BAIF-Vasundhara: Initiating Social Change to Create Economic Change
Laying emphasis on change in social behaviour to effect an economic change in the intended community, BAIF’s mission is to create opportunities of gainful self-employment for rural families, especially disadvantaged sections, ensuring sustainable livelihoods, enriched environment, improved quality of life and good human values.
VASUNDHARA at a Glance
V asundhara Vriksh Vanvadi Jalsinchan Vikas Sahakari Mandali is a co-operative that was registered under the Gujarat Co-operative Act 1961 on 16 December 1985. It has 2,663 members spread over 39 villages located in Vansda block of Navsari district in southern Gujarat. The objectives of the organization are related to various activities of its members, their land and orchards (wadis), ranging from land development, storage, value addition and marketing of their produce, to acting as an intermediary on behalf of the members when dealing with external agencies.
The members produce about 2,500 MT of mangoes every year, and their cooperative handles about two-thirds of the produce, by marketing it as fresh fruit, mango pulp and other processed products. Among the major activities carried out by Vasundhara are managing the Central Processing Unit at Lachakadi, mango and cashew processing, mango grafts trading, running a Gram Seva Kendra and retail outlets. The co-operative has assets worth more than Rs 2.57 crores, of which fixed assets are about Rs 1.48 crores, comprising plant and machinery, buildings, vehicles, etc.
The highest turnover of Vasundhara of Rs 4.39 crores and the highest profit of Rs 13.70 lakhs were achieved in 2007–08 and 2008–09, respectively. The highest amount paid to members for their mangoes was more than Rs 1.09 crores in 2008–09. Significant non-monetary benefits that accrued to the members include the disappearance of alcoholism, enrolment of their children (including girls) in schools, prevention of distress migration, and reduction of livelihoods risk because of diversification of income sources.