Working Paper 8

December 2002

Second workshop proceedings Peri-urban farming and poor livelihoods: developing plans for action

23rd November 2002

Seminar Hall Science City Conference Centre India

Bunting S.W. and Mukherjee, M. 2002. Peri-urban farming and poor livelihoods: developing plans for action. Stirling, UK: Institute of Aquaculture [Working Paper]

For further information please contact the project team leader:

Dr Stuart Bunting Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, Scotland Tel: +44 (0)1786 456573, Fax: +44 (0)1786 451462 or visit the project website at: http://www.dfid.stir.ac.uk/dfid/nrsp/kolkata.htm

© The authors retain the copyright to materials presented in this report

Disclaimer: This publication is an output from a project funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) for the benefit of developing countries. The views expressed are not necessarily those of DFID.

ii Executive Summary

- The second project workshop was held in a small hall at Science City, this location was considered suitable as it was away from the congestion of urban Kolkata and closer to the PU communities from where stakeholder representatives had been invited to attend.

- In total 54 stakeholders from various urban and peri-urban institutions and communities attended the workshop (Annex 1). The objectives for the workshop were to present the major findings from the project, inform people regarding access to project outputs and to discuss opportunities to plan for actions that would enhance the livelihoods of poor people.

- Unfortunately on the day of the meeting the Chief Minister was otherwise engaged, however, he did send his best wishes for the success of the workshop. The Government of West Bengal was represented by the Minister-in-Charge, Department of Land and Land Reform and Minister-in-Charge, Department of Fisheries.

- The attendance of two ministers was regarded by the project team as a significant step in engaging senior stakeholders from two target institutions in the formulation of plans of action for enhanced natural resource management in PU Kolkata.

- The impact of the project with respect to local target institutions was highlighted further when in his ministerial address Sri K Nanda, Minister-in-Charge, Department of Fisheries noted that the collaborative DFID project, which has involved his department and the Institute of Wetland Management, ‘constitutes an important development project for the state.’

- During the initial discussions on planning for the future, it was apparent that in the absence of action by the concerned government department, namely the Department of Irrigation and waterways, that local institutions including the Jalabhumi Bachao ‘Save Wetlands Committee’ and a Panchayat Samity had begun to address the problem of siltation in canals feeding the fishponds.

- The assistant manager from NABARD (National bank for Agricultural and Rural Development) suggested that her organisation might be well placed to help fund such initiatives by community groups. Dr Mukherjee from the Department of Fisheries stated that she was ‘keen to facilitate such an action.’

- It was noted that as the responsible authority the Pollution Control Board should take steps to prevent contamination of the wastewater resources with industrial pollution. In the absence of such action farmers are developing their own approaches to removing pollutants.

- For a number of participants opportunities to enhance poor livelihoods centred mainly on diversifying livelihoods through encouraging poor communities to adopt what might be termed ‘cottage industry’ activities, including handicrafts, food processing and small-scale agro-industry.

iii - The representative from WWF expressed an interest in sharing their experience in extending handicraft techniques to poor communities in PU Kolkata with other stakeholder groups. Dr Biswas of the University of Animal & Fishery Science noted that attention must be given to ensuring the quantity and quality of products from cottage industries meets market demand. He also suggested that his university could arrange free training for poor communities in PU Kolkata to help them diversify into appropriate agricultural activities.

- The absence of a hospital or basic health care facilities in PU Kolkata was cited as a major constraint to addressing health problems experienced by poor communities in the region. Poor communications infrastructure was also noted as a serious constraint to accessing medical assistance.

- Although there was a general recognition the improved service provision by the municipal authorities was urgently required, there was also concern the any such work should take account of the prevailing socio-cultural setting.

- During the course of the discussions representatives from several institutions mentioned their willingness to share experiences, knowledge and resources with others. However, in many cases the process by which this may occur requires further development and would probably benefit from further facilitation.

- The workshop provided a useful forum at which to disseminate key project outputs to target institutions and stakeholders. Based on constraints and opportunities identified during the course of the project, suitable actions were identified that could have a significant role in enhancing poor livelihoods in PU Kolkata.

- Coverage of the workshop and project findings by the mass media consisted of a report from the meeting broadcast on the local TV channel DD7 (Khash Khabor) and through a newspaper article (Appendix 4).

- The workshop proceedings will be distributed to participants and published on the project website to facilitate wider access.

iv Contents

Section Heading Page

Executive Summary iii

Contents v

Welcome Address - Dr Madhumita Mukherjee 1

Letter from the Chief Minister 2

Ministerial Address - Sri Abdul R. Mollah, Minister in Charge Department of Land and Land Reform, Government of West Bengal 3

Ministerial Address - Sri NK Nanda, Minister in Charge Department of Fisheries, Government of West Bengal 4

1 Planning for the future: Developing action plans 5 1.1 How should problems of (i) declining solid organic waste/wastewater quality and (ii) siltation be addressed? 5 1.2 How should opportunities to enhance poor livelihoods be implemented? 6 1.3 How should the health of workers, consumers and the environment be safeguarded? 7 1.4 How should future research & development programmes in peri-urban Kolkata be coordinated? 8

Annex 1 Participant list 10

Annex 2 Workshop invitation 12

Annex 3a Overview of project activities (presentation) 14 Annex 3b Constraints to peri-urban farming (presentation) 23 Annex 3c Opportunities to enhance production and poor livelihoods (presentation) 28 Annex 3d Communicating project outcomes and findings (presentation) 41 Annex 3e Planning for the future: Developing action plans (workshop activity) 44

Annex 4 Media coverage - Times of India 47

v Welcome Address

Dr Madhumita Mukherjee Deputy Director, Department of Fisheries, Government of West Bengal

We have gathered here to discuss the operation, opportunities and constraints related to farming activities in the wastewater-recycling zone of the east Kolkata wetlands. The main themes of this workshop will be wetland conservation, natural recycling of city sewage through farming in peri-urban Kolkata and socio economic development of poor people living in the area. In the first part of the workshop project team members will present some findings from a two-year DFID-NRSP funded study concerning natural resource use and poor livelihoods in peri-urban Kolkata. The project team consisted of scientists from the Institute of Wetland Management and Ecological Design, Department of Fisheries and University of Stirling. Based on the findings from this study, we hope to stimulate some discussion amongst the participants assembled here to identify plans of action to address the most significant problems. To ensure the proposed plans of action are likely to be appropriate and practical we have invited a range of stakeholders to this workshop, including policy makers, farmers, representatives from concerned government departments and NGOs active in the area. The is a need for better coordination of development planning in the area and enhanced livelihoods, through improved remuneration of cultural status, however, any development should be sensitive to traditional social arrangements. On one side of the wetlands there is Salt Lake City, whilst on the other, urban developments like Science City have recently been constructed. In between lies the peri-urban waste recycling zone where even today basic urban services are absent from the livelihoods of many of those involved in agriculture and fishing. It has been noted that due to the management of water in the area there is a very low occurrence of malaria; this region also serves to purify the water and air protecting the environment. Here we will discus the existing waste reuse practices in the region, possible modifications and future development.

1 Letter from the Chief Minister

2 Ministerial Address

Sri Abdul R. Mollah Minister in Charge, Department of Land and Land Reform, Government of West Bengal

The remaining 4,000 ha of wetland out of the former 20,000 ha need to be preserved for the existence of Kolkata City and also to preserve the Bidyadhari and Kulti Rivers from siltation and pollution. This wetland, if preserved will save Rs 450-500 crores required for treatment of sewage through mechanized plant and will ensure a supply of live fish to meet the demand from Kolkata City. From each unit (1 acre) of such area 4 families maintain their livelihood owing to the labour intensive nature of management, thus ensuring the livelihoods of 40,000 families are sustained, therefore at any cost these wetlands are to be preserved. To further research in this area the present project has been undertaken with funds made available from DFID. Our concerned minister Sri Kiranmoy Nanda is trying his best to put this scientific method of waste recycling forward as an ideal model example for the world as a whole, and an organization called Jalabhumi Bachao Committee (Save Wetlands Committee) has been established to mobilise the people of the area. There is a possibility of a new development in the wetlands area, the proposed ‘Lake Land City’ would be adjacent to the existing Salt Lake City. Over the years there have been many different kinds of proposals that the wetland will be maintained as recreational water parks, but then what will happen to the wild herbs, grasses many different kinds of aquatic flora and fauna including frog, toad, snake, turtle, etc? Hence we protest against such development. Production of profitable protein and sustenance of livelihood of large numbers of families at a minimum cost is being carried out here. Intensive cropping (6-7 kinds of different vegetable one after another in the same plot of land) is being practiced as garbage-fed agriculture. Therefore one bigha is utilized as though it were seven. The vegetable output is sold at the Kolkata market. Hence we want to preserve this wetland. We hope that the environment will not consist of industrial chimney smoke but natural fog and mist.

3 Ministerial Address

Sri K. Nanda Minister in Charge, Department of Fisheries, Government of West Bengal

The practice of fish farming using sewage in the wetlands close to Kolkata City is a modern interaction accepted as natural recycling of sewage for productive utilization. This model is to be advocated all over the world and as such the present wetland is to be preserved. The achievements of DFID project have been made in collaboration with Department of Fisheries, Government of West Bengal and Institute of Wetlands Management and this constitutes an important development project for the state. For any future development, conservation of the environment should be ensured through more thorough consultation and involvement with local residents. News and electronic media and NGOs play a vital role in disseminating the findings of such developmental research to the common people, especially as 80% of the people in Kolkata are not aware of the role of these wetlands in sustaining their lives. The existence of the Sunderbans mangrove forest saves coastal areas of West Bengal from natural calamities i.e. hurricanes and cyclones, whilst the wetlands of peri- urban Kolkata in turn save the Sunderbans mangrove. Therefore, conservation of the East Kolkata Wetlands should take priority. The practice of channelling Kolkata sewage directly to the Bidyadhari River creates pollution that causes destruction of the mangrove forest and this should be stopped immediately. Extensive measures need to be taken by policy makers and the concerned government departments toward canalling the sewage to fish culture pond. This 4,000 ha wetland meets a large proportion of the demand for both vegetable and fish from the Kolkata market. All the produces here work without synthetic fertilizer and hence are eco-friendly. We are proud of this wetland and the traditional system of farming related to both agriculture and fishery is to be encouraged. Further research work supported by DFID would be useful in improving the system. Some scientists are of the opinion that fish obtained for sewage-fed ponds are un-edible as there is deposition of harmful compounds is their flesh causing toxicity to humans, however further research has proved that such suggestions do not have any ground. In some cases deposition of heavy metals in leafy vegetables has been found; this can be controlled by suitable measures.

4 1. Planning for the future: Developing action plans

This workshop activity was undertaken as an open discussion between participants, topics and areas for discussion were presented (Annex 3e). All participants were encouraged to participate and despite differences in gender, wealth and social status, contributions were received from a wide range of stakeholders.

1.1. How should problems of (i) declining solid organic waste/wastewater quality and (ii) siltation be addressed?

Considering this is one of the most widely reported and apparently severe constraint to the continued viability of fish farming in peri-urban Kolkata, it was decided to invite participants to comment on how the problem could be addressed and which authorities should take responsibility. Mr S D Ghosh (fish farmer and member of the Jalabhumi Bachao ‘Save Wetlands’ Committee) identified the Department of Irrigation and Waterways as the responsible authority of the Government of West Bengal. He noted that at present only ~50% of the farmers requirement for wastewater was being met, of the 400 m3 d-1 required only 180 m3 d-1 is accessible. During the monsoon it is difficult to access any wastewater. To address the ongoing problem of a high siltation load, Mr Ghosh noted that each farm should develop a small settling basin for desiltation. Annual drainage of the ponds for silt removal is not considered feasible, to drain a 50 ha pond takes 2 months, drying would take 1 month and a further 10-15 days would be needed to refill the pond. Regarding the desiltaion of the primary and fishery feeder canals Dr Biswas (Department of Fisheries, Government of West Bengal) mentioned that no authority or private enterprise, other than the Department of Irrigation has permission to desilt the main canal network. However, Mr K Babu noted that the Irrigation Department has not undertaken any desiltation work for the past 15 years. Due to serious problems with siltation affecting production in his area, silt removal from Hanakhali to Kestopur Canal is being coordinated through the village Panchayat Samity based on a framework set out at a meeting in Chacharia where the annual action plan was formulated. In another area, fishermen have taken it upon themselves to desilt the Poran Chaprashi Khal. If all canals and water bodies, which are now only 1.5-2 feet deep, were converted to 3 feet or more

5 then additional fish production may be expected. Following such work it might be expected that an additional 1 lakh (10,000) tonnes of fish could be cultivated. Considering the cost of desilting the fishponds, to compensate for 15-20 years of neglect, it was anticipated that this would involve a huge cost for producers. Mrs Paramita, an assistant manager at NABARD (National Bank for Agricultural and Rural Development) noted that funds from her organisation are usually distributed to community groups consisting of 10- 20 people, were farming communities to form such groups and take responsibility for desiltation, it may be possible that NABARD could provide a linkage to credit facilities for desiltation work. Cooperatives that currently manage a number of fish farms in the region may be well placed to exploit this credit source and the Department of Fisheries is keen to facilitate such an action. Dr Mukherjee (Department of Fisheries) also commented that untreated factory effluents from upstream constitute a serious problem when considering the quality of wastewater flowing to the fishponds. Small factories are operating openly whilst effluents are discharged directly to the sewage channels. Irrigation with this water is causing heavy metal deposition in leafy vegetables like cabbage. Mr S Ghosh noted that it was common practice to cultivate water hyacinth around the fishponds to ameliorate pollution problems; these plants reportedly absorb heavy metal from the contaminated water. As the responsible authority, the Pollution Control Board should also take steps to prevent pollution from entering the canals.

1.2. How should opportunities to enhance poor livelihoods be implemented?

Ms Farida Tampal (WWF representative) suggested that to enhance poor livelihoods there should be a master action plan, to promote activities such as weaving and other handicrafts and cottage industries, but also to give due consideration to the whole production cycle, including the marketing process. WWF have some experience of promoting madulkathi production and are willing to contribute their knowledge to training other groups. Dr M Mukherjee (Department of Fisheries) wondered if the women of Madhumati fishermen’s group, whose representative, Mrs Babu was at the meeting, would be interested in learning this craft? Mrs Babu replied that the group were already involved in small scale and cottage industries such as manufacturing fish feed, livestock rearing, pig and duck farming, making fish papad and pickle.

6 Dr Biswas (Head of the Department of Animal Nutrition, University of Animal & Fishery Science) commented that although production from such cottage industries may be technically feasible, marketing of the products constitutes the greatest constraint as it depends on not only the cost but also demand, quality and ensuring a regular supply. There is an organisation, Manjusha, which is responsible for buying and selling handicrafts from local villages. However, the success of this arrangement is constrained by a lack of regular supply and the fact that quality standards are not maintained. Instead, it was proposed that if villagers diversified into broiler chicken and egg production then opportunities would be improved, as there is significant demand in the market. Dr Biswas suggested that entrepreneur training could be arranged through his university, and that this could be subsidised, although it was not considered a permanent solution. On behalf of the Mudialy Fishermen’s Co-operative Society, Mr Ramkrishna Sardar noted that in addition to producing fish, co-operative members are maintaining a nature park and keeping various types of animal, plant and bird to attract visitors. It was proposed that other co-operatives could initiate similar schemes.

1.3. How should the health of workers, consumers and the environment be safeguarded?

Dr Swapan Chakroborty (CIT Prayash Goodwill Welfare Society) began the discussion by stating that there is no hospital or childcare centre in the wetlands area. Children commonly suffer from helminth infections whilst women frequently suffer from anaemia. It was also suggested that a high proportion of men in the area suffer due to alcohol abuse and as a result commonly die young. It was suggested that awareness camps could help prevent such addiction; it may also be possible to encourage private pharmaceutical companies to arrange for free medicine to be distributed to poor communities in the area. However, regarding serious diseases such as tuberculosis the government should take the lead in treating patients and preventing the spread of such illnesses. Mrs Basundhara Chatterjee (CIT Prayash Goodwill Welfare Society) also noted that poor communications in the wetland area mean it is difficult for communities to call for timely medical assistance or indeed for medical staff to arrange meetings or to move easily around the area. Although this problem has been reported to the concerned government department not action has been forthcoming. It was also mentioned that on hot

7 summer afternoons, garbage dust is blown by gusts of wind toward neighbouring households, polluting their environment. Also that garbage is dumped at various places beside the huts of local residents, and that dust is frequently deposited inside and around their homes. To prevent such atmospheric pollution it was suggested that trees and shrubs should be planted to reduce the dispersal of garbage dust. Amongst the workshop participants there was also concern that the welfare and psychological condition of community members, particularly older women in the area requires greater attention. Dr Soma Sen (Department of Fisheries) noted that in conjunction with such an investigation, a better understanding of traditional health care practices such as the use of medicinal plants is required. Recent studies have demonstrated that local fishermen and women attribute various medicinal properties to many local aquatic herbs and shrubs. There are reports concerning the existence of herbs that function as anti-venom and others that are believed to cure diseases, including cancer. This knowledge would be useful in identifying appropriate health care interventions.

1.4. How should future research & development programmes in peri-urban Kolkata be coordinated?

Based on the preceding discussion it was noted by participants that research and development activities should not be restricted to technical issues but should take into account the wider socio-economic setting. The need to assess the market demand and requirement for entrepreneurial development when considering livelihoods diversification through small-scale cottage industries provides a good example. The development of integrated aquaculture systems, combining livestock, horticultural or medicinal plant production is widely regarded as a potential development opportunity in the wetland area, however, significant constraints to such practices exist, and may explain why farmers have not developed such approaches independently. During the workshop participants noted a number of specific opportunities to help enhance and diversify the livelihoods of poor people living in peri-urban Kolkata, however, many participants commented that such developments should not proceed at the expense of traditional customs and local culture. Indeed it was suggested that steps should be taken to reinforce and safeguard traditional practices such as songs, festivals and dances.

8

Regarding the coordination of development activities, Dr Mukherjee (Department of Fisheries) suggested that her department would welcome closer co-operation with other agencies working on development oriented initiatives. It was also acknowledged that development in the region should not be limited to improved farming systems, but should be broader and include initiatives to diversify the livelihoods of poor people toward more urban oriented activities and to improving the general socio-economic status of communities living and working in peri-urban Kolkata. Service provision, including health care, education and better communication infrastructure was considered an important component in enhancing the livelihoods of poor people. Despite the various constraints associated with peri-urban farming around Kolkata two other municipal corporations, namely, Madyamgram Municipal Corporation and Srirampur Municipal Corporation, have shown an interest in replicating the Kolkata ‘model’. It is anticipated that the knowledge base established during the current project will provide a valuable resource in developing appropriate variations of the waste reuse practices found around Kolkata for municipalities in different settings.

9 Annex 1. Workshop participants

Participant Name of the Participants Designation and Address

1. Sri Abdul Rajjak Molla Minister in Charge, Department of Land & Land Reform, Government of West Bengal 2. Sri Kiranmay Nanda Minister in Charge, Department of Fisheries, Government of West Bengal 3. Jayanta Mondal East Kolkata Fisherman 4. Ranjit Naskar East Kolkata Fisherman 5 Parofa Mahato East Kolkata Fisherman 6. Dr Madhumita Mukherjee Deputy Director of Fishery (M&P), Govt. of West Bengal 7. Shib Shankar Bose Chief Executive Officer, Brijipatuli Matsyajibi Samabay Samity 8. Krishna Kanta Mandal Member, Jalabhumi Banchao ‘Save Wetlands’ Committee 9. Somnath Mukherjee Director (Corporate), Pailan Educational Trust 10. Dr Nitai Kundu IWMED, Department of Environment, Government of West Bengal, Kolkata 11. Ms Farida Tampal Senior Project Officer, WWF-India, Tata Center, 1st Floor, 43 J.L. Nehru Road Kolkata, 700 071 12. Ramkrishna Sardar Chief Executive Officer, Mudiali Fishermen Co-operative Society Ltd. 13. D.K. Maity Managing Director, West Bengal Fisheries Corporation 14. Mrs Pragyan Paramita Asst. Manager, NABARD, 6 Royal Street, Kolkata 15. S. D. Ghosh Director, B. N. Ar. Pvt. Ltd., Kolkata 16. P. K. Sarkar General Manager, Benfish, Govt. of West Bengal 17. Saurabh Baroi Partnership Co-ordinator, CASHE Project, CARE, West Bengal 18. Basundhara Chatterjee Secretary, CIT Prayash Goodwill Welfare Society 19. Dr Archana Sinha Senior Scientist, CIFE, Kolkata Center 20. Arpita Chowdhury Reporter, 21. Kumar Roy Photographer, Aajkaal 22. Piyali Shaw TV Reporter Akash Bangla, Sky-B 23. J. N. Shome Member of Scientific Committee, Public Health 24. Biswadeb Patra Chairman, Mudialy, FCS Ltd 25. Prof. R. C. Das Principal Scientist & Officer in Charge, CIFE, Kolkata Centre, Salt Lake, Kolkata 26. Ashok Patra Secretary, Mudialy F.C.S. Ltd., Nature Park 27. Bisudev Patra Chairman, Mudialy F.C.S. Ltd., Nature Park

10 Annex 1 (cont.). Workshop participants

Participant Name of the Participants Designation and Address

28. Dr P. Biswas Head, Dept. of Animal Nutrition, University of Animal & Fishery Science, Kolkata 29. Prof. Hari Prasad Director, Eastern India Study, 33 B. B. Av., Kolkata – 700 004 30. Sailen Bhowmik Asst. Technical Director, Anir Water Machinery Pvt. Ltd. 31. Suchitra Ghosh Technical Director, Anir Water Machinery Pvt. Ltd. 32. Dilip Kumar Sardar Secretary of USSP, Uttar Mokam Baria Sardar Seva Samity 33. Shyamal Kumar Datta Marketing Officer, Benfish 34. Utpal Kr. Nath ARO (M&P), Fishery Dept., Govt. of West Bengal 35. Abul Kasem ARO (M&P), Fishery Dept., Govt. of West Bengal 36. Snehasia Naskar Secretary, Society for Sports, Art & Health Care 37. Dinbandhu Sardar Treasurer, UMSP 38. Hrisikesh Mondal Secretary, Society for G.S. 39. Subhash Ch. Datta Spl. Officer, Madhyamgram Municipality, North 24 Pargana 40. Mukut Roy Chowdhury FEO, Sandeshkhali - II, Sandeshkhali 41. Dr Chandan Chatterjee Health Officer, Madhyamgram Municipality, North 24 Pargana 42. Saubhik Pandey Photographer, 43. S. Basak Reporter, 44. Dr S. N. Biswas Deputy Director of Fisheries (F&A), Government of West Bengal 45. Dr Soma Sen Research Scholar, Captain Bhery, Kolkata 46. Rabin Mondal Treasurer, Briji Patuli Matsajivi Samavay Samity Ltd. 47. Dr Stuart Bunting Project leader, University of Stirling 48. A. Sengupta IWMED, Department of Environment, Government of West Bengal, Kolkata 49. Nandila Banerjee Media (Printing), S. P. Communication 50. Asutosh Mondal Jalobhumi Banchao Committee 51. Ratna Mondal Teacher, Madhumati Fisher Women Group 52. Mujibar Rahaman Research Scholar, Office of DDF (M&P) 53. Arindam Datta Research Scholar, Office of DDF (M&P) 54. Sayantani Datta Research Scholar, Office of DDF (M&P)

11 Annex 2. Workshop invitation

12

13 Annex 3a. Overview of project activities (presentation)

Overview of project activities

DFID-NRSP workshop

Science City, Kolkata 23rd November 2002

Dr Stuart Bunting

Institute of Aquaculture University of Stirling Stirling FK9 4LA Scotland

14

Presentation outline

- Overview of DFID-NRSP project

- Perceived benefits, especially for poor communities

- Who are the poor?

- Who are the stakeholders?

- Summary

15

DFID-NRSP project overview

Aim: to assess opportunities for improved natural resource management strategies and enhanced poor livelihoods in PU areas

Activities: literature review

workshops

institutional analysis

situation analysis

focus groups

household interviews

market study

reporting (all available)

knowledge interventions

16

Research commissioned to address clear demand Knowledge for appropriate

development and policy interventions

Proposals for further targeted Literature review research

Stakehol der workshop

Farm surveys

Institutional analysis

Dissemination of outcomes in appropriate formats

Community meetings

Stakeholder workshop to review outcomes Household interviews

Focus groups

Overview of DFID-NRSP research process schema

17

Benefits to poor people from PU farming Rank

- fish and vegetable production 1

- control of water and air pollution 2.5

- groundwater recharge/ flood control 2.5

- employment 4

- biodiversity preservation 5

- income for workers 6

18

Who are the poor?

Rank

- casual workers 1

- rag pickers 2

- scavengers – cleaners 3

- fisherman’s wives 4

- landless labourers 5

- sex workers 6

- transport workers 7.5

- vegetable vendors 7.5

- agricultural workers 9

- fishery workers 10

19

Stakeholders in PU farming

1. Poor people 2. Advocates for the poor 3. NGO’s 4. Land owners 5. Fish, vegetable, rice & livestock producers 6. Department of Irrigation and Waterways 7. KMC - monitor whole land resource 8. West Bengal Pollution Control Board 9. Tannery operators and polluting activities 10. Department of Fisheries 11. Department of Environment 12. Kolkata city - society 13. Bankers and money lenders 14. Wholesale markets, market owners, retail vendors 15. Processors 16. Seed traders 17. Developers - WBIDC 18. Scientists - local, national and international

20

Stakeholders (cont')

19. Tax payers 20. People in flood prone areas 21. Kolkata Metropolitan Water & Sanitation Authority (KMWSA) 22. Consumers 23. Poachers 24. Police 25. Country liquor producers 26. Wildlife stakeholders - Ramsar 27. Politicians

28. Planners - HIDCO 29. Downstream producers

30. International development agencies (DFID, ADB, World Bank)

21

Summary

- wide range of benefits to poor associated with PU farming

- management of farms in PU Kolkata has evolved in a complex institutional and social setting

- emerging constraints threaten the systems viability

- research findings must now be acted upon to initiate development projects and policy decisions that safeguard and enhance poor livelihoods

22 Annex 3b. Constraints to peri-urban farming (presentation)

PERI-URBAN KOLKATA: CONSTRAINTS ON PERI-URBAN FARMING

Peri-urban Kolkata scenario

• Peri-urban consists of both rural and urban features. The existing definition is more objective than subjective.

• Peri-urban Kolkata here refers to the southeastern fringe of the city.

• Sewage from different sewage canals and the city garbage are utilised here in production.

• Mainly three types of production activities do take place; viz. fish cultivation, paddy cultivation, garbage farming.

23 People of Peri-urban Kolkata

•Most of the people are engaged in three production activities; viz. fish cultivation, paddy cultivation, garbage farming. •Rest of the people are engaged in other activities, common in any order of social structure : small trades, local services etc. •Agricultural land and water bodies are the two main production assets.

24 Constraints on Peri-urban production activities

•Siltation of the sewage canals and fishponds occurring due to direct charge of raw sewage into tanks. This is increasing the quantity of silt in fishponds. •Supply of solid wastes to the vegetable farms has become uncertain due to management failure in regard to transportation and disposal of garbage. Recently the compost fertiliser plant is using biodegradable solid wastes at large scale and thereby the supply of wastes to the farm is reduced.

25 Problems related to occupation and livelihood

•Agriculture serves mainly subsistence requirement. •Need for monetary income leads to transition in occupation and thereby in livelihood pattern for most of the people. •Insufficient income is the most important problem for all the people, irrespective of occupation and gender. •Due to insufficient income, purchasing power is very low and also the saving is also very less. This causes a poor development of the market forces. •Unemployment level (permanent and seasonal) is considerably high. This leads to rise in local anti-social and illegal activities including poaching, liquor habit, and drug habits. More importantly it overpopulates the urban labour market.

26 •A large number of minors below 15 years of age, even in many places below 10 are engaged in works related to fish or flower cultivation or waste recycling. Though most of them are unpaid or paid very less, their income still helps their family. •Considerable portion of the total female population are engaged in production activities to enhance the family income. Most of the female are doing primitive and laborious jobs and in general paid less. •The girls around the age of 15 to 18 years are a considerable part of total female workforce. In most cases they are compelled to join the workforce due to the ignorance and irresponsibility of their family head. •Finally, the necessity to get remunerative employment and urge for more income, is leading the local youth to think for alternative land use other than existing.

27 Annex 3c. Opportunities to enhance production and poor livelihoods (presentation)

OPPORTUNITIES TO ENHANCE WASTEWATER AQUACULTURE PRODUCTION AND POOR LIVELIHOODS IN PERI – URBAN AREA OF KOLKATA

Madhumita Mukherjee Office of the Deputy Director of Fisheries (M&P), Government of West Bengal, Captain Bhery, E. M. Bypass, Calcutta – 700 039, India.

INTRODUCTION:

The East Kolkata Wetlands constitutes the largest area managed for Peri – Urban aquaculture: fishponds occupying ~3,500 hectares, mostly managed for wastewater aquaculture. The wastewater is used other farming as well as vegetable, floriculture and paddy. One of the significant social benefits associated with PU farming is the direct and indirect employment, which it provides for poor people. However, limited access to finance, labour union, risks new technologies etc. continue to threaten the viability of the system. In order to access the level of direct / indirect dependence of poor communities on Peri – Urban farming, this study was undertaken to investigate the role of Peri – Urban farming in the livelihoods of men/women and also explore their perceptions of the constraints they face and opportunities for enhancing their situation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

This research was carried out based on interviews of focus groups formed in three Peri – Urban localities of Kolkata. A range of research tools were employed including a mapping exercise, daily activity charts ranking constraints and general discussions held throughout the meeting helped to gain a greater understanding of women’s perspectives of their situations. The group discussion interactions were focused on income generating activity, income range, family structure, daily work schedule, education level, constraints faced and opportunities available. Interviews were recorded with the help of voice recorder. In the beginning on reaching the locality one / two interviewee were approached with our idea for study. After convincing them we requested them to fetch other women folk. The interviews were taken in the veranda of a house.

Generally 10 – 15 women were invited to participate. However not all were willing to get involved. Those who opted to participate constituted the focus groups. Before starting group discussion the women were asked to draw a map of their village. After some hesitation and shyness they slowly started to draw their house, school building, ponds, tube – wells roads, health centre etc. This way the participants were made to feel free and get ready for the discussions.

28 Protocol for taking interviews: a) Nature and opportunities of livelihood:

For getting information on the nature and opportunities of the Peri – Urban men and women, group discussions were held in the local language, i.e. Bengali. They were questioned in Bengali about their occupation, their education and economic level as well as the opportunities they face. Their answers have been assimilated and separated. b) On constraints: In order to get a ranking of the constraints faced by them, we made a list of the constraints in Bengali and distributed the cards to them. They were also given some beans and asked to place one / two / three / four beans against each constraint acceding to its acuteness. Their placing of beans is shown by “ + to ++++.

FINDINGS:

1. DEMOGRAPHIC STATUS OF PERI – URBAN AREAS OF KOLKATA:

Total population : 60,000 (approx) Male : 49% Female : 51% Women (19-45 yrs) : 45% Children (0-3 yrs) : 10% Boys (11-19 yrs) : 25% Girls (11-19 yrs) : 25%

SOCIAL STATUS

?? Caste : Schedule Caste – 65%, Schedule Tribe -20%, Other Caste – 5% General Caste – 10%

?? Occupation : Fisher – 58% (including marketing & infrastructure engagement) Daily Labour/Agriculture 39% Sex worker 2%

?? Religion : Hindu 82% Muslim and other communities 18%

?? Migration factor : Mostly inhabitants of these areas

?? Population under Below Poverty Line : 70%

?? Decision Maker : In every family husbands rule is predominant.

?? Alcohol Addiction Approx. 80% of Male and

29 10% of Female

?? Family Planning : 40% of women population are adopting Family Planning norms.

?? Average Monthly Income : Rs.900/- to Rs. 1500/-

?? Major Illness : Worms Infestations, Scabbies, Malnutrition, Seasonal Diarrhoea, Respiratory tract infection, dental problem, and psychological depression among women.

?? Education : Approximately 5% female and 10 % male are having basic education upto class VIII standard.

LIFESTYLE AND ENVIRONMENT OF THE STAKE HOLDERS

?? These areas are having the facilities of primary education. But majority of them are not having the adequate facilities for Higher Education.

?? Most of the link roads are “kuccha” (earthen) thereby unmotorable. Transport facilities are poor. Most of them travel by cycle.

?? There are 15% “pucca” (cemented house) house and the rest are hutments.

?? Electricity is not available in most of the houses.

?? Hand tubewell or pond water is the main source of water.

?? Sanitation facility is very poor. Practically natural field.

?? No hospital or qualified doctors are available in these localities.

MAIN DISEAS CHILD ADULT ?? Malnutrition with anaemia 30% 45% ?? Diorhoea 45% 60% ?? Skin 20% 25% ?? Dental, ENT 25% 35% ?? Blood Sugar & Pressure - 20% ?? Eye 20% 30% ?? Worm 80% 70% ?? Depression - 75% ?? Respiratory tract infection 40% 40% ?? Menopausal Syndrome - 30%

30 Livelihoods

Table I: Four Examples Of Local Utterances Mentioned Here To Help You Realize The Exact Situation Of Peri – Urban Women:

Sl. Local Utterance English Translation Age (years) No. 1. Shakale babur bari kaj korte jai, chele Go to work in masters house, whom to 24 – 40 ke khaiye eschoole pathabo kokhon send our son to school and when to cook there food. 2. Bor rate maal kheye eshe barite Husband comes home drunk in the 24 – 45 marpeet kore. night and starts beating. 3. Sompotti Jamai neeke (Leekhe) Son – in - law has taken my property. 80 neyeche, amito neekha (Leekha0 pora I am illiterate, so I made thumb janina, tip shoi diyechelam, akhon signature unknowingly. Today I am meye jamai dekhe na, aami Bhekkha begging since my daughter and Son – kori. in – law do not look after me. 4. Shokal theke bhaike nite hoi, barir kaj From the morning busy baby-sitting 7 – 15 korte hoi, eschoole tai jete pari na. bari my brother, doing other household theke pathay na. works. So, do not go to school, nobody from home also sends me.

TABLE. II: CONSTRAINTS OF LIVELIHOOD IN PERI – URBAN KOLKATA:

Problem Degree of Constraints Udayrampur Sardarpara Choubaga INSUFFICIENT INCOME ++ ++++ +++ ELECTRICITY + ++++ ++ DRINKING WATER + +++ ++ EDUCATION - +++ +++ HEALTH CARE + +++ ++ SANITATION ++ ++++ +++ LIMITED ACCESS TO CREDIT ++ +++ +++ ROAD (BY ROADS) + ++ ++ TRANSPORT + ++ +++ FOOD SECURITY + ++++ ++ DRINKING ALCOHOL + ++++ ++++ POOR HOUSING + +++ ++ ISSUES RELATING TO CASTE - - - ACCESS FOR FIREWOOD - +++ ++

31 Table III: General Daily Schedule / Time Chart For Peri – Urban Women:

Time Activities 4-30 – 5 am. Gets up from bed 5 – 7 am. Household work (cooking, washing utensils, sweeping etc.) 7 – 8 am. At their work place or perform work related activities 8 – 9 am. Taking breakfast and goes for work 9 – 12 noon At work place 12 – 1 pm. Lunch 1 - 2 pm. Taking rest / gossiping with others 2 – 5-30 pm. At different workplaces 5-30 – 7 pm. Returns home , gossiping with villagers / goes to market 7 – 10 pm. Household work (cooking, washing utensils, child care etc.) 10 – 10-30 pm. Dinner 10-30 – 11 pm. Goes to bed

VIEWS OF THE GIRLS AGE GROUP 14-15 YEARS

In case of Sardarpara village an in general thinking and constraints of livelihood study of young girls are revealed through a group discussion.

Name Age Education status

Khiro Sardar 15 Studing in class IV Rita Sardar 14 Studied upto class III but left the study due to poverty. Monica Sardar 15 Studing in class VII Basakhi Sardar 12 Studing in class V Lakshmi Sardar 14 Studied upto class VII but left the study due to poverty. Jhuma Sardar 14 Studing in class IV

All these girls do household work and they also study in different classes, except the two girls those who have stopped studying due to extreme poverty. The profession of the two girls who has left studying is to collect ‘Plastic’ packets and deposit throughout the year and sell it in the market and earns Rs.200/- only which they give into their family.

Problems Identified On Priority Basis by The Girls:

Electricity Proper Road Consumption of ‘Alcohol’ by their fathers. Lack of Playground Absence of Health centre. No proper Sanitation system Drinking water Education Poor transport.

AREA OF INTEREST

Studying, Playing, learning different courses of weaving and Embroidery.

32 ONE CASE STUDY ON WOMEN VEGETABLE VENDOR OF CHOUBAGA MARKET

Bularani Mondal (Age-45) Village – Hogoldagra, Bhangar (1)

1. She works in agricultural field which is about 1.5 bigha land. 2. She also works in brick mills. 3. She collects edible herbs from the field and water and sells them in the Chowbaga market. 4. She has 2 sons and 4 grand sons. 5. Her monthly income is Rs. 300/ while her sons earn Rs.60 – 70/ day. 6. Her daughter- in- laws works in the household as well as in the field. 7. She gets up at 6 am., takes breakfast with fermented rice, goes to market to sell goods, returns home cooks fresh food, takes lunch, and rests. 8. In the process she walks 4 Km. travels by van-rickshaw 2km. and then by bus. (From home to market). 9. She eats fish regularly. 10. Her family members cultivate bringals and vegetables. 11. To cultivate flowers (marigold) they have taken lease from others field. 12. Her husband has undergone a major operation and is in bed rest. 13. She fined interest in her work and her life. 14. Children go to school. 15. She is the only one to go to sell in the market from her village. Other women of the same village work only in the agricultural field. 16. Previously irrigation was done from the sewage water, but now it is done from shallow pumps.

33 PLANNING FOR TOTAL UPLIFTMENT OF WASTEWATER AQUACULTURE ZONE:

CRITICAL ISSUES AND STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE:

Issues Suggested Strategies Benefits Constraints The water flow in the Installation of pumps at 5/7 key Wetlands would This has to be canal systems has to be points. receive enough done while augmented through short, There should be provision of water. ensuring that medium and long term Reservoirs and Settling ponds. Kolkata measures. Blockages/encroachment in feeder Metropolitan CMC is concerned with canals has to be examined and area does not the fact that there should cleared periodically. suffer from be no water logging in Water sharing among various water logging. Kolkata. So instead of wetlands has to be examined. There should be waste water supply to the The natural gravity feed flow of equitable DWF and THC canals, it the canal flowing through the distribution of discharges its water to wetlands has to be increased water amongst SWF which ultimately through renovation which will aim the various discharges into the Kulti to increase the level and augment fisheries. river and pollutes the the water between the inlet and the riverine environment. wetland side. Different siphonages have to be cleaned thoroughly example the conduit between Palmer Bazar and Topsia is totally choked. This is the main reason of the back pressure of water.

The average depth of the The excavation of wetlands should This will lead to Significant wetlands have to be be carried out in a phased wise significant increases volumes of mud increased by at least 2.0/ / manner. in Fishery will be 2.5/ through excavation. productivity. excavated. This The volume of excavated This fertile soil may has to be earth has to be estimated. also be used in disposed off in The end use of earth such agricultural fields such manner as for the purpose of for crop production. that there are no filling up of Rajarhat ` effects on the Township and suitable wetlands. Some ways for transportation of of the mud will earth have to be devised be used for after basic infrastructure is strengthening firmed up. the dykes, intermediate roads and fisheries working place. The majority of the mud has to be transported and dumped els ewhere. There have been concerns Better utilization of unutilized land about water sharing has to be assessed. between agricultural activities and pisciculture. The development plan has to be conceptualized in such a fashion that agriculture would act in

34 harmony with pisciculture. The utilized land area in Some of the applications are: This would lead to Additional the wetlands will have to ?? Coconut plantations an increase in capital be used for additional ?? Small scale industry for productivity and investments will revenue generating coir, matchbox profitability for the be required. activities with minimum production, net entire area. investments in manpower production and repair etc. This is expected to etc. as a Model ?? Cultivation of medicinal lead to additional Farmhouse. plants such as Tankuni, profitability as there Kalmi, Lemon grass. will be better ?? Neem plantations utilization of the ?? Subaul plantations labour force with ?? Cultivation of oil seeds, marginal increase in ginger and ginger oil / operating costs. ginger paste, grass for papper pulp. ?? Piggery and Duckery farms, Quill, Hybrid rebbit, Poultry etc. ?? Development of Eco- tourism for tourist attraction ?? Water sports complex ?? Construction of Coffee House at the wetland areas for recreational purpose. Lack of infrastructure Infrastructure has to developed in a This will lead to all This will ?? Roads phased manner. round developments require ?? Power of the wetlands. significant ?? Communication investments. ?? Ropeways Marketing is not an A study of the present market The organized organized activity. including present operations has to marketing efforts be carried out. would lead to better The focus would be on: realization as well as ?? Product and its attributes such penetration into as Fish variety, size. export market. ?? Pricing levels ?? Promotion ?? Post harvest management ?? Place and dis tribution channels ?? Possibility of export ?? Marketing systems and operations The wetland need an Department of Fisheries, All development integrated strategy for Government of West Bengal will activities will be sustainable development. act as the anchor for all synchronized development activities in the through the existing Wetlands. fisheries corporations.

35 INVOLVEMENT OF VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS AND THEIR PARTICIPATION:

The various stakeholders should actively participate and involve themselves in various stages. The stakeholders are: ?? Wetland Fishery owners including co-operatives ?? Wetlands Fishery workers ?? Kolkata Municipal Corporation ?? State Irrigation Department ?? Wetlands Farmers engaged in sewerage and garbage farming ?? Dept of Fisheries, Govt. of W.B.

ISSUE: ? 1. Associated infrastructure development for pumps:

1. Permission of land usage 2. Electrical connection and energisation 3. Construction of pumping station 4. Construction of reservoirs and settling ponds 5. Administration and operation of pumps including engagement and deployment of staff. ? 2. Socio – Economic facilitation:

An awareness camp have to be organized to educate people model farms and various allied activities. Some of these are – 1. Fish byproduct making by fisherwomen 2. Piggery 3. Duckery 4. Poultry and hatchery for Broiler Chicken/ Quil 5. Rearing of Ornamental fish and decorative Turtles 6. Herbs, Medicinal and ornamental plants 7. Fruit orchards 8. Other economic plant like shoal and madur kathi 9. Vegetables 10. fertilizer making through vermicompost

?3. EXCAVATION OF WETLAND:

The average depth of water in the wetlands has been reducing every year with siltation in the wetlands. It has been seen that the average siltation load is in the range of 20 – 70 gm. / ha. / Day. It is extremely important to increase the water level for improvement of the productivity of fisheries. It is estimated that on an average, the depth of bheries / fishponds have to be increased at about 0.762 meters (2.5 feet). This has to be done to a total area of about 2500 ha. (65% of total aqua field i.e. 3898.27 ha.). The total volume of earth that has to be excavated at about (2500 X 10000 X 0.762) m3 = 19050000 m3

36 The average cost of excavation can be assumed to be Rs. 42 / m3 The average cost of excavation is thus Rs. (19050000 X 42) = Rs. 80.00 Crores.

? 4. PROCESS OF DRYING AND CONDITIONING OF THE WETLANDS PRIOR TO

INDICATING THE EXCAVATION PROCESS:

Harvesting of Fish

Draining of water

Re-harvesting

Pumping of Water (Exigency)

Sun Drying Bed

The drying process would take 30 – 45 days on an average and this time must be allowed prior to commencement of the work.

?5. EXCAVATION OF DRAINAGE CANAL:

The various drainage canals associated with the wetlands including desilting of Kestopur khal (Canal) also have to be excavated. This will be done in conjunction with the excavation of the wetlands. The total estimated length of canal system is approx. 50 Km.

The total cost of excavation is Rs. 80 .00 Lakhs.

PUBLIC HEALTH ASPECTS OF REUSE OF WASTE WATER FOR AGRICULTURE:

In rural and Peri-Urban areas of these zones, the use of waste water for irrigation is a common practice. Waste water is often the only source of water for irrigation in these areas. Even in areas were other water sources exist, small farmers often prefer waste water

37 because of its high nutrient content which reduces or even eliminates the need for expensive chemical fertilizers. However, concern for human health and the environment are the most important constraint is the reuse of waste water. Excreta related diseases are very common consequences. Excreta and waste water bear high concentration of excreted pathogen. Many such diseases related to infection by bacteria, virus, protozoa, helminthes have been reported to occur. It has been pump that agricultural and aqua cultural use of excreta and waste water can resulting in health risk under following condition-

1. Either and infective dose of an excrete pathogen reaches of field or pond, or the pathogen multiplies in the field or pond to from an infective dose. 2. The infective dose reaches a human host. 3. The host becomes infected and. 4. The infection causes disease or farther transmission.

According to a recent World Bank report reviewed, all available epidemiological studies on waste water consider the possibility of occurrence of the following disease under specific condition. This applies for the women of Peri-Urban waste recycling zone of Kolkata also-

1. Crop irrigation with untreated wastewater causes significant excess intestinal nematode infection in crop consumers and field workers. Field workers who work barefoot are likely to have more intense infection particularly with hook worms, than those not working in wastewater irrigated fields. 2. Irrigation with adequately treated wastewater doesn’t lead to intestinal nematode infection in field worker or crop consumers. 3. Cholera and probably typhoid can be effectively transmitted by irrigation of vegetable crops with untreated wastewater. 4. In addition occurrence of benign/viral gastroenteritis, endemic viral diseases, beef tape worm infection may take place in special cases. The main feature of the WHO (1989) guidelines for wastewater reuse in agriculture to control health protection run as follows- 1. Wastewater is considered as a resource to be used, but used safely. 2. The aim of the guideline is to protect against exist infection in exposed population (Consumers, Farm workers, Population living near irrigated fields). 3. Faecal, coliforms and intestinal nematode eggs are used as pathogen indicators. 4. Measures comprising good reuse management practice are proposed along side waste water quality and treatment goals; restriction on crops to be irrigated with wastewater; selection of irrigation methods providing increased health protection and observation of good personal hygiene. 5. The feasibility of achieving the guidelines is considered along side desirable standard of health protection.

Measures of control:

Thus, exposure of field workers to hook worm infection can be reduced by continues infield use of appropriate footwear which is quite difficult to achieve. It may be worth immunizing highly exposed groups against typhoid and hepatitis A. Additional protection may be offered by arrangement of medical facilities by regular chemotherapeutic control of intense nematode infection in children, and by control of anemia. Chemotherapy and

38 immunization cannot be considered as an adequate strategy being beneficial in only temporary palliative measures. There is also report of occurring of various kinds of skin diseases like dermatitis among women who work in the flowing and stagnant water for agricultural purposes. The main disease of this district is diarrhea, enteritis and other abdominal infectious diseases. Next to this comes the tuberculosis, Kalazar, Typhoid, Fever, Influenza etc. Other most important medical facilities required are those to combat antivenom and poisonous bite. A large percentage of population dwelling in this area are affected by poisonous bites. A fair percentage of these patients expire without getting adequate medical facilities. Often they do not receive medical treatment in due time or are treated by local witch doctors and snake charmers where there are risks that the patients may not recover. It goes without saying that there are really some herbal and natural remedies for such dreadful situations existing in nature, being borne in the knowledge of these local village quacks, but they need to be unfolded, identified and brought to modern civilization through proper scientific channel. Treatment of female patient during pregnancy and delivery, treatment of infants, family planning and abortion etc. are also being conducted by midwives of the village, who are conscious of a large number of medicinal plant that help them in the process. This medical recipes are also needed to be identified.

In addition, risk to consumers can be reduced by thorough cooking and by high standards of hygiene, tape worm transmission can be control by mean inspection, aquaculture schistosomiasis is control by treatment of snail control.

Hence, to conclude, it must be stated that the health risk arising from agriculture and aquaculture need to be carefully considered, the importance of this practice for the livelihoods of countless stake holders must also be taken into account. The aim of our research therefore, should be to maximize the benefits of irrigation to the poor who depend on the resource wild minimizing the risk.

SOME SPECIAL STEPS FOR UPLIFTMENT OF WOMEN LIVELIHOODS:

It may be suggested here that future research activities and extension programme should focus on the following 1. Raising the level of education of women by drawing them into elementary schools, adult literacy classes and vocational training. 2. Improving basic household amenities such as water and electricity to reduce the workload of currently burdensome and time-consuming household tasks, such as preparing food, collecting water from well gathering wood for fuel etc. 3. Promoting family planning information to reduce family size in the context of enhancing the economic role of women. 4. Training for entrepreneurship should be another priority. Women are already engaged in small training. They would benefit from inputs on risk taking, better business practices and financial management. 5. Training for entrepreneurship should be another priority. Women are already engaged in small training. They would benefit from inputs on risk taking, better business practices and financial management.

39 SOME SOC IO - FRIENDLY STEPS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THE PERI – URBAN AREAS OF KOLKATA:

Hence it seems that Peri-Urban area of Kolkata need total upliftment. The main areas of focus should be:

?? Primary education to be made compulsory for every child followed by technical training in different trades. ?? A secondary educational center for the willing and the meritorious. ?? An adult education center may also be introduced. ?? A permanent health centre with emergency facilities to cater the basic medical need of the community. ?? To reduce the ill practices i.e. alcoholism, wife torturing, suicide cases among women, child delivery at home, superstitious and orthodox life style, that is predominant among males, it is necessary for more awareness camps.

Awareness camps and door-to-door campaigns are necessary in the following areas:

?? Drug abuse and alcohol practices ?? Family planning and safe motherhood ?? Legal rights for the backward classes of women ?? Self employment by utilization of local resources

Therefore it may be concluded that integrated project management, infrastructure facilities and availability of communication media should be supplied to these people so as to increase their income and uplift their socio-economic status particularly those of the women keeping in mind to save mother nature side by side.

40 Annex 3d. Communicating project outcomes and findings (presentation)

Communicating project outcomes and findings

DFID-NRSP workshop

Science City, Kolkata 23rd November 2002

Dr Stuart Bunting

Institute of Aquaculture University of Stirling Stirling FK9 4LA Scotland

41 Communication strategy

Stakeholder Context Knowledge demand Product

Poor people Poor people in PU Kolkata are largely employed in farming and Knowledge of emerging threats to help plan and evolve Summary leaflet in Bengali on project related activities; vulnerable to rapid and unforeseen change; coping strategies; a summary of legislation and advocacy findings & conclusions (knowledge of knowledge of threats and livelihood opportunities may therefore help groups for empowerment; feedback to the community to meet advocacy groups) them safeguard or improve there situation expectations Advocates for the poor; CBOs, Involved in various aspects of trying to enhance poor livelihoods; Knowledge of benefits to poor people of PU farming to help in Summary leaflet on project findings & NGOs mostly with limited resources for research and have demonstrated advocacy and summary of constraints to help target future conclusions (knowledge of other project demand for knowledge outputs from the project development initiatives outputs)

Fish, vegetable, rice and Farmers aware of practical constraints yet lack assets and resources Knowledge of wider benefits to society from PU farming for Summary leaflet in Bengali on project livestock producers; to cope with rapid change; training and advice restricted; some family empowerment, summary of constraints and emerging threats findings & conclusions, (knowledge of downstream producers members engaging in urban activities to help build consensus and inform decision making constraints, coping strategies and training/advice) Politicians; CMC; CMDA; DoIW; Generally aware of PU activities but perhaps give priority to urban Knowledge of conflict and possible synergy between Policy brief detailing findings & CMWSA issues; better awareness of benefits from PU farming may help stakeholder positions to help build consensus and develop conclusions (knowledge of stakeholder evolution of more equitable development policy, including resources equitable policy initiatives; outputs of first project workshop positions and constraints to systems for PU socio-economic development and institutional analysis highly relevant operation) DoF Research on selected technical issues ongoing, however, training and Knowledge of constraints to fish production to help focus Policy brief detailing findings & advice needs of producers more oriented toward practical issues resources and develop appropriate policy response; conclusions (knowledge of constraints to knowledge of markets and seed supply networks critical to fish production, markets and seed supply) supporting quality enhancement WBPCB; Tannery operators and Threat of environmental degradation from industry recognised by all Knowledge of waste resource contamination to raise Policy brief detailing findings & polluting activities; DoE parties but non-co-operation of polluters and limited monitoring are awareness amongst tanneries and assist DoE – WBPCB conclusions (knowledge of waste resource constraining improvement develop enhanced environmental protection policy contamination) Kolkata city (general society); Awareness of PU farming and benefits to society limited, especially of Knowledge of benefits to society from PU farming and *Mass media reporting on findings & Tax payers subsidy afforded to society by managed waste reuse possible impact on environment and economy resulting from conclusions (knowledge of how society loss benefits and threats to continued operation) Bankers and credit institutions Formal credit providers are reluctant to lend to PU farmers as they Knowledge of credit problems faced by farmers, particularly Summary leaflet on project findings & lack security, however, micro-finance, exposing lenders to low risks, Situation Analysis report, to assist credit providers deliver conclusions (knowledge of credit problems could significant enhance poor livelihoods more appropriate and flexible arrangements faced by farmers) Wholesale markets, market Large numbers of traders depend on servicing PU farms for their Knowledge of constraints and opportunities in market Summary leaflet in Bengali on project owners, retail vendors; livelihood; individual traders must consider quality control to networks, to enhance functioning, competitiveness and quality findings & conclusions (knowledge of Processors; Seed traders safeguard public health and increase competitiveness of PU farms market assessment) Developers (WBIDC); Planners These institutions area primarily concerned with urban issues, Knowledge of benefits to society from PU farming and Policy brief detailing findings & (HIDCO) however, failure to consider impact on PU activities threatens many possible impact on environment and economic development conclusions (knowledge of benefits poor livelihoods and continued supply of environmental goods and resulting from loss derived from PU farming and possible services currently supporting societal system consequences of loss) Scientists - local, national and Activities must now focus on the transition from research to Knowledge of constraints that demand further research to Policy brief detailing findings & international development, plans of action are required to translate findings into help safeguard and enhance poor livelihoods conclusions (knowledge of constraints and action emerging threats) Consumers Consumers in Kolkata are buying large quantities of produce from PU Knowledge of benefits to society from PU farming (information *Mass media reporting on findings & farms; providing advice on the safe storage and processing of on food safety has not been collected therefore not possible to conclusions (knowledge of how society products may be critical to ensuring health risks are minimised comment on this aspect) benefits and threats to

42

Project website

- Project objectives

- Project overview

- Project activities

- Project outcomes and communication media

to access outputs please visit the project website: www.dfid.stir.ac.uk/dfid/nrsp/kolkata

43 Annex 3e. Planning for the future: Developing action plans (activity)

Planning for the future

DFID-NRSP workshop

Science City, Kolkata 23rd November 2002

44

Developing Action Plans

1. How should problems of (i) declining solid organic waste/wastewater quality and (ii) siltation be addressed?

2. How should opportunities to enhance poor livelihoods be implemented?

3. How should the health of workers, consumers and the environment be safeguarded?

4. How should future research & development programmes in peri-urban Kolkata be co-ordinated?

45

Discussion points

- What needs to be done?

- Who needs to be involved?

- Who should take responsibility?

- What resources will be required?

- Who will monitor the process?

- What is the next step?

46 Annex 4. Media coverage

Source: , Wednesday 27th November 2002, Kolkata Edition

47