SSM's Equine Welfare Project – A Boon to Animals

SSM’s Equine Welfare Project(EWP) serves the needs of about 6000 animals of Equine family in the district Nanded.  The programme being implemented for the past 3 years include measures of care, diagnosis, treatment of ailing donkeys and educate the animal keepers on the concerned subject. SSM’s Dharma Donkey Sanctuary team used to run the welfare activities earlier since 2004.  SSM has been able to reach out maximum members of the community so far.

Lately, the volunteers of EWP have observed the symptoms of ‘ SURRA’ disease prevailing among those animals in the vicinity.  It was nothing less to a calamity to Babu Gadve’s  family, who dwell on a couple of Donkeys they own. One of the donkeys succumbed to Surra and the other was close to death. The EWP volunteers immediately responded on his approach for help and started treatment. The timely  intervention of EWP has not only saved the livelihood of Babu Gadhave but also prevented the spread of disease among other donkeys and saved the lives and livelihood as well.

A Training program on Soil & Water Conservation

The SSM has been working in the Watershed Development Programme, supported by the Government of Maharashtra and NABARD for last 25 years.  SSM has been implementing an Integrated Watershed Management Program (IWMP) in coordination with the Vasundhara, Pune and the Agriculture Dept. of Maharashtra. The major components of the program are Soil & water conservation, promotion of activities for livelihood, women empowerment, farmers' empowerment through various groups, linkage with government departments, training & capacity building, etc.

We conducted a basic training programme on the importance of Soil and water conservation, crop production and management, nutrition management, pest management, etc topics were covered. The participant villages were from Naigain(Dh), Belur(Kh), Japhalpur, Belur (Bk) and Chincholi, from Dharmabad taluka of Nanded district. Various training programs were organised between 07 to 16 August 2014. The officers from Agriculture department (Govt. of Maharashtra) and SSM facilitated in the programs. 

Training On Fruit And Flower Processing For Women

Utkarsh, the Vocational training center run by SSM is working for the Empowerment of Rural youth,particularly Women. Utkarsh has been running a food processing unit professionally from last year. We used to process manually initially, but now seeing the success we have updated the unit with a Multi-processing machine.

The machine is invented by Mr. Dharamveer Khamboj, a Rekshaw puller turned an awardee if National Innovation Foundation. Mr. Dharmaveer had not only ventured to train and empower more than 5000 women around the nation so far, but also invented such highly effective Multi-Purpose Processing Machines. His efforts are recognized and was felicitated by Hon. President of India.
Mr. Dharamveer himself came here in the campus to install the machine and guide how to use it efficiently.

Seeing the need and scope in food processing industry in the area, we are conducting training programs for women through the KVK run by SSM. So, we conducted a three day training program facilitated by Mr. Dharamveer Khamboj. The program included, Making of a range of cosmetic and edible products out of Aloevera, Roses, Tomatoes and other fruits and flowers. In an overwhelming response, around 50 women took part in training. UTKARSH will support them in establishing their own cottage industry. 

Four Thousand Students pledge on Save Water Campaign

The pride of Indian cultural heritage, ‘Ganesh Ustav’ has been celebrated this year at the campus on a different note.  It is not an unknown truth that the greed of man had sabotaged the ecological balance.  All the water sources are getting depleted rendering a great threat to human life itself.

            In response to the call given by ‘Sakal Media Group’ and ‘Delivering Change Foundation’, the SSM volunteered to get into action to save water.  All the four thousand students of SSM took an oath to spread awareness on the importance of appropriate use of water, in the auspices of Sree Ganesh (Idol), on the occasion of Ganesh Chathuthi.

SSM initiates Maharashtra Gene Bank Programme

SSM has been working for sustainable development of rural communities since 1959. A Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) supported by ICAR has been established at Sagroli and routed the Agriculture development activities through it.

SSM found that Some of the Qualitatively good competent crop varieties are being endangered due to globalization and  commercialization. These timeless indigenous seed have proved their competency in context of health, resistance and market  in all respects. We need to save and spread the indigenous seed varieties to make the agriculture self sustainable.
SSM has initiated the project "Maharashtra Gene Bank" in the month of January 2014, will be finished in March 2019. SSM will be working in the component of Crop Genetic Diversity in partnership with Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune. SSM has been working in the districts of Nanded (Chilli), latur (oil seed) and Osmanabad (Cereals). 

 The Main Objectives are -
A. To build up a systematic inventory of crop genetic resources of the Nanded, Latur and Osmanabad districts of the Maharashtra state;
B. To identify one variety in each district for pilot scale efforts at on farm conservation, up gradation, value addition, marketing, and registration.
C. To establish district level seed banks focusing on traditional cultivars of superior quality;
D. To engage educational institutions in study and promotion of crop genetic resources.

We have made a base line survey and selected crops from the respective districts. We have adopted the cluster approach to implement various activities to get maximum benefit.
A team of Agri-Expert has been appointed specially for the project.



 

SSM Participates NGO ASIA Expo

The Live Week Business Company, Gurgaon, Hariyana organized an NGO Asia Expo- 2014. The expo was organised from 27 to 28th August at Mumbai, for the organisations working in social sector in India.  The event, Asia Expo provided a huge platform for the NGOs to get acquainted with and exchange the information with the biggest corporate companies and the other  institutions. SSM was provided with a stall to present the work and its impact on the community. SSM's Gallery  and presentation at the Expo was visited by many delegates from the different  companies. The companies from the different sector came to know the endeavor of the institution.

            Around 70 NGOs and 20 Corporate companies from all over India had participated the Expo. Mr. Abhishek, Resource Manager, SSM and Mr. Manoj, SSM Volunteer (Mumbai) participated in the expo and presented  very effectively. 

Mr. & Mrs. Pereira extended a helping hand

Maroti Samore, a student of 10^th Std unfortunately drowned in the waters of  the River Manjara. The poor parents of  Maroti, the settlers at Sagroli, make a living on daily wages. Maroti has three siblings. Maroti was a virtuous and an excellent sportman  in ‘Sagroli Sunrise Project’.  But his ill fated  death had left his family in distress. 
Mr. Carlton Pereira has been supporting the Sagroli Sunrise project. Mr. Carlton and Mrs. Radhika Pereira came forward to support the education of their children. The great act of humanity has brought back life in their family.