The coastal area of Sunderban of West Bengal, is the home of poorest people of the state of West Bengal. The area is spread over 4,494 sq km in 4 blocks in North 24 Parganas district and 10 blocks in south 24 parganas district. Hingalganj is a community development block of North 24 Parganas district which spread over 8 islands between mainland and core area of sunderban. Jogeshganj Gram Panchayat comes under Hingalganj block is the furthest point. As per 2011 Census of India, the scheduled caste population of the block is about 66.02%. The Jogesganj village, one among the 4 villages of Jogeshganj Gram Panchayat and total human population of the village is 7,082. The village is situated 32.1 Km away from the sub-district head quarter Hingalganj and included within the Sundarban areas. The only transport system is ferry services between island and water transport (Engine boat) .
Major coastal area is under rain-fed mono crop agriculture which was severely affected by horrific cyclone (AILA) in 2009 followed by Amphan in 2020 and all the agricultural land was marooned by saline water. Submerging of agricultural land with saline water for long period due to natural calamity caused complete damage of crop production which compelled the poor people to shift alternate livelihood. In present pandemic condition, back yard poultry farming is one of the most encouraging practices for rural women for their household income and livelihood.
The ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Eastern Regional Station (ERS), Kolkata in collaboration with Sasya Shyamala Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Arapanch, Sonarpur and Joy Gopalpur Youth Development Centre (JGYDC), Sandeshkhali II, North 24 Paraganas organized a chick distribution and animal health awareness programme in Jogesganj village of Hingalganj on 12th of January, 2021 under Development Action plan for Scheduled Castes (DAPSC).
Fifty five (n=55) women beneficiaries belonging to scheduled caste communities attended the programme from 11 different villages of Jogeshganj G. P. (namely Jogeshganj, Hemnagar, Madhabkati and Patghara), and adjacent G.P.s (namely Parghumti, Charalkhali, Purba Deuli, Samsernagar, Kathal Beria, Paschim Kalitala and Gobindokathi etc. Dr. Shyamal Naskar, Principal Scientist and Dr. G. K. Das, Principal Scientist, from ICAR-IVRI-ERS, Kolkata and Sri Dinabandhu Das, Secretary and Sri Goutam Mondal, Treasurer of JGYDC, Sandeshkhali II, were present in the programme. Besides, representatives of Gramin Bank and various other Panchayat Members also attended the programme. Dr. Shyamal Naskar delivered his talk, highlighting the contribution of ICAR-IVRI in the vaccine and diagnostics production, veterinary drugs development and many society developmental programmes in order to uplift the rural people of the country since its inception. He also stated the role of women in animal- agriculture in general and backyard poultry farming in particular, for income generation and maintenance of livelihood. Dr. G. K. Das stated about the DAPSC scheme in general and the activities IVRI-ERS conducted in last year under the scheme and also about the present ongoing programmes. He highlighted the criteria for selecting the block as well as the area. Sri Dinabandhu Das talked about the activities run by their society and process of achieving the collaborative work ICAR-IVRI to conduct the program.
One thousand and one hundred (n=1100) Vanaraja chicks (8 days old), 1350 Kg starter feed, chick feeder (n=110), chick drinker (n=110), supplements like vitamins, immuno modulators, antioxidants, liver extracts and anthelmintics etc. were distributed. Besides, each beneficiary also received an awareness kit comprising a writing pad, pen, printed materials (n=10) and leaflets (n=1) on poultry in Bengali language in a folder and one sanitation kit consisting of hand sanitizer, hand wash and masks.
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