In collaboration with UGAM Private Ltd., AROEHAN held a public dialogue on employment guarantee and agriculture schemes at Gomghar Gram Panchayat of Mokhada Taluka in Palghar district. AROEHAN Governance activist Bhalchandra Salve introduced the programme and elaborated on the purpose of the public dialogue as a method for people to convey their queries and problems regarding employment schemes and their rights and entitlements for livelihood. A public dialogue goes beyond the standard awareness programmes and allows people to address their queries and struggles in the presence of key stakeholders of public institutions.
Over 118 labourers from various hamlets of Gomghar panchayat were present at the event. Labourers posed serious problems like not receiving wages for over one and a half year despite the remuneration payment being 15 days only. They spoke about pay difference for the same jobs, receiving Rs. 267 instead of Rs. 297 per day, labourers not receiving wages for over 5 musters, wages and scheme related remuneration being delayed for years.
While the MGNREGA Employment schemes guarantee 100 days of work within 15 days of applying for jobs, the labourers had to protest for several days to receive jobs and gained only 24 days of work. While the scheme specifies giving unemployment payment, that money never sees the light of the day, and they are only retorted with the promise of labour work indefinitely. Due to the bureaucratic system, the labourers who largely rely on daily wages are forced to migrate. They move to the closest suburban and urban industrial areas where they are deprived of basic facilities like healthcare, hygiene facilities, rations, and facilities for pregnant women and the education of children.
Many public representatives and government workers including Tehsil officer, Agriculture supervisor and assistant, Employment Officer, Deputy Sarpanch and Foresters were present at the event.
The government workers and stakeholders allayed the queries of the people and gave some preventive measures for delayed wages, including checking the Aadhar card linkage with bank accounts. Recently, the government started online attendance, which can be an issue in remote areas due to lack of network connectivity, no electricity and unavailability of resources. They also elaborated on new schemes focusing of implementation of orchard cultivation, farm ponds, flower cultivation, etc. They acknowledged the limitations of technology and government system due to which wages often get delayed. While difference in payment amount is a concern, they clarified the wages may differ due to the nature of work; for example, wages for excavation of soft soil, rocky soil, and muddy soil can be different. With regard to the delay in wages, they spoke about the funds being diverted towards already delayed payments for other wage workers, causing further delay for them. However, towards the end of the public dialogue, the list of labourers with delayed wages was collated, and the officers assured to resolve the issue would be resolved as a priority.
There is a common misconception that fallow lands, also called wasteland, cannot be restored or provide habitat for biodiversity and agriculture. Owing to the hilly structures of regions in Mokhada and Jawhar, fallow lands increased. The livelihood options for local tribes were reduced, forcing them to migrate. AROHENA works closely with farmers and in the past two years, AROEHAN has specifically focused on bringing fallow lands under cultivation, enhancing soil health, and conserving water through ASHA, a collaborative project with Siemens Ltd. 41 farmers from 3 gram panchayats were part of this initiative with a mission of turning 100 hectares of land arable.
The farmers mentioned that a large quantity of soil is washed away with water during rice and paddy cultivation in monsoons. To tackle torrential flow, water structures such as earth dams, rock-fill dams, contour bunds, and trenches were built on the slope in regions with minor streams before monsoons. The embankment structures were raised for the unused land from ages, making it permeable for paddy cultivation.
At the same time, furrows were dug in orchard cultivation zones, and the water stored through dams increased the water table, helping natives throughout the year. With the soil no longer being washed away, the farmers were able to continue with diverse agriculture practices and earning a decent amount of income, thus preventing migration. Enthused by the results they have demanded the Gram Rozgar Sevak to facilitate similar works under MGNREGA, a rural employment scheme, in collaboration with the Agriculture and Forest Department, helping more villages for both local employment and agriculture.
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), established as an autonomous body in 1929, celebrated its Foundation Day on July 16th, 2024. While agriculture is entering the technology revolution in India, there are various communities especially tribal farmers deprived of various needs for improved and allied livelihood practices. AROEHAN collaborates with farmers and different institutions to integrate farmers’ needs like spheres of crop production, orchard plantation, livestock management, and goat rearing, among other practices. On ICAR’s 96th Foundation Day, AROEHAN conducted a study tour for farmers of Jawhar to Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Kosbad Hill, Dahanu.
Senior Scientist Dr. Vilas Jadhav briefed farmers about Krish Vigyan Kendra (KVK) which is an integral part of the National Agriculture Research System (NARS) that aims at the assessment of location-specific technology modules in agriculture and allied enterprises, through technology assessment, refinement, and demonstrations. Subject Matter Agronomy Specialist Mr. Bharat Kushare talked about utilising modern technology for lower cost of rice production and gave information on nursery cultivation, tray rice, mattress steam, and modern machinery.
Mr. PV Wartha, Farm Manager at KVK, elaborated on techniques like the token method of paddy cultivation, Saguna Rice Technique, Derm Method, Benefits of mulching paper planting – which can help retain moisture in the soil, which reduces the need for irrigation. Mr Ashok Bhoir, PA of Soil Science, gave instructions about orchard plantation, and the farmers were also briefed about bee-keeping for honey production and poultry farming by Mr. Uttam Sahane- an entomology specialist.
KVKs have been functioning as a Knowledge and Resource Centre of agricultural technology supporting initiatives of the public, private, and voluntary sectors for improving the agricultural economy of the district and linking the NARS with the extension system and farmers. 35 Farmers from Nyhale and Borale Gram Panchayats of Jawhar benefitted from AROEHAN’s expedition to Kosbad’s KVK.
Wild edible vegetables or plants play a significant role in the sustenance of tribal people residing in forested areas. Even in difficult conditions such as drought and famine, wild plants are known to be edible and readily available. Such wild species are recognized in the same way that cultivated species, and they play a vital role in resolving the world’s numerous food problems. The tribal areas of Palghar district are known for the vegetation of such wild species which serve as an important source of nutrition and livelihood for the local tribes. A Taluka Level Wild Vegetable Festival Competition was organised by AROEHAN in Jawhar. AROEHAN organises similar events under the programme ‘National Nutrition Month’ – POSHAN MAAH, with the main goal of reducing malnutrition in mind. The wild vegetable competition was organised to emphasise the importance of wild vegetables, to improve the usage of vegetables in everyday diet, and to promote livelihood options for the locals. As many as 20 self-help groups participated from the area. Anjali Daroge, dietitian of the NRC department, retired professor and social activist Dr. Pragya Kulkarni, Pandurang Pilane, a local vegetable connoisseur and teacher, Manoj Kamdi, a trainer and social activist of Yashada Sanstha, played a crucial role in selecting the winners.
The Saptshringi Self-Association Group of Jamsar got the second position, while the Mayuri Self-Association Group of Kashivali bagged the third position. All the participating women were felicitated by giving certificates of appreciation. The first prize went to Sonali Mahila Sahat Gat of Kalidhond who presented a massive total of 155 recipes made of various wild vegetables. More than 500 people visited the exhibition including students from schools and colleges to acquire knowledge about wild vegetables. J.S.W. representative Santosh Mahajan, head of the Millet Programme Foundation Ganpat Bheskar, and director of the Kharonda Farmers Producers Association were also present at the festival.
Marriage is said to be one of the happiest moments in a person’s life. Some call it a sacred bond. But this true story of a marriage is shocking showing the blackening of humanity. It mirrors the perverse mentality of exploiting and oppressing girls and women (especially tribals) in society by taking advantage of their poverty and helplessness.
This is the story of a 17-year-old minor girl from Katkari Wadi of Mokhada, a tribal-dominated taluka of Palghar district. 5 to 6 Kms from the Taluka location lies a village called Poshera. To the east of this village is Katkari Wadi with a population of around 600-700. It was reported that a minor girl named Abla (the name is changed) was being forced to marry in exchange for money and the girl was being pressured for it. A social worker from AROEHAN came to know about the situation. Realizing the seriousness of the incident, the activists of the organisation reached the village immediately. They met with the minor and her family. The reality of the situation was shocking.
AROEHAN ACTIVISTS INQUIRE THE SITUATION IN KATKARI WADI
It was reported that an unknown person from Chalisgaon-Nagar Deola in Jalgaon district has a connection with a middleman in the tribal community to take the advantage of the poverty and helplessness of tribes. The minorтАЩs aunt revealed that the suspect gave the father Rs. 15,000 in exchange for marrying the girl to him and would give Rs. 50,000 more after the marriage. The father signed the affidavit for it. (This affidavit is available but we do not have a copy with us). The minorтАЩs mother passed when she was young and was looked after by her aunt. The fatherтАЩs financial condition is poor and is an alcoholic. He does not pay attention to the girl and agreed with the marriage proposal in exchange for money. None of the rites of pre-wedding took place, the girl did not even see the person once. To impress the daughter and the father, the person used to send photos of expensive clothes and sarees and pressured her to get married to him as soon as possible. The girl talked with the boy a couple of times on the phone. As the situation looked suspicious, the relatives told the mediator to make proper arrangements to see the boy. The broker instead told the father to go to the boyтАЩs house and do the тАЬKumkum ceremonyтАЭ. The father said they cannot have a such ceremony without the daughter. Upon insistence, both father and girl went to boyтАЩs house but there were no people responsible for the ceremony present. The aunt became suspicious about the situation and asked the girlтАЩs father to take a hard look at the situation. He thought about it and decided not to marry the girl.
After the rejection, the broker pressured the family to return the Rs. 15,000. The father and the daughter were shocked. They could not return the money as it was already spent. They reached out to AROEHAN and we gave them support. We asked them not to give him any money. The broker came to the village and AROEHANтАЩs activists had a conversation with him. The broker was warned not to pester the family anymore or there will be legal action against him. He publicly agreed to not ask for money again. Though the issue was resolved it brought attention to a bigger issue here. ThereтАЩs a suspicion there is criminal activity possibly backed by a gang or individual to sell/traffick tribal girls in the name of marriage going on. Because we came to know from many people about the occurrence of such incidents in the area.
According to them, every year in Jawhar and Mokhada many tribal girls go missing. A muffled discussion could be heard about it now and then. These incidents do not come forward due to the dire economic condition of the tribes, lack of awareness among people, and also issues like alcoholism play a role in it. It is said that parents of girls fall prey to the lure of a small amount of money and engage their daughters. Even if there is any sort of opposition, the parents sometimes take the culpritтАЩs side as they have taken the money. They also get afraid of the brokers and the other party thinking they might harm the family or even murder them, and they don’t come forward with the issue. WhatтАЩs more numbing is that the brokers who arrange such marriages to take advantage of poor people and minor girls are often from their own community and locality. Due to sheer unawareness and fragile conditions, sometimes parents donтАЩt even realise their daughters are been taken advantage of and there is no question of anyone complaining. This terrible reality is not publicly read or recorded anywhere. Even after 75 years of independence tribals are making such bargains for their daughters and their wings are cut before they even get a chance to fly. What kind of freedom do we live in? ItтАЩs high time we look at such situations carefully and act now.
-Pradeep Khairkar (translated to English by Naitri Patel) AROEHAN
