water conservation

Dharampur lies in the Tribal Belt of Gujarat and is often referred to as the Kashmir of Gujarat. There are more than 108 villages associated with Dharampur, Dharampur is called cherrapunji of Gujarat receiving the highest rainfall in the state. Precipitation here is about 1262 mm | 49.7 inch per year. Many tribal villages, including Sidumbar remain parched during summers, with an acute drinking water scarcity, despite a good monsoon. Situated in hilly regions, water flows downstream leaving nothing conserved. Since the villagers are solely dependent on agriculture for their livelihoods, water scarcity only puts their survival at stake. "Since, the villagers are solely dependent on rainfall for irrigation, Last year as a pilot project we took initiative towards borewell recharge on a stream flowing down a hillock in Sidumbar village. People of the village along with Mittidhan contributed towards the initiative of this recharge pit, the conserved water is helping recharge the groundwater table and the wells of the villages. This is currently helping many families get fresh drinking water daily for their families and animals.

This year we will take it to the next step and construct a pond sizing 20 feet x 20 feet, Trenches, soak pits on a water flows downstream. It will go a long way in improving the living conditions of village. Since they're constructed at a higher level it will help improve groundwater levels in Sidumbar village. Moreover, it will also provide farmers of these villages with adequate water for irrigation to cultivate vegetables and other crops. This will help augment their incomes too. Adequate water will also be available for flora and fauna of the region."

Women’s health

Women play a significant role in agriculture in India. It is observed that 75% of women are involved in agricultural activities like weeding, winnowing, grading, cleaning of fields and other supporting activities such as land preparation, transplanting, cleaning animal sheds etc. These causes high physical strain on the body due to awkward poses such as sitting cum bending, squatting, standing cum bending for long durations of the day. Mittidhan tools are designed considering the feedback of women farmers and we continue to improve upon the design through our feedback loops.

#sustainablesolutions #womanEmpowerment #Mittidhan #ngooin dharampur 

Vinoba expressed that, we are in the era when service to all human beings should be considered service to God

Women’s health

Women are also responsible for cooking in the rural households. Our cooking stoves provide efficient wood combustion resulting in significant reduction of CO, PM 2.5 and PM 10 particles from ambient air around the household.

Tools on wheel

Demonstration and awareness van 

There is significant innovation in farming techniques and tools including heavy machinery and drones, but marginal farmers still use age-old tools. They usually travel 35-40 km to the local market to buy tools, where options are limited. They spend a whole day traveling, incurring travel and opportunity costs, to get tools that are expensive and poor quality. Since the purchasing power is low, large companies don’t cater to the needs of marginal farmers. Hence they continue with inefficient and old design tools which are difficult to repair and maintain. It is observed that 75% of women are involved in farm activities including wedding, winnowing, grading and cleaning of fields and other supporting activities such as land preparation, transplanting, cleaning animal sheds etc. This work results in high physical strain on the body due to awkward poses such as sitting cum bending, squatting, standing cum bending for long durations of the day (Singh, Vinay, 2013). The results in many occupational hazards for farm women including musculoskeletal disorders, social stigma amongst others which can be avoided by ergonomic interventions (Singh, Arora, 2017).

Mittidhan is operating  a mobile tools van to reach marginal farmers in remote areas, explain about our tools, and provide them tools at a subsidised rate.  Ojaar Gadi reach the innermost villages and haat bazaars so everyone can avail the tools.

“Superior farming tools at the doorstep of small farmers”

Farmer market and Farmer meetings 

Youth Seminar

Relief work during and after COVID-19 and Cyclone Biparjoy

Providing essential items to people in extreme need (Grocery kits, Blankets, Winter caps, Educational kits to students, Chappals, LED solar emergency lights,  Tarpaulin,  seeds to grow their own food, and all type of support to make them independent. 

Awareness Activities with rural kids and urban kids

Volunteers from different Indian states, the USA, and Germany

Mittidhan would love for any like-minded individual, student, farmer, organization be a part of this initiative. They are welcome to our ‘’Technology Center” facility where everyone is encouraged to share, explore and experiment in order to contribute to our vision.

Artisan support - Woman artisan support 

Community Tool Bank Project in remote villages of Dharampur

Farmers of Southern Gujarat are still using traditional tools which are not properly designed and they often rely on tools available in local markets. That decreases efficiency and brings many health related problems.

Our Ojaar ghar project aims to increase the availability of specially designed hand tools. We not only aim to provide hand tools, but create a support network for farmers where they can discuss their challenges and design a solution. We will also provide regular repair and maintenance of the tools, and come up with new tool design as suggested by the farmers network.

In case the farmers wish to buy tools for themselves, a portion of the sales will go in supporting the Ojaar Ghar project. The farmers who wish to be a part of the project will pay a small token amount to access the tools. This will ensure the long term financial sustainability of the project.

Water saving dish washing unit for Ashram Shalas

First blue tub is to throw away remains in our plates. Second pink tub is detergent water. There is also a connecting stand that holds all the 4 tubs. This is to put utensils aside after each one is washed. The pink tub. We immerse our plates and spoons into this tub with detergent water and clean well using the scrub put aside on the stand. Utensils are now supposed to be dipped into the third blue tub and wash them well. Orange tub is for the final dip. These tubs, are connected with pipes. Every time we replace fresh water into these tubs, used water is sent to plants around through these pipes. Food remains from the first blue tub is used for vermicomposting.

Recognition