For the past two years with rainfall at one-third of its normal levels, Mangava, a village with 330 families, has produced less than a quarter of what residents needed to sustain themselves. This year their production more than tripled. Mangava has made this dramatic improvement in food security possible through a watershed management project run by Akhil Bharatiya Samaj Sewa Sansthan (ABSSS).
ABSSS’s founding principles are well-described by the phrase ‘Antya ka Uday’ or the advancement of the most disadvantaged members of society. Since its humble beginnings in 1978 with three non-formal schools for tribal children, ABSSS now has programs on rural land rights, education and health, natural resource management (water and land conservation), gender equality, and women’s empowerment. The organization now reaches 4,000 families in 60 villages across the district of Chitrakoot, Uttar Pradesh.
For ABSSS, empowerment starts with a connection to the land. In the Manikpur region, the past few years have been marked by rainfall scant in comparison to normal precipitation patterns. The rainfall has affected agricultural output and dozens have died from hunger. Food scarcity has also prompted migration. With increasing concerns about climate change and access to water, ABSSS has focused on natural resource management.
Two and half years ago, ABSSS started the watershed project with contributions from farmers and non-governmental organizations in more than 20 villages. Since the hilly Chitrakoot area has low vegetation and thin top soil, even a small amount of rain can cause flash floods which wash away the fertile topsoil. In its watershed project, ABSSS creates land structures such as contour bunds that decrease the speed of the water on mountain slopes during rainfall. Foothill ponds are also formed to collect and correspondingly conserve water. Watershed projects increase soil moisture levels, decrease soil erosion and benefit local water bodies. In the past two and a half years, ABSSS has created five watersheds with more than 100 ponds, dams, wells, and stone gullies.
ABSSS has integrated these watershed projects with many other aspects of village life. There are 12 ABSSS staff members who operate 18 Chingari Sanghtans groups, 39 women’s self-help groups (SHG), six farmers clubs, and 20 water conservation groups. Chingari Sanghtans groups help raise awareness and facilitate farmer’s empowerment. ABSSS trains group members in filling-out petition forms and accessing information about government schemes. They also organize public hearing camps where government officials are invited to hear villagers’ issues and find solutions. ABSSS also invites media members to highlight these issues. Women in SHG groups focus on facilitating the saving and loan activities for livelihoods of women. The SHGs collect a monthly amount from members and give loans to members in need. Farmers groups also help ABSSS implement better farming techniques in the village.
Villages in the Manikpur area have average education infrastructure. Every village has a primary school; however, poor facilities and low attendance rates of the teachers result in insufficient education of village children. ABSSS organizes meetings of the parents and teachers to encourage parents to send their children to school.
ABSSS has various publications to promote transparency and dissemination of best practices. Their website is regularly updated with news from the field including reports from surveys and social audits. Monthly paper publications include “Gaon ki ore” in Hindi and “Dharti ka dard” on land entitlement. “Kanooni Saksharta” provides information on key legal provisions which are relevant for the marginalised community. ”Right to Information” provides information on the Right to Information act and how to use it. Lastly, “Kol Itihas ki gaurav gatha” explores the history of the Kol Tribe.
Need for Project:
In the past two and a half years, ABSSS has formed 18 Chingari Sanghtan groups in over 20 villages with watershed projects. These community groups help ABSSS implement awareness campaigns and deliver services on health, education, and legal rights.
ABSSS links villagers to government health-related services including immunizations and infant mortality programs. ABSSS runs legal literacy camps to educate villagers on their rights and to impart skills such as writing letters or filling out forms. ABSSS organizes public hearing camps where government officials are invited to hear villagers’ issues and find solutions. ABSSS also publishes surveys, best practices and success stories to disseminate information to the development community.
ABSSS seeks to expand these programs in terms of outreach and scope. While there are almost a dozen staff members and volunteers currently addressing health, education and legal rights, the organization hopes to strengthen links with government services in the local communities. In addition, ABSSS hopes to engage additional non-governmental organizations and private institutions to strengthen its offerings.
As an August 2010 Indicorps Fellow, you will further ABSSS’ health, education, and legal rights awareness efforts. Initially, you should shadow ABSSS staff to learn about current programs. You will visit villages, observe the functioning of Chingari Sanghtan groups, meet government officials, assist in conducting camps, and help prepare materials for awareness campaigns.
For health and legal rights issues, you will document issues generally encountered in the villages, gather information about their resolution, and prepare an awareness campaign to transfer information to villagers. You will create a network of volunteers in the villages who can assist with grassroots canvassing. It would be beneficial to liaise with other organizations and government officials on related issues. You may find additional resources by reviewing relevant literature.
For education issues, you will facilitate meetings with parents to motivate them to invest more in their children’s education. You will assist Chingari Sanghtan to regularize meetings to ensure continuance of efforts.
As the project progresses, you will document best practices and share them with your team to improve strategies. You will present your findings to the organization and establish best practices to ensure continuity after your departure.
Target Community:
Your target community will predominantly be from tribal communities. Farming and labor in rock quarries are the two main occupations of the area. Most farmers have small land holdings of one to two acres. The older farmers are mostly illiterate; however, the younger generation has had better access to education and can read and write. Land rights have been a major issue in the area for generations, due to the existence of a feudal system. Women and children are the focal points for the health initiatives.
Objectives:
• To strengthen health, legal, and educational literacy and encourage community members to make informed decisions
• To develop and expand reach of ABSSS health, education, and legal rights awareness programs as well as links to government services
Challenges:
• Understanding the real needs of the community and providing effective informational assistance
• Engaging health and education providers (government and other)
Team-Based Model:
Each project is designed as a three-way partnership between you, Indicorps, and a partner organization. Each grassroots partner organization – in this case ABSSS – will be hosting two to four Fellows. Consequently, the August 2010 Fellowship will have both an individual and a team component.
As a team of Indicorps Fellows, your focus is to empower village communities through awareness programs. Team members will share best practices in mobilizing communities in water and basic informational rights.
You will be provided accommodation at the ABSSS office in Manikpur district. Simple vegetarian food will be provided. You will be expected to do your own laundry and chores, and assist with team responsibilities. Internet and international calling facilities are available in town and at the ABSSS office (limited bandwidth). Manikpur is well connected to other major towns with train and bus routes. For travel to villages, you will use local transportation such as trains, buses and jeeps or you will travel tandem with staff on motorcycles.
The language spoken at ABSSS is Hindi. For this project, a basic knowledge of Hindi is required. If you do not have basic knowledge of Hindi, you can still apply if you commit to learning the language before the start of your Fellowship year.
Please explain the qualifications that make you a strong candidate for this project - be sure to elaborate on any experiences in community organizing, education, or public health.
2.
The Right to Information Act (RTI) was passed in 2005. However, many communities are still not aware of how to best leverage this resource. During your year, you will create awareness about the RTI and its benefits in rural Uttar Pradesh. How do you envision RTI awareness impacting the community?
3.
A man in your village explains to you that he is having trouble making ends meet and will not be able to pay his son's tuition this month. He asks you to help him access government funds. Unfortunately he does not qualify for any of the schemes. He curses you and the government. How will you respond, and how will you explain the larger purpose of government programs to him ?
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