Jharkhand became a full-fledged state in November 2000. There has been a
long and sustained struggle for statehood for many years in the region. There
are many activists, people’s organisations and social action groups in most of
the districts in the state. Many of these organisations, activists, social
action groups and individuals came together and formed Swaraj in 1998.
Judav is the partner organisation through which funds are routed to the
state. There are 6 fellows working in the state unit and 3 in the Damodar
consortium (located in the state). All the fellows have been actively
associated with mass movements and the Jharkhand struggle for statehood. The JP
movement has also inspired many of them.
PSP
Processes in Jharkhand
Activists and Jharkhand have been organising themselves and
struggling for Self-Rule and their rights over water, forests and land. It
appeared that the Jharkhand Struggle and PSP are based on similar values of
humanity and rights of the poor. In fact, PSP is enhancing the capacity of the
people and is helping leadership for the struggle for self-rule and that of
women to emerge. Hence SJ-Jharkhand adopted PSP.
Eleven organisations working in seven districts
participated in the PSP process. In two training programmes 17 facilitators of
these organisations capacitated 114 village level facilitators. Eighteen of
them were women. The PSP process
was undertaken in 48 villages comprising 2,500 families. The following issues were identified by the
PS process-
|
CRITICAL ISSUES |
STRATEGIC ISSUES |
|
1.
Alcoholism 2.
Child Labour 3.
Deforestation 4.
Displacement 5.
Drought 6.
Lack of Cottage
Industries 7.
Lack of
Drinking Water 8.
Lack of Herbal
Medicine 9.
Lack of
self-rule 10. Migration 11. New Economic Policy 12. Poverty 13. River Pollution 14. Shortage of Traditional Seeds 15. Witchcraft |
16. Alcoholism 17. Cultural Deterioration 18. Deforestation 19. Displacement 20. Fundamentalism 21. Gender Issues 22. Lack of Cottage Industry 23. Lack of self-rule 24. New Economic Policy 25. Poverty 26. River Pollution |
STRATEGIC THRUST
1. Realisation of People’s Rights
2. Self-Rule for the rights over land, water and forests for
sustainable development.
3. Promotion of Gender Equality.
4. Struggles Against Fundamentalism.
5. Action against Alcoholism.
6. Campaign for Economic Literacy and alternative Education.
AREA OF
OPERATION
|
DISTRICTS |
FELLOWS |
GRAM
PANCHAYAT |
INTENSIVE
WORK VILLAGE |
CONTACT
VILLAGES |
TOTAL |
|
4 |
6 |
4 |
20 |
28 |
48 |
The villages are as follows: -
Deoghar
District: - Jaria Tand, Bakulia, Dalaha,
Singho and Naiyadih. –
Gram Panchayat – Patwabad
Giridih
District: - Bijalibathan, Khutabandh,
Barasoli, Dogbapahadi and Hadwadiha. –
Gram Panchayat – Karnapura
Dhanbad
District: - Rangadih, Sirsagadh,
Sisakari, Khapdakulhi and Jiling Tand. –
Gram Panchayat – Matari
Hazaribagh
District: - Basobar
Bhatwigaha, Baksidih, Sultani and Darudih. –
Gram Panchayat - Daroo
There are strong district and regional networks working on various
issues and the fellows take active part in them.
The activities
and programmes were formulated to address these issues. The programme covers 18 districts in the
state. While the intensive work is confined to 30 villages of the fellows, the
larger issues are highlighted by the state, regional and district level
networks through various campaigns.
-
20
women and 10 men SHGs formed.
-
Village
education committees constituted in 5 villages.
-
2
study centres established.
-
4
schools run with the support of the community.
-
3
forest protection committees formed.
-
Equal
minimum wages for women and men in government programmes.
-
Leadership
qualities developed among women and youth.
-
Road
building and temple construction through government schemes.
-
Through
the community’s efforts, houses sanctioned for 8 families under Indira Awas
Yojna.
-
People’s
organisations and movements emerging even in contact villages.
-
Increased
awareness in the community on the rights of the people.
-
Network
of NGOs, movements, activists and people’s organisations established at the
district and state level.
-
A
good rapport and network established with other issue based groups at district
and state level.
-
District
and state level committee of Swaraj constituted.
-
Jharkhand
has a strong feudal mentality and this comes in the way of striving for social
justice as well as gender justice.
-
Ultra
leftist forces emerging in certain pockets.
-
Ethnic
conflict has become a major challenge.
-
The
funding by multi lateral and bilateral agencies has lead to mushrooming of NGOs
and bringing in large development projects.
-
The
state has had a history of revolt struggle and strong movements since
pre-independence times. The common people in Jharkhand have developed faith in
movement-based struggle after witnessing the success of attaining statehood.
There is a sense of ‘identity’ among the people.
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