Innovations

This is one of ARAVALI's key initiatives which assist NGOs to target and work with 500 poorest families in their areas of operation. The NGOs identify such families, and undertake a complete livelihoods profile of the families and then aggregate common livelihood elements which can be worked upon so that these families can move over the poverty line. An important element in this approach is to help the poorest families to access entitlements due to them from the government.

The main objective of ARAVALI in establishing FLRCs is to enable aggregation of support inputs pertaining to various sectors and sub-sectors, and their delivery as part of a more focused livelihood intervention with the identified, poorest of the poor families in an area.

The objective of an FLRC itself is to develop and deliver a customised package of livelihood resources and support services, for sustainable income generation and enterprise promotion, for the poorest and the most vulnerable households in its area.

The FLRC is based on the premise that the livelihoods of the poorest families depend on multiple sources and thus require a coordinated multi input mechanism for them to be able to cross the thresh hold of poverty. At the same time, the portfolio of livelihood activities performed by a household is unique, and there is a need to bring about an overall increase in the household income, rather than altering the proportions contributed by different activities. Supporting and promoting livelihoods of the poorest and the most vulnerable section of the society, thus, requires an integrated approach that also concentrates on the household as a unit. This realisation has led to the conceptualisation of Family Livelihood Resource Centre (FLRC) approach for the customised diagnosis, design, and delivery of livelihood support inputs required by each family in an area, to come out of the poverty trap on a permanent basis. These inputs can be in the form of information, technical, institutional, or business development support provided to increase the household's access to livelihood assets/resources or to opportunities for income generation, or for vulnerability and risk reduction.

ARAVALI is currently working with 06 organisations on this approach covering 3000 poorest families and will be expanding to at least 7000 more families through 14 more partner organisations during 2008-2012.