About

What We do - Collectivization

Our core concern is that of the prosperity of the Himalayan montane regions of India that, comprising 13 federal states, account for almost 50% of the nation’s geopolitical divide.

Our beneficiaries have been and are of the North-Eastern “On the map, off the mind” regions of India and are concentrated in Eastern Nagaland.

Practically, the BLF addresses issues of ‘economic retardation’ or poverty which, here, are caused not by unemployment but rather underemployment, signified by low productivity or income and usually remedied by training and capital investment to develop market-opportunities.

Training and Capital-investments are, however, mere palliative measures; they do not address the underlying cause of underemployment and thus poverty. Underemployment, in Eastern Nagaland, is the product of a tradition of autarky or, more accurately, the concomitant individualism.Practically, therefore, the BLF addresses issues of economic retardation or poverty---and thereby the problem that is Individualism.

This is done by collectivizing the people into cooperatives; it is done by conducting training sessions that adjust them to the superiority of the group over the individual in raising standards of living, in raising profits, in developing resilience against uncertainty,...; it is done by weaning them off of a culture of dependency or government subsidy, and on to one of credit; and so on...

Where we Work

...being one of the biodiversity hotspots of the world.

Mission Statement

To increase the prosperity among the backward communities of Nagaland by initiating;

1. Livelihood Research and Development by introducing environment friendly, alternative livelihood systems;

2. Sustainable income-generating activities;

3. Promote innovative farming practices.

4. Youth entrepreneurship development through land based activities and marketing of agro-products.

5. Promote Community-stay and Farm-stay as an alternate livelihood for the marginal farmers.

6. Programmes for the collectivization of the locals.

Themes

1. Collectivization;
2. Rural development and poverty-alleviation;
3. Marketing—-Farmers’ Producers’ Organization FPOs (Micro Finance & Food Processing);
4. Tourism (Community-stay and farm-stay);
5. Innovation—-rural/frugal technologies;
6. Self-Help Groups’ Promotion (IGA & Empowerment initiatives, Art & Culture, Vocational Training).

Our 'Marketing Hatt,' a shared workspace-cum-godown at the entrance right off the side of the National Highway.

Problem statement - Individualism

There are deep gaps in accessibility and opportunities among the different sections of people in Nagaland. In remote interior districts of backward areas, the accessibility to facilities and opportunities are very limited. Consequently the gaps between the haves and the have-nots are ever widening. The state needs to take immediate steps to address this ever widening gap and go for an inclusive development agenda. The rural- urban divide in the state is also very sharp. While in urban areas the accessibility to opportunities and services are much the rural areas are subjected to intense deprivation. Some areas are totally excluded from any services like market linkage, and the modern information communication technologies. Bridging this gap is very essential, and the rural people should become the agenda for providing services and welfare measures.

...they get bigger

Team Expertise:

• Bare-foot Veterinarians
• Horticulture expert on grafting and raising nurseries

Speaker at Festival of Innovation and
Entrepreneurship @IIM-Ahmedabad

Sethrichem Sangtam (Founder and Managing Director)

Organic, locally-sourced, pesticide-free, and simple food in a quaint bucolic setting, with that increasingly rare and crisp montane air, topped off with the even and slow tenor of life lived at walking-pace... Do visit!

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