SPAR started its work in 15 villages of Nunia Panchayat in January 1995. Now it has been working in 156 villages under Ghatsila, Dumuria. Chakulia, Mosaboni, Baharagora and Dhalbhumgarh blocks in East Singbhum district. 

The poverty-stricken people, mainly tribals, of this arid and undulating terrain largely depend on the forest produce and agriculture for their livelihood. Acute water scarcity is the major problem of the area often affected by spell of drought. Constant  degradation of forest has become the main hazard to the existence of the people.

The adivasi communities like Santhal, Ho, Kheria, Munda and Bhumij constitute 74.64% of the total population while scheduled & backward castes like Gope, Mahali, Kamar, Tanti and Mahato constitute 25.36% of the total population. The religion practised by the tribals is 'Sarna'; their place of worship is called Jaher Than. Literacy rate is 39% on average and  major occupations are collection of minor forest produce, agriculture, daily labour, pottery, basket making, carpentry, shoe- making etc. In their traditional system Manjhi is the headman of the village. All kinds of civil and criminal disputes are generally settled by the traditional organization in the village itself.

While coming closer to the people, workers of SPAR came to understand  different natures and characters of problems/exploitation like diminishing role of traditional organization, frequent economic exploitation by middle man, illegal cutting of the trees in large scale, lack of awareness regarding different opportunities provided by other development agencies, depletion of natural resources in large scale, exploitation of women (Women were not allowed to the place of worship, nor  the property rights etc.), illiteracy, lack of awareness regarding different health related issues, lack of awareness about the rights of the people, loss of cultural diversity etc.

The tribal people have changed their food and clothing habit to a substantial extent due to external cultural interaction. There is no such local governance except the "manjhi" parganas because the Panchayat election has not  yet taken place. So whatever resources come through the Block Development office do not reach the people  properly due to corruption at different level. People are not interested in party politics also.

Programmes :

Under the EED programme of facilitation of people’s organization  meetings, trainings, seminars and workshops were organized.  The contents of these programmes were mainly based on village development issues  like gender, environment, local self governance, societal peace, self help group, water management, minor forest produce etc.  In the support service programme financial and technical support are extended to the deserving and needy, specially the women, for their  economic uplift and self reliance.

Impact

The P.O. has developed a good relationship with the Block Development office.  Most of the programmes are implemented  by the block authority with prior consultation with people's organization. Members of the PO are now playing an active role to settle the village disputes locally.  As such, frequency of disputes and conflicts has come down at the village level.

There has been spontaneous response from this tribal dominated region. The democratic and participatory functioning of P.O. has paved the way for promotion of collective leadership at the villages. Awareness level of the people regarding economic exploitation has increased. The P.O. has made a good relationship with the Block Development office which often looks into the problems of health and education of the villagers. The local forest department has also been helping the P.O. for protection of the forest and giving permission for the commercial use of minor forest produce.

SPAR is organising the women in these areas to make them aware of  various aspects of the project such as child immunisation, antinatal care supplementary feeding, vitamin A treatment of the children and new-born baby care. More villagers are now taking their children for immunisation. Pregnant women have started consuming Iron Folic Acid tablets for preventing anaemic condition.

Different aspects of personal community hygiene, congruent to a total sanitation campaign are being addressed.

The members of the People’s organisation are maintaining liaison with government departments and are now capable to  mobilise resources from different agencies for their own development. Sports and cultural activities were organized to revive the traditional customs and practices of the tribals. This has created a feeling of solidarity among them.

Eight  years of SPAR's efforts in terms of capacity building, economic and technical support to people have brought about several positive changes at peoples level. 96  Self Help Groups have been formed in the villages. It is important to mention that all the field staff in this project are from the referral villages itself. Naturally they  understand and perceive the problems of the people in a better way.