• Strengthening Women Collectives
    Improving overall well being of rural communities through development
    Processes collectively led by women from the community.
  • Building Robust Rural Livelihood Systems
    Promoting agriculture, livestock based livelihoods and
    integrated natural resource management.
  • Nurturing Development Professionals
    Caring and capable professionals are handpicked and placed in grassroots projects as
    they are crucial to the process of social development.

Transformation from ill being to well being

Indian donor Donate
Foreign donor Donate

About Us

With the aim to initiate socio-economic development in the North East region of India, a group of young professionals with years of experience from PRADAN (Professional Assistance For Development Action), found Seven Sisters Development Assistance (SeSTA) in 2011. The name SeSTA pronounced as 'Chesta' means 'Effort' in Assamese. A professionally managed and evolving not-for-profit organization, SeSTA is registered under Societies Registration Act (SRA), 1860. Through the process of 'Nirman' (constructive development) it strives to build capabilities of vulnerable communities by creating a just and equitable society devoid of poverty and identity related crises by promoting and strengthening their institutions in the region. If you want to walk through the genesis and journey of SeSTA,    (SeSTA Genesis Document)

In its brief span of work, SeSTA bagged two noteworthy awards for its diligent contribution towards community development and women empowerment.

AWARD
  1. India Development Marketplace Award 2014 by World Bank
  2. Chief Minister's Best Action Award for Community Development for Bongaigaon district in 2014

SeSTA invites quotation from IT Companies/Professionals for development of BASELINE CUM LIVELIHOODS TRACKE (APP)

Published Date: Sep 24, 2018,   View Detailed Document(s)

SeSTA is planning to develop a comprehensive Baseline Data Management APP for managing ITC ? Mission Sunhera Kal Project in Three (3) blocks of Assam. The APP shall be developed as per the Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (MEL) framework of SeSTA. The APP will be integrated with the existing SeSTA MIS system. We are therefore looking for a qualified Organisation/Firm/Individual to work with us on the design of this APP.

Seven Sisters Development Assistance known as SeSTA invites quotation from short film/documentary making Media Houses for Six audio-video to be used as training materials.

Published Date: Nov 19, 2018,   View Detailed Document(s)

The Organisation/Firm would be expected to develop the all the videos and will work closely with the Programme Anchor of SeSTA based in Assam. Travel to SeSTA?s field locations might also be required. We expect it would take 6-8 weeks to complete the project from date of commencement and are looking for Organisation/Firms who: ? Have a demonstrated interest & knowledge of rural development ? Have some previous experience or knowledge of making audio video tools for development sector. ? Are able to work independently to structure the storyboard and design phase, identify the resources required and engage people across the organization and externally to come up with a robust solution ? Are comfortable working and travelling in rural / remote locations ? Previous experience in Assam and NE and local language skills is preferred but not required The remuneration/Consultancy charge is negotiable.

10 districts, 18 blocks, 294 villages

8000 women, 700 Self Help Groups (SHG), 30 Village level Organisations, 3 SHG Federations

Savings over USD 200,000, leveraged USD 150,000 from banks and institutions

Improved agricultural productivity of 8600 small and marginal farmers

8000 Farmers trained for improved agriculture and livestock needs

Groomed 60 women as Community Resource Persons and 15 as Community Service Providers

Vocational training to 200 youth

15 Executive Trainees Groomed

"The Journey of a thousand miles begins with one step." ? Lao Tzu

Pochagaon is a remote village inhabited by Muslim minorities with poor connectivity, gender discrimination, female illiteracy and credit availability being its major development challenges. SeSTA planned to mobilize that village with the help of female members as they were the ones who were victimized of discrimination.

They refused to give up!

Gorsingpara village is located 22 kms from Sidli block of Chirang ditrict on the banks of Champabati River. Scenic as much it may appear but the villagers have to walk an hour to reach Garubhasa or Runikhata which are the nearest markets. The village lacks the basic infrastructure for schools, anganwadis, electricity and health centre as well as access to potable drinking water and sanitation. Communication facilities are rudimentary and apathy from mainstream agencies is quite visible.

The Path Less Trodden

Phonika Barman of Bowari Self Help Group of Sidli is an enterprising woman - a woman of spirit, indefatigable in spite of hardships and poverty. After joining the SHG and getting exposed to various motivational and technical trainings provided by SeSTA, she and her husband Bijoy, himself a very energetic and hardworking man, decided to adopt a new technology in paddy cultivation. They were among the first few farmers of Rajajan, Sidli, who initiated the System of Rice Intensification(SRI) method of paddy cultivation in that area in 2011.

Pigs of Fortune

Dherkajuli is a small village under Barduar tea estate in Kamrup district of Assam. It has around 70 households mostly from Rabha and Adivashi communities. Every household earn their living by wage labour in the Borduar Bagan or nearest towns like Mirza. They are subsistent farmers and regular cash flow is a constraint. Geeta Murari (43 years) and her husband, Dinesh Murari (45 years) along with their son Montu and daughter Jasmina reside in Dherkajuli. Geeta is illiterate.