Society for Sustainable Development

SSD is registered in the year 1994 under the Society Registration Act. Initially, SSD started its activities to promote the livelihood of resource poor people. People who were deeply concerned about the neglect of this region founded SSD, and it¡¦s our goal to bring benefits of just and equitable development to the rural poor people. The main thrust of SSD¡¦s approach is to develop local people¡¦s initiative in managing their natural resources and to promote self-reliant and sustainable development through strengthening of community based organization.
After a comprehensive analysis of the local situation and the local capacities available, SSD has decided to work primarily with the villages falling in and around the Kailadevi Sanctuary area and in the remote ravines of the River Chambal. SSD is presently working in the field of micro-credit, natural resource management (NRM), health, Education and strengthening of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). Its work extends to 65 villages of the block and it is poised to expand and diversify its activities to the benefit of the poor in this region.

Vision-
-To establish a society where justice, equity and peace prevails.

SSD- The service Area:
SSD is striving to improve socio-economic conditions of villages, situated in and around Kailadevi Wild Life Sanctuary area. It¡¦s an upland plateau, characterized by undulation rocky hills & broken grounds with soil type being primarily of red colors, whereas downward side of valley contains sandy soil. This area is semi arid with annual rainfall of 700 m-m (approx.).
Major communities living in this area are Gujjars (SOBC), Meena (ST), Jatav/ Bairwa (SC). Animal Husbandry was the mainstay of villager¡¦s subsistence, when they first arrived here. But subsequently agriculture took precedence over animal husbandry. Still entire area is poverty-stricken, since most of the land holdings are marginal in nature & not even one half hectare of land is under assured irrigation each family. Situation is further aggravated by the fact that runoff carries away the valuable top soil. Every year from Aprail to June mass migration of cattle & men takes place. Women literacy in this area is less than 20%, whereas no. of women per thousand men in this area is 847 only.

Objective of SSD:
« Conservation & management of natural resources through community action for
sustainable livelihood system.
« To promote saving & thrift activities and skill enhancement among youth esp.
women folk for sustainable economic development.
« To promote community based health management system.
« To promote local self-Governance, through Capacity building of villagers.
« Improving quality of elementary education.

The Activities: SSD has undertaken following activities for sustainable rural development.
1. Natural Resource Management Program:
SSD have been implementing natural resource management program through community action in 50 villages with the aim to save forest, bio-diversity and natural resources. As we know local villagers are totally dependent on agriculture and forest for livelihood so we are also educating them on forest management, uses of new technologies in agriculture, rain water harvesting and to become self dependent. As there is lack of water in Rajasthan State, we have also focused to improve irrigation facilities in Karauli district. Deepening of wells is being done to improve drinking water facilities and rainwater harvesting concept is being taught to villagers so that they can store water and use that water for drinking, agriculture and many other purposes. After implementing different programmes on natural resource management and environment education, SSD with the help of CEE and Forest Department is been able to create awareness on all these issues successfully. Different projects on water sanitation and Biodiversity has been implemented successfully and now villagers are fully aware the importance of forest and environment in society.

2. Self Help Groups:
SSD is focusing on to promote saving and thrift habit among women and men. We have seen the huge participation of villagers in this programme and it has been helpful in economic development of women in the society as well as finding linkages with their livelihood.

3. Community based Health Management System:
SSD have been involved in improving health facilities among girls and pregnant women by creating awareness on health issues and by implementing health programmes on regular interval. Women now are aware the importance of Vaccination and we have also seen the drastic changes
in child marriages after this programme. Local people are happy after implementation of these health activities.

4. Local self government:
With the collective efforts of Panchayati Raj, SSD is organizing workshops and capacity development program for elected members and villagers are being educated about Rights & responsibilities of Sarpanch, Panch and other Panchayati Raj functionaries. We have already aware PRIs and villagers about various welfare schemes of Government for weaker and backward sections of society. We have done lot of activities on Rights of women and the aim is to create awareness among people about their rights, duties and responsibilities.

Other work done:
« Electrification of villages through solar application.
« Liasoning with Govt for redressing grievances of villagers.
« Survey has been done to check the level of child education in Karauli district

Future plans of Society for Sustainable Development:
- To implement natural resource management projects through community based
Organizations in the villages.
- To promote skill development and income generation program for unemployed
youth and members of self-help Groups.
- To work for community based health management system.
- Strengthening of Panchayati Raj Institutions in Karauli district.
- Improvement in quality of Elementary education.
- Develop mechanism of support for widows, orphans, senior citizens and socially
backward Persons.