IHO IN JHARKHAND, INDIA…
Jharkhand is one of the poorest regions in India, and thus has one of the highest incidences preventable disease and malnutrition. IHO therefore begun its involvement in Jharkhand many years ago to tackle such problems. IHO is currently funding two projects in the state of Jharkhand: JEENA, our project to improve the nutritional status of Women and Children, and the Watershed Management Project, our environmental health project.
Jharkhand Education, Empowerment, Nutrition and Agriculture (JEENA) Project
The JEENA project was launched in 2005 and seeks to enhance the nutritional status of women and children of the rural communities of the impoverished eastern state of Jharkhand. Through this project, IHO aims to reduce the prevalence of the effects of malnutrition through agricultural interventions at the household and community levels by developing activities that would address the primary causes of malnutrition and not simply its manifestations. This project reaches the isolated communities, predominantly belonging to the Ho, Bhumij, Mundu, Chik Baraik, Mahali tribes as well as socially disadvantaged non-tribal people living amongst them.
IHO has collaborated with the Birsa Agriculture University (BAU), Jharkhand Department of Women and Children, and local NGOs. Birsa University is the first of its kind established in the tribal belt of the Eastern zone of India with the primary objective of economic upliftment of the Adivasis (Schedule tribes), economically backward classes and others in the Jharkhand plateau through developing and educating the modern practices and technologies in the field of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Forestry.
JEENA: VOCATIONAL TRAINING IN LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY
For the tribal population, livestock constitute an important part of the wealth of a household, since it provides manure, meat and milk to the vast majority of the people. The training in livestock and poultry JEENA provided in 2005 is designed to create self-employment and offered courses on poultry/dairy rearing, fattening of beef cattle, rearing of goats, primary treatment of livestock diseases, and production practices including vaccination. The livestock training is aimed primarily at women already practicing some fowl/duck production, or farmers possessing basic skills and capabilities to establish mini farms.
Livestock education and training covers diagnosis, prophylaxis and treatment of diseases of farm animals, such as cattle, sheep, goats, etc and husbandry practices for profitable rearing of these animals. Livestock training involves development of skills in all types of management practices of farm animals.
Watershed Management Project
IHO, in collaboration with the Government of Jharkhand, is working on an environmental health program called the “Watershed Management Project”. This program seeks to provide comprehensive rural development ranging from water and sanitation to community development. The program is based in the Kanke district of Jharkhand.
In addition, IHO is working to initiate its own community health program, which takes a three-pronged approach to improving the health of a community:
- Prevention of illness and death from water-borne disease by providing a source of clean water, a sanitation facility and training in healthcare and hygiene.
- Improving the overall health of mothers and children by providing basic health services such as immunization, vitamin supplements, prenatal and postnatal services, and family planning and reproductive health services.
- Empowerment of women through health education and vocational training.
Women being trained in Agricultural Techniques
Accomplishments of JEENA Project in the state of Jharkhand in 2005
Target Population
Primary- Women and Girls from the Ranchi district
Secondary- Tribal Households with Children under 5
Location
District of Ranchi, Villages of Kanke, Burmu and Mandar
Direct Beneficiaries
270 Tribal Women Trained in Agriculture and Livestock and Nutrition
Indirect Beneficiaries
3,000 Tribal Men, Women and Children
Jharkhand Photo Gallery