NGOS AND LIVELIHOOD SCHEMES: THE
ROLE OF NGOs IN TRIBAL DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA
Key note address at UGC National Seminar , Deparment of Sociology , Govt. College , Rourkela
Vijay Prakash Sharma,
Director, VAIDYAS-INDIA
The broad definition holds that every
organisation which is not part of a government and which operates in civil
society is an NGO. Although a vast majority of NGOs is formally independent and
have nonprofit ethos, however, there are many NGOs working in the voluntary
sector. They are also sometimes influenced, controlled or sponsored by the
government and private business houses. NGO initiatives aimed at development have a long history in
India. The individual efforts of
social workers are expressed in micro-terms but it deals with conditions that
are caused by large macro-structures.
There
are number of NGOs working for the tribal development in India. “JANJAATI EVEAM
GRAMIN UNNAYAN SANSTHAAN” a unit of VAIDYAS-India in Jashpur district of
Chhatishgarh is one such NGO working for tribal development in Chhatishgarh
since 1993.
This paper deals with a case study of above NGO assessing their
impact of their tribal livelihood schemes among the particularly vulnerable
tribal group “Pahadi Korwa” of Bagicha block. The difficult terrain, hard
life and almost insufficient development have given rise to the smaller sizes
of the tribal villages. In Bagicha block, out of 76 villages, 26 villages have
population of less than 50 persons. The smallest villages are Chirodih and
Bagdoll with a population of 01 and 05 respectively. The larger village is
Kamarima with the population of 893 persons. Due to undulating terrain and
physical barriers like streams and subsequent inadequate availability of
agriculture land at one place, larger villages have been divided into hamlets,
5 villages which have population above 400 persons. The NGO adopted an Applied
and Action Anthropology Approach for tribal development under the
supervision of the author with a successful implementation strategy.
Process
of intervention: The AAA Approach -
Regular interaction resulted into
confidence building. A Socio-Economic survey was carried out to know their
problems and with the help of local government many developmental programmes
were implemented by the Institute.
PRA exercises were conducted;
training programmes were organized to bring these hill dwellers in the main
stream of national life. A great Tribal congregation of PAHARI KORWA was
organized at Hrapat in 2000 where the institute developed the idea of bringing
them on plains as plain settlers.
After long persuasion 13 families
agreed to settle down on plains. The Institute convinced government to sanction
PTG Housing scheme for them. Finally, thirteen families themselves volunteered
to construct their own houses. A cherished dream of TRDI, under Applied and
Action Anthropology Programme became reality in 2004.
Now, it was important to introduce
livelihood development programme for these most primitive tribal group PAHARI
KORWA of Chattishgarh. For this, the institute implemented an UNDP supported
Technology Management Programme (TMP). Under this programme, the institute has
established block level Technology Resource Center (TRC) for Jashpur block in collaboration
with Regional Research Laboratory, Bhopal. Technology, employment and tribal
each one of these terms has baffled and divided both the academicians and the
practitioners since long, especially during last few decades. (Sharma and
Singh, 1988)
Gurnar Myrdal, commenting on employment
policy, emphasized in his epic study about Asia that” If by a miracle, the
cultivators in South Asia could be induced to work more diligently, Production
would rise dramatically”.
Technology has been widely
acknowledged as a critical parameter in the production system. Generally
speaking in a broader sense of the term, it has been identified practically
with each and every aspect involved in the process of development or change, in
fact technology represents in a way the unending human struggle for a better
existence in his/her environment.”
If employment is to be generated in
a tribal region, it should be and can be best done by promoting and
strengthening the existing modes of production of the people with the inputs of
modern science and technology in a manner that the advantages of the existing
system as well as those From hill to plain: An Experiment in Applied and Action
Anthropology in India
128 Dreams and Realities of Rural
Development in India created by men to exploit the resources are combined.”
(quoted in Sharma and singh, 1988).
The basic idea behind the project
was to promote the traditional occupation and to introduce people’s friendly
new rural technology, upgrading of their skills, provision of raw materials and
modern equipments, credit support and marketing facility for the development of
livelihood of rural and tribal people.
In specific terms, the project aimed
at setting up a Common facility centre for training, demonstration and
popularization of small scale industrial packages for identified cluster of 6
villages in Manora block.
To strengthen the existing units
under initial stage and to introduce new technologies that is tested in other
tribal areas, two institutions UNDP and IFAD were approached through Government
of Madya Pradesh and Government of Chhattisgarh.
Tribal and Rural Development
Institute adopted some villages under UNDP programme and introduced Mushroom
production, Beekeeping, Beehive box manufacturing, Production of Herbal
pesticides, production of fishing trap, Cultivation and storage of medicinal
plants, wooden handicraft, MANDAR (beating drum) production, Bamboo basket production,
Broom making and marketing, Leaf mat, leaf bowl and leaf plate production etc.
were introduced in the Cluster of 25 tribal dominated villages in Manora block
of Jaspur district.
In the second step, International
Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) sanctioned watershed projects covering
6 villages for three years duration, Micro watershed code 4G2B6G - 1. Total
geographical area of the Watershed was 1109.214 hectares out of which750.826
hectares were treatable area. There were 299 households inhabited by 1714
people (Male-884, Female-830).
The institute completed three years
Shaila watershed project (2003-6) covering Six villages sanctioned by CGTDP,
Government of Chhattisgarh, funded by International Fund for Agricultural
Development(IFAD) and undertook following important activities:
1. 15 days training to 20 farmers on
Fish Farming and Nylon net weaving.
2. Seven days training to 80 farmers
on Bee –Keeping.
3. Two months training to two
persons on Bee-box making skill.
4. Fifty two farmers were trained on
Vermi-compost and construction of permanent pit.
5. Four farmers were trained in
PAIRRA Treatment.
6. Three Anganwadi centres, one each
in Shaila, Chattauri and Chirotoli village were constructed.
7. One EGS building was constructed
at village Kardana.
8. Two water ponds were constructed
at village Chattauri and are used for fisheries.
9. Sixteen Indira Awas for Primitive
Tribal Group (Pahari Korwa) were constructed in village Chattauri. This is
first ever novel attempt to inhabit hill dwellers on plane. The 16 Pahari Korwa
families themselves contributed their labour in construction of their own
houses. This is one of the most successful programme of the Institute.
10. Construction of 207 meters RRC
village approach road at village Shaila using local M L A fund.
11. Under Goat Farming activity 45
goats were distributed to 14 Shelf Help Groups for pursuing sustained
livelihood.
12. Construction of 14 Goat sheds in
PTG colony of Chattauri village.
13. Building for Vocational Training
centre was constructed at Village Chattauri.
14. Construction of one Stop –check-
dam with canal at village Shaila.
15. Vegetable mini kits were
distributed to 60 farmers.
16. 600 kgs Potato seeds were
distributed among 34 members of BPL –SHGs.
17. 25 Women were trained in Bamboo
craft through three months training programme.
18. 40 Women were provided training
in Tailoring and Knitting works and they are earning livelihood through these
skills.
Discussion
Visible Impact of AAA Programmes may
be summarized as follows
Self
Help Groups
1. Regular saving habits inculcated
among members.
2. Several members increased their
income adopting income generating activities promoted by the institute.
3. Easy access to financial services
ensured.
4. Collective decision- making
promoted by institute now institutionalized.
5. SHG members taking up community
development works.
6. Women are running Fare Price
Shops successfully in the area.
Land
and Water Management Programme
1. Waste land converted into farm
land helped the villagers in increased crop production.
2. In last Monsoon season, earthen
and check-dams constructed by the Institute provided protective irrigation in
moisture stress.
3. In canal constructed area some
farmers took up two crops this year against one earlier. Some farmers extended
their area of Kharif Crops.
4. Tanks constructed by institute
helped in fish farming and supplementary irrigation.
5. Boulder and earthen checks proved
to be of great help in checking soil erosion in the area.
6. Construction of proper approach
road in village Chattauri is of great help in transport and communication to
villagers.
1. The demonstration effect of
transparency and timely payment of wages in the programmes run by TRDI
generated high faith and enthusiasm among the tribal community.
2. Migration appears to have lowered
down in comparison to previous years due to Creation of wage employment.
Reference-
Sharma, Vijay Prakash. 2018 Dreams and Realities of Rural
Development In India, Kalpaz Publications,New Delhi.
