grassroots A journal of the Press Institute of India promoting reportage on the human condition Rs 15 January 15, 2012 - Volume 4 Issue 1

i n s i d e India’s fastest woman lives For needy schoolchildren, he is the good Samaritan ...2 When women are unsafe in in poverty… and in hope God's Own Country ...... 3

Athletics has always been a neglected part of Indian sport for years. In a country where even the national sport, hockey, is given short shrift, chances of a promising young woman getting proper logistic and economic support to help her achieve her dreams seem remote. Despite the overwhelming apathy, it is the undaunted spirit of athletes, from Milkha Singh to P.T. Usha, that has kept athletic aspirations alive in India. Today, Asha Roy displays the same spirit Using dance as therapy to grassrootsprovide a new lease of life ...... 4 Ajitha Menon Exploited children in a he doesn’t get two square meals for her Bachelor’s degree. While However, to build on her railway station find a a day, lives in a mud house and her eldest and youngest sisters achievements and to ensure a long guardian angel ...... 5 Shelps her father, a vegetable are already married, the second is career as a successful sportsperson, seller, eke out a meagre living. But a school dropout. Only Asha has what Asha desperately needs today despite the odds, Asha Roy is the managed to continue with her studies is something as basic as food. “I need fastest woman in India today, having and diligently pursue her dream of \WFS food, nutrition. I train from 7 am to 9 clocked 11.85 seconds in the 100- becoming one of the best athletes in am and then from 3 pm to 5 pm. I am metre dash at the 51st National Open the country. “I am illiterate and I could now concentrating only on the 100- Athletics Championships in Kolkata never get a proper job because of it. I metre sprint and hope to qualify for last year. The national record is 11.38 wanted my daughters to study. Asha the South Asian Federation (SAF) seconds – set by Rachita Mistry in is the only one who has sustained the Games, to be held in New Delhi in Thiruvananthapuram in 2000. The effort and is now studying for her Photos: Anik Dey 2012. But without proper nutrition or 21-year-old from Ghanshyampur, a degree,” says a proud Bholanath Roy, Away from the track, Asha makes competitive training, it’s going to be village in Singur in West Bengal’s Asha’s father. He earns just about Rs a meal for her family. extremely difficult. I seek help from Educating marginalised Hooghly District, also ran the fastest 3000 a month by selling vegetables everyone. I want to make my country difficult for the family to make ends youngsters, building in the 200 metres, clocking 24.36 door-to-door in his village. proud,” she says. Coach Chandra meet. However, we have encouraged seconds, and anchored Bengal’s Adds Bulu, 45, Asha’s homemaker is also concerned about her future, lives ...... 6 Asha in her running and never put 4x100-metre relay team, which won mother, “We live in abject poverty. given her extremely impoverished pressure on her to get married. We Families of BSF personnel the silver with a timing of 47.29 When my husband falls ill, it becomes background. As he puts it, “She has are unable to provide her with the seconds at the championships. reached this level through sheer grit know there’s somebody nutrition or training she requires to Asha, the third among four sisters, and determination and because she is to care for them ...... 7 become the best, but despite that Asha is a first-year student in Srirampore extremely hard-working. However, has thrived purely on her talent.” College in the same district, studying now that she has proven her worth, Life isn’t silky smooth for Coach Prabir Chandra spotted she certainly needs outside help.” farmers weaving the Asha when she came first at a school For Bholanath and Bulu, their meet as a student of Class III. “I fine, soft thread...... 8 daughter’s success so far has been a discussed her talent with her father matter of great pride. “We are happy and when I realised how needy the and proud that Asha has made a name family was, I decided to take on the for herself. We have not given her full responsibility for her training,” much, except the freedom to follow recalls Chandra. He reveals that Asha her dream. She helps the family earn helps her father in selling vegetables a livelihood and eats frugally since for some time every day and then that’s all we can afford. But she has she trains, quite often on an empty trained tirelessly for years. We hope stomach. some support will come for her Under Chandra’s guidance, Asha now,” says Bholanath. started her athletic career. In Class It’s a different rath yatra – Both the Indian Railways and IV she became a member of the the State Government of West and it’s all about Bengal athletic team; in Class VI she Bengal have made promises of a communal amity ...... 10 participated in the Nationals. In 2004 job and monetary assistance after she won four gold medals and was her performance at the National Three years, two cyclones… given the honour of being the Best Open Meet. “Nothing concrete has Athlete in the school games. In 2006 and the Burmese materialised so far. If I get some she came second in the long jump still await relief ...... 11 offer, I will choose carefully so that and in the 100 metres at the Junior I can train well for the SAF Games Nationals. In 2009, she won the gold and then the Olympics,” says Asha. for 100 metres at the Indo-Bangla But she adds that she is not going to International Meet and in 2010 she be dependent on it. “I have struggled Wishing You a Very Happy won the silver at the University Meet. so far and am willing to do so in Last year, she has bagged the gold in future if need be, with the support of and Prosperous the 100-metre and 200-metre races Asha Roy training with her coach Prabir my family and coach.” < Chandra, and (right) the fastest Indian and the silver in the 400-metre relay New Year! woman proudly shows off her medal. in the National Open Athletics Meet. (Courtesy: Women’s Feature Service) grassroots January 15, 2012 2 A journal of the Press Institute of India promoting the human condition grassroots Focus For needy schoolchildren, he is the good Samaritan

He walked barefoot five miles to school and remembers the difficulties he had to undergo while pursuing education. His experience has inspired him to help and encourage needy children in state-run schools, especially those in rural India, by gifting them dictionaries, atlases, even furniture. N. Subramanian is convinced that if each senior citizen has the urge to give back to society in whatever way possible, there will be many chains going and society will become better, more equitable and advanced

Susan Philip, Chennai

points out. The condition of Chennai Thiruvalluvar. “I feel these are gifts good work is best done collectively. Corporation schools is gradually no one can forget or throw out, unlike He gathered together 15 like-minded improving, he acknowledges, but sees other things which may be discarded”, colleagues who each contributed immense scope for improvement. he explains. some funds, and they bought furniture Subramanian is a man with a Subramanian started his and books for children in a needy mission. “I thought education is a philanthropic work immediately after school. But ever since then, he’s been good field to work in, especially retirement. He is of the view that up traversing a lone path. “This way, I where very small children are until the age of 60, a man can only can do what I want the way I want concerned,” he says. “I concentrate be expected to help those in need to to,” he says. on children in Corporation, Panchayat the extent possible. However, post Subramanian has a soft corner and Adi-Dravidar schools studying in retirement, most people would have for the institution where he had Standard I as I feel these children are discharged their major responsibilities his early education, as he feels it is even more at a disadvantage when to their families, and will find leisure responsible to a great degree for what it comes to education, than their and some amount of money at their he is today. At this village school, economic and social standing, when disposal. It is incumbent on senior his philanthropy extends to children compared to their elite counterparts. citizens to give back to society – to do of other classes and to the teachers, Children of affluent parents go dharmam or charity work, he feels. too. He has also given furniture through crèche, play-school, LKG No one knows his departure date and such as benches and cupboards, and and UKG before coming to Standard time, he says, resorting to Railway other necessities for learning, to I, whereas poor children, or children jargon. “We must all be prepared. The various schools. Subramanian spends in villages, start their education only most important time is now”. between Rs 2000 and Rs 4000 of his

Photos: Susan Philip at the age of six. It is these children I Subramanian has three children, pension every month to further his want to encourage.” all of them married and well-settled, aim of igniting the untouched minds Subramanian (standing, extreme right) has always wanted to help For the past several years, with children of their own. “I am of school ‘freshers’ each year. He children from poor and marginalised backgrounds. For the past Subramanian has been focussing on fortunate that I have a fully supportive doesn’t stop at mere philanthropy. several years, he has been gifting needy children 'education kits' children from these backgrounds, family,” he says, adding that he often He’s also bubbling over with ideas which includes a dictonary, an atlas and a copy of the Thiru-k- and gifting them what can be called takes his wife, daughters-in-law or to make education in India a more Kural. Here, children in a Corporation school benefit from his ‘education kits’. Each kit comprises a grandchildren along when he makes meaningful and enjoyable exercise generocity. dictionary, a school atlas and a copy school visits. Only the first time did for those who may be first-generation of the Thiru-k-kural, a collection he rope in others in his philanthropic learners, or hailing from families too of evergreen couplets dealing with efforts. This, he says, was in poor to attach lasting importance e studied in classrooms Section after 37 years of service. But life and living written by Tamil keeping with the teachings of Hindu to books over the possibility of where maps of the world the hardships he suffered in the pursuit Nadu’s most famous sage-poet, philosophy, which stipulates that increasing the family earnings. and the country were hung of education has left in Subramanian Changing the annual school holidays H from the summer months to the rainy high up on the walls, well above a single-minded desire to see that the reach of little hands, and also children in rural India and from poor season is one idea he is promoting. of little eyes. They were precious and marginalised backgrounds in Subramanian visits nine schools in because they were hard to come by, cities are given some sparks that will Chennai and in rural areas during the and the authorities did not want to hopefully fire in them an enthusiasm nine months of the academic year and risk having them torn and dirtied for learning. distributes the educational kits. He by curious children. They weren’t “Population and poverty are still doesn’t know the children to whom teaching aids, more like ‘props’ for the twin banes of India. If you go to he does this service, nor do they the classroom. He walked five miles rural areas, you’ll find that much the know him. Chances are, they’ll never each way to school, in rain and shine, same situation prevails in schools meet again. And that’s just the way he as bus connectivity in his village there as it did during my time, in the wants it. “Even when you put a couple was rare, not to mention expensive. 1950s and early Sixties. Even in some of coins into a temple hundi, you do And he walked barefoot, as footwear parts of Chennai, the condition of it on the heels of a prayer, asking was a luxury. N. Subramanian, now children studying in Corporation and God to do this or that for you. Your running 68, remembers those early other state-run institutions is pitiable. donation is with the expectation of a days vividly. They have no food or footwear still,” reward. Here, I don’t expect anything Subramanian was fortunate, says Subramanian. “Teachers are in return. The only thing I hope for is in that he completed his school uninvolved; parents are in the grip of that the children will realise the value education and immediately got a poverty and ignorance. Government of the books I have given them and, state government job where he had machinery is lethargic, people in as they grow up, keep it in mind that undreamed-of ‘power’ and perks such authority don’t realise the immense they were given by a stranger. I hope as a jeep and driver at his disposal. A potential they have for making a this memory will prompt them to do

couple of years later, he got a job with difference. Many village schools don’t Subramanian's focus has been on children studying in Corporation, something for others in their turn,” he the Railways, from where he retired have a playground, they don’t even Panchayat and Adi-Dravidar schools. Here, he presents children says. All he wants, in other words,< is as a Grade 1 Office Superintendent in have basic learning tools and toys, in a Panchayat school atlases. He has also given schools benches, for the chain to continue. the Signals and Telecommunications maybe not even a useable ball,” he cupboards and other necessities for learning. January 15, 2012 grassroots 3 A journal of the Press Institute of India promoting the human condition grassroots When women are unsafe in God's Own Country

When you think one rape every day this year (2011), has been constituted more than 15 with five cases of sexual assault incidents have come to its notice. He about Kerala, the occurring within hours of each other also believes that the pervasiveness recently. Mayawati's Uttar Pradesh of pornographic content is one of the images that often has been declared a state that sees at major causes for the present scenario, least two rapes every day. But guess although he also points to other come to mind are which state has the worst record on causative factors. “The increasing this score? The one that is said to divorce rate, the disintegration of those of backwaters, enjoy the best human development families, the fact that parents today canals, boats, indices in the country and which is have no time for their children, have promoted as God's Own Country: all played their part,” he says. swaying palms, Kerala. Unfortunately, despite having But far from provoking a public the highest female literacy rate in the conversation on the right of every green fields, hills, country, India's southern-most state woman to live and move without fear, has emerged with the worst record in WFS what is emerging is an ugly moral temples, literacy, a terms of protecting women. vigilantism. Women moving out after certain standard of Sample this: According to crime dark are all-too-often labeled as being branch statistics, 357 rape cases were sexually available. Thasni Banu, living… But all that reported in Kerala in just three months who is in her twenties and works in this year, as against 617 for the whole a BPO office at Kochi's Infopark, was seems a veneer of of 2010. This means that at least four attacked by some men on the road. make-believe, and or five women have been sexually Photos: Leela Menon/ On the day of the incident, she was attacked every day. Statistics also Thasni Banu, who was attacked by men on her way to work with being dropped off by a male friend on it is beginning to reveal that 60 per cent of the violence a male colleague, speaks to journalists at the Press Club in his bike. Just as they were nearing the against women takes place within Ernakulam. office her companion stopped to buy a crack. When girls are the home. If you think this violence cigarette. That is when a crowd closed is limited to domestic violence, think Once the case came to public notice, daughters and friends assaulting their in and began to abuse her. When sexually abused or again. Young girl are at constant risk an apathetic police force suddenly neighbours become so commonplace? Thasni retorted back, one man came of being sexually abused or raped, at went on an arresting spree and has Psychiatrist Dr C.J. John of the forward aggressively. Thasni slapped raped and women the hands of not just their neighbours, brought over 30 people into custody Medical Trust Hospital blames it on him. The infuriated man slapped her are harassed and live but their brothers, cousins, uncles, in this connection, including a CPM the media. “Advertisements project back and twisted her arm so badly, and even fathers. So it seems that if local secretary. Sadly, it is not an women in a demeaning manner. Their she had to be admitted into hospital. in constant fear, and India is fourth in the list of countries isolated incident. Just days after the bodies are framed as objects for sexual Thasni was courageous enough to where women are sexually harassed Parur incident came to light, another gratification. Sexual content pervades alert the police about this incident when even fathers the most, Kerala must top the list young girl in Narakkal, a short distance the visual media and Internet. This through a friend, but no action was of states reporting the maximum from Kochi, complained to the police constant exposure to pornographic taken on the grounds that she had not don’t mind bartering atrocities. that her father had been raping her for visuals, even soft porn, is certainly filed a formal complaint. daughters for money, Take a look at a roster of crimes: the past three years. The case of a 14- having an impact,” he observes. Adds Women's organisations protested Soumya, who while travelling in the year-old girl also raped by her father Dr John, "A general lack of openness the violence against Thasni and it is clear that pockets ladies compartment of the Shornur and then trafficked to the sex industry about sexuality, the all-pervasiveness managed to force Kerala chief Passenger train, was pushed out by emerged. Today, the father and other ignorance about sexual health, and a minister Oommen Chandy to instruct in a society have one Govindasway, and then raped and criminals are behind bars. Yet another denial of the inroads pornographic his police to take action against the killed. A nurse returning home from alarming trend that has reared its ugly material has made into society, are all men who assaulted and abused the fallen ‘sick’. Is the duty in an autorickshaw in Kottayam head is that of 12- and 13-year-old factors to be considered.” youngster. A couple of arrests were had to jump out of the moving vehicle school boys raping or attempting to Social scientist Dr P.O. George, made in the case. But what is to be visual media or the to escape an attempt of sexual assault. rape four or five year old girls in their who heads the Juvenile Justice done to ensure that such incidents Internet to blame, She sustained serious injuries in the neighbourhood. In a recent case, one Committee in Trichur (a government- don't occur in the first place? In God's process. A woman travelling alone girl was found dead in a pond and constituted district committee), is Own Country today, women continue and what really can in a taxi in Pathanamthitta in south medical examination revealed that also worried about the emergence of to lack a sense of security, whether Kerala was gang-raped by the driver there was attempted rape. sexual perversion transcending even at home, in public spaces or in the be done to control and his friends. Even a woman IG What are the factors that have familial bonds and leaving daughters workplace and, unfortunately, the of police was not spared: She was contributed to a complete degeneration vulnerable at an early stage in their state, and those who administer it, the malaise? reportedly harassed while on her of social values and mores within lives when they lack agency and continue to be in denial. < morning walk. But what has truly Kerala society? Why have incidents information. He reveals that in the triggered widespread horror and of fathers sexually exploiting their one year that the welfare committee (Courtesy: Women’s Feature Service) Leela Menon shock is the serial rape case of a 14- year-old girl from Parur, near Kochi. She was first raped by her own father, who later pushed her into the sex Nominations invited for trade. According to a rough estimate she had been sexually abused by more than 100 people - ranging Chameli Devi Jain Award 2011-12 from politicians and businessmen, to The Media Foundation is pleased to invite nominations for its annual Chameli Devi Jain Award for an contractors and even filmmakers and Outstanding Woman Mediaperson for 2011-12. Journalists in the print, broadcast and current affairs artistes. When the police busted the documentary film media (any language) are eligible, including photographers, cartoonists and newspaper particular sex racket, the teenager designers. Names and addresses of sponsors or references should be clearly mentioned with email and revealed that her father first raped her phone numbers. The criteria for selection will be excellence, analytical skill, social concern, insights, style, and then threatened to kill her if she innovation, courage and compassion. Other things being equal, preference will be given to small town/ Monster dad: Sudheer (right), disclosed this to her mother. An agent rural and Indian language journalists. The entries will be evaluated by an independent panel of jurists whose the father of the sexually abused who provided young extras to the TV verdict shall be final. Nominations should include a bio-data (with complete postal address, telephone, fax Parur girl, who was arrested by industry, the monster dad didn't just numbers and email address, for facility of communication), together with a selection of the best work done the police along with 30 others stop at that. Tempted by the monetary during 2010-11 in the form of three or four clippings/tapes/CDs. These should be accompanied by a brief accused in the sex racket. gains that could be had, he decided to appreciation of why the candidate is especially deserving of recognition. Nominations addressed to B.G. trade on his daughter's body. When Verghese, coordinator, C-11 Dewan Shree Apartments, 30 Ferozshah Road, New Delhi -110001

he rise in sexual crimes against she refused to cooperate, he tied her (Tel: 2335 5099; 98189 16923) should be received not later than February 15, 2012. The Award will < women is a growing concern younger brother upside down to a be announced some days before it is presented at the India International Centre Multipurpose Hall in Delhi Tin India, widely reported and ceiling fan and threatened to kill him on Friday, March 16, 2012. debated upon. Delhi has seen at least if she did not comply. She yielded. grassroots January 15, 2012 4 A journal of the Press Institute of India promoting the human condition grassroots Heard of dance movement therapy? Well, backed by success with rescued victims of trafficking and sexual abuse, an NGO Using dance as in Kolkata uses the therapy to rehabilitate, counsel, empower and heal such victims, as therapy to provide well as those who are mentally challenged or suffering from HIV/AIDS. Many young men and women, once confined to the margins a new lease of life and seemingly lost without hope, have found new meaning in living after rediscovering happiness and joy in collaboration with Anjali, a strong human rights organisation that also works with the mentally ill, undertook Shoma A. Chatterji, Kolkata a research study to find out the impact of dance movement therapy on people living with mental illness. A report, Dance & Recovery, was released some time ago. “The specific objective is to determine the extent to which the participants exhibit a change in their behaviour so that they can be reintegrated into their family and community,” she adds. The study covered 27 participants, eight women and 19 men. They were inpatients of two city hospitals (Lumbini Park Hospital and Pavlov Hospital) for an average period of four years to 14 years. Their disorders included schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression and other severe and persistent disorders. Though they are currently in remission they need medication and supervision. The therapeutic process transforms ‘victims’ into bold and creative “Many near-normal inmates want to artists and provides them a platform to excel and recognise their own go home, their families do not want potential, develop their own ideas, express themselves in innovative them back. They cite reasons like fear ways and to perform. of relapse, consequent difficulties in getting them re-admitted to the hospitals considering that this calls why someone is in a bad mood. Rupa steps. Dance can be a medicine. for a court order, etc. These families (a respondent) wanted to hit Mita It makes me happy and gives me refuse to take responsibility of a (another respondent) but mistook recognition,” says a male. non-contributing family member,” her for someone else and hit her “Our trainers have drawn on the explains Chakraborty, adding, instead. This tendency has lessened therapeutic elements in Indian dance “Most of them have their families in after dance movement therapy. If it forms to create a unique and holistic Photos: Sanved Web site Kolkata while some have come from does happen, Rupa is willing to talk approach to deal with psychological villages within the state. We hope about it,” says one trainer. Another issues of trauma. They have taken A group performance by Sanved volunteers at a concert at these findings raise awareness about trainer adds, “Renu would tug at some footwork from Kathak to Max Mueller Bhavan. the impact of the therapy on mental our hands and disturb the class. She trigger the release of anger, some health and encourage greater public would sometimes leave in the middle bodily postures from Bharata Natyam intervention on the issue.” ance as a way of mainstreaming with 2500 individuals and indirectly of the class. When I asked her to use to rethink the image of the body “Respondents can be people with mental and influenced over 5000 people with its her imagination, she would string and its relation to space, and most temperamental. It is hard to gauge Dphysical disabilities, or people programmes,” Chakraborty explains. together unrelated visuals. Now she importantly, stress on the importance who are socially handicapped, is used Kolkata Sanved helps adolescent does some of the exercises.” “These of team work through incorporation of by Kolkata Sanved, an NGO that and child victims of sexual exploitation classes helped me place my personal folk dance forms,” says Chakraborty. is a centre of excellence for dance to assert their rights as individuals grief and anxieties in perspective. I Hand gestures are used as tools for movement therapy in South Asia. It is and to find a place in the mainstream. realised that my problems are a mere storytelling. Facial expressions open registered as a society under the West It aims at building the capacity of drop in the endless ocean they are a window to human emotions. There Bengal Society Registration Act. “Ours NGOs and government shelter homes drowned in,” says Nipuna, a trainer. is nothing like a ‘wrong step’ or is a pioneer organisation in dance for professional development of The participants are vocal. “Dance ‘right step’ because the participants movement therapy in South Asia. victims of abuse as peer educators has made me humane. It has made me are trained to create movements that We use therapy to achieve psycho- and activists. A group of young agile and my foot ache has decreased. are their spontaneous responses to social rehabilitation, counselling, girls and a boy – Khateja Lhatun, I can also visualise my childhood experience. Flexibility of the body, empowerment, healing and a mode Sudeshna Bag, Laxmi Khatun, Sabita vividly now,” says a female participant. limbs and face are given free play. of expression for victims of violence Debnath, Nasima Khatun, Jhulan “When I perform in functions, I cry After initial training, the participants and trafficking, marginalised people, Sarkar, Ashley Fargnoli and Bappa because I am reminded of home. But are asked to act out their own stories people facing mental challenges and Ghosh – trained in dance by Kolkata I am also better equipped to deal with through dance movements and people suffering from HIV/AIDS,” Sanved as trainee-teachers, train grief because I know others too have express their unspoken emotions. says Sohini Chakraborty, founder- the inmates of other NGOs such as similar experiences,” says a male Through dance movement therapy, director, Kolkata Sanved. Anjali, ApneAap Women Worldwide, participant. Another male participant the participants have responded as “Kolkata Sanved began as an All Bengal Women’s Union, Nirman- says that the dance classes have made a group. They have rediscovered experiment in a shelter home for Baruipur, and New Light. him more intelligent. The classes have memories of joy and happiness and rescued victims of trafficking and “We have expanded our reach to helped them make friends and share have woven these into their dance sexual abuse some years ago. Most include people living with mental their concerns about their families compositions and performances. of these girls became dance trainers illness. People with mental health back home with one another. “After They have learnt to rediscover their with us and willingly take part in problems are largely ignored. They many years, I can feel the blood body and to cultivate a positive body all our projects. The experiment are invisible and stigmatised. The flowing in my veins. Dance gives a image. They have come out of their grew into a movement now adopted mainstream does not know much sense of rhythm to my life,” says a inhibitions, their self-imposed silence,

by over 30 partner organisations about mental health or about the female participant. “I want to dance to talk about their emotions and have in India, Bangladesh and Nepal. people who suffer mental illnesses,” Sudeshna and Khateja – two in programmes because I like the learnt to connect and communicate < Kolkata Sanved has directly worked says Chakraborty. Kolkata Sanved, volunteer-trainers at Sanved. applause. I want to learn more dance among themselves. January 15, 2012 grassroots 5 A journal of the Press Institute of India promoting the human condition grassroots Exploited children in a railway station find a guardian angel

Poor children being forced to work, ill-treated and deprived of the joys of childhood is a sad reality in India. But how many of us really fend for them? One sensitive woman in Lucknow decided to do something. Her painstaking work has led the Charbagh Railway Station to become the first in India to be declared free of child labour. Her organisation, Ehsaas, has rescued more than 100 children from the station and the city streets. Working closely with the railway police force, Shachi Singh has brought light and cheer to the lives of the children for whom there once seemed no future

Tarannum

en years ago, a young woman Says Shachi: “Ehsaas was formed in the Shachi team began the seemingly happened to be at the Charbagh 2002 as we wanted to have a platform impossible task of making the station TRailway Station in Lucknow, where we could work on the rights of free from child labour. Uttar Pradesh's state capital, when those children who are out of home. First, they worked towards a young boy of around 10 came up This helped to focus on children ensuring that no shopkeeper at the to her. Dressed in tatters, his face living on footpaths and in railway station hired children. Those who streaked with mud, he tried to sell stations. We not only wanted them did have them on their rolls were her a bottle of water. “I felt pained to have a decent life, but also a life asked to let them go. “Some agreed, to see this helpless boy desperate to free from the fear of the police, who while others had to be threatened. sell me the water. It was tap water invariably vented their frustration on The consequences of hiring child poured into a plastic bottle bearing these kids.” labour were explained to them,” a mineral water label. A few minutes Says a visibly happy Sonu, one elaborates Rajesh Kumar, a railway later, after he had moved away, I saw of the many children who have been police inspector at Lucknow Station. a policeman brutally thrashing him,” rescued by Shachi, “I belong to Then, in 2010, Shachi managed to she recalls. She was moved to tears Jharkhand and ran away from home. rope in additional director general by that sight. She promised herself I used to sell bottles of water at the of the Government Railway Police, that one day she would do something station when Didi (elder sister) met A.K. Jain, to help in the project. “We for the numerous children she saw me. It was she who forced me to leave told him how the police was being about her who, instead of spending this work and study. Shachi Didi even brutal to the kids and how child rights their days studying and enjoying their ensured that the police didn't beat me protected each and every child who childhood, were being forced to work or my friends up anymore.” Sonu lived on the street as well. He heard in the most inhuman conditions and now lives in Ehsaas's shelter home us out and allowed us to hold regular cope with the repression of the law for children. Like Sonu, Shachi's sensitising sessions with his men on enforcement authorities. organisation has rescued and given duty at the Lucknow Station. In fact, And she has. After completing a home to more than 100 children with his orders in hand, we were able her master’s in Social Work, Shachi once living at the Lucknow Station to ensure that at least the personnel Singh, now in her thirties, set up and on the streets in the city. Through Photos: Tarannum\WFS heard us out,” Shachi says. Ehsaas, an organisation that works education, vocational training, Shachi Singh (centre, behind) with the children she rescued from the In April, Shachi was able to achieve with children living on the streets counselling and other such activity, Lucknow Railway Station. Thanks to her organisation, Ehsaas, the what she had set out to do nearly a or at the railway station, spending efforts have been made to rehabilitate station is free of child labour now. decade ago. Today, the Lucknow their days doing small-time work to the youngsters and bring them into the Railway Station is completely child make ends meet. Indeed, today it's mainstream. Wherever possible, there and her team, fearing that they would became our friends,” recalls Neeraj, labour free. The police has also because of all the good work done is also a conscious attempt to reunite be caught and beaten up. “We had to who works with Shachi in Ehsaas. created a child-friendly booth for lost by Shachi and her Ehsaas team that the children with their families. make them understand that we were The breakthrough was just a modest children and across the 72 districts the Charbagh Railway Station has However, all this did not happen their friends. There were times when start. There were many more troubles of Uttar Pradesh; railway police become the first station in India to be overnight. It's been a difficult we had to fight with the police to in store for the team. "The personnel officials have been given additional declared child labour free. Moreover, journey – for the activist as well save the children, which eventually from the Government Railway Police responsibility as child welfare the Government Railway Police as the rescued children. When the made them trust us and draw closer as well as the Railway Protection officers. “We now realise that these officers posted there double up as organisation first started taking the to us. They started coming to us with Force were apprehensive about our children need to be handled with care. Special Child Welfare Officers to kids off the platforms and the streets, their small problems, which we used work. They thought we were intruding And if not anything else, the least we protect the disadvantaged children. they would run away from Shachi to sort out for them. Slowly, they into their territory. Not only did they can do is to ensure that they live in a just refuse to talk to us, they even safe environment,” says Kumar. threatened us,” says Neeraj. Shachi and her dedicated team even It was then that Shachi decided earned praise from Yogesh Dubey, a that if she needed to make the life member of the National Commission of children on the platforms better, for Protection of Child Rights, who she would need to make the railway recently visited the Charbagh Station police force conscious of the fact that and found that there was “not a single the children had rights and needs, too. child working on the station”. But As she puts it, “How could they be Shachi work doesn't end here. There brutal to small kids? They were only are many things she wants to do for working for their survival. At times, her “friends from the streets”. On the children would come to us crying agenda is the setting up of short-stay that the police had taken away their centres in areas where it's been found day’s earnings, calling it illegal. We that children either run away or are would then fight for these kids.” The forced out of their homes. There are efforts to sensitise the police went on also plans to establish a vocational for a while, but without any results. centre providing computer training Slowly, however, things began to among other skills. For the children change. Recalls Shachi, “We kept who had once lived off the mean trying to convince them to at least sit streets of Lucknow, the future has just Owning to Shachi's efforts to sensitise the Government Railway Police, the police have today created a with us and talk. And then, the arrival got brighter. < child-friendly booth for lost children across the 72 districts of Uttar Pradesh. Police officials have also of a sensitive station manager came as been given additional responsibility as child welfare officers. a blessing for us.” Together with him, (Courtesy: Women’s Feature Service) grassroots January 15, 2012 6 A journal of the Press Institute of India promoting the human condition grassroots Educating marginalised youngsters, building lives

They were mainly school dropouts, ages Photos: Anjali Singh/WFS Lecturers sit in conference discussing the applications of child labour siblings wishing to join training 18-24 years, most of them forced years courses run by I-LEAD in Moradabad UP. The initiative has helped youngsters become productive and earlier to quit school and driven to work it has also received encouraging response. ighteen-year-old Ankit made a The institute helps identify and polish Moradabad where the number of to supplement family incomes. It seemed monumental decision, one that the skills of the children who enrol. children engaged in labour is huge. the end of the road for them as far as Ehelped change the life of his The programme focuses on what the Currently, we are training the seventh 21-year-old sister, Shivani. Ankit did children can do with ease and imparts batch and soon they will be placed in education was concerned. Until an NGO that by not only suggesting that she training for a period of three months, jobs and start earning income for their enroll in a training institute to learn sufficient to enable them to stand families. The whole course is totally called the Institute for Livelihood Education livelihood skills but by also taking on their own feet and earn a steady free of cost and over 20 children out of up cudgels with his reluctant family income. the 36 we have trained are earning.” and Development set up a vocational in Shivani’s favour. As routine as that Explains Mahesh Chandra, a Twenty-year-old Rakhi dropped may sound, for Shivani, the daughter former mechanical engineer who gave out of school in Class 8. “My father training programme in Moradabad, drew to of a shopkeeper in Moradabad, a up a career in the corporate world to is a rickshaw puller and we live in it youngsters who were wasting their lives district in Uttar Pradesh where child do his bit for social empowerment of Mahjola, a slum in Moradabad. I have labour is rampant, such an opportunity the underprivileged, “As a faculty at grown up in dire poverty and had to doing nothing, equipped them with suitable would never have come her way had the institute, it is easy to understand leave school as my father could not her brother not taken up her case. the reasons that force a parent to send afford the fees. I had begun to think skills enough to earn a living and gave Avers Ankit, “The institute where a child to work; in almost all the cases that I too would end up as a domestic we are both enrolled now, is the one I it is the poor financial condition of the servant like many girls in my locality, them a sense of direction and purpose. initially went to, to join alone. When family. At I-LEAD, the focus is on but when I heard of I-LEAD and the It’s changed the dynamics on the ground, I began training, I realised that this building lives through education, not courses it was offering I was excited was a once-in-a-lifetime chance for on imparting the general curriculum and convinced my father to let me with fewer children being driven to the children like us who dropped out of as in the formal education system. join. Since it was free, he agreed and school to work as daily-wage earners The emphasis is more on generating today I am learning computer skills. heartless labour market and had passed the age of getting livelihood through education It was a huge challenge for me to formal education. The more classes which can empower the student step out of home and come to the I attended, the more I felt my sister economically.” institute but I have done it and am Anjali Singh, Lucknow was missing something she needed Chandra, who takes classes in very confident that I can support my in terms of life skills to make herself welding, emphasises that the aim is to family and myself now,” she says. financially independent.” The rest is provide the students with sustainable Eighteen-year-old Neha has history. Who knows, Ankit’s initiative skills that can match the requirements another story. “I have four brothers, might just inspire other families in the of today’s job market. “The demand all younger to me, and they all go state that have children employed, to for trained manpower and skilled to work; no one goes to school. But stop the practice and change for the work is on the rise and we make an being a girl, I was not allowed to better. However, in the absence of effort to fulfil it by imparting specific work or study. My youngest sibling meaningful solutions to provide such training to our students. None or little is ten years old and it is horrible to families a sustainable livelihood, formal education is not allowed to be see him work as a daily wage earner. a number of families will continue a constraint. We counsel the children, After a great deal of effort I was able to use children as working hands to offer them specific subjects and begin to convince my father to let me join earn a square meal a day, not really training. Post training, they can easily I-LEAD but he very clearly told me bothered about such practice being get a job and support the family that after training he won’t allow illegal. income.” me to work as he feels girls should Against such a dismal background, Once trained in subjects such not step out of the house or even be an enterprising initiative by I-LEAD as retail management, IT-enabled outdoors after 5 pm. I am studying (Institute for Livelihood Education and services, personality development, Personality Development and English Development), a Moradabad-based marketing management, English and want to work after that but I know NGO, is helping to develop a new speaking and Public Relations, the it will be difficult.” alternative meant for older siblings students are able to get entry-level It’s a problem that most girl students of children who are made to work; jobs in companies and start earning enrolled at I-LEAD experience, says the initiative has helped such siblings Rs 3000-8000 a month. This, despite Preety Saini, faculty, Soft Skills and become productive. Not surprisingly, the lack of any formal educational Personality Development. “Such most of those who take up the qualification for the job. The result is constraints are common with the alternative education for livelihood a huge burden off the shoulders of the girl students. They opt for soft skills are school dropouts who were earlier younger siblings who now don’t have training and Personality Development, engaged in labour in Moradabad, the to work to support the family. which makes them eligible for jobs at industrial capital of western Uttar Explains Shraddha Sinha, project the front office or in customer care at Pradesh. The courses run by I-LEAD coordinator, Skill Development retail outlets, but the work hours are at its Moradabad training centre as a Programme, Aide et Action, “The long. Most are not allowed to continue vocational training programme has concept of I-LEAD was developed working after a few weeks and their received overwhelming response. by Aide et Action, a French NGO families refuse to let them go out Most courses are tailor-made to suit working in the area of child labour. alone or interact with people openly. the needs of the children who are When UNICEF approached us to be We are in the process of counselling Eighteen-year-old Ankit with his 21-year-old sister who he got well past the age (18-24 years) of a part of the Child Rights Protection parents and they are opening up to enrolled for the Information Technology classes at the training enrolling in schools and cannot find Project, we extended the programme suggestions, but it will take time to institute in Moradabad. a suitable job to sustain their families. to the different slum localities in change mindsets completely.” < January 15, 2012 grassroots 7 A journal of the Press Institute of India promoting the human condition grassroots Affected families of BSF personnel know there’s somebody to care for them The Indian jawan or soldier leads a tough life. Often posted far away from home, in inhospitable conditions, he does his duty well despite bearing hardships and longing to get back to his family. Sadly, many jawans do not return home, killed in the line of duty. There are others who return with terrible injuries or are forced to retire. But helping families cope with loss and tragedy, and looking after their welfare and security is the BSF Wives’ Welfare Association, which strives to reach out to those who need support the most

Aditi Bhaduri

in August 2009, and has since been projects proved profitable and since systematising and documenting the 2009, they have generated an income work that BWWA has been engaged of Rs 1.68 lakh, which has gone some in. One of her first initiatives in way in augmenting the incomes of her drive to make the organisation families of the constables. more dynamic was to celebrate But what is perhaps the most Women's Day. Shrivastava made it creditable of all BWWA’s activities mandatory that each battalion of the has been its ability to reach out to BSF celebrates the occasion across those who need it most: Widows and the country. The act was extremely daughters of personnel who have lost symbolic. It forced each BSF their lives. Recently, it was successful personnel to reflect and acknowledge in providing accommodation to the role and contribution women Shakuntala Devi, the widow of a make to society and at the personal BSF constable who had served in level. the 42 Battalion. It has even been Shrivastava also realised that able to arrange marriages for 42 if BWWA has to perform its role, BSF widows. Women like Shilpa the principle of inclusiveness was Chowdhury Mandal, the widow of essential. Involving the wives and Manwar Hussein Mandal, who is children of constables on an occasion today happily married to Ukhandi Photos: Aditi Bhaduri/WFS like the BSF Raising Day, in which Verma of the 77 Battalian Tripura Barnali Ravidas, the daughter of BSF constable Nandlal Ravidas, with her creation at an exhibition only officers’ families traditionally Frontier. Children too have been organised by BWWA in Delhi. participated, was one of the steps looked after, through scholarships and she took to further this. She was also special talent spotting programmes. determined to raise awareness about Talking of talent spotting, avin Devi's world fell apart forested borders of the northeast, help the women learn skills like social issues, so she ensured that Shrivastava – an artist specialising in one fateful day in 2009 as it is from the freezing heights of making agarbattis (incense sticks), both Health Day and Environment Tanjore paintings – after noticing some Nwhen she received news of Kashmir. Because of the inhospitable packaging biscuits and spices and Day were celebrated across BSF of the art work of BSF constables, hit her husband's death. They had been terrain and the nature of their work, tailoring garments for women and battalions, with the latter marked by upon the idea of holding an exhibition married for 12 years but for much of there were many casualties in the children. large-scale tree-planting initiatives. of their work in Delhi. The BWWA their married life they had been forced BSF, several of which may not even The wife of the director general Since self-dependence was their aim, tied up with the Lalit Kala Akademi to live apart. Her husband, a jawan be directly linked to action. The whole of the BSF traditionally becomes projects like masala grinding and to organise it, and it proved to be a (soldier) with the Border Security rationale for BWWA was to give the the president of the BWWA and it tailoring were introduced to ensure great success, encouraging BSF Force (BSF) was invariably posted families of these personnel a sense is she who gives direction to the that the wives of BSF jawans could personnel and their family members in the border areas, a long way from of security and a feeling of having organisation. The present president get some additional income. For this, to nurture their creative spirit despite their village in Haryana. And so they an extended family within the BSF. is Anjali Shrivastava, the wife of the BWWA has tied up with Usha the hardships that sometimes come lived, with Navin looking after the And it is because of the organisation Raman Shrivastava, the current International, the well-known brand their way. It was at that exhibition home and their son, and counting the that Navin today can earn a livelihood director general of the BSF. The soft- of sewing machines, to conduct that Barnali, the daughter of BSF days to the brief spell that would re- for herself and her family through a spoken, multi-faceted woman also a six-month tailoring course after constable Nandlal Ravidas, found unite her with her husband, when he store opened by BWWA in the CGO happens to be a talented artist. In her which successful participants receive her painting being gifted to the visited home. Then one day, she was complex in Delhi that houses several 50s, she became the BWWA president professional certificates. Many of the Union home minister who had come told that he would no longer return. government offices. to inaugurate the exhibition. Says Tears still well up in her eyes as Navin runs the shop along with the young girl with a wide smile, "I she remembers him and recalls their Nanumaya Thapa, the widow of just could not believe it. It was such times together. But dwelling on the another constable with the BSF and a wonderful and proud moment for past is a luxury Navin cannot indulge a mother of two little girls. Navin me!" in, beset as she is with the problems and Nanumaya are not isolated cases. BWWA's success can be measured of survival. But help finally did come. Since its establishment in 1992, by precisely such responses. Says In a strange way, it was as if her the BWWA has been engaged in Anjana Gupta, wife of Virendra Gupta, husband stepped in once again to help promoting the welfare and security inspector general (personnel), who is her – through an organisation set up of those like Navin and Nanumaya the secretary of the organisation, “At by the BSF. The BSF Wives’ Welfare and hundreds of others like them. An the end of the day it's a very satisfying Association (BWWA) was formed organisation based on the principle of experience. If earlier public functions precisely to reach out to women like ‘women for women’, it works towards were about playing tambola, now Navin, the wives and daughters of the the welfare and advancement of the there is a feeling of having done jawans who often served in far-flung wives of retired, deceased, disabled something constructive. Families of areas. India’s borderlands, over which ad serving personnel of the BSF. One BSF personnel know that somebody the BSF stands guard, are varied of BWWA's major aims is to make cares for them.” < and often hostile in terms of living the women it assists self-dependent. (Courtesy: Women’s Feature Service. The article conditions. Kutch in Gujarat is as Which is why it runs vocational Navin Devi makes a living by working in the BWWA shop in Delhi. was written when Raman Shrivastava was different from the hot, humid, thickly training, including programmes that She runs the shop along with another widow, Nanmaya Thapa. director general, BSF. He has since retired.) grassroots January 15, 2012 8 A journal of the Press Institute of India promoting the human condition grassroots Life isn’t silky smooth for farmers weaving the fine, soft thread

Silk is often considered exquisite, something that can be afforded only by the wealthy. But the people who rear silkworms to produce raw silk, the silk farmers in Karnataka, are leading a difficult life. It all began when the government allowed the duty-free import of raw silk; and despite its promise to stabilise the price of raw silk, nothing happened. The situation worsened when cheap Chinese raw silk entered the market. A host of other factors, including borrowing from moneylenders to survive, have affected the farmers badly, driving a few of them to despair and suicide Photos: Pushpa Achanta Bore Gowda (left) with Krishna Gowda, convener, KPRS, Pushpa Achanta, Bangalore Mandya, at a farmers' protest in Bangalore.

tatistics available with the price of cocoons volatile. The Union leaving behind their three children, In the district, two other small silk silk farmers earn Rs 10000-15000 Central Silk Board (Ministry of budget presented in 2011 (February Chandrika, age 5, Kirtana, 3, and farmers committed suicide in the profit if prices are favourable. STextiles, Government of India) 28) decreased the import duty to 5 Sharath, 2. “The responsibility of past eight months while a third is “The government stopped selling show that Karnataka produces about per cent. According to KPRS sources, looking after our young grandchildren still critical, but the families receive eggs at Rs 300 a kilo. Also, the area 50 per cent of the national production this lowered the price of the fibre from enhances the burden of age and no government support. All of them under mulberry cultivation reduced of around 18000 metric tonnes. nearly Rs 2900 a kg to Rs 1700 a kg. poverty,” says grief-stricken 65-year- have borrowed Rs 1-2.5 lakh from from around 15000 hectares in 2008- Introduced by Tipu Sultan more than The cocoon price fell from Rs 325 a old Bore Gowda, Swami Gowda’s moneylenders for digging bore wells, 09 to nearly 12000 hectares in early 200 years ago, silk cocoon cultivation kg to Rs 160 a kg (1 kg of raw silk father. Chowdamma, Vasantamma’s hiring space to rear cocoons, etc. 2011 while cocoon prices fluctuated. by farmers (whose number exceeds a needs 8-9 kg of cocoons) impacting widowed mother, is also affected. In Mandya, most silk farmers Warmer summers, unpredictable lakh) is high in Mandya, Ramnagaram, anticipated sales badly. “Around With Bore Gowda owning a small are small or landless people, taking rains and unreliable electricity Kolar and Chikballapur Districts in 26th February, big silk traders with plot of land, the government land on rent ranging from Rs 20000 and water supply to the fields and southern Karnataka. Problems for stocks of raw silk jammed the market considered him an independent entity to 40000 an acre a year. Although homes are other challenges. A recent the small farmers in the sericulture while the cocoon buyers stayed away. and provided no monetary support. women and other family members RTI application to the principal business (feeding silkworm larvae Obviously, they knew that the fibre’s According to Yashavantha, continued assist in the labour-intensive cocoon secretary, Department of Agriculture, mulberry leaves and getting them to price would crash,” Yashvantha pressure for compensation by KPRS rearing, sericulture requires male Government of Karnataka, unearthed spin their silken cocoons, reeling the points out. activists forced the district collector labour. Men are paid Rs 150-200 a a memo from the Union finance silk filaments and combining them to Now, Vasanthamma, the 28- to intervene; the local tehsildar then day and women Rs 50-80 a day to minister informing the Karnataka form threads, and plying the threads year-old wife of a marginal silk granted Rs 50000. work in the mulberry fields. Costs are chief minister that Central government together to form yarn) who rent farmer named Swami Gowda from The nearly 100 families in incurred for transportation, fertiliser, intervention is unnecessary to resolve mulberry fields and breeding space Valagere Doddi (a small village in Valagere Doddi and hamlets such pesticide, and silkworm eggs at Rs the problems faced by those engaged for silkworms started between 1999 Malavalli Taluk of Mandya District as Vodeyarbasappura near Halagur 1200-1800 a kg from private agents, in sericulture in Karnataka,” explains and 2003. near Mysore) realised that she Town in Malavalli Taluk contribute and sometimes water at Rs 70 an hour. a KPRS activist. Implementing GATT/WTO would have to struggle to repay the to the silk and sugar industries in As the breeding cycle lasts 30-45 days “Banks in rural India refuse to policies destabilised the prices of Rs 1.2 lakh she owed a local self- Karnataka. They also grow rice and and the weather is usually conducive lend money to small farmers and raw silk (a perishable commodity) help group. In early March, fearing ragi (millet). “We never expected the year round, silk farmers rear landless labourers easily as they because imports were allowed duty- creditors, Vasanthamma and Gowda, Vasanthamma and Swami Gowda to cocoons four or five times a year. At cannot offer large collateral and may free. Protests by silk farmers led to age 33, hanged themselves to death, kill themselves,” the villagers say. a yield of 50-60 kg cocoon per cycle, default or delay repayment. Hence, the import tax being fixed at about marginal agriculturists borrow 31 per cent. However, in August from micro-finance institutions and 2010, the Union Ministry of Textiles moneylenders at nearly 36 per cent allowed duty-free import of 2500 annual interest. Unreliable returns on metric tonnes of raw silk of 3A grade Women labour on silk farms their produce make them debtors,” and above, primarily for small and says Chandrashekhar, a 35-year- traditional handloom and power- Chikkamma, Jayamma and Susilamma are young landless labourers toiling on small silk farms in Mandya old silk farmer from Halaguru. loom weavers. This met some of the District. Barely literate but well informed, the women get a fraction of the returns from the crops. “Our kids must Ironically, some of the bank branches total shortfall of 10000 metric tonnes not struggle like us. That is why they should study,” says 27-year-old Jayamma who believes that education will were started mainly to assist the of raw silk (the national demand fetch a secure and better future for her children. She sends her sprightly kids to the local government primary financially backward rural residents. totalled 28000 metric tonnes). Says school which has only two or three rooms. Its bright colours seem welcoming though. “If we pass, we will go the Krishne Gowda, engaed in sericulture T. Yashavantha, a 30-year-old silk higher grade,” is the common refrain of the children here. The high school is in Halagur, walking distance of an and KPRS district convenor adds, farmer from Maddur Taluk in Mandya hour. Jayamma's husband, a daily wage mason, sometimes does not get enough assignments. Their household “We have demanded government District and the local secretary of the expenses average Rs 100 a day, including the cost for his alcohol and compensation of Rs 10 lakh and Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha beedis. “He knows his responsibilities and is not violent towards me or the educational and employment (KPRS), a farmer support group: kids,” says Jayamma. Susilamma, 50, has been a farm labourer for 30 assistance to the victims’ children. “The government assured us that the years. The economic conditions of her family are similar to Jayamma’s. And the reinstatement of 31 per cent import would not impact those who They and 30 other women are part of the local mahila sangha (women's import duty on raw silk. Further, the reared cocoons and were engaged in collective). Each of them tries to save up to Rs 100 a week although it government should fix the market reeling silk. It promised to introduce is difficult for them as they earn only around Rs 60 a day (below the selling price at Rs 400 a kg of cocoon to a system to stabilise and monitor minimum daily wage) when they work. The sangha loans about Rs 10000 ensure profitability. It must financially cocoon and silk yarn prices. But the to needy members at reasonable interest rates. strengthen the Karnataka Marketing government did nothing.” Chandrashekhar, who employs Jayamma, Susilamma and Chikkamma, Board Silk and the Karnataka Silk The woes of the silk farmers is a lenient and socially progressive landowner. He pays his workers Industries Corporation to intervene in worsened as cheap Chinese raw silk regularly and treats them well. “Adversity has toughened me and taught Jayamma (in front, with her children) the market when prices fall.” < entered the market and made the responsibility and fairness,” he says. and Chikkamma - farm labourers.

grassroots January 15, 2012 10 A journal of the Press Institute of India promoting the human condition grassroots It’s a different rath yatra – and it’s all about communal amity

Gorur is typical rural India – a picture-postcard village nestling in the midst of mist-covered, undulating hills and lush greenery, home to several communities. Every year, during January-February the village celebrates Ratha Saptami and that is when it transforms into a sort of fair-land. The main activity is the pulling of the temple chariot through the four streets, and lending a helping hand are Muslims as well as Dalits. It’s reflective of life at the grassroots, of India’s villages where the nation breathes, far removed from the veneered glitter of city life

Sakuntala Narasimhan, Bangalore

hen bananas start flying years, with a large dam across the then installed atop the chariot, for through the air like a covey Hemavathy, colleges started in recent the procession to commence. This is Wof yellow birds, it is time to years (where, two generations ago, when the bananas begin to fly, aimed start the festivities at the annual Ratha there was not even a high school) and at the chariot but often landing amidst Saptami festival of the famous temple advertisements for mobile phones the throng of devotees. The practice Photos: Sakuntala Narasimhan dedicated to Lord Yoganarasimha along rows of shops selling sundry is to stick a small cluster of fragrant The decorated chariot at the Gorur temple. on the banks of River Hemavathi goods typifying rising prosperity. leaves (marugu-davanam) into each at Gorur in the Hassan District of Where once rickety buses from banana, before it is flung on to the It takes over four hours for the rath The stereotype of the urban Karnataka. Urchins and adults alike Hassan dropped visitors at the end of path of the rath. It is a good day for to negotiate the four streets – a total conception is that villages are sleepy buy handfuls of ripe bananas from a dusty road from where one had to banana vendors. distance of less than a kilometre. As little backward clusters of thatched vendors who congregate specially for walk to the village, now cars and vans After a ritual bath in the river, it returns to its base, the community huts, with no electricity or running the event which falls on the seventh merrily run in and out. volunteers preparing to lend a hand feast gets underway – several hundred water, and no ‘modern facilities’. day of the lunar calendar in January- On Ratha Saptami Day, excitement in pulling the chariot with the help of visitors are fed a sumptuous lunch at Here at Gorur, even houses built three February (January 30 this year) and gathers momentum right from early thick ropes and chains, take positions, the Paravasudeva Temple, with four generations ago boast of upgraded throw the fruit into the air, in the morning, when vendors set up with the untouchable castes leading desserts (sweet pongal, holige, laddu facilities and amenities. What is more, direction of the chariot (ther in Tamil makeshift stalls along the approach the throng – and with a collective and jilebi) where devotees sit together festivals like Ratha Saptami showcase and Kannada) that stands over three road, selling colourful bangles and shout of excitement the rath moves, with no distinctions of who is who. a dimension of communal amity and storeys high, decorated elaborately baubles, snacks, balloons and toys, inch by inch. Armies of men follow in Volunteers drawn from all ages and participatory sharing that one does with flower garlands, colourful flowers and puja artefacts (baskets of its wake, holding long pieces of strong walks of life, do duty serving the not often see even among educated buntings and embroidered silk cloth, fruit, coconuts, garlands, souvenirs wood which they insert under the items at the open courtyard of the citizens in the urban milieu. Gorur ready to be taken in procession along for devotees to carry back). The mela massive wheels of the moving chariot temple. Another army of volunteers guards its hoary traditions, especially the four main streets of the village. (fair) atmosphere becomes palpable to keep it on course. The rath is so cleans up and gets ready to serve those relating to the role of the The custom dates back perhaps as the sun rises and preparations get heavy that its momentum can carry the next batch of diners. Donations different castes and communities in to a time when bananas were used underway for pulling the intricately it off the street and on to the crowds from devotees take care of the religious observances, with a tenacity to help smoothen the ground for carved rath out of its resting place – and that could be unpleasant. It expenses of the celebrations and that has withstood the onslaught of the heavy edifice to move forward, beside the temple. Priests climb up takes 20 to 30 men to drag the chariot feast. Prasadam is also generously ‘development’ – the dam, the colleges but today it is part of the fun-laced to stand by to accept offerings from forward. As it takes in the four main handed out to hundreds of visitors and the shops. Says Narasimha festivities that form part of the annual devotees who begin to mill around streets of the village, it is stopped at the Yoganarasimha temple. After Murthy, a scion of one of the leading celebrations that draw huge crowds the rath, awaiting the start of its every few metres, for householders darshan, men women and children all families of the village: “Compared from surrounding villages. What is journey. The utsava murti (image of along its path to offer camphor sit on the banks of the river, enjoying to 10-15 years ago, there are more special about the festival is that it the deity) is first brought out, and and coconut and seek blessings. its cool water and balmy ambience participants at the festival today, as epitomises a dimension of communal before setting out on their way back people from surrounding villages too harmony that has been part of even home, carrying leaf-cups of delicious come over to join us. Previously, that religious rituals like temple festivals puliyohare and prasadam. Here, was not so.” The crowds are larger – in our country. The ther does not, and far from the madding crowds of the but the rituals remain unchanged over cannot, start on its ritual rounds of the burgeoning urban conglomerations, the years, testifying to the strength of four main streets till the Dalits arrive there are lessons in communal local traditions. to help pull it. The Yoganarasimha harmony, and peaceful co-existence, A few kilometres away lies the deity here is considered one of the lessons that city folk could well take famous shrine of Mavinkere atop a most venerated and powerful in the a leaf out of. hillock, again set amidst breathtakingly Hindu pantheon of gods, but Muslims beautiful scenery. The air is, for those and untouchables have important roles from urban metropolises, refreshingly to play in the day’s proceedings. clean and invigorating. The cave Gorur, made famous by two of temple, ensconced within a massive its sons, the Kannada writer Gorur monolithic rock, lies at the end of a Ramaswamy Iyengar and, more picturesque road that winds it sway recently, Captain Gopinath who up through sharp curves, with small pioneered low-cost flying in India by wild animals scurrying for cover as starting Deccan Airways, is a village vehicles approach. As one young nestling amidst beautiful scenery visitor from the city remarked: “This with mist-covered, undulating hills was a nice daylong outing, the best I and lush greenery. It has, like all The Hemavathy River, on the banks of which the famous have had, even if we went only to a rural communities, changed over the Yoganarasimha Temple (right) stands. village...” < January 15, 2012 11 grassroots A journal of the Press Institute of India promoting the human condition

A Journal of the Press Institute of India Registered with The Registrar of Newspapers for India under Three years, two cyclones grassrootsTNENG/2009/27557 Press Institute of India - Research Institute for Newspaper Development Second Main Road, Taramani CPT Campus, Chennai 600 113 Tel: 044-2254 2344 Telefax: 044-2254 2323 … and the Burmese www.pressinstitute.in Director V. Murali still await relief [email protected] Editor Sashi Nair [email protected]/ Public memory is short. But for those who [email protected] suffer as a result of natural calamities, Editorial Assistant memories – horrific memories – are difficult R. Suseela [email protected] to discard. And so it is for the thousands in Design and Production Myanmar who had faced the fury of Cyclones Seetha Ramesh Nargis and Giri. The first, Nargis, struck more [email protected] Manager than three years ago. Yet, under the military N. Subramanian regime which now seems to be thawing [email protected] slowly to the outside world, people continue Assistant Manager / Librarian R. Geetha to suffer badly, with thousands struggling for [email protected] food, water and shelter Office Staff B. Rajendran

Photos: Narinjara News Nava Thakuria, Assam The Press Institute of India does not take A mother and her children – left without a home, food or water responsibility for returning unsolicited after cyclone Nargis caused devastation in the Irrawaddy and material. It may not always be possible to Rangoon Divisions. reply to senders of unsolicited material. Opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the editor or publisher. ven as the military rulers of Recent reports by Human 100 people were killed and nearly more importantly, greater political Myanmar (erstwhile Burma) Rights Watch has revealed that the one million Burmese were affected willingness to approach DRR.” Every effort has been taken to assure that completed a general election Myanmarese Government continues by the cyclone. According to the UN, Talking to this writer from New Delhi, the accuracy of information contained E in this publication is based on reliable in November 2010 and a new to deny basic freedoms and place more than 70000 people were left Thin Thin Win, a Burmese woman sources. All trademarks and trade names ‘democratic’ regime was installed in restrictions on aid agencies. Human homeless by the disaster. Quoting living in exile says the regime had mentioned in this magazine belong to the poverty-stricken country, millions Rights Watch officials say that the the Arakan League for Democracy, done very little for the rehabilitation of their respective owners. In case of error of Burmese are still living in terrible local aid workers still feel the brunt of Narinjara News, a pro-democracy the cyclone victims, turning out to be editor/publisher shall not be liable for any conditions in the areas that bore the continued repression by the military portal, reported that villages such inhuman for the women and children. loss or prejudice caused to the reader. The publisher reserves the copyright of the brunt of Cylones Nargis and Giri. authorities. The report quotes many as Kyuntharyar, Pyintharhtwatwa, From the reality on the ground, it is materials published in the magazine. No There is lack of clean drinking water, woman survivors of Cyclone Nargis Taungpaw, Angu, Ywathikay, clear it will take a few more years to part of the articles or photographs can be food and proper shelter. The lives narrating their woes. Taungnyo, Kangyemaw, Dagon, completely rehabilitate the affected reproduced without the prior permission of of hundreds and thousands of poor For example, May Khin, a middle- Kanthar were severely affected with people, she asserts. the publisher. All disputes will be subjected Burmese women have not changed aged woman from Laputta describes people not having access to safe The hapless situation has compelled to the jurisdiction of Chennai only. though there have been cosmetic her horrific tale: “Nargis was the worst drinking water. the poor Burmese, mostly young changes such as the release of pro- experience of my life. The last thing I “There is a shortage of drinking girls and women to fall prey to sex democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi. remember is the lightning combined water. In the contaminated wells traffickers, a fact admitted by the UN Advertisement Tariff After Cyclone Nargis struck with a strong wind and, later, a and ponds, saltwater sinks and the official. Burmese children are forced Myanmar on 2nd May 2008, letting giant wave that covered me and my freshwater stays atop. So people to work as hawkers and beggars in loose a trail of destruction across the daughter while we were running for collect and use the water sitting at Thailand. Many Burmese men, women, Full Page: B&W: Rs. 5,000 Irrawaddy and Rangoon Divisions, safety to the monastery. Suddenly, we the top portion of the well. But it is and children who migrate for work to Colour: Rs. 10,000 women and children were the worst got separated. I was washed away by not that safe to drink. Some people Bangaldesh, China, India, Malaysia, sufferers. Despite more than three the waves and became unconscious. still use water contaminated with South Korea and Thailand are subject Half Page: B&W: Rs. 3,000 years having passed, relief from When I came around, there were no saltwater. Some use the water from to conditions of forced labour or sex Colour: Rs. 5,000 international agencies, blocked earlier clothes on my body and I could not the well that is full with garbage,” trafficking in those countries. by the military regime, remains Driving such undesirable walk as I had no strength. Beside me says a source. Mechanical Details sporadic and paltry, compounding the lay a dead body.” Responding to this writer’s queries, conditions is sheer poverty, an issue agony of the poor Burmese people. The International Organisation a Rangoon-based UN official says that that is now openly acknowledged. Bleed : 275 mm x 350 mm The cyclone, originating in the for Migration states that about lessons were not learnt from Cyclone The US Campaign for Burma Bay of Bengal, also ravaged parts of 400000 people in Myanmar are still Nargis and, thus, many deaths could mentions in its report, “Military and the Bago, Mon and Kayin Regions. living without a proper home. It says have avoided when Cyclone Giri civilian officials subject men, women, A water-wall four metres high is said the government failed to provide struck. Says Aye Win, an official of and children to forced labour, and to have rolled 25 miles inland across adequate food, water and shelter to United Nations Information Centre men and boys as young as 11 years Material can be sent to the Irrawaddy River Valley, flattening the survivors. “This is an area where at Rangoon, “The earthquake in old are forcibly recruited to serve in [email protected] everything in its path. Although there are still huge needs,” says Tachilek brought greater closeness of the Burma army as well as the armed or by CD to our address the military government reported Arne Jan Flolo, first secretary of the cooperation between the humanitarian wings of ethnic minority groups the death toll as 84537, with 53836 Norwegian Embassy in Bangkok. community and the authorities. The through intimidation, coercion, missing, independent estimates put Even the UN Human Settlements importance of managing disasters threats, and violence. Some observers the number at 140000 killed. The Program estimates that some 375000 was recently underscored by the visit estimate that thousands of children are Annual Subscription cyclone has had a devastating impact people need housing, 36 months after of the special representative of the forced to serve in Burma’s national on the social infrastructure; it wiped the cyclone. secretary general on Disaster Risk army as desertions of men in the army 12 Issues Rs. 180 out paddy fields, which at the time Cyclone Giri of comparatively Reduction, Margareta Wahlstrom, continue.” < 36 Issues Rs. 500 were being readied for the country's lower magnitude struck the Arakan to Myanmar in early October. There primary rice crop. Coast on October 22, 2011. Over is now greater awareness, and

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