Livelihoods

By Bernard Giraud, President Livelihoods Venture

I have just returned from the Araku Valley in Andhra Pradesh (India) where over 5000 adivasi villagers celebrated the 1million fruit trees they have planted this year with the Naandi Foundation. I am so happy to share with you this very impressive and touching moment! Coming from 300 villages, farmers and their families gathered on November 13th for the Forest Festival, demonstrating their commitment to the project. Shri Jairam Ramesh, Minister for Rural Development (and former Minister of Environment) came especially from Delhi to express a vibrant support to the initiative: 'what you are doing in this valley opens new ways to combat poverty and develop sustainable livelihoods...'

A few Livelihoods Fund partners made the trip to Araku and give their testimonial

The celebration of the millionth tree planted with the Project Livelihoods/ Naandi was an opportunity for some Livelihoods partners to discover and appreciate the extent of the work done on the land by local community. Danone was represented by its Executive Vice President Human Resources and chair of the Board of its Ecosystem Fund  and Credit Agricole by Stanislas Pottier, Head of Sustainable Development. They observed and give us their opinions in the following lines.

Naandi which in Sanskrit (Indian tongue) means a new beginning; is one of the largest and fastest growing social sector organisations in India working in three sectors: Child rights, safe drinking water and sustainable livelihoods. Livelihoods Fund decided to carry out an extensive program of reforestation (Planting fruit trees) with Naandi foundation. Last year 700 ha has been planted, 2000 will be in 2011.

Through these few words Manoj Kumar, the CEO of Naandi foundation is talking about the capacity of his organisation to carry out this program with the local population  which goes far beyond planting fruit trees.

The Forest Festival brought together a few days ago nearly 5,000 people came to celebrate the million trees. The one millionth was planted by Shri Jairam Ramesh Minister for rural in India. We have made for you a selection of powerful images of this feast.

Nature Environment & Wildlife Society (NEWS), Livelihoods partner on a project of Mangrove restoration,  had organized a health camp on 25th of September 2011, at Jyotishpur in Basanti block of Sundarbans.