COMMUNITY INITIATIVE REVIVES IRRIGATION SYSTEM IN THE VILLAGE

Subalgarh (Khampar) farmers in West Tripura District of Tripura were facing difficulties in cultivating their crops due to scarcity of water in the area. The fields being on a higher elevation & water flowing down, it was difficult to pump the water to fields for irrigation. On rare occasions one could see farmers pumping water from the source as it was a costly affair. Carrying water from the stream also cost farmers dearer as they had to pay for the labour. Pumping water or carrying it from the source was only possible during the rainy season; it was however, impossible during lean season. Government of Tripura had provided irrigation facility with water pump house in the village, but once the pumps went out of order, they were lying so since many years. Two water pump machines were out of order and even the pipes were broken. “The government appointed person in charge of the pump house is drawing salary for doing nothing” said Mr. Budhorai Debbarma, adding further that they tried endless ways to find a solution to the problem but failed miserably.

A farmers’ club (FC) was formed under FARM NE during 2013-14 by the name Yaphang FC in Subalgarh village. Jana Unnayan Smaiti Tripura (JUST) did all that was required for the FC viz; awareness & facilitation etc. This helped the farmers to explore & understand their own capabilities & also the courage to take advantage of such opportunities.

It was now for the farmers to take up these burning issues facing them. JUST ensured all support to the farmers and tried to mobilize them. The Subalgarh village farmers were looking confident as a result & it looked like they would be able to handle the issues well. 

Farmers'Club Meeting

On 19^th January 2014 our FC sat for a meeting to discuss the issue and find out a permanent solution to our problems said Suchindra Debbarma, secretary of Yaphang FC. The meeting was attended by all the office bearers & members of the FC & it was resolved that they would approach the Village Chairman to take up the matter. The very next day the FC members went to the Chairman & apprised him of the problems faced with a written petition. The farmers expressed their desire to construct a temporary reservoir by creating a bund on the stream, so that water collected can be pumped out to the fields. Secondly, they also appealed for repairing of water pump shed that went out of order. Another grievance letter to this regard was submitted to the Department of Irrigation, Government of Tripura during the month of February 2014. JUST was instrumental in facilitating the whole process for the farmers.

Water Reservoir Constructed by Farmers' Club

Results started showing when the Department of Irrigation responded soon and provided new water pump machine with additional pipes. “Our prayers were heard by the Department of Irrigation and they provided new water pump machine with additional pipes. The Department also asked us to monitor the function of the irrigation system" said Suchindra. New water pump and pipes installed in October 2014.

Meanwhile, the farmers took advantage of the existing 15 days’ MGNREGA work that was being implemented in the village. They wanted to utilize two MGNREGA days for construction of the temporary reservoir. The Chairman wasted no time in responding the request of the farmers. “We were really happy to see that the Chairman immediately approved our request and granted two days’ work under the MGNREGA scheme" said Mr. Budhorai Debbarma, present of Yaphang FC.  The community wasted no time and took up the work of building reservoir and completed on 19^th Oct. 2014. It just took two days for 90 people to construct the temporary dam.

Today, one can see the farmers irrigating their fields with the help of the water trapped in the temporary reservoir. "We did it"! Suchindra said with smiling face. Mr. Jonas Lakra, Zonal Manager, Caritas India visited the site during March 2015 and witnessed the case while appreciating the efforts of the FC. 

Contributed by: Team JUST, Agartala

Edited by: Jonas Lakra, Caritas India

COMMUNITY ACTION LEADS TO IMPROVEMENT OF LP SCHOOL FUNCTIONING

Around 78 Lower Primary (LP) school students from Digligre village, West Garo Hills District, Meghalaya were at the mercy of only one teacher who was teaching right from Nursery to standard V. It was difficult for only teacher to give away education to the children. The teachers seemed to be rather enjoying the situation and became very irregular. Slowly she started coming to the school for only two hours a day.

Digligre LP School

These days even the poorest of a man wants his child to be educated & so was the case of parents from Digligre village. They were very much concerned with the poor quality of education that their children were receiving. Having been made aware by BAKDIL about how best the community can help themselves, the villagers decided to sit for a meeting during February 2015 with an agenda to discuss the issue. “We decided in the meeting that we would approach the authorities in the Department of Education to find a solution to our problem” said Ledison Sangma.

The villagers now approached the Deputy Inspector (DI) of Schools, Government of Meghalaya & shared their problem with a request to appoint more teachers and also to enhance the school timing from 7 am to 12 pm. The community submitted an application formally to the Officer. "Our written representation to the DI did not work fully as he expressed his inability to appoint any extra teacher, however he agreed to our request of enhancing the school timings" said Apendro Marak.   

Today, one can see the children attending the school from 7 am to 12 pm. Combined efforts of the community have almost brought them close to achieving results & its just the beginning for them. "Although we have achieved results by bringing about changes in the school timings but our endeavour would continue and we would work together towards bringing more teachers to the LP school, thus giving quality education our children" said Ms. Sinje Marak.  

Contributed by: Rajesh Marak, BAKDIL

Edited by: Prabal Sen, Caritas India

SCHOOL CHILDREN GO ORGANIC

Guwahati Gana Seva Sangh (GGSS), one of the partners under FARM NE came up with a noble idea of developing organic vegetable gardens in rural school campuses. This was after Caritas India suggested to all of its partners to celebrate World Environment Day way back in June 2014. GGSS, under this campaign shared its willingness to motivate children from the project villages to take up organic practices. GGSS also intended to initiate kitchen gardens in schools with an aim to target the mid day meal, where children could be fed with fresh vegetables grown by themselves. The Zonal team gave an immediate go ahead and a classic case of people’s movement started taking shape.

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Initially we approached the village elders that also included members of the school management committee, to share this idea. They immediately gave their consent said Prabin, the Coordinator of the project (FARM NE). One Lower Primary (LP) school was selected in No. 2 Oujari village for the noble programme. The village in question saw use of chemical inputs in agriculture in the past but presently, farmers here have began to practice organic agriculture after interventions made by GGSS & Caritas India. Thanks to the sensitization of the community by GGSS on the negatives of chemical based agricultural practices.

School students involved in kitchen garden activities

The idea of school kitchen garden started showing colours when school authorities in association with GGSS initiated the activity in the school campus. “It may be a small step towards protecting the environment, but visualizing the threat it poses in the future, environmental awarenes among the children is a must” said Mr. Sonakanto Das, President of School management committee, 2 No. Oujari village”. GGSS requested the community of 2 No. Oujari village to donate local seeds for the kitchen garden. It was amazing to see the response when the community not only donated seeds but also cow dung for manure.

It was the turn of the children to take the lead now. Students from standard I to V were all rearing to go for it. “We feel happy to be working in our kitchen garden as this is something new to us” said Ms. Puja Sarkar standard V of the school.  The teachers & the school management supported the movement whole heartedly along with the students. It all started during August 2014 and during December-January 2015, a variety of vegetables like cabbage, cauliflower, chilli and gourd etc were grown by the children.

The principal of the school Grinendra Bharali shared during a visit by Caritas India official in March 2015 that they have made this activity as a part of the curriculum and they award marks as per the students’ performance in the kitchen garden activity. The students, as per the teacher are so excited that they are competing each other to take part in the activity. Caritas India official while appreciating the teacher along with management committee & community of the school, requested them to encourage this kind of activity among the children so that they understand the value of organic agriculture.

An act of good deed spreads like fire and this is precisely what happened in this case. The school management committees of other 3 LP schools in Gaondimoria, Khaloibari and Lumsum Gaon villages respectively are so much inspired by the seeing the involvement of the students and the management committee that they have also started similar process in their respective schools.

The children of 2 No. Oujari village are here to & inspire the world with the message of becoming the true custodians of nature & natural resources. 

Contributed By: Prabin Minz, GGSS, Assam

Edited By: Prabal Sen, Caritas India, Guwahati