Vankar Cooperatives of the Bhal:

Empowerment of Dalits through

collective action

 Group Members:
 Akanksha Sharma, P39007
 Bhruguraj Pandya, P39015
 Dinesh, P39017
 Mukesh Asrani, P39020
 Sarvesh Tiwari, P39048
 Swapan Suthar, P39056
 Bhal region in Cambay Taluka

About the Socio-political domination of Rajput Caste

Bhal
Region-
Vankars, Sweepers and Flayers were pariahs
Background
Vankars working as farm hands
 Highly saline soils
Hostile
Geo-
climatic Erratic rains and Temperature extremes

conditions
of Bhal Coastal cyclones

region
59% Wasteland

Transition due to
tenancy act in 1956
Formation of the "Vadgam
Anusuchita Jati Samudayik
Kheti Mandali Limited"
Farm Forestry in 1979
cooperative in 1977

Timeline of 1976 1978

the 1956 1977 1979
Cooperative
Involvement of Behavioural Government provided
Science Centre (BSC) with land in 1978 to
Vankar Community in 1976 cooperative
 Two-tier structure by 1989

Progress of
the Federation was registered

Cooperative

8 Cooperative societies by 1991

 De Facto & De Jure Political Power

De facto Power De Jure Political Power

Control over natural Sarpanch & Local MLA
resources were Rajput

Unequal
De Facto Political
Commitment & distribution of Oppression &
Endogenity resources & Lack Discrimination
Problem of bargaining against SCs
De Jure Political Power power for SCs
VICIOUS
CYCLE
Poor productivity due to
Consumption & Cash needs
poor land quality & drought

Low wages &

RAJPUT MONEY LENDERS
investment on
agriculture
Short term
borrowing at
high rates

Inability to repay due to lack

of income sources Forces to work as
bonded labor
 Pre to Post-Intervention
Zilla panchayat District admin.

Block level
Taluka panchayat
functionaries

All schemes Sangh

and benefits Elected MLA’s MP’s

Village panchayat Upper Caste

Backward Caste

Schedule caste Vankar’s Cooperative

Shock
 TRIGGERING FORCES

BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE CENTRE (BSC)

STAGE II
• Group Training • Education in and
to create Social • Group Action through
create Critical
Awareness and setting-up of Cooperatives Consciousness
Cooperatives
STAGE I STAGE III

Creating Critical Consciousness through Non-Formal Education

 RULES AND NORMS

All Families as Members Exclusion of Other No Discount on Wood

Equal Shareholding Communities Purchase
Equal Say Avoid ‘Divide & Rule’ Politics Sold at Market Price

Personal Use of Resource Work & Pay Policies

Distribution of Produce
Work on Rotational basis
Prohibited Provision of Fuel Wood on
(when lack of work)
Penalty Equitable Basis
Payment on Eighth day
 Community assets valued at Rs. 3.9 Mn

1,112 out of 1613 Acres wasteland was made

Progress of productive
the Safety net for 985 dalit families
Cooperative
Employment generated Rs. 2.965 Mn (81% of total
investment)
 Saline Land become means of Production

Address issues of Caste based discrimination

Progress of
the Additional Employment generation by converting
Cooperative Fuel-Wood into Charcoal

Turnover of more than twice in 10 years

 DISENGAGEMENT PROCESS
1990 1991
WITHDRAWAL FEDERATION’S LEADERSHIP

 ~3-year process  Reducing Exploitation

 Handing over Financial & Managerial  Increasing Quality of Life
Authority to Local Organisation
(Federation) - Help Acquire Land for Housing
- Implement Housing Schemes
 Responding to New Needs according to
New Federation’s perceptions  Generation of New Ventures for the
unemployed and needy sections
 Training the Federation and its Staff to
assume responsibilities  Strengthen Existing Ventures through
new technology & products
 Assisting the Federation wherever it
lacked in competence
 CAUSES FOR SLOWDOWN
1. Mismanagement
Problems in Working Capital
Management Decline in Income Cooperatives
Generating unable to generate
(Diversified) enough Income to
Lack of Professional Expertise and Activities cover Overheads
Guidance

2. Lease not renewed for community forestry

3. Change in Ideology of BSC

a. Change in leadership

b. Change in Focus : Economic & Livelihood Aspects of Cooperatives  Mass Mobilization, Judicial Activism
Conclusion - Production Function
Leadership conflicts

Lease not renewed

Critical mass – Withdraw of BSC

P(r) Training & people
Rajput Backlash
1991

Leaders within the

community
Federation - Sangh

r
1976, Trigger - BSC intervention
 References
• Information systems management in business and development organizations (H.K Misra)

• http://www.fao.org/3/ad637e/AD637E03.htm

• https://bit.ly/2m5B6ni

Thank You