“Raising a baby goat is like having a child” –SEVAI Goat farm

New born baby goats in SEVAI Goat farm

Dairy goats form a fair livelihood for a family. Not only do they provide meat, but they also give us manure for our gardens. They're smaller and easier to handle than cows, eat less, and they really like people. When our goats occasionally get out they don't run away down the road, they are such a beneficial animal on the homestead. Raising a baby goat is like having a child. SEVAI farm in Sirugamani have goats, heifer, and cows. One of our goats had three baby goats recently. The baby goats are small. We feed the baby goats regularly. Baby goats have small stomachs and require feeding at least four or more times a day.SEVAI provides these baby goats with a place to sleep that would be warm and safe. SEVAI Team keeps the baby goats clean in her face, ears, and body daily. When she was around three weeks, I started giving her grass and hay to get her used to grazing. In three weeks by now SEVAI would take the baby goats outside and give her the grass mixture and let them walk around and graze, so they would get in the habit of knowing what weeds, grass she liked to eat. There are feeding schedules, nap schedules etc. Soon after birth, the kids usually struggle to their wobbly feet and search for milk, usually at the wrong end of Mom. But soon they'll find the teat and start to suck. Sometimes, especially with does with large, pendulous teats, new kids can't find the teat or figure out how to get it bent around into their mouths. We may need to help a little here. We have even had to nearly milk out a doe's udder so that the new guys could get hold of the teat. They won't nurse much or long, but as long as they do get a snack, they'll be alright for several hours. The first day and night are important; be sure the kids are nursing and getting milk. Look for the little wagging tails, and you'll know they are being satisfied. Newborn kids will nurse fairly often, but not long at a time. That will increase, and they'll nurse less often and get more milk at one time. Govin

“Zeroing new HIV Infection”-World AIDS Day Message by District Collector Mrs.Jayashree Muralidharan.

 

World AIDS DAY song by SEVAI TI Project functionaries

President. Trichirapalli Welfare Committee /District Collector Mrs.Jayshree Muralidharan delivered the key note address and appreciated all those involved in eliminating new HIV Infection and also those who care and support the PLHIVs and involved in target intervention and Link workers in rural areas. She mentioned that the rural population voluntarily comes forward for testing and further follow up periodically. District Collector appealed the projects functionaries of HIV/AIDS Projects to create awareness among urban target groups are  also to come forward voluntarily  for testing and follow up without attaching stigma. District Collector also appreciated the role of voluntary organizations, the DAPCU officials and project functionaries, other associated department officials for a systematic approach and implementation of the project for eliminating new HIV infections and also to eliminate the infection from pregnant mothers to new born babies.Mrs.Jayashree Muralidharan also highlighted the Hon;ble Chief Minister’s message for World AIDS Day-2013.She insisted to work towards zeroing HIV new infection, deaths and discrimination.Earlier,the World AIDS DAY Pledge was taken by District collector as followed by the participants. Trichy District works achieving “Zero New HIV Infections, Zero Discrimination, and Zero AIDS-Related Deaths” said by K.Govindaraju, Treasurer of Trichy District Welfare Committee on the occasion of the observance of World Aids Day-2013.He appreciated the District Collector Mrs.Jayashree Muralidaharn’s efforts in attaining the above said goals of zeroing. K.Govindaraju further said that by eliminating discrimination against people living with HIV is being achieved in Trichirapalli District. The fight for equality and human rights for all are being  taken up at all levels. District Collector distributed a grant of  Rs.2000 per child for 317 children out of District Welfare fund committee funds for the support of education and nutrition. Prizes were distributed to school students those won in essay writing on World AIDS Day-2013...PLHIV Federation President Ms.Tamil spoke on this occasion. Members of District welfare committee,  Department officials,Medical officers, ICTC counselors and lab.technicians and functionaries of NGOs, Net work members of PLHIVs and students and public participated in this World AIDS Day observation.Earlier,DAPCU District Program Manager Sentil Kumar welcomed the gathering and Mr.Selvakumar,District Supervisor  proposed vote of thanks.SEVAI target intervention team members sang an awareness song on care and support of PLHIVs.-Govin

World Aids Day -the hindu reports in Tamil

“Getting to Zero” HIV/AIDS Target intervention and Link Workers Scheme workers of SEVAI took pledge on world AIDS Day-2013.

SEVAI TI/LWS Teams taking pledge to work towards "Zeroing HIV"

The world Aids day-2013 was observed on 1, December 2013 by SEVAI, a Trichy based NGO in Allur near Trichirappalli. The Project manager Mrs.Mohana Sundaram mentioned that When we speak about getting to zero we mean zero new HIV infections, zero babies born with HIV and zero deaths from AIDS related illnesses. The Link Worker District Resource Person,Mrs.Amala Rajkumar said that The Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV) enters the body through blood, semen, vaginal secretions or breast milk by way of unprotected sexual contact. Transmission can also occur from a mother to a child during pregnancy, birth or breast feeding, or contaminated body piercings and tattoos. The TI and LWS teams thanked the valuable support given by NACO, TANSACS, VHS and SEVAI for achieving the goals of getting Zero. The team took a pledge that that they would work hard for reducing significantly the Sexual transmission of HIV, including among young people, men who have sex with men and transmission in the context of sex work and Vertical transmission of HIV eliminated and AIDS-related maternal deaths reduced, All new HIV infections prevented among people who use drugs, access to antiretroviral therapy for people living with HIV who are eligible for treatment,TB deaths among people living with HIV reduced, All people living with HIV and households affected by HIV are addressed in all national social protection strategies and have access to essential care and support and Zero tolerance for gender-based violence.-Govin

Eco-Technology and agriculture practice enhance productivity in SEVAI Project.

Successful women farmer as trained by  SEVAI

Learning student

Eco-Technology and agriculture practice enhance productivity and livelihood for marginal farmers in SEVAI Target villages of Trichirapalli District. Farm ponds play a vital role in providing irrigation source to the second crop of vegetables after paddy, in the main season in the wet land, Groundnut in dry land and Coconut. The bunds of these semi permanent farm ponds is strengthened by planting fodder crops like Napier grass to provide stabilization. In order to provide an alternative to water lifting, Treadle Pump/Pedal Pump technology, with a capacity to deliver 60- 80 liters of water per minute, shall be demonstrated and promoted. In the present conventional system of irrigation using small pots, a middle aged man could lift 2 pots per minute; that has the capacity of 20 litres per minute or 1200 litres per hour. But the Pedal Pump has the capacity to lift at least 3600-4000 litres per hour, which is more efficient than the conventional practice. Farm pond is a very common feature in the lands of all farming households; hence there is a good scope for the self replication of the technology. This technology is affordable and replicable. Generally farmers rely on their own source of seeds. They adopt a series of steps to select seeds for the coming season, and store them separately either in gunny bags or traditional seed storage containers made of rice straw ropes smeared with cow dung. The practice of seed exchange is not usually encouraged, and in case of non-availability of seeds, farmers depend on other farmers with credible social relationships. The other notable point is the practice of ‘vithai muhurtham’ (ceremonial seed sowing) to test the seed germination and viability carried out during the month of Avani (Aug -Sep). Only after this practice, farmers give seeds to other needy farmers. This can be considered as a cultural constraint, which hinders the easy flow of seed from one farmer to other needy farmer. This also creates an uncertainty on the

Author Govin

availability of preferred seeds.  In case of seed exchange, the usual practice is called “nellukku nellu” - whereby the farmer who borrows, has to return the same quantity after the harvest. In this situation, to ensure easy flow and timely availability of the preferred variety of seeds, a Community Seed Bank is introduced in the Resource Centre developed in one of the project villages accessible by all. The seed bank is managed by farmers, and operates on the basis of the norms and rules evolved for collection and distribution. In the future, it is expected to enhance the seed quantity and number of suitable varieties to meet the requirement of the entire farming community in these villages. In order to strengthen the income generating sources for the small and marginal farmers, as well as for the agricultural labourers, both women and men, appropriatetechnologies which are relevant to the local agro-ecosystem is promoted. Technology transfer, skill building, credit access and ensured forward linkage with the market are all mandatory for the sustainability of an enterprise. SEVAI team shall facilitate linkages with Financial Institutions and forward linkages with markets and backward linkages with the academic/research institutions. To promote the soil health in the fields and generate additional income to the farmer and labourer households, AM Biofertilizer and Vermicomposting are identified. The participating farmers and the members of the women SHGs from labourers’ families shall be involved in training and establishing production units.-Govin

“Dairy Project success depends on calves rearing”-D.Selvi, SEVAI

Calves rearing in SEVAI -OFI Volunteers Cow project

SEVAI/OFI Volunteers cow project future depends on the successful rearing of calves and heifers. Successful calf rearing is very dependent on the skill, experience and empathy of the stock person looking after the animals. Simple preventative management, observation and understanding are the ingredients that will make the difference between successfully reared healthy heifers. In SEVAI Cow project, Calves are selected from the best cows for faster genetic improvement. The SEVAI-OFI farm manager Ms, D.Selvi enlightened the SHG Women those have cows at homes, “Calves are born after a gestation of nine months. They usually stand within a few minutes of calving, and suckle within an hour. However, for the first few days they are not easily able to keep up with the rest of the herd, so young calves are often left hidden by their mothers, who visit them several times a day to suckle them. By a week old the calf is able to follow the mother all the time. Calves are usually weaned at about eight to nine months of age. Animal Husbandry management begins before birth with correct management of the dry cow, at, and immediately post calving through peri-natal attention as necessary. Calve cows in a clean environment. After the calf is born, it is essential the calf receives its first feed of colostrum within the first six hours of birth. This provides the maternal antibodies necessary to protect it against disease for the first weeks of its life, but these immunological proteins can only be absorbed into the bloodstream within the first 24 hours after the calf is born. Without this passive disease protection it is almost impossible to rear a healthy calf. Care and good husbandry practices through the milk feeding period will prevent and rectify problems, greatly reduce calf deaths and achieve higher production and profitability from healthy, well-grown heifers’-Govin

“Physical activity helps improve a pupils’ educational performance”- SEVAI School

SEVAI Shanthi Matric Higher Secondary School pupils play time

SEVAI Shanthi Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Pettavaithalai of Trichirappalli District gives more importance to physical Education to its school pupils regularly. One of the teachers, Mrs.Janathamani recently spoke to pupils of the School, “Physical activity also helps improve a pupil’s academic performance. Regular physical activity in childhood and adolescence improves strength and endurance, helps build healthy bones and muscles, helps control weight, reduces anxiety and stress, increases self-esteem, and creates interest in studies. SEVAI Shanthi Matriculation Higher Secondary School promotes physical activity through comprehensive school physical activity programs, including recess, classroom-based physical activity and physical education. Kids love to move when they are exposed to creative, well-designed programs during physical education, class exercise breaks, recess and before- and after-school programs. SEVAI School uses all the opportunities during the school day to increase pupils’ physical activity. Physical activity is placed alongside those programs to make it a priority for us as a society. We have an obligation to keep kids active; SEVAI Shanthi Matriculation Higher Secondary School gives importance to physical activity which helps pupils perform better in school. It helps them focus better in the classroom and they behave better in school. This school ensures that physical education is provided to all students in all classes and is taught by qualified teachers. SEVAI Shanthi Matriculation Higher Secondary School also works with Parent teachers association to provide out-of-school-time physical activity programs and share physical activity facilities”. Janathamani further added, “Being physically active is just as important to health as eating right. Children need 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous active play every day to grow up to a healthy weight. That physical activity is good for kids: It not only helps develop muscles and fend off obesity, it also offers opportunities to socialize and learn new skills. To increase physical activity, children need physical education, safe routes to walk and travels to school and access to playgrounds. Children need access to sports leagues and dance or fitness programs that are exciting and challenging to keep them engaged. In addition to being fun, regular physical activity strengthens bones and muscles, increases self-esteem, and provides many other health benefits. Physical activity, along with eating healthy foods, can help children live healthier lives and perform better in school. This school offers physically functional sports for students of all skill levels and make sure that it is free and affordable for all children’.-Govin