Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP)

Sustainable Livelihood Programme (SLP) is the second undertaking of CAED. Expanding radially, it is started operating in 10 villages of five VDCs in the far western District of Achham. It is operating in the same broad framework of CAED beginning with only Dalits or so called untouchables.. After Dalits are able to take advantage of large proportion of benefits, it aims to phase into working with higher caste of disadvantaged people. Women's health has been taken as a bridging programme between the upper and lower caste of peoples.

By the mid 2001, it has started working on the reproductive rights of women entering through reproductive health - prolapse of uterus and in avoiding undesired pregnancy.

Approach
Here we have adopted indirect household approach that ensures local participation, gender-balanced opportunities and in-situ learning. Some 12 couples were selected basically on ‘the relatively more marginalized’ criteria. Their job is to learn and extend

by demonstration as role models. They operate a fruit, tree and vegetable nursery and lead the community-learning centre. They were provided with training and exposure visits and input to establish nursery and improve farm in the first year. Their job now is to continue what they have been doing and produce another generation of couples who again will produce another set of couples. Underlying principle of approach is holistic and rights based. Issue of the programme is social discrimination including caste and gender interwoven with the improvement of means of production - land, education. Preparing people to take advantage of the upcoming Karnali highway is one of the focus areas. Regular training is the major feature of the operation.

Activities
 Critical Education and Community Campaigns
 Tree and Vegetable Nurseries
 NTFPs and Community Forestry
 Sustainable Soil Management Plan – improving soil conditions and enhancing productivity
 Dialogue Against Social Discrimination
 Women's Health
 Peoples Organisations

Achievements
A high level of sensitisation against the caste discrimination has occurred. People are protesting discrimination in public places and taking up the space. Both male and female Dalits are self-organised in their separate VDC level organisations. These organisations have established themselves as a visible counter power centre in the community. During the period they, together with Dalit organisations of other 11 adjoining VDCs, have federated into Dalit Empowerment Committee (DEC). DEC is now established in the area and taking up the issues concerning Dalits. Many discussion forums have been established in the area to share understandings and care one another. Society, local governments and government line agencies are now significantly influenced by Dalits and women’s voices. VDC budget allocation pattern has been changed when Dalit organisations emerged in the area. Chhui or menstrual untouchability- a discriminatory belief-system in the community has started to break. People have planted available plants and plants are in short supply. They are preparing for the upcoming Karnali highway which, currently, is under construction. Significant learning is that the initiatives taken by the so-called lower castes are being copied by the people of so called high caste. It faced a high degree of resistance from the leaders as SLP came to be known as a Dalit-dedicated programme that is slowly settling down with our issue based involvement.

We now have basic concept in working in the far western districts where major social relationship is discrimination based.

The Future
Socially a kind of stir is caused against discriminative oppression. Now the

focus is on enhancing that understanding with better communication. Various issue-based forums such as Agriculture Concern Group, Women Rights and Reproductive Health Forums, NTFP Enterprises will be developed and strengthened. DEC will be one of leading institutions in the area. The couples will be groomed to resource persons to facilitate different initiatives.
Local governments, line agencies, local organisations will be sensitized and involved to address the prevailing issues. Major emphasis will be on economic interventions.

Funds
Funds have been provided by LLINK who have expressed a degree of satisfaction and solidarity with the cause and approach. Sustainable Soil Management component has been supported under the funds from the Swiss Government and reproductive health programme by the US-based World Population Institute.