Kumarkhand Area Program

Program Type

Community Development

Planned Life Cycle

2010 - 2025

Location

India

Areas of Focus

Livelihoods 

Program Timeline

Status: Active

Progress

6,891children and adults were trained on child protection, including positive parenting, children's rights and early marriage

Progress

6,001people participated in activities aimed at supporting child protection and ending violence against children

Progress

3,580youth participated in life skills training through World Vision programs

A white jeep driving through a muddy path, featuring a rainbow and trees in the background.

Program Details

Context
The Kumarkhand community is located in the eastern state of Bihar, close to the Kosi river belt. The region is very remote. Most people earn a living from agriculture and livestock rearing, yet only 30% own land. The rest work as agricultural wage labourers. The area is low-lying and prone to flooding, with some sections being underwater for up to five months of the year. As a result, families here cannot provide adequately for their children's basic needs. Families are routinely split up, as men migrate to other areas in search of work, leaving the women, children, and elderly family members behind at home. ...
Challenges
Food
Since the land is waterlogged for extended periods during the year, farmers can only cultivate one crop at a time. Agricultural yields are low or nonexistent, and farmers do not earn enough to provide for their families basic needs. As a result, malnutrition is common, affecting almost 60% of children under the age of three.

Community Leadership
Recurrent flooding destroys property, crops and even lives in Kumarkhand. Despite the fact that the community faces chronic flooding emergencies, there is no organized community response or preparedness plan. Search and rescue equipment and first aid supplies aren't available either. This increases the community's losses and continues to push families further into poverty.

Water and Sanitation
Contamination of well water and the presence of stagnant water cause widespread waterborne disease in Kumarkhand. Less than 2% of families have access to clean, safe water.

Economic Development
Most families are landless and they lack the skills, training, and alternative income-generating activities that would enable them to provide for their children.
...
Plans
Food
With the partnership of Canadian sponsors and the community, World Vision will work to:
  • Establish grain and seed banks will ensure that farmers have the supplies they need for planting.
  • Provide landless farmers with milk cows to provide a source of food and income.
  • Train farmers in improved agricultural methods, like planting wheat in raised beds and integrating crop management, to increase crop yield.

Community Leadership
In partnership with families and sponsors, World Vision will work with the community to:
  • Train community leaders and volunteers and develop disaster preparedness plans, as well as search and rescue and emergency first aid protocols.
  • Form a disaster preparedness taskforce and equip them to address any sudden disaster.
  • Establish communication centres and provide them with life-saving equipment, like first aid kits, boats, and life jackets.

Economic Development
To ensure parents in Kumarkhand can provide for their families, World Vision will partner with the community to:
  • Organize families into self-help groups to learn about savings and credit, as well as receive training and support to develop alternative income-generating activities.
  • Train community leaders to manage group records and funds, as well as microloans for starting or expanding small businesses.
  • Foster connections between self-help groups and agencies that can provide support for their development efforts.
  • Provide youth with skills training to develop their entrepreneurship and start small businesses.
...
An image of children sitting on the ground in a classroom, writing in workbooks.

Results

Unless otherwise stated, data presented on this page reflects the most up-to-date results of World Vision Canada programs reported between October 2022 and September 2023, and any previous fiscal years available. Previously reported data may not match the current presentation as we continuously receive and refine data from our programs. If you have any questions, kindly reach out to us.