Implementing Agency:
Department For International Development (PAND)

Managing Institute:
Association for Sarva Seva Farms (ASSEFA)

Project Code: 149-680-077 149-680-028	Start Date: 19-Jun-92	End Date: 01-Mar-95
Commitment: £350 250	Status: Completed	Type of Funding: Bilateral - JFS

Project Background:
The Lathur project is one of 28 area development projects started by the Association of Sarva Seva Farms in six States of India. It is situated in Chingleput MGR (formerly Chingleput) District in Northern Tamil Nadu. Like most of ASSEFA's projects, it evolved out of the association's involvement with Bhoodan allottees. The Bhoodan movement, begun by Vinoba Bhave in the 1950s, encouraged owners of land to donate sections to landless people. ASSEFA (then Sarva Seva Farms) was formed in 1969 to work with the allottees to reclaim some of the uncultivated land that had been donated and form cooperative or group farms. From 1969 until 1982 ASSEFA concentrated on Bhoodan development, reclaiming and putting into use compact blocks of barren or fallow land and settling landless farmers on the land in small co-operative groups to cultivate it in perpetuum. It undertook approx. 70 such projects, helping to develop areas of between 15 and 1200 acres (average 80 acres), benefitting communities of between 6 and 670 families. From 1982 up to the present ASSEFA has developed a community or whole village approach. Rather than concentrating primarily on the land as a focus for development, it works with poorer communities either in Gramdan villages or villages where there is a decision-making structure or Gramsabha (Village Council). It has at the same time diversified its type of operation from an agricultural development bias to encompass also small industry projects, health programmes, a school programme (at primary level), adult education, and training programmes. In adopting this integrated approach it has found it more relevant and efficient to take up blocks of villages for development (usually within the administrative block of the Indian IRDP). The typical ASSEFA project today will comprise between 20 and 80 villages, is often around the epicentre of an already completed Bhoodan project, and is programmed to last between 7 and 10 years.

Project Objectives:
To provide direct economic assistance for agricultural development to 1500 households in the form of revolving loans for capital, irrigation crop outputs and livestock.

Intended Outputs:
1.)To undertake reclamation and cultivation work of Bhoodan, Gramdan, Ceiling surplus land and other fallow lands for the rehabilitation and exclusive benefit of backward, poor and downtrodden people in the rural areas of India 2.)To provide equipment such as agricultural implements, etc. for the same object 3.)To undertake the reclamation and cultivation of the above said Bhoodan and Gramdan and other fallow lands in such a way as to recover the agricultural capital made available by the society to the extent possible, in each specific project and reinvesting it in financing further reclamation work on fallow lands 4.)To start and carry on small agro-industries for the exclusive benefit of the rural poor 5.)To train the rural poor agriculturalists in sound modern techniques in careful and effective management 6.)To provide full employment to the beneficiaries of Sarva Seva Farm projects, encouraging them to work on a joint and co-operative basis, including collective responsibility and reciprocal assistance 7.)To encourage independent thinking among the project's beneficiaries by exchange of knowledge, experiences, and having free discussion on relevant and up-to-date questions, in order to give them a fair and broad information, banning party propaganda and dogmatic assertions 8.)To impart literacy, citizenship training and inculcate the concept of rights and reciprocal duties and common living 9.)To undertake community health programmes as part of Sarva Seva Farm projects, or independently, to promote the total health of the community. The programme content will include, inter alia, promotive, preventive and curative aspects of health care, including sanitation, hygiene, nutrition, health education, medical aid etc.