North Eastern Region of India is a big source of Natural Fibre which is still not properly utilized and become waste in time. For example, after cutting the Banana Tree, the valueable natural fibre of Banana Tree become waste. Like this there are so many fiberous plants that remain unused, but if these are used properly, rural employment can be generated in a big way. Keeping this fact in view, SNEHPAD organized Short Term Training on Utilization and Diversification of Natural Fibres in collaboration with Assam Agricultural University (AAU), Jorhat at Titabor, Jorhat. Total 50 number of selected members of 25 number of Women Self Help Groups were trained under this programme. During the training programme the trainees were made skilled to make Ladies Bags, Mobile Covers, Mats and Dolls from Banana and Jute Fibre. After training the trainees were linked with AAU for further advanced training on design development. Out of 50 trainees 28 had started commercial production of Natural Fibre Products and had started selling in the market for own income generation
The power of united effort is bigger than that of individual. To achieve the goal of integrated and rapid rural development, the poor must be united to work together. Therefore, SNEHPAD, since its inception, has been working to encourage group activity among rural people so that they can be supported together for their socio-economic growth. SNEHPAD, during the year made the following efforts for encouraging and empowering group activities SNEHPAD, during the year 2013-14, organised many programmes on SHG and JLG Management considering the fact that the groups must have trained properly to achieve their goal of economic self-sufficiency. In the trainings special focus were given on Group Management Issues, Accounting and Book Keeping, so that they can equip themselves can manage their groups in a proper way. All the following programmes were organised on the subject in collaboration with NABARD
SNEHPAD continued its Village Development Plan in 4 numbers of villages in Jorhat District namely, Borkhongia, Lujonia, Deka Gaon and Napomuwa Gaon under NABARD support. The objective of this programme is to provide all need based supports to all the categories of villagers for development in an integrated way with convergence of line departments. The main target groups in this programme are farmers, unemployed youths, women and SHGs.
On the occasion of the 150th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, SNEHPAD distributed 1000 saplings of fruit bearing and other valuable tree among responsible persons like Panchayat Members, SHG members, educated youths etc. Before distributing the saplings, all about the issues like the need of tree plantation, its effect on environment protection, the economic return ect. were discussed to encourage the beneficiaries to maintain the saplings properly. SNEHPAD will continue this initiative in the coming years also.
SNEHPAD, every year observes some important days publicly to make the common people aware about the objective of the day. This year SNEHPAD observed the following important days:-
| Day Observed | Venue | People Participated |
| World Environment Day | Napomuwa Village, Jorhat | 52 Numbers |
| Universal Brotherhood Day | Gotonga Village, Jorhat | 121 Numbers |
| World Human Rights Day | Madhya Jorhat Development Block, Jorhat | 110 Numbers |
| National Youth Day | Charaibahi Gaon, Jorhat | 48 Numbers |
Instant easy financial support without collateral can provide a big help to those poor who actually want to do some small economic activity for elevation of their poverty. SNEHPAD tries to help them by giving small finance followed by activity specific training and marketing support for ensuring their success.
SNEHPAD had started implementation of the NESIST supported Cluster Development Project on Handloom Activity at New Sonowal, Moriani, Jorhat under Department of Science & Technology (DST), Govt. of India. SNEHPAD took over the responsibility to implement the project signing an MoU with the Director, NEIST, Jorhat on25th November 2013. After completion of detailed survey the following activities were performed in the cluster involving the selected weavers of the cluster.
Pottery activity is one of the traditional livelihood activities which are being practiced in clusters. There are many traditional Pottery Clusters in the State of Assam and thousands of families earn their livelihood by practicing it. But, it is very discouraging that, the traditional potters still make pottery products manually without any mechanized method and because of this the production is very low. Moreover, the traditional potters make only low cost products like Diya, Pots and Utensils for Religious use. They donot have the idea of making designer and high cost products to increase their income. Therefore SNEHPAD, for last couple of years, has been organizing Technology and Skill Development Programmes in collaboration with KVIC. During the Year 2019-20, SNEHPAD organized 2 numbers of programmes in different 2 pottery clusters and covered total 40 potters under the initiative. High productive Electric Potter Wheels, Raw Material Mixing Machines were distributed among the selected trainee potters and Potter Clans were constructed for burning the pottery products in both the clusters. After distribution of High Productive Electric Potter Wheels, week-long Skill Development Training were conducted to make the machines easy for operation. After training it was observed that the production of each beneficiary potter has increased up-to 3 times with better quality.
| Potter Cluster | No of Potters Benefited | Electric Potter Machine Distributed |
|---|---|---|
| Bosa Kumar Gaon, Golaghat | 40 | 40 |
| Nimati Kumar Gaon, Jorhat | 40 | 40 |
Business activity can survive long only if the marketing of products is strong enough. SNEHPAD encourages rural women, youths and groups to be productive. It also provides skill development and financial support to the target groups. But the initiative will be ineffective without marketing support. Therefore, SNEHPAD participates in various commercial exhibitions to display the products of the supported groups to establish marketing linkages and to attract bulk orders. During the year SNEHPAD participated in the following exhibitions
| Name of the Event | Duration | Sponsoring Agency |
|---|---|---|
| Mahalaxmi SARAS Fair, Mumbai | 15 Days | NABARD |
| International Trade Fair, Guwahati | 12 Days | NABARD |
SNEHPAD has been trying to provide marketing assistance to the weaver and artisans through its own marketing outlet at BHOGDOI complex, Jorhat. Total sales in the outlet during the year is Rs.1,97,790/- only
SNEHPAD is running a Yarn Bank Scheme for providing Raw Materials at the lowest rate to weavers and SHGs of interior villages at the spot. Under this scheme about 3000 weavers have already been covered. SNEHPAD is running its Yarn Bank and assisting more than 200 poor weavers to get the raw material at their door steps for production of Handloom products. SNEHPAD is also assisting the weavers and artisans to sale their products in a bigger market in a good price. SNEHPAD has tied up with famous e commerce company “AMAZON” for online selling the products made by its weavers, farmers and artisans. This year the volume of marketing through SNEHPAD is Rs.55,67,635.00
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