(To maintain village engagement in other Project activities, EPAs have been provided to each selected village by the Project).

1. Conducting EPAs 
   
   The Project/SPMU sends a technical team, including at least one engineer, to each selected village to assess whether the proposed EPA is technically and financially feasible. If feasible, the team prepares a cost estimate for the activities. The hired NGOs work to persuade each village to contribute to EPAs by providing unskilled labor and locally available materials. Additionally, the NGOs encourage villages to explore the possibility of converging with relevant central or state schemes/missions, such as MGNREGA and Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), to reduce costs. 
    
2. Entry Point Activities (EPAs) 
   
   Since the approval process for the micro plan of each village takes time, the Project provides each selected village with EPAs to maintain community interest and engagement. EPAs are not random activities but must align with the Project’s objectives. For example, constructing or repairing canals/irrigation systems, multi-purpose ponds/reservoirs, energy-efficient smokeless stoves, and drinking water facilities directly or indirectly support the Project’s goals. 
   
   A canal or irrigation system enhances agricultural cultivation by enabling multiple crop cycles per year, while a multi-purpose pond or reservoir supports both agriculture and fisheries through the Integrated Farming System (IFS). Similarly, energy-efficient smokeless stoves and drinking water facilities reduce the time women spend collecting firewood and fetching water, allowing them to focus more on income-generating activities.
    

List of Entry Point Activities Implemented