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Society of All Round Development
The Society of All Round Development
(SARD) is a special project the Giving World Foundation started
in 2004. The objective is to help women in the mining region of
Rajasthan make enough additional income to support their families.
Many of the women in this area are widowed because of the harsh
effects the mining industry has had on their husbands. The purpose
of this project is to empower these women with a skill in the
farming industry and get them out of extreme poverty.
SARD provides women from different self-help groups in the region
with poultry, goats and crops. SARD then teaches these women how
to raise the animals or grow the crops. Over the first year, it
was found that goat rearing was the most profitable and poultry
the least, because of its high mortality rate. Through multiple
seminars provided by the government and The Giving World, many
of these set backs have been addressed and success stories have
ensued. The information brought in about the importance of immunizing
animals and what crops to grow with what specific techniques has
had a big impact on these women. They are realizing the power
of education, health and community development.
SARD is a micro enterprise that has a tremendous trickle down
effect for its participants. For instance, once a goat or chicken
has its litter, one of those newborn animals is passed down to
another woman who then continues the cycle.
Although there have been many positives to come out of SARD, the
project still faces several setbacks. One roadblock to additional
success has been the lack of cool storing facilities for the farmers
to store their crops, meat and milk without spoiling them. This
forces the women to sell their products right away, which usually
means a lesser price for them. Likewise, the roads around these
remote towns are often in bad condition, making it hard for them
to sell their goods outside of the village and make more money
for their families.
We urge you to help support this project in any way you can. Projects
like these are helping Indian women and families realize there
is a way out of poverty.
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