World Vision of India, an NGO involved in the process of setting up a watershed in Bijapur and surrounding areas, visited SAMUHA at Tavaragere during August 21-22, 2002. Villagers from their project area also accompanied them.
The main purpose of their visit was to take a look at the work SAMUHA is doing in the Kanakanala watershed area. The two-day programme started with an orientation session for the visiting villagers where they were given an idea of what Kanakanala had to offer: the watershed itself, the various programmes, and the community organisations.
"The agricultural methods are good and we will try to adopt a few of them" - this was was the common view expressed by the visiting guests. A few individual preferences also emerged. Some villagers were impressed with the Integrated Pest Management programme while others liked the Seed Bank.
The guests spent the night and met the local villagers and the various groups formed in the Community Organisation programme. The formation and functioning of the Munjavu Mahila groups was what really caught their interest. "I am surprised to see women talk so openly and boldly," remarked a surprised World Vision official. The guests expressed that they learnt many new things that would like go back and implement in their own groups. The entire experience was one of mutual learning and an exchange of many valuable viewpoints.
During a sharing session, they suggested that SAMUHA train people, especially the Munjavu women, to find useful methods to spend the money they save. These groups should also take various initiatives like organising a doctor to visit their village at regular intervals or conducting annual day functions.
