Vidarbha Vaibhav

Sunil Deshpande
Lawada Post. Duni,
Ta.Dharni
Dist.Amravati

Maharshtra,444702

	History of the organization

In 1984 bamboo flowering in the Yevatmal started, hence local artisan’s main source of bamboo was lost and they were in dire need of help. Hence, the work of Sampoorna Bamboo Kendra started from Nagpur in 1988 with guidance from Mr.Vinno Kale & V.Giriraj (IAS Mah.), an architect who guided this provided support to acquire Bamboo through alternate means. In addition,they upgraded skills of local artisans and assisted in marketing of their products. Then SBK initiated training for potential artisans in 1996 and creation of bamboo plantations. In 1996 in the MRCP program SBK was involved with MAVIM, in Mangurda, Dist. Yavtmal Village. At that time, the same work was started in the Melghat region, as there was plenty Bamboo available in forests and many potential local workers. Most importantly, there was little to no employment in the region and no employment generation programs. Therefore, SBK started work in Lawada, Melghat .

	Mission

Increase employment opportunities in rural India (particularly for SC\ST groups) by production value added items Promote cultivation and use of an eco-friendly material like bamboo Foster creativity, self-reliance and self-confidence among our traditional artisan communities Get bamboo recognized as a engineering material Establish an artisan education system

	Vision

Reestablish respect for traditional,non-traditional and new artisans in society.

	Date of Starting the Projects (projects undertaken since inception)
December 12th 1988-Bamboo sector work starts june1995-Melghat project starts.

	Major activities of NGO’s

Bamboo sector Development Organizes 1-month to 1 year bamboo training (craft, furniture, construction) Conducts production via mother & satellite units Markets products Researches various aspects of bamboo Organizes artisans Promotes bamboo cultivation Advocacy in relation to bamboo sector policies Tribal women &men self-help groups(SHGs) Micro-planning in 30 villages Social education development

Contributions to the society

Given training to 500 youth {sc/st/other)
More than 300 trained people are working and earning wages from bamboo handicraft and housing
Major role play in brining out a government of maharashtra order to give each artisan 1500 bomboo per year (30 may 1997}
Constructed more than 1000 low-cost bamboo houses out of which 742 were in kutch, gujarat’s earth quick affected region.
Trained 181 melghat tribal youth in bamboo handicraft production.
Established 94 karigar panchayats
Promotion of venu shipli oodogik sahakari santha {artisans cooperative)
Organized a national work shop for the wardha model for rural housing
Estabilishment of udogshala {satellite unit)by trainees of nabard supported program
Estabilished 75 self –helf –group (shgs} consisting of tribal woman
100shg establishment in progress
Executed microplanning in 30 vilages of melghat with support of UNICEF

	Target group beneficiaries


ST, SC & traditional Artisans ST & SC youth and women

	Geographical spread of the organization


Melghat forest, Amravati district, Maharashtra All over India

	Number of locations of the activities


7-Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Utter Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chattisgarh, Gujurat, Andra Pradesh

	Awards recognition/ achievements


Reshtriya Uva Puraskar (ABVP) –Jaipur 2004 (Rs.25000) Natu foundation puraskar- pune 2005 (Rs.1000000) Antoday puraskar- bombay 2006 (Rs.1000000) Dindayal puraskar –yavatmal 2006(Rs.3000) Pragya prabodhini puraskar-Amravati 2006

Manpower involved in the project’s

Man power	15
Involved in project	40 (artisans involved in craft predication & bamboo housing)
Fulltime	15
Part time	0+40
Less than 40 years of age	13+40
Man/women	9+36/6+4

	Activities for the youth

Bamboo livelihood training –organizes 1-month.3-month & 6-month bamboo handicraft training for tribal youth in lawada and various villages of the Melghat. NCRI 3yr Bamboo training program-administering 1-month trainings in various villages of the melghat . Venu shipli Aaudogiik sahakari santha ( Artisans Coopertive)- This artisans cooperative was established in 1998 by 15 artisans and help artisans in marketing their handicrafts. Currently producing various panaghar toys and games for child development on trial-basis Bamboo housing –Leverage a team of trained youth who construct houses in different parts of Mahrashtra M.P., U.P., Gujarat & Zhardhand

	Message to youth

For youth , you must concentrate on one subject for at least 10 years, before you can become a master at it.

	Future Plans

Build an artisan sector education system. Gram Oodiyog Ghyanpit Vishwakarma Gurukul Vishwakarma Vidhyalaya Karigar Panchayat