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Community Development

Habitat (1989-1990) 

SVCT aimed to address the safety and durability of housing infrastructure in Srikakulam District. Since many homes had thatched (built with dry straw) roofs, they were often vulnerable and likely to catch fire. Over the course of this program, 500 roofs were replaced using more durable material. The project was funded by The Dutch National Housing Commission.

Development of Fisheries (1993-1994, 1996-1997) 

SVCT developed and maintained two water reservoirs (Goruvani Tank and Rajula Cheruvu) to promote fisheries in Narasannapeta. SVCT also conducted annual training for fishermen in collaboration with the NGO Action for Food Production (AFPRO). This project was funded by The Council for Advancement of Peoples’ Action and Rural Technology (CAPART).

Low Cost Sanitation (1990-2001)

SVCT trained masons to construct 1100 low-cost latrines in the Narasannapeta and Polaki Mandals, following UNICEF guidelines. UNICEF conducted a sample survey three years after commencement of the project and found that most of the toilets were supporting the needs of the community. This project was funded by the Andhra Pradesh Government.

Self-Help Groups (1990-2005)

SVCT set up 105 self-help groups in the Narasannapeta and Polaki Mandals. Each group had 10 members and met 2-3 times to collect savings and decide loan allocations. SVCT helped to validate accounts, outline the process and structure of the program, and keep track of meetings. The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) assessed the groups’ performances and allocated loans accordingly. In 2005, this project was taken over by an Andhra Pradesh Government’s Velugu program. 

In collaboration with NABARD 

  • 105 groups were setup in Narasannapeta & Polaki Mandals
  • Each group had 10 members who met 2-3 times to collect savings, decide loan allocations, collections.
  • Banks assessed groups performance and allocated loans.
  • SVCT tasks were:
    • Processes & structures
    • Validate Accounts
    • Meeting Minutes

Rashtriya Mahila Kosh Micro Credit Program (1994-1999)

SVCT managed a Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK) microcredit project for 5 years (1994-1999). RMK loaned Rs. 500,000 (five hundred thousand) for the program, and 20 groups of 10 women were credited with money that they managed and distributed themselves. This project was motivated by RMK’s overall objective to “provide micro-credit to poor women for various livelihood support and income generating activities at concessional terms in a client-friendly procedure to bring about their socio-economic development.” At the end of the program, SVCT paid back the entire loan to RMK.

Water Reservoir Management Programs (2010-2015)

SVCT undertook the maintenance of 27 water reservoirs in 6 mandals: Kanchili, Kaviti, Ichapuram, Tekkali, Kotabommali, Nandigam. The objective of the program was to ensure accessible supply of water for irrigation of agricultural lands. The World Bank, in collaboration with the Government of Andhra Pradesh, provided both guidelines and funding for this project. 

The World Bank selected community tanks with Ayucat (an area that is served by an irrigation project, such as a dam, canal, or tank) for more than 100 acres.  SVCT is entrusted with the task of mobilizing and motivating the Ayucatdars (owner of land in an Ayacut) to utilize the funds released by the World Bank productively on an enduring and sustained basis.  SVCT’s role was to monitor the operations through training and awareness programs on effective use of water management and conservation.  A team of One Civil Engineer, One assistant and one Qualified Agriculturist provided support for this project. 

With this background, SVCT was identified and nominated as Nodal Support Organization in charge of 27 tanks in 7 Mandals of Srikakulam District and assigned with a team of five members to implement the program effectively as a production task force, to make the tanks sustainable on long term basis, and improve the functional status of Water Users Association.

Lift Irrigation Programs (1995-2001)

SVCT set up committees of farmers to manage irrigation of farmland in the Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam districts. These committees aimed to enable farmers to manage distribution and rationing of water supply according to their irrigation needs. SVCT conducted awareness programs for the committees to promote best water conservation practices. This project was funded by the Andhra Pradesh government.

Hospital Sanitation (1998-2003)

Through this program, six government hospitals (Srikakulam, Narasannapeta, Tekkali, Ichapuram, Baruva, Sompeta) outsourced sanitation management to SVCT. In order to keep the hospital premises hygienic, SVCT hired and supervised sanitation staff. Their responsibilities included safe disposal of biological and medical waste. 

Main SVCT responsibilities were: 

  • Single point of overall responsibility and supervision.
  • Hire sanitation staff.
  • Keep entire hospital premises hygiene and manage safe disposal of bio and medical waste.