The North East region is well known for its rich cultural heritage , better human development indicators and egalitarian tradition. However, despite of many advantages, the region remains as one of the least developed areas with people predominantly in primary sector, poverty ridden and suffering from economic stagnation.
With a view to scaling up the livelihood, the North East Rural Livelihood Project (NERLP) was introduced in 2012, by the Ministry of Development of North East Region (DONER) as a Central sector scheme in four North East States, namely, Nagaland, Mizoram, Sikkim and Tripura. World Bank Fund the project.
A project with the objective “ to improve rural livelihood especially that of women, unemployed youth and the most disadvantage in the participating States”
The project covers two districts each of Nagaland, Mizoram, Sikkim and five districts of Tripura. These eleven districts cover as many as 62 blocks and 1645 Villages. The project support structures at various level and governance. At National Level, Ministry of Development of North East Region, at Regional level, Regional Project Management Unit, at State Level State Nodal Officer & State Project Coordinator, at District level District Project Management Unit.
In Nagaland Mr.Neiphiu Rio , Hon’ble Chief Minister of Nagaland, launched the project on 02-12-2013, in present of Union Minister of State, DONER, State Cabinet Ministers, Parliament Secretaries, Secretary NEC, Secretary DONER, representative of World Bank, Project Director, NERLP, Head of Departments.
Organization of Village awareness programmes marks the formal entry of project into a particular Village. The project has provision of INR 50,000/- for each ‘entry point activities’ which is provided for the community asset creation. EPA, is therefore, the first project activity, and it helps building trust and confidence of the Villagers.
In Nagaland, Tuensang&Peren , the project districts has formed Self Help Groups-Tuensang- 2180, covering 9 blocks including Tuensang town, and Peren- 1033 covering 4 blocks, including Jalukie town.
To enable the collective Producer Groups & Producer Organisations , to further grow, the project have created critical gap infrastructures like Collection Centres, Roadside Market sheds, Prime Location Markets, Federation Office cum- Community Learning and Business Resource Centre, Piggery Clusters, Animal Feed Mills, a Hygienic slaughter house, the integrated processing Units, of fruit , tree tomato, spices, ginger, pineapple, nursery cum- plantation of cardamom, kiwi, coffee, tea and horticulture crops plantations, establishment of tea and King chilli dyer units, irrigation facility for vegetable farming, homestead gardening.
The Community Development Plan (CDP) activities varies from rejuvenation of fallow land and introduction of 2 (two) Gravity Goods Ropeways, (commissioning shortly ) and introduction of Fish Hatchery, Hydroger for rural house lighting, rice sheller, Oil extraction Unit, Irrigation of existing paddy fields to expansion of irrigation to fallow lands.
The Youth are the backbone of the society particularly in the Village, but unemployed and School drop out with high rate the need of employment has been observed during the PRA, exercise in the project districts, the project has identified the Agency who impart training and trained about 993 in various sectors like Aviation , Hospitality, Health Services and send them for placement.
The project with the focus of its objective of improving rural livelihood especially that of women and unemployment, the need for Hygiene is one top priority in the project Villages with Swach Bharat mission objective instilling to the community, Celebration of World Environment Day and Swachhata Hi Sewa by the project community along with other departments is another milestone making impact to project communities on the cleanliness India.
The desired outcome of the project to be achieved has been set in terms of increase in income and institutional sustainability.
M Ringsanbo Zeliang
State Project Coordinator, NERLP, Nagaland.
