GAWDESY/TAMWED IMPROVING DIETS IV QUARTER REPORT (October December 2015)

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1 GAWDESY/TAMWED IMPROVING DIETS IV QUARTER REPORT (October December 2015) 1. Name of project: Improving Diets GAWDESY / TAMWED Project 2. Reporting period: (Quarterly) 3. Name of persons completing report: Mr. Mavadiyan, Project Director Mr. Karunamoorthy, Secretary 4. Aims of project (from project plan): To improve the welfare of impoverished and marginalised communities in a rural district of South India by promoting the production and use of nutritional food while increasing access to basic health care and raising awareness about climate change and other environmental issues. 5. Objectives of project (from project plan): To tackle a range of issues based on prioritized needs of 1,600 people from the poorest communities by: a. Increasing access to basic and appropriate health care; b. Improving diets; c. Raising awareness about climate change and other environmental issues; d. Increasing capacity to produce a variety of healthy foods. 6. Achievements during the first three quarter period (Jan Sept.15) in relation to objectives: 6.1. Appointment of Two Project Managers: 1. Mrs. Radhika 2. Mrs Valarmathi (Called Cluster Coordinators in Gawdesy.) They are in charge of 15 villages each Appointment of Gardener: Mr. Ranjith has been appointed as Gardner from the first month of the project period Create a baseline report on needs and priorities in relation to the project s objectives: Baseline survey has been completed in 22 villages in the first month (January 2015) Deliver a program to 1,600 SHG members to raise awareness about health and dietary issues: In the previous 9 months, 4,336 women have been given awareness training /sensitization on health and dietary issues in 30 villages. The focus of the training in the nine months period has been on Blood Pressure, Cancer and Sanitation (household toilet construction). Out of 22 staff, 1 joined newly in the 3 rd quarter Develop a nursery for vegetables, fruit and medicinal plants: Kitchen Garden nursery was developed in the Gawdesy campus in the first quarter. About 1,000 seedlings were raised but 5,000 seedlings or saplings have been distributed by purchase from outside suppliers. After the first quarter, nursery has not been developed because of the erratic rains during the year. But seeds and seedlings have been distributed in the project area during this quarter. 190 families received vegetable seeds of different varieties and 200 families received medicinal plants seedlings after onset of monsoon in the month of September Work with specialist agencies to introduce appropriate and climate-resistant crops: GAWDESY has invited experts from the agriculture and horticulture departments for training the farmers on climate change impacts and adaptation / mitigation strategies. Resource Persons: 1. Mr. Purushothaman

2 Scientist KVK Farm, Usilampatti 2. Mr. Balakrishnan, Block Horticulture Offi cer, Thirvaiyaru 3. Mr. Anbu Rajan, Asst. Director of Horticulture, Thanjavur. 4. Mr. S.Sekar, Assistant, Horticulture Office, Thiruvaiyaru. GAWDESY has established a tie-up with Isha Yoga Foundation to get seedlings at a concessional rate of Rs. 5 7 each. GAWDESY selected 23 progressive farmers and sent them for 3 days training in climate resistant paddy cultivation to Government Agricultural Research Farm in Aaduthurai and Kattuthottam in Thanjavur district. They learnt about different varieties of paddies which require less quantity of water and more climate- change resistant Conduct 4 climate change and environment protection/awareness camps: Three climate change awareness camps have been conducted during the quarter. The first one was conducted on at Thiruvaiyaru for 900 farmers (mostly women). Second one on 25 th July at Kaduveli Panchayat. 600 persons participated in the camp wherein Mr. Mavadiyan, President of GAWDESY explained about the impacts of climate change. The Panchayat President assured his full support for planting tree seedlings in his panchayat area. Another event took place at Buthalur on 15 th August wherein 2,800 persons participated. The Assistant General Manager of NABARD, Joint Director of Health Services, the President of Thanjavur District Tree Plantation Movement Mr. Sakthivel participated in the event. 5,000 seedlings were distributed to the participants of the camp. 3,384 seedlings were received by the beneficiaries of our working villages and the rest were distributed to the public who participated in the function Deliver at least 8 outreach health clinics/camps: Seven camps had been conducted in the reporting period (9 months). On , an eye camp was conducted in GAWDESY in collaboration with Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai in which 197 persons participated. Another camp was conducted in Michaelpatti village on persons attended the camp in which the general medical practitioners participated and screened the participants. Health camps were conducted during the 3 rd quarter in the following places: Thohur Village 27 persons attended by the Village Health Nurse, TB Dept Valappakudi 40 persons attended by PHC and TB Dept health staff Thiruvethikudi 60 persons attended by TB and NCD dept. of local PHC Thirukattupalli 60 persons attended by the above dept. officials Ombatthuveli 30 persons the same medical team. 6.9 Promote a range of health care using treatment and medicine appropriate to the illness: The CHWs have referred 243 persons to the PHCs and 190 persons have been given treatment in the PHCs. Counseling was arranged for the newly identified diabetics and TB patients. The health staffs have demonstrated the use of several herbs, greens and medicinal plants for treating the various illnesses. Most successful is in the treatment of diabetic and knee pain. The health workers of Improving Diets of GAWDESY have tried out different alternate medicines for the diseases identified during the camp. They have involved Indian Siddha, Unani, Homeopathy and Ayurvedic medical practitioners to cure the diseases like Diabetic, TB, Acute knee and Back pain, Viral Fever and cancer. The patients have been taught to prepare their own home medicines with the locally available medicinal plants and herbs. Dr. Selva Muthukumar from Ayurvedha, Dr. Sivakumar Elango from Siddha and Dr. Rubala Devi from Unani disciplines are following up the patients who were referred to them for various illnesses Provide health support for at least 300 patients per annum including referrals for specialist treatment and follow-up: The major percentage of this objective has been achieved during the three quarters. 933 persons have been referred to Government Siddha and Homeopathic health practitioners for various ailments such as Diabetic, Migraine Head Ache, Neck Pain, Blood Pressure, Skin irritation, Tuberculosis, Kidney stone, Skin irritation etc Encourage 200 SHG members to grow vegetables and fruit by distributing seeds and seedlings: 84 SHGs have newly started growing vegetable plants and creepers and fruit seedlings in their backyard and in their farm areas. 485 individual members, who have water facility and proper fencing protection in their houses are into organic vegetable cultivation with the vegetable seeds given by GAWDESY. All of them are following organic methods in cultivating their vegetable garden.

3 7. Targets achieved in the current period from October - December 2015: 7.1. Target D: Deliver a programme to 1,600 SHG members to raise awareness about health and dietary issues: In the reporting period, 66 sessions of awareness training / sensitization on health and dietary issues have been given. 22 staffs have reached 1651 SHG members in three months time. The focus of the training in the current quarter has been on Eye, Heart & Kidney care, Cancer awareness and Sanitation awareness (household toilet construction) Target E: Develop a nursery for vegetables, fruit and medicinal plants: After the first quarter, nursery has not been developed because of the erratic rains during the year. But seeds and seedlings have been bought and distributed in the project area during this quarter. 553 families have received 1,210 packets of vegetable seeds and 3080 seedlings of different varieties in this quarter. This quarter experienced good showers and therefore the women were enthusiastic in cultivating third season vegetable these months Target F: Work with specialist agencies to introduce appropriate and climate-resistant crops: GAWDESY has facilitated 31 farmers clubs and have linked them with NABARD rural bank. The bank has given Rs /- as annual maintenance grant to these groups. These groups have resolved to do organic cultivation from this year. These farmers have been attending various training programmes conducted by the Paddy Research Centre in Thanjavur which is coordinated by GAWDESY once in 3 months. Totally 65 farmers have participated in the training during this quarter Target G: Conduct 4 climate change and environment protection/awareness camps: During this quarter one awareness training was conducted at Thirukattupalli on 2 nd October in which 180 women participated from 25 villages. 500 seedlings were distributed to the participants of the camp. The MLA of Tiruvaiyaru Mr. Rathinasamy, the Chair Person of Thirukattupalli Town Panchayat Mrs. Mangaiyarkarasi and councilors of the Panchayat were some of the dignitaries who participated in the camp. Mr. Mavadiyan and the staff of GAWDESY spoke about climate change and the importance of protection of natural resources Target H: Deliver at least 8 outreach health clinics/camps: 4 health camps have been conducted during this quarter in the following places: Kaduveli Village 150 persons Thyroid screening by District Mobile Clinic Karuppur 230 persons Eye, Heart, Kidney screening and General Check up by the Medical team from Sankara Eye Hospital, Coimbatore, Meenakshi Mission Hospital in collaboration with Lions Club and Meera Charitable Foundation Karanthai 90 persons attended by Meenakshi Mission Hospital, Madurai and District TB Control Unit Thirukattupalli 92 persons Medical examination on NCD by the Tiruvaiyaru Taluk Hospital Doctors in collaboration with GAWDESY and Rotary Club International Target I: Promote a range of health care using treatment and medicine appropriate to the illness: The health workers of Improving Diets of GAWDESY have tried out different alternate medicines for the diseases identified during the camp. They have involved Indian Siddha, Unani, Homeopathy and Ayurvedic medical practitioners to cure the diseases like Diabetic, TB, Acute knee and Back pain, Viral Fever and cancer. While appropriate treatment is given by the professional medical practitioners, some of the traditional healers among our target group women also prepare medicines and pain killers from herbs and medicinal plants for knee and neck pain, viral fever, diabetic etc. (Please refer special report about them in the Additional Information at the end of this report). We specially thank Dr. Sethuraman, Managing Director of Meenakshi Mission Hospital, Madurai, Dr. Anamika of Sankara Nethralaya, Dr. Selva Muthukumar from Ayurvedha, Dr. Sivakumar Elango from Siddha and Dr. Rubala Devi from Unani disciplines who are following up the patients who were identified for various illnesses Target J: Provide health support for at least 300 patients per annum including referrals for specialist treatment and follow-up: GAWDESY has achieved 3 times more than the fixed target in the 3 rd quarter itself. During this quarter, 317 patients were identified and 229 referred to specialist treatment according to their ailment. Out of 76 persons identified with Eye cataract, 36 persons were referred for Cataract surgery and done immediately. 19 persons were found to be unfit for surgery because of the

4 age factor and medical history and 21 persons were not willing for surgery due to no accompanier with them in the hospital. 90 diabetic patients were immediately referred to nearby Primary Health Centres. About 120 patients with knee, neck and back pain were also given siddha treatment by the professional physicians and the native medical practitioners. 31 patients who were identified with Ulcer and Cancer symptoms have been referred to Thanjavur Medical College and Hospital. The rapport established by GAWDESY with various health departments makes it easy to get the best possible service from the medical department Target K: Encourage 200 SHG members to grow vegetables and fruit by distributing seeds and seedlings: 353 women of our SHGs have newly started growing vegetable plants and creepers and fruit seedlings in their backyard and in their farm areas during this quarter. Some of the group members are cultivating vegetable garden on a large scale. During the reporting quarter 106 individual members are into organic vegetable cultivation on a bigger scale in the farm lands either owned or leased by them. 8. Additional Information: 8.1. Case Study 1: Mrs. Puviyalagi and Mrs. Meera live in Melavattam village near Karuppur. They are long standing members of our SHGs. Both of them are growing vegetables, greens, herbs and culinary plants in their backyard and nearby farm. The specialty about them is that they never go to Allopathic hospital for any illness and take their children very rarely. They are practicing home medicines and herbal medicines. Both of them are growing variety of herbs and medicinal plants in their garden and promote them to other women in their village and outside. They teach others how to prepare native medicine and use them. They have a collection of information about the use of various herbs/ medicinal plants and treatment methods. They are called as Country Doctors in their village. They give native medicines at a very nominal rate and they have been found effective for different ailments. They say that they got interested in specializing in the country medicine after learning the advantages of it from GAWDESY. Since then they collected various herbs from different places and learnt the preparation of medicine from books, TV information and news papers Case Study 2: Davis Clavia Josephine: She is also very much wanted by the women of her village in Michaelpatti because of her treatment to children and adults for various pains. She too has variety of herbs and medicinal plants and is always adding to them. She is also a motivator to other women to grow these herbs and use them. She speaks and demonstrates about preparation of various oils and ointments for pains. She always has some juice at home for treating stomach pains. She is equipping herself with the knowledge of country medicine from the TV channels and from Siddha books. She has been able to change the attitude of some women in her village about the low cost locally available medicine rather than preferring to allopathic and other traditions of medicines Case Study 3: Mr. Govindaraj and his wife Nagalakshmi from Sukkambar village have changed their vegetable cultivation totally organic from the current season. They have about 1 acre of land where in they are cultivating only vegetables. Till last agriculture season i.e. till end of December, they had been cultivating variety of vegetables with part chemical input and organic inputs. After learning the importance of converting the agriculture into organic to reduce climate change increase, both of them have decided to adapt to sustainable agriculture. They say that frequent training by GAWDESY and the horticulture department has motivated them to give a try and continue it even though they foresee less income for some years.

5 8.4. Monitoring Visit of Mr. Oz: The Secretary of TAMWED Mr. Oz and its committee member Mr. Duncan visited GAWDESY from 26 th to 28 th in the month of November and reviewed the activities of Improving Diets project implemented by GAWDESY. The team made field visits to the following villages and made their field observations. The villages are: 1. Pasupathikovil 2. Mathoor West 3. Michaelpatti 4. Sukkambar 5. Valappakudi 6. Palaya Arcod 7. Kila Tirupanthuruthi. He also held discussion with the important office bearers of the association and staff members of the project. He also participated in a Grand Loan Distribution Function to SHG members. Rs lakhs was distributed as loan to 10 SHGs. Awards to various personalities who contributed to the development of village communities in various fields were also distributed by Mr. Oz Promotion of Village sanitation: GAWDESY has constructed 146 individual sanitary latrines with its own funds in the following villages: 1) Mela Uthamanallur 62 2) Manathidal 23 3) Valappakudi 33 4) Kandiyoor 28 Education to use the toilets is being given by the health workers A credit of Rs. 4,75,00,400 crores (nearly Rs million or 475,000) has been mobilized in the reporting Quarter for the 135 groups facilitated by GAWDESY which have been distributed also to the 2025 beneficiaries of the project. 9. Any suggested changes to programme or budget: None 10. Statement of Expenditure January to December 2015: Item Budget 12 month 1 st Quarter Jan - Mar 15 2 nd Quarter Apr - Jun 15 3 rd Quarter Jul - Sep 15 4th Quarter Oct - Dec 15 Total 1 Project Manager 72,000 18,000 18,000 18,000 18,000 72,000 Salary 2 Gardener Salary 36,000 9,000 9,000 9,000 9,000 36,000 3 Support & Training 2,40,000 60,000 60,000 60,000 60,000 2,40,000 4 Training for PM and Gardener 10,000 4,865 1,656 5,905-12,426 5 Nursery plot, plant & equip t 10,000 7, ,492 10,004 6 Seeds & Plants 25,000 20,000 4,060 15,000 11,045 50,105 7 Environment Camps 10,000 2,630-2,550 4,821 10,001 8 Transport 6,000 2,270-1,200 2,570 6,040 9 Management, Admin, Office 30,000 3,420 6,946 8,759 10,875 30, Tamwed contribution 4,00,000 4,00, Local contribution 39,000 66,576 4,39,000 4,66,576

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