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RF_DEV_10_SUDHA
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W
MIM ) H ••• <
•H■
.a* — .."
u TUNGABHADRA GRAMIN BANK i i
CIRCULAR NO: 115/96-97 H
H ADVANCES SECTION—II
:• CREDIT & RECOVERY WING
H HEAD OFFICE : BELLARY.
DATED
i
ij
INDEX: THE CELL:27/96-97B
04.02.1997
i......... ~............... .............................................................. r
SUB: SCHEME FOR FINANCING THROUGH
SELF HELP GROUPS (SHGs).
Many poverty alleviation programmes have been
launched by Government of India and State
Governments for the benefit of the rural poor.
Further the credit flow from Banks and
Co-Operatives to these vulnerable sections of
the Society has been found to be inadequate.
Hence the rural poor are still depending on
money lenders for meeting urgent fina ncial
needs in many areas.
Some of the major causes
lie in the difficulties of the Banks in dealing
effectively and economically with a large number
of small borrowers who require credit frequently
and in small quantities.
In many instances, the poor have demostrated
their potential for Self Help to secure greater
economic and financial strength.
SHGs have
comparative advantages over other constituents
of the formal credit system in reachingthe rural
2)
: 2 t
poor.
The SHGs follow the participatory approach
to development encompassing both Social and
. economic aspects.
Against this back drop, NABARD
. has launched the project of linking Self Help Groups
■ in February,1992 with the Banks.
Studies conducted
; by NABARD and other agencies have shown encouraging
findings relating to recovery, income generation,
; reduction in cost of transaction for both banks and
borrowers, inculcating habit of savings in the rural
poor etc.
The SHG scheme is under implementation in our Bank
, since 1993.
But Branches are yet to take up the
subject scheme in right earnest.
In the light of the importance attached by RBI /
NABARD, branches are requested to actively
participate in the scheme for financing through
Self Help Groups (SHGs) and extend financial
assistance.
;The details of the subject scheme are given in
the Annexure.
tThis Circular is issued in supercession of our
earlier Circular No.86/93-94 dated 3.9.1993.
*HG/CS/#ESP.
To»
All Branches / Offices
ANNEXURE TO CIRCULAR NO:115/96-97 Dt 4.2.1997
The salient features of SHG lending are as
follows:-
1.
OBJECTIVES OF SELF HELP GROUP LENDING:
a)
To evolve supplementary credit strategies
for meeting the credit needs of the poor
by combining the flexibility, sensitivity
and responsiveness of the informal credit
system with the strength of technical and
administrative capabilities and financial
resources of the formal credit institutions.
b)
To build mutual trust and confidence
between the bankers and the rural poor.
c)
To encourage banking activity, both on the
thrift as well as credit sides, in a segment
of the population that the formal institutions
usually find difficult to cover.
2)
2.
: 2 :
GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR SELECTION OF
___________________________________________________
a)
S H G membership should be resident in the
same area, be homogeneous with regard to
background, interest, economic status.
It
should have been in active existence for
atleast a period of six months.
b)
S H G should promote savings mobilisation.
c)
Savings should be linked to credit »Savings first, credit next.
d)
The development of financial disciplines
and systems should be encouraged.
e)
SHGs should begin with a simple book keeping
system. Please refer Annexure-IX for
simple books to be maintained by the SHG.
f)
SHGs should hold regular meetings (once in
a week if possible) at a fixed place and
fixed time and day with atleast 75%
attendance.
3)
: 3 t
g)
S H G should have basic rules or byelaws
(written or unwritten) - Refer Annexure-VIII.
for model objectives,
rules and byelaws.
It is just illustrative and may be suitably
changed according to the situation.
h)
Group leaders should be elected by the members,
with group functions or positions being rotated
among the members.
i)
Transparency in business operations and the
overall conduct of group activities should
be maintained at all times.
j)
Basic training and guidance to be provided to
members of SHGs.
k)
Loans should be kept small initially and
repayments made frequently and regularly.
1)
Transaction costs should be kept to a minimum
through simplified group procedures and
control.
m)
Market rates of interest should apply to
both savings and credit.
4)
: 4 :
n)
Democratic working of the group wherein all
members feel that they have an equal and fair
say should be evident.
o)
The branch should be convinced that the group
has not come into existence only for the sake
of participation in the project and availing
benefits thereunder. There should be a genuine
need to help each other and work together among
members.
p)
The 9rouP size should preferably be 10 and but
not more than 20 members to enable effective
individual participation in the group deliberations
Membership of more than 20 will create problems
in having to comply with registration and other
legal formalities.
q)
Loans (cash or cheques) must be disbursed only
at Sangha meetings and disbursement, x*ate of
mterest, repayment schedule must be minuted
in the minutes book.
h)
The role of the NGO or the Self Help promoting
institution (SHPI) / Agency concerned, if any
5)
: 5 i
in the group is evident and the agency is
helping the SHG by way of training and other
support for skill upgradation and proper
functioning.
3*
PROJECT location and selection CRITERION:
a)
For the convenience of implementing and
monitoring the projects, it would be preferable
to launch the projects in a cluster of
villages or blocks rather than in a scattered
manner.
b)
Where NGOs / SHIPs and SHGs are already operating
and are chosen to be covered under the project,
the branch in whose service area the SHGs operate
would participate in the project.
c)
The service area branches should fix their own
programme for lending to SHGs as in the case of
other activities under priority sector.
d)
The Area Offices should identify the various
NGOs , VAs operating in the area and the SHGs
organised by them and supply the information
so collected to the concerned service area
branches.
6)
x 6 X
e)
Branch Manager may also identify Voluntary
agencies operating and SHGs existing in their
service area and assess their credit needs.
4.
ROLE OF NGOs / VAs X
a)
To act as catalysts and facilitators and as
intermedia^ ries between the poor and the
credit agencies.
b)
To help the poor people organise themselves
into groups on proper lines.
c)
Ensure democratic'and transparent functioning
d)
Provide support services in terms of village
survey, identification of members, motivation
to form groups.
e)
Render training, guidance for record
management and loan disbursement.
41
Curtail, the pressures of- vested interests.
5.
R0LE og BANKS:
a)
Play a vital role in providing funds to SHGs
in a quick and flexible manner.
Establish liasion with the NGOs / SHGs and
oversee . the healthy functioning of SHGs.
Bring about confidence in NGOs / SHGs in
credit dispensation activities through
guidance and continuous support.
Make available profiles of bankable
schemes / activities’.
ADVANTAGES OF FINANCING SHGs TO BANKS:
Least cost route to reach the unreached.
A part of work like appraisal, disbursal,
supervision and recovery is transferred to
SHGs.
Reduction in transaction cost'.
Much better recovery rate—more than under
direct lending (100% recovery as on date).
Improvement in small savings.
A friendly face with SHPI / NGO / SHG.
t 8 i
g)
Larger coverage of the target group.
h)
Improvement of the image of the bank among
the fellow people.
7•
OPLLLNG OF SAVINGS BANK' ACCOUNT;
Branches are permitted to open S.B. Accounts
of SHGs which are engaged in promoting the
saving habit among their members.
Account
can be operated jointly by the President and
Secretary of SHG. Accounting opening form as
applicable to clubs and associations alongwith
copy of resolution and specimen signature card
are to be obtained.
8.
LINKAGE PROGRAMME;
Once the SHGs and branches are identified, the
linkage programme can start in the following
mannerx-
a)
The Banker is expected to provide credit in
’bulk directly to the group, which may be
informal or formal (i.e., Registered).
'group inturn would
undertake on lending
The
to
the members. The quantum of credit given to
the group should be in proportion to the savings
mobilised by the group .
The proportion of
9)
» 9 x
savings to loan could vary from 1x1 to 1x4
depending on the assessment of the SHG by
the branch.
b) In case of SHGs where the local bank branch
does not have adequate confidence in lending
to them or in case where SHGs for various
reasons are not willing to be linked directly
with the Bank, the Bank may finance such SHGs
through the Voluntary Agencies or the SHPI
that has promoted the SHG, if it is willing
to borrow from the Bank and the Bank is also
prepared to lend to the VA / SHPI. In such
cases, bulk financing for VAs could be
considered.
c) where bulk financing to VAs / SHPIs is
resorted to, concerned bank branch should
closely observe the working of SHGs by
attending their meetings and in other ways so
that the branch may develop the necessary
confidence in the SHG and link up with it
•
directly at the end of the bulk financing
arrangement with VA.
d)
In case some members of SHGs require large
loans than that could be covered under the
savings related loaning, the SHG could
appraise the requirement and recommend the
10)
: 10 :
proposal to the branch for direct lending
by the branch to the concerned member.
In
should be willing to accept
such cases the SHG
the responsibility of proper credit utilisation
and repayment by the member and for monitoring
the sane.
In some cases the SHG might apply
to the branch for creating common service
facilities or for certain group activities.
The lending in such cases to the individual
members of the SHGs or the SHG for common
activities would be subject to the usual terms
and conditions of lending adopted by banks
and the refinance facility would also be on
usual terms.
e) The purposes for •
which the group will lend
to the members should be left to the common
wisdom of the group.
s Assessment of credit*
f)
It would be necessary
for the group to prepare a credit plan for its
members and submit the aggregate of that to the
branch .T o ensure flexibility in the lending
operations of the group, the document s
have to be simple, giving only an indication
of the physical credit requirements.
: 12 :
c) The defaults by a few members of SHGs and /
or their family members to the financing banks
should be not ordinarily come in the way of
financing SHGs per-se by banks provided the
SHG is not in default to it.
However , the
Bank loan may not be utilised by the SHG for
financing a default member to the bank.
11.SECURITY AND DOCUMENTATION:
The SHGs will not be in a position to offer
any collateral security other than the group
savings.
The following documents have to be
obtained while extending loans to the SHGs.
a) Inter-se agreement to be executed by the members
of the SHG — Annexure-I.
b) Specimen of application to be submitted by
SHG to bank branch while applying for loan
assistance
— Annexure-II.
c) Format of Articles of Agreement for use by
banks branches while financing SHGs — Annexure-I'
d) Sponsorship letter from NGO / SHPI — Annexure-IV
e) Specimen application to be submitted by VA/SHPI
to branch while applying for loan assistance
for on-lending to SHGs
— Annexure-V.
13)
t
11 ;
9. RATE OF INTEREST;
The rates of interest in respect of finance
made to SHG are as under;
PARTICULARS
INTEREST RATES
NABARD to Bank
6.5% p.a.
Bank to NGOs
10.5% p.a.
NGOs to SHGs
12.0% p.a.
SHGs to members
Bank to SHGs (direct
lending)
*As decided by SHGs
12.0% p.a.
*Usually the SHGs have been charging interest
ranging from 24%-to 36% depending on the
purpose to its members.
NOTE; Interest is to be debited at quarterly
intervals.
10.REPAYMENT PERIOD;
a) An appropriate repayment period may be fixed
after discussing with the group. In case
longer repayment is fixed, appropriate instal
ments for the principal is to be fixed.
b) The SHG would be free to prescribe appropriate
repayment period and terms for loans to members
as determined by the group.
12)
i 13 $
f) Format of Articles of Agreement for use while
financing SHGs through VAs/SHPIs (Society /
Charitable Trust registered under respective
Acts) — Annexure-VI.
12.OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONSi
a) Loan proposals shall be forwarded to Head
Office for sanction along with credit plan
and the resolution passed by the competent
office bearers of SHGs / VAs.
b) Manager / Bank staff should attend the meeting
of SHGs regularly and closely monitor the
accounts and affairs of the SHG.
c) 100% refinance available from NABARD.
So,
branches shall submit disbursement particulars
(F.215) to THE Cell.
d) Training is an important step in the linkage
programme and hence the staff of the branch
may impart short duration training to selected
office bearers or members of SHGs in book keeping,,
maintenance of records and financial discipline.
Such training can be organised with the
involvement of NGO / SHPI.
AMHUXVKEr-I
[TO BE STAMPED AS A GENERAL POWER OF ATTORNEY)
INTER-SE AGREEMENT TO BE EXECUTED
BY THE MEMBERS OF THE SELF-HELP GROUP
this -------------------day
THIS AGREEMENT made
19
of
Between
Shr i/Smt/Kum/
1.
■■
i_____________________
.Son/
Wife/ Daughter of
aged
,
years
residing at;
2.
and
Shri/Smt/Kum/Son/
Wife/Daughter of
,
years
aged
residing at
and
;
Shr 1 /Smt/Kuni/Son/
3.
Wife/Daughter of
aged
,
years
residing at
;
and etc.
20
who
are
referred
members
to
of
the
-------------------------------
collectively
a.s
"The
group,
Self-Help
here 1 n.i I t <•!
Group
(NHG)
Members",
expression
which
the context or meaning,
SHG
their
and
unless
shall,
repugnant
to
include every menber of the said
respective
legal
SHG
members
heirs,
executors
and
administrators.
all
WHEREAS
;__________________ taluka of the
Village in
of
residents
are
State and are kn
WHEREAS
voluntarily
on
carry
SHG
the
together and
formed
and
credit
savings
for mutual
activities
named
above
members
benefit
have
SHG with
the
to
subject
to
intent
other
and
joined
economic
the
terms
and
conditions hereinafter appearing:
NOW THEREFORE THIS AGREEMENT WITNESSETH THAT:-
Each member of the SHG shall
1.
save a sura of
Rs .( Rupees
or
as
sum
such
may
on 1 y )
decided
be
week1y/fortnightly/nonth1y
the
Group,
on
which
shall
be
by
basis
deposited with the authorised member of the group.
2.
Each member shall
and
shall
not
strive for the success of
in
act
nay
manner
detrimental
the
SHG
to
the
business interests of the SHG.
The
3.
members
SHG
liable for all
4.
All
the
joint
shall
be
and
jointly
severally
the debts contracted by the SHG.
be in
assets and goods acquired by the SHG shall
ownership
ordinarily be
Member
shall
may
as
kept
at
the
•. ■, i i 1
11' ■ I
I
be
of
all
in the
the
of
by
I >u •: i ner.::
■ < :h/i nc)<-< 1 w i t h 'i 11
of
the
constructive custody
authorised
place
members
the
Group
at
< ■' >i icon t of
and
SHG
and
of
such
shall
be
which
the : .1 f'l ir.er i •• • i . .
5.
SHG
The
duly
hereby
roonbers
and
elect
appoint
Shri/Smt/Kum.3 s ———
Shri/Srat/Kum
as --------------
Shri/Smt.Ku m
[by
whatever name
_____________________ — 3 s------------ --
to
designated]
after
look
manage
and
the day
to day affairs of the SHG's activities and
act
their
in
behalf
their
in
all
name
and
on
relating
thereto.
The
authorised
however,
be removed ?t any time by majority vote
members and
and
also
matters
representatives,
may
of
the
new representatives elected.
Each of
6.
ratify
the SHG members
all
act,
such
hereby agrees
deeds
to abide by
things
and
as
the
authorised representatives may do in the interest of the
said activities.
7.
shall
take
in the day to day working of the SHG and
each
The
decisions
representatives
authorised
representative shall' actively involve herself or himself
and
co-operate
of
the
SHG
in
looking
activities
in
the
after
day-to-day
affairs
to
to
the
authorises
the
of
the
particular
attend
following activities.
-
Every
member
the
of
SHG
hereby
loan
representatives to apply for the
behalf
on
SHG and execute necessary agreements/documents on behalf
the
of
for
SHG
the
The
purpose.
authorised
represantative may collect loan amounts from the bank on
behalf of SHG,
of
the SHG
deposit
the
for onlending
the
decision
loan
instalment
of
the
SHG
same
to
and
from members
the savings
in
members
also
in
in
account
accordance
with
deposit
recovery
of
lotm
account/s
of
the
SHG with the bank.8
(8)
The SHG
members
representatives : -
•
hereby
specifically
authorise
the
To open
(i)
Fixed Deposits
Savings,
)
(
in
bank
and other accounts
approved
by
SHG
the
and
operate the same under the joint signature of any two of
the following authorised represantatives.
Shri/Sint/Kum.
Shri/Srat/Kum.
Shr i/Smt/Kum.
c
(ii)
To
cause
to
the savings,
accounts of
them
to
granted
or
keep
year
render every
the
and
proper
kept
of
books
made by the
SHG Members,
loans
recoveries
made
from
and
full
the
be
accounts
the
to
them
SHG members
for their approval and adoption;
(iii)
To
payments due
all
receive
to
requisite receipts or acknowledgments
of
SHG
the
issue
and
behalf
for and on
the SHG;
To
(iv)
members
any
interests
of
purpose
agent
legal
proceedings
and
member of
the
said
or
disengage
any
lawyer
incur
SHG
safeguard
the
SHG
or
legal
necessary
the
the
behalf
on
each
engage
and
defend
and
institute
of
and
for
this
advocate
or
experises
in
connection therewith.
In
(9)
SHG,
the
event
his/her
benef its
and
of
legal
be
death of
heir:s
liable
any of
sha 11
for
the
members
of
the
entitied
for
the
obligations
of
the
be
the
deceased membeir under this agreement.
(10)
as
It
a
is
agreed
member
of
existing member's.
that
the
no new
SHG
stall
be
inducted
consent
of
all
person
without
the
IN
WITNESS
have
set
WHEREOF
their
p 1 ac e
the
and
on
hands
day
of
the
SHG
hereunto
at
the
member:.
aforesaid
respective
of
month
yea,p fj.rst herein appearing.
Name of member
SHG
Signature/s/Thumb of
impression
( 1 )
( 2 )
( 3)
( < )
( 20 )
WITNESSES:1 .
2.
Note:
The SHG shali
not consist more than 20 persons)
the
ANN EXURE—II
Specimen of application to be submitted by
SHG to Bank Branch while aobl Y-iiLQ—J. 0 a n _ a 5 s 1 s I a n OS'
the Self-Help Group:
Name of
Address:
Registered:
Formed/Established on
Yes/No
If registered: give number and date
and furnish true copy of the
Certificate of Registration.
Number of members in the Group:
Name of SHPI/NGO/VA assisting the Group:if any:
bate
To:
The Branch Manager
Bank
Branch
bear Sir,
APELICATlQtj. JUR^LQAW
the above
We the duly authorised representatives of
hereby
apply
for
a
loan
aggregating
(
Rupees
(Rupees
only)
our Members.
The financial
particulars
.•;h<;
Rs.
lor on-lending
ol
the group as
aie given in the enclosed sheet.
(date)
We
agree
to repay the
loan amount
as
per
the
repayme-t
schedule which may be fixed by the bank.
3.
A copy of the
members of
,
1 . ’>.• )
Inter-se Agreement executed by all
the group authorising us
of
the SHC
i ;• enr 1 o':>'d .
interalia
the
to borrow
4.
Wc
are
declare
that
correct
to
hereby
true
and
particulars
the
the
best
our
of
given
above
knowledge
and
>
o
be 1 i e f .
5.
We hereby authorise
particulars
loan
or
accounts
institution
the Bank
details
or
with
Bank,
the
including
information
NABAUD,
any
to
all
or
any
relating
to
our
disclose
to
financial
other
Government
or
any
agency
as may be considered necessary or desirable by the Bank.
It
will
from
/or
be
in order
any
receiving
recall
granted
on
pertaining
for
the Dank
credit
loan
the
entire
application,
the
Group,
the
SHG
from
the
Bank
and
any
part
facilities
this
to
to disqualify
amount
if
any
furnished
or
of
the
herewith
is
incorrect and/or containing misrepresentation of
Yours faithfully,
1 .
2 .
[Authrised represantatives ]
thereof
information
found
facts.
Sh’br. BKLKL.GIJVU)’
financial
Sr.No.
Particulars as on
Particulars
Amount
(in Rs.
1.
Savings from Members
2.
Seed Honey from SHPI
3.
Borrowings Outstanding :
(Please specify source)
4.
Loans outstanding against members
5.
Amount in default,
6.
Recovery percentage
7.
Cash/bank balance
it
[NGO/VA ] , if any
any,
against members
ANNEXURE-III
FORMAT OF ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT FOR USE
The Articles of Agreement made on
of
this -----------
H/s
Between
and
By
at
199
day
an
[name of SHG ]
having
persons/individual s
of
association
unregistered
its office at
represented
represent a ti
authorised
its
by
Shri/Smt
(Designation )
(Name)
and Shri/Smt
(Designation)
(Name)
who
(a
forms
as
fully authorised by all
the memoers
the
of
is
annexed
hereto
copy
part
sOch
of
Authorisation
this
which
to
repugnant
the
time
their
being,
( name
the
respective
and
administrators
bank)
body
one
corporate
and
i ts
context
thereof
unless
mean
repugnant
the second par t.
Whereas
borrower
persons who have
self-help
a roup
the
is
an
Head
to
a
soc i o-ecotiom i c
Bank"
help
to
cal
subject
and
i ts
unregistered
interse agreed
with
to
include
and
assignees of
the
he i
pa
Branches
the
"the
shall
expression
the
constituted
having
at
legal
successors,
the
mean
thereof,
assigns
a
uni
association
unregistered
the
shall
expression
context
subject
include members of
hereinaf ter
agreement)
the
association
other
developing
and
Whereas
group,
having
formed
association
the
a
as
self
the Borrower as per application dated
made by the said Shri/ Smt.
help
;
____________________________ - ■
(Name)
and Shri/ Smt.
;______ _____--------
(Designation)
(Name)
duly autho
(Designation)
dated
resolution
[Copy
Bank
to
"grant
credit
loan/extend
a
requested
the
facility of
‘Rs./ up to
limit of
the
Rs.
/-
Bank
the
whereas
loan/extend
agreed
has
to
facility
credit
grant
to
borrower
the
on
*
the
certain
terms and conditions.
And
whereas
Now
1 .
,
and
Bank
the
the agreed terms
reducing
the
are
borrower
desirous
Bank has agreed
to grant and the borrower has
agreed to borrow by way of term loan/cash credit
upto
to
limit
the
of
THE
KIND OF
date
/-
Rs.
------------------------------------------------only)
(SPECIFY
LOAN
accounts.
2.
In
Borrowers
case
the
will
satisfactorily
and
facility
(clean)
(Rupees
and the bank has opened
ACCOUNT)
in the name of
of
of
into writing.
this agreement witnesseth as follows:'
therefore,
The
(Rupees
its members.
lending to
And
enclosed],
a/c
No.
of
the borrower in
availed
operate
the
cash
within
the
limit
is
cash
its
book
credit
the
credit
account
the
borrower
and
repay the
shall
inclusive
outstanding
interest
of
and
in
liability
debited
charges
other
account
the
from
t. :.e to tine on demand without demur.
J
availed
loan
case
In
Ixi.in,
Demand
is
without
the loan
prejudice to the right of the Bank to recall
demand the Borrower undertakes to repay the loan with
(♦Delete whichever is not applicable)
interest and other charges within the period stipulated
in terras of sanction.
In
case
ioi l m-iit »
>
credit
the
r < owfj
pay
will
prescribed
be
shall
mariner
specified
Upucilied)-
bd
by
ol
availed
£ . .1 U
t he
in
>>'!»■ /Pi.iril
i
facility
term loan the same
is a
Imrrower
'
L1 <•
in
repayable
herebelow
the
in
the
Besides
interwat
>i t
the
lain-
Hull:
may
1
lending
by
RHl/HAliAlli'
I l win
lime
1
tor
such
is
clearly
t 1 me .
It
pai't ies
hereto
failure
to utilise
for
the
available
shall
the
in
that
the
for
which
by
Bank
to
the
event
of
proceeds
purpose
repay
by
understood
immediately
the
of . the
borrower'
the credit
same
has
the
borrower,
on
demand
th
between
and
facility
been
the
without
made
borrower
demure
together with interest without prejudice to Bank's right
to initiate other legal action.
The borrower shall pay interest on the loans to
C.
calculated on the daily balances in the loan account ar:.:
be debited thereto at quarterly rests or a?: the Bank n->'.
decide.
7.
The borrower
credit
facility
members
to
their
should
utilise
the
pi >>■
<•(
• .
the
purpose
of
lending
to
i'-.
for
improve
the
socio-economir
members and their families.
t-ond i t 1 on •:
- i
•
8.
The
borrower
availed
of
together
shall
with
repay
interest
the
credit
payable
as
facility
per
the
interest rates that nay be fixed by RBI/NABARD from time
to time for such lendings.
9.
on
The borrower shall be liable to repay the facility
demand
together with
payable by the
the interest and
borrower to the Bank in
other charges
accordance with
the rules of the Bank.
REPAYMENT SCHEDULE
please specify
In witness whereof the parties hereto have affixed their
signature on
and
the
date and the
month
year first herein above written.
EOK SHG
FOR BANK
1) AUTHORISED REPRESENTATIVE
2) AUTHORISED REPRESENTATIVE
MANAGER
MtiZXURXz- IV
SPONSORSlUR.J<gCTJ-R. H<QM.ifGQZSHJLL
TO
Pate :
The Branch Manager
_________________ Bank
Linking of SHG with bank
Sub:
Submission of proposals .-r.e<T,
Dear sir.
forward
We
herewith
the
loan
proposals
following SHGs for availing credit facilities
from
the
from your
bank under the SHG-Bank linkage programme.
SI.
No.
•
Name.of the
SHG*
No. of members
Loan requited
1 .
2.
Kindly consider the request and do the needful
at
your
earliest.
With regards
Yours sincerly
To
be
used
when
;>pl 1 • •: i on to Inn1
NGO/SHPI
l oi
<1 i rent
is
sponsoring
) | nkmr
SHGs
loan
NAXJE OF TILE VA/NGO/ SELF-HELP PROMOTING
INSTITUTION:
Particulars of SHGs proposed to be_assisted
Name of the
Address
SHG
(1)
Date of
number of
formation
Female Hale
(3)
4(a)
(2)
members
4(b)
3 .
2.
3.
4.
■> n
Total Savings
Total
Recovery
Remarks
lendings
percentage
1 f any
(7)
(8)
outstand
ing against
members
(5)
1 .
2.
3 .
4.
(6)
AMflEXUKK~V
:r 4;
Specimen of application to be submitted by VA/SHPI
to Branch while applying for loan assistance for
on-lending to SHGs
Bane of
the
Institutione:
Voluntary
Promoting
Agency/Se1f-He1p
Address:
Formed/Established on:
Registration No.
(Furnish true copy
of certificate of
registration)
Type of activities undertaken:
Date:
To:
The Branch Manager
---------------------------- Bank
----------------------Branch
Dear Sir,
APPLICATION FOR LOAN
We hereby apply for a loan of Rs.
only)
(Rupees
/-
required by us for the purpose ol
on-
lending to the Members of ----- (No.]------ Self-Help Groups as
per list enclosed.
?. REPAYMENT SCHEDULE
We agree to repay the
loan amount
as
per
the
repayment
schedule which may be fixed by the bank.
3.
Particulars of
from
along
audited
with
years is enclosed.
loans extended
other
liabilities
financial
balance
sheet
to SHGs
and existing
institutions/agencies
for
the
last
three
4.
We hereby
are true and
belief.
that
declare
correct
the
given
above
knowledge
and
particulars
best of
the
to
our
We hereby authorise the Dank to disclose all or any
5.
particulars
loan
or
or
details
with
accounts
the
information
Bank,
including HABARD,
Institutions
relating
any
to
other
to
our
financial
government or any agency
as may be considered necessary or desirable by the Bank.
It
will
in
be
organisation
facilities
in
case
from
from
amount or any
any
o'tlcr
the
part
for
the
receiving
Bank
to
disqualify
our
any
further
recall
the
entire
thereof granted on
this
application
Bank
infotb'Jtion
and/or
furnished
herewith
credit
is
loan
found
incorrect and/or containing misrepresentation of facts.
Yours faithf ul ly
(PRESIDENT)
(SECRETARY)
(Also affix official stamp
of the Agency)
ANHEXURE-VT
(To be stamped as an Agreement)
FORMAT OF ARTICLES OP AGREEMENT
FOR USE
WHILE FINANCING SELF-HELP GROUPS
THROUGH VOLUNTARY AGENCY/SHPI (SELF HELP
PROMOTION INSTITUTION)
■
( SOCIETY/CHARITABLE TRUST '''
REGISTERED UNDER THE RESPECTIVE ACTS^ •
The Articles of Agreement on this
day of
at'By and Between M/s.
199
voluntary
a
as
a
Society/a
Charitable
Act
Registration,
under
Trust
Act,
1860/„Trusts
having its office at
agency
Societies
the
its
represented by
'President/Trustee Shri/Smt
‘and its Secretary Shri/Srat
who
are
and
by-laws
duly authorised
Society/Trust,
expression
of
corporate
unless
mean and
the one
include
under
under
on
called the
repugnant
part and
constituted
empowered
contracts
hereinafter
shall,
context thereof,
assigns
and
execute
to
then Rules
behalf
of
the
"borrower" which
to
the
subject
or
and
their successors,
(name of .the
the
(name
Bank)
of
a
body
the Bank)
Act
and
and the branches inter alia one at
hereinafter called "Bank" which expression shall,
repugnant -to the
subject
of
context
thereof,
unless
mean
and
include its successors and assignees of the second part.
Whereas,
the borrower
is
a
registered
society/trust
which has undertaken to promote and help the self- help
groups (SHGs) with a view to developing and ameliorate
(•Delete whichever is not applicable)
having
socio-economic conditions of the members of the SHGs and
their families.
Whereas the Borrower has requested the Bank
for
‘grant
of a loan/extending credit facility of Rs.
upto
the limit
only)
for onlending
meeting
to the self-help groups
requirement of
the credit
/-
/- (Rupees
of Rs.
their
.‘or
(SHGs)
members
as per
extend
credit
the SHG's request.
And
facility
and
the
whereas
to
the
Secretary
as
Bank
borrower
per
agreed
has
to
its
represented
by
by-laws
society/trust
the
of
President
on
certain terms and conditions.
And
whereas
Bank
the
and
the
borrower
have
to
agreed
charge interest at different levels/rates as hereunder:
• 11
(i )
Bank to V.A./SHPI
(ii)
V.A./SHPI to SHG ■ .
(iii) SHG to members - As decided by SHG
and/or as may be fixed from time to time by RBI/NABARD.
And
whereas
the
Bank
and
the
borrower
are desirous
of
reducing the agreed terms into writing.
this agreement witnesseth as follows:
Now ,
therefore,
1.
The Bank has agreed to grant and the borrower has
agreed to borrow by way of term loan/cash credit (clean)
upto
to
the
limit
of
only) and the bank has opened
ACCOUNT) a/c No.
/-
Rs.
(Rupees
(SPECIFY THE KIND OF LOAN
of date
of the borrower in its book of accounts.
in the name
In case the
2.
Borrowers ' will
satisfactorily
shall
of
inclusive
within
and
the
repay
is cash credit
facility availed
operate 1 the
Unit
the
account
the
borrower
and
in
other - charges
and
the
credit
liability
outstanding
interest
cash
the
account
debited
from
time to time on demand without demur.
3.
loan
case
In
Demand
is
availed
Loan,
prejudice to the right of the Dank to recall
the
Borrower
in terms of
sanction.
4.
In
case, the
borrower
is a
without
the loan on
undertakes to rr"p<iy the loan with
v• •
interest and other charges within the period stipulated
demand
installments
repayment
borrower
facility
credit
the
manner
herebelow
specified
SB.ecilig.dl ■
interest
pay
the
at
of
the
by
£•'repayable
term loan the same
in
schedule.
will
availed
rates
in
in
the
Besides
the
that
be
may
fixed from time to tineby RBI/NABARD for such lendings
alongwith
other costs/charges
as
may
be
levied
by
the
Bank .
5.
It is understood by and between the parties hereto
that
in the event of
the borrower's
failure
to utilise
the proceeds of the credit facility for the purpose for
the
which
the
same has
borrower,
without
demand
prejudice
to
the
been Bade available
borrower
demure
Bank's
shall
together
right
to
repay
with
the
Bank
to
immediately
on
by
interest
initiate
other
without
legal
action.
6.
The borrower shall pay interest on the loans to be
calculated on the daily balances in the loan account and
be debited thereto at quarterly rests or as the Bank may
dec ide.
The borrower should utilise the
of
the
credit facility for the purpose of onlending to SHGs
to
7.
the
improve
socio-®conoaic
proceeds
their
of
conditions
members
and their families..
The
8.
borrower
availed of together with
be
fixed by
lending.
repay
shall
the
credit
facility
interest at the
rate
that
nay
tine to
tine
for
such
the RBI/NABARD
from
The borrowers shall
be liable to pay
interest
on overdue interest in the event of failure to repay .the
facility availed in the stipulated Banner.
The borrower shall be liable to repay the loan on
9.
demand
together
payable by the
The
borrower
is
with
the
interest
and
other
charges
borrower to the Bank, without any demur.
not - penaitted/has .
right
no
to
defer
payment of the dues herein on the ground that he has not
been
able to receive/release the dues
from
its debtors
for any reason whatsoever.
REPAYMENT.SCHEDULE
.please specify
In witness whereof the parties hereto have affixed their
signature on the-------------- date and the--------------month and --
------------year first herein above written.
for (name of the Voluntary
Agency (V.A.) or Self Help
Promoting Institute (SHPI)
a registered society/trust
under Society's/trust's
Registration Act
1)
PRESIDENT
2)
SECRETARY
FOR BANK
MANAGKK
<7T
ANNEXURE—VXX
SOME DO’S AND DONT'S FOR LINKING BANKS WITH SELF HELP GROUPS
1.
2.
Pilot Project for linking Banks with Self Help Groups (PPLBG):
a)
Treat PPLBG as our own bank’s programme or scheme.
b)
Make use of the guidelines given by the National Bank but feel free to modify it to suit
the local situation, type of target group, risks involved, etc.
c)
Examine National Bank's guidelines carefully but don’t disregard some of them without
good reasons (eg. guidelines regarding selection criteria of SHG. providing loans as
a multiple of SHGs savings, providing loans of shorter maturity with no or very short
grace period to begin with, etc.)
d)
Take your own initiative. Find your own NGO or SHG.
Prepare your Bank for PPLBG:
Train the staff involved (Branch Managers. Development Manager (Agri) etc) by deputing
to training programmes conducted by the National Bank or to programmes specially
designed by our training colleges.
3.
Selection of NGO’s for collaboration:
a)
Though the National Bank will select a few reputed NGOs for PPLBG bank may
also select NGOs which are capable of providing adequate guidance to SHG's.
b)
An NGO selected should meet the following criteria.
it should have a good track record.
a proper system of book-keeping and audited balance sheets for the last 3
years.
basic financial management capability.
approach of promoting and working with groups of people belonging to weaker
sections
4.
Selection of SHG for linking:
a)
In addition to criteria mentioned in the circular, Bank should consider following criteria:
-
village panchayat leaders should not normally be the office bearers or leaders of
SHG
there should not be any interference from local authority.
24
satisfactory internal savings and credit activity for at least 6 months
-
b)
proper book keeping system and procedures for lending and savings
If any of these criteria are not met, steps should be taken to remedy the situation by
training, by arranging visits to SHGs working well etc , if necessary, with the assistance
of an NGO.*
c)
It would be prudent to select SHGs only from a smaller geographical area so as to
provide effective guidance and exercise proper supervision.
5.
d)
Banks may be required to provide training to members of SHG in book keeping.
financial management, income generating activities, etc., with the help of an NGO.
e)
No credit to SHG without training or before ensuring it has the necessary capability
to participate in PPLBG.
Savings:
a)
Internal savings mobilisation is the core of Self Help
b)
External finance must not replace adequate self financing and internal savings
c)
Banks may provide proper guidance to stimulate savings of SHG.
d)
Savings first: All credit must be preceded by savings.
e)
Banks may consider covering members of the group under Group Insurance Scheme
of LIC.
6.
7.
Use of loans for productive purposes:
a)
Loans to SHGs for group enterprises be discouraged in the initial stages as they
have usually failed. Exceptions should be very carefully examined and supervised.
b)
The purposes for which loans are to be given by SHG should be determined by the
SHG and its members.
c)
SHG should be strongly encouraged to use loans for productive purposes. Loans
should normally not be used for non-productive purposes. However, internal savings
of SHG may be made use for meeting emergent needs of its members.
Loan ceilings:
a)
There is no general recommendation concerning loan ceilings to SHGs.
b)
In principle, loan ceilings should be based on estimated absorptive capacity which in
turn is based on the capacity to save, invest and repay.
25
'Sf
8
Ratios of savings & credit:
...;r
9.
a)
Banks may consider two alternatives. One to begin with, provide loans to SHG which
is two times the savings of the SHG. This ratio can be increased to a.maximum of
1:4 as the bank gains greater confidence in the SHG.
b)
Second, request a deposit of blocked savings before a loan is granted. To begin
with, start with a conservative ratio of 1:1 or 1:2 of savings to credit depending upon
the bank's assessment of risks involved. With satisfactory repayment, the ratio may
be increased after each cycle, until the absorptive capacity of the group and its
members have been reached.
c)
Under both the alternatives it should be ensured that internal or blocked savings are
genuine savings of the group and its members and it has not been borrowed from
external sources.
Repayment period:
a)
Maturities should be differentiated and not uniform. Particularly, loans should not all
be at the recommended maximum maturity.
b)
Shorter maturities have two advantages which should be strongly emphasised in
consultation with NGOs, SHGs and members.
they are easier to handle and thus less risky.
they permit a more dynamic growth of the loan portfolio.
c)
10
First loans under PPLBG to NGOs, SHGs or members could have shorter maturities.
Subsequent loans may have longer maturities if justified
Lend First Cycle of loans without a grace period:
a)
First loans from banks or NGOs to SHGs and from SHGs to members should be
without a grace period.
b)
Exceptions should be carefully examined. Even if a loan is used for agricultural
purposes, borrowers usually have income from various sources which permit monthly
repayments.
c)
If short grace periods (e g one, two or three months) are given, the loan amount
should be kept small.
11
Insist on timely repayment:
a)
Banks, NGOs and SHGs must insist on timely repayments. This is to be strongly
emphasised at the time of lending, during discussions prior to lending and in training
programmes
26
j)
Loans from banks or NC Os to SHGs and from SHGs to members must be repaid in
regular instalments.
_oan repayment instalments:
a)
Loans from banks to SHGs could be repaid normally in regular monthly instalments
or as determined at the time of loaning based on local conditions, activities undertaken
by members, etc.
a)
Loans from SHGs to members should be repaid in appropriate instalments which
may be daily/weekly on market days, fortnightly, monthly, etc.
Deliver credit publicly:
a)
If possible, credit delivery to SHGs and members should be simultaneous
public ie., during the regular meeting of the SHG.
a)
If this is not possible, credit delivery to a SHG should always be in the presence of
several office bearers of SHG and selected members at least one or two of the major
borrowers. A loan must never be handed over to a single representative of the group.
27
and in
ANNEXURE-VIII
*'Name & Address of the SHG:
Aims of the Self Help Group
A. Alround sustainable development of the members families, village and
environment.
B- Objectives:-
1.
To create appropriate awareness among the
alround development in the society.
2.
To promote co-operats
among the members and
3.
To promote savings at' ■ ■ ...
c ibit among the members for then
good future and to encourage the members to committ themselves
to a regular savings system.
4.
To meet the credit needs of the members in
consumption,
income generation, asset creation
appropriate purposes.
5.
To help members in acquiring and use of appropriate technical
knowledge
and
managerial skills in relation
to
their
occupations in order to increase the productivity.
6.
To provide appropriate skill training for the members on need
base and to help members for subsidiary income generation occu
pations .
7.
To raise funds for the Group from appropriate sources as well
through group income generation activities.
8.
To mobilize financial assistance, programmes & other resources
from Banks, Govt., Voluntary Organisations & other sources and
to take up various activities for the welfare of member families
and the village.
9.
To create awareness & work for human health development.
10.
To improve the basic facilities for the village viz. drinking
water, sanitation and etc.,
11.
To promote sericulture, forestry and encourage other environment
improvement activities.
12.
To encourage and help families for possession of alternate
energy sources such as Bio-gas plant, solar system etc.,
and
also to help families to construct fuel efficient smokeless
chulas.
members
for
■If help attitude,
good
collective working.
time
and
their
I ■’
for
other
13.
To run night- class for literacy, numeracy and to improve
general knowledge for alround development of people.
14.
To mobilit.u..’;. available Animal Husbandry and
services in th-- village.
15.
To give spec
16.
To arrange for the availability of improved agricultural
equipments,
-mplements etc for the villagers and to run a
service centre for the benefit of the members.
7.
To give special attention for population control.
8.
To help sort out the disputes among the members or villagers.
9.
To promote and encourage cultural, sports and other appropriate
act ivit ios.
the
Veterinary
emphasis for women and child devel '•■•nt.
Rules and Regul*
(a) Members Admission Re.'atedj.
□my
oi.e responsible person from a poor family aged around 18 -
60
years
membership
concensus.
can
fee
become member in the group by paying the
Rs.5/- or what ever fixed by the Group in
-lJi
. The members have to pay the membership fee only once in their life
at the fimn of enrolment to the Group and the amount is not
returnable 'ind-ir any circumstances as well
it will not be.
trans fora blto any of the legal heires.
.Persons who are involved in any party politics activities or
involved in any type of anti-social activities or the willful
defaulters to anj credit institutions or total dependents are not
eligible for membership in the group.
.The size of the Group shall be around 15 to 20 members.
>) Group Meeting Related:
The Group Afinas "b^uld be held once a week requ1
convert' v •
■
1
if ■ |:, , as r]oc i
by th< <: .
on
The members should attend all the meetings in time without fail.
The member who unable to attend the meeting for genuine reasons
the same has to be intimated to the Group in person or through a
messenger in advance or atleast informed at the same meeting. If
fails the r.i-'mi.-er
is liable to pay fine for the absence as
decided by the group.
The late comers ‘or the meeting and those who walk out in the
middle without intimating the chairperson are liable to pay fine
as decided by the Group.
t/7
5.
If a member was absent for three consecutive meetings without
genuine
reasons such persons membership shall be suspended or
cancelled with or without notice.
6.
Unrelated issues/points should not be brought for discussion
the Group meeting.
7,
The members should not use vulgar words or physical force
any member during the meeting and the violators or
behaviours have to pay fine as decided by the Group or
membership shall be cancelled.
8.
The members should not sleep or stay seperate from
during the meeting.
9.
All the members have to sign in the minutes book at the end
the meeting after the recorded proceedings of each meeting
readout and confirmed.
,
Members Participati
1.
2.
All the nv'm ,
decision making
meetings.
ji
the
in
against
miss
their
Group
of
are
he Group:
•». '.d participate
process orally and
in the discussicru and
mentally in the Group
Equal opportunity and encouragement should be given to all the
members for their full participation in the meeting and in all
activities of the Group.
3.
All the members should attend the related trainings/workshops/
Seminars, exposures etc., within and outside the village without
fail.
The violators are liable to pay fine except for the
genuine reasons.
4.
The members should co-operate and participate in all the
developmental activities related to the members
families,
village,
the Group, environment etc.,.
Appropriate actions
against non co-operaters/non participators shall be taken by the
Group.
5.
The
members should participate
in
researching/learning
dissemination and adoption of appropriate technologies for
development.
• 6. The illlitQr 't
member- should show interest and nut offer'’:' to
become lit-?.'. 1
.
j’ho -..toup shall run a learning centre at the
convenient time for this purpose.
7. All the members should involve in regular savings
management activities with a special focus.
8.
and
credit
All the members should work with concern towards creating/
building
socio-economical
safety society and
stress
on
population control.
the
. Duties and E-oPonsibilities of the Members:
1.
All the members should promote and protect the co-operation
unity in the Group.
2.
The members should create equal opportunity and give encouragement
to all the members in the Group.
3.
The members should mobilize, use and manage the needy
properly/judicially.
4,
It is the responsibility of all the members to take necessary
collective action against the willful defaulters and recover the
loan amount.
5.
The members should take responsibility carefully
alround
development
and
should
also
take
responsibility in the Group with service motive.
6.
All the
r>-7 should involve in planning,
impl'-menting,
monitoring
evaluate the development programme' of the W
family,
■ !.Ja«' and environment time to time and to give
attention
for the results of evaluations with proper actions.
7.
The members should promote and protect the unity and
of the group and the village.
. -------------Executive ---------------Committee:
and
resources
for their
leadership
integrity
,ii<
1.
An Executive Committee consisting of three representatives
selected
unanimously
in the Group should
take
overall
responsibility of the smooth functioning of the Group.
2.
The period of the executive committee shall be six months or one
year as Group decides and the new committee should be selected
three months m advance and trained to take over the position of
their responsibilities.
3.
The above three positions of the representatives shall be called
as
(1) President (2) Secretary (3) Treasurer.
Two out of the
above three shall jointly operate the Group's Bank Account.
This committee is responsible for the Group's cash at hand, cash
at Bank or Post Office.
4.
The executive committee members should ensure remitting the cash
at hand immediately to the Group's Bank Account.
The cash at
hand should not be kept more than two days, if kept, the concern
member should pay fine plus interest as decides by the Group.
5.
The executive committee members should ensure, proper maintenance
of books of Accounts of the Group on day to day basis regularly
up to date.
They are also responsible for getting the Accounts
inspected once a month & audited once in six month and to submitt
the Accounts Statements & reports to the group meeting for
appraisal.
t
4. The loan amount should be utilized for the agreed purpose only.
In case of any change of purpose it should be approved by the
Group in advance.
The violators are liable to pay fine/penal
rate of service charge.
5.
The loanee should repay the credit/loan amount with service
charge as per the,repayment schedule agreed upon, if failed sue
member is liable to pay fine or penal rate of service
charge @ Rs. 12% annum in addition to the normal rate of service
charge from the date of overdue or as decides by the Group.
6.
The members those who are irregular for the SHG meetings
irregular in savings are not eligible for credit/loan from
Group.
or
the
7.
All the members shall have equal opportunity for loan from
Group on eligibility/priority basis.
the
8.
The funds of the Group should be revolved to the optimum
for the benefit of all the members.
9.
The Group can avail loan from the Bank & other credit
institutions, NGO's, other Groups & any other available sources
for its activities and the same has to be repaid in time as per
the terms and conditions agreed upon.
10.
As well the Group can receive donations,
grants,
subsidy,
charity from Govt, NGOs, other Organisations,
individuals and
any other available proper sources for the betterment of the
group members family, village and environment.
extent
Others:
1.
The members of the Group should maintain good discipline.
2.
The members should bring along with them the members pass
for all the meetings of the Group.
3.
All the members should abide by the rules and
existing and that may be formed from time to time.
book
regulations
4.All the members shouV1 refrain from all the bad habits.
executive committee should
• planning,
timely implementation,
actions.
facilitate the
programme
monitoring,
evaluation and
7. The executive committee should facilitate the
meetings and smooth functioning of the Group.
9.
regular
Group
8.
The executive committee members should have good contacts with
the
Govt.
Departments,
credit
institutions,
voluntary
organisations and other related institutions and to mobilize
resources for the improvement of Group and village.
9.
The executive cpmmittee members can execute any agreement/deeds/
contract on behalf of the Group with prior discussions and
resolutions in the Group each time for each subject.
Members Savings in the group related:
1 every member should save at I ■
per month in the Group which ..
'■/idual members name.
5/- per week
>e maintained
or
in
2.
Savings amount may be withdrawn by the members only at critical
circumstances with prior approval of the Group.
However the
members should maintain a minimum balance of Rs.1000/- in their
savings account.
3.
No interest will be paid for the members savings with fche group.
But 12% interest shall be paid for the amount kept in the Group
as fixed deposit for a minimum period of six months.
4.
The members should save from the family income earned only,
not the borrowed money for interest.
5.
The members will not be encouraged to adjust their
amount against their loan due to the Group.
Only at
circumstances the Group shall consider to adjust.
but
savings
extreme
H. The Credit Management Related:
1.
The credit can be given to the needy members of the Group for
the purposes such as consumption,
income generation asset
‘-reati^’" clearing the old burden loans, socio-religious and any
other appropriate purposes.
2.
The credit shall be given to the needy members of the group
only after a careful study, thorough discussion and unanimous
decision on the quantum of credit, rate of interest and the
repayment schedule for each loan.
3.
The loanee should give a written agreement to the Group for the
loan amount as per the official procedures in the presence of
the witness to the Group at' the time of taking credit.
The
loanee should give a guarantor within the grStfp- if necessary.
4-
■I
t
ANN EXURE—IX
A.
LIST OF_BOOKS_AND_RECORDS_T5iAT_ARE_TO_BE
madjtained_at_shgs :
01.
MINUTES / RESOLUTION BOOK
02.
03.
04.
MEMBERS ADMISSION BOOK
MEMBERS ATTENDANCE BOOK
05.
LOAN LEDGER
06.
07.
CASH BOOK
GENERAL LEDGER
08.
MEMBERS PASS BOOK
09.
10.
CORRESPONDENCE FILES
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENT VOUCHERS
11.
12.
LOAN DOCUMENTS
LOCAL CONTRIBUTION MOBILIZATION LEDGER
13.
BANK PASS BOOK
MEMBERS SAVINGS LEDGER
ANNEXURE-X
LIST of REPUTED NGOs / VAs OPERATING
IN OUR AREA OF OPERATION
Si.No.
Name of the Organisation
Persons to be contacted
1.
SAMUHA
Post: Jalahalli
Taluk: Deodurga
Dist : RAI CHUR.
Pin Code:584 116
. Mr.Pradeep
STD - 08531
Phone:
No - 6615
2.
JANODAYA
C/o Daya Nivas
Post: Manvi
Dist: RAICHUR.
Pin Code:584 123.
Sis.Madeline / Leela
,
STD - 08538
Phone:
No — 3534
3.
PRERANA
1-4-154/7,
S.B.H.Colony,
I.B.Road,
Post: Raichur.
Dist: RAICHUR.
Mr.Pramod Kulkami
STD - 0853 2
Ph°ne» No - 23125
4.
INGRID
P.W.D. Camp,
Post: Gillesugur.
Dist: RAICHUR.
Pin Code:584 101.
Mr. Jayaraj
STD Phone:
No.- 43723
5.
REACH
Kumaranahalli.
Post:Adavihalli.
Taluk: Harapanahalli.
Dist : BELLARY.
Mr.G.N.Simha
•
•
2)
: 2 :
Si.No. Name of the Organisation
Persons to be contacted
Leading Organisation
for Rural Development
(LORD)
OPP: Fire Station#
San jay Gandhi Nagar,
Post: Bellary.
Dist: BELLARY.
Pin Code:583 104.
Mr.P.H.Naidu
7.
Socio Economic Education
and Development.
Viital Building,
Post: Kallibavikere,
Taluk: Harapanahalli,
Dist : BELLARY.
Pin Code:583 131.
Mr.Sanjeervaiah
8.
READS
House No.4,
Post: Raravi.
Taluk: Siruguppa.
Dist : BELLARY.
Mrs.Precilla Rao
OTU
Phones
-
NO - 3971
Assistant General Manager
Shri Y.V. Gundu Rao
Assistant General Manager
NationalBank for Agriculture and Rural Development
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Developmen
No. 15A, Siruguppa Road
S.P. Circle
1-1166(9)(c)
Aiwan-E-Shahi Road
Shri. K. Subramanya
Shri. C. Narayanappa
Shri. Thippeswamy
Assistant General Manager
Assistant General Manager
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Developmen
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Developmen
8-9-246,1st Floor, Gurunagar
Near Ganesh Mandir
Kuvempunagar Extension
No. 5-B, 27th Cross
Shri. K.P. Kasturi
Shri U S.Prabhu
Assistant General Manager
Assistant General Manager
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Developmen
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Developmen
No 2826/3026,1st Floor, Corner Building
II Cross, P.C. Extension
1st Floor,Fair Traders Bldg., New
Extension, Race Course Road
Shri.M A. Naraslmhan
Shri Dathatree
Assistant General Manager
Assistant General Manager
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Developmen
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Developmen
House No. 92,'Archana'
Bandigowda Layout
Thippeswamy Nilaya, 2nd Cross
Achyutha Rao Layout
Shri. R.N. Acharya
Shri C.N. Prabhudeva
Assistant General Manager
Assistant General Manager
National Bank for agriculture and Rural Developmen
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Developmen
I Floor, Block No.3, S.V. Nagar
Cross No.3, Tilakwadi
Alia Manzil (Ground Floor)
4th Cross, Vidya Nagar
Shri. S.S. Hegde
Shri U.M. Hadalgi
Assistant General Manager
Assistant General Manager
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Developmen
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Developmen
Renuka Nivas, Opposite ITI
Sholapur Road, Chalukya Nagar
1st Floor, Near Hotel Savan
M.G. Road
Shri. G.R. Subramanya
Shri S.K. Rajan
Assistant General Manager
Assistant General Manager
National Bank for Agnculture and Rural Developmen
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Developmen
No. 614, Ground Floor,Corner Building
Nrupathunga Road, Basavanahalli
No.6, K Block, Adichunchanagire Mutt Rd.
Kuvempunagar
Shri. R. Venkataswamy
Assistant General Manager
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Developmen
Suvina, Opposite KEB Office
P B Road, Vidyagiri
y&.'j '
\
banJHI
MASSACRE
REPEATEp
On the trail of the atrocious Banjhi massacre of 1985 here
comes another one of four innocent tribals at Banjhi Bazar
in the district of Sahlbganj, Bihar, on the fateful night of
1Oth October, 1989, the night of Devi Buja cum Mela. Those
done to death are two Paharias and a Santal couple.
The Paharias killed belong to Devpahar village under Borio
Thana and Block in S^i ibganj district. Ever since the previous
Panchayat election there has been tension between the Banjhl
Dikkus and Devpahar Paharias. The dikkus were angry with the
Paharias since one of the^nBuddhinath Malto, dared to stand as
a rival candidate for Mukhia election against a Banjhi dikku.
Ever since the B njhi massacre of 1985, in which eight tribals
were killed by the dikkus and seven by th® police administration
the tribals have been trying to get themselves freed from the
clutches of the rapacious Banjhi mahajans. The Sona Santhal
Samaj Samiti, a tribal social welfare organisation has been d
doing commendable service in helping the tribals with saving
and self-help schemes, govt, loans, etc., thus helping the© to
keep away the exploiting mahajans and to get their illegally
grabbed land released from the dikkus. The Samiti was also
instrumental in reporting some cases of illegal forest foiling
by the Banjhi dikkus. All these heightened th® ire of th® nona
tribal people at Banjhl against th® S^miti especially.
on the fateful night of the massacre, there were two simultanoouspelas, one at Banjhi Bazar by the dikkus and another at
Saoaya, 3kms from Banjhi by the tribals who organised a Si^©=
Kanju cultural mela. The S0baya Mela attracted huge crowds
while sprinkling of tribals found their way to the dikku mela.
The thin attendance at Banjhi mela again angered th® dikkus
against the Samiti„ All the four murdered had attended th®
Banjhi mela.
During the mela, Mongol Munau of K^ndua village took shelter
under the verandah of Kaiyan Bhagat out of exhaustion. Later the
same Mongol was found murdered with his wife Dedmai Hansdak.
Dedmai’s head has been found while there is no trace of her torso.
On 12th, Thursday some cattle grazing childeren found out three
dead bodies. On Friday som*> women whild on their way to B njhi
hat, saw some Banjhi dikkus trying to push down the head of a
tribal woman under water. As they were looking intently at it,
the dikkus told them to mind their business and go away. That
head belonged to Dedmai Hansdak whose torso is yet to be found.
Fearing a backlash the Banjhi dikkus headed by Mohna Bhagat, one
of the main culp^ts of the 1 985massacre, called the Kendua villa
gers and offered them a generous sum of seven hundred rupeed for
drinks and five hundred each to the relatives of the murdered
couple and told them to spread the false news that it was the
Saiaiti members- who did the murder. Soon after the B^agats went
underground, though Mohna is under custody.
Ironically, Sri Jetha Murmu, Secretary of the Samiti and four
other Samiti members have been arrested and the Samiti Office was
sealed and later searched and some documents removed by the police
Banjhi Bazar is a strong hold of the Congress-I, as all the non
tribals support the Congress. But the tribals have been angry with
their M.P., Seth Hpmbrum and MLA, John Hembrom for their not doing
anything to support the tribals after the. 1985 massacre and for
their neglect of the tribal population. Both the MP and MLA
have been in and around Banjhi to make sure that the Banjhi dikkus
are well protected. Hence the political protection that the
Banjhi dikkus enjoyl
1« . OVlMulA kZix.A»llU*w
Subject: Fw: Sending Brochure
Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2000 13:41:24 -0800
From: "john” <thread@dte.vsnl.net.in>
To: <crsni@lwl.vsnl.net.in>
CC: <crymum@cry.org>. <csiramy@md2.vsnl.net.in>, <info@cdr.wlink.com.np>,
<sochara@blr.vsnl.net.in>, <chai@hdl.vsnl.net.in>, <covahyd@hdl .vsnl.net.in>
> From: john <thread@dte.vsnl.net.in>
> To: joseykun@satyam.net.in
> Subject: Sending Brochure
> Date: Tuesday, December 19, 2000 1:39 PM
Name: dp.5.doc
Type: WinWord File (application/msword)
'-vidp.5.doc
Encoding: base64
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lofl
12/20/00 9:55 AM
Dear friends,
enclosed please find the brochure on
"PROCESS OF
EMPOWERMENT" & "EXPOSURE TO TRIBAL WOMEN'S MOVEMENT &
PEOPLE'S ORGANISATION” scheduled to be held between 14-1-2001 & 261-2001.
In this regard we wish to inform you that we have combined two
courses together to make the exposure highly experiential. We also would
like to inform you that, there will not be separate exposure training
programme in February as announced in our yearly planner.
There are only 10 seats are available (already 15 seats have been
booked) for this programme.
You may nominate your candidate through e-mail and get it
confirmed immediately as you may run short of time.
Thanking you.
Yours sincerely
G. John
HRD Consultant
thread
siddharth village
(team for human resource education and action for development)
PROCESS OF EMPOWERMENT
(a ten day experiential course)
14,1,2001 to 23.1,2001
Phone : 91-674-490516
Fax
: 91-674-490160
thread,siddharth village,
human resource centre,
Post Box No.9, At/Po-Jatni-752050,
Dist-Khurda,Orissa, India.
e-mail : thread@dte.vsnl.net.in
visit our website: www.siddharthvillage.org.
PERSPECTIVE
People are passive because they have fears and blocks to respect and
assert themselves. One of the blocks is that they look down upon themselves
and feel small in comparison to people who are literate, have more money, have
jobs, or who are from cities etc. This is perpetuated when the NGO members,
without being aware of their own attitudes and fears make the people feel small
in their transactions. In the process, empowerment takes place neither for the
members of the organisation/congregation nor for people.
People can feel dignified and empowered only when they are able to
come out of fears and blocks. Without undergoing growth process in their own
lives simultaneously, the intervenors cannot facilitate a sustainable change. Do
the development workers/trainers have experiences of working with their own
fears & blocks?
This course creates an atmosphere for learning and provides opportunity
for individuals to look into themselves deeply and locate their own fears, blocks &
stagnations.
Through different training interventions in the course, the participants will
be helped to identify factors that are responsible for stagnations and will enable
them to make movement and experience growth. The course is experiential and
explorative in nature. Hence it creates ripple effect wherein the learning will get
extended to people (in the field).
The resource persons will facilitate participants to confront their present
activities of their organisation and underlying attitudes. They will also help to plan
external interventions for empowerment process forthemselves and people.
WHO CAN ATTEND THE COURSE
Directors and Trainers of NGO and Government, who want to come out
of packaged activities and trainings.
Members who experience monotony in their work and want to energise
themselves to be creative.
Members who are interested to strengthen the organisations goal and
vision and plan appropriate activities towards the direction.
Members who are interested in planning, human growth & people oriented
programmes fortheir project area.
A two day Exposure Course on "
TRSBAL WOMEN’S MOVEMENT AND PEOPLE
ORGANISATION59
24.1.2001 to 26.1.2001
PERSPECTIVE :
This ten day course referes to our experiences through two NGOs namely
WIDE & REACH in Orissa.
These NGOs withdraw from the project area enabling the people to go
through the process of empowerment. 55 block level women's organisations
(Nari Samajs) have emerged in 55 blocks of Orissa and have created a women's
movement under a banner of Orissa Nari Samaj to develop support system
among themselves to deal with various issues.
In these samajs
Approximately 2300 women leaders have undergone the leadership
training & 85,000 women are members of Samajs.
Amount saved by each Nari Samaj (people's organisation) varies from
Rs.5,000/- to Rs.15,00,000/-. The members utilise the saving money for
various income generating programmes, helping each other, group
cultivation & various village developmental activities.
Some of the block level tribal womens organisation have their own
community
forestry - protected and managed by themselves.
Each Samaj is tapping Govt. Resources through various govt.
programmes like DWCRA IRDP, TRYSEM, Indira Avas, Road
Construction, Pension, Plantation, Agriculture Loan, Pisciculture,
School Shed Building etc.
183 women members contested the Panchayati Raj elections. Among
them, one hundred and twenty women were elected for various positions
in Panchayats.
The course participants will have four day exposure to one or two of these
samajs to learn about different interventions of NGOs for withdrawal approach.
The course also provides opportunity to critically look into "sustainable change"
in people's organisation and commitment of NGO members towards their own
growth and of people & organisation.
THE OBJECTIVES OF THE COURSE :
The course would be useful with a clear reference towards exploration of values and conviction held in the practice of people involved
in development projects,
gaining appropriate knowledge, skills and attitudes for facilitating People's
Organisations,
exploring different interventions for facilitating people's organisation and
withdrawal process,
understanding the different strategies to achieve balance of power
between the peoples organisations and systems outside for strengthening
the empowerment process.
ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS :
Course fee
:
Rs. 9,500/- (inclusive of boardng & lodgng & travel to peoples
organisation for exposure.
Regi. fee
:
Course medum;
Rs. 1,000/-
English/Hnd & translation to Nepali
Last date for nomination:
10.1.2001.
For further details contact:
—
The Course Incharge,
thread, sddharth Milage,
Human resource centre,
Post Box No. 9,
At/Po-Jatni- 752 050,
Ost - Khurda, Orissa, India.
Ph : 91-674-490516, Fax: 91-674-490160
e-mail: thread@dte.vsnl.net.in
HOWTO APPLY :
You need to send nomination by e-mail immediately & get confirmation by e-mail. Please
note 15 seats are already booked & only 10 seats are available.
ROUTE CHART
Sddiarth Milage is 7 kms.from Khurda Road Railway Station and 4 kms.from Khurda
Bus-stand. Matadors, Buses,Autos are available between Khurda and Jatni (Khurda Road
Railway Station). Please alight at SIDDHARTH VILLAGE GATE.
FOR NEPAL & BANGLADESH MEMBERS
There are many cwerni^it trains are available from Howrah to Khurda Road (next to
Bhubaneswar Railway Station). Indian Railway counter is located in Kathmandu, Nepal & Dhaka,
Bangladesh for booki ng to & fro tickets.
ABOUT THE CAMPUS
The centre at Siddharth Village tucked away at an isolated rural area 25 kms.
outside Bhubaneswar city has a simple, serene calm campus with a number of unique
features. Siddharth Village is a space open for people who are questioning the existing
trend of materialism and individualism searching for an alternate way of living, more
human,closer to nature and universal law. The day today life includes meditation, organic
farming, exploration of why, what and how of this issues and aspects of life consciously.
The way of life practised by the siddharth villagers is optional for the course members.
Apart from experiential courses for NGOs & govt & donor agencies, regular meditation,
Yoga,herbal medicine, nature cure camps, are also organised for the general public. There
are very few rules and no compulsion on any one. The principles of community living are
adhered to.
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I.INTRODUCTION:
In Bastar,. as in other parts of the country, slowly tthe
forest dwellers are getting awakened and organised. They are
raising their voice against the increasing encroachment
on
their lands and rights by the forest department, against the
harassment by forest officials and guards and are 'demanding a
fair share in development. The deployment of special Armed
Force battalion in this district and the killing of political
activist in an alleged 'encounter' gains significance in the
context of this situation.
Hence the members of M.P. PUCL,
PUDR, CPPR (Nagpur) and CPDR (Bombay) went on a Joint Fact finding team to investigate the actual facts behind the alleged
'encounter' of Ganapati and the reasons for the deployment of
special Armed Force 'in the district in the context of the back-
wardsness of the people of the region.
From June 1 to June 4,
1985, the team visited ladbeli, where Ganapati was shot dead,
adjoining Bengali and tribal villages, Ranker which is the
centre for NorthBastar, Sukma, Kondagaon and Jagdalpur which is
the district head-quarters.
The team spoke to villagers both
tribal and non-tribal, administrators, police officials.and
also met a cross-section of people-journalists, lawyers,
political workers and students.
The following is the report of
the team:
II. THE INCIDENT:
On March 5, 1985, Ganapati an activist of e CRI(ML)fattier
was shot
dead in an 'encounter' in Tadbeli village, Narainpur
Tehsil in Bastar on the M.P. Maharashtra Border-
The various
reports of the circumstances leading to Ganapati's death are
different.
THE OFFICIAL VERSION
The official version of the incident as gathered from
interviews of Police Officials by the members of Joint Fact finding team are contradictory.
The SAF subedhar Mr. Rathore
2
2
ASI Mr. Nayak have given the following account.
The police had
been cultivating in formers since the deployment of SAF in May,
1984.
On March 5, 1985, one of the informers reported at the
Uliya camp of SAP that a naxalite squad was holding a meeting
with the people in Tadbeli village.
immediately sent to Tadbeli.
The SAF contingent was
On reaching the meeting place,
which was about a furlong from the village, the SAF contingent
was fired upon. The SAF jawans fired back in self-defence.
In
the cross-fire one of the naxalites got shot in the head and
was killed.
The other naxalites could escape unhurt.
policeman was injured..
No
One 303 rifle with Indian Army markings.
One 12 bore gun, some literature and receipt books were recove
red from the dead person. The dead man's name was confirmed to
be Ganapati frcm the dairy among the literature seized.
The version related by SP of Bastar, Mr. Pandey, at
Jagdalpur is some what different. According to him the naxalites
were having a meeting amongst themselves in Tadbeli village.
On receiving this message from an informer the SAF jawans from
the nearest camp set off to the village. The SAF party which was
sighted by the sentry of the naxalite group and on his alarm
all of them took positions. The SAF jawans also took their
positions.
One of the SAF jawans had his rifle trained at
Ganapati.
In the tense of the moment another SAF jawan let out
an exclamation 'Ye Ustad', on which the jawan with his aim at
Ganapati let the trigger go. The bullet hit Ganapati on his head
and killed him. The SP has completely ruled out the possibility
that Ganapati was shot
while in lying position. The rest of the
naxalites ran away and they were allowed to escape without a
chase.
The SP further told our team members that the killing
of Ganapati was not intended.
He said that the aim of M.P.
Police is not to kill the naxalites but to make sure that they
do not enter Bastar to escape from the repression of adjoining
Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra Police.
THE VERSION OF THE VILLAGERS;
The people of Tadbeli village had a completely different
version to narrate on how Ganapati was killed.
According to the journalists report in Nav-Bharat, Raipur
on March 26, Ganapati, who was sleeping, was first hit by rifle
butt on his head by SAF jawans.
He was shot through the head as
he got up and ran. This report says that afterwards two tribal
girls were raped by the SAF jawans.
Continued ..3..
|
3
Our team was told by the villagers that on March 5, wher
Ganapati and his four companions came to Tadbeli,
adults were not present in the village.
most of the
The elders of the
village along with those of Rengewahi had gone to Indure,
a
nearby village just ^across the border in Maharashtra, to settle
a dispute arising out of the second marriage of that village
patel. The rest of the villagers had gone out to work.
Ganapati and his companions went to the fields about a
furlong from the village.
They requested two young girls Deve
and Irpe, who were in a Ladhi (field hut) to bring them some
Pei (a gruel made from a mixture of powdered rice husk and rice)
It was late morning.
After drinking the Pej Ganapati lay down
under a tree in a nearby field and was reading while his wife,
Sushila, and others were washing at a well.
The dispersed group was surprised by the arrival of about
8 SAF jawans who fame on a tip off by an informer.
shot while he was still lying down.
He got up and attempted to
run but fell and was shot by a Jawan in the head.
other members could run away.
Ganapati was
Meanwhile,
Hearing some commotion Irpe and
Deve ran out of the Ladhi Only to see indiscriminate firing by
the SAF jawans and Ganpati’s companions running.
They were
pushed into the Ladhi by SAF jawans and when they tried to come
out they were slapped ferd.
According to the-villagers, report
of rape by Jawans were not true.
Two young boys, Laxman and
Peka, who were grazing buffaloes nearby also saw the firing and
ran away. The villagers were emphatic that Ganapati and his
companions did not fire and in fact Ganapat was shot from close
range as he fell down. The boys ren to Indure village to call
the elders.
The police herded all the villagers to the spot
to identify the body. The villager.? refused to identify the
body - claiming no knowledge of the dead man.
and some literature next to him.
They saw a rifle
The said that they saw a
country gun, personal belonging, a transistor and some books
near the well.
Later on many more SAF jawans and police came to the
village.
All the villagers were abused and threatened.
Peka and his father were badly beaten.
were threatened with
Laxman,
The Sarpanch and Patel
torture to make them state that they had
a meeting with Ganapati and his companions.
According to the
villaqers the■intervention of the Rengewahi police, who knew
that they had been to Indur, save^them from a beating.
.. . 4
4
All senior police and government officials visited the
village after the incident.
itself.
A SAF camp was set up in Tadbeli
A reign of terror engulfed Tadbeli and surrounding
villages.
The tribals are being prevented from .-’msuctLng about freely,
all their activities and visiters are spied upon.
Though it is
almost three months since the incident the villagers are still
under constant watch of SAF jawans.
The villagers had no
specific complaints about misbehaviour by the jawans. but the
fear and suspicion was intense enough to make it impossible
for them to talk freely.with us.
They presence of a SAF jawan
in our midst while we were; talking to the villagers prevented
any conversation on the incident.
to go with the .
It was only when we managed
Madia tribals to an adjoining village
that the events were recounted to us by the people.
The differences between the official and peoples' versioi^
of events leading to the death of Ganapati are evident.
The
team was refused permission to see the copies of either FIR or
post mortem report.
The official versions in themselves are
self contradictory, while the SP states that Ganapati was killed
accidently and unintentionally, the SAF officials say that he
was killed in an exchange of fire.
be injured.
No jawan was reported to
It has been reported in the press that the jawans
who killed Ganapati will be sewarded (Deshbandhu, 15th March).
The informer, Khagan Namashudra, was awarded with a job in the
police force.
There was a SAF camp in his village, PV 100, to
protect him until
he left with his family for Jagdalpur.
A
hasty’ Magisterial inquiry has been conducted at Pakanjor, 55 Km^
away from the actual incident, in front of which only SAF
jawans have deposed.
From the analysis of the events it appears to the team
that Ganapati was killed in cold blood by the police without a
shot being fired by him or his companions.
Larger question like why is a special force deployed
against CEI (ML) activists and why did the police take the
liberty to break the law to kill Ganapati still persist.
The
cases registered against Ganapati or other activists are only
minor and no major incidence of violence has been reported.
The death of Ganapati is not ah isolated killing of an indivi
dual considered 'dangerous' by the State.
political act on the part of MP Government.
His killing is a
To understand the
reasons behind this we have to briefly review the socio
economic conditions of the people in this backward district
and the attempts to organise them against exploitation and
oppression.
....5...
5
THE CONDITIONS OF PEOPLE
III. FORESTS AND PEOPLE.
Bastar district is located in India1s densely forested
region and more than 50% of its area is under forest cover.
Majority of the population is living in or near forests, most
of which are tribals - Madias, Murias, Halbas, Dhurwas etc.
In our tour in Narayanpur Tahsil we found some Chattisgarh
immigrants in the villages but their conditions are not
different from the tribals.
Having lived in the forests since centuries tribals
enjoy a symbiotic relationship with them.
Though on over-
whelning majority of them are no-longer shifting cultivators
and are settled cultivators, agriculture on its own is not
sufficient to maintain them at subsistence levels.
Therefore
the forest dwellers depend heavily on forest to supplement their
meagre diets and income.
They collect roots, edible leaves,
fruits, honey etc. and hunt wild animals.
There huts, agricul
tural implements and crafts are made from bamboo and wood
obtained from the forest.
wood.
They depend on forests for fuel
Collection of minor forest produce like tendu leaves,
harra, Kosa, sal seeds is an important source of income.
Thus
the whole socio-economic frame work of the tribals is intimately
connected with the forest.
Till the last century the tribals were the defacto owners
of the forests.
During the British period gradual encroachment
an their rights began. With the new Acts passed by the Govt, of
India their rights were further infringed.
The
Tribals now
find themselvs at the mercy of the forest department and revenue
officials.
In Bastar 20% of the forest area is under reserved forest
category and the rest under protected forests.
While in
protected forests no cultivation is possible without permission
it is completely banned in Reserved forests.
These restrictions
are considered to be inevitable and justified on the grounds
that tribals practise shifting cultivation and destroy precious
forests, while in any case they are said to be indiscriminate
in their use of forest resources.
The fact is that the tribals do not use the forests for
commercial purposes but for their necessities and «enturies of
their existence have not posed a threat to the forests. Instead
the forests cut for developmental purposes in the years between
1956-1981 covered an area of, 1,25,483 hectares,
in the near
future another 30,992 hectares of forests are expected to be
.... 6 ...
6
wiped out.
The extensive use of forests for commercial purpos.
by the Government itself emerges from the fact that in the fifth
plan a budget of Rs.93.20 lakhs was sanctioned for forest expen
diture in Bastar while annual profits ran to the tune of
Apart from this ruthless exploitation of the forest
Rs,25 crores.
resources by the Forest Department and Forest Development
Corporation a short sighted and commercially oriented policy of
aforestation programme has also led to conflicts with the
intrests of the tribals.
The Multi-purpose traditional trees
are being replaced with commercial plantations like encalyptus
and only a nation-wide protest stalled the World Bank-funded
pine plantation.
The tribals arc now dependent on the forest department for
their every need.
The land belongs to the forest department and
clearing by tribals for agricultural holdings becomes illegal
encroachment.
Fori their
basic needs like fuel wood and bamboo
they have to avail what is given to them by the department at
nistar depots.
This policy does not solve the tribals problems
as was discovered by the team on its tour.
It was found that
the depots are too far away from the tribals and all of them
cannot afford a bullock cart for transportation.
They are also
cheated and made to pay more than the fixed price and often the
wood that is provided is of such inferior quality that it does
not serve the tribals purpose.
Thus the tribals are forced to
help chemselves from the forest thus getting into the trap of
forest: officials.
Kistar : concessions extend to the right of villagers to
rake head lots of fire wood, fencing materials, herbs, fruits,
gums, bark, roots, thatching material etc.
Yet villagers
testify arid number of lawyers and journalists confirm the
corruptness of forest officials wh<> extort bribes
(
in the
exertion of traditional and Nistar rights of the forest dwellers
The M.B. Government states that a number of forest
villages (which are established to supply labour to the forest
department) are being converted inr.o Revenue villages the
DFO at Sukma Mr. Ansari said that Revenue villages are being
converted into forest villages in Kutru area.
There are at
present 160 forest villages in Bast ar district and the district
Collector has admitted that none of them have been converted
into revenue villages so far.
The dweller.of the forest village
have a IE years lease over the land which they are permitted to
cultivate.
For giving this right the forest department lays
first claim on the triba'1s labour.
form of bounded labour.
This appears to be another
7
The tribals were suddenly asked to evacuate from the
Indravati National Park after it has attained that status from
The tribals resisted
tho earlier wild life sanctuary status.
this move under the guidance of Adivasi Ryotu coolie sangham
(ARCS) organisers.
The crux of the problem facing the Bastar district lies
in the adverse effect of the intervention of the forest
officials on the relationship between the forests and forest
dwellers.
An advocate in Jagdalpur aptly put it thus : 11 The
history of the district is but the history of encroachments on
tribal rights."
iv. development and people.
The culmination of the forest policies pracised by the
Stace has resulted in the erosion of the traditional economic
base of tribal society.
Faced with the increasing impoverish
ment and starvation, the government has found it necessary to
pump vast funds into the district for developmental purposes.
Till the fourth plan period the development strategy
centered around tribal development blocks, formed as a direct
analogy of the community development blocks. This was revised
at uhe eve of the fifth plan.
(1974).
A special scheme of area
development, with its focus on tribal communities, was prepared
as a sub-plan under tho fifth plan.
Under the Tribal Sub-plan., Bastar district has been
divided into seven integrated Tribal Project areas,
Tribal Development Authority.
under the
These are - Ranker, Kondagaon,
Konta, Narayanpur, Dagdalpur, Dant-ewara and Bijapur.
The
integrated Tribal Development Proj jet (ITDP) acts as a coordi
nating body between various depart.lents for tribal developmental
The ITDP undertakes surveys of the Socio-economic
work.
conditions of various sectors, and'in consultation with the
relevant department formulates a project.
Each project is
jointly funded by thio State, by Central assistance and by
financial and developmental institutions.
Among the projects taken up by the I.T.D.P. are - providing
drinking water to villages, irrigation projects (Canals, tanks,
wells) , building connecting roads, .auilding schools in villages
etc.
Tribals are given 75% to 80% subsidy to set’up cashew nut
or fruit plantation, under a housing programme a grant of
Rs. 1500/- is given to those tribal.'; unable to construct homes
for themselves.
set up.
Ficilities for easy rural credit have been
Ccncessio-ir 1 and other benefits are provided for tube
.. . .8
8
There is also an ambitious anqanwadi project. Under
wells.
this, anganwadis have been set up in villages and Daliya is
provided free of cost to children and to expectant mothers.
In the sixth plan the combined expenditure under tkx all
the departments for schemes -undertaken by the Tribal Development
Authority came to a staggering Rs.6,500
lakhs, that is an
average expenditure of nearly Rs.3000/-
per tribal household.
For irrigation alone the expenditure was 1492 lakhs, approxi
mately Rs.40,000/- per village of Bastar.
Against these colossal investments, the statistics of
The total irrigated
achievements presents a 1 bleak picture.
area was only 1.29% of the net cultivated area(1981^ and has not
risen significantly since.
Of the total irrigated area, nearly
80% is still irrigated by the traditional method of tanks.
The 1981 SC/ST commissioner's report states that accord
ing to a survey, 40% of tribals are indebted, and the average
loan was Rs. 100/-. The same study in a survey of Jagdalpur give?
the average annual family income as a measely Rs.543.20, with
an annual expenditure seven rupees over and above the income.
The vast majority of the tribals still continue to live
below subststanre levels of nutrition.
The chores of ruppees
spent ostensibly for their benefit have left them untouched.
Narayanpur Tahsil, which is also a separate project area,
presents
a worse picture.
Only 0.45% of the villages were
electrified and 7,6% of the villages had pucca roads till 1981.
They were only 15 medical centres, which comes to an average of
1 centre per 200 Sq. Kilometers.
The actual implementation of the development schemes was
revealed to the fact finding team which visited several villages
in the Bande region of Narayanpur Tahsil.
We visited Cheta
Betiya, Rengewahi, Thadbeli, Marh Pakhanjur, Uliya omoung the
Tribal villages,
and P.V. No.92, P.V. No.96 among the villages
of the Bengali refugees settled here
(DNK) project in 1956.
under the Dandekaranya
We also talked with residents of
adjo-ining villages we could not visit.
In the tribal villages nearly every family owns land.
The land holdings varied from 3 acres to, in one isolated case,
30 acres.
However soil is infertile and there is no provision
for irrigation.
Every villager we met, tribal and non-tribal,
told us the same story of dried up wells, of hand pump which do
not work, of insufficient water from the Junavar river.
Even
the Patel of Chota Betiyta, with 30 acres of land, could not
support himself frem agriculture for more than five months. For
villagers with land of 3 - 10 acre.-s, this period is a maximum
of three months.
Q
:9 :
For the tribal villages, the only officials may
recognised were the anti-malaria team and doctors for
family welfare programmes. Despite ambitious statements
by the development authorities of providing interest free
loans to the tribals very few had been able to avail of
this opportunity. Even those who had did not get their
full loan amount. One tribal we met had taken a loan of
Rs. 1600/- for buying buffalows but got only Rs. 1000/of the ITDP Project, of Irrigation Schemes, of Agricultural
minikits, these tribals had not heard a word. As cne of
them
eloquently put it " they don't even look this way ".
Last year the rains failed. Every one. has sufferred.
In Rengewahi they told us that they had been eating tendu
fruits picked from the forest. Otherwise the staple diet
of these villagers is Pe j - a gruel made of ground Rice
Husk, ground rice if there is any, mixed with water. ■.
Thin legs, deformed bodies, bloated bellies, especially »f
the older tribals greeted us in village after village.
The tribals supplement their meagre agricultural
incomes by collection of minor forest produce- tendu patta,
sal seeds, mahua seeds etc.- and by providing labour t»
the forest department. Some of them also work as agricul
tural labour in the fields of the Bengali settlers and
those few tribals with large holdings.
For tendu picking one contractor is paying them
Rs. 8/- for 100 bundles and another is paying them Rs.9.50
for 100 bundles. Each bundle has 50 leaves. The minimum
collection rate fixed by the Government is much lower
Rs. 7.50 per 100 bundles. The Forest Department pays
Rs. 10.35 a day for labour ( such as building roads )
and Rs. 10 a day per 100 bamboos they cut. It was a
recurrent complaint of the tribals however that the forest
department does not come to them for labour.
The importance of tendu patta collection can be
gauged from the fact that their main occupational activity
is just agriculture and Minor Forest Produce collection.
Since entire families go for tendu leaf picking, in one
season— given good picking condition and free availability
of tendu shrubs- a family may earn up to about Rs. 2500/—.
Contd...10
:10:
The other major problem in these villages was of
drinking water. There are handpumps,
in every village,
but villagers complain that while those which work are
irregular, many do not work at all.
The nearest hospital is at Bande, which is 35 Km.
from Thadveli, The members of the team were told of a
few instances where people have died due to the time taken
in taking them to the hospital.
are visible.
No Primary Health Centers
In the rainy season the situation worsens
since these villages become inaccessible even by jeep.
The one unanimous complaint of the villagers was
against the Forest Department. There were no Nistar depots
nearby and even the one at Bande, the tribals allege,
supplies inferior quality wood which cannot be used for
building houses.
If they cut wood from the forest however,
they have to pay bribes to the Forest Department Guard.
Bribes of Rs. 100 to 300 to the forest guard were reported
to us. Allegation of corruption were also made against
the Deputy Ranger.
The situation in the Bengali villages was no better,
though the Bengali settlers admited that they were marginally
better off then the
trib les since they used to get labour
from the Forest Department. Otherwise their villager faced
Similar problems of drinking water, lack of Irrigation
facilities, lack of medical facilities etc, despite the
fact that Dande-Karanya Project under which they come has
been on for nearly 20 years.
The Bengali settlers have been given pattas of
5 acres but they complain that even the 5 acres of land
is scattered in different places, making it difficult
to work them. Some of the land alloted to them is in
thick jungle while on some tribals were cultivating already,
leading to conflict.
What the credit scheme r.early means in these
villages can be gauged from the fact that the inhabitants
of P.V. 96 ( Project village'96 ) told us that they were
refused Bank Loans even on the production of pattas on
the grounds that their village was too far away'1
It
should be noted in this context that only 7.6% of the
villages in Narayanpur Tehsil are connected by Pacca Roads.
Contd...11.
sll :
That the villagers of Chota Betiya,- two Kilometers
from Bande, had not heard of the ITD Project is an eloquent
comment on the 'success' of the development programmes of
the Government. Against there observation we can only pose
the figures of the total investment on irrigation in
Narayanpur Tehsil in 1984-85- Rs. 18.8 Lacs, and on public
health Rs. 7.2 lacks.
It was only after the 'encounter' in Thadbeli village
that for the first time top officials visited that village
and listened to the villagers problems. Even then, when
the villagers told one of them of the shortage of food
and the need for a ration shop at Rangewahi village, he
replied that they could always go to Bande for ration (which
is 35 Kms. away ) or if that is not enough they could
go to Pakhanjur ( 55 Kms. away ).
Meanwhile, as starvation is facing the villages of
Rengewahi, Betiya, Marb Pakhanjur etc. the Department of
Tribal Welfare will be spending 75,000/- on providing
Chinese Checkers, Snakes and Ladders and Cnrrom boards for
the Ghotuls of the Abujmarh region J 1
The irony is that the State is willing to spend
crores on development of the people whom their own forest
policies have displaced. Needless to say the crores are
fattenning the pockets of many a government official in
Bastar.
Cought in the nexus of the Forest Department and
the Contractors, and made a fool of by a development
programme from which they do not benefit, the tribals in
Bastar are being made strangers intheir own land.
Progre
ssively alienated from the forest which oncebelonged to
them, with no new avenues before them, they are being
forced to adopt the path of struggle.
V.
TENDU LEAF STRUGGLE:
It is only when we started travelling within
Bastar that the importance of the tendu leaf in the economy
of the region struck us forcefully. An important share of
the economy of the region comes from the picking and trade
in this bright green leaf that grows wild in the shrubs
Contd..12..
c
si2 :
and forests and is used in the manufacture of bidi. The
leaf is important not only for the forest department, but
also for the villagers and contractors who deal in this
leaf.
In a matter of six weeks leaves worth Crores of
Rupees are collected and sold . The forest Department
earns Crores in the form of royalty paid by the Contractors,
the contractors earn crores in the sale of these leaves
picked, tied in to bundles and dried by the villagers and
the villagers- both tribal and non-tribal, - are able to
supplement their meagreincome during this lean period for
agriculture. And hence, it is during this picking season
of April-May that gradually a struggle has been building
in this region.
The Killing of Ganapati, who started organizing -the
tribals and with higher picking rates as one of the demands,
should be viewed in the above context. The budding movement
has adversely affected the interest of the contractors and
according to State authorities it has reduced the forest
revenue by lowered bidding by contractors of tendu leaves.
The fruit of the tendu plant serves as food for
the tribals and the leaf picked and dried is used in rolling
bidis. The picking season extends for barely a month and
half in April-May. The lucrativeness of tendu leaves,both
for the forest department and contractors, can be seen
from the following: in Kanker circle next to timber, the
tendu leaf is the main source of revenue for the forest
department. While the income from timber and tendu leaves
was Rs. 94/- and 52 Lakhs respectively in 1971-72 the
corresponding figures were Rs. 11 and 2.7 Crores in 1981-82.
The income from tendu leaves in 1982-83 was Rs. 4.6 Crores!
If this is the royalty that the forest department in Kanker
circle alone earns the amount the contractors earn can
only be guessed. Aside from the law ful means of making
monev contractors are known to earn money from many illegal
mean.
such as underquoting the number of bags collected
with the connivance of forest officials, filling the bags
with more than the prescribed 1000 bundles, encroaching
the picking on other units, cheating labourers in innumerable
ways etc.
Many of these contractors who come from Rajnandgaon,
Bondia and Andhra Pradesh are themselves bidi manufacturers,
Contd...13.
513 :
while the rest have close relations with one or two bidi
manufacturers. The lobby of bidi manufacturers is extremely
powerful in the politics of Bastar district and form a
close nexus with contractors corrupt politicians and forest
officials. For instance Cong. I M.P. Mr. Arvind Netam
is known to have very dost connections with bidi manufactu
rers. This nexus results is manipulation of tenders,
acceptance of lower royalty rates etc. A Committee consisting
of MLAs, MPs, Commissioners, representatives of bidi manu
facturers and contractors, officially called "growers",
meet every-' year to decide the official rate to be paid to
the labourers, for picking tendu leaves. While the official
picking rate was Rs. 5.25 per 100 bundles with 50 leaves
each in 1983, it is Rs. 7.50 in the current year.
The labourers over the years are being paid extremely
low wages for picking leaves, the wages being kept depressed
partly through bringing labourers from other districts and
even from Maharashtra. It is estimated that in the Northern
part of Ranker circle there are about 3,000 persons from
Maharashtra. These labourers have no facilities of shelter,
drinking water etc. They are brought in trucks from their
home but not taken back when the picking season is over
and payments are also delayed.
In terch-rApril 1984, for the first time Ganapati
and his companions visited the villages and organised
meetings to demand a raise in wage rates. As a result of
several such meetings and the activity generated the
contractors in the Bande- Thadbeli area paid Rs. 11/- per
100 bundles, an amount much
higher than the official
rates. This year too the villagers had refused to go pick
ing when they were offered Rs. 7.50 to Rs. 8.00. Due to
scarcity of rains and precarious economic conditions the
people were forced
to pick leaves at rates lower than
last year.
It was the attempts of Ganapati and his companions
to organise the tribals and get higher wages for them that
resulted in the stationing of a
SAF camp in the villages
last year. This attempt to terrorise the people and nip
the budding movement has culminated in the killing of
Ga napati.
Contd..14
:14 :
VI.
PEOPLE'S PERCEPTIONS OF THE ACTIVISTS:
In our trip vie have talked to villagers officials,
journalists, advocates, political party leaders and students
about their perception of the Naxalites.
We were told by the villagers that far from harming
them the political activists have been helping them in
getting higher wages for collection of tendu leaves,
receiving full payment of the wages promised, protecting
them from the corrupt forest officers etc. This was confirmed
in so many words by officials, journalists, advocates and
others. Likewise, there is not a single instance of killing
officials. However, corrupt officers were said to be either
threatened or roughed up.
The villagers of Narainpur tehsil address the
naxalites as 'dada' and the fact that the villagers provide
them with food shows that the villagers have affection and
respect for them. The villagers of Thadbeli were very
sorry over the death of the Ganapati and one of them said,
"Our tears have not yet dried". The villagers told that
they ware provided with medicines by the activits whenever
anyone is sick. They also told that the dadas never exort
anything from them and whenever they take anything they
pay for it. On the other hand, it is the forest officers
and police which harass the villagers and take bribes,
chicken etc.
According to one journalist, corruption has come
done by sixty percent after the naxalite activities began.
An advocate observed "when the issues of fair wages, rising A
prices and corruption are raised elsewhere by opposition
party members it is considered all right, but when the
same issues are raised here in Bastar by some political
activities they are termed as naxalites I " Manku Ram
Sodhi, the Cong. (I) M.P. from Bastar opined that the
nexalites were doing the work of Government, though he
did not approve of their method. He said that the naxalite
problem‘cannot be solved by arms. According to a senior
CPI Leader there is not much of naxalite activity and a
naxalite scare is being created to. justify deployment of
armed forces to protect the vested interests of corrupt
contd...15..
:15:
forest officials. The District Collector Mr. P.P. Mathur
had admitted that the presence of naxalite activity in
Bastar was an indication of the failure of the administration
in taking the benefits to the tribals. The Superintendent
of Police Mr. S.P. Pandey said that in the present system
every educated person holding radical views is in a . sence
naxalite. He added that the fact the naxalites were doing
the right thing did not justify their taking law into their
own hands. One police official who was with SAF for few
months said that the naxalites were well behaved towards
villagers. However, all the officials found fault with
naxalites for taking law into their own hands, beating up
officials, resisting the forest officials move to evacuate
tribals who have encroached on forest land, encouraging
tribals to cut forests, exerting money from businessman and
contractors, etc. The S.P. claimed that they had receipts
to show that naxalites extorted money from businessman
but what ultimately was produced before us was a membership,
fee receipts of Adivasi Ryotu Coolie Sanghatana of Gadchiroli,
Maharashtra, with their objectives on back of it.
VII.
STATE'S RESPONSE
The'naxalites) are not a law and order problem of
the villages. What appears is, surprisingly even from the
discussion with police and government officials, that they
are a threat to corrupt officials and greedy contractors,
The S.P. himself said that the villagers do not need police
instead they need development and welfare services like
health. Cases of coirplaints registered against some naxalites
are using abusive language, preparation for dacoity, looting
threatening to kill by arms and attempt to murder. They
normally move in groups of six and it is estimated that
there are not more than 50-60 of them in the whole of Bastar.
Despite this, the response of the State has been of
repression. It has created a 'menace' of the socalled
naxalites and, proclaiming the inadequecy of the already
existing police force ( in 31 police stations and 22 chowkies)
has created a Special Armed force (SAF)-- the 30th Dattalionat an annual cost of 7 Crores. Furthermore, top police
officials of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh,
and Orissa held a meeting at Puri in May this year to underContd...16
:16 :
take a Joint action programme to wipe out the naxalites. In
this context it should be noted that the Maharashtra Govern
ment has stationed 30 companies of CRP in Gadchiroli district
for the present tendu leavespicking season, and is incurring
expenditures of over a lakh a day in order to crush the
movement among the forest dwellers for higher wages. Last
year contractors paid about Rs. 17/- per 100 bundles of tendu
leaves, but this year the Forest Department is discouraging
contractors from bidding for some units, which it intends
to take up itself, and pay only Rs. 10/- per 100 bundles in order to try and crush the movement among the tendu pickers.
The Forest Department is willing to bear a loss of a crore of
rupees in order to crush the movement.
In spite of private admission to the contrary, the
M.P. State is following the same policies, Up-to this date
there are SAF camps in the villages of Thadbeli, Rangewahi,
Uliya, Irpanar and Paringa, where the villagers still live
in fear. Instead of admitting its mistake, the Government
has conducted a farce of a Magisterial enquiry in which the
officer conducting the enquiry stayed for one day at Pakhanjur,
and notices asking villagers to depose before him were stuck
up in Thadbeli,
Kms. away.
Not a single villager came,
and after hearing the version of the SAF Jawans the Magisterate
left on the 27th evening.
Because of the SAF Jawans the villagers constantly
live in fear. In Rengewahi the villagers provide cooking
fuel free of charge to the SAF Camp stationed and were
forced to provide free labour for the construction of the
SAF Camp.
Some days back a forest guard was badly beaten-up
by SAF Jawans ( who were later suspended ).
It has been reported to the team that this is not
the first time an encounter killing of a political activest
has taken place in Bastar. In South Bastar it was reported
SAF Jawans shot Shiv Kumar, another alleged naxalite. This
incident was not reported anywhere.
VIII.
CONCLUSION
The present tensions in Bastar are to be found in
the backward Socio-economic conditions of the people, their
exploitation by various agencies coupled with a government
policy that emphasises enhanced revenues while paying lip
service to peonies welfare. Crores of Rupees that have been
contd...17.
:17 :
pumped into the disrtict in the name of development have gone
to benefit, not the poor and backward tribals but the commercial
vested interests bent on exploiting the vast mineral and forest
resources. The tribals have become from owners of these forests
into encroachers under the control of forest department. The
political backwardness of the tribals all these years has helped
to maintain this State of affairs.
The activists of Communist Party of India, (MarxistLenirist ) have been working among the tribals to awaken their
consciousness and mobilise them against exploitation, whether
it be of tendu contractor's or corrupt forest officials. These
activities are a challenge to the existing exploitative socio
economic conditions and the nexus of contractors politicians
and official who benefit from them. A government which has
failed to provide
justice to the tribals is spending huge
amounts of money on police to crush their struggle for basic
rights.
The people have the right to organise themselves and
to choose the ideology they wish to follow’. The government
has no authority to inpose the choice on
the people. Any
unlawful activity has to be dealt
with due process of Law.
The police have no right to take the law into their own hands.
The cold blooded killing of Ganapati is a crime. Those who claim
to be the protectors of Law’ are themselves are breaking the
Law.
We demand that .
a judicial enquiry be conducted
into the killing of Ganapati, immediate withdrawal of SAF
and the right of the people to organise themselves be acknow’ledged. The administration should take steps to eliminate the
corruption in its own ranks and solve the basic problems of the
people in the forests and villages of Bastrr.
(The Team consisted of Om Prakash Rawal Former Education
Minister, M.P., Anil Trivedi, Lawyer and K. Suresh, Social worker
of the People's Union for Civil Liberties; Madhya Pradesh,
Ramesh Billorey, Social Scientist, Joseph Mathai and Ashok Prasad
students, Delhi University, from the People's Union for Democratic
rights, Delhi; Anuradha Ghandy Lecturer in Sociology, bfeigpur
University from the Committee for the Protection of Democratic
Rights, Nagpur; M.K. Pandey from the Times of India, Bombay
and Janaklal Thakur M.L.A. Dalli Rajhara.)
& CI-/C
[pha-ncc] Indian Presidents Republic du...river valley projects".
Subject: [pha-ncc| Indian President's Republic day speech - remarks on the plight of tribals /„?/?
displaced due to "large river valley projects"...................
z
Date: Fri. 26 Jan 2001 08 17:08 +0530
- I U
From: "UNNIKR1SHNAN P V.(Dr.)" <unnikru@vsnl.com>
To: "UNNIvsnl" <unnikru@vsnl.com>
Dear friends
Attached please find below the text of the President's republic day speech. The section on
"displacement of tribals" and "large river valley projects" is a must read.
"..................... But the developmental path we have adopted is
hurting them and threatening their very existence. It is well known how the large river valley
projects are
uprooting the tribals and causing them untold misery. The mining that is taking place in the
forest areas are
threatening the livelihood and the survival of many tribes. It is through enlightened
developmental policies
that we can resolve such dilemmas of development
"
Read more from the full text
Regards and in solidarity
Unni
UNNIKRISHNAN PV (Dr)
Oxfam India Fellow: Emergencies : E-Mail: unnikru@vsnl.com
* -- i-: - /-: - X-•'- * -
X-X- X-X- X* X- X- X* X*X* X- X- X* X* X* if- X*X- X- X- X* X* X*X* X-
/ Mobile: 91 (0)
X* X* X- X* X* X* X* X* X- X* X* X* X* X* X* X* X- X' X- X* X* X* X* X- X* X* X* X* X* X- X- X* X* X* X- X-
ADDRESS TO THE NATION BY THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA SHR1 K.R. NARAYANAN
ON
THE EVE OF REPUBLIC DAY - 2001
New Delhi, Thursday, 25 January 2001
Audio
My Fellow Citizens,
 On the eve of the 52nd Republic Day of India, I have great pleasure to extend to all
my
brothers and sisters living in India or abroad my greetings and good wishes. To the millions of
kisans and
mazdoors, teachers, doctors, scientists and technologists, who have laboured hard to build up
New India, I
offer my gratitude and greetings. And I salute the valiant personnel of our armed and
para-military forces
who have sacrificed so much and who stand ready to safeguard the territorial integrity and the
honour of
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the motherland.
W
 Friends, we are concluding to-day the Golden Jubilee celebrations of our Republic
and
entering the 52nd year of the Republic. The emergence of India as an independent nation and as a
sovereign democratic Republic was a major event in the history of Asia and the world. Pandit
Jawaharlal
Nehru articulated a new vision of India when he stated that the word Republic meant not only
political
freedom but social and economic democracy for India. To-day India has been acknowledged as a
great
democracy - indeed the largest democracy in the world and the Indian Constitution as the
embodiment of
the political, social and economic rights of the people. At the heart of our democracy is the right
of the
universal adult suffrage. It was an audacious and revolutionary act by the founding fathers, to
have
introduced in one go, the right of the vote to every adult citizen, a right for which the countries
of the
West had to struggle for almost a hundred years. And that too when the country was in a state of
abject
mass poverty and mass illiteracy. This act of faith by the founding fathers meant that the
governance of
this vast country was not to be left in the hands of an elite class but the people as a whole. It also
meant,
logically, that the voice of the people will be heard in the affairs of the State and their
representatives will
be elected directly to the legislatures and Parliament. The system of universal adult franchise also
facilitated a dialectical process on the political scene out of which could emerge a consensus in the
midst
of all our differences and diversities. The founding fathers had the wisdom and foresight not to
overemphasize the importance of stability and uniformity in the political system. As Dr.
Ambedkar
explained in the Constituent Assembly, they preferred more responsibility to stability. That is
why they
consciously rejected the system of restricted franchise and indirect elections embodied in the 1935
Government of India Act. It required a profound faith in the wisdom of the common man and
woman in
India. To-day it is necessary to look back to this faith when we hear voices pleading for a system
of
indirect elections. We may recall that in Pakistan, Field Marshal Ayub Khan had introduced an
indirect
system of elections and experimented with what he called basic democracy or guided democracy.
It would
be an irony of history if we invoke to-day in the name of Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the
nation, the
shades of the political ideas of Field Marshal Ayub Khan, the father of military rule in Pakistan.
 Let us remember, it is under the flexible and spacious provisions of our
Constitution, that
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democracy has flourished during the last fifty years and that India has achieved an unprecedented
unity
and cohesion as a nation and made remarkable progress in the social and economic fields. India
to-day is
adjudged as one of the fastest growing economies of the world. We have managed to
accommodate the
globalisation process without losing our distinctiveness as a culture and a civilization and without
compromising the independence we secured after a long and heroic struggle. Through our Green
Revolution we have achieved self-sufficiency in food grains for our one billion people. And our
White
Revolution has made us the largest milk producing nation in the world underlining our food
sufficiency
with an important element of the nutritional revolution that we are seeking to bring about. We
have
emerged as one of the scientifically and technologically important nations of the world. In the
field of
information technology and bio-technology we have made spectacular strides. In human
development we
have achieved significant successes. It is a measure of our human development success that the
average
expectation of life of an Indian is to-day 61 years raised from 27 years at the time of independence.
Of
course, we have yet to abolish illiteracy and poverty from the land, but we are confident that
with the new
tools of science and technology we have developed and the determined efforts of the Government
and the
people of India we would be able to conquer these problems also. We have to do this by keeping
ourselves in step with world developments.
 lt seems for every stage of economic and technological development there are
policies and
programmes that are appropriate to that stage. In the 1960’s there was demand in the United
States of
W America for change in India’s basic economic policies as a pre-condition for aid. A group of
Harvard
economists advised President Kennedy on aid to India. They wrote in their report, "There are
situations in
which development must already be established, before it is reasonable to expect private
enterprise to take
primary initiative, for pushing it forward. In such situations insisting that investment must be
wholly or
largely privately administered from the start, may prevent preconditions for private investment
being
established". Indeed it is the growth of the public sector in India that made it possible for private
sector to
expand and flourish later. What we have done is to keep pace with world developments. While
making
necessary changes in our policies it is important to recognize the contributions made by India in
its earlier
stage of development and that it is standing upon the shoulders of our earlier policies and their
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results that
we are to-day liberalizing and globalising our economy.
 Friends, India in this 21st century will be predominantly a young countiy.
According to the
1981 Census, people in the age-group of 15 to 35 years constituted one third of the population
and in
1991 nearly 34% of the population. By 2000 almost two-third of the population belonged to this
young
age group. Youth power is manifesting itself in various fields of human activity. The spectacular
growth of
the Information Technology is largely the achievement of the youth of India. To-day it is youth
organizations that are launching movements for preservation of the environment, of literacy, etc.
in the
country. The National Cadet Corps, the Bharat Scouts and Guides, the National Service Scheme
represent
the active youth of the country engaged in promoting national development. In the field of
sports, Indian
youth are making their mark. The world championship in Chess gained by Viswanathan Anand
is an
inspiration to all young people in India. Our young women have also come to the fore in
international
spoils and beauty contests, projecting a new image of Indian womanhood of beauty as well as
personality
and intelligence. Our children caught in hazardous situations have shown dauntless courage,
winning
braver}- awards of the nation. The story of Sunil Singh and Mukesh Kumar of Kashmir who
picked up the
gun from his murdered father and kept firing at the militants until they fled, is a heart-warming
story. I had
the pleasure of receiving these brave children and other award winning children at Rashtrapati
Bhavan
yesterday. Youth power is breaching the old barriers and expressing itself to the admiration of the
whole
country. It was Swami Vivekananda who said that by playing foot-ball you will be nearer to God
and that
you will understand the Upanishads better by playing foot-ball. We should applaud and
encourage the new
spirit of Indian youth, for, they are our pride and our future. We, the older generation, owe it to
the youth
that we set an example to them.
 My fellow citizens, we have declared the year 2001 as the year of women’s
empowerment.
The pages of history unfold the fact that all social and political movements and even great
revolutions, had
bypassed women. Gandhiji was the first leader in the world who brought women to the centre
stage of a
national movement. To-day woman power is a hidden treasure that we are discovering and
utilising for the
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benefit of the nation. Once when Smt. Sarojini Naidu submitted to the British rulers a petition
for granting
political lights to Indian women, she was asked a poignant question: "Will Indian men support
your
demands?" To-day the men of India are supporting, the movement for women’s empowerment.
We have
already empowered women at the Panchayat, block and district levels. Already there are nearly
one
million women in local level democratic institutions. They have made an impact on the working
of our
democracy at the grass-roots and have made a stir in the society. It is only logical to cany forward
this
process of empowerment of women to the State legislatures and to the Central Parliament. The
responsibility of the men of India in this matter is clear and unavoidable. The empowerment of
women in
politics might well be a decisive factor that will purify and save the democratic politics of India
from the
deterioration of standards and values it is experiencing to-day.
 The awakening of the women and the youth of India is something that gives us
hope. But
the march of development is having different kinds of impact on different sections of our people.
It tends
to widen the existing inequalities and create new inequalities. The already marginalised sections,
the
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, are the greatest sufferers in this process. Referring to the
tribals,
Dr. Ambedkar had said: "Civilizing the aborigines means adopting them as our own, living in
their midst
and cultivating fellow feeling, in short loving them". But the developmental path we have adopted
is
hurting them and threatening their very existence. It is well known how the large river valley
projects are
uprooting the tribals and causing them untold misery. The mining that is taking place in the
forest areas are
threatening the livelihood and the survival of many tribes. It is through enlightened
developmental policies
that we can resolve such dilemmas of development. One pre-condition for the success of
developmental
projects in our extensive tribal areas is that we should take into confidence the tribals and their
representatives, explain the benefits of the projects to them, and consult them in regard to the
protection
of their livelihood and their unique cultures. When they have to be displaced the resettlement
schemes
should be discussed with them and implemented with sincerity. This could avoid many critical
situations,
and we will be able to carry the tribals with us. We have laws that are enlightened and which
prohibit the
transfer of the tribal lands to non-tribals, private bodies and corporations. The Supreme Court
has upheld
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A
river valley projects"
these provisions through its judgments. We cannot ignore the social commitments enshrined in
our
Constitution. In eastern India, the exploitation of minerals like bauxite and iron ore are causing
destruction
of forests and sources of water. While the nation must benefit from the exploitation of these
mineral
resources, we will have also to take into consideration questions of environmental protection and
the rights
of tribals. Let it not be said by future generations that the Indian Republic has been built on the
destruction
of the green earth and the innocent tribals who have been living there for centuries. A great
Socialist leader
has once said that a great man in a hurry to change the world who knocks down a child commits
a crime.
Let it not be said of India that this great Republic in a hurry to develop itself is devastating the
green
mother earth and uprooting our tribal populations. We can show the world that there is room for
everybody to live in this country of tolerance and compassion.
 Friends, India has always thought of the world and the happiness of others,
especially our
neighbours. It is in this spirit that sometime ago our Prime Minister declared a unilateral cease-fire
in
Kashmir. It was a bold and imaginative measure that has attracted the attention of the world and
gladdened the hearts of the people of Kashmir suffering from the acts of violence by militants and
terrorists. On this Republic Day, let us think of peace and work for it sincerely and tenaciously
so that we
can get rid of the scourge of terrorism from this land. Let us persist in the belief that the people at
the
other end will realise the futility of their hostility and respond to our gestures of peace and
friendship. I
have no doubt that through the firmness of our determination and through the exercise of our
traditional
tolerance, India will triumph in the end.
Jai Hind
st
st st stst stst st st st st st :tst stst stst st st st st st st st st st st st st st st st st st st st st st st st st st st st st st st st st st st st st st st st st st st st st st st st st st st st st st st st st st st st st st st st st
UNNIKRISHNAN PV (Dr)
Oxfam India Fellow: Emergencies : E-Mail: umiikru@vsnl.com
/ Mobile: 91 (0)
OXFAM INDIA , "Vijaya Shree", 4th A Main, Near Baptist Hospital, Hebbal, Bangalore- 560 024
INDIA
Ph: 91 (80) 363 2964 & 363 3274
OXFAM INDIA works towards an equitable and just society free from hunger, exploitation and
poverty by facilitating
people-centred, responsive, transparent governance systems, ensuring basic rights and sustainable
development.
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7 of 7
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HEALTH CARE PROGRAMME FOR TRIBALS
Almas Ali
India is a signatory to the r.lma Ata Declaration
of 1578 and it is committed to attaining the goal of
"Health for All (HFA) by the year 2000 A.D. through
Primary Health Care Approach". The concept of Health
for All is not so simple aw we look at it but it is a
continous process which means that we have to nay
equal attention to all strafe of ..society (regardless
of location, position or ability to pay) and justifiably
much greater atention to the underpriviliaed and weaker
sections like the Scheduled Tribes, majority of whom live
below the poverty line. Moreover, the Government has
expressed special, concern for development of the tribals,
and one of the long term objectives of Tribal Dev lopment
is improvement of the quality of life of the Tribal
people. Thus, human resource development become* the
most important aspect for the conversion of the natural
resource endowment into a ready economic asset.
The overall health'status of the tribal community
is the outcome of several interacting factors e.g.
(a) effects of environment in which the tribals live,
(b) behavioural pattern and life styles of the tribals,
(c) health care delivery service (in.tribals ureas /
constraints in accepting modern health care),
(d) heriditary and genetic determinants.
All these sub-systems make up the totality of the health
status of the tribals.
There is general agreement that the health status
of the tribal people in our country is very poor.
Different studies have tried to establish this with the
help of morbidity and mortality statistics. Though the
exact estimates on vital indices in tribal population
of our country are not available/known, it appears that ■
the IMR and >:mr amonc these group of people is also
comparatively greater than the non-tribal population.
The widespread poverty, illiteracy, malnutrition,
......2
Concept paper prepared fo. the Workshop on role of
Voluntary Organisation in the field of Health Care
Delivery held at New Delhi - January, 4 - 5, 1988.
2
hostile environment,absence of sanitary living conditions,
icnorence of the cruses of diseases, lack of wealth services
or inability to seek and use them have been !■. ace<3 out in
several studies as possible contributing factors for the
deplorable health conditions prevailing among the. tribal
groups.
Extention of existing health system is being made
during this plan period with th;-; earnest hope that this will
imorove the dep lorable health conditi°ns of the tribal
communities. The Neti-arl Health Programme provides for
greater inputs in terms of man, material and facilities.
For tribal areas one Primary Health Centre is ooen for every
30, 000, population. Sii. ilarly for ever; 3,000 .-.ovulation'
two multipurpose health v’orkers (one fernale and one male)
are provided. For the non-tribal areas these norms are
50,000 for Primary Health Centre and 5,000 for two MPWs.
Inspite of these steps and expansion of health facilities
in tribal areas, the situ, tion is not improving much. The
utilisation of health services i!s reported to be • rrv poor.
There is no significant change in so ar as important
indices of health like IM., MMR and incidence of commu
nicable diseases are concerned. It has become_unioubtedly
.
clear that the optimal level of heal th among the tribal
communities can not be achieved only through simple_linear
expansion of the existing system orhealth services.
Health problems and Health status of a‘1 Tribal groups
is rot of the same type and there fore any formula approach
for health care delivery is not only unsuitable but unthink
able. Different tribal groups are characterised by their
individual socio-cultural, socib-biological and socio
economic attribute end in a strict sense they are distinct
biological isolates. Thg_health of_these_tribal_no^ulaticn
is as such a function' of the interaction between socioT
cultural, and s' cio-binlo'leal practices,
I
the genetic
attributes ana the environmental conditions.
In order to
understand the highly complex etiology of the health status
among tribals and to develop appropriate health care stra
tegies amidst v-.riable conditions, it would be worthwhile
to have a proper understanding about tribal demography '•nd
the regions of tribal concentration-in the wider context
of tribal develo ment.
2ribal_Demography_of_Indis;
.The tribal communities belong to different ethnolingual
groups, profess diverse faith and are at va ied levels of
socio-economic development. Spread along the entire spectrum
ranging from hunters and gatherers of forest produce to che
urbanised skilled or industrial wage earners - the tribal comm
unities constitute very important segment of thd Indian population.
..... 3
3
The term 'Tribe1 is nowhere defines in the Constitution
and in fact, there is no satisfactory definition anywhere.
No standard term has been accepted to denominate the people
who are classified as of tribal origin. According to Article
342 of the Constitution, the Scheduled Tribes are the tribes
or tribal communities which may be notified by the President.
The Census enumerates only such tribal communities as are
scheduled under the relevant constitu ional order in force
at the time of the Census.
According to the 1981 Census, in India the Scheduled
Tribe population is 51,628,638 comprising 26,038,535 males
and 25,590,103 females constituting 7.76 oer cert of the
total population. This figure of Scheduled Tribes excludes
Assam where the 1981 Census enumeration did not take olace.
The Statement at Annexure-I shows the distribution of
Scheduled Tribe peculation in different States/UTs and
their percentage with respect to (a) total tribal pecula
tion of India and (b) total population of their respective
States/UTs. It may be noticed there from that the popula
tion of Scheduled Tribes varied a good deal from one state to
another. Their largest population is found in Madhya Pradesh
(11,987,031). ,J-he second largest number of the tribals
is enumerated in Orissa (5,915,067) immediately fol owed
by Bihar (5,810,867) and Maharastra(5,772,038). But their
largest proportion to total population among all the States
is found in Mizoram (93.55 per cent) followed by Nagaland
(83.99 per cent) and Meghalaya (80.58 per cent). Among Union
Territories, bakshadweep (93.82 per cent) ranks first. The
tribals in the 1981 census were enumer~ted throughout the
country except ir. three States Viz. Haryana, Jammu and
Kashmir and Punjab and. three Union Territories viz.
Chandigarh, Delhi.and Pondicherry, where no Scheduled Tribes
have been notified by the President of India.
Regions of_Tribal Concentration:
The spatial distribution of the tribal communities,
is, however characterised by a striking tendency to cluster in
a few Pockets of diverse degree of isolation. Ecologically,
the tribal homelands are far from homogenous and as such
display a diversity of a high order.
The areas of tribal concentration have b'en generally
described ’s the forest and hilly areas of the country. No
systematic classification of the tribal areas had been
attempted until th-. beginning of the Fifth Plan period when a
new strategy for tribal develo ment was evolved and the areas
of tribal concentration were systematically identified and
der.srcated on some objective criteria. A clear picture of the
areas of tribal concentration in the national scene has emerged
only thereafter. Now the tribal areas of India can be broadly
divided into six regions viz. :
1. Central Tribal Region
4
4
■a) South-Central Tribal Region
b) North-Central Tribal Region
) Western Tribal Re ion
2.
3) North-Eastern Tribal Region
4) North-West'in Tribal Region
5) Southern Tribal Pockets, ano
6) Oceanic Groups.
Each region has sane distinguishing characte-rstics of
its own. They differ considerably amongst themselves ?n
terms of the geo-climatic conditions, resource- potential and
demographic characteristics (vide An'exure - II& m) ,
Tribal Development;
In the recent years there has been increased emphasis
on tribal development. It is well known that the strategy
for integrated development led to the leaching of the
Tribal Sub-plan concept in the -^ifth Plan period. Three
basic parameters of the tribal situation in the country
were recognised in'the formulation of the concept. First,
that there is variation in the social, ■litical, economic
and cultural milieu, anong the different .scheduled tribe
communities in the country. Second, that their demographic
distribution reveals their concentration in the parts of some
States and dispersal in others. Further, that the
primitive tribal communities live in scheduled regions.
Hence, the broad ap-.-roach o tribal development has to be
related to their level of development and. pattern a of
distribution. In predominant tribal regions, area appr
oach with focus on development of tribal communities has
been favoured, while for primitive groups community oriented
programmes have been preferred.
This new strategy for tribal development c«n there
fore be broadly divided into four parts tc cover the
entire population of the countrys-
(i)
States/Unicn Territories having
majority Scheduled Tribe pom laticn
(more than 50 per cent)- Four States
viz; Meghalaya, Nagaland, '.izoram
and l.ruhachal Pradesh, and- two
Union Territories; Dz.car and T’aoar
Nave1i, Lakshadweep;
(ii) Areas of tribal concentration;
(iii) Dispersed tribals; and
(iv) Primitive tribals.
Areas of tribal concentration in the country, i.e. areas
where more than 50 per cent, of the pupulation is tribal
5
5
have been identified and project approach has been adopted
t rough the formulation of Integrated Tribal Development
Projects (l.T.D.Ps). On the whole 181 l.T.D.Ps have been
established in 17 States and 2 Union Territories covering
27 districts fully and 97 districts partly and 633 blocks
fully and 280 blocks partly. These program cs through
T.D.Ps.
I.
are being implemented to bridge the cap of socio
economic disparities betw cn the tribal and non-tribal
people. Development of human resources of the tribal
communities has been identified as a crucial element of such
programmes. It has also been realised thatimprovement in
the health and nutrition status in the tribal a groups is
fundamental to any programme of human resources development
ig_such communities.
Such programmes for improving the health
and nutrition status in tribal communities require a multi
disciplinary understanding and approach and need to take
into consideration the cultural and economic aspiration of
tribal communities.
Health and Nutrition Programmes for Tribals:
The project (l.T.D.P./l.T.D.A.) reports are supposed to
subsume within it all all aspects of development within the
project area. The essense of I.T.TD.P. ap roach or sub-plan
approach lies in the key-word ‘’integration1’ - integration in
clanning in execution through a single individual i.e., the
Project Administrator in financial arrangements at the State
and the I.T.D.P. levels. For primitive tribal groups special
Micro Pr jects are operating throughout the country. There
fore any health/nutrition programme whether of adhoc or long
term nature, need to be fitted into the planning, impleinentational and financial frame work of the I.T.D.P. or the
Micro Project. Monitoring and evaluation should also cover
health and nutrition aspects.
Tribal Health Research:
Comprehensive research studies pertaining to health
and nutritional status among different tribal groups of India
are very few, very scanty and often completely lacking.
Again, one feels that there is a lack of bread inter-disci
plinary approach to study this problem. Clearly the time
has come to take a fresh l"‘ok at the priority health problems
of the tribals, which have been neglected for a long time and
t erefore, this vital problem of health, nutrition and
genetics of the tribals can be investigated and studied only
by using a multi-disciplinary approach which should
necessarily be based on an integration of such components as:(a) Assessment of the health status
(b) Study_of_dietary habit_and assessment of
nutritional status
6
(c) Indepth study of genetic diseases
end disorders (including chromosomal
anomalies and hcemoglobinogathics) .
(d) Democ-raphic.studies ^specially
mortality and morbidity statistics).
(e) Basic assessment of the environment.
(f) Socio-economic assessment^ and
(g) Study of health, culture and health
related behaviours
Recently the Indian Council of Medical Research (CMP.)
has also initiated a number of projects to study systema
tically various health problems of the tribal population
and unicue to hilly areas. The health and nutrit'on problems
of the vast tribal population of India arc as varied as t?e
tribal groups themselves who present a bewildering diversity
and variety in their race, langue' e, cultur . an:' are at widely
dive-gent stages of socio-psycholocical orientation and .
economic, cultural and educational development. Because
of these striking differences in their k-e.s of deve
lopment, each group has ’a number of {problem17 of’ its own
closely allied to its socio-economic situation, eco
system, historical experience and patterns of political
articulati~n. Thus the health, nutrition anti medicogenetic problems of most of the tribal groups ire also
unique and present a formidable challenge for w->1 ch app
ropriate solutions have to be found oy planning and evolving
appropriate strategies which should, be need based end
problem solving in nature, i.e., identifying the problem,
defining rhe factors causing the problem and generating alternative
solutions to the problem.
Priority Areas in Tribal Health.:
Reco’cpising the inter-regional differences in
the tribal situation in the country and r cognising the
differences in the problems of the tribal communities, it
would seem that a different kind of effort for health care
delivery in each case is called for. At the present juncture
it might not be possible or desirable to study the health
and nutrition problems of all the tribal grows of the
country. Therefore, in tribal health, program,es for the
primitive tribal co munities deserve top priority. Primitive
grou73 require sensitive and delicate handling, some ofthem
arc- very small in size and often face the problem of bare
survival. Therefore, in the case of primitive tribal commu
nities indepth research studies on health, nutrition end
genetics have to be given priority. The next item in the
priority list should be health services operational
research
in tribal concentrated areas because transformation of the
7
7
the alreadv existing ’• nowledge/research findings into
practice is woefully lacking. In the areas of tribal
concentration s’nce the I.T.D.P. appears to bo the smallest
administrative and operational unit at which the activities
of different sectors are co-ordinated, it is this unit,
which we suggest should be studied in the context of health
services in order to find functional gaps in respect of
various health/roedical facilities in the I.T.D.P. area;
and to achieve operational efficiency in the health
care delivery programmes.
Conclusion:The problem of Tribal Health is not only a complex
problem but is also profoundly human in nature. The urban
classes in our country have been the fortunate receipient
of uptodate and modern medical care facilities during the
past four decades, and the rural masses, in general, have
been coming in for some attention. The Tribals have been
more or less on the periphery; the primitive Tribal groups
have suffered from a total neglect. From the limited data
we have, it appears that due to their isolation, endogamous
marriages, and higher co-efficient of inbreeding they
repre ent a concentrati n of genetic and other specific
disorders such as Sickle-Cell Haemoglobin, Clucose-6Bhosphate-Dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) deficiency etc. But the
available information on these aspects amon the primitive
tribals is very meagre. This type of data is so crucially
important that it may he the deciding factor between their
survival or extinction. Thus, there is a danger that these
groups might perish altogether. If they do, we shall be
answerable at the bar of history. It is a challenge to our
society, it is a challenge to all of us and we must respond
to it with earnestness and vigour.
The magnitude and gravity of the health problem of
the tribals of India, compunded as they are by wide spread
proverty, illiteracy, ignorance and 1-ck of health
education, are dounting. Neverthless, much can be done to
improve the health standard of the tribal people if
location-specific and need-based health planning is done.
Apart frem Governmental bodies, Voluntary Organisations
can play a notable part and can act as vital bridge-heads
between tribal communities and governmental agencies.
We should also make use of the genuine social organisations
and leadership among the tribals
8
8
xtracts From /.nnexures
(Data relevant to Karnataka)
Annexure I
SI E AND DISTRIBUTION OF SCHEDULE TRIPE POPULATION IN DI.jERENT
ST: TES / UNION TERRITORIES
State/U.T.
Population
Percentage or tribal population
_________ Ki th Jre
Karnataka
1,825,203
£ t_ t q____________
Total Tribal
Peculation of
India
Total population
o'; their respective
State
3.54
,4.91
Sources Census of India, 1981, Primary Census Abstract
Scheduled_Tribes, Series 1. India, Part II- B(iii),
pp. xix-xxiii
Annexure II
THE IRIE-.1L POPULATION IN TRIBAL CONCENTRATED REGIONS OF INDI
Si
Region
Percent
Tribal
Percent
specb with resPopulation with
in States/
to total
pect to
Union
Population
Tribal PopuTerritories of State/Ut lation of
India
SOUTH TRIBAL POCKET;
Karnataka
Kerala
Tamil Nadu
1,825,203
361,475
520,226
4.91
1.03
1.07
2,606,904
2.34
(5.15)
...9
—
Annexure xu
REGIONS OS' TRIBAL CO?'C£'?’Tr TTCM MITH SOME. IM1 CRTENT CH-.RACTFRSTICS
Region
Components
Stetes/UTs
%age of Tribal
Population with
resnect to total
Tribal Population
Main Tribal
Communities
Geo-climatic
& charactersties of the
Region
Major
Diseases
Malayan,
Kurumba,
Soluga
Heavy rainfall
area and dense
Forest
V.D. , Leprosy
T.B. , Malaria
of India
Southern Tribal
Region
Karnataka
Kerela,
TamilNadu
5.15
DE. v -|o .
MARRIAGE: TRIBAL STYLE
I
\
\ ■■■'
The liberal attitude towards
sex has made the tribal
society
stable,
says the
author, but contact with the
non-tribal world would mean
losses rather than gains in
their peace and harmony.
GOPAL TR1PATHI*
husbands in their economic pursuits and share responsibilities
with them. Besides, marriage widens the scope of economic
activities and ensures better economic cooperation. Hence
economic consideration appears to work as a potential motive
for every man to get married.
Except in a few tribals like the well-to-do Oraons, the
Santals, the Mundas etc.', who practise child marriages, adult
marriage appears to be the general rule among most of the
tribes. Majority of the marriages among the Kukis and the
Nagas take place between 18 and 25 years and between 15 and
20 years respectively, between 18 and 24 and between 14 and
18 in the Garasia, between 25 and 30 and between 15 and 20
in the Tangasas, 20 and above and between 15 and 20 in the
Bhils. Similarly the Bhotia girls are married after 15 and the
boys after 20.
ARRIAGE among tribals in India is a civil contract
Boys and girls are given free hand in choosing their
and not a religious sacrament. It is not just an lifemates. They reveal their choice to their parents or friends
individual affair, it is a communitj' function and all and further formalities are observed later on by their parents
members of a particular community participate in the marriage Even a girl conceiving before her marriage or becoming an
ceremony and the elders of the community play an important unmarried mother is readily acceptable in marriage as she
role in the whole process of marriage—from its settlement bears tire testimony of not being barren—barrenness is highly
stigmatised in the tribal society. Marriage rituals are very
to its performance.
x.
In tribal society people have very liberal attitude towards simple, but interesting and varied. Drinking of rice beer,
sex. There are no strict moral codes regarding sex. Virginity community feasts and community dances are some of the
main features of marriage functions.
Joining hands or
is not a high virtue. Hence most boys and girls have pre
bodies of the bride and the bridegrooms, tying their clothes
marital sex experience. In the dormitories boys and girls
wittyeach other aud mixing of blood are symbols of wedlock.
indulge in love making without any inhibition and are trained
Application of vermilion on the forehead of the bride is also
in sex by the elders themselves both theoretically and practi
very common amone tire tribal communities.
cally. In some of the tribes like the Tharus, the Jaunsar
Bawars, the Konyak Nagas and the Bhotias extra-marital sex
Invoking the wrath of the supernatural
relations are also very common. A Konyak girl does not go
to her husband’s house until she gets a child. A Jaunsar
Because of the fear of the unknown, witchcratt and
Bawar girl is allowed to have unfettered sex relations in her sorcery of the neighbours and the desire for preserving local
^parents’ home. In some of the tribals like the Hos and the and cultural unity, and being accustomed to isolated life, the
^^Oraons men and women are allowed to indulge in extra- Indian tribes, in general, are endogamous, i.e., boys and girls
^Bnarital sexual relations freely on -.he occasion of Maghi arc permitted to marry within his or her own tribal group
and Khaddi festivals.
All this shows that sex gratifica only. Violation of this rule is regarded as a social offence.
tion is not the basis of marriage among the Indian tribes as But among the Gonds, the Baigas, the Hos, the Koravas, the
it is the case with the non-tribal societies. Even then the desire Oraon, the Khasis, the Nagas, the Kharias and the Santhals
for procreation and attaining parenthood appears to be very where there is a clan organisation based on totemic emblems,
strong in the Indian tribes. A married man without an marriage within one’s own clan is strictly prohibited. Any
offspring is regarded as very “unlucky” and a married person violating the rule of clan exogamy is punished, and
woman without child is socially stigmatised. In many tribal punishment sometimes leads to excommunication. It also
societies impotency of the men and the barrenness of the invokes the wrath of the supernatural power and in the
women lead to break-up of marriage. Hence the desire to Kharias it brings disasters for the entire community. Hence in
ha\ e children and become parents can be regarded as one of this community the offender is not allowed to participate in
the motivating factors of marriage among tribes.
any social or religious functions. Clan endogamy is rarely
Tribal women are regarded as assets, as they look after found to be practised ; only two clan groups ot the Todas,
the domestic affairs and also lend a helping hand to their namely Tarthoral and the Tivaliol. and two groups of the
Bhils, Ujala Bhil and Mele Bhils are endogamous.
But
Professor, Department of Social Work, Kashi Vidyapith,
the sub-units of the endogamous groups of
the Todas
Varanasi (U.P.)
M
I
JANUARY 1972
9
Sensible and punished. Such a girl is generally not
IBcled down upon by the society. Men in general
flkftcat lovers of feminine beauty. A Zemi Naga of
®*thCachar Hills plants a tree to express his joy and
Hftwment when he succeeds in getting the hands of a
■uliful girl at marriage.
•jB There are many social devices to safeguard the
Struts of women. The Dafla parents in Arunachal
■Mesh adopt a special measure to safeguard the
Bferity of a girl giving birth to an illegitimate child or
ftjirl of dubious moral character. The measure is
■fairily adopted to save the girl from ignominy that
Jsijbt be caused by reference to her pastlife by the
■'Inthful husband. Such an arrangement is known as
itlllp-Konyp. The contract is made by payment of
Jldiain of traditional beads in addition to the dowry.
Uli transaction takes place in the presence of witnesses
tensure strict adherence to the contract entered into
(payment of special gift. Any violation of the
Klract by the unwary husband frees his wife to go
ack her parents to lodge a complaint against her
Bband’s misbehaviour. Such a breach of contract
Stilles the parents of the aggrieved girl to receive back
(chain of beads. Moreover, the offender son-in-law
a fine of one mithun to the kins of the girl
ijjfaribute the meat among the families. He shall
hwK’e to pay a fine of one mithun to the father-innrto appease him. The father can keep his married
lighter in his house if the fine is unpaid.
fives as Status Symbols
Socio-economic status of a man in many tribal
sdeties of Arunachal Pradesh is judged by the number
■ (wives he possesses. This is partly because women
Sequal labour in all economic activities. Moreover,
dy rich persons can marry more than one wife by
ament of heavy bride-price prevalent in most of the
' sununities of Arunachal Pradesh. It may, however,
i noted that a person can marry additional wives
ihthe permission of the principal wife. The princiilwife generally arranges the additional spouses for
I husband.
A«»ding to Dafla, Mishmi and Gallong customs,
Morson should marry as many wives as he can
Itrdjpcquisition of more than one wife by well-to-do
’ nous is nothing but a sound investment of the
| iplns wealth, which if not invested in that way might
■ istagnant or wasted. Procuring a wife means the
Hition of an active working member in the family.
I these societies it is not unusual to find a wealthy
in having upto 5 wives.
The process of marrying one after another by the
iman leads to widespread disparity in the age of
stands and wives. In some cases, the husband is
■PTEMBER-OCTOBER 1975
Asking for the Head
I N a village near Aligarh, the poor father of the bride
1 when pressed hard for a motor-cycle in dowry,
cut the head of his daughter and sent it to the
relatives of the bridegroom. He then handed him
self over to the police.
Heart breaking incidents of this kind will keep
on occurring until the dowry system is abolished.
It breeds other evils also—bribery, for instance.
Barring exceptions, the birth of a daughter is
generally not welcomed.
Socially and economically the status of women
needs to be raised. In this connection, steps taken
by the Orissa Government are note worthy.
A letter to the Editor in The Times of India 19th August, 1975.
____________________________________
as old as his father-in-law or even older. On the
other hand, in the case of inheritance of widowed step
mother or brother’s widow, the widow is generally
much older than the inheritor.
Child marriage is
prevalent in some communities of Arunachal Pradesh.
Divorce—A Difficult Affair for Women
Theoretically either partner can initiate a divorce.
But a woman, however much dissatisfied she may
be, with the behaviour of her husband, rarely takes
the initiative. She knows quite well that if she
proposes a divorce, her parents shall have to repay the
bride price given by her husband’s party along with
indemnity. The parents of the woman generally do
not want to take back their daughter, however miser
able she may be in her husband’s house, because they
will then have to return the bride-price in such an
event.
There are occasions, however, when the woman
herself initiates a divorce. This she does only when
she is quite certain that her paramour will pay whole
of the bride price given at the time of the marriage
together with the indemnity, if any, to the husband.
The husband may divorce his wife if she finds her
morally guilty, disobedient or barren. But even if a
divorce is finally settled the husband does not permit
the divorced wife to leave his house until and unless
the bride-price is received back. Such a divorced
wife lives under the same roof, works for her divorced
husband who maintains her till the bride-price paid
for her is received back. Under such a situation, the
divorced wife becomes full of remorse and unhappiness
and passes her days like a slave. Divorce is taken as
a family affair and the village has nothing to do
with it.
61
are exogamous.
Marriages between close relatives and between
blood relations are strictly prohibited. The Santhals avoid
marriage within their family and lineage. In the Gujars Sapind
marriages with the persons belonging to the mother’s brother’s
gotra are also prohibited.
Bat in some tribal societies cross cousin marriages are
accepted and sometimes even preferred. The Bhils allow
marriages between maternal and paternal cousins, in Tangasas
marriage of a boy with his mother's brother's daughter is
preferred. In the Gonds marriage between the brother’s daughter
and the sister's son, which is called Doodh Lautava, is not only
preferential but essential. Any boy or girl refusing such
marriage is-required to pay compensation to the other party.
In the Purum Kukis of Manipur marriage can take place
only with "the mother's brother’s daughter and not even
with the father's sister's daughter’’. Cross cousin marriages
are also practised among the Oraons and the Kharias.
Marriages to save property
Sometimes irregular marriages are encouraged with a
view to protecting the family property. Among the Garos
son-in-law, who is called ‘Nokrom’, has to marry his
ridowed mother-in-law. As the tribe is matriarchal, she is the
wner of the property and the daughter who inherits it is
called ‘Nokana’. If the lady marries some other person, the
latter may compel her to misuse the family property. Hence,
just to save the right of the Nokana, the son-in-law marries the
widowed mother-in-law. Among the Lakhers of the Lushai
Hills, the system of marrying the step-mother and widowed
daughter-in-law has been found. Among] Konyak Nagas too
one marries one’s step mother after the death of one’s father.
K
Among the Bhils, the Gonds and the Oraon the man
marries his wife’s younger sister in the case of the death of his
wife. Sometimes in case of barrenness of the wife also he
marries her younger sister. This is called sororatc. Again
after the death of her husband, the wife marries her husband’s
younger brother, which is called levitate.
This system is
most common in Jaunsar Bawars, Bhils and the Kotas.
In some of the tribes such as the Kukis, boys and girls
arc allowed to live together like husband and wife at the girl’s
residence for a few weeks; they know each other’s tempera
ment and if found adjustable they decide to marry, otherwise
they separate. If marriage does not take place and the boy
has any sexual relations with the girl, he pays compensation
for it to the girl’s parents.
When regular marriage is not possible or the bride price
is too high to be paid, the Gonds, the Nagas, the Bhils, Santhals,
Bhumij, the Mudas and Hos resort to marriage by capture. The
girl is captured without the consent of the parents or relatives
and is forced to marry. But nowadays actual capture has become
obsolete. Only ceremonial capture or artificial capture is
prevalent. Among the Gonds the girl is captured at the request
of her parents. On such occasions she weeps and shows resis
tance but only as a pretence.
Among the Bhumij even
in negotiated marriages the girl’s father requests the groom to
capture her. The time and place for capture is arranged
mutually. This is supposed to enhance the prestige of the
_girl’s parents. Among the Kharias and the Birhors, a boy
wishing to marry a girl, applies oil and vermilion on the fore
head of the girl in some public place or fair or bazar, and
after this they get married.
Among some other tribes marriage by capture takes place
in some public gathering or on some festive days. When the
groom’s party pays compensation or arranges feasts to the
community, the capture is given social sanction. In the
matriarchal society of the Garos the bridegroom is also captured.
The girl wishing to marry a boy announces his name to her
parents who later on capture him and force him to marry.
Marriage by capture is now regarded as irregular marriage and
is fast disappearing.
Marriage by trial
In some communities marriage by trial is also verv
common. The boy is, sometimes, given difficult tasks to per
form by the bride’s parents. His valour and physical capacity
is put to test. The girl is married to him only after the success
ful completion of the task by him. Among the Bhils the
boys and girls dance around a pole or a tree on the top of
which coeounts and molasses are tied. The girls form inner ring
The Indian tribes are mainly monogamous but poly^hlrous and polygamous marriages arc
also approved.
Among Toda and Jaunsar Bawar families, brothers have a
common wife. This is perhaps because of the poor
while the boys the outer. If any boy succeeds in breaking the
economic condition, the desire for keeping the family property
ring so formed by women and climbs the poles and breaks the
undivided, and to maintain unity among the brothers and some
coconut, defying all resistance and obstacles, he is given a
times due to the relatively low number of women. Now in a
free hand to choose any of the girls and marry her.
Toda family each brother marries a girl individually, but he
A strange way of getting a bride, at the same time
alone does not have authority over her. All the brothers have
authority over all women thus married and vice versa. Some- ® evading the payment of bride price, prevails among certain
times a woman marries more than one person, not necessarily
brothers and often lives separately. She visits them in turn.
This is called non-fraternal polyandry. Polygenous marriages,
i.e., marriage of one man with several women at a time, are
seen among the Nagas, the Gonds, the B.igas, the Lushais
etc. but the economic condition of a man plays an important
role in delimiting his choice for polygenous marriages. Eco
nomic utility of the women appears to be the most important
factor for such marriages.
10
tribes : the boy serves the parents of the girl for a pretty
long period during which he wins the admiration ot the parents
and later the hands of the girl. The period of such service.
varies from community to community, e.g., among the Baigas
the period of service is fr'om one year to twelve years and
among the Kukis three years. During this period the bride
groom is given free lodging and boarding, of course, sub
standard in some cases. The Gonds call him Lamanai and
the Baiga, Lamsena. Among the Birhors the father of the
SOCIAL WELFARE
girl often lends money to the groom for paying the bride
price, which is returnable in instalments. But so long as the
amount is not returned, marriage does not take place and
the boy has to sen e the father of the girl like a servant. The
Gujars and Khasas too practise marriage by service. One
anthropologist has observed that by asking the boy to work
as a senant in their house the parents test his forbearance
and eligibility to be considered as a husband and son-in-law.
HARIJAN WELFARE IN U.P.
(Contd. from Page
5)
Harijans, the State could very well set up a financial corporation
as already done in some states, for the backward classes in
general and Harijans in particular with liberalized rules of
lending. A rethinking is also necessary in respect of housing
schemes. Wh le the existing schemes have not yet lost their
re.evance with reference to poorer section., bigger colonies for
Sometimes, when a girl wishing to marry a boy does not
the growing white collar Harijans should be set up by providing
get consent either of the boy or of his parents, or when the boy
sites on nominal rate and interest-free hou ing Ioan espacial y
loves her. promises to marry, but declines later on, she gets
into his house stealthily and stays there. The members of the in urban areas with a minimum reservation of non-Harijans
boy’s family torture her in many ways and try to drive her out. to avo.d any feel ng of separation or isola ion. It needs to be
If she tolerates all these tortures and stays on, she is accepted emphasized that the tate should s art paying heed, the sooner
f as wife of the boy. This type of intrusion marriage is called ihe bet.er, to the problems of the lower middle cla s Harijans
‘Anadar' among the Hos, ‘Nirbolok Bapla’, among the Santals who have come in.o existence as a result of educa ional and
socio-economic measures under-taken by the state itself and who
and-‘Paithu’ among the Kamars.
now find their further progress blocked in the absence of any
Marriages by mutual consent of the boys and girls and welfare programme for them.
of the parents of both sides are becoming common among
The present governmental instructions do not appear
most of the Indian tribes. This system is called ‘Raji Khusi’ adequate to ensure admission of adequate number of Scheduled
among the Hos. Now child marriages are also practised Caste candidates in technical and medical institutions. The
among some tribes. Elopement is also found among certain
tate must put its foot down to make these inst tutions admit
tribes.
' ■
Scheduled Caste studen s according to a prescribed quota and if
necessary relax their rules of admission in favour of Harijans.
Bride price and marriage by capture
. Securing the life partner by giving the bride price is a
common practice in all tribes. This price is paid in cash or
kind or both to the girl’s parents some days before the marriage.
The amount is settled mutually according to the. economic
condition of the boy’s parents. Sometimes it is very high as
among the Hos and as a result of this a large number of adult
girls remain unmarried or resort to marriage by capture.
.. It is generally believed that the bride price is ,a. sort of
compensation to the bride’s parents for the loss,.they suffer
due to the departure of their daughter, or is a, sort, of, reim
bursement of the expenditure incurred by the parents of the
girl for her upbringing and maintenance till her marriage.
Some believe that this .is meant , to legalise and give perma
nency to marriage and also to strengthen the relationship
between the two families. Among the Gonds the price is
called ‘Kharchi’ which means expenditure. This amount is
spent on the marriage day by the parents. They also give
some presents to the girl the cost of which sometimes exceeds
the bride price. This is true for other communities also.
Because of the opportunities to have premarital sexual
experience, extensive sex education, liberal attitude of the
tribal people towards sex relations, freedom in selecting life
partners and adult marriage, married life in the traditional
tribal society was very smooth and well adjusted, and also
free from prostitution, marital discord etc. But nowadays
due to external contact child marriages are becoming very
common and the increasing value of money and desire for
accumulating wealth is coming in the way of free selection of
life partners. As a result of this many vices of the modern
society have entered the tribal life, thereby disturbing their
harmony.
JANUARY 1972
Another off-shoot of development programme has been
uneven and unbalanced advancement of different Scheduled
Castes inter se. At present a few castes are grabbing lion’s
share of the benefits while the more backward finding the bene
fits beyond their reach, seethe in discontent. The state wi.l
do well to study this problem and take special steps to develop
the more backwards among the Scheduled Castes.
Before I part with this subject, I wish to utter a word
of caution. L.M. Shreekant, once Commi-sioner for Sched
uled Castes and Schedu cd Tribes, observed that 'backwardness
ha. a tendency to perpetuate itself and become a ve.ted in
terest’. Therefore while there is need for re-assessment of the
welfare programme for the Scheduled Castes to suit their deve
loping economy and changing requirements, it is necessary that
the more advanced communities among them shou'd not be
allowed to exagge-ate their backwardness with a view to per
petuating the Constitutional safeguards and special facil ties.
This is undoubted y the most difficult and baffling task before
the Central and State Governments.
q_______________________________________________
NEW METHOD FOR DIAGNOSING
APPENDICITIS IN CHILDREN
NEW procedure for diagonsing appendicitis in
children with the aid of thermography has been devised
by Swedish physician Dr. Christian Lingren, reports AGA
News. Examinations are made with AGA-developed
Thermovision camera.
When the appendix is seriously inflamed its higher
temperature is clearly visible in thermal pitcure of the
overlying skin. The pattern produced is recognizably
different from those resulting from other stomach ailments,
the magazines says.
11
ZDE-V -10’-^-
Will the dormitories become
extinct under the impact
of industrialisation and
urbanisation? SSy preserving/
their basic character one can
utilise these primeval
institutions for maintaining
the tribals' distinct identity.
__
*
GOPAL TRIPATHI*
OUTH dormitories are institutions of unmarried
tribal boys and girls around which centres the
entire cultural and social life of the tribals. They
are found in almost all tribal belts in India, of course,
with such different names as Morung (the Naga), Nok
Pante (the Garo), Chang (the Khasi), Risomar (the
Mikir), Arichu (the Ao), Gitiora (the Munda), Dhumkuria (the Oraon), Dhangarbasa (the Bhuiya), Ghotul
(the Gond), Rangbang (the Bhotia), Darbar (the Juang)
and so on. Some tribes have common dormitories, i.e.,
shared by both the boys and the girls such as Muria’s
Ghotul and Bhotia’s Rangbang, while most of the others
have separate ones for each sex which they, again,
designate differently in different places e.g. the Memi
call the boys’ dormitories as Ikhuichi and the girls’
dormitories as Iloichi, the Konyak Naga as Ban and
Yo, the Oraon as Jonkerpa and Pel-Erpa and the
Tangasa as Lopong and Lup or Lik Pyasa.
A dormitory, usually an independent building or a
hut is built on the outskirts of the village amidst a forest
or near the com field (the Nagas) or right inside the
village (the Juang and the Oraon). The buildings differ
* to a great extent in their size, structure and appearance
'from place to place. They are usually simple and bleak
like the one-doored, and lowroofed Dhumkuria of the
Oraons or elaborate with carved wooden doors like
Morungs of the Nagas. Sometimes the best constructed
and centrally located building belonging to the chief
or some other important man of the village is used as
Morung if no such separate building is constructed. The
Birhores build two small huts with leaves and branches
Y
•Asstt. Professor, School of Social Work, Kashi Vidyapith,
Varanasi-2 (U.P.)
MAY 1974
of the forest trees, one fcr the boys’ dormitory and the
other for the girls. The girls’ hut has two doors, one of
which opens toward the forest at the rear of the hut while
that of the boys has only one door. Muria’s Ghotul is a
small thatched house constructed with mud and stones,
on the outskirt of the village tucked away in the forest
and hidden from public view. Sometimes it is a “central
house with deep verandah, with a spacious inner room,
an open hut to sleep in the hot weather.” At some places
it has one door which closes from inside, at others it is
without doors. The Juang’s ‘Darbars’ are centrally
located and well decorated spacious houses in the village.
Sometimes old houses of the village are used as dormi
tories. The girls’ dormitories are located at a reasonable
distance from those of the boys preferably in some
secret place and no one, except the members of the
boys’ dormitories, are supposed to have knowledge of
the same as the Pel-Erpa of the Oraon. Sometimes both
the boys’ and the girls’ dormitories are located in the
same building, the former on the ground floor and the
latter on the upper floor as in the Memi.
Totemic emblems are often painted on the walls of
the dormitories with the dual purpose of beautifying
the houses and safeguarding them against evil spirits.
Dormitories are considered to be the primary' institu
tions in the tribal communities and their membership is
obligatory for all the unmarried boys and girls. Generally
speaking, boys and girls become members of a dormi
tory (meant for the Juniors) found in their communities
since birth but they get into real hold and fold of the
same (Youth dormitory) after attaining certain pres
cribed age which differs from place to place, e.g., the
Oraons are admitted in their dormitories after 11 to 12
13
In Garo society, if the husband becomes
unfaithful to his wife and if divorced by her, he forfeits
all rights over property. There is also
the system of marriage by capture; it is the bridegroom
that is captured 5 not the bride.
performs all the family rites and ceremonies. The
mother’s clan is adopted by her children.
The rest of the brothers and sisters are known as
Nongmih Ling (going out) as they leave the parental
house after marriage and set up separate houses with
their partners. In a traditional house, sons receive
nothing more than certain gifts.
The Wars of Jaintia Hills have similar law of in
heritance. In Jaintia Hills a person is more attached
to the mother. After marriage he can divert only a
part of his income to maintain his wife and children.
The rest of his income is given to his mother. The
man spends the day at his mother’s house and the night
at his wife's residence. As such, one can establish an
independent life only at the death of the mother. The
freedom enjoyed by the Khasi women helps them to be
active. They have proved to be more efficient than
their men in certain spheres of socio-economic acti
vities.
The Garos, another important community of Me
ghalaya State, also offer certain unique privileges to
women. The Garo law of inheritance is also matri
lineal and as a rule no man can possess property, nor
can he inherit any property. But all the daughters of a
family do not inherit the property equally. The best of
all the daughters and generally the youngest is selected
as Nokna or main heir of the family. The other
daughters get small shares of the property. The man
who marries the Nokna is called the Nokrom- If a Nokna
after marriage refuses to live with her parents she
loses her AWmaship and another daughter is selected
as Nokna.
In matriarchal societies a husband is required to
lead a very cautious life. In Garo society, if the hus
band becomes unfaithful to his legally married wife and
is divorced by her he forfeits all the rights which he
otherwise exercises over the property. He has to get
out of the house leaving his wife and children. In
Khasi society in case of divorce by the husband, the
claim over property is lost by him. When a woman
divorces the husband he secures only his original pos
sessions and nothing more.
60
responsible a
looked dowt
(iro great lot
, NorthCa^1
Capturing the Bridegroom
Marriage by capture, that is capture of the bride,
now fast disappearing but it was once widely prevale
and socially sanctioned in many tribal societies of No
East India. In the matriarchal society of the Gate
on the other hand, the bridegroom is captured, notth
bride. A girl wishing to marry a boy discloses it to ha
parents or relatives about it. The parents with the hel;
of his co-villagers capture the boy and bring him ini)
the house of the girl and confine him there. The jij
and the captured youth are given a separate room It
spend the night and liquor is placed at their disposal
Generally the boy escapes the next morning to pretend
unwillingness to marry. He is then recaptured. Il
case the boy runs away second time, he is brought bad
again and kept with the girl like the first night. Ifh
leaves the girl for the third time, it is considered a
genuine unwillingness of the boy to accept the girl a
wife. Such a situation is considered unfortunate ba
the girl is not looked down upon by the society. Suck
cases of disagreement, however, are very rare.
Such failures are discussed by the parents of boll
the boy and girl in a meeting of the village elders. I
it is found on enquiry that the boy had sex relation
with the girl during the three nights he spent with her,
the boy is required to pay a fine of not less than rill)
rupees. The parents of the girl keep part of the fin
' money with them. The rest is paid to the villap
elders. When the fine has been settled, the girl i
considered as good as any other unmarried girls.
In spite of these privileges enjoyed by the womens
matriarchal societies, in political affairs they arc Kt
very advanced. There is not a single female elected
member in Meghalaya Legislative Assembly.
Women in Patrilineal Societies
has to pa.
y/ho distn
plso have
law to appei
in 1
as
• ■ Socio-ecc
locieties of Z
t>f'wives he j
put equal lai
only rich p
payment of
communities
bo >noted th
vlth:the per
pal wife gen
or’husband.
- Accord in
a jrich perso
afford. Acqi
nersons is
Utplus weali
Inspite of certain disabilities women are treated I
equals to men in patrilineal tribal societies of N,t
India. In mos of the societies of this part of lit
country girls are given considerable freedom to seltd
their life partners. In the event of an unmarried |t!
becoming pregnant the concerned man is considered
nddition of a
In these so
ttn having
he proc
t man lea
bands ar
SOCIAL WELFAif
Ptembe
'il
years of age, the Murias after six or seven years, the
Nagas after 4 or 5 years, the Birhores after 10 years
and the Bhotia girls after 15 years. One becomes member
of his/her dormitory normally on attaining the pres
cribed age but in some tribes the admission is preceded
by elaborate initiation ceremonies (which mark the end
of the childhood and beginning of the adolescence)
as among the Nagas. In the Dhumkuria of the Oraons
admission takes place once every three years and the
elder boys determine whom they would admit. The
parents of the newly admitted members have to give
handful of Karanj seeds from which oil is extracted
for burning lamps in the Dhumkuria. New entrants are
always hailed with joy by the elder members. In Muria’s
Ghotul the outgoing members have to arrange a feast
for the rest of the members before they leave it. The
boys and girls stay in their dormitories till they are
married, but in Bhotia’s Rangbang even the married
girls, who have not yet become mothers, are allowed to
participate in its activities and deliberations.
Boys and girls converted to Christianity or ‘allured
by urban sophistication’ do not attend the dormitories.
Otherwise, absence or showing laziness in attending the
dormitory by any member is punished. If any parent
does not send his children to the dormitories he is
forced to do so.
The members of a dormitory are generally categorised
into two age groups, viz., the Juniors and the Seniors,
each having separate duties and responsibilities. The
Juniors are assigned menial work, e.g., collecting wood
for fuels, massaging the tired limbs of the seniors, es
corting the girls to and from their dormitories and
acting as errand boys. In fact the Juniors are the
servants of the Seniors. The Seniors supervise and
control the various activities inside the dormitory. The
girl members of the Ghotuls are called motiaris and
the boys as cheliks. The motiaris are expected to comb
hair of the cheliks and also massage their limbs.
Enforcing Discipline
The dormitories are governed by rigid rules and all
happenings inside them are kept confidential. Any member
divulging secrets of his/her dormitory to the non
members or acting against discipline or otherwise found
guilty is punished, punishment sometimes amounting
to excommunication too. The affairs inside the dormi
tories are managed by the officers who are called diffe
rently in different tribes, e.g., Mahto and Kotwar in the
Dhumkuria of the Oraon and the Sardar (male head)
and the Belosa (the female head) in the Ghotuls of the
Muria ; they are sometimes appointed in consultation
with the village headman and the elders and sometimes
elected from amongst the experienced and senior
members. In the Morungs the owner of the house acts
as the head and his wife as matron. In Rangbang the
entire affairs arc managed by the women as the male
Bhotia, being nomads, arc often out of their village.
However when they are in the village they join the girls
in the dormitory but, in a few tribes, e.g., the Birhor,
there is no such post of officer in the dormitories as
described above. The head of a dormitory maintains
discipline inside the dormitory, sees that the members
are ‘well up to the standard’ and often punishes the
offenders. But he commands high regard and is looked
upon with awe and reverence inside as well as outside the
dormitory.
Dormitories function primarily as recreational
clubs and dancing, singing, playing games, story telling,
solving riddles and puzzles etc. are some of the general
activities carried out inside them. Eating, drinking and
smoking are also very common. Generally at sunset the
members collect in their dormitories, and enjoy themselves
freely in the hilarious and lively atmosphere replete with
music and songs which often accompany dances till
late at night. Girls also share joy with the boys. Some
times boys from the neighbouring villages are invited to
the girls’ dormitories and entertained with food and
also bed. The Bhotia girls invite the boys by waving
white cloth pieces as signal, standing on a hill top, and
the boys too respond in the same manner. The membres
also go to sleep in their dormitories but the boys and
girls arc generally not permitted to sleep together
except in some common dormitories, e.g., the Ghotuls
and Rangbang. Guests, visitors and officials from other
places arc also welcome and rest in these dormitories.
Everyone in Love
Members enjoy freedom of sex relations too. Boys
and girls indulge in love affairs without any inhibition
and often choose their life partners. Although sexual
intimacy inside the dormitories is not allowed, yet in
some places (as in Muria’s Ghotul) members do indulge
in sex. Of course, the boys must get the girls’ consent
beforehand and should approach her gently. The head
of the dormitory sees that no violence is done in this
regard. Promiscuous sex relations are not permitted.
Rather sex is not the chief interest around which the
institution of Ghotul has been built. This is true for
other dormitories also. Sexual behaviour is well
regulated and strictly disciplined. In some Ghotuls
(called Jodidar) the motiaris and the cheliks are paired
off, they sleep together, develop permanent sex rela
tionship and ultimately are married by the Ghotul
people. In others (called Mundibadali) motiaris are
considered to be joint property of the Ghotul and no
chelik is allowed to sleep with any motiari for more than
SOCIAL WELFARE
14
lil
three nights nor he can claim his right over her. If he
does so he is punished. Similarly if any motiary is
found sleeping with any chelik for more than the per
mitted nights and shows love for him, she is discarded
by the rest of the cheliks. Hence permanent sex rela
tionship with anyone is not possible here; rather every
body is in love with everybody. In Gitiora of the Birhorc
every boy has a girl lover and freedom of sex is not
permitted here. But if any boy is found sleeping with
the lover of someone else, the latter has the right to
sleep with that of the former. The Orissa tribes strictly
observe territorial exogamy ; hence sex intimacy between
the boys and the girls inside their dermitory is not
possible. However when one dancing group of a ‘Darbar’
reaches another village boys and girls come into contact
and develop sex intimacy.
Dormitories also function as guard houses for their
village and the crops against wild animals and enemies.
It is perhaps, for this purpose also that some dormitory
houses are located on the outskirts of the villages. The
Nagas keep close vigil on their settlements, armed with
spear and other weapons.
Geared to self-defence
Youth dormitories function as effective social
training institutions and cultural transmission centres
for the tribal younger generation. Through various activi
ties the boys and girls learn about different aspects of
their culture and also imbibe many social traits. Besides
being trained in dancing, singing, playing musical instru
ments, art of body decoration and games etc. they are
also specifically trained in the fields of interest related
to their sex e.g. the girls are trained in domestic affairs
and also in weaving, knitting, combing hair and decorat
ing their body, while the boys’ training related to their
physical and intellectual development all geared to selfdefence and ways and means of protecting their lives
and property.
Senior boys and girls give extensive sex education
theoretical and practical to the younger ones through
the media of dance, postures, words, etc. Such liberal
sex education, coupled with prejnarital sex, enables the
boys and girls to make quick adjustment in their married
life and also reduces the chances of elopment, adultery
and separation in the tribal communities.
Activities in the dormitories are so organised as to
keep the members busy throughout the year. Some
times, the members participate in the community festi
vals, organise annual hunting ceremonies and meetings
in which non-members also participate. They live as
corporate bedy and often provide cooperative labour
to the village folk on many occasions e.g. harvesting,
construction of houses, birth, death, marriage and other
MAY 1974
socio-rcligious ceremonies. This enables them to develop
a feeling of oneness with the rest of the village.
The atmosphere in the dormitories is one of joy and
freedom. In such an atmosphere the tribal boys and girls
receive education for life and get ample opportunities
to release their physical and emotional tension which,
in turn, enables them to establish harmonious inter
personal relationship, maintain healthy parent-child
relationship and develop balanced and integrated
personality suited to their social life and culture.
Dormitories have been a living force in the tribal
society today, they are fast losing their traditional hold
and becoming defunct in many places due to unrestricted
acculturation and detribalisation processes resulting
from external contact, industrialisation and urbanisa
tion, spread of education alien to them and introduction
of new values in the tribal areas through development
projects and development agencies. They are being
looked down upon by the educated tribal youth. Under
the influence of Hinduism child marriages are becoming
very common which reduce the membership in the
dormitories. Tribals arc now becoming money-conscious
and have started attaching great value to personal wealth
which very much comes in the way of free selection of
life partners inside the dormitories. Liberal financial
aid under the community development programmes
for the work they used to do previously by voluntary'
cooperative labour and also lack of proper supervision
have adversely affected the community sentiment of the
tribal youths. This is also making them dependent and
inactive. Those youths who arc converted as Christians
have been forced to sever their links with the dormitories.
Because of their ability to exercise powerful influence
on the tribal people, dormitories can be very effective
to bring planned change among the tribals necessary
for their development and integration with the rest of
the country. They can also be potential agencies through
which developmental programmes can best be imple
mented. Hence effort should be made to revitalise these
dormitories by providing special protection and guidance
to them. Recreational clubs, youth and mahila-mandals
etc. should not be organised at the cost of these tradi
tional and useful institutions as has been done in some
places under the community development programmes.
Of course they should be helped to orient themselves
and amend in the light of the changing situation of the
tribal areas and tribal communities. The educational
V programmes should give proper emphasis on preserving
the good elements of the tribal life—cooperative attitude,
disciplined behaviours, democratic way of functioning
and innocence etc. and education should help the
tribal younger generation to respect their useful customs
and traditional institutions.
15
T>&v - /o . I
HERE are as many as forty-two tribes, big and small in
Tamil Nadu, whose population according to the 1971
census was 3.11,515 as against 2,51,991 of the 1961 census,
an increase of 59,524 during the decade. The percentage of
increase was 23.60 for the scheduled tribes as against an increase
of 24.66 per cent for the whole country.
T
Here in brief is the statistics of the leading tribes in Tamil
Nadu. Malayalis (1,29,952) are concentrated in the three districts
of North and South Arcot, Salem and Tiruchirapalli, in the
Yelagiri and Javvadix hills, the Shervaroys and Kolli hills and
in the
4k
Pachaimalai hills
respectively.
The next
in point
of
numbers are the Irulas (79,835) who arc found all over the State;
Kattunaickans (6,459), Kotas (833), Kurambas (1,174) .Paniyans
(4,779) and Todas (714), are found in Gudalur, Kotagiri, Coonoor
and Ooty taluks respectively of the Nilgiri district. Kadars
(293), Mudugar (119), Malasar (1,999) live in the Anaimalai hills
of the Coimbatore district. Paliyans (155), Pulayans (4,779)
live in the Palani hills of Madurai district. Sholagars (6,139)
are found in the Satyamangalam area of the Coimbatore district.
It should be noted, however, that some tribes are also known
by different names. For instance, among Kurumbas, there are
Betti Kurumbans, meaning Kurumban of the hills, Mullu
Kurumbans, meaning the Kurumban with the bow and arrow,
A member of the Servants of India Society
since 1929; Sri S.R. Venkataraman worked
in the campaign of Harijan Temple entry,
wrote a book on ‘Temple Entry Legislation a
review.' He has done considerable welfare
work in the States of Tamil Nadu, Kerala
and Andhra, Since 1942heis Vice-President
of I.C.S.W. and I.C.C.W. He is a prolific
writer on social welfare subjects.
114
Jen Kurumba, meaning the Kurumba who collects honey, Kadu
Kurumba, meaning the Kurumban who lives in the jungles.
Similarly, Irulas are known as Villis in the Chingleput district,
because they use bow and arrow, as Yenadhis in the northern
part of Chingleput district, meaning the original man, as Cholagar
in the Satyamangalam area of Coimbatore district, meaning the
man who lives in thick-jungles. They are also known as Ervalars
both in the Anamalais and in Satyamangalam area. The Kanis
(1,797) of Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli district are known as
Kanakkarans, and Mala Arayan. But all the tribes, excepting
the Kotas and the Todas, are the autochthons of the jungles
where they live and they represent the earliest inhabitants of
Tamil Nadu.
MUDUVARS
In appearance Muduvars of the Anaimalai hills are generally
fair complexioned, taller and slender, with sharp noses and pointed
chin. They also enjoy better physique than most of the other
hill tribes. Muduvar women part their hair in the middle and
tie it into a knot at the back of their head. They wear orna
ments of brass, white metal rings on the fingers, ear rings, koppus,
and mayirmattis connecting the top of the koppus with the kondai
chains round their neck and half a dozen bangles on each wrist
besides anklets. Unmarried girls wear less jewellery than the
married ones and the widows none at all. A married woman
wears on her hair a bamboo comb made by her husband and
presented to her at the time of her marriage. Like thali (mangal
sutra or sacred thread round the neck) worn by Hindu women,
the comb is worn by every married Muduvar woman. Women
wear their sarees round their waist allowing it to fall up to the
ankle; the ends of the saree are carried over the shoulder and
tied.
The Muduvars speak a mixture of Tamil and Malayalam.
The head of the Muduvar village is called Moopan, which means
an old man, or an elder. All Muduvars living in the settelement are subject to his control. The office is hereditary. When
SOCIAL WELFARE
disputes arise regarding difference among Muduvars, about
customs and social usage, it is the Moopan who settles the dispute.
He decides cases of incompatibility between husband and wife,
women's misconduct or otherwise and levies fines, a portion of
which goes to him and the other to the community fund. Muduvar houses are made of bamboo twigs and leaves. They also
have separate dormitories for grown-up boys and girls. The
boys dormitory also serves as a guest house.
ng puberty it is 11 days. During these days of pollution, no
contact with the people of the family or village is permitted.
Before puberty boys and girls usually shave off their hair
in the head leaving the front forelock. After puberty the girl
allows the hair to grow in full and she is admitted into the
dormitory for unmarried girls after the usual ceremony.
A
similar ceremony takes place when the boy is about twelve; his
maternal uncle ties a turban round his head after the ceremony.
Then he also grows his tuft and gets admitted to the dormitory
Occupation
of the unmarried boys. The stay in the dormitories is said to be
Muduvars are a food gathering tribe. They also live by preparation for matrimony.
fishing, hunting and shifting cultivation; They share their food
Marriage among the Muduvars is not arranged by the parents;
with those who have not, living on the principle, “one lives for the choice is left to the boy and the girl. A common friend of
the other”. Many of them are employed in the forest depart the boy and girl conveys the boy’s desire to the girl, and if the
ment and are granted some plot of land for cultivation. They girl reciprocates the love they elope and live for a day or two
also maintain dairy and apiary. The orthodox Muduvars do not in jungles or a secluded place. After ascertaining their place
interdine with Kadars or Malasars, who live and work side by ip of hiding they are brought home and the marriage is announced.
side with Muduvars.
They are so honest that a shopkeeper The boy has to give ornaments and clothes to the girl. In the
would give them credit in preference to a Kadar or Malasar. full view of all, he inserts the bamboo comb which is artistically
They worship Rama, Palani Andavar, Meenakshi, Sokkanather carved by him into the hair of his wife.
and the other dieties worshipped by the Hindus. They celebrate
Cross cousin marriages, that is, children of brothers and
Chitra Pongal, in honour of Chitra Gupta, the accountant of sisters arc preferred among Muduvars. The marriage takes
Lord Yama. They also observe the Tamil harvest festival of place in the evening after sun down at which the boy, his best
Pongal. On these occasions they take to merry-making by man, the bride and her maid arc present. The parents of the
hging and dancing. Besides, Deepavali, Karthigai, Ayudha girl abstain from the marriage function. The ceremony consists
uja, etc., are also celebrated.
of presenting ornaments and clothes and inserting the comb
' Though they possess few wordly goods, they observe the followed by afeast for all the guests. They do not pay any bride
matrilineal law of succession, that is the property going to those price. The father of the boy does not take any interest in the
who have married their daughters.
son’s marriage and cannot obstruct it either.
Muduvars bury their dead, but do not install any memorial
Marriage and Sex
in stone to indicate the place of the burial. On the 13tb day,
Marriage among Muduvars takes place after both the boy the ceremony Karumathi takes place followed by a feast for all
and the girl attain maturity. Polygamy is practised only when the relations. They do not perform an annual ceremony in
the first wife is childless or is suffering from a chronic disease. remembrance of the dead.
They allow widow remarriage. Muduvar women are said to be
Muduvars are considered to be superior to all other tribes
chaste and loyal to their husbands, so much so that there have in the Anaimalais. They arc generous and large-hearted and
been no cases of adultery among them. They observe pollu live in harmony with the other tribes. They are self-reliant
tion; in the case of a child birth it is fifteen days, on a girl attain- and live in isolation. In those circumstances it is difficult for
any social worker to organise welfare work for them. But they
are slowly shedding their exclusiveness, but are yet to take the
Todas are the autochthons of the jungles where they live and represent the
fullest advantage of the social welfare measures of the Govern
earliest inhabitants of Tamil Nadu. A Toda habitation can be recognised
ment. They are a contented lot and do not desire any change.
from the typical hut here.
{
There are as *ansmy as
forty-two trifees Tamil Nadu,
some big, some small, Their
population according to S973
Census is 388,51$, showing an
increase off 24.66 percent in
one decade.
"EBRUARY 1974
115
Kadars have Negroid features and live in dense
forests. A Kadar boy with filed teeth.
(Photos: P.T. Thomas)
A Kadar girl with the comb tucked in her hair.
Kadar girls are given the comb at the time of
their marriage.
KADARS
Kadars live in the Anaimalais. They have the very unusual
practice of filing their teeth to make them sharp and pointed.
It is believed that it adds to their personality. The Kadars are
in a transitional stage as the younger generation seems to be
responsive to the civilising influence of education while the older
ones still stick to their old tribal ways. They belong to an ethnic
group different from that of other tribes.
There arc conflicting views among anthropologists, whether
the Kadars belong to the Negrito type, Naga type etc. What
ever be the views, they have distinct Negroid features such as
short stature, dark skin, short curly hair, thick lips and broad
snub nose.
They live in dense forests infested with wild life. Their
settlements are near jungle streams and marshy low lying places,
full of leeches. Their huts, constructed on the slope of the hills,
are scattered at different elevations. They have a separate hut
ment for women in pollution and a shed too.
Kadars are mostly still in the food gathering stage, though
many of them work as coolies in the estates and with the forest
department. Quite a few have shifted to the tenaments built
by the Government, but the settlement is in a state of disrepair,
the Kadars not knowing how to keep them in good repair.
This is due to the fact the Kadars do not like permanent buildings
which are opposed to their ways of living. They are used to live
in huts made of bamboo thatch and grass.
Kadars have now begun to crop their head like a city-bred
man and wear half pants and shirts in the place of their unkempt
tuft of hair, a dirty loin cloth and a cloth tied round his head.
Kadar women wear sarees of shorter length and a blouse, part
their hair in the middle, tying it like bun at the back. They
also wear cheap jewels even as women in the plains do. They
use ear-rings of a costly metal or some cheap substitutes made of
a bamboo reed and stick a bamboo comb in their hair, which
116
Paniyans who are good agriculturists believe in
withcrafts and sorcery.
(Photo) A Paniyan boy.
like the comb of the Muduvars, is made by the husband with
artistic designs and decorations. It is presented to the bride at
the time of the marriage by the bridegroom.
Kadars do not own any property worth mentioning except a
few aluminium vessels, brass utensils and the like. They make
the fullest use of the bamboo and ithai for making their domestic
utensils, baskets and mats and for building huts. A bill hook
is constant companion with which he can make hundreds of
articles out of bamboo and ithai. It is a multi-purpose imple
ment protecting
them against wild animals as also
used
for
cutting wood and for making a path after cutting the shrubs.
PANIYANS
Paniyans take rice gruel along with vegetable curry and
fish. Tea drinking is popular among them. They do not take
enough milk, pulses, egg and mutton. The vegetable which
they commonly use is the green plantain grown in the field or
near their huts. They eat the flesh of black monkeys, squirrels
and rabbits, which they kill with their spear. Chewing pan
is universal. Their teeth are darkish red in colour.
Paniyans worship Kattu Bagavathi; they believe also in
witchcraft and sorcery, and also indulge in hectic orgies or devil
dancing. Paniyans speak a mixture of Malayalam and Tamil.
This is called Paniya Bhasha. The head man in each Paniyan
settlement is called Kuttan or Mudali and the Paniyans living in
the settlement are subject to his authority. There is also a
Panchayat called Kottani which decides cases of social
misbehaviour like adultery, and fines the offender. Such fines
are used for communal purposes such as celebrating local
festivals.
Paniyans are good agriculturists. It is heartening to know
that out of their wages, they spend as much as 80 per cent on food
and the rest on other expenses. Near Gudalur, a land coloni
sation cooperative society for Paniyans has been organised and it
SOCIAL WELFARE
has been so far running satisfactorily, on account of the interest
taken in the society by Dr. S. Narasimhan of Kotagiri, Paniya
husband and wife are faithful to each other. Adultery and
divorce are unknown to them. Girls are married after they attain
puberty. Polygamy is very rare, and widow remarriage is pre
valent. In seeking alliance, they prefer maternal uncle’s daughter.
There is however one peculiar feature about the dowry
system among the Paniyans, which is called Kanam. Apart
from the Kanam paid to the bride's parents at the time of the
marriage, the bridegroom has to pay every year a small amount
to the parents of his wife, regularly. Failuie to pay this amount,
it is said, would result in the wife going to her parents' house
and remaining there till the arrears are paid.
Paniyans bury their dead. The grave is five feet deep north
to south. Inside the grave on the western side the earth is
removed to form an alcove, into which the corpse, rolled in a
bamboo mat, is thrust and buried. They also leave rice gruel
to last for seven days near the corpse. They are anxious it seems,
that the dead should not leave the place in hunger. They observe
pollution for sexen days during which they do not reside in their
house. Rice gruel is daily kept in a place and hands are clapped
indicating that the gruel has been kept for the relations of the
deceased. Paniyan then comes and takes it. They propitiate
the dead in the month of Makaram when all the members of the
family of the deceased gather for a feast, music, song, and
dance.
New Residents Welfare Trust
(Contd. from page 83)
felt. Then the inputs of information can be channellised through
these groups.
Secondly, the Residents Welfare Officer also uses any given
With best compliments
from
1 of]
1/29/01 9:33 AM
<0 ■
loha-ncc] Indian President's Republic d . iver valley projects"
Subject: [pha-ncc] Indian President's Republic day speech - remarks on the plight of tribals displaced
due to "large river valley projects"
Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2001 08:17:08 +0530
From: "UNNIKRISHNAN P.V.(Dr.)" <unnikru@vsnl.com>
To: "UNNIvsnl" <unnikru@vsnl.com>
Dear friends
Attached please find below the text of the President's republic day speech. The section on "displacement of
tribals" and "large river valley projects" is a must read.
"
But the developmental path we have adopted is
hurting them and threatening their very existence. It is well known how the large river valley projects are
uprooting the tribals and causing them untold misery. The mining that is taking place in the forest areas
are
threatening the livelihood and the survival of many tribes. It is through enlightened developmental policies
that we can resolve such dilemmas of development
"
Read more from the full text
"T
, A/ Regards and in solidarity
Unni
< PV fDrl
Oxfam India Fellow: Emergencies : E-Mail: unnikru@vsnl.com
####### ############## sf-# :$#.###### if-#
/ Mobile: 91 (0)
^tf*************************1
ADDRESS TO THE NATION BY TITE PRESIDENT OF INDIA SHRI K.R. NARAYANAN ON
TFIE EVE OF REPLTBLIC DAY - 2001
New Delhi, Thursday, 25 January 2001
Audio
My Fellow Citizens,
 On the eve of the 52nd Republic Day of India, I have great pleasure to extend to all my
brothers and sisters living in India or abroad my greetings and good wishes. To the millions of kisans and
mazdoors, teachers, doctors, scientists and technologists, who have laboured hard to build up New India, I
offer my gratitude and greetings. And I salute the valiant personnel of our armed and para-military forces
who have sacrificed so much and who stand ready to safeguard the territorial integrity and the honour of
the motherland.
 Friends, we are concluding to-day the Golden Jubilee celebrations of our Republic and
entering the 52nd year of the Republic. The emergence of India as an independent nation and as a
sovereign democratic Republic was a major event in the history of Asia and the world. Pandit Jawaharlal
Nehru articulated a new vision of India when he stated that the word Republic meant not only pohtical
freedom but social and economic democracy for India. To-day India has been acknowledged as a great
democracy - indeed the largest democracy in the world and the Indian Constitution as the embodiment of
the political, social and economic rights of the people. At the heart of our democracy is the right of the
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[pha-ncc] Indian President's Republic d...iver vallev projects"
universal adult suffrage. It was an audacious and revolutionary act by the founding fathers, to have
introduced in one go, the right of the vote to every adult citizen, a right for which the countries of the
West had to struggle for almost a hundred years. And that too when the country was in a state of abject
mass poverty and mass illiteracy. This act of faith by the founding fathers meant that the governance of
this vast country was not to be left in the hands of an elite class but the people as a whole. It also meant,
logically, that the voice of the people will be heard in the affairs of the State and their representatives will
be elected directly to the legislatures and Parliament. The system of universal adult franchise also
facilitated a dialectical process on the political scene out of which could emerge a consensus in the midst
of all our differences and diversities. The founding fathers had the wisdom and foresight not to
overemphasize the importance of stability and uniformity in the political system. As Dr. Ambedkar
explained in the Constituent Assembly, they preferred more responsibility to stability. That is why they
consciously rejected the system of restricted franchise and indirect elections embodied in the 1935
Government of India Act. It required a profound faith in the wisdom of the common man and woman in
India. To-day it is necessary to look back to this faith when we hear voices pleading for a system of
indirect elections. We may recall that in Pakistan, Field Marshal Ayub Khan had introduced an indirect
system of elections and experimented with what he called basic democracy or guided democracy. It would
be an irony of history if we invoke to-day in the name of Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation, the
shades of the political ideas of Field Marshal Ayub Khan, the father of military rule in Pakistan.
ScnbspLet us remember, it is under the flexible and spacious provisions of our Constitution, that
democracy has flourished during the last fifty years and that India has achieved an unprecedented unity
and cohesion as a nation and made remarkable progress in the social and economic fields. India to-day is
adjudged as one of the fastest growing economies of the world. We have managed to accommodate the
globalisation process without losing our distinctiveness as a culture and a civilization and without
compromising the independence we secured after a long and heroic struggle. Through our Green
Revolution we have achieved self-sufficiency in food grains for our one billion people. And our White
Revolution has made us the largest milk producing nation in the world underlining our food sufficiency
with an important element of the nutritional revolution that we arc seeking to bring about. We have
emerged as one of the scientifically and technologically important nations of the world. In the field of
information technology and bio-technology we have made spectacular strides. In human development we
have achieved significant successes. It is a measure of our human development success that the average
expectation of life of an Indian is to-day 61 years raised from 27 years at the time of independence. Of
course, we have yet to abolish illiteracy and poverty from the land, but we are confident that with the new
tools of science and technology we have developed and the determined efforts of the Government and the
people of India we would be able to conquer these problems also. We have to do this by keeping
ourselves in step with world developments.
 lt seems for every stage of economic and technological development there are policies and
programmes that are appropriate to that stage. In the 1960’s there was demand in the United States of
America for change in India’s basic economic poheies as a pre-condition for aid. A group of Harvard
economists advised President Kennedy on aid to India. They wrote in their report, "There are situations in
which development must already be established, before it is reasonable to expect private enterprise to take
primary initiative, for pushing it forward. In such situations insisting that investment must be wholly or
largely privately administered from the start, may prevent preconditions for private investment being
established". Indeed it is the growth of the public sector in India that made it possible for private sector to
expand and flourish later. What we have done is to keep pace with world developments. While making
necessary changes in our policies it is important to recognize the contributions made by India in its earlier
stage of development and that it is standing upon the shoulders of our earlier policies and their results that
we are to-day liberalizing and globalising our economy.
 Fiiends, India in this 21st century will be predominantly a young country. According to the
"
.srnp'e in rhe agr’-group of 15 to 35 years Coinstituted one third bf the population and in
' ’
1/29/01 9:34 AM
fpha-ncc] Indian President's Republic d,..iver valley projects”
1991 nearly 34% of the population. By 2C00 almost two-third of the population belonged to this young
age group. Youth power is manifesting itself in various fields of human activity. The spectacular growth of
the Information Technology is largely the achievement of the youth of India. To-day it is youth
organizations that are launching movements for preservation of the environment, of literacy, etc. in the
country. The National Cadet Corps, the Bharat Scouts and Guides, the National Service Scheme represent
the active youth of the country engaged in promoting national development. In the field of sports, Indian
youth are making their mark. The world championship in Chess gained by Viswanathan Anand is an
inspiration to all young people in India. Our young women have also come to the fore in international
sports and beauty' contests, projecting a new image of Indian womanhood of beauty' as well as personality
and intelligence. Our children caught in hazardous situations have shown dauntless courage, winning
bravery' awards of the nation. The story' of Sunil Singh and Mukesh Kumar of Kashmir who picked up the
gun from his murdered father and kept firing at the militants until they fled, is a heart-warming story. I had
the pleasure of receiving these brave children and other award winning children at Rashtrapati Bhavan
yesterday. Youth power is breaching the old barriers and expressing itself to the admiration of the whole
country. It was Swami Vivekananda who said that by playing foot-ball you will be nearer to God and that
you will understand the Upanishads better by playing foot-ball. We should applaud and encourage the new
spirit of Indian youth, for, they' are our pride and our future. We, the older generation, owe it to the youth
that we set an example to them.
 My fellow citizens, we have declared the year 2C01 as the year of women’s empowerment.
The pages of history' unfold the fact that all social and political movements and even great revolutions, had
bypassed women. Gandhiji was the first leader in the world who brought women to the centre stage of a
national movement. To-day' woman power is a hidden treasure that we are discovering and utilising for the
benefit of the nation. Once when Smt. Sarojini Naidu submitted to the British rulers a petition for granting
political rights to Indian women, she was asked a poignant question: "Will Indian men support your
demands?" To-day the men of India are supporting, the movement for women’s empowerment. We have
already empowered women at the Panchayat, block and district levels. Already there are nearly one
million women in local level democratic institutions. They have made an impact on the working of our
democracy' at the grass-roots and have made a stir in the society. It is only logical to carry forward this
process of empowerment of women to the State legislatures and to the Central Parliament. The
responsibility of the men of India in this matter is clear and unavoidable. 1’he empowerment of women in
politics might well be a decisive factor that will purify and save the democratic politics of India from the
deterioration of standards and values it is experiencing to-day.
  1 he awakening of the women and the y'outh of India is something that gives us hope. But
the march of development is having different kinds of impact on different sections of our people. It tends
to widen the existing inequalities and create new inequalities. The already marginalised sections, the
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, arc the greatest sufferers in this process. Referring to the tribals,
Dr. Ambedkar had said: "Civilizing the aborigines means adopting them as our own, living in their midst
and cultivating fellow feeling, in short loving them". But the developmental path we have adopted is
hurting them and threatening their very existence. It is well known how the large river valley projects are
uprooting the tribals and causing them untold misery. The mining that is taking place in the forest areas are
threatening the livelihood and the survival of many tribes. It is through enlightened developmental policies
that we can resolve such dilemmas of development. One pre-condition for the success of developmental
projects in our extensive tribal areas is that we should take into confidence the tribals and their
representatives, explain the benefits of the projects to them, and consult them in regard to the protection
of their livelihood and their unique cultures. When they have to be displaced the resettlement schemes
should be discussed with them and implemented with sincerity. This could avoid many critical situations,
and we will be able to carry’ the tribals with us. We have laws that are enlightened and which prohibit the
transfer of the tribal lands to non-tribals, private bodies and corporations. The Supreme Court has upheld
these provisions through its judgments. We cannot ignore the social commitments enshrined in our
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1/29/01 9:34 AM
fnha-nccl Indian Presidents Republic d.. iver valiev projects".
Constitution. In eastern India., the exploitation of minerals like bauxite and iron ore are causing destruction
of lurests and sources oi water, w uric me natron must benefit from the exploitation of these mineral
resources, we will have also to take into consideration questions of environmental protection and the rights
of tribals. Let it not be said by future generations that the Indian Republic has been built on the destruction
of the green earth and the innocent tribals who have been living there for centuries. A great Socialist leader
has once said that a great man in a hurry to change the world who knocks down a child commits a crime.
Let it not be said of India that this great Republic in a hurry to develop itself is devastating the green
mother earth and uprooting our tribal populations. We can show the world that there is room for
everybody to live in this country of tolerance and compassion.
ScnbspFriends, India has always thought of the world and the happiness of others, especially our
neighbours. It is in this spirit that sometime ago our Prime Minister declared a unilateral cease-fire in
Kashmir. It was a bold and imaginative measure that has attracted the attention of the world and
gladdened the hearts of the people of Kashmir suffering from the acts of violence by militants and
terrorists. On this Republic Day, let us think of peace and work for it sincerely and tenaciously so that we
can get rid of the scourge of terrorism from this land. Let us persist in the belief that the people at the
other end will realise the. futility’ of their hostility and respond to our gestures of peace and friendship. I
have no doubt that through the firmness of our determination and through the exercise of our traditional
tolerance, India will triumph in the end.
Jai Hind
>r if- X- if- sj- if- X- X- X- X- X- if if- if- if-if- X- if- X- X- if- X- X- X5- X- X- if- X- X- X- >1- if- if- X- if- X'- X'- X«- if- if- Xc if- X1- if- X- X'- X1 X'- if- if- if- if- X'- X'- X- X'- if- if- if- X'- X- X- if- if- if- if- X- X- X- X’- if- if- if- X1- If- if- X’- X1- X<- X- if- X'- Xs- X'- XL if- if- X'- Xc X*- X’- if- if- >
UNNIKRISHNAN PV (Dr}
Oxfam India Fellow: Emergencies : E-Mail: unnlkru@vsnl.com
/ Mobile: 91 (C)
OXFAM INDIA. , "V-iaya Sheet-", 4th A Main, Near Baptist Hospital, Hebbal, Bangalore- 560 024 INDIA
Ph: 91 (80) 363 2964 6c 363 3274
OXFAM INDIA works towards an equitable and just society free from hunger, exploitation and poverty by
facilitating
people-centred, responsive, transparent governance systems, ensuring basic rights and sustainable
development.
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"pHV - io
HEALTH CARE PROGRAMME FOR TRIBALS
Almas Ali
Indic is a signatory to the Alma .Ata Declaration
of 1973 and it is committed to attaining the goal of
"Health for All (HFA) by the year 2000 A.D. through
Primary Health Care Approach". The concept of Health
for All is not so simple as we look at it but it is a
continous process which means that we have to nay
equal attention to all strate of society (regardless
of location, position or ability to pay) and justifiably
much greater atent^on to the underpriviliged and weaker
sections like the Scheduled Tribes, majority of whom live
below the poverty line. Moreover, the Government has
expressed special concern for development of the tribals,
and one of the long term objectives of Tribal Dev lopment
is improvement of the quality of life of the Tribal
people. Thus, human resource development becomes the
most important aspect for the conversion of the natural
resource endowment into a ready economic asset.
The overall health status of rhe tribal community
is the outcome of several interacting factors e.g.
(a) effects of environment in which the tribals live,
(b) behavioural, pattern and life styles of the tribals,
(c) health care delivery service (in tribals areas /
constraints in accepting modern health care),
(d) hericitary and genetic determinants.
All these sub-systems make up the totality of the health
status of the tribals.
There is general agreement that the health status
of the tribal people in our country is very poor.
Different studies have tried to establish this with the
help of morbidity and mortality statistics. Though the
exact estimates on vital indices in tribal population
of our country are not available/known, it appears that
the IMR and 14MR amonc these group of people is also
comparatively greater than the non-tribal population.
The widespread poverty, illiteracy, malnutrition,
..... 2
Concept paper prepared for the Workshop on role of
Voluntary Organisation in the field of Health Care
Delivery held at New Delhi - January, 4-5, 1988.
********
2
hostile environment,absence of s?nit?ry living conditions,
ignorance of the c uses of diseases, lack of health services
or inability to seek and use them have been traced out in
several studies as possible contributing factors for the
deplorable health conditions prevailing among the tribal
groups.
Extention of existing health system is being made
during this plan period with the earnest hope that this will
improve the deplorable health conditions of the tribal
communities. The National Health Programme provides for
greater inputs in terms of man, material and facilities.
For tribal areas one Primary Health Centre is open for every
30,000, population. Similarly for every 3,000 copulation
two multipurpose health workers (one female and one male)
are provided. For the non-tribal areas these norms are
50,000 for Primary Health Centre and 5,000 for two EPWs.
Insuite of these steps and expansion of health facilities
in tribal areas, the-situation is not improving much. The
utilisation of health services is ?. sported to be very poor.
There is no significant change in so ar as important
indices of health like IMx, I-MP and incidence of commu
nicable diseases are .concerned. It has become undoubtedly
clear that the_optimal level of health among the tribal
|
£2™unities can not be achieved’. only through simple linear
the existing system o?:_health services.
Health problems and Health status of a"1 Tribal groups
is not of the same type and therefore any formula eppreach
for health care delivery is not only unsuitable but unthink
able. Different tribal groups are characterised by their
individual socio-cultural, socio-biological and socio
economic attribute and in a s-.rict sense the*, are distinct
biological isolates. The health of these tribal co^uleticn
is_as_such_a_function_of the interaction between socio-
cultural, and S''cio-bi '>lo-'leal practices, the genetic
a££Eibutes_ancj_the_envir-’omental conditions. In order to
understand the highly complex etiology of the'health status
among tribals and to develop ap ropriate health care stra
tegies amidst v- riable conditions, it would be Worthwhile
to have a proper understanding about tribal demography and
the re cions of tribal concentration in the wider context
of tribal develo ment.
Tribal Demography of India;
The tribal communities belong to different ethnolingual
groups, profess diverse faith and are at va lea levels of
socio-economic development. Spread along the entire spectrum
ranging from hunters and gatherers of forest produce to the
urbanised skilled or industrial wage earners - the tribal comm
unities constitute very important segment of the Indian population.
3
The term 'Tribe' is nowhere defined in the Constitution
and in fact,, there is no s-.tisf actory definition anywhere.
No standard term has been accepted to denominate the people
who are classified as of tribal origin. According to Article
342 of the Constitution, the Scheduled Tribes are the tribes
or tribal communities which may be notified by the President.
The Census enumerates only such tribal comicunities as are
scheduled under the relevant constitu .ional order in force
at the time of the Census.
According to the 1981 Census, in India the Scheduled
Tribe population is 51,628,638 comprising 26,038,535 males
and 25, 590,103 females constituting 7.76 wr cent of the
total population. This figure of Scheduled Tribes excludes
Assam where the 1981 Census enumeration did not take place.
The Statement at Annexure-I shows the distribution of
Scheduled Tribe population in different States/UTs and
their percentage with respect to (a) total tribal popula
tion of India end (b) total population of their respective
States/UTs. It may be noticed there from that the popula
tion of Scheduled Tribes varied a good deal from one state to
another. Their largest population is found in Madhya Pradesh
(11,987,031). The second largest number of the tribals
is enumerated in Orissa (5,915,067) immediately fol owed
by Bih-.r (5,810,867) and Maharastra ( 5,772, 038) . But their
largest proportion to total population among all the States
is found in Mizoram (93.55 per cent) followed by Nagaland
(83.99 per cent) and Meghalaya (80.58 per cent). Among Union
Territories, Lakshadweep (93.82 per cent) ranks first. The
tribals in the 1981 census were enumerated throughout the
country except ir. three'States Viz. Haryana, Jammu and
Kashmir and Punjab and three Union Territories viz.
Chandigarh, Delhi, and Pondicherry, where no Scheduled Tribes
have been notified by the President of India.
Re~: ons cf_Tribal Concentration :
The spatial distribution of the tribal communities,
is, however characterised by a striking tendency to cluster in
a few Pockets of diverse degree of isolation. Ecologically,
the tribal homelands are far from homogenous and as such
display a diversity of a High order.
The areas of tribal concentration have b- en generally
described as the forest and hilly areas of the country. No
systematic classification of the tribal areas had been
attempted until ths beginning of the Fifth Plan period when a
new strategy for tribal develo went was evolved and the areas
of tribal concentration were systematically identified and
demarcated on some objective criteria. A clear picture of the
areas of tribal concentration in the national scene has emerged
only thereafter. Now the tribal areas of India can be broadly
divided into six regions viz. s
1. Central Tribal Region
4
2)
3)
4)
5)
a) South-Central Tribal Region
b) North-Central Tribal Region
Western Tribal Region
North-Eastern Tribal Region
North-Western Tribal Region
Southern Tribal Pockets, and
6) Oceanic Groups.
Each region has some distinguishing characterstics of
ics own. They differ considerably amongst themselves in
to?':r.s. of the geo-climetic conditions, resource potential and
demographic characterstics (vide An 'exure - II& III).
Tribal Development:
In trie recent years there has been increased emphasis
on tribal development. It is well known th.at the strategy
for integrated development led to the lenching of the
Tribal Sub-plan concept in the r'ifth Plan period. Three
basic parameters of the tribal situation in the country
were recognised in the formulation of the concept. First,
that there is variation in the social, - litical, economic
and cultural milieu among the different scheduled tribe
communities in .the country. Second, that their demographic
distribution reveals their concentration in the parts of some
States and dispersal in others. Further, that the
primitive tribal communities live in. scheduled regions.
Hence, the broad approach ’.o tribal development has to be
related to their level of development and pattern a of
distribution. In predominant tribal•regions, • area appr
oach with focus on development of tribal communities has
been favoured, while for primitive groups community oriented
programmes have been preferred.
This new strategy for tribal development can there
fore be broadly divided into four parts to cover the
entire population of the country
(i)
States/Unicn Territories having
majority Scheduled Tribe port, lation
(more than 50 per cent)- Four States
viz: Meghalaya, Nagaland, Mizoram
and Aruhachal Pradesh, and two
Union Territories: Dadar and Nagar
Haveli, Lakshadweep;
(ii) Areas of tribal concentration;
(iii) Dispersed tribals; and
(iv) Primitive tribals.
Areas of tribal concentration in the country, i.e. areas
where more than 50 per cent of the population is tribal
5
5
have been identified and project approach has been "dopted
t rough the formulation of Integrated Tribal Development
Projects (I.T.D.Ps). On the whole 181 I.T.D.Ps have been
established in 17 States end 2 Union Territories covering
27 districts fully and 97 districts partly and 633 blocks
fully and 280 blocks partly. These program os through
T.D.Ps.
I.
are being implemented to bridge the cap.of socio
economic disparities betw on the tribal and non-tribal
people. Development of human £cs2£££25_°£ the tribal
communities has been identified as a crucial_element of such
grogrammes.
It has also been realised thatimprovement in
the health and nutrition status_in £he_tribal a_groups_is
fundamental to any programme of human_resO urces_development
in such communities.
Such programmes for improving the health
and nutrition status in tribal communities require a multi
disciplinary understanding and approach and need to take
into consideration the cultural end economic aspiration of
tribal communities.
Heal th_and Nutrit.ion_Programmes_for_Tribals:
The project (l.T.D.P./l.T.D.A.) reports are supposed to
subsume within it all all aspects of development within the
project area. The essense of I.T.TD.P. approach or sub-plan
approach lies in the key-word "integration1' - integration in
c-lannirg in execution through a single individual i.e., the
Project Administ ator in financial arrangements at the State
and the I.T.D.P. levels. For primitive tribal groups special
Micro Pr jects are operating throughout the country. There
fore any health/nutrition programme whether of adhoc or long
term nature, need to be fitted into the planning, implementa
tion al and financial frame work of the I.T.D.P. or the
Micro Project. Monitoring and evaluation should also cover
health and nutrition aspects.
Tribal_Health_Researchs
Corrorehensive research studies pertaining tc health
and nutritional status among different tribal groups of India
are very few, very scanty and often completely lacking.
Again, one feels that there is a lack of broad inter-disciplinary approach to study this problem. Clearly the time
has come to take a fresh 1- ok at the priority heal-.h problems
of the tribals, which have been neglected for a leg time and
t erefore, this vital problem of health, nutrition and
genetics of the tribals can be investigated and studied only
by using a multi-disciplinary approach which should
necessarily be based on an integration of such exponents ass(a) Assessment of_the health status
(b) Study_of dietary_habit and assessment 'f
nutritional status
..,6
6
(c) Indepth study of genetic diseases
end:_^iso£^££s (including chrombsomu.t.
anomalies anc' hcemoglobinopa.thics) .
(d) Demon .-T.-hic studies (special".v
mortality and morbidity .statistics).
(e) Basic assessment of the environment.
(f) Socio-economic assessment, and
(g) Study of .health, cultur.bqarid health
related behaviours
Recently the Indian Council of Medical Research (CMR)
has also initiated a number of projects to study systema
tically various heal h problems of the tribal population
and unicue to hilly areas. The health and nutrit or problems
of the vast tribcl population of India areas varied as t^e
tribal groups themselves who present a bewildering diversity
and variety in their race, language, culture and are at widely
dive’gent stages of socio-psycholooical orientation and
economic, cultural and educational development. Because
of these striking differences in their levels’ of deve
lopment, each group lias a number of problems of its own
closely allied to its socio-economic situation, eco
system, historical experience and patterns of political
articulati?n. Thus the health, nutrition and. medicogenetic problems of most of the tribal groups are also
unique and present a formidable challenge for which approoriate solutions have to be found by planning and evolving
appropriate strategies which should bo need, based and
problem solving in nature, i.e., identifying the problem,
defining the factors causing the problem and generating alternative
solutions to the problem. ■
Priority Areas in Tribal Healths
Recognising the inter-regional differences in
the tribal situation in the country and r cognising the
differences in the problems of the tribal communities, it
would seem that a different kind of e'fort for health care
delivery in each case is called for. At the present juncture
it might not te possible or desirable to study the health
and nutrition problems of all the tribal groups of the
country. Therefore, in tribal health, programes for the
primitive tribal co munities deserve top priority. Primitive
crou s require sensitive and delicate handinc, some ofthem
arc very smell in size and often face the problem of bare
survival. Therefore, in the case of primitive tribal commu
nities indepth research studies on health, nutrition and
genet'es have to he given priority. The next item in the
priority list should be health services operational
research
in tribal concentrated areas because transformation of the
7
the already existing ’■ nowledge/research findings; into
practice is woefully lacking. In the areas of tribal
concentration since the I.T.D.P. apoears to be- the smallest
administrative end ooeraticnal unit at which the activities
of different sectors are co-ordinated, it is this unit,
which we suggest should be studied in the context of health
services in order to find functional gaps in respect of
various health/medical facilities in the I.T.D.P. area;
and to achieve operational efficiency in the health
care delivery programmes.
Conclusion;The problem of Tribal Health is not only a complex
problem but is also profoundly human in nature. The urban
classes in our country have been the fortunate receipicnt
of uptodate and modern medical care facilities during the
past four decades, and the rural masses, in general, have
been coming in for some attention. The Tribals have been
more.,or less on the periphery; the primitive Tribal groups
have suffered from a total neglect. From the limited data
we have, it appears that due to their isolation, endogamous
marriages, and higher co-efficient of inbreeding they
repre ent a concentrati;n of genetic and other specific
disorders such as Sickle-Cell Haemoglobin, Glucose-6Bhosphate-Dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) deficiency etc. But the
available information on these aspects amon the primitive
tribals is very meagre. This type of data is so crucially
important that it may be.the deciding factor between their
survival or extinction. Thus, there is a danger that these
groups might perish altogether. If they do, we shall be
answerable at the bar of history. It is a challenge to our
society, it is a challenge to all of us and we must respond
to it with earnestness and vigour.
The magnitude and gravity of the health problem of
the tribals of India, compunded as they are by wide spread
proverty, illiteracy, ignorance and lack of health
education, are dounting. Neverthless, much can be done to
improve the health standard of the tribal people if
location-specific and need-based health planning is done.
Apart from Governmental bodies, Voluntary Organisations
can play a notable part and can act as vital bridge-heads
between tribal communities and. governmental agencies.
We should also make use of the genuine social organisations
and leadership among the tribals
8
. xtracts From Z.nnexures
(Data relevant to Karnataka)
Annexure I
SI E AND DISTRIBUTION OF SCHEDULE TRIBE POPULATION IN DI 143 RENT
ST'TES / UNION TERRITORIES
tat.e/U.T.
Population
Percentage of tribal population
_________ Witij_D£S2DCi_tQ___________
Karnataka
1,825,203
Total Tribal
Population of
India
Total population
of their respective
State
3.54
4.91
Source: Census of India, 1981, Primary
Census Abstract f
.
Scheduled Tribes, Series 1. India, Part II- B(iii),
pp. xix-xxiii
Annexure II
THE TRIE. L POPULATION IN TRIBAL CONCENT RATED REG.'! ONS OF INDIA
SI
Region
Tribal
Percent
Percent
Population with respect with res
in States/
to total
pect to
Union
Population
Tribal Popu
Territories of Stete/Ut lation of
India
SOUTH TRIBAL POCKET;
Karnataka
Kerala
Tamil Nadu
1,825,203
3d 1,47 5
520,226
4.91
1.03
1.07
2,606,904
2.34
(5.15)
9
Annexure III
REGIONS 0/ TRIBAL COl'CET'T:' TICN :'’ITH SOKE IK'. CRT.-'.NT CH.-.RACTERSTICS.
Recion
Southern Tribal
Region
Components
States/UTs
Karnataka
Kerela,
TamiINadu
%age of Tribal
Povu 1ation with
res:: ect to total
Tribal Eopulation
of India
5.15
Kain Tribal
C ornmun i t ie s
Malayan,
Kurumba,
Soluga
Geo-climatic
& charactersties of the
Region
Maj or
Diseases
Heavy rainfall
area and dense
Forest
V.Do , Leprosy
T B
Malaria
i ribais in India - Doomed to Extinction ?
The look on the face of the little Korku tuba! girl child said it all; ‘pure terror’ as the
elephant razed her house in the pouring rain. Her parents pleaded with the Forest officials not to
destroy the house, she said that they lived there and cultivating the lands for the past three decades
but to no avail. The forest officials told her that their superior officers had instructed them to evict
all encroachers as ordered by the Supreme Court and they had no alternative but to obey the
Supreme Conn. The processes repeated themselves in Ranigaon, Goiai. Motakheda, Somthana,
Baratanda. Palaskundi. Dadra. Hirambbai in Melghat. Hundreds of families stay in the open in
pouring rain, slowly shivering to a slow death. Melghat is also famous for starvation deaths of
children. According to credible information, 8000 tribal children died of malnutrition/starvation in
2001 in Maharashtra alone, since April 494 children have fallen victim to malnutrition. We must
remember that Maharashtra is one of the advanced states. The number of tribal children who have
died in Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh or Jharkhand remains to be tallied and it will exceed
Maharashtra severalfold. And the forest department wants to destroy crops of communities who
know no other survivsi skills than ekeing an existence from the land. Standing crops and houses
are being destroyed under virtually every’ tribal area of this country. A studied guess would put
the number of tribal families whose crops are scheduled to be destroyed in the range of 1.5
million families. All this in a drought year. The irony of it all is that Gudahir, the region front
where Godavarman hails and the preservation of its forests which he hoped to protect is the region
where the orders of the Supreme Court don’t exist. A PUCE Report speaks of 32,356.52 acres of
Shola forest that are up for grabs. Trucks of teak, rosewood and silver oak leave the area every
day under the very’ watchful eyes of the forest depart. The land falls perfectly in the dictionary'
definition of forests, only that the vagaries of vague laws have reduced the land to :no man’ s land
and up for grabs. The land grabbers are lea and coffee planters who make a killing with the
clearing of the rosewood and teak trees. We hope that the irony will not be lost on the Supreme
Court.
The frenzy of activity of evicting encroachers began with a letter of the Inspector General
of Forests dated 3ld. May 2002. The letter claims to be in furtherance of an order of the Supreme
Court on 23rd. November 2001 in Interlocutary Application of the Amicus Curiae in Writ Petition
202 of 1995 (Godhavarman Thirumulkpad v/s Union of India). We hunted in vain for the said
order. There is no order of the Supreme Court on 23rd November 2001 in LA. 703 in WP
202/1995. The only order that is available on the record on 23rd. November 2001 runs thus " The
Chief Secretaries of the State of Orissa. West Bengal, Karnataka, Tamilnadu, Assam,
Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh and Kerala, are directed to file a reply to the IA, in so
far as it concerns the said States in relation to the steps required to be taken by them to prevent
further encroachment of forest land and in particular the land in the hilly terrains, national parks
and sanctuaries, etc. Il should also be indicated as to what steps have been taken to clear the
encroachments from the forest which have taken place at an earlier point of time. Affidavits be
filed by the said states and the Union of India within four weeks... .To come up for further hearing
on 1st. April. 2002.” On the 1st of April 2002 the following order was passed “It is states that the
Union of India has received responses from various states with regard to the problem of
encroachment in the forest. The said responses are being attended to and a final decision will be
taken and directions issued by the Union of India witliin six weeks. The States which have not yet
filed affidavits should do so witliin three weeks. List after six weeks.”
In the meanwhile, in June 2002, the Supreme Court appointed a Central Empowered
Committee. Pending interlocutory application in the writ petitions the Committee has been
designated the powers to examine the reports and affidavits of the States and to place their
recommendations before the Hon'ble Court for orders. The Cental Empowered Committee
consists of Shri P .V . Jaykrishnan (Chairman) and Shri N . K. Joshi, Shri Valmik Thapar, Shri
Mahendra Vyas (Members) and Shri M . K. Jiwrajka (Member Secretaiy). W’ith the exception of
the Administrator of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, all the other officials who submitted their
repons to the Committee were from the forest department. The recommendations of the
committee are as follows . (The analysis of the recommendations is given in italics)
a. Further regularization of encroachments on forest lands in any form including by issue of pattas,
ownership certificate, certificate of possession, lease, renewal of lease, eligibility certificate or
allotment use for agricultural. horticultural or for plantation purposes is strictly prohibited except
encroachments which are eligible for regularization in conformity with the guidelines dated
18'8 1990 issued bv the MOEF: ( it is important to nets that ths said guidelines of the
Ministry of Environment and Forests have not been implemented even after ten years in
most regions notwithstanding the orders of the Supreme Court in Wp 1778/1986 (Pradip
Prabhu v/s State ofMaharashtra) dated fh March 1995.
b. The First Offence Report issued under the relevant Forest Act shall be the basis to decide
whether the encroachment, has taken place before 25.10.80. {This recommendation flies in
the face of the submissions of the Commissioner for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled
Tribes in his foreword io “Resolution of conflicts Concerning Forests Lands - Adoption
of a Frame by the Government of India. At para 39 on page 9 “ If the claims of the tribal
people are to be determined on the basis of the record of the forest department or at best,
record of other government departments, his claim is as good as lost. It is the fact of
possession, of law, its cultivation and actual reclamation, in some cases by his ancestors
which is the common knowledge of the village which is the basis of his claim. These facts
may or may not have been brought on record. The reasons for this dissonance are many.
For example, the official may not have visited the area or may have preferred not to take
note of the cultivation, or may not have bothered to bring it on record and such like. They
are of no concern of the tribal people. They cannot be expected to know what is here in
government record. In these circumstances if the record were to be insisted, the disputes
about land can never be expected to be resolved”. This problematic has also been
addressed by the Government of Maharashtra while framing the instructions for the
officials undertaking the task of regularization of encroachments on forest lands jn
Annexure ‘R’ io Government of Maharashtra, Revenue and Forests Department,
Government Resolution No. LEN-1078/3483-GI. Mantralaya, Bombay, dated 27"
December 1978 at l(iv) “In deciding thefactum of encroachment as on 3F‘ March 1978
and its subsistence, al! evidence (of every relevant sort) on record as also the evidence
which the encroacher may be in a position to produce should be relied upon and
recorded. The encroacher should be given an opportunity to produce his evidence for the
purpose. Normally entries in the ‘Pik Pahani Patrak’ would form the basic evidence of
encroachment. However, in those cases where other sufficient evidence is available io
establish the fad of encroachment, absence of entry in ‘Pik Pahani Patrak’ need not
disqualify the encroacher for getting his encroachment regularized under this scheme”.
Similar directions are also given by the Central Government in its guidelines dated 18!"
September 1990 - 11.3 FP(1) - Review of encroachments on forest lands at para 1.2 “All
such cases should be individually reviewed. For this purpose the State Government may
appoint a joint team of the Revenue, Forest and Tribo! iVeifare Departments for this work,
and complete it as a time bound program. In ail cases where proposals are yet to be
formulated, the final picture after taking into consideration all the stipulations specified
here may be placed before the concerned Gaon Sabha with a view to avoid disputes hi
future”).
c. All encroachments other than those eligible for regularization shall be evicted forthwith
from the forest Lands.( The Forest Departments have already begun evicting hundreds of
tribals even before their claims for regularization have been considered. They are
claiming that they are acting on the orders of the Supreme Court though no such orders
exist. Though statistics are difficult to come thousands of ‘encroachers’ have already
been evicted and their crops destroyed)
d. The Chief Secretary of the Concerned State shall be personally responsible to ensure
effective and timely compliance of this order. (It is surprising that till date nothing of this
son has been undertaken to stop tribal land alienation and restoration of land to the
tribals. Pushed out from their lands and with no other form of livelihood, the tribals
undertake cultivation in theforests. Otherwise they have io face starvation)
e. A Committee shall be constituted under the Chairmanship of the Chief Secretary with
Director General of Police. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Forest Secretary as
its members in each state/UT for supervising and co-ordinating the removal of
encroachments. The Chief Secretary shall be at liberty to co-opt any other state officials
and or NGOs as members or special invitees in the committee and also to constitute similar
committees at Division/Circle andor District Levels. The Chief Secretary shall file an
affidavit before the Central Empowered Committee within one month and thereafter every
month giving details of the action being implemented for removal of encroachments.
progress of removal of encroachments, time-frame for removal and other relevant details.
(The recommendations have not even considered that tribal communities still believe that
the forests and the environment must be preserved. Their ethos and culture is built
around the conservation ofthe environment. It is an acceptedfad that verdant forests still
thrive in tribal areas. In most other areas, the forests have been cleared to make way for
agriculture. Infact virtually all agricultural land in the country has been created by
encroaching and clearing forests. Tribal sensibilities and culture however have delayed
the process. As a result while other communities have already established themselves on
the clearedforests hinds the tribals are being punished for having restrained themselves
andpreserving theforests pursuant to rationale of their lives which ties al the root of their
culture and ethos that preserves nature. On the other hand the tribal people are
essentially dependent on land and land based resources. Their skills and cultural
resources re closely linked to land. But extensive alienation of tribal lands have pushed
tribals out of their lands. The state agencies have either collaborated with or acquiesced to
the land alienation. Landless tribals with no other resources for survival have moved into
theforests and cultivated land purely for subsistence <f1,d survival. To make matters worse
the dominant development policy and hegemony has been that the development of the
tribal people is linked to their progress from hunting, food gathering and subsistence
farming practices to stable agriculture. As a result, tribal communities have been
encouraged and in some cases coerced to do the same. Most encroachments by tribals in
the forest are purely for subsistence and consist of small holdings. Most encroachments
by the powerful land mafia are for plantations and industry. The scale of encroachment is
infinitely larger and profit oriented. The large land mafia have been able to access
political patronage, administrative acquiescence and. legal protection for their extensive
encroachments while the tribal and in some cases daiii subsistence encroachers are left
powerless and unprotected. Ironically in India, all development opportunities and
schemes are dependent on the applicant having a land patta. All avenues for development
are dosed when the land patta is not available. Hence the urge to encroach and the hope
that regularization will give the person a patta and with it open possibilities for accessing
development schemes. In effect, the eviction of tribals will ensure that most will never be
able io avail of any developmental schemes. It is also generally accepted that forest
preservation cannot be done without the active co-operation of communities living in and
dose to the forest. Eviction ofpeople from their land holding will not help in creating a
conducive atmosphere to ensure the ownership offorest conservation by the evicted tribal
communities.
f. A notice shall be published in the local/ vernacular newspapers atleast 7 days before the
actual removal is undertaken specifying, to the extent feasible the compartmenVsurvey no. ,
the forest range, forest division and district from where the encroachments are being
removed in compliance of this order. Whether an area is a forest or not shall be determined
oii the basis of the Forest Department Records and its absence from the other relevant
government records. (No promulgation of this sort has taken place and even if it has, the
tribals deep in the forests will never know of the promulgation because they do not even
Evictions of Tribal ‘I yncroachers’ — The law and politics — A report
The Recommendations of the Centrally Empowered Committee (CEC) in Interlocutary
Application (IA) 703 in Writ Petition 202 of 1995 (Goodhavarman v/s Union of India) were
placed before the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court for orders on 9“' September 2002. On the 901,
the Amicus Curiae, Advocate Harish Salve, mentioned to the Court that the response of the stales
was not yet received and hence it would be necessary' to adjourn the matter till all the States were
taken into confidence. Counsel for Jammu and Kashmir then stated that ail the states were party' to
the process and their officers were present and lienee an adjournment for the purpose was not
necessary. He also said across the bar that Jammu and Kashmir were in Ml agreement with the
recommendations. However the Court followed the suggestion of the Amicus Curiae and
adjourned the matter to 22“u October 2002. On the suggestion of the Amicus the Court decided
that on the 22ao uo other cases will be listed and the court will only occupy itself with the various
lAs. This is important m the light of the fact that the present Chief Justice, Justice Kripal is the
moving spirit behind the orders and would like to complete the matter before he retired in the first
week of November.
A few details of the numerous efforts that were made to postpone the hearing on the
Recommendations oi inc CF.C need to be reported that lay' behind the adjournment.
1. The Letter for Solidarity - The Beginning of Genocide of Pradip Prabhu had a salutory effect
because for the first time it drew attention to the severity of the problem. A copy of the Letter
is also being attached for those who have not read it earlier.
2. Dr. E.D. Sharma wrote a letter to the Chief Justice in his capacity of the Ex Commissioner SC
& ST. His letter detailing the blatant illegality of the evictions and the non implementation of
the numerous Guidelines of the union Government in resolving forest related disputes
between the tribals and the government was delivered to the Chief Justice. Dr Sharma was
jnepared to appear before the Court in person as a former Constitutional Authority having the
responsibility' to protect the weakest sections of Indian society.
3. The Chairperson of the Commission for SC/STs. Dr. Shastri. sent out a memorandum on the
issue to the Prime Minister and requested urgent action following Dr. Sharma speaking to him
and forwarding the letter for Solidarity' to We have reasons to believe that both had a salutory'
effect.
4. Senior Advocate Rajeev Dhawan had read the letter and communicated in detail the
frightening repercussions of evictions of tribals, the likely starvation death, child malnutrition
deaths, die tunnoil in the tribal areas to Harish Salve.
5. Sunita Narain who was also briefed by Pradip Prabhu about the repercussions if the
Recommendations of the CEC were implemented in tribal areas. She communicated the same
and the futility of evicting the tribals who are the critical partners in forest conservation to
Harish Salve when she met him on the 8th with regard to the CNG matter. This appeared to
have a salutory effect on the Amicus. Adv. Colin Gonsalves was briefed by Dr. Sharma and
Pradip Prabhu and prepared an intervention in the matter through another WP pending in the
Court, though it was not found necessary' in the light of (he Amicus' suggestion to defer the
matter.
Following
In the meantime, two important events took place.
1. Dileepsmg Bhuna, the Chairperson of the recently constituted National Commission on
Scheduled Tribes visited Melghat and confirmed that the evictions of the tribals using
elephants had caused untold suffering. Sltri Bhuria has communicated that he sees this issue
as a critical issue for the tribals a.nd will be taking up the matter with the Central and the
various State Governments.
The Chief Minister of Maharashtra declared on 8* September that as there is no ciear order
from the Supreme Conn directing eviction of encroachments, he is directing me Forest
Department to stoo ati evictions of tribals from their encroachment plots ano lestrameu toe
FD horn destroying standing crops.
After the temporary reprieve following the adjournment and a few important events that
took placedecistons were taken.
1. The intervention of Sruti & Samara in LA 703 which was rejected by the Registrar ror
reasons of delay in filing was filed again by Rajeev Dhavan.
2. Dr. B. D. Shanna will appear before the Court in his capacity as Ex. Commissioner SC/ST
3. Pradip Prabhu 'will also intervene in the matter either through Cohn Gonsalves or Prasnant
Bhushan
4. Bijay Panda will intervene in the matter through R. Venkatramani (Senior Advocate)
5. Tribal Organizations in the other states will have to try and bring pressure on their
respective state sovernnients to take steps similar to Maharashtra.
6. Efforts will also have to be made to get the State Governments to consult with
organisations working with Tribals for their feedback to the recommendations. We need to
politicize the issue and get participation of tribal organisations in responding to the CEC
recommendations. The Court has said that if the state governments do not respond, it will
be held that they have agreed to the recommendations.
7. We will have to induce the State governments to raise serious reservations to the
recommendations. It is necessary to draw the attention of the state governments to the fact
that a) their officials and staff will be evicting the people. The ruling parties in the
respective states will incur the wrath and get the political bashing for evictions. The
political repercussions for the evictions will have to be home by the state governments, b)
die evictions will cause serious law and order problems for the slate governments both
from local resistance where the tribal people are organized c) the evictions will cause
enormous distress to the tribals who anyway arc living on the brink of survival and such
steps will only result in increased starvation deaths and child malnutrition, d) evictions on
a mass scale will also create conditions for underground organisations to infiltrate the area
and result in a continual law 2nd order problems in the areas which hitherto were
manageable e) the state governments will have to bear the human and financial costs for
rehabilitation.
8. A Jan Sunvai (Peoples’ Hearing) will be organized in Delhi on 20* and 21bt of October.
Human Rights Law Network and India Center for Human Rights and Law' will organise
the hearing only: SRI ITT will take the initiative to co-ordinate the invitations and the stay,
SAMATA will cover tire travel expenses ofthe tribal activists who will be coming for the
hearing and remain in Delhi to attend the Annual Conference of the Mines, Minerals and
People Coalition and some well wishers will be approached to help cover the travel
expenses of other activists who will be invited.
Tn the meanwhile.
Pradip Prabhu met Prof. Shckar Singh to discuss the issue on the 10*. In the course ofthe
meeting, Shekar suggested initiating a Dialogue between Activists of Mass Tribal Organisations
and Environmentalists and Foresters to work out a solution to the issue. He suggested that the
Center for Equity Studies be approached to organize the dialogue. He also suggested that Pradip
Prabhu take tire initiative to begin tire dialogue with the activists and decide on the demands or
expectations of the tribal people and their organisations. He also suggested that he will take the
initiative to initiate a process with the Environmentalists and Foresters.
Pradip also met Mr. Baswan, Secretary for Tribal A.fiairs (GOI). Mr. Baswan from the MP
Cadre was previously the Director of the IAS A.cademy and is a fine, sensitive and honest officer.
rie was brought up to date with al! the details of TA 703 and its implications. It was surprising that
the Department was not only not consulted either by the CEC or the Amicus but had no idea and
no documents whatsoever about the proceedings. Mr. Baswan informed us that the Standing
Committee of Parliament on Tribal Affairs had called for a meeting with the officials on 11th of
September and the Committee was of the unanimous view that tribals should not be evicted and
their encroachments should be regularized. The results of the meeting are not yet known.
Pradip Prabhu
For the first time, tribal-inspired communal
violence resulted in the death of 150 people
■ by Uday MAHURKAR
T'S A LEGACY SO VIOLENTLY
thrust on Gujarat, a chronicle so
smeared with communal gore that
the sheafs of conflict must need be
rifled several limes over before the
tragedy is unravelled. For, among the
overwhelming figures of death and
destruction unleashed by riots lurk
patterns freshly formed, areas newly
covered by hate, unsavoury precedents
set. For the first time in the state, and in
India, the demography of riots has
altered, moving from urban to a rural
spread, bringing the tribals in its fold.
Take Sanjeli. In the carnage that
ensued after the February 27 Godhra
killings. 8.000 armed tribals descended
on the town of 8.000 in the tribal heart
land of Dahod district. Bows, stones and
gunshots rained on the fleeing Muslims.
killing 1 5. Police intervention meant
another 2.500 were spared a savage
32
APKII
death.Today, all the 450 Muslim houses
in Sanjeli are destroyed, the town sani
tised of Muslims, almost all of whom
were followers of the radical missionary
group Tableeghi Jamaat. The village
mosque run by the Jamaat is wrecked; at
the nearby madarsa torn and burnt
books are strewn all over the floor.
In an identical display of insanity.
around 7.000 armed tribals marched
into Bodeli town in Choite-Udcpur
tribal area of Vadodara district intent
on massacring the Muslims who had
taken shelter there after being driven
out of the neighbouring villages. While
hundreds were saved by the police.
Vadodara District Collector Bhagycsh
Jha and other senior officers were fired
upon by tribals as they tried to rescue
the trapped Muslims.
Tragedy was also averted by the
SCENE OF CRIME: As many as 450 Muslim
homes were destroyed by tribals at Sanjeli
6
%
v
E ADIVASI OUT
.
,
For the first time, tribal-inspired communal
violence resulted in the death of 150 people
■ by Uday MAHURKAR
T'S A LEGACY SO VIOLENTLY
thrust on Gujarat, a chronicle so
smettred with communal gore that
the sheafs of conflict must need be
rilled several times over before the
tragedy is unravelled. For, among the
overwhelming figures of death and
destruction unleashed by riots lurk
patterns freshly formed, areas newly
covered by hate, unsavoury precedents
set. For the first time in the state, and in
India, the demography of riots has
altered, moving from urban to a rural
spread, bringing the tribals in its fold.
Take Sanjeli. In the carnage that
ensued after the February 27 Godhra
killings, 8.000 armed tribals descended
on the town of 8.000 in the tribal heart
land of Dahod district. Bows, stones and
gunshots rained on the fleeing Muslims.
killing 1 5. Police intervention meant
another 2.500 were spared a savage
I
52
i
death. Today, all the 450 Muslim houses
in Sanjeli are destroyed, the town sani
tised of Muslims, almost all of whom
were followers of the radical missionary
group Tableeghi Jamaat. The village
mosque run by the Jamaat is wrecked: at
the nearby madarsa torn and burnt
books are strewn all over the floor.
In an identical display of insanity,
around 7.000 armed tribals marched
into Bodeli town in Chotte-Udepur
tribal area of Vadodara district intent
on massacring the Muslims who had
taken shelter there after being driven
out of the neighbouring villages. While
hundreds were saved by' the police.
Vadodara District Collector Bhagyesh
Jha and other senior officers were fired
upon by tribals as they tried to rescue
the trapped Muslims.
Tragedy was also averted by the
SCENE OF CRIME: As many as 450 Muslim
homes were destroyed by tribals at Sanjeli
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STATES ■ GUJARAT
VICTIMS OF A NEW WRATH: The Muslim
refugees at one of the relief camps at Dahod
them Muslims. Combined with the
violence unleashed by obc Thakores in
rural areas, the toll is 400. Brutalised
Muslims now stationed at camps in
Dahod and Jhalod are also bewildered
at the unexpected magnitude of rea
ction in small towns.
Most of them blame the Sangh Parivar for the zealous Hindu identity that
the tribals have recently acquired.
When a newspaper carried an article
saying the "tribals were on a warpath
against Muslims" it received over a
dozen calls from tribals. “Don't call us
tribals. Refer to us as Hindus," they
said. “For what they did to Hindus at
Godhra. they should be taught a
lesson," said another tribal.
Incredible as it may seem. Muslims
believe the Godhra killings were, in fact.
orchestrated by the Hindutva brigade to
trigger an anti-Muslim upsurge. “It was
not a communal riot but a plan to wipe
usout."saysMushtaqMaskenof Sanjeli
whose shop and house were destroyed
before he fled the town with his family.
HE tribals believe otherwise. For
the unprecedented reaction they
blame their exploitation, espe
cially that of women, by Muslims.
SaysDalsukhdas Maharaj, a tribalsadhu
and a VHP member whom the Muslims
accuse of playing a key role in triggering
anti-Muslim violence: “It was a sponta
neous upsurge. All we have done is
spread awareness among the tribals
about their exploitation and their
rights." The repressed antagonism com
bined with disapproval over alleged com
munal teachings spread by Tableeghi
Jamaat to unleash the tribal outrage.
The Tableeghi movement was
launched in .192 6 by a Deobandi ntaulvi.
Maulana Mohammed Ilyas, a descen
dent and a follower of medieval Islamic
radical Shah Valiullah. The school does
n't recognise national boundaries, only
pan-Islamic brotherhood. In the tribal
belt stretching from Dahod to ChotteUdepur. a majority of Sunni Muslims
have been Tableeghi followers, with
towns like Sanjeli even hosting radical
Islamic preachers from Gulf countries
for the propagation of puritanical
Wahabi Islam. According to Hindus, the
Muslims in the region were followers of
the moderate Islamic school. Ahil-eSunnat, before the movement reached
the area about two decades ago. The
Muslims, however, defend the Jamaat.
Says Masken: “Il is a progressive and
apolitical movement that tackles issues
like misuse of Islamic divorce laws."
T
police and army at Viramgam town near
Ahmedabad where over 15.000 Hindus.
mostly armed OBC Thakores. burnt 250
Muslim houses. The attack has caused
large-scale Muslim migration.
It is an occurrence new to the coun
try. Hundreds of villages in rural areas of
central and north Gujarat, particularly
in the tribal belt, have been wiped clean
of Muslims by the tribals and obc Hindus.
“Riots have largely been an urban phe
nomenon in India." says political analyst
Vidyut Thakar. “What is intriguing is
that for the first time mobs have attacked
Muslims in rural areas, particularly in
the tribal belt."
Of the more than 800 people killed
in rioting (140 in police firing), nearly
.150 people have died in tribal-related
violence in the state, over 90 per cent of
■ STATES
*
ASSAULT ON JOURNALISTS
BREAKING NEWS
"If the violence was due to the
Tableeghi teachings why were follow
ers of other Islamic schools like Bohras
attacked?" asks Akram Qureshi, a relief
worker. But tribals like Surmabhai
Damor counter the argument. "The
tribals are ignorant of various Islamic
schools which is why they have reacted
against all Muslims even though the
hatred was spread by Tablceghis."
Though the violence has abated in
the tribal belt primarily because there
are no Muslims left in the villages, re
habilitation of the affected has becotne
a dilemma. Last week, as government
officials arrived at Kawant village near
Chotte-Udepur to plan the resettling.
tribals threatened the Muslims against
returning to their villages.
The Muslims in relief camps in the
tribal belt are also divided over whether
they should go back to the villages on
simply migrate. While the poorer pec®
pie refuse to return, the more affluent
ones like Masken who have land and
ARMED IRE: Mediapersons in Ahmedabad protesting against the police assault
Froj VEN AS GUJARAT CHIEF MINISTER NARENDRA MODI
staved off I he onslaught on his inability to tackle communal riots.
his Government was pummelled on yet another front last week: the
EiuZi police attack on journalists covering a peace rally at the Sabarmati
Ashram in Ahmedabad.
The immediate fallout of the attack was a fresh chorus of demands on
Modi's ouster. Only.it was the coalition partners of the ruling nd.a who were
roused into action this time. Exposing thedeepening fissures within the rul
ing alliance, a section of the Samata Party, Trinamool Congress. Telugu
Desam Parly (top) and the Janata Dal (U) Joined the Congress and the Left
parties in seeking Modi's resignation. Samata Party General Secretary and
spokesperson Shatnbhu Srivastava even quit from his post when his
demand for Modi's removal was negated bi' party leadership. At its politburo meeting the top went back on N. Chandrababu Naidu's earlier clean
chit and. in a strongly-worded resolution, called for Modi's resignation.
To some extent Modi may yet be able to shrug off responsibility for the
unthinking assault, blaming it on Medha Patkar. the unyielding leader
of the Narmada Bachao Andolan. Reviled in the state for her anti
Narmada dam agitation, it is Patkar’s presence at the rally that is being
seen as the immediate cause for provocation. Though the organiser of the
peace meet, dancer Mallika Sarabhai, insists the controversial leader was
not invited. Patkar maintains she was. As soon as she arrived at the venue.
100-odd workers from the Congress and bjp protested and manhandled
Patkar before peace activists and police stepped in to rescue her. She was
then locked inside a room before being whisked away.
The police, meanwhile, worked to lame the milling crowd outside the
room. Some distance away were mediapersons thronging to cover the
rapidly disintegrating situation. Suddenly a handful of policemen, led by
Deputy Commissioner of Police V.M. Parghi, attacked the presspeople
with batons and a local bjp leader who tried to intervene was beaten
unconscious. Several tv journalists were also injured in the assault. By
late night as TV channels took the Government to task and the nda part
ners called for Modi's exit, the chief minister not only condemned the
assault but by midnight had transferred two li’sofficials. Parghi and Shivanand Jha. suspended a police inspector and ordered an inquiry. What
ever redeeming purpose the probe may serve on paper, for a beleaguered
Modi it may just be an exercise in futility.
—Uday Mahurkar
“We are doomed.
temporarily or forever^
onlyflime will tell.”
ABDUL KARIM, grocery store owner
property in the villages want to. In a
sharp departure from Tableeghi belief,
Masken says. “It is our matrabhooini
(motherland). Where else can we go?
We will return to our villages even if it
means getting killed." Adds Salimbhai
who rims a relief camp at ChotteUdepur: 'At least 40 per cent of the dis
placed Muslimsdon't want togoback."
On the other hand, the presence of the
refugees is being opposed by Hindus.
The tribals and one Hindus, mean
while. are remorseless, often outrighlly triumphant. It may be an
exhilarating feeling for them but has
opened up fresh frontiers of hate for
the entire country.
S
MAN WITH A FEMALE NAME:Ratan Katyayani and Bawaria women nomads at Shahpura in
WANDERER,
Ten years ago a young
lawyer discovered that
thousands of Indians
had no citizenship
rights. They were
nomads, the nowhere
people. Ratan Katyayani
quit his legal practice
and settled 20,000 of
them in Rajasthan
12 625ES33
For centuries, the
nomadic tribes had been
perpetually on the move,
never knowing a
permanent roof over
their heads. Their
children were born on
the move, their elders
died on the move
Development bypassed
the wanderers. None of
them had ration cards,
none of them figured on
voters’ lists. None of their
children went to school.
Many of their women
sold themselves for
survival
Dec 24 2000
ECZ
Oh
HMH
Jaipur district deciding which land to grab for building their homes
GM HOME
The Establishment said
the nomads did not
want to live rooted to
the earth. That their
traditions and trades
impelled them to
wander. Katyayani
proved that they
yearned to break with
the past
Dec 24 2000
By Debashish Mukerji fliotos/Arvind Jain
nemorningin January 1990, lawyer Ratan Katyayani, stand
O
ing outside the magistrate’s court atThanagazi in Rajasthan’s
Alwar district, saw an unusual sight. A small, dark, be
draggled,
old man
in handcuffs
was
beingwomen
escorted
to two
the
court
by three
policemen,
with half
a dozen
and
dozen children tugging at his clothes and begging them to set him free.
From the women’s apparel it was obvious that they were Banjaras, the
largest of the nomadic groups in the state. What heinous crime had the man
committed? Katyayani, curious, followed the man into the courtroom.
“Read the file,” said the magistrate curtly, when Katyayani asked.
The man, Krishna alias Pecru, was being charged under Section 107 of
the Criminal Procedure Code which allows detention on suspicion of any
person unable to provide a fixed, permanent address.
“Why don’t you tell the policemen to stop harassing poor people this
SEE5TS3 13
Mother s fire in the belly
ith his greying, scanty beard
W
Sangharsh Vahini, before returning
and bulging jhola, Ratan
Katyayani, 42, can be easily dis
home to set up a unit of the Vahini in
Jaipur. Then he enrolled for LL.B; he
missed as one of the leftover leftists
felt one should learn the Constitution
wanted me to use my education to
help other poor people." Katyayani
never forgot her words.
She died decades ago, but Umrao
from the sixties and seventies, ren
and the law before trying to take on
Prasad, in his late sixties, is still active.
dered irrelevant by the inarch of
the system. It has helped him in his
time. It is hard to believe that this
mission of settling the nomads.
“Compassion and sensitivity are the
two qualities I sought to instil in
sloppily dressed slim man of me
He readily acknowledges the sup
Ratan," he said. “I told him that other
dium height is a near messiah for
port he got at home. “My mother was
qualities like intelligence, ambition
20.000 people.
an inspiration and so was my foster
and aggressiveness are human. But
“We used to be so timid and
father,"he acknowledged. “Mymother
these two are divine.”
ignorant at one time that even a
Chamar could slap us and get away
used to eat only once a day. Once,
“He never suggested I should pur
when I asked her why, she said it was
sue money or fame,” Katyayani said.
with it," said Nasiya, a Banjara
to save money for my education. She
“Nor did he tty to curb my activism.”^
woman at Bamanwas village. “To
day we would slap even a police
man if he misbehaves with us. And
it is all thanks to Vakil Sahib.’’
Vakil Sahib, as they call
Katyayani, was born into an agri
STREAK OF SELF-DENIAL: He once rejected his
'Sharma* surname; at a meeting near Thanagazi,
he is shying away from a marigold welcome
cultural family at Viratnagar in
Jaipur district and brought up in
Papri village. "He displayed lead
ership qualities from a very young
age," recalled Umrao Prasad
Vaidya, who adopted him in the
early sixties. “He was always taking
an interest in village affairs even as
a child and was president of his
school students union.” In college,
he was adjudged best debater in
universities in Rajasthan.
The radical young man rejected
his Brahmin surname ‘Sharma’ in
favour of‘Katyayani’, which has no
caste overtones. “Katyayani is one
of Durga’s many names,” he said.
“It is also the name of Maharishi
Yagvalak's second wife: she was an
intellectual who participated on
equal terms with men in discus
sions and public discourses.”
At 16, Katyayani flung himself
into the Jayaprakash Narayan-led
Total Revolution’ movement. “The
last public meeting JP addressed
before his arrest following the im
position of Emergency was at
Viratnagar, at our behest,” he said.
Later, Katyayani visited JP at
Lal Kuan village and participated
briefly in the struggle against the
Bodh Gaya mahant, launched by
the JP-inspired Chhatra Yuva
14 ES333
Dec 24 2000
way?” Katyayani asked the magis
He claimed he has been equally
the entire burden of looking after
lucky with his life partner, Manju, as
the family fell on me.” But after 16
well. Theirs was an arranged match
years together, she is reconciled.
these nomads are,” the magistrate
in 1984, and they have two sons and
"He has been jailed, he has been
replied. “They are the ones respon
a daughter: Anand, 13. Anupam, 9,
attacked, he once had a serious
sible for the recent spurt in crime.”
and Asmita, 8. With Manju also em
motorcycle accident while riding
Although Section 107 is a non-cog-
trate.
“You have no idea what crooks
ployed—she teaches English at a
in the mountains and lost his
nizable, bailable offence, he sen
girls’ school in Viratnagar—and
memory for a month. I used to
tenced Krishna to a fortnight in jail.
Katyayani’s erratic timings, looking
after the children would have been a
worry alot at first, but now I place
all faith in God, and ask Him to
ten down, Katyayani stood up. “I’m
nightmare if Manju's parents had
look after my husband,” she said.
moving a bail application on his be
not stepped in to help. “They live in
Katyayani has few role mod
half,” hesaid. “You can reject it ifyou
Alwar town and are bringing up our
els, but there is one man he looks
sons,’’ said Katyayani.
When his daughter was born
up to: Sanjay Ghose. Ghose
The magistrate looked at him as
worked for many years in western
if he doubted his sanity. But he did
Before the order could be writ
like. Ill then go in appeal.”
Katyayani could not bring himsel fto
Rajasthan before shifting to
not dare reject the application out
part with her. "Even if I return home
Majuli in Assam, where he disap
right. Grantingbail, he fixed asurety
^ter midnight, I wake her up,” he
Srid. "I cannot go to sleep without
peared after Ulfa extremists ab
ofRs 10,000—exceptionally high for
ducted him. “After Mahatma
the offence.
spending some time with her.”
Gandhi and JP, the man I admire
Manju is clearly trying to make
most is Sanjay Ghose,” said
“Why are you doing this?”
Katyayani asked.
the best of a difficult deal. “I found
Katyayani. “I have learnt a great
“Because I know he is bound to
my situation very’ strange at first,”
deal from him.”They remained in
jump bail. Once he leaves this court,
she said. "He was never around, so
close touch throughout Ghose’s
well never see him again,” the mag
Rajasthan
interlude.
“From
istrate said.
Ghose, I learnt never to compro
Since Krishna knew no one who
mise on principles. I also learnt to
could stand surety, Katyayani offered
be scrupulously correct in finan
to do it himself. His fellow lawyers
cial matters."
were aghast, and though the magis
Katyayani showed no hesita
trate took him into his chamber to
tion in naming his funding agen
dissuade him, Katyayani remained
cies. Action Aid, CRY, the Na
firm. Krishna was set free and told to
tional Foundation of India, the
present himself in court a fortnight
Sir RatanTataTrust, and Nether
later.
lands-based Hewas together pro
While coming out of the court
vide him an annual kitty of Rs 20
some time later, Katyayani was won
lakh. Of late, he has been holding
dering ifhe had not made a mistake.
an annual paardarshani mela
Krishna might have already disap
(transparency fair) to which local
peared. As he came to the gates, he
people, officials and pressmen are
found Krishna, along with the women
invited to examine Muktidhara’s
and children, waiting for him.
accounts. “Apart from the gov
“Far from running away, they
ernment, the NGOs should also
were
be far more transparent in their
Katyayani said. “I explained to them
functioning,” he said.
why it was necessary for him to come
waiting
to
thank
me,”
How does he provide for his
to court in 15 days. I gave him my
family since he draws no salary
address and suggested he meet me
and gave up his law practice nearly
at home a day earlier so that I could
a decade ago? Again, Katyayani
escort him. But he came home the
was disarmingly frank. “My foster
father is the biggest landowner in
very’ next day saying he would camp
outside my house so as to be avail
our xillagc/he revealed. "Wehave
able whenever the court wanted him.
plenty of income from the land.
So much for the ‘unreliability’ of the
Very fertile soil, yielding four crops
nomads.”
a year. My wife earns a decent
salaiy. Our requirements are few.
I don’t need to earn a living.”
s a child Katyayani had seen
A
ghumantoos (nomads). They
DM
camped occasionally near his rai
lage, but were driven away if they
Dec 24 2000
M
A
N
ESTEEMS 15
0
F
T
H
E
Y
E
A
Interview/Ratan Katyayani
I try to restore dignity and selj
W
hat prompted you to start work
much they could achieve! I want them
dirty, it is only because of the acute
ing among the nomads?
to get those opportunities.
water shortage they face.
The nomads are the worst off
Considering that the nomads who
It is true they have some bad hab
among the many deprived sections
have settled face so many problems—
its, especially excessive drinking. Given
of society. Members of scheduled
water shortage, unemployment, hostil
the dreadful lives they lead, drink is
castes and tribes have become chief
ity from neighbours—how successful
their sole sustenance! We never ask
ministers and top bureaucrats. But
have your efforts been?
them to give up drinking. Who are we
have you ever heard ofanyone from
Whatever success the nomads have
to force them? But we do tiy to set an
the nomadic communities in any
had in settling down is primarily due
example ourselves. Drinking is strictly
responsible position?
to their own efforts. I am just a facili
prohibited within the Muktidharapre
tator. I never made any promises I
could not keep, and that is why the
mises. Drinking and misbehaviour
It is the nomads who face the
maximum violation oftheir human
rights. What can be worse than
never having known a roof over
nomads still have some regard for me.
I told them I cannot build theirhouses
one's head? Even animals in the
for them. But I did say, ‘I will make
wild have homes to return to at
society respect you'. I have tried to
night. And because people know
restore their dignity and self-respect.
how poor and vulnerable they are,
The neighbours say that the nomads
they have to face humiliation at
are dirty, quarrelsome and crooked,
even- step. Wherever they go, they
apart from being drunks.
are hounded out.
The nomads are not crooked. On
Given the conditions in which
the contrary' they are exceptionally
they live, completely exposed to the
loyal and trustworthy. Peoplecall them
elements all year round, it is a
thieves, drug-peddlers and many other
miracle they survive at all. They
names, but in all these years not a
must have such power, such inner
single case related to these offences
energy to be able to do so! If only
has been filed against any nomad as
they had proper opportunities, how
sociated with Muktidhara. Ifthey are
LIFE OF HUMILIATION: Wherever they go, they
are hounded out; a Banjara woman of Bamanwas
who was pushed out of a bus (right)
stayed too long. After meeting
survival. Their children were born on
Krishna, he realised that these indc-
the move, their elders died on the
fati gable travellers wandered i n small
move. “It was as if, in the eyes of the
bands all their lives, never making a
state, they did not exist,” Katyayani
permanent roof over their heads. He
said.
visited Krishna at his camp, high up
Talking to Krishna and his com
in the Aravalli hills. 20 km from
panions, he found that nomads no
Thanagazi town. He kept returning
longer relished their lifestyle—so ro
after work every evening, often spend
mantic to poetic eyes—and wanted to
ing nights at the camp.
settle in one place. The Banjaras made
He was appalled that progress had
a living out of selling salt and multani
bypassed the wanderers. Unable to
provide “proof of residence” they had
mitti (fuller's earth, a body cleansing
powder) but who wanted it any more
no ration cards. None of them had
when soap was freely available.
citizenship rights, none of them fig
The Nats, another nomadic tribe,
ured on the voters’ list. None of their
were village fair entertainers, jugglers
children went to school. Many of their
and tightrope walkers, but cinema and
women had taken to prostitution for
television robbed them ofpatrons. The
16 K5ZS3
Dec 24 2000
easy assimilation.
-respect
What is the government’s attitude
to your efforts?
behave badly we do not mind.
But when officers, specially IAS
officers, who are supposed to be
There are very few good people
educated, reveal themselves to
in the government. Dealing with the
be foolish or arrogant, it does
towards women, these are two things
authorities has been onelongsagaof
come as a shock. That’s why there
I'm very strictly against.
humiliation for me. Most of them
are two reforms I feel very
I understand the neighbours’
feelings, though I do not sympathise
use every opportunity' they get to
strongly about. First, we must
insult me. We’ve had to hold dharnas
introduce the right to recall
with them. The nomads are dirty,
even to get the nomads on the voters’
elected legislators ifthey are cor
they dress differently, they speak a
list! We’ve had to fight for even this
different dialect, some of their val
most basic right in a democracy.
rupt or fail to perform. Second,
the course content at the
ues are different. Though most call
themselves Hindu, some oftheir re
cials corrupt, but they also lack un
newcomers are trained, should
ligious rites may seem strange to
derstanding. We don’t think much
be overhauled. It must be dinned
orthodox Hindus. All this obstructs
of politicians anyway, so when they
into the officers that, in a demo
Not only are politicians and offi
Mussoorie academy, where LAS
cratic country, they are the ser
vants of the people and not vice
versa.
You have been encouraging no
madic women to play an active
role in your movement.
Nomadic women are per
haps the most deprived among
the deprived, because they are
nomads and because they are
women. My' experiences have
also taught me that, by and large,
women are less irresponsible,
less deceitful and less untrust
worthy titan nten. Women are
keen to build, to nurture, to help
grow, be itbabiesor institutions.
I see them as symbols of cre
ation. Besides, ifa woman raises
her voice against injustice, it has
greater impact.
DM
story was no different in the case of
the Kalbelias (snake charmers): not
even children were amused by their
performances any longer. And
Gadiya Lohars, blacksmiths who
travelled from village to village, mak-
ingand repairing agricultural imple
ments, lost out to factories that mass
produced implements of far greater
sophistication.
Besides, camping itself was be
coming difficult. “Where is the place
to camp these days," said Chidiya, a
middle-aged woman of a Gadiya
Loharband living on the edge of the
Jaipur-Alwar
highway,
near
Maruthana village. “Villagers shoo
us away wherever we go.”
Dec 24 2000
ESSSZS3 17
For the wanderers, death could be
as hard as life. “Villagers won't let us
cremate our people in their cremation
grounds," said Chhaganram, leader of
a Banjara camp at Bhilwara village of
Jaipur district. “They claim the ghosts
will haunt them. We need a place to
call our own.”
Politicians and officials have al
ways insisted that the nomads do not
wantto settle down and that they have
rarely approached the land allotment
committees that the government has
set up in every block of villages. “No
mads are entitled to priority allot
ment,"said Krishan Murari Gangwar,
MLA from Thanagazi and member of
the local committee. “But they don’t
come to us.” The nomads told
Katyayani that officials did not listen
to their persistent pleas for land.
R
atan Katyayani had always been
inclined towards social activism
and had set up an NGO for peasants,
Muktidhara, in I9SS. Haring heard
Krishna and his companions out, he
became obsessed with their rehabili
tation; quitting his legal practice, he
took up their cause full-time. He of
fered them a radical solution: if the
government was not giving them land,
they should simply grab some.
Katyayani’s motto was simple: Jo
zamin sarkari hai. wo zamin hamari
hai. (Government land is our land.)
But he insisted that they take only
siwaichak land—unclaimed and
unassessed revenue land—not private
land, disputed land, land allotted for
projects, or notified forest land.
Krishna’s band agreed.
Katyayani soon formed three
groups to search for a suitable site:
one group had all the men in the band;
another had all the women; the third
consisted of Katyayani and volunteers
from Muktidhara.
“The men were to check out how
safe a site would be, especially the
attitude of surrounding villages,”
Katyayani said. “The women were
to judge the quality of life the dif
ferent sites offered. The Muktidhara
group looked into the legal aspect,
how feasible acquiring each site
would be.”
Finally, BamanwasChogan village,
20 km from Thanagazi, with plenty of
flat land which could be cleared for
18 t£S353
LIFE IN THE SHADOWS: Thousands of nomads live onroad side
Dec 24 2000
MHH
IO
S8>g
c
s, uncared for by the state; a group of children cooking their supper
Dec 24 2000
ESElZHS 19
cultivation, was chosen in mid-1991.
There settled 20 families. “We have
been here since and have never regret
ted it,” said Kera, 6'5 and fiercely
moustachioed. He was among the first
settlers, along with Krishna, who died
in 1995.
ince then Katyayani has helped
S
set up 25 other settlements in the
same way, giving a home to 20.000
people. Under his guidance, 17 more
groups have selected their sites and
40 others are inclined to settle. Most
of these settlements are in Alwar dis
trict, a few spilling over into Jaipur,
Sikar and Dausa.
“Every time a group settles, we ask
its members to plant trees around their
houses," Katyayani said. “The size of
the trees becomes a record of their
length of stay, in case the government
tries to evict them.” He gives every
settler a Muktidhara identity card—a
deterrent for policemen and forest
guards who may want to harass the
settlers.
The police and the officialdom con-
sider them encroachers. “What
Katyayani is doing should hardly be
encouraged,” said Vinay Kumar,
tehsildar at Thanagazi. "The nomads
should ask the village panchayats for
TREE-WITNESS: The size of the trees becomes proof of their
land. They have no right to simply
mads yet?” On the contraiy, the gov
the Banjaras would not be allowed to
occupy!”
ernment has been regularising en
stay,”
It is their human right, Katyayani
croachments, the latest order giving
sarpanch of Bhilwara, where a nomad
said- “When surplus land exists and
legitimacy to those up to April 23,
settlement came up six months ago.
those required to distribute this land
“We have stopped them from using
are not doing their job, what is wrong
1977.
The settlers, however, have been
ifwe occupy it?” he asked. “If what we
facing hostility from neighbour! ng vil-
The Banjaras there have no water
are doing is illegal, why has the gov
lagers. “We’ve taken a decision at our
source of their own. “The villagers
ernment not evicted the settled no-
last panchayat meeting in October that
break our pots whenever we ap-
20
said
Shyamlal
Boonkar,
our wells and borewells.”
Dec 24 2000
length of stay; 'parliament' building of Ghumantoo Vikas Panchayat (inset)
preach," said the Banjara leader
Haldina village attacked a three-
The Banjaras fled, never to return to
Chhaganram.
Why are the villagers hostile?
month-old settlement ol'70 Banjara
Haldina.
families, burnt several houses and
In most other places the no
Boonkar said the Banjaras were sell
stripped naked a young woman
mads have stuck it out despite as
ing drugs and stealing livestock. Dis
named Chidiya. Arrests were made
saults. In December 1993 Brahmin
missing the allegation, Katyayani
only after Katyayani led a massive
villages attacked 12 Nat families in
asked: “Would they be so poor if
march to the Alwardistrict collector's
Unchpur village in Alwar, forcing
they were in the drag trade?"
house. Undaunted, the Jats burnt
them to flee. In August 1995 a drunk
down the settlement a year later.
Banjara made a nuisance ofhimself
In September 1992, Jats of
Dm. 24 2000
EBSS3 21
Battle of Bamanwas
It was here that nomads got rooted to earth
t the foothills of the Aravallis
The Meenas and the other Regars
for water. The collector immediately
stands Bamanwas Chogan, the
would have none of it: one morning
sent a drilling machine to the village,
first village of nomads, where 20
Banjara families settled in mid-
when Nasiya went to the well, she
and thus was installed the first, and
found human faeces floating in it.
only, hand pump in Bamanwas.
1991. Their numberhas now grown
The Banjaras almost gave up and
Only then did the Banjaras clear
to 62.
Theoncebarren, rocky land has
decided to move on, which made Ratan
the area and build their houses. “Mine
Katyayani organise the first-ever
been transformed into acosy home
clharna by the nomads. He gathered
cost nearly Rs 8000 to make, and took
a week,” Nasiya said. Stones and mud
stead: the settlers have built them
all the Banjara women and led them
for the walls were freely available all
selves houses of mud, stone and
to gherao the Alwar district collector
around, but the chhapar roof cost
A
thatch, planted neem, sheesham
and keekar trees, and erected sheds
for their animals.
Abandoning their traditional
trading practices, most ofthem have
HOME AT LAST: One of the earliest settlers,
a Banjara woman of Bamanwas village, proudly
displaying the title deed of her house plot
turned farmers. They have made
400 bighasofwasteland arable, but
being dependent on the rains for
irrigation, they are able to produce
only one crop a year.
Bamanwas (population: 500)
is perhaps the best off among all
the nomad settlements. The people
are on the voters' list, they have
ration cards, and they have been
listed in the BPL (below poverty’
line) category. In 1997, they got
pattas (title deeds) for the lands on
which they have built their homes.
Pattas for the land they cultivate
have proved difficult, especially af
ter the government declared it for
est land six years ago.
Nasiya, 44, her husband Soji
and their seven children—three
more have been bom since—were
among the first 20 families. "It was
just rock and jungle in those days,”
she recalled. They put up plastic
tents and for nearly a year the
neighbouring Meenas did not
trouble them: they thought the no
mads would soon move on.
"When they found out that we
meant to stay, they’ turned nasty’,”
said Nasiya. One Meena had al
lowed the Banjaras to draw water
from his well, but now’ his clan
forced him to turn them away. The
Banjaras then found another kindly
man among their Regar neighbours
w’ho was willing to oblige them.
22 EEEE33
Dec 24 2000
near the marketplace at Hodh vil
allots land to it. “I respect their deci
money, as did the three workers
lage in Sikar district, where 120
sion,” he said.
she employed.
The house still stands: asingle
Banjara families had settled. Using
Katyayani himselfhas been as
this as pretext 10 Jat-dominated
saulted half a dozen times. “I never
travel alone anymore,” he said. The
large room, about 15 feet by 10
villages surrounded the settlement,
feet, the sloping roof barely six
unleashing terror and forcing the
most bizarre assault was at Gudha
feet high at the centre. Inside,
nomads to flee. But in both these
village in March 1996 as he was on
there are two charpoys and a few
tin trunks in which the valuables
cases and in numerous others the
his way home from Bamanwas. A
village madman was provoked into
are kept locked: the rest of the
nomads have returned.
Katyayani’s response to such as
possessions, including the bed
saults has always been the same:
village toughs rained blows on him.
biting him on his upper ami while
ding, are stacked outside. A
petitions, marches and sit-ins at the
Tearing at his flesh, the madman
Petromax hangs: Bamanwas has
collectorate. “The nomads have
just would not let go until some
no electricity. Food is cooked on
shown immense courage," Katyayani
noted. “I tell them I cannot be with
firewood outside the house.
Bamanw'as settlers rushed to his res
them all the time, nor can I hire
cue.
In the jungles near Kishori, at
dren married at Bamanwas,
toughs to help them. I can only alert
the bus stand in Haldina, outside
seems reasonably content. 'The
the authorities.”
the Nat settlement in Jaisingpura,
Nasiya, who got six ot her chil
strong winds in summer someBrnes blow away our chhapar
He no longer tries to settle those
Katyayani has been set upon, beaten,
who are fearfid of their security. The
kicked, or had his bones broken. “But
roofs," was her sole complaint. “I
Gadiya
the
I have never filed cases,” he said.
wish we could get a tin roof.”
Maruthana roadside, for instance,
“Had I complained, my ghumantoos
would havebeenrendered even more
DM
Lohar
group
at
would settle only if the government
vulnerable. Why should they suffer
for my sake?”
ettling down is only the first step
S
in a long new journey. Then be
gins the struggle to enter the voters'
list, get ration cards and land deeds.
They need borewells, schools for
M
A
N
0
F
T
H
E
their children and newkindsofwork.
“For most of these there is no
alternative
to lobbying,” said
Katyayani. “You have to submit pe
tition after petition, meet officials
Y
E
again and again. You have to be very
patient and persevering. But if offi
cials prove unreasonable or demand
bribes, you have to hold demonstra
tions.”
His office is bursting with files
of such petitions and he has led
innumerable demonstrations. It
was after a week-long march from
Alwar to Jaipur in August 1993 that
the Banjaras were recognised as
OBCs.
Most people in the 26 settle
ments now’ have voting rights and
ration cards; most of the early settle
ments have got one borewell. Some
of the settlers,
like
those in
Bamanwas and Ganeshpura, have
got pattasf,title deeds) for their lands
as well. There is even a telephone in
Ganeshpura.
Schooling, however, posed a
problem.The children w’ere enrolled
all right, but in many cases school
Dec 24 2000
ETES3 23
R
FLESH TOO YOUNG: Nat girls Sarita and Laxmi, who sell themselves, with their father; y
24 E£33i33
Dec 24 2000
c
< •>
bullies did not allow them to enter
the classes. “'Fhe bullies beat our ch il-
dren and sent them away, and the
teachers did nothing to stop them,”
said Kela, Banjara woman panchayat
member from Ganeshpura.
Katyayani then set up a dozen
one-teacher non-formal schools in
the settlements. Beena Saini,
teacher at Ganeshpura, adjoining
the Sariska National Park, uses the
classroom—a thatched hut—only
during the rains. When the sun is
shining, both she and the students
prefer the open. There are three
classes comprising 25 boys and 10
girls aged 4 to 14.
“I have divided the children into
three groups on the basis ofage,” she
said. "We teach basic skills: reading,
writing and arithmetic.”
M
A
N
The teachers do much more than
that. TaraSaini, who runs the school
at the Indok Bhartahari, teaches in
the mornings and spends the rest of
the day with the women, listening to
0
r
their problems and trying to find
solutions. “If someone is seriously
ill, 1 take her to hospital,” she said. “I
have taken groups of women to
H
Thanagazi and Alwar to lobby for
borewells and other facilities. We
have opened recurring deposit ac
counts for the women, and I ensure
ir
that they put in Rs 20 every month.”
Katyayani regretfully admitted
that he had not been able to find new
a
employment avenues for the no
la
mads. A few fortunate ones—like
the Bamanwas or Ganeshpura resi
dents—have taken up farming, but
the others continue to buy and sell
salt and mullani mini or work as
agricultural
or construction
labourers.
“I want them to learn technical
skills, the sort imparted in ITIs, but
I don’t have the funds to start classes,”
Katyayani said. Only sewing classes
are being held in Bamanwas and
Ganeshpura. “The women were fas
cinated on the first day,” said Gcela
Saini, who teaches sewing at
Ganeshpura. “They had never seen a
sewing machine before.”
C
lung girls are greatly in demand after the AIDS scare
Dec 24 2000
rutches can cripple if used for
too long. “I have a dream,” said
Katyayani. “I have a dream that one
day I will disappear and the nomads
25
will never see me again. They should
not remain dependent; they should
become so aware and confident that
they don’t need a Muktidhara.”
Two years ago he began making
preparations for his own exit by set
The nowhere comm
hey are the original nowhere
people. The romantically in
dirty, crooked, ruthless, sexually per
clined may marvel at their ‘free
ment committee) at every nomad
T
settlement. Men and women have
dom', or call them ‘children of na
ping. A number of them were on the
list of‘criminal tribes’ during the Brit
equal representation in the commit
ture', but theirs is a miserable lot.
ish rule.
tee, and it sends two members—a
Foreveron the move, rarely spend-
There are around 200 nomadic
male and a female—to an apex body
ing more than a week at a single
communities in India and two dozen
Vikas
spot (except during the rains), they
Panchayat (GVP). which formulates
have been looked down upon as
in Rajasthan. Ratan Katyayani’s
Muktidhara is assistinghalfa dozen—
ting up a Vikas Sangathan (develop
called
the
Ghumantoo
missive, prone to larceny and kidnap
policy. “The GVP decides eventhing,”
said Katyayani. 'Their members meet
officials. I am already in the back
ground."
The GVP is already treading in an
area which Katyayani, as an outsider,
steered clear of: social reform. Curb
ing alcohol consumption among no
mads is high on the list. “Even their
women drink," sarpanch Boonkarsaid,
<0
his lip curling in distaste. The nomads
admitted it was tine. “Drink has ru
ined our people," said Nasiya, the
wonfan
GVP
member
from
Bamanwas. “but only now are we be
ginning to realise it.”
Blind faith is another bane. “Most
of them don’t go to doctors, but to
faith healers," said
Mamraj,
a
Muktidhara worker. They worship
the deity Tejaji and think she will cure
all their diseases.” The reformers are
also opposing bride price, the male
dowry. The prevailing rate is Rs 1
lakh,” said Nasiya ruefully. “I don’t
know how 111 ever get my sons mar
ried."
Yet another distressing feature,
which the GVP has not yet addressed,
is increasing prostitution. “Unless we
can offer an alternative means of live
lihood, how can we ask them to stop?”
Katyayani reasoned. What was worse,
he noted, was the growing incidence
ofchild prostitution. Young girls have
been greatly in demand ever since the
AIDS scare, since people believe that
theyounger a girl is, the chances ofher
being HIV positive are lower.
s Katyayani said, very few respect
A
able people have anything nice to
say about his work. But the nomads
love him. And he takes satisfaction, he
said, “from the fact that I have settled
THE JOURNEY NEVER ENDS: A Gadiya Lohar woman with her
people, not destroyed them.”
26
Dec 24 2000
unes
The
monsoon, all the sub-bands ofa com
munity in a region return to their
(wanderer).
common camping site. It is during
group; labaniya derives from
this period that most of their mar
lavana in Sanskrit meaningsalt.
the Banjaras, Nats, Gadiya Lohars,
riages are solemnised and theircattle
Bhopas, Bawarias and Kalbelias,
fairs held.
Labaniya
Banjaras are their largest sub
The Banjaras, it is said, were
originally Charans, the bards
who frequent eastern Rajasthan. The
The historic reasons for the no
who extolled the Rajputs, whose
Nats, Bawarias and Kalbelias were
madic existence differ from tribe to
tribe. Experts like Satya Pal Ruhela
wandering tradition began when
have noted that the Banjaras arc
trading nomads who deal in salt,
Mughal armies after the Rajput
among the former ‘criminal tribes'.
Most ofthem move in sub-bands
of 5 to 15 related families under an
elder, who maintains control and
settles disputes. Once a year, during
multani mini and cattle. The name
derives from ban (forest) and charan
they became carriers for the
decline. All medieval armies had
a large retinue of porters, whom
the enemy spared. During the
British rule, they became trans
porters of foodgrains. But rail
ways and trucks rendered their
transporting role redundant.
The Gadiya Lohars are black
smiths who go from village to
village, fabricating and repair
ing iron tools and utensils. They
get their name from theirgadiyas
(bullock-drawn carriages). They
claim to be of Rajput stock, de
scendants of the followers of
Maharana Pratap, who after the
fall of Chittor, sought refuge in
the forests.
According to Tarim Bose,
who did a survey for an NGO
called Charkha, the Bawarias are
hunting nomads who catch and
kill snakes and wild animals.
They too claim Rajput descent.
The
Nats,
Bhopas
and
Kalbelias are itinerant entertain
ers. The Nats are known for their
juggling skills and acrobatics,
which they perform at village
fairs. Two peaks in the Aravallis
are together called Nat ka Bara:
it is said that a Nat woman did
tightrope walking from one peak
to the next, holding her child to
her breast. The Nats are also ex
perts at tattooing and herbal
medicine.
The Bhopas are known for
singing ballads and reciting po
etry, often extempore. The
Kalbelias are snake-charmers.
Despite being the poorest of
the poor, twoofthem, the Bhopas
and Gadiya Lohars, are not even
listed as OBCs. Nor were the
Banjaras, until 1993. The other
three are scheduled castes.
granddaughter beside their cart-home
Du: 24 2000
DM
EH2ES3 27
StateScan
UTTAR PRADESH
backing bite
Four generations of the Kushwaha family have
been toothless. They survive on a liquid diet.
aya Prasad Kushwaha, 22, of
Photo/
Pawan Kumar
G
Vidokhar in Hamirpurhas not had a
'solid meal' his whole life. It is not for
want of money, but for want of teeth.
was a complicated problem that needed ex-<
pensive treatment. Baijoor’s parents took it as’
a curse and put their faith in pujas.
Barjoor’s son, Mohan Lal, too has no teeth.
Gaya Prasad is not alone. His father Har
While Mohan Lal’s son Har Prasad has two
Gaya Prasad and
Prasad Kushwaha, 55, has only two small
small teeth, his daughter Phoola Devi has none.
younger brother
Mahavir
teeth on the left side of his lower jaw. “Not a
“She is the first woman in the family without
tooth came out after these two,” said Har
teeth,” said Gaya Prasad. Phoola has two tooth
Prasad, who looks at least 20
less sons. OfHar Prasad’s four children—Gaya
years older. No male in
Prasad, Munni Devi, 18, Phool Kali, 15 and
Teething troubles:
k
Jk
the Kushwaha family
has had teeth for the
Mahavir, 11—only Phool Kali has teeth.
5®.
last four generations.
did not have the money forit,’’said Gaya Prasad.
The problem be-
The family makes a living by' cultivating their
W
gan with Barjoor
Kushwaha, Gaya
10 bighas (around 2.5 acres) land.
A couple of years ago, Hamirpur Superin
iT •*.
Prasad’s great
tendent of Police Ashutosh Pande got the fam
ily members dentures, but they did not last
JJ
grandfather,
who is nowdead.
When
Barjoor
did not grow milk
teeth even after five
years, his worried par
ents took him to doctors,
only to be told that it
“We thought of consulting doctors but we
7£v -/cl
Pegc 1 of6
WHO IS DESTROYING THE FORESTS AND LIVELIHOOD OF TRIBALS? :
A CASE OF SHOOLPANESHWAE SANCTUARY
Trupti Parckh, ARCH-Vahini - 4 O&i
The Central Empowered Committee (CEC) constituted by the Supreme Court restrained
the Government of Gujarat from removing any forest produce from any national park and
sanctuary' in the State following ARCH Application No. 209/2003. ARCH had filed the
application complaining about the removal of bamboo from the Shoolpaneshwar
Sanctuary despite the clear-cut orders of the Supreme Court (orders in WP No. 202/1995)
forbidding removal of any forest products including bamboo. After deliberations, on 2110-2003, the CEC reconfirmed its interim order of 19-8-2003 putting an immediate stay
on the extraction of bamboo from the Shoolpaneshwar Sanctuary (SS). The CEC told the
Gujarat Government that any violation would be held as contempt and strict action would
be taken against those found guilty.
In so far as the CEC order puts a complete stop to the large-scale bamboo culling in the
sanctuary', it is good news. But, it leaves out basic legal issues raised in ARCH’s
application and it overlooks corruption- propelling onslaught on the bamboo stock and
the livelihood of the local tribals. It is pertinent to note that ARCH’s application to the
CEC is an offshoot to ARCH’s Writ Petition (Sp.C.A. 2952/ 2001) pending before the
Gujarat High Court. The legal issues raised by ARCH before the High Court as well as
the CEC seem to have remained unattended.
1. The CEC order has simply ignored the issue of violation of the Wild I. ife
(Protection) Act raised in the application.
2
The CEC has not dealt with the legalities of the lease agreement extended by the
GOG.
3.
The CEC has ignored the willful act of the GOG and not initiated any contempt
proceedings against the GOG or the erring officers. It is satisfied merely by
warning the GOG that contempt proceedings would be initiated in future if the
order is violated.
Let us go into the details of the issues.
. n
Page 2 of6
About 61,000 hectares of land, covering 100 villages of Dediapada and Rajpipla, district
Narmada, Gujarat, where around 40,000 tribals live, was declared as Shoolpaneshwar
Sanctuary in 1989. A lease agreement had been entered in 1960 between the Government
of Gujarat and a paper mill, Central Pulp Mills Ltd. The lease gave rights to the latter to
cut and remove bamboos from South Gujarat till 2000. The leased area includes the
Sanctuary. When the sanctuary was declared, no care was taken either to remove the
sanctuary from the leased area, nor was lease declared void with regards to the sanctuary
area.
Hence, after the declaration of the sanctuary, the government continued giving
permission to the paper mill (taker, over by the J K Paper mill in 1991) to cut thousands
of tones of bamboo from the sanctuary. There were strong protests of the local tribals
against the bamboo extraction by the mill. ARCH and the tribal representatives
challenged the 'egalities of the lease agreement and yearly permissions granted by the
GOG m the Gujarat High Court. Even the CBI inquiry, initiated by a single-judge bench
of the Gujarat High Court in 1995, indicted and filed FIRs againsi the government and
mill officials for violating various laws. It is a sad commentary that the Gujarat High
Court not only threw away the CBI report merely on technical grounds, but also took
little trouble to go into the legal and other vital issues involved in its final order (dated 23
Januaiy 1998 m Sp. C A No. 616/ 1995 and others), even though the matter remained
pending for moie than 3 years. The Court apparently accepted the government claim that
annual large-scale bamboo cutting was required for the welfare of the wild life. The order
gave no reason for accepting the government claim, which ARCH had strongly contested.
On the basis of a one-page affidavit by the GOG that the mill would not be allowed to cut
bamboo from the Sanctuary and all the extraction would be done departmcntally, the
court disposed off the matter. The bamboo extraction continued and the mill continued to
get enough quantities of bamboo from within the sanctuary.
However, the story does not end in November 2000, when the lease expired. The
Government of Gujarat extended the lease agreement for one year in November 2000 and
then for further period of 10 years in January 2001 and cutting and removal of the
Page 3 of 6
bamboo stock from within the sanctuary continued unabatedly and uninterruptedly. The
extension was unusual, unexpected and alarming, because it happened in the background
of the SC orders of 14 February 2000 and 28 February' 2000 in the Godavarman case (WP
202/95), which restrained and prohibited all state governments from removing any dead,
diseased or dying trees or drift wood or grass etc. from any sanctuary or national park.
The 14th February 2000 order reads as follows:
“Issue notice to all the respondents. In the meantime, we restrain respondents Nos. 2 to
32 (all state governments) from ordering the removal of dead, diseased, dying or wind
fallen trees, driftwood and grasses, etc. from any National Park or Game sanctuary or
forest. If any order to this effect has already been passed by any of the respondent- States,
the operation of the same shall stand immediately stayed.”
The order was further clarified on 28lh February 2000. (It turned out that the order dated
14lh February 2000 was immediately broughi to the notice of the State Forest Department
by Gujarat Government’s Advocate in the SC. Consequent to this development, the
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), Gujarat State, directed all concerned vide
his letter dated 25/2/2000 to ensure scrupulous compliance of the orders and directions
issued by the Hon’blc Supreme Court. This letter was addressed to Mr. G.A.Patel, the
then Chief Wild Life Warden and Chief Conservator of Forests, Wild Life (CCF, WL).
It is, thus, both shocking and surprising that after ail these developments in February
2000, in November 2000, the Government of Gujarat extended the period of the expired
lease agreement for one year. It went even further and in January 2001 and extended the
company’s earlier agreement for further period of 10 years. The government gave
permission to the mill to cut and remove bamboo as per the agreement, which gave rights
to take away thousands of tonnes of bamboo. Meanwhile, the Chief Wild Life Warden
Mr. G A Patel, whom the letter of PCCF to observe strict compliance of the SC orders
was addressed, filed an affidavit in the SC in April 2000, which made an astounding
claim that the GOG was fully complying with the SC orders of February 2000 of not
removing any “dead, diseased, dying or wind fallen trees, drift wood”, except “bamboo
Page 4 of 6
and MFPs, which were not barred by the Hon’able Supreme Court’s order dated
12.12.1996”, even though this, in fact, was superceded by the 14 February order.
ARCH filed a Writ Petition (SP. C A No. 2952 of 2001) in April 2001. The Gujarat High
Court at first appeared to be in great hurry to dispose off the petition. The GOG in its
affidavit in May 2001 chose to rely on the highly ambiguous affidavit of the Chief Wild
Life Warden to support its claim that there was no violation of the SC order. The state
government even claimed that even “the Hon’able Supreme Court has accepted the stand
of the state government and has not issued any further directions in the matter”.
Then the matter came to a head when the Union of India, one of the respondents in the
ARCH petition filed an affidavit on 14 August 2002 before the Gujarat High Court. In the
affidavit, it categorically states: “...the Hon'ble Supreme Court has vide orders dated
14/2/2000 and 28/2/2000 in Writ Petition No. 202/95, imposed specific ban on removal
of dead and dying trees including grass from National Parks and Sanctuary. I therefore
submit that before undertaking or permitting such removal, the State Government is
required to appioach the Hon'ble Supreme Court and seek relaxation in their favour in the
peculiar facts of each case and till then, no felling or removal of bamboo from the
National Parks and Sanctuaries is permissible.” ...Further, “1 do admit that the lease in
question before this Hon’ble Court was given by the State Government without any
intimation to the respondent No. 4 (the Union of India)... .1 may however clarify that the
harvesting of bamboo from the sanctuary can not be considered an activity for better
management of wildlife.”
All of a sudden the furious pace of the final hearing in the High Court came to a sudden
halt. The matter has not been listed for final hearing thereafter, nor have any strictures
been passed against the erring officers or the GOG, nor has tire lease agreement been
declared null and void, as far as the sanctuary area is concerned.
Thus, the said acts of the government were not only in blatant disregard of the wild life
laws and forest laws, but also were violative of the Hon'ble Supreme Court’s orders,
Page 5 of 6
which banned all the activities of removal of any dead, diseased or dying trees or drift
wood or grass etc. from the sanctuary.
The illegalities, acts of commissions and omissions of the concerned forest officials have
been confirmed in a report of the then Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Gujarat
State, ‘A Note on the PIL regarding Bamboo Cutting from Shoolpaneshwar Wild Life
Sanctuary’’. It has categorically brought out ail the illegalities committed with regards to
the lease agreement, permission and activities of cutting and removing bamboo stock
from the Shoolpaneshwar Sanctuary.
The farce of “preserving wild life” in the sanctuary' under the spurious legal cover
continued, while bamboo stock was plundered away by the powerful vested interests for
more than a decade and almost all traditional rights of the tribals inhabiting in the
sanctuary for generations were curtailed. The tribals have been reduced to live as second-
class citizens in their own land, where seemingly the wild life has been given more
primacy and status than the local inhabitants. Not only all the developmental activities
like roads, electricity, etc. are suspended, but also the activities like watershed
development or Joint Forest Management, which are meant io improve soil cover and
foresis, are not allowed. Their right to get ownership titles to their years’ long
occupations of lands, long before the area was declared sanctuary', remains in jeopardy.
The Ministry of Environment and Forests have categorically denied them the
regularization of their possessions of lands. The area remains depressed and least
developed as ever and even more denuded as a consequence of further alienation of the
local tribals.
The lessons are being learnt all over the world that giving the local communities property
righits over the resources and making them partners in the management of them improves
the resources. The state and other institutions have ignored these lessons and the state has
decisively moved in direction of the wholesale destruction of the resources without
regards to the future and the economic and social welfare of the local tribals.
Page 6 of 6
Here is a case of how the wide discretionary powers vested in the state under the Wild
Life (Protection) Act can be grossly misused. Instead of preserving the wild life, they act
in connivance with the powerful paper mill. The Public Choice theory aptly explains how
public servants also act for self-interest like normal human beings and how they could
exploit the resources in a wasteful and inefficient manner, because they have no
incentives whatever to manage the resources in an efficient manner, nor their
mismanagement and waste invite any material punishment to them. This, more than
anything else, brings about environmental disaster and inflicts poverty on the inhabitants
of the forests.
Here is a case of how the highest judiciary of the state can look the other way when the
constitutionality' and legality of the state’s acts of omissions and commissions were to be
examined and adjudicated.
Here is a case of how the Committee specifically constituted by none other than the apex
court of the country precisely to see to it that all the orders of the Court arc scrupulously
followed fails in its duties. This is more surprising when the committee consists of the
forest officials and renowned wild lifers and environmentalists and the case is regarding
the destruction of the sanctuary!
It is also interesting to juxta-pose with this the way the Committee has handled and is
continuing to handle the issue of “encroachment” on the forest land by the tribals. The
less said of the forest department and the state apparatus, the better.
ARCH-Vahini, E-702, Samraiva Complex, Near Fatehguuj Post Office, Vadodara 390002, Gujarat, India
Tel: 0265 2782053, E-mail: truptiparekhl@hotmail.com
rage i oi 3
"IO •
From:
To:
Sent:
Subject:
"Pervin Jehangir" <pjehangir@rediffmail.com>
"sophia college" <sophia@vsni com?; "shaan khatau" <skhattau@hotmail.com?Sunday, December 14. 2003 10:38 AM
Fw: A Public Hearing on Court Affected People -16-12-2003
Dear All.
The Court Affected People - from the Trade unionists to the Tribais have decided to break their siience
and get to-gether at a Public Hearing in order to voice their problems and to formulate a Plan of Action.
We have decided that it is indeed our duty to comment on the decisions arrived at or criticise and even
challenge decisions that go against the welfare of the people.
Many organisations have been righting for the rights of the public since several years and some have sought the
help of ana worked alongside the Andolan in this connection
We look to the Courts as the 4th pillar of Democracy and knock on its doors with great hope and optimism, yet we
are slowly seeing that the court's decisions are going against the welfare of the common man - whether in the
case of the Narmada Valley . the organised or urorganised workers, slum and chawi dwellers or the rights of
women.
s Decisions which prevent taking a rally outside the Azad Maidan or taking away the right of the workers to
strike.
e
i he rights of the adivasis and slum dwellers of Borivli National Park or the rights of the textile workers to
stay in their chawls.
The privatisation of education or the rights of the fisher-folk, adivasi or project affected persons.
c Whether it be the injustices perpetrated on women or on the minotity communities .
c
encounter deaths and iiiegai detentions - questions which affect the democratic rights and freedom of the
people.
12/15/03
Page 2 of 3
mis get to-sether of ths organisations affected by such decisions emanating from the " Hails of
anu io iormutoie a luture pian oi action, a Public Hearing is planned on tuesday, the 16th oi December,
2003, at the Railway Welfare Hail, Dr. Ambedkar Rd., Parel East, from 2.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m.
inauguration by : Swami Agnivesh
Chaired by : Medha Patkar
Panelists : Justice Hosbet Surest., Avinash Mahateitar,
Dr. Saiyaranjan Satiie.. D,. Nalini Pandit, Barrister Sharad Palav and Advocate Nirmalkumar Suryavanshi.
CASE PRESENTATIONS
TRADE UNIONISTS
1.
SHARAD RAO ...MUNICIPAL LABOUR UNION
2.COM. Y.G.JOSHi
3.
NATIONAL RAILWAY MAZDOOR UNION
DATFA ISWALKAR . GIRANI KAMGAR SAMGHARSHA SAMITI
SLUM t FOOTPATH DWELLERS REPRESENTATIVES
i.
ViDYA CHAVAN... JANATA DAL(SECULAR)
ADV..MAHARUKH
2.
3.
RAJU BHISE... SHAHAR VIKAS MANCH
FISHER/TRIBALS
1.
N.D.KOLI...NATIONAL FISHWORKERS' FORUM
2 ULKA MAHAJAN . .NAPM
3. BRIAN LOBO...SHOSHIT JANA ANGOLAN
WOMEN
HASiNA KHAN...AWAJ -E- NiSWAN
HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS
1. ADV SABASTI.AN CPDR
2.
ADV. NiTIN PRADHAN
DEEPIKA...ICHRL
3.
STUDENTS
GAJANAN KALE.. .SAMATAWADI CHCHATRABHARTI
We invite you io come to the Public Hearing along with ail interested i affected parties.
12/15/03
Page 3 of3
Organiser of the Public Hearing, Shakeei Ahmed of Nirbhay Bano Andolan has appealed to al! justice
loving citizens to attend this very important meeting which is jointly organised by the National Alliance of
Peoples' movements and the National Railway tVlazdoor Union..
Contact Persons.
Sarrsv M G 25389724
I? v "I 0 -
Ethical issues/Dilemmas involved in obtaining informed consent in a
Indian tribal communities while conducting a field study
Rajan Patil*
Introduction :
A field study titled “ Epidemiological significance of immune status of tribal
communities in kala-azar endemic area” was conducted to assess prevalence of
Leishmanial infection and Kala-azar disease among the Pahadia tribes in Pakur district of
Jharkhand state of India. The members of Pahadia tribe are basically forest dwellers
belonging to Dravidian race, who migrated from southern India (including parts of
Karnataka) and settled in Rajmahal hills of stretching across Bihar . This tribe is fast
dwindling tribe at the verge of extinction. Presently their entire population is a meager
80,000. The mortality is very high in this community owing to infectious diseases like
malaria, kala-azar and others . The government of India has banned family planning
programme among this community. Physically they are short in stature, lean and adapting fa
forest life. This tribe largely practices barter system of economy exchanging forest
produce for the daily necessity since they hardly understand the currency. Interestingly
the language they speak, hardly has any similarity with Hindi instead has lots of
commonality with southern languages, Tamil in particular. The literacy level is less than
2%. They have very minimal contact with mainstream population.
Study tools: apart from questionnaire, the study involved following invasive procedures:
1. Leishmanin skin test (intra dermal)
2. Peripheral blood smear (malaria)
Ethical Issues:
fl. Informed consent
g. Individual vs. community consent
37 Provision of specific treatment to all diagnosed as suffering from kala-azar and
general treatment to persons excluded from the study.
Methodology<-■>
d. Cejw>^>''
1. A sample of 120 individuals was selected by applying systematic random
sampling technique to a population of 500 in three villages.
2.
Informed consent form, stating the willingness of the sampled individual to
consent and cooperate in the study with the full knowledge of risks involved was
*Research Assistant, Community Health Cell, Bangalore
Printed. The consent form was initially drafted in English and was subsequently
translated to Pahadia (malto) and Hindi languages. ( The form also contained
translation in Santhali and Bengali since they also formed part of the different
sections of the study).
3.
The consent form was pilot tested for its validity and reliability as following :
W The consent form was administered to non sampled study individuals in the same
villages.
Reverse translation of the content of consent form to Hindi, by a teacher
belonging to malto community, teaching in a missionary school for tribal children.
4. When study started, the participants of the study were approached at their place of
residence. The sampled individual was contacted and the content and the purpose of the
study was explained in the language they understand (Malto), with the help of a
translator.
Operational Ethical Dilemmas :
l.Due to widespread literacy (<2%), obtaining the signature from the participants on
the informed consent form was impractical.
2. Alternatively taking the thumb impression, obviously the next logical option, was
not acceptable to the participants of the study due to apprehension and insecurity. The
fear was borne out of numerous instances in the locality wherein, the money lenders
had exploited their illiteracy by taking the thumb impression on the paper for much
higher amounts than the actual transaction.
Three innovative ideas were thought out to come over the above problems;
a) Use of Red and Green colour codings on the consent form to enable the
participants to indicate his/her willingness by marking on green colour code and
his/her unwillingness by marking on red colour code.
Fig-1. Colour coding for indicating willingness to give consent for participating study
This method failed, since Pahadia tribe unlike mainstream population is not used to
this colour coding concept which is widely used in traffic signals to which a
mainstream population would readily identify with. Firstly the tribe lives on hills and
hardly come down in contact with mainstream. Moreover the Pakur district
administration did not use these signal codings mechanism to regulate traffic, which
is still largely dependent on manual traffic regulation.
b)
Use of signals like ‘right’ () and wrong (
as a technique to obtain
informed consent was aborted at the conceptual stage and was not even
tested/tried for its feasibility. From the experience of colour coding trial, it was
obvious that our study community would again not identify themselves with the
meaning of these symbols, as they are again symbols used and utilized by the
literate population.
Fig-2, symbol coding for indicating willingness to give consent for participating study
The concept of community consent was mooted, wherein the consent would be
sought from the village headman after he is appraised on the utility of the
screening for infection and disease . The village headman in turn would discuss
the utility of the study and give the consent on behalf of the community.
This idea of community consent seemed very appropriate for the tribal community we
were dealing with. Traditionally the tribal communities take decisions collectively,
the village headman is highly regarded in the social structure of the tribal community.
The village headman commands the respect and stature that his word is generally
binding. Individualism and decentralized decision making are modern phenomenon.
As a researcher this concept was appealing to me, since this meant phenomenal
saving of time and energy in translating and explaining consent form content to every
study individual. The idea was simply irresistible. The ethical committee which
cleared my research proposal was not impressed by this, and emphasized the
importance of individual consent on the grounds, that the ‘ voluntary’ principle of
informed consent could be compromised through community consent methodology.
3
My difference of opinion with the ethical committee gave rise to another dilemma in my
mind:
El^.'CS c
W Should we be thrusting our requirements of individualism on these tribal
communities and disrespecting their cultural value system of collectivity?
,
V5
■ co
Can’t we change, amend and make relevant our methodologies according to the
socio-cultural practices to conform with communities that do not share the same
value system?
Are we not undermining of the stature of the village head man by approaching
individuals in his community for the consent, where the community themselves
feel village headman’s decision is more important than their own?
Z-egol
A ■. i ■
W Is it ethical on our part to tamper with the value system of the tribal community for
our requirements ?
X>. >1
While I am still searching answers for these question I had to carry on due to the
constraints of time and pressure of deadlines.
In the context of above dilemmas, a suggestion of electronically voice recording of
the consenting individual using the tape recorder, seemed to be the most suitable as
well as appropriate technique for obtaining the consent in the given situation I was
in. Although the idea was excellent but was unfeasible for me financially, since there
was no provisions for such item in my budget proposal for the study. The contingency
amount for miscellaneous expenses had already been exhausted for various
unforeseen and unavoidable exigencies. Hence the idea of buying electronic voice
recorder even though very tempting was unaffordable for me.
Given the above dilemmas and realistic constraints, I had to take the hard option of
individual consent. Mass contact meetings with the communities were organized to
explain the purpose and utility of the study. Time was spent clearing doubts and
apprehensions along with some basic health education. This process helped me to
build up the required rapport in seeking the cooperation for the study and consent.
C
A question arouse : Whether is it an ethical requirement to provide appropriate
treatment to the person diagnosed as having kala-azar in our study?
The ethical guideline is to advice or refer the cases identified during study to
appropriate the health care institution, especially if the treatment involved is
expensive. Our ethical committee decided to determine this ethical guideline into
absolute ethical requirement for my study area in the context of its remoteness and
absence of any alternatives to health care. On the committee’s recommendations
budget provisions were made to meet the expenses of all the cases of malaria and
kala-azar suspects detected during the screening programme to be subjected to
proper medical examination and the entire expenses of their medical care would be
bome by the researcher. Similar provision was made to non study members of the
community who would be given medicines for malaria which was rampant in the
4
region and will not be charged for the either the laboratory expenses made to meet
expenses towards the medical care for the kala-azar and malaria cases which have
been identified as a part of the study.
Covering the expenses for the non-study members in our study was a pubic relations
exercise, which was a good will gesture to the community from the research team.
The above measures helped us win the much required confidence of the communities
in general and the study participants in particular to carry out the study. Entire
process helped us to obtain the voluntary informed consent individually, who
cooperated by giving the thumb impression on the informed consent paper. Some of
the younger generation who were literate pul in their signatures. For the children
below 15 years parental consent was taken.
o
f
ft-QTypyw V' • • I
One of my colleagues later questioned, whether or not my good will gesture towards
treating non sample individuals in the study community amounted to incentive?
To me this question was ultimate, any way my intentions were clear during study.
Note: For all medical care, services of Dr. Prabir Chatterji was taken who has
considerable experience in treating kala azar cases and is reasonably well known in the
community. For referral St. Luke’s hospital, a 80 bedded hospital, located about 40 km
away was utilized.
c-
pevHO-
SANKALP
A Ray of Hope
• For Exploited
Sahariya Tribals
o Bharat Dogra
A Ray of Hope For
Exploited Sahariya Tribals
In 1982 when three youths motivated with high ideals
but having nil resources settled down in a village inhabited by
the weakest and most vulnerable community of their area, they
could hardly have imagined that their small hesitant step will
one day become the biggest hope for this community. But yes,
this is exactly the reality after 24 years of dedicated work. Now
Sankalp, the organisation founded by the three inexperienced
and resourceless youths Mahesh Bindal, Motilal and Neelu
has become a source of strength for the badly exploited
Sahariya tribe, the only officially recognised primitive tribe in
Rajasthan which is concentrated in Shahbad and Kishanganj
tehsils of Baran district.
This threesome had been deliberating for some time about
finding a larger purpose in life than what was offered by their
job (Mahesh already had a well-paying job) or college. For some
time they initiated part-time educational work for dalits in the
slums of Kota and Jaipur. This was successful, but the need
for doing something more significant kept growing. So in 1982
they finally left their college/office to embark on the unknown,
untravelled path of working full time for the poorest people.
Their first step was to make a rapid tour (on motorcycle^'
of some of the poorest areas of their state (Rajasthan) as well
as of organisations working with vulnerable groups. This helped
them to make the decision that the Sahariya tribals concen
trated in Shahbad and Kishanganj were in greatest need of
their services.
These penniless youths thought up an interesting way
of raising some minimal funds to support their work. They made
a list of 50 friends who could be requested to make a monthly
(2)
donation of Rs. 20 per month.This enabled them to raise about
Rs. 800 to Rs. 1000 per month and this was all they needed
for a start. They rented a small room at the rent of Rs. 10 per
month in Mamoni village (a village with a significant population
of Sahariyas) and this become the base camp for their dream
venture.
Loveleen, a writer and close sympathiser suggested the
name 'Sankalp' for this new group, a suggestion that was
promptly accepted.
This small group started some educational work (to which
4 Neelu gave more attention) but soon became more involved in
improving the income of Sahariyas from collection of minor
forest produce.The sahariyas collected gum, mahua, chiraunji,
honey and medicinal produce from forests and this was an
important source of their livelihood. The government had set
up an elaborate system of cooperatives to ensure a fair price
to forest produce gatherers, but in reality this system was
manipulated by a few rich traders in such a way that they cor
nered most of the benefits. They formed a cartel to ensure that
only low bids were made at the auction site. Hence they were
able to buy the produce from the government at a very low
rate, and as a result the government paid a very low rate to
the sahariyas and other tribals who toiled for long hours in dif
ficult conditions in forest to collect various kinds of forest pro
duce. As the government paid the forest produce gatherers on
the basis of what it received from the auction (minus its admin
istrative expenses), the sahariyas could get a better price only
if the traders were made to pay a better price at the auction - a
price which was somewhat closer to the prevailing high mar
ket price for these products.
To be able to acheive their objective of providing a more
remurative price for minor forest produce to Sahariyas,
'Sankalp' first tried to ensure that Sahariyas got a genuinely
important role in the co-ops. Local resourceful traders had in
filtrated these co-ops so that they controlled the entire collec
tion work while sahariya frontmen were used to give the false
(3)
impression of the co-ops being run by the Sahariyas. Sankalp
managed to persuade government officials to allow them to
intervene in one co-op so that sahariyas could get real control
here. The results were soon evident as the collection by this
co-op grew rapidly to go beyond the combined collections of
all other local co-ops.The sahariyas got a better price, and the
government's collection also grew.
But Sankalp also realized that as long as the auction
site was controlled by a cartel of traders, they could get only
very limited gains from forest produce gatherers. They reck
oned that they'll have to find the money to intervene in the aucys,
tion to break the cartel and ensure a better price for forest
produce gatherers. They needed to set up a revolving fund to
do this, but from where to get the money for this?
In these efforts Sankalp was helped greatly by some
senior government officials like Anil Bordia and M. L. Mehta
who had the foresight to see the significance of this work and
the initiative to overcome red-tapism. Thanks to their help,
Sankalp could quickly arrange the resources needed to set up
a revolving fund.
When Sankalp emerged as an unwelcome competitor
for the traders who had hitherto monopolised the auction proc
ess, they first tried to buy off the newcomers and when that
failed, they threatened them with violence. But nothing could
dissuade the firm determination of 'Sankalp' and Sankalp was
able to change the auction process to such an extent that the
forest produce gatherers in Baran district could get a signify'
cant rise in the income from the forest produce collected by
them.
As Sankalp members tried to form a better understand
ing of this work, they learnt that a higher price can be obtained
by suitable grading of the produce. If white, cleaner gum can
be seperated from the other gum, then this can get a price
which is many times higher than the ordinary price.This helped
to get a better price for a part of the produce, and in addition
many Sahariyas, particularly women, got additional employ-
(4)
ment in gradation work.
While all this was significant work, something even more
important, infact much more important was being forgotten as
Sankalp activists remained too busy in the nitty-gritty of mar
keting forest produce.The source of all this produce- the trees
themselves - were being fast depleted due to a number of rea
sons, including legal as well as illegal overfelling of trees. Thus
there was a significant reduction in availability of forest pro
duce within just about one or two decades. Now Sankalp
started becoming aware of the great need for regenerating forj^ests, but some crucial time had already been lost.
Meanwhile a new opportunity had become available to
spread education in the remotest Sahariya hamlets. The lit
eracy rates among sahariyas, particularly women, were very
low and particularly in some of the remotest villages there was
almost nil litracy among women. Government schools existed
just in name as teachers simply did not agree to come to these
villages.
This was the situation in which Shikshakarmi project was
launched in these villages with the close involvement of
'Sankalp'. The idea was to select a local youth as a teacher
who may be low in formal educational qualification but was
very high in motivation. Sankalp arranged training for these
'shikshakarmis' and they soon started giving good results, as
they were firmly rooted in these villages and had a high moti
vation to give good results for the sake of their own commu
nity. These teachers used progressive educational concepts
(to which they were exposed in training) with great advantage
in local settings in which they had spent their own childhood.
For example, to cope with the situation of a single teacher edu
cating children at various stages of learning in a small space,
some teachers would form small groups of students on the
basis of levels of learning skills already acheived and made
creative use of some senior students to ensure the progress
of all groups.
Suddenly levels of school attendence started going up
(5)
and girl students also started coming in good numbers. Spe
cial duration classes and even night schools were started to
accommodate those children who could not come to school in
norma! school hours. Adult education classes were also
started, and some children were so involved in the new pat
tern of education that they insisted on joining their parents at
these classes after completing their own school hours.
The result of this dedicated work soon started appear
ing in sharply rising rates of literacy among sahariyas. In addi
tion several Sahariya youths started getting employment as
regular government teachers.
p
However a major road block soon appaered following a
change of state-level government as a newly-appointed min
ister guided by narrow considerations started phasing out the
Lok Jumbish Project under which much of Sankalp's educa
tional work had progressed so well. Some activists associ
ated with this project were marked for victimisation. Inquiries
were ordered. While several audit teams who came to check
Sankalp's accounts confirmed that this organisation had made
very careful and high-value use of the funds allocated to it,
nevertheless a lot of the funds due to it were arbitrarily held
back.
There was another hurdle as two founder members of
Sankalp - Mahesh and Neelu - faced new compulsions due to
which they could not work so actively for Sankalp. This loss
was partly made up by the arrival of several new members.
Charumitra Meharu in particular made a very significant cory
tribution to the mobilisation of women. Several women's groups
were formed who started taking the initiative to challenge in
justice.
But progress was held back by the arbitrary denial of
funds. Even minimum support for Sankalp's full-time activists
was not available. So Moti and Charu worked extra hard to
earn some money elsewhere. They lived as frugally as possi
ble and sent their savings to support other members of the
Sankalp team. During this extremely difficult period, Sankalp
(6)
members gratefully acknowledge that the support provided by
senior development activist Bunker Roy was of the greatest
help.
After a gap of about three years the situation started
improving so that key members of team like Moti and Charu
could again devote their full time to Sankalp's work. Several
new projects were taken up in the area of alternative energy
(solar energy and bio-gas) as well as training in a variety of
technical skills and crafts. Social Work and Research Centre,
Tilonia, played a significant role in extending these new projects
to Sankalp.
Sahariya girls were trained in solar energy in Tilonia and
they helped to instal solar lighting in many villages. Gradualy a
campus for various new activities including training has comeup. This campus meets its energy needs from solar power.
The team of women called solar barefoot engineers, who in
stall and maintain solar energy units in many villages, are a
source of inspiration and pride for young girls in the commu
nity. A recent bio-gas plant installed by Sankalp aims to meet
energy needs of an entire village Sanwara.The Sankalp cam
pus also contains a residential school for tribal children. This
school meets the needs of those children who fail in exams
and due to this reason are not allowed to continue in govern
ment residential schools. These children rejected by the offi
cial system as 'failure' are actualy coming up very well here.
Recently (from 2001 onwards) Sankalp has been involved in
an innovative educational project for adolescents (in the agegroup 10-20) called Doosra Dashak (Second Decade). This
project includes three month residential camps for selected
adolescents with provision for follow-up work. Sankalp activ
ists have also played an important role in the right to informa
tion movement in Rajasthan.
Despite the obvious significance of these diverse activi
ties, what is increasingly becoming the main focus of Sankalp's
work and in fact increasingly defines its mission is the crucial
issue of land and forest rights of Sahariyas. It is only by as(7)
sorting their land and forest rights that the Sahariyas in this
and next generation can obtain stable, sustainable livelihood
with a firm resource base,
Till just a few decades back in a situation of abundant
vacant lands the Sahariyas were masters of all that they
survayed and practised shifting cultivation. But with changing
times they had to give it up and due to their lack of understand
ing of the formal/legal sysytem (as well as the land-grab tac
tics pursued by influential persons and groups), the Sahariyas
lost most of their land. Their forest rights were also curtailed
and in any case with the depletion of forests the prospects of)
livelihood based on collecting forest produce dwindled rapidly.
In this dismal situation on the one hand Sankalp is mak
ing efforts (including legal action) to ensure that Sahariyas'
land rights are better protected and they don't have to face
frequent eviction drives. In addition Sankalp has played a lead
ing role in the acceptance of a 'forest enclosures' scheme in
which forest protection committees of Sahariyas get access
to minor forest produce and grass of enclosed forest areas.
They'll be paid legal wages for soil and water conservation
work, digging trenches and constructing boundry wall while at
the same time they'll contribute voluntary work for planting and
protecting trees. Sankalp’s campaign for livelihood rights of
Sahariyas has been helped by a project, supported by UNDP,
for natural resource management which enables the organi
sation to try several innovative ideas in organic farming, me
dicinal plants, afforestation and related issues. It is likely that*)
the forest enclosures scheme will be approved for as many as
90 sites. If successful, this can prove to be the just the major
breakthrough which badly deprived Sahariyas (and other vul
nerable groups like bhils and kheruwas) have needed for sev
eral years. It'll also be a well-deserved success for the many
years of dedicated work put in by Sankalp's activists to pro
vide a new ray of hope for badly threatened and exploited
Sahariyas.
(8)
The Struggle To Prevent
Starvation Deaths
An acute drought situation in year 2002 accentuated
hunger and malnutrition among the Sahariyas and other
vulnerable groups to such an extent that many hunger
deaths were reported. This was the time when Sankalp
assembled all its reserves of strength, all its human and
material resources to campaign for the food rights of the
most vulnerable people. The need for stepping up relief
work, improving the public distribution system, making
available concessional and free grain to the poorest fami
lies, improving the functioning of nutrition and health pro
grammes like ICDS were emphasised in this campaign.
The cooperation with media proved particularly useful in
this campaign. The improvements initiated by the gov
ernment were carefully monitored at the village and ham
let level.
The government responded quite well and in the span
of a few months a discernible change could be seen in
many hamlets of Sahariyas and other vulnerable groups
which now had reasonable stocks of grain.
Sankalp also started nutrition centres at about 40
places. These centres made an important contribution
to meeting the nutrition needs of some of the most vul
nerable families at a very difficult time.
This campaign also helped to widen the horizons of
Sankalp activists and prepared them for the important
supportive role they played later in the national cam
paigns for right to information and rural employment guar
antee laws. What is more, they started feeling more
acutely the need for a firm base for protecting the liveli
hoods of Sahariyas. This led to increasing emphasis in
the next few years on land and forest rights of sahariyas
and other vulnerable groups.
®
(9)
To FSght Hunger and Starvation
Deaths, Tribal! Community
Asserts Land and Forest Rights
Baran, Rajasthan - Hunger and even starvation
deaths have been reported repeatedly from the villages
inhabited by Sahariya tribals in Baran district of
Rajasthan. This has happened despite the fact that the
state government has launched several special develop-)
ment projects for the Sahariyas. The rainfall here is also
much higher than the average for this drought-prone state.
Why, then, is hunger so widespread among the
Sahariyas?
"The basic cause of hunger and distress among the
Sahariyas is that in recent decades they have been re
lentlessly pushed from the forest and farmland which
were the base of their livelihood," says Motilal, founder of
Sankalp, an organisation which has struggled for the rights
of this community, the only officially recognised primitive
tribe in Rajasthan.
Till some decades back the Sahariyas practised
shifting cultivation and had access to all the minor forest
produce they needed. But the advent of the system of for
mal land records led to restrictions on shifting land cult?
vation. While they were not familiar with official records,
land grabbers were quick to extend their control over land.
Moti continues " Soon a situation was reached in
which Sahariyas were reduced to only a few small plots
of land, and here too in many cases they had to pay pen
alties as the forest department claimed this land as its
own. In many cases Sahariyas were reduced to the sta(10)
tus of bonded labourers known as Halls."
Meanwhile forests were rapidly depleted due to
large-scale commercial exploitation and careless man
agement. The access of Sahariyas to forests was also
reduced. So their livelihood based on land as well as for
est suffered heavily. Development loans sanctioned for
them were cornered by influential persons, while repay
ment notices were later sent to Sahariyas.
p,
"It is landlessness that explains the poverty of
' 'Sahariya people, "asserts Charumitra, founder member
of Jagrat Mahila Sangathan. "Government initiatives on
this issue leave much to be desired. Although Sahariyas
are revealed to be landholders in government documents,
the right remains restricted to the documents only. It has
failed to translate into reality."
In Rajasthan the Sahariya population is concen
trated in Shahbad and Kishanganj tehsils of Baran dis
trict. In this area the extent of landlessness is about 38%
compared to the state average of around 10%.
Although it is the government which invited the
Sahariyas to give up shifting cultivation and opt for set
tled cultivation, the entire process of providing land titles
to them has been so badly marred by irregularities and
pjheating that in most cases Sahariyas are still not sure of
their land claim. In same cases they have to pay fines to
the forest department and in some cases to the revenue
department. In many cases they work under the constant
threat of eviction. Sometimes they are arrested, and it's
only after spending a lot of money that they can come out
on bail.
Pappu Sahariya of Khelda village says, "I was re-cently arrested and sent to jail although my only crime is
(H)
to work hard in my fields. I was also beaten up in jail and
treated very shabbily. In the process of securing my re
lease my family became indebted."
Similar is the story of several other families in this
village. Choti Bai says, "When my husband was sent to
jail the life of the entire family was in turmoil and we had
no rest for several days."
In RampurTodia village it is estimated that Sahariya
cultivators have already paid Rs. 50,000 as fine, in.
Kalimati (Muhal) they have paid Rs. 1,00,000 as fine while
in Silori village the expenditure incurred in just one land
dispute was Rs. 2,40,000. All this is in addition to impris
onments. Bapu Choona's hut was set on fire by officials
in Silori village in an effort to evict cultivators.
In recent years Sankalp has carefully collected in
formation on various cases of injustice in land related is
sues - as a first step. Land rights for some families can be
obtained under existing laws. For some others pending
legislation in Parliament for protection of scheduled tribes
will bring relief when it is finally passed and notified. How
ever this may still leave out other cases of land injustice
and landlessness which have to be fought separately.
Therefore apart from preparing for legal action
Sankalp has been mobilising Sahariyas to assert theiT
land rights. This is supported by special effort among
women by Jagrat Mahila Sangathan and among youths
by Yuva Shakti Sangathan. Recently a huge rally was
organised to assert the land rights of people. In addition
public meetings and public hearings have been organ
ised on land and forest related issues.
All these activities have given new hope to many
Sahariya cultivators that they can get justice if they con(12)
tinue their struggle. 62 year Deeta of Peenjna village has
been arrested and beaten up before. He says with a new
determination, "Now I'm not scared of going to jail any
more."
61 years old Chanda has regularly paid fines to the
forest department. But at a time of a serious food short
age he couldn't pay this fine. For this failure he was kept
in jail for four months. In jail he suffered from malaria and
typhoid. Yet his courage has increased as a result of the
mobilisation of Sahariyas he has seen. He says, "I'll give
my life but I won't leave my land."
a
An even bigger source of hope for many Sahariyas
is the recently drawn up scheme of forest enclosures.
Based on suggestions given by Sankalp this project
called 'Participatory Forest Development Project for
Sahariya Tribe' plans to create 90 forest enclosures in
which right to collect minor forest produce and grain will
be given to village committees of Sahariyas. Plots of de
pleted forests will be given to these committees for pro
tection and regeneration. Funds under District Poverty
Initiative Project (DPIP- funded by the World Bank) will
be used to provide regular employment to sahariyas for
boundary wall construction work as well as soil and water conservation works in the forest area. They'll also con
tribute voluntary labour.
Work on 50 such enclosures has already started. In
the case of 7 enclosures, a tri-partite contract has been
signed involving Sankalp, Forest Department and Village
Forest and Management Committees.
However it is essential to provide legal guarantee
for long-term and inheritable rights to Sahariyas to en
sure sustainable livelihood benefits to them. This still
(13)
needs to be adequately worked into the project.
In addition, as Ratan, a woman of Khelda village
said, "We need protection from dominant persons who
hinder our work in various ways."
Khelda is the only village to have an all-women pro
tection committee under this project. These women have
worked hard, only to see later that the trees planted by
them have been eaten up by the buffaloes belonging to
dominant persons.
Shanti Bai, a Sahariya woman of forest protection
committee says, "We've to overcome many problems but
we'll succeed one day."
o
o
o
Forestry Project Brings
New Hope For Sahariyas
In recent years deep concern has been expressed
time and again about the serious levels of malnutrition
and hunger prevailing among the Sahariya tribals in
Rajasthan. Concentrated in Shahbad and Kishanganj
tehsils of Baran district, the Sahariyas constitute the only
officially listed primitive tribe in Rajasthan.
As the problems faced by the Sahariya community
are deeply rooted in the rapid erosion of their land and
forest rights in recent decades, the crisis of this commu
nity cannot be overcome by doles alone. They can be
protected from hunger, forced migration and highly ex
ploitative working conditions only when their livelihood
is firmly rooted in land and forest rights.
Traditionally they earned a substantial share of their
livelihood by collecting minor forest produce from forests,
(14)
but gradually middlemen started cornering most of the
benefits. What is more, most of the natural forests which
provided a diversity of valuable minor forest produce got
badly depleted. If forests can be regenerated in a big way
and the rights of Sahariyas over minor forest produce are
fully protected, this-can perhaps provide the most effec
tive support for the livelihood of Sahariyas.
It is in this context that the recent 'Participatory For
estry Development Project for Sahariya Tribe1 initiated by
the Forest Department of the Govt, of Rajasthan has come
as a ray of hope for the Sahariya community in Baran
district. This project has evolved from the work and expe
rience of Sankalp, a voluntary organisation known for its
integrity and close involvement with Sahariyas. Essen
tially this is a project for the regeneration of badly degraded
forests with the full involvement of the Sahariya commu
nity and other vulnerable groups like Bhils and Kheruwas.
In a typical project area, the protection of a stretch of de
graded forestland is handed over to a group of Sahariyas.
Utilising funds under the District Poverty Initiative Project
(DPIP) or other government funds, employment opportu
nities are provided to the Sahariyas to erect a stone-wall
around the forest area which is to be protected. Other
n employment opportunities are available in soil and water
•conservation while voluntary labour (shramdan) is also
important for tree-planting and protection work. The crux
of this scheme is an understanding that Sahariyas will
protect and promote the regeneration of this forest land
while the forest department will provide them complete
rights to collect all minor forest produce including grass.
If properly implemented in the right spirit, this
scheme can become a model and not just for this area or
(15)
neighbouring parts of Madhya Pradesh inhabited by the
Sahariyas. Its potential is much higher. At a time when
regeneration of forests with the involvement of tribals is
increasingly recognised as the key principle in interna
tional development and environment circles, the success
of such a project with a primitive tribe (and that too one
that has been so much in news due to hunger and even
starvation), is bound to attract international attention and
this can become a trend-setter for many such projects in
India and elsewhere.
However to ensure the success of this project, cer
tain pre-conditions are a must. Firstly to ensure the in
volvement of Sahariyas, more legally binding assurances
need to be provided regarding their long-term rights over
minor forest produce. Such a project should necessarily
have a long-term horizon. Unfortunately project docu
ments are still talking in terms of a five year project with
the possibility of extending for another five years. It may
take much longer for several trees planted by Sahariyas
today to start yielding fruits. So will they do the hard work
of planting trees while someone else will reap the eco
nomic rewards? The Sahariyas have been cheated too
many times in the past and such questions are bound to
trouble them when they start working on this project.
It is essential for such a project to be based on long
term and inheritable rights by tribals. As long as they pro
tect forests, there is no need to restrict their rights. It is in
fact the permanence and assurance of these rights which
will be the key for motivating the sahariyas to protect for
ests.
Secondly, it is important to select tree, plant and
grass species in such a way that these are quite close to
(16)
the species-mix of natural forests. While the forest depart
ment may like to go in fore current favourites like jatropha
in a big way, it is also important to keep in mind the na
ture's balance as manifested in the natural forests of this
area to ensure the long-term health of forests. Tradition
ally sahariyas got plenty of mahuva, chiraunji, anvla, gum
and honey from natural forests, and these needs should
be emphasised.
Thirdly, it is important to emphasise water harvestf ing work in these forest areas as conservation of water
and moisture can play a very important role in regenera
tion of forests.
Last but not the least, formulation of a good scheme
needs to be followed by work at the grassroots to facili
tate its proper implementation. While Sankalp is working
hard to involve the Sahariyas in the scheme, the same
can not be said of the local officials. Khedla (Kishanganj
block) is a top priority site of this project, but the local offi
cials have done nothing to stop some dominant persons
of this area from breaking the boundary wall and sending
their buffaloes in the enclosure to feast on the newly
planted trees. Sahariya women who tried to prevent this
were threatened and beaten. This has been happening
T|at the most important site where an all-women forest pro
tection committee has been created following an idea ini
tiated by the Chief Minister herself.
As the sahariyas constitute the weakest community
in the area, it is important to provide them some protec
tion from dominant groups or persons and only then they
can be expected to make their full contribution to the re
generation of forests.
@
©
(17)
G
Sahariyas m Baran District Women of Weakest Community
Organise to Resist injustice
The Sahariya tribal community in Rajasthan has
been repeatedly in news due to alarming levels of depri
vation and exploitation suffered by them, culminating
sometimes in starvation deaths. Concentrated mainly in
Shahbad and Kishanganj tehsils of Baran district, the
Sahariyas constitute the only officially recognised primi
tive tribe in Rajasthan. This recognition means that spe
cial development funds and schemes are available for
them, but it is only by broad-based mobilisation that
Sahriyas can benefit from this. The organisation of women
has a crucial role in this as they play an important role in
all aspects of life-whether it is health, nutrition and child
care or most important livelihood sources like agricul
ture and forestry.
Some social organisations like Sankalp and Jagrat
Mahila Sangathana have played a crucial role in the
mobilisation of Sahariyas with special emphasis on
women. Sankalp was careful to recognise the important
role of educating girls at an early stage when it was con
centrating more on educational programmes. As Motilal,
one of the founder members of Sankalp says, "When we
visited some of the remote villages we found that the per
centage of literacy among women was about nil and
hardly any girls were going to school." In fact government
appointed teachers simply did not come to these remote
villages and schools remained closed most of the time.
Sankalp used local village youths - having less for
mal education but higher motivation - to increase educa(18)
tion levels in these village. These 'Shikshakarmis' made
special efforts to take education to girls even if this meant
starting special duration classes and night classes for
them.
As a result of these efforts the number of educated
girls started increasing rapidly in many villages. Some of
these educated girls later joined Sankalp and now play a
wider role in the mobilisation of other Sahariya women.
Angoori is one such youth. She says, "Our teacher
(Shikshakarmi) made learning such a joyful experience
for us that we insisted on going to school. Even after we
had attended school, when the teachers came at night to
our basti for adult literacy work, we implored our mothers
to allow us to sit with them also."
Several years of.such dedicated educational work
played rich returns later when women activists from
Sankalp started getting encouraging response from
Sahariya women in the wider struggler for their forest and
land rights.
■
A leading activist Charumitra says, “Before this
mobilisation effort, Sahariya women were used to accept
ing the highly exploitative system in which they lived as
their destiny. But after the mobilisation efforts they first
started approaching social activists and organisations for
redressal of various injustices. More recently many of
them moved the next step forward and now tackle sev
eral local injustices on their own."
In Lakrai village officials and policemen came to the
home of a bhil tribal to recover some fines imposed arbi
trarily on him. His wife pleaded again and again that her
husband is ill but they simply carried him away. Soon af
ter some local women went to the police station and raised
(19)
such a hue and cry that the locked-up tribal farmer had to
be released.
In Geegchan village an honest 'mate' who was su
pervising drought relief work was pressurised by influen
tial people to indulge in corrupt practices. When he re
fused, they beat him up. The local police initially refused
to take any action against them. Once again local women
took the lead to pressurise the police so that the reluctant
police was forced to initiate action against them.
In Mundiyar village the local tehsildar first misbe
haved with the villagers and when they resisted, he called
in a huge police force to mercilessly beat villagers. Once
again women played an important part in the mobilisa
tion of sahariyas which resulted in strong official action
against the tehsiladar
Perhaps the most promising experiment in mobilis
ing Sahariya women to protect their community's rights
can be seen in Khelda village where most of the Sahariya
women have become members of a forest protection com
mittee. This committee has been given rights to- collect
minor forest produce including grass from a forest enclo
sure spread over about 175 hectares. The crux of this
project is that Sahariyas will take responsibility for pro
tecting and regenerating a degraded forest area (this will
include shramdan and voluntary work as well as regular
wage-based work) on the basis of an assurance from the
forest department that the income from minor forest pro
duce including grass will accrue to them.
To implement this project an all-women forest pro
tection committee has been formed in Khelda village. 20
women have started working as barefoot ayurvedic doc
tors. They have been trained in recognising medicinal
herbs. The next step will be to grow these herbs in nurs(20)
eries.
Women have worked hard to plant trees and to re
generate the forest, but a good part of their efforts were
foiled by arrogant persons from another community who
break the boundary wall and push buffaloes into the en
closed forest areas to feast on newly planted trees and
medicinal plants.
Ratna, one of the village women says, "We've tried
many times to stop them but they threaten to beat us. We've
not given up our efforts but we need some help from out
side too to be able to successfully protect and regener
ate forests."
Shanti Bai says with a sigh, " The greenery here
would have been much more but for those animals let
loose by dominant persons who don't want us to pros
per."
We got an indication of the problems faced by them
in the forest enclosure near Khalda village. As we were
sitting their talking with Sahariyas, two aggressive look
ing youths roared into the enclosed area on a motorcycle
brandishing a huge stick. They drove the motorcycle very
close to Sahariya women and aggressivelywaved their
stick. If such was their aggression in front of influential
visitors, one can imagine their behaviour when they deal
(^directly with the women from the weakest community.
The fact that these women have stayed on in the
forestry project and show no intention of giving it up de
spite growing threats is evidence of their determination
to assert their rights for a sustainable and secure liveli
hood. Shanti Bai says," We realise that ultimately we've
to fight our own battle, but as we've been weakened by
many years of exploitation, some help from the govern
ment is needed at this stage to protect our work."
(21)
This brief story of Sankalp's experience is a story of
learning from experiences so that an effort which started
with relatively narrow concerns soon found itself coming
to grips with much wider challenges. In the process
Sankalp not only got linked to important national cam
paigns but in addition came much closer to its target
groups at the local level. It has now reached a crucial
stage in which the success of the forest enclosures
schemes can protect the sustainable livelihoods of a sig
nificant and increasing number of vulnerable families.
o
o
o
Year of Publication : June, 2006
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'pBVHO.
Intensified Marginalisation of Tribals
A Plea for Rethinking the Question of “Tribes”
Presented by
Shereen Ratnagar
At
Mumbai Resistance 2004
Against Imperialist Globalisation and War
Mumbai, January 17-20, 2004
A substantial proportion of the Indian population is constituted by tribes. I am
worried by a denial of the reality of the tribe by some scholars and activists today. Just
as we do not junk the notion of the nation, however complex or troublesome it may
seem, so also we need not junk the term “tribe" just because it is complex, ambiguous,
or has been wrongly used. I fear this may be the greatest injustice to tribal people.
Let us consider two basic reasons for misunderstanding the reality of tribal social
structure.
First, “tribe" as a form of social organization was used first by anthropologists, and it
is often said that anthropology was a colonial creation. Certainly, British and French
imperial rule in Africa and Asia promoted, and utilized, the anthropological studies of
various groups that had to be brought under control. Yet in Europe anthropologists also,
in the 18th-19lh centuries, studied the peasant cultures of Europe-- the non-mainstream
cultures, pre-Christian rituals, folklore, oral traditions, and so on. In northern America
the realization that the lifeways of Indian tribes were fast vanishing, was a major factor
prompting anthropological study of them. Besides, even if we see anthropology as a
tool of imperial domination, we need to give credence to some of its approaches and
concepts- just as we accept (albeit critically) the work of the early Indologists on
Sanskrit and Tamil texts that was heavily Orientalist, building on this work and
correcting it, instead of rejecting it altogether.
A second major reason why the notion of the tribe troubles people is confusion
caused by a misreading of some constitutional provisions which state that the Schedule
of Tribes includes groups of tribal origin that lead a “primitive” way of life, live in “remote
and inaccessible areas", and are “generally backward in all aspects”. Words such as
“primitive” and “backward" are certainly pejorative. But not every tribe is included in the
Schedule—and these criteria do not constitute anything like a definition of “the tribe"—
they are the criteria on which the state shall decide which tribal groups may be included
in the Schedule, the list or Schedule changing from time to time. Note that Article 342
states that the state will specify those tribes or tribal communities or groups within tribes
2
which shall be deemed to be in the Schedule of Tribes . (Similarly, in defining those
castes to be included in the Schedule of Castes, the state was not defining caste, but
choosing those castes that had suffered untouchability and ‘its resultant disabilities’ for
positive discrimination.)1
Some people think it is politically incorrect to use the term “tribe”. They think it is
pejorative. To repeat, the state does not define tribes as isolated, backward, or primitive.
It has listed some tribes which it thinks are isolated, backward, “primitive", etc., for
positive discrimination.
Tribes are not defined on the basis of race or ethnicity. Race is a concept that
was politically abused; no group today can claim to be racially pure; and more important,
race does not correlate with mentality, or intellectual ability, or being warlike, or lazy. So
in the realms of culture and politics, race is irrelevant. As for ethnicity, it refers to the
perception of groups, large and small, of their own identity and their distinctness, with
reference to others. Ethnic boundaries are fluid, not necessarily cultural boundaries, and
have nothing to do with race. Ethnicity is not connected with social structure.
I look on the tribe as a kind of social organization (a social sturcture, if you
like) that has no stratification, no hierarchy of caste or class. Certainly, in tribal society
there would always have been individuals or families who were more productive than
others. There would have been some individuals who were good orators, or good
warriors, and who assumed the role of leaders or chiefs. There were also inherited
chiefships. But in tribal society, by definition, such personal differences have no
correlation with differences in access to the productive resources of the group. All who
are born into a tribe have equal rights to use the productive resources. In other words,
there is joint ownership of agricultural land, forest produce, fisheries, pasture, ground
water, etc. Joint tenure is feasible as these small-scale societies believe in descent from
a common ancestor, and thus claim blood ties with one another. They are societies in
which kinship functions as the relations of production. No person born into a tribe is
denied land in the tribe's domain; correspondingly, no chief can utilize resources to the
1 In the Censuses of 1901 and 1911 the British administration had defined tribes as those groups with
common descent from a real or fictive ancestor, and bound by kinship, occupying d contiguous area, and
not necessarily endogomous or associated with a specific occupation (the last two criteria serving the
purpose of distinguishing tribe from caste).
3
detriment of his kinsfolk. Chiefs who made too many demands for tribute were
repudiated by their people, even killed. Also, land and its produce, being the legacy of
the ancestors and being held in trust for future generations of the kin group, cannot be
bought and sold or exchanged for personal gain; no individual can get ahead at the cost
of his kin.
In the past there has been a continuum, especially in the sphere of religion,
between tribal and Brahmanical culture, rather than an absolute divide, (a) When rulers
made grants of land to Brahmins in forest tracts inhabited by tribes, for instance, tribes
became gradually acculturated into the mainstream. In Bastar, tribal chiefs became the
feudatories of various medieval states, (b) Other tribes remained, not isolated in remote
places2, but separate from caste society and politically autonomous of state authorities
and avoiding Brahmanical religious customs. Yet when states organized their land
revenue systems to yield the maximum possible, and/or when there came about serious
pressures on the land, communal land tenure was not either not recognized or
impractical. (c)Yet other groups who had lost their lands or were driven out of state
territories, adjusted to life in the tribal way in remote areas.
Acculturation occurred in the opposite direction as well. In some medieval
Rajput states, a ruler at his coronation would be given a tika of blood by a Bhil elder.
More striking is the case of the god Jagannath, installed in the magnificent temple at
Puri. The representation of this god in the temple, the priests who attend him, legends,
and some rituals in the temple all show that Jagannath was originally a tribal deity.
When we recall that people go to the ratha yatra of this temple in the thousands, we see
that tribal culture has not always been regarded as inferior!
The knowledge that some groups as refugees took to a tribal way of life brings
us to the realization that tribal people cannot be called “indigenous". This is a dangerous
category in the Indian context, and it may be noted that the term adivasi is a recent one.
Admittedly, it may be analytically correct to distinguish Amerindians in the northern
American subcontinent as "indigenous" in order to distinguish this population from the
white settlers who arrived there in the very recent past.
But “indigenous" makes no
sense in the Indian context. (1) The first inhabitants of our country were hunter
2 G. Devy has emphasized that scholars have long failed to realize that the tribal population in India is
today ’‘basically bilingual”.
4
gatherers, who do not have a tribal structure!3 Tribal organization came with agriculture
and sedentary village life, thousands of years after the hunting and gathering life had set
in.4 (2) Archaeologists have found a patchy distribution of early village sites across the
map. Not one of these sites shows continuous habitation from "time immemorial" (a
ridiculous phase) until today. How, then, does any group have the right to claim it is the
first occupant of a particular region? (3) On what criteria can any ethnic group claim
they are the “sons of the soil"? Uncritical application of Western concepts may well
bring in further strife into areas where people already suffer enormous indignities. (4)
“Indigenous" creates the impression that some people have greater rights than others. If
I belong to a group that traces its life in India to only a few centuries back, does this give
me in some way lesser rights than one who is tribal? Can rights of citizenship carry
meaning if we "grade" them? (5) Further, talk of "indigenous" groups implies there are
non-indigenous ones, and this plays into the hands of the Hindu Right that seeks to
marginalize Muslims as outsiders in our country.
On the one hand "indigenous” is a concept that leads to false claims and can
cause strife, on false grounds. On the other, if we deny tribalism, (A) we deny the
existence of a social and economic structure that is an alternative to class society. (B)
We deny the historical alternatives to Brahmanical dogma and domination. This is a
serious issue at a time when the Sangh Parivar is encouraging tribal people to adopt
Brahmanical rituals and deities and is inducting them into its Muslim-slaying
programmes in Gujarat. (C) We play into the hands of scholars who like to suggest
that in the ancient past, too, class stratification, the marketing of agricultural and craft
produce5, etc., had existed. This is a way of giving legitimacy to the institutions of class
and market. [If markets and exploitation were always present (though in less developed
form), they are part of the human condition. Then it would make no sense to oppose
them....] (D) We may recall that in the remote past writing (said to be the greatest
’ Hunter-gatherer society is characterized by mobility, and the fission and fusion of groups. Usually there
is no permanent grouping other than the nuclear family. This is largely connected with a basically
immediate-returns economy, seasonal mobility and the ad hoc nature of residence- and word-groups. With
the coming of agriculture, on the other hand, came a delayed-returns system that necessitated that families
sedentarized and co-operated with one another and associated on a permanent basis. Agricultural society
typically spawns tribes because social bonds, of depth, are created both down the generations and across
families.
4 To assert a historical transition from hunting and gathering to pastoralism ad peasant life is historically
incorrect: dozens of tribal cultures existed in many parts of the world, that practised agriculture. The
coming of agriculture did not spawn social hierarchies, “surplus”, or states.
5
invention of the human mind) came into existence in societies where ruling elites had
emerged, and not because those societies were necessarily more capable or cultured
than others. Thus the presence/absence of literacy has nothing to do with the “tribal
condition" being “backward'. Until the advent of ruling elites and state administrations,
there was no need for writing. (E) We discount the enormous injustice done to tribal
people by the British administration that inducted them as tea- and coffee-plantation
labour after having declared various forest protection laws that made the old ways of life
impossible. We allow tribes to be engulfed by the monster of industrial capitalism as
shanty-town dwellers and migrant labourers.
The real issue, as Kannan Srinivasan says, is for tribal people to be able to choose
to live in ways that ensure their own control over their land, water, and forest resources.
This alone gives cultural content to being tribal. And it is for them to decide, in these
conditions, whether they wish to retain tribalism as part of their identity.
5 Exchange within tribal groups, especially in subsistence produce, is never guided by considerations of
gain. Typically, bargaining and driving a good deal are confined to dealings with people outside the tribal
group.
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This vision is bold and demanding, particularly in the context of current health
levels in the State. However, with a comprehensive plan to provide both curative
Health First
and preventive healthcare to all its people, Andhra Pradesh can certainly realise it.
To successfully do so, the State will focus on the following key priorities:
• Providing universal access to primary healthcare.
• Encouraging private investment in tertiary healthcare.
• Focusing on specific programmes to promote family welfare, particularly the
health of women and children, and family planning.
• Focusing on improving health levels in disadvantaged groups and backward
regions.
Human capital is increasingly considered one of the most important components
of a nation's wealth. In a populous country like India, and states like Andhra Pradesh,
• Ensuring a strong prevention focus.
rhe challenge lies in ensuring that human capital is developed to its fullest by
enhancing the ability of the people to lead healthy and productive lives.
By 2020, health indicators in the State will reach international levels. Population
growth will stabilise, reaching sustainable levels and households in Andhra Pradesh
• Enhancing the performance of the public health system.
• Formulating a State IEC (Information, Education and Communication)
programme, which includes leveraging the electronic media.
will have smaller, better spaced families. An emphasis on disease prevention and
control and on nutrition, sanitation, personal hygiene and fitness will sustain high
levels of health in the State.
Andhra Pradesh's people will have access to responsive basic healthcare services.
Th? poor and vulnerable groups will enjoy free healthcare, both basic and
spenalised; other sections of the population will have access to these services through
heath insurance. Today's major health burdens will have disappeared. Pregnancies
wffibe safe and infants will no longer die of easily curable ailments like diarrhoea
or.scute respiratory infection, even in remote villages. Malnutrition will have been
elininated. Major diseases like tuberculosis and malaria will have been contained
ani emerging diseases like AIDS and cancer successfully prevented.
Ths vision will translate into the following key health and development indicators
by2020: infant and child mortality rates of 10 per 1,000 (live births) and 20 per 1,000
respectively; life expectancy of 68.1 years for men and 70.6 years for women; a total
fetflity rate of 1.5 (average number of children per woman) and population growth
oKJ.8 per cent a year.
PROVIDING UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO PRIMARY
HEALTHCARE
Health indicators show that health standards in Andhra Pradesh have improved
significantly over the last 20 years. However, the State still needs to significantly
improve access to primary healthcare. The State's primary health infrastructure,
/ 'ro\ Hfitit*
immediate
u.->
to ba>ic
heaithc are
throughout the
St,He will
dramatically
improt e Health
standards in
Andhra Pradesh.
comprising about 11,000 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Sub-Centres, is
inadequate for the number of people it needs to cover. Consequently, in some parts
of the State, people have to travel more than 2 hours or 25 km to receive treatment
for even simple ailments.
Providing immediate access to basic healthcare—maternal and child healthcare,
family welfare, and basic clinical services—throughout the State, particularly in
villages and urban slums, will dramatically improve health standards in Andhra
Pradesh. To do this, the Government will use two innovative approaches: a
Community Health Worker programme and a system of mobile health centres. In
addition, the Government will encourage the use of Indian systems of medicine as
a source of effective, safe, and low cost healthcare.
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• Health Sirst
other parts of the world, such as Brazil (Exhibit 3.1). The system will need to be
extended to cover the entire State, thus creating access to basic healthcare for all its
Exhibit 3.1
people.
COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS IN BRAZIL
In parallel, the State will consider supplementing the current system of providing
basic care through PHCs. These centres have not been able to adequately fulfil the
NGO-run community health worker programme supported by
the Ministry of Health
Around 50,000 CHWs’ provide health education to low
income mothers and monitor the growth of infants and young
children
CHWs are trained according to central guidelines but training
is adapted to the characteristics of different regions
Supervision of CHWs is combined with continuing education
and motivation
purpose for which they were set up, primarily because they require doctors to live
in rural areas without support for themselves and their families, such as schooling
for their children. One workable model would be to supplement the current PHC
system by introducing mobile units attached to referral hospitals in towns. These
units would fan out to villages to provide them with primary healthcare services.
Each hospital would be staffed by doctors practising at the hospital as well as doctors
operating mobile units. Through facilities such as cellular phones, the mobile units
would be activated to provide primary care and first aid as required.
This system will provide a two-fold benefit. First, it will solve the problem of access,
currently caused by the non-availability of doctors at the PHCs. Secondly, it will
allow doctors and nurses to build counselling relationships with their clients by
Evaluation studies showed that health and nutrition indicators
for children under the programme were significantly better than
those of children from similar communities not covered by this
programme
earning their respect and confidence through regular visits and provision of
emergency care as required. This, in turn, will allow them to counsel families on
contraception and other health issues. The system will be developed through pilot
projects in the State. On successful implementation, the mobile unit model will be
rolled out over extensive areas.
* Community health workers
Source: World Development Report; 1993; McKinsey Research
Promoting Indian systems of medicine and homeopathy
India has a rich heritage of traditional systems of medicine, such as ayurveda and
unani, that have now gained stature and popularity all over the world for their
Providing access to primary healthcare
holistic approach to treating disease and ailments.
The Government will develop a programme that uses voluntary Community Health
Ayurveda is India's traditional, natural system of medicine and has been practised
Workers (CHWs) to deliver simple health services, backed by a system of referrals'
for more than 5,000 years. It provides an integrated approach to preventing and
to Sub-Centres. CHWs are residents of villages or urban slums trained by the
treating illness through natural therapies and better lifestyles.
Government to provide such health services. They will need to provide 24-hour
service on call and be compensated reasonably by the local community. The PHC/
94
Unani is an ancient system of medicine prasctised in India since the 11th century.
Sub-Centre/Health Post network (in the form of mobile units or otherwise) will
Unani medicine is effective in the treatment of chronic diseases. Its low cost therapies,
back them up by treating more complex cases. This model has been effective both
using herbal and mineral substances, have made it a popular system of medicine in
in experiments in the State (e.g., in Rangareddy district and Hyderabad city) and in
the State.
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health FirM
Homeopathy can be used to treat acute and chronic health problems and to prevent
The new system will create a further requirement: affordable access to tertiary
diseases and promote health. It is a gentle and effective system of medicine,
healthcare. This can be achieved through a robust system of medical insurance.
providing remedies prepared from natural substances that work by stimulating
the body's own healing power
PROMOTING FAMILY WELFARE AND POPULATION
CONTROL
Andhra Pradesh will encourage such systems of medicine since they provide safe,
effective, and low cost solutions for most health problems.
A major component of the programme to achieve Vision 2020 will be reducing the
State's population growth from the current 1.6 per cent a year to the targeted 0.8
ENCOURAGING PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN TERTIARY
HEALTHCARE
per cent by 2020. This will require a three-pronged approach: improving female
literacy; empowering women; and providing better healthcare and family planning
services.
Since the need for primary and secondary healthcare is paramount, the Government
will direct its spending towards these sectors. As a result, tertiary healthcare will
have to make do with a small share of Government funding. Furthermore, this
spending will be directed towards providing tertiary care for the poor and other
vulnerable groups through existing teaching hospitals providing all specialities and
super-specialities.
Increasing female literacy will help equip women with a better understanding of
the social and economic importance of small families; improve their knowledge of
sophisticated and safe family planning methods, and hence build their confidence
in adopting them; encourage them to seek healthcare for themselves and their
families; and help them shape the views of other members of the household and
the community. Similarly, empowering women will give them more control over
? •)< c the need /< >r
primarx tmd
onclarx
teaIthcare A*
paramount the
Jovernment u >11
drict it> •‘pending
'awards these
actors.
At the same time, it cannot be denied that tertiary healthcare in the State also needs
deciding the size and spacing of their families, create awareness about family
augmenting. However, these investments will have to come from other sources,
planning among peer groups and the community, and increase the age at marriage
i omponeiu ot the
namely the private sector. The Government will, therefore, encourage private
of women. Chapter 2, 'The Agenda for Education', lays out initiatives for improving
investment in tertiary healthcare.
female literacy. Chapter 1, 'Progress and Prosperity' through Social Welfare' describes
puitjrjmmu ><■
nieve ' ision
2020 v. ill.•
redut mq ;.'>t
approaches to empowering women.
Private investment will bring benefits other than funds for investment: it will open
the sector to competition, thus improving service levels and lowering the costs of
The third component of the approach to reducing population growth is family
tertiary healthcare. The Government will, therefore, create incentives to encourage
welfare. Most parents decide to have many children because of current high infant
the entry of the private sector. At the same time, it will frame or modify regulation
and child mortality rates. To address this concern, infant and child mortality rates
to ensure that quality services are provided. Several regulatory' mechanisms, e.g.,
must be brought down by safeguarding the health of women, infants and children.
accreditation of hospitals, licensing of practitioners, regulation of drugs, and review
In addition, a new approach to family planning that remedies the defects of the
of medical practices, will be utilised. Where necessary, these mechanisms will be
traditional approach is also required.
streamlined and strengthened.
population
growth from ■
current ’.<• per
cent a \ear ro the
targeted ().o per
cent n\ _’(Cu.
To achieve both these objectives, the State will focus on successfully implementing
In the new environment. Government hospitals will increasingly have to create
the Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) programme, a World Bank funded and
their own financial resources and match the service levels of private institutions.
centrally sponsored scheme, launched in October 1997. This is a demand-driven,
They will thus need to generate internal sources of revenue, mainly through selective
quality-based approach with several components: enhancing the coverage, quality,
user charges for those who can afford to pay. Government funding will favour
and effectiveness of services; upgrading facilities and enhancing skills; building
efficiency and internal resource generation in hospitals. To enable good performance,
awareness through IEC (Information, Education and Communication) programmes;
these institutions will increasingly be allowed to operate autonomously. For instance,
ensuring decentralised, community-based planning; and strengthening managerial
Government hospitals will be given the freedom to contract out services.
capacity.
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A key element of the programme is a switch in emphasis from target-based to client
malnutrition. In addition, it will continue to focus on adolescent girls and expecting
based services, which allows the community to decide what it needs. This will be
and lactating women, for example, by providing iron and folic acid tablets (to tackle
achieved by implementing a community needs assessment module at the district
anaemia) through the anganwadi centres.
level. The information gained will be used to generate an action plan. Another
important element of the programme is a specific focus on disadvantaged locations
such as urban slums, tribal areas, and backward districts (e.g., Mahbubnagar).
There will be a strong emphasis on building awareness among mothers of proper
nutrition and healthcare during pregnancy by highlighting the consequences of
low birth weight and childhood malnutrition. The State will also support the
Improve maternal and child health
nutrition awareness initiatives of NGOs by using their services for monitoring
quality and mobilising the community.
The major objectives of the RCH programme are to reduce illness and deaths of
mothers and infants and ensure child survival. These will be achieved by providing
essential and emergency obstetrics care and care of the new-born infant; increasing
institutional deliveries; and managing reproductive tract infections, STDs, and
unwanted pregnancies.
Promote family planning
The RCH programme also modifies the approach to family planning. The
traditional approach was target- and contraception-based. Government agencies
decided the contraceptive method to be adopted and sought to popularise it.
To enhance facilities, health units will be provided with equipment and medical
Predictably, this met with limited success. The new approach will therefore be
personnel will be trained to upgrade their skills. To increase institutional deliveries,
client-based and more holistic. Not only will it offer a range of methods, including
a number of PHCs will be identified for conversion into 24-hour delivery centres.
innovative surgical methods in line with the needs of the community, it will also
These centres will be staffed with doctors, nurses and Auxiliary Nurse Midwives. In
promote the larger concept of family planning. Thus the programme will provide
addition, the State will appoint staff on contract wherever this is needed. A number
advice on the proper age at marriage, the health reasons for spacing children, the
( (...
of first referral units will be set up in each district to provide emergency obstetric
need for both spouses to be literate, the health reasons for men to participate m
ss jno (k
care, such as assisted or caesarean deliveries. The number of units to be set up in a
the programme, and so on. It will create demand by focusing on specific target
district will be determined by its demographic and development indicators, such as
groups such as newly married couples; providing localised counselling; and
■lSi'
n
i\( H orotir.inime
a/n/
uu<ini> cina ensurechild survived.
rafe, maternal and infant mortality rate, and female literacy rate.
undertaking mass promotion through community health centres and family
planning fairs. To meet the demand created, widespread access to family planning
The major focus of child health programmes will be to reduce the infant mortality
services will be ensured by creating multiple delivery channels providing a variety
rate to 10 per 1,000 live births and the child mortality rate to 20 per 1,000. These
of contraceptive materials to suit all needs.
goals will be achieved through hundred per cent immunisation coverage; achieving
100 per cent usage of Oral Rehydration Therapy to prevent deaths from diarrhoeal
dehydration; reducing infant and child deaths due to Acute Respiratory Infection,
improving the nutritional status of mothers and children, and achieving universal
awareness about the risks to children from HIV and AIDS.
To strengthen execution, the community will be encouraged to throw its weight
behind family planning programmes. Community ownership of such programmes
is the most powerful way to gain acceptance. To achieve this, family planning will
need to be at the core of the efforts of all the self-help groups such as the DWCRA
(Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas).
For better nutrition, the State will continue to support the Integrated Child
Development Scheme (ICDS) since it is the best way to reduce malnutrition. This
FOCUSING ON DISADVANTAGED GROUPS
scheme focuses on young children, pregnant and nursing women, and the poor. It
98
has been proved to have a significant impact on the nutritional status of beneficiaries.
Certain groups in India—scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, backward classes and,
The scheme will be better targeted towards infants of the 0-3 age group to prevent
to some extent, minorities—have suffered from historical disadvantages such as
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social or other kinds of discrimination. As a result, today they suffer more acutely
enhance the role of Indian systems of medicine and homeopathy in prevention,
than other sections of the population in terms of low health and education levels,
control, and treatment. The focus of these programmes will vary so that they
and even employment. In Andhra Pradesh, the data shows that the gap between
address local disease burdens. In addition, programmes will anticipate disease
these groups and the general population is extremely large, for instance, the infant
patterns and accordingly evolve priorities over time. To illustrate: the focus on
mortality rate in tribal areas is 120 per 1,000 live births, twice that of the State average
leprosv will be reduced, since it is now more or less under control, and greater
of 66.
efforts will be made to promote awareness of the dangers of tobacco abuse and
tuberculosis, and the importance of safe sex to contain the looming threat of HIV/
A key element of Vision 2020 is to undertake special initiatives to ensure that these
groups are brought to the same level of development as the rest of the population.
AIDS.
In terms of health, many of the initiatives have been envisaged with a view to
Most of these programmes are economically viable. They can be executed with
providing services to these groups. These include the provision of free basic
limited additional resource requirements and can improve health significantly. To
healthcare even in remote tribal areas through mobile units and the system of trained
further increase their effectiveness, the State will find partners from the corporate
community health workers.
world, such as pharmaceutical companies, to support the provision of critical inputs
like vaccines and medicines as well as awareness-raising activities for disease
STRENGTHENING DISEASE PREVENTION
prevention and control.
Preventive efforts must emphasise mass immunisation and disease control, hygiene,
The second critical element in reducing the disease burden is promoting hygiene
sanitation, and the supply of safe drinking water.
and sanitation, and ensuring adequate supply of safe drinking water. This can be
achieved by providing better living conditions and by promoting public awareness
Andhra Pradesh already has several mass programmes in place for immunisation
of health and hygiene, including personal hygiene and fitness. The State will need
and the control of communicable diseases like tuberculosis, malaria, leprosy, and
to provide safe drinking water and better sanitation services for its people. This
gastro-enteritis (during summer and the rainy season) and non-communicable
will need co-ordinated action by several agencies including municipalities and the
diseases such as blindness, iodine and nutrition deficiency. However, a lot still needs
departments of health, urban and rural development. Awareness campaigns run
to be done. Immunisation coverage is inadequate and tuberculosis and malaria
by the Government or with the help of NGOs will also be required.
have not yet been brought under control. There is also the likelihood that HIV/
AIDS, STDs, coronary heart disease and cancer will pose serious threats in the
Achieving a dramatic improvement in health standards throughout the State will
foreseeable future. The State will actively work to boost the effectiveness of disease
take more than disease prevention efforts; it will also require a considerable
prevention efforts, particularly for area-specific diseases, such as malaria in the
improvement in healthcare delivery through the public health system.
tribal belts and leprosy in the coastal areas. Epidemiological15 studies will be carried
out in each specific area and action plans will be developed to control the disease
burden of the area.
ENHANCING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH
SYSTEM
Today, the Central Government funds and controls disease prevention and control
The current public health system is characterised by centralised structures and
programmes. Going forward, the State will need to play a more proactive role,
inadequate systems. Decisions on even minor operational issues (e.g., transfer of
i.e., determining its own priorities and designing programmes with these in mind.
personnel) are taken in the State capital, Hyderabad. Multiple Government
The approach will have to be intensive, localised and flexible. It will also need to
departments have authority over different, albeit related, areas. For example, sub
centres are under the authority of the Family Welfare department while PHCs are
15
Epidemiology is the branch of medicine concerned with epidemics.
under the authority of the Health Department. Both Central and State Government
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programmes operate at various levels, sometimes resulting in duplication of work
and inefficient use of resources. There are no information systems to track health
members of the local community and health officials. At the village level, self-help
groups such as 'Mahila Swasthya Sanghs' could be given the responsibility for
results or control systems to monitor performance of personnel. For instance, even
managing and monitoring village level health services through the appointment of
regular attendance of doctors at PHCs and ANMs (Auxiliary Nurse Midwifes) at
the CHWs.
Sub-Centres appears to be a problem.
The necessary legal sanctions for the decentralisation of local functions have already
Improving the effectiveness of the public health system is thus a mammoth task. It
been provided by the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments. The State's
can be achieved only by moving to a decentralised management structure, supported
challenge lies in putting policy into practice, especially in an environment where
by better information and incentive systems, and by involving the community in
previous attempts at decentralisation have met with stiff resistance.
the management of health services.
Organisations conducting Central Government programmes at the PHC, sub
district, district and State levels will have to be integrated to allow better coverage
Improving the effectiveness of its public health system is only one of the tasks at
hand. The Government will also have to accomplish a major improvement in the
effectiveness of its healthcare expenditure.
and co-ordination. To improve planning and co-ordination, responsibility for all
primary healthcare will need to be consolidated under a single department in
Hyderabad. In addition, a distinct drug procurement and distribution function
will have to be created to ensure that medicines are available in all healthcare
institutions.
To further strengthen the management of the public health system, information
and incentive systems will need to be introduced. Current information systems
focus more on input (e.g., immunisations completed) and less on output (e.g., the
incidence of diseases). The information system will need to be redesigned to track
DEVELOPING A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY TO
ENHANCE HEALTH AWARENESS
As stated earlier, a major part of improving health levels is increasing awareness of
the importance of health, hygiene and sanitation. This will require the design and
launch of many campaigns to publicise such issues.
The State will use a mix of different media such as street plays, folk theatre, literacy
programmes, interactive discussions, and so on, to build awareness. However, a
major component of this strategy will be leveraging electronic media.
a broader range of health and demographic parameters and cost statistics at lower
levels in the system—at least at the mandal level. This will not only allow for better
In India, television and radio campaigns have often been used to publicise disease
policy decisions, thereby making public spending more effective, it will also provide
prevention and other health-related issues. Today, these media are achieving high
a basis for monitoring the performance of health personnel. The information system
levels of penetration: according to projections by the National Council of Applied
should be evaluated periodically by independent evaluators. Finally, to motivate
Economic Research, by 2000, television will reach 60 per cent of India's population.
staff to perform better, transparent incentive systems (e.g., performance-based
In Andhra Pradesh, over 3 million homes already have a television set and television
incentives) for both Government health personnel and CHVVs will need to be created.
penetration is growing rapidly.
These must be linked to performance (e.g., improvement in local health indicators;
85 per cent cure rates for a disease).
Together with television and radio, the emergence of other electronic media will
create enormous potential to conduct mass awareness campaigns. Interactive media
102
An effective way to improve the performance of the public health system is to involve
are likely to proliferate, through initiatives like 'electronic kiosks', planned under
the community in the management of services. To achieve this, Advisory Committees
Andhra Pradesh's Electronic Government initiative, and through emerging formats
will be set up to monitor the performance of the referral hospitals. Committee
like WebTV. The telemedicine concept— healthcare consultations through electronic
members would be the M.P. and M.L.A. of the area, other elected and prominent
media—can also be a useful medium for raising awareness.
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Health First(
Clearly, Andhra Pradesh today can consider only television- and radio-based
campaigns. However, as the State upgrades its telecommunications infrastructure
in line with the requirements of the growth agenda, such options will become
increasingly available.
Apart from its role in developing Andhra Pradesh's human capital, the health sector
can also be an important engine of growth for the economy. The sector can make a
A Clean, Green Andhra
Pradesh
significant contribution to the GSDP, particularly in secondary and tertiary
healthcare, and spawn many health-related industries such as health insurance,
hospital management, medical equipment and healthcare-related software
development. The health sector is also employment-intensive: the primary
healthcare network alone can employ 2-5 lakh people in rural areas.
The environment is a part of development, and not a constraint to it, as is most
The State will, therefore, keep itself open to innovation in this sector, reform its
approach to healthcare, and focus on raising the health levels of its people. This
will create tremendous momentum behind its growth agenda.
commonly believed. Safe water, clean air, and the sustainable use of natural resources
are key elements of any approach to development. In fact, sustainability is likely to
be a key issue in the next millennium. Andhra Pradesh will heed the signals of
increasing environmental deterioration and help conserve the environment as one
more step towards achieving development.
By 2020, Andhra Pradesh will have clean air and water, hygienic, well-planned,
and pleasant villages and cities. The State will utilise its natural resources with a
view to conserving them. Conservation of the environment will, in fact, be an integral
part of its development planning, ensuring that economic development remains
sustainable. By 2020, the State will be proactively planning for and managing its
environment, emphasising positive linkages with development and carefully
scrutinising all development choices that may adversely affect the environment. It
will use superior environmental management as a competitive advantage to attract
investment into the State (Exhibit 4.1).
To achieve environmentally sustainable development, Andhra Pradesh will make
pragmatic development choices that balance the benefits of development with the
need to maintain and enhance the environment. Furthermore, environmental
advantages will be converted into economic benefits. This will include developing
eco-tourism, attracting investment by providing the clean environment investors
are looking for, and converting degraded lands into parks.
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Position: 278 (8 views)