HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT
Item
- Title
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HEALTH
&
ENVIRONMENT - extracted text
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Module - 402
HEALTH
&
ENVIRONMENT
rc
The Foundation for Research in Community Health
3 & 4, Trimiti B Apts., 85, Anand Park, Aundh, Pune - 411007
Tel: (020) 25887020, Fax: (020) 25881308
Email: frchpune@giaspn01.vsnl.netin
HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT
INDEX
1.
Let us progress together
1 - 10
2.
The Government in our village
11 - 23
3.
Participation of Women in Panchayats
24 - 31
4.
The Right to Information - A powerful tool of democracy
32 - 47
5.
Air and it’s importance
48 - 54
6.
Energy
55 - 58
7.
Improved ‘Chulha’
59 - 64
8.
The Story of Water : A Tale of Suffering
65 - 79
9.
Soak Pits and Kitchen Garden
80 - 89
10.
Grameen Bank
90 - 107
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Lesson 1
Let us progress together
Aims
On reading this lesson you will understand
•
It is not necessary to expect the government to solve simple problems of our village.
•
No task is difficult if we work together. This is the confidence that we have to give
to our people.
•
Understand that there are strong age-old ties between man and nature.
Knowledge
You will know that
•
Participation of every citizen of the village in its development is essential.
•
Transformation of the village will only begin with the transformation of oneself.
Skill
You will learn
•
How to explain the significance of self help to people.
•
How to arouse the confidence of the villagers in making progress on their own
with the help of government plans.
Perspective
You will realize that
•
The importance of strength of numbers.
•
The bond between us and nature is fundamental to development
Introduction
A potter’s family lived in a village where sugarcane
plantations and sugar industries newly come in. Not only
did the industry bring money to the village but also a
different kind of culture. At first the potter could look after
his family well. He would supply earthen pots as required
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to different families in the village in exchange for goods
that he needed: for example, since he had no land of
his own, farmers would give him grain in return. He did
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o
not have any land of his own. But owners of fields would
o
give him grain in return. But in the new system they
stopped giving him anything. He could not make two ends meet. People like him had to
move to cities to get jobs. The youth of the village began to work in cities while their parents
and children remained in the village.
The potter got a job in the city. But his wages were insufficient to maintain the whole
family. So his wife Gunja had to work in other people’s fields. She would bring home green
vegetables which her mother-in-law cooked in an iron pan without spices with just onion
and garlic. The children would eat it everyday however they were never sure of getting too
square meals in a day.
The potter’s son kept falling ill. He was prone to frequent colds and diarrhoea. She
took him to the doctor but he was always meeting his family in the city. The hospital staff
asked her to give him oral hydration till she reached a bigger city hospital. She was wondering
how she would afford the doctor’s fees if she spent on travel. In this confusion, the child died.
The grieving woman went to stay with her husband in the city. She kept feeling that
she would not have lost her son had they lived in the city. There were doctors all over the
place and plenty of transport. She could visit any hospital here. She wondered when her
village would improve. Since the coming of the sugar
factory, the village water had got contaminated. The
factory workers had a new colony and school but
development did not reach the village. The only change
in the village was the availability of alcohol and the things
began to deteriorate when villagers got drunk and
harassed their families.
There was plenty of water in the city. The potter’s
wife chatted with her neighbour Savitri who earned her
living by doing household chores for different families.
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Her husband had deserted her and lived separately Savitri
and Gunja discussed all the various facilities available
in the city, but Savitri pointed out that these were only
for the rich. Although there were many doctors and
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hospitals, their fees were very high.
She also complained about the pollution caused by
vehicles and the filth surrounding their huts.
Savitri also felt that the lack of education prevented
them from earning well. She pointed out that poor children
cannot study because they have to work in the daytime
rag-picking in cities or grazing the animals in villages. They had to share the family
responsibilities. They therefore needed night schools. Besides government schools did not
teach well. Poor children could not afford tuitions and they lagged behind in studies.
On Savitri’s advice, Gunja returned to her village. She
kept pondering about improvement of her village. The
Panchayat elections ware round the corner and there was
a 33% reservation for women. The elders of the village
were upset about this new empowerment of women. She
gave in her nomination for the Panchayat
and was
elected alongwith another woman.
Gunja was afraid to attend the first meeting with other
men. The women had to agree with all their decisions
quietly. After 6 months there was a letter inviting the wcmen
members of the Panchayat for a training workshop. The other woman member refused to
attend on grounds of family problems but Gunja decided to participate.
Many things were taught at the workshop. What
Gunja liked it was the atmosphere of training through
conversation. This method was stress-free as they were
asked to narrate their experiences. There was no teacher
as such. There were songs and stories. It was fun to
learn in a playful way, from each other. They were taught
through group discussions howto solve problems. They
had to come up with solutions for the development of
their village, and further leam how to measure their success.
All of them felt that the government should arrange
for water supply, construction of roads and provide
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employment opportunities. The trainer who was a woman "s
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then narrated a true story of the development of a village,
There was a village called Shindi in the droughtprone Parner Taluka of Maharashtra state. Shindi is ~
the Marathi name for the toddy tree from which an alcoholic drink is prepared. There was no work during
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the monsoon, toddy was available in plenty and people T
would drink it all the time. The women and children
were fed up of this nuisance. It was under these
circumstances that a person called Anna Hazare *"
decided to transform the village. He gathered the villagers to solve their problem of
employment. He decided to tackle the question of water shortage first. They created tiny
bunds on the hills. They collected water in trenches along the ground. Trees were planted
Gradually they were able to grow crops, even three times a year in the land which had
not been productive for long. Latrines and soak-pits were constructed in the village. Since
the waste was absorbed by the ground, the village became a cleaner place. A school
was started for children. Dowry was prohibited and so
was alcohol drinking. The youth who had left the village
in search ofjobs, returned to their farms. The Panchayat
elections were held unopposed unanimously. The
villagers contributed their labour while the government
schemes provided some funds for this developmental
work. This village is now known as “Ralegan Siddhi”.
After a brief silence a discussion followed
Trainer : Do you think the government alone should
help?
One Member : Who else will help?
Other Member :
First Member :
What we just heard showed that villagers should lead.
Member :
Madam, will you kindly tell us about the schemes started by the
government? We may then understand things.
You do not have people like Anna Hazare in every place. My village
has a lot of politics; it is very difficult to get any work done there.
Then who but the government will do it?
Trainer :
A lot of schemes were executed after the independence of the country.
We will discuss the merits and drawbacks of the following plans 1) The welfare state - Helping the weak e.g. - health services, free education etc. were
taken up by the government and social organisations for conducting immunization,
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dispensaries and so on, to reduce the economic burden of the deprived sections.
The biggest drawback of this was the creation of total dependence on the Government.
People began to think that all welfare schemes depended only on the government,
with nothing to be done by oneself.
2) Economic Independence - Aid to raise the financial
condition by giving loans for goat-farming, brick kilns
etc. Funds were provided but no training was given.
People lacked the skills to start new trades or
improve production.
3)
Training - Technological training for self-reliance
was started through schemes like TPISEM and ITI
training centres. Although this imparted technical
training and financial help, the weaker sections
could not become independent in the absence of
knowledge about the marketing skills and business practices.
4) Equality - Gender equihty was given importance. New laws were enacted to reduce
casteism and emphasis equality of sex. Unfortunately this new approach remained
on paper. Means of enforcement of these rights and empowerment of women were
lacking. But the scenario is changing gradually. They did not work out how to put
it
into
practice.
Today
empowerment
ol
underprivileged people is being stressed.
5) Empowerment - The ideas about development
have been changing - raising the power of decision
making among people, encouraging people to take
decisions, getting the cooperation of people and
providing all kinds of information to them.
Alka
How are these changes in development
concepts connected to Panchayat
training?
Kama/a
We have just been told that decisions should be taken by the people.
Panchayati Raj is the rule of the people, run by the people for the people.
Vimala
AH said and done, people in villages do not take decisions. They are always
Trainer
taken by the leaders and the rich. It is the men who manage everything.
Women are members just for name’s’ sake.
You are right, this has been going on till now. Leaders used to decide for
the villagers. If we wish to stop them, we should go to the Gram Sabha,
demand explanations from them, and also accept responsibilities.
Alka
People do not know how to ask questions
Trainer
In order to ask questions, one should first obtain relevant information. Meet
1=
the Gram Sevak and officers of the Taluka
Panchayat to find out details about plans.
Many organizations publish booklets about
Panchayat Raj. Read them and pass on 3
r
all the information you get, to the people. 5
When people become knowledgeable, they
can ask questions.
Kamala:
What will we say to the men folk? And what 7
T
will people say about us?
Trainer
Women can do a lot for their villages. I feel they would perform better because
they have first-hand experience of facing day-to-day problems and finding
out ways of solving them.
Kamala:
Trainer:
Who will listen to us - women folk?
Initially women may not receive attention, but gradually there will be a change.
There is a 33% reservation for women and
other backward classes both of whom are
repressed. If members unite for the
development of the village the leaders will
have to listen to them. When Mahatma
Phule started schools for girls a hundred
years ago, people flung stones and cow
dung at him and his wife. Today all girls
go to school. No one finds anything wrong
with it. If women are elected now, very soon
they will carry out their duties well.
Kamala
do ?
_>
What you say is right, but what should we
The system of Panchayati Raj needs village level
plans. Earlier the village plans were made at the centre.
But the biggest challenge for Panchayat Raj is to make
the plans in the village itself. Some rules must be
followed in order to accept this challenge. Let us discuss
them briefly.
All this conversation made Gunja realise that in order
to develop the village, knowledge about its natural
resources man power and potential is necessary. Plans
can be based on this for e.g. - the raw material and
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availability of skills should be considered to start a business. If a dairy is to be started,
are enough cows /buffaloes available? Are there means of collecting the milk? In case the
milk is not sold, is there any arrangement to use it in
some other way? All such queries should be sorted out.
We are part of society
Till now we only thought about our own homes and
families. If we have to solve problems of our children’s
education and employment, then development of the
whole society is necessary. In order to have our children’s
schools run well, we must all help the schools.
A
continuing dialogue must be established with the teachers.
After all the family is a unit of society. Our development
lies in the development of our village.
Cooperation of not just leaders but everyone is
essential in a village
Even today, the so-called rich and upper class people
take decisions for the village. Our village got a sugar
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factory, but what did the villagers gain from it? Some
selfish people were benefited, but the common man only
got suffering as a result of the factory. If the villagers
had relevant information, the leaders would not have
been able to pressurize them, people could have refused
to agree to a factory being started. What is needed
is a representative who works in harmony with the
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people, unlike the past leaders or powerful individuals. The people’s representative must
understand their difficulties and work peacefully. Using the right of majority can transform
society. All the people should express their views about the development of the village,
discuss them and decide things by consensus.
Reservation
Some seats have been reserved for backward communities and women by the government
with the hope that they will also get some benefit of development. Reservation will allow
them to be involved in the political process. It is hoped that they will present their questions
and participate in solving them.
Transforming oneself
We need to change ourselves if we want to create a new society eg, discipline, punctuality,
cleanliness, following deadlines, are all basic to success. It is necessary to change old habits
of discrimination and adopt attitudes of equality amongst
all classes, genders and castes.
Transforming of village conditions is upto us. We must
keep in mind the proverb 'Where there is a will, there
is a way’.
Alert and questioning minds are necessary in society.
Things should be accepted only after careful thought even
if they are customary.
Self-sufficient village
People should get employment in their own villages. Small scale industries should be
started at village level, so that villagers do not need to migrate to cities to earn money
Some work must be available in the village when there
is no work possible on the farms.
Our relationship with nature
We must conserve natural resources, which are the
property not only of our society but also of future
generations. It is our collective responsibility to protect
the land, water and air for the future society. It is our
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*«<»•
foremost duty to use this invaluable storehouse of nature
carefully and properly.
This is an ancient story.
Long, long ago our country, followed the Gurukul
system of education. Students would stay with their mentors for education.
A great teacher had three disciples who were all very intelligent. He could not decide
which was the best. The teacher’s wife had a clever
idea. She suggested that they should both go away
for a fortnight, at the end of which they would come
to know which student was the most intelligent. Before
setting out, she gave some seeds to each of the three,
saying that these should be returned in the same
condition when they got back.
When they returned from their journey the wife
assured her husband that he would soon recognize
the best student.
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The master called all three students and asked them to return the seeds One student
had kept them safe in a trunk, but they had got spoilt The second one had sold his
seeds in the market When he went to buy new ones with the money, he had to spend
more because the prices had risen.
The third student said that they would have to go out into the yard since the seeds
couldn’t be carried. There were colourful fragrant flowers all around. He said that they
would get back their seeds after two weeks, many more than the original number The
most intelligent boy had proved himself.
The trainer said that the fragrance of one’s work should spread all around You may
be alone at first, but do not be afraid. Proceed hopefully and the seeds sown by you will
mourish in proper conditions.
Self Examination
• Do you think a village can become self-sufficient?
• How will you explain the fact that daily life is connected to nature?
• How can one develop decision-making capacity in people ?
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Exercises
Choose correct alternatives
1. There is
reservation for women in Panchayat Raj
1. 33%
2. 66%
3. 500%
4. 430%
2.
is needed for development of the village.
1. A leader 2. Government aid
3. People’s participation
4. All the above
3. Development means
1. People get all facilities
2. Increase in factories, buildings and roads
3. Proper use of natural and human resources
4. All the above
4. A self-sufficient village requires -
1. Employment for each person
2. Small scale industries at village level.
3. Work in the fields
4. Proper planning of natural and human resources of the village
5.
We should preserve the bounty of nature (land, water, nature) because
1. We need it for our living
2. Our future generation and other beings have a right to it
3. It is a gift of God
4. In future this can help man to conquer nature.
Answers
1-1, 2-3, 3-3, 4-4, 5-2
DD
Lesson 2
The Government in our village
Aims
On reading this lesson you will understand
• The different characteristics of the traditional Gram Panchayat.
• The system of Panchayat! Raj
• The objectives of rural development.
• The activities of Gram Panchayat
• The significance of the participation by the people in rural development
• Forming an ideal society.
Knowledge
You will know about
• The difference between the ancient and modern Panchayat System
• The concept of rural development.
• The basic principles of an ideal society.
Skill
You will learn
• How to inspire people for development.
• How to bring about a change in the psychology of the people.
Perspective
You will realize that
• The village is our own responsibility.
• It is not difficult to create an ideal village if the entire village acts collectively.
[12-]
Our Village our Government
That the village should be run by the villagers
themselves is not a new concept in India. The system
of Panchayat Rule was created long ago in our country.
The ancient books of ‘Vedas’ also mention ‘Gana’
(citizens), (the body), (sabha) which are rural names. The
Ramayana includes 'Ghosh’ (declaration) and ’Janpada’
(people’s post) while Maharashtra has the term
Gramasangha’ (union of villages).
Even when ancient man lived in forests, he lived in groups. Man observed animals and
domesticated them. When farming was developed, he had to settle
in one place. Groups
living in particular places developed into villages. The need for unity and cooperation among
them led to the creation of ‘Panchayat’ in the early periods.
Just as the Gram Panchayat is unique to India there
have been 'Lenas’ in Athens ‘James’ in Rome, ‘Burgh’
in Scotland ‘Mir’ in Russia, and ‘Kalapuli’ in Mexico.
The Panchayat has existed since the period of the
Vedas, four to five thousand years ago. This system
existed and was respected before British rule in India.
The Gram Panchayat was like a government which carried
out the functions of maintaining the coordination,
protection and solving the rivalries among the villagers.
The stability given by this governance led to the prosperity
and strength of the ancient villages. The ruling kings could
not interfere with the working
of the villages due to absence of r
means of transport. The officials of Royalty maintained
a relationship with the village to recover taxes from it.
------------- 1. Gradually they began to encourage
self-rule amongst them.
The features of the ancient Panchayat
1
People themselves created and maintained roads,
wells, lakes and canals in the villages.
2. People contributed their labour to the development
of the village.
3. Development of farming and cottage industries.
4. Availability of health and education services.
5. Dispensing justice to villagers at low cost. People
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often had to go to the King’s Court to get judgements. Later on the Gram Panchayat
began to solve such cases.
Drawbacks of Ancient Panchayat
1. There was a lack of representation due to the dominance of higher caste people.
2. The democratic society was damaged by caste-discrimination.
3. The Panchayat did not have the right to form any law. They had to follow the traditional
laws.
4. There was not enough individual freedom.
5. The restriction on lower castes to receive education or begin a business etc led
to an unequal society.
Modernity in Panchayat Rule
Gandhiji explained his concept of India as a country
where even the common man feels that he is involved
in the creation of his nation. It is a place where people
live amicably with no discrimination. It should be devoid
of inhuman conditions like untouchability and evils like
addictions. Gandhiji said, "The India of my dreams has
greater equality and doesn't allow any kind of exploitation.
Here the deprived and the weaker sections should be
with minimum expenditure on defence and weapons.
"There will be economic equality and freedom in
my India. This concept keeps out conflict between capital
and labour. Collective labour is the capital, thus the
minority rich community has to come down from their
high level in order that the level of the vast majority
of the hungry and exploited poor can be raised. We
cannot have a non-violent government unless the gap
between the haves and have-nots is reduced. I cannot
imagine cities and metros having grand sky-scrapers being surrounded by filthy areas
and squalid slums. In an ideal country, all Indians should have equal rights. If the handful
of upper classes do not volunteer to offer their wealth and power for social welfare, they
will be inviting a revolution of bloodshed. It is imperative to hand over money and power
to the numerous common people in the India of my dreams."
We run our village / Governance comes to your village
After setting our nation free the major problems were poverty, hunger and unemployment
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The 5 - year develpment plans were launched with a bang
with the objective of achieving progress on national level,
improving common man’s economy and raising the overall
standard of living. After massive expenditure development
and progress were not very evident everywhere. The
conclusion was drawn - rural development couldnot
succeed without actual participation of local people. In
1957 Balwantray mehta study commission was appointed
to find the solution at the root level.
The commitee felt that in order to achieve rural
development restructuring the Panchayat institutions was
essential and that development works should be handed
over to them, it recommended decentralisation of power,
more people’s participation and a three-tiered system. This three-tiered system awarded
maximum rights to Grampanchayat and in 1992 a bill to that effect was passed, known
as the 73
amendment of constitution.
73rd Amendment to the Constitution
Every member of a Panchayat should understand this amendment made in 1993
1. Every village will have a Gramsabha which will have legal rights and powers.
2. There will be a three-fold structure in the state- gram-panchayat (village panchayat)
Panchayat ‘Samiti’ (committee) and Zilla Parishad (District).
3. Every Gram Panchayat will have a term of
five years. If it gets dissolved for some reason,
elections should be held within six months.
4. All members at every level will be elected.
5. The State Government will decide the manner
of holding the election of ‘Sarpanch’ (Chief
tSchoolf
Member) of the Panchayat.
6. The Presidents of the Panchayat Samiti and
Zilla Parishad will be elected by secret ballot.
There will be appropriate reservation for
Scheduled Tribes.
7. 30% seats will be reserved for women.
8.
and spend local taxes.
9. The State Government will hand over the following schemes to the Panchayat for
economic development and social justice.
(Section 243 clause 11)
1. Agricultural Development
2. Land Reform
3. Water Supply
4. Animal Husbandry
5. Fishery
6. Farm and Forest Development
7. Forest Produce
8. Small Scale Industry
9. Khadi, Village Industry
10. Rural home plan
11. Drinking water supply
12. Fuel and Fodder Department
13. Telecommunication
14. Electricity Supply
15. Development of non-conventional energy
16. Eradication of poverty
17. Primary and Secondary Education
18. Technical and Professional Education
19. Adult Education
20. Library Department
21. Cultural Affairs
22. Market & Fair Federation
23. Rural health and sanitation care
24. Family Welfare
25. Women and Child Welfare
26. Social Welfare
27. Welfare of deprived
28. Public Distribution System
29. Social Heritage
What is the meaning of Rural Development?
The following are the main objectives of Rural Development
1.
2.
3.
4
Eradication of Poverty
Employment
Social Justice
Upgradation of the life style of villagers (through improved health service, literacy,
nutrition, clean water etc.)
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5. Development of Fruit and Agriculture Produce
6 Development of Agro-based Industry
7. Maintenance of ecological balance.
8 Water-shed
9. Enabling total self-sufficiency in villages.
The government is trying to execute every rural
development plan on the basis of local needs. It is bound
to obtain the coordination of maximum people in the
planning, execution and follow-up of all schemes. Rural
Development will be possible with the participation of
the people.
People’s Participation
Meetings and contributory labour at the village level
alone does not comprise people’s participation. It means
the achievement of the objectives of development by the
collective efforts of people at all levels of the village. This
requires the encouragement of all women, men, old, young
and especially the people from weaker sections to get
involved with the process of development. Only then will
the aim of electing representatives be fulfilled.
The following execution is expected for maximum
participation and cooperation of the people1. Spreading the information regarding all schemes
related to rural development among the people.
2. Make villagers aware of a plan or activity for the development of the village with
the help of a local worker or officer.
3. Villagers make suggestions about the requirements of the village to the local workers
regarding schemes and programmes.
4. Make the people understand that the village can be developed with the methods
decided by the villagers.
5. The concept of wealth accumulated through government schemes and activities
belonging to the village, whether it deals with hand pumps, water pipelines or
construction of buildings, should be clarified.
Method of Establishing Gram Panchayat
The lowest unit of administration in the State Government is the village. A minimum 300
people in a village is necessary to form a Gram Panchayat It works at two levels. The
]
first is the local administration which includes illumination,
roads, public health, creation of housing schemes, water
supply etc. All these tasks have been entrusted to the
Gram Panchayat. The second kind of charge viz.
maintenance of security in the village is handed over to
the Government.
The Taluka is under the Police Chief. It is here that
the State courts hear
the cases from the
villages.
If a village is too small, two or more villages may
collectively form a Gram Panchayat. According to Article
\
No. 5 of the Constitution, every village must have a
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Panchayat except where a municipality or cantonment
already exists. If the population of a village exceeds
10,000 the government can establish a municipality there.
A place has to be declared as a village before
a Gram Panchayat is formed. The Chief Officer of the Zilla Parishad sends a notice to
the Divisional Commissioner according to which he orders the establishment of the Gram
Panchayat.
Sources of Income of the Gram Panchayat
a. The Gram Panchayat has the responsibility of
conducting welfare activities for the people. This requires
its own income along with government aid.
b.
The following means have been approved for fund
raising -
I.
Government aid as per rules.
ii.
Various taxes
and fees levied by
Gram Panchayat.
iii.
Financial Aid
Received.
IV.
Repayment of loans given by Gram Panchayat.
v.
Aid received under various Development Schemes
c.
To increase the Panchayat income one has to take
certain steps from time to time like:
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1.
In every four years there could be a need to revise
the house tax.
2.
In rural areas an agriment has to formed with
industries so that certain grants could be availed.
3
Tax on markets and fairs.
4.
Sales tax on animals.
Faxes and Fees levied by the Panchayat
Taxes
and
Fees
Levied
by
Panchayat
The type of fees that can be levied by Panchayat have
been listed in Article no. 124 of the Directories as follows:
1) Land Tax - According to Article no. 4, the Gram
Panchayat has the right to charge buildings and Land
which pay no revenues. Agricultural land is taxable.
But Article No. 127 allows the gram panchayat to tax
the produce of the land. It can tax buildings,
constructed, both on agricultural or non-agricultural land.
2) Land Reform Tax - The Gram Panchayat can use
the village funds for schemes to increase the
productivity e g. - irrigation facilities to supply water
to fields with pumps and other methods. The Gram
Panchayat can collect taxes from landed farmers for such purpose.
3) Octroi - Goods entering the village can be taxed by defining the geographical limits
before deciding the amounts.
(Ref-Kanas Pimpri Panchayat vs. Z. P. Nagpur - 1968,
No. 181, 186, 187) Octroi cannot be collected from goods being traded out of the village
(Ref Guru Swamy vs. Iju Malai Panchayat - 1968 No. 271, 274).
5) Pilgrim Tax - The Panchayat can collect tax from pilgrims visiting holy places or places
of worship lying within their geographical limits.
6) Fairs and Entertainment Tax- Shops set up during fairs in villages and tickets sold
for entertainment programs can be taxed. This includes films, drama, tamasha but not
marriage or adoption celebrations.
7) Bicycle, bullock-cart or house-carriage taxes- Panchayat can collect charges from
these vehicles plied inside their area, as a source of income.
8) Trade of Profession Tax- Article 276 of the Indian constitution has to be followed while
collecting this tax. The Maharashtra Act of 1975 allows tax on internal trade, service
and professions.
I 19 I
9) Health Care Tax - The Panchayat can tax the sanitary blocks or toilets installed by
it for public hygiene and cleaning of gutters, collecting garbage etc. from the village.
10) Water cess - The Panchayat can decide a definite tax on water connections in houses,
or charge fees for supplying lake or well-water to fields.
11) Other Charges - The Gram Panchayat has the right to collect fees permitted by the
State Government like electricity supply.
12) The Panchayat that provides street-lighting can collect fees for it.
In addition to the above taxes, the Gram Panchayat is
allowed to collect the fees for the following -
1. Daily / weekly markets
2. Parking carts and carriages at stands
3. Running a stall or utility at public places.
4. Cleaning of latrines on private land.
5. Grazing of animals on pastures owned by the
Panchayat
6.
Special cleanliness activities in surroundings including
public toilets.
Compulsory Taxes
The Panchayat has the right to collect all the fixed taxes like land and water tax, outstanding
dues and tariffs. However it does not have the right to add any unlisted charge e g. - it
cannot levy sales tax on goods sold.
The Gram Panchayat looks after and is the basis of the administration of the village.
Villages with a population of less than five hundred have a combined ‘Group Gram Panchayat’
of two or more villages.
The members of the Gram Panchayat are elected by senior voters for five years. The
candidate to be elected must be above twenty-one years
of age. There are a minimum of seven and maximum
of fifteen members in a Gram Panchayat. Some seats
are reserved for Scheduled categories and 33% for women.
Gram Panchayat
The Chief of the Panchayat is called ‘Sarpanch’. He
and the assistant Sarpanch are elected by the elected
members of Gram Panchayat. The Sarpanch is the
Prudent of the meetings organized by them He looks
aft^r the working of the Gram Panchayat and the execution
I 20 |
of the development schemes. He is helped by the
assistant Sarpanch.
'Gramsevak’ is a government servant who assists in
the working of the Gram Panchayat as secretary. He
prepares the budget for the Gram Panchayat, maintains
accounts and advises the villagers about health-care and
matters related to agriculture and education along with
development. He is also expected to give information
regarding government schemes.
The Functions of the Gram Panchayat
Construction and maintenance of roads in the village,
supplying electricity, arranging markets, fairs, celebrations
and pilgrimages in the village, keeping records of births,
deaths and marriages, public cleanliness, waste water
management, supply of drinking water, providing facilities
for education and health, execution of agricultural
development and animal husbandry schemes are the
responsibilities of the Gram Panchayat
Sources of Income
The main source of collecting funds for the functions
of the Gram Panchayat - the collection of taxes on housing and open plots within its limits.
The other sources include profession tax, pilgrimage tax, housing, sale of animals, part of
land revenue and subsidy granted by Zilla Parishad for development work.
Gramsabha (village meeting):
Any and every resident of the village who has voting right and has completed 18 years
of age is a member of the Gramsabha. Gramsabha is called for village development in
which various problems and difficulties of the villagers are discussed and action programme
is sought. It is necessary for maximum number of residents to attend this meeting; especialy
expected is the participation and collective cooperation of local women. A separate gramsabha
can also be arranged for this purpose. Village evelopment plans and budgets are kept open
for discussion and approval in this meeting. All queries are satisfied by Sarpanch and deputy
Sarpanch. Public notification and announcement (Davandi) is essential prior to such a meeting
so as to let everyone know about it It is essential for villagers to read any resolution that
has been passed in Gramsabha before signing on it In some places a record of a Gramsabha
is created, without actually conducting one, and villagers are asked to sign. This is destructive
to the democratic and development processes
I 21 |
Generally women, people from backward and weaker classes do not attend Gramsabha
in sizable numbers; this keeps them away from the
information about and benefits of development.
Gramsevak is supposed to write the conclusive report
of the village meeting and he is to do it then and there,
before the meeting is over. Then only the villagers are
expected to sign on it. What most of them actually do
is to prepare a rough copy omitting the recording of
discussion and thus the records do not reflect realities.
Villagers are denied their rights. They must be made
aware of this.
Gramsabha is an effective tool regarding people’s participation, noting public opinion
and keeping a tab on panchayat’s working. People must realise it’s importance. Everyone,
especially the women, should acquire knowledge about the laws pertaining to the area of
operation of a Gramsabha, regulations to coduct it etc.
Remember, the most important catalyst in effective
implementation of any action plan is the gramsabha.
‘Nyaya-Panchayat’ (for Justice) - Villages have
controversies about division of property, boundaries of
field etc. The idea of establishment of Nyaya Panchayats
(one among five villages) is to solve such disputes at
the village level. This Panchayat consists of one
representative of each village, excluding the Sarpanch
and Assistant Sarpanch of any village.
Rights for All
1.
—
It is important for every villager to get employment. Industries like textiles, oil or soap
can be started in a village to provide work to all the
4
unemployed. Consequently, the rural youth need not
migrate to the cities.
2.
Environmental Protection - Installing a Gobar-
Gas plant can solve the problem of fuel in villages.
Consequently it will prevent cutting of trees. In addition,
using natural manure like compost can be encouraged
among the farmers. This will be economically viable and
also maintain the organic richness of the soil.
3.
Participation of villagers in the village activities-
The activities of the village should be conducted in
I 22 |
consultation with the villagers. Their views should be solicited and expressed in the Gram
Sabha A representative Gram Sabha can influence the decisions of the Gram Panchayat.
Thus development will be more effective by involving the villagers
The Program of creating a model society
1.
Taking the power to the people - Unfortunately development plans are often made
in cities, due to which they are not always relevant to the requirements of the villages.
Therefore the Gram Sabha should send their requirement to the Zilla Parishad and have
a dialogue with them. Then the plans can be made accordingly and the villagers will be
able to use their resources in the proper way. Only Gram Sabhas should be authorized
to decide on implementation of any schemes in the villages.
2.
The direction of rural development - When every villager realises that the development
of his/her village lies in his/her own hands, then only, collectively it can be made into it
an independent, self-sufficient place. Every person must ensure total literacy and voluntarily
enforce prohibition in the village. A motion to this effect should be presented in the Gram
Sabha. Together they should move towards ecological balance through tree-plantation and
prevention of deforestation.
3.
Development through contribution of labour - If activities like construction of roads
and schools are undertaken by the villagers themselves, a lot of money will be saved.
Simultaneously every person in the village will be involved in these schemes.
4.
Participation of Gram Panchayat - Scheduled castes and Tribes along with women
have been given representation according to Article No. 73 (Amendment). The Gram Panchayat
should make greater efforts to prioritize their schemes on the basis of the requirements.
This may be decided in consultation with experts otherwise just a handful of people may
get only their own work done while the village as such will not benefit.
5.
Participation of Voluntary Organizations - Women’s organizations and others can
help by contributing to the cause of village development. The village representatives should
always keep the villagers aware and alert so that there is transparency about the resources
of the village being used in a proper manner.
Only the village has the right to decide the purpose for which the available wealth is
to be used. The villagers have the responsibility of ensuring that they use their decisions
for progress of the village.
If all the men and women collectively execute their roles well, a ‘Panchayat Raj’ will be
created in the true sense of ‘Self-Rule’.
EHZ]
Self Assessment
•
What does development mean?
•
How should this concept be explained to people?
•
How can the meanings of ‘Self-Sufficiency’ and ‘Contribution’ of labour be clarified
to people?
Exercises
1. Who was responsible for running a village since Ancient times?
1. Gram Panchayat
2. Panchayati Raj
3. Nagar Parishad
4. All the above
2. Drawbacks of Ancient Panchayat
1. Only Higher Caste Representation
2. Casteism
3. Individual Dependence
4. All the above
3. Within how many months is a dissolved Gram Panchayat to have fresh elections?
1. 6
2. 3
4. 4
3. 9
4. How many functions have been given to the Panchayat in Amendment to Article 73?
1. 20
3. 19
2. 29
4. 33
5. The Chief of a Gram Panchayat is
1. Ranch
2. Sarpanch
3. Assistant - Sarpanch 4. Gram sevak
6. Which of the following taxes are levied compulsorily by Gram Panchayat ?
1. Building Tax 2. Land/Land Reform Tax 3. Water Cess 4. All the above
7. Minimum population to form a Gram Panchayat - More than
1. 1000
2. 500
3. 400
4. 500
8. Minimum age for participation in Gram Sabha
1. 18
2. 20
3. 29
4. 25
Answers
1-1, 2-1, 3-1, 4-2, 5-2, 6-4, 7-4, 8-1
[24
Lesson 3
Participation of Women in Panchayats
Aims
On reading this lesson you will understand
1. It is necessary for women to participate in Panchayats
2. It is necessary to link women to developmental work.
Knowledge
You will know about
•
Rules and regulations of the Panchayat
Perspectives
You will realize
•
The importance of organizing
•
The direction of progress.
Our country India is governed by a Central
Government based in the capital city of New Delhi. The
different states of the country are governed by
representatives elected from each State. Similarly, the
smallest unit of the village must be governed by elected
members of the Gram Panchayat drawn from the village
itself. They understand the conditions of their village
society, financially and otherwise. This enables them to
plan the activities, to be suitably executed for planned
development. Progress of each village leads to
development at higher levels and the country as a whole.
Mere launching of space-rockets, creation of atomic energy, building big industries and dams
do not constitute development of a country. India is truly developed only if the poor living
in remote, interior places receive two square meals a day, distant hill-top areas get facilities
for health, education, housing and clothes, common people get egalitarian justice and
employment opportunities. A three-level plan at the district, group and village levels has been
suggested in the Panchayat Raj. (“Zilla”, “Gut”, “Gram”)
The Panchayat Raj and Amendment to the Constitution No. 73
Panchayati Raj has been made more effective via the 73rd Constitutional amendment.
What is this amendment and why is it important for women ? The former Prime Minister
Late Shri. Rajeev Gandhi decided to give greater power to Gram Pachayat through Amend
ment to the Constitution. This was accepted on 22nd Dec. 1992 and approved on 24th
April 1993. This awarded constitutional status to the Gram Sabha and holding its meetings
became mandatory.
The membership was related to the population. The
members were to be elected by voting, for a period of
5 years. The rights, duties and collection of funds of the
Gram Panchayat were defined.
The Election Commission was established along with
SOO
:oo
OQ
5 0 OCTOO
r
the Finance Commission. The most radical factor about
this was 33% reservation for women, scheduled castes
and tribes, as well as backward communities. 1/3 of the
posts of “Sarpanch” were reserved for women by Rotation.
Thus through the Constitution amendment
[§a©©BIS
women
secured a place in political participation legally Women who never dreamt of approaching
the Gram Pachayat now became constituents of the power in the village
I 26 |
The future after empowerment
Women mainly worked from the home. Along with
housekeeping, cooking and raising the children they also
worked in the fields. Some women took up jobs like
teaching and becoming health workers. Despite women
supporting their families through their work, men continued
to be considered as the head of the families. These
repressed women have now been granted power in
politics, but need a change in the social and political
environment to use their power effectively. They need
to undertake activities not performed like going out of the house to engage in their community,
talking to other men and even raising their voices in protest where necessary.
The women in the Gram Panchayat are under stress while facing the anger of the men.
They hold to traditional values and practices and expect
women to behave accordingly. Women therefore have
to face many obstacles in working for the development
of their villages.
Difficulties and hurdles
In a male-dominated society, women were considered
fit only for house-work and family chores. They were
considered unfit for politics. Even women started thinking
for themselves. However, if women are ignorant about
the outside world, it is not due to lack of intelligence,
but because they were deprived of information about other
activities. Similarly men are ignorant about house-keeping because they have never participated
in it. However all human beings can learn many things because both men and women have
intelligence and grasping power. So the women in power have to be bold enough to go
beyond the household stoves to occupy the chairs in the Panchayat as a matter of right,
gather correct information about the type of activities they
can do for development of their village, and express their
ideas about it.
An example
When a group of villages in Vidarbha elected women
who formed the first women Panchayat there, the former
male Panchayat members threw all the furniture out of
the office and replaced it with cow-dung containers before
the meeting Women must be prepared to overcome such
resentment and opposition and take initiative to begin
I 27 |
the work themselves. They must not wait for anyone to come forward to guide them.
Women are not puppets : We do not want rights like puppets just for namesake Women
members must never meekly sign papers brought home
by the male members who have made their own decisions
at their meetings. Women must attend the meetings,
'A
participate in decision-making using their own discretion
and be aware of what is going on.
Countering vested interests : Conscientious and
?
. "‘B
intelligent work undertaken by women may harm some
vested interests in the village eg. funds for development
schemes are sent to the Gramsevak first. These are men
who have worked there before and already know about
the plans. Although some of them cooperate with the new
women members and welcome their participation, there
are some corrupt men who want to protect their own interests
about undertaking schemes for the benefit of their own
groups. Such influential members may avoid giving
ftI
information, obstruct the activities or even expect signatures
on blank cheques or documents. At times a no-confidence
‘S**
motion is filed against the woman. But women have to
support each other to face such difficulties. A woman can
J
do her work in spite of such hindrances with support from
her family and women’s groups in the community.
At the time of the declaration of reservation of seats for women there was much discussion
as to which women would join this participation process . It was thought that women from
the political leader’s families would be the only ones who would join, leaving intact men’s
hold over the political systems. However till now 10 lakh wamen from independent organizations
from the States have come forward. They have recognized
the need for education and information.
Proving oneself
Women have made a beginning of proving
themselves by participating in the political arena Moving
out of their homes, meeting other members speaking
out in meetings has strengthened their confidence. Just
as a woman uses her money in the interest of her family
rather than herself in domestic affairs, in politics too,
she has made a difference. As several examples show
r 281
the problem of water which affects women more acutely
than men has been tackled effectively with the entry of
women in Panchayati Raj.
Education is the third eye (Education: An eye-
opener)
Although many woman members are uneducated, they
know the importance of education. They have tried to
educate themselves and their children. There are many
instances of improvement in schools-more classrooms,
repair of leaking roofs, better buildings and roads for
schools and ensuring regular attendance by teachers.
In some areas since girls have no means of transport
to high schools in distant villages their parents were not
\
keen to send them to schools for reasons of safety etc.
V
There the elected women started a “Rasta-Roko”
movement, to get a suitable bus service for them (which
had been denied to them in spite of submitting applications
and meeting officials). Thus they are improving the “vision”
of the villagers.
Alcoholism
A lot of women and families have been ruined by alcoholism. In order to prevent this,
women in - Panchayats have worked to abolish drinking in their villages. In some places
they were successful, but in others there are vested interests of men which hinder their
efforts. They are usually supported in their efforts by their fellow villagers or Mahila Mandal.
Progress
Just as women have vehemently taken up issues of prohibition, they must tackle broader
issues like roads, buildings and electricity. They must study the problems of crimes against
women, and related laws. They need to consult books, social organisations and social workers
to solve the problems of the affected victims of social crimes like rape and violation against wamen.
Cooperation of All
Participation of women does not mean rivalry with men Neither gender can have progress
without the support of the other Future society well depend on equal justice and opportunities
for both men and women.
The story of Fatima Bi is well-known. She received the Asia Pacific Award for Fighting
I 29 |
Poverty from UNO in 1998. She is an uneducated citizen
from Kalwa, a small village in Andhra Pradesh. When
she became Sarpanch in 1995, she stepped out of her
conservative home for the first time. She gave priority
to bringing basic facilities of roads, drinking water and
electricity to her backward village. Alongside, she
transformed the illiterate villagers by encouraging
education, starting industries with rural saving banks and
freed the community from the grip of money-lenders. Care
centres were opened for children of working women and
they soon overcame age-old practices like child-marriage
and family-feuds. The performance of Fatima Bi is commendable specially because it was
done against all odds and without any backing of education or money.
Self Study
•
The perspectives of both men and women need to be altered for participation in the
Panchayat . What do you think about the statement. Does the progress of a woman
lead to the progress of her home and village too? Give an example.
Exercises
Women got the right to participate in the Panchayat by the Amendment the Constitution
1. 29
2. 73
3. 74
4. 33
2. In spite of reservation for women in Panchayat Rule, their participation is less due to
1. Lack of information
2. Male dominance
3. Lack of education
4. All the above
3. To raise the confidence of women in Panchayat Rule, we need
1. Spread of education
2. Provision of information
3. Making women aware of Rights
4. Reservation
z The foremost indicator of the Progress of a country
1. Employment/Education for all
2. Progress of women, children, backward tribes, development of natural resources
3. Rising rate of economic progress
4. All the above
5. The decision to amend the constitution for strengthening the Panchayat Rule system was
given by
1. Indira Gandhi
2. Rajeev Gandhi
3. Pandit Nehru
4. Lal Bahadur Shastri
I 31 |
Key
Answers
1-2, 2-4, 3-3, 4-4, 5-2
32~]
Lesson 4
The right to information - A powerful tool of
democracy
Aims
You shall obtain the following information after reading this chapter.
•
Information is an extremely important factor in public and private life.
•
What is information? Why is information necessary?
•
In India, many organisations had to fight a fierce battle to obtain the right to information.
•
What is the character of the Central Right to Information Act, 2005?
•
A common person can use the right to information to address his/her personally and
socially related public difficulties.
Knowledge
'ou shall observe
Democracy and Panchayat Raj can come forth in its true sense only when citizens
remain alert.
The right to information is one of the fundamental rights provided by the Indian Constitution.
The right to information can make revolutionary changes in democracy.
The right to information is necessary to enlighten citizens about their rights and powers.
Skill
You shall learn
•
How to actually use the right to information.
•
How to use the right to information to bring transparency and accountability in the
administration of the institutions of democracy and Panchayat Raj.
Opinion
You shall think
Democracy cannot come into being without the participation of the people.
Any faults in the Panchayat Raj system can be corrected with the right to information.
Like food, clothing and shelter, information regarding the administration of the institution
of Panchayat Raj is a basic necessity as well.
The life of the common man can become better and prosperous by using the right to
information.
33
Preface
In the last chapter you learned that the government is striving towards increasing the
participation of the people, right from planning to implementation of development schemes
and beyond. If rural development is to be actually achieved, the maximum responsibility
lies with the villagers. Nothing can be achieved if we only exercise your right to vote once
every five years and think that we have done our duty and then blame the government for
the condition in our village. We have not been able to comprehend the system of democracy
even after 58 years of independence. Gandhiji’s dream will turn to reality only if we understand
the true meaning of democracy.
In this system, the people’s representatives and the public servants that we have elected
work as trustees. They are supposed use our tax money in our best interests and for our
development. Instead, in the past 58 years, the morals of these trustees and public servants
have gradually deteriorated and corruption is prevalent everywhere. Rather than using the
people’s funds appropriately, these opportunists use it to fill their pockets. A kind of apathy
is observed in the community due to this practice. ‘I cannot recover form all these conditions,
I am defenceless’, this feeling of despondency can be observed everywhere. Are the conditions
really so bad? Is this feeling of despondency justified? We shall attempt to find the answers
to all these questions in this chapter.
The greatest flaws in the implementation of the Panchayat Raj system are ignorance
and apathy. The main reason for this ignorance is the obstruction of the average voter from
obtaining information regarding the government administration. Today, all these questions
have to be faced by the people due to the closed-door decisions and the secretive use
of money by the implementing officers of the Panchayat Raj system. We are living a life
filled with inferiority complex believing that they have all powers and we are merely common
citizens. The solution to the flaws in the Panchayat Raj system is eradicating this inferiority
complex and making people aware of the fact that ‘I am a competent resident of this village,
I am going to run my village government and we will take development decisions in our
village’. Even after all these flaws are rectified, the responsibility for strengthening this system
lies with us. For the same, we are going to study an Indian citizen’s fundamental right to
information in this chapter.
Why is information necessary?
Since we elect our representative to run the Government it is said that ‘In Democracy
government represents the people’. All public works are executed for us by using our own
money In order to ensure that these works are executed according to our needs, we should
have complete information about these works. Hence, the village residents have the right
I
i
I 34 |
to be informed as to who took the decision of the work in the village? When was the decision
taken? Where is this work going to take place? What is the estimated expenditure? How
many people are going to be employed for this work? Furthermore, who is responsible
if this work is not executed or if it is of poor quality? The residents of the village have
the right to obtain information about all these things. This is known as ‘right to informa,tion’.
Many such decisions are taken which is related to our life. A large amount of our money
is spent in government work. This is the reason that we must know about such essential
issues. There would be no opportunity for corruption if there is transparency in the execution
and administration of all work. The government or the administration is for the people and
is bound by law. The administration could be held liable if a work is not executed in a
proper manner. In such a case, legal proceedings can be carried out against the guilty
official or politician. This is termed as ‘The accountability of the administration towards the
people or the administration being responsible for the people’.
‘Information’ is as important as food, clothing and shelter. Information is necessary for
taking knowledgeable decisions, for obtaining the context of various types of topics, for
understanding important details, for understanding our rights or powers as well as for holding
the administration responsible for any evasion in their work. In this present age, man’s life
has become very fast and new researches are being carried out in the field of social and
natural sciences at the same speed. Decisions can consequently be taken only on the basis
of systematic, detailed and precise information.
What is information?
Information is knowledge about a certain incident, reaction or person or principle. We
obtain information about incidents in the past, present as well as that in the future through
reading, pictures, experience or any other form of public proclamation. Information provides
knowledge. But, information is not knowledge. That is why information is the mother of
knowledge. In short, information is a resource as well as a power that creates capability.
How is information obtained?
As mentioned above, information is obtained through reading and experience, but to
understand our rights and powers or to take a decision on a certain topic or question,
various orders, decisions, minutes of the meetings, bills, register entries, rules, documentation,
records, plans, etc. of the administration are regarded as important. This information is
. necessary. Therefore, obtaining all these things and their easy accessibility is akin to getting
the right to information
»
I 35 |
Who has given us the right to information?
The original laws of this country give us this right. This is known as the ‘Constitution’
According to the constitution, we have certain fundamental rights and it is the duty of the
government to protect them. The government cannot transgress on this authority. But, in
special cases, temporary restraint may be imposed on it for the welfare of the people. Two
of the fundamental rights provide us with the right to information.
1. The right of freedom of thought and expression (Section 19 (1) of the Indian
constitution)
This means, to speak freely and to express our thoughts without hesitation and without
fear. Expression means the proclamation of our sentiments - we can do so through the
medium of speech, writing, pictures or songs, dance or films. We can express our thoughts
favouring or opposing any topic. This right also includes the right to information. Till we
have information about a certain topic, we cannot speak about it.
2. The right of existence and individual freedom (Section 21 of the Indian constitution)
This means, the right to obtain all things necessary for the protection of our existence
and life. This includes the right to live a life of dignity and without grievance. This also
encompasses the right to obtain necessary information regarding the issues that relate to
our life.
If providing information is the government’s duty, why is it so difficult to obtain?
Thist, question may also arise in our mind. We have trouble obtaining information from
government offices due to the following reasons 1. There are certain laws which can hinder access to information. For example, the Indian
Official Secrecy Act passed by the British government in 1923. The act was passed by
that government during the First World War sp that important official documents and information
do not fall into the enemy’s hands. The wqr ended and truce was declared, but the Official
Secrecy Act still exists ftie British handqd over this act to us when they left this country
«nd it is now being usefj by the politicians and officials for their benefit to obstruct the
common man from obtaining information. High-handedness, dilatoriness in work, corruption,
avoiding people-participqtion as it is difficult to remain honest in work, these are a few
of the ill effects of the Official Secrecy Act.
2. The documents, bonds, files in the government offices are kept such that they get spoiled
arid are attacked by white ants. Thus, the required information cannot be obtained.
I
I 36 |
3 People do not even know that they have a right to obtain information. They do not exercise
the power of their right if an official does not provide them with the required information,
and look at going to court against the official as a waste of time and money.
How can we obtain this right?
We can obtain this right only when -
The government orders all departments and the officials of these departments to provide
information to the people.
Changes are made in various laws and information is provided through them.
A single act that provides all types of information to the people is passed.
A radical change is warranted in the education system, which can transform the disposition
of public employees from that being of the owners of the public system to service providers.
They should realize that they are accountable to the people and it is their duty to provide
all the information to the public concerning them and the work surviving on public funds.
It is important to have a consensus over the fact that public duties, collective efforts,
development work is people’s own responsibility. Local popular media should reinforce
this.
Who first recognised the importance of information?
The merchants first recognised the importance of information. They had understood that
the success of their business depended on correct information regarding which type of goods
would sell in which community. The politicians were next in understanding its importance.
Politicians can estimate their next move to maintain their popularity in their constituency
on the basis of information. For their own benefits, politicians, merchants and persons from
this community working for them have been making strenuous efforts to keep the obtained
information to themselves and ensure that nobody else uses this wealth of information.
The common man has the right to obtain such information in reality, but the common
man has always remained ignorant of this sort of ‘information’. Information may have hindered
somebody at some point in time, but information did not become their key issue. Since
the common man does not require a lot of information, mediums like newspapers also did
not strive very hard to obtain information. In short, neither did the common man take to
the streets saying ‘provide information’ and nor did they ever demand for that right.
When did the common man realise this?
There came a time when even the common man s existence was being snatched away
When people started slowly becoming aware of the fact that somebody was cheating them,
they felt the need for obtaining a thing called 'information' But wTio would let the power
I 37 |
' , till now, were fairly used
called 'information’ out of their hands so easily? The people who,
shelter did not know that they would also have to fight
to fighting for food, clothing and s-------
for the right to information
The consumer forums felt an acute need for the right to information.
The consumers are deceived by the merchant class. When these consumer forums observed
that consumers are not provided the true information about the product or service, they decided
to fight against it legally Taking the 'welfare of the consumer’ into consideration, an extensive
movement began under the leadership of Mr. Bmdumadhav Joshi. This movement included
the right to information along with consumer rights. This consumer’s movement, which began
in 1974, fought constantly and intelligently and finally got the 'consumer protection act’ passed
on 26th December 1986.
The movement for the right to information and its consequences
Even though the consumer’s movement included the right to information, it was in a different
form. This fight took place as information was necessary in order to ensure that people,
as 'consumers’, are not deceived As a result, people started feeling that 'we are hindered
due to lack of information’.
People became aware of the fact that they should obtain information which they did not
so far obtain. There is an ongoing battle for the past few years for obtaining the right to
information. It began in Rajasthan.
1. ‘Janasunvai’ (Public hearings) of Rajasthan
In 1994, under the instructions of Aruna Roy and Nikhil De, the 'Majdoor Kisan Shakti
Sanghatana’ organisation began a movement for the right to information through the medium
of 'Janasunvai’ (Public hearings) in Rajasthan. This organisation began their fight on the
issue of minimum wages for labour. At that time the mode of work was such that all decisions
regarding village development works were taken by the centre (form the capital). A few people
recognised that the decisions taken in this manner did not lead to the development of the
village, but benefitted only few middle men and hence, it was decided that the process
of development should not take place from 'top to bottom’, but form 'bottom to top’ and
this organisation supporting land-less farmer labourers, small farmers and women was founded
by Aruna Roy and Nikihil De with a resolve that the villagers shall work for the development
of their village on their own. One of their initiatives, by the name of ‘Janasunvayi’, i.e. public
hearings, came into being in Rajasthan. This public hearing was infact a public court
Since the organisation started a programme of indefinite protest exactly at the time of
r38~i
elections, the Chief. Minister authorized taking notes from the official documents manually.
But this order was not what was demanded and hence the protest continued The Government
finally appointed a committee in order to decide the method for providing information to
the public, and the protest was withdrawn.
There are many facets to the movement in Rajasthan. The participation of women is
an extremely important and decisive part of that movement. The right to information of MKSS
assumed the form of a successful movement, due to the effective tool of 'public hearing' adopted
by them. (Hence, the government had no option but to create the ‘right to information’ act.)
2. Maharashtra - ‘Public movement against corruption’
At the same time, a public movement against corruption began in Maharashtra in 1997
under the leadership of senior social worker Mr. Anna Hazare. The movement laid special
emphasis on four topics - the awakening of the voters, abolishing the Official Secrecy Act,
authority to the village assembly and right to information. The following are the thoughts
of Mr Anna Hazare on these topics 1 Our selfish politicians are trying to divide unified India by using caste, religion and bring
about anti social activities in the community and country. It is necessary that the voters be
alert in order to control this. The status of the candidate asking for votes is inferior to that
of the voter.
The voter has the right to question this candidate. The candidate can make false promises
when asking for votes and hence, the voter should take a written affidavit from this candidate,
asserting that the candidate will fulfil all promises, and the voter should have the right to
summon him back in case he does not fulfil the promises.
2. Confidentiality has always presented more opportunity for corruption. This has also
encouraged the public servants in carrying out injustices to the public. The confidentiality has
not been abolished even after 58 years of independence. Confidentiality has snatched away
citizen’s freedom. This is why every citizen must now revolt against the Official Secrecy Act.
3. The country has its Lok Sabha, the state has its Vidhan Sabha and similarly, the village
Gram Sabha is the village assembly. Akin to the country and state having a Prime Minister
and a Chief Minister respectively, the village also has a Sarpanch and the executive body,
it is necessary that all decisions taken by the executive assembly pertaining to the development
work be discussed in the village assembly and implemented according to the decision taken
in the village assembly. Though this decision was taken in the 73" constitutional amendment,
it is not being implemented The oft repeated phrase 'Participation of the people in the
work of the government’, is incorrect; if the government has been instated by the people,
then the phrase should be 'Participation of the government in the work of the people
i
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| 39 |
4. The money accumulating in the government treasury in the form of various taxes is the
people’s money People have elected the Members of Legislature and Members of Parliament
as their representatives at various levels to ensure that this money is used only for the
welfare of the community and the country. The President has selected a few chartered officers
and appointed them to serve the public. This means that the people’s representatives and
officers are public servants. How have these two elements planned the people’s money
while working as servants? How much money has been spent? What is the balance? How
has this money been spent? Every citizen has the right to obtain information about all these
things.
Anna Hazare held assemblies at various places in Maharashtra and awakened the masses.
By adopting the path of agitation and fasting at opportune times, the government was compelled
to pass the right to information bill.
There were similar movements in Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Tamil Nadu for obtaining
the right to information and the government was compelled to pass the act regarding the
right to information Nine states in India have provided the people with the right to information.
But all these acts will not stand true to the test ‘The right to information for the existence
of a village labourer’. It has more restrictions than rights. Taking this into consideration,
various organisations and voluntary institutions have been constantly asking the central
government for a single comprehensive act.
The central government passed the Central Right to Information Act 2005 on 11th May
2005 and it came into force in the whole country from 12th October 2005.
Panchayat Raj system and the right to information:
Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRIs) of various levels are executing various rural development
works in the state, e g. roads, various buildings, percolation tanks, dams, health facilities,
education, farm development and many more. The Gram Panchayat also executes development
work along with providing the residents with basic necessities. They have the authority to
collect money in the form of taxes. The Central as well as the State government grants
the Zilla Parishad and the Gram Panchayat, funds on a large scale. These funds must be
used effectively. The right to information can be used for the same excellently. This can
bring transparency in the work of the PRIs.
This Act can bring more transparency in the administration of Gram Panchayat. The
government has approximately determined the directive principles as regards the utilisation
of the income of the Gram Panchayat for various sections of the community. It maintains,
an expenditure of 0 to 25 % for the general administration, 10% for the development of
women and children, 15% for the welfare of the Scheduled Castes and Schedule Tribes
I 40 |
and 22% for all the work relating to the Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana (SGRY). In
Maharashtra development works are not being carried out presently as per these provisions.
We can obtain this information by utilising our right to information This will compel the Gram
Panchayat to spend only on public development We can ensure appropriate functioning
of Panchayat Raj by exercising our rights and performing our duties as a citizen.
Central Right to Information Act, 2005
It is essential to study the important provisions of this Act in order to utilise it like from
whom and how do we request for information, what is the time limit for receiving the desired
information, what do we do in case we do not receive the information, etc.
The scope of this Act
This Act is applicable to all Central and State Government
offices of our country, government /semi government
organisations, businesses, programmes, judicial system,
legislative body, parliament house, all government aided
organisations, banks, cooperative banks, educational
institutions, all PRIs, charitable organisations, all non
government organisations that receive direct or indirect
monetary aid from the central and state government.
The forms of information
This includes, any type of information that is under the control of a government authority
including, records, documentation, emails, memos, opinions, press releases, orders, contracts,
reports, circulars, log books, sample, model as well as information in the written or electronic
form.
This Act provides every citizen a very important right of inspecting the documents personally.
From whom should information be requested?
Appointing public information officers, assistant Public Information Officers and appellate
authority in the government offices at every level, i.e. state, district, Taluka and village, is
mandatory as per this act. For example, the Tehsildar has been appointed as the information
officer The extension officer of the Panchayat Samiti has been designated as an Information
officer and the Block Development Officer as the First Appeal officer. An application for
information must be. submitted to the Information officer appointed in every office.
[41 |:
Right to Information - Organizational set up (National and State level)
The right to irrformatxxi
Central Government
(Central Information Commission) Second appeal
I
I
State Government
(State Information Commission) Second appeal
Central Governmental Offices/lnstrtutions
State Government Offices/lnstitutions
First appeal officer
First appeal officer
I
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Public Information Officer
Public Information Officer
Assistant public information officer
Assistant public information officer
_________________________
Rule related to requesting information
Maharashtra Government has published a few rules in this
act for Maharashtra and they are as follows.
1. In order to request for information, an application must
be made to the corresponding information officer in the
format given below. Rs. 10 must be paid in the form of
cash, cheque, money order, demand draft, banker’s cheque
or court fee stamp.
I 42 |
Format of application for obtaining information under the
Right to Information Act, 2005
Annexure “A”
Affix here Court Fee
Stamp of Rs. 10/-
(See rule 3)
To.
The State Public Information Officer,
(Name of the office with address)
(1) Full name of the applicant:
(2) Address:
___________
(3) Particulars of information required
Subject matter of information. *
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
CM
M
___________________
The period to which the information relates. #
Description of the information required $
Whether information is required by post or in person
(The actual postal charges shall be included in additional fees)
In case by post
(Ordinary, Registered or Speed)
(4) Whether the applicant is below poverty line
(if yes, attach the photo copy of the proof thereof)
Place :
Date :
Signature of the Applicant
* Broad category of the subject to be indicated (such as grant of Government land/ Service matters / Licenses,
etc.)
# Relevant period for which information is required to be indicated.
$ Specific details of the information is required to be indicated.
2. The officer is bound by law to provide the said information within thirty days. Photocopy
charges of Rs. 2Z- per page shall have to be paid for the documents that shall be given
while providing information. Postage shall have to be paid in case the information is to
be delivered by mail. Rs. 50/- shall have to be paid in case the information is to be provided
on a diskette or floppy disk.
3. The records can be viewed in person free of charge for the first hour. A fee of Rs. 5/
- shall be taken for every fifteen minutes after the first hour.
4. An appeal can be made against the information officer using the format given below
in case he does not provide the information on time or provides false and partial information.
5. If the decision to the appeal is not satisfactory, appeal to the State information commission
as per the following format. Rs. 20/- shall have to be paid along with the application.
I
Appeal under section 19 (1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005
Annexure “B”
Affix here Court Fee
[See rule 5(1)]
Stamp of Rs. 20/-
From:
(Appellant's name and address)
To:
(Name/designation/address of the appellate authority)
First appeal
sample
application
(1) Full name of the appellant.
(2) Address:
(3) Particulars of the State Public Information Officer:
(4) Date of receipt of the order appealed against.
(if order passed)
(5) Last date for filing the appeal:
(6) The grounds for appeal:
(7) Particulars of information:
(i)
Nature and subject matter of the information required.
(ii)
Name of the Office or Department to which the information relates
Place :
Signature of the Applicant
Date .
Second Appeal under section 19 (3J of the Right to Information Act, 2005
Annexure “C”
[See rule 5 (2)]
Affix here Court Fee
Stamp of Rs. 20/-
From:
(Appellant’s name and address)
To.
Second
appeal
sample
application
(1) Full name of the appellant:
(2) Address.
(3) Particulars of the State Public Information Officer:
(4) Particulars of the First Appellate Authority:
(5) Date of receipt of the order appealed against.
(6) Last date for filing the appeal:
(7) The grounds for appeal.
(i)
Nature and subject matter of the information required.
(ii)
Name of the Office or Department to which the information relates
Place :
Date :
Signature of the Applicant
r^n
Central right to information Act, 2005
Important steps
1.
The time limit, within which an information officer must provide/refuse
information after receiving an application
30 days
2.
If the application is submitted to the Assistant Public Information Officer
35 days
3
If the information is about a third party
40 days
4
For information regarding a person's life and freedom
45 days
5.
Time limit for an appeal against the decision of central/state
public information officer
30 days
6.
Time limit for an appeal against the decision of central/state
public appeal officer
90 days
Postal addresses of the Information Commissioner:
Central Government - Dr. Wajahat Habibullah, Central Information Commissioner, Block 4,
Fifth floor, Jawaharlal Nehru University Road, Old Campus, New Delhi -110067
Maharashtra Government - Dr. Suresh Joshi, State Information Commissioner, Fifteenth floor,
New Administrative building, Opposite Mantralay, Mumbai -400032
An information officer may be fined Rs. 250/- (Rupees Two hundred and fifty) per day
for the total number of days by which the information is delayed if he knowingly refuses
to accept a citizen’s application or does not provide the information within the specified
time limit or provides misleading or false or incomplete information or for any reason, knowingly
destroys the information. This act has a provision for a maximum fine of Rs. 25,000/- (Up
to Rupees Twenty five thousand) which shall be deducted from his salary.
Take the following points into consideration while exercising the right to information-
1
The most important thing is being aware of whether the information requested by
us is personal or important from the social point of view.
2.
Utilise the information constructively and for the welfare of the community or to avoid
mistakes. Do not use the information to trouble the related officer or contractor.
3.
Do not use the court fee stamp while applying at the Central Government office for
4
information.
Obtain complete information about the related department before requesting for information,
including information regarding the Public Information Officer and appeal officer
5
While requesting for information regarding public welfare, contact the related social
Service institutions
NQOjr and follow fhem advice
I
I 45 |
6
It is necessary to pay the fee in the legally decided form while submitting an application
through the right to information
7
The application for information must be concise
8
Request precisely for the required information. Bear in mind that expenses are going
to be incurred for this information.
9. It is necessary to note down your full address and date as well as your signature
on the application.
10. While applying for information, obtain information about the approximate total expense
for the requested information from the information officer Take it in writing form the
information officer, if possible.
11. While submitting the application personally, do not forget to take the receipt
acknowledgement along with the date on the xerox copy of the application.
12. If the application is to be submitted by post, try and send it by register post and
keep the receipt safely.
Examples of the utilisation of the act
The general misconception is that law is very difficult, only well educated people can
understand it and use it. The general public from various states has used the right to information
to solve their problems till now. The government of Maharashtra approved the Right to
Information Act in September 2002. More that thirty thousand applications have been submitted
under this act in approximately three years. In these three years, social service organisations
have made an effort to acquaint the general public with this act The effect was such that
in the first four months since the act was approved more than one lakh twenty thousand
(1,20,000) applications were submitted from the urban and rural areas of Maharashtra. Let
us now see a few indicative examples of the use of this act Example -1
An organisation from Delhi called Parivartan obtained
information regarding roads of a certain section. Through this
information they became aware of a clause in the agreement
stating that the roads should be of a specific thickness. As
per the Delhi Right to Information Act there are provisions for
checking the sample of work. The workers of the organisation
actually dug up a part of the road to check a sample and
discovered that the road was not of the depth specified in the
agreement The workers then held a public hearing where the
public were made aware of this. The administration then
corrected the flaw in the road
I 46 |
I
Example - 2
In 2004, work was in progress on a dam in a village in Pune District through the Employment
Guarantee Scheme, wherein 117 labourers were employed The labourers complained to the
Tehsildar that they were being paid low wages and when they were provided with food grains
from the ration shop, they were made to pay fifty additional paise for every kilo.
This complaint was not duly registered. Hence, the office bearers of the village consumer
forum finally utilised their right to information to request for information regarding the same. This
issue had to be followed up for almost eight months. Once a complaint was made in the Divisional
Commission office, the commissioner ordered the district office to provide the requested
information immediately. An inquiry was conducted based on that information and the licence of
the ration shopkeeper was cancelled.
We must learn to utilise this act:
This act has granted concessions to the poor and hence, this is an act that truly gives power
to the poor. The people living belowthe poverty line shall not have to pay any fee for obtaining
information and others shall have to pay minimum fees to obtain the required documents.
Though the right to information is a powerful tool of democracy, it will turn out to be a mere
showpiece in a museum if it is not used effectively. It is inconvincible that a person can feel that
this act is impossible for the general public to use. Common people have brought a check on
the unhindered corrupt administration of the government and public servants in various states
by requesting the government for information and by using them effectively. We must also make
a firm resolve that we shall provide information to a maximum number of people about this act
and shall encourage them to use it.
I
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Exercise questions
1 Answer in brief -
1 What should be done to bring democracy in its true sense?
2 Explain the importance of information in Panchayat Raj
3 Provide information about the public movement for the right to information in Maharashtra
and Rajasthan
4 How would you request for information from a government office or local independent
organisation?
5 Has anyone utilised the right to information? If yes, provide information about the same.
2. Select the appropriate option.
1. Who actually has the responsibility for the development of the village?
A) State Government B) General public
C) Central Government
D) Political party
2. The real reason for the laxity in the implementation of the Panchayat Raj system is
A) Lack of information in the general voter B) Corruption at the government level
C) Politics of the political parties
D) Lack of funds
3. Information means -
A) A power that creates knowledge
B) A resource
C) An important factor in taking decisions
D) All of the above
4. Who recognised the importance of information first?
A) The rulers
B) The British Government
C) Merchants
D) Political parties
5. In which state did the first movement for the right to information occur?
A) Maharashtra
B) Karnataka
C) Rajasthan
D) Tamil Nadu
6. Under whose leadership did the movement for the right to freedom occur in Maharashtra?
A) Shri. Shivaji Raut
B) Shri. Anna Hazare
C) Smt. Aruna Roy
D) Shri. Mohan Dhariya
Fill in the blanks -
1. As per the Indian constitution the right to information is a
2. As per section
and
of the Indian constitution
the citizens have the right to information.
3.
actually means public court.
4 This act was in existence in
states before the Central Right to Information
Act was passed
5 On____________
the Central Right to Information Act came into force in
the whole country
I
Lesson 5
Air and it’s importance
Aims
On reading this lesson you will understand
What is “air”.
The importance of energy.
Information about conventional and non-conventional sources of energy.
Knowledge
You will know about
•
The scientific definition of air and energy.
•
Types of fuel.
Skill
You will learn about
Which fuels can be used in place of firewood.
What is the connection between source of fuel and health
Perspective
You will realize that
•
Pure air and fuel are our national wealth.
•
It is necessary to use non-conventional sources of energy to overcome the problem of
fuel shortage.
f 49 |
Air
A gardener called Rahima lived in Rampur. She was
very hardworking She would attend to her garden every
day It was full of plants, especially vegetables. From the
money earned, she changed her tiled house into a
concrete structure.
Since her family did not enjoy the food cooked on
the gas-stove, she used her traditional stove
Gradually Rahima developed a burning sensation in
her eyes Why do you think this happened suddenly after
her forties? The smoke from the traditional stove was trapped in the concrete house. Earlier,
it would have escaped through the tiles.
Information about Air
All living beings need air for survival. They breathe
in only the oxygen from air which is mixed with moisture
and other gases and breathe out carbon dioxide with
other unwanted gases.
Plants in other hand inhale the carbon dioxide to pre
pare food and breathe out oxigen during the day.
6
Air is a mixture of the following gases - Nitrogen
- 76%, Oxygen - 21%, CO2 and dust particles in minute
m
quantities.
When living beings breathe through the nose, the hair
in it prevent dust from entering the throat or lower organs i.e.,
trachea, lungs etc.
Man needs both air and fuel for burning of food in our body. Thus fuel is energy. Every
organism needs energy to move, grow and reproduce.
Fuel is used to cook food, for illumination and other work.
Fire is a kind of fuel discovered by man to do various
Whenever we work, we feel tired because we use
our energy How is this energy created? Our food
itains carbohydrates
proteins, fat, vitamins and
lerals These are converted into juices by digestion
is excreted The absorbed food extracts, reach
I
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the cells where they are burned using oxygen This action creates energy
The Need for Air
Although we need food and water, we simultaneously have a greater necessity for air.
Every living being needs air for breathing
We also need air for burning. We use fuels like kerosene, firewood and coal to cook
food They all bum using oxygen. Thus air is needed to burn any fuel, even in a candle.
This can be tested as follows Light a candle. Place a glass tumbler upside down
over the candle, it will get extinguished as soon as the
oxygen around it is over.
Similarly, at times a patient
is given oxygen artificially. That shows the importance
of oxygen.
The significance of oxygen and air for
respiration
We may be able to live without food or water for
some days but it is impossible to live without air or oxygen.
We have already studied how with each breath we take
in our lungs and subsequently exhale it. This is termed
as respiration. During inhalation we take in oxygen from the air, during exhalation we breathe
out carbon dioxide.
The reason for requirement of oxygen
We do a lot of work for which we need energy. This
is created by slow burning of carbohydrates and sugar
in our body. Just as a vehicle burns fuel to run, this
process uses oxygen. Both need air. Burning of food
not only creates energy to work but also maintains body
temperature.
When we run or climb a staircase, we get tired and
our breathing becomes more rapid. What is the reason
for this. In order to produce strength and heat there’s
a continuous slow burning of the carbohydrates available
frpm our food in our body. For this burning process oxygen is essential which is provided
when we breath When we breath in through the nose it is called inhaling In exhaling, bodily
impurities such as Carbondioxide and water vapour are thrown out Our nostrils have hair
in them wtnich filter the air we inhale and thus prevent dust particles from entering the breathing
tube.
Air Pollution
Burning creates substances that pollute the
atmosphere Smoke from factories, vehicles, furnaces
and domestic burners (‘chulhaa’) is a major polluter. The
quantity of smoke is increasing day-by-day and so are
other polluting factors. Pollution is witnessed everywhere.
All factories, big and small, emit particulate matter, carbon-
3
compounds, sulphurus compounds to pollute the air.
There’s also the decomposing waste and plants releasing
pollutants. For thousands of years - and even today rural people are using wood or cowdung-cakes in domestic burners which produce
considerable smoke. Brick-kilns too give out an alarming
quantity of smoke.
Dry grass and leaves are also burnt in the fields
creating smoke. This burning is supposed to be beneficial
to improve the fertility of the soil and reduce weeds.
A -
\
Alongwith burning, pollutants are released through
decomposing of various substances. Adding to the
menace is the coloured powders (‘Gulaal’) we throw in
the air while celebrating our festivals. Many chemical
processes in factories and mills spread dust particles,
noxious gases and hair-thin cotton fibres. Many children
from poor families are engaged in making baloons, colours, firecrackers etc. Their lungs - and
ultimately their efficiency - get adversly affected from working in polluted surroundings.
Domestic Fuel
Coal, firewood, and kerosene are used mainly in
rural areas. When wet wood is burnt, it gives out a lot
of smoke. When it enters the nose or mouth it reaches
the blood. Its harmful effects harm the health of family
members.
Many trees are cut for requirement of wood
Irritation by smoke
Smoke entering the body while cooking is equivalent
to that of smoke from burning of 200 cigarettes The
TM- HO
C1Z]
‘Gulal" (red power) used during festivities or at pilgrimage centres, is also harmful
Why is incense burnt in the house
People believe that burning incense keeps away harmful animals like snakes, frogs and
scorpions from homes. Some also think that it wards off the evil spirits People burn incense
during religious rituals.
Fuel for vehicles
All means of transport need fuel. When petrol or diesel is burnt to create energy in
vehicles dangerous gases and particles are given out These emissions can cause con
ditions like cancer and respiratory diseases. While transport has brought distant places together
excessive use of vehicles will soon deplete our fuel resources.
Natural Ventilation
Air must move all over the house so that impure air can go outside the house and
fresh air can enter. If you get a bad odour when your step into the house from outside,
you can presume that proper ventilation is absent.
Natural ventilation means having doors or windows
opposite each other so that air enters from one side anc
goes out from the other.
How ventilation takes place
The impurities in the air are increased by the breathing
of the people living inside the house, the burning of fuel
in the kitchen and of lights. Impure air moves upwards
If there is a tiled roof, or some porous openings near
the roof, it can go out. A vacuum is created inside the
house. Fresh air from outside enters through windows
and doors to take its place. This movement is called ventilation
The structure suitable for proper ventilation
The house must have its doors and windows facing each other. It must have ventilator
or shutters above, or the roof should be tiled.
The kitchen should be to the East of the house so that sunlight can enter and destroy
bacteria It will also prevent insects. Hot air above the fireplace should be able to go out
of the kitchen and fresh air enter it.
The roof of the house should have a small transparent patch of glass or plastic to allow
Si
■:
■
sunliqht h-
the '•
>■
f
.
• - planter '
I 53 |
house so that they do not obstruct sunlight
The house should be built slightly above the ground
level This reduces dampness and prevents pests like
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II
rats from entering the house The size and height or rooms
should be sufficient to admit enough air inside
The walls should be painted white (with lime) to allow
the brightness of sunshine to reflect and keep out
I.
mosquitoes and other insects
,i
* !•
The windows should have nets or frames of wire to
admit air even when closed at night
Solution to pollution: We can do the following to control pollution -
1 Producing and utilising energy more efficiently, using modern techniques
For example • usage of smokeless burners,
• solar cookers, windmills
• biogas plants
2 Reducing vehicle population and their usage, reducing exhausts
3 Stringent anti-pollution norms to be set and implimented in industries
4 Increasing the green cover by aforestation
5 Spreading awareness in people
Major pollutants and how they affect our health
1
Carbon Monoxide
Reduces oxygen-retaining capacity of blood
source: vehicular exhaust
2
Hydrocarbons
Lung cancer
source: vehicular exhaust
3
4
source: factories, burning of coal
Burning sensation in eyes and breathing-tube,
cough, breathlessness
Pesticides
Harmful changes, death after long-drawn
Sulphur Dioxide
source: their production and use
5
Leaded smoke
source: vehicular exhaust
Accumulation of toxins - harmful to nervous
system
Self Study
• How can people’s attitude towards fuel be changed^
• How should the interrelationship of air with health be explained to people9
54
Exercises
gas for survival
1 We need
1 O2
gas.
2. Trees prepare food with the
1 O,2
4. Hydrogen
3. Nitrogen
2. CO2
4 Hydrogen
3. Nitrogen
2. CO
—2
} The percentage of O2 in air is
1 73
3 30
2 29
76
A
4 Necessary for burning
1
O2
3 CO2
2. Nitrogen
4. Hydrogen
5 Causes of air pollution
1
Industries
2. Vehicles
3. Stove
4
All the above
6. Fields are burnt in villages
For greater rainfall
1 As a tradition
2.
3. For bigger harvest
4. To improve soil and better yield
Match the pairs
1. Natural air ventilation
1. Carbondyoxide
2. Breathing
2. Air pollution
3. Exhale
3. Cross ventilation
4. Smoke from traditional stove
4. Oxygen
Fill in the blanks
1
Lungs and efficiency,
2. cells, 3. cars
1) The greatest cause of cancer is smoke from
2)
affected by pollution from industries
Answers
Correct Alternatives
1-1, 2-2, 3-2, 4-1, 5-4, 6-4
Match the following
1-3, 2-4, 3-1, 4-2
Blanks
1-3, 2-1,
LUU
Lesson 6
Energy
Aims
On reading this lesson you will understand
Realising the importance of energy
Conventional and non-conventional energy sources
Knowledge
You will know about
Types of fuel and how it burns
Using recycled fuel
Ventilation and it’s necessity
Skill
You will learn about
How to use a better fuel
Relation between usage of fuel and health
Perspective
You will realize that
Fuel beingour national asset
Using non-conventional energy sources more and more
I 56 |
We do a lot of work for which we need energy This
is created by slow burning of carbohydrates and sugar
in our body Just as a vehicle burns fuel to run. this
process uses oxygen. Both need air. Burning of food not
only creates energy to work but also maintains body
temperature.
When we run or climb a staircase, we get tired and
our breathing becomes more rapid What is the reason
for this
Plants use the energy contained in sunlight to prepare
their food. Thus the sun is a source of energy We use different types of fuel to create
energy in two ways1. Renewable source - Renewable source like the
sun. Similarly water is used to create electricity.
Trees give firewood which can be used and new
trees can be planted.
2. Non-renewable sources - Rock -oil or kerosene,
cooking gas, coal, diesel and petrol are the other
examples of fuel which can be burnt to cook food
or run vehicles.
The off-shore sea areas give us oil from which fuel
is obtained. The oil wells also yield natural gas which
can be used for cooking. Mines provide coal. Though the earth has a store of these sources
of energy, they are likely to get exhausted by large-scale extraction and use.
This is similar to the grain stored in our homes has to be maintained according to our
requirement.
Solar Cooker
Domestic Fuel
Reflector
Coal, firewood, and kerosene are used mainly in rural
areas When wet wood is burnt, it gives out a lot of smoke
When it enters the nose or mouth it reaches the blood
ts harmful effects harm the health of family members
Many trees are cut for requirement of wood
New trees must be planted regularly to make-up for
the cutting of older trees for firewood It is every man s
duty to grow trees and prevent avoidable felling.
Although cow-dung cakes, are also used as fuel, cow
dung is more useful as manure for the fields. So if the
villagers unite to commence use of common Gobar-gas
plants, they will kill two birds with one stone. They will
get cooking gas as well as manure.
Electricity is essential in homes for lights, radio or
T V and for pumps in farms. How is electricity created?
By burning coal, using water and energising wind.
So we’ve to turn firmly towards usage of non-conventional energy sources. We must
increase using solar and wind energy and cut down on conventional energy sources such
as coal, kerocene, diesel, petrol and gas.
For want of firewood cut only the dry branches and not the whole tree!
We must remember that saving of electricity means generating electricity.
Can we try this
Every Grampanchayat provides information about smokeless stoves. Trapped smoke
from traditional stoves affected the health of women and children inside the home Recently
the Maharashtra State Fuel Research Organization has designed a new stove which saves
energy without emitting smoke. Such new stoves should be used wherever possible.
Solar Energy
We get plenty of sunlight for most part of the year in our country. We can, like plants,
use sunlight to cook our food If you get sunlight in your house, you need to use the roof
or the yard to place the solar cooker It has special containers to cook the food and keep
it warm It can also cook meat The solar cooker saves energy and other sources of fuel
The drawbacks are that a solar cooker is difficult to handle due to its large size and
use of glass which is breakable. It is costly and mamtenance/repair services are not easily
available. It needs to be further improved so that it can be used on a large scale.
For the demand and usage for such equipments to increase they have to be made
available at district and village level. The use of solar heaters and photovoltaic cells (which
produce electricity from sunlight) has to go up alongwith solar cookers The construction
of these machines has to be simpler and user-friendly - many people have found out the
r^~i
hard way that these cannot be easily and cheaply repaired, atleast not locally The efort
to alter these are to be. greeted positively
Wind energy
This is one of the latest avenue being explored amongst non-conventional energy sources.
In a way it’s solar energy again because winds are produced due to the Sun’s heat. Historically
wind energy has been harnessed by man to steer sailboats. Today we’re turning huge blades
of windmills and generating electricity. Modern technology has provided us with smaller yet
powerful windmills that can be erected without wasting the land below them.
Wind-power is non polluting and perpetually available We can harness the wind in our
regions and start ‘wind-farming’.
Self Study
• How can people’s attitude towards fuel be changed?
Exercises
Choose correct alternatives
1. The basic source of energy is
1. Sun
2.
Water
3.
4. Trees
Moon
2. Energy from kerosene is
1. Mon-conventional
2. Renewable
3. Non-renewable 4. All as above
3. The modern source of energy is
1. Solar Energy 2. Water Energy
Fill in the blanks
1) Energy is created in our
_________
Answers
1. Correct alternatives
1-1, 2-3, 3-1
2. Fill in the blanks
Cells
3.
Gas
4 Kerosene
fsTl
Lesson 7
Improved ‘Chulha’
Aims
On reading this lesson you will understand
1. The damage caused by using firewood in the ‘Chulha’
2. The different kinds of improved Chulha and their features
3. The advantages of using different types of fuel
Knowledge
You will know about
•
The harmfulness of traditional ‘Chulha’
•
The kinds and merits of improved ‘Chulhas’
Perspective
You will understand
•
Our daily life is connected to our environment.
•
Our health depends on our environment.
•
Even a slight change in out daily life can bring about an improvement in the
environment.
Improvised kitchen stoves
Rural people are still heavy on using traditional kitchen stoves for cooking and heating
of bath water. They burn wood, tinder, cow dung-cakes in these stoves Even bigger,
professional stoves use firewood as fuel when cooking for a large number of people (in
dining halls, marriage parties etc). Firewood creates huge quantity of smoke that contains
carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, carbon dioxide and carbon particles which are deadly to
human health. This pollution plays a devastating effects on the women an children who,
for most of their time, are gathered around these stoves. To avoid such hazards and to
burn fuel most efficiently and effectively we must adopt new, improvised stoves.
These stoves, being in use in practically every rural home, cause massive pollution of
air. This pollution plays a devastating effects on the women an children who, for most of
their time, are gathered around these stoves. To avoid such hazards and to burn fuel most
efficiently and effectively we must adopt new, improvised stoves.
Kinds of Improved Chulhas
1. Fixed Chulha - a) Laxmi
2. Portable Chulha
3.
b) Bhagylakshmi
d) Modern Chulha
c) Graha Laxmi
Chulha using agro-waste like saw-dust and bagasse.
There are many varieties of stovs available burning various substances as fuel. According
to your needs you can choose one to use. The benefits are-
1. savings in fuel costs and the fuel itself
2. less smoky kitchen
3.
things that appear to be ‘waste’ can be used as fuel, even dry grass, food leftovers alongwith
wood, tinderand cowdung-cakes
4. saves time by cooking the food faster
5. smoke doesn’t char and blacken the utensils
6. no choking smoke, so improvement in health
7.
Laxmi Chulha
Chimney
protecting environment by polluting less
Inner Diameter 7.5
a) Laxmi Chulha
Burners
This looks like a traditional chulha with two burners.
Material used for this chulha is soft lateritic mud or clay
without any pebbles. However, here it is easier to cook
because flame passing through the cast-iron grate to the
mouth. The smoke formed in this chulha comes out through
a chimney instead of spreading in the kitchen The
r
2i
1.
Firewood
p - ------------- ns -----------(All Dimensions are in CM)
chimney is not just a means of removing smoke. It also pulls in air through the fire box.
The burning and heat movement efficiencies of a chulha with a chimney can be better than
those of a traditional chulha.
This chimney has to be cleaned every 2 or 3 months otherwise it gets blocked In this
way, the kitchen remains clean and smoke free with this chulha.
Pot Rest
5X5X2 5
cm
Bhagyalakshmi Chulha
b) Bhagyalakshmi
Chulha
This is similar to the Laxmi Chulah as far
*
as having two mouths, their slanting path and
cast-iron grate is concerned. However, instead
of a chimney it has an arrangment to drain in
the air for burning with three equidistant pot rest
Ash Pit
10cm
Depth
80
(All Dimensions are in CM)
of 2.5 cm height each. This chulha have another
separate side pit for collecting ash and also for air supply. Size and diamensions are same
like Laxmi Chulha.
c) Grahlakshmi Chulha
Grahlakshmi Chulha
C.l. Grate 17 Dia. at 5
from Top
A lot of house wives prefer a chulha with
Pot Rest
A 5 X 5 X 2.5
i cm
a single mouth which is inexpensive and
durable, devoid of any chimney because it
15
creates very little smoke. It cooks food faster
because the wood is burned completely and
Lower
_ Grate
15 X 10
the flames are centered at the mouth, heating
the vessel uniformly.
Grahlakshmi chulha is round shaped,
Ash Pit
10 Wide
10 Depth
(All Dimensions are in CM)
pottery lined single pot cooking stove. Its basic components are two grates and an ash
pit. The upper grate helps the flame to spread evenly covering the base of the cooking pot.
The lower grate along with the tunnel like ash pit is designed to create drought which assists
efficient burning of cooking fuel and reduces smoke. Ash can
be periodically removed from the pit.
Modern Chulha
Upper
Liner
d) Modern Chulha
This is similar to the Grahlakshmi Chulha. But it contains
two liners of baked soil and two grates of cast-iron. As shown
in the figure, the first grate is placed between the liners with
soil covering and another grate is placed on top of the upper
Lower
Liner
I 62 |
liner (Mouth of Chulha).
Here, placing the liner must be done such way that the bridge of both liners are perpendicular
to each other (As shown in figure). The advantage of this type of chulha is that it is easily
transportable and could be assembled in any convenient
Portable Chulha
place.
r
e) Portable Chulha
This is made from iron sheets and can be carried
as it is light. The Grahlakshmi chulha is an improved
W-
version of this chulha.
&
f) Vivek Chulha
This has been con
Vrvek Chulha
(Cross Section)
structed by modifying the outlet
Vessel
of the flames in a chulha
T
Metalic cover
(25cm diameter)
I
burning. This can keep on
burning sawdust to get air for
Fuel
_____Metal Body
Air Inlet
Pipe
burning sawdust to get air for
Wooden
Pieces
burning. This can keep on
burning with pods and grain
chatt without constantly adding
sawdust. It is made of thick iron
sheets and can be moved from
place to place.
This chulha can be fabricated
by blacksmiths with locally available metal sheet from empty drums.
Biogas plant (gober gas)
Here fuel is manufactured using animal excretions, agro wastes etc. Biomasandcowdung
are mixed in water and this liquid is left in the tank of the gas-plant to decompose. The
Methane gas produced is stored in tanks and is burnt using a gas stove. The decomposed
residue can be treated and used as a fertiliser
Methane gas doen’t produce smoke and it can be obtained from raw sewage, too.
I 63 |
Solar cooker
Everyone knows the Sun gives us light and heat without which life cannot survive on Earth.
We can harness Sun’s power to cook our food and boil the water, saving fuels, fuel costs and
environment.
Self assessment
•
Do you think it is right to use firewood as fuel for cooking?
•
How will you explain to people the need to discontinue using firewood as fuel?
•
Which examples can you give to explain how health and environment are interrelated?
•
Do you find any difficulties in using non-conventional fuels?
Exercises
Match the following
1. Laxmi Chulha
1. Fuel and Manure
2. Solar Energy
2. Traditional chulha (2 with burner)
3. Biogas Plant
3. Beneficial to health
4. Vivek chulha
4. Saving of fuel
5. Improved chulha
5. Use of saw dust
Choose the correct alternatives 1. Use of solar energy 1. Saving of fuel
3.
Not harmful to health
5. All the above
2. Cooks food well
4. Using natural energy saves fuel and conserves
environment, benefiting health
to cook food.
2. Rural areas use
1. Wood
2. Coal
3. Kerosene
4. Cow dung cakes
5. All the above
3. Use of traditional fuels leads to
1. Harmless effects for health
2. Lack of trees in the environment
3. Shortage of fuel due to over use
4 Damage to environment and damage to living beings
I 64 |
4. If traditional chulhas are used continuously
1. Food tastes good
2 Wood/cow dung etc, is easily available in the village.
3. Smoke causes burning in eyes and affects respiratory tract.
4. None of the above
5. Smoke created by fuel used in vehicles causes
1. Black smoke in the atmosphere
2. Pollution of air
3. Effect on health
4. Possibility of cancer as a result of hazardous gases.
5. All the above
Answers
Correct pairs
1-4, 2-5, 3-4, 4-3, 5-5
Alternatives
1-2, 2-4, 3-1, 4-5, 5-3
Lesson 8
The Story of Water : A Tale of Suffering
Aims
On reading this lesson you will understand
1. The problem of water and its causes.
2. Ways of storing water.
3. The reasons for contamination of water and methods of purifying it.
Knowledge
You will know about
•
Most common problems regarding water
•
The causes of the problems and ways of overcoming them.
Skill
You will learn
•
What is the technique of making small bunds
•
What is the method of purifying water
Perspective
You will realize that
•
It is necessary to bring all the people together to solve the problem of water.
•
Water is the common property of all. Everyone has an equal right to get water.
I 66 |
Introduction
A large village was situated among the hills A river
flowed by it. Very few villagers owned big plots of land
but there were many with tiny plots. Amongst the latter
there were plenty of farm-labourers who worked for the
landed farmers, daily-wage earners, people of all trades
like barbers, washer men etc. who received farm produce
as barter in return for their services or artisans like
weavers, gardeners and goldsmiths who exchanged their
goods for part of the harvest. All of them managed to
get two square meals a day, and if some odd person
had nothing to eat, neighbours or relatives would feed him On the whole, the village was
running smoothly.
The village received plenty of rain which fed the river. In summer they would use the
water from some wells. But they never depended on any outside source for water such
as a tanker.
-------------------------------------------------
The son of the Sarpanch completed his education
in the nearby city and returned with a new idea. He
suggested to his father that they should start growing
sugar-cane instead of the usual grains of the Kharif crop.
tj
The Sarpanch explained that sugar cane would need a
I
constant water supply for which they would have to buy
a pair of bullocks to draw it from some source.
This
would not only need money but a constant supply of fodder
:
7
I
(
/
/>
and water even in summer. The son insisted that they
could fit a motor-engine to draw water from the river and
dig a bore-well for summer. They would grow plenty of sugar-cane and sell it to the sugar
factory. The Sarpanch pointed out that they would have
no grains for food. The son pointed out that they could
buy grain from outside, using the money earned by selling
sugar-cane.
Though the Sarpanch being a traditional farmer was
not convinced, he gave in to his educated ‘modern’ son
When people saw how rich he became by selling sugar
cane, everyone began growing the same cash crop
instead of grains. The sugar-factory let out waste water
which contaminated the river The poorer farmers could
not afford motor-engines to get water for their crop But the rich ones dug wells and got
richer. The son became the political leader. He built roads New shops were opened where
the rich bought all sorts of goods and grains. But the
poor could neither grow grains nor could they afford to
buy them. Soon the over-irrigated land became infertile
and would not yield any crop. Small farmers and workers
lacked employment. They began migrating to cities. The
village youth, now lived in urban slums while the old people
and families remained poor in the village. They had to ~
>•
sell their tiny plots for survival. Gradually the village wells ..
also dried up. In summer they had to order a tanker for *
the village. Animals were dying, diseases spread and
the village became desolate.
While some people felt the village had developed with roads, shops and electricity the
common people were suffering. The remaining villagers wondered whether they should consult
a ‘Bhagat’ (traditional healer). But they did not even have enough money to make an offering
of some animal for the betterment of the village.
During that period, an outsider settled in the village.
The villagers were suspicious of him at first. He would
do all his own house-work (which normally only women
carried out) and sit with the villagers in the evening. They
would all be lamenting about their suffering. The old men
would remind the villagers of their warning of using too
much water in their sugar-cane farming. The outsider told
them that they would have to work hard if they were to
get water throughout the year.
They asked him whether he could cause rainfall. He replied that though he could not
create rain, he could suggest how to collect the rain
water, instead of letting it all flow-away. They requested
him to explain how. He asked them whether they would
take it seriously. They would have to give their word to
continue the mission once the work was started.
The outsider gave them the details of how to ensure
a good water supply He explained that the water obtained
from wells, canals, lakes and rivers was replenished by
the rain
>
3
I 68 |
Rain water goes into two divisions -
1. Rivers and lakes on the ground
2. Inside the earth to underground springs which provide
wells and bore-wells. We use the water on the ground
and then some of it evaporates. When this outer store
is exhausted, we resort to using up the ground water from
wells and bore-wells. Soon even this source dries up.
The villagers were also told how to solve this problem
of water shortage.
1. The village needs more of bunds and lakes to trap (
more water on the ground
2. The und
as possible
Building new bunds etc. is expensive. But cleaning
the existing clogged wells, and unused ponds was
possible. The mud collected from it could be spread in
the fields to improve the fertility of the soil. These wells
would then be used to store more water.
For additional bunds, the villagers approached the Zilla
Parishad. With some funds from their schemes and
/ < •
* v
4
¥ V *
contribution of labour by the villagers themselves, they could
create additional stores of water. Naturally, the farmers were worried that they might have to
lose their land for space for a dam. Where wDuld they live if displaced? But the outsider explained
that smaller bunds could be created to avoid displacement and expenses.
Method of collecting rain water in dry areas -
1
2
3.
Dig parallel trenches at the equal levels on the hills (Fig. 1)
Ensure that land is covered with plants or grass to prevent evaporation of ground water.
(Fig.2)
Collect rainwater whenever possible and let it soak into underground wells, deep holes
and ditches. (Fig.3)
Thus, the ground will be prepared to absorb maximum rainwater
underground, which could be made available for use when
necessary. We need to store as much as we draw or use.
The sinking of rainwater into the ground depends on the following
1 Amount of rainfall
2 Nature of showers (light continuous or heavy)
I 69 |
3 Type of soil
4 The rocks beneath the ground
The amount of water sinking is directly proportional to the quantity of rainfall. If the ram
is light but continuous, more water can enter the ground. If there is plenty of soil, more
water can be absorbed by it. But where you have stony areas, water flows away. Similarly
if there are slopes, water cannot remain collected.
Hills can be made to absorb more water by digging trenches at levels. If trees are planted
by flattening areas of the hills, they will help to collect water and also prevent soil erosion
The old villagers wondered how a handful of them could complete the enormous task
of digging levels on the hills. The outsider informed them about Employment Guarantee
Schemes (EGS) The villagers who had migrated could return if such a scheme was available.
They would get work and the village could solve their water-shortage.
Guest : “The government has certain schemes in which the villagers get some financial
help. If you’re interested gather some more people and we’ll go to the District Collector’s
office (‘Zilla parishad’) and make enquiries. We ourselves can contribute some labour work,
can’t we? I had a stroll of your village this morning and I noticed 4 wells practically filled
with waste. Rest of the wells are showing some water.
If these wells are cleaned you’ll get ample water in summer;
not only that, the decomposing materials from these wells
can form an excellent manure to get better crops! We
can start off with this.
Do one more thing - try to call back those who’ve left
this village. If we can get an ‘Employment Guaranty Sheme’
(‘Rojgaar Hami Yojana) running here people will get some
work and the water-conservation will be done, too.”
Employment Guarantee Scheme
If the villagers come together, they can present a
proposal for such a scheme to the government. The
administration can give them employment within a range
of ten kilometres of their village
If the slope is gradual, trenches known as CCT can
be dug along the contour lines (on an even level) at
regular intervals on the A to 6 feet distance between
them, which will conserve water as well as reduce soil
I 70 I
erosion. (Fig. 4)
If the slope is steep, shorter alternative trenches interposing
each other at different levels can be made.(Fig. 5)
If the slope is gradual, long straight parallel trenches
can be dug at regular intervals on the 4 to 6 feet in apart
S* /
in areas of heavy rain and greater distances in scanty areas
d
b
To get contour line (‘Samochcha reshaa’) is an
imaginary line joining all the points on the land that are
“A” Frame_________
at equal altitude measured from the sea-level, on the ground,
we use a simple technique which is known as “A” Frame technique which is as follows:
Take three long sticks or bamboos: ab, ac, be of 12 ft. each. The sticks ab and ac
should be tied at one end, and then attached to the third stick to form a triangle with be
as the base and a at the apex, ab, ac and be should measure 10 ft. each. The midpoint
of b and c should be marked as d. A string should be tied at point a with a stone attached
to its end - the length of the string should reach just above ground level. The triangle can
now be used to mark the level of the line. (Fig. 6)
Contour trenches
These are the trenches dug on the contour line running at right angle to the up-side slope
of the catchment area. These are, by priority, dug in all watersheded, wasted areas on
a slope generally ranging between 0 and 33 %. Keep the trench 2 ft. wide and 1 -2 ft.
in depth. Soil dug out from the trench is to be spread over the sloping side. You can plant
trees in this soil; they will be fed by the water collected in the trench. Contour trenches
reduce the rate of flow of water. Whatever soil carried by the flowing water will accumulate
in the trench preventing erosion.
Paddies on a hill-slope donot allow trenching. In such cases build contour-bunds. Have
a contour line drawn and erect a bund over it. The water accumulating against the bund
can be taken out sideways from the up-side of the bund. This will ensure maximum soaking
of water, prevention of erosion and a supply of good topsoil.
In the paddies on a slope, all the plantations should be made at right angle to the slope
and never alongwith the slope. This will put a check on the speed of the water flowing
downhill and the subsequent erosion. Planting at right angle to the slope will ensure accumulation
and soaking of water and conservation of soil.
Never grow the same crop on the same piece of land again and again. After producing
,say, corn (maize), baajraa, jowaar one must grow the ground-hugging and dwarf crops like
groundnut, pulses etc. Those crops have small buds on their roots which release Nitrogen
into the ground. Their roots spread out and hold the soil
Fig.7
Natural Bund
Grass plantation
Y
t
at one place preventing erosion.
Natural Bund
Beginning at the top of the slope, choose a point
on the slope and mark it. Place point b of the triangle
on the mark. Place mark c at such a spot where the
stone pendulum stops above point d of the triangle. Keep
t
20 cm
marking the levels so that you get a line at uniform level.
Then dig along it. The trenches should be 2 feet broad
Depth of trench - 15 cm
and 2 to 3 feet deep. The soil removed should be used
at the sides to plant trees. Thus the trees will get the water collected in the trenches and
they will hold the soil.
You cannot dig trenches on slopes that have fields.
In such places bunds of equal height have to be
constructed on an even level as shown above. When
constructing these bunds, it is advisable to remove any
stones on the upper side of the slope. This allows
maximum perculation of water into the soil, prevents soild
erosion and holds good quality soild displaced from
upper regions of the slope.
If the land is on a slope, ploughing of fields
perpendicular to the slope, can minimize the soil erosion
and break the flow of water.
In places with greater flow of water on a less inclined slope, a special type of grass
is grown to make a natural bund-Guinea grass Ramboss is selected (Khus grass, Ramboss,
Medhasinghi and Guinea grass can all be used). Two to three blades of grass are bunched
toghether and planted 20 cms apart in a 15 cm deep gully as shown in Figure -7. Then
the grass is cut after the roots measuring 5 to 7 cm and 20 cm of stem. Then each part
is separated and planted as shown in Fig. - 7.
1. Temporary bund
These type of bunds are constructed in the beginning
of a nallah where catchment is small. Temporary bunds
should be erected only towards the end of the rains
Rocky
because they get washed away during heavy showers.
Inner side
Overflow from the temporary bunds after rains can be used
for irrigating nearby fields. Farmers can dig small
channels to supply their fields with water
I 72 |
Vanrai Bandhara:
This bund is made using
empty cement bags. Each bag is packed with
available soil and the open end is filled up with
a nylon string. The bund is constructed by making
a wall of these filled cement bags similar to a
brick-wall. Normally, two rows are made. The gap
between the two rows is packed by wellcompacted black cotton soil.
2. Bally-reinforced bund:
Look at the diagram carefully and make a wooden frame, fill this frame with stones and
soil. This filling of stone and soil is reinforced by the
wooden frame thus preventing it from flowing off with
a powerful surge of water (unlike a Kachchaa bund).
Only limitation is the relatively short life of the wooden
frame; it just rots away due to contact with water.
But this type of bund is much better than a Kachchaa
(Fig.2>
bund. (Fig.2)
3. Gully Plug: Gully plugs are small bunds placed
within the gullies or nallah courses made of loose
Ph
boulders. In this structure, side slopes are smooth.
This bund is broader at the bottom. Its height
is limited to 3 feet so that flowing water cannot
endanger it. Gully plugs are made to check
erosion and break the water flow where
catchment areas of the nallah are small in size.
(Fig-3)
4. Nallah Bund: The construction of a Nallah ------ —-------------------------------------------------Bund is similar to a percolation tank. Normally, a nallah bund is dug till the soft rock bed
(Murum) is reached. Subsequently the bund is
constructed layer by layer using the soft soil
(compacting). Water gets collected at the bund. Water
percolation is faster due to Murum (soft rock) bed
at the base of the bund. The mud in the water gets
settled at the nallah bund. The percolated water moves
forward downstream thus increasing the water table
of th'? • --II.
RM
The excess water behind the f'
Fig-5 a
bund is taken care of by
providing a spillway. The spillway
is a diversion for the flow of
excess water. This diversion is
-"1
dug on the side of the bund which I
>5.
I
is preferably a hard murum bed
to stop the erosion of the soil I
(Fig-4).
Fig-5 t>, c
Gabian bund
Net
Canal
Plan
n
5. Gabian Bund: Gabian Bunds are constructed
at down stream places where the foundation soil
is weak a
fjw* r ■
| Top of the
spillway.
galvanized iron wire mesh (3 mm diameter) and
. Big stones
I
I
>_—
Gabian Structure
A gabian bund is constructed using
loose boulders. The width of the structure at the
bottom is
4 'll
-------------4
top is 0.5 meter (1.5 feet). The height of the bund
is 1 meter (3.25 feet). The length of the structure
varies as per the nallah width. Initially, a trench of 1 foot depth is dug in the stream bed.
Then the wire mesh is spread along the trench and loose boulders arranged to achieve
1:1 (one is to one) slope. The length of the structure is embedded up to 6 feet on both
banks. Both ends of the wire mesh are enjoined with an overlap of 15 Cms. (1 1/2 feet)
at the top with wire. The gap at the foundation should be packed with soil. These bunds
allow water to flow over it so that no spillway is required. These bunds are used to stop
water and allow percolation for longer duration. (Fig-5 - a, b and c)
6. Underground Bund: Over a of time the sand
Fig--G
and silt get collected in mid-stream. Due to this
I
effect, water in the sub-soil flows in the direction
i .Underground
1Ubund
’
Loweri
of canal level of i
j. canal
J
of the stream. To utilize this underground flow, an
underground bund is constructed in such areas.
A trench is dug across the width of the stream
till the hard rock bed is reached. The width of
this trench at the base is 3 feet which keeps
increasing towards top as shown in Fig. 6 This
trench is then filled with impervious soil (black
f
(ocHru
ct ion
M
of
l—l bund
I
Soil of
lower
level
Black
soil
^5
1 co#ected
!
water
I
J
cotton / clay) which is compacted using water to provide an impervious wall. This wall stops
the sub-soil water which spreads to the adjoining land. As the water is collected underground,
it prevents water-evaporation and increases the water table of the nearby area (Fig-6).
I 74 |
7. Refilling Trenches - These trenches are more useful when water gets collected and
heavy black cotton soil exists. Refilling trenches are dug 10 to 15 feet deep inside the
ground They are then packed first with big stones followed by smaller stones, sand and
sand mixed with soil. These trenches help increase the percolation of water thus raising
the water table.
8. Permanent Bunds - These are made in areas
of less rain or where water does not keep flowing
through canals. The height of these bunds is
decided by considering the surrounding crops
so that it should not be damaged by water-logging.
Select a place where the canal is narrow or where
you have open rock. The bund is built at right
angles to the flow so that the extra water flows
over it back into the canal. The obstructed water is usded for drinking, farming or
irrigation of nearby crops by pumps.
9. Vasant Bund - It is useful to construct this type
Vasant Bandhara
I
of bund in places where limited height at the sides
r-------creates a risk. A foundation of solid rock is covered
with stone structures having l-shaped iron pillars for
Wooden Dooes
the gates. The gates are kept open in the beginning
of the monsoon. If there is a flood, the water flows
Black So<i|
through the gates. Towards end of monsoon, when
__ v. there is no possibility of floods the gates are closed
by putting wooden planks in the l-shaped iron Fig.-9
channel. Black cotton soil is used to pack the gaps
between the planks. Water is thus prevented from flowing through the gate. (Fig.-9)
&L
C-l
r
10. Percolation Tank - Firstly
we’ll try to understand the concept
of construction of a percolation
tank with this figure. The main
objective of a Percolation Tank is
soaking of water into the
ground.that’s why it’s base
doesnotextend deep into the
ground, upto the basalt/base rock. It stops at the first layer of hard Murum Anyplace where
the base rock lies bare or the black-cotton soil goes deep into the ground a percolation
tank will not fulfill it’s objective.
Black-cotton or similar soil must be compacted hard in the midsection of the walls of such
a tank and the base-trench. A hand/mechamcal compactor (Dhummas) must be used for
this purpose. Soil should be sprinkled with required quantity of water while compacting
If an iron roller is being used it has to be repeatedly rolled till the soil is absolutely compact.
Thus, alongwith the waterproof layer murum has to be applied by the Hortmg-zone side
(black-cotton soil side). The soil-wall has to have a slope of 2:1 as shown in the figure.
The side on which water accumulates must have stone pitching upto the floodline. The excess
water can be taken out sideways thru’ a duct, preferably leading to a rocky area. Unless
the murum and soil of the tank-wall are amply compacted water simply leaks away and
the tank is found dry. Many a tanks have a weak base with less than adequate rolling and
compacting of black-cotton soil leading to leakage of the accumulated rainwater thru’ the
base. This leaking water doesnot soak in the ground and ruins the quality of soil. It is imperative
that such defective tanks be repaired.
(Fig-10)
11. Kolhapur type Bundhara: (K.T. Wait) Kolhapur type Bundhara: (K.T. Wair)
- These are made in places where the river
Iron Gates
has open stretches containing hard stones.
Stone pillars are erected with arrangement
for iron gates. These bunds are made in
a row, at right angles to the flow. The doors
are removed during the rains, to allow free
flowing of water to prevent floods An added
advantage of these bunds is that they can
be used to construct a bridge over it, facilitating transport. The gates are inserted towards
the end of the rains to store the collected water. (Fig.-11).
A villager asked the outsider whether conserving water in these ways would ensure
availability of water. He assured him that indeed they would.
The outsider described the structure of land. More or less the structure is similar throughout
our country first a layer of soil, then light gravel, then pebbles followed by a certain amount
of red soil (Geru), hard stones and last of all hard rocks. Water collects in the spaces between
these layers. Since these spaces are at different depths of layers, some wells have water
at a greater depth than others. As a thumb rule lightning when stricks a place, it definitely
contains water.
Some of the school children sitting around, narrated what they had learnt about the water
cycle in school. Water is very important in our lives. Neither animals nor plants can live
without it
p6~|
Why do we need energy for our day-to-day activities
We need energy for our day-to-day activities like washing up, speaking etc. Our body
consists of many parts which consist of cells. This is similar
to a house having many rooms, each built of bricks. Every
cell needs to create energy. Cells have moisture inside
and outside. The waste products created in cells dissolve
in water so that they can be sent out. Thus water assists
in digestion of food and in secretion of fluids.
• Sweat and urine are unwanted materials which
are excreted.
• Minerals from water are necessary for the body.
•
Water helps to keep the body temperature stable.
Ram provides the water needed for the above
functions.
How do we get rain?
The heat of the sun evaporates the water on the earth
surface. When this rises and becomes cool, it is converted
into drops of water which form clouds. When cold air
strikes them we get a shower of rain. But when dirt mixes
with rain water, it harms our health.
How does water get polluted?
• When people pass stools near rivers and canals,
excreta mixes with the water.
• Washing - Allowing animals into drinking water areas of rivers.
• Letting effluents from industries into canals/rivers
Diseases caused by polluted water
1
Loose Motions
2.
Jaundice
3.
Typhoid
Ayushi explained
1.
the methods of water purification to the villagers -
Filtration - Pour the water through a clean white cloth folded 4 times. The impurities
remain on it while clean water fills the vessel below the cloth.
2.
Using Alum - Wash the alum clean before rotating it 2 or 3 times in the vessel by
rotation. Keep the alum in a closed container The impurities will settle at the bottom of
the vessel Use the clean water of the upper part of the vessel. If you circulate the alum
too many times, it will spoil the taste of the water.
3.
Seeds - A pinch of powder of drumsticks seeds put into the water will make the dirt
settle down
4. Decantation - When water is allowed to stand still
for 8 to 10 hours, the dirt settles at the bottom of the
vessel.
5. Boiling - This is a safe way of purifying water. But
the water should be kept boiling for 15 minutes, which
requires fuel.
Boiling kills most germs but the process is costly.
However, the Foundation for Medical Research in Mumbai
has found that if a glass bottle containing drinking water
is kept next to the stove while cooking for at least 2-3 hours, it becomes safe for drinking.
Though some germs are not killed in this process, they
can be resisted by our body. The water is safest when
the grass bottle is exposed 2-3 times to the heat.
In areas of heavy rain like Konkan people collect
rainwater for drinking. We can also try this. But since
the roof of the house is covered with dirt, we should allow
some water to wash away and then collect the water which
overflows later from the roof.
If the falling rain water is collected by the villagers,
they can all get clean drinking water by sharing the
expenses. Bleaching powder should be used to purify it as follows -
1. Measure the radius and depth of a well or round tank in metres.
For Total water = D X Depth X 785 lits
(All diamaTsicns are in metres)
2. For a
rectangular tank - (in metres)
For Total water = Length x Breadth x Depth x 1000
The calculated amount of powder should first be mixed
in a small quantity of water and then poured into the well/
tank. A clean plastic bucket or bottle should be used for
this purpose.
I 78 I
A senior villager narrated the role of water in human
society to a city-dweller. Ancient civilization were
established near rivers where they prospered. But excess
of irrigation ruined the culture of many river-side places.
In other places, sufficient water was denied to some
people on grounds of discrimination. However, the
outsider who has now settled down in the hilly town gives
water from his well to every needy person during the
summer.
Rani Panchayat is an organization near Pune which
resolved to distribute water equally among all. The city
dweller informed the villager about their fair approach.
Though people with more land may demand more water,
every family will get an equal quantity of water irrespective
of its land-holding.
Where people used politics for water, they often got
water for their own area at the cost of the needs of others.
Constructing bunds for namesake is no use. Just as
flowing water finds its own level, we must learn to develop
a humanity-centred culture. Land, air and water have been
created in nature for all. Although land has ownership
rights, it is wrong to buy or sell air and water. Every being deserves its share of water
irrespective of riches or social standing.
Exercises
Fill in the blanks
(Bleaching) (Total water in litres - D X Depth X 785 lits) (noticns, jaundice, typhoid) (length
in m x breadth x depth x 1000)
1.
powder is needed to purify the water from tank/well
2. The formula for a rectangular tank is
3. Powder required for a round well/tank is
4 Contaminated water causes the diseases
Choose the correct alternatives
1. The amount of rain water absorbed by the ground
1. The amount of rain water absorbed by the ground
2. Type of soil
3. Nature of rainfall
4. Underground rock-structure
2. Repeating the same crop in farming
2. Fetches good money
1. Maintains goods soil
4. None of the above
3. Reduces fertility of soil
3. Less slope with greater flow
1. Natural bunds
3. Big bunds
2. Temporary bunds
4. Small bunds
4. Erecting very big bunds in a village
1. Everyone gets water
2. Village land lost to bunds
3. Great expense
4. Villagers migrate, others benefit
5. Solution for shortage of water in a village
1. New wells/Bore wells
3. Careful use of water, tree plantation
2. Migration
4. Ask for government Aid
6. For future demand of water
1. Build very big bunds
3. Equal distribution
2. Sell water, make new tanks
4. All the above
Answers
Blanks
1-1, 2A 3-2, 4-3
Correct Alternatives
1-5, 2-3, 3-1, 4-4, 5-2, 6-3
80 |
Lesson 9
Soak Pits and Kitchen Garden
Aims
On reading this lesson you will understand
•
What damage is caused if used water/sewage is not managed properly.
•
Usefulness of a soak pit and kitchen garden
•
How soak pits and kitchen garden are made
•
The difficulties faced while making a soak pit
Knowledge
You will know about
• The structure of a suitable soak pit to utilise the sewage in a proper way.
Skill
You will learn
• The procedure of selecting the right location of a soak pit and kitchen garden
• How to overcome the problems faced in making a soak pit and kitchen garden
Perspective
You will understand that
• The soak pit and kitchen garden are beneficial to the health of the individual and
the village.
• Everyone is responsible for public sanitation.
•
Rural life can definitely be improved with small but appropriate reforms which spread
new thoughts and attitudes.
I 81 I
Soak pits - Management of used water
Introduction
Flowing water on the road, choked gutters and stag
nated puddles are a common sight in every village in
almost any season. This is a result of water used for
bathing, washing clothes or utensils and even from latrines
which has nowhere to go. It collects either where let out
or flows down any slope till obstructed by solid garbage
on the way. The stagnant water breeds mosquitoes which
spreads malaria. The dirty water may also contaminate
drinking water, leading to various illnesses due to germs
and unwanted impurities in it. Such water must be soaked
in a safe place inside the ground so that it maintains public cleanliness and health. It is
the responsibility of each of us to make efforts for this.
While no one wants this dirty water around, where should it be directed? Who is to
decide the solution? Many villages have gutters to carry away waste water, but usually they
are clogged. People do not bother saying it is the responsibility of the Gram Panchayat
to clean them. The workers feel that people do not use the gutters properly. However, it
is the common responsibility of all to make suitable soak
pits to overcome this problem.
1. Selecting a suitable place for a soak pit: The place
should
be at a distance from the house but a stony
area or one that does not remain wet all the time. The
pit should be made away from the wall of the house
to prevent seepage into the house or dampness affecting
its foundation.
The size of the
soak pit should be -----------------------------------------------proportional to the number of family members and the
amount of water used. Generally, for a family of 5 to 6
members you need
• A pit 3 feet in length, breadth and depth
• It should have 3 parts - the lowest part should be
filled with stones of 10 to 15 cm radius
• The next foot should be covered with smaller stones,
baked bricks, pieces of tiles etc.
• The upper 12 inches should have 5 cm stones and
[HZI
sand. A medium sized earthen pot should be fitted in this with a hole of 10-12 cm at the
bottom. Soil should be filled in the pot before making a hole with a nail to prevent it from
breaking The pot should be emptied of sand lined with coconut fibres and covered well.
• The pit should be filled upto ground level and jute sack pieces spread all around with
gravel above.
The pit should be maintained as follows :
• The coconut fibres should be cleaned / replaced each fortnight.
• Change the fibres if necessary.
• Dig the pit after 4 or 5 years, remove its contents and refill it again after it dries well.
If the amount of water used by the family increases, increase the size of the pit.
Problems and solutions while making soak pits
1. Often it is difficult to dig deep due to hard stony layers inside the ground. In such cases,
the size should be changed as suitable.
2. When houses are built very close or when they are
ownership disputes there are problems in getting space
to make as many soak pits as required. In such cases
all the effluents from each house should join the individual
gutters into one large soak pit to let the drainage water
into one suitable place near all the houses. (Fig.1)
3. Some land areas have a lower absorbing capacity
due to which the pits get full quite soon. In such places
more brick or tiles should be used in the pits instead
of stones and its dimensions should be larger.
4. Often soak pits start overflowing because the near
by water enters through cracks, blocking the inlet for the dirty water. Therefore care should
be taken while covering the pits so that they do not get damaged. Nor should bullock-carts
be allowed to pass over them.
Benefits of soak pits (Fig. 2)
1. There is no slush of dirt near the houses.
2. Malaria is prevented.
3. The atmosphere is pleasant.
4. Fruit and Flowers can be grown in the moist area
near the soak pits.
5. Soak pits are not expensive.
R3~l
The backyard garden / kitchen garden
Mangaltai had requested all the members of the small-savings group to attend today’s
meeting which was scheduled an hour earlier than the usual timing. Along other members
her friend from Progress-group, Yashodatai, was expected to attend Whole village knew
her as the knowledge-bank of farming. In the last monthly meeting Mangaltai had provided
substantial information about malnourished (undernourished) women and children; everyone
wondered what they were to hear today.
When all women of the group alongwith their family members were gathered at the meeting
place, Mangaltai briefly mentioned the subject of malnutrition discussed in the previous meeting.
She then introduced Yashodatai. She also mentioned that to avoid malnutrition, vegetables
could be grown by using waste- and drainwater to get a healthy and complete diet; that
was subject of the meeting.
After greeting everyone Yashodatai confidently started narrating, from her own experiences,
the importance of a kitchen garden. Our body needs nutrition which can be had from fresh
green leafy vegetables, lemons etc. These fresh green vegetables provide essential vitamins
and proteins and that too at a very nominal cost. You’ve to be prepared to put in the efforts,
though. Sushilabai said “To run the household we all do a lot of labour and take efforts.
If our surroundings are to be cleaned to be healthy and to receive nutritious food we’ll do
it.”
Yashodatai added “That’s not all; seeing my experience, my family members - especially
children - have developed an affinity towards environment from working in our kitchen garden.
I have achieved a wider circle of aquaintances through barter exchange of vegetables from
our garden. This work provides me with just enough exercise, too! Drainwater is soaked
properly into the soil keeping the surroundings clean, reducing population of mosquitoes
and flies. Through exchange and gifting of home-grown vegetables we can achieve better
cultural and human relations.”
All the members, as one, requested Yashodatai to point out exact ways of achieving
all this.
Yashodatai started off with the method of choosing a suitable plot of land. An average
family of 5-6 needs approx. 1500 sq. feet (1 to 1.5 guntha) of land to grow vegetables
a|| year-round. This land should be next to the house and should get ample sunlight. No
big trees must be nearby.
Suman interrupted “7a/ many of us may not have this kind of vacant land Whatever land
we have is all rocky; how to create a kitchen garden out of that?"
Yashodatai addressed Mangaltai "Well you certainly have smart women in your group! Just
like you. I suppose!” Then she answered Suman’s query "A valid point. If you do not find
such a piece of land you may grow vegetables in your farmland if it is not very far. To
add to plantation-space you can even use pots, old barrels, old wooden crates... the most
important thing to remember here is ‘when there’s a will there's a way’! Now remains the
problem of tackling rocks. In Shindewadi a woman tilled the land, dug out all the rocks
and stones, used those to make a compound and filled the plot with black-cotton soil and
other suitable type to a depth of 30 cm (1 foot).”
Sangeeta. “Tai you just mentioned pots, old barrels, old wooden crates. I have heaps of
them. How do I put them to use?”
Yashodatai. “If you have a very small piece of land or none at all this alternative is very
useful. The first thing to do is drill 2-3 holes at the bottom of such crates or pots and then
put a layer of pebbles or pieces of earthen pots or crockery 2-fingers high to facilitate draining
of excess water. Then fill the container with manure, good quality soil and a handful of sand
almost to the brim, leaving 3-fingers of space from above.”
Laxmibai, the oldest member of the group, was listening intently. Now she asked “O yashoda,
what you’ve said seems fine, but how do we water these plants? Ours is a drought-hit area.”
Yashodatai: “I agree to you; ours is the region with scarcity of water. But we seem to get
enough water for bathing and general use. Instead of draining it away we must recycle it.
Practically all Kharif vegetable crops are fed by rains - what is important is the timing.
All the water we use for bathing, washing clothes and utensils must go to a soak pit and
thus recycled. We can have seasonal kitchen gardens. It is a good achievement if we can
supply ourselves for 7-8 months with home-grown vegetables; see, it is better than to do
nothing and reap nothing.”
Sujatatai always went ahead with a positive outlook. “Instead of mentioning just the road
blocks” she said “let’s try this new concept with determination and persistence.”
Yashodatai: “The soil must be cultivated on a regular basis to have water and air enter
into it and let the roots grow strongly.”
1 Leafy Vegetables
(Fenugreek leaves, Spinich, Alu, Shepu,
Chuka, Chakwat, etc.)
3. Beens and creeper
(Ghewda, Peas, Bitter Gaud, tondah
Dodka. Cucumber)
2. Fruit vegetables
(Tomottow, Gawar, Lady's fingers
Brinjal, Chilli etc)
3 Root stem categorywise
vegetables
(White radish, Onion, Beetroot,
Ginger)
(~85~]
Nandatai had her home and farm at the extreme end of the village "Yashodatai. I've
tried this grow yout-vegeables thing a couple of times, the moment my veggies are green
cattle will just gobble them up I am tired of this because putting a proper wre-mesh compound
proves to be too expensive.”
Yasodatai. “Forget the barbed wire, nanda Instead, you can plant thorny bushes of karvand^
mehendi, chillaar etc. And you can use the fruit of karvand and leaves of mehendi You
can have climbers on them to make them unpenetrable. For an instant fence use babhu/
or bon stumps After erecting the fence, though, you’ve to have a proper layout for the kitchen
garden.”
“While planning this garden on emust consider the preferences of the family members
and the land available. Green leafy vegetables are ready within 30 to 40 days, leaving that
plot vacant after that period. All bean-family vegetables must be rotated with others which
nourish the soil with Nitrogen.
Classification of vegetables by seasons
Rains
Winter
Summer
peas, spinach, tomato, brinjal, chilli,
cauliflower, carrots, chilli,
tomato, chilli, lady’s
onions, ginger, sweet potato, beans,
onions, beans, Cabbage,
fingers, kukumber,
better gaud, green gaud, alu, ginger,
garlic, beetroot, Fenugreek
onions, corriander
Mint
leaves, corriander, chakwat
Some commonplace vegetables and the average time-period to reap them
1) Peas
70 days
6) Onions
90 days
2) Fenugreek
40 days
7) Gawar
60+ days
3) Tomato
60 days
8) Corriander
21 days
4) Cabbage
60 days
9) Chilli
90 days
5) Brinjals
85 days
10) Green gaud
45 days
leaves
All leafy vegetables must be planted on a raised bed. If corriander is planted in pots
repeatedly after a certain period, it can be reaped with the same time-gap.
Kitchen garden should also have some flowering shrubs and a few herbs such as aloe-
vera, leaf tea, tulsi, ginger, pudina etc.
Sunil, who was sitting next to Yashodatai, said “Tai, last year my mother had planted
beans and they had grown realy welfthen it was attacked by black rot and we didn’t get
even a handful of beans to cook and eat What should one do in such a case?"
Yashodatai: “Oh -1 completely forgot to tell you about
pesticides and fertilizers’ One must watch closely for
(f-
occurance of pests and plants should be dusted with
the ash from traditional kitchen stoves instead of using
chemical insecticides. You can spray them with extract
of neem leaves, too.
Coming to fertilisers - chemical fertilisers will
ultimately ruin the soil. Instead use natural manure,
vermicompost, compost etc.”
bag packets of seeds to distribute amongst the women. Nandatai was eager to buy one
“What’s the price, tai? I want one.”
Yashodatai smiled.”'Yes - I’ll charge you for this packet but not now. After an year I’m
to have ten such packets from you. Agreed?”
Nandatai: “Yes I understand. I’m to covince ten other women to make their own kitchen gardens.”
Human waste management
The biggest contributor to the dirt we see around our village is human excretion (waste
and urine). Our excreta contains maximum number of germs harmful to our health. To add
to this, it looks too disgusting and smells too horrible to be managed properly. This shit,
lying in the open, attracts flies and other insects. Microscopic particles of excretion stick
to the tiny legs and wings of these insects and are ultimately carried to our food when
flies hover and sit over it. These particles, though small, carry germs in a large number
and they contaminate the food. Consumption of such food leads to sickness and contagious
diseases. Often we see people relieving themselves in the open, near a body of water.
The germs from such waste eventually find their way into the water. This water becomes
the carrier of germs and disease, making a large number of humans susceptible to diarrhea,
cholera, typhoid, worms etc. Children especially suffer from tapeworms. Tapeworms are
parasites nesting in human bellies sucking blood and bile making us weak. Such worms,
too, spread through excreta. Today’s rural areas have more houses due to increase in population
- toilet facilities have not grown in proportion! Womenfolk suffer the most in this situation;
they still have to use open spaces to excrete and they have to make use of the dark hours
of pre-dawn or night. This affects their body-clocks and puts them in other mortal dangers.
Consider this - we spend large sums of money on buying a tape recorder or a music system;
slog and work day ‘n night to buy gold or valuables, make cupboards to keep them safe.
Why we’re reluctant to spend 3-4 thousands on an essential, permanent toilet facility which
I 87 J
will ensure our good health by managing our excretion and creating manure out of it?
Every home of every village must build and use this type of inexpensive toilet to keep the
surroundings clean.
Here’s the information about an inexpensive toilet suited for rural usage.
Simple Toilet or Twin-Pit Toilet
This type of toilet... 1
can be built cheaply using local materials
2
does not pose a threat to human health
3
while in use, requires minimum quantity of water
4
5
6
will eventually provide quality manure
can be repaired locally
can be built locally by a local mason
construction: It has 2 main parts -
1
seat and superstructure
2
pits and Y-shaped carrier piping
1. Seat: It consists of a pan with good slope an a water-trap behind it. Water trap has
water permanently in it thus trapping foul smelling gases. Around the pan a cement platform
of 3 x 3 ft. and of 1 ft. height is built, on which the upper walls (brick or simple bamboo
sheets) are constructed to screen the occupant.
2. Pits or tanks: Here the excreta is soaked. These can be rectangular or round in shape.
For one family there must be 2 such pits, 3 feet apart, each having a dia. or width of 3
ft. and depth of 3 ft.
These should be built in brick and cement mortar; do not put plaster or any type of building
material on the bottoms of these pits. Their walls should have alternate bricks, leaving gaps
in between. Here, too, do not put plastering. This allows water from the excreta to be soaked
in the soil. The pits must be covered with cement lids.
The pipe coming out from the pan and opening into a small chamber should have a
dia. of 3-4 inches. The 2 pipes coming out of this chamber and leading to the 2 pits should
have adequate slope i.e. 1.10.
I 88 I
How the toilet works: First, block the mouth of one of the 2 pipes coming out of the
chamber with a brick or a wooden choke. This ensures that the excreta coming out will
go into one pit only. Water from it is soaked in the soil, rest is decomposed by micro
organisms leaving behind a dry, odourless manure. Once the first pit is full the blockage
in the chamber is shifted, now making the empty pit available to receive the excreta. A
pit takes almost 3-4 years to fill completely. By the time the second pit is full what the
first pit contains is ready-to-use quality manure without any harmful germs.
Care to be taken while using the toilet:
1
use minimum possible water
2. before using wet the pan to ensure flow of waste
3. must prevent pebbles, leaves, rags etc. from entering the system, choking the pan
4. second pit must be made operational only after the first pit is full
As a Gramsakhi your first commitment must be towards building a toilet in your own
home - otherwise you have no right to preach to other people about building toilets! The
first thing required is willpower - which’ll show the way! People should be made aware
about the necessity of building such toilets, overcoming all obstacles, to free the entire village
from the clutches of dirt and disgust; and there are many such villages who’ve led the way
towards cleanliness through united efforts! Families having no space of their own can come
together and build common toilets.
While choosing the location for such toilets Gramsakhi must ensure that these are atleast
100 ft. away from any water-source. Marshlands and plots with slope, too, must be avoided.
Note: For more information on this contact your Graamsevak or the Panchaayat committee
Self assessment
• How should people be made aware about public sanitation?
• How to explain the new perspective of sewage water management to people
I 89 I
Exercises
Fill in the blanks
(Malaria), (3 ft x 3 ft x 3 ft) (management of sewage water) (5/6) (stony, mostly moist) (public
cleanliness)
1. Soak pit is useful for
2. It is for the house of
person.
3. Soak pit should have the size
4. It saves us from the disease
5. Soak pits should avoid
places
6. Making them shows awareness about
Choose the correct alternatives
The cleanliness of the village is the responsibility of
1. Gram Panchyat
2. Other villagers
3. Ourselves
4. Government
Answers
Blanks - 1-3, 2-4, 3-2, 4-1, 5-5, 6-6
Correct Alternatives - 1-3
Lesson 10
Grameen Bank
Aims
On reading this lesson you will understand that
•
Realize that economic independence is essential for progress of women.
•
What are the advantages of this scheme made specially for women?
•
Gather information about rural bank.
Knowledge
You will know about
•
Grameen Bank operations.
•
Develop capacity and confidence for self-help
Skills
You will learn
•
Knowhow to start a rural bank
•
Operation of a savings and
•
How savings and loan accounts are run?
loan account
Perspective
You will realize that
•
Economic Independence raises the self-respect of women.
•
Women can meet regularly through such schemes
•
All-encompassing, equal development
•
Financial freedom can raise women’s self-esteem
I 91 I
Rural bank is a bank for rural wemen. The main objective
is to provide women an opportunity to save some money
in their own name so that they have their rightful money
available in times of need or crisis. This type of bank was
first established in Bangladesh by Mr. Mohammad Yunus,
a professor of economics. The bank is represented on
i
village level by small savings groups which provide the
I
! f i
rural women a common platform. All women see that each
one forms the habit of saving regularly and exchanging
thoughts & views. The bank can sanction loan to a group
considering the amount accumulating thru’ regular savings.
The repayment tenure and amount is decided according
to prevailing rules. Using the loan and their own savings
many women have build small and even large enterprises
at local level which have vastly boosted their confidence.
I
H
The women while running the savings group and bank are
getting to face practical complications and learning the
importance of working together in an organised manner.
Being able to handle cash and such their decision-making
ability has gone up. Successful repayments of the loan
and running the group has proven to be the real ‘self-help’ for them. The motherly and helping
nature of a woman has helped herself. Thanks to these groups, every woman has realised
that she can be capable of eventually fulfilling her aim, her ambition and her choices.
In this chapter we’ll come to know about the experiences of groups and economic
developments.
Social Health Research Institute is running a women’s bank - called Mahilaa Aarthik
Swavalamban Prakalp (GRAMS) - at Parinche since 1994 creating women’s savings groups
in all villages, hamlets and wadis.
In the beginning local women didnot respond much to form a savings group thanks to
a recent incident in which an agent of ‘Sanjeevani Savings’ had vanished with cash. So
a nearby village - Kharadwadi - was chosen for a meeting and discussion outlining the
objectives of a savings group and thus the first of such groups was established. This news
reached surrounding villages and soon women from Ramwadi and baandalwadi had their
own savings groups. Slide shows and screening of short films (Baai, Paani etc.) preceded
earlier meetings.
In the project region 18 groups were formed with their combined account being held
at Veer town branch of Bank of Maharashtra
| 92 |
As on today the bank holds 805 members forming 124 groups and welcoming new ones.
Women who wish to be a member of this rural bank and participate in the working have
to abide by certain rules which are stated below:
General rules and regulations:
A) About membership to form a group
1) Only local women can become members
2) Each group shall have more than 10 women as members. They can decide on the name
of their group
3)
4)
5)
6)
Each group shall have one president and one secretary
Entrance fee shall be Rs. ten (Rs. 10/-) only
Each member shall have her individual passbook in which all the entries shall b made
Minor girls can become members but they cannot avail any loan
7) Only one woman of one family can be a member of a group
8) Each member has to attend a meeting personally
(for membership form pl. see type 1)
B) About savings
1) The minimum amount to be saved per month is Rs. Twenty (Rs. 20/-) only
2) Interest on savings shall be 6%
3) Non-adherence to the schedule of saving shall attract a penalty of Re. One (Re. 1/)
4) A member can withdraw her savings, subject to rules
C) About loans
1) Any new member shall be eligible for a loan only after showing regular savings for 3
months
2) Each month only one member from a group shall have loan
3) Loan application must be in the prescribed form and 2 guarantors have to be produced.
A member can be guarantor to a maximum of 2 loans (PI. see form type 2)
4) The amount of loan shall be Rs. 500Z- for the first year, Rs. 1000/- for the second year
and Rs. 2000/- after that year.
5) Interest on loan shall be 12% p.a.
6) New loan application shall not be considered unless and until all previous loan is repaid
7) A member cannot have his savings back to her unless and until all previous loan is
repaid
8) Repayment of loan shall commence 2 months from disbursement of the loan
9) Failure to pay the loan repayment installment and/or interest shall attract a monthly penalty
of Rs Two only
10) The member availing loan shall have to be endorsed by all members of that group
r93~]
D) About cancellation of membership
1) Applications only in prescribed form shall be entertained (PI. see form type 3)
2) Once a person’s membership is cancelled she cannot be a guarantor for any other member
seeking loan
3) If a member is already guaranteing some other member’s loan, unless and until such
loan is repaid, such guarantor cannot apply for cancellation of membership
4) The member seeking cancellation shall not be a defaulter
Meeting of the savings group
Thismeetingis held at least once a month on scheduled date. The meeting place is convinient
to all - community hal, veranda of school etc. It is very important for every member to attend
this meeting personally. In such meetings social work stands equally tall with financial matters
through which many development projects are discussed or suitably altered. All members
are asked to contribute in working of the group to achieve transparancy in all matters.
All financial and administrative matters discussed in the meeting are recorded. Every members
lifts his workload and these duties are interchanged frequently so that every member gets
to know about every work-procedure. New information and knowledge is discussed and
debated; which makes members eager to attend all meetings. A representative of the institution
attends every meeting to oversee financial records.
Financial matters
After a group’s monthly meeting is over all financial records are immidiately sent to bank.
The receipt book essential in conducting monthly financial matters is in duplicate so that
members can have their copy and the other remains on the record.
A sample receipt is shown here:
Sample receipt
Receipt for the meeting
No:
Date:
Member No:
Group No:
Balance b/f
Saving_____
Installment
Interest_____
Penalty_____
Entrance fee
Total
Rs.
20.00
20.00
Debit_________
loan__________
Saving returned
Rs.
Total
1000/-
1000/-
Organizer’s sign.
Member’s sign.
As per the receirt shown above every transaction is recorded in the passbook of the concerned
member
I 94 |
• In order to keep the cumulative record of the savings of each member with the group
or the bank savings account record book is used. (PI. see sample no. 4)
Sample - 4
Saving Account example
I
No.:
Name in full
Name of the village/town
Address
Savings Acc.No.:
Saving
returned
Name of the group
Penalty / Entr.
Balance
fee
Receipt
No.
Saving Accu.
01.01.98
1001
20
20
01.02.98
1826
100
120
01.03.98
2651
20
Date
100
Org.’s
sign.
40
• The member seeking a loan must fulfill all relevent rules and regulations and must get
approval from all members of the group. A loan account, as shown below, is opened to
keep records.
Loan Account
No.:
Name of the village/town
Name in full
Name of the group
Address
Savings Acc. No.:---------
1.
Savings Acc. No.:
Name
Address
2.
Savings Acc. No.:
Name
Address
Loan amount Rs.
Rs. in words only
Date
Amount Rs.
Reason for financial assistance
01.01.98
1000/-
Purchase of seeds
I
Example
Loan Repayment Amount (4) Rs
Date
Receipt
No.
Loan Amount
Rs.
Installment
Amount Rs
Interest
Rs.
Penalty
Basic
amount
loan
balance
Fund Sign
Amount
Rs.
d)
(2)
(3)
(A)
(B)
(C)
(5)
(6)
1.1.98
1001
1000/-
1.2.98
1826
10/-
1000/-
1.3.98 2651
10/-
1000/-
1000/-
3428
100/-
10/-
900/-
1.5.98 4192
100/-
09/-
800/-
1.4.98
(7)
Once the loan is disbursed there’s a grace period of 2
months in which no penalty is applicable; only the interest
is charged. After this it is mandatory to pay back the loan
in 10 equal installments. For example a loan of Rs. 1000/
- shall attract a monthly installment of Rs. 100/-.
To calculate interest:
principle x rate x period in months
int. p m. =
100 x 12
Illustration: How much interest, per month, will be payable on Rs. 1000/- at the rate of 12%?
1000 x 12 x 1
= Rs.10/-
int. p. m.
100 x 12
The principle loan amount and the amount of interest payable will reduce in proportion of
the installments paid. With timely repayment the credit (image) of that member goes up
in the group and, in turn, the group will hold a higher esteem in the eyes of the bank
I 96 |
Thanks to the ‘Economic Freedom for Rural Women’ project these members get a loan
locally at minimal interest. This has stopped their rampant extortion by the private moneylenders.
Now these women members can implement their own decisions regarding expenses of farming
and seeds, children’s education and health etc. The groups form Baandalwadi and Parinche
had availed loans of larger amounts to run flour-grinders and pasta-makers; these businesses
are flourishing and loans have been paid back
The most important thing happening thru’ this is the growing self-confidence of these women.
Their ability of taking decisions has been uplifted from their personal self to village level
via their families. Alongwith financial matters they are now aware of the necessity of social
development works resulting into successful running of health programmes. Admittedly they
had their cup of pitfalls - some women had not given much thought to their repayment capacities
and possible difficulties. To add to this rains were scares and draught conditions made
them leave their native places in search of work. Disbursement of loans to such defaulters
had to be stopped. On good thing materialised out of this situation - other group members
put a moral pressure on such individuals and in the end they started repaying.
While working as a Gramsakhi one should pay close attention towards close-knitting of
savings groups, enhancing the skills of the group-members and finding various enterprises
to increase their incomes.
A) Building a savings group
Gramsakhi must reach out to those women who are yet to join any savings group, try
to gauge their difficulties and explain to them the benefits of being a member of such a
group. She must illustrate experiences of the members of other sucessful groups and perhaps
arrange an exchange of thoughts. She has to make extensive followup in matters such as
awareness, stimulation, organisation etc. The prospective members have to so devided as
to form a balanced group. Gramsakhi must always remember that every group may (an
will) have different set of priorities based on their local needs and situations. The end-objective
is to have overall development through their organised efforts.
B) Enhancingthe skills
Women of the group should acquire and develop the skills of recording the minutes of
meetings, varifying the data presented to them in sessions / meetings, management of various
events etc.
C) Generating income and achieving growth
The regular accumulation of money should be returned, with compliance ofrelevent regulations,
to the group members to facilitate generation of more income. The members should be
made aware of financial aspects involved in the process of sanction of loan, payback period,
rate of interest etc. Enterprises should be started considering the local needs. Procurement
of raw materials, processing and marketing techniques must be thoroughly understood and
production quality has to be maintained. If it is a food or food related product one has
to be extra careful about it’s purity, shelf-life and adherence to laws and regulations. The
service industry - anticipating and catering to the local needs - can also generate money
The repayment experience is very good if the loan availed is used for generating income.
New marketing endeavours, altering the product according to the clients’ needs and massive
contacts base are essential.
Projects like the savings group and rural bank are essential to eradicate poverty at the
village level, to locally provide work to women and to get their participation in the development
process.
Using these organisations and the financial empowerment, many village women have
achieved massive developments. Every group meeting is an opportunity for them to raise
their doubts and queries and find solutions. Working together they’ve accomplished collective
progress of their families, village and community.
You may’ve witnessed some of the things mentioned above in your village. You may get
a few tips from these experiences and improve on the existing scene.
Vanitatai, secretary of the ‘Progress’ group narrated - “Amongst all women present for
the first meeting 12 were ready to be members. We read the bank’s regulations, had a
discussion and, to start with, finalised rules for our group. We had meager cash at that
time;we started with just Rs. 10/- per month per head. In regular meetings, alongwith cash
matters, were discussions on everyday toils and problems we faced. Sharing this information
was soon accompanied by providing answers. With an adequate corpus Rekhatai from our
group purchased a pasta-maker, Pushpatai opted for a flour-grinder, Rukmini had chicks
in her poultry while Savita and Nirmala chose goat-breeding. All women are runningtheir
enterprises successfully. Proper repayments have boosted our confidence and credit with
the bankers.
Two years’ experience has elevated the status of information from mere
discussion to actual action and implementation
All the savings group of our village have united to provide local-level training about farm
produce processing industry. We’ve conducted a study-tour and visited a few sucessful SSIs.
3 months ago we disbursed loans to all members to manage drainages and carry away
drainwater in pipes. We are not satisfied with such small projects now - we’re aiming towards
cleaning the whole village and putting it on the road to allround progress. To achieve this
[E
objective we all women have elected women on the 'Panchayat' committee who are supporting
us wholeheartedly. One more important thing - discussions held in the meetings have produced
a total development plan for our village which we re determined to put into action Yes we had our cup of disputes and arguments but soon realised that the only way out is doing
more work by united efforts. Our family members extended wholesome support to us; especially
while banning hard drinks and preventing abuse of-women. We are also thanfkul of the
help and support at institutional levels and from capable government officials - without them
it’ll be a very uphill task for us.”
Chchabutai form jagtaapwasti is proud of the benefits of the savings group - Ours is
a small hamlet, but since the inception of this group the number of women attending the
‘Panchayat’ committee meeting is up significantly. We’ve raised queries andhave gotthe
development projects rolling. We all are now a strong pressure group’. Through our philosophies
and the ‘transparency’ policy have contributed significantly in economic progress of our group.
Our mentality is positive because of the new information we share in every meeting and
the savour of success. Next we’ll be using the new tool - ‘Right of Information’ act - to
achieve development of our village.”
Provided here are a few sample forms for more information. These forms are from GRAMS
savings group project, Parinche run by FRCH, parinche.
I 99 I
Application sample 1
Application for membership
Date:
Hon’ble secretary,
Applicant
Sub.: Application for Membership
------------------------------------------------- am hereby applying for the membership
of Mahila Arthik Swawalamban prakalp (GRAMS) . Please enroll me as a member of your group
I project. I’ll comply withall the rules and regulations and the amendements made to them from
time to time.You have the right to terminate my membership if I fail to comply withall the rules
and regulations
Information about myself:
Name in full:
Name of father / Husband
Address:
1. permanent
2. current
Education
Date of birth / Age
Occupation
Ration card no.
Blood group
Election commission ID no.:
I hereby declare the above information to be true
Signature / Thumb Impression of the applicant
Specimen sign. I left hand Thumb
Impression of the applicant
1
2
Information about the Introducers:
Name
Savings acc. No.:
Address
1.
2.
For office use only
Arthik Swawalamban prakalp (GRAMS)
Name of village
from
Name of group
Savings acc. no.
sign
Sign
[ too I
Nomination
residing
I
at
am a member of Mahila Arthik Swawalamban prakalp
(GRAMS) with membership no. ---------------------- in-------------------------------- group herby
nominate the person mentioned below to claim the amout credited in my account in case
of my death or mental derailment.
Name
Address
Relation with
Age
If nominee is a minor
it’s date of birth
the acc. holder
2. As on today the nominee being a minor I’m nominating
to claim the amout credited in my account in case of my death or death of the minor.
3 In case of death of the person appointed in no. 1 mentioned above I hereby nominate
----------------------------- residing at
____ __
to claim the amout credited in my account.
Place
Date .
Winess :
Sign.
Name.
Address:
Sign, of applicant
I 101 I
Application sample 2
Sr. no.
Name of village.
Name of group:
Application for Financial Assistance
Hon’ble Secretary,
I hereby request, considering my information furnished below, that a financial assistance
of Rs. ----------------------- be granted to me.
Complete Address
Name of member
Name of father / husband
Membership no..
Rs. in words
Financial assistance required Rs.:
Reason for seeking financial assistance
Amount and month of the last installment paid
Repayment due
How many times, during this year, financial assistance was sought
Member’s savings on the application date Rs..
The information supplied above is true. I shall repay this financial assistance in
monthly installments each of Rs.
as principle and interest on it @
I shall pay, per month Rs.
Y / N
Are you already carrying a loan?
% p. a.
If Y give details: from whom
unpaid amount as on today
Sign / L.H. thumb impression of member
Date.
(Witnessess in case of thumb impression)
1).
2).
i I
J—O O
|1O2 |
Guarantors
We the undersigned are members of the group. We, as guarantors, hereby individually and
collectively acceprt the responsibility about repayment of the financial assistance granted
to the applicant. If the applicant fails in repaying the said financial assistance the group
I project shall have the right to recover the outstandings from our savings and personal
assets.
2. Name of the guarantor
1 Name of the guarantor
Membership No..
Membership No..
Sign / thumb impression
Sign / thumb impression
Sanction of Financial Assistance
A financial assistance of Rs.is hereby sanctioned to the member Mrs.
subject to the following conditions. Member shall pay, per month,
I Ms.
Rs.as principle and interest on it @% p. a.
Other conditions, if any:
1
2
Date of sanction
Sign, of President / Secretary
Sign, of organiser
Promisory Note
Taluka
residing at village
years, occupation
age
District
am borrowing Rs.(Rs. in words
) as loan from the group / project. I hereby promise the group / project that
I shall repay the said loan amount in
equal monthly installments each of Rs.
and the interest on it @p. a. After the said repayment this promisory note shall be
null and void. In case of my failure to repay the said amount the group / project can recover
the principle and service charges from my savings. I understand and agree that the group
I project shall have the right to carry out lawful action towards recovery of the unpaid amount
and other related expenses
Date:
Sign. I thumb impression
I 103 I
Format 3
Application for Cancellation of Membership
Date
Hon'ble Secretary
Applicant
Sub.: Application for Cancellation of Membership of GRAMS
I,-------------------------------------------------------- am hereby applying to cancel my membership of GRAMS.
I have no monetory dues to the group / project. If any dues are found I shall pay the said amount(s),
alongwith interest ,
immidiately to the group / project. As on today I do not stand guarantor
to the amounts due by any member of the group / project.
Complete address
Name in full
Savins account no.:
Name of the group.
Amount of loan due for repayment Rs.:
Reason for the dues:
Sign / thumb impression of the applicant
For office use
Name in full:
Complete address:
Name of the group:
Savings account no.:
Amount of loan due for repayment Rs
Total amount of savings returned Rs..
Applicant is not a guarantor to any other member.
Considering all the information furnished above
it is certified that the group agrees / does
not agree to cancel the membership of the applicant
President / Group Secretary
Organiser
Name :
Group no.:
Address.
Membership no.:
Recieved Rs.
of
(Rs. in words
) in cash today on
day
I have no dues from the group / project.
Applicant’s sign ! thumb impression
1104 |
Savings Account
Sr. No.:
Name of village:
Name in full.
Savings account no.:
Address:
Name of group.
Date
1
Receipt No.
2
Saving Recd.
3
Saving bal.
4
Balance Penalty
5
6
Organiser’s details sign.
7
Savings Group’s Name
Grameen Bank Prakalp (F.R.C.H.)
Group No.
Tai. Purandar, Dist. Pune
Month
Year
Receipt side
Payment side
Sr. Receipt
No.
No.
1
2
Member
No.
3
Saving j
Loan
Rs.
instalemen
4
Yearly service
charges
6 ~~
Late
fee
Entrance
Fee
7
8
Total
Loan
given
9
10
Repayment of
savings
—~11
“~
Service charges
paid Rs.
”
12
~
Total
13
[W6~|
Daily Record
Date
Details
Savings
Loan installment
recovered
Interest
Page No
Penalty
Entr fee
Total
Rs
I 107 I
Exercises
1.
Meaning of Rural Bank
1. Women’s own bank
2. Government bank
3. Cooperative bank
4. Village bank
2.
3.
4.
Meaning of Budget
1. Estimate of income
2. Estimate of expenses
3. The plan made according to an estimate of the future.
If interest rate is 12% calculate, the interest on Rs. 1000/- for one month
1. Rs. 5
2. Rs. 15
3. Rs. 25
4. Rs. 10
If women start saving,
1. There is saving on their names
2. They get information about banking
3. They can get loans
4. Their confidence and decision making
improves
Fill in the blanks
(Minor Girls) (Means of exchange) (Calculator) (10) (3)
months regularly in a rural bank, you can get a loan.
1.
If you save for
2.
The minimum saving amount is Rs..
3.
4.
are not eligible for loans in rural banks
Money means.
can help in calculations in a rural bank.
5.
Answers
Correct Alternatives
1-1, 2-3, 3-2, 4-4
Correct Pairs
1-5, 2-4, 3-1, 4-2, 5-3
- Media
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