The Climate Resilience Project Case Studies

The Climate Resilience Project conducted an online interview session with fifteen respondents affiliated with the Navchetana Sarvangin Vikas Kendra. The aim of these interviews was to gather primary data from sugarcane farmers in the Beed region on a variety of themes, including but not limited to; health and wellbeing, community solidarity, migratory patterns, and their socioeconomic reception in migratory destinations. The interviews were conducted in Marathi so as to facilitate respondents’ comfort and to ensure rich data collection. 

The Climate Resilience Project fundraiser, hosted on the Milaap platform, has been activated in order to make a positive contribution to the admirable ongoing efforts to establish the Navchetana Gurukul, a residential hostel for the children of Beed, Maharashtra. In addition to the CRP Fundraiser, and self-contribution efforts by Navchetana, a portion of the hostel’s construction cost has also been supported by the CSR division of Bajaj Electricals Ltd, Mumbai. Organizations like The Smile Foundation and Goonj are also supporting Navchetana through supporting salaries of teachers and living resources respectively. 

The Navchetana Gurukul, once established, will aim to be a safe haven for children from Nomadic and Denotified Tribes (NT-DNT); children of single and no parents; children from Other Backward Castes (OBC), Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST); and children from destitute families. This institution will aim to address a salient issue in the region — 75% of children not receiving formal education in spite of government welfare measures in place. The overarching goal of the Navchetana Gurukul is to provide shelter, food, and education to the children suffering from the socioeconomic and sociocultural effects of forced climate migration, increasing regional literacy rates, and in so doing, keep children from dropping out of school in favor of doing informal work with the end goal of the Navchetana Gurukul supporting the education and living arrangements of up to 1000 students.

The Climate Resilience Project Resource Network

The Climate Resilience Project is also committed to fostering tangible and lasting change through the establishment of the CRP Resource Network: a network of companies and non-profit organizations either working in the domain of socio-economic upliftment, or with Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives that could aid the long-term social and economic development of the residents of Beed. 

Thus far, the CRP Resource Network has been in contact with the Svades Foundation, and the Kherwadi Social Welfare Association (KSWA): the latter of which aims to connect with underserved communities in rural India through targeted skilling and vocational workshops such as pottery, painting, and a myriad of other courses in order to contribute to the upliftment of grassroots communities. 

The Climate Resilience Project Resource Network will also facilitate dedicated educational expert-led sessions in collaboration with institutions such as Cipla and Alembic. This, in addition to putting the project partner in contact with organizations that can help organize medical camps with a focus on renal health on account of the high prevalence of kidney stones among the population of Beed.