Girijana Vikas implements a variety of programs and projects aimed at improving livelihoods, strengthening community institutions, and ensuring basic needs are met. Our interventions span several sectors – agriculture, women’s empowerment, education, health, and environmental conservation – all tailored to the unique context of tribal and rural communities. Below is an overview of our major ongoing programs and upcoming initiatives:
Ongoing Initiatives
Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs): We have facilitated the formation of 7 Farmer Producer Organizations to unite small farmers and enhance their collective bargaining power. Four FPOs are supported by NABARD and three by the Department of Horticulture. These FPOs focus on local produce like coffee, pepper, turmeric, beans, honey, broomsticks, cashew, and millets. By aggregating produce and adding value (cleaning, processing, packaging), the FPOs help farmers secure better prices and access wider markets. We provide training in organizational management, help with organic certification (one FPO received organic certification in 2019), and connect these FPOs with government schemes and buyers. This collective approach is boosting incomes and empowering farmers to be entrepreneurs.
Cooperative Thrift & Credit Societies (Microfinance): To tackle the lack of timely credit in remote areas, Girijana Vikas helped establish two Mutually Aided Cooperative Thrift and Credit Societies (MACTS) – one covering G.K. Veedhi & Chintapalli mandals and another in Golugonda (serving Narsipatnam area). These community-run cooperatives have over 3,000 members across 120 villages, largely women. Members save small amounts regularly and can avail affordable loans for agriculture, small businesses, or emergencies without the grip of private moneylenders. Each loan group co-guarantees repayments, fostering solidarity. This program has significantly improved financial inclusion, enabling farmers and women entrepreneurs to invest in their livelihoods with confidence.
Agriculture & Horticulture Development: Agriculture is the backbone of tribal livelihoods, and our programs focus on increasing productivity in a sustainable way:
Under NABARD’s “Maathota” (Garden) program, we supported tribal farmers to cultivate fruit orchards. Mango plantations have been developed on 800 acres and pineapple orchards on 3,000 acres in G.K. Veedhi and Chintapalli mandals. These horticulture initiatives provide long-term income for farmers and help in greening the degraded hills. We work closely with the Department of Horticulture to provide quality saplings, technical guidance, and inputs like organic manure to both tribal and non-tribal farmers. The success of Maathota inspired thousands of additional acres being planted with mango and pineapple by farmers, with government support.
We promote climate-resilient crops such as millets and pulses. Many tribal farmers had shifted away from nutritious traditional millets due to subsidized rice and laborious processing. Our Millets Promotion program, supported by the Department of Science & Technology (Government of India), is reviving millet cultivation. We raise awareness on the nutritional and climate benefits of millets, conduct training on better agronomic practices, and facilitate value addition (like flour making) and market linkages for millet products. This not only enhances food security but also climate adaptation, as millets are hardy in erratic weather.
Through training and extension, we introduced the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) in several villages to increase paddy yields with less water and seed. We organized 25 village-level demonstrations and trained 150 farmers on SRI techniques (using younger seedlings, wider spacing, and intermittent irrigation). As a result, SRI paddy cultivation has been successfully adopted in 6 villages, leading to higher rice output with fewer resources.
We establish demonstration plots and seed banks in villages to encourage the use of improved seeds and preservation of indigenous varieties. One village has set up a community seed bank with our support, ensuring farmers have timely access to quality seeds and planting material.
Organic Farming: Embracing traditional knowledge, we train farmers in Non-Pesticidal Management (NPM) and organic fertilization methods. Over 150 members of local VSS (Village Samakhyas or forest protection committees) were trained in preparing and using vermicompost, botanical pesticides (neem-based, etc.), and other organic techniques. We also assist farmer groups in obtaining organic certification for their crops (for example, tribal coffee growers achieved organic certification with our help). These efforts are preserving soil health, reducing chemical usage, and fetching premium prices for organic produce.
Market Access & Rural Infrastructure: To help farmers sell their produce without exploitation by middlemen, we have developed rural marketing infrastructure:
Constructed 20 rural haats (weekly market yards) across 20 villages with NABARD’s assistance. These open marketplace facilities provide a organized space for tribal farmers and artisans to sell directly to consumers and traders on market days. Weekly shandies (markets) are a lifeline in tribal areas, and having a proper haat boosts trade, ensures fair prices, and creates a festive community gathering.
Established a Rural Mart at Lambasingi (a popular hill station known as “Andhra Kashmir”). This roadside retail outlet, set up with NABARD support, allows tribal FPOs and SHGs to sell products like coffee, spices, honey, handicrafts, etc., directly to tourists and buyers. The rural mart ensures tribal producers get a larger share of profits and gain exposure to market demand. It also supplies quality daily-need items to local consumers at fair prices. By cutting out multiple intermediaries, both producers and consumers benefit.
We facilitate marketing linkages for various tribal products. For instance, we work with the Girijan Cooperative Corporation (a government agency) to promote tribal coffee and pepper. We also encourage value addition – such as processing honey, making pickles or spices – and proper packaging/branding to improve market appeal of tribal products.
Education and Child Support: Education has the power to break the cycle of poverty. Girijana Vikas strives to ensure tribal children have access to schooling:
We have identified and enrolled over 1,000 out-of-school children (school dropouts or those who never attended) into nearby government residential schools and ashram schools. By counseling parents and coordinating with tribal welfare departments, these children (some of whom were engaged in labor or affected by insurgency) are now continuing their studies in a safe environment with free boarding. One notable case is that of Mr. Naresh, a surrendered militant commander, whom we helped rejoin schooling – he is now studying at a tribal ashram school, exemplifying how education can transform lives and bring former extremists into the mainstream.
For children of migrant laborers (who often move seasonally for work and cannot keep kids in regular school), we run special Bridge School/Hostel programs. In partnership with education departments, 1,270 children of migrant families have been provided hostel facility and tutoring by qualified teachers (B.Ed graduates). These hostels ensure the children have a stable learning environment, nutritious food, and continuous education even when their parents are away for work. This initiative has greatly reduced child labor and dropouts in migratory communities.
Beyond formal education, we conduct child rights and protection awareness in villages, promoting the importance of schooling, nutrition, and preventing child trafficking or child marriages. Our approach is inclusive – we involve community elders and youth in mentoring children, thus building a supportive ecosystem for the young.
Health & Sanitation: Bringing healthcare to remote tribal hamlets and improving sanitation has been a cornerstone of our work:
We operate a Mobile Medical Unit (MMU) that travels to interior villages on a regular schedule. Staffed with a doctor, nurse, and pharmacist, this MMU provides free basic health checkups, medicines, and referral services to thousands of tribal people who have little access to hospitals. Common ailments like malaria (a major concern in the area), respiratory infections, skin diseases, and minor injuries are treated on the spot. Health education on malaria prevention, nutrition, and hygiene is also given during the camps.
Under the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) for a cleaner India, local authorities partnered with us to improve rural sanitation. Girijana Vikas has constructed 155 individual household latrines in G.K. Veedhi mandal to eliminate open defecation. We engaged villagers in understanding the health benefits of toilets and ensured quality construction of units. After seeing our success, officials have engaged us to expand toilet construction in other mandals like Narsipatnam. We are proud to be an empaneled partner in the SBM campaign for the region, moving towards an Open Defecation Free status.
Drinking Water Projects: In collaboration with NGOs like Arogyam (Bangalore) and local partner VJNNS, we implemented a Gravity Flow Drinking Water System in Nimmachettu, a tribal village under Darakonda panchayat. By channeling hill spring water through gravity pipelines, the village now has a sustainable source of clean drinking water right at their doorstep. This low-cost, energy-free solution has inspired us to replicate the model – plans are underway to extend gravity-fed water supply to several other water-scarce villages in the hills. Alongside this, we encourage kitchen gardens for households to improve nutrition using the available water.
During health and sanitation drives, we also distributed 500 smokeless cook stoves to tribal households. These improved stoves reduce indoor air pollution (a major cause of lung disease among women using traditional firewood chulhas) and consume less firewood, thus also conserving local forests.
Women’s Empowerment & Skills Training: Empowering women is a key strategy for community development:
We organize women into Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and federations, and build their capacities in savings, credit management, and entrepreneurial activities. Through SHGs and the above-mentioned cooperative societies, women gain financial independence and a collective voice.
Girijana Vikas has conducted multiple skills training programs for women. One highly successful program is Adda Leaf Plate Making: We trained 60 tribal women to manufacture plates from local palm leaves (Adda leaves). Over a series of 10-12 day camps, these women learned to collect, press, and stitch the leaves into eco-friendly disposable plates which are in demand in markets. The outcome has been wonderful – many of these women now earn a regular income from plate-making, supplying to traders and local markets, thereby improving their families’ economic status.
Similarly, we have facilitated Micro-Enterprise Development Programs (MEDPs) in partnership with banks and NABARD. These short courses train women and unemployed youth in trades like tailoring, candle making, food processing, and other cottage industries. Six such trainings have been completed in both tribal and plain areas, seeding new micro-businesses and boosting confidence among participants.
We also encourage women’s active role in agriculture and community decision-making. Through our programs (like involving women in FPOs, or as health volunteers), many tribal women have emerged as leaders who guide others in best practices and represent their community’s interests in local governance.
Natural Resource Management & Environment: Living in harmony with nature is vital for tribal communities. We implement several activities to conserve and enhance natural resources:
Formation of Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) for resource management – we have helped set up village-level committees and user groups that take ownership of managing local resources such as forests, water bodies, and commons. For example, Joint Forest Management committees and Vana Samrakshana Samithis (VSS) include villagers who protect forests from illegal felling and ensure sustainable harvesting of minor forest produce.
Watershed Development: In partnership with government watershed programs, we undertake soil and moisture conservation works like contour bunds, check dams, trenching, and plantation on degraded hills. These measures prevent soil erosion and improve groundwater recharge, thereby enhancing the productivity of the land.
Water Use Efficiency: We promote modern irrigation techniques such as drip irrigation and sprinkler systems in suitable villages. Drip irrigation systems have been introduced in 5 villages to help farmers grow vegetables and spices with far less water. By optimizing water use, these systems have enabled cultivation even during dry spells and significantly increased water-use efficiency on farms.
Climate Action: Girijana Vikas integrates climate change adaptation into its programs. Promoting millets (as they are drought-tolerant), encouraging tree-based farming (horti-pastoral systems), and distributing solar lanterns are some ways we improve community resilience. In a recent initiative, with support from TERI’s Lighting a Billion Lives (LaBL) program, we distributed 1,000 solar lanterns and installed 50 solar street lights in off-grid tribal habitations. This not only reduced dependence on polluting kerosene lamps but also extended productive hours in the evening for study and work. (Renewable energy has illuminated homes and hopes in villages that lacked electricity.)
Advocacy and Capacity Building: Empowering communities also means educating them about their rights and available resources:
We have conducted large-scale awareness campaigns on important issues and government schemes. This includes campaigns on the Forest Rights Act, 2006, reaching over 3,000 tribals with information on how to claim land rights; awareness on the Panchayat Raj Act and local self-governance; and mobilizing public opinion on local environmental issues like opposing destructive bauxite mining in tribal areas (our awareness drive on bauxite mining impacts reached around 5,000 people).
Training of Volunteers and Community Leaders: We trained local youth volunteers (20 initially) over 6-day workshops to lead social initiatives in their villages. They now assist in program implementation and act as liaisons between the community and the NGO/government, which has greatly improved community participation.
We facilitate exposure visits and experience sharing for farmers and community leaders – taking them to agricultural research stations, other successful NGOs, and model project sites. Seeing successful practices firsthand and interacting with experts (“Meet with Experts” programs) has inspired many to adopt innovations back home. These capacity-building efforts ensure that the knowledge stays within the community and continues to benefit others.
Through these ongoing programs, Girijana Vikas is making steady progress towards its vision of empowered, self-sufficient communities. We continuously monitor and evaluate our programs, learning and adapting to make them more effective. Many of our initiatives are now community-managed, which is a testament to their sustainability.
Upcoming & Future Plans
Looking ahead, Girijana Vikas has identified new opportunities and projects to further enhance tribal livelihoods and wellbeing. Some key initiatives in the pipeline include:
Maize Processing Unit: We are in advanced stages of setting up a Maize Processing Factory near Narsipatnam to support tribal farmers who grow maize. Currently, these farmers sell raw maize to middlemen at low rates. The planned processing unit will produce value-added products like cattle feed and poultry feed from the maize. This will create better market value for their crop and local employment in the processing facility. We have conducted community consultations and developed a business plan using a cooperative model. Once operational, tribal maize growers can directly process and sell their maize as feed or other products, eliminating intermediaries and increasing their income.
Honey Collection & Processing: The forests of our region are rich in wild honey, and many tribal families are traditional honey hunters. However, they often get unfair prices (e.g., the government’s Girijan Co-operative Corporation currently buys raw honey at only ₹120 per kg and applies deductions). To address this, we plan to establish a Honey Processing and Marketing Initiative. We will train tribal youth and women in scientific honey harvesting (to ensure it's done sustainably and hygienically), processing and filtering honey, and bottling and labeling for retail sale. By setting up a Honey Processing Unit with quality control and branding, tribals can sell pure, organic honey directly to consumers or companies at much better prices. This initiative will protect both the bees and the livelihoods – by promoting sustainable collection practices and cutting out exploitative middlemen, ensuring tribals reap the sweet rewards of their labor.
Millets Revival Project: Scaling up our ongoing millets program, we have proposed a comprehensive project on Millet Value-Chain Development. This involves expanding the area under millet cultivation, providing improved seeds of various nutritious millets (such as ragi, jowar, little millet, foxtail millet), and establishing small processing mills (de-hullers, flour mills) in tribal villages. We also plan aggressive awareness campaigns on the health benefits of millets to increase local consumption and combat malnutrition. Given the increasing climatic uncertainties, millets are a timely choice for climate-smart agriculture – they require less water, can withstand high temperatures, and enrich the soil. Our aim is to make millets “cool” again among the younger generation of tribals and also link farmers to urban markets where organic millets are in demand. We are hopeful of support from government and CSR donors to roll this out on a larger scale soon.
Roma Turmeric Cultivation: To boost farmer incomes, we are introducing Roma variety turmeric in the high-altitude areas of Visakhapatnam district. Unlike traditional turmeric that takes 2-3 years to mature, Roma turmeric is a short-duration crop (ready in 9 months) with high curcumin content (which means it’s more potent and fetches a premium price). It also yields significantly more per acre. Several progressive farmers have piloted Roma turmeric with excellent results: they got higher returns with less labor compared to the old variety. Girijana Vikas has prepared a detailed plan to promote Roma turmeric as a core livelihood crop for many tribal farmers. We will provide seed rhizomes, training in cultivation practices, and help with organic certification and marketing of this turmeric (positioning it as a high-curcumin organic product). This initiative promises to diversify income sources and take advantage of a lucrative market for quality turmeric.
Expanded Water and Energy Projects: Building on our successful gravity water project and solar lighting efforts, we aim to extend these to more villages:
Gravity Irrigation Schemes: We plan to implement small gravity-fed irrigation systems in hill villages where streams can be channeled to field terraces. This will allow cultivation of two crops a year in some places (where currently only rain-fed single cropping is possible). By capturing spring water in the hills and distributing through pipes, we can irrigate terraces without electricity or pumps. A few potential sites have been surveyed, and community committees are being formed to maintain these systems once built.
Renewable Energy Expansion: We are exploring partnerships to bring solar micro-grids and home lighting systems to off-grid hamlets. Additionally, promoting biogas plants for cooking (using cattle waste) could address cooking fuel needs in larger villages. These eco-friendly technologies will improve quality of life and reduce environmental degradation (less firewood usage, kerosene burning).
Livelihood and Value-Addition Center: A future dream project is to establish a centralized Livelihood Training & Processing Center. This center would serve multiple purposes – training hub for skills (like tailoring, carpentry, food processing), a workspace with equipment for making products (e.g., spice grinding, fruit pulp extraction, leaf plate pressing machines), and a packaging unit for tribal products. It would act as an enterprise incubator for the community, where villagers can get hands-on experience and mentorship to start small businesses, all under one roof. We envision that such a center, possibly in a town like Narsipatnam or Chintapalli, will accelerate the growth of micro-enterprises and value-added products from our tribal area.
All these upcoming programs align with our overall strategy of sustainable development and self-reliance. By focusing on value addition, market linkages, and climate-smart interventions, we are preparing the community to meet future challenges and opportunities. We welcome support and collaboration from donors, government agencies, and technical experts to make these plans a reality. Together, we can continue to innovate and ensure that the benefits of development reach those who need it the most, without compromising our environment and heritage.
Central Office
Ayyannapalem Colony, Narsipatnam 531116
Hours
Monday - Friday
9am - 6pm
Contacts
+91 94946 71156
info@girijanavikasngo.com
Ayyannapalem Colony, Narsipatnam 531116
Hours
Monday - Friday
9am - 6pm
Contacts
+91 94946 71156
info@girijanavikasngo.com
Ayyannapalem Colony, Narsipatnam 531116
Hours
Monday - Friday
9am - 6pm
Contacts
+91 94946 71156
info@girijanavikasngo.com
Ayyannapalem Colony, Narsipatnam 531116
Hours
Monday - Friday
9am - 6pm
Contacts
+91 94946 71156
info@girijanavikasngo.com