ITENARY
1. Details of Khatra ACDC
2. Necessary Registration Documents and Approval
3. Aims and objectives of Khatra Adibasi Culture and Development Center
4. Core Activity of Khatra Adibasi Culture and Development Center
5. Tribal unrest and its reasons
6. A brief report spanning 12 years illustrating activities and development of KACDC.
7. Introduction of Khatra Subdivision
On November 3, 1992, Minister of Land and Land Revenue, Mr. Binoy Chowdhury inaugurating the full pledge Khatra Subdivision of Bankura District.
Introduction
Government of West Bengal has accepted on principle, the creation of an outlying and full fledged subdivision entitled a Khatra subdivision in the district of Bankura. A cabinet decision followed by formal notification segregating 7 PSs namely:
1. Taldangra.
2. Simlipal.
3. Raipur.
4. Sarenga.
5. Ranibandh.
6. Khatra.
7. Indpur.
The eight blocks are as follows:
1. Taldangra.
2. Simlapal.
3. Raipur I.
4. Raipur II.
5. Ranibandh.
6. Khatra I.
7. Khatra II.
8. Indpur for the existing sadar subdivision and upgradation of the post of additional SDO, now SDO Bankura sadar at Khatra, along with automatic upgradation of the post of additional SDPO now SDPO. Khatra have sufficed for the purpose of creating this subdivision involve no substantial expenditure of the government other than expenditure for filing up some critical gap posts. By official declaring Khatra as a full fledged subdivision in the first page. Government has simply supplemented the unfinished job since taken up by it for the sake of administrative convenience vis-à-vis people’s interest. Khatra, the headquarter of the newly created subdivision, was already having the office of additional SDO (presently SDO) and other government departments.
Besides that, a vast stretch of draught prove area where mostly the SC, ST and other backward class population, livelihood and source human facilities. There are anyhow surviving with ill communication, scanty and erratic rainfall, low fertility of soil, absence of capital and enterpreunerial capacity, low technology transfer, low social and economic overheads ,low per capita income ,unemployment and poverty. Abundance of natural forest with wild vives, availability of materials like mica, china clay and woolfarm ,existence of tourist spots like Mukutmanipur, Jhilimili, Chhendapathar, Ranibandh and large concentration of SC/ST and other backward classes of population, having migratory need and tendency (in search of seasonal jobs).
ADMINISTRATIVE AND PHYSICAL ASPECTS
BANKURA AND PURULIA
The two district Bankura, Purulia comprises of the intermediate that lying between the Gangetic alluvial palins to the east and the Chhotanagpur plateau on the West. The whole area is a mixture of terrain characterized by flat plains and isolated and dispersed hillocks. Much of this west region consists of lateritic soil covered with jungles. In the past, large tracts had forest cover but exploitation has removed most of it. A consequence of this has been that large denuded areas come waste lands. At present approximately 16% of the area of the district is covered with forest approximating that of the West Bengal average.
The principal rivers of the area flow from the north-west to the south east. They are mostly short hill streams which have only seasonal flow of water. Among the important rivers are Damodar, Kasai, Subarnarekha, Rupnarayan.
The climate is characterized by an oppressively hot summer, high humidity and rain in the monsoon months. The average rainfall is less than many other parts of the state and frequent drought condition occur leading to failure in crops. Drinking water supply is a chronic problem in the summers. Moreover through the cultivable land areas amount to about the same as the average for the state, most of such land is single cropped with comparatively lower yields
During the early period of British administration much of the area of the three districts came under the jurisdiction of what was called the jungle mahal. Since independence there has been realignment of the old boundaries, Purulia, which was included as part of Bihar, was added to West Bengal in 1956.
LOCATION, TOPOGRAPHY AND PEOPLE
Khatra subdivision and Khatra 1 and 2d blocks, where Khatra Adibasi Culture and development center (Khatra ACDC) in the state of West Bengal in India, East and aboriginals like Santals, Bhumij, race (Gandhi called them PEOPLE OF GOD), and firewood collection, marginal farming and at the time of drought, they migrate to other states to work in farm, brick kilns and other construction jobs. The people are very poor, starving, hand to mouth yet they have a very rich culture. The people are more happy when they were completely dependent on their rich movement forest. They used to get sufficient fuel, fodder, fruits ,fertilizers and protein resources like meat and mushroom. Over the years with the nationalization of work on their rained. Undulating, highly acidic, eroded lands without sufficient experience, knowledge and technological support to forming. The money lenders, big holders and corrupt forest guards, police and development officials nexus took the opportunity of the situation resulting in large scale of paddy fields to forward castes, increase debts dying of village crafts, leaving the people to fall in the trap of vicious circle of poverty.
Even for the monsoon seasons, the day was unusually rainy as the place was the border town of Khatra wedged between the two perennially drought prone districts of Purulia and Bankura. A well-lit auditorium fitted with up-to-date gadgets or acoustics was unthinkable in that small town and in any way it could not have been in place with the occasion, the reception to six outstanding personalities whose milleu was the adibasi society. The outstanding personalities are as follows:
1. Saradaprasad Kisku, the eminent Santali poet standing at the head of the anti-witch movement in the area.
2. Rupchand Hembram, the Santhali prose writer.
3. Sindhubala , reputed singer from Chotanagpur.
4. Mohan Khera, 120-year-old, otherwise known as “Swadeshi Dacoit” (freedom fighter dacoit).
5. Gambhir Singh Mura, the Chhou dancer.
6. Mahasweta Devi, the eminent Bengali writer and activist and Gnanpith award winner and the sister of all those people who are struggling in Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.
The Open Air Stage named after Kansabati in between the gusts of squally wind on August 16 also witnessed the birth of “Adibasi Sangbad”, the first newspaper which is run by and for the indigenous population of the country. It must have been indeed a memorable moment in the life of tribal men and women and also their well wishers in the plains when the reputed Padmashree award winning Chhou dancer Gambhir Singh Mura held aloft the “Adibasi Sangbad” which has a total of 8 pages. The well-wishers felt proud of it. The tribal population felt proud that their mouthpiece had seen the light of the day. The skeptics raised their voice in dissent. They are abundant in our modern world. The distinction of being an Editor goes to Lakshmindra Kumar Sarkar who is a journalist from Kolkata. The friends of Lakshimdra Kumar Sarkar called him “Adibasi Sarkar” shows his understanding of the problems of the neglected tribals of India.
Ranjit Chatterjee helped Mr. L.K. Sarkar financially in the development of the tribal newspaper called “Adibasi Sangbad.” Otherwise this newspaper project might have remained unfulfilled. He is the President of the Association of Small Industries, Business and Rural Development. He is also the owner of a couple of foundries at Jessore Road. He believes that the business community owes it to a larger society the birth pangs of development.
It may be added that prior to the publication of the newspaper another journalist from Calcutta, Mr. Sambhu Sen volunteered to conduct a few workshops which was attended to his surprise by scores of eager tribal youth of both sexes. The first number of “Adibasi Sangbad” bears eloquent testimony to the fact that the youngsters have learnt a lot from the workshops. Among them, Ramsundar Baskey (The Story of My Village), Sagarika Hembram (The Problem of Santhal Women) shows great promise as their reports exhibits those qualities that go into the making of good journals namely facility of expression and keen eye allied to social commitment and when one looks deeply the presence of nontribals, the management and editing work of the paper appears to be nonavoidable, at least at the initial stage. The self-consciousness of the community which is historically held backward, needs to have a helping hand to express itself. The same thing happened with the role of Harish Mukherjee, an illustrious name of 19th century Bengal in relation to the patients opposed to indigo cultivation. All that matters is the sincerity of the outsiders, their missionary zeal to groom a contingent of tribal youngsters who later will be ready to take over. In fact, the assistant editor’s post is filled by a young Santhali writer.
TRIBAL WELFARE: OBJECTIVES OVERVIEW OF KHATRA ACDC
Indian language use the word “ADIBASI” for tribals. It literally means ‘the original inhabitants of a country. Swamiji found that these tribals of India. “Where and the aryas in novitiate.”
In cultural anthropology, tribals are small groups of people which are identified by traditions of common decent and having shared language, culture and ideology, members of a tribe normally live in contiguous territory and work together in such joint endeavors as trade, agriculture, house construction, ceremonial activities, etc. Some modern anthropologists have rejected the term ‘tribal’ on the ground that it could not be precisely defined. Others object to the negative connotations, the word came to acquire in the colonial area.
Before India was brought under foreign domination, these prevailed cordial social and economic interaction, between the major section of the population and the tribal. Came into, conspicuous existence following were cut off from the mainstream. They constitute about 8% of the total population of India. It is estimated 52% of tribal people living in rural areas are below the poverty line. The literacy rate among tribals is only 23.6% and the female literacy among them is negligible. Exploitation of tribals continues almost unabaled. Environmental degradation of the tribal areas could checked but marginally.
To cope with the problems of Indian tribals, a student of Swami Vivekananda would encision an India in which tribals will form a harmonius integral part of the nation. The tribals will have to be ‘levelled’ up economically and socially. Tribal culture will enrich the rich mosaic which is Indian society today. The tribals have to be made participants and co-shares in India’s destiny. But in the process their identify need not be compromised, rather there should be a harmonious interaction between tribals and nontribals at various levels … social, economic, intellectual, and religious, following the principal of Unity of Diversity. Such a healthy interaction will bring about a stabler, nobler society one in which tribals and nontribals will try to live in harmony by recognizing and accepting what is good in the other. A social anthropologist can discern three distinct approaches to tribal welfare in India.
a) The British government for the most part tended to leave the tribesmen alone partly for administrative reasons and partly from a desire to quarantine the tribes from political infection.
b) As against this exclusivistic approach ,reformers tried to introduce among tribals the lifestyle of the majority of the population. This has tempted a number of tribes to adopt a semi-western urban culture at the cost of their own customs, manners, dress etc.
c) The third and perhaps the most acceptable approach was popularized by our first prime minister, Pandit Jawahar lal Nehru. He wanted to bring about the development of tribals in such a way that their traditional rich culture would not be destroyed. In the same vein, Verrier Elwin said, “We do not want to preserve the tribes as museum specimens, but equally we do not want to put them into clowns in a circus. We do not want to stop the clock of the progress, but we do want to see that it keeps the right time. ‘The third approach seems to close with Swami Vivekanand’s basic ideas of development.
From this stand point, tribal welfare should have the following objects in view.
i) To preserve strengthen and coverage all that in best in tribal society, culture, art and language. The tribal folk will be of the greatest service to Indian if they are able to bring their unique treasures becoming second rate copies of the nontribals. Their moral values, simplicity, self reliance, courage, artistic talent and cheerfulness are much in need. Such a cultural disruptive forces operating in many of our tribal belts. While tribal culture has to be preserved, the tribals have also to be made aware of the rich cultural and spiritual heritage and of their being entitled to have a share in this legacy.
Swamiji believed in Unity in Diversity in a pluralistic society. This has to be kept in view when we attempt to bring about harmonization of cultures. We should also remember that no community in the world can live in isolation today. And our tribals and nontribals, but also between one tribe and another. This done, tribals will contribute to India’s progress of their own accord.
ii) To provide educational facilities that will enable the tribal folk to view life in a broader perspective and which will make them self reliant, Swamiji considered education to be the only solution to all national ills. But according to Swamiji, education is not the amount of information that is put into your brain and runs riot there, undigest, al l your life. We must have life-building, man making, character making assimilation of Idea.” Swamiji emplaraised character building because it is only strength of character that paves the way for practical wisdom. With this and in view self-reliance and self-confidence have to be nurtured.” One must raise oneself by one’s own exertions. This applies all spheres of Swamiji. And he has also warned us. “All the wealth of the world cannot help one little Indian village if the people are not taught to help themselves.”
iii) To bring within the reach of every tribal the four fold goal of human life. The four purusharthas as conceived by the Indian rishis of yore which have Government social life India from time immemorial…. (virtue or duty, wealth, legitimate, enjoyment, liberation)….. which constitute the birthright of every man, woman ,and child asthma citizen of India. This is the solution Swamiji has recommended to remedy the alienation of the tribals that various historical factors have brought about. More important ,was Swamiji’s re-declaration of India’s ancient discovery-divinity of every soul – has to be applied to the tribal context as well. And our tribal brothers and sisters too should learn to understand and assimilate this unique Indian heritage. Swamiji in his prophetic vision has realized. “Let new India arise out of the peasants.” Cottage grasping the plough, out of the huts of the fisherman. The cobbler and the sweeper…. Let her emerge from graves and forests from hills and mountains.” Upon the efficiency and earnestness with the major socially addresses itself to tribal (and rural) welfare depends the re-emergence of a living vibrant India.
OVERVIEW
In our effort to establish a just socio-economic order, we have traversed the area which concerns underprivileged and have-nots of our society. We want to reach out to those people who have not seen the ray of development and progress. We are to create a society which is free from ignorance and injustice. In this direction, we have tried to cooperate with those who are struggling to generate social forces which could bring a sea change in our society. Therefore, we expect people to gain power and form and inseparable part in decision making. This is what we are trying to facilitate in our organizational activities.
We are presently involved in various spheres of human activity and concern like health and herbal, women empowerment training, watershed and environment, sanitation ,primitive tribes development, income generation, technology, fishery. Group formation and net working, community health research and documentation microlevel planning etc.
In the role of supporting others, we are associated with lot of organizations at regional and national level. Our networking system is being further strengthened.
The tribals of Bankura have a long culture tradition of living in harmony with the environment and they along can safeguard.
We are trying to refrain people from felling trees, by initiating and guiding their works towards various income generation programme.
We have complete faith in people’s potential and it is believed that they will achieve the much needed strength and capability is right injustice and create a society which his socially acceptable, economically viable, ecologically sustainable, technologically feasible and politically tolerable.
We take this opportunity to share our last years achievement with you. It would not have been possible without cordial support which we have got free services from our grass root volunteers. We record our sincere gratitude and appreciation to those who contributed us in translating our dream into reality. Last ,but not the least, we are placing this “Annual Report” before all of you with the hope trust that. Your valuable insights and suggestions will make our involvement with people more serious and fruitful.
Date: 01.04.2003. LAKSHMINDRA KUMAR SARKAR
Secretary ,Khatra ACDC.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF KHATRA ADIBASI CULTURE AND DEVELOPMENT CENTRE (KACDC)
a) To promote and develop culture of the backwards and tribals.
b) To undertake research and study programmes in ethnic communities.
c) To organize training programmes in appropriate technology, agriculture and traditional art and crafts.
d) To take up welfare programmes in health and education.
e) To carry out action programme as well as awareness programmes for the consideration of environment and ecology.
f) To organize festivals ,fairs or seminar/workshop, devotes tribal culture and performing arts and on science and technology.
g) To publish reports, papers, periodicals and magazines on different facts of tribal life and culture.
h) To raise funds by receiving grants, gifts/subscriptions, donations, scholarships from individuals, organization both in cash and kind (paid in any country) to achieve the above said aims and objectives.
i) To acquire, utilize and possess property and articles movable or immovable by the way of purchase, receiving as fights donations and awards or by taking lease and by hire etc.
j) To take up any other programmes as the KACDC will deem fit to fulfill aims and objectives.
k) To economic rehabilitation of the tribal and economically weak families, by way of organizing their training and promoting their enterprises. Animal husbandry, poultry, agriculture/vegetable/orchard farming ,cottage and small scale industrial skills and allied work.
l) To create national consciousness and abhorrence to evil among the tribal people of hill and forest areas.
Tribal unrest in all over India why? And how to bring all out development for them.
FOR YOUTH AND CHILDREN OBJECTIVES
Youth and Children Development by KACDC
National Integration
Self help group.
Literary science.
Cultural mind.
Self-respect.
Sportsman.
Discipline and punctuality.
Empowerment.
Responsibility to the society.
Education.
Psychology.
Organizational science.
Health.
Youth leadership.
Social worker.
Capacity building.
AT A GLANCE OF AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF
Office: KACDC A.T. , P.O., Khatra, District Bankura, W.B., Pin 722140. Ph: (03243) 255612. Kol: (033) 2442245.
Low cost Housing center.
Eco-farm.
Health Center.
Women Development Center.
Performing arts and culture training center.
Poultry farm.
Loksanskriti and Adibasi Sanskriti Research Center
Pig cum fishery.
Handicraft training and marketing center.
Rural volunteers training center.
Sustainable agriculture center.
Printing unit.
Children development center.
If you want to join this moral endeavor, do not hesitate!
Please write down a letter to us. If you can spare some time, please support to continue this venture.
Waiting for your favorable reply.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF KHATRA ADIBASI CULTURE AND DEVELOPMENT CENTRE (KACDC)
a) To promote and develop culture of the backwards and tribals.
b) To undertake research and study programmes in ethnic communities.
c) To organize training programmes in appropriate technology, agriculture and traditional art and crafts.
d) To take up welfare programmes in health and education.
e) To carry out action programme as well as awareness programmes for the consideration of environment and ecology.
f) To organize festivals ,fairs or seminar/workshop, devotes tribal culture and performing arts and on science and technology.
g) To publish reports, papers, periodicals and magazines on different facts of tribal life and culture.
h) To raise funds by receiving grants, gifts/subscriptions, donations, scholarships from individuals, organization both in cash and kind (paid in any country) to achieve the above said aims and objectives.
i) To acquire, utilize and possess property and articles movable or immovable by the way of purchase, receiving as fights donations and awards or by taking lease and by hire etc.
j) To take up any other programmes as the KACDC will deem fit to fulfill aims and objectives.
k) To economic rehabilitation of the tribal and economically weak families, by way of organizing their training and promoting their enterprises. Animal husbandry, poultry, agriculture/vegetable/orchard farming ,cottage and small scale industrial skills and allied work.
l) To create national consciousness and abhorrence to evil among the tribal people of hill and forest areas.
Tribal unrest in all over India why? And how to bring all out development for them.
BRIEF DETAILS OF KHATRA ACDC
Khatra Adibasi Culture and Development Center (KACDC) is a registered voluntary organization, established n 1991, (but the registration get in the year of 1993, 6th October) with its headquarters of Khatra, district Bankura (WestBengal, India) a virtual backward area.
KACDC’s aims at promoting a just economic social order, friendly environment and a human society. In brief, organization is devoted to all round development of the rural masses. It believes that development and progress can only take place when the rural masses are encouraged and inspired to take part in their own development.
KHATRA ACDC GIVES EMPHASIS
Khatra ACDC gives emphasis on the tribal printing technology and computer training, tradition of cultural action , traditional handicraft production and marketing awareness of social rights and movement against anti-witch hunting to tribal women. In its programme, the center is also involved in a participatory research on indigenous cultural forms as a means of communication and conscientation from the year 1991. It is study on social and cultural situation of the tribals and other depressed people in several villages of West Bengal. It will organize a number of festivals of tribal folk culture in Bankura, Purulia and Midnapore district.
Seminar of folk culture and communication are organized in Calcutta, Bankura and Purulia. Many scholars as well as practitioners participated in these. A national seminar on folk media for communication will be organized in 2003 at Bankura, Purulia and Calcutta in which may experts from all over India will come to participate.
In the year of 2001, 13th and 14th August KACDC organized two days seminar at Kolkata, W.B. Bangla Academy.
The subject was – Tribal unrest all over India why? And how to bring all out development for them.
In the year of 2000, 20th November, at Bangla Academy of Kolkata, subject was – Santali language movement and environment problem of West Bengal.
CULTURAL HUT
Cultural huts will be build up in project areas with participation of the tribals. This hut will continue communication center for tribal culture.
During this period issues like forest, health, education and wages were of immediate concern to the target group. Assuming the role of an activist, Khatra ACDC thought for the cause of the target people provided moral and material support them whenever necessary. To put it straight, those were real hectic days procession, meeting, rally etc. But latter on self building construction process of social programmes were launched.
OUR TRAINING METHODOLOGY
We have applied participatory methodology to make these training more lively, educative and participatory. Thus methodologies include nature camps, field visits ,case studies, role play, stimulation game, sharing experience, lecture ,question-answer, group discussion and learning through doing. List of our activities/programmes is provided in appendix – II.
GENDER
It is Gender sensitive, ratio of participants at HRRB in the year of___ male 40.87% and female 59.02%.
NETWORKING
Under its networking system, HRRB supplies technical expertise to plan, implement, monitor and exposure to the outside world. The concept of GRS (Grass Root Groups) was floated GRG will establish intimate contact and linkage wish each other through visits, information workshop. Seminars and regular meeting. This process would help to lay down a solid foundation stone for network of such activities.
INFORMATION AND DOCUMENTATION CENTER
At our information and documentation center we concentrate ourselved on collection, classification, storage, repackaging and dissemination of information.
The materials supplied for the field are repackaged in different languages. Annual reports, field reports, and other necessary articles are documented in this section HRRB has got approximately one thousand books and fifty periodicals in its library to meet educational requirement of its staff.
ADIBASI SAMBAD
Adibasi sambad a tabloid newspaper (Santali + Bengali language) will now be published from KACDC. Computer service would be made available to its library. The users of this library ranged from grass root level workers to research. Reports, seminar paper, case studies, audio visual materials like posters, cassettes, puppets, etc.
STAFF DEVELOPMENT
Khatra ACDC has been making continuous effort to upgrade the knowledge, skill and efficiency of its staff. All the needy staff are provided with formal training so that they could fit themselves in the yardsticks of success. Detailed orientation programmes for our new staff through personal instructions, study materials, audio visual aids, field visits, etc. have continued.
Their participation in training programmes and workshops from time to time are encouraged.
FUTURE PROGRAMMES
The role attitude and perspective to be emphasized in future programmes.
******* providing training, technical and other supports in natural resource management and income generation programmes.
******Extensive support to VDO’s every year for strength their organizational and field activities.
******Forming a trainers team to conduct different trainings at field level.
******Making a team of master trainers in craft section.
*****Free type and computer training center for SC/ST candidate.
*****Identification of local resources, technology, upgradation, refresher courses, market liaise and organizational producer groups.
*****conducting research or nonforest produce and contamination free higher crop production and unpolluted drinking and irrigated water.
*****In pathological lab ,routine test of blood, urine, stool, malaria, slides, tuberculosis, sputum, etc.
*****Technology demonstration --- sustainable agriculture i.e. intercropping ,mix cropping, relay shopping, corporation biological rest control and mulching.
***** Research traditional system of governance prevalent among the West Bengal tribes.
******Strengthening of mohila mondol and youth club for all round development at village and panchayat level.
***** Formation of fishery cooperative.
***** Upgradation and popularization of tribal medicinal plants.
*****Low cost housing and nonconventional sources of energy.
*****Information collection, classification, packaging and dissemination in various languages.
******Development of different products and making master trainers in food, science and technology.
******Health awareness programme, health service would be provided to needy and remote areas.
*****Formation of self-help group (SHG-NABARD) scheme.
*****Income generating and women empowerment programmes.
*****Representation of national and regional issues.
*****Networking system will be strengthened promoting organic agriculture technology.
*****Watershed planning and implementation through village cooperation.
*****Microplanning.
*****Eco development programmes in forest areas.
*****Para-veterinary development and opening of first aid veterinary health centers.
Last 4 years saw strenuous works on different aspects of rural development. These development works include, popularity of herbs ,production, and propagation of herbal medicines to achieve a better state of health.
Income generation programmes were also initiated by linking women groups to different activities, coming 2002-2003 research and demonstration farm will set up felicitate scientific training. Khatra ACDC seeks to concentrate on empowerment of women as it belikes that, they are the harbingers of social change.
CORE ACTIVITY
Along with the self-building process of Khatra ACDC meetings were organized and training was imparted to other organization to remove their weaknesses and club grass rout village development organizations (VDOs) operating in Bankura and Purulia district with mass activities. In our networking ‘GRG’ was floated in this process. We enhance capacity of grassrout VDOs by inspiring them to enrich perspective knowledge and management skill of their field workers.
We also provide a launching pad for evolving a networking in South Bankura.
A vast number of our activities and programmes revolve around social action campaign, training, and demonstration unit for field training.
One important thing to be highlighted is that Khatra Adibasi Culture and Development Center revolves on its axis having 4 units under its umbrella: therefore it would be more convenient if we see our entire activities and programmes going at the units like the discussion on grass ropot formation among the tribals of Purulia, Sabar women groups in Baroda Sabar colony near Mukutmanipur.
PART C
ITINERY
Detailed reports
a) Human Resource Research Bureau (HRRB)
b) Rural Adibasi Mahila Samity (RAMS)
c) Manimela (assembly of jewels) and
d) Adibasi Press Club.
Activities and Major Achievements of Khatra Adibasi Culture and Development Center from 1990 to 2003.
Now, this organization has formed its four wings like:
i) Human Resource Research Bureau.
ii) Rural Adibasi Mahila Samity.
iii) Children unit – Manimela and
iv) Tribal journalist unit – Adibasi Press Club.
Central board for workers education, Ministry of Labour, Government of India and so many individuals are financially sponsored/assisted to implement and to continue the above mentioned programmes. Seeing the realities and scope, we have concentrated on some works on priority basis, which are listed below:
HUMAN RESOURCE RESEARCH BUREAU:
It is established in April 14, 1996. It is a research unit of KACDC. The organization is planning to open its secretariat at grass root level so that contact with outside villages could become more easy. In this regard, in January or February 1996, a unit of HRRB was settled up at Mosleha village. With an aim to empower and strengthen grass root BDOs engaged in bringing about social change through different institutional interventions. Its objective is to promote mechanism for representing national and regional issues, develop resources and process of learning through experience. HRRB as a resource center is mainly concentrated on activities like training, workshop and meeting, research and documentation, dissemination of information networking etc. Capacity building is the magnum opus programme being run by HRRB. Its strength of organizational management ability and brings efficiency in their activities. This programme has become immensely popular.
Another method we have followed of supporting groups are to feed them with information which is not easily available to them. This has taken the form of documentation, publication and research. In this search for effectiveness, we have found it necessary to use modern means such as computer, telephone etc.
In research and documentation cell, HRRB has established a joint research committee to look after traditional system of governance research activity is done in this field.
HRRB is involved in imparting natural resource management (NRM) training, technical support and income generation programmes to its grass root BDOs. It also provides field level support to different grass root level programmes of BDOs. Mass campaign and field demonstration have been provided to the press youth of the Bankura, Purulia and Midnapore district. We have worked out a plan to approach the people by emphasizing the activities as follows:
1. Performing Arts: To promote folk media for alternative communication for people to form people’s theatre forum in tribal communities.
2. Social Action and campaign: Ecology and environment, sustainable agricultural health for all, land and water management and afforestation.
3. Training: Sustainable agriculture, pig cum fishery ,health and herbal medicine, agroforestry, science and technology.
4. Demonstration unit for field training: Eco-agriculture, tribal medicine garden, land and water management, dairy and poultry, mushroom cultivation, composite fish culture ,forest protection, nursery and agro-forestry, nonconventional energy sources.
FUNCTIONS:
i) In this wing, we are promoting folk media for alternative communication for people to form People’s Theater Forum in tribal communities.
ii) We are promoting workshops, seminars on ecology and environment, sustainable agriculture, health for all, land and water management etc.
iii) We have formed demonstrating unit for field training on eco-agriculture, herbal medicine garden, land and water management, dairy and poultry, mushroom cultivation ,composite fish culture, forest protection, nursery and agro forestry and nonconventional energy sources.
RURAL ADIBASI MAHILA SAMITY (RAMS) (RURAL TRIBAL WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION)
Women acquired a very high place in Khatra Adibasi Culture and Development Center (KACDC). In 1996, mahila samitis (women’s associations) were formed in a number of villages and panchayets.
Suppose you want to ask us “Why did you form Mahila Samiti in this area?”
The answer is: Since time immemorial, a women have remained the supreme inspiration for man’s onward march, an embodiment of love, pity and compassion. Unfortunately for us, the ogre of Indian society has many talons, the most heinous of which is the subjugation of women by our social wolves. It is an irony that the social status of the women, particularly of rural women, is very low in our society. In the male dominated rural society, females are dumb, backward, suppressed and are treated almost like chattal. The male chauvinists assume that a woman is never complete without a man around. The vicious circle of exploitation continues and despite all high soaring achievements of modern age. The women are still subjected to gross social injustice and discrimination. Hopefully, the scenario is fast changing in the tribal belt of Bankura in the subdivision of Khatra where Khatra Adibasi Culture and Development Centre has appeared as the messiah to expose the cause of the depressed and dispossessed tribal women to whom life does not glow in fulfillment but remains to be a take of agony and anguish situated at Khatra, Bankura district. Khatra ACDC is a registered nongovernment voluntary organization and RAMS is a women’s unit of KACDC. Through the RAMS, the Khatra ACDC fights the injustices, exploitation and discrimination to which women were subjected and give a welcome escape to the women especially the tribals, from the morass of misery. In fact, RAMS will be in future a regulated women oriented voluntary organization, which has been sincerely and steadfastly thriving for an all round development of the tribals especially for the tribal women since its very inception in 1991.
The region with its stagnant economy and communication bottleneck presents a dismal look of primitiveness, acute scarcity, grim poverty, formidable illiteracy, social stratification, inhuman drudgery and slavery of women.
Life loses all its charm in this area where poverty ,hunger, illiteracy, conservatism and superstitious beliefs vie with one another in depriving and degrading the life of the people, particularly belonging to the scheduled tribes and other backward classes. Exploitation of the tribal people by higher classes go unchecked. The women in this area are generally illiterate, conservative and have
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