Targeting Extreme Poverty: Programme Components

1) Targeting the Ultra poor
Areas are selected based on the information from the Government’s poverty map, and NGO survey reports. Villages with the most vulnerability are chosen from those areas. Finally, through Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) exercise, ultra poor households are selected for participating in the programme for two years.

Households with less than ten decimals of land, with no productive assets, dependant on irregular day labour or begging, with no active male members and who has children of school going age working to earn money – with these features, qualify for the programme.

2) Asset Transfer
The programme provides livelihood assets (live stocks, poultry, agriculture farming, horticulture nursery, small trading etc.) for the women in the targeted households including shelter for animals, feed, vaccines and related inputs. A subsistence allowance is provided for a certain period which acts as a “breathing space” to focus on developing their assets without engaging in survival activities. This stipend serves the purpose of a short term income support until any income is generated from the transferred assets.

3)    Interventions
Skill Development Training Participants receive a 3-5 day classroom orientation, followed by interim refreshment courses and a 24 month long, hands-on training under close supervision. Confidence building training is arranged before their graduation for a lasting effect.

Community Support This component involves individual and group work with the ultra poor, providing support and counselling on the sustainable development of their livelihoods and helping people in crisis. Social awareness education helps the ultra poor members to build relationship. Village Poverty Reduction Committee (GDBC), a platform to support them socially through active community participation, works to provide security for assets of the members, protecting them from maltreatment and social injustices, and mobilizing resources from the community to help the ultra poor households during crisis situations.

Tailor-made health care service An exclusive customized health care services and referral arrangements for the ultra poor members, through the innovative network of community based health workers. Health services and support include treatment through panel doctors, linkages with other health service providers, installation of sanitary latrines and tube wells, financial assistance for severe and mild morbidity, health education, basic health care, pregnancy related care, family planning, immunization, tuberculosis control and vitamin A tablets for children less than five years.