Agriculture is considered to be the backbone of the Indian Economy. But today it is suffering due to various reasons, such as high input costs, low returns, shortage of skilled manpower, lack of interest in farming and inclination towards white -collar jobs. Agriculture in the state of Goa too is passing through the same turmoil. In the vicinity of SESA Goa's mining operations as well, lots of paddy fields were left barren for years and villagers were discouraged from farming.

SESA's CSR group came up with a program called 'Back to Farming'. The main purpose was to assist the farming community in all possible manners, enabling them to resort back to their traditional means of livelihood (i.e. agriculture) and to promote sustainable agricultural livelihood. This project was launched in Wagona a hamlet of Kirlapal-Dabal Panchayat in the year 2005-06. Awareness programs and meetings of farmers and village panchayat members were organized. Officers of Zonal Agriculture Departments provided guidance on the best agricultural practices, improved technologies, hybrid seeds, proper application of fertilizers etc. Necessary farming materials like paddy seeds, organic manure, chemical fertilizers, irrigation facilities, fencing of fields etc. were distributed to farmers free of cost. The program helped farmers with getting Government subsidies for ploughing their fields by tractors and SESA contributed the remaining cost. The initiative also took care of the repairing of sluice gates, bandharas, bundhs etc.

About 9ha of agricultural land was revived through this program, benefitting about 70 farmer families. The sown seeds have grown to give a lush green look owing to the efforts of the farmers and the assistance of SESA. This was a great achievement for the company as well as for the farmers of Wagona village, setting an example for other villages. Getting inspired by this, the farmers Associations of Cudnem & Navelim villages too approached SESA for similar assistance. The fields of these farmers were in a similar situation; hence SESA replicated the 'back to farming' program to benefit these villages as well.

The awareness, detection and treatment of possibly fatal diseases in areas around SESA's mining operations, is of paramount importance to SESA's CSR Philosophy. The people must be provided with accurate information to tackle dangerous non-communicable diseases like Hypertension, Diabetes and Cancer, which have dire consequences if left unchecked.

In association with 'Muskan', an NGO actively involved in cancer awareness and patient relations, the company conducted the first cancer awareness campaign at Kirlapale Dabal Village panchayat. On the 14th of November a congregation of 62 women and 10 men was addressed by Dr. Sharmila Sardessai and given vital information about Oral, Cervical, Prostrate and Breast Cancer. Stressing mainly on breast cancer, the people were educated about its causes, detection and available treatments. The people were then asked to fill out detailed questionnaires which helped with registration and information gathering. Three such awareness campaigns were held. All the questionnaires were collected and studied to identify possible patients.

On the 6th of December 2009 a final camp was organized. Here, cancer surgeons and experts in their respective fields were made available to the people shortlisted from the questionnaires. Specialized tests like Mammography, PEP smears etc. were also conducted. Fortunately, no one tested positive.

Through Muskan, the company has trained a few SHG members and an Anganwadi worker to spread awareness and collect grass root information on the subject of breast cancer. Together with the help of local panchayats, schools, SHGs, Anganwadis and churches, SESA proposes to continue such awareness campaigns and effectively widen the reach of this initiative.

The best kind of social progress and developments is achieved through dialogue, debate and discussion with the people that are directly affected. Hence, bringing social intervention into the fray of planning, prioritizing and implementation of Alternative Sustainable Livelihood Development activities provides greater scope for effective change.

'Gram Nirman' aims at doing so by virtue of being an ideal collaboration of SESA Goa, the Government of Goa- NGO 'Mineral Foundation of Goa' (MFG) and the community members themselves. Elected laymen from each ward of the panchayat, form the 'Ward Development Committee' (WDC) represented by a Panch. Other elected members of the community like School Headmasters, Sr. citizens, representatives of the Diary and Agriculture sectors along with one member of the WDC (other than the panch) form the 'Village Development Committee' (VDC) that is in turn represented by a Sarpanch.

All necessary Government permissions like NOCs and other land documentation are more easily facilitated due to this collaboration. Development Projects are firstly identified by the WDC, secondly they are reviewed by the VDC and lastly a resolution is passed for their approval. SESA Goa provides the funds and the Projects are then implemented.

The foundation stone of the first identified project was laid at the hands of Honorable Chief Minister of Goa on the 12th of March 2008. For the initial phase of 'Gram Nirman', developmental works amounting to around Rs. 2 crore have been budgeted and around Rs 70 lac has already been spent. So far around 13 projects of the first phase have been completed. Projects like a specially designed Anganwadi Building at Santona village and Village Resource Centre at Gaval (Bhandol) for the ladies Self Help Group were inaugurated on the 19th of Nov 2008. Various projects in the pipeline are in the fields of agriculture, education as well as soil and water conservation.

When the ultimate beneficiaries of development projects are included in the space of formulation of such projects, they are not only spared from manipulation but also empowered to effect real progress.

As part of SESA Goa's 'post-mine closure plans', SESA Technical School (STS) was established in 1994 on an old iron ore mine in Sankhali. STS aims at providing the local youth in and around SESA Goa's mining operations with technical skill and knowledge so they can go on to get good jobs and earn their livelihood. Presently, more than 100 students are learning to become a Machinist, Fitter, Electrician or Instrument Electrician, respectively.

After their education at STS, it is generally noted that the students are quickly recruited by various Multi-national Companies (MNCs) through campus interviews. For example, Mr. Shirish Kalangutkar worked for Hindustan Lever for five years after being recruited by them through a campus interview. He now works as Assistant Manager for Leela Ventures and fondly remembers his education saying "STS has carved out a man form the boy."

Another example is Mr. Gawas, who had joined 'Guala Closures' as a trainee worker in 1996. He was then sent to Italy for one year for further training. Today, he is working as a Senior Engineer in 'Guala Closures'. Companies like Guana Closures have been regularly employing STS students over the years, citing their hard work, honesty, discipline, skill and dedication. Speaking at the Annual Day celebrations of STS he summarized the general emotion felt by the students who study here when he said "I feel proud that I studied in Sesa Technical School."

The villages around SESA Goa's mining operations lack adequate medical facilities and infrastructure. Along with this, the villagers' low income makes it difficult for them to meet their medical needs. What if the villagers could naturally acquire medicines for common ailments, without having to rely on anyone else? If desired, how could this even be achieved?

SESA Goa working in tandem with The University of Agricultural Sciences (Dharwad) devised the ingenious "Pavitra Vanha" Project. Through this project a medicinal plant garden would be set up in the local schoolyards. The school children would be taught all the essential values of these plants and the responsibility to grow the plants successfully would be passed on to them. Having learnt about the medicinal properties and growing methods of these plants, the students would in turn become the teachers to the other members of their families, providing them with this vital education. It is important to note that the ultimate aim of this initiative is to take these medicinal gardens from village schoolyards to home backyards.

A total of 30 different perennial as well as annual medicinal plants have been introduced in these gardens. Some of medicinal plants cultivated are Lemongrass, White Hibiscus, Stevia, Bajeberu and Whitex, all of whom have useful medicinal value. For example, Stevia's powdered form is used as a sugar replacement for diabetics and Bajeberu's roots are used to improve memory, ease pregnancy, treat paralysis and cure digestive disorders. Commonly found ailments like fever, joint pains, skin diseases etc. can be treated with these natural medicines.

The project is aimed at initially providing education to the people about these plants and then moving on to the actual use of their medicinal potential. A total of 4 Pavitra Vanhas have been developed in village schoolyards so far. There is already a growing interest and demand from the adults of the villages for these healthful plants. They want grow the same in their backyards and reap the benefits of their natural medicinal properties.

In accordance with this desire the company has already provided plant material to various households to grow in their backyards. Plants like Papaya, Brinjal and Basella have been planted and the people have been taught new growing methods like grafting so as to increase the value of the plants.

Nutritional deficiencies occur when a person's nutrient intake consistently falls below the recommended level. According to the World Health Organization, about 1,200 million or 19% of adolescents in the world suffer from mal-nutrition, which harms their development and growth.

It is a well known fact that, in India most of the rural children in the age group of 3-10 years suffer from mal-nutrition. In view of this a campaign was launched in collaboration with ICDS-Anganwadi centers to improve the nutritional and health status of children below 6 years of age in the areas of SESA Goa's mining operations.

A baseline survey was conducted by CSR staff, wherein 457 Anganwadi children's family history, age, height, weight and nutritional status were recorded by their teacher on monthly basis. Medical check-up was done by a company doctor. Parents were sensitized on Nutritional intake both for mothers and children. Initial medication was provided to 230 (50.32%) undernourished children along with de-worming tablets. The treatment was offered free of cost through company CMCs till the end of the child's schooling from the village. Also, Primary and High School children were examined and necessary supplements and medication were administered. A mid-day meal was provided to all SSC students on a sharing basis of 75% and 25% between the company and Parent Teacher Association respectively. All the children were checked on monthly basis for their weight, especially Anganwadi children. Those found under weight were supplemented with Alprovit (a protein supplement) for a period of 6 months. A record was maintained of all the children.

A total of 54o school children benefited from this program and 62 Anganwadi children had improved nutrition levels. Registration Numbers were provided to all the Anganwadis as well as the schools, to track the children's health performance at any given time through the CMCs.

In accordance with this desire the company has already provided plant material to various households to grow in their backyards. Plants like Papaya, Brinjal and Basella have been planted and the people have been taught new growing methods like grafting so as to increase the value of the plants.

Almost all the women from the villages around SESA Goa's mining operations are housewives and the only work they have is to sometimes help their men with farm work during the cultivation season. When asked what they usually do with their time, almost all women replied in unison, "nothing." Noticing that these families live in rather poor conditions and that able bodied women had so much time on their hands, there was certainly scope for the productive use of their time and thereby bringing about an upliftment to their economic status and welfare.

SESA Goa along with The University of Agricultural Sciences, (Dharwad) began a project called 'Micro Enterprises Promotion' for these women. 7 women at a time from the already formed 'Self Help Groups' (SHGs), were taken to the University at Dharwad and trained in either the making of vermicelli, notebooks/files or Chili pulverizing/masala making. Each group chose one enterprise that interested them. 19 SHG members were provided with Skill Development Training while Entrepreneurship Development Training was given to 63 SHG members.

Once trained, these women in turn trained the other women of their villages. Buying the equipment for production from Government sources ensured not only low prices but also subsidies and benefits. SESA paid 60% of the cost, the Government covered 30% and the beneficiaries paid the remaining 10%. However, 25% of the beneficiary's contribution was deposited in a bank account, to be used only for repairs and unforeseen expenses that may arise in time. Doing this built in the women, a sense of ownership and responsibility towards their own business and at the same time reduced the disappointment that comes with hidden expenses later on. The women groups would be later helped by SESA, with packaging, marketing and selling their product to retailers.

Women were not only eager and willing to participate but also extremely excited at the prospect of making a living by working themselves. Women in these project areas lack not only entrepreneurial acumen but also general awareness of modern day business options. Insight into self-owned enterprise possibilities and a helping hand in terms of inculcating know-how and getting started, goes a long way in the empowerment of women in terms as well as in giving their families alternative livelihood opportunities.