Bharat Rural Livelihoods Foundation to work with Human Development Commissionerate to Improve Human Development Index in Vidarbha

Bharat Rural Livelihoods Foundation (BRLF), in partnership with the Human Development Commissionerate (HDC), the Government of Maharashtra, has launched a high-impact Human Development Index Project to improve the quality of life in poor-performing Talukas of Vidarbha region starting from 1st May 2022 to 30th April 2023. 

The project will focus on proper monitoring and effective implementation of the existing schemes for the education and health of the HDC department. It will also enable deeper engagement with the poor community in a cluster approach to planning and implementing smart, innovative best-suited livelihoods interventions. 

The project’s overall goal is to improve the Human Development Index of 25,000 poor households in the first phase (10,000 new and 15,000 in the Tribal Development Department project) residing in Yavatmal, Gadchiroli Nandurbar-Dhadgaon, Nandurbar-Akkalkuwa and Gondia districts of Vidarbha region, Maharashtra. 

The project would be implemented in a phased manner; the first phase would be one year, from 1st May 2022 to 30th April 2023. After completion of the first year, a joint review will be conducted, and based on the project's outputs and outcomes, the decision will be taken for two years, which will start from 1st May 2023 to 30th April 2025.

The project is expected to:

• Improve the living standard and well-being of 25,000 poor households

• Improve the well-being of women and adolescent girls by addressing the gender-based inequities

• Ensure effective implementation of ongoing health and education schemes

• Provide technical support to the HDC department for the implementation of livelihoods interventions, especially in agriculture, Non-Timber Forest Produce (NTFP), and natural resource management.

In Maharashtra, BRLF is implementing another high-impact livelihood enhancement project focusing on tribal-dominated Talukas of the Vidarbha region in partnership with the Tribal Development Department (TDD), the Government of Maharashtra, and CSO partners.

Under this State partnership project, targeted interventions are planned to improve the livelihood conditions of the 15,000 most vulnerable ST households. This project was co-created and conceived in consultation with Shabari Adivasi Vitta Va Vikas Mahamandal Maryadit.

Since the HD project will be implemented in the adjoining Talukas where the Tribal Development Departments’ (TDD) project is undergoing, the team deployed for TDD would be the nucleus and center point for the additional team. The TDD team leader will lead the project and provide all guidance and necessary field support to the team deployed in adjoining Talukas.

The 3-member team comprises three professionals who will look after the 2 Talukas under the supervision and guidance of the TDD team leader. Altogether 15 units would be deployed to implement this project comprising 92 human resources. 

The HD project would be implemented in a phased manner; the first phase would be one year, from 1st January 2022 to 31st December 2022. After completing the first phase, a joint review will be conducted, and based on the outputs and outcomes of the project, a decision will be taken for the second phase of two years, which will start from 1st January 2023 to 31st December 2024.

About Human Development Commissionerate (HDC)

Human Development Commissionerate (HDC) was established to implement targeted interventions through health, education, and livelihood schemes in 125 backward talukas of Maharashtra state. Specific schemes have been formulated considering the socio-economic, geographical conditions, and local needs of the talukas.

These backward talukas were identified in 2010-11 by considering two indicators – female literacy, rural (as per census 2001), and percentage of BPL population as per 2002 survey. During 2022-23 a budget provision of around 950 crores has been proposed to the HDC.

About Bharat Rural Livelihoods Foundation:

Bharat Rural Livelihoods Foundation (BRLF) was set up by the Government of India as an independent society under the Ministry of Rural Development to scale up civil society action in partnership with the central and state governments. The Union Cabinet decided to form Bharat Rural Livelihoods Foundation (BRLF) through a cabinet decision on 3 September 2013 to ensure better implementation and outreach of the government schemes and programs in partnership with civil society organizations. BRLF works in 9 states to empower rural India, ameliorating the lives of its impoverished populace, especially the indigenous tribes, and strengthening their confidence in the government and Indian democracy, in coordination with CSOs, the Government of India, and governments of various states.