IMPACT ASSESSMENT

In 2007, SSA/ Sasha did a self-motivated impact assessment with representative samples of its producer groups. The findings were shared with its fair trade partners and other stake holders. This year we have started working on an Impact Assessment at the producers’ household level. This study aims to look beyond groups assessment and measure the impact of Sasha’s work among the end producers. The process will involve participatory methods, encouraging the target group to identify and define the relevant parameters and indicators. Further to the earlier study conducted in 2007, this project will be larger in scope, depth and reach. This effort is being supported by Sasha’s close partner TradeAid, New Zealand.

A representative sample is drawn from various producer groups across different trade, background, experience, and geographical location etc. Individual artisans/ end producers from each group are participating in focus group discussions. Various participatory tools including mapping, ranking, voting, oral histories, flow charts and other diagram techniques are used to encourage the artisans to themselves identify the parameters and indicators for the study. This will form the basis for research methodology and the findings will be shared with the producer groups and its members. This participatory research process is in itself a capacity building exercise at the grassroots and an opportunity for direct feedback on our work.

HACCP- Quality certificate in food unit at Ushagram.

Ushagram Lokosikshaniketan is a division of Ushagram trust established in the form of a registered society to impart education, vocational and traditional skills, and awareness.

About 40 women and men directly involved with various income generating activities are directly getting benefited from them.Here the women are trained in food processing and spice making; Batik printing; block printing, screen painting, embroidery, weaving; jute articles, bee-keeping and honey etc. On the other hand the male are trained in mushroom cultivation; repairing machines, carpentry, dairying etc.
Loko Sikshaniketan has also been associated with Sasha for over 5 years. Sasha mainly assists them in marketing their products, capacity building, and skill up gradation, providing better techniques, and product development. Specially, the spice unit of Ushagram Lokosikshaniketan is in linkage to RASA-Ruro-Agro Services Association whose range of products includes gourmet spices, Bengali spices and preserves. The unit produces pure and blended spices which are marked, packaged and marketed by RASA. Sasha has assisted to set up the spice unit and has constantly been part of its growth and upscaling.To be more acceptable in export market Sasha tries to improve the quality of the spice by giving them a quality certificate by HACCP. For that purpose they build a separate building for spice unit with full hygienic, which is checked by SGS.

Bamboo treatment system at Mohanpur, Bankura

The organisation is a village-based micro-enterprise that has created opportunities for economically disadvantaged producers and the entrepreneur's family members in the locality. Poverty reduction through trade forms a key part of the organisation's aims.
The Mohanpur group is mainly making Morahs of different sizes in bamboo.
The main problem in bamboo craft is the fungal growth and insect attack. Mainly the artisans are following the traditional methods and facing some problems, those are:

1. Fungal growth and insect attack are the serious problems that effect bamboo products.
2. Traditional methods are time intensive making delivery schedules difficult to follow.
3. The traditional methods may be partly effective only in preventing damages from butlers.
4. The Mohanpur bamboo artisans use chemical dyes only. But natural dyes are preferred owing to their environment-friendly character.

The effective action plans are as following:
1. To introduce Alim treatment. Alim treatment is effective and safe method for treatment against fungal growth on bamboo.
2. To introduce borax-boric acid treatment to protect from insect attack.
3. To introduce natural die. Natural dyeing process involving boiling offers limited protection from fungal and insect problems.

Note: Boiling strips and cut bamboo is 5% to 10%. Alum is effective against fungal growth up to humidity of 80%. No treatment is effective above a humidity level of 80%.
The whole project is partly supported by Trade Aid, Newzealand.

 

NABARD Project Skill development initiative: Kantha stitch textile product in Birbhum

Sasha recently has started another Kantha Project with a new group called Gitanjali Mahila Samity, Bolpur. This Samity have several SHGs (self help groups), among them 28 women from 2 SHGs are working in this project. They were trained in the basic skills of Kantha embroidery by Sasha in association with NABARD. The time period of this project is 3 months and more.

Mr. Rajesh Banerjee is the designer for this project. He is designing on the collection of home textiles using Kantha embroidery such as quilts, bed covers, duvets, throws, cushion covers, curtains, table runners, mats, napkins, table covers in different shapes, and personal accessories such as scarves, bags, etc in different sizes. Sasha will also organize a management training program here soon.

Shilpi Sibir

Shilpi Sibir is a tailoring unit consisting only of male members, all skilled. They were scattered in different places and were brought together under same roof by Probir Biswas the entrepreneur. This small unit was started in a rented house, but gradually their work extended and they felt the need for a workshed. Sasha through its interventions helped them to construct a new workshed adjacent to the previous one and also provided them with new tools and modern machineries. The project is partly supported by Trade Aid, Newzealand.

Read more about our earlier projects...