SWARAJ
Summary Report (Oct
97-Oct 1999)
EXECUTIVE
SUMMERY
PART: 1
|
F |
ifty years after
Independence, dreams of the freedom fighters, the ideal of Mahatma Gandhi, of
SWARAJ, is at stake. Devolution of democratic power did not go beyond he Union
and the State and villages have been left high and dry without any hope of
their involvement in the democratic processes. Then, with the coming of
Globalisation, Marketisation and Liberalisation, the challenge to establish
SWARAJ is all the more demanding. The country’s poor are victimised.
Traditional knowledge systems are being brushed aside as irrelevant. Added to
this, is the fact that the Welfare State is ceasing to be one.
Globalisation is basically anti-democratic, as its aim is to devalue democracy. It goes further to negate the nation state. Matters are worse because, Indian Society has pluralistic religious and cultural forms. However, the current economic policies “persuade” us to follow the lead to homogenisation of culture and the policy of “one Nation, One Religion”. This has led to intolerable abuse of sex, children and women. India also is a caste-ridden society that has not vanished with so-called industrialisation and modernisation. Indian womanhood is subjugated to the worst oppression and exploitation, irrespective caste and creed.
Towards SWARAJ: In this context, an alternative socio-economic, political and cultural development paradigm was sought. The model has to be based on Gandhian thought and ideology. Advocating self-sustained development of the poor communities and by that seeking equal opportunities for them,
“SWARAJ” stands for working towards people-based, democratic system of governance. In economics, Swaraj stands for empowering the purchasing capacity of common people and preservation of their creativity and ecology of nature. In the Social field Swaraj stands for mobilisation of dalits, adivasis, and women and exploited sections of society for restoration of their culture, identity and self-respect. In cultural field Swaraj stands for a society having plural character and existence of different communities with self-respect and equal status in every walk of life.
With this perspective in view, some
activists met in Mumbai in November 1996 to chart a future plan of action. Twenty-two
like-minded Gandhian Groups from Bihar, Orissa, Maharashtra, Kerala, Goa,
Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat took part in that consultation. Dr. Badal Sen Gupta,
Head Consultancy Desk and MS. Gabriella Fisher Wilms, Former head of South and
Middle Asia Desk of EZE also took part. The result was the formation of the “SWARAJ” Forum.
Bihar was among the first to take the initiative in the formation of SWARAJ Forum. Its activities were initiated in organisations called ‘consortiums’. The two very active consortiums to date are those working in Koshi and Gandak Basins. There are activities in Ganga Consortium and in Sone Command Regions.
In Koshi and Gandak Consortiums burning and strategic issues were chronic floods caused by dams/embankments resulting in displacement and migration, illiteracy, acute unemployment and rapidly deteriorating community health. The activists in these regions made active contacts with the affected people in various ways; the best of them came after implementation of the PSP Process. Activists in both the regions participated and prepared their action programmes for Phase III in the meantime.
However, the activists in Bihar did not confine themselves to organising the people on the adverse impact of the flooding of its rivers alone. In Saharsa, some them went ahead with an unique uplift activity, that of bringing literacy to children of sex workers. KALPATARU, an associate of “SWARAJ” Bihar, took up this activity and is today running literacy schools for the children, about 60 of who have remained in the school on a regular basis.
In Bhagalpur, affected communal riots in the late 80’s, the activists have been able to start another literacy programme for the children of the affected families. About 1,300 children have taken recourse to these informal literacy centres.
“SWARAJ” Bihar (SJ-Bihar) held its first state convention in May 1998.
In the 18 districts that comprise Jharkhand, the dominant activity has been that of the struggle for self-rule of the adivasis. There are 32 adivasi communities in the region. “SWARAJ” Jharkhand (SJ-Jharkhand) was established after a meeting held at Potaka on November 10th 1997. Thereafter, it networked with organisations on the issue of self-rule, especially after the recommendations of the Union Government’s Bhuria Committee’s recommendations regarding implementation of the Constitution 73rd Amendment, which gave to the rural communities their right of decision making on their own development. SJ-Jharkhand activists were also busy in the last two years in their struggles against big projects.
Like other state chapters, they also took to Participatory Strategic Planing (PSP) and completed their first state convention before the National Consolidation Workshop and First National Convention held at Gram Vikas in Orissa.
SJ-Orissa (SJ-Orissa) began its activities in March 1997. Its activities since have dwelt on issues in the mining areas of the state and of adivasi rights. It comprises of 15 voluntary organisations and works in nine out of 30 districts of the state, covering 254 villages in the process.
In the beginning it undertook studies of weavers of Nayagarh District and in the mining areas of Sundergarh District. During the period under review campaigns against globalisation, communalism and implementation of Panchayat Raj Amendment were its mainstay.
In May 1998, it began the implementation of the PSP process, following participation of its activists in workshops for the purpose
SJ-Tamil Nadu (SJ-Tamil Nadu) began its activities on 25th February 1998, when the efforts were initiated by next door Kerala. Resolving communal tensions were the first of its activities. Its activists joined PSP Workshop and at the moment they have decided to take the process to villages in Madurai, Ramanad, Tuticorin and Kanyakumari District.
Kerala activists were, among the early chapters to be started. The activities began in July 1997 when district level youth camps were organised to introduce the concept. A number of activities were undertaken to project the Gram Swaraj concept in the early stage. By early 1998 “SWARAJ” Kerala (SJ-Kerala) joined the PSP Process and sent activists to various National Workshops held for the purpose. District level workshops were held and a State Level Committee began facilitating the process. Besides, these activities, SJ-Kerala was active on PEACE ISSUES and in organising the agricultural labour focussing on traditional farming.
Maharashtra chapter was the latest addition to the “SWARAJ” Forum. It was in early 1999 that some organisations and activists came together to join the Forum. “SWARAJ” Maharashtra (SJ-Maharashtra) was established then but the activists were still going through the training process for implementation of PSP when the second phase ended.
Gujarat began its process of joining “SWARAJ” Forum began in May 1998. Till September 1998, The main activities were the establishment of Anti-Nuclear Committee in July of that year and a Public Hearing on the issue of Child Labour in September.
“SWARAJ” Gujarat (SJ-Guharat) undertook PSP from October 1998, when it organised a four-day workshop at Juna Koba in Gandhi Nagar and then followed it up with another one at the same place in November of that year.
“SWARAJ” Forum has two associates – Western India Forum for Panchayati Raj (WIFPR) and Indian Rivers’ Network (IRN).
WIFPR is an old associate. Its existence began after a workshop in Peaceful Society in 1995. It joined the “SWARAJ” Forum as an associate as an associate soon after the Forum came into existence. From Goa the co-ordination activities shifted to Ahmedabad Study Action Group in Ahmedabad, from where it functions till date. Its activities concern training members of Panchayat Raj Institutions and publication concerning activities like workshops and material which would be helpful to members of Panchayat Raj Institutions. The Gujarat Chapter of the Forum is very active. At the moment it is busy undertaking two studies – Profiles of first generation of women panchayat members and gram panchayat finances.
IRN is a recently formed associate. It was the outcome of the National Conference on River Valleys and Water, held at Jamshedpur from 12th to 14th March 1999. Its initial activities are confined the river valleys in Koshi and Gandak Consortiums, Jharkhand, Orissa, Kerala, Maharashtra and Gujarat. The activities are at preliminary stages. In this new century it is expected to critical water problems worldwide and the IRN will have to play an important role.
1. Preparing For
the Struggle – Activities Till 2000
1.1, Introduction: - Fifty
years after Independence, the dreams of the freedom fighters, the ideal the
freedom fighters and of Mahatma Gandhi of “SWARAJ” becoming SURAJ, is at stake. Devolution of
democratic power has not gone beyond the Union and State government and villages
have been left high and dry without any hope of their involvement in the
democratic processes.
Then, with the coming
of Globalisation, Marketisation and Liberalisation, the challenge to establish
“SWARAJ” has become all the more demanding. In the ideals of “SWARAJ”, the
vision of society is one that is humane, egalitarian, secular, democratic,
ecologically balanced, socially just and sustainable.
The Bretton Woods
Institutions established after the end of last “world war”, such as the
International Monetary
Fund (IMF) and World Bank, were also
established 50 years ago! These institutions along with the World Trade
Organisation (WTO) have been practising imperialism of
the developed nations, without grabbing their lands as of yore – there is no
need. The aim was to revive their war-ravaged economies through exploitation of
the resources of the developing world and go beyond.
Under this system, the country’s poor, who form an overwhelming majority of the population, are victimised. Small landholders, agricultural labour, women, dalits, nomadic tribes and adivasis face aggravation of their poverty. The traditional knowledge systems through the assistance, of which the common people made a sustainable living, are being brushed aside as outmoded and irrelevant.
Added to this, is the fact that the Welfare State is ceasing to be one. The State coolly takes taxes from the common people – the Bahujan (the Majority) – who are as stated earlier, the poor, if not below the poverty line.
This economic threat has political implications. Globalisation is anti-democratic, as its aim is to devalue democracy. It goes further to negate the nation state. Matters are worse because, Indian Society has pluralistic religious and cultural forms. However, the current economic policies “persuade” us to follow the lead to homogenisation of culture and the policy of “One Nation, One Religion”. Only those who follow the religion of the majority are considered as patriots.
This has led to intolerable abuse of sex, children and women. The folklore of adivasis, songs of the peasantry, art forms of the rural folk have become rootless. There is the need to promote, strengthen and propagate people’s culture.
There is this communal threat. India is a multi-religious society. Each religion has lived and co-existed and grown and there was communal harmony. However, since the last decade of the 20th century coinciding with the aforementioned economic policies, there has been a growth in communalism, fundamentalism resulting tension and violence.
India is also a
caste-ridden society that has not vanished with so-called industrialisation and
modernisation, as had been dreamt of by the founding fathers of the Republic.
The structure has become stronger and has created more divisions. In the urban
areas, the divide is subtle in the rural the crudity still remains. This menace
crosses all religious boundaries. Its ugly head has emerged everywhere.
Indian womanhood is subjugated to the worst oppression and exploitation, irrespective caste and creed. Dowry deaths, desertion, exploitation and oppression are daily occurrences. Today, the media often takes sadistic pleasure in even naming the victims and deriding them. The lower the status of the caste to which the woman belongs to, the greater the exploitation and oppression.
In this context, an alternative socio-economic, some activists sought alternative political and cultural development paradigm. The model based on Gandhian thought and ideology. It advocates self-sustained development of the poor communities and seeks equal opportunities for them.
In these regards, Mahatma Gandhi had said: -
|
“We believe that it is the inalienable
right of the Indian people, as of any other people, to have freedom and to
enjoy the fruits of their toil and have the necessities of life so that they
may have full opportunities of growth. We believe also that if any Government
deprives a people of these rights and oppresses them, the people have a
further right to alter it or abolish it. The British Government in India has not only deprived the Indian people of their freedom, but has based itself on the exploitation of the masses, and has ruined India economically, politically, culturally and spiritually. We believe therefore that India must sever the British Connection and attain purna swaraj or complete independence”. |
The context today is no different, if not
worse.
In today’s context, SWARAJ stands for working towards people-based, democratic system of governance as Mahatma Gandhi envisaged. He had said,
|
“To me political power is not an end but one of the means to enabling people to better their conditions in every department of life. Political power means the capacity to regulate national life through national representatives. Swaraj of a people means the sum total of Swaraj of individuals. And such Swaraj comes only from performance by individuals of their duty as citizens.” |
In the economic field, “SWARAJ” stands for empowering the purchasing capacity of the common people and the preservation of their creativity and ecology of nature.
Mahatma Gandhi had said,
|
“The economic constitution of
India and for that matter, the world should such that no under it should
suffer from want of food and clothing. In other words, everybody should be
able to get sufficient work to enable him to make the two ends meet And this ideal can be
universally realised only if the means of production of the elementary
necessities of life remain in control of the masses. These should be freely
available to all as God’s air and water are or ought to be; they should not
be made vehicles of traffic for the exploitation of others. This
monpolisation by any country, nations or groups of persons could be unfair. The neglect of this simple principle is the cause of destitution that we witness today not only in this unhappy land but other parts of the world too.” |
In the Social field “SWARAJ” stands for mobilisation of dalits, adivasis, and women and exploited sections of society for restoration of their culture, identity and self-respect.
Mahatma Gandhi envisaged,
“Today
Brahmins and Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras are mere lakhs. I wish that all
the Hindus would voluntarily call themselves Shudras.
Caste
distinctions have taken such deep root amongst us that they have also infected
the Muslims, Christians and followers of their religions in India. It can be
eliminated by inculcation of religion in its true sense. I have not found
sanction for such barriers and distinction in the scriptures of any religion.
My
idea of society is that while we are born equal meaning that we have a right of
equal opportunities, all has not the same capacity. It is in the nature of
things impossible. For instance, all can'’ have the same height or colour or
degree of intelligence etc. Therefore in the nature of things, some will have
the ability to earn more and others less. Let no one justify the glaring
difference between the class and the masses, the prince and the pauper. That
will be idle sophistry and travesty of my argument.”
On Women’s Rights, he had asserted,
“I
am uncompromising in the matter of women’s rights. In my opinion she should
labour under no legal disability not suffered by men. I should treat the
daughters and sons on a footing of perfect equality. Man should learn to give
place to women and a country of community in which women are not honoured can’t
be considered as civilised.”
In cultural field “SWARAJ” stands for a society having plural character and existence of different communities with self-respect and equal status in every walk of life.
Mahatma Gandhi had said,
|
“It is my firm opinion that no culture has treasures so rich as ours has. We have not known it; we have even been made to depreciate its value. We have almost ceased to live it. An academic grasp without practice behind it is like an embalmed corpse”. |
With this
perspective in view some activists met in Mumbai in November 1996 to chart a
future plan of action. Twenty-two like-minded Gandhian Groups from Bihar,
Orissa, Maharashtra, Kerala, Goa, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat took part in that
consultation. Dr. Badal Sen Gupta, Head Consultancy Desk and MS. Gabriella
Fisher Wilms, Former head of South and Middle Asia Desk of EZE also took part.
The result was the formation of the “SWARAJ” Forum.
Preliminary consultations were held in all the states covered but “SWARAJ” state chapters were first established in Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, Kerala and Gujarat. Setting up of such chapters in Tamil Nadu and then Maharashtra followed these. Associates such as Western India Forum for Panchayati Raj (WIFPR) and Indian Rivers’ Network (IRN) came later.
2. BIHAR
2.1, Introduction:
|
T |
he State of Bihar is being focussed in the Media over the last decade for issues that have been sought to give international attention. Whether its projection is right or wrong is not for us to decide, for “SWARAJ” Forum feels that it for the common people that state, the poor, to discuss and debate, to decide and to take their own action.
For the purpose of activities of SJ-Bihar, networking within communities of river basins was adopted. These river basin organisations, were the following: - Koshi Consortium, Gandak Consortium, and Ganga Consortium including the work for communal harmony and revival in Bhagalpur and Sone Command.
2.2, OTHER ACTIVITIES:
2.2.1, Moral and Basic Education:
A meeting was organised on August 3rd 1999 where various ideas on how to improve the functioning of the homeopathic clinic run Samagra Institute was discussed.
A proposal to form groups of women in the Gram Panchayats of Loharia, Ghogha, Bakulahar and Pokharia was also discussed.
2.2.2, Democracy:
It was 50 years since India had gained its political independence. In the intervening period there had been an aberration, that is, imposition of Emergency in 1975. There had also been the New Economic Policy, imposing Marketisation, Liberalisation and Privatisation on the poor.
Bihar had led the rebellion against throttling of human rights following imposition of emergency. It was but right that activists of the “SWARAJ” Forum to meet at Bhagalpur on June 26th and 27th 1998 and consider the socio-political and economic situation. The theme of the seminar/workshop was “New Challenges of Democracy”.
In his inaugural address, the National Convenor of the “SWARAJ” Forum pointed out that the Bihar Movement had helped to strengthen the democratic processes in India. It was the beginning of the end of a monopolistic rule of one political party, which had had a stranglehold on the nation’s body politick for nearly 30 years. The environment had become forefront issue, as the Chipko Movement, Save the Western Ghats March and the Narmada Bachao Andolan had shown.
Resource persons like Ram Saran said the Bihar Movement for Total Revolution got divided and felt to make a long lasting impact. As a result, in times of the New Economic Policy implementation the poor had been left in the lurch and democratic values were lost. The nation was standing in the threshold of economic, political and cultural crises.
Dr. Yogendra regretted that the Bihar Movement had ended abruptly and that corruption had become an increasing part of public life. He felt that it was regrettable that parties were catering to classes and castes and that politics had been co-opted by the current economic order. Small campaigns were running out of steam, he said.
Ghanashyam of “JUDAV”, said that it was because of the Bihar Movement that women’s participation was increasing in socio-political movements. Besides, the Movement had projected the need for smaller compact states. It was also the starting point of the struggle for self-governance, he added.
The Moderator of the event, Dr. Ramji Singh said that social change could take place only if visions, missions and goals were translated into common and collective action.
Re-search for democratic values was inevitably linked with Mahatma Gandhi and Jaya Prakash Narayan for SJ-Bihar and on the occasion of birth anniversary of these revered leaders in 1999, it organised peace marches and day-long fasts all over the State. In the Koshi Region picketing and daylong fasts were organised at various district headquarters to focus public attention on the plight of the flood-affected population. A symposium on communal harmony was organised in Bhagalpur.
2.2.3, Communal Harmony:
Not long ago, Bhagalpur was famous for its silks. However, the 1988 communal riots turned it into a ghastly city, in the ruins of which, the famous silks failed to come out. Thousands of children lost their parents and they were forced to take to t he streets for their survival. They were growing up in acute negligence and most of them were Muslims.
SJ-Bihar moved in to make an effort to bring back confidence in these traditional weavers and their next generation. It helped to set up informal education centres for those children whose parents were killed of went missing in the riots. 1,500 children began learning their three R‘s in 14 centres set up in the latter half of July 1997.
Women, who along with the children were the worst affected. They organised themselves and on International Women’s Day, that is, on March 8th 1998, took out a procession on the streets of Bhagalpur, calling for communal harmony. They set up a Women’s Group Co-ordination Committee.
This Committee undertook awareness programmes in the District. Priority was given to Health Awareness. Street Plays, Social Plays and Children’s Rallies were organised for this purpose. The effort is to bring back confidence among the riot affected women.
In that year, SJ-Bihar organised a Symposium on Communal Harmony. It was decade since the riots took place and presiding over the Symposium, prominent Muslim thinker, Niyamat Hussain decried the communalism and called for a collective effort to combat it.
Ms Fatima Rahim Beli, a feminist activist in Bhagalpur, who had witnessed these communal riots, is co-ordinating these activities. Ms Beli is a “SWARAJ” National Fellow and devotes here time for secular action programme in Bhagalpur. Later she became a part of the Participatory Strategic Planning (PSP) Bihar State team.
2.2.4, Collectivity:
By June 1998, the various consortiums and connected activities decided to come together and work collectively. Activists of SJ-Bihar met with activists working in the Koshi and Gandak Consortium areas on 27th June 1998. They evaluated their activities and came to the conclusion that firstly, despite several achievements many expectations had not been met.
However, KC activists decided to complete ten PSP workshops by December 1998 and to publish a bulletin once in three months. Gandak Consortium activists laid down plans to increase the pace of the contacts to be made. They decided to develop joint programmes in West Chmparan, East Champaran, Muzzafarpur and Chhappra.
The meeting resolved to extend all possible support to the on-going process of reviving Chatra Yuva Sangarsh Vahini.
It was also decided to support the informal education centres in Bhagalpur and improves their quality. Ms Beli initiated Swaraj Riot Affected Children Education Centres, in Bhagalpur. The 14 education centres located in the riot affected area about 80 children whose parents are weavers, tailors, and cloth hawkers and tea stall owners. These were later closed down
2.2.5,
Publication:
SJ-Bihar launched its first publication in the HIND SWARAJ, at the hands of the Vice Chancellor of Bhagalpur University, Dr. M. Q. Tuihid. It also began compiling creative songs on PSP and SWARAJ.
2.2.6,
State Convention:
SJ-Bihar Convention, inclusive of all regions – Gandak, Sone, Ganga and Koshi submitted their documents after the PSP process. These were discussed at the convention held in Bhagalpur oh 3rd and 4th June 1999.
The consolidated document was later discussed at the National Workshop and Convention held at Gram Vikas, Mouda, Behrampur, Orissa.
2.2.7, OTHER ACTIVITIES:
Chatra Yuva Sangarsh Vahini formed a new District Committee in West Champaran. The Committee met on 14th September 1997 and decided to celebrate Gandhi Jayanti on October 2nd 1997 and Jaya Prakash Narayan’s birth anniversary on October 11th 1998 with public meetings/workshop/seminar at Bairat, Nautan and Balua.
K
|
The Jan Sampark Yatra yielded knowledge for the seven-member team that the experiences of people living of the western banks of the river was very bad in that their agricultural produce had alarmingly reduced. The villages do not get electric supply for hours. Besides this, industrial development was poor and the situation as far as human rights were concerned, was the worst for people living on embankment. There was degradation of community health, education, housing and food. All this had occurred because of the wrong embankment policies of the Government.
There was a follow up meeting at Manihari in November of that year, to take steps to get the people organised. There was also a survey of more 3,000 flood affected families. The report and recommendations were expected in May 1998.
In the meanwhile, a two-day conference on “Dams-Floods-Displacement and Migration” was organised at Beldore on 4th and 5th April 1998. More than 150 participants from 11 Districts in Koshi region participated in the Conference, which was inaugurated by Mr. Justice (Retd.) Arun Chandra Das. He regretted that Koshi had become “a river of sorrow” because of dams constructed on it.
The debate in the conference concentrated on dams, floods and soil erosion, water logging, inequality in society, unemployment, migration, child labour, women’s health, impact of globalisation on rural economy and collective efforts to overcome the situation.
Human Rights activists from Orissa, Bind Mohanti talked about the plight of the Adivasis of Orissa. Displacement by the Sundergarh Wildlife Sanctuary and then denotifying to give the land to the Tatas had created havoc with the lives of the adivasis, he pointed out.
The National Convenor of “SWARAJ” Forum, Kumar Kalanand Mani, said that the status of women in the Koshi Region was inferior to that of men because of oppressive social customs. Men must change this immediately if lasting social transformation was to be brought in the region.
3.1.1, Floods: - The people in the Koshi Region suffered a lot during monsoon of June-September 1998. The activists were vigilant during this period and visited areas affected in Saharsa, Khagadia, Darbhanga, Samastipur and Madhubani Districts. Local Committees were formed to come to the aid of the affected people.
There were also regional level and village level workshops in the state. Each consortium trained its village level facilitators and document activists. In the Process, SJ-Bihar trained about 100 men and 30 women as trainers for PSP related activities since its introduction in the middle of 1998.
SJ-Bihar held its six-month Planning Meeting in Muzzafarpur from October 6th to 8th 1998. It was decided then that the PSP process would be completed before March 1999. About SJ-Bihar structure, the meeting preferred a three-tier structure.
The Koshi Consortium activists organised a four-day workshop for district co-ordinators at Pachchi in Madhubani District from 1st to 4th October 1999. At this workshop the area of operations wads divided into three clusters. One of them was in the Simari Bhaktiarpur region, the second in Pachchi – Madhubani and the third in Purnea. Thereafter, clusterwise workshops were held in November and December 1998.
On March 17th And 18th 1999, SJ-Bihar organised the regional conference of workers, organisations and PSP villages. The conference went through the outcome of the process undertaken till then in 221 villages and adopted the final document.
3.1.3, “KALPATARU” – KC Associate: - The issue of sex workers in the Koshi Consortium area was highlighted in the Mumbai consultation of November 1996. The Koshi dams, embankments have forced the poor to migrate in search of work after displacement. The women are worse off. They may belong to any of the organised religion but their lives are torn apart and thousands of them become sex workers.
SJ-Bihar initiated a study of the problem. Courageously the activists went to these women in Saharsa, the biggest city in the Koshi Consortium area. KALPATARU, a voluntary organisation, associated itself with SJ-Bihar and undertook this study.
Sex workers of Kirahi are controlled by an axis between criminals and the administration and this axis extends right into Nepal! Drugs, liquor and tobacco are common practices among them
The average earning of a sex worker is as varied between Rs. 5.00 to Rs. 100.00 per day. The distribution of these earnings among other things are between the police constable on duty and boarding and lodging of the sex worker – the bed cost Rs. 300.00 to Rs. 400.00 per month. The persons is permitted an expense of between Rs. 300.00 to Rs. Rs. 1,000.00 per month for cosmetics and medicines.
Interestingly the sex worker does not want her children to go through the same grind that she has gone through and would prefer the child to be weaned away from the squalor and disease that the profession brings with it. However, political and social compulsions needed to be overcome.
It was decided to organise and mobilise these sex workers to improve their conditions. There was also the need to educate their children, give health education to the sex workers and bring them awareness programmes.
The
District Deputy Collector, Mr. Ramesh Jha, formally inaugurated the Informal
Education Centre on September 11th 1998, the birth anniversary of
Acharya Vinoba Bhave.
In the beginning volunteers went from door to door to enroll children to have the doors of the houses of these workers banged on them. However, three weeks later the mothers brought their children to the school themselves. A total of 103 students were immediately enrolled. However, only 65 had remained at the Centre continuously the end of four months.
|
G |
andak Consortium (GC) started functioning from November 1st 1997, at
Khori-Pakar, In East Champaran District. In the beginning it work mostly on
contingency measures during the monsoon floods. It worked to create awareness
among the common people of the region. It helped to form a people’s
organisation in the region called the
Katav Sangarsh Samiti.
In the Gandak Region, damming of the Gandak, the Bagmati and four other tributaries, causing environmental devastation adversely affecting the common or the poor people. The work of SJ-Bihar under Gandak Consortium began in February 1997, in right earnest with a two-day conference of flood-affected people. District level committees were formed in Siwan, Chhappra and East Champaran.
A Conference organised at Kohri Pakar Village in Patahi Block of East Chamaparan District was held on November 19th and 20th 1997. The participants of 14 flood-affected villages came there with a hope of getting some relief.
However, as the conference proceeded, they realised that they had to organise themselves and struggle for their just demands such as their right for rehabilitation. “SWARAJ” Forum National Convenor, Kumar Kalanand Mani, the Co-ordinator of Gandak Consortium, Arun Das, Prof. Prakash and others made them realise that this was the only way.
The Conference resolved that since the floods had destroyed the people’s rightful income from foodgrains crops, the government should be asked to provide seeds, fertilisers and irrigation facilities to those farmers and their families adversely affected by the floods.
On 6th and 7th April 1998, a two-day conference on “The Present Status of the Gandhak Valley” took place. Over 150 participants gathered for the Conference. Inaugurating the Conference, The Chipko Movement Leader from Chamouli Gadhwal, Mr. Chandi Prasad Bhat lauded the efforts of the common people in the Gandhak Basin had taken the initiative address the issues in the valleys that were devastating their lives.
The issues discussed by the participants included Community Health, Water Pollution, Documentation on burning issues such as flood, water logging and soil erosion and documentation on environmental laws, traditional knowledge systems and the burning issues immediately faced by the common people. There was urgency expressed on spreading awareness among the people of their rights and brings in economic and environmental literacy.
The Monsoon of 1998 saw another flood disaster in the Gandhak Region. Activists went around established contacts with the flood-affected people, giving them strength and at the same documenting the disaster and its impact.
3.2.1, Consortium Convention:
The Consortium Convention for 1999 was held on 4th and 5th April of that year at Muzzafarpur. More than 200 representatives from the are participated in the convention. The draft statement on vision, mission, strategy, role and programme of the consortium after going through the PSP process was adopted. The local resources were used to the maximum for the success of the convention.
The convention decided that monthly meetings would be held in villages where PSP had been undertaken. Gandak Consortium would also organise regular meetings at the district level, where progress reports on the aftermath of PSP in the villages. Special focus was to be laid on environmental issues. Innovative methods of agriculture would be taught to the villagers and a cultural awareness campaign would be undertaken.
fter the convention a meeting of the Consortium’s activists was called where administrative matters were discussed. After consulting the National Convenor, Kumar Kalanand Mani, who was present at a seven-member committee was appointed to design future plans and agendas.
The team formulated the future plan in which public awareness programmes received a priority. The campaign in this regard had to go to the remotest village in the region.
3.2.2, The PSP Process:
Gandak Consortium was fully engaged in the PSP process. A workshop was organised for the entire consortium at Muzzafarpur from 5th to 8th October 1999 to plan for details of the process. Afterwards district workshops were organised for the same in West Champaran, Gopalganj, Siwan, Saran, Muzzafarpur, East Champaran and Sitamarhi in the second fortnight of October and in the first week of November 1999. A workshop on documentation was organised from April 25th to May 2nd 1999. PSP National Facilitator, Ravi Kamala conducted the workshop. There was also a non-residential workshop between 8th and 12th September 1999.
A planning and review meeting of all associates of all SJ-Bihar Consortiums was held at Maner In Patna District from 20th to 25th April 1999. Achievements of Fellows and setbacks, State Committee Co-ordination was among the matter discussed.
In 1998, Arun Das, Kadir, Khublal and Girinda became Fellows of SJ-Bihar. At the meeting at Maner from 20th to 25th April 1999, their achievements and setbacks were discussed. The general opinion was that they had gained practical knowledge and had successfully established links the adivasi segment of the Gandak Consortium area. They had also been able to change the life style of the activists and people they worked with.
Some of them had introduced PSP in project form and this created confusion at the grassroots. There was also lack of co-ordination between the consortiums in SJ-Bihar.
3.3, GANGA
|
G |
anga Bachao Diara (Catchment) Banao Samiti: - The Ganga Bachao Diara (Catchment) Banao Sammelan (Conference) was held Bhagalpur on 23rd. October 1997. More than 700 participants Bhagalpur, Betia, Motihari, Katihari, Purnia, Saharsa and Munger Districts participated in the Sammelan. Several people’s organisations including Diara Jagaran Samiti, Visthapit Bhad Katao Samiti, Lok Samiti, Ganga Mukti Andolan and Mahila Sangarsh Samiti among other participated in the event. A 17 point Charter of Demands was formulated.
A five-day camp of village level activists was held at Sitakund in Munger District from 3rd to 7th December 1997. The Resource persons included president of West Bengal Fish Workers’ Union, Narayan Das and Vijay Sarkar of Kakadweep. A study of the problem was initiated.
Thousands of persons gathered form Lartisaraya, Munger and Khagadia districts demonstrated in front of their respective headquarters and submitted memoranda to their District Collector listing the Charter of Demands of people living on the banks of the Ganga. A camp of activists was organised on January 12th 1998. It was stated that the recent floods had destroyed 100 sq. kms of harvest.
Mr. Anil Prakash became Fellow of SJ-Bihar for the Ganga Basin activities.
A separate meeting was held with representatives of Ganga Mukti Andolan, Diara Jagaran Samiti, Ganga Bachao Diara Banao Samiti and Parinidhi in June 1998 with “SWARAJ” Forum National Convenor, Kumar Kalanand Mani.
It was stated that the issues of the Ganga River concerned not only the fisherfolk, but also the farmers and Inhabitant in the Diara. The feeling was that the Farraka Barrage had adversely affected the rural community in the Ganga Diara.
It was decided to continue the dialogue, as the general feeling was that the people’s organisations on the shores of the river were not ready to join the collectivity with “SWARAJ”.
3.4, SON
|
S |
on, is a long river in Bihar, but farmers of the Son Valley suffer from water shortage.
Activists in Son Command, as the people’s organisation has come to be known, met in July 1997 and it was decided then that a Dharna should be organised at the Executive Engineer’s Office to press for their demands. After the Dharna on August 4th 1997, irrigation water from he projects on the Son River let the water through. However, the authorities thought that the people could be fooled through maneuvering,
The people were strong enough to resist this and they went on an indefinite fast on August 20th 1997. The engineers relented and water was distributed through their canals one again.