Women Livelihood Restoration Programme, Surendranagar

MARAG embarked upon a women’s livelihood restoration project in 2002, with the objective of providing local sources of livelihood; the Maldhari families need not migrate to far off places in search of food and work; animal husbandry becomes a viable proposition; women’s participation in the cooperative movement improves; the cooperative institutions become transparent and accountable; and women take on a leadership role.

MARAG supported approximately 350 women to purchase cattle in their name, promoted Dairy Cooperative Societies in project villages of which 34 are operational now, problems related to water and fodder scarcity was also addressed, training related to Livestock management and dairy management was imparted to women. In many villages the migration has reduced and in some we are able to arrest migration, the biggest achievement have been increase in procurement price of milk from Rs 140 per Kg to Rs 210 per Kg, the highest ever price paid by the Surendranagar District Milk Cooperative.