BASAVESWARA SEVA SANGHA: A CASE STUDY OF SUSTAINING THE LLP BEYOND THE STIPULATED IMPLEMENTATION PERIOD : This sangha in Tattakarai village provides an interesting and inspiring example of opportunities afforded through the LLP in the post-programme period, made possible because the sangha members had full freedom to manage their programme their way. This sangha was formed on the motivation of MYRADA in 1988, and has 15 members. When the LLP was discussed with them in 1990 the sangha identified 6 of its members to receive the first year’s funding of Rs.500/- each. Additional funds became available in the second year due to migration of some families from one or two other sanghas. Hence, in the second year not only did the first 6 receive their second installment of Rs.500/- each but it also became possible to advance Rs.500/- each to 8 more members. Only one sangha member decided not to be involved in the programme as his job of doing coolie work for the Forest Department left him with too little time for anything else. All 14 members chose to purchase sheep. Totally, the sangha absorbed Rs.10,000/- towards the LLP. This amount has been fully repaid to the group common fund. Four years later, the members are continuing with the programme using this common fund as follows: Each January the members look at the money available in the common fund and make a decision of how much will be allotted for sheep rearing. They divide the amount by the number of members interested in sheep rearing that year, so each receives the same amount. Those who want to purchase more sheep supplement the loan amount with their own resources; those who wish to buy only one or two animals will use the balance amount to take up other income generating activities of their choice. The sheep are then bought and the members rear them for six months. They sell them at a profit in June/July, when rains and cold weather start and agricultural activities, as well as money for home improvements or investment in other income generating activities. This pattern is being followed each year. These farmers are not interested in building  up flocks of sheep as earlier anticipated by MYRADA. Rather, they have worked out the timing just right so that their animal husbandry and innovative management system is of their own creation. The following table shows the income generated over four years:

1990 – 1992

1993

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