The Project area villages of Thethaitangar block in Simdega district and Bero block of Ranchi district have been associated as an MKSP partner of NRLM. Keeping this in view, as an existing partner in MKSP Project, the CFT had intervened implementation of MGNREGS in Thethaitangar block and Bero block.
The Cluster Facilitation Teams (CFTs) have been formed to help in mobilising the communities in the NRLM- MGNREGA convergence programme. Convergence between the two will cover identification and planning for work, work-site execution and measurement, adverse payment of wages through funds decentralized to CBOs and provision of capacity building and training of all stakeholders.

Presently, AISD is prepared for the task to assist both the govt. and private sector by providing well researched policy alternatives and gearing it to face the challenges on major issues of concern.

RESEARCH PAPERS
Study of ‘Culture of Paddy among Oraon and Sadan in Jharkhand: Cultural Anthropology Dimensions’

IGNCA (Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts), has undertaken a major research project in the area of ‘Paddy Growing Cultures in India. The Research project on ‘Culture of Paddy among Oraon and Sadans in Jharkhand: Cultural Anthropology Dimensions

The research study has investigated and documented the various areas, like paddy in literature; origin and history of its cultivation; its etymologies; knowledge and techniques associated with its cultivation; rituals, beliefs, customs and oral literatures; gender, communities, performances and festivals associated with it; various culinary made of rice etc.

Vedanta Aluminum Ltd (VAL) is committed towards raising the quality of life and ensuring social well being of communities in the peripheral villages of Lanjigarh, the site of Bauxite Mining and Alumina Refinery Plant.

VAL was working in partnership with Asian Institute for Sustainable Development (AISD), Ranchi, which took up several initiatives with the aim to bring qualitative improvement in the lives of the community residing in the vicinity of the Plant area. With this objective, AISD launched Shashya Shilpa Abhiyan project in June 2006.

AISD implemented the project in Lanjigarh with the support of VAL. The aim of the project was to enhance livelihood opportunities for the poor farmers through vegetable cultivation, cash crop cultivation, cultivation of medicinal plants, remunerative fruits (Banana, Strawberry, etc.), and promotion of fish farming.

The project aimed to double the annual household income of poor households through the above-mentioned activities. The project as a withdrawal strategy ended in 31st of May 2009.

The Project is supported by the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Govt. of India under Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojna (MKSP), a subcomponent of National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM). The primary objective of the MKSP is to empower women farmers in agriculture by making systematic investments in Community based organisations to enhance their participation and productivity, as also create and sustain agriculture based livelihoods of rural women. AISD is implementing the project in two districts of Jharkhand, Bero Block in Ranchi district and Thethaitangar block in Simdega district. The Panchayats include Jaria, Hariharpur Jamtoli and Nehalu Kaparia in Ranchi district and Thethaitangar, Taraboga and Konmenjara in Simdega district. Encompassing the project area, AISD is covering 95 Women SHGs in 34 villages of 6 panchayats in the two districts. As per the project need, capacity building of women farmers at every stage was required and therefore it demanded for extensive capacity building activities. To achieve this, Community Resource Persons (CRPs) were identified form every village (108 in total). At cluster level the CRPs have been given various training by resource persons on livelihood issues basically focusing agriculture. The same training was then replicated in the project area villages with CRPs taking the lead role in training along with a resource person as subject matter specialist. The major activities were: Mahila Kisan Profiling SHG Profiling Institution Building Capacity Building