Toiling for common good
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First comes the doubt. Then, the awareness. Next, the participation. And finally, the achievement. This is not some textbook theory that can be applied to any situation, which calls for the development of a project.
Yet, it works like one with unfailing regularity when it comes to community betterment, especially where collective participation from members of a village is called for. Take the example of Kedarvadgaon in the Nanded district of Maharashtra. When Watershed Organisation Trust (WOTR), an Ahmednagar-based NGO specialising in the area of watershed development, first approached the people of Kedarvadgaon to help them set up watershed projects, the resistance they met with was immense. “There was a lot of skepticism and everyone got riled about the fact that there would have to be voluntary labour (‘shramdaan’) in order to get the project going. This was especially true of the landless who assumed that they had nothing to gain from watershed because the ultimate availability of water would help only the farmers. It took a lot of patience and time to make them understand that watershed would also solve the problem of drinking water shortage and eventually create possibilities of entrepreneurship,” says Dr Marcella D’Souza, executive director, WOTR. Explaining the concept of ‘shramdaan’ and how it works in society at various levels, Crispino Lobo, the former director of WOTR, points out how people will come together willingly enough for a spiritual cause as in the building of a temple but not for building bunds or digging trenches to help mitigate a critical issue like water availability. There will always be the question, “how will ‘shramdaan’ benefit me?” This, despite the fact that ‘shramdaan’ is not a new idea but has been prevalent for ages. And as Sandeep Jadhav, a WOTR member, explains, “the initial reaction to any such project that invites ‘shramdaan’ is that there must be some vested interest either on the part of the NGO involved or others.” The only way to tackle such a state of mind is to make people realise the truth and fuel a desire to participate. “It’s also about market economy. When we propose a watershed project, we emphasise on a minimum of 20% contribution from the villagers. This is essential because if we were to provide the project on a platter absolutely free, so to say, then it would not be valued. Anything that is free is taken for granted,” Lobo observes. This is also linked to the fact that a project in which the villagers have no stake will also not be looked after. “Look at most of our heritage structures. We don’t care for them because they were built much before our time. It’s same with projects aimed at improving communities and making them self-sustainable. They have to feel the need for it and once it is commissioned, they have to voluntarily ensure that it will continue to yield benefits,” Lobo states. “If we specifically talk about a watershed project, ‘shramdaan’ is not just restricted to the physical part of building walls or bunds along hill slopes. Participation is also required in terms of enforcing a ban on cutting trees and preventing animals from grazing. All this requires complete unity among the villagers. Divided opinions will not work,” points out WOTR member Vijay Aware. Interestingly, ‘shramdaan’ has always found exemplary support from among women. “Men will always have many questions. Women are quicker to realise that the benefits will certainly outweigh the need for contribution of labour,” says D’Souza. The gradual spin-off from watershed development projects in Ahmednagar has been that women have formed self-help groups to help spark off a spirit of enterprise. Meanwhile, the transformation of land from that of zero production value to amazingly fertile farms has obviously brought about a remarkable change in the fortunes of the villagers. “We now have surplus produce of onions, tomatoes, sweet lime and pomegranates, so much so that we can now trade in market. This has also led to our becoming free from the clutches of moneylenders,” a farmer states. What is also significant is that the habit of ‘shramdaan’ has now become a part of the younger generation’s psyche. At one of the villages covered under the project plan, children contributed to making a playground. The seeds have been sown. |
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