FOOD SECURITY AND LAND CLAIM (HELP – CANADA:(1997-2017)
In 1997, the VICALP and HELP partnership started with an initiative in just 30 villages. Over the course of more than 20 years of support, it hashelped150 village communities through inter-people collaboration to develop sustainable food security activities. Through the establishment of 150 community grain banks, 4700 small holding families' vegetable gardens, millet cultivation on more than 3,000 acres of land, fruit orchards in 53 villages, and eight PDS outlets run by women's organisations, the partnership improved the food security of the communities.
In accordance with the land and forest land rights Acts, this cooperation also aided the communities in securing collective and individual land claims of over 5,000 families as well as forest land entitlements over 10,000 acres for over 3000 households in the districts of Gajapati and Kandhmal. The communities have benefited from this project, especially from its assistance in regularly cultivating their land.
