National Institute For People’s Development, Investigation & Training (NIPDIT) College Road, P.O.: Phulbani, Dist : Kandhamal, Pin-762 001 (India) Ph. : +91-6842-253579, Fax : 91-6842-253403, E-mail : [email protected] website : www.nipdit.org Published By NIPDIT, College Road, Phulbani, Orissa Supported By UNDP, New Delhi, India Contributory Price Rs. 300.00 (Rupees Three Hundred Only). Designed & Printed Ashirbad, Bhubaneswar, Ph.: 0674-2561328 Year of Publication : 2008 Copyright NIPDIT, College Road, Phulbani, Orissa, This publication may be used in any form. Please feel free to quote, translate, distribute & transmit. Kindly acknowledge the source Block Human Development Report (BHDR), Phiringia, Kandhamal is part of the initiative under “Rural Decentralisation and Participatory Planning for Poverty Reduction” project implemented by National Institute for People's Development Investigation & Training (NIPDIT). The choice of Phiringia as a location for one of the first BDR exercises to be conducted in Orissa serves to identify the most pressing developmental constraints in a block where the impact of development is not visible over a period of time. Block Development Report is thus expected to serve as the foundation for formulating a comprehensive Block Development Plan in future. Preparation of Development Report at the disaggregated level begins the process of a serious attempt to break the syndrome of “islands of deprivation”, the major lacuna of the development process and singular look towards the Adoption of development goal is not new and there are instances where the country or a state as a whole is said to have achieved the goals leaving behind a large area where symptoms of under development and deprivation still prevail. It is a contention beyond contest that the country & the state often shows significant improvements in terms of development indicators pushing the marginalized area & its people to further deprivation. The exercise for preparation of Human Development Report at the disaggregated spatial dimension alerts us to such a situation. Furthermore, the exercise is not all about the status, it provides insights and looks forward to possible ways of development which helps in finding out, integrating & sysnthesizing plans, programs & strategies appropriately. Block Human Development Report identifies few reasons of backwardness within Phiringia block in terms of basic human development attributes such as health status, educational and livelihood opportunities. However, its exploration of development situations in the block is not limited merely to the computation of the human development indexes. While identifying the current development constraints and challenges faced by Phiringia as a block, the development report also examines various factors responsible in this regard and identifies several emerging development trends. This Block Human Development Report is the ultimate outcome of consultations between responsibility holders of district administration, Kandhamal, block administration of Phiringia, GP functionaries, PRI representatives, development agencies and the community. Overall coordination, data & information collection for preparation of the Block Development Report was undertaken by NIPDIT. The Project Co-ordinators and the team members associated with Rural Dcentralization Project shared their experience and learning during the preparation of the report. We hope that similar exercise for preparation of Human Development Report will be undertaken by both the government and the civil society for other Blocks and sincerely look towards the direction of addressing the issues according to their capacities. Our effort has been to make the report lucid in language and analytical in content. Feedbacks on the report and various aspects of its analysis are most welcome. Member-Secretary, NIPDIT, Phulbani We would like to acknowledge and extend our heartfelt gratitude to the following organizations/persons for their support & cooperation in making completion of this document possible: Our special thanks to Mr. Mainak Sarkar for providing guidance for documentation and the UNDP New Delhi for providing us the required financial support. We appreciate the cooperation of the District Administration, Kandhamal especially the Collector, PD & APD, DRDA, District Planning Officer, District Panchayat Officer & Block Development Officer, Phiringia for support to this exercise. GP level Animators and community leaders with their assiduous effort have provided the data & information in preparation of the report. More importantly, the experience based inputs for preparation of the report have brought out the nuances of analysis. PRI representatives, Block level officials & GP level functionaries have always been in close proximity with the people and have been part & parcel of the livelihood patterns & development processes. Preparation of Block Human Development Report would not have been possible without their cooperation. Our Special thanks goes to Mr. Saroj Nayak, development consultant who has put his entire effort in preparation of the development report from devising formats for data collection, designing group discussion framework to structurizing and finalizing the report. Lastly, we consider it our opportunity to thank the partner community for their whole-hearted support, encouragement and feedback. NIPDIT, College Road, Phulbani Chapter ONE 1.0 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................1 1.1 District Scenario Influencing Block Development ........................................................................................3 1.2 Historical Background ..................................................................................................................................3 1.3 Tribal Revolt in Kandhamal ..........................................................................................................................4 1.4 Topography and Agro-climatic Characteristics .............................................................................................5 1.5 District Worker Situation...............................................................................................................................7 1.6 Cultural Profile..............................................................................................................................................7 1.7 District Forest Resources...............................................................................................................................9 Chapter TWO 12 2.0 The Block of Phiringia.................................................................................................................................12 2.1 Demographic Situation ...............................................................................................................................14 2.2 Rural Housing .............................................................................................................................................17 2.2.1 House Type in the Block .................................................................................................................21 2.2.2 Housing Condition (Houseless) by Social Category ................................................................22 2.2.3 Housing Condition (Kutcha House) by Social Category...........................................................23 2.2.4 Housing Condition (Semipucca House) by Social Category .....................................................24 2.3 Energy / Power ...............................................................................................................................24 2.4 Water Resources.............................................................................................................................28 2.5 Household Sanitary Facilities...........................................................................................................29 Chapter THREE 31 3.0 Education in Phiringia Block............................................................................................................31 3.1 Institutional Structure of Public Education.........................................................................................32 3.2 Access to Public Education ..............................................................................................................33 3.3 State of Educational Infrastructure....................................................................................................34 3.4 System Performance .......................................................................................................................35 3.5 Availability of School Amenities ......................................................................................................36 3.6 Adult Literacy Status ......................................................................................................................37 3.7 Literacy Status by Social Group........................................................................................................38 3.8 Status of Child Education (5-14 Years) ..............................................................................................38 3.9 Status of Children by Social Group ...................................................................................................39 3.10 Literacy