Change Story: Priority right
“Development of the
person is at own hand” said by somebody so correctly so that If he/she wants can do anything. It proved
by the villagers of Akidatpur Panchayat
under PfR programme are of Bhagalpur district. The learning goes like this: On
26 January 12 Akidatpur was the only
Panchayat where Gram Sabha did not take place as usual, after so many reminders
and motivation, community mobilisation. “”I was getting de motivated” said Gopal
Mondol pfr facilitators. In other hand 2 adjacent Panchayat had successful Gram
Sabha with 25% women participation.
While in de motivated situation the DRR committee and Project staffs
had a meeting with Mukhiya about the gram sabha. The Mukhya in reply said “ He
has no permission from block to conduct gram sabha”. yes, the clue now was
clear as villagers knew a government official would not do such work, and
violate the Panchyat act. It the next day when iron was still hot and under the
leadership of ward members DRR committee went to BDO and asked the reason for
not having gram sabha in their panchayat. At once BDO sent a government letter
to mukhiya asking showing reason for not
organizing the gram sabha on 26th January 012, and asked for the
reason within two days.
Thus Mukhya was on loop to conduct the gram sabha
and realised the power of the capacitated community. The DRR plan also was
approved through Gream Sabha.
Change Story: Unified response by community
As
we all know Unity makes Man or
community strong ……..same
happened with the villagers of the Tok Bharwaliya after the implementation of
our PFR programme in East Champaran. The
present DRR committee regularly discuss about their vulnerability of their
ward, as ward is surrounded by the river Chndrawati in all the direction no one
is educated in the wards, so they always worried about overall development for their children for education. One day the
DRR committee decided to take their own initiative for the children’s of the
Tok Bharwliya .they start building a school for the local contribution, village
DRR committee took the responsibility and they started making contact with all
the ward members and share the issues with all of them ,suddenly community
realize that Child education is must for be for the growth and they start
supporting DRR committee for these holy kind of
work . Mr. Jangnath Giri,
came forward donated his land for school building and DEKHTE HE DEKHTE by the help of DRR
committee Three rooms school structure made by hay constructed and then DRR
committee linked that school with Government now Four Government teacher are
being deputed for the education of the children
Tok bharwawaliya …..The moving wheel : Not only that now DRR
committee mobilised Govt fund for concrete
school building ,,,And finally got the same ,they got fund from Government
Department and very soon they are going to arrange a silanayas programme at tok
bharwalia village. And now it is correct for tok bharwalia
Unity Makes a Man or Community strong ,,,,,,,,,,,,,, after being strong
nothing is far to achieve ….
Change Story: an instrument to
change lives…
It is situated on the bank of river Sikrahna. This ward
is one of the worst flood affected area. For the past many years, this village has
witnessed the devastation that has been taken place in the form of erosion
during flood. Recognizing the fact that different social groups have different
needs in the times of disaster. In the ward, most vulnerable are mahadalits as
they have less social power and limited economic resources and physical
capacity to anticipate, survive and recover from the affects of massive floods.
Fakirana Sisters Society, Bettiah intervened
in the area with an objective to enable the community managed so that they can
mitigate the disaster under the project CMDRR-PfR funded by the Caritas India.
A rigorous meeting and team effort has been able to organise the most
vulnerable women in the form of self-help group.
Rambha Devi is a key example of how
life changes when a simple woman with lesser social power and fewer economic
resources organised to become a member of SHG. Rambha Devi is living with two sons and two
daughters in her family. Her elder daughter got married. For her daughter’s
marriage she mortgaged her land for Rs. 10,000/- At that time, she was a bonded
agricultural labour she used to get Rs. 30-40 per day or food grains weighs of
3 KG/day as her daily income after labouring for 9 to 10 hrs a day. She didn’t have
enough time to look after her kids specially education. His husband has to
migrate to Punjab for as long as 6 to 7 months due to weak financial condition.
Whatever the money sent by her husband was spent on the village grocery shop.
At the time of emergency she could hardly manage to get Rs. 400 to 600/- that
only from the grocery shop. She had no other means of borrowing.
During the SHG meeting community facilitator motivated
the group member to start their own small income generating activity through inter loaning amount. This arrangement of working capital gave her a small ray
of hope for initiating income generating activity for her financial betterment.
With proper counselling in the meeting by the facilitator, she got encouraged
in taking bangle hawker as her income generating activity.
Finally in the month of august 2012, she initiated her
own business with a small capital of Rs. 3,000/- out of which she borrowed Rs.
1,000/- from group under the guidance regarding backward & forward linkage.
Her business area covers six wards mainly 1-6 of Semra Ghat panchayat. Her
activity of bangle hawker made recognizable women in the panchayat. Within the
span of one and half month, she repaid the borrowed amount to the group and now
|
· Now within half a day, she earns
Rs. 400-Rs. 500
· Her life is change
|
Change Story: Heightens Schools by enlighten Community – a convergence story of DRR and education
It was
almost twenty five years villagers of Balha Musahari wanted a school inside the
village for their children so that their children do not have to cover long
distances,and the distance resulted in drop outs. Now Balha Musahari ward no 1
a village in Demabishanpur Panchayat under Persauni block recently erected one
building, to be specific a school building. It was the sheer
determination and continuous persistence of the villagers and the DRR committee
of the village that today the ward has a school building in
it. Moreover the Musahars with the support of DRR committee established
the right to have education on their own way. The earlier application to
the BDO of Persauni block had no effect neither the PRI was very helpful. |
| Raised school in Baluha |
Jagdish
Paswan, a senior resident of the village and father of Jailal Paswan, a member
of DRR committee said "the Paswan community contributes to eighty
percent population of the village, this might be a reason for
not having a school, but now the attitude and the approach of the
youngsters have changed and as a result we have school right in the middle of
our village for our children."
Parash
Kumar secretary of the DRR committee - Balha Musahari
told "as per the government rule there was no land to build school.
People do not have land to construct houses for themselves, how a school could
be constructed”. He added "we had given so many applications to the
concerned authorities and subsequent refusals the villagers decided to take one
final shot on the matter". He further said that there was a piece of land
around five kathas which was used for temple around 1990 and further a
community building was constructed on that in the year 2000 by the villagers.
The owner Sri Shyam Sunder Das belong to upper cast and a Mahant of
Sheetalpatti was not ready to give the plot in the name of the community.
The
Mukhiya of Demabishanpur Md Muzibur Rehman was not of any help in any way.
Meanwhile the owner of the land passed away. In the year 2011 when CMDRR-pfr started
working in the village, it persuaded the matter further with the DRR committee
and finally in the year 2012, Sri Rajiv Nandan Das, son of Sheetalpatti Mahant
understanding the need of education to the village children donated the
land to the villager for school.
The villagers are now happy that their children do not have to go far for education and can have it in their home under the watch full surveillance of their parents.
Change Stories: First step to cover
miles
Nature
has the power to nurture humanity and if human beings are disturbing its
process an obvious change occurs resulting in the loss of life and others which
we call disaster. We don’t accept neither we try to resolute. We have our own
dimension and suffering.
This
has been said to highlight the situation of Harijon tola (Ward No-6) of Barwa
Semra Ghat Panchayat an extremely neglected, deprived and underprivileged flood
prone panchayat, Majhaulia Block, West Champaran, Bihar. This story began
during winter when one of the villagers of Harijon tola Mr, Pancha Sah cut the
embankment to make pass through road for his tractor. The embankment remained
broken till the arrival of monsoon and in spite of repeated efforts by the DRR
committee president Mr. Prahalad Ram the villagers did not agree to repair the
embankment. Raghu Rai Ram remarked “Humni ke kahen ke Banaem so,
je katle ba uhe banai” (Why should we do? It has to be done by the person
who has cut it). In the beginning of July with the first phase of monsoon the
river Sikhrahana was crossing the danger mark and was threatening to cause
flood but was not enough to threaten the villagers. The DRR committee president
was tired he wanted to do it alone but was not possible in reality. He said “Ka
Karin vaiya akele bani, baad to aaibe kari ab ka koral jai” (what to
do brother - flood will come, so let it)
It
was a usual morning on 06th of August 2012. The facilitators
were on their regular village round. When they talked to Mr. Prahalad Ram
over the situation of river, this problem of the DRR committee came to light.
The facilitators were quick to react and told Mr. Prahalad “Chalie vaiya
humni ke suru karinja, log aa jahi apne” (Brother let us begin the work
people will join surely once they see us working). Not delaying a
single minute they reached the spot with necessary tools and started the work
of filling soil in the broken portion of the embankment. Gradually it happened
as they proceeded; a number of villagers came and joined even Raghu Rai also.
The now remarked ”Vaiya humnike bahot sarminda baninja, raua
login etna socheni ja humnike khatir aur humni hamesa piche rahenija” (we
are really ashamed of ourselves, you always do think of us but we keep
ourselves behind). Thus with their efforts the work was completed and even
trees were also planted to strengthen the embankment. Now, it has withstood
the first stroke of water and is still rock solid. However as the project
staffs were themselves physically involved, this has created a wide range of
appreciations from all segments.
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Change stories:Strengthening livelihood... minimizing disaster risk
Name of the Block: Majhaulia
|
Name of the Panchayat: Semra Barwa Ghat
|
Ward No-06
|
Month:
June, 2012
|
Harijan
Tola (Ward No-6) of Barwa Semra Ghat panchayat is a composition of Harijan
families who are extremely downtrodden and are either living on their own land
with a very few options for livelihood or are in the land donated by the
landlords of the panchayat.
The
women are not even in a position to contribute to the family income due to lack
of opportunities and options for livelihood. During the floods, situation
becomes even worse as the bread earners cannot even access wage earning. As a
result, certain illegal and antisocial occupations such as alcohol preparation
and the like have developed a ground to breed.
Considering
the livelihood needs of this community and increasing women’s access to
livelihood earning, three SHGs were being formed which are not more than 7
months old by today. These women have managed tom deposit an amount of Rs. 50
per individual every month and each SHG is having a savings of Rs.4000-5000 by
now.
In the
initial stage, small amounts were given as internal loans to meet emergency
medical and social needs. But, during the month of July a bigger step has been
taken by one of the SHGs where one of the needy members was given Rs. 2000 for
livestock rearing. The member with a little contribution from her husband has
purchased 3 pigs and has taken advice on the process of pig rearing from the
fellow villagers who had previous experience in this field. Though this action
has not brought an immediate yield in income, but this will grow as a capital
for the family and will also help her to expand her business in near future
contributing a fair deal in meeting the livelihood needs of the family. She
remarked when met individually “Hum kam se kam badh ke samay ekra
istamal kare sakab, kuch paisa haat laye sakb ekra bech ke taki vukhe machan pe
sutie ke naubat na padi”
The Change: This is the beginning of a
larger process that promises a hope of disaster risk reduction with increased
livelihood options in near future. Might not be a huge result as it stands
today, but definitely is a symbol of livelihood generation in the community which
can take a better shape once skill and resources will be made accessible to
them.
Change stories: On the
way to resilience
Name of the Block: Majhaulia
|
Name of the Panchayat: Rampurwa Mahanwa &
Semra Barwa Ghat
|
Month: May-June, 2012
|
Ward
No-04,
07, 08, 14 & 15 of Mahanwa and 01, 02, 04, 05 & 06 of Barwa Semra
Ghat
|
 |
| people of Mhanawa with support of PRI building barricade in river |
“Is
it possible that flood will come but we will wait with preparation to withstand
the negatives from it?” the people of both these panchayats used to ask
this question to the PfR team members when any discussion on resilience was
being facilitated. But, as gradually the project is about to complete the first
year from its inception it is to proclaim that a picture of change is visible
today. People in both the panchayats are conscious about what they should do to
face flood. They are conscious at community level to take initiatives and at
family level to strengthen the preparedness.
At
least with the inaugural interventions and participatory designs, the culture
of preparedness can be seen in the communities and families in both the
panchayats, “Ab tak hum akele jhelte the
aur koi sath na tha, aap logon ke hamare sath judne se humko himmat mili hai,
nai rah mili hai......hum kuchh to karna chahte hain taki baarh agar ruk nahi
sakti to kam se kam usse hone wala nuksan to kam
ho sakta hain” says the BDC member Sk. Khusru
Parvej. He has himself invited the project officer to join him in the block
level flood preparation meeting with the CO where joint demands were raised to
increase the capacity of the panchayat to face the forthcoming flood.
The Change:The
biggest change that is visible today in both the panchayats is that a segment
of people have realised that waiting for government to act will not solve their
problem, they should try and get the things done by themselves on needs which
can be dealt with through their collaborative efforts.
Change Stories:We too can speak
Name of the Block: Majhaulia
|
Name of the Panchayat: Rampurwa
Mahanwa
|
Ward No-04, 07, 08, 14
& 15
|
Month: June, 2012
|
Date: 05.07.2012
|
“Rome was not built in a day” a remark that the villagers of
Rampurwa Mahanwa Panchayat uttered when they decided to take their demands to
the government through organised struggle forgetting the past. It so happened
when the project repeatedly conducted meetings at Panchayat level with Mukhiya,
PRI members and village elders and initiated a discussion on the DRR needs that
cannot be met through panchayat level resources and for which an organised and
unified struggle will be needed. That is how ultimately people realised and
recognised the importance of the theme. This has lead to the birth of a
“People’s Institution” which was first given the name as “Awaaj- Ek Pehel Dusri
Ajadi Ki Or”. The office bearers were selected strategically involving both PRI
members and general villagers. On the one hand, the BDC member was made the
secretary, an elderly villager was being given the chair of President.
 |
| community organisation submitting demand to government |
After the formation, several meetings were being conducted and the
“People’s Institution” was also renamed as “Kaumi Jamat-e-Tarraqi” and
the members have themselves decided to get some of the immediate DRR demands
such as demand for boat, sanitation, drinking water etc. approved by Gram Sabha
on May 1st. Accordingly pressurising the Panchayat Secretary, the
Gram Sabha on 1st May was being conducted and the above demands
were also being approved. “Yahan hamara kaam shuru hua” with this
initial step of success the members have fixed a date i.e., 5th of
June to visit the CO and BDO with the “Charter of Demands” written
in their letterhead along with the copy of the demand approved by the Gram
Sabha. With this decision the members gathered on the fixed date along with
representatives of Media and entered into the office of the BDO, Majhaulia who
then referred them to the Circle Officer. Meeting the Circle Officer with Media
personnel, the “People’s Institutions” handed over the “Charter
of demands” and received assurance that their demands will be
forwarded to the DM as the Block does not have sufficient resources to fulfil
these demands. With this the members returned home and received appreciation of
the villagers and the media.
The Change: This step was not taken for the first
time but the only difference was the process and strength. Though individually
villagers claim to have done similar things but alone. The support of fellow
beings and the media has helped them to grow in confidence. Now, they strongly
believe that though the path is difficult but still they can stand and speak.
Change Stories: peoples planning start from home
Bihar is known for
its Panchayati Raj institutions negatively. The state has made a progress in
decentralized participatory governance recently. To strengthen its root, the
Panchayat Act provides for an additional layer of governance i.e. Gram Sabha.
The Gram Sabha is the pillar of grass root democracy. How is this democracy
working? Are people taking part in it? Are they making their own development
plans? Are people monitoring implementation of various schemes? Are people
deciding deserving beneficiaries of welfare schemes for the BPL families? Are
the Gram Sabha meetings held properly? The answer to these questions is both
yes and no. There exist examples of meaningful participation of people in Gram
Sabha process, but these are largely localized and sporadic. Community Managed
Disaster Risk Reduction ( CMDRR) Project under Partners for Resilience
( PfR) Programme is based on community’s own involvement of developing and
pursuing a disaster risk reduction plan at ward level. Community’s own risk
reduction plan and preparedness plan to effectively face the hazard is a part
of the local development process that must have the approval and acceptance of
the Gram Panchayat. The way to do this is to take CMDRR- PfR plan to the Gram
Sabha. Hence, the partners in CMDRR- PfR Bihar project have devoted their
entire energy and time to make it happen. From door to door campaign, rally,
graffiti and street campaign using loudspeakers--- the partners’ staff and DRR
committee members left no stone unturned to see that the CMDRR – PfR plans
placed, discussed and approved in the Gram Sabha meetings. The collection of
case studies presented here captures a glimpse of what had happened and how.
For record, it may be mentioned that CMDRR plans are placed in 17 Gram Sabha
meetings across 6 Districts, as pilot basis. The impact at every level was
glaringly visible, as stories would unfold. This is the way to sustain the
CMDRR process in the future.
As a part of collecting case studies on the Gram Sabha process in CMDRR-
PfR project area, we considered it necessary to talk directly to villagers who
have already attended one meetings, and who have attended two meetings one in
August 2011 and the other in October 2011. That helped us capture the dynamics
of change that must be taking place among the villagers. We had individual
interviews and focused group discussions in 4 Gram Panchyats with a set of 1517
each. The following presents their story in a nutshell.
For a change we present it in the interview format:
PfR team : Have you attended both the
meetings?
Villagers : Yes- some said not both but this time only.
PfR team: Who told you to go there?
Villagers : CMDRR volunteers help us to organize ward sabha to finalize the
plans to be present before Mukhiya. They had told us in September and also on 1 October that we must go there. These people
went house to house and told us to attend this meeting. There was loud speaker
announcement done by Panchyat in some places also. But in previous meeting in
August neither this people told us nor there was any announcement done.
PfR team: Why this
difference? What happened in between?
Villagers : In the
month of September we had ward level planning, we heard them ( CMDRR team)
talking on presenting the plan to panchyat, we did not know much. They were
also speaking of schemes. Being present for the first time, we were quite shaky
about what to say and what not. After May we had mapping by CMDRR volunteers.
They told us about the risk, preparedness, about plan and the plan had to be
passed at the Gram Sabha, and not only this plan, all important decisions about
our village has to be taken there only. Finally in last one month, we have
discussed the issue of Gram Sabha in our own meeting and then the announcement
and visit by volunteer and we were clear that we had to speak out our
grievances. We have our demands too.
PfR team: What are
your major grievances and demands?
Villagers : There are
many like- Job cards, BPL cards, allotment of IAY houses, money for repair of
houses, old age pension that are not given though they tell us to go and ask
the Panchayat. We have to press for all these.
PfR team: How did the
meeting go this time?
Villagers : The meeting was
good our entire plan accepted by Mukhya.
PfR team: So what do
you think you got by going there?
Villagers : Unless we went this
time, we would not have known about planning to be approved by Gram Sabha. Now
we are clear about these schemes too. We will wait till it gets implemented.
PfR team: How do think the
plan will be implemented? Did you have any plan for these?
…there was complete
pause in the groups, and looking at each other. Probably the question was
wrongly put….after few seconds, they answered.
Villagers : eo to sab uppar
wale ke pass hai….It’s all depend on Mukhya and Panchyat.
The only worry seen in most the faces…will the submitted plans be
implemented? If yes, then how? If no, then what to do?
The critics of
“democracy and decentralization on responsibility without control” became the
agenda of CMDRR team discussion point; we all started pointing fingers at, as
if we have nothing to do…
Change Stories
Caritas
India under its “Partners for Resilience ” undergone a detail
risk assessment process in 180 villages in Bihar. The process was undertaken
with capacity building programme as well to draw the need/risk of the
communities in multi hazard situation with view of Community analyses, and understand hazards,
vulnerabilities and Coping practices through
participatory risk assessment process.
1. Communities Understanding on the
Risk, Vulnerabilities, Hazards
 |
| risk analysis by villagers |
For
every 12 bundles of wheat that we harvest,' said Bhusan Sada, of Musahari of
Sitamarhi. 'we get one bundle as our labour charge.' The dearth of food is so
acute that the Mushahrs even collect left over wheat that remains
scattered after the harvest for their survival. It is said that the Mushahrs are
even forced to eat rodents to defeat hunger. And to add to this, regular flood
worsens their situation. In 2007 the flood water shot up to around 7 feet in
the village. The entire community had to take resort to the river embankment.
Life was horrible. There was no water to drink and no food to eat. All their
possessions went under water before they built it back again.
Challenges:
Most of the community members
belong to the labour group so willingness for long duration of the
risk assessment in the field is a challenge.
2. Learning about traditional ways
of understanding early warning and coping with
 |
| understanding risk areas |
As a part
the process of discussion… since the village Baluaha of Begusorai is
constantly under the threat of flood, it would be wise to raise the plinth of
the house. Bhubanand his wife Marni Devi found logic in the
discussion, more because in 2007, the monstrous flood had pulled their house
down. They said 'We had to rush to Burigandak Majhual every
time as heavy rainfall and through understanding nature,' said Marni. The Majhul is quite high and is untouched
by the flood waters. Bhuban Sada is a daily labourer much like most others in
the village. He even goes out to other states to earn his living. Three of his
five sons also work as labourers. So lack of finance is a perennial problem.
'But the idea was good,' said Bhuban, 'earlier I didn't have money, but more
than that we didn't think that our house plinth could be raised to save
ourselves from the flood.
Challenges:
making the people understand on the conclusion of the measures for DRR
plans.
3. Communities Analytical Abilities and
Problem Solving
 |
| analysis of the actions after risk |
A portion of the road in Scainwariya village of
Chanpatia, West Champaran had bad luck. This portion was at a low level and was
filled with pot holes. Riding a bicycle on it was synonymous to a boat ride on
rough waters. During flood, which keeps a regular date with this village, it
becomes a death trap. Covered with some 3 and half feet of water, it would be
impossible to walk on it and if one tries to defy it, the consequences could be
deadly. …... Siyaram wrote an application requesting the Panchayat to
repair the road and support some boats in Scainwariya village. 'I took the
signature of 5 people from the village in the application,' said Siyaram, 'and
then I took along Manoj Shaw another villager and went and placed
the application to the Panchayat.
Challenges:
due to more difference in level of understanding, individualistic
approach, it was difficult to bring community together……
4. Women …… a part and partial of the assessment
Pakdia is a tiny locality in the Majharia of West Champaran.
There are around 89 families in this area and most of the mail migrate to
Panjab and Delhi. The area is so low that during flood, water would rush to
houses and even before other places would begin to have water logging; this
locality would be under water. 'So we had no other option but to run away
with our lives, leaving behind all our belongings.'
So when
flood came, women saved their lives, but lost their hard earned belongings and
their property. But sometimes saving life was also difficult. In 2007 when
there was a massive flood, people were fleeing for their lives. On their way they
found two children floating, nearly on the verge of death. 'The villagers used
the sari and pulled them back to safe place.' Every year there is flood and every year the people of
Pakadia follow a routine of running away, sacrificing their belongings. 'We
would all run to Embackment some one kilometer away from here and take shelter
there,' said Marchia Devi. And when they come back, they find that even what
they left back has been damaged and destroyed forcing them to begin life from
the scratch once again.
'How long
would you keep running away, 'and how long would you keep building back life
again and again?'
Challenges:
sharing and discussion with adolescent girls on their problems
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