Case Studies:

In rural livelihood if any person have a small pond then there also to be an option for cultivation of fish on that pond. Lilavati Mondal(member of eyka SHG, vill.- Paschim Hemnagar, GP- Jogeshganj) is one of them who had utilized her pond and cultivated fish to become self-employed and mitigate the problem of poverty in the family. In early she also done the fish cultivation but did not get much profit and so losing interest in fish cultivation. At beforeshe used to release less quantity of fish seed and then does nothing and just waits fish to grow up. In that case, the production used to be very low and limited up to family consumption. The fish cultivation had never given a satisfying return to her family.

But after associating with the livelihood project as beneficiary she gets training from the fish experts managed by ACID. She has been taught to do technical fish farming in low cost. This year she have followed all important process of fish farming as pond clearing, water neutralizing (by providing lime & cow dung) etc.

This year, from Livelihood Input support she has cultivated fish in her 1 Bigha (area) pond. Now she is regularly providing feed to fish in technical process. Though all the fish have not yet grown up yet but she has started selling her fish along with the family consumption. She has taken 8000/- rupees as loan from the group and started fish cultivation in her pond, besides that she has also invested 4000/-rupees in the maintenance of the pond. She had cultivated white fish (like Rui, Kata chingri, Mrigel). Besides that she also sold the fishes and in between one year she got 28000/- rupees by selling the fishes. She has repaidthe loan with the interest. And now she wants to expand her business more.

By the fish cultivation she has got very much profit and also became empowered and now she is able to contribute money in her family and by the self-empowerment she also developed the decision making power in her family.

By the support of ACID and its representatives and training given to the beneficiary the people of the rural are becoming fully empowered and these are the biggest success.

Swagata Mistry ,25, is a member of 'Eyka' SHG group of Hemnagar village of Jogeshganj Gram Panchayat in Hingalganj block of North 24 districts West Bengal. A mother of one child, Swagata has studied upto class 10, when she got married at the age of 18.She belongs to a small pleasant family. A typical housewife, Swagata never dreamt of becoming an SHG leader, and eventually a first aid worker. But when 'Aila'(tropical cyclone) stuck her village, she lost her home and belongings. She took up the challenge of forming an SHG with the help of ACID organization under the livelihood project.

Swagata, after having her hands on experience in the activities of micro-finance, enterd her second lap of empowerment when she took part in first aid training imparted by ACID as a part of the task force training.

ACID gave'Eyka' SHG a first aid box. Swagata helped to trained all its members about first aid. She and her group started handling everything cuts, wounds, and small burns. They use to replenish the things that used to get over. They are called for first aid, and also for training the community in the same. They have provided first aid training to different SHGs of Hemnagar village. 'Eyka' group now plans to provide first aid training to generate group revenue.

Swagata story of empowerment is an example of the profound impact of CBDP on the lives and livelihood of the community. And this is exactly what it is meant to be.

Jogeshganj High School is proud to be one of the Higher Secondary School in Hingalganj block situated at the heart of the Jogeshganj Gram Panchayet that is highly prone to floods and owing to its location only 12 kilometers away from the deep forest of Sundarban area of Bengal to a large extent to tropical cyclones that are recurrent keeping pace with the negative consequences of human induced climate change. During Aila in 2009, the school remained closed for almost a month.

There are total 1632 students are studying here between class 5 to 12.And for mid day meal programme more than 900 students take meal in the lunch period. But the major problem is there is no such system for water facility in this school campus. Only one tubewell is there but it is impossible for use this 900 number of students at time. There is a separate bathroom for boys and girls students. But there is no tubewell for water facility. As a result students can not use it specially for girls students it is very hectic situation for them. A student from class seven namely Sayani Mondal told that "There is no tubewell or water facility in our bathroom so it is very difficult for us to use the toilet even we told our Headmaster regarding this matter".

So in this regard ACID take an initiative and conducted HVCA in this school. As a result it is observed that water facility is the first priority for the students ,teachers and local guardians .It can reduce their risk related to health and hygienic system, water for mid day meal programme and for bathrooms.At this time FADV Programme Manager also look into in this problem and allow Project Coordinator of ACID for facilitate them running water facility.

Now in this school there is a 1000 litre water tank with electric motor system facility and in each toilets and bathrooms there is also separate connection for water. Separate tap water system also available for mid day meal programme for washing their hands and plates. Awarness programme like hand wash programme also conducted for maintaining good health and hygiene .Debendranath Sardar Teacher in-charge of the school said that,"Now we have running water facility in our school and every students wash their hand before take the meal,girls students also can use their toilets and it is not possible without the support of ACID".

ACID conducted HVCA in the Jogeshjang Dakshin Para village along with the participation of Village Disaster Management Committee, Task force and communities which also includes women, children, old age, PWD. It is a community driven process in which communities systematically generate information on various dimensions of hazards the community is exposed to and the underlying vulnerabilities and existing capacities. More importantly, the community is actively engaged in and take ownership of the entire exercise and the outcomes ensures that the resulting risk reduction framework is socially accepted, culturally sensitive, ecologically compatible and politically appropriate. Six different types of HVCA tools were used like historical mapping, social mapping, vulnerability mapping, seasonal calendar, institutional mapping and problem tree.

After completion of HVCA tools, these tools are shared within the community and problems are identified, ranked, prioritized and ways of probable solution are discussed in presence of VDMC and ACID team. During the problem identification one of the major problem which was put down in the Village disaster management plan is the Highest flood level approach road without ramp and due to which community have to suffer a lot across the whole year for accessing safe and secured approach road. It is also followed with the transect walk and visual observation for physical verification of this approach road for preparing approx budget involving ACID team, VDMC members, community having some technical knowledge and local masons and plumbers. As a result the construction has been made with the main objectives of risk reduction in this village and also for the development of children. Now Children of Anganwadi Centre can easily access to centre.

Shitala Singh, 8years old is studying in class-II in Madhabkati Adivasi FP School. Shitala lives in her maternal uncle's house. When she was in childhood she lost her mother, her father also not capable of taking care of her. So she lives in her maternal uncle's house and brought up there. Shitala did not attained school in childhood, she use to stay in her maternal uncle's house but she did not get any scope to study or go to school because the family member did not paid attention to her. Due to lack of care in the family she did not get well education. The ACID team made house visit for the research study of elementary education and identified the child in the village. With the help of sponsorship project(SAD), Supported by FADV an Italian based international organization. Now she included in the Madhabkati tuition study center of the sponsorship project. In the study center she got the education and necessary materials for her development. With the help of the teachers in the study center she got a chance to study. With the help of ACID she also got admission in the school and now she studying in class-II. She is improving in her studies and with the help of the teachers she is also doing well in the school.

Shitala Singh is one of the success stories of our sponsorship project that she got admission in the school and now she is improving in her studies. The project officials and the teachers of the study center have helped a lot, our supporter also helped her enough to get admitted in the school by giving the necessary help in the study center.

His father's name is Madhusudan Gayan aged 42 years who attended till class-10. He could not pass Madhyamik examination. His mother's name is Maya Rani Gayan aged 32 years who is educated upto class-8 from Mangalchandra Vidyapeeth, Mullakhali in South-24 Parganas. She says, " I would like to see our children should cross through graduate level".

Mrinmoy Gayen, now studying in class four at Uttar Hemnagar FP School.When he was read in previous class he did not score much well in the examination hence his participation in class was very poor also.He did not follow the good health and hygiene also. He said "When I read in class three I do not able to solve the mathematical problems".

In this time ACID start education project in this village from 1st January,2015 and Mrimoy is also a sponsor children, studying regularly in the free tuition centre. ACID also provided free nuitrition food, toiletaries and regular health check up camps for all the sponsor children. Ardhendu Gayen, Teacher of this centre said "We conduct regular hand wash before take the meal and now Mrinmoy is the leader of his classmates for checking wheather anybody not washing their hand".

Now in the final result of class three Mrinmoy improve his score and stand 2nd position(previous position was 13th) in the entire class. Though his score in English language is not good enough. He scored 195 out of 320.He scored in Bengali, English, Mathematics and our environment is respectively 57,37,56&45 out of 80. His total percentage is 60.93%.His father said "Now I am so much happy to see Mrinmoy performance in the examination and I want to thank ACID for their support and hope they will continuing their support for many others children like our Mrinmoy".

Dipika Roy who lives in Samsernagar village which is one of the remotest village and also just beside the deep forest of sundarbans. Before joining the Radharani SHG she was doing daily labor activities in the field. It means she don't have any permanent income opportunity before joining with the groups. But now with the initiative of ACID she joined in Radharani SHG group in their village. She deposited 20/- rupees per month in their SHG bank account.

In the month of June, 2016 she took 5000/- loan from the group and she started fisheries, duck farming and vegetables cultivation. After associating with the project as beneficiary she got training from the fish experts managed by ACID. She has been taught to do fish farming in a scientific way. This year she didn't "just wait and watched" but she have followed all important process of fish farming as pond cleaning, water neutralizing (by providing lime & cow dung) etc . She is also doing duck farming and vegetables cultivation in her land. She spent 400/- in fisheries and 1000/- in duck farming and vegetables cultivation. Now she is providing food to the fish and takes proper care of ducks by giving them proper nutrition for grown up as soon as possible.

After end of the process all the fishes and ducks are grown up and she used to sell by herself in the local market as well as for consumption for her family. Her total income from selling is near about 16000/- which means her net profit is 11000/-. She already returns 5000/- to their Group accounts book. Now with the help of ACID she also has an individual bank account in the State Bank of India deposited money for her future reference.

Now she plans to do more activity and support her family to live a better, peaceful and prosperous life with the help of ACID team members.

Fishery is an important part of livelihood in rural area. Fishery is an important source of income as well as family nutrition. All family members can start fish cultivation with invest low inputs. You can receive more income from fishery by taking some management. Ask why? Read the story. Doli Mondal a member of Eyka SHG at Paschim Hemnagar village. She has a small pond (10 khata ), she never been able undertake fishery as an important livelihood option. The situation of poverty always restricts her to provide proper input in fish cultivation as proper quantity of fish seed, feed etc. She used to release less quantity of fish seed (around 4-5 kg) then does nothing and just waits fish to grow up. In that case, the production used to be very low and limited up to family consumption. The fish cultivation had never given a satisfying return to her family.

After associating with the project as beneficiary she gets training from the fish experts managed by ACID. She has been taught to do technical fish farming in low cost. This year she didn't "just wait and watched" but she have followed all important process of fish farming as pond clearing, water neutralizing (by providing lime & cow dung) etc . This year, from Livelihood Input support she has taken loan @Rs.6500/-from her SHG and started fish cultivation. She has seeded around 15kg of fish seed in her 10 Katha (area) pond. Now she is regularly providing feed to fish in technical process. Though all the fish have better grown up and she has started selling her fish along with the family consumption. At present she has got the net profit of rupees 11500/- by selling fish, she has also repaid the loan that have taken from the group with the interest.

She is now very happy because she got an unique identity in her family. She is a decision maker as she earn big amount of money and contribute to her family.

Nurbanu Khatun, 9 years old and she is studying in class-IV in Samsernagar Vivekananda SishuSikkhaNiketan, lives in samsernagar. Father's name Nurasin Gazi (Farmar), Mother's name FulmaniBibi(Housewife). She also has a sister named JyotsnaKhatun. Nurbanu has a problem in education because she is slow learner in her studies. This is because, in her family she is first generation learner and that is why she did not get much attention by the parents. Due to lack of care in the family she did not get well education. The ACID team made house visit for the research study of elementary education and identified the child in the village. With the help of sponsorship project (SAD), Supported by FADV an Italian based international organization. Now she included in the Samsernagar tuition study center of the sponsorship project. In the study center she got the education and necessary materials for her development. With the help of the teachers in the study center she got a chance to study. With the help of ACID she also got admission in the school and now she is studying in class-IV. She is improving in her studies and with the help of the teachers she is also doing well in the school. Nurbanu Khatun is one of the success stories of our sponsorship project that she got admission in the school and now she is improving in her studies. The project officials and the teachers of the study center have helped a lot and not only that, our supporter also helped her enough to get admitted in the school by giving the necessary help in the study center.

Fishery is an important source of income as well as family nutrition. All family members can start fish cultivation with invest low inputs. You can receive more income from fishery by taking some management. Ask why? Read the story. Rezia Bibi a member of 'Prathama' SHG Dakshin Gobindokati village. She has a small pond (3 katha), she never been able undertake fishery as an important livelihood option. The situation of poverty always restricts her to provide proper input in fish cultivation as proper quantity of fish seed, feed etc. She used to release less quantity of fish seed (around 6-8 kg) then does nothing and just waits fish to grow up. In that case, the production used to be very low and limited up to family consumption. The fish cultivation had never given a satisfying return to her family.

After associating with the project as beneficiary she gets training from the fish experts managed by ACID. She has been taught to do technical fish farming in low cost. This year she didn't "just wait and watched" but she have followed all important process of fish farming as pond clearing, water neutralizing (by providing lime & cow dung) etc. This year, from Livelihood Input support she has taken loan @Rs.6500/-from her SHG and started fish cultivation. She has seeded around 10kg of fish seed in her 3 Katha (area) pond. Now she is regularly providing feed to fish in technical process. Though all the fish have better grown up and she has started selling her fish along with the family consumption. At present she has got the net profit of rupees 9000/- by selling fish, she has also repaid the loan that have taken from the group with the interest.

She is now very happy because she got an unique identity in her family. She is a decision maker as she earn big amount of money and contribute to her family.

Narratives: Debanjali is a sponsored child of SAD prject implemented by ACID and supported by FADV. Debanjali's mother Mrs. Mousumi Sardar is an ICDS helper. She is the only daughters of her parent. Her mother used to stay in her father's house because of family conflict with her father. She belongs to the 'Sardar' subcaste of Scheduled Tribe community according to the Governemnt rules. Her mother studied upto class 10th standard. Her mother helps her very much in home work or solves any other problems. She gets educational and toiletries materials from ACID tuition centre in a quarterly basis. Proper nutrition food also provided in the tuition centre lkes eggs, seasonal fruits, helath drink, cakes, biscuits etc. She also gets new school dress, shoes and bags from the tuition centre. In the medical check up camps conducted by the ACID found that Debanjali has a serious heart problem and her mother taken her Kolkata for better treatment. She stands first in the last annual examination in her school. In the tuition centre evaluation she got 83.5% marks in average. Debanjali is a very good dancer. But due to problem in heart she cannot take part in dancing many times. She is good in study and very regular to the study centre. She comes to the study centre along with her mother. ACID tuition support also provides good reference books on General Knowledge, Science, Mathematics, Strory books, drawing books etc. She loves to drawing natural phenomenon of sundarban. She is the only child of her mother. She is staying with her grandfather and grandmother. So, her mother has to take care of whole family with the minimum income. Debanjali is too small to understand the role of a father in the family. Her mother loves her very much and worried about her future too. She wants to become a teacher in future and help her community to educate and also look after her mother very well. Her mother says, "I am thankful to the tuition centre as the teachers are taking care of my child and I can work peacefully."

Jayanti is our sponsored child. She is very bright student. She got first position in class IV in Gobindakati Adibasi F P School. Her father Mr. Dhiren Sardar is an unskilled labour. Jayanti's mother Mrs. Aarti Sardar is a housewife and she has two more brothers. They are studying in class VI and class III respectively. The poor economic condition is not a hindrance for Jayanti in her study. Her favorite subjects are English and Bengali; other than reading she loves drawing and dancing too. Her elder brother helps her in study. She wants to become an Engineer. Her parents always encourage her in study inspite of their illiteracy and economic problem. She enjoys the surroundings of study centre and very regular to school. Her mother visits the centre regularly. Jayanti says, "In the beginning I was very nervous to come to the centre but now I enjoy very much and our teachers are always support us."

Joy Munda child is a third generation learner. Joy is also a sponsored child of ACID and studied in Gobindakato tuition centre. This centre is located at Jogeshganj community hall. There are total 5 members live in his family as - Father, Mother, Elder Sister, Grandmother and Grandfather with him. Their family belongs to the 'Sardar' subcaste which is Scheduled Tribe according to the government rules. His parents studied up to primary level of education. His father is a daily labour and it's very difficult for his father to fulfill every body's need in one single income. But still his father showed interests for their children's education while the interviewer talking to him. His mother is a housewife and some time work as a daily labor in the local field. He joined the study centre in the year 2015. Before that he used to attend a private tuition for few months, but he did not feel satisfied and his parent also not able to pay tuition fees. In that period his ranking in school as per educational performance was 52%. He has been coming to this tuition centre from 17 months. After that he used to go to school regularly. Tuition centre teacher help him to understand Basic English grammer, Mathematics, reading and writing skills as well. He got quarterly educational and toiletries materials from the tuition centre. Now his performance in the class is quite good from than previous, as his rank in the class is 10 out of 35 which is different from his previous rank. He scored 65% in average in the last annual examination conducted by the Primary School. The boy loves to play cricket in his community and also got the complement of best dancer in the tuition centre by the others. He faces a little bit problems in learning Bengali spellings. Otherwise he does not have any special kind of problem in the centre. The future goal of this child is to become an engineer. Joy shared his experience to the interviewer that he is enjoying the study in the centre. But it would be better for them if the teachers gave more concentration on them.

In rural livelihood livestock keeping is an integral part. Joymuni Munda (vill. - dakshin Gobindokati, GP- Gobindokati) also used to keep the livestock, but as she belongs from the poor family so she did not have the proper knowledge of keeping the livestock and there was no such guidance to tell that how livestock are to be kept and how the livestock are to be taken care. Firstly she used to keep two or more animals and very few numbers of poultry as livestock rearing. But she did not get the desired remuneration that she wants and the interest for livestock rearing goes in vain for her and she faces the lack of empowerment in the family.

But under the livelihood project of FADV she has been selected as beneficiary and become the member of 'Annapurna' SHG. . The ACID (Andrewspalli Centre for Integrated Development) the partner organization its representatives from the livelihood project also helped her in planning for it.

She has taken one thousand rupees (Rs.1000/-) loan from the group and brought two goats (one male goat & one female goat), after received the training on Goat rearing from ACID. Then from those two goats another two goats born (both are male). After ten months she sold the two goats which were born in 4000/- rupees in the market. And from those 4000/- rupees she again brought another two goats (both are female). Now she has repaid the loan taken from the group with the interest. In the present time she has 6 goats (1 male goat & 5 female). Now she is earning money by selling the goats and she wants to make a goat farm and expand her business.

By the help of the ACID representatives she found the path to be empowering by her and make an identity in the family and she also contributes an amount of money to her family. She has also proved that livestock rearing in poor rural household could be developed in enterprise mode and it will help to bring sustainable earning in the family. Now she has considered it as an important activity of family earning.

Jyotisingh, 9years old is studying in class-IV in Samsernagar Vivekananda Sishu Sikkha Niketan.Lives in Samsernagar village. Father's name Gourango Singh (farmer), Mother's name Latika Singh (Housewife), she has a brother named Ujjwal Singh. Jyoti has a problem in education; she was getting poor score in the exams. She also lacking in guidance in education. Though she is first generation so more guidance will help better understanding of school subjects. The ACID team made house visit for the research study of elementary education and identified the child in the village. With the help of sponsorship project (SAD), Supported by FADV an Italian based international organization. Now she included in theSamsernagar tuition study center of the sponsorship project. In the study center she got the education and necessary materials for her development. With the help of the teachers in the study center she got a chance to study. With the help of ACID she also got admission in the school and now studying in class-IV. She is improving in her studies and with the help of the teachers she is also doing well in the school. Jyoti Singh is one of the success stories of our sponsorship project that she got admission in the school and now she is improving in her studies. The project officials and the teachers of the study center have helped a lot; our supporter also helped her enough to get admitted in the school by giving the necessary help in the study center.

In rural livelihood livestock keeping is an integral part. Papiya Bibi (vill. - dakshin Gobindokati, GP- Gobindokati) also used to keep the livestock, but as she belongs from the poor family so she did not have the proper knowledge of keeping the livestock and there was no such guidance to tell that how livestock are to be kept and how the livestock are to be taken care. Firstly she used to keep two or more animals and very few numbers of poultry as livestock rearing. But she did not get the desired remuneration that she wants and the interest for livestock rearing goes in vain for her and she faces the lack of empowerment in the family.

But under the livelihood project of FADV she has been selected as beneficiary and become the member of 'Prathama' SHG. . The ACID (Andrewspalli Centre for Integrated Development) the partner organization its representatives from the livelihood project also helped her in planning for it.

She has taken one thousand rupees (Rs.1000/-) loan from the group and brought twenty duck, after received the training on Duck rearing from ACID. Then from those ducks are grow up to got proper maintenance and also proper food in next 50 days. Firstly she brought 20 ducks, each of ducks are Rs. 45 only. She sell one duck Rs.300. Now she has repaid the loan taken from the group with the interest. In the present time she has 25 duck. Now she is earning money by selling the ducks and she wants to buy more ducks and expand her business.

By the help of the ACID representatives she found the path to be empowering by her and make an identity in the family and she also contributes an amount of money to her family. She has also proved that livestock rearing in poor rural household could be developed in enterprise mode and it will help to bring sustainable earning in the family. Now she has considered it as an important activity of family earning.

Another story in rural livelihood is the story of Phulbansi Halder( member of padmabati SHG, vill. Dakshin Jogeshganj, GP- Jogeshganj). In her previous life she was facing much problem in spending her daily life because of poverty. And for that also she did not have muchn respect in her family as she cannot contribute any monetary support to the family.

But after associating with the livelihood project as beneficiary she gets involved with the SHG(Padmabati) and also gets training from the fish experts managed by ACID. In the training she has been taught to do technical fish farming in low cost. This year she has done fish cultivation in her own pond and followed the instruction which were given by the trainer during the training. She has taken 6000/- rupees from the group and started the fish cultivation in the pond. She also invested some of the money in the maintenance of the pond. In between one year she had sold fish of rupees 12000/- in the market and got net profit of 6500/- rupees. She repaid the loan with the interest.

While asking about probable production she said "Ei bar Mach bhalo hobe, ami jani, Chara tao besi deyechi r khabar o dichi, ACID er Dadara ja sikhiyeche sab korchi, Mach ta taratari barche, ami khub khusi." (This year fish production will be good, I know that. I have seeded more fries and also feeding them [fish] properly. I am following the instruction given by the ACID representatives. Fishes are growing quickly, I am very happy).

Vegetable cultivation is a way that a person can earn money and gain profit easily by investing small land and less inputs. Shephali Tarafdar (vill.- Haridaskati, GP- Kalitala) who used to be a simple housewife with no concept and scope of earning by her own. After getting involved in the Self-help group (Joy SHG) through the livelihood intervention project of FADV; implemented by ACID organization, she slowly gets aware on importance of saving and understands that she could be an important pillar for supporting her family income. She understands that the gap between her family income and the expenses made them to remain in stage of poverty.

She started the vegetable cultivation with her 12katha of land. She has cultivated various vegetables on that land. She has taken3000/- rupees as loan from the group and cultivated the vegetables in her land. She has cultivated Letus(puin sak), Brinjal, Ladies finger(vendi) in her land. After 4months she sold vegetables of rupees 7500/- and not only that she has sold these vegetables by own in the market without any carrying cost. She has got the net profit of rupees 4500/-, she has also repaid the loan that have taken from the group with the interest.

Apart from that she also started poultry farming with the money she had taken from the group as loan. With the support of input fund from FADV she started these activities and with the training from the ACID and its representatives under the livelihood project she also got various help during the vegetable cultivation. Now she is doing well and she is earning profit from it. She is now self-dependent and supporting in her family income. Her life changes from house wife to an entrepreneur. She earns more value in her family as well as in her locality.

Tripti Mondal is a 3rd generation learner and she is a sponsored child of ACID. There are other 3 members in her family as- Father, Mother and elder sister. They belong to the 'Poundra' subcaste which is Scheduled Caste as per the Government. Her father doing unskilled labor like MGNREGA, daily wage labor etc. Her parent's educational qualification is upto primary level. So her parents do not able to help her for providing quality of education. In that time ACID recruited new children in Sponsorship programme supported by FADV. After maintaining the required procedure she joined the study centre in 2015 in pre schooling stage. Before that she went to ICDS centre, which was not fully functional, as there was a problem of in adequate food facility (as per her mother's information). But now she got proper nutrition valued food from AID tuition centre in five days a week. There are three tuition teachers in that centre. She regularly came to the tuition centre and learn Bengali, English, general knowledge, Environment and Mathematics. Some extracurricular activities also conducted in the tuition centre like drawing, dancing, playing, singing etc. This girl has been coming to this tuition centre from 17 months. After joining this tuition centre she is enjoying the study and also improve her reading and writing skills in Bengali and English language. Now she is admitted to class-I but no examination result had published till now. In the centre's evaluation she scored 75% in average.Though some improvement needs in mathematics and English subjects. She got three good reference books from tuition centre for general knowledge, Basic English and mathematics. She also got quarterly educational and toiletries materials from ACID tuition centre. This girl takes parts into different sports competition and loves to draw with the material provided by the centre. She also takes part in medical health chek up camps where a regestred medical practisioner check up her health. Free medicine is also distributed in the health check up camps. The girl has not faced any serious problems except communicating with strangers. She is extrovert in nature so she has very few friends. The future objective of this girl is to become a teacher. Her parent is very happy with the initiative taken by ACID and to help her children for providing better education and health.

In vegetable cultivation there is another story of Mrs. Urmila Mondal (vill.- Hridaskati, GP- Kalitala) member of the joy SHG who have cultivated vegetables in her own land. In her previous life she did not have much respect in the family and was unable to give monetary support in the family. As the family belong from the poor and marginalized section the daily life spending getting very hard for the family.

But with the support and help from FADV; through the livelihood intervention project, implemented by ACID organization, she slowly gets aware on importance of saving and understands that she could be an important pillar for supporting her family income. She understands that the gap between her family income and the expenses made them to remain in stage of poverty.

She started the vegetable cultivation with her 7 katha of land. She has cultivated various vegetables on that land. She has taken 2000/- rupees as loan from the group and cultivated the vegetables in her land. She has cultivated, Brinjal, chili, Ladies finger, Tendril (pui sak) in her land. After 4months she sold vegetables of rupees 3500/- and not only that she has sold these vegetables by own in the market without any carrying cost. She has got the net profit of rupees 1500/-, she has also repaid the loan that have taken from the group with the interest. She started the cultivation again in this rainy season and wants to expand the vegetable business.

By the help of the ACID and its representatives under the livelihood project, she has developed her family status with these activities. Her life changes from house wife to an entrepreneur. She is now self-dependent and supporting in her family income by contributing the profits gained by the vegetable cultivation. She has also proved that vegetable cultivation in poor rural household could be developed in enterprise mode and it will help to bring sustainable earning in the family. Now she has considered it as an important activity of family earning and she earns more value in her family as well as in her locality.

Chanda Mondal, her husband and their six years old daughter, live in Dakshin Gobindakati village of Hingalganj block in North 24 Pargana. Her husband lost his low-salary job and returned lately, since lockdown started. On the night of the cyclone Amphan they were in their mud-house and at around 1:30 AM, they shifted to a nearby concrete building to take shelter for the night as the thrashing wind shook their house and the over flown pond water reached their door-step. Next day morning, they found, their mud house in a crumbled situation. They have lost most of their belongings along with their daughter's books and essential documents. Now they are living in a tent made out of tarpauline and can not avail any aid from local government authorities since they have lost those documents.

There are hundreds of extremely poor and vulnerable families like Chanda Mondal in the island, who lost their houses and currently staying in makeshift shelters. Some families consisted of both small children and elderly members. Monsoon is going to come soon, to reduce the suffering of these families, Andrewspalli Centre for Integrated Development is trying to make transitional shelters for them and thus looks out for help.

Rupa Mondal, full term pregnant woman, who along with her family of total six members, took shelter in the farmers' information and service centre (FISC) in Uttar Gobindokati on the eve of 20th May 2020 when the landfall process of destructive cyclone Amphan started in Sundarbans. Rupa lives with adjacent to FISC. The house she was leaving was a semi-mud house. Her family was under fear that their house would not be able to withstand the approaching destructive cyclone. During the cyclone and her family stayed in FISC and went back to their home on the next day. She had given birth to a healthy baby boy, just after 2 days of returning to their partially ruined house.

Rupa and her husband Mr Anupam Mondal, conveyed their heartfelt gratitude to ACID for standing in solidarity with them during the time of life threatening disaster Amphan for providing shelter at Farmers' Information and Service Centre managed by ACID.