SPAR has been imparting training and awareness generation programs for villagers since last 17 years, so that they could be self reliant and exercise their rights. The thrust of such trainings is to create awareness on burning issues facing before the people and thus a content includes the issues like various dimensions of the NREG Act and RTI Act which have been passed recently and their various entitlements. Livelihood options also occupied an important part for the training with an ultimate aim of empowering rural people.

The impact of the trainings is being reflected in the initiatives taken for various actions and activities at the ground level. People are raising their voices successfully against the vested group in alluring the vernable girls to some outside places for illicit purposes. They are exercising their rights effectively to get job cards as also they are assured work in many places. Vegetable cultivation has become profitable in many areas because of the successful completion of the training on sustainable agriculture organised by SPAR. Women are resisting and refusing to give dowry demands.

Some of the case studies highlighting such examples are presented here.

Case study -1

The village Rajpal under Paragarh G.P. in Jashipur Block of Mayurbhanj district in Orissa is 25 k.m. away from Jashipur. It comes under the working areas of SPAR. In 2005, the Village Labour Leader Committee (VLLC) was formed in the village to implement the development work. In the meeting of Pallysabha it was decided that there would be 10 members on the above mentioned committee.

The 10 members were selected by the Pallysabha and Mr. Balaram Palleya was asked to submit the committee members’ names to the block office. But he submitted the names of his own choice. The cat was out of the bag soon. The villagers were dumb founded when the work order of Rs. 2.5 lakhs was issued in the name of a person who was not a member of VLLC. The villagers were so annoyed that they called a meeting and decided to oppose this strongly. They raised their voices against corruption and injustice. They submitted a written protest to the BDO, the District Collector and local MLA. At the direction of the Collector, the first committee formed with the approval of the villagers was given the responsibility to carry on the work. The work went on smoothly under National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. 2005. After years of neglect and deprivation, the villagers have realised their own importance and responsibility in carrying out development activities in their areas. They are out to play their positive roles in the transformation of the society.

Case study - 2

Sanatan Begum (68) is an illiterate woman of Ansara village. Her husband Whadulla Shah (75) used to work as labourer but at the age of 75 he is unable to do physical work for their day to day living. For the marriage of their daughter they sold their land and their only son migrated to Uttar Pradesh for his livelihood. Often Janatun Begum works as domestic help in the village. They have Antyaday Anna Yojona card and were getting rice through this card. But since last few months the concerned dealer was not providing them the rice.

So this couple was in distress and was depending on villagers for their daily food. The SPAR’s volunteer Mr. Biswajit came to know about their misery when Janatun was moving from door to door for food. Having SPAR’s training on RTI, NREGA etc., Biswajit knew what to do. He advised the couple to take recourse to RTI. But they were afraid of the dealer as he was very cruel. So Biswajit himself applied to the PIO GOP block regarding the Janatun’s Antodaya Anna Yojona card. Within a week the concerned officials along with the dealer came to Janatun with one quintal of rice free of cost. Since that date the dealer has been providing rice and other PDS materials regularly to the poor couple.

Case study -1

Sabita Naiya is the humane face of poverty. Due to lack of awareness and support Sabita was deprived of education. But when SPAR started the adult education centre she availed of the opportunity to be literate. Her husband Srikanta has no fixed occupation. Occasionally, he earns as day labourer. They have two sons and a daughter. In the year 2002, Sabita joined a Self Help Group as a member and participated in various group meetings. In the meetings or in the training programmes organised by SPAR it was noticed that she had leadership qualities and a good communication skill. Sabita highlighted various problems of women either in the group or in the village Mahila Bikash Committee and turned to be very active SHG member.

In the year 2004, she started chilly cultivation under the kitchen gardening programme. Throughout the cultivation period, Sabita alone performed all the tasks. At the end she was able to sell 2 quintals of chilly and received Rs. 3000.00. With this money she bought some jewellery and excavated a pond where she hopes to cultivate fish. Gone are those days when people used to depend on only river for fishes. Now, the people consciously are out to cultivate fish in ponds. Sabita’s life has changed in a meaningful way with the reinforced confidence in her own capabilities.

Case study - 2

Kalpana Pradhan is a poor woman living in the village Tritiya Khanda. She is 45 years old. Her husband is 60 years of age and suffering from various diseases. They have two sons. Being the group leader she represents the village committee. But it was not so easy. She had to overcome various hindrances. But nobody could stop her. Her eagerness and initiatives to be knowledgeable goaded her to attend capacitation camps organised by SPAR. She learned how to use bio-fertiliser and the ill effect of chemical fertiliser which is also very expensive. She also learned how to make compost in training camp and tried her luck in cultivation of chilly and other vegetables in her 1 bigha land with bio-fertiliser from compost pit along with very small quantity of chemical fertiliser.

This year the production increased. Now she is confident that this process will lead to sustainable agriculture.

Case study -1

Asha Devi, member of Upkar Mahila Samity (SHG) of Chitarpur Krishan Muhalla married off her daughter to Rakesh Mahato of Chikore village in Ramgarh area a year back.

At the time of negotiation Asha Devi committed to give dowry of Rs. 5,000.00 to her would be  son-in-law but she was not able to keep her words. She could not pay the full amount. As a result, Rakesh Mahato and his family member started torturing Shanti physically and mentally. When this became unbearable Shanti complained to the Upkar Mahila Samity. The group members decided to teach a lesson to Rakesh’s family. So they (nearly 16 group members) went to Rakesh’s house and called a meeting with the family. All the members protested strongly against their attitude and cautioned them about the Dowry Act, which prescribes fine and punishment if anyone was found guilty of torturing the bride for the dowry. The family of Rakesh Mahato came to their senses and promised not to torture Shanti again. Now, Shanti and Rakesh live happily and Shanti’s in-laws are behaving well with her.
 
Case study -2

In Rangamatia village, under Palashbani Panchayat a memorable event took place on 8th December 2006 under a Sal tree. The village headman Maheswar Besra was discussing the NREGA with the villagers.

There were 171 families who applied for job card under the NREGA but got only 30 forms to fill up for this purpose. Being unhappy, the villagers again went to block office and after much cajoling collected 65 more forms. After filling up, they deposited the total 95 forms to the office. But unfortunately, they got only 55 job cards.

One of the field workers of SPAR made the people aware about NREGA, even constitutional provisions were also briefed to them. Training programme on promotion of social leadership on such issues also helped the villagers. They critically analysed the situation and decided to meet the officials. They would want to know the reason for getting such a small number of job cards. The villagers also prepared a list of questionnaire and submitted it to the BDO of Dumuria. Some of the villagers raised their voices against corruption involved in the whole chain. BDO and Panchayat Sevak could not satisfy them. But the block officials managed the situation saying that under the NREGA the projects are not prepared yet and the forms are limited. Moreover, the programme officer was not appointed yet. The officer also requested them to have patience, and assured that their demand would be met. The villagers warned them saying that if they did not get satisfactory result, they would resort to dharna from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. regularly and office would be liable to pay wages to each and every one present in the dharna (employment allowances). The BDO assured the villagers that the matter would be settled soon. And the villagers saw the promise fulfilled within a deadline.

Case study -1

Women are generally considered a burden to the family in our society. To ease such load one has to spend money (dowry) to get the girls married off as early as possible (below 18 years). The adolescent girls are being treated in a somewhat negative perspective and their careers are being ruined. Family members could take little interest in the well being of the children because of poverty and lack of awareness. This often gives rise to the scope of trafficking women and children. 

This problem exists in our working area also. Coochbehar is close to Bangladesh. Here, in Gobarchhora GP under Dinhata no. 2 block, close to Bangladesh border, it is noticed that teen-age girls are being married off under 18 years. “Grooms” come here from Hariyana, Gajiabad, Delhi etc. to get married with such girls, with the help of local people. In these weddings the grooms’ family do not generally demand any dowry. On the contrary, they bear all the wedding expenses even they pay good amount of money to, brides’ family. But after the marriage there is no communication between the groom and brides family. These girls never come back to their families. They are made to be engaged in prostitution.

In the name of such marriage women trafficking is going on. Besides, women are allured for employment and thus they are being trafficked to other places. But at present some change is being noticed for creating awareness about this. 

Specially, the zeal of the women groups has led to prevent trafficking in some places. One incident is narrated here :

• Karla village is under Gobrachora Nayarhat GP. Poverty stricken Adhir Barman passed away five years back leaving behind wife, two marriageable daughters and a son. Rekha, widow, of Adhir, maintains her family by working as daily labourer. She requested her neighbours to find suitable boys for her daughters. Bimal, neighbour Ajay Barman’s son, works in Delhi. Last August he came home along with a friend from Delhi who wants to get married here. Bimal talked to Rekha and expressed his friends intention. He would not demand any dowry for this marriage. Poor Rekha was happy to know that she would not have to give dowry. Bimal’s friend met Rekha’s daughter and agreed to marry her. In the mean time a group of women came to Rekha’s place along with Najrul Pally SHG members. They asked various questions to the boy. But the women were not satisfied with the answers. They were suspicious about him and threatened to hand him over to police. So in the next opportunity he ran away. Rekha was so angry that she blamed the women for her daughter’s marriage being broken. The women discussed with Rekha, the hazy and uncertain future which would possibly ruin her daughter’s life. The whole group decided to look out for a good boy meant for Rekha’s daughter.
• At last the women group arranged Rekha’s daughter’s marriage with a boy without dowry. Moreover, the women collected all the money for the wedding ceremony.
• Rekha is now happy with the group’s activity. She confessed that she was on the brink of destroying her daughter’s life. She is more happy because her daughter is happily settled.

Case study – 2

Krishna Mahanta of Nandina village under Gobarchara – Nayarhat GP in Dinhata Block-II is a worshipper of Vishnu. He maintains his family by carrying people or luggage on his cycle van. They are five in the family (two daughters, a son and wife). Krishna and his wife were anxious to get their elder daughter Purnima married. After a long search a negotiation started with Mr. Kamala Mahanta as a groom. Last 5th July 2007, the family of the groom came for final settlement. At that time they demanded Rs. 25,000.00 as dowry along with a bi-cycle, a wedding ring etc. The bargaining continued for 3/4 hours but could not come to any settlement. The groom’s family decided not to proceed further as the bride’s family was so poor and unable to meet the dowry and other demands. At the time of negotiation a member of New Progati SHG was present but no body noticed when she had left the place. When the groom’s family was about to leave the place she appeared again along with other members of the group and a member of panchayat. The group leader Ms. Maya Das started to discuss further and at the end she mentioned it categorically that if Kamal did not agree to marry Purnima without dowry they had to face dire consequence as the group was bound to inform the police. Kamal’s relatives realised the hassle of taking dowry. So they agreed to give green signal to the marriage without dowry. The date was fixed for the marriage.

Krishna Mahanta expressed thanks and gratitude to the members of SHG. Purnima got married on the date fixed. Now they are happily settled.

Mr. Satu Manki, a young and educated person, aspired for a job under govt. department. He kept on applying for job for the past many years but because of regular failure he lost his interest and initiative in jobs under govt. department. As a source of livelihood he started vegetable cultivation by the motivation of SPAR. He planted tomato in two acres of land making an investment of Rs. 15,000.00. Satu dreamt to have rich crop and because of his strong will and constant hard work he was successful in his endeavour. He got a good crop (Tomatoes) and sold for Rs. 65,000.00 making the net profit of about Rs. 50,000.00. Satu became a real hero for the villagers and the local youths started regarding his as their role model. Vegetable cultivation has become a means of livelihood for other people of the village.

Similarly many farmers are coming forward to generate income from the cultivable land. They are utilising their own resources and they feel that they can do many things and overcome their poverty. So their confidence level has increased which will ultimately encourage others to take risk and utilise own resources evading the possibility of migration to other places for livelihood.

The case studies have proved that villagers are capable of doing many things for their self development, be it economic, social or educational. The attitude of both men and women in rural areas towards their lives and livelihood has undergone a change. Women who earlier were neglected in the society are now occupying a position of pride as they have been reasonably empowered through the SPAR-organised capacitation programmes at various stages.