Enhancing capacity building

To increase their capacity to utilize local resources , crafts & skills and knowledge, they needed input of market driven strategies to stay on the path of sustainable development. . Villagers of Thaigarguri , Islampur , Kolabari , Demdema along wth others 7(seven) villages in Kokrajhar District were trained in sericultural occupation, weaving , and modern agriculture techniques through multi agency approach. Experts from National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad exposed the weavers to latest and trendy designs. Apiculture has become a popular means of livelihood in Betbari village of Bongaigaon district . Village youths of Taiphaneng village in Tinsukia district are being imparted lessons in driving by police drivers . Encouraged by the gesture of The Cane and Bamboo Technology Center (UNIDO) , a team of youths from Betbari, Shipansila and Sarapara (Bongaigaon district) received advanced training in bamboo craft, making of venetian blinds and other products having market demand.

Empowering women

Victims of underdevelopment, illiteracy and social prejudices are learning the lessons of emancipation and empowerment under the umbrella of Project PRAHARI . Not only the women have majority participation in Community Management Group of the village but are also mandatorily holding important offices in the CMG and in the discussion held at Community Centres, so that the silent majority has a voice and a role in decision making regarding formulation of Action Plan ,implementation and management of community accounts . Exposing them to the knowledge of maternity and reproductive health and medical education has stopped the menace of witch hunting in the area where local quacks were ruling the roost.

Creating forward linkages

The lack of marketing network has been a bane on the development process . To ensure marketing outlet in a competitive environment, the local police is playing an important role in liasioning with different marketing agencies in reaching out to the upmarket consumers in the town and cities. . Stalls displaying and selling products bearing the signs of traditional craftmanship are a regular scene in the trade fairs, Brahmaputra Beach Festival , NEDFI haat etc..

Campaigning against Social prejudices

The project has offered the villagers a platform to launch a proactive strategy against social prejudices. The villagers of Thaigeguri who had witnessed and perpetrated the massacre of five innocent villagers branding them as witches have taken the pledge to launch public awareness mission against recurrence of such brutality by visiting different localities and villages and interracting with their brethren to dispel such superstitions and social maladies. The recent killing of a woman in the village of Goabari, Bongaigaon district prompted the Thaigerguri people to visit and persuade them from abstaining from such heinous onslaught on human rights. The villagers of Tai Faneng and Ningam in upper Assam are up in arms against addiction to opium by some community members. The activists are launching public awarness campaign against opium abuse in these areas which had witnessed the menace of affinity towards opium addiction as a result of age old traditional social system.

NET WORKING

A Conference on Development and Community Policing at Guwahati, the State capital, provided the villagers under Project Prahari, a unique opportunity for creation of a social network. NGO`s, social activists,and experts of developmental studies instructed and imparted valuable inputs in open house session with the villagers at the prestigious Shankardev Kala Khestra.. Magsaysay award winner, Sandeep Pandey and executives of Lizzat Papad group among others, shared views with the villagers. A visit to the Horticultural Research Station, Pachauli nursery,and mushroom production centre etc exposed them to new economic opportunities.

FACE TO THE UNIFORM

The impact of Prahari was not only felt by the villagers but also by the lowest rung of police who underwent an attitudinal change bringing about a paradigm shift in police- public relationship. There is greater and more open interaction between the community and law enforcing agency manifested by a sensitivity and mutual trust not seen earlier.

APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY

The traditional technologies and skills are being improved upon for increasing their production and productivity. Villagers of Kharbuja and Chirkut used local materials with improvised technique for harnessing excess water to irrigate their land. Technology Institutes are being roped in for adapting the technique and production process for local needs.

BUILDING BRIDGE OF FRIENDSHIP

A sense of belongingness and commitment to the community members from law enforcing agencies has dispelled the ageold phobic reaction to the police by the villagers. The co-operative action between the CMG and the police force have resulted in construction and repairing of structures across the rivers facilitating communication and symbolizing the bridges of friendship. Now, the children from Sarapara village can reach to their school at Betbari crossing the river Kachua over the 200 ft long wooden bridge made possible by the joint endevour of Bongaigaon District Police, Developmental agencies and local villagers. No more the school kids run the risk of falling in the river which was a frequent occurrence in the past, when in the name of bridge there was only a lone bamboo hung .precariously. At Nayak Gaon in Kokrajhar, Police and villagers can now boast of repairing the dilapidated bridge disrupting the communication between Kokrajhar and Dhubri districts.

VILLAGE COMMUNICATION INFASTRUCTURE

The remote and cut off Prahari villages are no longer isolated and inaccessible --thanks to the police public effort. The only resource the Lauripara villagers had --the strong motivation , will and community strength when they built the 3 km long road connecting them to the outside world. Similar actions were replicated in the villages of Tai-Phaneng in Tinsukia dist, Tengapathar in Lakhimpur district, Sialmari in Kokrajhar dist and dozen others.

HEALTH & HYGIENE

Besides the visits by medical check up teams, the villagers learned of reproductive & maternity health & hygiene from reputed NGO`s. Popularisation of low cost sanitary system in villages of Hailakandi district, fixing of deep tube wells in villages of Kokrajahr district, sensitization regarding free health opportunities available in Govt. hospitals were some measures significantly improving the quality of life of hapless villagers.Exposing them to the knowledge of maternity and reproductive health and medical education has stopped the menace of witch hunting in the area where local quacks were ruling the roost.

PRESERVING THE ENVIRONMENT

Large scale plantation of ecologically suitable varieties and economically fast growing species in all Prahari villagers emphasized the need of preserving the elements. Charcoal of high calorific value is being thought of as a commercially viable byproduct through management of bamboo waste-in Sipansila, Betbari and Sarapara villages of Bongaigaon district. Children in villages like Thaigerguri and others in Kokrajahr dist. Planted fruit bearing trees around their schools- thus imbibing young minds with the concept of community management of forestry.

FIGHTING ILLITERACY

Rather than looking in askance to outside agencies, villagers of Prahari learned to mend their places of learning . Repairing of existing school buildings, arranging basic facilities, persuading the drop outs to rejoin, making headway in adult- literacy and an acute awareness of education for all-became a mission. In the Prahari villages of North Lakhimpur dist. a library was established - laying the pillars of a sound educational system.

Impacting crime scenario

Engagement in positive developmental activities has resulted in the incidence of crime plumetting . Straying of youths into criminal gangs due to underdevelopment and lack of meaning ful economic opportunities has been marginalized.The extremists lost public support in these areas after launch of Project Prahari and Police are being fed with actionable inputs for operations against extremists. The 11 dreaded dacoits of Khagail village of Karimganj district gave up their arms and illegal acivities and came forward to participate in community projects and embraced the goodwill of the community .In Basdhar village of Hailakandi dist. a number of fugitives surrendered before the Police with the promise to work for peace and prosperity of the community. The Community Centres in all the Prahari villages by the CMG with the help of local resources has become a meeting point for resolution of conflicts, ethnic disputes and disharmony.