Wayanad is one of the most backward districts of Kerala of which 17% of the population is constituted by tribals. They are far behind in the areas of socio-economic development and literacy compared with other section of the people. RASTA introduced the night schools at this pathetic situation with two fold 1)objectives to educate the children who have never attended the school 2) To try to minimise or to stop the dropouts.

20 night schools consisting of 400 children between the age group of 5 to 14, were started in 3 panchayats Kaniyambetta, Muttil and Kottathara in the year 1984. These children were hailing from Paniyar , Kurumullar, Kattunaickar and Kurichiyar families. Perhaps it had been the first chance to the Kattunaickans- the most primitive tribal group to avail an opportunity to educate their children.

The Agricultural Department was in the attempt to promote Janata model Bio-gas plants in the year 1986. Their workers had been not properly trained and as a result they could not install the plants effectively. RASTA came forward to collaborate with them to make the effort successful and thereby established a strong credibility with the agricultural department, the government and the local people. RASTA undertook the Deenabandu model Biogas project and its publicity and installation activities and built about 200 plants during the period.

In early eighties the tribals and marginalised families in Wayanad district were dwelling in thatched huts. The thought of an n hygienic and secured shelter remained in them as mere dream. Gradually the scarcity of straw due to the conversion of paddy fields to cash crops cultivation and adverse climate with heavy rain and severe cold made RASTA to think to provide better housing facilities for the weaker section within its reach in Wayanad district RASTA constructed 10 houses in 1987 and 48 houses in 1992 and 118 houses in 1996 with the aid of CAPART.

The tribals and the poor used to defecate in open air and the surroundings are kept unhealthy and filthy due to ignorance and poverty. As a result the people, especially the women and the children were subjected to a variety of diseases like diarrhea, anaemia, dysentery, jaundice and diseases caused by worms. In 1988 under the supervision of RASTA 240 latrines were built with the aid of CAPART. It had been the first attempt in Wayanad to construct unicef model low-cost and safe latrines with double ditches. In 1992, 186 latrines were built for the tribal families and 216 were built for the other marginalised families. These are constructed in “Honey combing “ method.

The socio-economic development of the tribal women’s one of the most essential factors alleviate the traditional backwardness of tribals. With this concept in mind RASTA organised a leadership training for tribal women for a duration of six months in 1989 to make them participate in development activities and to boost their personality development.

Wayanad is basically an agrarian sector. So the people’s livelihood mainly depends upon the agricultural development and its sustainability.Wayanad has a mixed culture of very ancient inhabitants and the migrants from other states of India. Those who migrated from other parts have for their sustenance cleared the forests and tilled the land for intensive cultivation. They never bothered to keep up the natural resources and the bio-diversity of the land at the cause of their livelihood for the immediate survival. As the natural resources wealth is managed the moisture stress has reduced the productivity. Recycling has been reduced, resulting in the fall of soil organic carbon. Pest attack is taking toll of crops. Reduction in forest cover has resulted in high ambient temperature, resulting early maturing of crops, which has changed the agriculture operation cycle.

At this critical stage RASTA resolved to help the farmers in whatever way possible to develop the social and the agriculture. The farmers are given trainings in relation to the social and water conservation. This project was implemented in an area of 2000 acres of land starting in the year 1990. They are provided with practical training in making mud-walls in contour line model for preventing soil-erosion and to improve the productivity of the land. Agricultural development, fodder grass cultivation, animal husbandry and research were the areas in which relevant activities had been implemented during the time.

In 1991, RASTA joined with the National Environmental Awareness Campaign by conducting various programmes in Wayanad district. It was in the background of uncontrolled exploitation of natural resources and anti environmental activities practiced widely in Wayanad district in those days. The media which used for conscientisation had been street drama, slide shows, quiz competitions, cycle rally etc. to alert the people against the pollution of environment and to make them aware of their responsibility to safeguard the same. RASTA has been associated in this programme for more than a decade.

Rivers are considered to the most important natural water resources in our state, but they are at the verge of destruction and the water which remains in them is being contaminated in various ways. RASTA made an attempt in this aspect in the year 1991 with the cooperation of National Wasteland Development Board. The RASTA team with the participation of the local community planted pandanus trees and bamboos on the banks of the Karai river which flows through the Kaniyambetta panchayat to a length of 4 1/2 kilometers for the safety of the river banks.

It was a necessity to launch health awareness programmes during the implementation of central sanitary programmes in villages. RASTA undertook the responsibility of conducting awareness programmes related to safe drinking water and sanitation with the aid of CAPART in Kaniyambetta, Muttil and Kottathara panchayats. The programme is accepted by the villagers and gained good results in taking care of drinking water and sanitary arrangements

Holiday Home Camps are meant for the poor and the disadvantaged children who have never got a chance to go out and mingle with other communities. The aim of the camp had been to impart them new experiences and knowledge and to educe the dormant potentialities in them to be diverted to the path of national reconstruction and community development. The camp activities are scheduled in such a way to develop leadership qualities, collectiveness, environmental awareness and general knowledge to the participants. RASTA conducted the 10 days camps at Thirunelli and Kunhome with the aid of Kerala State Social Welfare Advisory Board in the year 1991.

The status of women in Wayanad district had been very pathetic and backward until the recent years. The women population comprises of 50% of which about 70% rely upon for their livelihood agriculture and agricultural labour. They engage in these works after completing all their domestic duties. They never had the security for tomorrow or the savings habit. As they were having no possession of assets and economic stability, the financial institutions like banks were unwilling to extend loan facilities for them. At this context RASTA initiated to the formation of Self Help Groups ( SHGs ) for the women in villages. RASTA had been the first among the NGOs to form Self Help Groups in Wayanad. By the time the SHGs have become a role-model in the scenario of village development. Now there are about 900 SHGs facilitated by RASTA. The project was supported Intercorporation, and Rb foundation.

RASTA envisaged this programme to ensure job opportunity for the tribal youth who lost their job due to mechanisation and crop alternation. As the region’s economy is based on agriculture, skills and expertise on non-farm front was almost non-existing. This is particularly put the marginalised sector as a disadvantage as they do not have the necessary skills to take up new activities which will give them a steady income. Youth with the aptitude are trained with master crafts man as inservice trainings for three to six months. After this they carry on the activity independently from the skill gained. They are trained in carpentry, masonry, driving, painting, garment making and Rexene bag manufacturing as per their aptitude and efficiency.

Uncontrolled and excessive use of chemicals and pests and the modern methods of agriculture are proved to be more hazardous than benefiting. The total shift from the traditional way of cultivation has reduced the organic components of the soil remarkably. RASTA took it as a challenge to capacitate the farmers for generating bio-fertilizers in the cropping spot itself by ensuring the bio-diversity conservation and agricultural residues recycling. RASTA selected 1000 farmers from Kottathara, Muttil, Panamaram, Poothady and Pulpally panchayats as the beneficiaries of this project implemented from 1993 to 1997 with the assistance from CAPART.

To reduce the application of chemical pesticides and to upkeep the agri-ecosystem RASTA is on a search for bio-pest repellents, that are available locally. For this purpose RASTA has been collecting the traditional knowledge and identifying plant varieties that are bitter and strong smell, that may act as pest repellents. It has identified about a dozen of such plants. The next step is to try out the methodology of application and systemise the concentration and the proportion of quantity required.

This programme was envisaged after series of meetings with the inhabitants of the river banks of Karayi river in Kaniyambetta panchayath. The two pressing issues are, first, failure of the summer paddy crops and second, the continuous destruction of the river bed and the banks by sand contractors. The project was assisted by CAPART. It has benefited the community with water for irrigation besides stabilising the ground water in the wells of the region in summer. Two check dams were constructed in Kaniyambetta panchayath, one at Varadoor and the other one at Kollivayal.

It was for finding permanent solution to the drinking water problem in adivasi colonies. The project was implemented with the financial assistance from the socio-economic unit of Kerala water authority in the year 1996. Eleven Adivasi colonies were selected on need base with priority to be included in the beneficiary list with in the area of Kaniyambetta, Muttil and Kottathara panchayats

The majority of the SHGs are actively involved in one or other income generating programmes according to their interest and scope of the market. Soap making is adopted by many SHGs. The organisation provides the training and the raw materials for producing both the bath and washing soap for which the market is available within the community itself. As the production increases they have to find out wider market possibilities to sell out the products. Besides this few groups are engaged in manufacturing items like Achappam, Unniyappam, Kozhiyada, Pickles etc. and some are interested in producing chilly powder and chattney powder for which they find good demand in and out of their region.

It is a project assisted by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment ( Govt. of India) aiming at the integral development of Kattunaickkars the most primitive and backward group of tribals in Wayanad district. It was implemented in 1999 in five Kattunaikka colonies spread out in four panchayats, Muttil, Meppady ,Vengapally and Vythiry. The main stress was laid in promoting and upkeeping their most ancient cultural heritage with its genuineness which is at the verge of distraction . RASTA has constructed 5 community halls one each in every colony and conducted awareness sessions on health and hygiene. They are instructed about the need of nutritious food and environmental cleanliness to promote the health status and distributed seeds and seedlings to encourage them to cultivate vegetables and other edible items. TV, VCR and tape recorder were supplied to be used in the community halls in all the five colonies '

Decentralised governance process in Kerala was started in the year 1996. as part of this Enough power and responsibilities have been handed over to the local Panchayaths to provide better services to the people. Within the available human and financial resources Panchayaths have able to function better than pre-decentralisation period. But much has to be done to increase the capacity of the Panchayath to plan, implement and monitor projects and programmes as them selves. In this context, RASTA with the support of Capdeck has implemented a Project in Panamaram Panchayath to Strengthen the Panchayath through the capacity building of people’s organisations, elected members, women groups and farmer groups. The major programmes include training to elected members, women leaders, Tribal oourkootams, conducting model Gramasabha. As part of this a detailed study of the responses of people on the perfomance Gramasabha and decentralisation process was conducted. A social audit of the project was conducted at the end.

During the past 30 years, rice cultivation in the district has come down to 9000 hectares from 40,000 hectares. Rice, besides a food crop of high importance has much ecological value as it is a major contributor for the water recharging in the region. But due to low profits, farmers give up rice cultivation in most of the areas. This has resulted in severe water scarcity in the past several years. To revive the rice cultivation RASTA, in 2004 initiated an action research project, field-testing SRI method. 15 farmers participated in the initial experiments and the results have been widely disseminated in the district. Yield of the rice increased by 60 to 80% by adopting SRI practices. This project was partially supported by Interoperation India.

Community based drinking water and sanitation projects started in Kerala in 2001 under the leadership of state agency KRWSA (Kerala Rural water and Sanitation Agency. The new initiative of the state sought the service of Non-Governmental Agencies support to implement it considering their experience and expertise in community mobilisation. RASTA has been selected to associate in the programme as a support organisation by KRWSA in the very first year of its launching. Considering its vast experience in implementing water and sanitation project as well as community engineering projects. During the last four years RASTA has implanted water and sanitation projects in three Panchayaths namely, Koothali, Narikkuni and Karassery Panchayath. The project was supported by the state government and implemented by the RASTA in collaboration with local Panchayaths

Due to the diminishing employment opportunities in farm front, unemployment became a serious issue of concern in the district. Since Wayanad is an agricultural area and declared as eco-fragile by the ministry of environment and forests other sectors like industry and service sector are not prominent in the district. There are lot of unemployed youth especially the school dropouts and those who have stopped education because of insufficient financial resources in the district. In 2002, RASTA in association with Functional Vocational training forum Bangalore has started a vocational training programme aiming at employment generation for the above-mentioned groups. Three to six months long trainings have been organised at RASTA in the Bamboo handicraft making, Electrical wiring, Fashion designing etc. 150 youth, majority of girls have been trained from the centre. Nearly 70 % of the trainees are either self employed or employed in firms.

Wayanad is one of the two districts that have been selected by the central government to implement the Rashtriya Samavikas Yojana Programme in the state. The programme aim at addressing critical gaps in technical, economical and infrastructure facilities for increased agricultural production in the district. RASTA has been involved in the planning process of the programme along with various departments in the district coordinated by the state planning Board. During the process RASTA was entrusted by the district administration to implement the model Bio-village project in the Kaniyambetta Panchayath. The project aims at developing a model intervention on developing a sustainable village ensuring sustainable management of natural resources, recycling of organic wastes, reducing external dependency for energy and improved technology adoption for enhanced productivity.