Pragatisheel Madhumakhi Palan Kendra
(
Jayashree Janardhan
This
report has been prepared after a visit to the Kaithi Madhumakhi Kendra on
The
purpose of the visit was to learn about the training going on at the center. This
report focuses on the training aspects. Earlier reports are available which
focus in detail on the background of this effort.
Background
The
Pragatisheel Madhumakhi Palan Kendra is an effort by the Pandey brothers in
creating a research, documentation and training centre at Kaithi, which is 27
kms from
As
the center grew the same infrastructure was utilized to set up tailoring and
embroidery classes for the women. Gradually as these made progress several
short duration workshops of interest to the locals were added. The kendra is
slowly becoming a center to provide training in multiple vocations.
In
addition to Vallabh and Nar Nahar Pandey, a local graduate from the area Pradeep
helps part-time for an honorarium of Rs 350 per month. He helps with the
machinery and day to day maintenance work.
Infrastructure
In
terms of infrastructure the kendra comprises a single large room in which
classes are held. A small storage room exists with basic cooking. Bathroom facilities
are also available to help residential trainees.
Bee-keeping
The
bee-keeping training sessions are conducted for duration of a week at the kendra.
After this the trainees are provided on-going support while they get started
independently. Since February 2001, 5 sessions have been conducted. The
sessions typically occur before April/May every year since the bee-keeping
season begins at this time. The cost of the training is Rs 500 for residential
training including food and Rs 150 for non-residential training. After the on-site
training is completed the trainees receive a newsletter every couple of months
detailing what activities they should carry out over the next couple of months.
The brothers also provide free consultation and advice along the way.
Beekeeping
requires boxes to keep the bees. These boxes made out of wood and iron have to
be made carefully since the hives have to be well made. They cannot be made by
hand. The boxes are expensive and cost approximately Rs 2800 per box. Boxes are
available from two private and one government source in the area. They are
available pre-season and at the time the bee keeping begins. The reason for the
expense is also that the equipment used to make the hives is expensive and
costs approximately Rs 50,000.
The
last training session was conducted from Jan 5th-Jan 11th.
19 trainees attended the non-residential session which was sponsored by the “Eco
Vikas Samithi”. This samithi set up by the U.P. state government is a grouping
of the forest department and villages adjoining the forests. The samithi has
been encouraging villagers to take up beekeeping offering them subsidized boxes
as well as buy back offers for the honey produced. In the last session 19 villagers
from 5 forest ranges in the districts of Mirzapur and Sonbhadra participated in
the training. The forest department sponsored the training costs. The trainees
can also buy boxes at 60% discount. The honey they produce will be bought back
at Rs 60 per kg in comparison with lower market rates of approx Rs 35 per kg.
10 of the villagers who participated were already using a traditional system of
beekeeping before the training. They were happy to learn better techniques in
the class. The forest department was satisfied with the training and hopes to
send more people once they have more funds.
The
next training session is due to begin Feb 4th-Feb 10th.
14 people have signed up for this. 4 of the participants will be from NGOs and
the remaining from surrounding villages. When describing NGO training Vallabh
mentioned that in the initial stages they had trouble with NGO participants.
These trainees were aware of the sponsorship provided by Asha and PPI and complained
about having to pay for the training. They also expected a stipend for
attending the sessions! Vallabh and Nar Nahar had to set their expectations straight.
They noted that sometimes people associate foreign funds with surplus and make unreasonable
demands.
7
trainees who have benefited from the kendra are now involved in their own independent
efforts. They are slowly beginning to see profits. The problem that is faced by
many of them is the high cost of the boxes. In a few special cases Vallabh
loaned a couple of additional boxes to some trainees to help them make profits
sooner and help break even. I asked them if they could manufacture the boxes at
lower cost at the kendra if they had the equipment and what the feasibility of
such an effort would be. Vallabh mentioned that if they had the hive making
equipment they could produce boxes at cost price of approximately Rs 800. They
can then sell this at cost price to trainees. He however wanted to wait a while
longer for the training sessions themselves to grow before thinking about such
a step.
Vallabh
mentioned that overall he was happy with the training but wants to ensure that
they get more trainees. They have been sending letters to different NGOs and
also as the word has been spreading in the villages – been getting more
participants. They however still feel like they want to utilize the resources
available to a greater extent. Their focus for this year is on growing the
number of trainees. If you are aware of groups that can benefit from this
please do contact Vallabh at the email address given towards the bottom.
Tailoring &
Embroidery
Tailoring
classes were started at the kendra with the intention of drawing more locals
into the kendra. The closest classes which existed before were 15 kms away and
expensive for most locals. Tailoring has turned out to be a very popular
program and 43 women have learnt a fair amount of tailoring since the classes
started last February. A local lady tailor from Kaithi conducts the classes
which are for a duration of 75 days (2 hours long). She receives Rs 400 per
month as honorarium. The class covers 28 different types of clothing items for
men, women and children. Some students take shorter two day brush-up classes to
expand pre-existing skills. 80% of the students attending the classes have
machines at home. Tailoring machines are common articles of “dowry” in the
area. Most students come from low income families and a few from lower middle
class. The students are charged Rs 21 for the basic requirements provided in
the class (needle, thread, paper etc). This is in contrast to the classes
available 15 kms away at Rs 250 per session. Students who are mostly women and girls
bring in the cloth and take home finished products. In a few cases the girls
cannot afford to bring in material and cloth is provided by the kendra. In this
case the finished product is kept aside to be donated to some disaster relief
area.
Many
of the girls who take this class are not literate. They manage to learn the
basics required to take measurements etc. Mahesh suggested that some basic
literacy be taught to the girls. It
appears that the existing infrastructure is perhaps sufficient to start basic
literacy classes as well.
Embroidery
classes are held for a duration of 45 days and the girls are charged Rs 11 to
cover for the cost of the needle, thread, embroidery ring and other basics.
They are taught 30 different types of stitches. There are no other embroidery
classes in the area. The local instructor is paid Rs 350 per month. 4 different
sessions have been held at the kendra over the past year and the average number
of students per session has been 15.
Short duration workshops
Based
on the demand several interesting short term workshops have been held by
different instructors. Most instructors
have been volunteering their time with very little honorarium to cover their
travel costs. For example a stuffed toy making workshop was organized for 7
days. 11 girls participated in this. Rs 11 was charged for basic material. This
was very popular and there has been demand for another class. A 6 day workshop
on fabric painting was held in which 24 girls participated. The instructor
Sheetal came from
There
are plans to hold workshops on food preservation, Jardozi embroidery, rakhi
making and South Indian cooking. Many students are also keen on learning to use
the computer. Vallabh plans to start this gradually. Almost all students are
exposed to the computer when they visit the kendra and there has been growing
interest in this.
Documentation
Documentation
work has been going on to create information and handouts on growing and use of
medicinal and aromatic herbs. Three trainees have learnt the use of these.
Essential oil extraction also happens with the crude oil sold to soap/pesticide
industry. Vallabh has also been participating in a cooperative farming effort
at Ballia where another Asha center has been functioning.
Observations and suggestions
The
kendra is functioning well in a focused way and has become a center for local
vocational research and training. It serves the local needs well. The integrity
of the people involved is very good and they are continuing to put resources to
best possible use. I believe that this kendra can continue to grow and become a
center for developing various entrepreneurial trades. Many of the students are
now comfortable enough with the kendra that they are ready to teach themselves.
Also trainees get exposed to multiple vocations at the same center. Suggestions
for the future include the following:
1. Add literacy classes so
the students receiving training can further benefit from it. This could perhaps
be explored with existing infrastructure. In addition to helping the trainees this
can contribute towards improving adult literacy in the area. It will also help bring
more locals to the kendra.
2. Once the beekeeping
training expands, consider making the boxes and selling it at cost price. This
will really help trainees get started sooner. Asha should look into supporting
the kendra with the required infrastructure if it is
decided to make this happen.
3. Assist the center in any
short term workshop requirements such as equipment for workshops on South Indian
cooking.
4. Support the kendra in its attempt to start more computer classes.
Vallabh wants to gradually look at this as well. We could perhaps support in different
ways.
5. Contact more groups we
work with and make them aware of the existence of such a center.
6. In general our long term
goal should be to help develop the kendra into a
multi-vocation training center since it has good potential in helping people
become entrepreneurs.
Financial Details
Original Proposed Budget
(Rupees over a period of 3 years)
Construction |
140000 |
Things |
40000 |
Computer
with Printer |
50000 |
Preliminary
Publications |
25000 |
Bee-keeping
start up |
20000 |
Honorarium
@ 3000/- p.m. (1st year) |
36000 |
Honorarium
@ 3000/- p.m. (2nd year) |
36000 |
Honorarium
@ 3000/- p.m. (3rd year) |
36000 |
TOTAL |
383000 |
Financial Support
Details ( Rupees till
From
PPI (1st year) |
131000 |
From
|
40000 |
From
Berkeley + Seattle |
140000 |
From
PPI (2nd year) |
36000 |
Local
contributions |
3727 |
TOTAL |
350727 |
Expenditure (Rupees till
Construction
– Building Materials |
106876 |
Construction
– Wages |
42035 |
Construction
– Transportation |
4974 |
Construction
– Miscellaneous |
423 |
Things
(electrical fitting, utensil, water fitting, etc.) |
17495 |
Computer,
Printer, UPS, Telephone, Internet, etc. |
46024 |
Honorarium
Jan 01 – Oct 01 #3000/- p.m. |
37350 |
Sewing
and Embroidery Training Materials |
4374 |
Equipment
for bee-keeping training |
1160 |
Preliminary
printings & photocopy |
2081 |
Books
& periodicals |
442 |
Postage |
597 |
Stationery |
457 |
Telephone |
408 |
Travel |
932 |
Local
conveyance |
116 |
Photography |
318 |
Repairs |
218 |
Entertainment |
312 |
Miscellaneous |
237 |
TOTAL |
266829 |
BALANCE (in hand and
account) |
83898 |
Contact Information
Vallabh & Nar Nahar
Pandey,
SPASS,
Kaithi,
Varanasi-221116
Telephone
numbers – (0542) 618201, 618301, 618401
Email
– ashakashi@yahoo.com