Cultivating Self Reliance

Sushila Murmu, a tribal woman in a nondescript hamlet called Paharpur located in the Kathikund block — 27 km from Dumka in Jharkhand, was struggling hard, till three years ago, to change the mindset of the villagers who had dashed her hopes of a better tomorrow. Today, when she looks back, she notes with satisfaction the entire village’s support for her. The journey, however, has been no cakewalk.






The only woman in the entire village to have completed her school education, Sushila was upset at seeing people of her community quit farming due to heavy losses and forced to migrate to other States in search of livelihood. She wanted to put a halt to the trend. With her husband Mahadev Tuddu, she started cultivating the infertile land to transform it into a lush green field and tried her best to inspire her fellow villagers, at first with no success.

She, however, did not give up. She restarted from the scratch; this time targeting the womenfolk. Day-long chats of motivation and encouragement helped her gain their confidence. Soon, she was associated with non-profit organisation Lahanti and started her own self help group ( SHG). She called the SHG Beli Lahanti.

In the last few years, Sushila has successfully shown the way to self-dependence through farming. The transformation received a boost with the assistance of the Poorest Areas Civil Society (PACS) programme, an initiative of the U.K. government’s Department for International Development (DFID) aimed at the welfare of socially excluded groups.

Under the PACS programme, Sushila brought together a group of women and gave them lessons in community farming. Her sustained endeavours not only empowered women but also encouraged the adivasi community to break the cycle of poverty through concerted and coordinated efforts. Sharing her experiences, Sushila says, “Tribal women are believed to be backbone of their community. It was because of such an ethos that we could infuse a sense of confidence and community among Santhals who were struggling to survive. The results are before everybody: how we turned rocky and dry land into cultivable land through our collective efforts.”

While there is a considerable decrease in the seasonal mass migration from the village now, its residents also enjoy a proportionate increase in their collective prosperity. Today, the village is food and financially secure like never before. Now, self-reliance in farming has earned them a livelihood, collectively farming the vast tracts of land which were earlier left barren. The children are now being able to study without interruptions through the year.

Sushila’s SHG spread awareness about MGNREGA and procured job cards for all those looking to enrol themselves. Soon the group of women launched a movement against the middlemen who had monopolised job cards and pass-books issued in the name of villagers under this scheme. Thereafter, the group started targeting exploitative private money lenders whose land- grabbing had devastated the lives of poor villagers.

“We motivated the villagers to reclaim their lands in Paharpur, Kodarchela, Lakhanpur, Kadma, Pakardeeh and Manjhdeeha. The moneylenders have been chased out of the agrarian business today,” says Sushila proudly.

It was only after a series of such achievements that Sushila could win the confidence of the men folk of the village to come together and find socially sustainable solutions to some of the most pressing problems facing their people. “Soon after the first evaluation of the SHG, we took a loan of Rs. 25,000 from the bank. We used it to cultivate potato and had a good harvest of 20 quintals. After selling the surplus produce, we repaid the borrowed money. Today, we are self-reliant in farming and are growing almost every crop. Consequently, every woman in the village is earning a monthly income of Rs. 1500 through agriculture and allied activities. Some families were able to start their own small businesses,” says Sushila.

The group’s crusade has led to a drastic decline in the sale and purchase of liquor in the area, besides closure of illicit liquor manufacturing distilleries. The women also diligently attend meetings at the Panchayat Bhawan where, every Thursday, they curiously gather information related to government welfare schemes. In these meetings, they also table social development issues. “Our group members are now more aware of the Forest Rights Act, for instance. They not only participated in the panchayat elections but also stood for and won the seats for Panchayat Committee and Ward Member. Recognising the efforts of the group, the district administration has handed over the implementation of the Public Distribution System to them, thus bringing transparency to this beleaguered scheme,” says Sushila.

Charkha Announces

Sanjoy Ghose Media Fellowship 2013
For highlighting development issues of women in Ladakh

The Sanjoy Ghose Media Fellowship aims at providing a platform to writers who have the zeal to go beyond the usual and highlight invisible development issues of the women living in the rural borderlands.
The Fellowship shall provide an opportunity for writers to delve into the challenges faced by the women of rural disadvantaged communities and reflect the status of development as perceived by these women. The Fellowship will support in-depth research, travel and writing. The writings are expected to highlight little-known strengths and travails of the women of this remote but significant part of India with a view to bringing them into the mainstream development fold.







Theme
One Fellowship on Women as Flag-bearers of Change in Ladakh– individual women or groups of women, who fought structural, social norms in this tough geographical area to bring development and positive changes, be it in the field of education, economy, or saving their natural or cultural heritage.
One Fellowship on the “Contemporary Challenges of Women in Ladakh” – a view of the evolving nature of the socio-economic, geographic and cultural challenges faced by women in Ladakh. This can include how age old challenges reflect themselves differently in today's world.

Duration

Six months

Eligibility
The two Fellowships are open to writers with at least one year of professional experience in any field. Students pursuing graduation (final year) and post graduation can also apply.
Preference will be given to women writers from Ladakh region
Freelance writers and aspiring writers, as well as those interested in social issues of Ladakh, are encouraged to apply. Journalists associated with a publication or media house are eligible to apply. Previous Charkha Fellows and writers currently availing benefits of any other fellowship or a similar scheme of financial assistance are not eligible to apply

Application Guidelines

All potential applicants must submit the following as a part of their application; incomplete applications will not be submitted to the jury for consideration:

1. A detailed CV with information pertaining to educational qualifications, work experience and volunteer experiences
2. A Proposal of 800 words explaining the broad outline of the particular theme chosen by the applicant. This should include details like the relevance of theme in the context of Ladakh region today; key issue to be raised through writings, explaining how the writings can create any positive impact; and any experience of living or working in the area which has contributed to the choice of theme
3. Two articles published/unpublished over the past two years
4. Two letters of recommendation from persons in a related field who are known to the applicant professionally and not in any personal capacity
Applications may be sent by email to vermaachetna@gmail.com or chetna@charkha.org with the Subject: ‘Application for Sanjoy Ghose Media Fellowship (Ladakh) 2013’; or by post to:
Charkha Development Communication Network,
D – 1947, Palam Vihar, Gurgaon 122017, Haryana
All completed applications received shall be acknowledged by email

General

The selected Fellows will receive a fellowship of Rs 35,000/- each (subject to TDS
deductions) to support research, travel and writing in the given period.
The stipend will be released in two installments - the first as a travel grant at the start of the Fellowship Programme and the second after its successful completion
All Fellows will be required to attend sessions of a specially-designed ‘Mentoring Program’ as per schedule during the six months of the Fellowship that entails attending sessions in Delhi and elsewhere, with all expenses being covered by Charkha
The selected Fellows will be required to submit at least five well-researched articles in English, Hindi or Urdu with ten - fifteen high-resolution photographs on the chosen subject during the period of six months. At least two of these articles must be positive stories
Articles arising out of the Fellowship Programme must be submitted only to Charkha for publication through Charkha Features. Charkha has the right to get the articles published with due credit given to the writers without any additional payment
Copyright of all work will rest with the writers
Last date for receiving completed applications is 31 March 2013
For further queries contact –
Chetna Verma
09416202082

Information regarding fellowship in regional media

Charkha announces "Sanjoy Ghose Media Fellowship 2013"

Charkha Announces

Sanjoy Ghose Media Fellowship 2013

The Sanjoy Ghose Media Fellowship aims at providing a platform to writers who have the zeal to go beyond the usual and highlight invisible development issues of the communities living in the rural borderlands.
The Fellowship shall provide an opportunity for writers to experience the social, economic and cultural life of rural disadvantaged communities and reflect the status of development as perceived by the people. The Fellowship will support in-depth research, travel and writing. The writings are expected to create impact by bring desired change in the issues being highlighted through the Fellowship writings.









Theme

Two Fellowships on rural development issues in the Jammu region including education, health, livelihood, Panchayati Raj, environment, disability and culture; and how these impact communities residing in rural areas of the Jammu region
One Fellowship on the issue of Congruence and Harmony in the backdrop of diverse socio-cultural communities that live in the Jammu region
One Fellowship on Gender issues in the Jammu region
One Fellowship on the Participation of Youth in improving the quality of life of rural communities in the Jammu region

Duration

Eight months

Eligibility

The Fellowships are open to writers with at least three years of professional experience
Preference will be given to women writers from the Jammu region
Accredited journalists are not eligible to apply
Previous Charkha Fellows and writers currently availing benefits of any other fellowship or a similar scheme of financial assistance are not eligible to apply
Application Guidelines
All potential applicants must submit the following as a part of their application; incomplete applications will not be submitted to the jury for consideration:
A detailed CV with information pertaining to educational qualifications, work experience and volunteer experiences
A Proposal of 1000 words explaining the broad outline of the particular theme chosen by the applicant. This should include details like the relevance of theme in the context of Jammu region today; key issue to be raised through writings, explaining how this can create positive impact; and any experience of living or working in the area which has contributed to the choice of theme
Three articles published over the past three years
Two letters of recommendation from persons in a related field who are known to the applicant professionally and not in any personal capacity
Applications may be sent by email to charkha@bol.net.in or chetna@charkha.org with the Subject: ‘Application for Sanjoy Ghose Media Fellowship 2013’; or by post to:

Charkha Development Communication Network,
D – 1947, Palam Vihar, Gurgaon 122017, Haryana
All completed applications received shall be acknowledged by email

General
The selected Fellows will receive a fellowship of Rs 50,000/- each (subject to TDS
deductions) to support research, travel and writing in the given period.
The stipend will be released in two installments - the first as a travel
grant at the start of the Fellowship Programme and the second after its
successful completion

All Fellows will be required to attend sessions of a specially-designed ‘Mentoring Program’ as per schedule during the eight months of the Fellowship that entails attending sessions in Delhi and elsewhere, with all expenses being covered by Charkha

The selected Fellows will be required to submit at least six well-researched articles in English, Hindi or Urdu with ten - fifteen high-resolution photographs on the chosen subject during the period of eight months. At least two of these articles must be positive stories

Articles arising out of the Fellowship Programme must be submitted only to Charkha for publication through Charkha Features. Charkha has the right to get the articles published with due credit given to the writers without any additional payment
Copyright of all work will rest with the writers
Last date for receiving completed applications is 04th March 2013

For further queries contact –
Chetna Verma

08860844210
0124 407 9082

Behind a herd of goats and clucking chickens scurrying around a dusty courtyard, three dilapidated doors open and shyly invite you into three dank cramped sheds. Each 10 by 10 feet structure resembles a defaced pigeon hole. It has a damaged roof. Inside, an internally displaced family of as many as 35 members live. This is not the story of one migrant family crammed into one tiny room. At the overcrowded Talwara camp in Reasi district, merely 72 km from Jammu, over 900 families severely affected by conflict live in similar or worse conditions. The camp resembles an unsightly slum. It was allotted to these families by the government 15 years ago. Most of the families living here escaped from remote villages nestled in the mountains following a reign of terror unleashed by armed insurgents during the 1990s. Naajo Devi’s is one such family, struggling to keep home and hearth together. She was forced to flee from her village Naosi with her husband, Rikhi Ram, seven sons and three daughters. Over time, Naajo’s family of 12 has expanded to 31, out of which 21 are Naajo’s grandchildren. “With a growing family, it has become difficult to survive in three small rooms. We sleep, cook, eat, and store household articles in the same home. It gets worse during the rainy season when water keeps dripping from the roof. We fear that the house could collapse any time.” says Naajo, rubbing her weathered hands in despair over her face. Naajo’s family, like several other migrants, miss their happy life back home where they had adequate agricultural land, livestock and natural resources. At the camp, lack of sustainable sources of income and the absence of government aid have made life miserable. Most of the camp dwellers do manual labour or menial jobs to earn a livelihood. Even their children have to toil along with the family for sheer survival. According to the government’s present relief policy, each displaced family is entitled to nine kg of flour and two kg of rice, besides a monthly cash compensation of Rs 400 for four members of a family. Also, each family unit is entitled to 10 litres of kerosene every month. Inhabitants of the camp rue that even this meagre entitlement reaches them slowly and sporadically. Of the 994 households at the camp, only 655 are presently entitled to relief and rations. Sadly, the remaining 339 households have no assistance from any quarter. These families include those who have survived bullets and blasts. A resident of Channa village, Daleep Singh, does not get any monthly relief. His four-year- old daughter and pregnant wife were shot dead by militants. He was also hit by several bullets before militants left him for dead. At the camp, Singh remarried and is now living with his second wife and two children. For the family’s sustenance, he works as a labourer on construction sites. “Due to lack of money, I could not get proper treatment for my gunshot wounds. The government has not registered my family therefore I am not entitled to any compensation amount. The government has provided us with a one-room tenement. That is it.” Those migrant families who have a net monthly income of Rs 5,000 or more have been debarred from the relief and cash compensation. An ex-service man, Punjab Singh of Thanol village, decries thispolicy, “I have been laid low by many ailments. Most of my pension is spent on medicines. I am not entitled to any compensation or relief as I am a retired employee. I ask this government: did I do anything wrong by serving the country?” Recalling memories of those dreadful days, Chawkidar of village Narkot, who also lives in the camp, said, “It was the cruellest day in our lives. On 17 April, 1998, 27 people were brutally killed by militants in our village. The next day, we fled the village en masse as there was no security of life.” “During those days, gun-toting militants would roam freely in groups and they would kill and torture people,” interjects the Namberdar of the village, Chain Singh, who also lives at the camp with his family. Owing to abysmal poverty, loss of dignity and pride is an everyday reality for these displaced people. A team from an Ahmedabad-based NGO, Justice on Trial, comprising former Governor of Himachal Pradesh, VS Kokje, and a former Additional Advocate General of the Rajasthan Government, GS Gill, highlighted their plight to the media in 2010. They claimed that starving migrant women were taking to the flesh trade – a reality that the world remains impervious to so far. In their report, “Ordeal Of Jammu Migrants - From Frying Pan To Fire,” the team mentioned the miserable and inhuman conditions of displaced villagers from areas as far as Surankote, Kote Ranka, Kalakote, Banihal, Ramban, Kishtwar, Kwad, Bhaderwah, Pul Doda and Udhampur. The report, however, has failed to bring about any change. The emotionally shaken villagers rue the fact that no one from the government has ever visited them. Their blood-stained memories still haunt them. Feelings of homelessness, post traumatic stress, depression, anxiety worsen their capacity to deal with the uncertainties life throws at them. Words of assurance by successive governments and politicians have proved inadequate. These internally displaced people believe they are a discriminated lot. The Apex Court and the High Court have also chided the state government for not treating them at par with Kashmiri migrants. According to Balwan Singh, Chairman, Migrant Action Committee, Reasi, “Migrants of Jammu and migrants of Kashmir are victims of the same circumstances. The government has failed to secure our lives and property - why then are we not being treated at par with the Kashmiri Pandit migrants?” While the security forces and the government claim a considerable decline in militancy, the migrants refuse to return to their homes. The reasons go beyond security concerns. As they have been away from their villages for many years, they feel if they go back they will have to start from scratch. They do not have money to rebuild their houses destroyed by militants and the weather, or for purchasing livestock and making their long abandoned land cultivable. “Restore our dignity. We are suffering in silence, unseen and unacknowledged. This is all we want to tell our government,” says every person surviving in these grimy migrant camps. bulawaa@gmail.com Charkha Features

Lacking in even the most basic facilities like drinking water, toilet and electricity, most of the government-aided schools in Patna cut a sorry picture Outside the Government Middle School in the Salimpora Ahra colony in Patna, one can catch sight of little children playing together amid loitering animals in the little space they call their playground. A cow and her calf tied to the school wall and stray dogs sniffing around the mounds of garbage in every nook presents a sordid picture of the lack of hygiene. Inside the school, one finds small class rooms overflowing with children — contrary to the guidelines of the Right to Education (RTE) Act regarding the basic infrastructure of schools across the country. The grim situation here is a replica of schools located elsewhere in the slum colonies of Patna. The Government Middle School located at the Dargah Road in Sulatanganj, for instance, is another example of unavailability of basic infrastructural facilities. From electricity to safe drinking water, sanitation to a quiet environment, teachers to administration — nothing seems to be in place here. The unavailability of safe drinking water results in diseases like diarrhoea and cholera; poor hygiene conditions make it a breeding ground for mosquitoes, thus causing malaria and dengue cases among the students, forcing them to miss classes for long periods. There are only urinals available and for defecation students have to rush home. Once they leave school, they come back only after a long nap or playing with their friends back home. Inefficient teachers, non-functional libraries and no extracurricular activities leave the children devoid of an overall development. The mid-day meal is available only for students in the primary section, contrary to the requirements of the national Mid Day Meal Program. There are only six teachers for 355 students — violating the prescribed teacher-pupil ratio of 1:30 as per the RTE Act. The appointed teachers are again not properly trained. According to Sabra Khatoon, mother of two students at the school, “the quality of teachers and education is quite poor. Teachers do not come to school and if they come at all, the purpose is not the nurturing of the students but the formality of marking their attendance in the register.” According to the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2012 recently released by Pratham, a non-government organisation, a large number of schools are yet to put in place the basic infrastructure prescribed under the RTE Act even as the March 31 deadline set for them is fast approaching. The report indicated that the trend of lack of teachers in schools continues in almost all the States. The prescribed teacher-pupil ratio has still not been implemented in more than half the schools (57.2 per cent) in 567 rural districts. The situation is worse in Bihar where the percentage of schools fulfilling the ratio was a dismal 8.5 in 2012. The school administrations, however, deny any lack of facility. “The school is providing the best studying environment to the students. The facilities like Mid Day Meals and money for uniform is available for them. There is no compromise on education,” said Nandu Rai, an assistant teacher of the Middle school in Salimpora Ahra. Mostly families which fall under the Below Poverty Line (BPL) send their children to these government-aided schools. The non-implementation of the schemes for the students defeats the parents’ hopes and gives rise to another set of problems like poor results, lack of interest, high dropout rates and child labour. (Charkha Features)