COMMUNITY ACTION BRINGS IRRIGATION WATERS TO THE FIELDS

Water for irrigation has always been a problem for the people of New Khimiyang village in Changlang District of Arunachal Pradesh. Scarcity of irrigation water compelled the community to depend on rains for agricultural purpose. Given the present trend of erratic rainfalls, the farmers were compelled to abandon their fields due to severe draughts in lean seasons. “We were not able to cultivate our field as per our needs and were wondering if ever we could overcome this grim situation”, said Nganjong Tekhil, Gaon Bura (village headman) of the village.   

This was an unavoidable challenge that the community was face with and they looked quite demoralised for the reason that they cannot cultivate as per their demand. Meanwhile, Seva Kendra Arunachal (East) SKA (E), has been working in this village since 2013 under the FARM project.   SKA (E) was aware of the problem faced by the community and was motivating them to take up the issue by themselves with the Government authorities. Team SKA (E) saw the flame of motivation being ignited in a few youths of the village and it was Reybo Rekhung, the Anchal Samiti Member (ASM), who took the lead. The ASM along with a few others tried best to motivate the people and held several rounds of meetings in the month of August 2014 on how best the problem of water scarcity could e addressed. “I feel contented about what I have done to motivate my own people”, said Mr. Reybo Rekhung.

It was just a matter of time when people started developing interest towards the cause knowing the fact that it would benefit them and also would put a permanent end to their sufferings. Reybo and his friends have made us realise the fact that if we work together for a common cause, we may bring about the change that we desire to see”, said Ms. Sengwan Tangha. The people of Khimiyang village decided that they would collectively approach the Government for a water reservoir from which the water could be channelized to the fields. Team SKA (E) was supporting the community all efforts like facilitations. “We decided that we would rather directly approach the local MLA than anyone else” said Kangsam Kinhum.  

Water reservoir

On 3^rd September 2014, a group of people led by Reybo approached the Local MLA at Miao with a formal letter requesting his attention towards the issue raise y them.  The MLA assured them that he would look into the issue. The community met the MLA again on 15^th October 2014 to their utter happiness the saw the MLA forwarding their letter to the Department of Water Resources, Government of Arunachal Pradesh. “We could not believe things happening so fast” said Ms Singhom Songkho.

The Department of Water Resources swung into action and while approving the request, sanctioned the work within a month on 17^th November 2014. “I am overwhelmed with this good news that we will have proper water supply for our agriculture from now on”, said Songlang Sungkho. 

Canal

The confident looking community of Khimiyang village did not leave it there. They met again to ensure proper and smooth functional of the reservoir and the canal so that that there no delays. The community also volunteered to contribute labour for construction. The work was finally completed on 20^th May 2014.  

Farmers of Khimiyang village are able to irrigate their fields from the canal that was a result of their collective actions.

 

 

 

Contributed by: Mintu Mosahary, Coordinator, SKA East, Arunachal Pradesh

Edited by: Prabal Sen, Caritas India, Guwahati, Assam

 

COMMUNITY REJECTS MIDDLE MAN

Northeast India is home to tea gardens & New Khamlang village in Changlang District of Arunachal Pradesh was not an exception to this. This village not only consumes tea but also grows it. Almost every household has on an average 1 to 2 acres of land exclusively for tea cultivation. The proximity of this place to the neighbouring state of Assam perhaps could have made tea a popular cultivation. “I don’t know since when but tea cultivation has been an integral component of our society and it will remain to be so forever, said Gaon Burah (village headman), a septuagenarian from the village.

New Khamlang with a population of 511 is growing tea as one its income generation activities. “We cultivate tea as it has always got demand in the market and gives us an income though not satisfying enough”, said Pondang Sangwal a farmer from New Khamlang. It has been a popular practice until the change happened that the people would usually sell their tea to the middlemen at a throw away price. The middlemen would come on regular intervals to the village and bargain the cost as per his will sighting several reasons that the innocent people would never contest. The people were selling tea hardly at Rs. 10 to 12 per kilogram. “We were compelled to sell our tea at such a rate as we thought that we did not have touch with the actual market from where we could get a better price”, said Dangrem Ngaimong.

The FARM North East partner Seva Kendra Arunachal East (SKA) while promoting agricultural activities was also motivating people to take up marketing of their products in order to earn more. SKA was aware of the middle men playing spoilsport with the small tea growers by depriving them of what they deserve. “The issue of marketing has always been a stumbling stone for us to deal with due to many reasons but we are trying hard to see to it that the people get their share of benefits by growing tea”, said Mintu Mosahary, the project Coordinator.

Team SKA put in its weight behind the community of New Khamlang village & suggested them to contact the Manager of the tea processing factory at Kharsang. The community was told that they have an option of selling their tea leaves to this factory & that they have a high probability of getting a much better price than what being offered by the middle men.



Community involved in meeting

The community started thinking on the lines suggested by Team SKA. “We sat together with our village elders and discussed thoroughly on what best could be done to help ourselves to derive maximum benefits”, said Ms. Rumba Ngaimong. They approached the Manager of the tea factory during the August 2015 & held a couple of rounds of meetings with him to share their grievances and requested him to help them.  Village elders & women represented the group that met the Manager.

Tea leaves loaded on the vehicle to sent to factory

The Manager gave them a patient hearing and asked them to strike a deal with a formal contract. He asked the villagers to supply tea leaves on a daily basis to the factory during the season. “We were taken by surprise when we found the Manager coming forward to help us as we thought that it may not an easy job”, said Kumjung Hachang, Anchal Samiti member (ASM).

The community after returning to New Khamlang shared the piece of information all and requested them to cooperate fully. “When we came know about the good news that we would be selling our tea leaves to the factory our happiness was to the extreme”, said Ms. Nyasham Hachang.  The people of New Khamlang also fixed a vehicle that would carry the tea leaves on a daily basis to the factory at Kharsang.

The middle man thus became a history in New Khamlang today. The small tea growers are selling their tea leaves at a rate of Rs. 20 to 25 per kilogram to the factory. “We realised the true meaning of the famous quote that says Where there is will, there is a Way”, said a beaming Ms. Resham Ngaimong.

                                                                              

Contributed by: Mintu Mosahary, Coordinator, SKA East, Arunachal Pradesh

Edited by: Prabal Sen, Caritas India, Guwahati, Assam

COMMUNITY ACTION BRINGS BACK A DEFUNCT POST OFFICE TO LIFE

Boasimla is the Lower Subansiri District of Arunachal Pradesh is one of the project villages under FARM North East. This village is presumably a little ahead of others in terms of communication & transport but development is still in a very slow pace. FARM North East, however, seems to have unleashed a ray of optimism among the people of this village by motivating them to utilise their own potential & do what is best for them. “We saw the power of unity in us when we worked together to ban the popular soft drink in our area”, said Ms. D. Renia.

Since last 3 years the post office of Boasimla was almost non-existent. The makeshift building was completely damaged & there were no officials attending to the much needed essential service that is otherwise enjoyed by citizens in almost every corner of the country. “I as an educated unemployed youth need to apply for various jobs & for that  to send filled up job application forms via post but I was unable to do so & I had to travel 47 Kms to Ziro by spending my own pocket money of Rupees 400/-”, said a disappointed youth Rakhe Rakesh.

 

The nearest post office was at Ziro, the District headquarters of Lower Subansiri. Even students were at the receiving end as they had to travel to Ziro to apply for higher studies. Moreover, the community in Boasimla were deprived of taking benefits of various saving schemes of post office. “I hear that one can make savings in the post office, even I wanted to save but I have dropped the idea as I cannot be travelling to Ziro every month”, said Ms. Guchi Atick.  

The newly established Post Office at Boasimla

The project team of Itanagar Diocesan Empowerment Association (IDEA) was made aware of the issue of post office while they were interacting with the community during one of their routine visits. “We were busy implementing out project activities & it was during the month of January 2015 that we came to know about the problem”, said Ms. Boni Anima, member, Team IDEA. The people of boasimla shared their grievances with IDEA & pointed out that they are serious to do something about it. “We told IDEA friends that the issue of a regular post office have been a long standing demand of the people & that they must show us the way to fulfil our demand”, said Godak Taram.



Day to day activity in the post office

“How long would we go on discussing about this problem?”, said Choki Punung.  The Farmers’ Club (FC) decided after rounds of meeting & consultations with Team IDEA that they would approach the authorities at Ziro to find a permanent solution. The farmers and the community decided to form a Village Action Team (VAT) consisting of 15 men & women together for taking up the issue with the concerned authorities during the month of February 2015. Team IDEA meanwhile was facilitating the peoples’ movement towards solving the issue. “As we did not know much, we were guided by our IDEA friends on whom to approach in Ziro for our issue to be addressed”, said Boni Dominic.

 

The VAT held met the Superintendent Officer (CSO), Post Office at Ziro & while making a written request to CSO held several rounds of meetings during the month of March 2015. “It wasn’t easy for us to travel all the way to Ziro for meeting the CSO but deep in our heart we were determined to get the job done”, said Taw Halli.





Initially, the CSO & other officials did not budge despite of several requests. But they gave in finally when they realised that it was a genuine issue. The officials were convinced that the people of Boasimla & nearby areas have been deprived of a pot office since many years and those they genuinely deserved one in their area. CSO was prompt enough to pass on official order to make the post office operational with immediate effect. The people in turn also made a noble gesture by volunteering themselves for the construction of the post office building.  

 

Boasimla, today has a fully functional post office with staffs regularly attending to peoples’ needs. “Our struggle bore results & we feel delighted about it”, said Rigio Yakio.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contributed by: Sanjit Basumatary, IDEA, Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh

Edited by: Prabal Sen, Caritas India, Guwahati