|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
May their tribe
increase Land, Community and
Governance This volume is the result of a research project of Seva Mandir, a voluntary organisation working in southern Rajasthan (Udaipur district) since 1960s, motivating villagers to demand that the state be more responsive to their needs. It has succeeded in establishing models of development that could be replicated on a large scale by the state. It has also successfully identified social processes that can impact poverty, illiteracy and unemployment. The work of’ Seva Mandir "as Andre Beteille rightly comments", is based on the view that social regeneration cannot be successfully achieved without social commitment or paying patient, sustained and careful attention to the social reality. The final responsibility for development lies with the state; civil society groups are there to catalyse it. The word "land" in the title is significant because nearly 70 per cent of the people in southern Rajasthan are poor and dependent upon land and other natural resources for their livelihood; almost three-fourths of this land is with the state and other statutory bodies like panchayats, which is why the local people have failed to successfully campaign for an optimum use of these resources. In the chapter, Profile of the Region (the district of Udaipur), the author says that two communities—the Bhils and the Rajputs—dominate the landscape in Mewar with other castes and communities in a supporting role. Tod’s narrative describes the Bhils as "wild thieving hordes". They were brought in by the Rajputs from the adjoining areas to serve, cultivate and guard, but were eventually pushed to the hills. A number of changes took place during the course of centuries that followed, and new power structures and ownership (of land) rights governing life and social status evolved. At the time of Independence, there was a well-defined system for managing arable land, but common and public lands were not so well governed. Independence brought with it significant changes: the exit of the old feudal system, the arrival of the Forest Department with its revenue mindset and land settlement that created new boundaries and problems. State lands were increasingly encroached upon, causing conflicts among villages as well as between government functionaries and villages. Forests are the lifeline of the villagers, particularly of the tribesmen, for fuel, fodder, food, medicinal herbs and numerous other goods. The author rightly observes that the forests provided them with their gods and identity. Unfortunately, after Independence, depletion set in. The author asks everyone: "Why is it that forests that survived several centuries of profligacy by kings did not survive for even a few decades in the era of people’s power and under the care of a custodial forest department? Empowered participation of local communities could provide a way forward." That is what Seva Mandir has striven to do, though in a limited sphere. The book gives us a description of five villages in the Udaipur district—Viyal, Suali, Nayakheda, Kojan ka Guda and Badlipada—their background, history, problems, complexities, local leadership, their conflicting egos, traditions, innovations and the intervention of elected panchayats, the Forest Department declaring many areas as protected, thus restricting the access of villagers to the surrounding lands. The dedicated workers of Seva Mandir with their patience and perseverance were able to serve the inhabitants of these villages and make their lives better. They organised village Forest Protection Committees (FPC) and financed the development of degraded forest lands on their behalf. Later Seva Mandir created a network of these FPCs in 1997, which was named Van Utthan Sangh. This network has done a laudable work in solving most of the problems of the village communities. The author concludes by
saying that while the state has an important role to play in
adjudicating land disputes, civil society activists also need to help
the peasant community to arrive at arrangements that are not only fair
but also upheld in practice by the people themselves. We need many more
Seva Mandirs in our country. |
