Ten pillars for community-led development

Despite being a mineral-rich state, Jharkhand is predominantly agricultural, and at SIGN we strongly believe that the communities of Jharkhand should benefit from the natural resources available to them. They should return to traditional organic farming, with food security as the priority and commercial farming for sustainability. At present only about 70% of the area is under paddy cultivation during Kharif, while most of this area remains fallow during the Rabi season. SIGN therefore aims to enhance the food security and sovereignty of communities in Jharkhand through (a) climate-adaptive agriculture, (b) sustainable farming and (c) sovereignty.

Adolescence is a phase of rapid growth and development with physical, physiological and behavioural changes. Adolescents often have poor knowledge and little awareness of the physical and psychological changes taking place within them. Teenage pregnancy and early parenthood are major barriers to the successful development of young people in Jharkhand. Besides this, child labour, street children, child abuse and child migration deny many children their childhood. Hence SIGN, within its scope, envisages the protection of children from all forms of abuse and the promotion of a healthy environment wherever its programmes operate, for the full development of children through Children’s Parliaments of adolescents.

Swami Vivekananda once said that no society could prosper if it neglected women. In the same spirit, the former Governor of Jharkhand, Droupadi Murmu, said that development without the participation of women is like a one-winged bird trying to fly. Human rights and social justice cannot be achieved without equality between men and women. To make growth inclusive for women, SIGN envisages creating an appropriate socio-economic environment for women through interventions such as expanding livelihood activities to include women, ending violence against women and ensuring access to basic services like health and education.

The world is uniquely endowed with diverse resources, and we must use them appropriately. Natural, human and monetary resources must all be used with prudence and discretion to build a better society. SIGN envisages mobilising resources not only from foreign donors and funding agencies, but also from the rich and middle classes and from poor communities at the local level — and from corporates under CSR.

Of 35 states and Union Territories, Jharkhand stands 34th in elementary education, according to the National University of Educational Planning and Administration (NUEPA), 2012. A large number of children in the state do not go to school, according to the Jharkhand Education Project Council (JEPC), 2012. According to the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2011, only 59% of enrolled children attend school. The quality of learning is also very poor, and the quality of teaching has declined in recent years because many teachers are not well qualified. SIGN therefore envisages promoting quality education for all.

Health is always a major concern for poor people. The incidence of poverty in Jharkhand is estimated at 46%, yet 60% of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes are still below the poverty line. The health of the poor and the marginalised is therefore a major concern for SIGN. Mother and child health care takes priority, because Jharkhand has one of the country’s worst maternal mortality rates. The Jharkhand Economic Survey 2015-16 says that more than 90% of expectant mothers in rural areas are unaware of health and nutrition issues, and more than 40% of pregnant women are unhealthy and anaemic.

In recent years Jharkhand has emerged as a state vulnerable to the trafficking of women and children for forced labour and slavery. Most trafficking from Jharkhand is of tribal people for domestic labour in metropolitan cities, where there is demand for such work. Jharkhand is not only a source but also a destination for victims trafficked for sexual exploitation. Of its 24 districts, 14 are affected by trafficking. Most of the women trafficked from Jharkhand belong to the Oraon, Munda, Santhal and Gond tribes. Illiteracy, lack of sustainable employment, poor irrigation for agriculture, single-crop patterns, lack of awareness and political instability are some of the reasons people become vulnerable to trafficking. SIGN therefore aims at an anti-trafficking and safe migration programme, with local youth as volunteers.

Volunteerism has been a salient feature and a major pillar of any development activity. As a regional forum, SIGN strives to encourage volunteerism in all spheres of its activity. At SIGN we believe that every person is precious and uniquely entrusted with inborn talents and capacities. As an organisation we hone those skills and help people become responsible individuals who contribute their potential to the welfare and well-being of the community as a whole.

People and organisations must constantly increase their abilities to achieve their objectives effectively — by improving the skills of individuals or enhancing the performance of the organisation. From time to time, SIGN envisages enhancing the capacities of its partners.

‘United we stand, divided we fall’ is an age-old saying that emphasises the importance of unity and coalition. In development especially, mutual help and sharing have proved to be the most effective principles of success. SIGN therefore envisages establishing mutual relationships with other entities working for similar causes.