A village of my dream……..says a child

When I was traveling to Nuapada district of Orissa, it was in my mind to interact with children and school teacher for getting the sense about the social change process. It is my personal belief that education is the most powerful tool for social change and the educational institution at village level will give unbiased opinion for social change. I have utilized my time and went to two villages of Khariar Block of Nuapada district and taken the observation in memory for writing something. It was the month of December 2008 and in agricultural calendar it is AGHAN month, one of the most prosperous period for agriculturist when the grains are coming to the house from farm land, everybody farmer to agriculture workers are happy during the period as because they got the return of their labour after six months of time period.

Nuapada district was separated by undivided kalahandi district of Orissa. It is a drought prone area but average annual rainfall is as high as 1378 mm, It has suffered repeated drought; in 1965, 1972-73, 1979-80, 1982-83, 1983-84, 1987-89, and 2002. 23% of the household in the area is landless and nearly 52% household is under the category of small and marginal farmers. Only 7% household are controlling over major of the agricultural land and also in allied business in the area.

I and Ashis (my colleague) went to the Thakpali village in Khariar block, it was 10 K.M far from the block head quarter, We reached to the Thakpali primary school, only one teacher as Siksha Sahayak and there are five class but only two room and one shed for cooking the food under mid day meal scheme. We interacted with 20-25 school and non going children of the village at school building, there was 10 adult members were also present in the meeting. We asked to the children “Do you like to draw pictures” they replied “yes” then I asked to the friends of Chale Chalo (a
NGO working in the Khariar block) to provide drawing sheet and colour pencils to the children so that they can draw. With the help of my friends of the Chale chalo I asked the children to draw the picture on the theme ‘what do you think about the society”. Ashis has helped me in translating the theme in Oriya. It was very interesting some of the children became active immediately and there after getting the drawing sheet and colour pencil and others are watching to other friends who are drawing the picture. Some of the children were writing some poems.
Small children were silent and looking after the elder brothers. But all are very serious towards their job. After the completion of the drawing and writings we have asked to the children please explain what you draw in the sheet. Presentation of the drawing started. It is not only drawing but it is the picture of the present society and also what they are thinking of development means.

A village of my dream-
My village will smile when all the villagers will live together, where there will be neither violence nor enmity, when we will unite, there will be no enmity but there will be brotherhood among all. There will be pity to the poor. People will work collectively. We will plant variety of tress; no body will destroy the plant. Village will be covered by green plants and dense forest. Birds and animal will make their nest and caves. Our village will be neat and clean. We will get the reward from
world. I want to see village like this. Mukesh is saying to all kindly obey my words.
By- Mukesh Gahir, class VIII student of
Thakpali village.
Picture is being drawn by school children of Thakpali village and he is explaining that our school will be like that. There must be separate class room for all classes. There must be teachers for all the classes. There must be a small garden in the school campus. There must be tree in the school campus so that it will give the feeling of greenness and environment must be neat and clean. He has also shown the toilet room for children. But at present the look of school is totally different, no separate classroom for all the classes, only single teacher, no garden, no tree and no boundary in the school. He expressed his dream in drawing. Really indicating towards quality education.
Mukesh Gahir, age 13 of Thakpali village draw a picture of a family migrating from village to outside in search of livelihood and they are also taking their children with them. He has also placed the class room in picture where all the children are in school but a single girl child is migrating with father and mother. Child expressed that migration is not good as because children are loosing their education.
Child has drawn the picture of forest and people are cutting the trees and it creates problem in the society. Picture also shown that a male person is being engaged in cutting of tress and women
are collecting the wood, only few trees are in the forest and most of the trees are being cut down. Villagers do not understand the impact of tree cutting. It has great impact with our life. In the presentation of the picture child was explaining that it is a picture of cow, we get milk and dung from cow, and it is useful for us. We drink milk and we maintain our health. We earn money after selling of milk in market. It is useful animal for us. Our livelihood based on milk. Thakpali village has good number of GAHIR family, by occupation they are milk man, therefore it is important resource for them. 80% of the families are belonging to the Gahir community and their livelihood is basically depending upon the cattle rearing and income from milk and its product. Therefore child focused on cow and draws the picture of milk giving cow.
In this picture child drawn two ideas simultaneously. Right side is saying about the present situation of the village there is a lot numbers of ditch in the road and creates problem. It is not colourful and also not decorative, but in left hand side child dreamt a colourful house with four
wheeler motor, house is surrounded by beautiful boundary wall with gate. During the presentation child told that when I became adult I will built house like that in village and he also expressed that every person should have such types of house in the village. At present the village road is not good therefore it is problem to run a vehicle in the road and therefore accident occurs frequently. It is a beautiful picture and also comparative figure, what is today and what will be in future. It is the dream of children regarding his life style. There is a green tree, a beautiful house, there is well with rope, a beautiful sitting place in the village, tree with fruits, a farmer plough the land with the help of cattle. It is a village based on agricultural activity. In the presentation and explanation of the picture child narrated that we are depending upon the agriculture and it is our
livelihood. Agriculture is done on land therefore land is very important livelihood source for us. Every one in the village should have land and we have to be engage in agricultural activity in the village as because it gives us grains to eat and to survive. Child has drawn 12 pictures in small sheet and shown the routine of child for a day. It is a dream of child for daily routine, though he is not able follow the routine due to some obstacle in the house and society but child is dreaming the routine with availability of all the requirements. He dreamt about good environment with all the facility in the house, good school building and playing ground in the village where all the children of the village will play football collectively. Regular study during evening with the supply of electricity and child is dreaming for every child in the village.

Conclusion
I am concluding my thinking not the child’s thinking process. I am sharing my observation what I received during interaction with children in village Thakpali. It was very much creative and energetic to think for the society with the view of children. These small children covered the surroundings of the society which impacts their life and they are dreaming in present society and what are the important components for the life they have focused. In poem, it is beautiful explanation of the society. There is a feeling of equality, equity, justice, unity, fraternity among themselves. This is not only confined to human being but also justice to the environment. It is the message of the child to the adult society to obey what a child is saying. School is the core and central point of the most pictures, therefore children are very much interested to get the quality education in the village and perhaps we are not able to provide the environment and infrastructure to the children for getting the proper education. Every child wants and needs quality education in its surroundings but adult society as whole are not able to provide the quality
education to the children therefore it is a dream of the children. Beside the school education, children are also reflected the issue of migration, protection and promotion of forest, livelihood. Children are linking the migration issue with the education of children and also saying that we are not able to hold the resources of the village like forest and land, therefore migrating to outstation for livelihood and this impacts child education. Really children have the conscious to define the society and also have the power to dream the society, but we adult are ignoring the child dream and making the thing more complex in search of an ideal society.

A Ray of hope in Colourful Globalisation

There is a need of reflection and refraction of ray of hope (values) in society, after then society will look like colourful prism

When I visited to Jharsuguda district of Orissa, really I got stuck with the future of children in tribal sub-urban and rural areas. How the collective and commune culture of Kharia tribe are badly distorted by the forces of “demon culture of globalization”, where there is no feeling, no sentiment, no emotion, war footing destruction (it is not only surroundings but basically human values) and ultimately free and frank culture of tribal society is being converted in child sexual abuse practices by state and non state actors through knowingly and un-knowingly.

I was gone through the different model of social development experiments but really worried about the ruined fort of tribal culture. Society was totally confidence less, strength less, youths are rushing towards money and kick out the old tradition culture, small tribal girls those are in daily wages are being sucked twice, thrice…….. by blood suckers. Guardians, old experience person are only starring towards the various consequences of exploitative process, no voices, only listening that girls are becoming pregnant without proper norms and agreement of family settlement, outside people are coming and working in the construction work, in factories, making sexual relations with adolescent girls in the name of providing all the wishes in modern market oriented society. What you need mobile phone, want to see CORPORATE HINDI film, want to travel in Bolera Jeep, want to enjoy in Hero Honda motorcycle, want to wear colorful dress everything will be provide but you have to go for 24X7 hardship with the interest of profit world.

When I have seen the rural areas adjacent to city I have experienced panic experiences and other side in city, no spaces are left, chowmin shop with “Deshi and Vedeshi Sarab ke Botlei” market is colourful with all types of garments, long queue in ATM machine, dusty vehicle Bolera with muscle man, Safari with leader type of people, Volvo bus with girl and boy technician, all third shop is mobile shop, Tractor with “Reja and Kulli”, street and railway platform with young girls and boys with laptop machine, hospital with the cases of abortion. They are all active and running with the speed of globalization. All are colourful and enjoying but old father and mother is worried.

But I am struggling with the society and basically with girls, first enjoying and want to move with the package of globalization and child without the name of identified fathers. Women with the age of 20 with three children, father of all child are not identified, fathers lost in the colourful world of globalisation, mothers are become thin, skins are pasted with the bone of the body, sacked by the society (need to define society- who), living the abandoned life and counting the days of death, but still silent. My concern is when and how the silence of women will break the “Noutanki” of society and enjoy in real sense.

I have discussed this concern with the activist, adolescent groups, mothers, friends and also trying to get the sense from children and after then started to act multidimensional but I don’t know how far I am real, it may be a drop in ocean but meaningful. Among the entire thoughts one of the processes I observed in colorful globalisation and it may be like treatment of “SAL” seed before the germination of plant. Yes I mean to say proper value education to child, only after we can see the fruit of society.

Displacement, Policy and Tribes

The Madras Forest Act was extended to Southern revenue divisions of Orissa in the year 1891; rules under section 26, 32, 35 and 55 of Madras Forest Act were framed in the year 1900. The Madras Permanent Settlement Resolution XXV of 1802 lay down, “The Zamindars or Landlords shall enter into engagement with their ryots for a rent, either in money or in kind, within a reasonable period of time, grant each ryots a patta condition of their engagement. These rules known as Jeypore Forest Rules underwent many changes. In 1949 Orissa government granted a concession of reserved trees up to 3 feet in girth of the hill tribes in protected and unreserved lands instead of 2feet girth allowed previously.
The Zamindari system was abolished in 1952 and the government took over the management of Forest. Government has framed the Koraput District Forest and Waste Lands Rules, 1956. The wild birds and animal protection act was extended to the district 1957. The Orissa preservation of private forest act was in force till the date of vesting of estates.
The majority of the tenants belonging to the Schedule tribes and their right ion their holding restricted by the provisions of the Orissa Schedule areas Transfer of Immovable Property (By schedule Tribal) Regulation 1956. They cannot transfer of land without the authority of the competent authority at sub-divisional level. The Zamindar of Jeypore not took any effective steps against such alienation of holdings. The number of landless person is, however because large tracts of agricultural land already been transferred prior to the 1917 the Agency Tracts Interest and land Transfer act or have been transferred thereafter without the law being invoked.
The British rule, policy of isolation and non-interference was adopted. Administratively, tribal belts were classified as .excluded or partially excluded areas. None of the legislative acts applied to these areas, unless specifically directed by the Governor, who, in consultation with the Governor General had to make regulations for peace and good governance of these areas. As a result of this approach, the traditional tribal system of governance remained largely uninterrupted. But at the same time, it was the colonial regime which systematically introduced the concept of individual property ownership of land and other natural resources. Indian Forest Act of 1878 established absolute propriety right of the State over forest land and Land Acquisition Act came in operation in 1894.These acts giving supreme authority to the State to control and own all the property within the country’s territory. But because of legislative, administrative loopholes and the State’s unquestioned right to acquire land for public purpose, land alienation continued5. .One of the most tragic consequences of the break down of isolation of tribal regions in the name of development, and the introduction of alien concepts of private ownership of property and state ownership of forests, was massive and steady alienation of lands held in the past by tribal into the hands of non-tribal.
New Agriculture policy especially the state Govt is promoting the contract farming by which tribal are loosing control of their land.
Development projects have not only bypassed tribal in Orissa, but have often harmed them by taking away their lands and other resources on which their livelihood was based. From the viewpoint of policy, it is important to understand that tribal communities are vulnerable not only because they are poor, asset less and illiterate compared to the general population; often their distinct vulnerability arises from their inability to negotiate and cope with the consequences of their forced integration with the mainstream economy, society, cultural and political system, from which they were historically protected as the result of their relative isolation. Post-independence, the requirements of planned development brought with them the specter of dams, mines, industries and roads on tribal lands.
For the poor, plucking of tendu leaves represents a major source of income and employment especially since it coincides with the slack period of the agricultural cycle. Tendu leaf generates 150 million person days of employment during the agricultural lean season in Orissa including labour involved in making bidis. The Forest Department in Orissa alone engages about 40,000 seasonal workers and labourers, some of them are non-existent. This is in addition to about 8 to 12 lakh pluckers who are to be paid according to the fixed government rates. However, the usual practices of under-counting, rejection, under-payment, over-invoicing, etc. help the government staff in pocketing a significant amount of government funds, at the cost of peoples’ livelihoods and extra revenues to government.
Thirdly Orissa, have tried to dilute the provisions of PESA, though it had no legal jurisdiction to do so, as PESA is a Central Act. Following the Central PESA Act, the Government of Orissa has enacted the Orissa Act for the State. However, the Orissa Act has tried to circumscribe the constitutional provisions of the Central Act by adding a clause 4 `consistent with relevant laws in force’ while incorporating the constitutional provision concerning the competence of the Gram Sabha to manage community resources and dispute resolution as per the customs and traditions of the people. Thus, tribal can have ownership rights over Minor Forest Produce, but only if the relevant laws in force allow that. This is clear violation of the Constitutional Provision of the Central Act since in case of any inconsistency the relevant state laws have to be changed instead of negating the rights granted to Gram Sabha as per the Central Act in this regard. Further, PESA required that state would change its existing laws wherever these were not in consistent with the central legislation. However, Orissa government has done just the opposite. Another problem with the Orissa legislation is that instead of giving clear rights to Gram Sabha, space has been kept in the state law for involvement of higher order Panchayati Raj institutions instead. This has been done because it is easier for local politicians and bureaucracy to manipulate Chairperson of district or block level panchayats, but not that easy to do so with the Gram Sabha. Thus the spirit of the GoI Act with focus on empowerment of the Gram Sabha has not been followed in Orissa. This is again a violation of the Central Act which explicitly forbids usurpation of powers of a lower level panchayat by a higher level panchayat. Such indifference to PESA can be seen in many other states too. The irony is that while PESA remains unimplemented, Ministry of Mines in GoI has proposed amending Schedule V of the Constitution itself to open up tribal areas for commercial exploitation by national and multinational corporate interests.
A National Policy for Rehabilitation for the Displaced Persons was drafted during 1998-99; When Dr. N.C Saxsena was posted as Secretary, Rural Development in GoI. The draft not only ensured that no deterioration takes place in the living conditions of the tribal prior to their displacement, but also provided for betterment. The suggestions given in the draft if adopted would have achieved the following:-
(a) It will minimize displacement and prevent state-induced impoverishment of people on account of compulsory acquisition of land, and will search for non- displacing or least displacing alternatives to people displacing projects;
(b) It will ensure that displaced and adversely affected families have a standard of living superior to the one before their displacement and, in any case, have an income above that prescribed as the poverty line;
(c) It will compulsorily provide agricultural land to all agricultural families in irrigation projects and for tribal in all projects;
(d) It will ensure justice to women by adopting a gender neutral definition of family, and recognizing full rights of unmarried, widowed and separated adult women.
(e) It will address the special needs of the poorest, especially tribal, in the rehabilitation and resettlement measures by improving their skills and knowledge and thus their incomes on a sustainable basis; and
(f) It will ensure quick but peaceful acquisition and faster access to land required by large projects for faster economic development.
(g) The draft aimed at the empowerment of the displaced, so that they are able to influence and share control over priority setting, policy making, resource allocations and access to public goods and services at the new site. A final decision on the draft was taken by Government of India only in 2004 and a National Rehabilitation Policy has now been promulgated on 17th February 2004. This has unfortunately none of the progressive clauses that were put in the earlier drafts after consultation with the civil society during 1998-99. It is ironic that the Policy recognizes the limitations of compensation through cash and states that the ‘system of extending cash compensation does not by itself, in most cases, enable the affected families to obtain cultivable agricultural land, homestead and other resources which they have to surrender to the State’. However, all that the Policy gives to the displaced people is some extra cash, but no support for livelihoods.

Critique on Land Acquisition Act 1894
The Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (amended 1984) is one of the draconian laws enacted by the British Colonial Govt. which is retained much in the same form by the Republic’s government. The law neither defines what constitutes ‘public purpose’ and what does not, nor mandates that the state provide information to the people about the projects which are supposed to serve public purpose. It gives few and very nominal right to the citizens to challenge acquisition. (This nominal right too is now being taken away by the proposed 1998 Amendment Bill to the Act).


• The only right it gives the citizen is to get compensation in cash for the life-sustaining resources taken away from him/her. Not only is all private land acquired in the name of ‘public purpose’, but the justification for taking over control of common lands, forests and water bodies is also the same ‘public purpose’. This ‘public purpose’ is to be achieved without giving any information relating to the dam projects to the public! Not only is there unwillingness on the part of the state to give information, sometimes projects are shrouded in absolute secrecy. People’s participation in the planning process is really a far cry under such conditions. All this takes place even while human rights and constitutional norms confer on the citizen a right to live anywhere in the country and to a life with dignity. Hence compulsory displacement is a serious violation of human and constitutional rights. Displacement also violates several international covenants.
• Compensation is only for persons in possession of undisputed legal title. In any average Indian village, the tyranny and corruption of the patwari or village accountant charged with the responsibility of maintaining land records ensures that land records are neither accurate nor updated, and this complicates the chances a land-owner will be able to prove title and secure compensation.
• Tenants, sharecroppers, wage-labourers, artisans and encroachers are usually not considered eligible for compensation because they do not have legal title to agricultural land, whereas they are paradoxically the most vulnerable and in need of support.
• Community assets like grazing grounds and forests, which again may be critical for the livelihood of the poorest, are not compensated for under the LAA.
• The value of the land is calculated as on the date of the gazette notification and interest is liable to be paid only from the date of taking possession up to the date of payment of full compensation. The LAA thus does not take into consideration the escalation of the market value between the time of notification and the date of actual possession.
• The limited provisions in the LAA to challenge the rate of compensation are, in practice, inaccessible to the indigent and illiterate oustees, because they may not be aware of the legal nuances or else cannot afford the expensive remedy of courts. Even those that are able to access courts fritter away a substantial proportion of the gains that they achieve in legal costs.

Definition of displacement
• The Collins Could Dictionary (1988) enunciates displacement as meaning: "…the forcing of people away from the area or country where they live."
• According to the same dictionary Eviction is the "act or process of officially forcing someone to leave a house or a piece of land."
• The distinction between the two definitions is of some significance when one realizes that after all displacement in India under the Land Acquisition Act amounts to "officially forcing someone to leave a house or a piece of land" that is required for a public purpose. This is more than just a semantic debate for Forced Eviction has a political content that is more loaded than displacement. The implications for the rights of those who have been forced to leave their homes and lands is also very significant as there exists a UN Convention on Forced Eviction to which India is a signatory.
• In usage however, besides the aspects of physical relocation and the use of officially ordained force, displacement has also been imputed with a third aspect, that of compensation. In this sense displacement does differ from forced eviction. Again however when one looks back at the history of displacement in India it is littered with instances in which the displaced received nothing that could amount to a fair compensation. And even with compensation the fact that under the present legal regime the displaced had no right to question their displacement and the fact that compensation makes up only the market value of property but not the totality of rights lost still renders it a case of forced eviction. While for the present we will continue to use displacement it is important that we keep forced eviction in mind while considering displacement.
• Displacement in India is mediated by the Land Acquisition Act of 1894, amended in 1984, which provides the legal framework for the State to take over land for public purposes. The State, largely viewing displacement from the standpoint of its causes, has consistently maintained that displacement is justified in national interest.
• It is acknowledged that displacement causes severe social, economic and environmental stresses that translate themselves into physiological, psychological, socio-cultural, economic and ecological damage.
Displacement is conceived as:
• the systematic alienation of individuals’ and communities’ customary and legal rights and privileges of using, managing and controlling their habitat/sources of livelihood;
• through the use of officially ordained force or coercion;
• resulting in socio-cultural uprootment, accompanied very often by physical relocation with the
• resulting trauma and risks; and, for which they are legally entitled to a compensation made up of market value of the sources of land based livelihood lost

Types of displacement
A. Political causes, including secessionist movements
• Since independence, north-east India has witnessed two major armed conflicts
– The Naga movement primarily led by the National Socialist Council of Nagaland,
– and the Assam movement led by the All Assam Students Union and now largely taken over by the extremist United Liberation Front of Assam.
• The violence and retaliatory responses from the government and other forces opposed to the secessionists continue to generate a steady flow of displaced people.
• In Kashmir’s ‘war’ between state forces and militants, the killing of Kashmiri Pandits by fundamentalist secessionist groups,
• the widespread anarchy created by political instability
• and the continuous violation of fundamental human rights by both the state and militant groups,
• have led to large scale displacement, mainly of Kashmiri Pandits (estimated at 250,000), to Jammu and cities like Delhi.
• Despite the election and restoration of a popular government in 1996, those displaced have not been able to return due to the continuing reality of sporadic massacres in Kashmir.
• Although conditions are miserable, the displaced find that camps offer better employment opportunities, education and security.

B. Identity-based autonomy movements
• Identity-based autonomy movements, such as in Bodoland, Punjab, Gorkhaland and Ladakh, have also led to violence and displacement.
• This has happened in Punjab and more recently in the Bodo Autonomous Council area of western Assam.
• 'Cleansing' of non-Bodo communities by the Bodos, through plunder, arson, massacre and persecution, has forced a large number of non-Bodos to flee.
• They now live in camps.
C. Localized violence
• Internal displacement has also arisen from
• caste disputes (as in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh),
• religious fundamentalism (as in urban riots in Bombay, Coimbatore, Bhagalpur and Aligarh) and
• Aggressive denial of residency and employment rights to non-indigenous groups by supporters of the ‘son-of-the soil policy’ (as in Meghalaya by the Khasi students and in Arunachal Pradesh against the Chakmas).
D. Environmental and development-induced displacement
• In order to achieve rapid economic growth, India has invested in industrial projects, dams, roads, mines, power plants and new cities which have been made possible only through massive acquisition of land and subsequent displacement of people.
• Development projects, particularly dams, have always generated serious controversy in India as they have tended to be a major source of displacement-related conflicts.
Estimates of national resettlement forced by development projects shows that during 1950-90 the number of people affected were 18.5 million.(2) According to the Central Water Commission, over 3,300 dams have been built since independence and some 1,000 more are under construction. Another study of 54 large dams done by the Indian Institute of Public Administration concluded that the average number of people displaced by a large dam is 44,182.
• India has borrowed US$151.5 million from the World Bank to build the sardar Sarovar dam.
• Bank cancelled plans to lend more due to the Indian government's failure to meet even such basic conditions as identification of the displaced and preparation of resettlement plans

The fact that development projects are usually located in remote villages, hills and forests means that those displaced tend to be the indigenous people who have been the traditional agents of conservation.
• Here displacement has meant a loss of livelihood, habitat and assets, social disruption and disorder and severance from an eco-system which had sustained them.
• Most critically, these displacements threaten the poor and the weak with even greater impoverishment.
• It is only those cases of 'involuntary resettlement' which come to the attention of social and environmental activists, and are thus highlighted, that lead to some measure of state intervention.
• In most cases total displacement with loss of home and livelihood has resulted.
• Rehabilitation - primarily the process of reconstruction of the livelihood of displaced persons - has never been a guiding principle of the 1894 Land Acquisition Act (still in use) which instead emphasises cash compensation for loss.
• The government has taken the firm stand that rehabilitation would not be a prime consideration when acquiring land for ‘public purpose’ (the definition of which has not been made public).
• The government has even sought to take away the right of appeal by those whose land stands to be confiscated by making the Supreme Court the only appellate forum.
• Globalization has been another threat to indigenous communities as private conglomerates (including foreign multinationals) encroach upon rural lands, hitherto the domain of tribal and other indigenous communities, to build the government’s desired industrial infrastructure.
• The proposed amendments to the 1894 Act, if carried out, are likely to generate new waves of displacement as the Act will then make it even easier for private interests to acquire land.

E. Natural disaster-induced displacement
• There has been massive and recurrent displacement due to floods, cyclones and landslides.
• A report by the Centre for Science and Environment (1991) states that India is the most flood-affected country in the world after Bangladesh and that over 30 million people are displaced annually.
• Flood-affected areas shot up from an average of 6.4 million hectares a year in the 1950s to 9 million hectares in the 1980s.
• Government flood control measures mainly consist of dams and embankments.
• Yet all these have failed to control floods and indeed dams are now cited as an important cause of floods while embankments have disrupted the natural drainage system in the flood plains.
• ‘Natural’ disaster-led displacement is never recorded after the initial dose of relief and rehabilitation assistance. One of the most serious aspects of the displacement belonging to this category has been the fact that the displacement has been silent but acute and frequent.

Way to increase the attendance in Rural Jharkhand

• Hon’ble Supreme Court order on Mid Day Meal Scheme was the historical decision for the State like Jharkhand, where Starvation deaths among the Children most of the time maligned the civil society. Government of Jharkhand was observed reluctant to initiate but also there was no way to ignore due to constant admonition from the Supreme Court in this regard. For State Government “Vidyalaya me Siksha dena hai ya khana khilana hai, Ek galat prampara ka shuruaat kiya ja raha hai, lekin kya karen, Sarvoch Nyayalay ka adesh bhee palan karna hai”.
  
  Ultimately Scheme started in all the school Phase wise. Definitely, scheme is challengeable to improve the literacy standard and nutritional status of the children in the State and large Scale involvement of the human resources in the way of State building.
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  Jharkhand is one of the most drought-affected states in the country, which is constantly experiencing hunger situation in different regions in the State. Food insecurity among the vulnerable and destitute people is too intensive and starvation deaths have been reported from severely drought-affected areas. Food and social security schemes were found deficient and ineffective to eliminate the prevalence of hunger in the rural sector. Schemes related to food & social security were not functioning effectively in other states too, and became ecstasy to the people for corruption and making huge money from it. This led to high dissatisfaction among the mass, and people from Rajasthan took initiative to protest against existing anomalies in schemes, which are for the susceptible people to sustain from acute hunger, and filed petition against those involved in blocking the entitlements of the poors.
  
  Writ Petition (Civil) 196 of 2001 was submitted in April 2001 by the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (Rajasthan). The petition essentially demanded to use country’s gigantic food stocks without delay to prevent starvation and hunger. In the petition and subsequent deliberations, the petitioner argued that the best means of preventing hunger is a combination of (a) employment guarantee for the able-bodied, and (b) social security arrangements for the destitute. Hon’ble Court in its historical declaration on 28th November 2001 ordered to start Cooked Mid day meal in all the States for minimum of 200 days with a minimum content of 300 calories and 8-12 grams of protein each day. Order became boon for the children of Jharkhand where nutritional status and enrollment is low in comparison to other States. But State Government was not serious to start the programme in time and no compliances made by the state. Hon’ble Supreme court in its order dated 8th May 2003 reminded State Government to start in at least 25% of the district covering most vulnerable families.
  
  Mid day meal programme in the Jharkhand State initiated with the joint allocation of the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Ministry of Rural Development and Ministry of food Supplies. Ministry of Human Resource Development is playing main role to coordinate with other ministry, this ministry basically provides the ration cost other than rice and honorarium for the cook and fuel charges. Ministry of Food & Supply is providing grains with the help of Food Corporation of India (FCI) and State Food Corporation (SFC). Ministry of rural Development bears the cost of construction of Kitchen shed.
  The main objective of the programme is “to provide adequate nutrition to economically disadvantaged children to improve their health and nutritional status, to develop the mental and physical ability, to increase the enrolment in schools, to minimize the drop out rate, to provide the scope to engage women forces, to balance the social imbalance in the society”.
  
  The main objective of the programme is “to provide adequate nutrition to economically disadvantaged children to improve the health and nutritional status, to develop the mental and physical ability, to increase the enrolment in schools, to minimize the drop out rate, to provide the scope to engage women forces, to balance the social imbalance in the society”.
  
  Study on Mid Day Meal in Jharkhand concentrates basically on understanding of cooked mid day meal in the State, Government response on the programme, how it may be helpful to address the issue of starvation, impact on reducing drop out and increasing enrolment in primary schools, what are the problems in implementation and irregularities in the programme.
  Phases of the Programme in the state
  After the separation from Bihar, Mid day Meal (dry grain) programme continued in the State. State Government with the help of Food Corporation of India used to provide 3 kg ration to each children per month in 21112 Primary Schools of the State (including Government aided School). Though after the declaration of Supreme court order dated 28th November 2001, State Government continued the mid day meal in which dry grains were provided instead of cooked food. Programme was not regular, because it was not the prime interest of the government and dry grains continued up to November 2003. In the year November 2003 after the order of Supreme Court to start the programme in at least 25% of the schools in the Districts (among the most vulnerable population) State Government started Mid Day meal programme in 200 primary school of 22 Districts of the State. During the Financial year 2003-2004, Human Resource Development Department (Government of Jharkhand) released a Status report on Mid Day meal, which says that programme started in 22 districts of the State covering 212 blocks. As per the report “200 Government Schools in every district have been identified for the implementation of cooked Mid Day meal in the current financial year. Rest of the Schools will be continued with the dry ration. Latehar, Palamau, Lohardaga and Dumka district of the State have started to provide cooked meal in 200 schools. A sum of Rs. 20,05,36,200/- has been released so far to the districts for implementation of the programme in 2003-2004 (vide letter no 18/2001/3064 dated 28.11.04- ). During the financial year 2004-2005, State Government circulated an order (vide letter no. 18/01/59 dated 21/9/04), which says Human Resource Development Department (Government of Jharkhand) is now releasing Rs.77, 94, 60, 000/- against the total budget of Rs.116 crore, in order to cover all the Primary and Middle Schools among I to V Standard of Children in the School. Rs. 7, 44, 60, 000/- released under the head of “Pradhanmantari Gramodaya Yojana” (amount is included in Rs.77, 94,60,000/-).
  It seems that after the pressure from the commissioners report on the issue of non-execution of Mid Day meal programme in the State, Department of Human Resource Development became serious and started to implement the programme in the State, but it is also fact that State government in initial phase are in problematic stage to implement the programme in all the schools at a time, and because of this programme Implemented phase wise to cover the Mid Day meal programme in the State. Ultimately in the Financial Year 2004-05 Government made its announcement to start programme in all the schools of the State. At this stage State Government is clear from its announcement to start programme in all the schools of the State. It is in paper but off course it is necessary to see the picture at the Field whether announcements have been actually grounded or not.
  
  Field based notes
  Study – I:
  Study during January to March 2004 on Mid Day Meal Scheme in Jharkhand revealed that Mid Day Meal scheme not started in all the primary Schools of the State. 21% of the schools were with the facility of drinking water and rest of the schools was not having drinking water facility for school children. 83% of the Schools were without the facility of cooking utensils and therefore no Mid Day Meal in Schools. 60% of the schools were without the availability of plates for mid Day Meal. 83% of the schools are without the Kitchen shed and abandoned school building, classroom or open sky being utilised for the purpose of cooking meal. Food grains stored in the Classroom or in the Schoolteachers’ house, which affected the sitting arrangements in the School. Children are used to come school with the bag and plates. School inspectors were found disinterested in making regular inspection of the Scheme. Record keeping practiced irregularly and anyhow teachers are updating the records just for the sake to maintain records.
  Study – II:
  Government of Jharkhand implemented Midday Meal scheme as pilot basis in Latehar district first due to keen interest of the District Collector (DC), Latehar. During April 2004, Study team visited the Manika block of Latehar District and found the following facts-
  
  Drinking water available in 81.25% of the sample schools where Mid Day Meal Scheme initiated in pilot phase.
  
  t In 81.25% of the schools neither kitchen shed is available nor it is in the process of construction.
  
  t Cooking utensils, plate and glasses has been provided to schools where survey was conducted.
  
  t Storehouse to keep food grains in schools is not available in 93.75% of the sample schools.
  
  t Quality of food grains supplied under the scheme was observed as poor in 18.75% schools while in 81.25% of the schools it was found that the quality was of average level, but in none of the schools good quality food grains were supplied.
  
  t Cooked meal was observed of average quality in 75 % of the schools whereas in 18.75% schools poor quality of cooked meal were served to the children.
  
  t It was found that in 93.75% of the schools there is no inspection book in the schools and also revealed that in 50% of the schools no government officer visited to assess or to monitor the programme.
  
  t Differences in actual stocks and records maintained were revealed in 37.5% of the sample schools.
  
  t Record and money was maintained by the Sanyojika of Mata Samiti, in 18.75% of the schools VEC President is maintaining. It was also observed that Teacher and Mata Samiti Sanyojika’s family member is looking after the maintenance of record and money in 43.75% and 18.75% of the schools respectively.
  
  t Honorarium of cook in 18.75% schools is between Rs. 400 to 500 and Rs. 500 to 600 in 81.25% of the schools whereas it was revealed that in 62.50% of the schools payment of honorarium to cook is highly irregular.
  
  t In 62.50% of the schools guideline and copy of budget has not been provided to the Mata Samiti.
  
  t Food grains were stored in the house of Teacher in 6.25% of the school and in 50% of the schools Coordinators of the Mata Samitis were keeping it in absence of kitchen shed. In 31.25% schools foodgrains were stored in the schools itself due to not having kitchen shed.
  
  t In only 31.25% of the schools fund has been released for the construction of kitchen shed but still in 68.75% schools fund has not been released for the construction work.
  
  t In 50% of the sample schools differences in attendance was observed in actual attendance and attendance maintained in the register by the teacher.
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Study – III:
  April to June to be considered as the period of preparation for the regions where there may be the possibility of drought. Palamau Pramandal of the Jharkhand State is facing consecutive drought since 2001.Though Palamau region have been categorized as the drought prone area in the country no effective measures have been undertaken by the state. It can be assumed that as per the norms of the Famine and flood code District administration has to take the preparatory measures during the period to avoid the loss in civil society and untoward situation. But in case of Jharkhand it has been proved that District administration has no sense of alertness and as a result State is facing the situation of chronic hunger and Starvation deaths due to loss of adequate rain fall in Khariff. For the same purpose study team made its visit during April 2004 to the Palamu Pramandal and found the following facts-
  
  Major Findings:
  l Drinking water facility is available only in 75% of schools.
  l Kitchen shed constructed in 6% Schools.
  l Availability of Cooking Utensil in 92% Schools of the Surveyed Schools.
  l Plate (for children) available in 42% School.
  l Storehouse in facility in 11% of School.
  l Mata Sammittee formed in 94% of school.
  l Quality of food grains, good-36%, average-64%,
  l Quality of cooked mid day Meal good- 22%, Average-66%, poor -5%
  l Mid Day meal served except holiday-80%, Most of the days-5%, occasionally- 11%
  l Timely supply of food grains in 75% School.
  l Visit of Govt. officials in 64% of School.
  l Maintenance of records by Mata Sammittee in 72% of school.
  l Systematic maintenance of record in 8% of School.
  In comparison to first quarter status of implementation of Mid Day Meal scheme is found little bit improved. And this is due to the visit of Supreme Court commissioner (Mr. N.C Saxena) and regular pressure building by the civil Society activist group in the State. During the period series of agitation and complaints are being made by the social organization in the State. School children also made their representation before the governor and the chief minister in the Capital of Jharkhand. Print Media also played vital role to demise the State Government for non-committal attitude towards the decisions of the Hon’ble Court.
  Never learns to say “NO”
  State Government Says…YES… Mid Day Meal in all Schools
  
  Contacts have been made to the Mr. Pran Kumar Jha, Assistant Director, Primary Education, Government of Jharkhand on 22nd November 2004 and he replied the questions…
  Q. Is cooked Mid Day Meal scheme being implemented in State
  A. Yes
  
  Q. When did it begin?
  
  A. 2003
  
  Q. Has the State developed manual for the MDM Scheme
  
  A. No
  
  Q. Coverage of the Mid Day Meal Scheme in the State
  
  A. Districts-22, Blocks- 213, Number of Schools- 20377
  
  Q. What is the total number of student covered under the scheme?
  
  A. 2003-2004- 3,34,332
  
  2004-2005- 27,58,884.
  
  Q. What are the ingredients provided in the Mid Day meal Scheme?
  
  A. Children are being provided “Khichri”, Dal – chawal on daily basis. In some districts Eggs, Fruits and milk is also being provided weekly.
  
  Q. Who has the authority to decides the menu for the MDM
  
  A. It has been left to the community to decide daily menu in the school. Sarswati Vahini is responsible for its implementation.
  
  Q. What are the provisions for storage of food lifted from the centre?
  
  A. Normally food grain is being stored in the schoolroom or in the house of Village Education committee/ Sarswati Vahini members.
  
  Q. What are the criteria to determine the allotment of food grain to the State?
  
  A. Quota of food grain is being fixed by the central government.
  
  Q. Briefly explain the role played by the following under the scheme: A. Teacher- Teachers do not play any role in preparation of cooked Mid day Meal
  
  School education Committee – Entire responsibility of the implementation has been given to Village Education committee and Saraswati Vahini.
  
  Panchayati Raj Institution- Presently Panchayati Raj Institution are not in place in Jharkhand.
  
  School administration- Block Education officer, District Superintend of Education
  
  These officers have been given the supervisory role-supporting role in the programme.
  
  Q. Has the State conducted training programme before the implementation of the Scheme
  
  A. No
  
  Q. Has the State issued any independent and specific rules under the Bihar Education project in reference to the MDM Scheme?
  
  A. Joint meeting of personnel is being conducted on a regular basis in reference to MDM and Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.
  
  Q. What is the unit cost incurred by the State (per child, per meal) under the MDM Scheme
  
  A. Rs 2/- (two) per day per child is being provided as conversion cost.
  
  Q. How is the MDM funded?
  
  a) Amount of central fund (in terms of grain)- Rs 33/- per month per children 9for 200 days)
  
  b) Amount of state Funding – at the rate of Rs.2/- per day per children for 200 days.
  
  Q. What are the different recurring expenses? (Per month)
  
  a) Grain per child per month- 2.5 kg grain
  
  b) Pulse and other cooking material- per child per month- 20-25 grams per day
  
  c) Fuel- per school, per month- N.A
  
  d) Transport- per month, per school- Rs75/- per quintal for month.
  
  Q. Which departments undertake these recurring costs?
  
  A. State Government undertakes the responsibility of conversion and other recurring Cost.
  
  Q. What are the different non-recurring costs? (Per school, per child)
  
  a) Construction of kitchen shed
  
  b) Utensils- Rs 5000/-
  
  c) Gas stove- Included in the cost of utensils
  
  d) Water supply- NA
  
  e) Others
  
  Q. Which department undertakes these non-recurring costs?
  
  A. HRD department and SSA undertake these recurring costs.
  
  Q. What is the salary of the cook per month?
  
  A. It has been left to the discretion of the District Administration and community to fix the honorarium to the cooks.
  
  Q. Are the children supplied with micronutrients?
  
  A. No
  
  Q. What are the problems that you face in the implementation of the MDMs?
  
  a) Procurement of grain from the centre FCI does not supply allotted quota of food grain. The supply point of FCI are far located in some districts.
  
  b) Transportation – presently handling charges are being provided by Govt. of India, which is not sufficient.
  
  e) Any other- State need Government of India support, as it is not possible for the State Government to carry the programme alone from its budget.
  Midday Meal should continue…
  After getting the 110% response from the State Government, it became necessary to verify the implementation status. During Monsoon 2004, failure of rainfall led to loss of khariff crops and ultimately starvation deaths in different districts of Jharkhand occurred, which was covered on the front page of the Print media and the process of pressure building started in the State Capital by various pressure groups. Mr. Arjun Munda, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Jharkhand, under the pressure, announced the universelisation of Mid Day Meal in all the Schools of the State.
  
  After the declaration, the team in different schools has made visits; some facts and figures have been collected. Information has been collected from all the grass root key players (Cook, Guardian, Teacher) of the Mid Day Meal scheme. It has been found that 38.64% of the State is running with the availability of only two classrooms and 9.09% schools are with single classroom. 27.27% schools of the State are running with single teacher. 77% schools are having no toilet within the School campus. This is about the availability of infrastructure for the Primary School in the State. There is a problem in keeping the food grain in schools; it reveals that 61.70% of the schools are keeping their food grain in the classroom. It can be assumed that what will be the atmosphere of teaching and how the sitting arrangements are managed in the school classroom, as because as per the facts it has been found that classroom is not sufficient and also food grain are dumping there.
  
  Under the Scheme Cook has been recruited and we found that 20.41% cook’s belong to the Schedule Caste families, 53.06% cook’s are from the Schedule tribe families, other backward community are 16.33%, Muslim contributes 8.16% whereas 2.04% cooks represents the General caste community. Gram Sabha and village education committee adopted certain criteria to select the cook, which are as follows - Social accessibility, interested to cook, nearer to the primary school and who can make the food while marinating the sanitation. It is also being traced that 46.67% cooks having no wages against their services for the scheme. In most of the cases it is being found that cooks are getting Rs.600/- per month as honorarium. In case two or more cooks they are dividing the amount themselves out of Rs.600/-. It is good indicator that Schedule tribe and Schedule caste women are getting the opportunity to give their services for the Mid Day Meal Scheme, it gives two way impact for achieving the goal of the scheme that is engagement of the economically poor community in the scheme and interest towards sending their children to the School for education. It is also fact that the stick of “GURUJEE” (Schoolteacher) is also playing vital role to control the villages but in recent days Gram Sabha also proved to be a factor to minimize the “POWER of GURUJEE’S STICK” in the society.
  State Government agrees that they have already sanctioned the money for construction of Kitchen Shed in the School but it was found that 57.78% schools are preparing their meals in open space and cooks are facing problems to keep the things safe and to maintain the sanitation around the school campus. 50% schools in the State are without the facility of drinking water in the School campus. School children are being engaged for collection of water from the nearest water sources. It has been found that schoolteachers are maintaining the daily records in 60% places and they are master to manipulate the daily expenditure and balance of the food grain. Mata Sammittee and cook are inefficient to maintain the records as because there was no training on the part to maintain the record. In more than 90% places it has been found that group of women are engaged in cooking of meal and they don’t have clear information about their shares of wages. Whereas State Government is also not clarifying their stand towards the rate of wages, it has been given the authority to the Village Education committee and ultimately cooks are getting highly irregular and low wages against their services. Though 96% cook are bold to say that programme is good and it should be continued for the sake of mental and physical growth of the children. 90% of the guardians are in favour to say that there is a positive impact on the children after the Cooked Mid day Meal started. They have to give less energy and time to pursue the children to go school.
  
  One encouraging change revealed during the visit that the attendance among the Schedule Tribe, schedule Caste and Other backward community children have been increased. 35% increase in attendance found among the Other Backward Community girls and 16% increase in Schedule tribe and Schedule caste girls. It is good as because the nutritional and literacy status of the girls in Jharkhand is very poor and while Mid Day Meal Scheme also pressurized both guardian and the girl child to attend school regularly.
  
  There is a need to modify certain things those are, State Government has to develop the menu chart like (State of Tamil Nadu developed the Menu for the coked mid Day meal scheme). There was no training to the Mata Sammittee and the cook regarding maintenance of records and norms to provide the mid day meal to the children. Therefore training must be organise to provide the basic ideas towards marinating the records. Before rainy season kitchen shed and the storeroom must be constructed which has been found neglected. Quality of food must be improved and there is a possibility to make necessary changes in same budget allocation. School inspectors are not regular in visiting the school, they should be accountable to visit schools for inspection regularly otherwise irregularities may cost as malfunctioning of the programme. Schoolteachers should confine their responsibility towards increasing the attendance and the quality teaching.
  At last, it has been observed firmly that the objective beneath Midday Meal programme is at least on track in Jharkhand. Optimistic results are arriving from the field, which obviously demoralizes the pessimistic beliefs explained by the bureaucrats. This scheme has aided to ameliorate the literacy and nutritional status of children and there is a need to continue this programme efficiently including some more inputs to improve the functioning of MDM scheme in Jharkhand.

Study NFFW Jharkhand

National Food for work programme in Jharkhand
Background of the National Food for Work Programme
The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government in central in its pre poll election agenda committed to ensure Employment Guarantee in the Rural India. But, Rural Employment Guarantee Bill (REGB) has not been passed in the Parliament after the complete ion of one year in the Central Government. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government in State have lost its visioning and betrayed the State population by making the system more corrupt even more than during the regime of United Bihar Government. There is a lack of seriousness and sincerity in implementation of the Welfare and employment generation scheme by both the Government in the State.

The Planning commission has identified 150 most backward districts of the country on the basis of prevalence of poverty indicated by SC/ST population, agricultural productivity per workers and agriculture wage rate. Most of them happen to be tribal districts. The National food for work programme (NFFW) is also a move towards wage employment guarantee. It is an experiment, which if successfully carried out, will give the government the necessary confidence to take responsibility for providing wage employment guarantee. Initially 150 districts have been identified and later it will be implemented gradually in the remaining districts of the country.

The prime objective of the programme is to provide additional resources apart from the resources available under the Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana (SGRY) to 150 most backward districts of the country so that generation of supplementary wage employment and providing of food- security through creation of need based economic, social and community assets in these districts is further intensified.

Methodology of the study
National food right Campaign in association with Gram Swaraj Abhiyan Palamau conducted its study on National Food for Work Programme at Manatu Block of Palamau District. Team of three members from Delhi School of Economics started its study in the Manatu Block. Mr. Sandip Rai, Ms. Eva Jayshree Kiro and Mr. Anjore Bhaskar all from Delhi School of Economics (team member) stayed for 10 days in the Padma of Manatu Block with the help of local team members of the Gram Swaraj Abhiyan and visited 15 sites in the Manatu block of Palamau District. Team members concluded its findings on 27th of May 2005 and presented the status of the programme before the Hon. Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Mr. Videsh Singh of Panki Vidhan Sabha Constituency and Hon. District Collector (DC) of Palamau Mr. Vinoy Kumar Choubey. More than three hours discussion held on the status of the National Food for Work Programme with both of them.
Area of Study
Study conducted in the Manatu block of Palamau district of Jharkhand. It was the purposive study as because Manatu in past and also in present facing the problem of food insecurity due to lack of employment opportunity among villagers. Initially team decided to carry out their study in surrounding villages of the Manatu Block from where starvation deaths had been registered during 2001 and onwards. But Team Members couldn’t be able to conduct its study as because work was not started in those places. Then, team shifted to the Tarhasi area of the Manatu block of Palamau District. Visits have been made in the villages Bhalogari, Chakandih, Mahari, Tarai, Nawadih, Saraidih, Tirwa, Gurha, Devdih and Tarhasi of Manatu Block of Palamau districts.

Status of NFFW in Manatu Block of Palamau District
As per the provisions of the NFFW-
Wage Component-
Minimum of 5 kg grains and minimum of 25% cash of total wage to be provided to the laborers but it is found in Chamandohari Ahar of Gurha Village (Gurha Panchayat) that workers those are working in the site Baidnath Mochi, Anhat Bhuiyan, Upendra kumar Ram, Chanrik Bhuiyan, Sukan Bhuiyan, Prabhu Bhiyan and Saryu Ram worked for 12 days and got the wages for the only Six Days. But they haven’t got minimum of 25% of cash component and minimum of 30kg ration against the payment for another 6 days work. They’re also not getting the minimum wages and the grain component under the programme. This is not only in Chamandohari Ahar but same case was found in Mahua Dohari, Khajurai ahar, Bhalogari Ahar,Dhobani Ahar, Pipraha ahar, Kewal ahar, and Doman ahar. Henceforth Programme is not able to ensure the grains and cash component to the workers of the Manatu.
Perspective plan-
As per the guideline it has been asked to make the perspective plan before starting work with the approval of the monitoring committee for the work. But during the visit it was found that perspective plan for 5 years has not been developed and without planning work has been started and also the planning process doesn’t established the transparency and gram sabha has not been taken in confidence for the work. There is a question on- how site have been selected? Who selected the Site? Why not Village level plan made in the presence of the Gram sabha? There is no answer; Only DC knows how it is developed. Then how community will take the responsibility for maintenance of assets why not DC will take the responsibility. Contractors, Middleman are not permitted to be engaged for execution as per the guideline-During the field visit it has been found that Gram Sevak is the departmental man who is executing the programme and they are the incharge of 3-4 works in the Panchayat and the Gram Sevak appointed the Munshi (Meth) for execution of work in the work site. These people are playing the role of contractors and middleman. This is the violation of the guideline of NFFW in the Manatu Block. This has been found in all the sites where the team visited. They are the indirect contractors but government is clear while making the agreement in the name of Gram Sevak. Gram Sevaks are not in the worksite they are in the Daltonganj town. This has been found in the villages- Bhalogari, Chakandih, Mahari, Tarai, Nawadih, Saraidih, Tirwa, Gurha, devdih and Tarhasi.
Muster rolls in worksite-
Out of 10 visited sites, team has found the muster roll in only Chamandohari Ahar. In other places when it was asked to the workers that where is Gram Sevak, they told he is at Daltonganj and he is maintaining the Muster roll in Daltonganj. When team analyzed the Muster roll for the Chamandohari ahar it was found that entries have been made for 5 kg ration (wheat and rice both) per day per workers, but workers are getting only rice and also 2-3 Kg ration maximum to individual workers. When team approached to the Block Development Officer for muster roll he provided only the list of works and denied to provide the muster roll. There are huge irregularities on maintaining the muster roll and that’s why muster roll is not made public. This is the violation of ‘right to information’ in the work site.
Display of Signboards in the work site-
Guideline says that every site must have the signboard and all the information regarding the worksite should be displayed. But team didn’t find any display board in the worksite. There is no information to the villagers that what type of work and how much amount have been approved for the work. People are also ignorant of how many labors to be required for the work and what payment regulation for the work has been fixed.
Arrangements of drinking water, rest sheds and crèches-There is no provisions for drinking water, rest houses and the crèches in the worksite. These are the minimum and basic need at the work place. Government has not ensured the facility and also there is no interest by the government to provide it to the workers during the work. This is inhuman.
Land belonging to small and marginal farmers and SC/ST farmers can not be acquired for work under the programme- But it was found in Bhalogari Village, under the Tarai Panchayat, that work have been initiated in Hariohar Ahar and the villagers Sahdev Manjhi, Ramjee Bhuiyan, Dani Bhuiyan, Bhagwati Manjhi, Nanhuk Bhuiyan, Ramyeen Bhuiyan having the objection that work have been started in their Raiyatee Land. This is the violation and these SC families will be made landless in their village.
Employment register-
There is no Employment register in the worksite. Nothing has been mention that who are the workers? Whether they are belonging to the SC or ST? How much distance they are traveling for the work, total number of workers already worked for the worksite, etc.
Monitoring committee-
It has been asked that work cannot be started unless monitoring committee formed. But the reality is that no monitoring committee has been formed for individual worksite. When it was asked to the villagers that if they have any information regarding the monitoring committee they told that they don’t have any information about the committee. Monitoring committee has not been formed and work started, which is the violation of the norms.

Inspection-
It has been in the guideline that the senior level administrative staff will make the visit to the field to see the implementation phase of the programme but no officers from the State and district level made their visit in the work site. Then how can we accept that programme will ensure the desired objective?
Discussion with MLA
When team met with the Hon’ MLA of the area and shared the information about irregularities in the programme he assured that he is vigil over the process and he will not bother any officer who will be found chargeable in the matter. But who knows what happen to those officer as because this is the common practice in the district.
Discussion with DC
When team visited the DC of the district he took it lightly but on telephone he summoned to the Manatu BDO to rectify the irregularities and to maintain the quality of work. But perhaps DC is also not able to do anything.
Findings
Migration registered from 82% village of the total surveyed villages during the survey period.
17% villages responded that villagers migrated due to scarcity of the food.
40% villages responded that migration is due to lack of employment in the village.
In 46% village, of the total surveyed villages, it was reported that number of households migrated outstation is up to 10 during the survey period.
In 24.3% villages, of the total surveyed villages, it was reported that women are also migrated for work to outstation during the survey period.
32.4% villages, of the total surveyed villages, it was reported that children have also migrated for work with family members during the survey period.
In 7.2% villages, it is reported that the number of households who are under the clutches of the moneylenders are 40.
Land mortgage in 85% villages of the total surveyed villages.
In 51.1% village of the total surveyed areas, it is responded that the number of household mortgaged their land are 5 due to drought situation.
In 38.7% village, it has been reported that the household up to 5 having only 10 days food security.
In 24.3% villages, it has been reported that the household up to 20 having only 20 days food security.

In 39.6% villages, it has been responded that household up to 5 are getting only one time meal.

During the period of survey it has been found that in 61.5% village Antyodaya ration was not provided to the beneficiaries.

During the period of survey it has been found that in 77.4% villages Annapurna ration was not disseminated to the beneficiaries.

34% villages in the surveyed area reported no employment generation work, though study conducted in the National Food for Work districts.

Numbers of Human days generated under the developmental scheme are 50 in 16.2% villages of the surveyed areas.

In 1.8% villages of the surveyed areas it has been reported that the number of human days created are 300.

19.8% villages responded that number of water irrigation sources dried are 5 during the survey period.

In 9.9% villages, it has been reported that price of the consumable items are increased by 20%.

26.1% villages it has been reported that price of the consumable items are increased by 10%.

National Food for Work Programme (NFFW) is not implemented as it was mentioned in the guideline and it is also not able to fulfill the objective of the programme.

Conclusion
Drought situation and its severity have been affected intensely in rural Jharkhand and this is taking shape of a permanent incidence in the state. Occurrence of continuous drought since 3 – 4 years, due to erratic and inadequate rainfall, has broken the backbone of the farmers as well as labourers. Numerous starvation deaths reported due to this and still some more families are standing on this position. Condition in Palamau and Santhal Pargana has been observed pathetic on this point and most of the starvation deaths arrived from these regions since 2001. Establishment of Jharkhand as a new state took place with an oath of social justice and upliftment of poor. After formation of Jharkhand enormous development projects, funds and opportunities were identified and even brought in practice. But, all these were of constructing huge buildings, establishing factories, widening of roads and other things, which are having no concern with the upliftment of the poor. No such effort or interest observed in this regard from the state government. Welfare schemes are observed inefficient to secure the vulnerable people. This year also reports arriving from the field are extremely horrible. Pre drought study concludes that situation in Palamau and Santhal Pargana is grim. Late monsoon and irregular rainfall in the State has created quandary for cultivation of the kharif crop in the State. A good number of population already migrated to outstation in search of work. Government Employment generation programme, like National Food for work (NFFW), couldn’t be able to benefit the target community as it was desired while launching the programme. Poor community couldn’t be able to get the employment under the scheme. Relief code has been kept aside by the State instead of using it to minimize the fatigue effect of drought. Government officials are unaware about the relief code. The State Government has adopted no measures for pre drought preparation. It is also being concluded that there is no proper planning to tackle the pre drought and post drought management. Every thing is in haphazard manner. It is not sure that this year government will be able to prevent starvation deaths, but there is no doubt that scarcity in livelihood means will surely upset the rural population.

Case Studies of National Food for Work Programme (NFFW)
Case-1
Village- Nawadih, Panchayat- Udaipura, Block- Manatu, District- Palamau
Name of the work- Belha Ahar, Date of Survey- 20/05/05
Work under National Food for Work Programme started 5 days before the commencement date of survey. 100 workers are working but 5 workers were present in the worksite. One girl named Basanti, Age 12 years was also found helping her parents in the worksite. Workers are totally unaware about that ‘under which scheme they are working’. Workers are traveling ½ to 1 km to attend the worksite. There was no criterion to select the workers for employment in the work under the NFFW Scheme. Every interested Person got the opportunity for the work in the programme. Men and Women both are getting the work under the scheme but wages are differing as because Payments are made according to the measuring of work. At local level payments are made according to the “Chukka” rate. Workers are not aware about the official wage rate and till now they have received 10kg of ration and Rs.20/- per individual workers as advance after the completion of 5 days of work. No wages have been paid against the work till now. Due to extreme hot temperature workers are working 5.00 a.m. morning to 11.00 a.m. till now measurement has not been made for the work. Munshi for the work are not maintaining the muster roll. Monitoring committee for the work has not been constituted for monitoring of the work. On 1/05/05 last meeting of the Gram sabha have been conducted in the village. Gram sabha is not having any idea about the programme and neither they are interested over the work. No inspector visited the worksite. Muster roll is not being filled at the field. Gram Sevak are maintaining the muster roll.

Case-2
Village- Sariadih, Panchayat- Udaipura, Block- Manatu, District- Palamau
Name of the work- Dhogani Ahar, Date of Survey- 20/05/05

Janki is a worker and is working in the worksite. Santosh Yadav, Munshi, for the NFFW programme was also present at the worksite. Questions asked from Janki and he responded- work starts 4.00 a.m. morning and 10.00-11.00 a.m. they return back to home. Work started on 14/5/05. He and his worker friends do not know anything about the Scheme. They are taking the amount of wages whatever provided by the Munshi. They are traveling 1-3 kms to reach the worksite. There is no need of ration card for the work. Machine for the work have not been utilized. There was no child labour in the worksite. Workers for the village they are also working in other agriculture plot and also collecting and selling the firewood and earning money for their livelihood. Male agriculture labourers are getting Rs.30/- and one time food, whereas female workers are getting 2 kg of rice and two time meal. They are not getting any cash component. This is the existing case where labourers are working in the private land in agricultural season. The NFFW will benefit only those who have land nearer to the worksite. Dalits are not getting benefit out of the Ahar repairing work. No body knows about the official wages under the NFFW. As per their view grain component is good. If wages will be paid only as grain it will be nice. Whole day they are working only for ½ chukka of work. Advance has been paid at the rate of Rs.50/- to each individual. They have got the grain but don’t know how much they must get as per the entitlement fixed against the work under NFFW. Measurement has not been done of the work. There is no facility of water, medical aid, crèches and shed in the work place. There is no monitoring committee for the work. No body is coming for inspection of the work. Last Gram Sabha meeting organized 2 months before. No job card has been issued to the workers for the work. Till now no payments have been made to the workers against their work. No muster roll and attendance register is available in the worksite. Work has been initiated in the Ray tee (private land) land.
Case-3
Village- Tirwa, Panchayat- Udaipur, Block- Manatu, District- Palamau
Name of the work- Pipraha Ahar, Date of Survey- 20/05/05

Women of the village went for Tendu Leave collection in the forest. Work started on Sunday 15/5/05. Workers don’t know how much wages to be paid against the work. The workers are traveling ½ km distance to attend the work. All are living in the same place. There were no criteria for the employment. The entire interested person got the work. There was no use of machine and child labour in the worksite. When there is no work then they are in the home and working for household work. At village they are getting Rs.30/- as cash and one time meal. Rs.40/- in been provided in case of no food. Works have been started in the private land. Workers are working on Chukka rate. Wages are different for male and female. Labourers are not aware about the wage rate for the programme. They also know that they will get grains but don’t know how much grain will be given for the work. Till now no measurement have been taken so that there is no question of payment. No facility of water, medical aid, crèche house and working shed is available. Monitoring committee has not been formed for the monitoring of the work. No muster roll till now.

Case-4
Village- Gurha, Block- Manatu, District- Palamau
Name of the work- Chamandohri
Workers do not know the name of the ahar where work already strated. Work started 14 days before the day of survey. Children were also working in the worksite. 2 ½ - 3kms of distance traveled by the workers to get the work. There was no criteria for getting the work under the NFFW. Machine has not been utilized for the work. Only labourers are working in the site. Those who are living nearer to the work will only get benefit. For same work male and female are getting different wages. Workers are working under chukka system of payment. Vijay Mahto, gram Sevak is the work in-charge. Payment has been made in advance. No measurement till date. 100 Chouka of work already completed. Rs.600/- has been paid in groups of 3-4 workers for 10 Chukka.

Study Jharkhand Drought 2005

STUDY ON PRE DROUGHT STATUS IN PALAMAU & SANTHAL PARGANA

Period: JULY 2005

Introduction:

Drought has presented gloomy picture in the rural areas of Jharkhand. The print and electronic media reported number of hunger deaths since the year when Jharkhand was established as a new state. The year 2004 observed severe drought in the state though ambitious programmes to provide food and social security are available. Massive demonstration in the state capital and at the district / block level was organized, in participation with the village people, to build pressure on the state government for immediate relief work. State government announced relief work in the drought-affected areas, but this was found fake due to non-completion of the decisions by the state. Negligence of government to supply relief at the grass root explored the inhumanity of the bureaucrats towards vulnerable and destitute people. Jharkhand since separation from Bihar is going through rigorous drought situation and deaths due to starvation are increasing persistently. Survey and declaration of drought is observed too lengthy by the state government. Rain starts falling till state comes to the conclusion on initiating drought relief work in the affected areas and this obstructs the construction work, and fund released for work ultimately goes into the accounts of the concerned officers / contractors. Drought situation is been experienced every year but State efforts were never observed effective to serve the people suffering from harsh condition. It seems that state government has failed to learn to cope or rather it could be better to be said that state doesn’t wants to consider it as a major concern. Neither the ruling party has taken it as a burning issue, nor the opposition parties ever initiated in this regard. Previously when Jharkhand was not established as a new state ‘Bihar drought & flood relief code’ was in use to meet the intensity of natural calamity in the state in which pre-drought / pre-flood management is been described. Jharkhand state, after separation from Bihar, has not outfitted any relief code related to drought to mitigate the incidence. In the year 2004 state government decided and called meeting to chock out some effective plan of action for pre-drought management in the state to minimize the consequence of drought. But ultimately what was the outcome of that meeting is been found in dilemma.

In this report it has been tried to assess the state government’s initiative towards making effective step for pre-drought management in the severely drought affected areas. This report is based upon the field survey in the drought-affected areas, which were seriously exaggerated in 2004, to evaluate the existing condition before the occurrence of drought in the state. Beside these it also an intention to find the pre drought preparation of the District administration as per the Bihar Drought and Flood relief code and how far the District administration made its arrangements to tackle if… Drought like situation breaks.

Background:

Jharkhand, since its formation as a new state, is experiencing rigorous drought situation in most parts and corollary of starvation deaths were reported due to scarcity of adequate food for survival. But, the state government was found more vigorous to deny deaths due to starvation. And, relief work started in the affected areas when government realized and came to a conclusion that state is under drought situation. But the relief work was also observed too late to mitigate the severe situation at the grass root. In addition to this, relief work was found highly asymmetrical and corrupt, which implemented to serve destitute and disadvantaged people but was spent for the interest of the concerned officials / contractors.



In the year 2002 starvation deaths in the Manatu Block of Palamau district of state have been raised by the civil society organisation. Study have been conducted in the Manatu block by Gram Swaraj Abhiyan and found that the situation was worse, Social Security Scheme and employment generation scheme of government were failure. Government machinery was not in the grass root. Block Office remains close for long time. Government of Jharkhand announced Tank Relief programme in Palamau and Santhal Pargana districts to create additional employment and to create water bodies for water conservation in the region. In the year 2003 series of starvation deaths in the Lesliganj and Panki block of Palamau district due to outbreak of drought. At the same time Gram Swaraj also conducted study and found corruption in drought relief programme which debarred the poor community to take the benefit. In the year 2004 starvation registered from different districts of the State and Government of Jharkhand also announced the relief package and once again relief didn’t fulfill the need of the people.



Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (GSA) a non-registered and non-political organization, since 2001 it has conducted series of study and research on the issue of food security and issue related to starvation deaths. In the year 2003 it has conducted its study on Tank relief programme in Palamau Districts in and found that not a single tank completed in a year. Palamau is a region from where 70% workforce migrating to outside State for work. This shows that authority in the power is inefficient to complete the work of 1000 Chouka in a year. Maximum tank were in between to 100-200 Chouka i.e. the work of only Rs.13000/- is being done, but payment made more than that. Govt. announced relief in 2002 and work started in 2003 as tank relief programme and once again in 2003 Govt. announced relief programme in the drought prone blocks of Palamau. But the poor community is not able to take the benefit of the work due to the inefficient and corrupt officials in the block office.



In the year 2003 study comes to the point of conclusion that all the BPL (Below Poverty Line) holders are the victim of starvation deaths and due to shortage of employment, question arises that during Ninth plan Govt. work can’t be able to benefit the poor those are under the BPL. All the deaths were from the Schedule Caste families, those having no land for Cultivation, then the question remains that land entitlement and distribution of land has not been taken place to true beneficiary. During the month of August and September 2003 District Administration denied the drought situation in the State and during the month of October Ruling party Minister admitted the fact about the drought situation, this shows that the Govt. is working without any preplanning and due to this situation drought prone area of State became grim. District Administration and Block office are inefficient to judge the situation beforehand and as a result the starvation deaths. Government programme is not functioning in the block. District administration and Ruling Party don’t have willing to include the Opposition and Social organization for the Development of the State. Employment generation programme is not reaching to the poor. There is a nexus between the Politician, officers, Contractors and digesting all the money of Govt. Programme. People’s voice was not accepted in time. Relief work doesn’t show any interest to include the all functionaries other than the Govt. functionaries. Tank relief programme didn’t strengthen the poor. Tank Relief work lost its mandatory condition (work has not been implemented through the Gram Sabha.)



In the year 2004, when GSA conducted its next study in drought prone areas, found that Policy on Famine needs to be redefined and other indicators for famine to be included strongly. Since, starvation death can be proved by the general standard of under-nutrition and malnutrition prevalent in a particular locality and by making an assessment of income of the person concerned. Where is the boundary in between Malnutrition and starvation death? Globalization and ignorance to the most vulnerable families may raise more questions on starvation deaths. Accumulation of the vulnerable families in safety net zone is matter of concern. Continuity in acute malnutrition standard may drag to starvation deaths. Supreme Court order on Social security scheme indicates the alarming situation over the monitoring over the system and corruption. In a separate study on BMI (Body Mass Index) of Palamau in the year 2003 and 2004 in Palamau district, it was found that 34.58 percent children recorded in the category of acute malnutrition in 2003, whereas in 2004 it was found that 34.26 percent children recorded in the category of acute malnutrition. Continuity of figure is alarming. 13.09 percent adult recorded in the category of acute malnutrition in 2003 in State. 26.23 percent adult recorded in the category of acute malnutrition in 2004. Increasing rate is alarming. Forest area lost its potentiality to generate employment and then income. Change in food grains variety from traditional is benefiting the big farmers but threatening to the marginal families. Off farm activity among the vulnerable families is mostly nil and may cause low income.

In order to assess the severity of drought and hunger situation, GSA undertook a quick survey in 112 villages from 12 blocks in 7 districts; namely Palamau, Garhwa, Latehar, Ranchi, Godda, Dumka and East Singhbhum between 22nd and 26th August 2004. The period covered during the survey was June to August 15, 2004. This study observed that rainfall had been inadequate as well as irregular in June and July 2004, which was 25% below of normal rainfall. Of the 311 Ahars (traditional water harvesting and storage structures) covered in the survey, water availability was only 18% compared to a normal non-drought year. Water availability was less than 50% in the 495 wells surveyed in these villages. The loss of Halka paddy, an early maturing upland paddy variety that ensures food security in September and October, has been to the extent of 84%. In Palamau division the loss has been to the extent of 99%. It is the failure of this crop that causes famine situation in poor households. As far as low land (Bhari) paddy is concerned, it was sown only on 28% of the lands in the surveyed villages. A large number of cattle deaths, a total of 3291 cattle, were reported during the survey period. Status of food and social security schemes were also observed incompetent to serve the poor households. Study revealed that 1513 persons migrated in search of employment / earning for their survival.

This report was shared with the state government and the Chief Minister of Jharkhand and demanded for immediate execution of relief work in the drought affected regions. The State government announced to implement drought relief programme immediately in which construction of one lakh ponds within one hundred days and providing free grains to vulnerable families were stressed. But the field reality found different from the announcements made by the Chief Minister. Also adoption pre-drought management measures were discussed to meet such incidence in future.

Henceforth it seems that there is lack of vision to lead a state in a category of developed State. Machinery to work on the issues is failure. Though we have the system to go one by one but it is lagging behind. There is a Drought and Flood relief code for the State but perhaps no body is following to go with the system, which was maintained earlier. There is no culture to go together for the same cause. System is not transparent to share.

BIHAR DROUGHT AND FLOOD RELIEF CODE

The British Government made Bihar drought and flood relief code during the colonial rule in India. After the independence of India this relief code was consider as the document for mitigating the drought and flood relief in the State of Bihar and Jharkhand. This is the only document, which is in practice and giving the guideline to the state Government to deal the drought and flood situation in the State. But there is a need to certain changes on the relief code according to changing scenario. Government is failure to develop such type of alternative document for the governance therefore in that case at least it is only document to follow and accordingly government is making its decisions in the State particularly in Drought period of the State. But it is also a subject to verify that the norms of Bihar drought and flood relief code are being followed in true sense or not.



The people of Jharkhand is facing drought since 2001 and series of starvation deaths have been registered from different districts of the Jharkhand since then. Government of Jharkhand also admitted the fact situation of drought since 2001 and accordingly State government announced the Drought relief programme in the State. In the year 2002 Government of Jharkhand announced Tank Relief programme in Santhal Pargana and Palamau commissionary of Jharkhand. In the year 2003 Government of Jharkhand announced Drought relief programme in Lesliganj and Panki block of Palamau districts. In the year 2004 state Government once again announced the Drought relief programme in the State. All those decisions made under the directions of the “Bihar drought & Flood Relief Code”.



It is necessary to focus the provisions of the Bihar drought and Flood Relief code in context of Jharkhand. Jharkhand is facing the drought situation therefore the drought part must be taken into consideration for the reference in Jharkhand. Relief code also instructs pre drought phase activity in the drought zone of the State. Relief code says the lot of preparation before the drought break in the drought area. It has defined the responsibility of the District Administration and its concerned department for making the necessary measures for relief so that drought may not affect too much in terms of loss of human like Starvation deaths due to scarcity of food. Therefore necessary arrangement must be done in the area it can be expected that drought like situation may come. Therefore pre arrangements says that



· Whether rain measuring instrument are available in the centre or not.

· Whether instrument is in running condition or not.

· Weekly collection of rainfall status by the block office.

· Progress on agricultural activity.

· Status of the crop, which is already in the field.

· Grain stock in District and also block wise.

· Status of the Food availability in the most vulnerable families.

· Health Status of the people in the region.

· Availability of water and fodder for the animals.

· Status of the price of the consumable commodities.

· Cases of robbery.

· Migration

· Making observation on the families and destitute who left own houses and started to beg in search of food.

· Identification and listing the vulnerable families.

· Status of the grain gola and seed gola.

· Movement trend of the private moneylenders in the villages.

· Status of the revenue collection in the Circle offices.



These are the certain information to be collected by the district administration and accordingly concerned department to be made active so that concrete and fact information may be collected from the office. District agriculture department will also instruct the block agricultural officer to prepare the status chart of the various crops and its status. These are all the information to be started from the month of April every year in drought effected place and to be continued until the crops not harvested.



But if go to the announcement of drought in the year 2002,2003 and 2004 respectively then it can be found that all the decisions were delayed decision and it seems that norms under the code are not being followed by the District administration. Therefore relief couldn’t be able to support the people of drought prone area as it was expected and ultimately it transform in corruption. Because at that time victim population made its own arrangements, it may be migration, loan from moneylenders and Starvation deaths. Therefore people didn’t show too much interest in relief work.



Like wise in the year 2002 when starvation deaths reported from the Manatu Block of Palamau district. Chief Relief commissioner and the Minister, Land and revenue made their visit in the Manatu block. Government of Jharkhand announced drought in Last quarter of 2002 and work started in the year 2003 and continued for only 1 month then stopped due to monsoon break (Tank relief programme amounting 70,000/- each tank). Similarly for the 2003 Government announced drought for the Palamau district (certain blocks) in the month of November 2003 and work started in the month of February 2004 and was also stopped due to announcement of Lok sabha Election by the Election Commission. Thirdly in the year 2004 Government of Jharkhand announced drought relief programme in the month of October 2004 i.e. 1 Lac pond in 100 days, universelisation of the Mid Day Meal programme, providing ration at the rate of 3/- and 2/- to all BPL (Below Poverty Line) families. It was once again not implemented fully during the period and announcement of assembly Election in State affected the Drought relief programme and series of starvation deaths in different districts of the State.



It indicates that Government officials are failure to collect all the information as per the Drought code and there is a lack of pre drought preparation by the district administration. When pressure started to come from the activist and political organization for the announcement of relief programme, Government in hurry announces the relief programme without any plan; this was happen in the entire announcement. Once programme implemented without planning it gives ample opportunity for corruption and no benefit to the community for which announcement made.



PRE DROUGHT STUDY- REPORT



Research methodology:



Research Methodology has been finalized through various stages of planning. Those are as below:-

Study discussion at Coordination committee of Gram Swaraj Abhiyan- Coordination committee members (project partners of Action Aid, non funded Organisation, Journalist, Individuals) have discussed over the study design in the Coordination committee. Discussion basically focuses on the contents of the study and the very objective of the study.


Format Design- Gram Swaraj Abhiyan secretariat designed the format and share with the Fellow research those who are expertise on the research study. GSA secretariat shared the format with the members of the Coordination committee and collected the consent for study.




Survey- Survey conducted through the NGOs those are working in the region of Santhal Pargana and Palamau commissionary of the State. Survey has been done by the NGO workers those having the experience of 5 years in the development sector and local to the community. During the survey secretariat collected the feedback from the field.


Survey period- Survey conducted in the month of June 2005. it was purposive to get the data just before the monsoon break, just in order to get the real situation of the field and preparation for the pre drought phase.




Participating organisation in survey- SATHEE (Godda), CHETNA VIKAS (Deoghar), GRAM SWARAJ ABHIYAN (Sahebganj) MANAS PARIVARTAN (Godda), JAN CHETNA KENDRA (Garhwa), VIKASH SHAYOG KENDRA (Palamau), ALTERNATIVE FOR INDIA DEVELOPMENT (Palamau), NILAMBER PITAMBER DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION (Palamau)


Coverage area of the Survey- Field survey conducted in 111 villages. It includes 10 Blocks and 5 Districts of the State. Study conducted in the districts of the Godda, Palamau, Garhwa, Dumka, and Sahebganj. These districts are drought prone area of the State and districts are facing the drought situation since 2001.




Data Compiling, Analysis and Report writing- Filled format have been collected to the GSA secretariat and Research fellows in the GSA compiled the data and as per the past experience they have analyzed data. After analysis of the data report have been prepared.


Sharing of report with the coordination committee members- Report on Pre Drought Study has been shared with the coordination committee members and after then it is being finalized for the final report.


Demography of the surveyed areas:



Survey conducted in 111 villages in 5 districts and it includes total of 21847 households. Out of these families 32 percent belongs to Schedule Tribe and 13.2 percent were from Schedule Caste community. Study revealed that 33.9 percent families are under Below Poverty Line (BPL) in the surveyed villages. Survey targeted the community Munda, Santhal, Kherwar, Parhiya, Pahariya, Oraon, Chero and Korwa among Schedule Tribes etc and Bhuiyan, Chamar, Turi etc. among the Schedule Castes. It has been observed in the past study that these communities are real victim of the vulnerability and the Starvation deaths. Among these community women, Old age person and children are the groups those have been listed in starvation deaths in past. These districts are also been identified under the National Food for work (NFFW) and work already been started in those areas.



1. Migration:



a) People Migrated –



It is common understanding that once agricultural area gets low rainfall and there is no chance for agriculture activity in the region then agriculture laborers have only option to migrate for survival. But in Jharkhand it is the common practice that villagers are migrating outside also in the agricultural season for agricultural work to other State. But migration seasonality says that during first week of June villagers used to return own destination. But pre-drought study revealed that during pre-monsoon period, people, in search of employment, have migrated from their respective villages. This was found in 82 percent of the village among total surveyed villages.



b) Reason behind migration –



It has been observed that people use to migrate from their villages during the drought situation in search of employment / income generation opportunity. Migration has been one of the coping mechanisms in such situation. Recently National Food for Work Programme has been implemented in the state, which is having an integral objective to provide wage employment to the village people. Under this programme provisions have been made to provide at least 25% cash of total wage amount and also at least 25% essentially will be given as kind, which will be in the form of grains. But, the survey revealed that percentage of people migrating due to unavailability of employment in the village, whereas, 17 percent people migrated due to scarcity of food for their survival. In such a situation performance of this programme really needs to be questioned. People also migrated to earn money to face drought situation as because no effective measures have been initiated from the government side to ensure security from the occurrence of severe drought in the regions.



c) It is observed that people use to migrate during drought to earn money for their food. But, pre-drought survey found that people have migrated before the occurrence of drought. This is because since 3 – 4 years Jharkhand is reeling from drought and people don’t access adequate food security due to which starvation deaths is going on. It was observed that 45.95 percent villages responded that 1 – 10 households have migrated due to abovementioned reasons. 10 – 20 households migrated in 15.32 percent villages, whereas, more than 40 households migrated in

9.91 percent villages.



Study explored that number of people migrated have been increased up to 100 or more in 3.9 percent villages. In 13.6 percent village number of people migrated within 70 – 100. 10 – 30 persons and 30 – 50 persons migrated in 36.9 and 24.3 percentage villages respectively. These people are those who are heading the family, and due to their migration women, disabled and old age people are left alone to struggle with the existing situation in the village.

Food insecurity and unemployment is so dominant in the villages that women and children have also migrated along with others to earn some money to secure their lives from starvation. Number of women migrated within 1 – 10 and 10 – 20 in 24.3 and 12.6 percent villages respectively, whereas, in 6.3 percent village number of migrant women is within 20 – 30. In 1.8 percent village number of migrant women is more than 40.

Under these circumstances village people are unable to manage their children who are in school going age. Due to not having any other option they use to take their children too along with them to the place they migrate in search of income opportunity. During this survey it was reported that number of children between 1 – 10 and 10 – 20 migrated with their parents in 32.4 and 10.8 percent village. In 2.7 percent village it was found that number exceeded to more than 40 children. In the age, when education is unavoidable, these children had migrated with their families. Although midday meal scheme has been implemented but it is of no use for them because due to migration of almost all the family members nobody has left at home to take care of these children.



Another major issue of concern is that the people left alone with no care at home, by the migrated people, are spending their days in difficulty. Pregnant women, old-age people and disabled are mostly left behind whose condition appears pathetic due to no means of income and availability of sufficient food for their survival. In 26.1 percent village it was found that number of pregnant women between 1 - 10 and between 10 – 20 pregnant women in 6.3 percent village left alone at home with no one to take care of them. Likewise the condition of old aged people is pitiable due to having no family member at home to care for them. In 27 percent village it was observed that number of old age people between 1 – 10 are staying alone at home due to migration of other family members, whereas, in 7.2 percent village number of old age people left alone between 10 – 20.

Observation says that there are good numbers of programmes to secure food security and employment generation like Antodaya, Annapurna, Integrated Child Development scheme and National food for work programme, but it seems that villagers are not getting confidence with the implementation of these schemes and therefore opted for migration to outstation.



2. Money lending & Mortgage of Land:

Continuity of drought since 3 – 4 years has affected the rural people very badly. Villagers are not in a status to bear the cost of fooding and other necessary arrangements for agricultural activities. Situation has imposed the poor households to take loan from local Mahajan’s to meet their needs. Due to this people gets under the trap of vicious cycle in which they use to take loan even to pay their debts too along with arrangements of other necessities. In 7.2 percent village out of total surveyed villages more than 40 households have taken loan to meet their needs.



In 32.5 percent households loan taken upto Rs. 500/-, whereas, 15.5 percent households are those who have taken loan upto Rs. 1000/-. 16.5 percent households have taken loan upto Rs. 2000/- and 15.3 percent are those who have taken more than Rs. 2000. People in the surveyed villages have mortgaged their lands, which is the only means of food security for some through production, to get money for different purposes related to income generation. Less and irregular rainfall has caused in dryness of agricultural lands, and no possibility of agro-activities have forced the village people to migrate in search of daily wage work for their survival. Relief work and Food for Work Programme, which are intended to provide employment to the village people, has failed to achieve the determined objectives. Case of land mortgage has been revealed in 85 percent village out of total surveyed villages. In case of exigency village people mortgages their land because they don’t access other options, and this gives the idea that Mahajani pratha is dominant and easy money lending option for the villagers. When it was tried to find out the number of households mortgaged their land in the village it was found that land mortgage is much more in practice to acquire money for their essential requirements. Land mortgaging practice is in use by upto 1 – 5 households and 5 – 10 households normally in the surveyed villages.



This explains the situation in the village, which is taking place due to lack of sufficient means for survival during general days. This indicates the future events that would take place if drought occurs.

In Rural India agriculture is a backbone and the Land holding can ensure the agriculture activity and income generation for the poor household. But it is also fact that poor community is loosing the control over their respective land due to lack of economical support to the poor household. It is very shocking that today the tribals and dalits are vacating the villages and coming to the city as beggar or rickshaw puller. They are homeless in the city. The present system and anti poor policies are the factors, which is damaging the social structure of the society.





5. Food availability:

Continuation of drought for 3 – 4 years has admitted sever starvation before the vulnerable households who basically depends on agricultural productions and / or daily wage in agricultural work. Pre-drought study is an effort to analyze the situation at the grass root. Lots of food and social security schemes have been implemented for the eligible families as per the norms indicated in the programme guideline. Situation of destitute/poorest of the poor and old aged/disabled/widow gets bleak due to lack of livelihood means for their survival. It was reported during the survey period that households are left with only 10 days or 20 days food for them. In an average of 1 – 5 households in 38.7 percent village it was found that they are having food for only 10 days, whereas, 10.8 percent village are those where this condition exists in 40 or more than 40 households in the surveyed areas. Average 10 – 20 families in 24.3 percent village are in the condition with 20 days food only. Still more than 40 families are left with only 20 days food in 8.1 percent.



Susceptibility has been gone beyond this condition and fact at the field arrived that average 1 – 5 families in 39.6 percent village are consuming only one time meal per day and even it was found that in 9.9 percent village this situation is existing in more than 40 families. This situation is prevailing in average 10 – 15 and 15 – 20 families in respectively 10.8 percent and 11.7 percent village. Annapurna Yojana and Antyodaya Anna Yojana is there to support the old aged/destitute/disabled persons and poorest of the poor families for food security. These schemes were also observed in an awkward position to avail ration adequately and timely to the beneficiaries. Information arrived that total 1410 persons have been covered under Antyodaya Anna Yojana in the surveyed villages, but distribution of ration didn’t took place in 61.5 percent village. Likewise, under Annapurna Yojana total families covered are 242, but under this scheme also it was found that ration didn’t distribute in 77.4 percent village. Under these circumstances it will become more difficult to these sections of the society to survive if drought happens.

It is very much clear that 20 percentage of the household in every village of Jharkhand always have food security for 10 days if things go normal. It is more alarming that upto 5 households of the 40 percentage of the village in Jharkhand are taking only one meal in a day. This is the situation, and if anything which is not normal like drought or heavy rain falls 20 percentage of the families in the State will be directly affected from the awkward situation i.e. “Starvation……..”. That’s why Antodaya and Annapurna scheme are targeting those families in the Villages, but it is also well known to all that government is not too serious for making the system functional. Situation is serious but governance is not serious.



6. Employment opportunity:

Survey has been carried out particularly in those districts, which are covered under National Food for Work Programme, and the situation of employment generation programme was observed dismal in the surveyed villages. Study in the survey area found that in 10.6 percent village government department has implemented only one work, whereas, in 34 percent village no work has been implemented. Due to this most of the households are not accessing employment in their respective villages. 34 percentage of the surveyed villages responded that “no Government work has been implemented in the Village”, whereas 10% of the villages responded only one government work has been implemented. It has also come to the analysis that 14.9 percentage of the village having more than three works, definitely these are the villages where minister and the MLAs having special caring as because it is their vote bank villages. Only in 14.4 percent village out of total surveyed villages 20 or more than 20 households got the employment but 57.7 percent village responded that no household got the employment. In 16.2 percentage of village only upto 50 human days created and only in 1.8 percentage of villages got the human days upto three hundred days during the month of May 2005. Report on involvement of households in works executed by the government agency is depressing. Under these programmes usually construction works, like construction of ponds / check dams & other physical structures, are executed, which not only assures benefit to the villagers but also provides infrastructures for agricultural activities. Performance of human day’s creation is also not encouraging. This is not in a state to provide sufficient mandays and wage to the villagers, which is causing in increase of migration from the villages. Seriousness to fulfill the objectives of the programmes has been neglected. Payment of wage is also not taking place regularly under the programmes functioning under the government department. In 4.5 percent village it was reported that wage payment is done after 30 days, and in 16.2 percent village it was observed after 15 days. Families, who are dependant on daily wage for their fooding, face difficulty to manage. Amount of wage paid per day also found uneven in the surveyed villages. In 61.2 percent village people got wage up to or less than Rs. 50, whereas, in 14.9 percentage village wage provided up to more than Rs. 50 but less than Rs. 60. In only 23.9 percent village it was observed that villagers got more than Rs. 60 as their daily wage in the surveyed villages.

This is the whole scenario which speaks that employment is not sufficiently provided although National food for Work (NFFW) have been implemented with the objective to provide wage employment to the 150 most backward districts of the Country. Identification of work is very much irregular and minimum wage is also one of the “Laxhman Rekha” where labourers are always lagging behind to get in the State.





7. Animal Husbandry:

Animal husbandry is an imperative activity of the rural people. Availability of livestock undoubtedly supports the villagers during emergency. A large number of cattle deaths, around 3291, reported in the year 2004 due to drought. During drought situation villagers sells their livestock to earn money to sustain them, low rainfall often results in lack of fodder for the animals and scarcity of water and food causes cattle deaths. Pre-drought survey observed the unwanted situation on this part, because in 47.7 percent village animal died within 1 – 10 numbers during survey period taken for the study, whereas, in 6.3 percent village it was found within 10 – 20 numbers. 14.4 percent villages are those from where death of animals increased to more than 30. If this is the pre-drought situation then it is obvious that it would become more ruthless if drought occurs. Reasons found behind these deaths were lack of fodder in 15.1 percent village, and lack of water in 5.4 percent village. Meager accessibility to food and water is imposing illness among cattle and majority, i.e. 74.2 percent, of death case was observed due to this reason.

Penniless villagers are, in scarcity of employment/agro-activities, either migrating outside their respective villages or depending on sale of their animals to earn money to arrange food for the family. Mostly this trend has been observed during drought, but this situation is arriving before occurrence of drought in the state this year. As per the survey report on this point situation is not encouraging. Table shown below speaks the fact prevailing in the rural areas where survey has been conducted.

And, the reasons behind death of animals are not other than the afore-mentioned situation. Village people are already under the grief of debt and they are selling their animals to pay back their debts. This was found in 15.8 percent village. This is not the end of their problems because food insecurity to the families is dominant in the surveyed villages. People sold their animals to arrange food for their family in 44.7 percent village. Somehow this has supported some of the families from starvation, but for how many days it will sustain them? In 7.27 percent village animals stolen within 1 – 10 numbers and animals within 10 – 20 numbers got stolen in 1.8 percent village. Reason behind theft of animals is also observed not other than due to food insecurity, which was found in 9.1 percent village. .





8. Water availability for irrigation:

It is well known that agriculture is the backbone of rural India and village people depends on this occupation primarily for their living. Water availability to perform agricultural activities is important, and this is still unavoidable that agricultural activities are dependant on rainwater for irrigation. Water resources existing in the form of check dams, ponds / ahars, wells are lesser in number in the villages and doesn’t provides sufficient irrigation water for agro-activities. Pre-drought study revealed that in 23.4 percent village irrigation resources is only one in number. Whereas, only 26.1 percent village are those where more than five irrigation resources are available. It indicates the irregularities in the identification of work. Secondly there is an accumulation of resources in particular area. This is happened due to the interventions of the Ministers in the development process, some time it became the bias. But all of these resources are not in a condition to provide water for irrigation in the fields. Report arrived that most of the irrigation water resources are in a dry condition, which has obstructed the village people to initiate activities in the field. Due to this generation of employment in the agricultural activities is not taking place and the villagers, who don’t have agro-land and depends on income from agricultural activities in others lands, are constrained to migrate from their villages in search of employment. Unreliability of monsoon water has also created uncertainty in the agricultural sector, which supports these agricultural labourers to some extent by providing income through fieldwork.



9. Crop Coverage Status

Kharif and Rabi are two main crops of Jharkhand. 80% of the farmer population is directly depending upon the Kharif crop and at the same time major agricultural labourers are also involved in the kharif crop. One hectare of Paddy cultivation gives the opportunity to engage the 75 human days. Major part of the State is coming under the rain shadow area. Agriculture of State entirely depends upon the monsoon.

It has been observed that monsoon comes in State between 5th to 10th June, but monsoon came in the last week of June. Rainfall is very irregular in the State. It has given the bad impact in the paddy seedling nursery. 50% of the farmers are not able to raise their paddy nursery till date due to irregular rainfall.

First phase of the monsoon is for the cultivation of Bhadai crops (which includes Maize, Pulses & Oil seed) but this year due to irregular and below average rainfall farmers are not able to sow the Bhadai crops in time. Data reflects that Palamau and Garhwa is the worst case among the five surveyed districts where only 0.5% and 2.5% paddy sown in the field, whereas Dumka, Godda and Sahebganj is also not in better condition.



The sowing process of maize, pulses and oil seed almost seems to be completed up to 10th July but this year as per the data it shows that Palamau and Garhwa is badly affected for maize harvesting. It has been observed that maize is one of the major crops for drought prone areas where is considered as major crop, which ensures the food security for monsoon period. This year maize may not be able to support the poor families of the Palamau and Garhwa district.

Landless and agricultural casual labour is taking single crop that is maize in their homestead land and maize is supporting them during the month of August and September. September and October are the two worst months for the landless families to get the food; at that time only maize supports them. Overall crop situation in the State is alarming towards the bad days for the vulnerable families.



10. Price increased:

Bihar flood / drought relief code has explained the pre-drought management strategies. Increase in price is also established as a measurement tool to define drought / famine or situation of natural calamity under this relief code. Scarcity of resources, agro-products and lack of other necessary materials causes in hike of price in occurrence of a particular situation in an area. When it was tried to find out situation on this front it was observed, that in 9.9 percent village price increased up to 20 % during the period of survey. In 26.1 percent village case of price increase found up to 10 %, whereas, 5 % increment was reported from 23.4 percent village. This is hindering the poor families to obtain their necessities and even they are not having enough resources to attain their food needs.

Dependency of women and / or women headed families has been also observed during the survey. These are mostly the widows, old-aged who are not having sufficient means of livelihood for their survival. Social security schemes to support these vulnerable section of the society has also been implemented by the government side, but situation observation at the grass root questions the status and success of these programmes. In the survey villages it was found that in 31.8 percent village an average of 1 – 5 women headed families are depending on others / relatives. This has been observed in 6.4 percent village where an average of 10 – 15 women is going through this experience. Reason behind this is no means of livelihood, disability, no food security through any existing schemes etc.





11. Pre-drought management:

Government of Jharkhand declared for immediate execution of relief work in the year 2004 due to drought. Also, meetings / seminars with government officials to plan out for pre-drought management to meet the bleakness evolves due to drought. On this point, when question asked in the surveyed villages to know the pre-drought management preparation, it was reported that in 99.1 percent village DC didn’t visited till the date of survey to assess the pre-drought situation in their respective areas. In none of the villages visit of SDO / BDO / CO took place to observe the same. Rainwater measurement equipment has also not been installed in the panchayats to analyze the adequacy/sufficiency of rainwater for the agricultural activities and products. It is well known to us that major part of the Jharkhand is coming under the rain shadow area therefore within the kilometer of distance the rainfall varies. This measurement and coverage of agro-products helps in assessment of occurrence of drought situation in the area. In 97.3 percent village it was observed that villagers are not having information about the pre-drought meeting at the block level to develop strategies to minimize the effect of drought if it occurs. It is also essential for the officials to prepare lists of vulnerable families before the incidence of drought so that immediate and adequate support could be ensured appropriately to prevent starvation deaths. But, in 84.3 percent village no such initiative from the government department was observed during the survey period.

Pre drought management says more about the preparation according to the Bihar Drought & Flood Relief code. Districts like Palamau Garhwa, Latehar and Santhal Pargana etc. region having the record of 35 major droughts in 100 years of history. If such type of history why state is reluctant and neglecting the requirement of pre drought management. This is the main region for that State is facing the Starvation deaths victim in the most vulnerable pockets. Timely decisions on the relief can prohibit the starvation deaths in the State and for that it is necessary to stress upon the pre drought management.

Recommendation:

1. Govt. of Jharkhand should commit intensive intervention in drought prone areas of the state. Various departments namely dept. of agriculture, forest, soil and water conservation and dept. of food and civil supplies should converge to address the immediate and long-term crisis. A task force may immediately be set up to ensure proper coordination among and deliverables from various departments mentioned above. This becomes pertinent when the state has set up millennium goal for reduction of poverty levels by 50% by the year 2015.

Keeping the fact in mind that frequent occurrence of drought in one part or the other in the state, the government should form a high-powered Drought Mitigation Cell of permanent nature.







2. The state government should ensure entitlements of BPL families in social security schemes in a war-footing manner. ICDS, Antyodaya, TPDS and Annapurna are few food linked schemes that have to paid attention.



3. As evident, children are the worst affected in any disaster situation, so State government should ensure qualitative cooked meal as per the Supreme Court orders (with special focus on drought prone areas) during vacations also.

4. The state government should take up the serous effort to implement the Food For Work programme and corruption must be checked.

5. The Agriculture department should allocate fund for the promotion of drought resistant variety of crop, as it is a well-known fact that nearly 50% of Jharkhand is drought prone. Instead of planning after the occurrence of drought, the department should work in advance as a long-term measure.

6. Relief code should be made public for debate and opinion building on its relevance and amendment required.

7. Relief Code should made operational for most vulnerable families so direct benefit goes to them, past experience says that vulnerable are the victim of starvation deaths.

8. State Drought Policy should be made, which will include the provisions of drought code in present context.

9. Drought Relief should be made free from election code, because during 2004 – 05 drought relief programs stopped due announcement of parliamentary & assembly poll.

Reported by Ashim Kumar Ghosh (ashim57@rediffmail.com)