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.

When we think of summer in childhood, we remember playing games, meeting friends, drinking refreshments, eating sour foods, listening to stories by elders, road trips and so on. Children in tribal areas do not always have luxury of vacation trips or summer camps during vacation. AROEHAN decided to bring summer fun to them through an initiative called Bal Anand Melava. 21 such camps were held from 15th April to 29th April, 2024 at Zilla Parishad Schools in Mokhada.

In Bal Melava, children were taught to make simple drinks on their own like lemon juice and Rasana. They made them and excitedly shared it with their friends. To ignite their creativity the participants were taught the art of origami and were guided through the process of creating intricate paper hats, boats, and planes. Old newspapers were used for these crafts and children were instructed to ensure zero waste to imbibe environmentally responsible behaviour. They were encouraged to perform local folklore and sing songs in front of their peers as a way to foster confidence. In an attempt to demonstrate the importance of sports in school, we organised a variety of enjoyable, classic activities to encourage physical activity and well-being.

While the study break is important, recreational activities during this period are just as valuable and crucial in poverty-stricken areas to prevent children from being pushed into child labour and domestic work, as they lose touch with their learning capacities. 96 students, between 1st to 7th Grade, were a part of this initiative. The Bal Melava were held in 21 Zilla Parishads in Swaminagar, Bhowadi, Adoshi, Saprewadi, Sadakwadi, Dudhgaon, Dhamanshet, Vasind, Behtwadi, Pendakwadi, Bramhangaon, Bedukpada, Thakurwadi, Amle, Ikharichapada, Bhawaniwadi, Sakharwadi, Dolhara, Shelampada, Kakdoshi and many other places.

AROEHAN is creating public awareness about the silk industry and get government subsidies for farmers. In collaboration with the Silk Development Officer, a study tour was conducted for farmers at Pimpurna village in Dabhosa Gram Panchayat, Mokhada.

In honour of Savitribai Phule on her 127th death anniversary, AROEHAN organised a show of “Vhay, Mee Savitribai”, a one-act play written and directed by renowned theatre personality Sushama Deshpande. “Vhay, Mee Savitri…” presents the story of life and work of the 19th century social reformers Savitribai Phule and Jotirao Phule. Sushama Deshpande wrote this script 25 years ago. She has presented over 2500 shows as a solo-performance at several places in Maharashtra and elsewhere in India. The play is translated in 5-6 other Indian languages. Very recently its English version is also staged.

The show was organised on 10th March 2024 at Mokhada Ashram school.
The play was performed by the brilliant actresses Shilpa Sane and Shubhangi Bhujbal, who are famous popular actors on Marathi television channels. Savitribai Phule and Jotiba Phule are simultaneously played by the actors alongside other significant people in their journey of revolution. The play presents different phases of Savitribai’s life through monologues, actions, and descriptions. While the acting left the audience spellbound, the struggles of Savitri and Jotiba Phule depicted in the play left one speechless. From young Savitri enjoying her childhood to her marriage with Jotiba, the journey towards becoming the student herself and then becoming a pivotal part of women’s education, each act was gracefully carried by actors. Other people such as Sagunabai, Tatya Saheb Fatima Shaikh, Yashwantrao, Dnyanoba Sasane and many others who played a pivotal role in Savitri and Jotirao’s journey were also depicted in the play.
Jotiba Phule and Savitribai were among the first social reformers in pre-independent India who pioneered new paths and opportunities for the socially disadvantaged, including women, Dalit communities, widows and strived to abolish discrimination and unfair treatment of people based on caste and gender.
Ms. Sushma Deshpande accompanied the two young actors to Mokhada for this performance. Nandita Patkar, who performs the English version of the play was also present. After the performance, Sushama Deshpande interacted with the audience. She said that she has tried to make this play as accessible as possible to all and anyone can present this play without her prior permission as Savitribai belongs to all. She told the young girls of the Mokhada Ashram School that one 11 year old school girl from Nandurbar district presents the Pawari version. She asked the Mokhada audience to try and stage the play in the local Adivasi languages.

मोखाडा तालुक्यातील पोशेरा कातकरी वाडीतील 11 कातकरी मजुरांना पंढरपूर येथे ऊस तोडणीचे काम देतो असे सांगून उस्मानाबाद येथील सारंग नामक व्यक्तिने 50 हजार रुपयाचे आमिष दाखवून 4 कुटुंबातील 11 मजूर व 6 लहान बालकांना पिक अप गाडीत घालून कर्नाटक मधील तिसऱ्याच मालकाकडे विकले असल्याची माहिती आरोहनची कार्यकर्ती मंजुळाने मला काल दिली. मी तिच्याकडून मजुरांपैकी कोणाचा फोन नंबर मिळतो का याची माहिती घेतली. योगायोगाने एका मजुराचा नंबर मिळाला. त्याच्याकडून मी या प्रकरणाबाबत सविस्तर माहिती जाणून घेतली. तेव्हा त्याने सांगितले की, आम्हाला पंढरपूर येथे ऊसतोडणीचे काम देतो असे खोटे सांगून आम्हाला कर्नाटकच्या बेळगाव मधील एका अनोळखी मालकाच्या ताब्यात देण्यात आले. आमची फसवणूक झाली आहे. तो मालक आम्हाला पहाटे 3 वाजेपासून ते संध्याकाळी सहा वाजेपर्यंत जबरदस्तीने कामाला लावतो. जादा काम करण्यास नकार दिल्यास जीवे मारण्याची धमकी देतो. तेथून आम्हाला तो सोडतही नाही. आम्हाला शिवीगाळ करतो, उस्मानाबादच्या मालकास फोन केल्यास तो तुम्हाला तेथेच काम करावे लागेल असे सांगून मालकाला भडकवतो व आम्हाला धमकवतो. आमचे खाण्यापिण्याचे हाल होत आहेत. आम्हाला कोणताही आधार नसल्याने आम्ही सर्व दहशतीमध्ये असून खूप घाबरलो आहोत. तुमच्या फोनमुळे आम्हाला धीर आला आहे. त्याची ही हकीकत ऐकून मी त्याला आरोहन संस्थेच्या मार्फत लवकरच तुमची सुटका करण्याचा विश्वास दिला. त्याला खूप हायसे वाटले.

या प्रकरणाबाबत मी संस्थेचे सी.इ.ओ. अमित नारकर यांचे समवेत चर्चा केली, चर्चेतून ठरल्याप्रमाने आदिवासी विकास प्रकल्प अधिकारी जव्हार यांना सविस्तर पत्र लिहून भालचंद्र साळवे सह भेटायला गेलो. परंतु त्या कार्यालयात नसल्याने भेट होऊ शकली नाही, मग फोनवरून सांभाषण केले. प्रकरणाचे गंभीर्य ओळखून प्रकल्प अधिकाऱ्यांनी मोखाडा तहसीलदारांना तातडीने कार्यवाहीचे आदेश दिले, त्याप्रमाणे कालपासून त्या मजुरांना सोडविण्याचे प्रयत्न सुरु झाले. आज सकाळी महाराष्ट्र पोलीस मजुरांपर्यंत पोहचले. त्यांनी मजुरांची चौकशी करून त्यांना मूळ गावी येण्यासाठी गाडीची व्यवस्था केली. आज रात्री किंवा उद्या सकाळी हे मजूर आपल्या गावी परतातील. या गंभीर प्रकरणाची दखल जव्हारच्या आदिवासी विकास प्रकल्प अधिकारी श्रीम. आयुषी सिंह यांनी ज्या तात्परतेने व संवेदनशीलतेने घेतली त्याबद्दल त्यांचे अभिनंदन व आभार मानावे तेवढे थोडे आहे. सततच्या पाठपुराव्यामुळे 11 कातकरी मजुरांना वेठीतून मुक्त करण्यास यशस्वी झाल्याचे समाधान वाटते.

मात्र मोखाडा – जव्हार तालुक्यातील असाहाय व नडलेल्या कातकरी समाजाचे शोषण केव्हा थांबणार? हा प्रश्न मन सुन्न करतो.

प्रदीप खैरकर,आरोहन.

Click here to read the original story in Marathi

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.

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 minor’s 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 minor’s mother passed when she was young and was looked after by her aunt. The father’s 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 boy’s house and do the “Kumkum ceremony”. The father said they cannot have a such ceremony without the daughter. Upon insistence, both father and girl went to boy’s house but there were no people responsible for the ceremony present. The aunt became suspicious about the situation and asked the girl’s 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 AROEHAN’s 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. There’s 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 culprit’s 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. What’s 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 don’t 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? It’s high time we look at such situations carefully and act now.

-Pradeep Khairkar (translated to English by Naitri Patel)
AROEHAN

Click here to read the original story in Marathi

खरं तर लग्न हा मनुष्याच्या  आयुष्यातील एक आनंददायी ठेवा म्हटला जातो. काही जण त्याला पवित्र बंधन असेही म्हणतात. पण मी आज ज्या लग्नाची सत्यकथा  सांगणार आहे ती संवेदनशील माणसाची मती गुंग करणारी  आहे, माणुसकीला काळिमा फासणारी आहे. आणि समाजातील मुली-महिलांच्या (विशेषत: आदिवासी) गरिबी व असाहाय्यतेचा फायदा घेऊन त्यांचे  शोषण आणि दमन करण्याच्या विकृत मानसिकतेचा आरसा दाखवणारी आहे.

ही गोष्ट आहे पालघर जिल्ह्यातील मोखाडा या आदिवासीबहुल तालुक्याच्या कातकरी वाडीतील एका १७ वर्षीय अल्पवयीन मुलीची. तालुक्याच्या ठिकाणापासून ५ ते ६ कि.मी. अंतरावर पोशेरा हे गाव वसलेले आहे. या गावाच्या पूर्वेला साधारण ६००-७०० लोकसंख्या असणारी कातकरी वाडी आहे. या ठिकाणी  अबला नावाच्या (नाव काल्पनिक आहे) एका अल्पवयीन मुलीचे पैशाच्या मोबदल्यात जबरदस्तीने लग्न लावण्याचा घाट घातला असून त्यासाठी मुलीवर दबाव टाकला जात असल्याची  माहिती ‘आरोहन’ या सामाजिक संस्थेच्या कार्यकर्तीला मिळाली. तिने संस्थेच्या वरिष्ठांना येऊन ही माहिती सांगितली. घटनेचे गांभीर्य ओळखून  संस्थेच्या कार्यकर्त्यांनी ताबडतोब  ते गाव गाठले. आणि पीडित मुलीच्या वडिलांची, काकीची व मुलीची भेट घेऊन सत्य परिस्थिती जाणून घेण्याचा प्रयत्न केला. माहिती घेत असताना जे वास्तव समोर आले ते अंगावर काटा आणणारे होते.

जळगाव जिल्ह्यातील चाळीसगाव-नगर देवळा येथील एका अनोळखी व्यक्तीने आदिवासी समाजातीलच एका मध्यस्थ दलालाला  हाताशी धरून मुलीच्या व तिच्या वडिलांच्या गरिबीचा, अज्ञानाचा व असाहाय्यतेचा फायदा घेऊन मुलीस १५ हजार रुपये  देऊन व वडिलांस ५० हजार रुपये देण्याचे आमिष दाखवून तिच्याबरोबर जबरदस्तीने लग्न करण्याबाबत प्रतिज्ञापत्र लिहून घेतले असल्याची माहिती मुलीच्या  काकीने दिली. (हे प्रतिज्ञापत्र उपलब्ध होऊ शकले नाही, त्याची प्रत मुलीच्या नातेवाईकांकडे देण्यात आली नाही.) मुलीच्या आईचे  मुलगी लहान असतानाच निधन झाले असल्याने लहानपणापासून काकीनेच तिचा सांभाळ केला. वडिलांची आर्थिक परिस्थिती अतिशय हलाखीची असल्याने व व्यसन असल्याने मुलीकडे त्याचे लक्ष नव्हते. ५० हजाराच्या आमिषाने सुरुवातीला त्यानेही या लग्नास संमती दिली होती.  परंतु लग्नासाठी आवश्यक असणारे कोणतेही रीतीरिवाज पाळले गेले नव्हते. मुलीला पाहण्याचा कार्यक्रम झाला नव्हता. मुलीला व वडिलांना प्रभावित करण्यासाठी, नवरा मुलगा या मुलीच्या फोनवर बस्ता बांधल्याचे फोटो (भारी कपडे व साड्या, इ.) पाठवून लवकरात लवकर लग्न करण्याबाबत दबाव वाढवत होता. एक दोन वेळा मुलाशी फोनवरून संभाषणही करण्यात आले. हे प्रकरण संशयास्पद वाटल्याने  मुलीच्या पाहण्याचा रीतसर कार्यक्रम करावा असे नातेवाईकांनी मध्यस्थाला सांगितले. परंतु  मध्यस्थाने फक्त वडिलांना ‘मुलाच्या घरी जाऊन कुंकू लावण्याचा कार्यक्रम करू’ असे सांगितले. वडिलांनी मुलीशिवाय असा कार्यक्रम कसा करता येईल? असा प्रश्न उपस्थित केला. अखेर वडिलांच्या आग्रहाखातर, हो -ना करत मुलगी व वडील मुलाच्या घरी कुंकू लावण्याच्या कार्यक्रमासाठी गेले. तेथेही कार्यक्रमासाठी  कोणी जबाबदार माणसे नव्हती. या सगळ्या गडबडीमुळे मुलीच्या काकीला संशय आला. तिने तिच्या वडिलांच्याही निदर्शनास ही बाब आणून दिली. अखेर विचारांती त्यांनी हे लग्न करण्यास नकार दिला.  

 हा नकार मिळाल्यानंतर मध्यस्थ दलालाने मुलीकडे १५ हजार रुपये परत करण्याचा तगादा लावला. तिच्यावर दबाव टाकू लागला. त्यामुळे मुलगी, तिचे वडील व काकी हवालदिल झाले होते. कारण पैसे तर खर्च झाले होते. आता पैसे आणायचे कुठून? या विवंचनेत ते पडले होते. अशा परिस्थितीत अडकलेल्या या कुटुंबाला ‘आरोहन’ने मानसिक धीर दिला. पैसे परत करण्याची काही गरज नाही असे सांगून ‘आरोहन’ तुमच्या पाठीशी असल्याचा विश्वास दिला. दरम्यानच्या काळात तो मध्यस्थही तेथे आला. त्याच्यावर आरोहनच्या कार्यकर्त्यांनी प्रश्नांची सरबती करून तो करीत असलेले काम किती समाजविघातक व बेकायदेशीर आहे, याची कडक समज दिली व यापुढे मुलीकडे किंवा तिच्या नातेवाईकांकडे परत पैशांची मागणी केल्यास कायदेशीर कारवाई करण्याचा इशारा दिला. मध्यस्थाने पुन्हा पैसे मागणार नसल्याचे सर्वांसमोर मान्य केले. येथे एका अल्पवयीन मुलीचे जबरदस्तीने लग्न लावून देण्याचा कट उधळला गेला. तात्पुरता हा प्रश्न मिटल्याचे समाधान वाटले. परंतु वरवर दिसणारी लग्नाची ही घटना फक्त लाग्नापुरती मर्यादित नसून यामागे लग्नाच्या नावाखाली आदिवासी मुलींची विक्री / तस्करी करणारी टोळी किंवा व्यक्ती कार्यरत असावी असा संशय येण्यास पुरेसा वाव असल्याचे लक्षात आले. कारण अशाप्रकारच्या अनेक घटना या भागात घडल्या असल्याचे विविध लोकांकडून कळले.   

अधिक माहिती घेतली असता दरवर्षी जव्हार-मोखाडा या भागातील अनेक आदिवासी मुली बेपत्ता  झाल्याची दबक्या आवाजातील चर्चा ऐकावयास मिळाली. या घटना पुढे येत नाहीत कारण या भागातील आदिवासींची अतिशय दारुण आर्थिक परिस्थिती, अज्ञान व व्यसनाधीनता असल्याने मुलींचे पालक थोड्या पैशाच्या अमिषाला  बळी पडून अशा प्रकारचे व्यवहार करीत असल्याचे बोलले जाते. प्रकरण उघडकीस आले किंवा कोणी विरोध केला तर पालक  संबंधित गुन्हेगाराच्या बाजूने उभे राहतात. याहूनही सुन्न करणारी  बाब म्हणजे, अशाप्रकारच्या असाहाय्य व गरीब मुलींना शोधून त्यांच्या लग्नाचे सौदे करणारे मध्यस्थ दलाल हे इथल्याच समाजातील व परिसरातील आहेत. अर्थात त्यांचीही गरिबीची परिस्थिती असल्याने त्यांचाही अशा कामासाठी वापर करून घेतला जातो हे त्यांच्याही लक्षात येत नाही. त्यामुळे कोणी तक्रार करण्याचा प्रश्न उद्भवत नाही. परिणामी या भयाण वास्तवाची जाहीर वाच्यता किंवा नोंद कुठेही होत नाही. स्वातंत्र्याच्या ७५ वर्षानंतरही आदिवासींना केवळ आर्थिक परिस्थितीमुळे आपल्या मुलींचे असे सौदे करावे लागत असतील आणि उमलण्याआधीच अशा कळ्या कुस्करल्या जात असतील तर आपण कोणत्या स्वातंत्र्यात राहतो ? याचा अंतर्मुख होवून विचार करण्याची व  शीघ्र कृती करण्याची वेळ आली आहे असे प्रकर्षाने वाटते.    

-प्रदीप खैरकर
आरोहन

AROEHAN organised a free health check-up and treatment camp on the eve of Dussehra at Pachghar village in Mokhada. The theme of the camp was ‘Health is Wealth’. AROEHAN’s activist Pradeep Khairkar explained the importance of health to people as the programme commenced. He urged all to take advantage of the medical examination and the treatment. The camp was facilitated by Dr. Ajinkya Dhangar and Dr. Keken from Sahyog Hospital, Virar. They diligently examined participants and the patients were provided with the necessary medications. Children, elderly, women, men, people of all age groups were part of this camp. Over 125 people were treated from the  Pachgar village area.

Local NGO AROEHAN empowers communities to formulate Gram Panchayat Development Plan in rural villages.