TRIBAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME 5.1 INTRODUCTION : PRIMITIVE TRIBAL GROUPS (PTG) ON THE WAY TO TRANSITION - If we look at the geographical mapping of the areas of Gujarat, the EASTERN BELT of Gujarat i.e. from Ambaji to Dangs it is predominantly inhabited by tribal. The tribal are living in all adverse conditions i.e. land is scarce, hills are more so, the upper layers of lands are washed out/ i.e. land erosion. Irrigation is very less. In Tapi district, 4718 families belong to primitive tribal groups are residing. They are not able to get two times meal. Only 3% of them have own land. And those who having land, the area is very small & non-irrigated. In such adversities it is really very difficult to be self-reliant through the income from land. So, we find rate of seasonal migration very high amongst them. People migrate to other places for getting labour work in sugarcane growing areas like sugar factory Bardoli, Palsana, Choryasi & Olpad. Unfortunately, they are exploited by themselves. So family life is disturbed, education of children is adversely affected. Parents send their children for very meager amount for child labour. Tribal are living in all adversities hence, their adjustment level & tendency is found to be very high in the tribes. As per the principle of survival of the fittest they are born as strugglers who adopt change and challenge very easily. They have accepted the crude fact and facing the realities that conditions will not change for them but, they will have to change according to the condition. Many Govt. schemes have come & gone. After a fixed period of time we have witnessed the statusquo. No scheme could provide permanent employment. People have also doubted & devaluated the importance of Govt. schemes. Gradually, people have developed a strong sense of getting benefits so long the Govt. is giving and getting it at their own convenience i.e. continuity was missing. Moreover, Govt. & other sponsoring agencies were is GIVER S POSITION & beneficiaries became passive RECIPIENTS. People & Govt. both were in a confused state & wanted a permanent solution. In the prevailing state of matters, Govt. had selected/assigned GRISERV BAIF for the formation & development of very primitive tribal groups of P.T.G. area of Tapi district. That was the period of the year 2006. In the initial stage of implementation, GRISERV (BAIF) had done a complete survey of the area. After understanding their difficulties/constraints/problems/their resources etc,. BAIF GRISERV came to the conclusion that for developing opportunities for employment of permanent nature, Dairy Farm Project was first on the priority list of the parivar. As a result, Dairy Project was started in the year 2007. It is interesting to note that in the initial phase even Govt. Departments who are linked with these families/parivar & local leaders voiced their doubts that in the past the Govt. had given 90% subsidy yet, results were quite unsatisfactory. They wondered how can GRISERV with a reduced budgetary provision of 50% subsidy & 50% loan at the rate of 6% will get success? To achieve success was not only a difficult task but seemed impossible too. These amongst workers & members of the parivar had developed the sense of disappointment & negativism. This affected 1
workers & their conviction. But for GRISERV (BAIF) workers this low motivation level was a temporary phase. The experience of many years in rural development had helped them to come out of disappointment. They continued the sincere efforts & had work & as a result, initiation was done in GHASIAMEDHA village of Songadh Taluka, in the beginning; they have started with 9 cows & families. Others were impressed & so looking at the visible success & results 21 new families came forward & joined with the institute. The main reason for this progress was continuity of contacts with BAIF workers. After allotment of cows to families continuous guidance, encouragement, solution of animal health related problems & help, care taken for bringing cattle for next lactation, insurance for compensation, provision of feed & fodder etc. developed confidence in the implementing agency & new families have started joining P.T.G. Up till now, i.e. end of March 2012, 112 villages & 2075 families are covered in 5 talukas. Beneficiaries were given 3266 dairy cows. In last 4 years, the regular visiting officers of district & state level officials are very much impressed & appreciated the project. 5.2 AGRICULTURE DIVERSIFICATION PROJECT (JEEVIKA 2) - AGRICULTURE DIVERSIFICATION PROJECT (JEEVIKA 2) is sponsored by TRIBAL & SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, GANDHINAGAR AND TRIBAL AREA SUB PLAN, MANDVI. Under Agriculture Diversification Jeevika -2 Project, 5 talukas of Surat district namely Mandvi, Umarpada, Mangrol, Mahuva, Bardoli are covered. Total 1390 families are registered from 160 villages of 5 talukas. Out of 740 families 740 Acres of land covered under Lady s finger (Okra), Bitter guard (Karela), Bottle guard, Pointed guard, Tomatoes, Brinjal vegetables. Also 5 wadis of Bananas are established. On an average Rs. 43,000/- per family per acre income is gained. In Kharif 2011-12 total income of Rs. 321.11 Lakhs is accumulated. Pointed Guard Mandap Grading of Okara Bitter Guard 2
5.2.1 THE MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT - To ensured round the year employment in the village itself to BPL Tribals certified by the Govt. 0 to 20 Score which helped to the beneficiaries of the above mentioned categories to become self-reliant. Helping BPL tribal to come up of the poverty line. To make the farmers capable of meeting the educational needs of their children & raise their standard of living & be happy. 5.3 AGRICULTURAL MECHANIZATION SERVICE PROVIDER CENTRE : Supported by Tribal Development Office, Mandvi, District Surat & D-SAG Gandhinagar with support of John Deer Private Company Ltd. For the development of tribal farmers of Gujarat, the department of tribal development, Govt. of Gujarat had started this scheme at different tribal blocks. Surat district is also included in this. As the tribal farmers of Surat district can avail the benefit of this scheme A.I.R.C. (Agriculture Implement Resource Centre) at Kadod has been started on 01-04-2011. This scheme is implemented in 8 villages of 2 talukas of Surat district. (Gam Talav Khurd, Gavachhi, Kharoli, Pipaliya, Umarkhadi Parvat, Godhda of Taluka Mandvi & Balda of Bardoli Taluka). 5.3.1 OBJECTIVES - By the use of modern agricultural implements the small & marginal farmers of tribal areas are helped in cultivation & thereby improvement in economic condition. To reduce & make easier the agricultural work load of women (Reduction in drudgery). To increase knowledge/information about agricultural implements & develop the skills of farmers in cultivation. Through people s participation helping farmers to get organize, develop, decision making power & awareness about one s responsibility towards the project i.e. developing a sense of accountability towards the project. In this project land of the tribal farmers are cultivated at subsidized rate by using various modern agricultural equipments/implements. 6 Tractors & various agricultural implements are provided by John Deer Private Ltd. Company in 2 talukas. They are as follows: 3
Sr. Name Of The Modern Agricultural No. Implements 1 M.B. Plough 2 Cultivator 3 Rotary tiller 4 Disk Razor 5 Disk Harrow 6 Teaser Blade 7 Leveler 8 Thresher 9 Seed Cum Fertilizer 10 Reaper Cutter 11 Hole Digger 12 Raap 13 Trailor 14 Paddler Technical Guidance is provided to the driver & mechanics by John Deer Company so that the distributed modern agricultural implements are utilised efficiently in the field & solve the problem of repair if any. Moreover, to help the farmers to achieve economic development the development support agency Gandhinagar is giving subsidies for cultivation by tribal farmers. Shri. Mangubhai Patel, Minster of Tribal Development, Forest & Environment Inaugrating A.I.R.C. at Kadod 4
5.3.3 IMPACT - By the use of modern implements beneficiary farmers started getting good & deep cultivation for more production. As govt. subsidy is available for cultivation expenses & time taken is reduced to a greater extent. 60 acres of non-cultivable land is transferred in to productive land by the use of modern equipments. Women drudgery in the process of cultivation is reduced. Timely & immediate action in cultivation helped to increased cultivation area. 5.3.4 THE CHANGES ARE NOTICED IN THE SOCIAL STATUS THROUGH THE PROJECT: As the income was raised, there was a noteworthy improvement in the living standard, clothing & housing. Now they are mixing with the other groups of the society are trying to be at par with other the group of the societies. Now they became partners of village milk production mandalis. Got an opportunity to become responsible member of milk production co-operative mandali. Got an opportunity to become executive members of the co-operative mandali. For getting an advance payment from co-operative mandali of the village they have established a goodwill credit & moreover, as a result they are getting household items on credit from grocery shop of the village. They have started purchasing modern amenities like motorcycle, mobile phone, electric fans, T.V. & DTH, etc.. Along with the present occupation of bamboo work & fisheries, after obtaining information & guidance for starting business of Milk sale, thereby raised their income. There was a decrease in migration due to sustainable employment. As migration rate decreased people got relief from debt & high rate of interest. As migration rate decreased the decrease in drop-out rate of school going children was found & regularity in school going children was found. Due to the SHGs women got organized & started saving in the bank & thus got acquainted with bank transaction. Confidence level & leadership quality amongst women have been developed. Families of this community are now getting enough good food throughout the year. 5
5.4 COLD-STORAGE PROJECT : With the objective of improvement in facilities for storage of raw fruits & vegetables and other value added agri. produce established, avoid exploitation and get earning at the time of market hike established COLD STORAGE, with the help of Department Of Tribal Development & Tribal Area Sub-Plan, Government of Gujarat. Initially Motivation, awareness, Group formation & technical back up is provided by the GRISERV & after three years it will be handed over to empowered local committees for operation of Cold Storage on sustainable basis. The establishment if Cold Storage is completed & function started with active participation Registered Members under the guidance of GRISERV (BAIF) at 2 places. 1) Itwada Village District Baroda Cold-Storage of 75 Metric Tons Capacity. 2) Bartad Village of Navsari District Cold-Storage of 100 Metric Tons Capacity. In this programme, co-operative societies of farmers have formed for concerned villages. Hence, GRISERV BAIF in order to ensure the efficient and smooth running of cold storages had imparted training for various aspects like, awareness Building, Organizational Skills, Managerial Skills & Record Maintenance. 6