HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECT-GUJARAT
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- HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECT-GUJARAT
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RF_IH_6_SUDHA
I
NOTE
HOLE
OP
GA1-DHIAN CONSTRUCTFZIj] TOBgggS
I must begin by saying that the Gandhian oriented Constructive
Torkers all over India were divided in their attitude towards
the Itaergency (26th June 1975) and what followed. It is necess
ary to think over this matter and decide that this kind of
division does not recur among the ranks whenever and wherever
fundamental Gandhian values, such as Human Hights, Human Dignity,
Bule of Lav/ and Justice, Democratic Sanctioning are at stake.
// that
the
2.
The nest important thing is to understand clearly/people's vote
(elections to Parliament, March 197?) against Snergency and the
excesses committed was a negative vote. It was a rejection of
the Congress Party. It is now the duty of the Constructive
Workers to turn the people's mind into a positive attitude
for Gandhian values and the remedies Gandhi suggested for the
reconstruction of India.
o
o
The third thing is, while welcoming the irrevocable merger of
five political parties into one, the Constructive Workers may
note that it was under a kind of comuulsive situation thaiy(he
merger was decided upon. The Constructive Workers should do
everything in their powep(;o promote the unity which has. come
about and see that it wipes out the old distinctions among
the parties which have'come together.
° -g
”
j
H
The fourth thing is, we should express our happiness at the
taking of the pledge by leaders and MP's of the Janata Party
at Hajghat Samadhi, to uphold Gandhian values. The Constructive
Workers should help the Janata leaders and workers in implemen
ting the pledge to the best of their ability and give it a
concrete shape in the form of policies and programmes.
S
■: £
:
q -r
The fifth thing is, it is opportune to test the effect and
performance of all the Constructive work that has been done
and is being done, (for the last 57 years - 1920—77) on the
touchstone of real change and how far and to what extent
Constructive Workers (1) tcontinue to have faith in the
Gandhian Peoonstruction of India; (2) Constructive Workers
hove been working, -and (3) Constructive Workers have been
able to influence the policies and planning of the governments
concerned in the matter of Gandhian ideas of worthwhile socio
economic change.
It is necessary to assess objectively the.work of the Construc
tive Workers from the above three points of view.
It seems .necessary to reorientate and link up every item of the
Constructive Programme with the total Programme of Gandhian Socioeconomico—political change and see that every worker is given
opportunities to nourish the full vid on of Future India in that
p.t.o.
light, so that he feels at home in the Gandhian view of a
Sarvodaya Society, a classless and a casteless society, sans
exploitation, but based on truth, love, justice, and equality
of all.
7.
It is time to realise that ideological education & commitment
to an ideology is necessary to promote solidarity in the ranks
of Constructive Workers. It is also time to understand that
Gandhi-oriented Constructive Programme is aimed at a basic socio
economic change & not mei’ely a reformist oi' ameliorative program,
and therefore, constructive work has to bring about that kind of
change in the minds of people in approach, attitude, & fulfilment.
8.
Hegar di ng "resistance to injustice", I would add "removal of
grievances" and "eradication of socio-economic evils" as targets
to be studied and where necessary, all possible persuasive and
non-violent means should, be sought to bo used. Satyagraha should.
be looked, upon as only the last remedy to be adopte$vith great
caution and circumspection. Corruption of different varieties,
the canker of casteism and nepotism, varied kinds of exploitation
of children and helpless women, cruelty to animals, should, be
looked upon as proper tai’gets.
9.
The following are some of the fields of Gandhian action which
have been left unattended to or very poorly attended to, nemely,
(a) labour, (b) growth of population, {c) national unity on the
basis of Indian culture, humanism, and common secular needs.of
all communities, (d) wasteful expenditure, (e) literacy and (f)
women's status and progress.
10,
It is obvious that Constructive Workers, while alert and fully
cognisant about political forces and parties working in the
country, may not identify themselves either with-political
parties or with those struggling for political power. However,
they ought to have the political sense, to know that fundamental
ri^rts are not jeopardised by the powers that be.
The reason for non-identification with any one party or struggle
for power is to make their own work more effective and avoid
their, own work being looked upon by other parties as politicallymotivated, whereas, all Constructive Programs are per se universal
above party lines, and such as can claim cooperation from all,
irrespective of party alignments.
11.
The Constructive ’foxkers have to take note of the fact that no
democracy can be real democracy if it is based only on vote
catching. Therefore, attempts ought to be made to ci-eate aid
sustain as many democratic institutions at all levels as possible
so that the inithtiva rests with the people. That is the meaning
of the movement of gramrajya in villages. Similar must be
institutions in cities which could take, care ofcity problems, be
they rate payers associations, voters’ councils, consumer protec
tion bodies, councils of public affairs and so on.
In fact, hope & achievement lies in the successful establishment
of the Non-party peoples' committees.at the grassroots as well as at ihe
highestlevel, so that peoples' institutions to cover other fields may be
started.
— R.R. Diwakar
- 2,
No.301
Health
Gujarat
Bochasan Gujarat Blind Relief and Health Association (GBRHA),
Chikodara, Anand Taluka, Kaira District, Gujarat__________
Started in 1950
2.
Coverage 405 villages (111,000 children)
3.
Activities
a.
b.
c.
Trachoma control
Eye clinics
Mobile eye camps (for cataract, and
curable blindness)
d.
Health/Nutrition Education - a link between
malnutrition and Vitamin A deficiency
e.
Undertakes relief operations on behalf of the
state government whenever called for
7.
Sponsorship & Funds. This organisation was founded
purely voluntarily by a social worker, Mr. Ravi
Shankar Maharaj, with the main objective of
"restoring sight to the blind and preventing
blindness in the sighted".
11.
Contact.
12.
Reference. WIO, UNICEF Note
Note:
Dr R.R. Doshi, Honorary Secretary and
Eye Surgeon, GBRHA, Bochasan, District
Kaira, Gujarat
No information available, on items 4, 5, 6,8, 9 & 10
‘J
b
X
n/iarks R o ’
1.
SOLAR
ENERGY SOCIETY
GUJARAT
OF
(Regd. Office; c/o Vedhashala, NaranpuiuRailway
Crossing, AHMEDABAD - 380 013 )•
APPLICATION FORM FOR MEMBERSHIP
I wish to enrol myself as a member of the Solar Energy
Society of Gujarat in the following class of membership. My
short bio-data and particulars etc. are given below;
/_J Patron
/_/ Life Member
/~J Member
/-/institution Member
/~J Student Member
Organization Member
(Please tick mark which is applicable. For details of
membership fee see on the reverse side.)
1.
Full Name (in Capital letter
;
(beginning with Surname)
2.
Academic qualifications
;
3.
Fields of Specialisation
;
4.
Profession
5.
Office Address & Tele.No.
6. Home Address & Tele No.
7.
Mailing Address
; Office/Home (strike out one)
8.
Membership of other Scientific
Organisations.
;
9.
Enclosure;
_____________
__
Postal order/Bank draft/cheque drawn in favour
of "Solar Energy Society of Gujarat"
OR
I have sent by M.O. Rs.
(
)■ only towards
the admission fee (Rs.5/-) and annual subscription (Rs.
)/
Life Membership fee under M.O. receipt No. __________ of
post office
__________ .
I have read the rules and regulations of the Solar Energy
Society of Gujarat and I abide by the conditions therein.
Date;
(Signature)
P.T.O
Subscription;
Membership
Admission
Pee_______
Membership
Pee________
1.
Patron
-
2.
Life Me mbe r
-
Rs.
250/-
3.
Member
E'j.5/-
Rs.
10/- per• annum
4.
Student Member
Rs.5/-
Rs.
5/_
..
5,
Institution
Rs.5/-
Rs.
50/-
”
!!
6.
Organisation
(Business/Commercial)
5s. 5/-
"
H
Rs. 2,000/-
Rs.
150/-
II
Institute of Rural
Management, Anand
7
-*
"
''
y
v'
Admission Motic®
The Institute
Eligibility
The Institute of Rural Management, Anand was established
in 1979, with the active support of the Government of
India, the Government of Gujarat, the National Dairy
Development Board and the Indian Dairy Corporation,
to provide management education, training, research and
consultancy services for co-operatives and other organi
zations working for rural communities.
Those with a Bachelor’s Degree in areas such as agriculture,
agricultural engineering, animal husbandry, dairy science,
veterinary science, mechanical, electrical, civil or chemical
engineering and technology, arts, science, commerce, social
welfare, management, education etc.
Those with a chartered or cost accountany qualification.
Final year students who expect to complete the require
ments by July 1981 are permitted to apply.
The applicants must have at least 50 per cent of the
maximum marks in the degree and school ending examina
tions (45 per cent for SC|ST candidates).
Experience relevant to Programme objectives will be
preferred.
The Programme
The Institute offers a practical, two-year, residential
post-graduate Programme in Rural Management. The
Programme prepares motivated young men and women
for managerial careers in rural enterprises. It is specifi
cally designed for those who wish to pursue management
careers in co-operatives and other organizations serving
producers of milk, oilseeds, cotton and other agricultural
commodities. The two-year Programme curriculum includes
extensive field work, practical training and class-room
education.
Sixty students will be admitted for the Programme
beginning July 1981. Successful candidates will receive
their Post-Graduate Diploma in Rural Management in
March 1983.
Financial Support
Loan scholarships are available to all students. The
value of such scholarships is Rs. 600 per month in the first
academic year and Rs. 800 per month in the second year.
All students will have to enter into an agreement to serve a
designated rural organization for at least three years after
completing the Programme. Such designated organizations
will include co-operatives and other agencies serving rural
producers. The initial gross salary on placement is expected
to be around Rs. 1250 per month.
The entire amount of loan outstanding under the
scholarship scheme will be waived (i.e. not recovered), after
the student completes the agreement with the designated
organization.
Application Procedures
Eligible applicants will have to appear for a written test
on February 22, 1981, at one of the following centres:
Anand, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Bhopal. Bombay.
Calcutta, Chandigarh, Coimbatore, Delhi, Hyderabad,
Madras, Varanasi and Waitair.
Based on the application rating and test performance,
short-listed candidates will be interviewed in April, 1981
before final selection. The final results will be communi
cated by May, 1981.
Twenty per cent of all admissions are earmarked for
SQST candidates meeting the requirements.
How to apply
For application form and brochure write to:
The Admissions Co-ordinator,
Institute of Rural Management,
Anand-388 001.
(GUJARAT)
Please send one self-addresed, stamped (40 paise stamps)
envelope of a minimum size of 11 cm x 23 cm for application
material.
The last date for accepting request for application forms is December 26, 1980.
The last date for accepting completed application forms is January 12, 1981.
^
SUCCESSFUL CO-QPERATIVE
A bright spot on Co-operatives In India is ths successFul
B^periancB of the ’<aira District Co-operative ftllk Producers’ Union
ltd. (APSUL). This Cooperative, centres on the fnratatlcn and operation
of hundreds of village milk producers’ conporativos (a typical member otns
tun buffaloes and tills less than ono hactacra). These village level
cooperatives are welded together into a cooperative Union (AHUL) uhidi
owns and operates its own facilities for milk and feed processing,
collection and distribution end provide? its members a full range of
technical services. The Union ie responsible For sotting milk prices and
never refuses to buy milk in any quantity From its tmwberB. Beside
being assured of a round tha year market for thei® milk, nrambora are
provided with a package of sarvlcoo ithlch include routine veterinary
health, breading coverage, concentrate Feed, fodder seeds and training
*
Tha village cooperatives are practising dseiacracy by living it.
There its no Favour shown to any individual or eowsunity for a sense of
caste, creed er status prevails. These coopsratives besides collecting
milk, paying twice a day to the mombsrc supplies on tha basis tjf
quantity and quality and having an intensive system to infuse technical
inputs in collaboration with the union also sorva as tha retail outlets
for tha sals of balanced cattle feed and Fodder sHvrfs. Using a part of
their annual net returns, thass ascietiaa contribute substantially towards
the ccmunity stevalopwent work in the villager. This include the build
ing of schools, libraries, health centres, youth activities, roads, water
supplies, cattle dovalfipmmt and ajoparativa extension.
The Union, uhicis now is a cohi!Sive apex of aorae 2,40,000 Famaro
Frm 837 villages of ^aira, has a Ooard of Directors elected sn a coepleite
8y s Dr. A.A. Chothani, Director (F0 A AH), mid, Anand.
•?$0Z S
APPENDIX
nxHTiFYw; m; cnincAi. cuwpuHnffs in a,
-I 2 8.
democratic pattern from thssts villages. Thia farmers' elected Soard
governs the Union whereas the market oriented managwaent of hired pro
fessionals operate it. Since beginning the Union realized that
viability of a milk producer will depend on the difference between his
coat of milk production and what he realizes out of it. Consequently,
the market was created at his door where he pours his milk, gets paid
twice a day and is free from his worries. The on-ward transportation
of milk is the responsibility of the Union. Side by side ARUL has
always tried to upgrade its cervices with a package of inputs.
Following the spectacular success of AfftJL, other unions in
different districts of Gujarat ware organized a similar linos, and have
amalgamated themselves into a 'State level federation. Wot only this,
the experience has encouraged the Government of India and other states
to foster the establishment of similar pragrammas in other parts of the
country.
Therefore in identifying the critical components of a successful
cooperative, we may take AHUL as a standard and analyse it. The various
conponente which can ba listed, therefore nay be *
The system itself
The Byo-laws
The organization of village oouparatives.
Pricing, Payment & Procurement
Pesponsibilitlea of the Chairman, Members of the
Managing Committee and staff of the village
cooperatives.
6. Responsibilities of the Union
7. The leadership
B. Timely solution of the problems arising in the process
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Ms will now enumerate; the various parte 8
3
It must iiaw® been clear from the foregoing lines that the bftnle
system is a two-tier one. The base level unit being the village coaporativoa
and the apex unit being the district inion. This has enabled the farmers
to derive the direct benefit from thsir own organisation ana at the same
time put before their federated body, their domnda, suggestions and
grievances, if any. The unique postal syatosa Aperated fay the milk transport
trucks ha« bought the farmers members in contact with their federated body
twice a day. Thia two-way twico-a-day system has helped to bring the
scientific ideas organised/adoptad by tha union to the individual msabers
at the quickisijt possible time. On the other hand any suggest ion/roquirement/
complaint from the farmer’s aide can be brought to the notice of the Unien
within almost no time.
Had there been any third agency in between these two there was
possibility of getting lust sonsWhare or tha Union getting tha distorted/
delayed information.
If us analyse it in the light of economics, the
entire overheads on any intermediary organization haUn been wiped off lenvs
alone any i^jarationalltssseB - and thereby the Union has heeti sidle to pay
bettor prices to its mersben-piroducers. If we analyse it in the light of tha
healthiness of the aet-up, any possible chances of creeping by politico,
vested interests, etc. are minimised.
2. THE aV£~taiJS <
Site will discuss the broad outlines of ths 8y&-laws of both the
primary societies and the Union. Of course, to discuss the complete 9yalaws, i®y not be possible within this short span of time, we will take up
the salient features of tlwe Bye-laws. Hwever, it will be worthwhile to
indicate that as both of these units (Society & Union) are an ort and out
democratic sot—up and hence it has been framed in such a manner ihatyfcvesy
taanber has a eay in it and that the policies are framed not on the
vindication of a single individual but on the cosiiuun agraswient of all the
participating raetsbcTs.
-8 4 ».
A * SbOQrJ&m-jal.-2riaaJXJa£dLaLI®. »
Ue can doai this witter ths following sUb-haade s-
«
i.
Tjtb objectives of a mcit&y aro mainly I
a.
To provide facilities far teara profitable marketing of the
commodity (milk in thia case) through the dnion»
b.
To take necessary steps to increase (milk) production
per unit (animal) end to give necessary guidance and
assistance to its membore to achieve this
*
c.
To undertake necessary (dairy) extension activities and
sale of nutritional inputs (cattle feed and fodder pro
duction in thio case).
It may ba apparent by looking into the objectives that the society
not only strives to provide ready market for tho commodity (milk) produced
in the village but also helps in maintaining the inflow of it by providing
necessary technical and extension inputs to enhance thG production. It is
unrth uhile to note that these aspects are a part of the obligation on the
society and that any member has got his right to demand for thasa/or quest
ion any deviations from these objectivesii.
laufe.
Various sources have bavn indicated for raising funds for ths
society but feus clauses ar© of significance#
a» flmowst on fixed or current deposits may be received
at such a rats of interest anti for such a period as
may be decided by the managing cowiittee, but the rate
of the interest on this fixed and current deposits
should he one per cent loss titan the rate on auch de
posits offered by the banks.
-* 5 3-
b.
iii.
The total loans and deposits should not exceed tan
times the total ataowtt of share capital, accumulated
reserve fund and building fund minus the accumulated
losses. Thia moans that the liability of the society
has baen limited.
ftaffibarshln..
Although there are some pre-raquialteo which must be observed
uiiile enrolling ths raerSaers in a society, there is no restriction
of any race, caste, ersed. social status ate. The important
points that are worth meet inning si's t
a.
Any man who wants to be a member of ths society should have
a eow/buffalos (raw material production unit) with him®
b.
Hq has to supply milk (commodity) far atloaat 183 days or
SOO litres to make his right of w»t« effective and make
himself eligible to contest the Election for tho fianaging
Committee of ths society.
c.
The liability of a member doss net exceed any unpaid amount
on shares subscribed by film. Thio means that by paying only
the share money he can be rest assured of the benefits ren
dered by the iiociety and at the sans tine his liability
towards ths financial position of the society la always
limited.
d.
No mother shall liave claim or any Interest on the shares of
the society exceeding 1/Sth of the paid up share capital ar
Ra. 1,000/- uhichaver is loss. This means that the share is
always open to the majority of thu people and participation
from all sectors is ensured
*
and,
o. A mambor is entitled to receive back his sharo/c -after
completion of twa years of hie possession of the sharo/s
but before makintj the cl.aim the person shall have to give
a three months prior notice to the soc.lstyo However, tS'o
total amount of such refundable share capital shall not
extnsad l/lOth r»f thia total paid up share capital as shown
at the close of chc previous cooperative yaar (3()th 3una)
iv.
»
Ths General Heating of the society has the siprema powers subject
to ths state cooperative act, rides anti hy©-laws. The general
Blasting will bo hold every year within a period of three months
after tho end of the cooperative year. Among its nunerous functions,
the important ones? can he unumerated oa belcu i-
a« To receive ths Managing Committee repost un the1 working of tha
society for the precoeding year together with Vha statements
of trading accnust, profit & loss account and Balpnca sheet for
tha year and ta sanction tha appropriation and distribution of
profit.
b« To appoint this Internal auditor and to sanation ths budget for
ths next year.
i-' -S w-Jw
permissible
■
o. To apgmftric fix the limits of fines to be raised
under the Bye-lawa.
d.
To make necessary anendrasnta, additions, alterations otc. in
the Dye-laws and sub-laws of the society.
e.
In a general meeting, 2/Sth of the total macihara or 20 thichever
is less will form a quorwa. If, on the day of the general meeting
there is no quorun, the nesting shall be held on anothatrday end
time notified accordingly. If on the day to which this masting is
adjoumad, no quorum is obtained after waiting for 30 -BilnutaB, the
bUBinviis ehall bo disposed off without a quorum.' At dll tfta
-s 7 1-
gsneral meetings, the president shall he elected by the manhura
present. fio resolution passed in the annual general mectingfcan
be put fax a change or cancellation within six months from the
data of resolution hut if 2/'3rd of the menders of the Managing
Comities are of the opinion that a particular resolution is
required to bo changed or altered in the interest of ths soalety,
and if tho District Itegistrar agree® to such change, tho Banaging
Cofflaitt.ee
call a special general meeting within six montlis
for carrying cut such work.
A special general meeting of the members my be convened at any
tins by a majority fif the managing comities, or on receipt of a
requisition from l/9th or SQ snombess, or from the directions of
the federal body. The chainaan of the society is duty bound to
call such meetings within a month of the receipt of such requisi
tion.
Each iwibiara hao one vote irrespective of the nusnbor of charge
held by hisn«
In case of any tio or any matter, the president has a casting
vote, over and aiiova his general vote.
raro,Qipfi .Comitim
The elected fianaging committee of the society coruilota of nine
persons of thick l/^rri retire every year in rotation.
In any
nesting presence o f tnore than half of the nesnbere of committee
Penas a quorum. Tho eligibility of a member to become or to con
tinue as a managing comitt so member has been elaborated in the
Bye-laua. Some of ths salient points are 8
s. Ha should nut kava direct or indirect interest in tl»e property
purchased or sold by tho soclAy or any other doalinga with the
society.
.9 8 9b.
Hg should not bo a paid employee of this ar any other society
and should not ba related to my of the paid employers nF the
society.
c.
Hs should not haw performed duty as a paid employes for the
last three csjnporative years.
d.
He or any member oP his joint family should nab irava any business
of the kind carried by ths society nor has any partnership intereat
in ouch concerns.
Any member who absents himself for three consecutive times in the
meeting, will cease to be the member of the managing committee.
Ths committee may meet as many times as is deemed fit, but at least
once in a month. The Chairman of the enmittea is supposed ta
preside over the meeting but in his absence the ncs.ibers -alsct the
Chairman For the day among themselves.
priority, ••u meribor shall remain present and vote on any matter in
uhich hu has personal interest but if any decision is to be taken
against him. ho shall be given Full opportunity to explain.
One of the duties eF the Managing Committee enumerates that besides
making arrangements for raising Funda and framing administrative rules
for the society, it Jxas to take steps to increase milk (commodity)
production and conduct nncasoary animal husbandary activities an per
the directions of ths Chinn. This moans that the society is a dynassic
one and strives For better production, hence better-returns, ta its
mergers.
For the day today working op tha society, the flanaging Comities
appoints the necessary staff. Tha staff# thus appointed are all paid
employnus and have to furnish a surety (tangible). The surety papers
are kept in the district copperative bank to avoid any chance of
tampering or loss.
—I 9 x-
The Secretary is duty bomd to ensure payment to the members of the
Society twice a day, i.o. after every twelve hours from the tine of his
supply of silk.
Thus we can sen that the whole set up is a democratic one and the parti
cipant farmers are the sole masters of their organization,
In the case of any serious mlstnanager.iHnt on the part of the managing
coraraltteVoocirty, the Registrar can stipend the managing cemlttee etid
ap,'Joint an administrator.
vi. Distribution of ggefit »
The gross profit for the year is declared in the annual general meeting
and the following deductions are matte 8
a. Intermt
b, Marking expenses of the society
C. loss S'®
d. Depreciations
e. Bad debts sanctioned by the Managing Counit; tee and approved by the
District Registrar,
f. Contribution, if any.
The balance is taken as not profit and is distributed ao under «
a.
b.
2S“ reserve fund
bivident 0
of the share holders on the value of their paid-up
share capital
e.
2^> cooperative Education fund.
The remaining balance is distributed as follows »
65^ as bonus to th® members in accordance with ths price of
Milk supplied by them to the society.
•« 10
to.
c.
rf.
s.
1(6 cattle davalapcwnt fund
1t6 charity fund
10> staff tarasa
cooporetivo propaganda fund.
vii. StasaUsaEBH.5
s. To rmintain iriifnmtty, accounts and records are esaintained in
the foxtits preacsibad by the Registrar, cooperative socictiss.
b.
The Chairman, or eno or more cie^hora of the managing cotnraittee
and the Secretary, as may be authorised by ths managing comnittea
have ths powers Jointly tsi execute dofiunents, grant receipts,
sign share certificates, make transactions with Hanlt and sign cash
hook of the society.
Co Any member of the society may inspect any of the registers or
records during office hours bo far as it relates to his own
business.
d„
Each member is given a pass b:ok and all his transactions with the
society are recorded in it.
o. “he election far the managing committee ia by ©caret ballot system.
S„ Bye lawe of the Union 3
Among the objectives of tha Bye-laws of the Union, the following may be
listed as important ones s
‘Wchase, peal, process, manufacture and distribute conmoditiea
from the taesber of the affiliated societies.
b. Purchase, process, manufacture, distribute and sell cattle food.
c. Give veterinary and artificial insemination services and provide
medicines etc.
d. Render technical, financial, administrative and other necessary
helps to other similar schemes.
a.
■8 11 *.
f'luB ratskes clear that the mion has three nain broad abject Ivos *
a,
b.
To devalop ths marketing facilities For it® morabors
To piouijh back the inputs to Ito ntsrterc to maintain a profitable
relation betwaan his invastnranto and cassowary and at the aame tine
maintain a continuous flaw of the raw materials,
c.
Tn create conditions and render help to 1st grow similar organizations
and thora by proving a faith in co-existence
ii. Tps funds far thss union can bn raised by almost similar sources as
that onunerated Fur the societies except that it e»n obtain grants
*
aids and subsidies ftewa the ijovernsratn and International Agencies and
Foreign collaborations
*
The neriberohip of the union xs open to all the registered eocic&tes
engaged in similar work (Hi Ik Producers
*
Cooperative Society- and no
society ones affiliated can bo disaffiliated without the sanction of
the Registrar, unlusa it is dissolvad.
The fac® value of each satire is fa.IOO/— a«d tfte liability of a member
does not exesad tho amount, if any unpaid on slwires subscribed!
*
ill
The aiprtafiiia authority vasts with the General fleeting, which is convened
avery year
*
The Chairman of the sociotiea affiliated aw on 3lat flarch
of the previous year shall bo invited and nay gyyt their votpa, A
special general meeting can be called by tho majority of the Union or
by tho Kagist rar cooperatives or a federal body to which ths Union is
affiliated. In meetings, a member am bring forward any proposal by a
Majority of 2/3rd of those preaent for any matter not specified in the
ag&’ida, provided ha doss not propose the expulsion of another number or
nrrandsent in the Bye-lawe. Only ths Qanaral Body han the powers to
rcmsjva the General Manager..
Tha Board of Birectors consists of 15 Eicmbars as indicated below 8
*a 12 elected retireeontativos of affiliated soelnties.
b. <>ib nominee; of the Registrar of Cooperative Socistios
c. £ho to ba co-optad by tho Hoard of Directors from experts in
the business.
.8 12 I-
The Board of Oireetoss elect a Chairman and a Vice Chairman. No
moabor can be preosnt or vote or my matter in which ho has pergonal
interest. This Board In the interest of the eenoth exscut i.:in of the
working of th© union, may appdllft two stft>»t»ranlt&eas. Although the
Board appoints the General Wanagor, fixes hie rewum rat ion etc. The
General Renege? la tfolsgatsd with the powers to appoint ether staff
fix their rmun>?rati<3n end terminate them.
ft la worth while to note that although ths Board of Oiractors appoints
ths General Hareatjors, he can he resavod by the General Body only, and
thus giving him a free administrative Holts to act his best. Also the
other □rofmoionals ar® being appointed by the General Hanagar, the
administrative decorim is always maintained. Hotievor, it does not mean
theft the Hanaging Conoittse is not aware of the day to day davel<^rnents3
rather for any policy decision, ths powers are with it always.
iv.
>
The gross profit ende 1» declared In the Annual General Hasting aid the
following deduct ions are job de 2
(a) Interest
(b) Working a^enaco
(c) Losses
(g) gratuity for staff
(d) Depreciations
(a) Land assessment, cess and rant
(f) Contribution to staff Profident Fund.
(h) Staff bonus not exceeding three months
sainty and
(i) Inccijo tax aid its provisions.
The net profit thus rmaining ia distributed as follaue s
(a)
(b)
(c)
25^ to xsBiatve fund
To educational fund to the atata coop a rativs isJlun as required
undar the Stats Ccrparativo Societies’ act
of the value of th® paid up share capital os dividend to menbers.
.J 13 »-
The remaining tnonay 1b than distributed as under 8
3. Upto 80$ towards tonus to the nenbere in proportion to commodity
sold through union
b.
10$ towards charity funds.
c.
2$ towards divictent equilization ftnd
d.
S’ cowards cooperative
fund.
Oo 3^ for research work in silled Industry.
Any Chang
*
in the disjtribut&on of profits is to be made with the prior
approval of the rtagistrar of Cooperative Societies.,
3.
TMti UF VltUGE C2UPOWTIVES
ilia definitely do not wave to enumerate th® various preceedures involved
in the process nor t$e want to list the various extension methods used to
organiza a village society. Hahatme Candid onae said "That Cooparntlva
Societies should bo the link binding parties together like a silver wire
that holds tha pearl
*
together. They can function like a water tight
compartment of tho ocean liner and bo the shock absorber in the acohasdc
organization. The neerst of a successful cooperative effort is that
Baratovs must be honest and know the great marlta of cooperation and it
must havs a definite progressive goal".
This means that while organizing tha villnga ccoperatives, wo have to see
that it has participation from all sections in the village and that they
all strive, together to progress towards a better social and economical
goal. Exparionoe pays that no szoner one is ecun ami sally better off, h»
way prove a socially better-off nan.
This means that the organization of tho cooperatives should primarily
aim at the economic viability of the net-up and tho participant. The
base level unit should have altjaya a profit showing balance sheet. Ta
ensure this we way snliet Faw essentials. »
14 1.
a. Ths society should be in a position to procure enough raw material
(hnre-milk) to ®am a gross income of 7 to Sij of its volune of business.
b. The society should ensure that there is no spailago/wastage while
collecting as well as despatching the milk to the union.
c.
The society should not spend more than 2.5 to
staff etc.
*
of its income on ths
Sone of the Important points for caneirterotien in trganizing and efficient
running of a society may be put as 8
a. before starting the society proper spade work must be dono in the
villa gas to create confidence in the fa rmaralp reduce re.
b.
iiS-ton a soci«3ty is organized in a particular village
*
the westers of
the Managing Comittee should he elected in such s manner
*
that each
locolity/ccmounity of the village is represented. This would avoid
any party politics and the whole marketable surplus milk of the village
can be brought to the society.
c. Farmers of the village should have Full reliance on ths staff. Thu
selection of thasn persons should ho decided by the Managing Coiwnittee
and not by those tte organise the societies.
d.
Training of the staff of the suci^jy should be undertaken before
starting a new esclety. Hence, no haste should be done In organizing
and starting.
a. After tha start of the society regular supervision should be done
every 4th and 9th day for atleaat four months.
f.
Managing Comittee rterters should meet every *month where profit &
loan acencnt, breakage of a tuipmunts
*
courage of milk miscellaneous
expenditure ara Produced by tha Secratary and proper resolution is
pass nd and recorded. For any loss
*
the person rss'xwislbls should be
punished accordingly.
15 »-
4- flRICIWG. PAYBOTT > PROCUHEHEHT
As already indicated the Union of the cooperative societies always
locKs that ths price a producer gets from the sale of his commodity
should he greater than what he invests on its orocuction. Apparently,
thia taaans that the price paid to tho producer suppliers should
always be remunerative and if this is not done, the corasodlty may find
a bettor avenue for disposal.
Haice, the mien Fomaulateo to pay on quality. Ag the commodity in
this case is rmsstly buffalo milk, the Pat is taken as the basis for
payment. Better the nil?:, higher the Pat, higher the price. As time
advanced, the need for formulating aose different methods for the
purchase of cow milk was evolved, and the two axis pricing payment cn
fat as well as on sclids-not-fat in milk was introduced.
The aim is not to discuss the nroceedure adopted and other aspects in
thiaj but to bring out that the changing times have not stopped the
union in adopt Ing ths beat possible pricing structure to ensure remu
nerative payraant tu its raanbo.'s. Round the year fjhg producer is paid a
provisional price which is subject tc increase at th® end of the year,
not any decrease. Ths provisional price structure always gives a margin
on the price paid to ths producer during ths year and the actual price
worked out at the Ssfee end of the year.
Apart from the pries fixation, the frequency and the mode of payment tell
a lot on the smooth runnlng/succasa of a cooperative.. The payment to the
farmer members must be directly linked with his daily needs. Although in
a village farmers have limited wits, the need of ready cash to meet these
is of paramount importance. Therefore, the payment has been scheduled
for every twelve hours. A farmer brings his milk to tho society in the
morning and gets paid in the evening and for evening gets paid the next
morning. This has enabled him not to stretch his hands before anyone for
meeting his day to day needs, dna can find Invariably, a man getting
paid for hia milk and buying the cattle Feed from a part of the sama
monay. This twics-a-day payment is ensured by ths village level society.
16
The sociaty in turn gets paid every ten days
*
All transact ion From/
to the aocisfcy and the Union is through the cooperative Bank. This bulk
paysani has ensured ths society to buy ths othor inputs for its members
(a.g. cattle feed) on a credit basis from the Union. It pays back to the
union from
Each ts®Bb<3F has been provided with a ’^ass Book’ where in entries are
natie, each time he. delivers, milk, for hia quantity
*
butter fat content and
the valua thereof. Every month at the end, the total milk delivered by the
individual member and the value thereof, is recorded for the calculation
of the bonus ho will earn at the end of the year.
The procurement of raw material is also a planned operation. It is designed
to ensure quick reception of the raw material afc the processing dock. bilk
being such a highly perishable commodity ths effectiveness of ths AflUL will be
revealed from the fact tint the annual sourege of milk is 3)
* only. This
becomes more significant when wo analyze it in the lirjht of the vast difference
in the ambient temperature of summer and wintor and tho area covered (tor
procurement (it covers almost 2,900 eq. miles). Wesdless to emphasise that
any lapse on the procurement arrangements, especially in milk, to going to
result in huge spoilage and thereby reflecting had on the balance sheet.
T]>e organization which has to give the economic uplift to its members, cannot
afford to go negative.
&» ARUL today, each society has a ore-date, rmin ed time to have its milk
lifted by tSw Union and each route has a pre-fixad time to reach at th®
dock. Anyone causing a lapeta has to pay for the epilogs. The members
obligation 1b only to rfolivor milk at time declared by ths society.
5. RCSPOWStBILTTIES OF CHAIRMAN HEflHEIEi OF THE RAWAGING CCTTOTTEE AND
STAFF l)F A VILLAGE CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY s
Besides) those indicated in the ^yo-lawe there are certain points to be
considered by theae persons for ensuring smooth cay to day working.
Enusorcted below are some of the noints tn respect of a milk caaparative
society. Uith slight amendments, these can be Incorporated for any
cooperatives i
» 17 »■
1) The building for milk Collection Centre rented or ouned by
the society in the village should bo at a place where the milk
truck can easily passthrough and every producer can have easy
access.
11) The milk collection centre should be kept clean
iiii) Work should be distributed among the employees and ensured by
tho Managing Committee that ie properly followed.
iv) Chairman or one of the Hanaging Committee members must be
present at the time of collection to solve the problems that
may come up.
v)
Arrangoments should bo made to deliver tho milk at ths time Mfc
laid down by tho plant/Union.
vi)
Ths appliances uised for milk collctlon and testing should be
cleaned properly.
vii)
Boforta starting the milk collection, tho empty milk cans should
be cleaned.
viii)
Testing ra china should bo cleaned after each operation.
should be nunbereti inside.
It
ix)
The name of tho society should be clearly written on the milk cans
x)
If the society is sending cow’s, Milk it must be clearly indicated
on the cans and should be entered in the truck-sheet.
Xi) After tho milk collection is over, tho total quantity of milk
received from the Individual suppliers should immediately be
worked out and checked.
xii)
A routine should ba formed to take the signature of the milk
collector and tester in tho milk purchase register,
xiii)
Tho pooled sample, for finding out tho general test of society's
milk, should be collector) from all the cans on equal proportion
after mixing thoroughly.
xiv)
Tester of the society should not bo allowed to see the number of
milk battles of individual milk supplier at the time of milk
collecticn.
-I 18 i-
xv)
There should be a separate tent register anti the tester should
sign it evary day aftar complati.on of tasting
*
xvi)
After completion of tenting, the tents should bb entered in the
purchase register from the tent register. Tits amount to be paid
to the individual producers, should toe entered, after verification
from the payment tablo.
xvii)
After the testing is over, the Secretary should da random testing
•vary day.
xviil) Arrangements of retesting of milk of tho producers should be done
after the testing is complete.
xix)
Arrangements should be mods to train all the employees in milk
testing work.
xx)
Dairy Register should be written regularly from tho doily weight
and fat slip.
xxi)
xxii)
Routine should bo made to writs all the registers regulaiiy.
Oh each account register, page numbers should be given and each
page should be stamped. Thu Chairman should sign on the lost page.
xxlii) File should be maintained subjoctwiss.
xxiv)
Vouchors and correspondence file should bo maintained properly.
xxv)
Routine should bo made to write separate letters for eoch subject.
xxvi)
All tho employees should know this uee of truck sheet.
xxiii) liJhcn can or acid Jar .is not received, it should be noted in the
truck-sheet and a separate letter should be written to the plant/
in ion immediately.
xxviii) Request for retesting of milk and information for non receipt of any
material from tho plant should be written in tho remarks column of
tho truck-sheet.
xxix)
Unjy Secretary should sign the truck-sheet.
the next nan ehould be assigned with the Job.
xxx)
The Secretary, Hi Ik Collector, Tester etc. should fully understand
the information given in ths fat and weight slips received from ths
plant/union.
If secretary is absent
.» 19
xxxi)
flt£go:lng lettars should bo signed by the Chairmen or Secretary
of tho society only.
xxxii) All enployeos of the society should know how to work out costilier
or cheaper purchase.
It should be recorded every day in the
purchase regiator.
xxxiii) Staff should know to findout SNF, bosidod knowing general test of
the pooled milk.
xxxiv) If there is problem of SNF, the lactometer should be used at the
time of milk collection.
xxxv) Staff should know the reasons for courage and lew SNF.
If there
is a problem of stiurage of milk, arrangements should be made to
accept ths milkonly after smelling tho individual milk.
xxxvi) The ompioyoes should know how to calculate the kilofat and the rate
xxxvli) Hew stock of acid and alcohol should be tested for traces of any
fat to avoid loss to the society.
xxxviii) whenever new stock of butyrnmatsrs and pipeties is received it should
bo checked for their variations.
xxxlx) Testing equipments such ss pipettes, butyrombters etc. should pre
ferably be procured purchased from the plant or from the Union.
xxxx) Secretary should always check tho milk bills received from the
.
*
plan
Discrepancy, if any should be intimated to plant/union.
xxxxi) A package of policy for tho money to be brought from the Bank
should he obtained.
xxxxii) Honey for mure than six titaas the payment should nut bs kept in
hand by the Secretary
xxxxlli) Arrangement should be made for gieing Cooperative Training to the
Secretary of tho Society.
xxxxiv) The bahavlour of the society employees should be courteous and they
should be fair in their dealings.
>» 20 »•
xxxxxv) Chairman ar fianaging Commitcas members should seek guidance
from the staff engaged in the work of procurement.
6.
flESPONSIBILITIES OF imCM
Front the very beginning, the union, realised that it is the small and
marginal fanners who are increasingly dependent on milk production to
maximise their meagre resources. Th® privilege of milk cdil«ction and
marketing must, side by side, carry ths obligation of helping these
producers to increase their milk yield. The viability of a milk pro
ducer depttnuB on ths difference between hia coat of milk production
and what ho can get from his milk.
labile the prices realised from milk and milk products are governed by
the National flasket, the Producer’s income can directly to enhanced
by helping increase hia milk yield through ths optimal technical input
mix i^iich will substantially reduce hie cost of milk production. With
these aims in mind ths Union has the following responsibilities to
shoulder
A. Collection and Harkoting of flllk
Ofi course, the Union collects milk from feeding sources (societies)
and sells it in ths consumer market, but its marketing is incomplete
unless the producer gets back the batter value af hie produce.
Therefore, it is binding on the union to take care of all necessary
stops so that the producers are given a remunerative cash price of
milk round the year.
a» Handling and ^rocsssinq
Economy of tho two tier cooperative system is the biggest factor
to be alwayp knot in view. To handle and process ths milk sennomically is the greatest responsibility nF ths Uhinn nd unless this
economy is maintained, \t may not bo able to give better prices and
the input mix to its members.
•I 21
G.
°f optis&il Snadmlcal Ityjuta
In thu course oP building a Bound of milk tirocuremsnt 3ysten,the
Union comas to process the in >ut giving machinery as a complementaly
system, irfiich is the cheapest and most effective way of providing
technical inputs anp sarv’ea to the producers. The padsago of technical
inputs includes Artificial breeding, Animal Health Cover, Balanced
Cattle Food, Great Fodder Development and Extension services.
Artificial branding of milch animals is the most important single
Barvico~cuf.i~tcchnicul inpxfc and is directly related with the annual
rate of calving and milk production. The attainment of success in
artificial breeding programme depends largely on haw sound and
vigilantly, the optimum results could bn shown to the producers. Ta
provide the beat sperm to produce butter calves, ths selection of the
bast sire is a single factor to be kept in mind. The Union ensures!
how best the semen collection, its processing, packing, distribution
and insemination can bo dune and ths results obtained.
The production efficiency brought about by butter breeding car. best
be maintained by giving a better health coverage to the animals. The
Union therefore provides Veterinary medicines and treatment to the
animals at ths producers door.
The increase in milk production io likely to go dour if the animals
are loft to graae or are fed unscientifically. To replace the un
economic traditional feeds, the Union has raanufaefcuredanti marketed
a balanced Battle Feed uhich is palatable, nutritious and economical.
Green forteor development cannot be separated From the input—mix
programme. A nutritious protein rich and succulent green fodder/ is
not only ths cheapest source of feed nutrients, but also substantially
enhances the milk yield.
22 i>
reducing the cost of milk productlikn and increasing thereby the net
returns from milk. The union arranges to demonstrate the octsncipic impact
of feeding green foddom like Lucerne, Berseed etc. to convince the
producers for its adoption at the optimum level.
To carry out ouch reeoonoibilltios, the befit extension activities beCora®
a part and parcel of thia ayatotn. The village societies can serve as
bssc centres for initiating new services, ideas and oxtenbion programmes.
The imortsnt media used are nass corapaigns like the milk yield compe
titions, ft.I. Campaigns. Incentives, Newsletters and other publications,
mobile exhibitions, filk ehows. Visits and interviews.
D,
Ploughing back the Netums
T'J ftiplete the cycle, the returns of the economical milk marketing are
pleq^hed back in the formeF bonus or other kinds to the producers for
giving thorn a feeling of belonging to ths Union,
7.
1EADER5HIP :
Napolsan once said that he would prefers to have an army of rats with a
leader as a lion rather than an army of lions with a rat as a leader.
Definitely ho meant some one who can havo the individuality and make his
presence Pelt among others as well as under »
A. He should have faith in the movement
Unless a man has faith a firm faith in what he io going to lead for, ho
will always have a halt-hearted participation to tha organization. Ths
role of this quality is most important at the initial stages when the
thole affair is in a fluid state.
.» 23 I-
A Man having no faith, will moat probably like to compromise his
efforts for some other activity, than this.
0. Ha should liava the itynaciism to impreoa his ideas on othera in the
JHTERKST QF THE URGAMZATIQN j
By this, wo mean that he aliould have clear understanding of what is
to be done about the organizat ion and that lie should liave the dynamism
to oosnunicata the ideas to othore in the Interest of the organization.
Over and above, he should be able to inprsss upon others not to have
undesirable interference in the day to day working of the organization.
The cooperatives may bo known and heart to many persons, hu tho leader
should be in a position to infuse the reveal essence of cooperatives
in others odpocially those who are going to have active participation.
to. An p.pAAUwu te
It is a decided fact tl»at once foul politico io brought in to any
organization, tho seed of destroying it has been sown. The leader
therefore refrains from such activity. Even though ha may bo an active
politician, ha should maintain a clear demarcation between politics and
cooperatives. A cooperative is supposed to be a democratic set up in
the right sense of tho terra and tho participants (mostly farmers) are
very susceptible to the term
*
politics. Hance, the leader should have
the quality to get the cooperative run in the true sense rather than
create a senses of insecurity by infusing foul politics.
E.
Hg should have no personal interest
in tha business »
To have interest in ths organization/ and to have personal interest in
tho businss of tho organization are definitely two different things. By
personal into root, wu moan tha vnoted interest. Corruption, it is said
always parculates from top to bottom it never ascends from bottom to
-8 24 »•
tap. Co-opfjrat.i.VBs especially in India are a uaapen of the multitude
to use against thc.tr low social and economic ctandards and not a weapon
of the nighty. The leader should be clear in his mind to use it as a
weapon for those whom ho represents and not as a sword for them.
A cooperative formation Sias no short-cut because it is a change
against the resistance of the people till they understand, life have
not been able to develop any magic wand by irfiich <-.« can hasten the
process. Therefore, the loader of a cooperative organization okould
have dedication towards it.
G. ho should be able to bring results up to the hnoeo of his fol Ict-jers
one accepts a man as a leader unless ho proves himself by bringing
cut the results in a way anticipated by the najorityof the people, A
cooperative organisation is a cohesive structure of sesses varying in
thoir ways of life but aiming at a common point their social and
economical upliftnent. A leader should therefore prove that ho has
been able to load them to achieve these. Apparently enogh only words
arc not going to convince the classes to accept anyone as a loader
unless he has been able to deliver the goods.
8.
PROBUHS AHO THEIR TM£LY SBiUUTIOH 8
An organization which hae the participation of asrsrsns from different
starata is liable to develop ->roblom An efficient cooperative organi
zation should, therefore, act in all readiness to solve these iroblems
last they may nut become complicated.
The problems nay arise at various levels. In a village primary
society, problems may come from the participants almost every time
they transact with it. In a milk cooperative society, it is twice a
•S 25 I-
Tfte nrimary milk Producers’ cooparotive society transacts its business
through the village level workers Where knowledge a? ths subject is com
paratively low in the init ial stagoc. It is at thin Juncture b^ers a
continuous guidanes, persuasion and checking is required. To achieve this,
tho union sraplnys a team of suporvisoro.
It is evident that r.x»t of the farsanrs supplying milk in the society
belong to low incatne group and look forward to get the payments regularly.
If the society is unable to cope up with this aspect
*
it may create a
misunderstanding at®ng the farmers and they may lasso confidence in their
oufi organization. Thc^ society sliould in association with t^a union
*
*
therefore
snauro a regular payment.
The basis of iJaymsnt for the railk supplied by the farmers is quality.
The fitmaging committee aha old therefore ensure that person (a) engaged
in this work neither favour nor deprive any one he should ba inpartial.
Ths Society may face other problems liko competition in milk trade
*
low
fat f>t low SHF $, spoilage of milk, loss due to ewstlier purchase of milk
at the society. If not ohsckeqln time
*
these problems may effect the
business of the society and it nay incurs loss. Whensver, such problem
*
orise
the reason for these should be detected isnodlately. Solut ions
MMidxto should bo worked out, keeping in mind the conditions prevailing
in a particular area. Apart from those-, the imaging tomitteo (nay not
hold regular meatInge to review the work of the society and orobletas faced
*
{‘anaginj remit too and supervisors etwuld esnsure that they meet regularly.
The society may also coss-j across problems arising at the Union level
such as Bhortago in weighmont of milk
*
trannpor/ation of milk transportation
on head load
*
irregulafritles in payments, supply of chemicals
*
equipments,
balances feed etc.
An efficient doopsrativo organizstiuefcakes the problem MMisxs^xatbxiEtaH
bnion 4evt>a"OUi»h'<M> uiiather at society or at union Isvol. as its oun and
tries to find out solutions/jointly at the appropriate time.
26 »-
UUr experience tells that where these cocpontsnts wore missing the uhole
organkzation has met two ends s
1. If at all it tm existed it lias almost remained costaant
2. Otherwise, it lias vanished in duo course of tira. .
Any organization, the nsoment it losae its dynania0, falls to deliver
the results ano ultiimtcly vanishes.
'jfe have como across cunperativt? organizations which advocate and practice
a three tier syatem. Here the base levul unit is a village cooperative
but it is affiliated to an intermediary, Taluk level union, which in
turn is federated to the district level unions This syatwr. has been
Followed For a longtime but has failed to bring ths desired result. Tha
farmers, who are the real participants could never know whan to look
forward For help in need. Ths federation could never know whom to look
Forward for help in need. Tha federaticnin this cane was never repre
sented by the farmers directly, but from the neohsrs of the
Board
of Directors of the Talulta level union, Any diacuasion and decision on
the policy laid down or to be adoptad always remained between those two
units and the real participant was always in dakr. further morn, no
scientific programme could bs launched as the •UffZDW
*
and the FEDERATION
could never decide Juts® responsibility it was.
Similarly Byo-lacs at various places have no provioio for an employed
staff for the soci sty. It was always a caso in these oort of cooperatives
that they had an slanted cashier and an elected Becrs^ary. Roth these
persons uen: eupaAscd to work on an honorary basis- Naturally, only two
types of people could coma forward far tlwee Jobs
*
either those who had
their vested intorusts and wanted to use it an on instrument to achieve
it or those uho had nothing to do with it and came forward only because
they selected tlie simplest sen in '.ho village who can further bo used as
tools By tha others to fulfill thoir intnrugts.
■3 27 3.
dually, ub have ctw.’ across with societies
*
where bringing of money froto
the bank yas ths raopunsibility of the cashier and the expenditure was done
by the SGcratary. This always resulted in misappropriation of accounts and
in turn quarrel fatatusen these two persons, the system advocated and adopted
by a monel cooperative dairy has a provision of getting staff an an employee
of the society against a tangible surety and that thia staff is supposed to
handly cash and naintain thg6ooke of accounts and records
These cooperatives also Failed to bring any result whore the apex body
had no representation on the Farmers. There are some apex body of the
village cooperatives where the District Ptagistrat/Dollector has been made
the Chatman and the political leaders an the Board of Directors.
Evidently no one over know that really the problem was and at the same
time all the suggestions Floated by ths Chairman, was accentable to all
*
It was therefore in short, working in autocracy than In democracy.
Though there are cooperative dairy societies which give payment
*
to the
nembera after a gap of a week, ten days dr fifteen days, the accumulation
of accounts in an organization which is handled by the villagers always
resulted in eoma faults mischiefs with the accounts snri untimately the
socisty failed because of dissatisfaction among its participating members.
Last but not least almost all dairy cooperatives aimed to buy the milk From
their fse-iiera but only those succeeded which tried to increase the milk pro
duction in their areas of operation by floating a package of inputs. This
is one single factor where the cooperatives could boast of differentiating
themselves froMtho vnriou’3 organizations engaged in dairying.
J <
Anand: Milk and money-I ///
O „?
By DARRYL D’MONTE
rpHE imposing campus of the
National Dairy Development
Board (NDDB) in Anand — the
small .town in Gujarat
whose
name is synonymous with Indian
dairying — bristles with selfconfidence and vigour that is
rare in other public, institutions
today. Indeed, if its.top tech
nocrats. are worried
about the
growing criticism of •Operation
Flood’ (OF) at home and abroad.
they seem least concerned about
a United Nations Development
Programme team that, has just
to evaluate the entire
da^^B schema,
which is the
worufs biggest.
The NDDB’s milk
schemes
have attracted cntioism on two
broad counts. Firstly, contrary
to what the very name sug
gests, it is not flooding .the four
metropolitan cities
under its
command with, milk — or more
correctly, not
at a price a:
which most urban dwellers can
afford. The other contention is
that it .ties the country to. for
eign aid in general
and the
availability
of surplus dairy
produce in the EEC in parti
cular.
The whole idea of the first
phase of OF, launched in 1970
and completed in twice its schduled time only a decade later,
was to obtain Rs 100 crores
worth, of gifted milk
powder
and butter oil from -the EEC,
reconstitute these
into liquid
milk and with the sale proceeds,
build modern dairies round thefour cities, eventually with co
operatives in the hinterland to
trigger off a ‘white revolution’.
S^Bicantly, Dr. Verghese Kuthe dynamic head of
NDDB and pioneer of dairy co
operatives in India, himself no
longer refers to such
hyper
bole, unlike a decade ago.
The country’s
co-operatives
can now produce 80 lakh litres
of milk a day — ten times more
than when OF began. While
consumption dropped steeply
from 140 gm. a day per capita
at independence io 105 gm. by
1970. it is now 120 gm. But
prices are rising all the time:
only
recently,
the Greater
Bombay Milk Scheme raised a
litre of whole milk by a whop
ping 90 paise to Rs 4.30. and
the Delhi Milk Scheme, run by
the NDDB, is about to hike its
rates too.
Assuming that a young child
in Bombay needs at least half
a litre of standard miJk. this
amounts to Rs. 44 a month on
just one item of expenditure
for a single member of a house
hold. What happens ?.o infants
who cannot be
breast-fed or
for that matter, lactating and
pregnant mothers? As is wellknown, the physical growth of
the brain takes place
till a
child is four years old and the
lack of milk’, being today the
main source
of protein, can
mentally debilitate him for life.
Under the plea of modernising
the dairy industry, critics point
out,- the provision of sophisti
cated equipment
(much of it
imported?
cross-bred
cows
artificial feeds.
insemination,
veterinary services, new pack
aging and vending methods, all
add to cost, making milk more
and more expensive.
The technocrats
in Anand,
however, have an answer to this
criticism that sounds shocking
that milk is not the best source
of nutrition in conditions here.
As Dr Michael Haise, a Briton
who has been the FAO repre
sentative in Anana from the in
ception of OF says: ‘There is a
mythology of milk the world
over. In India, it is reinforced
by the role the cow plays In the
traditional
imagery
of the
country”. Dr Kuden, with his
characteristic lucidity,
points
out that milk consists
of fat
and nutrients: this animal fat
is three times more expensive
than vegetable and, what is
more (at leas: for those who
over-consume it), it clogs the
arteries.
Similarly.
vegetable
protein is three times cheaper.
“In fact, for the
rural poor
drinking milk
is like eating
cake”, exclaims Dr R. P. Aneja
the NDDB secretary.
This is certainly
true
of
whole milk, which has 6.2 per
cent fat in Bombay,
and is
eagerly sought by the
urban
and rural rich on the entirely
wrong assumption that it is the
best
nourishment.
Hight-fat
milk is also in great demand
for making sweets — a colossal
3 million tons are distributed as
gifts and on auspicious occasions
in .the country every year. In
deed, the introduction of highyielding
cows in Stales like
Punjab has been held up
because of the preference for .
buffalo milk, which has a higher
fat content. This is why some
nutritionists
have
demanded
that the production of sweets
made with khoa should be cur
tailed.
The Anand experts
have
found out that the poor in cities
can’t afford even the minimum
half-litre bottle of milk; they
generally buy just 100 gm a day.
Its actual function, as far as
technologists are concerned, is
to whiten tea (one million kg.
of which is brewed every day in
this country, the biggest con
sumer in the world). Their dis
covery was that protein, not fat
is the Whitener.
Hence th&y have introduced
‘Amiri Chaisathi” — a liquid
Indian counterpart ‘Coffeemate’
powder in the West — which is
a blend using
soyabean milk
and other vegetable ingredients.
containing more calcium phos
phate and Vitamin A than milk.
in slum areas of Baroda at Re
1 a litre.
As many as 50.000 litres a day
are now being planned for Delhi
but in slums only, and It will be
collected in the purchaser's own
vessel at 10 p. glass. To the
obvious question why more can’t
be produced, and in other cities.
the Anand technologists say that
more plants are in the making
but as far as the middle class
is concerned, there will be tre
mendous resistance to switching
over to it. Lest the very idea
sound awful, it is as well to
remember that in cities like Bom
bay, a slightly fancier product
like Miltone and Milpro was be
ing marketed in bottles. The only
difference, as Dr Aneja mentio
ned with a chuckle, is that the
sterilisation costs alone of such
products amount to Rs 1.50 a
bottle!
As a corollary, the second sur
prise in store at Anand is that
the experts see the production
of milk primarily as a means of
generating more income for the
rural producer (preferably belong
ing to a co-operative) and not to
provide nutrition to India’s 150
million urban population (inci
dentally, also the world’s largest)
Indeed, they believe that in
milk, as in agriculture generally,
the terms of trade have been
adversely tilted in favour of the
cities all these years.
This is why they are bent on
capitalising the dairy industry as
fast as possible and recognise
that the best way to do this is
to organise producers however
small, into co-operatives.
Al
though Kaira district
(whose
headquarters is Anand) remains
the country's showpiece. 17 other
‘Anands’ have already been built
elsewhere In the country, includ
ing parts of Karnataka where
no one imagined such a feat was
possible.
In other words, the achieve
ment of Dr Kurten and his de
dicated team is that they have
organised what is, and will al
ways be, a subsidiary activity in
agriculture to bring it face to
lace with ^he modern market,
which eliminates both seasonal
fluctuations in production (sum
mer is lean) and the hefty
mark-ups pocketed by middlemen
(which still exist for other agri
cultural produce, especially fruits
and vegetables). Milk, which had
only a ‘use value’, now has ‘ex
change value’ to the producer,
who can market it twice a day
to the nearest co-operative col
lection centre and collect cash
daily with which to purchase his
food needs.
(This fits in with belated re
cognition the world over that
the rural poor do not suffer from
protein malnutrition, as was
generally believed, but calorie de
ficiency • — more simply, what
they lack is sufficient food in
cereals and pulses and no amount
of protein enriched diet by Itself
will make this up).
Hence the NDDB sees nothing
wrong in Hooding the cities witn
mink, wmcn should bring tna
larmer higher returns, in fact,
Dr Aneja says that the ‘only
limit to the growth of aairymg
is the urban consumption oi
milk . If such consumption in
creases at 2 per cent per year, he
believes it is safe for the growth,
of Indian dairying.
Somewnat surprisingly, there
fore, the NDDB is advocating the
conversion of ‘surplus' milk into
products in addition to milk
powder, baby food, cheese, but
ler and chocolate, which are al
ready being sold under the Anand
and Sagar co-operatives’ labels.
In the best traditions of con
sumer good manufacturers, it
conducted a market survey of
what Baroda did with its milk
and found that one-fifth of the
milk sweets consumed was in the
form of the Gujaratis’ favourite
Shrikhand. It discovered that
the
traditional
manufacturer
charged Rs. 16 a kg. for this
sweet when his cost was only Rs.
12.50, and he produced it under
terribly
insanitary
conditions
with the ‘bonus’ of a dangerous
yellow chemical dye. The Baroda
dairy, run with NDDB help, has
now entered the shrikhand mar
ket in a big way: it sold Rs. 1
crore worth last year at Rs. 14
a kg., hygienically produced (no
colour added) and packed in
plastic. It Is now on the ver.ge
of marketing gulab jambs which
sell for Rs.
20 a kg. although
the cost of ingredients is the same
as in shrikhand. Pedas are next
on the list. The idea, eventual
ly, is to subsidise the provision
of cheap milk to ‘target’ groups
in cities like children and nurs
ing mothers.
Ironically,
the economics of
mass-production in the flush sea
son is such that today canned
Bal Amul baby food, at Rs. 24
a kg. (equivalent to 8 litres of
milk) is cheaper than ‘the real
thing’ with sugar
thrown in.
For that inatter, cattle feed pro
cessed in the huge pellet plants
designed by the NDDB costs 50
p. less a kg. at Re. 1 than con
ventional oilcake.
This is why Dij. Kurien is,
since 1979, trying to do with
oilseeds what he has done with
milk. He is obtaining
1,60,000
tonnes of vegetable oil as a gift
from the Co-operative League of
USA (CLUSA) and possibly ano
ther 90,000 tonnes from Canada.
With this, he hopes to moder
nise the cultivation of oilseeds,
also on co-operative in lines, and
thereby eliminate the 100 power
ful families in Gujarat who now
speculate in the commodity. In
deed, Dr Kurien’s messianic vi
sion knows no boundaries: cotton
may be next on his list, then
jute...
(To be concluded)
Anand: Milk and
money-II
By DARRYL D’MONTE
vyrlLL producing milk for pro" ducers. rather than consumers help in a massive trans
fer of resources from the cities
to the country-side, as the NDDB fondly imagines? India i»
already the fourth largest pro
ducer of milk in the world: its
output is half Australia’s. But
the benefits of OF show little sign
of trickling down to the small
farmer with a single buffalo or
cow. In much the same way,
the Green Revolution has help
ed produce a record 132 million
to;^^ of foodgrains this year
btWBany Indians still starve
anc^narginal farmers continue
’to eke out a precarious exist
ence.
The NDDB claims that in a
particular sample area of Kaira
district one-third
of thfe co
operative society members are
landless and marginal farmers.
owning less than 2.5 acres °f
operational land. It is difficult
to find out to what extent this
is true of other areas and whe
ther this section of society —
many of whom are Harijahs —
benefit by being absorbed into
the money economy and being
able to sell their milk to buy
other
goods.
Despite some
euphoric claims by the NDDB,
villages in Kaira district which
this reporter visited tell a Quite
different story.
Palana, for example.
has a
population of 4.000. There are
400 members of its dairy co
operative, but only three are
Harijans.
In Bamroli. with
6,500 people, there are 950 membut not a single Harijan
j^Wber; no low-caste, family
e\rn possesses a buffalo. In Plj
— which is something
of a
special village because it has a
TV transmitter which beams
special programmes from Ahmadabad as a legacy of the SITE
project — the
much-vaunted
claims of social barriers break
ing down once high and low
caste member
join the same
queue
to sell milk,
sounds
somewhat hohow. A lady from
the richest
family,
Ambalal
Chaturbhai Patel’s, assents that
she won’t let her low caste
maidservant even
stand near
the ehoola. (Indeed in the wake
of the medical college agitation
in Gujarat, caste antagonisms
have hardened perceptibly. One
should also remember
that a
marginal farmer with a buffalo
may be a co-operative society
member along with rich Patels
who have several animals).
The implication that in a poor
country
the
introduction of
modern agricultural methods can
raise the living
standards of
producers who,
now have no
•market’ deserves to be carefully
examined. This
after ail was
one, though by no means the
mam, aim of the Green Revolu
tion, which employed high-yield
ing strains,
fertiliser etc. to
boost.yields but in the process
tended to turn, marginal farm
ers into agricultural labourers.
In any case, tne Initial momen
tum of th© Green Revolution has
now been dissipated for a num
ber of reasons.
Anand experts hasten to point
out of the difference between OF
and Green Revolution.
The
ownership of cattle is not as
skewed as land: even those far
mers with a little land have a
head or two. But it will be in
teresting to study how, in the
absence of other socio-economic
changes like land reforms, dairy
ing can serve as a means of rais
ing the living standards of small
farmers, as against middle and
big ones. To cite only one exam
ple, if such a farmer perceives
that it is in his interests to pro
duce more milk, he may go in for
a cross-bred cow which is both
more susceptible to disease and
lacks draught power.
Besides, to produce more milk,
the farmer has to grow more
fodder (cattle now scrounge
whatever they can). This will
divert land from food crops, thus
the acreage devoted to pulses has
already
shrunk
alarmingly.
Moreover, wfch the start of the
oilseeds scheme, yet more land
will be devoted to this cash wop.
The "linkage” which the NDDB
expects, of course, is that the
huge increase in oilcake output
will help feed Indian cattle,
while, the surplus can be exP£jpd.
* Kurien, as a super-techno
crat, dismisses
"generalised”
farm programmes as being diffi
cult to administer (a manage
ment problem?) as also to orga
nise "producer-to-consumer sys
tems" (a marketing problem?).
But who can deny that the only
solution to the cycle of poverty
in this country is to raise the
real income of the rural poor
and in the process, sustain the
country’s industrial growth by
generating the demand for such
products? It will be revealing (o
conduct a cost-benefit study, for
instance, on whether the Rs 100
crores generated in OF-I would
have wider spin-offs if invested
in say, irrigation, rather than
dairying (though, in that case,
the dairy aid may not have been
forthcoming to begin with!).
The other broad criticism of
OF. as we saw earlier, was its
foreign dependence.
Although
OF is in many ways a sitting
target, since it was not only
initiated with dairy hand-outs
fron^he West but continues
to |Mkive aid and expert advicW^ull time as the largest
dairy programme in the world.
what many have failed to re
cognise is that India’s indige
nous dairy industry is now
strong enough to withstand
many pressures from multi
nationals and donor countries.
One serious allegation, tor
example, is that the EEC want
ed to dispose of its surplus
dalryproduce (its "butter moun
tains”) to make India depend
ent on supplies of milk powaer
rather than allow it to develop
its own domestic
production
or milk. This was certainly true
of the Mother Dairy in Delhi
which, in 1978 only got 14 per
cent of its fresh milk from Us
"milksheds”
in
surrounding
States. Between 1970 and 1078.
the share of milk products In
total milk production rose from
24 to 38 per cent in the four big
cities.
However, any hopes that
India would remain a big im
porter of milk powder have
now probably vanished. In the
mid-’sixties. 65,000 tonnes of
milk powder were brought in
from abroad , half of Its as
commercial imports and OF
areas produced 8 lakh litres of
milk a day. Now commercial
imports have ceased totally,
and only 20.000 tonnes Per year
are received as gifts, while 80
lakh litres are produced every
day. The domestic production
of milk powder has increased
eight-fold in the last decade.
and this helps to tide over the
lean season.
Caught off-guard. NDDB offi
cials admit that it is not as if
Western dairying countries and
multi-nationals have not tried
to influence affairs here. They
point out, for example, that it
was no coincidence that the
head of the world Food Pro
gramme' and World Bank teams
in India concerned with OF
both happened to be New Zea
landers: the latter once madfj
persistent attempts to find out
exactly how much milk powder
India was going to produce
that year and offered to finance
a survey for this purpose. In
fact, the Aarey milk colony in
Bombav is a good example of
excessive dependence in Its
early years’, it procured only
one lakh litres a dav itself and
obtained as much from Anand
while an equivalent 2 lakh litres
were produced bv reconstitut
ing imported skimmed milk
powder from New Zealand.
Two years ago, an outspoken
NDDB official was referred to as
a "bloody Indian” by an Aus
tralian dairy industry represen
tative at a Singapore confe
rence when the former called
for a switch-over ini Asian
"
countries to use milk products
i
to build up their rdomestic
and
capacity.
In Pakistan
amu. countries today.
most ASEAN
93 per cent of the milk comes
from Australia and New Zea
land.
Similarly, the NDDB has shown
remarkable enterprise in fabri
cating and adapting technology
for dairy equipment. The bulk
vending machines used in Delhi,
for instance, were to cost Rs 1
lakh apiece if they were bought
from a US manufacturer; they
were eventually designed at the
NDDB at a fraction of the cost.
Similarly, for the controversial
Tetrapac, to be used for packag
ing long-lasting milk, the NDDB
has obtained a licence from the
foreign manufacturer to make it
at home and a paper
plant is
being built near Baroda.
The
same capability has been demon
strated
in making
electronic
‘milkotesters
*
(for measuring the
fat content)
and huge dairy
churns.
It seems inconceivable, however
that American and
Canadian
edible oil producers should, in a
sudden fit of generosity,
part
with 2,50,000 tons of oil (which
are being bought by USAID and
gifted to India) in order to help
this country
modernise its old
and inefficient’ oilseeds
trade.
Even NDDB officials concede that
"there’s no such thing as a free
lunch!” The donors’ calculation
in this case appears to be that
India may turn out to be a big
producer of cheap oilcake (which
the country already
exports').
Whether, once again, the "new”
co-operative oilseeds organisation
here Is able to resist’ such designs
remains to be seen.
Meanwhile, the NDDB Is al
ready meeting
-with concerted
resistance from edible oil specu
lators in Gujarat. A car in which
Dr G.M. Jhala, head of
the
Indian Dairy Corporation as well
rs the Gujarat Oilseeds Co-ope
rative Growers’ Federation, was
travelling was pushed off
the
road by a truck;
a mysterious
fire also started in the Bhavnagar
oil mill which his organisation
has taken over.
In the ultimate analysis, the
crucial test of the success of the
NDDB will be whether its inter
vention in milk,
oilseeds and.
possibly other produce helps to
raise the living standards of the
poorest farmers. As for Its other
objective — helping to restore
the imbalance between the city
and countryside — this is
as
much a political as an economic
issue, the resolution of
which
will largely be an outcome of
the current agitations in several
States for higher prices for agri
cultural produce.
(Concluded)’
SURAT DISTRICT
If I were to be bom again, O Lord
Make me not a trader
Who has to live on lies
Make me not a landlord
With mind corrupted by cunning,
But make me a tribal again, Lord
So I could live in my beloved jungle
Free and happy as a bird.
(from a tribal song)
VEDCHHI INTENSIVE AREA SCHEME
VALOD, SURAT DISTRICT, GUJARAT, INDIA
Tribal
art
Forms
wflinn«S
&
The Valod area comprises of 40 villages with
a population of 52,000 out of which about 80 per cent
are farm labourers on a casual basis. Their standards
in education, housing, health, food and workskills,
analysed in 1961, were found to be way below the
national level.
The return from most of the land is low
while farm techniques and facilities in the villages
are extremely poor.
The terrain is slightly uneven, stony and 74
per cent of the population are tribals who are
economically backward. Their landholdings are
small, the land is of poor quality and the people
lack the resources, organisation and skills to make
their farming a success. In general, this has been
a backward and much-exploited community.
The rural life offered few opportunities and
the Vedchhi Intensive Area Scheme was started
after prolonged consideration by the All-India
Khadi and Village Industries Commission. The
Valod group began its work in 1948 and has
achieved results which, perhaps could be used as
a prototype for rural development anywhere in
other developing countries.
The Valod Group was helped by several
agencies like the local taluka panchayat, the state
government, the state Khadi and Village Industries
Board, the Small Farmers Development Agency,
banks and some foreign agencies like Community
Aid Abroad, Australia, Freedom From Hunger
Campaign, Australia, NOVIB from Netherlands
and OXFAM from the United Kingdom.
Village : It is a far-away place from major
communication points and its inhabitants do not
enjoy any technological advantages. They strive
hard to come up in the fields of education, economy
and social justice. They are the under-priviledged
section in need of suitable opportunities and
justice.
History : The Valod group started its work
against heavy odds. Nothing much had been done
in the area except the social and rural work on
gandhian lines by Shri Jugatram Dave. The band
of youths, motivated by a spirit of idealism started
their work under his guidance but very soon felt
that such work in rural areas needed greater
action flexibility and an analytical approach. Thus
they started work at different rural points. The
group was of the view that rural and social
reconstruction could be achieved only through an
integrated approach and therefore planned out the
following programmes :
Education through establishing basic schools,
production and employment through establishing
industrial centres and co-operatives and
improvement in the living conditions of farm
labour through diiferent types of co-operatives.
The programmes were planned and executed by
the group having diverse skills and background to
follow and develop a pattern of life based on
decentralised economy. The group was supported
by a number of workers in the area and the rest
of the State. The Vedchhi Intensive Area Scheme
was formally inaugurated in 1954.
The Objectives : To reconstruct the socio
economic life in the villages by catalysing the rural
population • ..to create awareness and .facilities
for rural service-oriented education • to use
local talent at all levels thereby creating and
encouraging village leadership and initiative
• to create an action-oriented plan based on factfinding surveys for the present and the future
® to evolve production programmes with a view
to develop the viable, decentralised rural industries
like textiles, food processing and agriculture and
animal husbandry • to seek the co-operation from
all possible agencies in developing the experiment
as a prototype.
The broad outline of programmes and the
types of schools such as ashram and basic schools
through which the Valod Group is achieving its
objectives : ® The education is rural-based with
rural crafts given pride of place. • Adult
education is spread through informal methods
like community meetings, group singing and
training camps. • Diversification and development
of rural economy through rural industry, animal
husbandry together with the creation of modern
services and activities.
Training : The skills of the local people are
encouraged and developed through industrial
training which has already recorded many benefits.
Production : Village industries and craft
centres are the two major types of production
units. Their activities include khadi handspun
cloth, food processing, garments, woodwork, date
palm juice, bricks and stone grits.
Goods worth Rs. 40,00,000 are produced in
these industries directly managed by the Vedchhi
Intensive Area Scheme. The scheme provides
employment to 1,750 people besides raising
the per capita income of the total population of
the taluka by Rs. 100 per annum.
Socio Economic Revival : Antyodaya
(Uplift of the poorest of the poor) is a programme
meant for the weakest sections of society. The
survey shows that in 1972-73, 5500 families out of
9,000 living in this region were existing below the
poverty line with yearly income being less than
Rs. 3,000.
This particular programme upgrades incomes
of the families by providing suitable programmes
such as supplying buffaloes, cross-bred cows,
poultry farming techniques and guidance in
agriculture development. Financial aid is provided
through loans. Five rural health centres have been
started on the pattern of barefoot doctors.
I
New roads
are reaching
some of the villages
H
4
Vanasthali School.
Vocational Centre
is need-based.
Palm Centre
Dairy and poultry development
are being supported
by small
returnable loans.
Traditional crafts
are revived
for economic
betterment.
The programme of rural development is
particularly significant to the underpriviledged and
the middle class people. All the villagers in the
Valod area are covered by the programmes
mentioned above and their execution is through a
network of institutions and grassroot workers
spread over the entire area of about 202 sq. kms.
VEDCHHI INTENSIVE AREA SCHEME
INDUSTRIAL TRAINING PROGRAMME IN ACTION
TRADEWISE LIST OF TRAINEES:
Sr. No.
Trade
1.
Master Cutter
2.
Tailoring
3.
Textile
4.
Press Compositor
5.
Radio Mechanic
6.
Automobile 2 Wheels
7.
Automobile 4 Wheels
8.
Typewriting-Shorthand
9.
T.V. & Radio
10.
Air conditioning and Refrigeration
11.
Motor Driving
12.
Repair (electrical) instruments
13.
Motor Rewinding
14.
Wireman
15.
Watch Repairing
Details
Ladies Gents Total
—
10
10
21
49
28
7
7
20
20
2
2
—
10
10
—
10
10
4
2
6
1
1
1
1
2
2
6
6
64
64
2
2
£2
The same agency is conducting all these
activities with expertise and co-ordination and its
impact is visible on individual families.
There may not be many dramatic changes in the
tribals’ way of life but the quality of their life
has definitely changed for the better.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
Commercial Painting and designing
Diploma Engineering
I.T.I. Songadh
Carpentry
Wood Carving
Hand Made Paper
Sweet Oil
Canning
Tappers Training
Handloom Weaving
Mat Making
Diamond Cutting
Miscellaneous Training
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
40
—
—
2
3
3
3
15
15
25
25
4
4
2
2
2
2
54
54
50
50
15
15
—
40
30
30
70
70
Total 550
PRESENTLY VEDCHHI INTENSIVE AREA
SCHEME OPERATES THROUGH FOLLOWING
MAJOR AGENCIES
• Gram Bharati Post Basic High School
• Vanasthali Post Basic High School
• Upasana Post Basic High School
®
®
Vidyamandir Post Basic High School
Gram Tirth Post Basic High School
®
0
©
®
0
6 Centres (Balwadi)
Udyogwadi (Industrial Centre)
Udyogbharati
Udyog Mandir
Udyog Kendra
(10 different industries in 4 centres)
®
©
®
®
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Valod Taluka Milk Co-Operative Society
Valod Taluka Tapper’s Co-Operative Society
Mahila Griha Udyog Lijjat Papad Society
Valod Taluka Labour Co-Operative Society
Landless Labour’s Co-operative Society, Bajipura
Landless Labour’s Co-operative Society, Buhari
Landless Labour’s Co-operative Society, Titwa
Landless Labour’s Co-operative Society, Kalamkui
Landless Labour’s Co-operative Society, Golan
Landless Labour’s Co-operative Society, Valod
Landless Labour’s Co-operative Society, Jamania
Sarvoday Planning & Evaluation Cell
Poultry Farmers’ Co-operative Society
Planning Triangle :
To provide primary human needs
Natural Resources
Human Resources
These three, joined, create gainful employment
Slogan :
MORE EMPLOYMENT — MORE PRODUCTION — MORE INCOME
printing : rajratan
abhay kothari
:
For our work we need
Technical, economic and philosophical support.
We could ourselves solve our problems
Yet we need some friends with us.
One major area of support could be
seed money help for basic capital promotion
which would generate a wide range of
Economic activities.
If change is a challenge
Valod has taken it up.
k
Published by
Bhikhu Vyas
VIA SCHEME VALOD
INDIA
73SC2SI
PJ&DSSH
S37A
SA13TI
The Vedohhi Pradesh Seva Samiti, Valod 394640, Di. Surat,
Gujarat began
its work in 1948,
with a population
Its area comprises 40 villages
of 52,000 out of which about 80$ are farm
labourers, and 74$ are tribal.
The Valod group had been inspired
by the social and rural development work initiated by Sri Jugatram
Pave, a prominent Gandhian educationist and constructive worker.
They were supported/several foreign funding agencies,besides
government assistance on various projects.
Objectives '•
The objectives of the Samiti are't-
1.
To reconstruct the soao-econoiaic life of the villages
by catalysing the rural population;
2.
To create awareness and facilitie^tor rural service
3.
To use local talent at all levels thereby creating and
4.
To create an action-oriented plan based on fact-finding
oriented education;
encouraging village leadership and initiative;
surveys for the present and the future;
5.
To evolve production programmes with a view to developing
viable, decentralised rural industries like textiles,
food processing, agriculture and animal husbandry;
6.
To seek the cooperation from all possible agencies in
developing the experiment as a prototype.
Programmes t
The programmes are educational and reconstructions!.
The
education through the fshram and its basic schools are rural craft
based with adult education spreading through, informal methods like
community meetings, group singing and community training camps.
-37
Skills 01 local people are encouraged, and developed through indus
trial training.
Diversification and developcent of rural economy havjyfeeen
attempted through rural industry,' animal husbandry together with
the creation of modern services and activities.
Village industries
and craft centres are two major types of production units.
Their
include Khadl, food processing, garments, wood-work,
activities
date palm juice, bricks and • store grits.
Goods worts 2s, 40,00,000 are produced in these industries
directly managed by the Vedchhi Intensive Area
provides
Schane.
The scheme
employment to 1,750 people besides raising the per capita
income of the total population of the Taluka by 2s. 100 per annum.
Socio-Economic Revival 8
Antyodaya (uplift of the pooi'est of the poor) is a programme
meant for the weakest section of society.
years ago shows that in 1972-73,
A survey conducted a
few
5,500 families out of 9,000 living
in this region were living below the poverty line with yearly income
being less than 2s. 3,000.
The particular programme has raised
the economic level of
the families who have been provided with buffaloes, improved cows,
poultry farming facilities and
development.
necessary inputs for agricultural
-?ive rural health centres have been started with a
team of bare-foot doctors.
These programmes are run through a network of various
institutions.
AI1AND
- 21
HIS3TAN ASEBAif
Eangpur in Baroda district of Gujarat is an inspiring example
of social chajge that has taken place among the tribal people there.
The Anand Niketan Ashram at Bangpur, (?.O. Bangpur, Via: Looindra, 3t.
Baroda) is one of the oldest experiments in this country which has not
only survived but also progressed from success to success through the
personal efforts of Eariyallabh Parikh in the last 28 years.
Objectives :
The objectives that can be deduced from the activities ,done
chatge the very way of life of the tribal people.
The tribal people
were steeped in their age-old tradition of bunting, drinking and merry
making and they would not hesitate to kill a person on a slightest
provocation.
They were exploited and all their land was alienated by
the money-lenders and they were reduced to serfs and slaves for their
tormentors.
All this has changed and they have changed the landscape
from the denuded hills and waste lands to reffcrested hills aid lush
crop lands once again.
It is, however, not the economic development
which significant, but the new sense of social life through a succession
of nonviolent struggle that has emerged in the form of people’s court
that ha^-
really organised them into a self-reliant, cooperative and
progressive—looking community of people •
Agricultural Breakthrough!
"rith land restored to them, it was noy; the question of providing
them the wherewithals f-er for modern agriculture, a concept which was
alien to them before,
'later was the crying need.
It was decided to
introduce pumpsets, naldg a technological leap over intermediate levels
of traditional irrigation processes.
The first diesel pumpset was
installed experimentally at the ashram, art: with its success, more were
installed in the villages.
The experiment provided enough technological
know-how to the ashram workers to improve on and expand the programme of
BA-MGALOdE - 560 001
by the Ashram in about 1,000 tribal villages around Bangpur are to
providing irrigation facilities.
The initial costs were provided by
private donors but later projects were mostly financed by the 14
nationalised banks.
There are, at present, over 400 irrigation projects in 800
villages where 56,000 acres of croplands are irrigated for multiple
crops.
Although the ashram keeps an eye on all these projects through
its trained workers, only 25 of than are under its direct control. The
rest are managed by the Oran Cabbas of the villages where these are
located.
Irrigation today covers 80£ of total croplands in these
villages.
l?o wonder, therefore, that irrigation has provided a break
through in agriculture in these tribal village.
CooperativeQj
i’odern agriculture is an industry,
It must be supported by
a steady supply <£ inputs, credit a rd expert guidance.
The network
of cooperatires set up in the villages with headquarters fangpur looks
after their needs.
The cooperatives are financed by the Central Bank <f India,
Central Cooperative Bark of Baroda and the people’s own Gram Swarajya
Bank, and together they carry on a business of several lakhs.
figure was Es. 32 lakhs in 167,4.
The
The most remarkable feature <£
these
cooperatives functioning in 155 villages is their hundred per cent
loan recovery.
School t
The school run by the ashram is appropriately called ’Jeevan
Shala’ or ’Life School’, for it is destined to shape the life of the
new generation there.
The education imparted to boys and girls in
the school does not conform
to the official education pattern but
nevertheless it prepares them to face life with courage but without
a certificate which is a useless piece of paper if it does not bring
in a job.
The chiE ron are taught modem methods of agriculture,
.technical skill to run ard repair irrigation pumps aid engines, construct
■23
wells and generally act as functionaries in cooperatives, Gran Sabhas
and thus help th pillagers lead a better life.
Sone of the children are 'adopted.' by outsiders including sane
foreign sympathisers of the ashram who take care of the expenses
involved in their education.
The UH3SC0 has recently sponsored a
research study on the role tsf the Jeevan Shala.
People's Court :
The People's Court at Pangpur is a unique institution of
the tribal people of the area and the ashram's finest contribution to
the nation.
It is an open court of trial by jury, canposed at assembled
villagers, assisted
by the ashram that provides its secretariat and.
maintains records.
The emergence cf the pecple's court is the result
of a succession of successful people's nonviol®t struggle against
money-lenders, traders, police, revenue and forest officials and
minions of vested interests.
Because of its moral sanction flowing
from the people with a long tradition of struggle against injustice,
the court io both feared end respected by all corn erned.
A review of the cases dealt with by it shows that although
they represent the entire spectrum of human frailty, ranging from cogni—
sible crime lite murder and rape to those of civil nature, by far the
largest number of cases
brought io it relates to conjugal conflicts.
The court pays due respect to the time-honoured traditions
and customs <f tribal life life bride-pi’ice divorce a rd remarriage.
At the same tine, it sees to it that justice be rehabilitative rather
than retributive, and it enjoins that necessary compensation, both
material and psychological, is paid to the aggrieved parties.
main concern, however, io io
Its
see that all people in the society are
propperly rehabilitated so that discords and conflicts arising out
of family maladjustment and scciaj/distortion are reduced.
-33?
BHABATI
The Lok Bharati is an experiment in rural higher education
as envisioned by Gandhiji,
Started in Sanosra in Bhavnagar district
of Gujarat in 1953, it became a pulsating centre cf Saxvodaya workers
to fulfil their ambition c-f rural development education.
It is a
trust registered in 1954 located at Snnosra 364230, Distt. Bhavnagar,
Gujarat, it has a ring of post-basic schools in the district.
Objectives :
a)
i’o impart all parvailing education based on principles of
truth and non-violacce io the people residing in Gujarat,
Laurasbtra aid Butch an? to run and develop with that aim,
the institution named Lok Bharati.
b)
Subject to above limitations, to make efforts to mould the
society through education as ray be consistent with
civilisation an3 psychology of India.
c)
5?o prepare ground for realistic education as taesj enable the
people to
India to develop moral and healthy personality
on their ep. tural level, to contribute to build up a pattern
of society and to protect and foster the sane through demo
cratic principles conducive
to truth ard nonviolence.
The basis of progress of the entire future generaticn rests
on tie progress of i ts rural population.
She educational
experiment of Shxi Lok Bharati will start, therefrom and
will prevail to cover up entire population thinking on
that line.
e)
As the attainment of education of truth aid. non-violence
rests on life uniting personal exertion with knowledge and
faith, the positive care will
be taken that labour atd
academic education are given equal importance.
□
IPO 09S ’ 3H0WDNV9
d)
-34
In further elaborating its objectives, the foil curing have
been added!—
a)
To run and develop "Shii Lok Bharati GramVidyapeeth
b)
To carry on educational activities of Child education,
Gran Sanstba".
Primary education, Secondary education, Adult education,
Mass edw at ion. higher, education, experimental institutions
and. other such. activities of education of the people and
to publish text books, periodicals and other publications
related thereto.
c)
To conduct activities related to khadi and village
industries.
d)
To carry out constructive activities conducive to Gandhian
view of life.
e)
To carry out or to help the developmental activities in the
field of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Local Self Government
(Panchayat) Co-operation etc, with a via/ to serve the
village society,
Programmes :
The Lok Bharati Lokscva Mahavidyalaya offers too graduate
courses in education and agriculture.
It also runs a training
course for secenfrry teachers, a trainirg centre for primary school
teachers, a panchayatiraj training centre and conducts extensive
services in the villages.
The ex tension
rogrcmv.o for agriculture provides better
seeds, grafts, technical knowhow, and assists in the installation
of Gobar gaa plants.
It also carries on analysis of samples of
soils, water and fertilisers.
Its agricultural programmes cover
15 villages and 30,000 population.
-35
The livestock development programmes consist of providing
veterinary services, rearing and supply of pedigro.p4>ull s to villages
encouraging practice of good animal husbandry and organisation of
cattle shows.
These are also done for the benefit of the people of
the 15 villages covering 3,000 population.
Research and experiments are carried on for various agri
cultural operations.
Eesearch has been conducted on improving wheat
seeds of high yielding varieties.
Improved cotton seeds are also
distributed ane demonstrations are organised for the benefit of the
farmers.
Vlorkers ;
There are 81 employees under the Trust working for various
educational and extension programmes.
Gv^A^Ar
ST.
XAVIER'S
SOCIAL
SERVICE
SOCIETY
Opp. St. Xavier's Loyola Hall
Ahmedabad 380 009
REPORT FOR JANUARY - JUNE 1980
this report we present:
1.
Organizations and their work The Pragati Seva Samiti
The Jagruti Mahila Mandal
2.
The Community Health Programme
3.
Economic Activities
4.
The Team and its training
5.
Plans and expansion
(1) To develop the resources of the people, making them participant in
their own development, this we have decided is our role in our
Community Development Programme and this is the challenge we have
taken up in our work in the slums of Ahmedabad.
We are faced with
enormous obstacles - the dependent culture created by traditional
and caste-cultural value patterns, by selfish shortsighted and
paternalistic policies and the consequent "miseducation", or by
openly exploitative interests under which they live; and then their
internal conflicts lead to a dissipation of human energies with
little left to contribute to the common good.
On the other hand,
the city slums usually house an enormous human potential, as it is
mainly the alert and forward looking among the rural poor that
come to the city slums.
The sheer struggle to find their way
through, develops in them alertness.
And in this particular area
of our present work, the oppressive caste system, such big obstacle
of the rural poor in their development process, is less a problem
here, because the hierarchical caste structure does not make
itself felt, or has not yet organized itself following the
resettlement.
Because of all this, our main effort has been, and is, to organize
local groups and strengthen them once they are organized.
Such
are the PRAGATI SEVA SAMITI, the JAGRUTI MAHILA MANDAL and the
COMMUNITY HEALTH PROGRAMME,.
(2) The Pragati Seva Samiti
We can say that the Pragati Seva Samiti has come of age during
these months.
Shaking away its timidity and hesitation it has
- 2 established itself in the settlement and is becoming its spokesman.
The change came somewhere last January when in their weekly meeting
they took a resolution to pay the rent instalments to the Municipal
Corporation and to make a campaign to convince the people to do the
same.
This was honoured when, after three days, they went to the
Municipal Corporation and after obtaining clarifications and safe
guards, 20 of them paid the first instalment.
(In our previous report we explained the problem involved consequent
to the neglected services and refusal of the Municipal authorities
to repair them etc., and the people's retaliation by not paying the
instalments.
The result is untold misery for the settlement -
broken drainages that spill over into ponds that breed mosquitoes
and cause a heavy malaria incidence; contaminated water supply, and
the entire settlement remains littered with heaps of rubbish which
none cares to remove.
To break this deadlock the Pragati Seva
Samiti entered into a dialogue with the Municipal Corporation.
Soon it was realised that the non-payment of the instalments stood
on the way.)
And so the Pragati Seva Samiti took the plunge and followed this
action by a concerted campaign to convince people to do the same.
As it was to be expected the opposition to the move came soon and
strong.
Soon a steady number of people went on paying instalments.
The gangsters of the place - who are still taking illegal rents
from several families of the settlement, made an all-out efforts
to prevent this.
used.
Intimidation and false rumours and threats were
As this did not stop at least a steady trickle of people
from paying the instalments, the gangsters resorted to a more
vicious means: they started to incite the people through highly
sensitive communal feelings (harping on the traditional hindumuslim antagonism).
Things came to a head on Republic day,
January 26th, when the gangsters called a public meeting with the
declared intention of starting a riot.
The Pragati Seva Samiti
promptly approached and informed the police, who acted immediately.
Nothing really happened, but most probably a nasty situation was
averted and, more important from our point of view, everybody
understood that the Pragati Seva Samiti would not be intimidated.
Proclaiming that their strength is in the people becoming aware,
they conducted all these months systematic local meetings in
different wards, where the people aired their problems and were
made to see the value of being united.
The same was done through
systematic meeting with individuals, even those opposing the
Pragati Seva Samiti, and it is to their credit that some of these
last were won over and have come to strengthen the group.
process still continues.
This
- 3 A public meeting was also held for the same purpose.
It turned out
to be a flop, because one of the gangster-politicians worked it to
his advantage and made use of the gathering to oppose precisely the
Pragati Seva Samiti and their drive for paying the instalments
*
But far from being discouraged, the group evaluated the failure and
learnt lessons from it.
Today the Pragati Seva Samiti remains the only organized group - all
others are disbanded and isolated and weakened by internal fights,
though still capable of disrupting positive moves by the Pragati
Seva Samiti.
Besides the work with the Municipal Corporation, similar efforts and
work is being carried out in other areas of need, like providing
ration cards, getting a fair-price shop, and activities for income
supplementation.
All this does not mean that the battle for building a community at
Sankalitnagar is won.
Far from it.
The Pragati Seva Samiti is
still weak and has not sufficient strength at the base nor is its
membership sufficiently spread out to be able to speak authorita
tively for the settlement.
And so at present an effort is being
made in several directions to make it truly representative.
This
is important in order to have the backing for concerted effort.
Then so far the Pragati Seva Samiti cannot claim any clearly
apparent benefits obtained for the settlement.
The efforts with
the authorities have not yet been successful.
There is an absolute
need for success to gain credibility, and as decisions to be taken
are very much in the hands of the authorities, this takes time to
come.
One positive result of this is the awareness created among the
members of the Pragati Seva Samiti, that the settlement of their
long standing problems and needs will have to be tackled by them
selves, and therefore their organization has to become strong and
mobilize itself to get funds from individuals or Government sources
for implementing programmes for the settlement.
We hope this will
be a positive development and will help to create a sense of identity.
In the same direction, efforts are being made to strengthen the
different cultural groups, like the "Marwari" the "Vagri" and other
localised groups.
The effort is centered around their culture and
particular needs, through organization of youth clubs that are
encouraged to find out and get the advantage of Government schemes
for their benefit.
The Pragati Seva Samiti acts as the overall body
with, ideally, local committees for every ward and group.
now in the process of formation.
This is
- 4 -
I.
(J) The Jagruti Mahila Mandal
Efforts at organizing the women of the settlement have gone on for
a long time.
The first face is now completed with the registration
as a Public Trust of the JAGRUTI MAHILA MANDAL.
The challenge of involving the women of Sankalitnagar in their own
development is greater than with men, for they are more suppressed,
more dependent.
Providing them with skills helps them develop
self-confidence.
Thus the stitching classes have been helpful, not
only to bring a welcome income to those trained throu^i them, but
also as an asset to rely upon^
More important still is to provide them with community organization
and managerial skills.
This is being done through a process of
discussion in meetings and through a process of decision taking
and the actual administration, also financial administration of the
group's activities.
Thus decisions about quantum of payment for
stitching garments and other items are taken by common agreement of
the group and the payments are carried out by the members of the
executive committee.
Gradually they are building up a common fund
into which are pooled the "profits".
After this fund reaches
Rs.10,OOO, part of the profits will be distributed among the members
in accordance with co-operative principles.
The following is a
2-month economic activity of the Mandal:
No. of women
working
Work done
Labour
payment
Com.Fund
TOTAL
Grain seed sacks
Rs.1267
Rs.206
Rs.1473
300
135
435
318
250
568
Labour income during two months: Rs.1885
1!
'I
It
Common Fund
-
Rs.591
1. 15 Women for 10
days
2. 25 Women
100 Mattresses
3. 20 Women
Hand-stitching,
cover-stitching,
etc.
As it appears from the above, the activities are still in a very
small scale and it will be so for some time to come.
We consider
as important that the growth of the Mahila Mandal be slow, so that
it may at all times try for self-reliance and the economic growth
may be accompanied by human growth and group growth.
Already there
are interesting developments, like the remarkable part taken in
common discussions and the sense of group that is developing.
Meanwhile intense planning is going on and both supply lines mainly
at the Government level for obtaining cloth at competitive prices,
- 5 -
as well as markets for the products are being explored, always
with intervention and part from the group members.
Another important part remains and this is the organization of the
local trades, like "aggarbatti" making etc.
and exploited by merchants.
These are disorganized
We have already planned to direct our
efforts towards the forming of cooperatives that will foster these
trades while they also help in community building.
II. (1) The Community Health Programme
The rationale for the Community Health Programme was explained in
our previous report.
In trying to evolve such a programme we have
to work though, not only the obstacles caused by underdevelopment,
like dependance and internal conflicts, but also by the special
problems created by both the ignorance of the people and the
professionalism of medicine: People, poor people still more,
believe that health is the responsibility of the Doctor.
The
result is an excessive dependence on him leaving them exposed to
exploitation.
We explain here an attempt as to how we are proceed
ing to promote the health of the community through their participa
tion to and towards the avowed aim of demystification and simplifi
cation of the health care system.
A tough job that requires
ingenious approach and perseverance of efforts.
II. (2) We have at present 9 Community Health Workers (CHW) - one was
relieved recently because of consistent inefficiency and one more
is likely to join soon.
We wish that everyone of them have a
minimum of 100 families whose primary health care they take.
But
somehow we have not yet reached the target and have so far just
over ^100 families.
People are still coming forward to join our
community health scheme and we are determined enough to reach our
target in the near future.
The opposition, too, from the vested interests was overcome, though
for a time caused some anxiety: The gangsters did a house to house
campaign against the programme and even went to the extent of
. manhandling and abusing two of our CHW.
Luckily, all the CHW
closed ranks, stood by one another and forged ahead.
This, the
support from the Pragati Seva Samiti and the assurance of our full
support and backing, developed in them new courage and helped them
establish themselves better with the families they want to serve.
The families that joined the scheme were examined thoroughly with
the help of volunteer Doctors coming from the hospital.
still continues and will intensify shortly.
This work
The main problem areas
identified were Tuberculosis and Malnutrition.
- 6 II. (3) Previous to that, our CHW carried out a survey, or family profile,
which included complete enumeration of population, total no. of
births in the previous year and total now of deaths of all ages.
The objectives of the survey were:
1.
2.
To know the pattern of mortality in the community
To identify the target population for selective and
intensive health inputs
3.
To collect a base-line information to evaluate the
performance of the programme in the future.
The analysis of the survey data helped us to identify the pregnant
females and under five children as the most vulnerable section of
the community, and helped us in general for the planning of a
comprehensive health programme.
We have conceived an "At risk approach" as a very pertinent one.
It consists of Antenated clinic and under five clinic.
We have established an antenatal clinic to deal with problem of
pregnant females.
This clinic is being run on every Monday by
Dr. Lata Shah a gynaecologist.
About 15 females take advantage
of this clinic every Monday.
Our survey indicates that we must
have about 60-70 pregnant females under our scheme, hence we intend
to motivate the remaining females to attend the Antenatal Clinic.
For this purpose Savitaben, the nurse, will visit the house of the
pregnant females and will impart some pertinent information about
nutritious food, alleviate the anxiety related with pregnancy and
motivate them to attend the Antenatal Clinic.
We are trying to
secure attachment with a Maternity home where cases of high risk
can be referred during delivery and that can take care at sub
sidized charges.
This will enhance the effectiveness of our
Antenatal Clinic.
As malnutrition is a problem of some magnitude among pregnant
females and under five children we shall embark on a Nutritional
Supplementation Programme. (NSP)
We are trying to integrate our health activities with community
development.
People must come to realize and accept that their
health and that of their children is their responsibility.
NSP
is to be implemented by them, for the wellbeing of their children.
We are here with technical expertise to help them solve their
problems, they are uninitiated but cannot afford to remain so and
have to take the initiative.
II. (4) Meetings were held in all the wards conducted by the CHW.
They
explained the rationale behind the NSP and efforts were made to
drive home the point of their responsibility.
The results were
morale boosting - people showed readiness to participate actively
- 7 in financing the programme at least in part, in preparing the food
and in its distribution.
The underfive clinic will be evolved
from this NSP and that will complete our ’At risk approach' or
Maternal child health care (MCH) programme.
We have initiated a process of training the Community Health
Workers.
To us this is a mile-stone of high importance in the
development of the health project, because ultimately these health
workers are going to be the liberators of their community.
are going to concretize our ideas into actions.
They
Their training
was a complex problem because of multiple reasons.
The morbidity
pattern in urban slums is quite different from rural areas.
We
are not cognisant with any urban slum project, where CHW are
So we didn't have any help from ready curriculum and had
trained.
to start from scratch to indentify relevant topics for them,to
choose the relevant information to be imparted and to simplify
that information so that it be comprehensible for their intellec
tual level.
So far we have taught them the following topics.
Infant feeding
Food for Growing children
NUTRITION
Food for Pregnant females
Balanced diet.
T.B.
Polio
Measles, chicken pox, etc.
ANTENATAL CARE
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Worm infestation
Scabies
Malaria
DIFFERENT METHODS OF FAMILY
PLANNING
Diarrheal disorders, a very important disease group, remains to be
taught.
That will complete, for the time being, the training of
the CHW.
After that we intend to start revision classes for them.
To impart Health education to people is going to be a very important
function of the Health Workers when they start operating in the
Community.
After their present training sessions are over, we
have arranged a workshop to be conducted by Mr. Ramesh Kothari,
where the CHW will be exposed to different communication media -
slides, flannel charts, flash cards, puppetry, etc.
communication is simplified and ensured.
so that
8 - a
II. (5) MORBIDITY PATTERN ANALYSIS
A survey was carried out in O.P.D. spread over 10 days time span
from 10-3-80 to 19-3-80 survey contained the House Number.
Age of Patient
Sex of Patient
Diagnosis
Treatment and whether case was old or new.
The aim of the survey was to find out answer to four components
of Community Health:
1.
What is the most common disease of the community and what
other diseases are found?
2.
Where - in which part of the community is it most common?
3.
Why is it so common?
4.
The above three components - community diagnosis - would
help to know how to tackle the problem and how to organize
services in such a way that with a minimum input’ of manpower
finance and time, maximum advantage can be secured.
The results of the analysis are attached herewith.
The following interpretations can be drawn from the data.
1.
The Morbidity lead was found to be low above the age group
45, whereas it was more among the females of age 15-45.
2.
Old cases were less as compared to new cases, which could
be due to acute episodes.
3.
The preponderance of male children in O.P.D. as compared
to female children.
Children UNDER 5 and FEMALES OF REPRODUCTIVE Age formed
the largest group of patients.
4.
Maximum cases of Respiratory tract infection were reported.
A small epidemic was likely to have occurred as less cases of R1
were reported subsequently.
5.
Diarrhea was the next biggest culprit.
consisted of under five children.
A large part
This finding emphasises the
importance and need of ORT and setting up of diarrhea clinic.
6.
Anaemia was common in the reproductive age group females.
It seems it was underdiagnosed in under five children.
7.
Skin sepsis could be severely underreported.
8.
Similarly there was probably under reporting of worms.
This raises the questions - should we do deworming even without
reporting?
9.
Scabies was found to be more than skin sepsis and more in
Ward A and B.
10.
Most patients hailed from wards A to E.
from wards F to J.
our dispensary.
Few patients came
One reason was that these wards are away from
What are the other causes.
8 - b
Some of the above observations raise the question.
represent the picture of the entire community?
Does this
The answer to
this question will be found by a follow up and a comparison of
this data with subsequent surveys.
I
Sex
New
Old
0-1
M
F
24
8
15
1
2-5
M
F
18
16
2
4
6-15
M
F
19
24
10
15
16-45
M
F
11
61
15
17
46-65
M
F
1
6
5
5
65...
M
F
1
0
-
Age
II
Age
HI
GE
Am
w
Mai
An
Scabies
inf. N1
Skin
Ar th
sepsis
Others
0-1
M
F
25
6
12
2
04
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
5
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
2-5
M
F
10
15
5
5
1
0
4
1
1
1
0
1
1
0
0
1
2
0
0
0
0
2
6-15
M
F
41
21
0
2
0
2
0
4
4
5
0
5
0
4
2
5
1
1
0
1
■ 5
4
16-45
M
F
7
20
1
1
0
7
0
1
5
10
2
20
0
0
5
1
0
7
0
2
5
28
46-65
M
F
5
2
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
2 •
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
1
0
5
65...
M
F
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
145 25 15
io
25
25
5
15
15
5
$5
8
III
Above fine
F
M
WARDS
M
fine
F
A
12
6
13
19
B
16
8
12
11
C
6
0
10
11
D
10
1
6
8
E
5
8
9
37
F
0
1
0
1
G
5
0
2
8
H
1
0
2
5
I
3
2
2
5
J
0
0
0
8
■
IV
Scabies
1
N1
Skin
Ar th
sepsis
GE
AM
w
24
6
1
1
9
0
5
2
0
7
27
3
5
2
0
6
6
7
1
8
4
WARDS
R1
A
B
Mai
An
Others
C
13
2
1
0
0
0
2
1
1
D
6
3
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
E
21
3
2
4
10
0
2
2
2
10
F
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
G
11
1
0
0
2
4
1
1
0
1
H
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
2
I
9
2
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
2
J
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
3
2
9 - a
MORTALITY PATTERN SURVEY
II.
(6) Introduction
A survey of 336 families was carried out by the CHW's in
Sankalitnagar, Juhapura, Ahmedabad during the year 1978-79
(1st Dec. 1978 - 30th Nov. 1979)
The survey included:
Complete population enumeration
1.
2.
Enumeration of total number of births in the previous year.
3.
Total number of deaths at all ages in the same period.
OBJECTIVES
1.
2.
To find out the mortality pattern in the Sankalitnagar settlement.
To identify the Target Population for selective and intensive
health inputs.
3.
To collect baseline information for evaluation of the programme
in future.
Analysis of data revealed the information which is juxtaposed for
the comparison along with the Nation's average and with the result
of a similar survey carried out at Chandrabhaga slums, Wadej,
Ahmedabad during July 1978 to June 1979
*
PROBLEMS
1.
How accurate are the figures?
2.
Are the numbers too small?
3.
Time related factors, e.g. an epidemic could swing the mortality
pattern.
How to solve these problems?
1.
Recheck the data.
2.
Repeat observations for over 3-^ years.
3.
Carry out morbidity pattern - analysis and detect occurance of
epidemic in the community.
Interpretation:
Though the data of Sankalitnagar and Chandrabhaga are small and we
cannot compare it very vigourously with the National Average a
definite pattern emerges which is unmistakable.
If we look at
Chandrabhaga and Sankalitnagar superficially, Sankalitnagar could
create the impression of being better off with the provision of
latrines and a closed drainage system.
Culturally, Sankalitnagar
with a Muslim preponderance is different from Chandrabhaga, but
the figures of both the communities are apallingly similar, both
are from urban slums still similar to rural areas, with all the
hallmarks of a very poor settlement.
In Sankalitnagar 66% of the mortality is concentrated in the underfive population.
Average is 50%.
It is 75% in Chandrabhaga, whereas the National
9 - b
The Infant mortality is 128.57/1000 live births in Sankalitnagar,
159/1000 live births in Chandrabhaga, whereas the National average
is 85/1000 live births (IMR).
The neonatal mortality is 42.85/1000 live births in Sankalitnagar,
81/1000 live births in Chandrabhaga, whereas the National Average
is 50-43/1000 live births (NNM).
We have to recognize the under-five population as the most vulner
able section of the settlement because of the high IMR and so high
concentration of mortality in the under-five population.
On the basis of studies in poor communities elsewhere it can be
inferred that in both the settlements there is a high prevalence
of malnutrition and infectious diseases among the child population.
High NNM is a reflection of fairly widespread malnutrition in
pregnant females.
NNM at Chandrabhaga is higher than at Sankalit-
nagar so we could infer that malnutrition must be much more wide
spread at Chandrabhaga than at Sankalitnagar.
But IMR is almost
similar which is suggestive of same vicious environmental factors
operating at Sankalitnagar and causing so high IMR.
The birth rate at Snakalitnagar is 41/1000, at Chandrabhaga 50/1000
whereas the National average is 28.5/1000.
Such a high birth rate
could be due to high infant Mortality rate.
Very high NNM is a very sensitive indicator of fairly widespread
calorie malnutrition among young women and pregnant women in
particular.
Because high NNM is related with poor birth weight,
which in turn is related very strongly with poor maternal wt. and
poor maternal wt. gain during pregnancy because of inadequate
energy intake.
This preliminary survey helps us to identify the most important and
urgent factors of morbidity and mortality in the community.
It
helps us to identify under-five and pregnant females as the most
vulnerable section of the settlement.
The main health problems are malnutrition and infectious diseases.
9 - G
MORTALITY PATTERN ANALYSIS
Sankalitnagar
CHANDRABHAGA
NATIONAL AVERAGE
Total No.of Population
1707
336
1794
506
-
Total No.of Families
Average Family Size
More than 5,
Less than 4,
-
-
Less than 6.
No.of children under five
357
378
-
% of under five children as cf
% of population.
Total No.of women between 15 - 45 years
20.8%
21%
-
392
413
Crude Death rate (C.D.R.)
10.54/1000
H/1000
9.5/1000
Infant Mortality Rate (l.M.R.)
128.57/1000
live births
139/1000
live births
85/1000 live
live births
Neonatal Mortality Rate (N.N.M.)
42.85/ "
81/
NNM as % IMR
32.30%
58%
40%
% total deaths below 5 years
66%
75%
50%
Post NNM
75/1000 births
Birth Rate
41/1000 pop.
50/1000 pop.
23.3/1000
"
30-40/1000
- 10 Though our role in the Community Health Programme appears, and is
at present quite prominent, we keep constantly in mind the need for
us to play a subsidiary role.
run the OPD.
For one thing, the Doctor does not
That is the responsibility of the Nurse in charge and
we try to play down our curative effort.
Our role is mainly an
educational one, educating, guiding and encouraging support for the
CHW who are playing a major role in turning the settlement from
passive receivers of aid into active participants in their health
care.
From here onwards and through the skills they are acquiring at
communication we hope they will eventually create very meaningful
groups that will become active not only in their health care, but
also tackle other related problems like community cleanliness and
programmes of income supplementation that will help them provide
better diet and secure better health.
We hope to make substantial
progress in this line during the coming months.
III.
(1) ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES
Providing the people with economic security is an important part of
community development.
The more so in the settlement of Sankalit-
nagar where the economic conditions of many are quite precarious.
The medical studies, for instance, that go with this report indicate
widespread malnutrition, indicative of very weak economic conditions.
On the other hand, a community development worker must not fall into
the temptation of organizing and fostering relatively easy program
mes of economic activities by himself.
Paternalism and dependence
will result and they are the opposite of true development.
Our approach to economic activities is through the organized groups
of the settlement, the Mahila Mandal and the Pragati Seva Samiti.
Some activities are still in the planning stage and all are in the
slow process of browth, in fact we are trying to make them grow
Planning grows from them and decisions are
together with the group.
taken by them.
Because of this the programme has not yet reached many people.
We
console ourselves thinking that the slow growth is a condition of
normal and healthy growth.
III.
(2) We divide the economic activities in two groups:
1.
Skill promotion.
Under this come
- Garment and Quilt making
- Electronic components
- Masonry, Plumbing
11 -
2.
Promotion of existing skills or trades
- Poultry
- Aggarbatti (incense-sticks), kite making
- Screen printing
Garment and Quilt making has already gone on for some time, as
reported under the Mahile Mandal section.
programme is under a feasibility study.
The electronic components
The preliminary findings
are encouraging, both as an avenue for promoting employment and
for its potential for expansion.
The masonry and plumbing programme
has already helped some people with skills and meaningful employ
ment in the building industry, that is in need of skilled labour,
as many skilled masons and plumbers are going to the Arab countries
for better prospects.
Regarding the existing skills and trades (in No. 2), so far nothing
substantial has been done and we plan to put in much effort in them,
after a detailed survey and study to organize them into
co-operatives.
Our role will be one of promotion and initial financial support
where needed, for which we hope to create a supporting and revolving
fund, always with the aim of making each of the activities even
tually self-supporting and self-managed.
IV.
(1) THE TEAM
Important changes have taken place in the team:
Miss Ramila Shah, MSW, has joined us from February, 1980.
She is
experienced in community development, both in city slums and in
rural areas where she carried out important and highly successful
schemes of village organization.
Miss Shubhra Almoula, MSW, joined us from May, 1980.
She has
brought new freshness to the Community Health Programme with which
she has been entrusted.
Dr. Lakadawala who was serving as part-time, is now on a full time
basis and the medical studies in this report show him quite active.
On the other hand Mrs. Kalyanwala has now become an honorary member
of the team.
Our weekly meetings have worked as in-service training sessions.
We shall intensify the same by studies and expert guidance from
the Behavioural Science Centre of St. Xavier's College.
V.
(1) PLANS AND EXPANSION
Three important lines of action have been adopted for the coming
months, that will mean expansion of the team's activities:
- 26
the ri/±t type of discipline and the positive outlook to human
relationship."
In the wake of the above basic ideas, four institutions of
Gandhi Vidyapith have emerged.
The main
concern of each of them are given below:-
Sana.j Shastra Mahovidyalaya : (School of Soc iology)
Established in June 1967 with the following broad
objectives:
Social workers prepared to face most difficult conditions
1.
will have their training in evolving the right approach
to work;
the
Youth will be encouraged to go into/voiy interior and most
2.
neglected parts of tte country areas, end serve there;
3.
Education will ba imported by direct participation in
4.
Organisers of camps, relief works ard other social service
5.
' Students should be ready to perform aty difficult task.
social work;
activities will be trained tore;
Thsy should be prepared for lard manual work and not
shirk social responsibility.
They are expected to be sincere end honest.
6.
Snatak Adhyouan fcandir : (Graduate Teachers
*
Basic Training
Course)
Established in June 1938 with tin following objectives
1.
Teachers, who are interested
in all fields cf education
from pre-primpxy to higher education, will have their
initiatioj in this college;
2.
Field work and various educational activities are planned
end executed on the lines that are different fraa
' the
- 27
traditional edtnational institutions.
Trainees are made
more responsible in organisation and execution of these
activities;
A model fans is run for ths first-hand knowledge and direct
3,
experience for students'in developed with a view to providing
a model fam to the students, improved agricultural practices,
the benefits of which also go to the villagers in the
surrounding areas ;
The traditional approach to teaching is abandoned atfl is
*
.4
replaced by leaming/e irect wodk experience,
// through
Yantra Vidyalaya :
(School of Technology)
Established in June 1970,
this Vidyalaya makes a positive
effort in doing away with the maladies of the existing educational
Its approach is based on the following objectives.
system.
1.
To prepare youth who will be interested in total uplifttie nt
6f the society; to bring in a scientific and technologies!
change in production methods and effioi® t utiliaation of
raw materials through skilled waiters;
2.
To instil
in the minds of trainees that skilled maaual
work is the sign of good education that helps the technician
to understand and "felt-needs" of the masses atx^eeps him
mentally and physically fit to put in his best efforts;
3.
To work for the benefit of the society wi thout-self
aggrandisement, the hall-mark of the
4.
traditional education;
To accept 'work-grant1 only and on direct financial aid.
The institution seeks work, technical and engineering assign
ments which the government and semi-government agencies needs to
execute.
The students and the staff execute:these projects which
earn enough to meet their needs.
The society does not spend an extra
28
coin on this training progronme.
Moreover, the students, thus get
a real life experience in the real situation, away fran the
four
walls .
Shanti Sena 7iayalaya?(Peace Corps Training)
Established in August 1968,
it trains Shanti Sainiks (Peace
Corps volunteers) and participate in peace activities with the
It
objective of bringing about peaceful change in social order
*
provides the trainees a situational programme with challenging
problems demanding their solution, and thus, it offer a task which
may be discussed in a text book
level,
but must be tackled at the field
Although leaders and workers cone for training, tie
Vidyaloya takes the entire comunity as its participants in its
training programme.
Performances 8
Now a brief review of activities of these institution are
given in the followirg paragraphs s
Sanaj Shastra Mahayidyalaya:
The activities through which this school of sociology attempts
to educ ate the ir students are of varying tn ture.
There are reguhr
activities in about seven surrounding villages and relief and recons
truction work on special occasions.
a)
Regular Activities
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
b)
Agricultural extension
Sanitation and health
Balwadi
Social Education
School complex
Cultural activities.
Occasional work
1•
2.
3.
4.
Communal harmony
Relief among Bangladesh refugees
Youth agaicst famine
Plood. relief
..............
29
c)
Constructive work
Padyatra
El oo d Bank
Hye Camp
Dandi March
Annual fair - Gandhi Mela.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
d)
Agriculture
Hybrid-4 Cotton seed production
Supplying of irnpr oved variety seeds and plants
Farmers fairs.
1.
2.
3.
e)
Tours
The educational tours are organised in such a way that on
completing four year$6 student has travelled almost all parts of
India.
fl
Camp Organisation
Students were directly involved in organising tte
following
camps :-
1.
N.3.S. Camps of various
2.
Youth Against Famine Camps
3.
universities of Gujarat
Social Work Camps.
At present seven graduates have gone to work in Arunaclnl
Pradesh.
They are funning agriculture extension woris, Balwadi,
primary schools etc.
They have decided to give 5 years of their
lives to serve the aborigine of the area.
Sone others are engaged
in establishing new institutions in interior places of Broach
District.
Snatak Adhyapan Mandir:
1.
50$ of the parents cf our students reported last year
that their agricultural practices have improved}
2.
Over 22 agriculturists introduced potatoes us their winter
crop, having seen results of tte trainees' crops;
30
3.
Dynamic teachers who are carrying out exp erimentsin daily
school work can be counted by the score.
Results are so
good that the post-basic schools are eagjr in getting help
frats our trainees.
4.
Winter vegetables cultivation has succeeded in all the
5.
Exhibition and displ^rs as arethod of teaching-are taking
schools touched by the extension—cun-training camps?
a right shape as teachers are found using then in their
normal work;
6.
Involvenent with national causes
have generated good
socially responsible attitude anongst the teachers trained
here.
Recently, UNESCO, Paris, has shown interest in our training
programme.
It has decided to prepare a case-study of the method doy
end philosophy of our centre for educational training for rural
Dr. Buch of the Centre far Advance Studies in Education
development.
(CASE), Baroda, will prepare the case study far UNESCO which will be
published iron Paris.
Suruehi Yantra Vidyalayai
The atmosphere provides tie right training.
Since we have a
real life situation in our workshop, the senior forger refused the
students to undertake the
the/tefusal.
work of forging with hanmer/is a veiy /which
An unskilled nan can injure the craftsman too. Eence
skilled work.
Within five to six months tin students pick
up this
work.
al
are
21ectri</ fittings/ carried out as per plan without any
tangible mistakes . The students had
only.
But on
seen the building in the plan
reaching the site they set up without mistake the
various raachite s of an industrial technical school,
- 31
The emphasis is on learning rather than teaching.
In the
beginning the students did feel that it was all work and no learning
because the idea always is that learcing means lectures, notes,
examinations and so on.
But now the third year students have found.
now to go into details and seek deeper knowledge.
They themselves
selected atd purchased 4 good technical boobs for their own use.
Handling of responsibility has •given then self-confidence of
a very high order,
£■ studeii went to a -farmer to repair his oil
The farmer refused and. said that he should bring his mechanic
engine.
master with him.
The student humbly submitted said tint be would
himself repair the machine and said if the farmer found the engine
alright and got water pumped out by it he would charge the sane as
the mechanic.
The farmer was impressed and allowed him to work.
He successfully set the ra chits in order and earned the fee of
Hs. 25/-.
Se cane bad:
'
happy and deposited the. money with the
school declaring tint he was "as good as a mechanic nowj"
His
confidence was his real gain.
The problem of employment dees not haunt these students.
They will
all bo self-employed technicians.
The School has. been fun: tioning commercially and runs a
workshop on sound economic basis.
It earns not only for tie
teachers’ but also for th© entire group of student.
paid monthly stipends to cover their expenses.
efficiently and scientifically executed.
workers.
Students are
The work dona is
This they become skilled
The student is introduced as an apprentice and attached
a skilled'wordsr.
And be learns bit by bit by working and assistirg
in voricn s jobs . . Production methods' are not of "assembly lino"
metho ds.
The approach, to various services prezided by the workshop to
farmers and the society in plumbing, electricity, agricultural tools,
maintenance of oil engines, pumps aid electric motors is siicere. The
- 32
total satisfaction of the "Suruchi" customs rs is the basic
expectation
from the technicians.
The institution has throe sections! Research, Extension and
Education.
All three are directly involved in the production and
servicing works undertaken.
Shanti Sena Vidyalaya :
By now 600 teachers have been
csf
Peace Corps Volunteers.
trairod to bacons group leaders
They have been trained to train other
volunteers as also to engage themselves ‘ in the task of building up
a non-violat social order.
This had made an impact in surrouding
areas where youth are getting attracted to this task.
A nation has to grow as a whole.
Lop-sided groy/th has brought
in so many ills causing concern to the society that it is urgently
necessary to reverse ths entire process.
Those who gain out of the
pyranidical system have fattened themselves like white elephcnts,
contributing little to the growth of the society.
Ttet is why the
elitist approach has been given up as it has been found that the
percolation theory does not work in a society where the majority of
th?f>eople are .drived/education and enlightenment.
The emphasis of
the institution has been on mass education.
No educational institution can work as an ivory tower. .Its
weals and woes of-the people to be really effective and useful to
them.
The school is, therefore, required to function os a catalytic
agent/people’s power which cduld be put to use for socio-economic
improvement.
Agriculture naturally come^irst in the order of.
priority, as the school has tried to do.
Sports and physical education are not. to be neglected but
/the
encouraged as part of/educational process.
VIKAS
Tel. c/o 445407
Centre for Development
dalal house, panchvati marg, ellisbridge, Ahmedabad 380 006.
URBAN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
An Environmental Improvement, Sanitation Maintenance and
Community Healthcare Programme in Slums of Ahmedabad.
1.0
Introduction:
Growing megnitude and complex nature of the problem, correspon
ding lack of resources, both public and private and administra
tive and technical difficulties on part of the organisations
working in the field of housing seem to have made it difficult
to provide healthy living environment to urban poor, who
finally resort to extreme steps like squatting in unhygienic
settlements which lack in basic infrastructure services, or
street sleeping. Such slum settlements are growing in size
and number and have become an inevitable part of the present
urban scene in India.
Ahmedabad, the sixth largest city of
India is nd exception with about 1,00,000 families living in
slums and chawls.
2.0
The City:
Ahmedabad like many other cities of India, faces the problem of
rapidly growing squatter settlements.
The annual growth rate of
the city is about 4% but the city has failed to provide basic
amenities and services to its over increasing population.
The
Census of Slums carried out by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corpora
tion in May 1976 indicates that 81,255 families with about
4,15,103 members were residing in about 700 slums settlements
in the city..
28.9% of these households had an average income
of less than Rs.200/- per month while 54.5% earned between Rs.200
and Rs. 400. To cope up with such messive backlog of housing
shortage, attempts made by the Government and other agencies
were most inadequate. The Fifth Perspective Plan of Gujarat
State had a provision of Rs.200 million to build only 3000
houses for slumdwellers in the whole state of Gujarat.
The
Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation built 7000 houses in 13 years.
By any standard, this is a very poor performance to provide
adequate housing to larger segments of the city population.
2
Several attempts have been made by various Government and non
Government agencies to solve the housing problem of the urban
poor.
These attempts aimed at rehabilitating the people, on
new sites, generally on the periphery of the city or in multi
storeyed buildings, dislocating the people socially and economi
cally and changing their lifestyle substantially. Experiences
have shown that such houses ultimately got converted into worse
slums.
It is felt that mere rehabilitating the people will not solve the
problem of housing but there is a need to introduce other socio
economic inputs to bring about a healthier change in their life
style and hence the approach should be one of identifying the
felt needs of the people.
In most of the cases, Government and
civic bodies by necessity have become major dispensers of social
services. The absence of adequate channels of conveying the
needs, lack of knowledge or poor fit between services offered and
perceived needs, it has been observed that the low income urban
population often underutilise these services available to them.
How these resources of Government and civic bodies and communities
can be harnessed to effectively provide services to low income
urban population on a sustained basis and how adequate channels
of communication can be established between these communities
and the Government are not clearly understood.
It is these
processes which are necessary to comprehend to improve the access
of the urban poor to needed social services. Even in situations,
where Government have political will, however, they generally lack
the resources to provide extensive services to their low income
populations.
3.0
Can We Provide Houses to all the Urban Poor ?
Looking at the magnitude and the nature of the problem, it
seems that economically and administratively, the provision of
new houses to each and every family living in slums is an
impossible task.
On the basis of studies and work in slum areas,
it has been observed that people living in slums can be classi
fied in three major categories considering their priorities of
expenditure.
3
a.
House seekers:
10% to 15%
b.
People who have been consolidating their
stay:
60% to 70%
c.
Fresh migrants:
20% to 30%
In light of this, it is observed that any organised housing
programme for the last tyc dategories which is popularly known
as economically weaker sections, is totally ineffective because
amongst their priorities, housing figures last. Thus such houses
are occupied by top 10 to 15% - house seekers - who are economi
cally comparatively sound and if left to their resources, in due
time would build their own houses.
This is.not a new observation by professionals, voluntary
agencies, administrators and people involved in the field of
low income housing. Thus the question arises; can organised
housing programmes cater to the needs of the urban poor .?
It is observed that the cost of each house of any organised
housing scheme by any Government or non-Government agency ranges
between Rs. 4000 to Rs. 5000 which includes overheads expenses.
As observed earlier, 80% of the slum population whose first
priority is job and second, security of job, can afford a shelter
cosing only about Rs.1000. This is shown the way slumdwellers
manage and spend their resources by recycling waste materials in
constructing their houses - 1Zopadies'.
Can our present housing
delivery system provide a solution which is within the reach of
these 80% of economically weaker sections of the society ?
4.0
Slums as Transitional Habitats:
One of the positive aspects of slum settlements is that it acts
as a transitional habitat for rural migrants which constitute
the major portion of our housing target group. The rural
migrants begin to adopt an urban way of life living in familiar
socio-economic conditions. This process of transition ..from rural
to urban way of life is slow and unavoidable and hence, it should
be recognised and understood. At present, rehabilitation prog
rammes do not seem to take this process into account and ulti
mately, such housing schemes become expensive organised slums.
Ahmedabad has about 22,000 families i.e. about 30% of the total
urban slum population (excluding chawls) living in about 200
4
rural - urban pockets spread over the western region of the
city. Such rural pockets are either small villages engulfed
into the expanding city boundaries or are built by the rural
migrants coming from various villages of Gujarat and neighbour
ing states.
These settlements have very strong overtones of
village environment, reflected in their total physical, social,
economic and cultural set up.
However, slow but constant interaction between their rural
lifestyle and strong urban, influences is inevitable and obvious.
In this context, it may be stated that slums are an inevitable
part of urban system at present. The Government, civic, technical
and voluntary agencies should participate in the process of
change through which urban poor are going through and create
conditions by which the process become smoother and faster.
Hence it is imperative that slums should be accepted and
attempts should be directed towards improving and restructuring
the total environment by positive intervention in the process
of change.
In' short, we need better slums and along with provision of new
houses, slum improvement programmes should be recognised as an
important strategy in attempting habitation problems of urban
poor.
With this in mind, it is our intention, as a voluntary
agency to actively participate with the urban poor in such rural
pockets who are.in the process of adopting urban environment
with their ‘strong rural background.
The provision of housing is a dream which is not likely to be
realised in the near future, hence we feel that the problem of
the population living in slums and insanitary conditions has to be
met with in realistic terms. With a view to provide minimum quality
of life, the following Urban Community Development Programme has
been envisaged which consists- of three major components viz.
Environmental Improvement and Sanitation Maintenance, Housing
Improvement and Primary Healthcare.
5.0
Objectives :
* to provide sanitary living conditions to slum population and
5
to improve and restructure the total physical environment in
slums by positive intervention
* to improve communication chsnnels between the civic body and
the urban poor for providing better civic amenities and health
services to the poor
* to initiate the process of education among the urban poor which
makes them aware of their rights and responsibilities and also
increases their access to the services provided by the civic
body.
* to demonstrate to the civic body an alternative approach for
providing basic services at relatively modest cost to larger
sections of the urban poor
* to create necessary infrastructure to increase access to
construction materials and credit facilities to improve the
houses
* to impart training in basic construction trades to youth to
create a skilled labour force for the city
* to establish a community health system by recruting and train
ing community health promoters
* to address the main health problems in the community and provide
curative, preventive, promotive and rehabilitative services
* to link the healthcare aspect with that of environmental sani
tation so that a better quality of life can be provided to the
slumdwellers.
6.0
Environmental Improvement and Sanitation Maintenance:
This component has been divided into three major phases.
Phase I: Environmental and Sanitation Maintenance Support :
It is felt that improvement and regular maintenance of sanitary
services would improve the environmental conditions in the slums.
The basic services package for this component would include :
* cleaning of streets and paths
* garbage collection and disposal
* disposal of household waste water by providing appropriate
service drains, soak pits etc.
* disposal of human.westes
* maintaining cleanliness and sanitation around water stand
pipes, if available in the community
6
.*
cleaning and maintaining community latrines, if available in
the community
* paving the paths and providing roads in the community
•
* all measures to provide drainage for rain water during the
rainy season
* all measures and steps to assure that minimum sanitation and
hygienic conditions are maintained in the community
If the above services are being provided through the Ahmedabad
Municipal Corporation, every attempt would be made to see that
these services are provided regularly by the municipal staff to
the community, The municipal services are not provided in many
slums as they are located on private plot of land.
In this case,
it would be up to the community to get organised for these ser
vices.
The Municipal Corporation is also responsible for few
of the following services :
* street lighting
* community standpipes for drinking water
* community latrines
* preventive health measures such as Malaria, control, immunisa
tion and vaccinations for diseases like small pox, B.C.G. etc.
Attempts will be made to assure the access of the community to
these services.
6.1
Organisation :
The programme will, begin in selected communities'in the slums
of Ahmedabad. Local leaders and the communities will be
contacted and depending upon the response, these slum communi
ties will be selected where people are ready to cooperative and
work closely with the programme. The community must be ready to
share the burden in implementing the programme, both by taking
over the responsibility of management and by nroviding financial
contribution. A series of meetings will be organised with the
people to explain objectives and details of the programme and
attempts will be made to identify potential young people interes
ted.to work for the cause of their fellowbeings.
It is proposed
to form a local level Residents 1 Committee which will plan,
7
implement and supervise the programme.
This Committee will have
people from the community, a sanitation supervisor, an elected
representative of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation of the area
and representatives from VIKAS. The role of the municipal
corporator will be to link these efforts with that of the city
municipal corporation, seek active participation of the civic
body in the programme and smoothen the process of transfering
responsibilities of providing the required services to the poor
at a later stage.
A community worker for every 100 families
will be appointed whose task will include maintenance of availa
ble community services, cleanliness of the exterior open spaces,
streets etc., garbage collection and disposal and all measures
necessary to maintain the minimum sanitation and hygienic condi
tions in the area.
It is expected that this community worker
will be more than a janitor and will help people change habits
in order to keep the area clean.
A sanitation superviser will be appointed for every 1000 families
who will supervise the work of 10 community workers and guide
them for effective implementation of the programme. This sanita
tion superviser will be a trained person from Safai Vidyalaya,
Gandhi Ashram, Ahmedabad which is actively working since past 40
years in the field of sanitation. The role of the sanitation
superviser, besides supervising and monitoring, will be to work
closely with the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation to provide
linkages, the community workers and the Resident's committee to
assure the people that all the basic services are available to
them.
He will also organise sanitation camps and educational
programmes in the community.
To coordinate these activities, one project coordinator will be
appointed.
He will be expected to supervise the programme, work
as a liasion between the municipal corporation and its various
departments and the community Residents' committee. He will also
administer the financial aspects of the programme and provide
managerial guidance to the community .Residents ' committee..
This programme will be implemented over a period of 5 years and
will cover 5000-families.
In the first year, 1000 families will
8
be included and insuccessive two years, 4000 more families will
be included in the programme.
6.2
Modus Operand! :
Initially, we would attempt to provide assistance upto Rs. 1800/-
per year per 100 families for providing the above mentioned
services in the community.
This assistance shall be used for
employing the personnel to perform the above mentioned duties
and to buy necessary equipments and tools.
This assistance
shall be provided on a condition that the community would start
contributing funds for this work so that eventually, the work
could be financed by the community itself.
It is hoped that
each households shall pay Re.l/- per month for these services
made available to them.
This means that these 100 families
will .contribute Rs. 100/- per month towards the salary for the
community worker.
We feel that a worker paid at Rs. 200/- per
month would be able to perform some of the basic conservancy
services mentioned above in a small community of 100 families.
These tasks would engage the person for about four hours a day.
Hence, VIKAS will provide a matching grant of Rs. 100 per month
per community worker i.e. Rs. 1200/- per year.
The remaining
sum of Rs. 700/- will be used for purchasing necessary tools and
equipments. In case of a compact community, number of community
workers will be less.
7.0
Phase II : Housing Improvement :
Once the environmental and sanitation maintenance programme is
introduced, the next important phase will be the improvement in
shelters.
Most of the hutments, permanent as well aS temporary,
are built by utilising different kinds of building materials like
jute and gunny bags, mud bricks, timber, polythene sheets, gal
vanised iron sheets, packing materials, recycled waste etc. Such
shelters are temporary arrangements either on private or public
plot of land and have been there in many cases for more than two
decades. In case of Ahmedabad city, according to the Census of
Slums, carried out by the Ahmedabad Municipal .Corporation in
May 1976, 78% of the total slum settlements are located
9
on private plot of land, while the rest, on the Government or
municipal land.
In many cases, the slumdwellers pay a monthly rent ranging from
Rs. 5 to Rs. 35 per month either to the land lord or to the slum
lord.
Most of the dwellers have made investments in the shelters
from their own meagre resources and are unable to make further
investments for two major reasons. Firstly, they do not have
secured tenure of land and secondly, they donot have access to
adequate resources necessary to improve their houses. In light
of this, it is proposed to provide technical, financial and material
dwellings such as putting a proper roof, building a wall, a bath
area, taking a water tap or even putting a latrine, if they have
land.
This seems legally feasible and administratively possible as
concerned civic and Governmental agencies like Ahmedabad Municipal
Corporation and Gujarat State 'Slum Clearance Board are making
policy level changes in favour of slum improvement programme
instead of slum clearance programmes.
The provision of basic
services like community water taps, latrines and street lights
under Environmental Improvement Schemes, is the result of encourag
ing policy level changes in civic and Governmental organisations.
The attempts are also being made by the civic, authorities to give
security of land tenure to slum dwellers by taking legal measures.
All this implies that the slums will not be cleared and conditions
will be created tp improve the quality of life in slums.
7.1
Material Bank and Labour Cooperative :
Under the proposed programme, the assistance will be by way of
interest free loans which would be repaid by the slumdwellers in
instalments. Initially, under thie programme, 1000 - 1500
families will be covered and provided with assistance upto Rs.500/per household.
Whenever it is possible, advantage will be taken
of the subsidy provided by the Government, civic or other agen
cies and benefits would be passed on to the beneficiaries. This
programme would require a revolving capital from which loans
can be made available to slumdwellers.
The alternative form of
10
assistance can be in form of materials of construction.
This
can lead to establishing a material bank and construction
cooperative where any member of the slum family can participate.
The production of materials ran be taken up by the material bank
where members of the slum family can work and for which they get
a coupon.
This coupon can be encashed when need arises to
procure materials to build or improve their own houses. This
material assistance can also be given to the community by the
material bank to construct community centres, pathways within
the community or necessary community facilities.
Thus material
bank will add to the housing material stock in the city and also
provide assistance in form of materials to the people at a very
modest cost.
This will also save people from fluctuating high
prices of construction materials in the open market.
In . case of homogeneous community, the idea of a labour cooperative
or an organisation of labourers can also be mooted where people
share skilled and unskilled labour while constructing or improving
their houses.
The administration of loan assistance in this
programme would be channeled through the Community Residents 1
Committee and they will be made responsible for identification of
beneficiaries and recovery of loans'.
7.2
Training Programme:
A skill training programme in various construction trades will
also be organised which will be closely linked up with the
material bank and the labour cooperative. The prime objective
of this training programme will be to impart training in various
technical skills and crafts to youth in slums. It has been
observed that most of the slum children leave their formal
education at an early age for various reasons.
In absence of
appropriate alternatives and due to lack of formal/informal
training in any skill required in urban areas, they pick up
petty jobs and are forced to work as unskilled labourers. It
is proposed under this programme to impart technical skills in
construction and other urban trades to school dropouts' and
youth in the slums. This will be done with the help of the
11
construction companies, technical institutions and the master
craftsmen already working in the field.
The selected candidates
will be required to work as an apprentice for the specific
period of time with the master craftsman on the actual construc
tion site.
During this time of apprenticeship, frequent meetings
with other participants will be arranged to exchange their views
and solve their problems. Alongwith skill training, functional
literacy will also be introduced i.e. for a mason, how to esti
mate the number of bricks required for construction of a wall,
or for a plumber, how to measure the length of pipe etc.
It is proposed to provide training to about 200 young boys per
year.
The estimated cost of the programme will include stipend
both to the trainees as well as trainers and the cost of the
training materials like bricks, cement, spade, pick-ace etc.
Initially, the activity will be run on an informal basis, however,
a formal organisation run by the participants themselves is
envisaged in future.
8.0
Phase III: Community Health Care:
This component of community health care has been linked up with
the environmental and sanitation maintenance, because environmental
sanitation and its related programmes can not be looked into
isolation. To make the programme realistic and comprehensive, it
is very important to weave the community health care part together
because it is closely related with the insanitary and unhygienic
conditions prevailing in the slums. :Illnesses related to poverty,
malnutrition and filthborne organisms abound here.. Poverty is
pervasive here, in such slum settlements, contributing to and
resulting from illhealth.
A most sobering statistic is that
spending for health services by developing countries has been
deceasing at an annual rate of about 2% per year over the past
15 years.
High rates of population growth have serious impact
on both rational socio-economic growth and families, contribut
ing to crowding, scarcity of food and limited maternal attention.
12
It has been becoming increasingly clear that the traditional
models of health care services with a hospital-based programme
are just inappropriate for the slum people. The basis issues
of health and diseases require a comprehensive approach to
community and development in urban areas. Hence a health care
aspect should stress the preventive and promotive health acti
vities as part of the environmental and sanitation maintenance
programme.
The health care programme has been divided into two phases.
8.1
The Study: Phase I:
This study proposes to inquire into some aspects ...of the health
problems faced by the urban poor and the pattern of utilising
the existing health and sanitation services in the city.
This inquiry into problems pertaining to health, their causes
and reasons and how people utilise the available medical services
will provide us with a better understanding of the health problems
of the urban poor, help us identify possible areas of interven
tion and channelise proper utilisation of resources available to
civic and other agencies to help meet the health needs of the
people.
Following major areas of inquiry will be included in the study.
* Health problems of the people which will include illnesses,
their reasons, sources of medical help, frequency of utilisa
tion of medical services, cost involved in itsetc.
* Care of children and mothers
* Communicable diseases control e.g. Tuberculosis
* Family Planning
* Nutrition
* Civic amenities like water supply, public latrines, drainage
services etc. and related health problems.
The study will be carried out in different slum settlements which
will cover more than 400 families which represent the total slum
population and give us an impressionistic picture of health
problems of the slum people. Various sources of medical help
like Government dispensaries, private doctors, witch doctors etc.
will also be contacted.
13
A period of six to eight months will be devoted to the study
to gain the complete and correct picture of the situation before
introducing the health care programme. During the study period,
efforts will also be made to establish close contact with the
people who are ready to participate in the programme.
8.2
Community Health Care: Phase II:
The integrated approach to human development takes into account
the needs and aspirations of the population and aims at provi
ding the community with the means to promote its own wellbeing
and to participate in its own health care.
Meeting community
needs is the basis for the design and implementation of any
primary health care activity.'
It calls for the involvement of
the community members at all the stages of planning and implemen
tation of such activities and in satisfying those needs, promotes
a confidence within the community for further involvement in
development activities. Initiation of health care services often
provides the opening wedge for a broader approach to community
development.
There are several approaches to health care and none is univer
sally applicable.
The appropriate form of primary health care
will vary with the differing needs of the community but, there
should be a rational balance among the curative, preventive,
promotive and rehabilitative components.
It has been recognised all over that any community health care
programme should start with the curative health messures to
gain confidence of the people in the programme and to establish
rapport with the community.
It is important that the community
be approached in the very early stage of development of the
programme.
Close cooperative between the health service and
the community is essential.
The switch from the curative health care to the preventive and
promotive health care should be done very carefully and gradually
so that after a certain period the community becomes self
sufficient in their matters of health.
14
During the study period, the idea of the health care programme
will be put forward before different communities and the commu
nity interested in the programme and willing to participate
actively in the programme will be selected to initiate the
programme. Regular meetings will be held and the people's
suggestions will be invited.
It will be made clear to the
people that nothing will be provided free from the health centre
which will be set up in the community.
The health centre staff
will consist of a nurse and a part time doctor who will act as
a consultant to the health programme.
Some community health
promoters will be trained by the nurse who will eventually work
in the community but will then the health centre will provide
curative health services.
All the efforts will be me.de to
utilise the existing health services provided by the Government
or the civic body.
A Residents' Health Committee will be set up which will consist
of the representatives of the community, doctor, nurses and two
representatives of VIKAS. The committee will meet regularly,
will help identify the community health promoters (CHP), will
motivate people for their active participation in the programme
and above all monitor and supervise the programme.
After a period of five years, the health centre will stop func
tioning or will shift to a new settlement and hence attempts
will be made to make the community self-sufficient who will be
required to run the health programme from their own .resources.
8.3
Primary Health Care and Its Components:
Primary health care includes education concerning prevailing
health problems and methods of preventing and controlling them,
promotion of proper nutrition, an adequate supply of pure
drinking water and basic sanitation, maternal and child health
care including family planning, immunization against the major
infectitions diseases, prevention and control of locally endemic
diseases, appropriate treatment of communicable diseases,
injuries and provision of essential drugs.
The major diseases that afflict the urban ooor in India are
gastroentritis, pneumonia, malnutrition, conjuctivitis and
15
parasite infestations e.g. Malaria still continues to take a
heavy toll among children in slums.
Major components of primary health care will be
* simple curative services and treatment of common ailments
* Maternal and child health services (MCH)
* Environmental Sanitation
* Chronic diseases control
* first aid
* Health screenings and referrals
* Follow up and convalescent care at home
* Supportive services programme e.g. training, drug supply,
specialist care etc.
8.4
Key Personnel and their Functions:
Doctor: A part time doctor will be appointed who will be a con
sultant to the programme.
He will advise the health centre
staff and help set directions for the programme. He will also
guide the nurse in the training programme of the CHPs.
His role
will be that of an adviser to the health centre rather than a
manager of the centre.
Nurse: Full time qualified nurses, preferably with public health
experience, will be recruited for the programme.
Their main
functions will include running the health centre, treating the
patients, identifying the CHPs, supervising the work of the
CHPs, training the CHPs etc.
They will also be responsible to
eiucate the people to promote their health.
Community Health Promoters :
The CHPs are the comprehensive grass roots health agents within
the community. They are workers from the community selected by
the community and the nurses and trained by the health centre
staff.
Through out the programme, the skill of the CHPs will
be strengthened and they will gain more importantly the confi
dence in their work.
This person - to - person communication
will also give the programme a deeper human dimension, a factor
so often lost in the complexity of bureaucratic programmes and
procedures.
16
The fundamental advantages of the CHPs will be that they are
'insiders1. So they know the community better and the community
understands and accepts them more readily.
Their contact with
the community is also more permanent in nature compared to the
health centre staff.
Secondly, their training is specifically greaed to local situa
tions and emphasises problemsolving skills.
The CHPs put their
knowledge and skill to work through supervised problems solving
activities hence it does not become a standard health education
programme.
The CHPs qualification for work may differ.
She can be a midwife
or just anybody but should have a desire to serve the people and
have a good name with them.
The major tasks, the CHPs have to perform will include treatment
of minor illnesses, giving first aid in case of emergencies,
simple dressing, initiating dialongue with the people to keep
the surroundings clean wtc.
8.5
Training :
The training given by the health centre staff will be very practical
problem solving and action oriented in nature. The emphasis will
be put on understanding basic health measures, nutrition education,
under five care, maternal care and environmental sanitation.
The objectives of such training are to instruct each member of
the CHP team in the functions and activities of her job, to
promote a team approach to health care and to feed back informa
tion from the field staff on the functioning on the service, the
deficiencies, inconsistencies etc. so that effective corrections
can be made.
During this training, the CHPs will be given various practical
assignments to equip them with necessary skills for identifying
and solving the health problems.
They will also be trained in
the basic knowledge of diseases prevalent in the community.
Priority will be given to make them able to identify serious
cases such as malnutrition, dehydration, obstructed labour etc.
17
and refer them to the health centre.
In addition to these
cognitive skills, they will also be trained in the treatment of
minor ailments, emergency first aid, minor diagnostic procedures
etc.
Necessary teaching aids and visual materials will also be
prepared for the training by the nurses since most of the CHPs
will be illiterates.
The training sessions will be held at the
health centre. The tsaining course will be designed along the
lines of an inservice training programme.
Lectures and discuss
ions will be held once a week for a total of 16 to 20 weeks
depending upon the grasping ability of the CHPs.
Additional
course in 6 weekly sessions may be given to those CHPs who
express an interest and desire tin becoming an instructor for the
next course.
In each consecutive sessions or course, the role of
the health centre staff will decrease though it will continue to
provide general supervision and technical advice.
8.6
Related Programmes and Activities :
Throughout the programme, health education will become one of the
very important component of the health programme.
It will also
be very important to communicate to people the importance of
health education.
Different media of communication e.g. slide
shows, puppet shows, short films and other visual materials will
be used to teach the people lessons in cleanliness, health care
and the value of helping one another and using self reliant ways
to promote better health care.
After training the CHPs, a house to house survey of the families
covered under the programme will be taken up and a family health
card will be maintained by the health centre for better treatment
and easier record of the illnesses in the family. This analysis
will help both the nurses and the CHPs to prepare a follow up
going deep into causes and remedies of each family's health
problems.
After the health care programme - is successfully implemented and
the trained CHPs (work is going on well, the idea to start a
Health Insurance Scheme will be introduced to the community to
gradually make the community self sufficient in the matters of
health without any outside helo. People will be required to pay
18
a regular fee which may be some percent of their total family
income and in accordance with the size of the family. The members
of the scheme will be entitled to health services which include ou:
curative services given by the CHPs or the health services with
include curative services given by the'CHPs or the health centre,
total family care such as regular baby weighting etc. Successful
implementation of - the scheme will gradually lead to withdrawl
of the services of the health centre.
9.0
Epilb§uer: •
During this five year programme, various inputs of environmental
and sanitation maintenance, housing improvement and primary
health care will be introduced at appropriate time and with active
involvement of the community. The total planning, implementation,
supervision and monitoring of the programme will be done by the
community Residents' Committee.
Totally 5000 families will be
covered in different slum settlements. It is our intention to
hand over responsibility of the programme to people and concerned
civic authorities^
Through this package of programmes, we,intend to create awareness
among poorer sections of the society regarding their rights and
responsibilities. This will be done through active involvement of
the people at every stage of the programme, establishing linkages
with Government and civic authorities and organising people to
demand the basic services offered by the civic organisations.
This programme is. an alternative approach to provide basic
services and create necessary infrastructure in absenceof full
fledted housing programmes.. The successful implementation of this
programme will demonstrate both to the people and the civic body,
that minimum sanitation, hygienic living conditions and primary
health services can be provided to the slum people at a relatively
modest cost-. We hope that this programme will provide the
beginning and.a new direction for the agencies working for the
urban poor.
VIKAS
Centre for Development
Dalal House, Panchvati Marg, Ellisbridge,Ahmedabad 380 oos.
Tel. C/o.445407
An Introduction
1.0
General : Vikas-tentre for Development is a registered
Public Charitable Trust with its members drawn
from various disciplines and fields of activity
like planning, design, economics, social sciences
medicine etc.Vikas mainly works in the fields of
low-cost - housing,community,development,
education,social welfare, and income supplementa
tion - activities.Vikas wishes to solve the
peoblems of the people from the weaker section of
the society, acting a a link between various
agencies and. the people. Vikas wishes to apply
itself to more meaningful work using its profe
ssional skills to serve and satisfy the needs of
masses with small means and limited resources.
Rather than adopting a sectoral approach to solve
various problems of the society, Vikas aims at
evolving a comprehensive development methodology,
thereby effectively upgrading the standard of
living of the oppressed masses. Vikas aims at
becoming an influential changeagent strengthening
its ideals of serving the masses-the urban poor
in the cities and the oppressed in the villages.
2.0
Areas of Interest :
2.1.0
2.2.0
Low cost housing
Community Development
2.3.0
.Alternative approaches to health care
2.4.0
Income supplementation activities
2.5,0
Non formal education and adult education
2.6.0
Rural Development
2.7.0
Introduction of appropriate technology
in rural areas.
2.8.0
Slum improvement and environmental
improvement schemes.
A Registered Public Charity Trust No.E : 83183,Ahmedabad.
- 2 -
3.0
Aims and Objectives:
3.1.0 To study and solve the problems of
urban and rural areas to improve the
mode of life of people.
3.2.0
To influence the public at large and
the government, semi government,
voluntary, 'development, educational and
other institutions in studying,
understanding and solving the problems
of urban and rural areas.
3.3.0
To provide a forum to intellectual
resource groups for persons motivated
to work in the fields of urban and rural
development.
3.4.0
To undertde, promote-and assist
activities related to low income
housing in urban as well as rural areas.
3.5.0
To promote, undertake and support
activities leading to the promotion
of human development and welfare among
the general public and awareness among
the poor and backward class of the
society.
3.6.0
To develop methods and techniques in
order to help people identify their
own problems and solve them.
JANUARY : 1979
Maha>
*
Lt?
&
medico friend circle
Objectives
Medico Friend Circle is a group of people involved in
health and health related activities, dissatisfied with
the-present system of health services in India and
conscious about the problems and its responsibilities
in relation to society. It works with the following
aims in view :
a.
To evolve a pattern of medical education and
methodology of health care relevant to Indian
needs and conditions; and
b.
To make positive efforts towards improving the
non-medical aspects of society for a better life,
more humane and just in contents and purposes.
Perspective
History and experience show that present health services
copied from over professionalized, consumption oriented,
capital intensive and centralized model of helth services
cannot meet the basic health needs of all the people.
It is, therefore, essential to take a fresh look at the
existing priority of health problems and alternative
approaches to their solution.
The approach needs change in total orientation and
contents of medical education, health care and rese
arch so as to focus the health programmes on rural
and neglected communities rather than on big cities.
A shift will have to be made from hospital oriented
and specialists based approach and more emphasis be
put on human efforts than money inputs. The conflict
between the traditional and modern system of health
care should be resolved by evolving a national system
of medicine and health services.
But all these changes cannot be brought about against
the background of a socio-economic structure in which
the largest mass of people still live below poverty line.
There is therefore no alternative to making a direct,
sustained and vigorous attack on the root cause of
mass poverty.
This is clearly neither a question of applying more
technical know-how nor simplifying health care techni
ques. This situation needs drastic and revolutionary
changes in the approach to health services as well as
motivation and commitment on the part of the people.
Beginnings
Keeping this in view few medicos have started a
dialogue among themselves in May 1973 through a
cyclostyled bulletin. Out of this dialogue a group
emerged which eventually took the form of Medico
Friend Circle.
So far three All India meets of MFC have been
organised. The first meet was held at Ujjain in 1974
where we discussed the relevance of present health
services. At the second meet at Sevagram in 1975
we decided present day health problems and needs of
India, tried to study different systems of medicine and
searched for an alternative approach to meet the real
health needs of the masses. At the third meet at
Rasulia (M.P.) in 1976 we made an attempt to under
stand the nutritional problem of India and questioned
the traditional concepts and remedies of nutritional
problem. At fourth meet in Kerala we discussed pro
blems of community health.
Number of regional study and work camps were
organised in M.P.,U.P., Kerala and Gujarat. The
camps departed from traditional way of Service or
relief work. Participants were inspired to discuss and
analyse the present health system in general and
specific problem in particular. The work part of the
camps were designed to raise questioning process
among the participants.
Number of members of MFC are engaged in comm
unity health work individually and collectively at
different places in the country providing health care
to the rural and neglected communities.
2.
To foster involvement of new groups and individuals
in the task of realisation of the objectives MFC
stands for.
3.
To publish a monthly bulletin keeping in view
the above functions.
4.
To arrange camps, conferences, meetings, seminars
and MFC’s annual meet.
5.
To encourage medicos to take up health, develop
mental and educational activities for neglected
communities.
6.
Maintaining bio-data of all members with a view
to help and encourage contacts and communication.
Bulletin
In January ’76 the cyclostyled bulletin took the form
of printed magazine and within a short period of two
years has acquired a place among the medicos. Number
of thought stimulating articles have appeared in the
bulletin. Articles on myth of protein gap, population
problem, drug industry, dairy research, nutrition
problem, modern medicine in 2000 A.D., new national
health policy etc. were appreciated by the readers.
In addition to such articles book review, reports and
readers’ views also form features of the bulletin.
Annual subscription of the bulletin in India is Rs. 10-00,
for U.K. by Sea Mail £ 4/-, by Air Mail £ 5/-; for
USA and Canada by Sea Mail $ 6/-, by Air Mail $ 9/-.
Selected articles from back issues of the bulletin are
available in book titled ‘ In Search of Diagnosis ’
published by Medico Friend Circle ( Price Rs. 8-00).
Organisation
MFC is not a rigid organisation. It is a loosely-knit
group, dissimilar though in ramifications but thinking
and working for similar goals and as a homogeneous
unit. Any person who professes agreement with the
aims and objects of MFC can become its member on
payment of annual fee. Membership fee is Rs. 12.00
for students (this does not include interns and post
graduate students), Rs. 20-00 for those who earn less
than Rs. 500.00 per month, and Rs. 40.00 for those
earning above Rs. 500.00 per month. Membership fee
includes the annual subscription of the bulletin. It
is understood that capable members should pay more
than this minimum limit and that the Convener can
waive or reduce this fee in deserving cases.
MFC shall work mainly through its members and
groups at various places. Central co-ordination will
be done by the executive committee which among
other things will perform the following functions.
Functions
1.
To analyse critically the present health system so
as to increase the understanding of various health
and socio-economic issues involved in it.
Finances
The expenditure involved in all these central activities
will be shared and borne by the members and friends
of MFC. Subscription, membership dues and contri
butions should be sent through M.O., bank drafts or
cheques to the Convener, Medico Friend Circle,
21 Nirman Society, Vadodara-390 005.
If money is
sent through cheque Rs. 3.00 may be added as bank
commission.
Programmes for individuals and groups
1.
Each member should select a problem or
topic, study it thoroughly and then circulate
the knowledge to others. The study should
not be a mere academic gymnastic. It should
be something concerning health and health
related activities keeping in view the social
needs and perspectives e.g. poverty, mal
nutrition, failure of malaria eradication
programme etc.
2.
To collect data or try to study any problem
which can become a topic for research.
Small practical problems and simple obser
vations should be the choice.
(B)
1.
To study other-'pathies’ to learn their useful
parts, and seek and enlist the cooperation of
their adherents.
(C)
1.
To emphasise more on preventive and social
medicine during educational period.
2.
Try to curtail the unnecessary use of drugs,
and use minimum amount of drugs.
(A)
•
(D)
(E)
3.
Emphasise more on health education, pre
vention of diseases during practice.
(A) 1.
4.
To seek the cooperation of the N.S.S. and
P.S.M. departments for these activities.
2.
To collect fund for the organisation.
Specific programmes for groups
1.
Study sociology, economics, political science
Having developed a group of medicos, interested in
and similar social sciences, because a doctor
similar programmes, problems, and wanting to do some
is not merely a physician of individual pati
ents but also a social being, and so he
thing, following programmes can be taken to strengthen
should understand society, its working and
■> the group, to increase members and also to reach
its problems.
1 our goal.
2.
To discuss various socio-medical problems
with other friends, try to create an awareness
among them, and try to develop a group of
medicos with similar interests.
1.
1.
•
2.
;
To learn clinical medicine perfectly, relying
<
less on costly investigations.
3.
2. • Try to learn nursing procedures and basic
investigations.
(F)
To enroll new members and subscribers of
the bulletin.
Develop a study circle, where frineds meet and
discuss problems.
Do collective social work like survey of a village
community, some medical or social problems,
relief work, inoculation, health education etc.
To select and adapt a village or a community and
try to study their health problems, their origin,
the extent and nature, and if possible help them
in solving them. This will give an opportunity
to understand the health problems in society
‘in vivo’ - as they exist with its socio-economic
context and will also help in developing social
relationship.
1.
Not to accept ‘physician’s samples’ from the
medical representatives as it is a subtle
corruption.
2.
Symbolic acts to change the social values e.g.
doing productive labour etc. and to give up
cultural slavery.
4.
To have dialogues with general practitioners and
develop groups to discuss problems as well as to
provide medical assistance.
3.
To oppose ragging in Medical Colleges at
individual and group levels.
5.
4.
Try to improve relations amongst the different
catagories of health workers.
Try to expose, whenever, and wherever possible,
the faults of the present medical education system
and make an attempt to change it.
6.
5.
Try to learn more about health team.
Arrange week-end
activities.
6.
Help blood donation activity.
1.
To visit rural health projects during vacation
so as to get a first hand experience of rural
life, its problems and their solutions.
(G)
2.
To develop medical services in rural areas,
and devote at least one year to develop a
new pattern of medical care suitable to rural
India. Some of the members of MFC are
already working on rural projects in different
parts of the country. More are needed for
similar action.
one-day
camps
for
these
Published by Ashok Bhargava, Convener, Medico Friend Circle,
21, Nirman Society, Vadodara-390 005 (India).
Printed at Yagna Mudrika, Vadodara 390 001.
• Initiated the CHETNA Rajasthan unit at Jaipur, Rajasthan State, Lilavati Lalbhai's Holistic
Health Centre, and Residential Training and Conference Centre in a Heritage Haveli,
Ahmedabad, Gujarat (1996-1997).
Expanded activities in Madhya Pradesh State.
1995 to
I
> Her Healing Heritage.
1997
> Children In-Charge for Change: A resource pack of 14 case exemplars
of children’s participation from all over India.
! Expansion... I
> Training kit forTBAs & Apron on female reproductive system & menstruation.
Initiated school health programme with Municipal Corporations in Ahmedabad and New Delhi (1998-2000).
CHETNA becomes an active member of White Ribbon Alliance-India (WRAI) and the Founder Director-CHETNA is
elected Co-chair of WRAI (1999). Later as a result of advocacy efforts of WRAI GOI declared 11th April as a National
Safe Motherhood Day.
Published a study on review of status of Primary Health Care (PHC) in the States of Guj & Raj to advocate for
women's access to health care services. (1998).
Identified as a Mother NGO by GOI for Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) Programme in the states of Gujarat and
Rajasthan (1998).
Mainstreamed CHETNA’s experience by developing traning modules - “Women’s Health
Towards Empowerment” for GOI, to train members of Self Help Groups in 13 states.(19992000). This later got replicated by the Department of Rural Development, (GOI) and the
Department of Health and Family Welfare, GOG (2004-2005).
• Learned the health and development needs of wise old women and initiated a process of
developing training module (2000).
> Manual on Gender sensitive Indicators for RCH programmes (1998).
> Counselling book on Child Health.
• Launched a Safe Motherhood Awareness Campaign in Seven districts of Rajasthan -Families
can make a difference (2001).
2001-2003
! Rebuilding,
Lives
4__ L
• Advocated rights based approach for holistic health of children, adolescents and women (2002).
0 Initiated Rajasthan WRA for Safe Motherhood SUMA (2002).
• Promoted Traditional Health and Healing Practices by implementing AYUSH
*
Gujarat (2002).
project at
• Contributed in rebuilding the lives of earthquake affected communities of Gujarat. (2001-2003).
• Ensured young people’s participation in the States of Guj/ Raj and National level consultations, forwarded the
recommendations for the National Youth Policy through the National Alliance for Youth Towards a Healthy Future.
CHETNA is the founding member of the Alliance (2003-2004).
• Mainstreaming reproductive and sexual health education in Nehru Yuva Kendra- A National non formal education
programme for rural youth. (2004).-
• Acknowledged as a resource agency for gender sensitive health communication for the South Asian Countries on
Women and young people’s reproductive health (2003-2004).
A
Recognised as a Regional Resource Centre for Gujarat state and union territories of Diu-Daman, Dadra and Nagar
Haveli by GOI (2004).
Recognised as an International Resource Group to promote Child-to-Child approach. Organised an International
course on Children’s Participation in Health and Development (2004).
Launched an advocacy campaign to improve girl child sex ratio in Gujarat state (2004).
Partnered with CBOs of Gujarat to register an Association of TBAs (2004-2005).
Partnered with the ‘Women’s health movement’ through organisation of the Gujarat state and
western zonal consultations to take forward the voices of grassroots women at the
International Women’s Health Meeting IWHM (2005).
Moving
forward
Reflections-Workbook for Young People /Apron on Male reproductive system.
> Resource Guide on concerns of children affected by HIV/AIDS.
► Kit on Violence Against Women “Health Providers Response" in
collaboration with National Commission for Women and UNFPA, New Delhi.
■ AYUSH: Ayruveda Yoga Unani SWdha Homeopathy
s
12 January- National Youth Day
8 March- International Women’s Day
fWWKfQVMBWBmi
MM
7 April- World Health Day
11 April- National Safe Motherhood Day
12 August- International Youth Day
14 November- Children’s Day
CHETNA's Foundation Day
Working with
Women and Children
980 - 2005
6
Twentv five years. ago.■ time
■
. XH?
stood still for many whose lives
o
ea rs</ Working with
c
Women and Children
March 1980 - March 2005
revolved around endless toil and scarcities in every walk of life,
esoecially health, nutrition and education. But with gradual and
oeraistent efforts of the CHETNA team, many have begun to look
uo smile and go on to build fruitful lives. In its quest for
improving the lives of marginalized women and children, CHETNA
lives through its achievements in a memorable and exciting journey.
The journey began with working extensively in 100 villages to improve the impact of
supplementary feeding programmes in Gujarat State, India (1980).
• Engagement with the government and civil society to strengthen the Integrated Child
Development Services (ICDS) in Gujarat and Rajasthan States of India (1981 -82).
Foundation,
years '
> Health education kit on Child care.
> Flip charts on common childhood diseases.
•- Posters on maternal and child health (ICDS).
• Foundation of CHETNA
*
as a separate Activity of Nehru Foundation for Development (NFD)
(1984).
Institutional,
isation of ,
learning 1
’ Initiated the Child Survival project in rural, tribal and urban slums of Gujarat (Guj) and
Rajasthan (Raj) States (1982).
Developed an educational kit on
Anaemia and Women’s Health (1984).
• Enabled participation of children through Child-to-Child approach in Guj & Raj States (1985).
• Integrated the component of women’s empowerment & holistic child development in all
programmes. (1986).
• Initiated a study on Traditional Health and Healing Practices related to pregnancy, childbirth and
newborn care in twelve States of India (1988).
• Trained 1000 Traditional Birth Attendants (TBA) in various states of India (1989).
Widening
Horizons
> Transcreation of the Universal Child Birth Picture Book in six Indian languages (1986)®J;
> Published the first issue of CHETNA News** (1989).
Participatory evaluation of CHETNA. As a result CHETNA expanded its focus from Maternal
Health to Comprehensive Women’s Health in a life cycle approach.
Pioneered Training of Trainers for the health of women and children for NGOs and GOs of Guj
& Raj States.
Evolved innovative approaches to enable behaviour change at the community level e.g.
Women’s Health Mela, Gram Yatra, and Bal Mela and mainstreamed them in government
programmes.
Provided national visibility to Traditional Health and Healing Practices and child focused
health education. (Children In- Charge for Change)
• Rearticulated CH ETNA’S mission: “To contribute towards the empowerment of disadvantaged
women, adolescents and children so that they become capable of gaining control over their own,'
their families 'and communities ’ health’ (1991).
• Initiated the Child Resource Centre, Women’s Health and Development Resource Centre & the
Information & Documentation Centre (1991-1992).
■1994
Restructurinq ‘
of
3 j
Organisation ■
* Innovated Adolescent girls’camps as an approach of learning about health (1991).
“ Promoted the concept of comprehensive women’s health in a life cycle approach through
“Women and Hea/fW programme at national and international level (1993).
@
” Getting ready for school/ Planning pre-school education/ Camp as an approach to^-X^X
—1^parent's education.
± '
1
.........................
'
1
' '■
1 i■ . 1 i
CHETNA is an activity of NFD which Is apuUic chantable trust registered on May 21,1965, £-1408, Ahreedabad. 1966, under the Bombay Public Trust Act 1950.
“ CHETNA News- English newsletter brought out three times a year.
9
ZP-h-G
VIOLENCE
HEALTH
and
in a life c
approach
Did you know ?
In India
■
1 dowry death is reported every 78 minutes.
■
1 act of sexual harassment every 59 minutes.
■
1 incidence of rape occurs every 35 minutes.
■
1 act of molestation every 16 minutes.
□
1 act of torture every 12 minutes.
Source: National Crime Record Bureau -1999
■
Almost 1
in 5 married
women have
experienced domestic violence in India.
b
1 in 9 women reported being beaten in the
last 12 months of the survey.
■
21% women reported having experienced
violence since the age of 15 years.
Source: National Health Family Survey-2 1998-99
Every day, women are slapped,
beaten,
humiliated,
threatened
and
sexually abused regardless of their
socio-economic status, whether in a
rural or urban area. This affects their
physical and psychological well being.
Definition of VAW
"The intentional use ofphysical force
power, threatened or actual, against
oneself, another person, or against a
group or community, that either results in
or has a high likelihood of resulting in
injury, death, psychological harm,
mal-development or deprivation'!
(WH.02002)
[I
J
I
Violence Against Women (VAW)
■ Not maintaining privacy: Conducting reproductive
health checkup in front of others or in a place open to
VAW is embedded in the context of cultural, socio
public.
economic, political power relations, where male power
dominates and makes women economically and
emotionally dependent. The hierarchical power
relations of patriarchal society give legitimacy to
□ Lack of sensitivity:
Use of offensive language
especially in the labour room.
□ Failing to diagnose women’s Illness:
violence against women.
Because of
socio-cultural barriers., women often do not mention
It includes spousal battering, sexual abuse of female
their reproductive health problems when they come for
children, dowry-related violence, rape including
consultation e.g. a woman may complain about
marital rape and harmful practices, such as female
headaches but on deeper probing you may discover a
genital mutilation, sexual harassment and intimidation
problem of heavy bleeding, which could have gone
at work and in school, trafficking in women and
untreated.
forced prostitution.
a Performing sex selection:
Impact of Violence on Women’s Health:
Science can be fatal for all victims. Non-fatal health
consequences can be further categorized as physical,
psychological, emotional, sexual and reproductive. ( For
details , please refer Flow Chart on opposite page.)
Families force women
to undergo for sex determination test, followed by
abortion especially if it is a female feotus due to
W
preference for male child in the patriarchal social set up.
Role of Health Personnel providing support to
victims & Prevention of VAW
Established risk factors of VAW:
Age: Young women and girls face more VAW. VAW is
■
In case of physical injury, provide first aid. Get
a major concern for young girls.
■
Women who are victims of violence generally need
Martial status: More common among married women.
Alcohol: Men are more likely to act violent after
consumption of alcohol.
medical examination done as per proper guidelines.
counselling to deal with mental and emotional
trauma.
■
Refer abused women to the appropriate place for
further action.
Economic:
VAW occurs in all classes of society,
however it is more severe in lower economic groups.
■
If she desires to lodge a police complaint. Guide/help
her in writing complaints and filing First Information
Number of children:
A woman with more than three
^'Idren is likely to experience more violence.
Report (FIR). Accompany her if necessary.
■
Violence within the Health system:
education.
Any situation of power and control results in violence.
■
Such situations exist in the health system between
■
health care providers and patients, especially women.
■ Violating confidentiality: Asking about women's
Make VAW an integral part of your health
Encourage linkages with local womens groups.
Counsel the violator, the husband and other family
members.
■
Organize awareness campaigns, exhibitions and
health concerns especially related to sexual health in
rallies to condemn VAW and to enhance women's
front of family members or other patients.
status.
Violence Against Women (VAW) & Women’s Health
Women s subordinate status in a patriarchal society
Norms granting men to have
control over female behaviour
Acceptance of violence as a
way to resolve conflict
Notion of masculinity linked
to dominance, honour or
aggression
Poor access to information
about women’s rights
Legitimising VAW
Lack of support in area
of women's development
concerns
Marital conflict
Male control of
wealth and decision
making in the family
Being male control wives
Witnessing marital violence
as a child
Absent or rejecting father
Being abused as a child
Alcohol use
Health consequences due to VAW
Physical
abuse
Psychological
emotional
torture
Sexual
coercion
Controlling
behaviour
~r
Factors associated with VAW
| Physical
• Abdominal/thoracic injuries
■ Bruises, wound and swelling
• Chronic pain syndrome
• Disability and Fractures
• Gastrointestinal disorders
• Irritable bowel syndrome
■ Lacerations and abrasions
• Reduced physical functioning
Psychological and behaviour
■ Alcohol and drug abuse
• Depression and anxiety
• Eating and sleep disorders
• Feeling of shame and guilt
• Phobias and panic disorders
• Physical inactivity
• Poor self- esteem
• Psychosomatic disorders
• Smoking
■ Risky sexual behaviour
Sexual and Reproductive
• Gynaecological disorders
• Infertility
■ Pelvic inflammatory diseases
• Pregnancy
• Complications/ miscarriage
• Sexual dysfunction
• Sexual transmitted disease
including HIV / AIDS
• Unwanted pregnancy
CHETNA’s*
* Perspective
‘Centre for Health Education, Training and Nutrition Awareness
‘................
2004
Fatal health consequences
• AIDS related mortality
• Maternal mortality
■ Homicide disorders
• Suicidal behaviour and
• Self harm and suicide
As a Panchayat (Local Self Governance) member
For Action...
What can we do to eradicate violence ?
As a Woman
■
.
Organize educational camps and legal advise
counseling sessions for victims of violence.
■
Many times a woman has been successful in
subduing the victimizer by her boldness and
Women and girls of your village have the right to
live a violence free life. Encourage them to speak up
;
j!
firmness.
■
Listen and respect the views of women members.
□
programmes to create awareness on VAW. Arrange for
Enduring and tolerating violence is an injustice
to you. Speak up!
■
■
against violence and trust them.
As a women’s group member:
■ Encourage the local self-governance to organize
When you see violence inflicted on any
women, make efforts to protect and protest.
■ Ensure that you and your daughter learn self
legal education programme for eliminating VAW.
/
Encourage women to speak up against violence. Learn
to file FIR.
defence techniques.
As a corporate citizen:
As a Man of the family
stop the VAW among men and women workers.
■ Empower your workers. Create legal awareness to
■•Confront any man who is found guilty of VAW
aro stop his actions.
■
If any woman or girl of your family feels
uncomfortable with a particular male relative, do
not ignore her. Take appropriate action.
■ If any woman or girl becomes a victim of rape
or other forms of violence. Do not blame her.
Provide Support!
■ Do not physically or mentally abuse your
daughter mother, wife, daughter-in-law. Provide
opportunity to them to develop.
■ Encourage an open dialogue with your wife/
partner to discuss what she expects from you
especially with regard to sexual relationships.
■ Educate friends and society to stop violence
■ Allocate part of your profit for the fight against VAV^
Some safety tips for young girls and women
■
Do not portray yourself as a sex object, refrain from
sexuality oriented action at work/school/college. Ensure
their is no hostility towards you or other women.
■
Avoid going in isolated dimly lit areas specially at
night. Always keep your torch ready at hand, if this is
necessary
■ Do not open the door for strangers
□
If required, act assertively against unpleasant
remarks. Do not be submissive
■
Be Alert and careful to what is happening around you
Women
have
the
in cases of
right to
seek
legal
redressal
any type of violence.
against women and girls.
■
Keep away from addictions such as alcohol,
K
bling and tobacco. Such vices affect your
h and family relationships.
What does CHETNA do?
■ CHETNA recognizes VAW as a public health issue A
and integrates it in all its trainings
w
As a member of the community
■ In collaboration with UNFPA and National
■ Be active! If you learn about VAW in your
Commission of Women (NCW), CHETNA has
town/village, do not ignore or neglect the same.
developed an educational kit for medical personnel.
Support!
Offer and organize temporary security
to the victim of violence and her children.
■ Enforce
regulatory measures!
Motivate
local governance and women's groups to impose
penalty on the offender.
Women’s Health and Development Resource Centre
Chaitanyaa
Lilavatiben Lalbhai’s Bungalow, Civil Camp Road, Shahibaug,
Ahmedabad - 380 004, Gujarat, India. Gram: CHETNESS
Ph.: +91 (79) 22868856, 22866695 Fax: +91 (79) 22866513
E-mail: chetna@icenet.net Website: www.chetnaindia.org
2004
Do you know ?
Recent Indian studies reveal that at any given
time and place, 10-15 % of the population
suffers from mental disorders. (Srinivasa R 2000)
o
500 million people in the world suffer from
mental or neurological disorders. Out of every
five persons who avail health care, one is
troubled by a mental disorder. (W.H.O 2001)
&
Mental health problems contribute relative^"')
little to mortality, but account for a significant
proportion of disability.
o
Our mental health status greatly affects the
way we feel about ourselves and how we relate
to other people.
Sound mental health helps to
cope with grief, worries and problems of life.
Like the body, the mind can also become ill.
o
Many of the mental health problems of women
are rooted in oppressive social relationships and
socio-economic factors. In addition, the soc^4^
stigma attached to mental health problems in
women inhibits both proper diagnosis and
treatment.
Association between domestic violence against
women and depression and anxiety has been
established by several studies all over the globe.
Multiple household responsibilities, caring for children,
What causes mental illness?
meeting the needs of their husbands/in laws, fetching
Mental illness is caused by biological, social and
environmental factors.
water and fuel also leads to
It usually requires more than
out side the home continue to
stress. Women working
take primary
one factor for someone to develop a mental illness.
responsibility of household work. These dual roles
Mental and emotional health of Indian
women
conflict with each other often causing a great deal of
The mental health problems of Indian women are
Culturally, every woman is expected to be married.
more due to social factors.
stress.
Women's vulnerability to
poor mental and emotional health is closely associated
A woman goes through hormonal changes duing the first 15
accepts as norms often leads to emotional problems
among women. Indian women face several dilemmas
~>d conflicts in the context to marriage, family
reproduction,
sexuality,
childbearing
accepted. They go through social pressure which may
lead to depression and emotional stress.
with her marital status, employment and role in
society. Circumstances and conditions that society
Relationships,
In
the Indian context, single women are not socially
days after delivery. This is known as post partum depression.
The symptoms are restlessness, fatigue, headache etc
A married woman is constantly under pressure to givf '
and
rearing, divorce, aging, education' and employment.
birth to a male child. Childlessness is viewed as a curse
and it leads to emotional stress, which may result in
Factors affecting women’s emotional and
mental health
Neonatal and Infancy stage: Poor cognitive/
extra marital relation, their wives feel insecure and their
emotional development due to neglect, negative
the
social emotional behaviour after results in
low self
anxiety or depression. If the husband is involved in an
emotional needs are always at risk.
During menopause,
symptoms include hot flushes, increased irritability,
anxiety and even depression.
esteem.
As an Ageing Woman: During this phase, women
As a girl child: Discrimination against girls related to
become
food, play time, education, mobility makes them feel
inferior. This may affect their personality development
As an adolescent: Adolescent girls are socialised to
be submissive, passive and are isolated especially when
they start menstruating. Their mobility and expressions
-
restricted. They are
also socialized to control their
sexual feelings. Such discriminatory practices
prepares
a girl's psyche to subservience.
As an adult woman: A shift from adolescence to
womanhood creates some amount of tension and
anxiety among majority of girls, due to societal
restrictions in their eating, dressing, interaction with
the opposite sex, general behaviour, mobility etc. In
India, after marriage, moving from one's natal family
to another is also quite stressful.
physically
weak,
socially/economically
dependent; and emotionally disturbed. Physical
problems such as arthritis, visual and audio disabiltiies,
mental illness may become more disabling. The two
most common problems observed are depression and
loss of memory.
Government of India’s (GOI) Mental Health
Programme
* <
The National Mental Health Programme was launched
in 1982. It has the following objectives:
■ To ensure availability and accessibility of minimum
mental health care for all.
To promote community
participation in mental health services and
development.
■ To encourage the application of mental health
knowledge in general health care and social
development.
Mental and Emotional Health of Women
CHETNA’s* Concept 2004
•Centre for Health Education, Training and Nutrition Awareness
For Action....
As a woman
■ Do not try to hide or neglect the problem of
mental illness and do not hesitate to seek
professional
assistance.
■ Include articles about factors affecting emotional and
mental health of women in your news paper or
magazines.
■ Highlight issues related to violence against women.
» Take appropriate treatment, psychotherapy or
■ Provide information about "normal active ageing"
regular counselling as advised.
and "self care approach".
n Raise your voice against domestic violence
a Practice yoga, meditation for mental-physical
As a Panchayati member:
wellbeing.
problems and create a better understanding and
a Join a support group of women and focus on
I
As a media person
■ Sensitise the community about mental health
remove
stigma.
empowering / developing / strengthening self.
■ Utilize linkages between health care providers and
As a family member (Especially Men)
a Recognize early symptoms and encourage
community groups for effective implementation of
mental health programs.
/omen to seek help. Create a conducive and
As an NGO/CBO:
supportive environment for emotionally disturbed
■ Educate and train self-help groups and community
women.
leaders/workers
a Give each family member an opportunity to
■ Organise guidance centres and day care centres for
realise their worth, especially to the girl children
and women members.
a If on medication, make sure women take their
drugs regularly.
Make her feel that they are
accepted and involve them in family activities.
mentally
about mental health.
challenged
persons.
■ Advocate for effective implementation of mental
health programmes in your area.
■ Address violence against women as an issue of
women's
As Parents
a Create awareness among your daughters
•
comprehensive
health.
As a programme implementer:
regarding their physical and mental changes
■ Bridge the gap between
during the adolescent phase.
field implementation of the programme.
□ Prepare them for their first menstrual period.
■ Ensure active collaboration between the government
» Provide guidance and care during premenstrual
and NGOs.
tension.
■ Ensure community based mental health care services
( Xs a teacher
■ Ensure that life skills education is imparted to
both adolescent boys and girls.
■ Discuss reproductive and sexual health topics
included in the school crriculum.
mental health policy and
CHETNA’s Role:
•
■ Integrating emotional health concerns in all health
trainings and advocacy efforts.
■ Developing training modules and IEC material
■ Providing counselling support to selected urban slum
As a Health Service Provider
communities
in
Ahmedabad.
■ Provide community based mental health services
through your Primary Health Care.
a Treat the mentally ill and emotionally disturbed
person with dignity and resepct.
CSilETM
Women's Health and Development Resource Centre
Chaitanyaa
Lilavatiben Lalbhai’s Bungalow, Civil Camp Road, Shahibaug,
Ahmedabad - 380 004, Gujarat, India. Gram: CHETNESS
Ph.: +91 (79) 22868856, 22866695 Fax: +91 (79) 22866513
E-mail: chetna@icenet.net Website: www.chetnaindia.org
2004
Women's Health
- ■
; .
Do you know ?
India is one of the first countries to enact
a legislation to create opportunities for
women's political participation at the
village level.
□
The 73rd and 74th Amendment of the
Indian Constitution (1993) has ensured
one-third reservation for women in
village local governance bodies and
Panchayats. Out of around 33 lakh
elected local bodies' representatives, "
around 12 lakh are women.
(Task Force on Panchayati Raj.
Rajiv Gandhi , Foundation,2004)
□
Post- independence, the first parliament
house had 22 seats for women i.e. (4%),
of the total 499 Seats. During the 13th
parliament term in 2004, there were 49
women i.e. (9.2%) of the total 543 seats.
This percentage increased only by 5%.
(Sandesh News Paper-15 March, 2004)
□
Majority of the elected women who
prioritize focussing on health, sanitation,
education and access to other basic
services, have also been able to '
ensure a qualitative change in the living
conditions of entire village communities.
What are Panchayati Raj Institution ( PRIs)
■
Raising funds to implement various programmes on
women's health for different age groups.
PRIs are institutions of local self-governance that are
responsible to bring about socio-economic
development, equity and social justice.This process of
governance is by the people and for the people to
develop democratic leadership amongst the masses at
the village level. This has been made possible through
the constitution (73rd Amendment) Act and state
legislations that give panchayats the power and
authority to enable them to function as effective
institutions of self-governance. PRI has provided a
three-tier system at the district (Zilla Panchayat),
Tallica,(Block Panchayat) and village (Gram Panchayat) Level.
Gram Panchayat is the basic unit of the Panchayati Raj
Set up. The members of a Village Panchyat are elected
()y eligible voters of the villages. A Village Panchayat
has a Sarpanch (leader) who organises Gram Sabhas
h
Ensuring sufficient staff, stock of basic medicines,
instruments, laboratory facilities and stock of family
planning devices at the PHC level and also proper
dissemination of health education and quality health
care services and referral services.
■
Promoting traditional health and healing practices
and motivating people for growing herbs. Discussions
on existing Indigenous Health Practices (IHP) and its
utility can also be organised.
■
Monitoring of the Public Distribution System (PDS).
■
Organising gender sensitisation camps/meetings
for village leaders and other opinion leaders of the
village.
Suggestions for Proactive Role of District and
Taluka Panchayat:
a
Support and build capacities of Village Panchayat
(Village meetings) at least four times a year. Besides
■
these meetings, if required, the Sarpanch, block and
to perform above mentioned tasks effectively. This can
district Panchyats can call meetings under Article
be done through conducting training programmes on a
243-A of the 73 rd Amendment.
regular basis, counselling, guidance, dissemination of
Administrative Powers and Duties of Panchayat
with Respect ot Health Facilities:
UnderArticle 243- G and the 11th schedule of the
73rd Amendment of the Indian Constitution, village
panchayats are assigned powers and duties in the
context of health, which are as follows:
relevant information on women's health.
®
Allot enough budgets for women's health activities.
■
Support monitoring of Gram- Panchayat activities.
Suggestions for Proactive Role of Village
Panchayat:
■
Addresss social concerns, which affect women's
health adversely such as marriage of girls before 18
e
Health and sanitation, including vaccination,
women and child health care.
«
Family welfare and relief to sick persons
b
Provision for safe drinking water.
Suggestive Actions for Village Panchayat
years of age, low-literacy among girls, dowry, violence
against women etc.
■
Advocate and implement programmes related to
health and development of adolescents and childrer^
in formal and informal schools.
Encourage village Panchayat to form Village water
■
Registering births, deaths and ages of marriage.
■
■
Maintaining Sex wise death-record of neo-natal,
supply and sanitation Health Committee, including
infant and children up to six years of age.
■
Recording population figures of girls and boys upto
age of six years.
□
Registering Maternal death/death of women due to
dowry harassment etc.
b
Disseminating information on Family Planning.
Gram Panchayat members, Auxiliary Nurse Midwives
(ANMs), Anganwadi Workers (AWWs),school teachers,
representatives of self-help groups, the Mahila
Swasthya Sangh, youth clubs and other similar bodies.
The Gram Panchayat is empowered to constitute such
committees under Sec.61-A of the Act.
Panchayati Raj (Grassroots Governance) and Women’s Health
Department of Health and
Family Welfare
◄-- ►
Zilla Panchayat
j
<—> 1
Rural Development
1
Programme
i
1
|
Primary Health Center
t______________ (PHC)______________ J
◄-- ►
Taluka Panchayat
h —►
NGOs and CBOs
I
I
f___________ Sub Centre
<1----- >
Maternal
Gram Panchayat_______
Violence against
Women & Health
Health
Ensuring regular visit of ANMs, AWW
and other health workers in villages.
Ensuring early registration of
pregnancies, distribution of iron and folic
acid tablets, immunisation of pregnant
women, quality referral services, medical
checkups and regular supply of safe
delivery kits.
Upgradation of skills and increasing
confidence of dais (traditional midwives)
through training and ensure honorarium
for conducting and referring delivery
cases.
Ensuring that pregnant women avail the
maternal benefit schemes.
Ensure transport during any emergency
for pregnant women.
The smooth and effective
implementation of Integrated Child
Development Scheme (ICDS) and ensuring
enrollment of pregnant & lactating
women and regular supply of
supplementary food.
Be active! Educate men to keep
away from vices such as gambling
and alcohol. Organise educational
camps and legal advice
programmes to create awareness
on violence against women among
the village community. Arrange for
counseling centers for victims
of violence.
Encourage! Women of your village
have the right to live a violence free
life. Encourage them to speak up
against violence and trust them.
Stop domestic violence in the
village.
Conduct gender sensitisation
training to various groups in
villages.
Federate link-ups with Womens
Groups, networks for solidarity
and lobbying against Violence
on Women.
i <j—>
Womenfe
Groups/SHGs
(
1
L
|
J
Reproductive Health of
|
Adolescent girls
J
Impart need-based information and
counselling to couples on contraceptive
family planning, AIDS, STDs/RTIs and
infertility.
Organise Health awareness camps for
adolescent and young girls and boys.
Create awareness on involvement of
men in taking care of women's
health and sharing household
responsibilities & being gender
sensitive
Exercise strict vigilance to eliminate sex
selection and pre sex-determination
in their area.
Ensure MTP(Medical Termination of
Pregnancy) services at the PHC level.
Ensure regular meeting with the doctor
at the PHC and discussion about the
quality of health services and
future needs of the community.
Facilitate the IEC process with PHC
to organise exhibitions, talks and
discussions on women's health on a
regular basis and adolescent health
particularly for girls.
CHETNA’s* Perspective
■Centre for Health Education, Training and Nutrition Awareness
2004
Joining Hands for Positive Health
Action for Women
As a woman and women’s group member
Demand for regular organisation of Gram
■
Sabha meetings
Actively participate in the 'Gram Sabha' and
■
address crucial women's concerns including
Violence Against Women (VAW) and health.
■ Demand action on issues related to women's
health e.g. regular visit of the ANM at the village
level, effective implementation of the Anganwadi
centre, ANM- Sub centre & proper utilisation of
transport funds to shift emergency delivery cases
.^hospitals.
y If you come across any case of a communicable
disease in the village, inform the Panchayat
immediately to take preventive measures.
■ Put forward women's health needs to the
Panchayat and support in implementation of
health services.
■ Alongwith the Panchayat, organise awareness
camps on issues of women's health and women's
empowerment
■ Campaign for active women candidates for
joining the Panchayat and support them during
the election.
■ Select committed women members to contest
for elections for reserved seats, including women
from different classes and castes.
^|a man and family member
■" Encourage women of your family to contest
Panchayat elections.
■
If you are the husband of an elected Panchayat
woman member, share household work and childcare,
especially, when she attends the Panchayat meetings.
This will increase her self- esteem and confidence. Do
not pressurise her for personal favours at the
Panchayat Instead, encourage her to voice the
concerns of the community, especially of rural women.
>□
- Media
RF_IH_6_SUDHA.pdf
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