Best Practices

Sunehra Kal' Intervention Boosts Productivity and Sustainability

Sunehra Kal’ Intervention Boosts Productivity and Sustainability

In Balrampur district, traditional farming practices and the use of chemical fertilizers were causing high production costs and soil degradation. The District Agriculture Officer collaborated with ITC for the ‘Sunehra Kal’ intervention, introducing techniques like zero tillage and direct sowing. This led to cost savings, increased productivity, and reduced environmental impact. The program expanded to benefit over 300 farmers across 400 acres of land.

The Role of Soil Health Cards in Reviving Agricultural Livelihoods in Balrampur

SOIL HEALTH CARD

The people of Balrampur are dependent upon agriculture for their livelihoods but faced difficulty making ends meet. In 2015, scientists from the Agricultural Science Department of Balrampur visited the villages to collect soil samples. Upon testing, they discovered that due to the overuse of harmful pesticides and chemical fertilizers, the soil was losing its fertility. The scientists provided the farmers with soil health cards to inform them about the problem, and shared innovative agricultural techniques. This helped the farmers regain financial stability.

MAA PATESHWARI VILLA CITY BALRAMPUR

Maa Pateshwari Colony-Tengnahiya Mankot

In Balrampur, 66 flood-affected families were allotted free residential land through a lottery system for resettlement in Tengnahia Mankot village. The program was held in Kalyanpur village, under the chairmanship of Balrampur District Magistrate Dr. Mahendra Kumar.

Balrampur district is situated in the foothills of the Himalayas. Approximately one-third of the district is affected by floods from the Rapti River every year. Kalyanpur, a revenue village in the Jhauna Gram Panchayat of Balrampur Development Block, was one of the areas affected by the river’s flooding. The houses and residential area of 66 families living there were completely submerged in the floodwaters. Subsequently, through the efforts of the Balrampur district administration, 0.9890 hectares of land were purchased at a cost of Rs. 72.70 lakhs in Tengnahia Mankot Gram Panchayat of the same development block, approximately 3 km from Kalyanpur, after obtaining government approval. This land was then allocated to these 66 displaced families, and a colony was developed for them under the Chief Minister’s Housing Scheme – Rural, with houses constructed for them. This colony has been named Patheshwari Villa City. In this colony, a boundary wall of approximately 542 meters has been constructed at a cost of Rs. 20.09 lakhs (Rs. 12.09 lakhs from Critical Gaps funds and Rs. 8.00 lakhs from the Legislative Assembly Area Development Fund), through the efforts of the District Magistrate, Balrampur. For internal transportation within the colony, a 495-meter internal concrete road has been constructed at a cost of Rs. 33.50 lakhs with the cooperation of the Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme and the Balrampur Area Panchayat Fund. A high-mast light has also been installed in the colony premises under the Legislative Assembly Area Development Scheme with the cooperation of the MLA of Balrampur Sadar constituency. For drainage purposes, a 680-meter drain has been constructed at a cost of Rs. 18.67 lakhs with the cooperation of the Balrampur District Panchayat. A MNREGA park has also been developed in the colony premises at a cost of Rs. 9.94 lakhs under the MNREGA scheme, which includes children’s play equipment funded by CSR funds. In this complex, a community shed has also been constructed at a cost of Rs. 6.99 lakh under the MGNREGA scheme to facilitate the economic activities of the women of the self-help groups. In addition, beneficiaries of the Chief Minister’s Housing Scheme have been provided with individual cattle sheds under the MGNREGA scheme, along with individual sanitary toilets with the support of the Panchayati Raj Department, piped drinking water connections in all houses under the Jal Jeevan Mission scheme, and electricity connections in all houses with the cooperation of the Electricity Department.
This has not only freed these families from the devastating effects of floods but has also provided a safe place for their livestock, facilitated the education and physical development of their children, and given the women an opportunity to work together and improve their economic status.

The Uttar Pradesh government has sanctioned ₹3 crore for the resettlement of villagers from Kalyanpur in the village of Tegnahia Mankot. A residential colony is being constructed for 66 families with this amount. These 66 families will be provided with houses under the Chief Minister’s Housing Scheme. In addition, facilities such as electricity, drinking water, interlocking paving, cow sheds, a children’s park, solar lights, compost pits for waste collection, a community hall, and drainage around the residential area will be provided through the convergence of 16 different departments.