PRAGATI GRAMIN VIKAS SAMITI

A Collective Farming Group Leader - Seema Devi

2013-01-18T13:40:00.001+05:30

Quates from Ms. Seema Devi:--

We all are associated with PRAGATI since 2006. After the association with organization, their staffs used to come and we started our group meetings. We also discuss for savings in meetings. We have taken 10 katha agriculture land on lease in 2009. Problem of Food insecurity lessen after starting farming. We are now satisfied now. Our children are now going to schools. Now women of group don’t have to take loan from money lenders.

This is the success journey of women group who organized themselves as institution and started collective farming while taking agriculture land on lease to overcome from the challenges of hunger and denied to work as daily wage labour. Capacity building training programs of local organization called Pragati Grameen vikas Samity organized them and strengthen them to realize their rights over land and livelihood. Vital role played by the women of this group in land movements given them recognition as women leaders and inspiring other women to join the struggle for identity and recognition as women farmer in the society.

There is a woman farming group in Devnarayan Nagar tola of Baruhi Village who has 11 women members. This is belongs to Mushar community organized and formed its institution in 2009. This is being led by Ms. Seema Devi.

Before the intervention of the organization, the Mushar community of Baruhi village was facing the challenges of landlessness, poor economic scenario of Dalit households, and no access to health and education. Migration was another serious issue that enforces the Dalit women remained alone in villege with children and work as daily wage labor on others land. Daily wage labour works are only available hope for their survival in agriculture seasons and remaining period; they have to face the painful challenge of hunger. The Dalit community of Baruhi village got associated with Organization in 2006. The organization started sensitizing the Dalit community on their rights and entitlements. In this process Pragati has started orienting community to realize their strengths and further organized as issue based units. There was one of the groups of women from Mushar community in Baruhi village who formed their institution as mutual helped group. This women group came forward and started saving credit activities that strengthened their group for further intervene in livelihood activities. While ensuring active participation in Land movements of organization to access homestead land, this women group has also acquire 0.30 land on lease for group farming and collectively these women started cultivating potatos, Paddy, Pulse and other seasonal crops. The group has transplanted paddy on 0.30 decimal area of land by taking it on lease and paid 3000 rupees to landowner as well as group has also planted potato and Masur (Pulse) on waste land that was around 0.45 decimal. Joint efforts of the group produced 800 kgs Potato, 640 kgs Paddy and 80 kgs Masur (Pulse).

The women of that were glad to achieve the success in terms of yields which has partially ensured their food grain need of households especially during the lean period agricultural seasons. This locally discovered land associated livelihood option supports their household food need to all women members of that group along with also shown them a way to ensure women’s rights over land and further recognition as women farmer. This women as farming groups specially Ms. Seema Devi inspiring other women to adapt collective farming a successful land based agriculture model for food security and livelihood.

Broader perspective of this women group is to acquire the identity as farmer so that they could avail the entitlements of various national and state sponsored schemes on smallholder agriculture. With this perception they will also ensure women’s rights over land an integral part of their livelihood for their economic feasibility.

A community driven initiative (AJEEVIKA SAHAYATA KENDRA )

2012-10-11T12:54:00.001+05:30

Dalit and Tribal communities are always core agenda of development for government and non-government organizations in India. There are uncounted numbers of centrally sponsored schemes are running across rural areas in our country to support the deprived people living in village with their unfavorable situations. Unfortunately, these schemes are not producing fruitful impact on the target beneficiaries whereas a central and state government has made efforts to deliver it with its actual objective. Due to the huge gaps between right holder and duty bearers and lack of accessibly to information regarding these schemes among the community made the allotments lengthy. There is opportunity is being created for middle man. Duty bearers are non-responsive towards the right holders who are forced to live painful life. Lack of ownership over natural resources and poor livelihood opportunity put their life in food insecurity that causes huge migrations.

Community driven Center for rights based interventions

Prgati Grameen Vikas Samiti have started a community driven initiative called MNREGA Sahayta Kendra (MNREGA Assistance Center) in its preliminary stage to increase the accessibility to livelihood opportunity thus the migration and poverty can be tackle. As these centers were in their primary stage with certain objectives, it was only serving those beneficiaries who are eligible to be benefited under the centrally sponsored schemes MNREGA but still neglected. Few villagers have job cards but no work to do. Few have applied for job but no work allotted under MNREGA. Most of them do not have even job cards. MNRGA Sahayta Kendra established at panchayat level facilitating these underprivileged communities to access the entitlement under this livelihood security schemes. Advocacy efforts were being made through these centers for job. Overall functioning of these centers had proven its means of establishment. Now beneficiaries are well aware of provisions and entitlements under the centrally sponsored scheme of MNREGA.

Pragati Grameen Vikas Samiti is working for Dalit and Tribal to ensure their rights over natural resource like water, forest, land etc. with support of Oxfam India. As we know that these natural resources are the foundation of sustainable livelihood for rural mass. Dalit and Tribal communities in Bihar are still deprived a segment of our society who has long association with natural resources and still they are dependent over natural resources. Homestead land right and Forest rights act are promising the Dalit and Tribal for their rights over property, but somehow these entitlements are unable to reach the right beneficiaries. Pragati Grameen Vikas Samiti have established livelihood assistance centers in fifty panchayats to provide a platform to the disposed communities to be united and demand their rights to land and livelihood. These centers were initially facilitating the discussions around the land and livelihood issue; therefore it started supporting the communities in generating demand of rights. Collectivized submissions of applications were being submitted to the block officials against different schemes. Follow up of submitted application were undertaken through the centers. Communities were started advocating for their rights through protest and foot march. Awareness has been enhancing regarding the rights of people over the land and livelihood.

Accessibility to the social security and livelihood schemes is being increased through these established ASKs and now it also supporting by ensuring the information flow of govt. schemes for smallholder farmers. With the positive hope, our endeavors are making smallholder agriculture a profitable agro-sector and will mobilize resources for farmers and policy reforms for smallholder agriculture in Bihar as well as recognition of women as farmer.

A Marginalized Widow Women from Gaya District

2012-08-17T16:58:00.000+05:30

Name: Jaymati Devi Husband’s Name: Late Puneshar Manjhi

JAYMATI DEVI WITH HER CHILDREN

Village Name: Tikuly

This is the story of a woman who belongs to marginalized group. In the month of February her husband died due to electric shock. He was working with Ekta Parishad and Pragati Gramin Vikas Samiti as an active member. But after his death there were no one takes care of her. So she was suffering from this disaster along with her five children. Their names are; Guria Kumari 18 Years Daymanti Kumari 15 Years Hemanti Kumari 8 Years Basanti Kumari 5 Years And one boy child Suraj Kumar 2 YearsBefore two month she had given birth of two replica child but due to extremely week she lost both of them one by one. When I start asking how this incident took place she start weeping bitterly so I got in touch with her neighbor as she said that “Actually both of child were extremely week and she was not giving them breast feeding. So one day when she made them slept (After providing milk) and she found that one is died and next morning same thing happened with another one”. According to her (Jaymati) statement I gauge she was careless about her job. Their name was Karan and Arjun who were just 1.5 month old. However, after assessing current circumstances I suggested her to send children to school then she replied how they can go to her school without eating then I told her she will get meal over there.

Our organization made her understand about benefits of RtE. And other Govt. Scheme like. MDM, Mukhyamntri Poshak Yojana, Mukhyamntri Paribhraman Yojana, Scholarship etc.

There after I got interacted with Tola Sewak to realize him about his job. Her current status is she has joined MNREGA where she get daily wages of 144 Rs/-. But currently she is not getting this as their coordinator said you will get it after 1st Month.

I told near villagers to fill the form of "Widow Pension Scheme” and they made me assure that

we will fill the form and she has been counted by Panchayat Sewak as a beneficiary.Their Near School is Primary School Tikuly and M.S Tikuly.Villagers of Tikuly are quite cooperative as they have shown it while providing 1 packet wheat to the effected women.

As of now she is beneficiary of;

MNREGA
PDS Shop
Community Contribution
Proposed Widow Pension Scheme

She can be contacted using contact number:

+91-8809044422 (Mr. Jitendra Kumar) (Tola Shikshak)

"Dharna" on Human Rights Day

2011-12-22T09:15:00.000+05:30

On 10^th of December, 2011 on “Human Rights Day” “Ekta Parishad Bihar” conducted One day “Dharna” in sixteen block of Bihar of fifteen districts in which people from 293 villages participated with fresh energy to grab the attention of stakeholders as well as discuss the Human Rights issues and its violation in their area and to demanded Rights . With participation of 6,820 underprivileged people from sixteen blocks of fifteen districts reached out to their Block Headquarters, they came out on the village roads to ensure their Rights with non-violence. Most of participants were women especially from those who are Dalits and Tribals actively participated with raising their voices during the Dharna. People came together especially those whose are not concerned to this movement are now awaken towards their entitlements over land and livelihood. PGVS introduce through this march with its aims-objectives towards ‘land rights & livelihood campaign’ that raised issues. The entire “Dharna ” for Human Rights was led by respective Shivir Nayak and Dal Nayaks in their blocks and district with the group community leaders those from village to village holding Banners with slogans of “Jai Jagat”.

Objective of this Dharna was:

To ensure people’s rights over land and livelihoods
To form state level Land Reform Commission
To implement D. Bandhopandhyay’s recommendation
To ensure 0.10 decimal land allotment to the deprived landless homeless community
To ensure joint entitlement of sharecroppers in Bihar
To submit demand letter collectively to district and block officials

In the meetings during the Dharna, participants raised their issue towards violation of Human Rights in their respective block and District officials collectively and submitted memorandum.

SL#	BLOCK NAME	PARTICIPATS
1	BODHGAYA	225
2	RAFIGANJ	135
3	KURTHA	415
4	KUDHANI	550
5	BAGHA-1	600
6	BAGHA-2	500
7	RAMGARHWA	950
8	BAUATPUR	550
9	SAHAR	685
10	SONBARSA RAJ	200
11	MURLIGANJ	530
12	SAUR BAZAR	400
13	CHHATAPUR	250
14	SIKANDRA	530
15	KHAIRA	100
16	PARWALPUR	200
TOTAL		6,820

Child rights and child protection.

2011-11-21T20:45:00.000+05:30

Overview: A training being organized at Campus of Bihar health society by Save the Children on child rights and child protection. The objective of this was to build the capacity of project team of partner’s on child rights and its concerns during project implementation. As training goes on, Mr. Sanjeev(Trainer of SC) focused on Right to Education act and its provisions for target child group in India. RtE act deprived from article 21 of fundamental rights which does give us rights to live freely. The objective of training was to understand and express negative and positive experience by child that child rights issues addressing them.

CHILD RIGHTS: As per training, project focused on Child rights, Child protection, Child groups and child protection committee. Project team should understand its impact on children. Why, how and where to form child protection groups? Education is not possible without safeguard of child protection. Children are specific community that requires special attention with care. They get more influenced by anything comparatively an adult. Children might never belong to the any political agenda, since they don’t have voting rights. Child rights are Human rights.

Child rights in Indian constitution:-

v Article 21 - Protection from bounded labour and trafficking.

v Article 14- protection from discrimination.

v Article 15- Equality rights

v Article 46- To provide social justice to the people of weaker section of society and protect from any kind of exploitation.

v Article 21(a)- Free education to children belongs to the age group of 6-14 years.

v Article 24- Protection from risk employments for fewer than 14 children.

v Article 39(e)- No forced labour by child for economic empowerment

v Article 39(f) - Equal opportunity and protection rights for secured childhood so that children will grow as a healthy youth.

v Article 45- Integrated child care for below 6 years children groups.

Some important judicial acts under child rights:-

§ No punishment for 0 to 7 years child groups

§ 8-18 age group children allowed for child reformation custody.

§ Intercourse with 0-16 age group girl child is “Rape”.

Juvenile act of India for children: In this act which is constituted in year 2000 and in amendments made in year 2006 provide rights to children of age group of 0-18 that no jail and no arrest. Even judge must sit with level of child during hearing in court.

United Nations act for child rights and India: Assembly of United Nations on 20^th November, 1989 passed rights for children and youths. And it has been globally accepted as Human rights. On 11^th December, 1992, India also signed it with acceptance and ensured Child rights in country.

Provisions in Right to Education act:

§ Free education for children of 6-14 years

§ 25% quota for poor children in private school

§ Neighbourhood school

§ Inclusion of disabled child in formal education

§ Inclusion of drop out children in formal education

§ Special bridge course for drop out child

§ Free learning materials

§ Transport facilities

§ No entrance exam for admission

§ No exam up to 8 grade

§ No child can be failed

§ No corporal punishment

§ 30 children per class room

§ One teacher for 30 children

§ One library in each school

§ Complain in district panchayat and SCPCR

Child groups to ensure child protection and RtE:

Child group is important platform for children to know their rights, demand and raise issues of violation under RtE. Child group should consist of 15 members. 7 girl child, 7 boys and 1 disabled child. Name, rules and objective of child group should be clear with similar vision towards quality education for all as well as minimal conflicts in child groups. After the formation of child group, group starts identification of issues concerning in their school and village of child rights and RtE.

Why child groups?: Children feel more safe among children and express better. Children understand better about other child issues as well as monitor effectively. Children can represent their voice in community. They can identify better their problems, need than an adult.

Roles and responsibilities of child group:-

I. Children will monitor the child protection issues and RtE

II. Children will discuss how many children in their village are not going school, why and what support she/he requires.

III. Children will discuss and find who are the children being involved in child labour and are on risk of child marriage, trafficking, abuse or being exploited.

IV. Children group representative will present all their findings during in meeting and share it with villagers.

V. Child groups will facilitate to educate and aware about the provision of RtE through various form of IEC tools.

VI. Children groups will inform the government about the violation of RtE in their schools.

Roles and responsibilities of Cluster Coordinator at villages:-

§ Cluster Coordinators will meet children and inform them about the roles, responsibilities, function of child group.

§ Cluster coordinators will call all children in general assembly to inform about the formation of child group.

§ Children will nominate or elect the child group and staff will facilitate the child group formation.

§ Once child group formed, everything needs to be written in the child group register.

§ The staff will further facilitate them in meeting, reporting, identification of child protection issues, and inclusion of disabled child and inform office, field guide, field coordinator or project manager.

Child protection committee

Everyone’s responsible for child protection in society. Individuals, facilities, communities, civil groups, NGOs, UN agencies, governments, private sector, religious organizations and children themselves responsible for Child protection. Child protection CPCs at village level will redress the child protection issues raised by the child groups in their villages and take stand.

Community members will make CPC at village level. In CPC, 3 child group representatives, 6 female and 6 male members including teachers, Anganwari worker, ANM, PRI representatives and parents.

Roles of the CPCs will be that it will act as a referral for children in case of any issues of child protection emerges in the community. CPC will meet twice in month to monitor the Child rights and child protection issues in village. CPCs will address the issues of Child rights and child protection with discussing it with the community, parents, school, local administration and panchayat. Involvement of teachers, Anganwari worker, ANM, PRI representatives, parents, children and community people provide strength and acceptance to CPCs in community. CPCs involve people from community hence children are more open to express and share their issues of child protection and it will ensure quick solutions in the best interest of child.

Demanding Livelihood Entitlements

2011-11-20T00:12:00.003+05:30

There is a tola named Rangainiya of Mainijor village where 250 people residing. There are Khairwar Ravidas cast people’s staying here. Most of them are poor farmers. In 2005, 20 beneficiaries received job card from panchayat sevak Mr. Avinash kumar. After applying for job they got work of 30 days under Mgnrega. Payment of 15 days released to beneficiaries out of 30 days but 15 days payments were held. 4 years passed away but the payment was not released due to panchayat election. Husband of new elected PRI representative along with panchayat sevak came to these job card holder and taken all job cards while assuring them that all job cards need renewal. Villagers hand over their job card to that person without asking anything. Ashok pandit collected all job cards without any signature or thumb impression. All payments of 15 days were withdrawn while involving Post master in this process by Mukhiya.

There was a meeting held with Ekta Mahila Parishad and villagers of that village in which these matter came out that these PRI’s are violating the scheme. In the meeting, Mr. Beri Kharwar( villager) shared that all job cards had been taken away by the husband of Mukhiya and Rojgar Sevak. A committee was formed regarding this issue and decisions taken that they will approach to these persons next morning and ask for job cards.

Next morning villagers asked the Mukhiya’s husband “where are our job card?’ He told them “I am not having your job cards right now”. Villagers told him “where did you given it. Tell us otherwise we will put a FIR against you.” After hearing this he said “all job cards are with post master” then villagers reached to post master and asked the same. Post master said “ Mukhiya jee gave me these job cards and I can’t give it to you. I don’t recognise you”. Then villagers filed a written complaint against such malpractices to Program Officer MGNREGA and copy to DDC Jamui, BDO Khaira and Police station in charge Khaira.

This written attempt made the district official active towards the serious issue of malpractice in MGNREGA and they started identification of those labours. Next night at 3am, DDC with Program Officer and Thana In-charge came to village and called villagers and Block in-charge Mr. Pradeep with those labours as well as Mukhiya’s husband Mr. Ashok Pandit, Rojgar sevak and Post master. Mukhiya’s husband Mr. Ashok Pandit, Rojgar sevak and Post master are founded guilty under this issue and they all apologize in front of all villagers as well as committed that this will never happened again. One lack fifty thousand amount disbursed to those 20 labours that had work under MGNREGA.