SSM Vocational Training Center-1315 Beneficiaries in Two Years

Since SSM’s tie-up with Syngenta Foundation (India) in January 2017 many aspirants in agriculture took benefits of this education venture. Short and long duration courses offered here are especially related to Agriculture and Agriculture-based industries. Thirteen batches of 247 Agriculture Technology Assistant students have successfully completed the course and settled in their profession. Remarkably 687 students including women were trained in short duration courses of goat rearing, nursery, bio-compost, poultry etc. in the last two years. Self-help Groups of women raised under Maharashtra State Rural Livelihood Mission (Umed) too come here to be trained in Agriculture related businesses and marketing skill. Six batches 0f 125 women under Umed Mission have been trained here at this vocational centre.

            Mrs. Anita Anil Jadhav a trainee from Palghar district said, “ I have learnt many valuable skills during my training course. Certainly they are going to be helpful for the growth of my business. The knowledge that I gained will obviously add something more to my village development. Many thanks to SSM and SFI.” 

Being Seed Saver SSM Team Participated In National Seed Festival

SSM being Seed Saver has established Maharashtra Indigenous Seed Bank before five years that has been successfully working to conserve diverse seeds and boost organic farming in Nanded, Latur and Usmanabad districts. Using their network spread over these three districts SSM Team led by Mr. Madhav Tate collect and conserve traditional seeds as well as exhibit and exchange at Beejotsav alias National Seed Festival, Nagpur every year.

            This year the National Seed Festival was held at Nagpur between 15 to 17 March. Our SSM Team set up a stall showing organic farm produce like seeds and grains. During a workshop on ‘ Urban Solid Waste Management and Production Of Fertilizers From Mulch And Bark ’ Mr. Madhav Tate spoke on how SSM has been advocating policy of toxic free food and enriching soil nutrients with vegetable waste and leaves decomposition. He also shared his views on what hardships they have been facing while accomplishing the task of collection and conservation.

Beejotsav alias the National Seed Festival cum Sale is aimed to provide organic and affordable food to consumers. This is a platform to bring farmers and their produce directly to the customers. Diverse seeds from Bengal, Punjab and Tamil Nadu were brought in here. Seminars were also held among Khadi Producers, Pastoral Communities and Seed Savers.

SSM Exercises for Water and Soil Conservation at Kathewadi and Hottal

Soil and water conservation works started at Kathewad in Degloor Block under Rural Infrastructure Development Fund of NABARD. On this occasion SSM Chairman Shri Pramodji Deshmukh and General Manager of Nanded Branch Shri Rajesh Dhurve were present. National Agriculture Bank and Rural Development provide financial assistance to such plans implemented in watershed development area and SSM Team guides and leads it.

            At this initial stage an area of 133.06 hectors which will be broadened in future up to 586.09 hectors will be covered. The tasks will be continued for next four months that will guarantee employment to local labours. Under RIDF of NABARD, involving rural community, on the slopes of hills continuous bunds and trenches are dug to check water gushing down. Down on farm area check dams and gabion structures will be erected to force water into ground. It prevents soil erosion and improve land capabilities and moisture regime. Such plans not only help to grow underground water table but also bring down risk of flood.

        On the same line task of Watershed Project also commenced at Katkalamba in the presence of SSM Project Director Shri Rohit Deshmukh. Villagers of Katkalamba launched a rally awaking people about soil and water conservation. Contributing their share of labour they accepted the challenge of task completion.

“Soon we will devise our own Drone,” Young Minds At ATL

Atal Tinkering Lab that was installed before two years at Shivaji Highschool under Atal Innovation Mission(AIM) of National Institute Of Transforming India started to bear fruits. In this laboratory young students have free hand to shape their ideas. Here they get a chance to work with tools and equipment to understand what, why and how aspects of Science, Technology ,Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

            Young Students of Shivaji Highschool recently made a Line Follower Robot which was chosen among first ten in Racing Robot Category at Robozest-2018 at Guwahati. Shri Amol Ghogare who has been competent enough to train these young minds in assembling drone and pilot handling has been leading this ATL and planned a short duration training programme on 11 and 12 April. Experts of Indian Institute Of Technology and National Research Centre will lesson them about basic programming, structure and modification of drone and various censors. It won’t be a surprise if we see flying drones in the skies of Sagroli designed and devised at out laboratory.

            ATL is an approach of Central Government Of India to create an environment of scientific temperament, innovation, creativity amongst Indian Students. It is a step towards new India.

Rajendra Stands On His Own:

If someone lacks something especially physical abilities it may loose it’s heart very easily. Generally physically challenged person feels himself or herself to be a burden on the family and all the hopes in life fade away. But some prove that it is simply a state of mind and nothing more to curse upon.

            Rajendra Shelke of Sagroli is a physically disabled person who lost his wife four years before leaving two daughters behind. He strongly desired to lead an independent life. He decided to start his own small grocery shop in his own house. Unfortunately his parents could hardly make any provision for his future as they are farm labours. Found himself stuck in such a situation, Rajendra decided to avail a zero interest loan scheme run by SSM.

            Instantly SSM assured him to bear expenses of daughters’ education. But Rajendra needed something more. A kind donor from Mumbai through mediation of Mr. Manoj Panchal gifted him a refrigerator to be used in shop for keeping cold-drinks and water bottles. Dristi a non-governmental and non-profitable organisation donated him Rupees 20,000 as capital for his business. As a result of all these Rajendra is experiencing a hike of Rs. 50 in his per day income. Though walks with a walker, he thanked SSM and Dristi to help him to stand on his own.