SEVAI/OFI/SG-Watershed for poor through Thottiyapatty women self help groups.

Thottiyapatty Watershed women  members with their bank account books

The SEVAI/OFI/SG operates in a Thottiyapatty Women self help group participatory approach. It emphasises participation of watershed users in planning, decision making and implementation of the programme. Participatory rural appraisals (PRA) are used throughout the stages of planning and selection of watersheds. Awareness and training sessions and programmes on literacy, family welfare, social services, income generating activities etc. are also undertaken in the villages. Contributions to SHGs are encouraged. The Watershed Self Help Groups (SHGs) looks after the development of various village level institutions such as User Groups ensuring that a participatory model is adhered to. It comprises at least 10 members including panchayat members; The Self Help Groups (SHGs) ensure participatory implementation of the watershed programme. The Self Help Groups (SHGs) identify the requirements of a given area and finalises the activities to be undertaken in a participatory approach based on the village level assessment. The members are responsible for coordination and liaison with all government agencies to ensure smooth implementation of the project. The Self Help Groups (SHGs) carries out day-to-day activities and implements decisions taken by all the elected bodies. It facilitates agreements pertaining to the use of resources by various User Groups as a pre-condition for any activity. This collective

decision making promotes environment regeneration and poverty alleviation in an equitable manner. SEVAI has adopted the self help group as the appropriate people's institution which provides the poor with the space and support necessary to take effective steps towards greater control of their lives in private and in society. The SHGs provide the benefits of economies of scale reducing costs in certain areas of the production process which the members may decide to undertake as a common action. The group also provides a cost effective credit delivery system, as the transaction costs of lending decrease sharply both to the banks and the borrowers. The groups provide a forum for collective learning which rural people find more "friendly" and which is consequently more effective than the individual or classroom approach that is commonly adopted. The groups promote a democratic culture and provide the members with opportunities to imbibe norms of behaviour that are based on mutual respect. The groups provide the individual member with the support required to exercise control over the pace, timing, size and schedules of loans and programmes, to broaden the pattern of asset provision to include a package which would help the individual to cover risk rather than to provide a single asset; it also helps to assess the individual member's management capacity which may fall short of what a "viable" investment package requires for optimum returns.-Govin

Contour plowing undertaken in Thottiyapatty watershed project: OFI/SG/SEVAI Project.

Thottiyaptty watershed area

Contour plowing helps in contour farming is the water and soil conservation and agriculture promotion of Thottiyapatty project as supported by SG/OFI. This contour plowing provides contour lines create a water break which reduces the formation of rills and gullies during times of heavy water run-off; which is a major cause of soil erosion. The water break also allows more time for the water to settle into the soil. In contour plowing, the ruts made by the plow run perpendicular rather than parallel to slopes, generally resulting in furrows that curve around the land and are level. This method is also known for preventing tillage erosion. This preventing tillage erosion is the soil movement and erosion caused by tilling a given plot of land. A similar practice is contour bunding where stones are placed around the contours of slopes.Soil erosion prevention practices such as this can drastically decrease negative effects associated with soil erosion such as reduced crop productivity, worsened water quality, lower effective check dam water levels, flooding etc. Contour farming is considered an active form of sustainable agriculture. This is one of the main procedures promoted by the Soil Conservation and water conservation techniques of a watershed. The Thottiyapatty watershed project established the water Conservation when it became apparent that soil erosion was a huge problem along with drought. The water and Soil Conservation method works in Thottiyapatty with agriculture programs such as well water irrigation and dry land farming with the help of check dams and gully plugs

Contour bunding in Thottiyapatty Water shed project

etc, the introduction of appropriate agricultural techniques such as contour plowing had reduced the loss of soil by 65% despite the continuation of the drought. Demonstrations showed that contour farming, under ideal conditions, will increase yields of row crops by up to 50%, with increases of between 5 and 10% being common. Importantly, the technique also significantly reduces soil erosion, fertilizer loss, and overall makes farming less energy and resource intensive under most circumstances. Reducing fertilizer loss not only saves

Rain fed agriculture in watershed

the farmer time and money, but it also decreases risk of harming regional freshwater systems. Soil erosion caused from heavy rain can encourage the development of rills and gullies which carry excess nutrients into freshwater systems through the process of eutrophications. Contour plowing is also promoted in Dasilnaickanoor with similar rainfall. At one end of a contour the slope of the land will always be steeper than at the other. Thus when plowing parallel runs paralleling any contour the plow furrows soon deviate from a true contour. Rain water in these furrows will thus flow sideways along the falling "contour" line. This can often concentrate water in a ways that exacerbates erosion instead of reducing it. ts simple definition is that contour plowing is a process of parallel ploughing to the contours of hill slopes to form a natural barrier for water to flow down the slope.-Govin

Sanitation and hygiene Practice is the School way of life- SEVAI Shanthi Matric HSS.

Hand wash practiced by school students in Sanitary complex

Sanitation and hygiene Practice is the School way of life- SEVAI Shanthi Matric HSS. SEVAI Shanthi Higher Secondary School gives top priority to school sanitation and hygiene education as an essential part of schooling, which includes provision of toilet infrastructure and hand washing facilities in schools and hygiene education, to promote behavioural change amongst children as described by TSC. SEVAI Shanthi Higher Secondary School recognizes the role of children as the best change agents in absorbing and popularizing new ideas and concepts of sanitation not only in their schools but in their families and neighborhood. Schools are learning laboratories where habits of good sanitation practices, personal health and hygiene by children can go a long way in inculcating these habits when they become adults. Besides, presence of school toilets, safe drinking water, clean surroundings and basic information on hygiene improves the learning abilities of children,

Interior view of toilet complex

improves health, and improves attendance, especially of the girl child, with far reaching consequence on the health of the community. The combination of adequate facilities, correct behavioural practices and education is meant to have a positive impact on the health and hygiene conditions of the community as a whole, both now and in the future. SEVAI Shanthi Higher Secondary School Sanitation and Hygiene Education Programme due its potential to impact the health of children promote generational change and serve as an entry point for improving sanitation and hygiene within the family and community, has been accorded top priority in Schooling. SEVAI Shanthi Higher Secondary School gives special thrust by following the proven route of teacher-children-family-community where child is a change-agent playing an effective role on sustained basis to spread the message of improved sanitary and healthy practices. The provision of safe water and sanitation facilities in schools is a first step towards a healthy physical learning environment benefiting both learning and health. However, the mere provision of facilities does not make them sustainable or produce the desired impact. It is the use of technical facilities and the related appropriate hygiene behaviours of people that provide health benefits. In schools, hygiene education aims to promote those practices that will help prevent water and sanitation-related diseases as well as promoting healthy behaviour in the future generation of adults. Investing in school sanitation and hygiene education has many benefits. SEVAI Shanthi Higher Secondary School gives top priority to school sanitation practices which enables Children perform better when they function in a hygienic and clean environment, the sanitary facilities for girls encourages parents from sending girls to school and contributes to the drop out of girls, particularly at puberty, the well maintained school sanitation and hygiene facilities become health promotion, Presence and the proper use of facilities prevent pollution of the environment and limit health hazards for the community at large and the school students have the right to be as healthy and happy as possible. Being clean, healthy and having clean water and proper sanitation facilities contribute to a happy childhood in SEVAI Shanthi Higher Secondary School.-Govin

Republic day-2015 celebrated in SEVAI Shanthi Matric.Higher Secondary School.

March past by school students

SEVAI Shanthi Matriculation Higher Secondary School organized school Republic day -2015 at school premises. After customary flog hoisting and parade a Fancy dress competition was held on this occasion. It was the great day for the school pupils.  The children are dressed up in a costume which can inspire the pupil and build child’s confidence. When the child is dressed up in a costume, parents and teachers also taught something

fancy dress by girl student

about that character to the child. The pupil

Fancy dress competition by pupils

was able to understand about the character and present himself or herself well on this occasion. Children were taught to aim to be the winner of the competition. However, at the same time they were also taught not to lose heart and feel upset if they do not win because participating is more

Pyramid Demo by students

important. Apart from the costumes, the teachers/parents also have paid attention to other details. Accessories were also added and make-up was done to give a proper and complete look to the character

Cultural by girls students

the child is portraying. In fact, children were encouraged to participate in fancy dress competitions so that they get confidence to speak in front of a large audience. Participating in competitions helps to remove stage fear in a child. Principal Mrs.Chitra Balasubramaniam while distributing prizes for the winners and participants pupils said, “Fancy dress is a competition in which every child can participate. Unlike singing, dancing and sports competitions where only some children are able to participate, this is a competition in which all children can participate. Fancy dress is a very interesting competition which evokes a lot of humour and is very enjoyable also. Fancy dress is a competition which is very colorful and full of life. It is fun to watch all the little children dressed up in various costumes. Parents must not miss out on this event and must be there to encourage and support their little one and make it a memorable day for them"Principal of the school also appreciated the students those participated in patriotic dance performance given by students and also pyramid demo and other cultural events performed by school students on this occasion.Mr.Sankaran, Mr.Kandasamy the parents of School also appreciated those children participated in the fancy dress competition.-Govin

SSMHSS School conducts Bharatanatyam classes: harmonizing mind and body.

Bharatanatyam performed by students

SEVAI Shanthi Higher Secondary School (SSMHSS) School conducts Bharatanatyam classes: harmonizing mind and body.SEVAI Shanthi Higher Secondary School children are taught Bharatanatyam by expert classical dance teacher before regular school hours in mornings as Bharatanatyam is one form of South Indian classical dance. Bharatanatyam has moved from the temple performance to schools auditorium and school functions. To start with the school pupils learn basic postures, movements, and choreography of Bharatanatyam as an introduction to Bharatanatyam and Indian culture such as fundamental footsteps, eye, neck movements, and hand gestures which are selected in order to learn and perform selected a dance piece. Students also learn Bharatanatyam terms while learning the movements. The aim of the conducting this dance form

Bharatanatyam Learning

classes are to increase appreciation for Tamil dances and cultures, to examine the role and meaning of dance in social, cultural, and historical contexts through learning Bharatanatyam, to identify unique qualities in Bharatanatyam, and to differentiate Bharatanatyam from other forms of dances, to find ways of communicating meaning and express to improve physical and traditional awareness. 30 girls’ students of this school take practice in this Bharatanatyam classes. Bharatanatyam is taught in a classical situation, harmonizing mind and body with aspiration to dance for seeking peace and happiness and with the motivation of your own personal spirituality and belief system. Think and move peacefully with calm mind. -Govin

SEVAI Bharthanatiyam performance given in school function