imbibe entrepreneurship amongst the SHG members. He added that if infrastructure facilities are increased in rural areas and this has been successful in some projects the migration also decreases. He remarked that IFAD will increase its investment in India so that the farmers benefit from the projects being formulated.
Mr Rakesh Sharma, Principal Secretary EAP commented that money will not be a limiting factor while establishing the microenterprises. Our culture is very rich and this needs to be preserved through the SHGs he added.
Following the field visit, a press conference was organised in Dehradun in which journalists from all national newspapers and the electronic media based in Dehradun were invited. On this occasion Dr. Kanayo F. Nwanze, President, IFAD, Rome briefed those present on the work being done by IFAD. He also informed on his impressions of the field visit organised by the project in Devprayag block of Tehri district. The IFAD President lauded the work being done by the project. On this occasion Mr Mattia Prayer Galleti, Country Programme Manager, IFAD said that the initial work of the project related to capacity building of the communities has been completed. For further empowerment of villagers it is essential that they be linked with the banks, markets& venture capital which will lead to enterpreunership amongst them. The response of the media was expressed as prominent display of the news of the IFAD Presidents visit to Uttarakhand.
An interaction with project staff was organised on 27 November 2009 in which the Head Office Managers, District Project Managers, Managers-Federation Development and other staff participated. The list of participants is attached as Annex-IV. Speaking on the occasion the IFAD President said that he had a deep sense of satisfaction after having interacted with the SHG leaders and federation members in Tehri district as part of the field visit. He said that the project was poised in a position where the results will start coming and for this the remaining three years of the project are very important. He urged all staff members to give their best for achieving the desired results.
The Project Director and staff members accompanied the IFAD President & delegation members to bid them farewell at Jolly Grant Airport on their onward trip to Delhi.
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