Mukti Builds New Attitude and Economic Structure for a Better Future through Model Village

Rural India is full of potentials. Mukti works at the community level and in partnership with “Kolkata Foundation” and local people to create economic opportunities to transform the lives of the marginalized.

What is model village or Why a Model Village is required?

Large number of Indians migrates every year to cities looking for better work opportunities. This gradual increase in migration has led to a burden on the cities’ resources and infrastructure.

This has called for a need to transform the villages and equip them with essential amenities, including educational institutions, healthcare facilities, Self Help Group, Pisciculture, Agriculture (organic farming), Nurseries, Poultry Farming, making them self-sufficient.

Under this mission, Mukti aims to provide social, economic and infrastructural development in rural areas that will make these villages’ smart growth centers.

How Mukti is working for model village:

At very first stage Mukti has chosen Purba para and Paschim para at Purba Sridharpur under Nagendrapur Gram Panchayat and Mathurapur Block II to transform it into model village. Survey data has been collected from village households. An architect is working on the project. Some of the initial steps that have been undertaken by Mukti are:

1. Organic Farming:

I) Paddy seedling: Paddy seedling program has been started to help the farmers severely affected by Amphan. On 39 Bigha of land, Mukti has planted 11 special types of paddy seeds that can grow in saline water too. The saplings will be planted in 780 Bigha of farming land. 1,000 farmers will be benefited.

 

 

 

II) Vegetable Farming: 12 farmers from model village have been selected to plant Okra, String bean (Borboti), Hyacinth bean (Seem), Cucumber, Red Amaranth ( Lal shak), Spinach, Coriander, Bottle gourd and Chilli in 3 Bigha/ 60 katta (5 katta lands each) lands. In future these vegetable can be sold in local markets or they can be used in the community kitchens of Mukti.

 

 

 

2. Nurseries:

I) Coconut Plantation: Mukti has planted 10,000 coconuts seedling in 5 nurseries of the model village. Each nursery is spread on 3 Kattha of land where 200 women of SHG are nurturing the coconut seedlings. Mukti has a target to plant 1 lakh coconut seedling in future.

 

 

 

 

II) Roadside Plantation: Mukti has 97 nurseries over 97 kattha of land where 10,000-11,000 grains are planted in each nursery. After some time 5,000-6,000 saplings will grow in each nursery. Mukti will be able to produce approx 5,00,000- 6,00,000 saplings in 97 nurseries. 970 women SHG members (10 in each nursery) are nurturing these seedlings of Mahogani, Sishu, Amloki, Gayanim, Krishnachura, Radhachura, Gamaru, Bakul etc. In future it will create job opportunities for 10,000-12,000 people.

 

 

 

 

III) Horticulture: MUKTI has 3 gardens (Library garden, SAM office garden and 2 Bigha garden) of its own at Nagendrapur Gram Panchayat and some of the gardens under model village. Total 3-3.5 acres land is used for horticulture. In these gardens, 200 women (in each garden 30- 35 women) are working to grow seedlings. MUKTI has appointed these women in these gardens where they are responsible to plant 200 types of seedlings of Patabahar, Shal, Akashmoni, Sishu, Ginger, Guava, Karamcha (Conkerberry), Kamranga (Star Fruit), Seasonal Flower and Fruits. MUKTI has a large scale plantation program in which around 1 lack 50 thousand (1, 50,000) seedlings will be nurtured and distributed to the villagers. Post that, these saplings will be sent to market for sell.

 

 

3. Pisciculture: There is a canal named “Piprekhali” (long) and 3 ponds (total 1 acre) at Purba Sridharpur village where Mukti has spread fingerling of various fishes such as Rui, Katla, Mrigel, Telapia, Rupchand, Golda Chingri etc. All the women of SHG (approx 150) under MCDF (Mukti Community Development Fund) will be given these fingerlings so in future run they will be able to earn through these fingerlings.

 

 

 

 

 

4. Poultry Farming: Mukti has initiated poultry farming, the form of animal husbandry which raises domestic birds like chicken to produce meat or eggs for food and feather production. Mukti is training the 10 women members of SHG along with others to give them the knowledge how to farm poultry. Mukti has started building farms for the chicks.

 

 

 

5. Community Shop: Mukti started this “Shop on Wheel” program at model village since the Covid-19 pandemic erupted. This pilot project aims to mitigate this arbitrariness in pricing and pre-empt chances of community spread of infection by delivering food and other items of daily needs door to door. People are receiving good quality organic vegetables at market price without going outside. 11,000-12,000 families from model village are receiving this facility each day. 1 salesman and 1 supervisor are engaged in this task.

 

Upcoming projects:     Horticulture for of one type of fruits/ vegetables spread across large area

Livestock farming.

Mukti has various such innovative plans for model village. In near future Mukti will create job opportunities for the local people through similar projects.