Community Empowerment Towards Ensuring Child Rights Intervention By JAAG
Demographic Profile State: Maharashtra District: Mumbai suburban 110 Tribal hamlets (AAREY MILK COLONY, NATIONAL PARK, MADH ISLAND, GORAI VILLAGE) Total Pop.: 32,000 families Total no. of children: 1,10,000
Socio-economic-politicalcultural issues Rapid alienation of Jal, Jungle, Jameen as a result of: Land titles yet to be in the custody of some Adivasis, hence constant threats of eviction Land grabbing by armed builder lobbies/ mafia Encroachment by migrant settlers Plunder by Industries: Esselworld, Stone Quarries, Resorts etc. - Government: Film city, Mafco, Modern bakery, etc.
Socio-economic-politicalcultural issues State abdication of it s social responsibility resulting in: Decreased spending and therefore decreased access to State provisions eg. water, electricity, PDS, Education and Health Increased dependence on Market forces Substitution of existing formal structures through cheap alternatives: eg SSA, Quacks Increased resistance and difficulty experienced in the procurement of caste certificates & ration cards increased incidences of corruption in PDS
Socio-economic-political-cultural issues cont Decline in traditional livelihood opportunities like fishing, minor forest produce, farming resulting in: Increased unemployment Food insecurity Increased vulnerability to exploitation and abuse by money lenders, contractors, etc Distressed migration Indebtedness, leading to suicides... further leading to increased threats of displacement and exclusion
Socio-economic-political-cultural issues cont Gradual erosion of traditional value systems, folkways, ethnicity, art and culture resulting in: the loss of individual identity and dignity unilateralism & majoritarianism gender imbalances Interdependence as a way of life being substituted by suspicion. Leading to a loss of self confidence, dignity and isolation
IMPACT ON CHILDREN High incidences of malnutrition and related deaths among women and children High incidences of Bonded Labour Denial of access to Quality Education & Health Reduced life expectancy Isolation Insecurity, lack of confidence Increased vulnerability to exploitation and abuse in short, loss of childhoods
TITLE RESTORING CHILD RIGHTS THROUGH COMMUNITY empowerment
THE OBJECTIVES To build a vibrant people s movement capable of resisting violence and all forms of exploitation and therefore protecting the self-respect and dignity of every individual To evolve a cadre of leaders in the community through initiation and strengthening of Community Based pressure groups and therefore ensure sustainable forms of governance To protect the integrity and heritage of indigenous people particularly against communal fascists and market forces
THE STRATEGY Direct interventions for and through children Mobilisation and unionization of indigenous people through socio eco politico-cultural empowerment Networking with like-minded mass movements, organisations, institutions & individuals Advocacy through community pressure and action Legal intervention through guidance and action Documentation and Policy Research on tribal issues
MICRO MACRO INTERVENTION WITH CHILDREN FOR THEIR RIGHTS Regular immunization, health check-up and awareness camps Enabling access and equitable quality of education through - Pre-primary centres, Non-Formal Education Centres, Support Classes, Recreation centres Empowering children (through Bal-sanghatana s) on the rights unique to adivasi communities and therefore resist discrimination, abuse and exploitation Strengthening linkages between Bal Sanghatanas and larger community action groups
MICRO MACRO INTERVENTION WITH COMMUNITY FOR THEIR RIGHTS Strengthening peoples movements Shramik Mukti Andolan through regular community meetings & melawas Demand for rights through demonstrations of collective strength: rallies, morcha, dharna, gherao therefore enhancing a sense of we feeling Recognising and building local leadership therefore reducing dependence on specific individuals Capacity building, perspective building on tribal policies and schemes therefore rearticulation and reassertion of adivasi rights
MICRO MACRO INTERVENTION WITH LOCAL GOVERNANCE Municipal corporation (Education, Health, Basic Amenities) Tribal Research Development institute District administration Forest department Rationing Officer Police
MACRO - MACRO INTERVENTION NETWORKING WITH ORGANISATIONS/ INDIVIDUALS ON TRIBAL ISSUES Identifying common issues Cross-fertilization of learnings Getting advice from experts in the field Joint campaigning
MACRO LEVEL INTERVENTION ADVOCACY-WITH POLICY MAKERS, GOVT., AND PEOPLE Mass campaigns and community action against vested interest groups Information support to politicians & bureaucrats for discussion on tribal issues in State Assembly. Interaction with the Tribal Research Institute, Govt. of Maharashtra for data validation Interface with judiciary on tribal right to identity and entitlement to land media campaigns to bring tribal issues in the forefront
OUTCOME & IMPACT Visible increase in a feeling of security (socioeconomic) amongst children as indicated by: not a single instance of bonded labour recorded in the last 22 months! sporadic incidences of child labour recorded in just 9 hamlets atrocities on women and children nil in more than two-thirds of the 110 hamlets!!
OUTCOME & IMPACT Emergence of an awakened group, taking action on tribal rights both political and legal as indicated by: The prevention of displacement of all 110 hamlets, in spite of growing pressure against tribal unity Retention of cultural identity among the youth and children in spite of strong exposure to rapid urbanisation and dominant paradigms of thought and ideologies The level of confidence demonstrated in articulating and asserting their struggle for an identity The faith endorsed in the collective strength of each individual young and old
OUTCOME & IMPACT Increase in respect for children and their rights as indicated by: The attitudinal shifts and encouragement demonstrated through the Bal-sanghatana s The level of participation and respect demonstrated by SMA in incorporating agendas directly impacting children
OUTCOME & IMPACT Increased access to traditional sources of occupation and livelihood as indicated by: Arrest and subsequent reduction by 15% of starvation related deaths - CMR / IMR / MMR during the last 6 years Functional and corruption free PDS experienced in at least 4 of the 9 centres Substantial increase in the per-capita income Reduced dependence on money lenders Arrest/ marginal reduction in distressed migration
STATUS OF CHILD RIGHTS INDICATOR 91-92 97-98 OCT 03 % Families w/o Ration cards 80% 55% 15% % Families w/o caste certificates 100% 45% 20% % Families w/o Land entitlements 90% 80% 65% Child mortality Rate Average distance to the nearest Govt hospital 10km 10km 10km No. of Private clinics emerged in the vicinity 10km 8km 5km No. of primary schools nil nil nil Average distance to nearest school 10km 10km 10km % children in Bonded labour 40% 35% Nil No. of Child marriages 95% 70% 15%
INCIDENTS OF HOPE IN THE ERA OF LPG+CF Esselworld - Amusement Park Kelipada (tribal hamlet) 1. Loss of tribal land leading to displacement & traditional livelihood options 2. Persistent struggle 3. Restoration of tribal land and dignity
CHALLENGES AHEAD Co-option of the nation state by global forces, and therefore increased pressure to protect traditional sources of knowledge and livelihoods The rapid spread of Dominant Ideologies with ulterior motives (communal fascists & manuvadis, capitalists) continue to disintegrate and tear down the delicate solidarity of Adivasis Those civil society organisations (including those working on behalf of children) who do not address the root causes of a problem often impede the overall process of social transformation Such groups are also vulnerable to being co-opted by dominant forces and vested interest groups
THE POWER OF COLLECTIVE ACTION Z I N D A B A D!