Haliyal

Background
The Foundation commenced its activities in Haliyal in July 2007 after the commencement of the GMR Sugar factory project there. The Foundation staff with the support of the GMR Sugar Industry team surveyed the area to understand the prevalent conditions. The Foundation’s developmental activities are: awareness building, people’s organization, participation and sustainability.

Haliyal is a backward taluka of Uttara Karnataka district with the majority population belonging to Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribes and backward communities. A significant majority of the population has marginal landholdings. The area is hilly and forested, with people predominantly dependent on agriculture of water-intensive crops like paddy and maize. The main issues confronting the people of the area are poverty, landlessness, unemployment and migration. The following were the issues highlighted during the assessment:

• Education: The access to schools has improved considerably in the areas and there is an increased enrollment and attendance compared to the last few years. Govt. school buildings exist in most places, but infrastructure is inadequate and is characterized by insufficient classroom space and non-existent toilet and drinking water facilities. Multi-grade classrooms in Govt. schools seem to be the norm in many places, and the teachers seem ill equipped to handle such situations. The number of private schools are on the increase in these areas. Parents are more motivated than ever before and in some cases, are even prepared to pay high fees to send their children to private schools. This is not surprising, considering that the performance of private schools is perceived to be better than the government schools. However, the quality of education offered in both government and private institutions is still questionable.
• Health: Community members are quite dependant on private clinic which is very expensive.. Diarrhea, Malaria, Tuberculosis and Skin diseases are common in all the villages, particularly among children. Skin infections & blisters are common during summer. For cure of common diseases, the community depends mainly on traditional medicines. Institutional deliveries are low.
• Few opportunities for women:In almost all villages SHGs, youth clubs are functioning. Most of the SHGs are involved in saving and lending business. Youth clubs are centers for meeting and recreation only. However beyond these, there were very few opportunities for women and youth.

Initiatives:
Based on the survey it was decided to initiate the work in 6 villages in two districts of Uttar Kannada.

Education:

• As an entry point program various competitions were held for students as a rapport building process with the community:
• Rangoli and Drawing competitions were held at Galagi Hulikoppa village. Around 25 children participated in the Rangoli and 60 in the drawing competitions that were held. Clay modeling & singing competitions were also organized. 40 students participated in these competitions.
• 80 different environment friendly species of saplings were planted on August 15th by the students around the High School at Galagi Hulikoppa village. The plantation drive was done with an aim to create a healthy and clean environment around the school. The students have taken up the responsibility of taking care of these saplings. They will do so class wise on a rotational basis.
• An additional teacher was appointed at the Ammankoppa Govt High school. Other than conducting the regular classes in school, she would also take tuition classes for weak students..
• Additional TLM and sports materials were provided for the aganwadi in Ammankoppa to develop adequately equipped/stocked educational resource centers in the area. In all70 children will benefit from the resources thus provided.
• A community library has been opened at Mudasali and agadi village, with books catering to all age groups and sections of the community. The community members including few adolescent girls are seen to be frequenting the library every day.
• Preliminary statistics about the number of student dropouts in G Hullikoppa village has been collected . Around 20 -30 children were identified. Motivational talks are being organized with the parents and dropouts to enroll them in the school once again.
• An enrolment campaign was organized in Agadi village in which 200 children participated including teachers of the village.

Health, Hygiene & Sanitation

• An eye check-up camp was organized on 19th August in Belvantra village. Around 245 patients from Belvantra and the six adjoining villages attended this camp. Dr. Dharshan D Laad from Haliyal examined the patients free of cost and suggested refraction for 149 patients and cataract operation for 19 patients.
• Subsequently medicines were distributed to 150 patients and spectacles to 119 patients, at the Belvantra village. Free cataract operations for the identified patients are also being planned. As a pre-requisite tothese operations, Blood Pressure and sugar tests were done.17 of the identified patients have already undergone these tests.
• In collaboration with NSS students, the Foundation organised a cleanliness campaign in Pala village which sawactive participation from the village communities. The outcome of the programme was that a successful mechanism to maintain cleanliness was discovered.. 45 NSS students from Haliyal along with the NSS coordinator participated in the programme.

Empowerment:

• A Rural Appraisal was conducted in Pala village on 17th of August where village heads, women and panchayat leaders actively contributed in social mapping. The Foundationhad several meetings with the community stakeholders to understand the community institutions existing in the villages.
• A meeting with 40 Self Help Group members was organized at the Agadi village. The members expressed their desire to be trained in agarbati and candle making. A tie –up with RUDSET, Haliyal is currently being negotiated for providing in-house training in the village.