The year 1995-1996 has been a year of innovations for Project Swarajya. Not only new areas of work were explored, but also new vistas opened to the old and continuing Projects of the organization. It has been a year of test and trial on the part of the organization in the face of new challenges encountered. There have been no doubt certain lags and shortfalls in achieving the desired results in terms of both quantity and quality in respect of some areas, but it was perhaps more due to our enthusiasm for creative and innovative output than the usual concern for meeting the targets.

In continuation of the earlier efforts, the organization heightened its drive to establish closer rapport with NGOs, Co-operatives and such other public organizations at grassroot level as local collaborating/partner organizations in the matter of translating its vision, goal, plan and programmes for the people at large in urban and rural areas. At the same time, the organization continued to maintain and further develop its links and involvement with the concerned government, quasi-Govt, judicial and local self-government institutions with a view to harness their potential resources for a proper and objective realization of its objectives. This exercise in transparency has already proved beneficial to the organization and as well to the people, among whom it worked, and is perhaps going to stay in years to come as our bounden option for de-bureaucratisation of NGO set up.

While it is not possible to present here the entire gamut of our multifarious activities, we mention below only the gist of selected, salient Projects undertaken during the year:-

1. Drug Deaddiction-cum-Rehabilitation Centre :-

   1995-96 was the fourth year of existence of the Centre, during which a total of 150 indoor patients and 275 OPD patients were treated. Among these patients, 44 were the addicts of opiates, 66 cannabis, 36 Benzodiazepines, 47 Alcohol and 83 multiple drugs.

   Percentage of success in the treatment varied from drug to drug. While the addicts of Raw opium showed highest cure rate, that is 98%, that of buprenorphine the lowest, that is 9% only. The rest in order in between were Cannabis 92%, Benzodiazepines 88%, Pentazoeing pethidi etc 36%, Alcohol 24%, and Brown Sugar 22%. For multiple drug abusers, the cure rate was only 24%. For indoor detoxification, it was 56%, while for OPD patients 46%. On average the cure rate of the Centre was 47%.

   As per the rule of the Centre, food and nutrition is the responsibility of the patient concerned. However considering the financial inability of the poor patients, the organization provided food, pathological examinations and also financial help to them. A total of 148 number of poor patients were thus benefited during the year.

   The organization also conducted a large number of out-reach programmes during the year in the form of seminars/workshops, health education and service camps etc. and also took part in such for a organized by others for the purpose of spreading health awareness in general drug abuse prevention in particular.

2. Costal Community Development Wing

   The Coastal Ecology Division which existed earlier was renamed into Coastal Community Development Wing during this year with a view to highlight the organisation's strategic balance between environment and development. The basic objective of this wing is to initiate and implement developmental projects for theCoastal Community who are mostly poor and illiterate fisherman belonging to different linguistic groups such as Bengali, Telugu and Oriya. Alongside of developmental projects, the Wing carries forward certain other projects which aim at conservation and sustainable management of the fragile coastal ecosystem, especially its rare and endangered species.

   So far the activities of the Wing are spread in such coast-line districts as Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur and Puri. Considering the technical nature of such projects, the organization works in close collaboration with the concerned Government and Professional bodies as NIO GOA, WWF-India, Department of Fisheries, CIFNET KOCHI, ODA-BOBP Madras and also Prism Bangladesh and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Govt. of U.S.A.. Simultaneously the organization works in close co-operation with NGOs, Co-operatives, Youth Clubs and Mahila Mandals at grass root level who are considered local collaborating agencies of the organization in the matter of implementing the concerned projects at field level.

   Following is a list of selected projects and activities of the Wing undertaken during the year, the detail of each being mentioned separately.

   1. Fish Aggregating Device (FAD) in collaboration with CAPART, New Delhi.

   2. Fish Pickle Making in technical collaboration with ODA-BOBP, Madras.

   3. Protection of Olive Ridley Sea Turtle through introduction of Turtle Excluder Device (TED) in Orissa Coast in collaboration with UNDP New Delhi.

   4. Paddy-cum-Fish Integrated Farming in Coastline Areas of Orissa in collaboration with CAPART New Delhi.

   5. Post Harvest Fisheries in Orissa Coast in technical collaboration with ODA-BOBP, Madras.

   6. Conservation of Horseshoe Crab in technical collabioration with NIO, GOA and Directorate of Fisheries, Orissa.

   7. Conservation and Sustainable Management of Mangrove forests in Orissa Coast in technical collaboration with Department of Forest and Environment o Orissa.

   8. National Environment Awareness Campaign - 95 in collaboration with Ministry of Environment & Forests of India.

   9. Public Interest Litigation for Environment Protection in collaboration with Asst. Director of Fisheries (Marine), Kujanga & Kalinga Karnadhar Primary Marine Fishermen's Co-operative Society, Paradip.

   10. Technology Exchange Programme with Prism Bangladesh.

3. Early Intervention to Infants and Toddlers at risk or having developmental delays.

   This project continued for the 2nd year collaboration with National Institute for Mentally Handicapped, Secunderabad. Located at Basundhara, Bidanasi, Cuttack the project continued to extend therapeutic intervention to the infants and toddlers of 0-3 years age group having developmental delays, with the help of Paediatrician, Physiotherapist, Speech Pathologist & Audiologist & Clinical assistant. Nearly 150 cases were taken up during the 2 years and majority among them got the necessary treatment from the Centre and ultimately overcame the developmental lag. Among the cases registered in the Centre the overwhelming majority belong to poor families in the rural areas of the State.

   In addition to the main task of clinical intervention, the project continued to generate and spread awareness among the parents and people at large on the need for early intervention. The Project Co-ordinator EI Dr. D.D. Tripathy Pawdiatrician presented a paper on genetic counseling as a preventive measure in the Seminar organized by NIRTAR Olatpur, and OLS Bhubaneswar, based on the findings of the project. The organization also used print and electronic media for preventive awareness and popularizing the Project E.I.

4. Innovative Technologies for Coastal Fisheries and Ecology

   The organization right since its inception has been emphasizing the application of appropriate and innovative technologies for relating the level of Income and productivity of the coastal community and also for protecting the coastal ecology. During the year the following innovative technologies have been acquired by by the organization, which can be further developed and disseminated among the coast-line population at large in our State and Country as well.

   1. Fish Aggregating Device (FAD).

   2. Artificial Reefs (AR).

   3. Fish Drying in Racks

   4. Fish Pickle Making

   5. Paddy-cum-Fish Culture

   6. Fresh Water Pearl Culture

   7. Duck Weed as Bio-Fertiliser.

   8. Turtle Excluder Device (TED)

   9. Conservation Programme for Horseshoe Crab.

5. Health Education and Health Service :-

   While working among the poor and destitute people in rural and urban areas the organization has been conducting inter alia Health Education and Health Service Programmes for them at intervals. Such programmes are usually held in the form of camps in which the organization provides free-of-cost services in terms of medicines, check-up, prescription and medical and paramedical personnel. In course of such camps, the organization also identifies the cases for Drug Deaddiction Centre and Early Intervention Project for children at risk. Besides the patients who need further investigation and treatment are referred by our doctors present to the hospitals and dispensaries having the necessary facilities. While conducting such camps in out station places the organization usually locates a local level NGO, Co-operative or Youth Club, which act as the local collaborating agencies in the matter of mobilizing the patients and local resources. It has been found that such Health Education and Service Camps are attended mostly by the local women and children. In addition to the above said Health Service, the Medical & Paramedical personnel present in the camp do also provide appropriate lessons in the health, hygiene and sanitation including the need for immunization, family planning, eye care, safe mother hood and child care.

6. Paralegal Training Camps

   During this year 2 Paralegal Training Camps were organized in collaboration with Ministry of Law, Justice and Company Affairs, Govt. of India at 2 different places namely Astaranga in Puri district and Kharinasi in Kendrapara district. Each camp was of 4 days duration and attended by 50 women activists belonging to marine fishermen community. Eminent judicial officers and lawyers served as resource persons, each taking a class on a particular topic. Such legislations, as having close impact on the people at grass root level, namely Consumer Protection Act, Marriage and Divorce Acts, Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, Fisheries related Laws, Co-operative Laws, Minimum Wages Act, Child Labour Regulation Act, Prevention of Atrocities on Women Acts etc. were dealt with in detail by the resource persons. Two other important legal developments such as Public Interest Litigation ad Lok Adalat were highlighted in the deliberations of the camp in order to enable the common people to avail the justice is expeditious manner.

   The women activists so trained are expected to serve as paralegal workers, aiding and advising the common people for settling their disputes and grievances.

7. Documentation-cum-Dissemintion Centre.

   The organization is running a Documentation-cum-Dissemination Centre since inception, which provides information service in the form of printed matter, news clippings, books, magazines, audio cassettes, video cassettes, photographs, slide and transparencies to all those who are in need of information on developmental and environmental issues. The target group of such information services include NGOs, mediamen, research scholars, students, writers, politicians and academicians.

   Similarly the Centre is engaged in dissemination of the relevant and necessary information, views and out-look on different topics to the people at large, especially the target groups for whom the organization works on different social welfare projects. The organization is well equipped with a Videography Unit, Computer Systems, Overhead and Slide projectors, Public Address Systems, Photocopiers, Duplicators and Still Cameras.

   The Centre is having a library of nearly 5000 titles of books and more than 200 video cassettes on different topics and about 100 audio cassettes of music and dialogue, which are used for the purpose of dissemination among the target groups and people at large.

8. Free and Subsidised Services in Videography :-

   The Videography unit run by the organization provides videography service at concessional rate to the NGOs, especially on issues relating to community development and/or environment protection. During the year 21 beneficiaries including NGOs, Social workers, artists and scholars have availed such assistance from the videography unit. Sometimes the organization on its own produces video cassettes and documentaries on issues and events of crucial significance, which are available to the public at large on request against minimal transfer charges.

   There is a plan to upgrade the videography unit so as to interface it with multimedia computer and thereby produce quality output commensurate with the state of the art.

9. Free Consultancy Services to NGOs

   In view of the growing felt need for expertise in formulation, appraisal and evaluation of the social welfare projects on the part of the NGOs, the Organisation has opened a cell to provide free consultancy to them. 41 NGOs belonging to different part s of State have been benefited in this respect by the organization during this year. Special events like seminars, workshops, get togethers, memorial meeting camps, expeditions etc. organized by Govt. or NGOs and having wider significance are also covered for the purpose of written reporting, media publicity and video documentation by the organization on its own.

   The prime objective behind such supportive service to the relatively smaller NGOs is to reinforce the groups and bodies of men and women who are expected to serve as the agents of change at grass root level. The organization also receives in turn the feedback in terms of information and knowledge from them, which ultimately enriches the common pool of resources for dynamics of social development.

10. Eco-Vision

    An autonomous wing of Project Swarajya, Eco-Vision is a group of inter-disciplinary professionals engaged in different establishments and institutions, academic, scientific & Government. It consist of 25 such personnel who have expressed their willingness to contribute their free time, energy and expertise to Eco-Vision in the matter of implementing projects of techno-socio-ecological importance. Initiated by Er. Biswajit Mohapatra of WALMI, it was formally launched in an inaugural ceremony held on 25 Dec 1995 at Hotel Dwarika, Bajrakabati Road, Cuttack.

    On behalf of the Eco-Vision, a few awareness camps on ecology have already being held in different educational institutions, attended by eminent academicians as resource persons and students as participants.

    A Project proposal for information of Eco-Club in Cuttack district has already been submitted to the Dept. of Environment, Govt. of Orissa for their approval and onward recommendation to Govt. of India.

11. Out-Reach Programmes

    The extension services being a primary concern with the organization right from its inception, the holding and partaking of Out-Reach Programmes in different parts of the state organized by Project Swarajya jointly with or separately by other organizations constituted an important part of organizations constituted an important part of organizations total work. The Out-Reach Programmes were of multifarious nature- Seminars, Workshops, Camps, Meetings, Get-togethers, Conferences, Conventions, Rallies and Demonstrations etc. and also did serve various purposes such as health educations & service, plantation, technology demonstration, information dissemination, exhibition, exchange of views, solidarity in action, interaction with experts and officials etc. depending on the nature of the event.

    In this year 109 no. of such Out-Reach Programmes were held , which benefited not only the participants but also the Organisers and Sponsors in terms of information, experience & knowledge.

12. Women and Child Welfare

    The involvement of women as an exclusive target group and also as co-participants in various social welfare projects is a constant activity of the organization since inspection. The programmes like Training in Fish Pickle Making, Fish Drying in Racks & Pearl Culture were meant for Marine Fisherwomen Community in Coastal Villages, while assistance in terms of small capital and equipments in trades like Tailoring, Papad Making, Weaving and Leaf Cup and Plate Making etc. was extended to poor and destitute women in rural & urban areas. The 2 Paralegal Training Camps organized during the year at Astaranga and Kharinasi were attended by women only, 50 in each. The several poor & destitute women including divorcees, deserted, abandonees, second wives, widows, victims of rape and violence & unwed mothers etc. While Project Swarajya provided legal aid to the appropriate candidates among them, it however referred the critical cases to a sister organization named Basundhara at Cuttack which is a specialized NGO for rehabilitation of women in distress. Moreover, in all the major programmes the organization strives to ensure the participation of a considerable size of women, and elicits their views and opinions before finalizing the outcome in terms of resolution or consensus.

    Child being organically related to mother and vice versa, the organization has been emphasizing the child welfare programmes simultaneously with that of women welfare. In the fishing village Sahana in Puri district a non-formal education centre is running for 50 children since last year. In the fishing village of Kharinasi in Kendrapara district a similar programme is also running for the fishermen children of 6-14 years of age group. As mentioned elsewhere in this report a project named Early Intervention to infants and toddlers at risk or having developmental delays' is running for the children of 0-3 years age group at Basundhara, Bidanasi, Cuttack under joint auspices of Project Swarajya, Cuttack and NIMH, Secunderabad. Several cases of orphaned and abandoned children who are in need of care and rehabilitation came to the notice of the organization. However these cases were referred to Basundhara, which is also a specialized agency for rehabilitation of he children in difficult circumstances. The organization also joined the national campaign for pulse-polio immunization that was condcted during Dec 95-Jan 96.

13. Miscellaneous Interventions

    1. Consumer Protection :- The organization is a member of Federation of Consumer Organisations of Orissa (FOCO) and also that of the State Government-sponsored association of consumer voluntary organizations. It has taken part in the seminars and workshops organized by such bodies during the year. At the same time it undertook the spread of consumer consciousness in all its general awareness programmes through talks, pamphlets, posters and audio-visuals.

    2. Road Safety Campaign :- Like previous years, the organization observed the 'Road Safety Week' through local level meetings. Moreover in all its environmental awareness campaigns the organization highlighted interalia the need for proper observance of the rules and regulations of traffic which included careful driving, proper documentation, proper maintenance of vehicles and above all how to avoid accidents. The laws and provisions relating to insurance of vehicles, claim for compensation in case of accident and timely payment of road tax alongwith the need for saving non-renewable energy resources like petrol, diesel and mobil were informed to the public at large through mass campaign programmes.

    3. Scheduled Caste and Dalit Welfare :- The organization since inception is committed to the cause of the welfare of scheduled tribes, scheduled castes and backward classes (Dalits). In fact the projects running in coastal villages are mostly for the fisherman community who belong to scheduled caste. In Cuttack City, the projects for integrated slum development, liberation of scavengers and health education and service camps have benefited by and large the schedule castes and Dalits.

    4. Youth Welfare :-The youth constitute an important segment of the beneficiaries of the social welfare projects of the organization. As is well known, the young men and women are vulnerable to drug abuse and alcoholism. The organization not only deaddicts the young addicts through indoor treatment, but also campaigns extensively and intensively among the youth mass in rural and urban areas through its out-reach programmes. The representatives of the organization participated in and video-documented the week long National Integration Camp held in J.N. Indoor Stadium Cuttack under auspices of Directorate of Youth Affairs and Sports, Govt. of Orissa. The organization also taken up the task of reorganizing and rejuvenating the Youth Organisations, especially Yubak Sanghs & Mahila Mandals in the coast- line districts of Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak & Baleswar. A proposal entitled "Rejuvenation of Youth Power for Protection of Biodiversity in Orissa Coast" has been submitted to Govt. of India through the State Government.

    5. R.T.D.T. Centre- The National Research Development Corporation (N.R.D.C.) Govt. of India Undertaking has recognized Project Swarajya as an RTDT (Rural Technology Demonstration & Training) Centre for the state of Orissa since 1994. In pursuance of the MoU signed with NRDC, the latter has already provided free-of-cist sycg machines to Project Swarajya as Tara Loom, Balaram Mud-Block Press, Papad Making and Leaf Cup-Plate Making, which are now used for the avowed purpose of demonstration and training to the rural people in different places of Orissa. The places covered are as follows:-

       • Tara Loom installed at Tapobhumi in Nayagarh District

       • Balaram Mud-Block Press Machine installed at Rama Devi Mahila Silpodyogi Talim Sangathan at tarpur in Jagatsinghpur district.

       • Papad Making and Leaf Cup-Plate Making Machine at Zilla Silpa Talim Kendra at Pareswar Sahi, Cuttack.

The year 1995-96 was the fourth year of existence of the Drug De-addiction Centre which was set up in the later part of 1992-93 in the wake of in the infamous Liquor Tragedy of May 1992.

The Centre well equipped with adequate professional manpower and infrastructure provides both indoor and outdoor treatment free-of- cost to the drug addicts and alcoholics drawn from different parts of the State and Country and from different walks of life as well.

Over the last 30 years, most developed and many developing countries have witnessed a substantial and worrying increase in both alcohol and drug dependence. Project Swarajya during last 5 years has been doing its role sincerely to help the drug dependents over-come the dependence. Its focus is concentrated on combating Drug menace. Project Swarajya, through its Nishamukti Kendra provides free of cost Indoor Detoxification Services and Total Care in terms of follow-up and rehabilitation. Additionally, it addresses the problem by reaching out to the vulnerable sections of people through arranging of camps and meetings etc. to generate mass awareness, improve general health, and effect an attitudinal shift among high risk groups.

Treatment results following Detoxification vary depending upon various factors. It is known that many drug dependents and alcohol dependents do have multiple relapses. Cure if defined as total drug free state for one year of follow-up in post detoxification stage, success is limited and varies for each type of drug.

For multiple Drug Abuse, the cure rate was only 24%. For Indoor Detoxification, it was 56% for OPD patients, it was 46%. On Average, Cure Rate of the Centre was 47%. Patients' positive attitude to life and sense of responsibility were key factors for a better cure rate. Family and larger social support and resisting the peer group pressure were important factors in Relapse Prevention. Disenchantment with street life, filling up life space with some fruitful job or the other, Self-employment and change of life style went a long way in maintaining a total drug free state.

People affected by Raw opium were generally older people who were with opium for more than twenty to forty years. Majority in fact took it for medicinal purposes prescribed by indigenous physicians or medics, to avoid chronic joint pain or peptic ulcerations or insomnia. They gradually turned dependent on opium intake. Similarly many patients with emotional/mental problems were prescribed benzodiazepines for months together and continued the drug as a 'linkage' phenomenon in the suffering of 'Rebound' insomnia or muscle jerks. These groups of patients who took it for therapeutic purposes but not to get any higher 'kick' responded better. Multiple drug addicts responded a bit less than single drug dependents, because they had acquainted themselves with another known Devil to which they 'shifted'. We observed with concern the rising status of 'mainliners' and slow evolution of syringe cults. Role of private nursing homes and even of few addiction centers substituting 'Injectables' for oral/nasal intakers and 'snotters' contributed to this rising trend. A mainliner behaved as 'contagion' to the old group, coached them to 'postgraduate' the 'friends' in the field of Drug Abuse. We also observed with great concern the abuse of sleeping pills 'benzodiazepines'. Nitrazepam tablets were the most abused, followed by Alprazolam in different strength.

Few of the patients were discovered to be intakers of Indigenous ayurvedic stuff containing Datura stromonium Satavari, Aswagandha and roots of plants producing toxic psychiatric comorbidity. Amotivational state described with usually chronic cannabis abusers were observed in opiate dependents as well.

Post Detoxification spell of depression, vanishing selfconfidence, ambivalence, and a few instances of agitation and helplessness were marked in about 36% of patients. A few showed the typical features of 'survivors' syndrome. Psychological Intervention, anti depressants and counseling did help many of these patients. Two patients with Ibubrufen dependence, consuming 50 to 90 tablets of 400 to 600 mg each were encountered in the series. One patient was found to be dependent of tricyclic mood elevator. Only very few patients are reported to be dependent on tricyclics in world literature. Indigenous stuff containing cannabis, datura, nicotine and rarely raw opium and other "Modaks" containing psychoactive ingredients being cheap and readily available in betel shops around seem to have caught the imagination of youth. Detoxification is not a sufficient treatment. Many things more than just detoxification are needed to start the process of replacing alcohol/drugs in their lives. One major feature of alcohol dependence is self-deception. To erode that self-deception and to help the patient face reality is time consuming. Those who have undergone this phenomenon and have at last overcome it can prove best helpers in the matter of relapse prevention. Few of our old patients who have demonstrated some years of abstinence, and are stable and settled in life volunteered as social workers and part-time counselors, a role which left a deep impact for relapse prevention. The hardcore opiates, especially the brown sugar and buprenorphine patients however present the biggest challenge. Patients are not always truthful regarding amount taken nor maintaining abstinence even while on detoxification. Many have physical comorbidity as well as tendency to attach themselves for replacement or substitute therapy.

It is difficult to decide on the question of smooth withdrawal in many patients over 10-14 days, which means that, the patient experiences comfortable with-drawal symptoms, rather it is important to match medications to the symptoms experienced. Keeping in view the low success rate of 12 to 22 %, in these groups and subsequent shift or elevation to the 'elite' club of syringe cults or turning mainliners, 'Cold Terkey Method', that is, letting the patient experience total withdrawal pangs alongwith provision of life sustaining support system was tried in case of many patients. Five to ten percent of patients in fact drop out, but others have the ultimate satisfaction of working through the pain and a sense of 'achieveing' the cure.

In the 'total care' of the patients, persuading patient to think about a life without drugs and to acquire a sense of purpose is essential. Joining a group programme and meeting other drug users to share experiences and ways of coping is of paramount importance.

A majority difficulty in treating drug addiction is to determine whether a patient is actually drug free. Routine testing is important. We as a small centre have no facility for that. The uncertainty of relapse requires a style of management which both supportive, yet retains a healthy suspicion. Visitors are screened and patients are asked to accept voluntarily that their belongings will be routinely checked.

Patients relapsing at the start of treatment or dropping out are allowed a second, even a third chance at the Centre. The Group Process at the After Care Unit is an excellent way of addressing the behavioural problems. Many young patients apparently with a poor prognosis have done quite well.

Drugs and Depression, Deliberate self harm, getting involved with law and Amotivational states in chronic alcoholics and drug Dependents are few aspects which need to be addressed with special attention. Vocational Training and guidance and recreational facilities need to be suitably provided and above all, the centre needs more space and facilities in order to cope with the growing challenges ahead.

Fisheries is the largest single economic activity, next only to Agriculture in the State of Orissa. Quite a sizable chunk of the rural population depend on it- not only those living in coastal villages but also others living away from the sea coast. The six districts with a coast-line of 480 kms provide livelihood to nearly 1,54,000 fishermen fishing in inshore and of shore water. Beside the above coastal districts, there is about 38,000 Hc of brackishwater culture resources and 30,741 Hc fresh water pond resources. All these resources being located in rural areas afford great scope for development of rural economy especially in respect of employment generation. Considering the vast scope for rural development through coastal resources in Orissa, Project Swarajya had opened a Coastal community Development Wing for integrated development of coastal areas and conservation and sustainable management of the typical resources of Orissa's coastal ecosystem. During the year the activities of the wing have been spread in such coastal districts as Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur & Puri. The organization works in close collaboration with the State Department of Fisheries and Quasi-Govt. bodies like Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, National Institute of Oceanography, GOA, and CAPART, Non-Govt. Agencies like ODA-BOBP, WWF-India, UNDP etc. alongwith National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Govt. of USA for carrying out various projects of common interest. The organization is equipped with the necessary personnel and infrastructure both at the headquarters and in outstation areas for implementing such projects.

The coastal ecosystems of Orissa do harbour an immense treasure house of valuable flora & fauna, some of which are rare and endangered, deserving special attention of all concerned for their conservation and sustainable management. The organization therefore emphasizes ecological campaigns and programmes alongside of carrying forward the community development projects in a balanced manner.

An abiding concern of the Coastal Community Development Wing is to appropriate suitable innovative technologies from different quarters of the country and abroad, to adapt them in local conditions of Orissa Coast and to disseminate them among the people at large in the country.

As a matter of strategy, the organization does not go for ramification of its administrative set up into different places in Orissa coast, but chooses to work through local-level co-operatives & NGOs as partner organizations for implementing the various projects at grassroot level. This modus operandi has helped the organization not only in saving money, manpower and time, but also in building up an ideal inventory of knowledge and experience drawn from multifarious sources including indigenous ones. The inventory so built up is accessible to the people at large through the Documentation-cum-Dissemination Centre of the organization, which is well equipped with the reprographic machines and instruments for publicity in mass media, Print & electronic.

Below is presented a selective list of projects and activities undertaken during the year 1995-96.

1. FISH AGGREGATING DEVICE (FAD)

The Fish Aggregating Device or FAD as it is popularly known is a simple contravance constructed with cheap, easily available material like bamboo poles, old car tyres, HDPE rope, wire rope, discarded oil drum, coconut leaves and torn nets etc., and installed at a particular depth in the sea to enhance the fish catch of marine fisherman. This device attracts and concentrates fish around it upto 5-7 kms radius thus helping the fisherman to catch more pelagic fish per unit of time & labour. Project Swarajya had pioneered a pilot project on FAD at Paradip during the Year 1994-95 for the benefit of the members of Sandhakud Primary Marine Fishermen Co-operative Society who got 127% more catch on an average per boat day compared to other fishermen who fished away from the FAD. Introducing such device had increased the productivity of marine fishermen, reduced their searching time and fuel cost. Basing on the fishing results of 1994-95, Project Swarajya installed FAD in 1995-96 in four places, namely /Chandrabhaga in Puri district, Sandhakud & Ghangalia in Jagatsinghpur district; and Kharnasi in Kendrapara district. So far the fishing results are encouraging.

2. FISH PICKLE MAKING:-

This is an activity which the fisherwomen can perform easily alongwith their domestic chores to supplement their family income. Already Bay of Bangal Programme (BOBP) - Over Sea Development Agency (ODA)'s Post-Harvest Fisheries Project (PHF) with headquarters at Madras has been conducting demonstration and training programme for the fisherwomen with NGOs in Tamil Nadu. Project Swarajya had already given demonstration and training to members of the Marine Fisherwomen Co-operative Societies at Paradip and Chandrabhaga in collaboration with BOBP-ODA PHF Project during the year 1995-96. In each of the places, 25 fisherwomen were trained in the trade of fish pickle making.

3. PROTECTION OF OLIVE RIDLY SEA TURTLE BY INTRODUCTION OF TURTLE EXCLUDER DEVICE (TED) IN ORISSA COAST.

The programme aims at protecting the endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles by prompting the use of Turtle Excluder Device in trawl nets. Olive Ridley sea turtle has the world's largest rookery in Orissa at Gahirmatha in Bhitarkanika area of Kendrapara district. Large scale mortality of sea turtle by drowning in the trawl nets in caused particularly during the mating season when they come to Gahirmatha beach for nesting. In recent years, the protection of sea turtles has become a global concern because of their diminishing population caused by destruction of their nesting grounds and their drowning in trawl nets. With the increase of shrimp fishing industry the problem has assumed alarming proportion globally.

Following the verdict of U.S. Court of International Trade that all countries exporting shrimp of U.S.A. should install TED in their trawl nets so as to protect the Olive Ridleys, Government of U.S.A. have decided to apply the concerned legislation to all countries including India with effect from 1st May 1916. Under the circumstances it is mandatory on the part of India to go for installing TEDs in its coast if at all we do not want our foreign exchanges accruing from shrimp exports to U.S.A. to decline.

Project Swarajya has already under taken a pilot Project for protection of Olive Ridley Sea turtles by promoting the use of TEDS in collaboration with concerned Government and Non Government Agencies. Already in February' 96 Project Swarajya jointly with Department of Fisheries Orissa organized a site demonstration programme in Bhitarkanika areas off Dhamra coast, which was attended interalia by tow TED experts from the Government of U.S.A.

The proposed Project aims at creating widespread awareness among the public at large, especially the marine fisher folk if Orissa coast on the need for protection of olive Ridleys, which is an ancient and endangered species, demonstrating the operation of the TED, training the trawl owners and operators in the application of TED and also transferring the technology of TED manufacture to the selected artisans of Orissa.

4. PADDY-CUM-FISH INTEGRATED FARMING IN COASTLINE AREAS OF ORISSA.

In all the coast-line States of the Country, water-logging especially saline water logging is a big problem which renders vast patch of land mass unusable and waste. But such so-called waste land can give us high production of both paddy and fish of different varieties, if we can adapt the proper technology for it. In fact the technology for paddy cum fish farming has been already evolved by some academic and scientific bodies in our country which need replication in the field.

Project Swarajya has taken up a pilot project for integrated paddy cum fish cultivation in selected waterlogged areas of Orissa Coast. The suitable plots of waterlogged land owned by financially sound farmers have been identified in Marshaghai Block in Kendrapara district. The Project shall provide the necessary inputs to each farmer in terms of cash & kind for renovation, embankment, paddy & fish seeds, manure and pesticides along with technical expertise for carrying out the field test within a period of 6 months. The farmer is required to ensure the watch & ward and proper care of his field until the harvest is over. The farmer shall keep for himself the harvest so made in full, while the organization is interested only in monitoring and final results of the field test.

If this pilot project comes through successfully the Organisation shall make every effort to disseminate the technical know-how of paddy cum fish culture in the waterlogged areas to all the interested NGOs and individual farmers throughout the State.

5. POST HARVEST FISHERIES IN ORISSA COAST.

The ODEA-BOBP Madras is carrying out a five year project for development of post harvest fisheries for the benefit of marine fishermen community of coastline States like Tamil Nadu, Andhra & Orissa. Their strategy is to strengthen the resource base of the marine fishermen community in selected fishing villages of Orissa coast by involving the NGOs belonging to different coast-line districts of Orissa have been identified for the purpose, Project Swarajya being one among them. So far this project has organised some seminars/workshops for assessing the area-specific post-harvest fishery potential, identifying the short term & long term needs of the fishermen community, the role of NGOs and the need for co-operativisation and expansion & streamlining if credit mechanism. The Project has also provided the sample pieces of fish container, icebox, fish drying racks etc. to the selected fishermen for their use. The Project has also carried out some training programmes for the fishermen & fisherwomen in certain areas of post-harvest fisheries, such as training in fish pickle production to the fisherwomen at Sandhakud-Ghanagolia in Pardadip and Chandrabhaga in Puri district.

The ODA - BOBP's post harvest fisheries project is in fact beneficial to both fishermen community and NGOs at local level in terms of knowledge and expertise.

6. CONSERVATION OF HORSESHOE CRAB

The first phase of the project for the conservation of the Indian Horseshoe Crabs has been over with the recognition of indigenous lysate by Indian Pharmacopaea, finding of the multiple species and their nourishing and nesting grounds, and enlightening of the fishermen co-operative societies, NGOs & coastal people at large about the need ofr conserving the blue blooded species. During the year under review the Organisation adapted various forms and methods of campaign to impress upon the Government at center and in State for adapting the necessary legislation and the rules and regulation for conservation and sustainable management of Indian Horseshoes crabs.

7. CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF MANGROVE FORESTS IN ORISSA COAST.

In continuation of the efforts made earlier, the ogranisation carried forward the caused of conservation of mangrove forest during the year under review. A holistic strategy was developed by the organization which emphasized the need for conserving the mangroves from the point of view of the need for conserving the endangered marine and brackish water species like horseshoe crab, Olive Ridley sea turtle and valuable fishes and crabs and wild-life like saltwater crocodile and salt water deer. The organization has participated in seminars/workshops organized by other NGOs like Sradhanjali, CPSW and the Universe on the cause of mangrove forest.

The publications of the organization on mangrove forests in both English and Oriya continued to be circulated on a wider scale among the government officials, NGOs, media men, legislators and eminent citizens. The organization also adapted certain other measures through NEAC-96 and PIL case for the cause of mangrove forest which are dealt with separately below.

8. NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT AWARENESS CAMPAIN-95

As sponsored by the Minister if Environment & Forest, Government of India, Project Swarajya carried out its programme of NEAC-95 with the main theme "protection of bio-diversity". Inspite of heavy downpour, Project Swarajya led a team of 100 scientists, Academicians, Government officials and NGOs to the mangrove vegetation natural and artificial to the places in and around Paradip situated in Mahanadi delta. It was attended by resource persons like Director Nandan Kanan, D.F.O Rajnagar, Secretary Cuttack District Environment Society, President Orissa Krusak Samaj, Public Relations Officer, Paradip Port Trust and Assistant Director Fisheries (Marine) Kujanga. Beside this exposure cum workshop Programme the organization also arranged publication of a special booklet on mangraove and audiovisual shows on the theme of mangrove forest.

9. PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION FOR ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION

Project Swarajya has lodged a PIL petition in Orissa HIGH COURT against PARADIP PHOSPHATES LIMITED to check the pollution of environment caused by discharge of acid water into the nearby creeks through the holes of PPL compound wall. On several occasions in the past the waste water containing acid used to flow out from the PPL Campus into the Atharabanki creeks and thereby cause huge damage to the fishes, crabs & also mangrove vegetation. As a result of this, the local fisherman incurred heavy losses in income. Despite repeated complaints lodged by Kalinga Karnadhara Primary Marine Fishermen Co-operative Society against this illegal discharge of acid water, the PPL authorities did not pay any heed to the matter. The Assistant Director Fisheries(Marine) Kunjang also had warned PPL about their infringement of environmental and fishery related legislations but to no effect.

Project Swarajya therefore took the matter to the court of law to prevent the further environmental pollution by PPL and to compensated for the loss of income incurred by the fishermen due to large-scale fish mortality owing to acid water. The case is in progress in Orissa High Court.

10. TECHNOLOGY EXCHANGE PROGRAMME WITH PRISM BANGLADESH

The Coast of Bangladesh and the Coast of Orissa having close similarity, the Organisation felt the need for establishing rapport with NGOs working on coastal development in Bangladesh, and accordingly took the necessary initiative towards that end.

Prism Bangladesh is a reputed NGO with whom the organization and earlier contacts centring round the horseshoe crab project. Mr. A.H.M. Rezaul Haq of prism Bangladesh paid a visit to Project Swarajya during 2nd week of March 96 for a technology exchange programme. Following a 3 day interchange of ideas & experiences a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the 2 NGOs for undertaking technology exchange programme. It was agreed between the 2 parties that, to start with Prism Bangladesh shall provide the technical know-how on Duck-weed based waste water treatment and Duck-weed based pisciculture while Project Swarajya shall offer the expertise on conservation & sustainable utilization of Horseshoe Crab and fresh water pearl culture. Beside these specified areas, there are many other areas of mutual interest in which the 2 organizations will work in co-operation with each other in course of time.

Fisheries is the largest single economic activity next to agriculture in the State of Orissa. Quite a sizeable fraction of the rural population depend on it- not only those living in coastal villages but also others living away from the sea coast. The six districts with a coast-line of 480 kms provide livelihood to nearly 1,54,000 fishermen, fishing in inshore and near off-shore waters. Besides in the above coastal districts there is about 38,000 Hc. of brackish water culture resources and 30.741 Hc. fresh water pond resources. All these resources being located in rural areas afford great scope for development of rural economy and employment generation. Considering the scope for rural development in Orissa, Project Swarajya has opened a Coastal Community development Wing with a retired Dy. Director fisheries as Project Co-ordinator and a retired Dy. Superintendent of Fisheries as Regional Co-ordinator for coastal Community Development activities in the rural coastal areas. At the moment, the activities of coastal community development are restricted to such districts as Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Balasore and Bhadrak.

The following activities aiming at development of rural coastal community have been taken up and are proposed to be taken up in different identified fishing villages by Project Swarajya.

1. Fish Aggregating Device (FAD)

The Fish Aggregating Device or FAD, as it is popularly known is a simple contrivance constructed with cheap, easily available material like bamboo poles, old car tyres, HDPE rope, wire rope, discarded oil drum, coconut leaves or torn nets etc. and is installed at a particular depth in the sea to enhance the fish catch of around it up to 5-7 Kms. Radius thus helping the fishermen to catch more fish. It is a low cost echo-friendly fishing aid, popular in several other countries like Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Maldives and Srilanka. Project Sawarajya has pioneered a pilot project on FAD for the benefit of country boat fishermen. At Sandhakud, Paradip a Fishermen's Co-operative Society got 127% more catch on an average per boat day in the FAD zone compared to other fishermen who fished away from the FAD. Introducing such a device would increase the productivity of marine fishermen of Orissa coast, reduce their searching time and fuel cost. It is something which the fishermen themselves can construct and install. It is proposed to construct and launch 6 FADs in different coastal points during 1996-97 viz Penthakata, Chandrabhaga and Sahana in Puri district; Sandhakud and Gangalia near Paradip in Jagatsinghpur district and Kharinasi in Kendrapara District. This is an area in which Project Swarajya has acquired considerable expertise and is now in a position to offer consultancy to other States.

2. Artificial Reef (AR)

Another area in which Project Swarajya has considerable expertise is the construction of Artificial Reefs (AR). Artificial Reef (AR) is yet another new fishing device which works on the same principle as FAD. But it is a device which is installed at the sea bottom and not kept floating like surface FAD. Ars besides attracting and concentrating fish around them provide nourishing ground for juvenile fishes and helps in rejuvenating fishery grounds which have been lost due to over fishing. It is thus a boon to the traditional fishermen of Orissa coast. It is proposed to construct and install Ars by Project Swarajya during 1996-97 with the financial grant of Govt. of India in the Ministry of Agriculture.

3. Fish Drying in Racks:-

One way of bettering the economic status of the marine fisherfolk is helping them with simple technologies to bring about qualitative improvement in the post-harvest fisheries situation, which in turn would give them better price for their product. One such measure in which Project Swarajya has acquired considerable proficiency in hygienic fish drying with fish drying racks. Fish that is not sold in fresh condition is sun dried or salted and dried in sun. This process is known as fish curing. It is usually spread on unclean beaches or in fishermen's backyard with dirt and filth all around. Naturally the fish cured in such unhygienic condition effects the quality dry and price of the cured product. BOBP-ODA's Post-harvest Fisheries Project has developed a simple, low cost drying racks for better quality dry fish making which is both hygienic and efficient. This has been introduced in some parts of Orissa Coast. Project Swarajya would popularize their new fish drying techniques among fishermen in the identified fishing villages through financial assistance and demonstration.

4. Fish Pickle Making

Central Institute of fishing Technology, Kochi has developed a simple technology for making pickle out of fish, prawn, calm and mussel. This is an activity which fisherwomen can perform easily along with their domestic chores to supplement their family income. Already BOBP-ODA's Post-harvest Fisheries Project has been conducting demonstration and training programme for the fisherwomen with NGOs in Tamil Nadu. This technology will be popularized among the fisherwomen of Orissa coast through training and demonstration with the help of BOBP-ODA's PHFP.

5. Paddy Cum Fish Culture

Traditionally in some areas, a few farmers are raising fish with paddy in their agricultural lands and getting some yield of fish along with paddy which gives them an additional income. But the practice is very unscientific and the yield of fish is most often fluctuating and sometimes disappointing. Now, there are three scientific models of paddy-cum-fish culture technology developed in Orissa. These are known as CRRI model (Central Rice Research Institute), OUAT model (Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology), and Farmer's model, each being suitable for specific agro-climatic conditions. Farmers will be given financial assistance for reclamation in water logged areas for paddy-cum-fish culture with the results to be demonstrated in their own field. Project Swarajya is taking up the programme / scheme during 1996. Already three sites have been located for the purpose.

6. Fresh Water Pearl Culture:-

This technology has been developed by CIFA (Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture) Kausalyagang near Bhubaneswar. It can now be cultured in fresh water ponds in farmer's backyard. What is more, even the women folk in rural areas can do it without disturbing the domestic chores even in the same pond in which fish is being grown. The technology involves the implanting of a small sand particle called "nucleus" in the flesh of freshwater snails, abundant in ponds in coastal Orissa, The technology is very simple and can be easily learned by village folk. It also does not require any sophisticated instrument. Project Swarajya is pioneering a project on fresh water pearl culture in coastal areas to enable womenfolk beneficiaries will be trained in the technology with necessary equipment supplied. Kharinasi fishing village has been necessary equipment supplied. Kharinasi fishing village has been identified for assistance under the programme in the first phase.

7. Duck Weed as Bio-Fertiliser:-

Minute water weeds like Azolla and Wolffia floating in fish ponds and paddy fields, because of their biological nitrogen fixing values, has begun to be used as bio-fertilizer in agriculture and fish ponds. Culture of small floating weeds "Lemna" and "Wolffia" and their use in fish culture is an ongoing practice in Bangladesh. Project Swarajya is in contact with an NGO in Bangladesh for a possible technology exchange programme. This technology will be popularized through training and demonstration.

8. Mud Crab Fattening and Culture:-

Mud crab of Orissa (Particularly that of Chilika Lake ) is famous for its legendary taste. But the crab itself is fast becoming a legend in Orissa coast as its catches have dwindled sharply due to over fishing. It is necessary at this stage to ease fishing pressure on mud crab by providing fishermen a more lucrative alternative to fishing by mud crab fattening and culture technology, which is in fact an ongoing traditional practice in Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines and to an extent now in Sri Lanka. Project Swarajya is in contact with scientists and institutions abroad for transfer of technology. Once it is available, the mud crab fishermen of Orissa will be trained on the subject and facilities provided to them to do mud crab fattening and culture on their own.

9. Conservation Programme for Horseshoe Crab:-

An activity which has no immediate socio-economic impact on coastal community, but which surely is of a tremendous long term socio-economic importance not only to the coastal communities of Orissa but to the nation as a whole, is the Conservation Programme on a rare and ancient marine animal, the horseshoe crab, which contains blue blood. This blue blood is used for preparation of highly precious Lysate, a chemical reagent capable of quick and food and pharmaceutical products. Project Swarajya in collaboration with National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), GOA launched a massive conservation programme in Orissa coast consisting of seminars at colleges and Universities, training of fisherfolk in the protection of the animal and a national workshop. Project Swarajya also undertook a survey of occurrence and nesting grounds of horseshoe crab in Orissa coast and could make quite many new findings regarding the ecology and morphology of the species. A startling outcome of the survey was the discovery of an altogether new species of HSC in addition to the existing four. Project Swarajya has also brought out a publication of a model text book "Horseshoe Crab- A living fossil" authored by Dr. Anil Chatterjee, an eminent scientist of NIO,Goa.

10.Protection of Olive Ridley Sea Turtle By Introduction of Turtle Excluder Device (TED) in Orissa Coast.

The programme aims at protecting the endangered Olive Ridley sea turtle by promoting the use of Turtle Excluder Device in trawl nets. Olive Ridley sea turtle has the world's largest rookery in Orissa at Gahirmatha in Bhitarkanika area of Kendrapara district. Large scale mortality of sea turtle by drowning in the trawl nets is caused particularly during the mating season when they come to Gahirmatha beach for nesting. In recent years, the protection of sea turtles has become a global concern because their diminishing population caused by destruction of their nesting grounds and their drowning in trawl nets. With the increase of shrimp fishing industry the problem has assumed alarming proportion globally.

Following the verdict of U.S. Court of International Trade that all countries exporting shrimp to U.S.A. should install TED in their trawl nets so as to protect the Olive Ridleys, Government of U.S.A. have decided to apply the concerned legislation to all countries including India with effect from 1st May 1996. Under the circumstances it is mandatory on the part of India to go for installing TEDs in its coast if at all we do not want our foreign exchanges accruing from shrimp exports to U.S.A. to decline.

Project Swarajya has already under taken a pilot project for protection of Olive Ridley sea turtles by promoting the use of TEDs in collaboration with concerned Government and Non-Government Agencies. Already in February96 Project Swarajya jointly with Department of Fishereies Orissa organized a site demonstration programme in Bhitarakanika areas of Dhamra coast, which was attended interalia by twp TED experts from the Government of U.S.A.

The proposed project aims at creating widespread awareness among the public at large, especially the marine fisher folk of Orissa coast on the need for protection of Olive Ridleys, which is an ancient and endangered species. Demonstrating the operation of the TED, training the trawl owners and operators in the application of TED and also transferring the technology of TED manufacture to the selected artisans of Orissa.