Hanuman Nagar is a small village in the lush green forests of Chandrapur district in Maharashtra. Though blessed with natural beauty, the 100-odd families struggling to make ends meet here have known little but hardship. That was until ACC stepped in with its innovative goat-rearing program that has pulled several families out from the brink of poverty.

Sunita Kamble, a 35-year-old homemaker, lives here with her three children and husband, who works as a daily wage laborer when work is available. With irregular income, supporting even necessities was a constant challenge. The backdrop of dense forests around the village means little opportunity for agriculture or allied occupations. Most families rely on minor forest produce, small dairy activity, or work under NREGA to survive.

When ACC launched its goat-rearing initiative in collaboration with Adani Foundation and NGO partner Indira Mahila Bachat Gat in 2018, Sunita was among the first to take it up. 

The Handholding Support

ACC’s ultramodern Cement plant is located just 2 km from Hanuman Nagar. As part of its community upliftment initiatives, it actively works towards empowering villagers with sustainable livelihood opportunities. The goat rearing program aimed at turning rearing from a subsistence activity into a commercially viable enterprise that could substantially augment the income of these families.

As the first step, ACC conducted a participatory rural appraisal to identify interested families that were economically backward and willing to take up goat rearing. Sunita fit the criteria perfectly. The cement major helped the identified families form a 15-member self-help group (SHG) with Sunita as the leader.

Thereon began the handholding support to set up the rearing infrastructure comprising good quality bucks for breeding high-quality kids. A custom-designed rearing shed with feeding troughs and water was constructed for each family using CSR funds. This prevented the loss of kids due to harsh weather conditions.

Under the guidance of the Adani Foundation, the SHG women opened bank accounts to receive subsidy support and working capital loans for buying the bucks and does. Trained veterinary service staff paid weekly visits to check the health of the animals and guide them on proper care. Pedigreed bucks were made available at the doorstep of villagers for breeding their does.

The ACC-Adani Foundation team has tied up with farmers in neighboring villages to prevent inbreeding and resultant abnormalities. This allows the does from Hanuman Nagar to be sent for breeding to their bucks. The facilities and veterinary care ensure that both mother and kids return safe and healthy.

The subsidized insurance service helps the villagers pay an annual premium of only Rs 210 per goat against a coverage of Rs 5000. This guards against shocks from losing their precious livestock.

The Road to Self-Reliance

From an initial livestock holding of 3 goats in 2018, Sunita today owns a herd of 9 comprising six adult females, two buck kids, and one doe kid. Her current stock itself is valued at over Rs 90,000. By selling 2-3 female kids annually, she quickly makes Rs 30,000 annually as net profit.

The SHG sold over 93 female kids last year, a record since its inception. The group corpus stands at Rs 1.6 lakhs, a substantial savings for members to rely on during emergencies. Their collective net income from sales crossed Rs 7 lakhs last fiscal.

The graduation of these villagers from subsistence living to enterprising individuals running a commercial operation generating surpluses has been pivotal. Financial security has enabled families like Sunita’s to provide their children with better education, nutrition, and healthcare.

The multiplying effect on the local economy due to higher disposable incomes has brought prosperity beyond direct beneficiaries. Sukhlal Bhange, a small shop owner in Hanuman Nagar, has seen sales grow. Even service providers like veterinarians, para vets, and breeders have witnessed an uptick in demand.

Transforming Lives

Sunita also highlights the social impact. “After seeing our success, more villagers are keen to take up goat rearing. Women confined to households are now part of the SHG, stepping out for meetings and training. Their status in family and society has improved.”

The program has also stemmed migration considerably. Until recently, a lack of local opportunities would force the non-disabled to cities like Nagpur or Hyderabad for work. Many would return after months in poor health, having achieved little.

The model is now being scaled to over 15 villages around the Chanda Cement Works after having proved its mettle in Hanuman Nagar. The target is to have over 750 households take this up across 24 villages by 2025. The future looks brighter and more prosperous for residents of a small hamlet brought to light by ACC and its partners.

Impact Created

The goat-rearing initiative by ACC and Adani Foundation has uplifted the entire village of Hanuman Nagar both socially and economically. The critical impacts created are:

The program has delivered a sustainable livelihood option right at the doorstep of villagers who migrated periodically in search of work. Beneficiary families earn between Rs 30,000 to Rs 45,000 annually through the sale of kids. These earnings are invested towards better nutrition, healthcare, education, and the overall welfare of the families. Higher savings also cushion them against shocks. At a collective level, the group corpus stands at a healthy Rs 1.6 lakhs today. 

The success stories of women beneficiaries have encouraged more families, especially women confined to households, to step out and actively participate. There is evident social transformation, whether being part of the self-help group, attending meetings and training regularly, or interacting with service providers. 

Migration has also declined considerably owing to this sustainable local livelihood option. The marked improvement in the social status of women in a predominantly tribal setup is a significant marker of progress.

The model promotes the conservation of indigenous goat breeds most suitable for the local climate and environment. The stress on forests is considerably reduced by relying on stall feeding with supplementary and reduced dependence on grazing. Adopting good feed, fodder, and healthcare practices further enables a sustainable setup.

By taking a holistic approach encompassing all aspects from infrastructure, input supplies, veterinary care, capacity building, and market linkages, ACC and Adani Foundation have empowered once struggling villagers to run a commercially viable goat-rearing enterprise. The comprehensive model has been pivotal in enabling these tribal families in remote Hanuman Nagar to prosper while being rooted in their native land.