JOURNEY

SANTOSH KUMAR MANDAL My Experiences with the Kulhaiya Community

Initiating a women’s group in this Muslim-dominated area of and introducing cucumber cultivation as an alternative farm-based livelihood was challenging and sometimes frustrating for the new team. Their success is their reward

T WAS AN EXCITING DAY. My team ne dekhlo chili (Brother, this is a dream come true. members—Trisha, Anup, Tarannum—and I I have never seen such cucumbers in my life).” were going to visit the successfully initiated Fatima’s words provided us with respite from the cucumber field. An intervention of this sort concerns that we had had during the exposure visit was taking place for the first time in the of this village to Jalalgarh, a cucumber production operational area of PRADAN’s Araria team area in the district. In fact, these words were in Bihar. On arriving in the village, we were immensely satisfying; it was like our dream was glad to see the people in the cucumber field. A pick- finally taking shape. up van was parked beside the road; women, men and I Dream! What was the dream? Where did the word children were plucking the cucumbers in the field, while the traders at the collection point were busy ‘dream’ come from? To respond fully, let’s travel two packaging the produce in gunny bags. years back in time when a new team was started in Araria and I became a part of it. The socio-economic Fatima, the owner of field, expressed her sheer condition that we encountered, the various joy, “Bhaia ji sapna pura ho gelei, aisan kheera kabhi struggles, challenges and excitement we faced, and

42 NEWSREACH MAY_JUNE 2017 I heard many stories about their struggle to mobilize women. I was aware about such challenges with this community, having heard stories about it from my colleagues at Kishanganj

how we overcame these, and cent in Jokihat, 62.70 per cent in divided over time, leading to moved forward as a team—all Araria and 46.8 per cent in Palasi many families becoming landless. need to be chronicled. blocks. The Kulhaiya women observe the purdah (veil) system, are mostly I have had much experience Although 60 per cent of engaged in household chores and in working with the SC and the families are involved in do not participate in agriculture. ST communities of Bihar and agriculture, only 30 per cent of The health condition and the Jharkhand but I had not had them have their own land. The literacy rate (20 per cent) of the any experience of working with other 70 per cent are landless women are very poor in the area. , especially in north- families whose livelihoods are east Bihar where the conditions dependent on wage earning in the I became a part of this new team were very different. Therefore, landlords’ field. About 30 per cent in April 2015. My colleagues, it would be appropriate to talk of the landless households also Abhishek, Jyoti and Drasti, briefly about Araria and describe engage in agriculture through who joined earlier, had started my journey with Muslims. I leasing land. Agriculture is not the initial discussions with the would also like to talk about the the mainstay of the household villagers. At that time, mobilizing team’s intervention in cucumber income, which is reflected in the the women into an SHG was a big cultivation: how and why it subsistence level of cropping challenge and only two SHGs had started in the area, and the practices. Migration is a been formed in Araria till March, impact of this initiative. prominent source of income for 2015. I heard many stories the majority of the households. about their struggle to mobilize Team Araria was initiated in You will find people saying, “If we women. I was aware about such December 2014. This area was don’t migrate, we won’t be able to challenges with this community, chosen because it is one of the feed our families.” having heard stories about it most backward and flood-affected from my colleagues at Kishanganj districts of Bihar and stands at The majority of the community (Abhishek, Sachin, Sudarshan). At the bottom of the 90 minority is Kulhaiya Muslims. Kulhaiyas the same time, I was also excited concentrated districts of . It are one of the four sub-groups because for the first time I was is backward, both in terms of its of the Shaikh community in the going to be a part of a newly socio-economic standing and its area. The overall condition of formed team. infrastructure indicators. There the community is poor, in terms is a substantial proportion of of educational, financial, social I started to understand the Muslims in the district. Against and political status. And it is area through my development the state average of 16.2 per one of the fastest growing castes perspective. However, there was cent, the Muslims constitute of Muslims. The prime source some fear in my mind. How do I 44.4 per cent of the total rural of income of this community work with Muslim women? How population in Araria. In the three is agriculture. However, owing will the villagers react? What type blocks that PRADAN is operating, to population growth and the of approach should we use in a the proportion of the Muslim growing number of nuclear new place? Such questions passed population stands at 77.5 per families, the land has been through my mind, considering

JOURNEY MY EXPERIENCES WITH THE KULHAIYA COMMUNITY 43 I started a discussion with the villagers and tried to mobilize the women to form an SHG but for the first 25 days I was not able to form a single SHG. During my field visit, the women were not even ready to talk to me

that we had a lot of experience conversing with them. I started bearing fruit. On 28 April, 2015, working with the ST, SC and OBC visiting the villages at around 6 I received a very heartening families but only a very limited a.m. in the morning and after response from Kudus, a former experience in working with 6 p.m. in the evening because mukhiya of Bagdehra panchayat, Muslims. it was difficult to meet these giving some much-needed hope. people in the day time. Many a I started a discussion with the times, I stood near the mosque He said about me, “Ye neik banda villagers and tried to mobilize the and tried to initiate a discussion hai aur neik irade se aaya hai, ye women to form an SHG but for but the responses were always hamare gaon ko sudharne aaya the first 25 days I was not able disheartening like, “Hamari aurte hai (He is a good person. He has to form a single SHG. During my noor hoti hai paraye murd ke samne come up with good ideas. He has field visit, the women were not nakhun dikhana bhi napak hota hai come to develop our village).” even ready to talk to me. I got (Our women are divine, and for He told me to visit him again various kinds of responses from them to even show their nails to after two days and assured me the community, “Jo baat karna hai other men is immoral).” “Jo kaam of lending his help in organizing hamara malik se kijiye (Whatever karne aaye hai hum mardo se boliye the people in the village. I was you want to discuss, do so with aurto ka kya kaam (Whatever you excited to hear this response my husband).” “Humlog bahut have come for, talk to us, what and immediately went back to paisa jama kiye lekin sab bhag gaya is the need of women)?” “Jaldi the location and discussed the (We deposited a lot of money se yahan se bhagiye warna masjid development with my colleagues. earlier, but the organizations fled se elan kar denge ki kafir aaya hai away).” “Ye sab sirf thagne ka tarika ek bhi haddi wapas nahi jayega After two days, on 30 April, hai (These are different ways of (Go away quickly from here, else Abhishek and I went to the deceiving us).” “Yahan ye sab nahi we will announce through the Gamharia village, where Kudus chal sakta hai (Here, these things Mosques that a disbeliever has gathered around 15 women and don’t work),” and so on and so come, you will not be able to go briefed them about our objective. forth. I became frustrated and back).” Afterwards, some more women anxious because I was unable to and men joined the discussion. find a way to mobilize Muslim Such comments were utterly Sensing the opportunity, women, who were not even ready frustrating; yet I never lost hope. we showed them a video of to talk to me because I was a man. I strongly believed that one day PRADAN’s outreach programmes. the people would understand. I, We then facilitated a discussion, During my field visits, I therefore, continued to approach which generated so many understood that without the men from different hamlets. questions among the community convincing the men and the so- Whenever I sensed some such as: What is the profit in called important persons of the openness, I showed them various forming an SHG? How many days village such as the Maulvi and videos on my laptop. Finally, the will we have to continue to save? the Hafij, it would be difficult to day arrived when my relentless What benefit will we get from the proceed with our work. I began efforts showed the first signs of government? What will you give

44 NEWSREACH MAY_JUNE 2017 During my journey, I learned some hard lessons on the importance of understanding the social milieu and acting accordingly

us? After a prolonged discussion, started shouting at their wives, to mobilize around 300 women a few people exclaimed, “Ye achha “Bhago yahan se. Yahan paisa jama in 35 SHGs at the end of the first cheez hai. Is se gaon ka achha hoga. karne bheje hai ki kawali gaane (Go year. I also demonstrated some Is me koi nuksan nahi hai (This is away from here. Have we sent you good agricultural practices in the good. It will help the villagers. to deposit money or to sing)?” villages such as Direct Seeded Rice There’s no loss in doing this).” As (DSR), vegetable cultivation and a result of this intense discussion, Following this incident, these System of Wheat Intensification 10 women formed a group named women withdrew their money (SWI), which helped to establish Gulab Mahila Samiti, and started and left the group. In another us further in the area. saving Rs 20 each. We felt jubilant meeting that I facilitated, the that we had crossed the first discussion was on how to ensure Meanwhile, I happened to hurdle. norms in the group; the meeting visit Jalalgarh village of Purnia continued for about three hours. district when I was returning The very next week, two new When the meeting was about from Katihar on 25 March, 2016. members joined the group and, to finish, a man entered and Some farmers were busy loading in no time, one member took a threw the SHG savings’ box and cucumber in a carrier-van beside loan of Rs 500 for the treatment shouted, “Ye kya tamasha ho raha the road. I became eager to know of her son. The impact of the hai. Teen ghanta se aurat ke beech what they were doing and after internal loan in the crisis helped mein baithkar ras lila chal raha some time I heard about a patch people realize the importance of hai. Bhago yahan se, koi group nahi where almost 500 farmers grow the SHG; other village women chalega yahan (What’s going on? A cucumbers instead of wheat in also came forward to form new man sitting among women for so the summer season. I planned to SHGs. Subsequently, Gulab long! We will not allow any group visit Chatar village in Jalalgarh Mahila Samiti and I facilitated the here).” To my surprise, not a block of Purnia district, which is formation of eight more groups in single SHG member opposed him only 35 km from our location. the same hamlet over a period of and this group also got dissolved next two months. The experience subsequently. These incidents I discussed this with my was no less than a miracle! taught me to be cautious in our teammates and together we approach. planned to make a visit there. During my journey, I learned The next day, Arshad and I some hard lessons on the I also experienced many good went to Chatar village. We were importance of understanding things in the area. After three surprised to see three trucks from the social milieu and acting to four months of savings and Patna and Darbhanga standing accordingly. In one meeting, I credit, the women understood on the road. Farmers were busy asked the women to read the that the SHG was very beneficial loading the cucumbers in the kalma (Muslim prayer) before for them, leading many of truck. It seemed that no other staring the meeting; when it was the SHGs to increase their crops grew in this area; we could over, the women clapped their savings rate to Rs 50 per week. only see cucumbers in the field. hands in appreciation. However, Meanwhile, people started After talking to the farmers, I hearing them, the men came and trusting me and this helped me understood that they have been

JOURNEY MY EXPERIENCES WITH THE KULHAIYA COMMUNITY 45 Can cucumber be a good option in our area? Will the farmers adopt it? If so, why have they not started yet? These questions came to my mind because the farmers in our area were also growing only wheat and had told us about the losses they faced in wheat cultivation growing cucumber for the last 20 the very next day. I was excited After visiting the field, we called years and earning around Rs 1.25 and the women were excited too. some farmers from Chatar lakhs from their one acre of land. Asmati, said, “Hum pehli bar ghar and requested them to share Growing wheat would give them a se bahar ghumne ke liye sath milkar their experiences in cucumber return of merely Rs 15,000 from jaenge (This will be the first time cultivation. The farmers said that one acre. that women are going together about 12 years back, they also out of the village).” Some of the used to grow only wheat in the I started dreaming…Can members were fearful and said rabi season. After they learned cucumber be a good option in our about me, “Pata nahin kahan about cucumber cultivation, area? Will the farmers adopt it? le jaega (Don’t know where he all the farmers of the area If so, why have they not started will take us).” About 16 women abanboned wheat cultivation. yet? These questions came to and six men were ready to visit Earlier, they were earning only my mind because the farmers in Chatar. They took responsibility Rs 5,000 from one bigha of land, our area were also growing only for arranging for a vehicle that whereas now they were earning wheat and had told us about would take us there. Rs 30,000 to 40,000 on an the losses they faced in wheat average from their one bigha. cultivation. I thought about the The next morning, a woman impact it would have if the people named Salma from the village Listening to the experiences of in our area successfully initiated called me and said that no the farmers at Chatar, the SHG cucumber cultivation. The season women would go as they had members were delighted and said, was about to end, and we would not been given permission by “Hum log isi liye garib hai, hum log have to wait for one year before their husbands. I was surprised kheti karna nahi jante hai, isi liye we took on cucumber cultivation. and rather sad. I immediately kamane ke liye bahar jana parta I wanted to discuss this with all reached the village and sat with hai, ab aankh khul gaya (That’s why the SHGs in our area. the SHG. After some discussion, I understood that they wanted we are poor, we don’t know how I went to the Parkan village the to go but were afraid to do so. to do agriculture; and we always next day for a SHG meeting. I again tried to motivate them migrate to earn money).” Most of I called some men to the SHG and after some time 12 women them said that they would change meeting as well. After their and six men got ready for the to growing cucumber and would savings and credit transactions, I exposure visit and we reached share these experiences with the shared my experiences of Chatar Chatar after two hours. other women of the village. with them and asked whether they were aware of it. I was The experience in Chatar was The next day, I arranged a shocked to know that most of exciting. All of us enjoyed seeing meeting in the village and invited them were not aware about the the huge cucumber fields. those who went for the exposure area just 50 km away from their “Baap re baap kaisan kheera faral visit to share their experiences. village. However, they showed chhai (What a production of After the meeting, 12 members their eagerness to visit the area. cucumber)!” was the instant made a commitment to grow We planned an ‘exposure’ visit remark by one of the members. cucumber next year.

46 NEWSREACH MAY_JUNE 2017 Although, we were ready to grow cucumber, no one had any concrete experience of cucumber cultivation. So, we called a resource person from Chatar village for four months to provide continuous technical support to the farmers

I continued the process of in 40 bighas of land with 98 potential in cucumber cultivation exposure visits and conducted farmers. It was really a great in changing the farm-based two more. About 40 more SHG moment for the area. Other livelihood of the area. members and their spouses farmers also visited the field and visited Chatar. From that time shared, “Is baar dekhte hai agla bar Although farmers did not get on, I always tried to keep alive lagaenge (Let’s see the result this as much money as they hoped the discussion around cucumber time, will do it the next season).” to, due to the differences in the cultivation. The coming year, After seeing the cucumbers in rate, it made a great impact in during the rabi season, as we got the field, the farmers and the the area. The confidence of the involved in wheat cultivation, other villagers were so excited; farmer and that of the team grew. we asked those farmers who had it was as if they had won the Many farmers said that they committed to experiment with World Cup. Their happiness was would not migrate in the season; the change the previous year somewhat dampened, however, instead, they would stay home following the exposure visits to when the cucumbers reached the and earn money from vegetable cultivation. We are also planning leave some land for cucumber. market. The rate of the cucumber to scale-up cucumber cultivation More than fifty persons retracted. in the mandi was at an average of along with some other vegetable Yet, about 100 farmers were Rs 2.5–3 per kg, which reduced crops next year. ready to experience cucumber the net income of the farmers cultivation for the first time. drastically. We were expecting an We tried to link the farmers average realization of Rs 5–6 per Although, we were ready to with the local market but were grow cucumber, no one had any kg. unable to do so due to limited concrete experience of cucumber production. We will have to Despite this, many farmers cultivation. So, we called a ensure mass production in the earned Rs 5,000–20,000 for the resource person from Chatar coming years so that a link is first time, which was more than village for four months to provide established with the outside ten times what they earned from continuous technical support markets and the area could be their traditional wheat crop. to the farmers. We formed a developed as a hub of vegetable The farmers and the villagers Kisan Sabha in each hamlet, cultivation. The staff of the Bihar where farmers met every week were very happy and they were Rural Livelihood Promotion to discuss the issues, progress, eager to grow cucumbers in the Society (BRLPS) also visited the challenges, inputs requirement, coming year. The other farmers cucumber fields and discussed the etc. The trainers also provided also showed interest in cucumber cultivation with the farmers. They technical knowledge in these cultivation for the next year. They were excited with the initiative meetings. Often, seed sellers also were reassured that cucumber and planned to demonstrate it in reached the meetings, with the could be grown in their land their area. required inputs. and they could earn as much as Rs 30,000 in just four months Usually, the women of this area After much struggle, we were able from their one bigha of land. We were not involved in agriculture; to initiate cucumber cultivation were also confident and saw the however, they were engaged from

JOURNEY MY EXPERIENCES WITH THE KULHAIYA COMMUNITY 47 The success of the cucumber cultivation has also provided a way to develop farm-based livelihoods. This can now be scaled-up, which will change the culture of farming in the area.

the start to the marketing in to succeed is strong enough.” I Now the women talk to me cucumber cultivation. This set a believed that the people would without any hesitation as if I were precedent in the area and could understand me at some point. their own. I can enter any house lead to more participation of without any hesitation. Now the situation has changed. women in agriculture, especially The challenges are many. We are People from the area respect in vegetable cultivation. now confident of overcoming me. When I enter the village, them. The success of the In my two-year sojourn in Araria, I hear, “Salam wale kum, bhai, cucumber cultivation has also I found that my motivation (Greetings brother),” and many provided a way to develop farm- fluctuated greatly. Often, I was didis say, “Bhai khana khakar jaiga, based livelihoods. This can now be frustrated by people’s comments; aapka manpasand saag banaye scaled-up, which will change the nevertheless, I did not lose hope. hai. (Brother have the food, we culture of farming in the area. I am inspired by the words of have made your favourite food).” — Og Mandino, “Failure will never It provides me great satisfaction Santosh Kumar Mandal is based in Araria, overtake me if my determination to see the changes in the village. Bihar

48 NEWSREACH MAY_JUNE 2017