May 1, 2009

The Capuchin Krishik Seva Kendra (CKSK) is a voluntary organization registered under the Societies Act. CKSK, registered on February 21, 1976 and being managed by the Fransiscan Capuchin Friars, has dedicated itself to the task of working for the upliftment of marginal farmers, landless labourers etc., who are socio-economically challenged. Since a decade, it has been concentrating on the empowerment of women through 134 Women Self Help Groups(SHG) involved with micro credit activities and micro entrepreneurs.

The community development work here was initiated by Fr Theophil Pereira, a Capuchin priest in 1969, by encouraging agriculturists with small holdings to follow scientific agriculture. The objective of the upliftment of the poor was expanded to other taluks too, after CKSK was given birth to and with the implementation of 'Dayalbagh Rural Development Programme(DRDP)'.

CKSK initiated SHGs in the year 1999 and promoted self-employment activities for the economic and social upliftment of the poor. In 1999, the organization promoted 93 SHGs in 23 villages. In the year  2000, 'Christian Children Fund' joined hands with the organization in achieving its objectives. At present, the project covers 785 children from 18 villages, and there are 134 SHGs under CKSK in Beltangady taluk.

A decade of selfless service

Till a decade ago, the standard of living of people in Beltangady taluk was very low, the major source of families coming from the  bidi rolling activity of the women. Fr Joel Pinto of Dayalbagh Ashram started forming SHGs in remote villages, encouraged women to become members of SHGs through local staff and formed an organization called 'Vimukti'. 'Vimukti SHG Federation' is one of the better known federations and 'Vimukti' is at the doorsteps of celebrating ten years of its existence.

After watching the socio-economic progress the families helped by Vimukti achieved, CKSK extended similar services to other parts of the state, particularly the northern Karnataka, where superstition and illiteracy are rampant. Vimukti currently has seven social work units in the state at Mudigere, Chikkodi, Davangere, Bidar, Pothnal and Ujire, under which hundreds of SHGS have been extending a helping hand to poor women to improve their standard of living and have education.

Vimukti organizes several animation and training programmes for the SHG members on health, education and livelihood programmes. It also conducts development programmes in child health, AIDs awareness rallies and several others. Under education, it conducts training in advocacy, lobbying and campaign, leadership skills, personality development, mother and child care, capacity building, self confidence among SHGs etc. It also conducts livelihood programmes like self employment training, bee-keeping, dairy management, kitchen gardening, goat raring and other economically viable  activities.

Towards women empowerment, besides helping them to pursue economically beneficial vocations, Vimukti provides training in preparing nutritious food, maintaining hygienic conditions, good sanitary practices, management of minor diseases and several other issues. 19 clusters under the organization have conducted income generating programmes like tea, rice marketting, ice cream units, ration shops, stationery shops and such other activities. It has set up four Balavikas centres in villages for raising the nutritious levels of children and monitoring the functioning of children’s clubs. It also conducts motivational and awareness programmes besides training for the students to take up professional courses.

CKSK, besides working for the improvement of the socio-economic condition of the women, also plans to establish a human resource centre to train beneficiaries under 'Vimukti Social Work' cell. For this purpose, it is in need of approximately Rs 33,35,000, a portion of which has been promised to be contributed by Capuchin Fathers. The rest has to come from the people. The organization solicits generous contributions from the general public to be able to achieve its objective of helping the lower strata of the society to progress socially and economically by providing training, opportunities and skills to the needy.