Shri Kshethra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project (SKDRDP) founded in the year 1982, on the occasion of the installation of 39 feet monolithic statue of Lord Bahubali in Dharmasthala, is the fondest of Dr. Veerendra Heggade's dreams realized.

Ever since, the project has encompassed various aspects of rural development to make the rural living an enjoyable process. At present SKDRDP is active in 13 districts of Karnataka state, is engaged in intensive fight against poverty, ignorance, illiteracy, alcoholic abuse, gender discrimination, division of villages on the lines of caste, creed and money power.

Results have demonstrated that problems can be over come by participation and by optimum utilization of resources, provided there is a vision and a dedicated team work.

Objectives of the project

• To work towards the upliftment of the rural poor
• To organize the rural populace in mobilizing the rural infrastructure for a swift development
• To utilize locally available natural and human resources for progress
• To introduce gainful sustainable means for development of agriculture
• To encourage farm sector and the non-farm sector activities
• To blend integrity, discipline and values in the process of development
• To facilitate participatory community and village development programmes

Pragathi Bandhu-prosperity through labour sharing

Small and marginal farmers of the project area are organized under the unique Pragathi Bandhu Model of Self Help Group. These are small groups comprising of 5 to 8 neighbourhood small farmer families. The groups engage once in a week labour sharing, thrift and micro credit. Participatory labour sharing technique has galvanized the progress of the stakeholder families and unity in the neighbourhood in the true sense. The labour sharing has helped thousands of small farmers to achieve important farm works like fencing, well digging, land leveling, house/ shed construction through participatory labour. The success of the SKDRDP programme is mainly due to Pragathi Bandhu model.

Jnanavikasa Kendras (JVKS)

JVKs are unique centres of socio economic empowerment for unlettered, underemployed rural women without lands. In the JVKs women empower hygiene, children education, clean surroundings, better living through interaction.

Normally shy woman unsure of herself transforms herself into a confident, self respecting, determined woman, through her participation in JVK. JVKs train the women in various production activities like floriculture, dairying, vegetable cultivation, home industries etc.

Pragathinidhi- A credit++ micro credit initiative

Microfinance(mF) is one of the key areas which SKDRDP is handling since 1992 and has gained expertise in mF over the years. The stakeholders financial needs for livelihood promotion, consumption, productive agriculture and to develop infrastructures such as house, toilet, electricity, gobargas etc. are met with the funds provided by microfinance. The funds required for lending are sourced through the savings of the members which is deposited with the group's account. Another source of funds is bank loans.

The funds provided under the programme are called as 'pragathinidhi'. The members availing Pragathi Nidhi pay back in weekly instalments. SKDRDP today is the biggest NGO mFI in the country.

Sampoorna Suraksha-Comprehensive insurance

First of its kind in the country trying to reach out the poorest of the poor the Sampoorna Suraksha, promoted by SKDRDP is quite unique in nature. For a nominal premium of Rs. 1050/- p.a. the scheme, covers a family of five members against hospitalization expenses upto Rs. 25,000/-, maternity facilities for the housewives, life insurance for the earning member of the family and post hospitalization expenses. Natural calamity and damages to the properties are also partly covered with lesser and additional premium respectively. The scheme also assists the stakeholder of the project to get financial assistance from pragathinidhi to meet the hospitalization expenses if any in excess of the sum assured.

Sustainable farming

Farm sector plays a vital role in rural life and more than sixty percent of people depend on it for livelihood. With this in mind the project has focused on agriculture as a major rural development programme. The farmers owning less than a hectare of land are the target groups of the project. The project has devised innovative methodology to obtain optimum results.

Farm Planning

The stakeholder prepare a five year farm plan/ family plan after discussing the requirement within the group. A plan devised to develop the small agricultural plot into a high yielding commercial garden is taken up. Fencing, digging open wells, water conservation techniques, planning plantation crops, short duration crops, creation of family assets which include house, toilet, electrification etc. are planned for a period of time. A separate record is maintained in each family to implement and review the plan. More than Four Lakh families have prepared their plans and have implemented them successfully.

Cultivation is taken up in accordance with the plan. A combination of long term commercial crops with the short term crops is practiced to ensure economic stability. Commercial crops such as rubber, cashew, arecanut and vanilla are encouraged with the project providing the beneficiaries with the saplings at subsidized charges along with the improved variety of high yielding seeds/saplings. Crops such as ginger, turmeric, vegetables and other crops are encouraged in the hilly areas. Fruit and Flower crops are also encouraged.

Quality Seeds

SKDRDP promotes farmers nurseries and has developed its own nursery to provide quality seed material to take up various plantations. SKDRDP coordinates with various seed manufactures to promote supply of quality seeds and take up new crops besides coordinating with various line departments like horticulture, agriculture, forest etc. in equitable distribution of seed and other facilities to the deserving farmers.

Water Harvesting

One of the earliest plans prepared by the pragathi bandhu is to dig open well and acquire water pumping systems and supply system. Normally the wells are dug by the group members. Pragathinidhi loans are availed to acquire the irrigation equipments. To meet the water requirements irrigation facilities are taken up by the stakeholders which includes the pump sets, sprinklers and aid to dig wells as this is the only water source in many places. Crops such as arecanut, coconut, banana and vegetables are cultivated in irrigated areas through organic methods.