NGO helps Bhanwarpur Dalits to overcome bonded type conditions, struggle for sustainable livelihood

By Bharat Dogra 

Bhanwarpur village located in Naraini block of Banda district, UP, has a dalit hamlet of about 100 households. Till about 25 years back the situation of the village was such that most of the workers here were toiling in bonded type conditions. While land pattas had been allotted in the name of most households, due to their weaker and vulnerable position they had not been able to gain occupation of this land and cultivate this land.

It was at this stage that Vidya Dham Samiti (VDS), a voluntary organization, established contact with the people here. After discussions it was decided that getting actual occupation of the land should get the highest priority. The VDS along with community members made various representations to the administration and maintained the continuity of their efforts and campaign. Around this time some officials were also sympathetic to their demands. So several meetings were organized and subsequently a team of revenue officials was constituted to identify, measure and hand over land to the allottees after getting rid of various encroachments. As the villagers here say, it was big achievement and by now about 90 per cent of the allottees have been able to occupy the land.

The journey from bonded workers to small farmers was a significant achievement, but as the land available was limited and there were other adverse conditions, some people still had to migrate to distant places to supplement their earnings and this dependence gradually grew to higher levels. During COVID times these migrant workers had to return without their earnings and their condition became precarious. At this stage VDS again proved very helpful with relief supplies which helped villagers to keep away starvation during the most difficult days. 

Still as the overall situation was quite depressing, VDS coordinator Raja Bhaiya suggested that some constructive activities that can motivate the people should be taken up. A small river Gharar that used to flow near this village had been depleted over the years and gradually its flow was lost, making the livelihood situation in the village more difficult. The villagers decided to try to revive this river with voluntary work and 52 persons—women and men—volunteered to work for this. They achieved surprising success and for some time this helped to make available better irrigation. Unfortunately this was messed up badly by some indiscriminate construction work carried out by some officials without consulting or involving people. Hence the gains people had made with their voluntary work were lost and instead the village became more exposed to floods. Villagers now want some of this indiscriminate construction to be removed so that the threat from floods can go away.

In addition villagers are keen to embark on repair and renovation work of an important well in the village which has been a very important source for meeting the needs of this village. This is regarded as a very useful well but needs considerable cleaning and repair work and villagers want to take this up with some help from VDS. 

In addition villagers are also holding consultations to reduce as much as possible the consumption of all intoxicants. It is hoped that these steps will also take the village community towards increasing unity and cooperation.

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The writer is Honorary Convener, Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include "Man over Machine" and "Protecting Earth for Children"