Gaps in Watershed Programme Empowering Tribal

Women.

Abstract

In order to underline the role of watershed programmes on the poorest among the
poor, a study was undertaken in Raipur district of Chhattisgarh during 2008,the
primitive tribes from the area are selected like kamars and gonds, who are mostly
inhabited in Mainpur and Gariyaband blocks of Raipur. The tribal women normally
follow sustainable rural livelihood approaches, which comprise of five kinds of
capital assets viz. natural, social, human, and physical, financial. National
watershed programme for rainfed areas (NWDPRA) provide a unique opportunity to
improve their livelihood and living conditions as a whole. The implementation of
NWDPRA was found to be successful in protecting the eco-system and resulted in
the tangible and intangible benefits to the tribal community particularly to the tribal
women. Their increased understanding of the project objective, and enhanced
awareness to improve their were found to be quite encouraging. They have now
better understanding of utilizing natural, physical, or other resources, judiciously to
improve upon their living conditions. However, it was further observed that there
was a significant communication gap between project officials and beneficiaries
because of illiteracy and the programme of language. Lack of social mobilization
was found to be the next constraint.

The illiteracy percentage of tribal’s in the study villages where NWDPRA was
implemented was found to be higher (18.2 & 22.0%) as compared to the non
adopted villages (10.0 & 8.6%). The overall proportion of tribals who were satisfied
with the present living conditions in pre- project period was little over one-fourth
(28%) that was increased to more than double (58.0%) in the post-project period.
The percentage share of literacy was higher in males as compared to females as
both the adopted (61.6 & 50.9%) as well as non adopted villages as compared to
non-adopted villages. The percentage of respondents with annual income up to Rs.
60,000 was decreased from 26.0 to 18.0 per cent with the implementation of
watershed programme that improved their economic conditions. The watershed
development functionary succeeded in persuading the tribal children to have
secondary level of education so that they can understand the various the
government to them through various development activities.

Introduction

Rural development over the past 20 years has been marked by a gradual shift from
the intervention-based method to an approach promising rural people’s
involvement in his or her own development. Current trends suggest an increased
awareness of the human dimension, women’s role, environmental protection,
sustainability and food security. Under these holistic arrangements, the human
factor has a vital role in rural systems. Among the social groups in India, schedule
tribes have the highest percentage of the poor. . While they account for only 8% of
the total population, they comprise displaced population. Literacy rate among them
is only less than half of the general and that of rural tribal women about one-fourth.
The tribal women contribute considerably to household income through farm and
non-farm activities. To increase human dimensions in natural resource
management, information campaigns must be launched to increase awareness and
participation (Bonnal, 2004). The term "Watershed" strictly refers to the divide/
separating one drainage basin from another (Tideman, 2000)3. Watershed
management is an interactive process of integrated decision making with regard to
uses and modification of land and water within a watershed. It has social, ecological
and economic dimensions. Watershed aimed for protection of the ecosystem and
results in immediate gains for the people. In a watershed development programme,
afforestation and plantation crops play a very significant role.

Holistic approach for integrated farming system development on watershed basis in

rainfed areas is the main pursuit of the developmental activities under the National
Watershed Development Programme for Rainfed, Areas (NWDPRA). It was initiated
in the 6th plan and is continuing. Till the end of the 8th plan, about 16.5 million
hectares covering 2500 micro-watersheds were treated under NWDPRA improving
the livelihood of poor farmers.These programmes are aimed to support the resource
poor small and marginal farmers. More emphasis was given to support the schedule
caste and schedule tribe farmers particularly those below the poverty line. These
programmes were also, to some extent, successful to bring back the isolated tribal
community in the main stream of development. The watershed programmes have a
direct impact on the living conditions and economy of the tribals especially women
as most of them are engaged in agriculture and allied activities. No systematic
study has been carried out regarding the socio-economic upliftment of these people
as a result of implementation of watershed programmes. The NWDPRA has
completed its first phase of development in the Gariyaband and Mainpur blocks of
Raipur district. A need of crucial scientific assessment of the programme in the
tribal area, such assessment will be useful for extending the programme, put
corrective measures regarding shortcomings and enable management and
extension workers to devise methods and improve the planning and implementation
procedure. The impact of programme on socio-economic aspects is important from
the point of view of the efficiency and suitability of the programme.

Research Methodology

The study area was undertaken in Raipur district of Chattisgarh state during the
year 2008. The various information is gathered through allied agencies, government
departments, eminent local personalities in related subject, social workers, NGO’s
etc. An Interview Schedule was prepared based on the information provided by
these sources. A pilot survey was undertaken into the villages of selected study
area.

A sample of 50 tribal families from each village was selected to this study of the
socio-economic pattern of tribals with different level of adoption. The nature of
adoption of improved watershed technology by the families especially women was
the main focus of the study. Random Sampling method was used to collect the
samples from the people with varying income levels and occupations. The base data
regarding to socio-economic condition of the respondents were measured in terms
of the material possession, at present and before the start of the project.

The impact of NWDPRA was also assessed in terms of performance of various

parameters in the adopted villages as compared to non adopted villages in the
neighbouring areas of these blocks.

Results and Discussions

Before NWDPRA various development programmes were launched by the

government, but tribals could not get adequate benefits from such programmes.
The watershed development programme is directly connected to their day to day
activity and livelihood; therefore it seems to have impresses them much better than
earlier programmes.

Impact on living conditions

Forest areas are natural habitat of tribes in which they live and sustain their life on
different kinds of food obtained from local flora and fauna. For these people, natural
streams and spring are source of water, the prime need of living. The watershed
programme either created or facilitated numerous work opportunities to the
respondents that provoked them to undertake and participate in various income
generation activities either independently or in groups. These activities not only
increased their income but more liberty, out of this, to make expenditure and raised
their standard of living. This was resulted due to improved socio economic
conditions and purchasing power of the respondents. It was reflected by way of
improved living conditions such as housing, education, sanitation, clothing, hygiene
and increased means of entertainment etc. The improvement in living condition of
the respondents is shown in Table 1. The overall proportion of respondents who
were satisfied with the present living conditions in pre- project period was little over
one-fourth (28%) that was increased to more than double (58.0%) in the post-
project period.

Table1: Improvement in living conditions (No. of respondents: 50 families)

Age Pre-Project period Post-Project period Percent change

Group Satisfied Unsatisfied Satisfied Unsatisfied

 Years Freq. % Freq. % Freq. % Freq. % %Satisfied %Unsatisfie
d

20-40 8 16.0 26 52.0 19 38.0 15 30.0 137.5 -42.30

40-60 4 8.0 9 18.0 8 16.0 5 10.0 100.0 -44.4

> 60 2 4.0 1 2.0 2 4.0 1 2.0 00.0 00.0

Total 14 28.0 36 72.0 29 58.0 21 42.0 237.5 86.7

This amounts to change of 237.5 per cent increase in satisfied respondents. The
highest percentage (30.0%), followed by middle age group (10.0%) of 40-60 years
and the lowest satisfied respondents were in the young group (20-40 years. The
satisfaction level of tribal women increased substantially after the implementation
of watershed project.

Impact on Basic Amenities

The basic amenities include employment opportunity, marketing of agricultural

produce, availability of drinking water, availability of medicinal facilities, problems
at work place, food availability to family and access to market etc. The range of
basic amenities important in watershed management is enormous and included
environmental issues, crop and livestock production, a whole range of social and
cultural concerns, infrastructure planning and entire questions of governance and
control. The opinion of tribal women on basic amenities is shown in Table 2.

Table 2: Improvement of Basic Amenities (No. of respondents: 50 families)

Basic Amenities Pre-Project Period Post-Project Period Percent Change

Low High Low High

Freq % Freq. % Freq. % Freq. % Low High
Employment opportunity 44 88.0 6 12.0 19 38.0 31 62.0 -56.8 416.7

Marketing of Agricultural 41 82.0 8 16.0 23 46.0 27 54.0 -43.9 237.5

Produce
Availability of drinking water 41 82.0 9 18.0 27 54.0 22 44.0 -34.1 144.4

Availability of medicinal facilities 42 84.0 8 16.0 28 56.0 21 42.0 -33.3 162.5

Problems at work place 24 48.0 26 52.0 39 78.0 10 20.0 62.5 -61.5

Food availability to family 26 52.0 24 48.0 15 30.0 34 68.0 -42.3 41.6

Access to market 28 56.0 22 44.0 25 50.0 25 50.0 -10.7 13.7

In rainfed areas, the success of technical inventory often depend on location

specific physical and socio-economic conditions and requires collective action by
watershed area people and farmers pursue complex strategies for producing food
and earning their livelihoods. The situation of rural women was characterized by
overlook, low productivity, and little access to credit, land, training and the use of
rudimentary technology. Women had to increasingly make up for the family’s food
deficit by working as casual hired labour or large farms, or by starting up income
generating activities in addition to continuing their farming activities as well as
other household tasks.

Majority of the respondents (>63%), in the study area expressed the low-level and
lower proportion (12.0% to 44.0%) reported the high-level availability of some basic
amenities in pre-project period, viz. employment opportunity, marketing of
agricultural produce, availability of drinking water and medical facilities in different
watersheds. On an average the proportion of respondents about the low-availability
of these facilities varied from 82 to 89 per cent in the study area. The availability of
most of these basic amenities was improved in post-project period. The proportion
of respondents expressing low-availability of these facilities reduced considerably
(38.0% to 88.0% in watersheds) in post-project period.

Impact on Income level of Tribal families

Table.3 presents the distribution of annual income of respondents. In general the

income level of respondents was very poor before the project period. Majority of the
tribal families (76.0%) had annual income less than Rs.60000. The economic
conditions of respondents improved adequately after the project period. Majority of
the respondents (82.0%) had annual income less than Rs. 1, 00,000.

The percentage of respondents with annual income up to Rs. 60,000 was decreased
from 26.0 to 18.0 per cent with the implementation of watershed programme that
improved their economic conditions. No one in the pre project period had annual
income above Rs. 1 lakh, after the completion of project 14.0 per cent respondents
had annual income more than Rs. 1 lakh. The proportion of respondents decreased
by 8.0 per cent (up to Rs. 60,000 annual income), whereas the same percentage of
respondents increased in higher income group (> Rs. 60,000 annual income).

Table.3: Improvement in Annual Family Income (No. of Respondents:

50 families)

Watershed Annual Family Income, in thousands Rs.

<20 20-40 40-60 60-80 80-100 100-120 120-140
Pre-Project
Frequency 12 13 13 9 1 0 0
Percentage 24.0 26.0 26.0 18.0 2.0 0.0 0.0
Post-Project
Frequency 6 8 9 10 8 7 1
Percentage 12.0 16.0 18.0 20.0 16.0 14.0 2.0
Change/Improvement
Frequency -6 -5 -4 +2 +7 +7 +1
Percentage -12.0 -10.0 -8.0 +4.0 +14.0 +14.0 +2.0

Impact on personality development of female child

Mother is the first teacher of a child. Her teachings/ guidance/ encouragement,

greatly contribute the future course of action and consequent personality
development of female child. Tribal women can do this job amicably by
encouraging, creating interest and enthusiasm in female child to participate in
extracurricular activities that will contribute her in personality development and will
lead to make her good citizen of the country. This aspect was covered in the study
and is shown in Table 4.

Table 4: Improvement in Education and Extracurricular Activities of Female. (No. of Respondents:

50)

S Particulars Pre-Project Post-Project Improvement

N Frequency % Frequency % Frequency %

1 Female child education 8 16.0 14 28.0 +6 +75.0

2 Higher education 1 2.0 3 6.0 +2 +200.0

3 Sports 4 8.0 14 28.0 +10 +250.0

4 Dropout cases 30 60.0 11 22.0 -19 -63.3

5 Cultural programme 24 48.0 27 54.0 +3 +12.5

Impact on changes in social customs

Tribal not only retains their separate ethnic and cultural identity from the non-tribal
population, but each of the tribal group conserve and nurtured its distinct socio-
cultural and linguistic tradition. Kamar language is a mixture of Dravidian and Aryan
language. In some areas mixture of Chhattisgarhi, Halbi and Oriya languages has
been seen. Despite Chhattisgarhi influence they still speak “Kamari” dialect. The
tribal women also do not use elaborate dress. Generally, they wear only a ‘Lugda’,
which they tie round their waist and carry up to right shoulders across the breasts.
The ‘Lugda’ covers only up to the knees. The lower portion of legs is left uncovered.
The women do not use bodice or blouse. Both men and women generally do not
have must fascination for ornaments. It is customary for men and women to put on
metal chain or head necklaces. Besides, the women put on bracelets on their wrists.
Usually women wear wooden or brass ‘Khilwa’ in their ears. The women are
tattooed and the usual figures peacock on the shoulders, a scorpion on the back of
the hand and dots. On the arms and legs they have circular lines representing the
ornaments usually worn. Now with the advancement of civilization, the women wear
Saris, blouse and various under garments, available in the local market. The girls
started wearing skirts and blouse to attend schools. There is always difference of
opinion in tribal women in different age groups, particularly in an individual family it
is more pronounced in mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. There is always
communication gap in between the above. The daughter-in-law do not appreciate
the rigidity in the prevalent customs which her mother-in-law wanted to follow
strictly. The opinion expressed by respondents about this rigidity and flexibility in
adoption of social customs is shown in Table 5.
Table 5: Improvement in Flexibility of Social Customs (No. of
Respondents: 50 families)
Para-meters Pre-Project period Post-Project period Percent change

Rigid Flexible Rigid Flexible

Freq. % Freq. % Freq. % Freq. % Rigid Flexible

20-40 23 46.0 10 20.0 14 28.0 20 40.0 39.13 100.0

40-60 9 18.0 3 6.0 6 12.0 7 14.0 33.0 133.3

> 60 3 6.0 2 4.0 2 4.0 1 2.0 33.3 50.0

Total 35 70.0 15 30.0 22 44.0 28 56.0 105.43 283.3

Majority of the respondents (70.0%) on an average were rigidly adopting social

customs before the project period in the study area; their proportion was reduced to
44.0 per cent after the project period. This amounts to reduction in rigidity (-26%) in
adoption of social customs by the respondents in the study area. Majority of them
wanted flexibility in social customs. Similarly the proportion of respondents who
wanted flexibility in social customs reduced with the increased age of the
respondents in the study area (40% in the age group of 20-40 years, 14% in the age
group of 40-60 years and 2.0% in the age group above 60 years). This amounts to
percentage increase in flexibility in social customs in the various age groups
(100.0% in 20-40 years, 133.3% in 40-60 years and 50.0% in >60 years) after the
project period.

Gap between farmer’s view and investigator’s view

The investigator view was recoded in consultation to the well reputed elder men &
women of the villages, sarpanch and village kotwar who were well acquainted with
the socio-economic conditions of the respondents. This was carried out to check any
of the discrepancy arised on particular information supplied by the respondent still
there was unavoidable between the respondents view and investigator view.

Conclusion

India is a home for over one-fifth absolute poor. The government through various
programmes focuses on using its limited resources to develop approaches for
assisting this vulnerable group. Rural development has been marked by a gradual
shift from the intervention-based method to an approach promising rural people’s
involvement in his or her own development. Current trends suggest an increased
awareness of the human dimension, women’s role, environmental protection,
sustainability and food security. Literacy rate among them is only less than half of
the general and that of rural tribal women about one-fourth. The tribal women
contribute considerably to household income through farm and non-farm activities.
To increase human dimensions in natural resource management, information
campaigns must be launched to increase awareness and participation.
Tribal women in Chhattisgarh live in fragile eco-regions and are mostly engaged in
subsistence farming, hunting, fishing and collection of forest produce. Only few of
them are engaged in trades. Subsistence farming is in fact very toilsome and
precarious and the people are, therefore, susceptible to sufferings and food scarcity
at the time of natural calamity and crop damage. The work participation is one of
the most important indicators of the social and economic status of the women in the
society. The structure of the rural economy can greatly be improved when women
participate fully and on equal terms with the male counterparts.

The watershed programmes have a direct impact on their living conditions and
economy. A meager research is done particularly in the field of watershed on the
Socio-economic status. The NWDPRA has completed its first phase of development
in the Gariyaband and Mainpur blocks of Raipur district. There is a need of crucial
scientific assessment of the programme in the tribal area; such assessment will be
useful for extending the programme, put corrective measures regarding
shortcomings and enable management and extension workers to devise methods
and improve the planning and implementation procedure. The impact of
programme on socio-economic aspects is important from the point of view of the
efficacy and suitability of the programme. Socio economic upliftment of resource
poor farmers through employment and resource generation; particularly
empowerment of tribal women through SHG, UG, Mahila Samiti, small saving groups
and extending support for establishment of micro enterprises are some of the thrust
areas of watershed programme. Besides social awareness among women, the
programme was found to be successful in making them self reliant, economically
independent and vigilant about their rights in the society. Health consciousness,
educational awareness and access to information further add to their personality
development as a consequence of project implementation.

References

Hazra, A. 2008. Empowerment of Tribal Women through Watershed Development

Programme “ A Study of Raipur district”.Ph.D research work submitted to
Pt.Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur.

Hazra, C.R. and Singh, D.P. 1998, Efficient crop production through soil and water
conservation on watershed basis at Tejpura, Jhansi. In: Rangelands Resources and
management.