Development December 2008 Matters

Livelihoods Community in Action Livelihoods Demonstration of NREGA in Signature campaign to prohibit real Impact of Farm Pond Renovation selected village Panchayats 18 estate in tank ayacut lands 20 Project in Pudurnadu 22

Feature Housing the Urban Poor From the Editors’ Desk Development Matters Dear Readers! Vol. II Issue 12 December 2008 Thanks for your consistent support for the Development Matters by providing articles from various programmes. The December issue speaks about how JnNURM project could solve the housing problem of urban slums in Madurai. Our senior colleagues A. Gurunathan and N.Venkatesan have discussed about Multiple Water Conflicts and their Magnitude in Management of Irrigation Tanks in India. Janakiraman writes about DHAN model of demonstration of NREGA in selected village Panchayats. Jaganathan. K.P. gives a note on the signature campaign took place in Thiruvangau to prohibit real estate in tank ayacut lands. Satyanand shares the impact of farm pond in Pudurnadu, a tribal rainfed location of Vellore. N. Venkatesan shares about the Case of Pirandodi cascade and Vellinipatti village at Kottampatti block. We look forward to your continued support to make Development Matters a successful magazine in terms of content, reach and impact, for which your comments, critiques and contributions are very important for us. Slum dwellers lives are subject to Happy reading! threats because of insecurity of tenure and have become the victim of undesirable elements. Their vulnerability gets aggravated when disaster likes floods or epidemic diseases arise. The need for them is a place for legitimate stay without Contents hassles for their livelihood. 1. Housing the Urban Poor 1

2. Water Conflicts and their Management 10

3. Demonstration of NREGA in selected village Panchayats: DHAN’s model 18

4. Signature campaign to prohibit real estate in tank ayacut lands 20

5. Impact of Farm Pond Renovation Project in Pudurnadu 22

Centre for Development 6. Pirandodi cascade and Vellinipatti village at Communication Kottampatti block 24 DHAN Foundation 18, Pillaiyar Koil Street, S.S. Colony 7. Can we make a change? - Trying to build a Madurai - 625 016. Tamil Nadu, INDIA Knowledge Society 26 Tel.: +91-452-4353983, 2610794, 2610805 Email: [email protected] 8. Suham hospital 29 Website: http://www.dhan.org 1

Feature Housing the Urban Poor Madurai Urban Region

1. Background: Increasing more than 6.0 lakh members across and basic services on the other hand. urbanization in India has put India. It has promoted people The Basic Services for the Urban immense pressure on existing civic institutions through its thematic Poor (BSUP) seeks to provide a amenities, leading to the creation of programmes namely Kalanjiam garland of 7 entitlements/services – informal settlements and slums. Foundation, Vayalagam Foundation, security of tenure, affordable Slum dwellers live in inadequate Information technology, Rainfed housing, water, sanitation, health, conditions that are inimical to health, Farming and Panchayat education and social security – in low hygiene and education. India’s Programme. It has influenced income settlements in the 63 mission housing shortage is estimated to be national, state and regional policies cities. as high as 40 million units and of the country with its grassroots demand from the urban poor experiences and has created a niche The temple town of Madurai, situated on the bank of river Vaigai segment constitutes a large in the field of development sector and 500 km southwest of Chennai, proportion of this shortage. Other through its best practices. It has is the third largest city in Tamil Nadu studies indicate that more than 200 provided models to the sector and the district headquarters of million people are living in acutely because of work in rural, urban and Madurai District. The City poor housing conditions or on the tribal contexts. In the urban contexts, Development Plan (CDP) for streets. The housing and urban it is spearheading the microfinance Madurai Corporation has been poverty alleviation ministry’s data programme, civic initiatives in the approved by Govt of India, under shows that by 2012, the urban field of housing, health and education Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban housing requirement will be more through its collaboration with Renewal Mission (JnNURM). An than 25 million units, 97per cent for mainstream institutions. DHAN amount of Rs.4276 lakh has been the poor. Foundation with its experience in the sanctioned for slum up gradation Many rural households take urban context is the advisor in the and Rs.48,205 lakh for slum housing refuge in the existing slums or Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban improvement (under resettlement occupy low lying areas for their Renewal Mission for 63 mission programme) by the Ministry. livelihoods in their pursuit of cities across India. At present works are going on livelihoods in urban areas. Today, the 2. Status of BSUP in Madurai Mission at the slums listed in the phases I essential services provided by the City and II. Phase I has covered totally dwellers of urban slums have two zones, namely south and east. become the necessity for urbanities. The Jawaharlal Nehru National Phase II has covered totally four Slum dwellers lives are subject to Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM) zones namely north, east, west and threats because of insecurity of supports 63 cities (7 mega cities, 28 south. The following inferences tenure and have become the victim metro cities and 28 capital cities and were drawn from the above table of undesirable elements. Their towns of historical religious namely: vulnerability gets aggravated when importance) across the country in disaster likes floods or epidemic terms of perspective plans called City a. Only 15 per cent of the diseases arise. The need for them is Development Plans (CDPs) for proposed houses are given a place for legitimate stay without specifying infrastructure gaps work order. hassles for their livelihood. relating to water, sanitation, b. Of the working orders given DHAN Foundation with its sewerage, drainage and roads on the 9per cent houses were thematic intervention has reached one hand and deficiencies in housing completed.

* Madurai Urban Region, Kalanjiam Foundation, Madurai, Tamil Nadu. 2

Fig 1 : Status of ownership in III phase of BSUP f. 42 per cent of the households who have started construction S. No. of Particulars were granted loan at differential No. Households interest rates. 1 Total number of new houses proposed 22,766 The above analysis highlights the 2 Number of work order issued cases 3,522 need for coming out with innovative strategies to accelerate the pace of 3 Stages of cases of which work is issued implementation. The progress under a) Earth work 275 BSUP warrants to accelerate the b) Foundation 407 immediate action pace of implementation to achieve the mid c) Lintel level 267 term targets set by the state and d) roof laid 546 central government. e) Completed 342 3. Status of Urban Poor in Madurai:

f) Work not yet to started 1,685 There are 208 slums in the Number of cases to which work order can not be 9,717 Madurai. These slums are classified 4 issued (%) (43%) into patta, pormabkku and objectionable areas by the a) Land of land record 2,436 corporation administration. Many of b) Odai Porambokku 117 the slums are in low lying area. Efforts by Tamilnadu Slum c) No valid document 5,576 Clearance Board and Corporation d) Financial reasons 1,639 administration through their e ) Others 49 programme have not addressed the urban poor problems of not having 5 Amount received so far (Rupees in lakhs) 5,959 legitimate tenure of stay. During the 6 Expenditure (Rupees in lakhs) 603 flood period in 2005 and 2006, dilapidated houses were worst 7 Number of cases loan tie up arranged through bank affected and their daily sustenance a) Total number of applications submitted 1,378 has become questionable. Urban poor livelihoods and their lives have b) Total number of cases loans sanctioned but not 783 become vulnerable due to disbursed exploitative credit rates and poor c) Total number of cases loan disbursed 581 quality of life had made their life d) Total number of cases rejected 14 more miserable. The socio economic survey carried out in 52 slums Source: Madurai Corporation as on 30.06.08 reveals the following status: c. Against the work order issued objectionable areas, due to lack High proportion of slum dwellers 47per cent of the households of proper document, rented 68 per cent are in rented house. have not started the work. households and lack of resources for own contribution. 29per cent of slum dwellers are in d. About 43 per cent of the e. 10 per cent is spent or shown their own houses. While merely 3 households proposed are in as expenditure. per cent are having lease ownership. 3

Table 2: Status of houses in Phase III after the construction of new house. Sl. No. Types of Houses No. of Households Percentage • The tenant is afraid of the rent increment after reconstruction. 1RCC House 5,453 26 • Houses which are RCC has a 2Tiled House 9,736 47 component of tiled / thatch in front of the house and they 3 Thatched House 4,188 20 demand to be treated as thatch 4Flat System 1,533 7 or tiled and strive to qualify as a beneficiary of the project. TOTAL 20,910 100 • Since there is no ceiling on the Source: Socio Economic Survey area to be constructed, there is a possibility of beneficiaries incurring more expenditure resulting in huge debts and at times land them in trouble for disposing their assets to settle their debts in a long run. • The households residing in Porambokku areas, objectionable areas either the rented or leased houses feel insecure about whether they will be allotted with a new

Table 3: Status of Potential Non Objectionable Particulars Objectionable Total Slums Households in III phase of BSUP Slums

• 59 per cent slum dwellers (both TILE 1,185 408 1,593

the house owners and tenants) PATTA THATCH 127 14 141 are not showing interest in new TOTAL 1312 422 1734 construction as well as TILE 492 472 964 resettlement. Because the PORAMBOKKU OWN HOUSE house owner resides out of the THATCH 48 53 101 slum in a comfortable house TOTAL 540 525 1065 and doesn’t want to invest in TILE 431 216 647 NO IDENTITY the slum house. THATCH 58 20 78 • The house owner can not get TOTAL 489 236 725 higher rent from the tenant for TILE 2768 842 3610 PATTA the newly constructed house. THATCH 134 32 167 • A person is having more than TOTAL 2902 874 3777 one house in more than one TILE 593 475 873 PORAMBOKKU slum. RENT/ LEASE HOUSE THATCH 61 117 166 • The households residing in TOTAL 654 592 1039 rented or leased houses have TILE 2106 1582 3690 NO IDENTITY new confusion that whether the THATCH 144 120 265

house owner will extend the TOTAL 2250 1702 3955 rental time or leasing time even GRAND TOTAL 8,147 4,351 12,498 4

house in the same area or they • Household plinth area ranges ingiving provision of shelter to will be settled in new areas from 100 sq.ft to2000 sq.ft the poor similar to Dharavi having accessibility to their resulting in huge costs for model of improvement. livelihoods. construction of large sized Community Based • The people with ‘No identity’ houses and put the householder Organizations (CBOs), Non- also be verified with the records in debt under higher interest Governmental Organizations that whether they are eligible to rate. (NGOs) and Self-Help Groups issue Patta or qualify for • 50per cent of the dwellers in the (SHGs) can also be involved in resettlement. slum who are living in rent partnership with the Private Sector. • Out of 68.5 per cent tenants don’t know their destination. only 29 per cent are willing to • On the light of above issues, the • Beneficiary-led housing change the residence. following recommendations are development should be made to hasten the process of encouraged. Suitable 4. Way forward BSUP implementation. percentage of land developed by the Public Sector can be 4.1. Land Tenure: • Eligibility norms for the provided at institutional rates to People in slums reside in non potential households and ceiling organizations like Cooperative objectionable areas and objectionable for the plinth area to be decided Group Housing Societies, areas. People who reside in non by the corporation for ensuring which provide housing to their objectionable areas have patta ( title the benefits go to the urban members on a no-profit no-loss of ownership)qualifying for the poor. basis. beneficiary under the project and • Booklet namely “Frequently • Zoning and land use planning people who live in porambokku in Asked Questions” in response that encourages low-income non objectionable area / notified to the questions raised by the housing, and mixed-income slums have tax receipts which give clients can be brought out in neighborhoods need to be them also privilege to negotiate with local language to give clarity to designed with integrated the state administration to get pattas. the members living in slums. Whereas people who are living in delivery of services—water • Grievance cell under each zone objectionable areas have no pattas supply and sanitation, health can be opened to give the but have tax receipts for their care, education and access to guideline value and the process occupation of land which qualifies livelihood—and not just housing of land transfer to next them for resettlement. There are in isolation generation through proper legal slums which are adopted by documents can be facilitated. 4.2. Technical Support Tamilnadu Slum Clearance Board • Purchase of land / site access and the beneficiaries are given Lease Potential dwellers in the slum go cum Sale agreement. The following to livelihood can be made available for the rented by their own wisdom for features emerge on studying the construction and get cheated by the characterization of land tenure in the households by the corporation at the nominal price. contractor. The contractors on the slum areas namely the name of quality go for needless Land pooling and sharing • Number of houses in the slum • materials like steel rods for arrangements can be is decided by number of families construction resulting houses need encouraged in order to facilitate residing in the slum and not by only roofing but the norms of the land development and landholding / patta available with corporation do not permit them to improvement of basic amenities the individuals have only roof. Members need to in slums. • On mutual understanding, land demolish their own building to qualify is shared by the legal heirs • Release of Transferable under the scheme. Every household without any registration and it Development Rights can be / contractor individually purchases becomes difficult to claim the carefully considered for the material resulting in huge costs. benefit under the programme. accelerating private investment To address the issues listed above 5

the following recommendations are 4.3. Financial Support the bankers to hasten the made. construction considering the The inability to assess credit risk: inflation of costs of building • There is a need for policy uncertain cash flows lower profit materials. Amount earned as change for considering the up- margins due to smaller transaction interest on BSUP funds in the gradation which will accelerate sizes, fixed costs and lack of clarity banks can be used for this the pace of implementation. on recoveries, especially in the purpose by the corporation at • Design freeze should be done context of uncertainty over land least to the tune of assured bank by the qualified engineers to ownership. As per the programme, loan. reduce the costs. the support for the construction in • The draft National Housing and Madurai is Rs. 64,400 and the bank Habitat Policy, 2006 lays • Use of low cost technology loan is Rs. 20,000 (why ceiling on emphasis on social harmony and recommended by Laurie Baker land loan?) at 4 per cent per annum increasing institutional finance used in Kattada maiyam need to is given to the potential beneficiary. for housing for the poor and its be explored for reduction in It is assumed that 70per cent is given accessibility at affordable rates. costs. Model houses using cost by the corporation under the A new Centrally Sponsored effective materials and alternate programme and the remaining 30per Scheme to provide an interest technologies can be cent is to be contributed by the subsidy of 5% per annum for a constructed at district, state and beneficiary through the bank loan. period of five years to at central level. In reality, the cost of constructing commercial lenders for lending 270 sq. ft ranges from 2.0 to 2.5 to Economic Weaker Section • Showing video films on and Low Income Group construction of houses with lakhs which enhances the burden on the urban poor in the name of segment of the urban areas have alternate technologies can be accordingly being proposed to housing. Moreover, construction arranged for the prospective be launched beginning 2007-08. work is stopped due to the beneficiaries and on important Interest Subsidy is expected to reluctance of bankers in not opening aspects of the scheme including leverage market funds to flow the bank account / delay in getting Do’s and Don’ts can also be into housing for poor. arranged. This would go a long the payment from the corporation due to unavoidable reasons. • The National Housing Board way in helping the potential (NHB) and Housing & Urban Potential beneficiaries are not clear beneficiaries to the scheme. Development Corporation Ltd. about the budget / cost to be incurred (HUDCO) would be nodal • Households who reside in for the construction. They consider agencies for disbursement of contiguous surrounding can the investment on housing as one subsidies. come together for purchase of time affair and resort to loans at materials to reduce the costs. higher interest rates from money • Facilitate NGO’s / People organizations who are running lenders. On the light of the above • Encourage beneficiaries to form self help groups to provide loan issues the following cooperative housing societies against housing based on credit recommendations are suggested for for pooling of resources. worthiness of the household. consideration, Promote Slum Development • Ensuring the kitchen and latrine • Similar to design freeze, Association for leveraging the constructed were with proper budget is also to be freezed resources from the mainstream ventilation. This needs to be through proper financial institutions. ensured by the technical team. counselling to avoid the • Percentage of land should be • Corporations can prepare members getting in to the trap earmarked in every public / detailed city maps on the basis of money lenders. private housing project; of the GIS mapping through • Bridge fund should be appropriate special incentives satellite data, aerial survey and facilitated by the corporation in can be developed by Urban ground verification. anticipation of the support by Local Bodies for urban poor. 6

• Similar to Nabard, National roofing, construction of toilets build adequate stock of housing Housing Bank (NHB) can act as which enhances the quality of and create a market in rented a refinance institution and life. The range of portfolio housing for the poor. This setting up of National Shelter required to address the needs checks the fraudulent practices Fund at the ministry level to is from Rs.15000 to 20000 at such as sales and sub leases. provide subsidy support in 12 per cent rate of interest to As an incentive, the house can terms of interest concession. the group. It comes to member be transferred after a period of @ 15 per cent rate of interest. responsible habitation with 4.4. Exclusive products at Considering the need it would certain conditions. The affordable rates: be desirable to have a product arrangement will legalize the Every year the demand for urban covering fully the need or partly reality of sales and rental housing is on increasing trend and at concessional rates of interest transaction of the houses the need for evolving products which would reduce their allotted to the urban poor. The suiting the poor communities is the burden significantly. The loan rent will seldom be an additional challenge of the federations. The can be released in stages which burden on the poor, as they key features of housing micro loans will enable them to get the already pay monthly rent and is the size ( 2-4 times larger than whole credit at concessional give the benefit of security of working capital loans), term (more rates. tenure. The range of portfolio than 3 years), market interest rate, required is Rs. 1,00,000 to Rs. b. Construction of Houses: liability (individual), collateral 1, 50,000 per house for 250 to House construction is (unsecured), urban poor and other 300 sq. ft. Memorandum of undertaken for those who are services ( land acquisition, land understanding can be signed having legitimate space using registration and construction. among the implementing appropriate technology. Two Despite organizing the unorganized agency, corporation and the products are made available communities, the leverage of Rabo Foundation to experiment under this product. Financing resources with the mainstream the new model which can the member to construct houses institution at market rates of credit absorb considerable portfolio or construct houses using the becomes more costly to members. and give security of tenure at institutional resources and give This demands to look forward for affordable rates to the world at the house to the end user at cost the institutions which values the large. This is similar to partner prices similar to housing sweat of poor communities and gives families product executed under policies pursued by Habitat for credit to them at cheaper rates. The Rabo Foundation. Humanity. The range of products are namely: portfolio ranges for the d. Leasing Product: House lease a. Up gradation of houses: Poor construction is Rs. 50,000 to product is where leasing households tend to build Rs. 75,000. With the saving of agreement is between the tenant gradually and incrementally, members, resources can be and house owner for specified often building only one room at leveraged from the corporation period. After the lease period a time. This process of under the Basic Services to over the house owner will give ‘progressive housing’ or Urban Poor. Credit at affordable the amount to concern party ‘incremental housing’, as it is rates would reduce the burden with out interest. The range of referred to in literature, is of interest. portfolio required is Rs. 20,000 thought to be compatible with to Rs. 30,000. The member microfinance which comprises c. Rental product: Considering does not have the experience of small loans of a short tenure. the migration and seasonality of principal and interest burden as Upgradation of houses includes urban households, land can be they see it as saving in their own the cement flooring, fencing, sought from corporation and perspective as they get back at 7

the end of lease period i.e. bankers and slum development is affordable. ranging from 3 to 5 years. Any association (potential members) • Every state along with concession given to the product fortnightly to hasten the process corporation commissioners/ will enhance their saving in the of implementation. stakeholders have to examine group and increase stake and • Awareness camps need to be policy constraints in extending leverage better resources from organized by the respective housing facilities to all urban mainstream institution as their zones for motivating the poor in particular who are institutional contribution. beneficiaries and to clarify the tenants residing in slums. doubts. Evolve appropriate strategies to 4.5. Programme management • Review of the programme can build in to the existing policy Effective management of a be done along with the district frame work and assure programme is a prerequisite for administration to break the affordable housing for tenants sound implementation. There are operational constraints in land in slums under Basic Services considerable delays in opening the tenure. for Urban Poor Programme. bank accounts, lack of orientation • Special purpose vehicle for the potential members, delay in To conclude, it is felt that the involving all the stakeholders for release of money and to work out detailed project report should list the BSUP can be considered for alternative propositions for speedy only potential households after accelerating the pace of implementation. Bankers need to be considering the constraint involved implementation. oriented by the corporation for in the implementation of the • Municipal corporation could speedy opening of bank accounts programme and it is time to do mid enter into a joint venture with for the potential members and to course corrections for the development organizations to increase the loan component for programme to ensure the real poor promote housing for the poor construction. get entitlements. In this context, .With the project value being there is an immense need to frame • Considering the total cost small in such projects ultimately the enabling policy for ensuring the incurred by the beneficiaries, the quality of the product could entitlements to tenants at state level banks need to come forward for suffer in pursuit of higher involving all the stakeholders to break the funding the total margins if entrusted to private the barriers in the implementation contribution of the beneficiary contractors. Construction process. At the ministry level, ceiling at 4 per cent p.a activity has to carried out on of land/plinth area, acceptance of business lines to ensure that house up gradation and eligibility • Steering Committee to be programme is sustainable while norms for BSUP programme are to organized at every zone along keeping the profit to the be redefined on the light of above with the corporation officials, minimum to ensure the product realities at grassroots.

Case Study of Thiruvalluvar Nagar

URBAN POOR MATTERS?

Thiruvalluvar Nagar has 85 houses constructed under Slum Clearance Board in Madurai. Of the 85, two sites are meant for temple and Mandram which are referred as common properties. There is a Cement road stretching the whole Thiruvalluvar Nagar. 71 septic tanks and individual taps connection for 32 numbers exist. Slum clearance Board demands the allottee should not sell the title deed. But in practice, the deed is sold to others for which sale deed is given on the original allottee name by the slum clearance board to the present owner violating the norms. 8

Table 1. Status of Ownership of House sites The above table gives us the inference that the 59 houses are to Sale deed S. No. Particulars Numbers be made into concrete. Another issued distinguishing feature is out of 83 households, 120 households are 1 Legal Ownership 53 4 staying, which means in one site 2Rented 14 1 more than one household are staying. Slum clearance board has allotted 80 3 Illegal 16 10 sites as per map but in record about 85 sites is listed. Criteria for 4 Common Properties 2 0 allocation are not clear as different Total 85 15 allotments are given, ranging from 287 sq.ft to 2184.40 sq.ft. Of the 85 sites allotted, 67 households are eligible for giving sale deed, Moreover, the allotment for more and the rest 16 are not eligible but of which ten are given sale deeds in the than two sites (3 numbers) is given original allottee name. Nature of ownership gives details of the people who to the same persons. are living in slums and outside of slums. This shows the people who are Table 4 : Number of sites area wise residing as per allotment, new allottees on purchase from original allottee and leaving a part of portion as rent. These dwellers are referred as “in S. No. Area (sq.ft) No. slums” and another category is out slums where the original allottee has given the place at rent, new allottee giving in rent / lease. 1 200 - 400 5

Table 2: Status of Inhabitants site wise. 2 400- 600 15

Nature of 3 600 - 800 12 S.No. Particulars Numbers Inhabitants 4 800- 1000 15 1 In slums Own / Own - rent/ sales -own 62 5 1000-1200 7 2 Out slums Rent / sales -rent/ sales - lease 21 6 1200-1400 9 3 Common Common properties 2 7 1400-1600 7 Total 83 8 >1600 9 BSUP demands allocation of houses as per the nature of roofing for Area yet to be which the sale deeds are given. The below given data shows the sites, sale 9 6 identified deed given and households.

Table 3. Status of roofing site wise, sale deed wise and Household wise This table shows that the allotment of more than 800 sq.ft. Sl. No. Particulars Sites Sale deed Households are given to the better lot than the poor who occupy considerable less 1RCC 195 20 number of sites. The allotment is 2 Tiled 56 10 92 made based on the occupation at the time of raising the proposal without 3 Thatched 3 0 3 considering the equity or their 4Open space 5 0 5 economic position. Points for Reflection: 5Common Properties2 0 0 1. Dispensing the penal interest Total 85 15 120 imposed on the slum dwellers 9

by the Slum Development 3. Ensuring equity by not allotting 8. TNSCB which is responsible Board. E.g .in the case of more than one house for the for allotment and issue of sale Thiruvalluvar nagar, for the dwellers as more than two sites deed will not issue sale deed beneficiary Sri Raman the are issued to three persons and unless all the dues are settled following dues are listed. also on area. by the allottees. Against the loan of Rs.4,150 4. Justice need to be done for 9. What is the stand of the (Rs.1,000 grant) given for those who are living in rent as Municipal Corporation with changing the roof, the they occupy / live in thatched regards to allottees who have household has paid Rs.7,828 house with less floor space. dues to be paid to TNSCB? including the interest and penal 5. Getting the details of overdue 10. The status of those who bought interest and is still has an amount for the individual house the land from the original allottee overdue of Rs.5,802 and for the sites and facilitate mechanisms is to be decided. for mobilizing the resources. same beneficiary towards the 11. What is the action to be taken plot where the rate fixed was 6. Policy of the corporation of by Municipal Corporation to only Rs. 6,826 for his holding giving more than one household provide housing to those who 90 sq.mt and now he has been if there is sufficient space in the are tenants? site as the present area ranges paid Rs.11,278. He has paid 12. Is it possible to decide a cut of Rs.5,749 and still has an from 287 sq.ft to 2184.40 sq.ft. and the households are more in date for tenants to regularize the overdue of Rs.17,695. The number. Whether we will go by stay or provide accommodation penal interest component and household wise/site wise in the slum settlement or in a the anticipation of getting free allocation made by the slum relocation area? pattas are the two major reasons clearance board. 13. Whether a fresh survey is for delay in getting the sale 7. Clarification of the sale deed required for assessing the BPL deed. issued by the slum clearance families and to ensure that only 2. Procedure for ratifying the sales board not as per allotment the subsidy is targeted only the made by the original allottee. scheduled. real poor and the needy? Wood carvings blocks, placed above the doors, named Karaikudi is in the field for the Karaikudi and the neighboring as SURYA PALLAKAI, is the first promotion of art forms. DHAN towns hold excellent examples of greeting to any visitor, who enters in Foundation would work at the grass Chettinadu architecture. The people to any Chettinad house. The artistic roots level in the promotion of the of Chettinadu were traders and value of these products has no wood carving activity, through financiers who valued high living and measure, for it is a treasure. appropriate capacity building programme, assisting in the quality maintained old traditions. They built The Endogenous tourism model control and in the provision of market all-embracing houses, which today would revive those art forms; where linkages. DHAN Foundation would stand testimony to their taste and the master craftsmen are very few and conduct the workshops for craft love for beautiful things. They the migration of the younger artisans communities with the focus of craft brought back Burmese teak and is high. Wood carving activity has revival, design and marketing of the European tiles for their mansions, as become one such art form, which products in mind. Our rural tourism well as the inspiration from demands the revival. The art form is would be a community managed ceremonial and palace architecture. practiced only by a hundred of artisan model, strengthening the sustainable They incorporated the wealth of and the artisans, whose talents ranging livelihood of the local communities wood sculpting and craftsmanship to those of the yester years are very as well as developing the local from local craftsmen in their homes, little. which now stands with pride, even heritage and culture of Chettinad; when it has not been properly cared. DHAN Foundation along with the converting the slogan of Endogenous The minute carvings on the doors; support of UNDP and GOI in the tourism project –Revival of arts; carvings of idols on a wooden Endogenous Tourism Project at survival of artisans, in to action 10

Water matters Water Conflicts and their Management (Necessity to rebuild Social Capital for Water Resources with Empowerment Approach) A.Gurunathan and N.Venkatesan*

Introduction tank command lands, soils and • Conflicts arising over the Irrigation tank is a common pool plants, animals and birds, aquatic ownership, control and use of resource, a multiple collective asset plants and fishes. As an agriculture tank resources. and supporting village economy. system it is distinct, which provides • Conflicts remain latent for long equitable water distribution to small Tanks provide protective irrigation period of time in case if the and marginal farmers to cultivate at in low rainfall areas. Tank irrigation ‘differently vested interest’ least one successful crop in is one of the important and oldest parties have no chance to have monsoon season. As an engineering sources of irrigation in India. There confrontation. (For e.g. no system, tank is a simple earthern are 500 000 tanks in India. Southern gramasabha meetings or village bunded reservoir with simple part of India is noted for the intensity meeting convened) hydrologic principles and design. As of tanks. There are about 127, 000 Conflicts become intense and a management system it is capable • tanks in Southern region consisting of becoming administratively and very frequent during water of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and financially self reliant structure. As scarce period in the tank Tamil Nadu These water harvesting a social system, the tank serves and complex. structures were indigenously benefits various section of the village The attitude of the community designed and constructed by native community such as farmers, and the cohesiveness as well as rulers and chieftains and managed artisans, animal rearers and village bondage between community by local communities over the past women. As a spiritual system, it has relations lead to the above mentioned several centuries before British rule. cultural integration. In the modern water conflicts. But, there are other Many tanks in India were development era, the policy makers set of water conflicts which occur constructed for altruistic purposes visualises the tanks as ‘insignificant’ mainly due to careless handling of of charity. Mostly they have evolved or ’minor’ establishments, except by issues and/or intruding in the tank into valuable systems that support the disadvantaged villagers in rural management aspects in people’s livelihoods in multiple ways. areas. For them tanks is the life ‘unauthorised’ manner by the main In addition to storing water for supporting system available at their stakeholders namely the State irrigation, tanks provide services doorsteps providing range of uses. government; i.e. without such as recharge of groundwater consultation or ignoring the plea of used by adjacent communities, Water Conflicts in Tank Complex - the users. fertile silt that provide nutrients for Characteristics and Consequences: higher crop production in dry lands, The consequences of conflicts Water conflicts in tank complexes water and space for aquaculture and have a bearing on water related are having few common livestock and sand and soil for use characteristics from the field institutions and have potential to by small industries. experiences of DHAN Foundation’s trigger contention and dispute, thus Vayalagam Tankfed Agriculture becoming an instrument of As one of the oldest man-made polarisation and exclusion. ecosystems, the tank system programme. They were categorised consists of water bodies and as: • Unresolved conflicts lead to associated tank structures, feeder • Conflicts arising out of greater misunderstanding, channels, wells, wetlands, semi dry emotional issues differences of opinion and

* A. Gurunathan, Chief Executive, Vayalagam (Tank) Foundation, Madurai N. Venkatesan, Programme Leader, Vayalagam (Tank) Foundation, Madurai 11

arguments, which may at times allow the water through their field Thirumangalam cascade are very lead to manhandling among in order to protect the crop which is common. The damage to water people. Effects are damage to at the harvest stage. This creates bodies is irreversible or otherwise the tank structures, wastage of conflicts between command area opportunity cost for revival is very money in civil suits etc. At the farmers. The conflicts arise mainly high. The damage to water bodies is end it leads to obliteration of for want of water or for want of progressive but very slow. The socio economic livelihood space to dispose water. effect of damage is hidden for very sources of the people Between the tank command long period. A village which acts as depending on tank systems. area farmers and the well owners: a power centre through its unity can influence nearby villages and can • Conflicts around common Personal interest and relationship establish rights over the resources resources like tanks and ponds decides the well water supply to e.g. Urappanur. severely affect the poor because other field. Any personal dispute or of its nature among their difference of opinion creates Wherever the village have livelihood survival as drinking conflicts between these two. significant common fund traditional water sources in the water Between the tank command institutions functions are scarce or unpotable ground area farmers and the villagers: undertaken. The villagers ensure the water regions viz. coastal zones. Usually the village common fund is institutional performance by altering • Conflicts at times could become utilised for tank development works. the hierarchical structure already an instrument of equitable and All the villagers including landless existed in the villages. They modify social harmony among those people and dry land farmers have the system according to the changes who involved either directly or equal rights over the village fund. taking place in and around the village indirectly on the water for While allocating village fund to the e.g. Sathangudi. meeting their livelihoods. tank works, always there exist disputes between the two. The Encroachment and groundwater Irrigation Tanks and types of dispute is triggered mainly by other exploitation will create a serious Conflicts: conflicts. problem in near future. This two will affect the tank performance and also There exist different stages of Between the tank command the village unity. Those who have conflicts among various categories area farmers and the encroachers: ability to influence others can get of people. Tank being a common Encroachment being a common water. This is true in all cases i.e. property the impact of other phenomenon, in this village no one within tank, between tanks, among conflicts on tank performance is can question the encroachers. tanks etc. The influencing factors are significant. Individual problems, Encroachers claim equal right over money and muscle power. The groupism within the caste, difference the tank water for their land. The muscle power includes village unity, of opinion between castes, disputes problem is very high during the caste support and political support. between villages directly affect the scarce period. performance of the tanks. Regarding The Hydrology of the Vallakulam tank Between the encroachers and water bodies there exists following Cascade and the Conflict nearby land owners: Encroachment type of conflicts. in odai poramboke affects the other The importance of working in a Between Command area farmers who own land in the hydrological linked cascade of tanks farmers: The groundwater access opposite side of the channel. Any will be realised more when we helped the farmers to plant paddy as developmental work in the analyse the available secondary data earlier than other farmers. During encroached land proportionately regarding the standards, location, the end of the season, the other affects the other farmers. ayacuts and the supply channels of farmers require tank water for their the tanks. The simple analysis of the crop whereas the farmers who have The conflicts/ disputes between secondary data on the hydrology of planted earlier than the others do not tanks and among the tanks in the 12

the tanks supported by the additional Table 1: Vallakulam cascade of Tanks (Waterspread area and capacity) information on sociological Area of Area of Private land Max. width Bund parameters gives us sufficient inputs Wate rs pre ad Wate rs he d under (fetch) of Name of the tank length in at FTL in ha Poromboke submergence wate rs pre ad for our action. The preliminary me te rs (Ideal water) in ha. in ha in meters analysis of the hydrology of the Vallakulam cascade of tanks in 1. Theriruveli small 95.61 38.06 57.55 744 3,140 Ramanathapuram district of Tamil 2. Puseri 124.10 64.50 59.60 1,129 4,530 Nadu suggests us the following 3. Kadambodai 45.32 19.50 25.82 450 2,230 inferences. 4. Chinnakannankudi 960 38.55 11.76 26.79 650 big Waterspread Area and the capacity 5. Chinnakannankudi - -1.41- - small All the tanks in the cascade have submergence area, in the private 6. Maravaikudi 103.00 33.41 69.59 1,010 3,5 fields apart from the government 7. Vallakulam 101.40 85.94 15.46 930 3,780 porombokes. This submergence is 8. Annuni 40.76 10.18 30.58 400 1,950

almost 100% or more than that of Total 548.74 264.76 283.99 the government poromboke. The farmers in the submerged area Table 2. Vallakulam Cascade of Tanks (standard levels and submergence) mostly adjoining to the foreshores of the downstream tanks are Difference between deepest Deepest anxious during above normal years. FTL. in MWL in TBL in sill of the Upper Name of the Tank sill level in The anxiety to send off the water me te rs me te rs me te rs Tank & FTL of me te rs becomes more when the number of Lower Tank in me te rs surpassing days become more than 10 days, when the crop is more than 1. Theriruveli small 16.80 17.47 18.47 15.36 - thirty days old. 2. Puseri 15.01 15.61 16.61 13.31 0.35 3. Kadambodai 14.33 14.89 15.89 12.83 -1.03 Conflicts in Tanks: Cases owing to Customary Rights: 4. Chinnakannankudi big 13.97 14.57 15.57 12.62 -1.14 5. Chinnakannankudi small - - - - - Customary Rights to tank water 6. Maravaikudi 13.89 14.22 15.22 12.39 -0.59 and other associated usufructs have been exercised from time 7. Vallakulam 11.90 12.50 13.50 10.23 0.49 immemorial by farming as well as 8. Annuni 11.85 12.48 13.48 10.01 -1.5

non-farming villagers, according to Total 548.74 264.76 283.99 the norms evolved with their consensus. It was felt necessary to Case 1: Custom that prevailed in customs are strictly adhered to and understand the customary rights and Water Scarce Area in Tank and any change in this led to conflicts practices indigenously developed Drinking Water Pond and communal disharmony. and traditionally practiced by the Mudukulathur big Tank is community, however over a period Ramanathapuram district in located in Mudukulathur taluk of of time other interventions have South Tamil Nadu is renowned for Ramanathapuram district. The tank changed them and the implications customs in the management of irrigates an ayacut area of more of such changes on the community tanks and ponds. Being a water than 40 ha and the farmers who live as well as on the resources scarce district in a drought prone in the surrounding villages of Thoori, themselves. Following few cases region, coupled with saline ground Ettiseri, Kadambankulam and enumerate the conflicting issues water, the surface water bodies Selvavinayagapuram own the land. around tanks and pond systems. remained lifelines and as it is well understood by the people, the Traditionally, Thoori villagers were 13

maintaining and managing the again at the end of the season to west of the village. They receive Mudukulathur big tank. Till mid (December) and once again during water supply from the rainfed non- 1980’s, the villagers from Thoori summer (June). This has been the perennial river named Kundaar. The used to invite ayacutdhars from the way of life and the source of their ayacut area commanded by these other remaining three villages for drinking water which they could not tanks is given in Table 3. mobilising voluntary labour to clean separate from irrigation tanks for up the feeder channel from its ages. It is also enforced Table 3: Tanks in Athoor Village original source Ragunatha Cauvery and practiced that nobody which is a tributary of Gundar river. should pump or bail the Wate r Ayacut water below the sill level of Spread Cultivated Tank Area After 1980s, the practice has Area Area (ha) the sluice outlets of the (ha) been converted into mobilising irrigation tanks. (ha) money rather than mobilising labour 165.5- Case 2: Conflict in sharing Pulvettikulam 68.750 156.005 from the same villages for the cost 05 equal to their labour. This has Usufructory Rights from happened because of the behaviour Tanks in Dindigul district Karunkulam 20.030 34.075 31.520 of one or two villagers who did not Pagadaikulam 33.085 88.480 81.580 send adequate number of labourers. Athoor is a traditional This practice had also collapsed in zamin village bound by its Total 121.865 288.06 269.105 the mid 1990s. During 1999, Thoori heritage and cultural villagers had spent Rs.25000 to practices of a multi- caste village in These lands belong to 703 clean the supply channels and filled Southern Tamil Nadu. It is situated farmers. Of them about 73 per cent the Mudukulathur big Tank. They twenty km south west of the district belong to marginal farmers’ category vehemently refused to release any head quarter, Dindigul. Athoor and only 1.5 per cent belongs to big water even after the Public Works Village Committee was established farmers while the remaining are department engineers tried to open even before 1900 with a view to help small farmers. the sluices. Thoori farmers put forth the village to gain certain benefits the argument, “No payment for the from the then government. Late Water had to be distributed by clearing of channel and hence No Savarimuthu Pillai was active in the the agreed (customary) rules formed water”. After lot of tension and welfare of Athoor and Sempatti by the Athoor Pattadhar Committee arguments, two villagers paid villages and he was claimed to be a (APC) .They include, Rs.10,000 and Rs.6000 respectively charismatic leader. He is reported • Maniams have to distribute the and got their share of water. These to have laid the foundations for the water in an orderly manner types of custom enforced tank Athoor Pattadhars’ Committee sequentially (Head to Tail end) management issues are common in (APC). It was registered in the year • If any one needs water beyond such drought prone arid plains of 1993. The Executive Committee the requirement they have to South Tamil Nadu. consisted of four office bearers request the APC only, which in namely President, Vice President, turn will suitably instruct the The alluvial formations in a few Secretary and the Treasurer and maniams. pockets and in proximity of the Gulf thirteen Executive Committee • During the periods of scarcity, of Mannar coast are attributed to members who constituted the apex water delivery time will be fixed salinity in ground water in body in the decision making on the basis of availability and Ramanathapuram district. It is process. certain prefixed norms on the always a custom that the villagers basis of equity. in many parts of the district used to Athoor village comprises a series of tanks, namely fill their Ooranis (drinking water Fishing rights from these tanks Karunkulam, Pagadaikulam and ponds) from the tanks. This are as per custom under which the Pulvettikulam. These tanks are all happens at the beginning of the villagers auction the fishing rights. rainy season (September), and situated in a single line from east 14

The returns from the auction are Development Agency Act and Association building used for temple and tank related declared the tank as part of the construction purposes only. All the religions get pilot tanks where fishery was • Fish rearing activities in the their share of revenue for their proposed to be promoted. The tank. respective religious festivals and it Assistant Director of the Fisheries Such well performing sangam is made known to all the villagers. Department, Dindigul requested the which has been traditionally enjoying They have been adhering to this Tahsildar to cancel the APC’s all the usufructory rights including norm for more than forty years. customary rights to fishery. The fishery in the tanks witnessed the APC put up more than ten years of The customary rights followed in problem with fishery department. legal battle in the court of law. But a consensus based decision The association approached the in the year 1998 the High Court making process of APC were Madras High Court to reserve order vacated the stay and announced in favour of the sangam due to their • Irrigation rights as per the that the right to fishing from the customary practices since ages. (customary) rules formed tank has been vested with the While the case against the fishery Assistant Director, Fisheries • Appointment of Maniams for department was pending with the Department, Dindigul. So, the APC irrigation High Court, they continuously lost its enjoyment of fishing rights • Fishing rights enjoyed their rights using the from 1998 onwards. • Segment (Kandam) based injunction until 1998. During 1998, Watch and Ward system Like Athoor, Sithayankottai the fishery department invited through appointment of guards Town Panchayat situated twenty KM contractors for fishing in the tank, men. southwest direction of Dindigul lost but no one came forward to apply • Cattle rearing and other its Customary fishing rights enjoyed for the contract fearing the Sangam Recreational Activities by Village Farmers Protection and villagers may not allow doing any fishing which is much against the • Auctioning right over the use Sangham over five decades to customary practice. Now the case of Threshing floor (KALAM) at fishery department which issued a has been dismissed without pressing the time of harvesting. letter during 1998. In this village even now the mainstay of people for a decision and the merit of the Case 3- Dispute on Fishery namely agriculture is practiced case has never been contested. Usufructs: Loss of Rights under two rainfed tanks namely Case 4-Encroachments and the Thamaraikulam and Puliyankulam Rights of Cultivators: A case of The tank fishery efforts by the and also in the direct ayacut area villagers were taken away by the Rasingapuram village in Theni of Thamaraikulam Rajvaikkal. The District government agencies by way of direct ayacut of Rajavaikkal and collecting a tax Meen Pasy (Fish two tanks command 471.065 ha. Rasingapuram is one of the tax) to recognise the rights of the village panchayats in Bodinaickanur villagers to have fishery under their In this village, Mr.N.Abdul block of Theni district. It is a control. Way back in 1946, the Khadar (who was later elected as multicaste village wherein more than government tried to cancel the Rajyasabha MP) organized the twelve castes are residing with fishery rights of the APC. But the farmers and started a formal traditional and cultural bondage. This then president, Thiru I.Savarimuthu association namely Sithayankottai village is situated 23 km away from Pillai fought against it in courts and Gramma Vivasaigal Pathukappu Theni in the south west direction. finally a stay was awarded by the sangam. This sangam undertook Total geographical area of the village Madras High Court stopping the following tank related activities. panchayat is 2618.28 ha with around take over of the tank fishery rights 1640 households. The total • Efforts to clean the from the villagers. population of the village is 6426 (Male Rajavaikkal every year. 3272 and Female 3154). The main Again in mid 1980s, the then • Regulate water distribution. village Rasingapuram is surrounded Tamil Nadu Government brought the • Purahcase a land for by four hamlets within the tanks under the Fish Farmer Puliyankulam Tank Farmers Panchayat jurisdiction. Kurumba 15

goundar is the dominant caste in the Table – 4: The encroachments declared as legitimate patta village. Sl. Name of the Extent of SF. No. Patta No. It is said that the village was No. encroacher encroachment (ha) prosperous in early 50’s and 60’s due 1 Krishnasamy.S 346/1 45 0.445 to the irrigated cotton cultivation when the people used to move a 2 Ramuthai.K 346/2 1553 0.515 large number of cotton bales from the village to Theni Cotton market. 3 Kariappan.C 346/3A1 139 0.230 Goundankulam, a tank fed by 4 Srinivasan.S 346/3A2 2148 0.040 Suthagangai Odai, a non-perennial 346/3B1 2149 0.035 wild stream emerging from the 5Keppammal.S Western Ghats. In addition the 346/3B2 348 0.220 village used to have several ponds. 346/4 - 0.230 6 Malarkodi.S 346/5 - 0.295 This village was one of the frontliners in getting electricity in 7 Ondiveeran 346/6 - 0.300 late 50’s. This combined with free electricity and agricultural credit to 8 Thangamani 346/6 - 0.300 sink wells in early 70’s led the 9 Perumal.O 346/6 - 0.300 villagers to sink more than 250 wells. Ruthless mining of ground 10 Subramani.P 346/6 - 0.800 water from the wells made the Total 3.700 farmers to dig 100 feet deep bore wells inside the open wells of 80- During the year 1996, the tank at least on paper by the 100 feet depth. The over farmers had approached DHAN villagers. The villagers took up the dependence on wells coupled with Foundation for help to remove construction of the bund work after state ownership of tanks, the encroachments and revive the tank. evicting the total area of 0.485 ha farmers neglected the tank. Using The farmers were interested in under the SF No 346/3A1, 346/3B1 this opportunity, a few power centric restoration and reclaiming the tank and 346/1. However, the as well as greedy farmers encroach through the eviction. They felt that encroachers were continuously the feeder channel and also their efforts so far had not been making threats as well as taking ploughed the tank bed, sunk two successful and so the organization legal steps to stop the tank wells and got electricity supply by like DHAN could guide them restoration work through any unfair means and cultivated crops properly resolve the problem. They means. Since a part of the tank as well as raised hundreds of formed a formal Tank Farmers’ was revived, many wells in the coconut trees. They enjoyed the Association and arrived at a vicinity got rejuvenated by next year benefits over twenty long years. The consensus for making contribution (during 1998) and many villagers villagers’ continued efforts failed to to the rehabilitation works. started pressing for the complete yield any positive result in their eviction. favour. By the year 1997 the total The villagers approached the water spread area of 5.17 ha has District Collector for funding the The villagers again tried to get been reduced to around 1.20 ha project and they have got the funds from the Panchayat Union for with complete dismantling of the approval. The work to the estimated reviving the rest of the tank. This tank bund. The villagers who owned value of Rs.88,000 was allotted to time they evicted around 1.00 ha lands in the ayacut as well as the the Tank Farmers’ Association of land using force and coercion others who tried to protect the water (TFA) under Namakku Namae (Self and spent Rs.1.80 lakhs. Then the spread since 1985, failed in their Help) Scheme. After a great deal of encroachers joined together and effort. Totally ten farmers had struggle a land survey was consulted lawyers and filed a case encroached the land as given in organized by the Tahsildar and the against the Collector for illegal Table 4. boundary was established for the eviction of their lands. The village 16

farmers were agitated a lot and occupations. During a village festival Role of Government in Tank jointly decided to evict all the in 1988, problem arose by using Maintenance and Conflicting encroachments at any cost and abusive language among the castes, Interests collected Rs.25,500 from the village. manhandling each other and filing of The government mechanisms Using this as their contribution they cases in police stations. This social include the interventions by different got a sanction order for water tension caused heavy loss of material line departments in management harvesting work for an amount of and life. Both caste people had to issues for the tank cascades. The Rs.1.02 lakhs under village Self spend more than Rs.50000 for departments having various sufficiency scheme. This time the redressing their grievances. During functions are enumerated in a villagers formed a stable and big the year 2001-02, DHAN Foundation table 5. field team approached the villagers bund around the revived water An analysis of foresaid to renovate the drinking water pond spread area. Also they completely governance issues revealed the evicted the encroachers from the under the project sponsored by CAPART. As a empowerment following dimensions to be supply channel using coercive addressed. means. By this exercise, they have approach, by building social capital encircled the entire area of the tank of forming village level tank i. The problem of lateral spread bed. The encroacher sitting in the association, the team initially met of authority across many middle of the tank bed went on an with unsuccessful set backs. The formal and informal institutions all out offensive against the team assessed the village dynamics ii. Lack of alignment between villagers. He was successful in and came to the concluding fact that roles performed , getting an interim injunction to the if the prevailing conflict between responsibilities assigned and works sanctioned by the these caste if resolved, the authorities exercised Government. As of now (March renovation work on the village iii. Complete absence of operational drinking water pond by the 2008) the case is still pending synergy and partnership decision in the High Court, Chennai. association could materialise. The approach followed by the field team iv. No direct mechanisms to ensure accountability of the Presently the villagers are was to conduct the village festival governance structures to confronted with a question of by involving the people from the whether their retrieved land will village after a period of nearly two system users. decades and enabled them to live in survive in the court battle. In case, The need for a context specific harmony. Each party withdrew the the court upholds the Patta given process mechanism to resolve legal cases implicated on the to the encroacher in the eighties conflicts in tank complex systems opponents. Then, each household what would be the fate of the tank? located in cascades at various Their efforts to get impleaded in the representative enrolled themselves as members in the village tank hydrological boundaries level namely court case also did not meet with sub watershed, watershed, sub-basin success because of the associations by paying the and basin with an authority with Government Pleader’s assertion membership fees and in the redressal functions should be that it was not necessary for them participatory planning exercise the pronounced. Otherwise, the to get impleaded in the case. both caste people were implied their needs and a consensus was reached. conflicts taken to court of law are Conflict and Castes –Case of The joint account operated by the mostly falling under civil suits and Nediamanickam village association had representatives of at the present judicial systemic both caste and the villagers took part ‘overload’, the conflicts will not be Nediamanickam is a small hamlet in the renovation work of the resolved at all. in Ramanathapuram district having drinking water pond with high 140 households in Tamil Nadu and enthusiasm and motivation, because Revival of Tanks as measure of the major castes in the hamlet are the drinking water pond is the life Tank Conservation to over come Yadavas and Dalits. Tanks and line and the inadequate capacity Conflicts: drinking water ponds (Ooranis) are made them to suffer over two the major source of water in the decades to walk many kilometres to A tank comprises the catchment hamlet while agriculture and goat fetch drinking water during conflict area, feeder channels; water spread rearing remain livelihood period. area, outlet structures (sluices), 17

Table 5: Tank Governance – An unresolved riddle its experience since 1992 in working with small and medium size tanks Department Role Responsibilities in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh Owners of tanks suggest the following: * Safe guarding and maintenance of Water Resources having ayacut over tank systems to perform Organiation/Irrigation 40 ha and owners of Prioritizing the Conservation works * Water distribution to ayacut Department ex-zamin tanks equitably at times of need Since the demand for tank works are enormous running into several Owners of Tank * Tank maintenance and Block Development thousand crores for the entire having ayacut less management Office/Zilla Parishad than 40 ha * Permission to auction tank country, a consistent programme Office usufructs across the state shall be taken up on an urgent basis. The following Fisheries/Fish Farmers Leasing of * Supply of fingerlings Development Meenpassy (auction) activities will form the priorities of * Collection of Auction fee Authority (FFDA) the programme. Crop Production * Subsidies and input supply Priority1: Developing the supply enhancement in Tank * Technology demonstration for Agriculture Channels: The supply channels and Command Area farmers adoption feeder channels of the tanks should * Crop Insurance be made free from encroachments Watch and Ward of * Penalising the offenders and excavated to its full capacity. Minerals and Mines Sand Mining from * Check the sand mining and Tank beds preserving mineral deposits (???) Priority2: Tank Rehabilitation: Dysfunctional tanks should be made Registry of Land records functional by way of attending to Assessing Land and strengthening its structures. It is Revenue Water Tax and * Fixing and collecting taxes from expected that the tank would start (Tashildhar/Revenue Collection the peasants functioning at the end of tank Inspector/Village Issue of Land * Property sale/transfer and rehabilitation at a normal level. Admin.Officer) Pattas/Penalty Patta maintenance of records and maps (2 C) Priority 3: Modernization of the Control on illegal existing functioning sluices, weirs felling of trees and channels shall be considered Planting of Trees second priority. This is to avoid the (Acacia spp.) in * Protection of social forests and Social Forestry normal tendency of “building new” waterspread area in sale of woods for revenue by the Govt. Departments. feasible tanks Priority 4: Lining of Channels flood disposal structures (surplus on physical rehabilitation will should be the last priority wherein weir) and command area. It is become futile after some years. selective lining such as the mouth reported that more than 70 – 80 % Ensuring hydrology adequacy and of the feeder channels & curves, of the minor irrigation tanks need establishing institutional pre- bends and long winding channels renovation to restore them for conditions are utmost necessary can be lined. normal functioning. In addition, parameters in undertaking tank eestablishing a new code of conduct renovation in India with sustainable In order to make the tanks and or reviving the traditional rights to measures. performance in the modern context suit the present context is necessary without conflicting situation, to conserve traditional water bodies However, looking at the rebuilding Social Capital for like tanks. Without a well-defined availability and adequacy of funds traditional Water irrigation tanks and programme to ensure rehabilitation and other resources one may need ponds with empowerment approach of tanks with people participation and to optimize the allocation of is a viable as well as sustainable contribution, the huge amount spent resources. DHAN Foundation from proposition. 18

Livelihoods Demonstration of NREGA in selected village Panchayats: DHAN’s model N. Janakiraman* Introduction

National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme(NREGS) is one of the flagship program of union government, which is considered to be an initiative towards “Right to work” for all citizens. Presently this project is implemented in all rural districts of India. Some of the states like Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan are doing great works using this opportunity. In Tamilnadu, the project has some good features and some limitations. To trigger up the purpose of NREGA, Panchayat enforceable legal right to the most rural livelihood as expected. More theme of DHAN Foundation is basic form of employment. It is over in several places, the NREGA experimenting and closely working considered to be a step towards legal is driven by officials and Panchayat with local Panchayat institutions. To enforcement of the right to work, representatives. The community strengthen the initiative, DHAN as an aspect of the fundamental right involvement with this scheme is Foundation was asked to to live with dignity. The idea of meagre. Proper understanding on demonstrate NRGEA program in giving legal guarantee of this scheme is not reached to the selected village Panchayats by employment to anyone who is willing larger community. The very critical ministry of rural development of to do casual manual labour at the aspects like social audit processes Government of Tamil Nadu. DHAN statutory minimum wage is boon to are still in neonatal stage. Foundation is one of the members address rural poverty and stabilizing Objective Of Demonstration in state NREGS committee. We livelihood. Now the scheme is received an approval letter from getting larger visibility for its scale • NREGA literacy to community directorate of rural development up decision to all rural districts of and Panchayat council: To department for working in ideal way India. In Tamilnadu, the scheme has orient local Panchayat council, of execution of NREGS in selected celebrated for its significance in community on importance of Panchayats in all the five districts. terms of work achievement and NREGS and building We are committing ourselves to women employment. responsible work execution work for the demonstration of • Supporting in planning, work NREGS. Event then, in most cases this scheme is seen as just a wage execution and other Purpose program and not as opportunity for components of NREGA to the sustainable asset creation. In long Panchayats Employment Guarantee Act run, such attitude may not impact • Demonstrating some critical (NREGA) provides a universal and components such as social

* Mr. N. Janakiraman, Senior Project Executive, Panchayat theme, DHAN Foundation, Madurai. 19

auditing, worksite facilities, • Supporting Project be given for inclusion of BPL ensuring quality of work Management: Some of the and disadvantaged group. The • Documentation of experience project management benefits of this innovative and dissemination of best components need quality program need to reach the practices for benefiting other support for ensuring better needy people. For this purpose, Panchayats reach and impact. Such as, DHAN team will be involving records keeping, job cards in ensuring enrolment of poor Proposed Activities distribution, bank account under this scheme. regulations, salary • Selection of works under • Documentation: Also, DHAN disbursement committee etc. NREGS: As per the NREGA Foundation will undertake best guidelines, DHAN will be • Ensuring transparency: As practices, field impacts and supporting to identify works per the act provisions, work site study on reach of NREGA under NREGS in a participatory details need to be more activities on quality of asset, approach with community. Also transparent. Proper records family level benefits, etc on a it will help the Panchayat keeping and notice board regular interval for knowledge administration to maintain shelf display both in Panchayat dissemination. of works as per the man power office and at work site need to requirements. be concentrated much for Project support team building awareness to the • To ensure quality of work: In Each district has field team of community. most cases, this NREGS is seen DHAN Foundation for supporting as just wage generation • Encouraging Social audit: and monitoring these activities. They program. The quality of asset Social audit is one of the will be in touch with village created through NREGS is not important components administration, block office and promising for development. So, suggested in NREGA. But due district administration. The field team more than wages employment, to lack of close handholding will be taking up one village DHAN will be working for support, the social audit is seen Panchayat for this demonstration educating community on as threatening factor to purpose and work intensively with importance of the work. The Panchayat administration. them. Also, it will report on the scheme needs to be seen as DHAN will be interested to set outcomes to district administration ecological project rather just as up a regular, community based and to directorate once in quarter. wage project. and conducting social audit • To ensure work site facility: process to facilitate better DHAN strongly believes that The village Panchayats have achievements in project reach. such demonstration will have spiral little exposure on creating effect in refining the outcomes of worksite facilities. As per the • Focus on poor people in NREGS program towards benefitting act, DHAN will be supporting NREGA: Even though NREG lives of poor. Our demonstration on for creating worksite facilities act is common to all eligible the subject will provide better in NREGS worksites. citizens, special focus need to learning to sector and to us. 20 Community in action Signature campaign to prohibit real estate in tank ayacut lands Jaganathan. K.P.*

Tiruvalangadu Vattara Vayalaga Koottamaippu (TVVK) is the federation of Vayalagams promoted by DHAN Foundation, Madurai. TVVK is working in Tiruvalangadu block of Tiruvallore district from last ten years with the objective of reduce poverty through tank rehabilitation and promoting tankfed agriculture. Presently we are working with 2,500 families in Tiruvalangadu block.

We initiated a signature campaign on 28th of August2008 regarding the “Prohibition of real estate in tank ayacut lands”. It was based on simple calculation behind our one acre of land is 3,150 kg. At the we wanted to place our opinion and initiation of campaign. The maximum five kg of rice is required bring it to people’s attention regarding calculation says the importance of for the family having five members. this issue through signature tankfed agriculture in ensuring food So the rice of one acre ayacut land campaign. We successfully security of the village at micro level will feed for the average family size completed the campaign with the and definitely has the impact to of five members about 630 days (21 total signature of 1158 farmers of create the macro level impact at months). The conclusion was Tiruvalangadu block. On behalf of national level. One acre of tank arrived when we use one acre of our federation we placed our opinion ayacut land gives average yield of tank ayacut land other than to bring attention to policy makers, 35 bags (one bag is equal to 75 kg) agriculture use; we questioned the so the total yield is 2,625 kg (35 entire government system why to government official and other NGO’s bag*75 kg) of paddy. We took an permit the real estates which hinders who are working for the cause of average of 60 per cent as rice the food availability of five member water and tank system improvement recovery percentage from paddy at family for 21 months and challenging to ensure the food security of the rice mill. So the 60 per cent of 2,625 the food security of the nation as a nation by preserving tank ayacut kg of paddy gives 1,575 kg of rice. whole. lands. In tank ayacut lands normally farmer use to grow two crops per Since we are working for tank It has various names like Kanmai year so the total rice produced from rehabilitation in Tiruvalangadu block in southern Tamil Nadu, tank in

* Jaganathan. K.P. Project Executive, DHAN Foundation, Tiruvalangadu, Tamil Nadu. 21

northern Tamil Nadu, Cheruvu in them but now there are boards in houses built in the tank ayacut lands. Andhra Pradesh, Kere in Karnataka. every hundred feet indicating name So it is need of the hour to think and But in near future, the entire world of the residential area like Nagars, take some concrete decision in this may forget these words as we may Complex, avenue etc. In many of the regard. not use none of the words to identify tank ayacut lands there is no crop, We came to the following these water harvesting structures. instead there is colored stones to solution to prevent this issue. We Since it is getting affected by various indicate the name of flat and plots. have forestry act as per this the issues like poor management, Already tanks have lost their country to maintain 33 per cent of absence of kudimaramathu (a importance due to encroachment geographical area in forest cover. and now it is getting badly damaged traditional system of water Similarly government should come in the name of real estate. management), encroachment and out with ‘agriculture act’ saying the new component of issue added The base for food is agriculture; certain percentage area in total is real estate business. We don’t the base for agriculture is land; if geographical area must be for understand why the water harvesting there is no land there is no agriculture use and non-agriculture structures attracted real estate people agriculture. Through rainfed and activities should not be entertained. to convert tank ayacut lands organic farming we are recovering Utilizing water harvesting structures whereas there are much more waste and tank ayacut lands must not be the agriculture from the ill effect of lands available elsewhere. When a used for non-agriculture use. These green revolution which were highly farmer invests all his resources in views were penned down with polluted the land due to exhaustive agriculture and end in crop failure signatures of many willing souls was use of chemicals like fertilizers and he falls in the debt trap. They see submitted to Mr. G. pesticides. This we are able to do sell their fertile land to repay the Sundaramoorthy, District Collector, because we have base, land. But due debts. The real estate people mint Tiruvallore, Mr. Santhana Gopala to real estate business we are going money out by exploiting the farmers Krishnan, Joint Director of to loose the base, land. In ancient who are in embarrassing situation. Agriculture, Tiruvallore, Mr. J. years, there was shifting cultivation, They purchase the fertile land at low Ragavan, Block Development a practice of destroying forest cost and make the demarcation into Officer, Tiruvalangadu block in the cultivate and move to other land after plots and sell them at prohibitively presence of our EC member and Mr. few years. In near future we may high cost. Previously every village P. A. Viswanathan from DHAN cultivate agriculture by destroying had temples and sign boards to show Centre for Policy Planning. 22

Impact Impact of Farm Pond Renovation Project in Pudurnadu S. Sathyanand* Background

Pudurnadu location is a tribal rainfed pocket in Vellore district of Tamil nadu, located in the south- west part of Javadhu hills range of Eastern Ghats. It is a preserved mountainous area within an elevation of more than 1,000 m above mean sea level. This pocket benefits from relatively low temperature as compared to the remaining part of the district: temperature during summer (April) reaches 30oC and the minimum temperature goes down in winter (December - January) to 11oC. The mean annual rainfall is economy solely dependent on rain. around 1026.16 mm and it is To cope up with the above risk This presents the inhabitants of bimodal in nature. and vulnerability, there has been a Pudurnadu with two problems considerable increase in the total DHAN Foundation has been namely one, uncertainty and limit in irrigated area. Only recently, in the working in the pocket for the past their income from rainfed farming, past 10 years, few of the affluent one year under one of its program, and two, lack of employment around farmers are tapping the sub-surface Rainfed farming development four to six months during the lean water seepage (in specific spots) in programme (RFDP). A project fund season and underemployment in the this area by investing in small pond- of Rs.25,000 was granted to rest of the period. like shallow wells that capture this Pudurnadu location for farm pond water and is being used to irrigate renovation activity. This fund was Due to deficit rainfall, there has small plots of land. This has given given to three farmers in this location been reasonable crop failure these farmers an assured source of for farm pond work. This article shall especially (saamai) little millet, water thereby ensuring an assured briefly present the nature of work which is the most predominant crop yield and regular income. The and the impact that it had on the rainfed crop. Because of this, there assured supply of the water has also farmer. is considerable decrease in the yield, lead farmers to diversify to water- resulting in lower income. Similarly Rationale of the project intensive cash crops - vegetables like paddy cultivation, especially second beans, field Lablab, tomato, flower Most of the families in season crop, is also affected due to crops like kakkaratan etc. Pudurnadu rely upon rainfed lack of enough rainfall. Due to this, Importantly, few of these farmers agriculture as the main source of there is lack of assurance in getting are also cultivating paddy using the income, making the entire tribal paddy yield and the half-grown pond, thereby ensuring food security paddy is left to grazing.

* S. Sathyanand, Project Executive, Centre for Development Communication, DHAN Foundation, Madurai. He was previously block integrator of Rainfed programme of Pudurnadu, Vellore, Tamil Nadu. 23

which is otherwise dependent on the saamai and rainfed banana. rainfall. Further, farmers spent most He built himself a small of the time in their land, which are pond of 10 feet wide and far away from their village and from 10 feet deep and cultivated water source; given this, these farm few irrigated crops like ponds also serve domestic purposes tomato for house and for drinking, cooking, washing and Kakkaratan flower with an bathing. oil engine. But over the years, almost 3 feet of silt On the other hand, poor farmers though with suitable spots are unable deposited in the pond and it to invest in the same, due to non- no longer became an availability of fund source. Given this assured source of water as situation, the project fund of it dried out soon. Rs.25,000 was given to three With a fund amount of farmers to help them renovate Rs.10,000, the pond was existing shallow farm ponds into desilted, and deepened and multi-functional water source. widened to its present Farmers and the fund given dimension of 16 feet wide and 15 feet deep; and at the The following table.1 gives the fifth feet from the mouth of name of the farmers and the fund the well, one feet wide platform was given under this project. it is being used for domestic excavated to purposes for his family and the Table 1. Farmers’ name and fund prevent surface soil neighbors as well. given under this project to get deposited in the platform Fund given 2. Mr.Krishna Vedi of Mozhalai S. Name of the Village Under this avoiding silt village: No. farmer project deposition in the pond and easy Mr.Krishna Vedi is a rainfed 1 Mr.S.R.Jeyaraman Kilur Rs.10,000 removal of silt from farmer with four acres of land in 2 Mr.K.Vedi Mozhalai Rs.10,000 the platform itself. Mozhalai village. He mainly cultivates rainfed crops like saamai and rainfed 3 Mr.Ranganathan Nellivasal Rs.5,000 Also, the defunct oil engine was repaired, banana. Initially, his pond was a Implications of the Project which remained ideal till then. small dug out of 5 feet wide and 5 feet deep, which was used only for Three farmers were given an Previously, the pond irrigated 10 domestic purpose. amount of Rs.25,000 for their farm cents of Kakkaratan flowers and pond renovation work. Let us see tomato. Now, after the renovation He was given an amount of the implication, and thereby the of farmpond, he has planted banana. Rs.10,000 from the project. Along projected impact of this project for The pond very well irrigates around with this, he invested an additional each of these farmers. half-an-acre of banana, beans, amount of Rs.20,000 to widen and 1. Mr. S. R. Jeyaraman of Kilur tomato, Kakkaratan flower. This has deepen his pond to 15 feet deep and village ensured irrigation for already 24 feet wide. Also, he constructed irrigated land of 10 cents and an retaining stone wall structure for his Mr. S.R. Jeyaraman is an aspiring additional 40 cents of banana crop, pond. young marginal farmer with less than beans and tomato are being irrigated. 3 acres of land. He has been The crop is yet to be harvested, and Previously, the pond was used cultivating mostly rainfed crops like benefit to be realized. Apart from this, only for domestic purposes. At 24

present, he is cultivating paddy in his irrigation purposes. He is planning irrigating land, which was otherwise 25 cents of land, which was to buy an oil engine soon, with which rainfed. This has ensured income otherwise rainfed. The crop is yet he hopes to cultivate paddy, banana security by banana, beans, to be harvested, which will meet his and tomato in his land. kakkaratan flower cultivation for the family food needs. He is also planning first farmer, and will meet family The following table.2 gives the to connect pipes to irrigate another food needs for the other two farmers half-an-acre of his rainfed land. picture of the status of the pond and the farming situation of the farmer by assuring paddy crop. Thus, it can 3. Mr.Ranganathan of Nellivasal before and after the work. be noted that the farm pond work village: S. No. Before After Mr.Ranganathan of Nellivasal is a rainfed farmer with less than 3 1 Mr.Jeyaraman: Pond was 10 feet wide and 10 Now, it is 16 feet wide feet deep with 3 feet of silt; was dysfunctional and 15 feet deep; acres of land. He cultivates mostly since water dries out soon. rainfed paddy, banana, saamai and ragi. His pond was initially 5 feet wide 2 Mr.K.Vedi: Pond was 5 feet wide and 5 feet It irrigates around half- deep; was used only for domestic purpose. an-acre of banana, and 5 feet deep, which was used beans, tomato, only for domestic purpose. kakkaratan flower.

He was given an amount of 3 Mr.Ranganathan: Pond was 5 feet wide and 5 Now, it is 24 feet wide Rs.10,000, with which he deepened feet deep; was used only for domestic purpose and 15 feet deep; his pond to 10 feet deep and 16 feet Conclusion: wide. He is yet to make necessary has brought about a considerable arrangements to pump water, and As it can be seen, the pond work change in the life and livelihoods of has not yet used the pond for has brought about the possibility of the intended farmers. Traditional wisdom Pirandodi cascade and Vellinipatti village at Kottampatti block Er. N. Venkatesan*

The Vellinipatti village is located our field team observed that the Singampunari block of Sivagangai at Manappacheri revenue village of Vellinipatti village creation in those district in those days to search for Kottampatti block in Madurai district days itself for the protection of the the livelihood and roamed around the is the classical example of the early anicut constructed across the Kottampatti area in Madurai district warning and flood mitigation in an Thirumanimuthar river (rain fed and finally settled at the village called advance manner existed in the stream drains in to Palar Kunnarampatti in Kottampatti block. community in those days for Kottakaraiyar river basin) and then They were given labor works in the protecting the tanks in the feeding the tanks in the Pirandodi agriculture fields by the Thirumanimuthar sub basin in a supply channel cascade. Kunnarampatti villagers. But they proactive and sustainable manner. could not cope up with the villagers. While interacting with the villagers The ancient people of the Then they shifted their venue to one through the focus group discussion Vellinipatti had migrated from

* Er. N. Venkatesan, Programme Leader, DHAN Vayalagam (Tank) Foundation, Madurai. 25

more place called Pallamettan in the continued year over year and the The Vellinipatti name came from same area. But the occupied place is village Vellinipatti had been created the task of protecting the anaicut as affected severely during the rainy by the group of people who migrated Vellam means flood, Anai means the season as entire area is surrounded from the Singampunari block. The anaicut across the river and then by the water. By observing the major reason for the monitoring village is called as Vella Anai Patti in situation, the nearby village called anaicut was to protect the villages those days and latter it has been Manappachery interacted with these situated below the anaicut namely changing as Vellinipatti during the affected people and suggested them Manappacherry, Vellalapatti, recent past. Our DHAN Vayalagam to protect their agriculture lands Kariendalpatti, Mangalampatti, (Tank) Foundation is working in this situated near the anaicut constructed Ayyapatti, Poomangalpatti and cascade and villages since 1994 through our tank programme and across the Thirumanimuthar river Pandangudi as all these villages and our intervention took care of reviving and those lands were fed by the their valuable assets were frequently the entire cascade through the Pirandodi channel which took off affected by the floods because of the from the anaicut through the tanks promotion of Pirandodi cascade and non closure of the shutter provided rehabilitation of the tanks and links fed by the system. Then the affected in the anaicut. The villagers realized people decided to accept the request between them and cascade the difficulties in visiting the anaicut Vayalagam and water bodies based from the Manappacheri village and and closing the shutter at critical Vayalagams are in place as to ensure decided to stay near the anaicut and period as the anaicut is situated 3 community managed watch and the habitation was allocated by the KMs away from the first village called ward of tanks and their communities Manappacheri villagers from their Manappachery and because of this as local solution. In those days for own land. The assignment was that reason only they decided to put the having this kind of monitoring, they the anaicut needs to be monitored measure on permanent basis and used locally available materials and by the people who accepted the task created the village called Vellinipatti resources rather depending on during the rainy season and closing with the migrated people from the outsiders and expertise as they used the shutter in the anaicut if the experienced and special skill oriented other block who needed the abnormal flow of water is noticed people for the job. In this case they occupational problem with livelihood in the Thirumanimuthar River. used rope for closing the shutter by and finally made them to settle at tying it in the steps of the anaicut The Manappacheri people felt closure vicinity for protecting the and then capable and experienced happy over the years as the task was anaicut. The naming of the village person would get in to the place well performed by the settled people itself integrated with the task of inside the water and closing the near the anaicut. Then this was protecting the anaicut. shutter. 26

Technology Can we make a change? - Trying to build a Knowledge Society B. Muthukumarasamy*

nowledge Building & Centers for the computer courses with our own content. The contents K building a Knowledge Society (Its benefits was explained in the last are developed as Power point shows, is one of the major focus areas of news letter) there is very less usage Flash Movies, Video Movies and also Thagavalagam Theme. Since, of farmers and women at our Village in audio format. Information and Communication Information Centers due to lack of Technology (ICT) is an effective The Village Information Center local language content in their agent for knowledge building; we operators are given a content show specific areas. Hence, we included believe that “Knowledge Building” is time table which includes content a goal of developing community one of the key factors to reach our show for farmers, women, youth, based content and content show at objective “Poverty reduction through school going children, house wives, the Village Information Centers for ICT”. etc. The content are shown at the all rural communities. The Thagavalagam theme offers Village Information Centers at free various knowledge building services A content development team was of cost. The Content shows are through its Village Information set up at Melur Thagavalagam being organized in two different Centers. Computer Education to Community College among the ways. build the technical knowledge of the operators team. The team involves 1. Content Shows at the Village youths, e-School to build the subject in assessing the demand and need knowledge of the school going Information Centers. An of the rural community and students, etc. are some of the average 5 villagers are developing locally relevant content knowledge building services offered assembled at the Village in the local knowledge. The team is at the Village Information Centers. Information Centers based on also organising content from the time table defined and While we initiating the theme, we different external sources and contents are shown with have more numbers of only student established a digital library at the multimedia support. usage at the Village Information Village Information Centers together Feedback from Murugesan, Auto Driver, Samuthirapatti regarding “Flood Management” Content I am Murugesan, I am from Samuthirapatti, I have two sons. Since, my son willing to join the computer course, I allowed him to join in this center. While coming to this center, I saw the Cds related to flood, drought and HIV/AIDS, the information are very useful. I saw a CD “Flood Management”. It is very useful. Last year, we had heavy flood in our village. Some villagers lost their huts, since the roads were completely damaged 3 days there were no bus transport facilities. Our day –day activities got disturbed. I could not operate my auto and earn money. We accomodated villagers in a common school building and with the support of ration shop rice; we arranged food for the villagers. Some acres of land got damaged, the community well was also damaged, 2 cows were carried in the flood.

Before I saw the CD, I thought that only my village is getting affected by flood most of the times. But, after seeing the CD, I came to know that, the flood is often affects some part of Tamil Nadu. I came to know that, the flood is also one of the reasons for spread of few diseases in the village. I could get information like the importance of using boiled water after the flood, keeping the food close and safety, etc. from this CD.

* B. Muthukumarasamy, Senior Project Executive, ICT Theme, DHAN Foundation, Madurai. 27

2. Based on the need raised by the community on specific topics, the contents are also being shown at the common places of the villages with the support of LCD projectors and Multimedia support.

More than 100 contents were developed by the Village Information Center operators with the support of the content team at Melur and the content are being deployed through During 10 months in Kottampatti & Melur ICT Locations (From 20 the Village Information Centers. The Villages Only) contents are available in all sectors like

• Agriculture

• Livestock Management

• Educational Content

• Literature

• Women Specific

• Fisheries

• Legal aspects, etc

The charts shows the different During 10 months in Kottampatti & Melur ICT Locations (From 20 Villages Only) no of topics, number of content shows in different sectors, distribution of beneficiaries are shown.

Here a question may raise how will these contents build the knowledge of the community and contribute for poverty reduction?

Poverty in the rural areas is not a birth curse or misfortune in a man life. It is on because of lack of knowledge, Lack of earnings, Lack of needed relevant information, From initiation till December 2008 in Kottampatti & Melur ICT Lack of value adding information Locations (From 20 Villages Only) 28

for their occupation, lack of health information & leakages of income to medical expenses, Lack of quality education & not able to compete in the employment opportunities, Lack of information on new technology and practices, Cost of communication, etc. There are so many cases demonstrate how this content builds the knowledge of the community and creating some changes in their life style.

Case 1: Name of the Farmer : Mr.S.Selvam, Mangalampatti: Here is a case from Mangalampatti Village where the agriculture contents change in the life of a rural farmer. Content on “Importance of Soil Testing” change the farming pattern of a traditional farmer. He has 4 acres of land and he used to put whatever the amount of fertilizers and pesticides he wants without knowing his land’s soil health. He gets normal yield every year. But he never tested his soil and practiced the soil health enriched pattern of cultivation. He was shown a content on “Importance of soil Health & Testing”, after seeing the content CD and continuous insisting by the VIC operator, he come forward to test his land soil and tested the soil through the Village Information Centers. Now he is applying the needed level of fertilizer and pesticides and feels the difference in yield. He has given a written feedback about the changes happened in his practice of farming. Increased yield will increase his revenue and reduce his poverty. Hence we could say that the content build the knowledge of a farmer.Here in the above case, our content alone would not change the life style of Mr.Selvam, the follow ups of the Village Information Center operators and who insisted him so many times have changed his life style.

Case 2: Feedback from S.Raja, Farmer, Sekkipatti, regarding “Drought Management” content: I am S.Raja, I am from Sekkipatti, Kottampatti Block, Madurai District. I have one son and one daughter, I am doing agriculture work in my village. I own a petty shop in the same village. This Village Information center acts as a resource center for all sort of information. I got birth certificate for my son through this Village Information Center. I used to come to this center for all sort of information. One day, the operator said “I have some new content CDs on Drought and Flood Management. Which one do you prefer?” I asked her to display the Drought Management CD. From that CD, I could learn how to mitigate drought, suitable agriculture practice for drought, etc. I have also clarified that the crops like Amanuku, Thattapayiru, Sorgam, etc are suitable for drought situation. I could understand that Paddy, Sugar Cane cultivation during the drought will give more loss for the farmers. The contents were interesting as these information were in a dialogue form between two farmers discussing about drought management. I am suggesting to produce produce similar CDs on various topics with more number of artists / participants.

Like this there are so many cases, where these contents are trying to bring some changes in the life style of the community and contribute something towards poverty reduction in direct and indirect way. 29

SUHAM updates SUHAM Hospital G. Palaneeswari* SUHAM hospital has gone for another phase of growth by getting confidence from its people partners. It is reaching its second year in its growth path. It is also managing its four primary care centers. These primary care centers act as a feeding center for the SUHAM hospital. It screens the patient for the secondary care treatment at SUHAM hospital. It also facilitates the follow-up of cases for SUHAM hospital. With the backup of health insurance, lots of people were benefited. In SUHAM, they enjoy the benefit of cashless service. SUHAM hospital also has started its own lab. For scan and X-ray, it has an provided to patients in two ways, agreement with Vikram lab. SUHAM Vayalagam members with the does the all types of surgeries and In Patients (IP) and Out Patients support of medical insurance for the further follow-ups it referring (OP). The details of people benefits, where as the public get to the Theni and Madurai Medical benefitted in given below. The health services at nominal cost colleges. Medical services are hospital serves Kalanjiam and which affordable to the poor people. Details of benefitted people through Suham Hospital

Kalanjiam Vayalagam General Sl. Total Month Members members Public No. OP IP OP IP OP IP OP IP Surgeries 1 Apr-08 206 23 42 1 146 7 394 31 5 2 May-08 194 33 34 1 119 4 347 38 7 3 Jun-08 212 27 29 0 102 5 343 32 9 4 Jul-08 172 20 16 1 169 4 357 25 6 5 Aug-08 233 25 67 0 104 7 404 32 8 6 Sep-08 318 20 42 2 114 2 474 24 8 7 Oct-08 294 24 49 0 119 2 462 26 2 8 Nov-08 403 30 67 1 130 2 600 33 6 9 Dec-08 414 18 70 2 107 4 591 24 8 10 Jan-09 375 18 77 1 103 4 555 23 10

* G. Palaneeswari, Senior Project Executive, Suham hospital, Theni, Tamil Nadu. Building on Heritage of Marine conservation

Conserving for future generations any traditional societies view physical Mas well as biological components of the environment and the human population as being linked together in a web of relationships. For thousands of years, these communities around the world have used knowledge of their local environment to sustain themselves and to maintain their cultural identity. The fishing community in India, with their traditional knowledge of the sea and its environment harvested the resources in a moderate scale and recognize the sea as their common property. Building on their better system, DHAN Foundation, after the Tsunami devastation, organized such communities along the Southern coastal villages to build lasting disaster cooping mechanisms with high emphasis on conserving marine resources.

The craft and gears such as catamarans, small canoes, big canoes deployed by the traditional fishing communities were the most appropriate to suit the environment. Fish workers themselves developed these over centuries of experience and skill, keeping in mind the dynamics of tropical waters, multi- species, fish behavior and seasonal changes.

Centre for Development Communication DHAN Foundation 18, Pillaiyar Koil Street, S.S. Colony, Madurai - 625 016. Tamil Nadu, INDIA Tel.: +91 - 452 - 4353983, 2610794, 2610805 Fax: +91 - 452 - 2602247 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.dhan.org