Table 2 The training details and courses covered

People’s participatory plan and monitoring

Members of Hamlet Committee (PCFC and SHG)

1. Development understanding from various schools of thought, different development concept, methods and tools. Understanding participatory rural appraisal (PRA), rapid rural appraisal (RRA) etc.

2. Participatory process: different approach and practice

3. Identification of problem, analysis, Decision making, planning and monitoring through participatory process

1. Enabling the people so that they can identify, analyze and realize their problem towards community convergence action

People’s institution building and management

Members of the APEX committee, Leaders of SHGs and Members of FCC Federation

1. Character of people’s institution

2. Planning from aim to accomplishment

3. Organizational dynamics and managing organizational conflict

4. Span of control and functional authority

5. Responsibility and accountability

6. Strengthening motivation

7. Leadership and change—out put and intervening variables

1. Capacity building of the members so that they can build, hold and run their own organization

Resource conservation. Pollution and environment management

Members of PCFCs

1. Environmental complex—dynamic nature of environment

2. Ecosystem dynamics—plant and its environment

3. Impact of man on environment-applied ecology of individual, population and ecosystem

4. Distribution of natural resources. Renewable and non-renewable factors

5. Trend of exploitation of natural resources

6. Trend of pollution of environment

7. Plant responses to pollution

8. Mangrove ecosystem—distribution of littoral fauna—animal societies and territoriality

9. Techniques of controlling environmental pollution including biological controls

10. Social forestry and mangrove vegetation

11. Participatory forest management

1. Understanding and realization regarding the importance of geo-specific environmental uniqueness of Sundarbans and its management

Sustainable agriculture and vermicompost

Identified farmer from target community who have ownership of agricultural land

1. Agro forestry and nursery management

2. Cultivation potential herbals

3. Soil testing and integrated nutrient management

4. Watershed management

5. Bio fertilizer, Organic manure, vermin compost

1. Enablement towards agricultural sustainability

Small business

Identified those who totally depended upon Forest for their livelihood and does not have own land

1. Identifying the trade

2. Planning and execution

3. Business capital

4. Pricing

5. Marketing

1. Capacity building of the small business man so that they can develop their own business—alternative income generation activity (AIGA)

Disaster management

Families who lives in disaster prone area

1. Identification of deeper and weaker sections of the community

2. How to minimize risks

3. Preparation before disaster

4. Security

5. Risk analysis

6. Preparation of risk maps

7. Evacuation plans