NGOs which have been working for social change and for the upliftment
of the deprived masses are aiming at organizing the unorganized sections
of the society. It is however not a new theory.
But in a State like Rajasthan where majority of the
population, ie., 77% are totally depending on the
unorganized agriculture sector, brining the people
together in a partnership for their own development
is not in easy task. Looking the State from various
angles it become very clear that the effective participation
of the rural poor in the development process needs
a systematic and structured planning and implementation
method for the effective sustainability of development
initiatives.
Rajasthan – an overview
Politically, the situation of the State has given
wide dimensions, upheavals and changes from times
immemorial. Since the dawn of civilization upto present
day, the political system of the area has witnessed
the democratic rituals, kingship and kinship as well
as socialistic pattern of government administration.
The shrinking co-operation of the rulers in framing
the state and their traditional attitude has deprived
much, amounting to a slow progress of the State.
The landmass is blocked, the direct sea trade and
transport facility is negated. The economic, social
and cultural exchange has been consistently retarded.
The industrial and technical progress too is slow.
The arid and semi-arid climates, firing western frontiers,
scarcity of potable water, lack of energy resource
gave a fragile growth of Rajasthan.
The growth rate of population in the State has been
higher than that of the country. The 2001 census shows
that while the decennial growth of India was 21.34%
that of Rajasthan was 28.33% The ratio of rural and
urban population is 77.23. the population of Scheduled
Castes and Scheduled Tribes is 17.29 and 12.44 percent
respectively of the States total population, as against
the national average of 16.33 and 8.01 percent.
Rajasthan is an educationally backward State. The
literacy percentage in the State is 61.03, which is
less than the national average of 65.38 percent. The
female literacy rate is only 44.34 percent where as
the same at the national level is 54.16 percent.
The sex ratio of Rajasthan is 922 as against 933 in
India. The human settlement in the State is scattered.
Low density of population, vast area and segmented
pattern of human settlement are some of the constraints
in the development of State’s economy.
Poverty, malnutrition inadequate employment, deterioration
of natural resources, castism are the main problems
and creating a big threat to the sustainable livelihood
and food security specially for the tribals, Scheduled
Castes, women and other poor and marginalized farmers.
Maximum Scheduled tribal and Scheduled Cast population
is spread over eastern, western and southern parts
of the State. Majority of the population is poor and
marginalized farmers depending mainly on agriculture
and animal husbandry as their sources of livelihood.
But the State with its meager water resources and
perilous dependence on scanty low and uncertain rainfall,
is most vulnerable to drought and famine conditions.
During the last 20 years from 1981-2001, seventeen
years were drought affected, with varying degree of
intensity.
Highly inadequate and erratic rainfall adversely affect
agriculture production, which is the backbone of the
state economy interims of employment and contribution
to Net State Domestic Product (NSDP).
Development profile of the state does not indicate
any improvement in near future as very few people
have access to government schemes and other development
sources.
Adverse climatic conditions characterized by erratic
rainfall and frequent occurrence of droughts has resulted
in wide fluctuations in agricultural output, the number
of livestock and the overall growth of the economy.
The size of population and the area over which it
is distributed are important factors in the development
and standard of living of the people. The state has
a population of about 564.73 lakh persons spread out
in a, area of 342.2 thousand Sq. km. This State covers
10.43% of the country’s total area and supports
5.50% of the total population. The percentage of Scheduled
Caste and Scheduled Tribes is very high in Rajasthan,
which is 17.20% and 12.44 respectively.
Among the Scheduled Casts most of the people are
scavengers, balais, tanners, butuehers etc. These
people are most evenly distributed among the various
districts. The Scheduled Tribe population mainly consists
of Bhils, Gararias, Kathodias, Meenas, Saharias, Kalbelieas
etc. live in southern districts of Rajasthan..
The population growth in the State will lead to population
malady and environmental distortion and degradation.
The economic planning has never been for social development
in accordance to the need of population dynamics.
Consequently the social situation in the State is
fast deteriorating and political tensions are swelling
up. The various developmental plans have benefited
only the elite class while the masses in general,
especially the rural population have remained fated
to suffer the misfortunes and hardships associated
with unabated growth in the size of population.
The most vulnerable sections of the people who are
deprived of the benefits of various developmental
programmes and schemes are Scheduled Castes and Scheduled
Tribes residing in the rural areas.
Many NGOs are working for the upliftment and empowerment
of these people so as to bring them in the mainstream
of development. Desired improvement in the social,
economic and political spheres, have not yet been
achieved inspite of all the efforts of the government
in this direction.
Organizing the community for a better future
After independence in 1947 govt. of India started
a number of steps to improve the position and condition
of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. As a result,
a good number of people from these sections are holding
good positions in the society. But their percentage
is very small and the majority of people living in
rural areas continues to be poor, illiterate, deprived
of their basic needs and unorganized.
It should be understood that majority of people living
in the rural area are struggling for their livelihood
and for a better condition of living whether they
may be SC, ST or other category because of their economic,
social and political backwardness.
Experiences of JJVs in community organizing.
JJVS is a NGO, evolved in the year 1985 with a vision
that envisages a society which is free from exploitation
of all kinds, where in the marginalized people have
control over their lives & environment. JJVS is
working for a healthier and a just society by
Supporting appropriate rural development and agriculture.
• Supporting appropriate rural development and
agriculture-based industries
• Creating a clearinghouse of local solutions
for local problems
• Increasing awareness of health and education
opportunities
• Improving the effectiveness of Government
plans and programmes
• Conserving the environment
• Organizing the community for coordinated campaigns
JJVS is committed to an egalitarian social order where
basic needs are fulfilled, economic inequalities are
minimised, and where democratic decision-making provides
for the common good.
JJVS was founded in response to the poor socio-economic
status of tribal communities in southern Rajasthan.
These communities have barely benefited from government
aid and development programmes. Acutely aware of the
miserable conditions, a group of social workers from
the village of Vali decided to establish JJVS and
dedicate their work to social and environmental justice
issues through local self-help initiatives. The name
of the organization, "Jagran Jan Vikas Samiti",
is translated as: an association dedicated to public
awareness and self-development through cooperative
efforts.
From our experience in the southern parts of Rajasthan
the need of organizing the community arises because
of the following reasons.
Unplanned urbanization
Rapid population growth and tremendous increase in
the number of people preferring to dwell in the cities
and towns have been the characteristic features of
the 20th century spatial restructurization. Urbanization
is more a process of transformation both of the geographical
landscape and the behavior of the inhabitance. The
principal forces behind urbanization process is the
concept of modernization, urban bias and economic
dependency. The structural transformation is fast
taking place due to massive change over from agrarian
to industrial economy encouraged by Govt. policies,
foreign investments and dislocation of commercial,
industrial and residential units. All these process
of industrialization, migration and urbanizations
are intimately correlated.
Industrialization
Industrialization in the state is a recent phenomenon.
Before independence due to limited technical assistance,
lack of transport facilities and limited resources
the industrial growth rate was slow.
But cheap labour and favorable conditions of industrial
peace and easy availability of land encouraged industrialist
to start large scale and small scale industrial units
in the State. RIICO (Rajasthan State Industrial Development
and Investment Corporation LTD.) a government undertaking
formed for the development of industrial areas and
industries in the State has developed a series of
industrial areas in the State. But the industries
started in the State have some adverse impact over
the poor as well on environment.
The industries need large quantity of water and a
large area of land. The villages whose main sources
of livelihood are agriculture and animal husbandry
which depend on water and land, suffer a lot as their
land and ground water are used by the industries.
Moreover pollution – water and air caused by
industrial wastes are also a serious cause of concern.
The Natural Resources over which the villagers depend
a lot also are affected by the industries.
Mining
Rajasthan possesses a variety of mineral deposits.
The State has the monopoly in production of zinc,
lead, silver, cadmium, marble, precious and semi-precious
stones. Other leading minerals are tungsten, gypsum,
Soap stone, rock phosphate and building stones etc.
The major mineral based industries are :-
Copper smelting, zinc-smelting, pyrite smelting,
cement, phosphatic fertilizer, marble, florsite and
soap-stone beneficiation and powder industry.
These industries can improve the employment opportunities
and can increase government revenue in the form of
royalty. But the degradation of natural resources,
health 0hazards and water and air pollution etc. are
caused of big concern.
Dams
Rajasthan is a water-scarce State. The ground water level is going
down day-by-day as a result of continuing, drought and lack of sufficient
rain. Water for irrigation and drinking is very limited. Thus dams
small as well as big are constructed to restore rain water for future
use. But it is experienced that the use of majority share of water
from these dams are done by industries and by big farmers Lack of
clear cut policies and firm desire of the govt. to bring changes
in the lives of the poor, desired benefits from the satructures
are not required by the poor and marginalized. Absence of effective
leadership and organization among the villagers are also reasons
for not getting the maximum benefits from these dams and other such
structures.
