Farmer’s mall set to go pan-Gujarat now

Vijaysinh Parmar TNN/18 October
Amreli: Farmers in the state have special reason to cheer this Diwali. As their own ‘khedut (farmer’s) mall’ in Amreli district has proved a hit, it will now expand across the state after the festival. Amreli district farmers initiated the experiment in June 2009 and it’s being run by Sudarshan Vishva Krushi Kendra. Within three months, the members have crossed over 7,000 in this district alone. “This message about low-cost items spread across the region like wild fire and the tremendous response prompted us to expand all over Gujarat after Diwali. The company now targets 1 lakh farmer members this year,” said Praful Senjalia, president of the committee that runs the unique mall. The mall is his brainchild. The aim is to decrease the cost of agricultural inputs to farmers and connect farmers across the globe. The experiment suggests that farmers can purchase inputs at prices that are 30 per cent lower. Farmers can procure all their needs including equipment like axes and engines, and pesticides. According to Arvind Mesia, one of the founder-members of the kendra, “We reported Rs 1.18 crore sales within three months from this mall. The highest sales have been of pesticides.’’ To take advantage of this facility, farmers need to be members. They have to pay Rs 1,500 to become lifetime members. They’re given ID cards and can purchase any item using these cards, Mesia added “This year, I purchased Rs 5,000 worth pesticides from the mall. I calculated the cost and compared it with the market price. I found that if I had purchased it from the open market, it would have cost Rs 10,000,’’ he said. Initially, only agricultural equipment was sold. But, farmers demanded that they needed to spend more on pesticides. So, the mall started stocking pesticides as well. Interestingly, if farmers purchase one item, the company takes 6 per cent commission. Out of this, 3.25 per cent profit will go towards running the mall while 2.75 per cent goes to a loyalty programme which will automatically be deposited in the accounts of members. Members are given Rs 25,000 medical claim cover for lifetime without premium. “We want to cover all the items used by farmers and sell them cheap. This will reduce incidents of farmer suicides as well. We are in talks with Tractor Company for tractor sales. If all goes well, farmers will benefit by Rs 1.1 lakh per tractor,” explains Senjalia. Farmer’s malls make middlemen redundant. “By saving on agent’s commission, the benefit can be passed on to farmers. In pesticides, farmers get about 60 per cent margin. Farmers will not be exploited,” said former finance minister Sanat Mehta. The mall will be integrated with Maha Gujarat Agri Cotton Producers’ Private Ltd. It will be the technical wing of the company, he added.

Salt seller gives villagers RTI power

Vijaysinh Parmar/TNN/Mota Barman (Amreli): While activists were celebrating the fourth anniversary of Right to Information (RTI) Act on Monday, Gabharu Parmar was going from village to village with his seven donkeys, selling sacks of salt. But he understands the power of RTI better than most. This illiterate 44-yearold from Mota Barman village in Amreli has used the Act to bring dignity not only in his life but also to others in the region. Since 2006, he has been at the centre of at least 30 RTI applications. Until RTI was enacted, Parmar was looked down upon because of his lower caste and poverty.“Today I don’t feel like a lesser human, but like a Shaktimaan,” says the gutsy villager. In 2006, some villagers belonging to a higher caste constructed four shops just outside his house, making it difficult for him to enter his house. “They were politically connected and thought I would not be able to do anything. But, for me it was a matter of dignity,” he says. He came to know about RTI and filed an application. The reply showed that the shops had encroached on government land and were demolished within days. “The demolition sent out a strong message. It showed how a simple man like me can fight for justice against powerful people,” says Parmar who has now become an RTI crusader in the taluka. Many educated people come to him for guidance before filing RTI applications. “Two years ago, the government sanctioned funds to repair a check dam in our village, but nothing happened. Precious rainwater kept flowing into the sea. I used RTI to get it repaired. Now, the check dam is full,” says Parmar. In another case, he found out that a man in his village was doing four jobs in a government department. He asked for details under RTI. The man had to quit three jobs, opening the doors for three unemployed youths.

Laid-off dairy workers get their dues

Vijaysinh Parmar/TNN/2 September 2009:KHAMBHA: For Jagatsinh Rathod and three others in Khambha village of Amreli district, Right to Information (RTI) Act played an important role in their getting justice.
Rathod and the other three were part-time workers of Chalala Dairy, which was run by Gujarat Dairy Development Corporation Ltd, Government of Gujarat, at that time. "We were laid off by the management in 2002. We approached Amreli Labour Court for recovery of money we were entitled to from the Dairy. The order came in our favour in September 2008," relates Rathod. Subsequently, the court issued four revenue recovery certificates under the Revenue Recovery Act, 1890. Another clause ordered district collector to recover the amount from MD of Gujarat Dairy Development Corporation Ltd and Chalala Dairy. "After this verdict, we approached the mamlatdar's office in Dhari to find out the progress in the case. We wrote applications to officials and personally visited them. But, we didn't get a satisfactory response. Then, we filled an RTI application to know exact progress of the court's order in the first week of March 2009. Within two weeks, we received all our entitlements in our bank accounts. It was unbelievable," says Rathod.
The three other workers were Pratap Solanki, Yunus Bareval and Ramku Khuman. The four workers recovered Rs 32,525 each. "RTI Act worked wonders. It empowered a common citizen like me to exercise my rights,'' he added.

Thanks to RTI, he was compensated for dead cow

Vijaysinh Parmar TNN/1 September/Khambha(Amreli): Invoking the Right To Information (RTI) Act has helped this 53-year-old retired truck driver, not only to bear fruits of four years of struggle, but also to fight for rightful entitlement of money as a below poverty line (BPL) citizen. Nagji Parmar, a resident of Khambha village in Amreli district, today proudly tells his story and inspires many to do the same. Four years ago, his cow, the only means of his livelihood, fell pray to a lion attack. “In December, 2004, a lion killed my cow in Khambha. After the incident, I wrote many applications to officials concerned but in vain. After running from pillar to post to get compensation, I came to know about the RTI Act through Mahiti Adhikar Nagrik Mandal in Khambha. It was then that I used it and sought details for my entitlement.” Even the RTI application process was not smooth for Parmar, as initially, forest officials denied having records of such an incident. “I continued my efforts and even submitted a written application, which I sent to the forest department. Later, officials found records of my case after tallying it with my RTI application, they agreed to grant me compensation,” says Parmar. He got Rs 3,000 compensation. His confidence boosted by this success, Parmar filed another RTI application after both his daughters-in-law had to go through tubectomy operations. “The local government hospital officials were packing us off with a meagre Rs 200 for each case. But, I refused it and used RTI to know my entitlement. After the RTI, I was given Rs 610 for each case,” says Nagji Parmar. The government officials, after being given the RTI order, made excuses of not having grants earlier, Parmar added.

Wall built in Mahuva village to battle salinity ingress

Vijaysinh Parmar/TNN 29 August 2009,/DUGERI (Bhavnagar district): This is a story of sweet success. To fight salinity ingress and save their crops, villagers of the 5,000-strong coastal village of Dugeri in Mahuva taluka of Bhavnagar district have constructed a wall to prevent rainwater from flowing into the sea.
This has led to formation of a rainwater reservoir across 172 hectares which will enable farmers grow three crops a year. What's most striking is that though the work was done under the Central government's rural employment guarantee scheme, more than 200 workers were living above the poverty line. As a result of the wall, groundwater is being converted from saline to sweet. The soil wall, 300 metre in length, 20 ft in width and 6 feet in height, was built in two months. With this effort, the villagers are showing the way in water conservation and preventing environmental degradation. The sarpanch and her husband also joint the effort to encourage others to follow suit. Says sarpanch Manju Shiyal, "It was to give dignity to the work and highlight the importance of water conservation to improve agricultural productivity in the village." "Farmers in the village have not been able to get good yields due to salinity ingress. It is an old problem. Land is fertile and if sweet groundwater is available, farmers can harvest three crops a year. We used the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) effectively in this effort," says Bharat Shiyal, husband of the sarpanch. According to a gram panchayat official, this year 326 job cards were issued. "Of this, 200 cardholders are living above the poverty line and worked under NREGA just to make their farmlands fertile. This was the spirit in which villagers worked,'' he elaborates. Farmers expect this water conservation effort to benefit nearly 1,400 acres of agricultural land. "It will help recharge groundwater as soon as the whole reservoir fills with water. Currently, around 200 people need to migrate for employment. This will soon stop as sweet groundwater will trigger agricultural activity throughout the year,'' says farmer Mavji Bhaliya. Getting fresh groundwater is more important than economic returns from employment under NREGA, says villager Sukha Bambhania. Villagers plan to build more walls and do not want a single drop of fresh water to slip into the sea.

No, thanks, we do not want mining, cement plant here: Dr. Kalsaria

Vijaysinh Parmar
Mahuva( Bhavnagar district): The farmers agitations against the proposed one million metric tones cement plant and lime stone mining in villages in Mahuva taluka is getting stronger roots among the agrarian communities here. Once, the spontaneous agitation of farmers is now shaping sharply under the leadership of Dr. Kanu Kalsaria, sitting BJP MLA from Mahuva. Dr. Kalsaria, practicing general surgeon, very low profile and highly regarded person among the people in the reason irrespective of caste, religion and political out fits. In these days, he spends most of his time either in operation theatre or in farmland to understand the farmers’ problem closely.
“Government has decided to give about 268 hectors, waste lands, gauchar to proposed cement plant near Padhiyarka, Doliya and Vangar village. Also, government has given land from water body in Samadhiyala Bandhara to the proposed plant. There are other lands are principally approved by government to be given for mining lease to the proposed cement plant. The government’s move to give land to cement plant and mining will make things worst in the area and badly impact on ecological system of the coastal village. Also, we have seen that mining has caused severe salinity ingress in costal area. So, government itself built four Bandharas to prevent salinity ingress. Now this proposed cement plant and mining will destroy the actual purpose of the Bandharas in the area’’ says Dr. Kanu Kalsarai.
According to Kalsaria, due to Bandharas (Large size check dams to store sweet water) the farmers’s wells are recharged and they are getting benefits of it.
“We were waiting to complete the Bandharas so that we would be able to harvest three crops in a year. Now time has come that we are getting its result in once barren land now becoming fertile’’said Oghad Makwana of Samdhiyala village.
“Farmers, who have seen their bright future through these Bandharas came to me to seek guidance in this regard because they initiated the agitation. I traveled number of villages and met several farmers who are going to benefit from it. I calculated benefits from cement plant and agricultural growth through this Bandharas and I found that farmers’s future lie if cement plant and mining do not take place here. It is expected that more than 10,000 hectors land will be irrigated through these Bandharas. I am not against industry but it is in wrong place. So, I decided to be with farmers until desire results do not come’’ says determined Kalsaria.
Interestingly, Kalsaria, even sitting MLA from ruling BJP government has been determined to fight to save farmers livelihood and coastal villages from mining.
Taking a serious not from the agitations, government appointed a committee to study and submit its report. Meanwhile work of the proposed cement plant has been stopped.
“I know that what political out come might be from the party but I do not care as I am people’s representative. So, I will be with them whatever coast it may be’’ said Kalsaria.
According to Kalsaria, “We are waiting for recommendations of state government’s appointed committee. But in our part, if expected results do not come from it, then the movement will continue. We only want: no cement plant and mining in this area, nothing less than that’’ Kalsaria said.

They drink water declared unfit in 2004

Vijaysinh Parmar TNN
Sadla (Surendranagar district): A drinking water crisis is staring this village in the face. People are suffering from kidney stones, joint pain and water-related diseases because water is not potable here. The poor are the worst affected as they can’t afford potable water, says retired government medical officer Dr KM Patel. It costs Rs 2 for 15 litres. This year, the rainfed village will have an even tougher time. Surendranagar district has received only 39 per cent of its annual rainfall so far. According to former sarpanch Sadashiv Vyas, the laboratory report on water quality declared it ‘unfit’ for consumption way back in 2004. The level of total dissolved salts (TDS) in water was 2,300, much above the limit. With depleting groundwater, this rises. “We have brought this to the notice of the government many a time but to no avail,” he says. Gauri Patel, resident of Sadla, is suffering from kidney stones for many years. She knows it’s due to fluoride content in water but is helpless. “Where do I get potable water from? It’s not easily available and is costly. There’s a well but it can’t meet needs of the entire village,” she says. Sadla has a population of 5,000, mostly farmers and pastoral communities. According to gram panchayat officials, there are around 250 families below the poverty line. “The situation is bad this year. We are giving saline water to our animals,” says villager Parma Rabari.

Discrepancies in drip irrigation scheme

Vijaysinh Parmar TNN Moviya (Rajkot district): 14 August/Pravin Thumar, a farmer in Moviya village of Gondal taluka, was surprised to see in the documents obtained under Right to Information Act that he has been given at 50 per cent subsidised rate under a state government scheme a set of drip irrigation equipment that included filter, main pipeline, sub main pipeline and a dripper. But in contrast, what he had actually received in 2002-03 were a few pipes from the scheme’s implementing agency. “Through the RTI application filed by a farmer we came to know that we have been shown as been given lateral, main pipeline, sub pipeline and dripper. In reality we were only given some pipes. There are a number of farmers in the village who have become a victim of the fraud like me,” Thumar said. The farmers have observed many discrepancies in the documents received under the Right to Information Act. “We assume the implementing agency to have fabricated the documents in the name of farmers to avail of government subsidies. Someone has made up my signature on the paper,” he alleged. “Under the government’s drip irrigation scheme, the farmers were required to pay 50 per cent of the cost of the equipment and the rest was subsidised by the state government. However, we have not been asked to pay a single rupee till now,” Dhirubhai Daduk, also a farmer, said. “The agency had collected the signatures of the farmers on the assurance that they will be given all the materials under the scheme,” said another farmer. “Three years ago an investigation was launched into the scam. The investigators were told that the farmers operated bank accounts in People’s Bank in Rajkot which was not true. The document reveal that the government had made the subsidy payment to the beneficiaries in various accounts with State Bank of Saurashtra,” said farmer Bhimji Rank of Moviya village.“Earlier, this drip irrigation scheme of integrated agriculture development scheme was handled by district agricultural department. Now it is handled by Green Revolution Company set up by the state government,’’ officials informed. Rasik Bhalala, a trustee of the NGO, Gagandhara Education and Charitable Trust, Gondal, the implementing agency of the scheme, said “These allegations are baseless and there is no truth in them. They may have either lost the equipment due to carelessness or sold them off."

Gandhi's Porbandar bars Leprosy- affected

Vijaysinh Parmar, TNN 9 August 2009, Rajkot/Mahatma Gandhi's concern for leprosy is well-known. He nursed lepers in his Wardha ashram and inspired the likes of Baba Amte to carry the work forward.
But in Porbandar, his birth place, officials have issued an order that persons with leprosy and other communicable diseases should stay away from the town for five days during its Janmashtami festivities in mid-August. A notification (dated 4/8/09) issued by additional district magistrate MH Joshi bans entry of victims of "leprosy-type diseases" within the periphery of eight km of Porbandar town between August 13 to 17. The Porbandar municipality organises a five-day Janmashtami fair every year at Chaupati grounds in the town, which is attended by about two lakh people coming down from neighbouring areas. The notification also suggests a slew of precautionary measures to be taken to check spread of any epidemic in the wake of swine flu scare. "The objective is not to offend anybody but to prevent spread of infectious diseases in public where a large number of people assemble. We have become more vigilant after the swine flu scare,'' said a senior official in Porbandar collectorate. However, Gandhians say the move stinks. "Such a notification would not help anyone prevent spread of communicable disease. It will only enhance the stigma attached to leprosy patients," said Suresh Soni, who runs Sahyog Kushtha Yagna Trust. Like many Gandhians, Soni has dedicated his life to the mission of leprosy eradication and care of victims. "Instead of making people aware that leprosy can be cured, the administration is issuing such orders," said an indignant Soni.

Pied Piper for rural girl students

Vijaysinh Parmar, TNN 5 August 2009, VALBHIPUR (Bhavnagar district): This is a first for this village. Mangla Solanki living in Mafatpara area here is among four girls from the Devi Pujak community who's studying beyond primary school. She is in class X, while her sister Rambha is in class VIII. This miracle has been brought about by Ajitsinh Solanki, principal of Manas Girls School, who put in special efforts to draw and retain girl students. Solanki, 56, has been a change agent through his innovative methods to ensure 100 per cent enrolment. He was honoured Best teacher' by the President in 2000. His experiences were even documented by Prof Vijay Sherry Chand of Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A) in a project called Teachers as Transformers: Innovations in Primary Education'. Mangla and Rambha work as casual labourers on weekends to help their family make ends meet. But, they're determined to continue their studies. Says their father Bupat Solanki, "It's Ajit saheb who encouraged my daughters a lot. Without his support, they would not have done what they have." "I want to bring about change among marginalized sections through education," says Solanki. A tragic incident prompted Solanki to establish a school in an area dominated by a socially and economically backward community. "One day, I saw an accident which killed a girl crossing the highway on her way to school. There was no school in her locality. I found out that 150 children in the six to 14 age group had never been to school," says Solanki. He started the school in a rented house with just 37 children in 1988. "People donated generously to my cause. After construction of a new school building, enrolment rose. Now, we have a separate girl's school on another campus. Today, 340 boys and 370 girls are studying in the schools," says the proud educator. Solanki's efforts inspired many other teachers to follow suit. He hired fresh PTI passed students to improve quality of education. "We give them an honorary sum of Rs 1,000. This government school has been hailed as best school in the area," he adds. He wants to work closely with the deprived community after retirement.

This sarpanch didn't succumb to bullying
Vijaysinh Parmar, TNN 3 August 2009,VANGADHRA (RAJKOT District): While the government is promoting water conservation by implementing various schemes, taluka development officer (TDO) in Jasdan taluka has ordered demolition of a check dam. On July 7, the officer ordered the Vangadhra village sarpanch to demolish the check dam within five days. He also mentioned that the village watershed development committee would not get the sanctioned amount. The reason: villager Samat Bhojia complained to the TDO that his land was submerged due to the check dam. Bhojia also went on a fast before the TDO's office. "It was our sarpanch who approached the higher authorities and fought effectively to save the check dam. What would have happened if he had surrendered to bullying by government officials," asks a villager. The TDO SY Gosawi says higher authorities had visited the village and would decide on the matter. Says sarpanch and RTI crusader Hanu Derwaliya, "The TDO didn't even visit the site to check the ground reality before ordering the demolition. How can a person own land in a river? I have filed an RTI application regarding this to find out the truth. If I go on fast to demolish government property would they allow it?" According to him, the check dam on Goma river was repaired before the monsoon under the government's watershed development programme. In this scheme, 10 per cent amount is given by beneficiaries in the village as community contribution and 90 per cent shelled out by government. Even if there's no rain, villagers don't face problems as the check dam recharges wells, says farmer and panchayat member Chandu Patel. Chips in another farmer Bhupat Gherajia, "We will be able to harvest two crops easily this year because of the dam." The coordinator of district watershed development programme BM Rabari visited the village after the row. "I've seen the full check dam and how farmers are benefiting from it. Also, the man who complained is an encroacher. So, there's no issue of demolition," he says.

Foreigner on 1,000-km padyatra

Vijaysinh Parmar/TNN/28 July 2009/RAJKOT: This will be a walk like no other. Jeff Knaebel, 70, former US citizen, is going to embark on a 1,000-km ‘Gandhi Swaraj Padyatra’ from Jaipur to spread Mahatma Gandhi's message of gram swaraj and self-reliance in villages.The walk is likely to begin around August 15 and the route is being finalized. Knaebel came to India permanently in 1995 to live a peaceful life the Gandhian way. He is currently staying with Rajkot businessman Velji Desai.During the padyatra, he will traverse Rajasthan, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. Knaebel feels Gujarat, being the land of Gandhi, is already aware of his beliefs. "I want to walk in rural India to spread Gandhi's idea of gram swaraj, organic farming and make people realize the fallout of the western development model," he says.Born in 1939 in California, he studied to become an engineer and spent four years in the US Navy in Vietnam. "I served as a commander near Da Nang and Chu Lai. After that, I worked in a mining business for nearly 22 years in US and Canada. I realized that nature and mankind were being destroyed by the system and decided to leave my native country and come to India," says the idealistic Knaebel.Interestingly, he is now a stateless person. On June 19, 2009 he destroyed his US passport at Gandhi samadhi at Rajghat in New Delhi. Police didn't arrest him, instead they allowed him to roam freely in the country."I chose Gandhi samadhi because it's a symbol of nonviolent resistance to corrupt and violent governments. The way out of this mess is the way of Mahatma Gandhi," says Knaebel.The ardent Gandhian has donated all his savings to organizations working for the underprivileged. He has assisted in school and library construction, village waterworks, farming technology projects, book distribution and adult literacy programmes. His book Experiments in moral sovereignty: Notes of an American Exile'' was published in 2006.Knaebel says his mission is to reclaim the human birthright to self-ownership and right to respect the lives of others. "For me, the great challenge has been to learn to direct anger at senseless destruction and killing into proactive work grounded in compassion. It has been difficult to understand that the problem is more of an evil system than evil people," he says.

Housing plan for salt pan workers a damp squib

Vijaysinh Parmar/TNN/22 May/RAJKOT: Namak Mazdoor Awas Yojna, the central government-sponsered scheme, floated four years ago to provide housing to hundreds of salt pan workers or agariyas, has offered little succor to them in Surendranagar district.
According to sources, the houses constructed by non-government organisations under the scheme are of poor quality. NGOs who were given contracts to build these houses have been served notices by deputy salt commissioner of Gujarat DL Meena. "We have told the NGOs concerned to make amends in their construction," said Meena. The plan that was started in 2004-05 has 90 per cent funding from the Central government while rest 10 per cent is given by the state. There are 33 houses in Zianabad, 48 in Patdi, 25 in Malvan, 70 in Degam 25 in Kidi among others in Surendranagar district. Many houses are still devoid of electricity connection, drinking water facility and road connectivity. "These kinds of houses are not going to benefit anymore to the salt workers. No one would be ready to live in these houses if they are not repaired properly," said sources. Moreover, most of these houses are yet to be allotted to those who are entitled to get it. Sourcs said that complaints about non-allotment and poor quality construction by contractors have been made by departments concerned to the higher authorities.

A big, fat harmony wedding in Gujarat.

Vijaysinh Parmar/TNN/ 29 February/BAVLA (AHMEDABAD DISTRICT): Now here is a Potelier from Maryland in USA, who is not planning to throw a lavish party to mark his 50th marriage anniversary on March 3. Instead, the NRI couple, Narendra and Nirmala Patel, who own a motel there, will be visiting their native town of Bavla to celebrate their marriage anniversary in a special way. The couple is going to splurge money on a 'samuh lagan' (mass marriage) on March 3 and residents are preparing for it as if there's no tomorrow. The function will also be a toast to harmony - couples, irrespective of caste, community or religion, will be tying the knot on the occasion.
"In the US, anniversaries are celebrated by throwing parties. We thought, instead of wasting money that way, why not put it to good use by helping those in our homeland? The idea was welcomed by our family members," says a beaming 68-year-old Patel.
The couple wants to perform 'kanyadaan' for at least 50 brides to mark their own golden jubilee.
They are thrilled that the number of couples has crossed 50, and includes eight Muslims.
Prosperous communities do organize mass marriages, but only for their own community members. The Patels are going a step further by including all castes, communities and religions, he says.
"Thakors, Rajputs, Kolis, Patels, Dalits and Muslims are all welcome to participate in the joyous occasion. We have even taken care to ensure that the customs of each community are respected. For instance, for a Muslim bride and groom, we have arranged for a Maulvi to perform the nikkah," says Patel.
All the expenses of the mass function will be borne by the Patel family. "Some of the couples are so poor that they will have to go to money lenders to foot the bill for their marriages and this will lead them into the debt spiral," adds the motel owner. His family members living in the US will be in Bavla to participate in the celebrations. And, it seems that Patel has another reason to smile.
Residents of Bavla have assured him that they will keep up the good work, and continue to organize similar mass marriages in the coming years.

Kabaddi brings girls to school

Vijaysinh Parmar, TNN 1 February 2009, BHESANA (BANASKANTHA): Kabaddi, kabaddi, kabaddi - the chant resounds on the playground of the primary school in Bhesana, a village in Gujarat's remote Banaskantha district. But hold your breath for, this isn't just any game. It is a sport that is bringing over 200 girls to school in this backward area of north Gujarat. Behind this innovative idea is 41-year-old teacher Jayesh Patel. "Around 17 years back, when I came to this village, I was shocked to see hardly any girls attended school. There were a mere 32 in a school of 200 students." Of these, only 12 to 15 girls were regular; the rest skipped school to do domestic chores, recalls Patel. He began a survey of 1,500 households and collected data on girls in the 6-14 age group. He found that the village was quite conservative and didn't encourage girls to go to school. But Patel was determined to change that. After much cajoling, the parents relented and started sending their daughters to school. Patel then had to figure out how to keep the girls motivated enough not to drop out. That's when he thought of using the lightning-fast team sport. The pressure of bookish learning might have proved too much for the girls. To his surprise, kabaddi proved to be a great draw. "It created such strong motivation that the girls became regular," says Patel, who now works as a block coordinator for 142 schools. Three students from the school went on to represent Gujarat in a national-level competition. Another point of pride for the village was Dalit, former school-dropout Sharda Parmar becoming captain of Gujarat's kabbadi team. The knock-on effect, Patel found, was that dropouts were enrolling again to become kabaddi players. Some even won competitions at block, district and state levels. "For girls who were rarely allowed to leave home, this was a huge step forward." The game has now become so popular in Bhesana that even girls engaged to be married are allowed to remove the thick silver anklet called 'kadla', which betokens their status as prospective brides, to play kabbadi. This would normally be considered sacrilege. "My parents were wary of us going out of the village alone but now, they allow us to participate in kabaddi competitions outside if teachers accompany us," says Varsha Nai, the only girl in her family to have studied to Class VII. The sport is now the reason for record change in Bhesana, which has recorded the 100% enrolment of girls. All 200 girls in the age-group 6-14, now go to school. It has also prompted villagers like Jethabhai to pray their daughters have a brighter future. "She is in Class III and I hope one day she becomes a great kabaddi player," he says

This sports teacher gives dreams to students

Vijaysinh Parmar, TNN 30 July 2009,SARA VILLAGE(Surendranagar district): This village, 60 km from Surendrangar, is now synonymous with sports. So is its one institution Sara Secondary and Higher Secondary School which has excelled in various games for the last 20 years, especially due to the untiring efforts of Hemu Sir, the sports teacher who has given his students the edge. Hemu Indrodia, now 53, has dedicated his life to prepare athletes and champions from his school and village. Students from the school have won three gold, three silver and four bronze medals at national level in different sports categories till now. As many as 50 students participated at national level games, of which 20 were girls. They took part in handball, kabaddi, kho-kho, archery, and javelin throw, volley ball and athletics. The feat is important as Sara is a semi-arid region and students who come to study at this school are from backward families. And, they are so poor that most are busy earning daily wages for the family and have little time for training. "My husband died when my daughter, Gita, was still in school and we lived in abject poverty. Gita was excellent at sports, but I did not have money to encourage her to participate in games. But, Hemubhai provided all the help to my daughter. Today, my daughter is working with the police department in Surendranagar," said Pemu Makwana of Sara. Excelling in sports help many students to get jobs in various government departments after participating in different games at various levels. According to an estimate, as many as 35 students of Hemubhai have got jobs in the Army, Border Security Force, police and as teachers. "Hemubhai has changed many lives by encouraging his students to take up sports. My mother died when I was very young and my father is mentally challenged. We often missed school as we worked as daily wagers. But, Hemubhai trained my brother, who went on to join the BSF," said Hari Morvadia. "I treat boys and girls equally and provide equal attention to both. Most of the students come from socially and economically poor backgrounds. But, many are physically strong. So, sports help them get jobs. I train them vigorously so that they can compete with their urban counterparts," said Ingrodia.

These govt offices get it all wrong in helping commoners use RTI

Vijaysinh Parmar TNN /28 July/Rajkot: It would be a nightmarish experience for those who want to seek some information from some important government establishments in Rajkot, like regional transport office, civil hospital and railway station. Even four years after the Right to Information Act (RTI) was formed, several government offices are completely passive about helping people get information under the Act. TOI visited many offices only to find that RTI seekers were facing difficulties, right from searching for the public information officer. As per RTI Act, public authority should make all the facilities available to citizens for obtaining information that includes names, designations and other particulars of PIOs. Some of the offices visited by this correspondent included regional transport office, railway station, Rajkot Civil Hospital, Rasulkhanki Janana Hospital and taluka panchayat. There was information put in public display to guide RTI applicants about PIO and nowhere was the manual of RTI Act seen. Regional transport officer. M K Bhoj was also unsure of the facilities. “I think we have put all the things in place but still, I need to check it out,” he said.

Sujata ensures education to tribals

Vijaysinh Parmar , TNN 25 March 2009, KHADKI (Valsad district): For her age, Kamu Bhoya (15) should have been taking her class X exams just now. But, this tribal girl is in class VI only. However, don't mistake her to be a repeater and dud student. She has a burning desire for education. Firstly, she was not enrolled at a proper time and even after joining Chaura village school, she did not learn anything. Finally, she got enrolled in class I in Khadki, a remote hamlet in Dharampur taluka on Gujarat-Maharashtra border, in an informal school run by a gold medalist in physics from M S University Sujata Shah, who runs Sarvoday Parivar Trust's centre at Khadki village.
. There are nearly 99 students like Kamu, which includes 45 girls, at this hostel-cum-school, who failed to get enrolled at proper age as their parents were illiterate or failed to get admission in ashramshalas (residential schools for tribals). Nestled on a hill, where phone and road connectivity is scarce, Shah has introduced an interesting concept called zero class', by which children study for a year and learn basic things. "Here, the local language is similar to Konkani, but being in Gujarat, the medium of instruction in schools is Gujarati. So, children do not get to learn to read or write at home as parents are uneducated. As a result, they face great difficulties when they go to class I in the school. Therefore, we decided to start zero class," Shah says. Shah, who taught physics in a school in Vadodara, left her job
and decided to take path less travelled. "I wanted to do something different and concrete for people who are really deprived of education," she adds. "Many children do not get enrolled even at the age of nine or 10. In our informal school, we first enrolled those who were not drop-outs, but had not gone to school ever. Many children, who even though studied in their village primary school, had to be enrolled again from class 1 as they did not learn anything there," Shah says. Presently, 100 children from class I to VI are given informal education by trained teachers appointed at this centre.

This tribal village never runs out of gas

Vijaysinh Parmar/TNN 31 March 20BHITBUDRAK: Ilesh Valvi of Bhitbudrak, a remote village in Uchchhal taluka of Tapi district, has eight family members. But, he is never worried about fuel for cooking. In fact, he gets gas supply almost free of cost. And, for this, he has only to give dung to his village's community-based biogas plant. "Daily, we give at least 35 kg dung of cows and buffaloes to biogas plant at 25 paise per kg. And, we get four hours gas supply daily from the plant. For this, we pay just Rs 150 per month. For my family, this gas supply is almost free as we get more money from giving dung to the plant," Valvi says. Presently, there are 121 household gas connections here. This was established two years ago with the help of Sumul Dairy, district panchayat and villagers by spending Rs 20 lakh. Sumul officials claim that this is India's first pressure system based community biogas plant. The plant can produce 170 cubic metre bio-gas daily. Bhitbudrak village milk co-operative manages this plant. "We collect 4 tonnes of dung daily from villagers and pay them 25 paise per kg," says secretary of the village milk co-operative Chunibhai Naik. Interestingly, there are more than 20 such families who have no gas connection, but come to sell dung to the plant as it earns money for them. "I earn at least Rs 300 a month by selling dung," says another villager Dabid Valvi. The plant has also generated employment for the villagers. The vermicompost is being made by the plant's biogas slurry for which at least five people are required to work. Till date, nearly 400 bags of vermicompost have been sold at a price of 130 per bag. "We don't need to rely on other sources of funds to manage and run this plant. We want to establish biogas-based refilling station in the village. But, this requires more capital investment with the help of government," Naik adds. Sumul Dairy chairman Manubhai Patel says, "Through this project we wanted to show how we can adopt environment-friendly technology and ensure self-reliance of villagers." 09,

Irrigation project for Tapi tribals awaits forest land acquisition

Vijaysinh Parmar/TNN 31 March 2009, SONGADH: The thirst of Saurashtra's barren land has been quenched by Narmada water, which displaced hundreds of tribal families. Ironically, now the
future of parched land of the tribals in Songadh and Mandvi talukas depends on land in Surendranagar district. The proposed 36-km Ukai-Gordha right bank link canal project was given administrative approval by government in 1997 for which Rs 44.36 crore was also sanctioned. However, the project to irrigate 9,700 hectare land in 10 villages in Songadh and 52 villages in Mandvi is yet to commence because of forest land
acquisition issue. According to sources, as the canal is to pass through forest land, central government approval is needed to acquire the forest land. Executive engineer of Weir-2 (Yojna Vibhag) Vyara BS Chaudhary wrote to Surendranagar district collector urging allotment of 52.27 hectare of compensatory land from the land bank' for afforestation, which would ensure commencement of the proposed project in tribal area. "We need to acquire 52.27 hectare of forest land in project area. We have reserved land bank in Surendranagar. Surendranagar district collector has been asked to take necessary step so that the project could commence at the earliest. The collector's response is awaited," Chaudhary said. "Mandvi and Songadh are tribal-dominated. Majority of people in these talukas have to depend on rain for agriculture. Many a time they have to migrate along with their families in search of livelihood. Irrigation facility will help them to harvest two crops a year. In most of the cases in developmental projects, the tribals are the ones who suffer. If this project is completed, the tribals will benefit from it. We plan to launch an agitation to speed up the process," said Manshing Chaudhary, convener of Ukai Jamna Kantha Naher Adivasi Adhikar Samiti.

They fought limestone mafia to save forest

Vijaysinh Parmar/TNN/Madhavpur (Porbander): They are neither conservationists nor do they know what green activism is. But they took the dangerous limestone mafia in Porbander head on to ensure that Madhavpur regains its lush green forest. They are a group of servicemen, doctors, engineers and other professionally-employed persons staying at Osho Ashram in Madhavpur who took upon themselves to conserve the fast diminishing forest, especially the rayan (khirnee, manilkara hexandra) trees that had borne the brunt of limestone mining as well severe salinity ingress. Today as one drives on the coastal highway from Porbander to Mangrol, the very sight of this forest ‘Madhuvan’ spread over 35 acres is refreshing to the eyes. “It was a matter of life and death for all of us to save the forest from the mafia. We were able to save some part of the forest that has centuries-old rayan trees,” says Govind Vekaria, an employee of State Bank of Saurashtra, living at the ashram. Nearly half of this 35-acre land belongs to the state forest department and the remaining has been purchased by some of the nature lovers in Porbander and Mangrol. “The purchased land has been donated to the ashram to maintain and conserve it as a forest by planting different species,” says Bharat Shah, who also lives at the Osho Ashram. Around six years ago, the ashram residents notice that the rayan trees were fast diminishing. So they roped in Rasik Bhatt, a botanist and retired scientist from Junagadh Agriculture University, to study its reasons. “Salinity was one of the main reason for the death of rayan trees. Moreover, there was a dense growth of gando baval (prosopis juliflora) in the area that used to consume away the nutrition from these trees,” said Bhatt. Rayan is very slow-growing tree that can survive in very harsh conditions. Of the 300 rayan trees, Madhuvan has many that are over 150 years old. “So, we recommended that the ashram give nurture these with pure water to fight salinity and give them an organic mulching,” he added. Today, gando baval has been totally eliminated and all rayan trees have been protected with a concrete wall so that water seeps in properly to its roots. People of the region are savouring the fruits of these efforts. For the first time, poor children sold Rs 50,000 worth rayan fruits collected from this forest.

Dalit Express to chug out from Nano country

Vijaysinh Parmar/TNN/Nani Devti (Sanand): Even as Nano is gearing up to roll out of Sanand, a unique ‘Dalit Express’ aimed at igniting scientific and rational thinking in young minds, is preparing to embark on a new journey against caste discrimination at this village just 7 km away from Sanand The brainchild of Dalit S h a k t i Ke n d r a (DSK), run by Navsarjan Trust that works towards Dalit human rights in the state, the unique Dalit Express will be a stationary train that will run from ‘Natjat na Junction thi Navsarjan’ (from caste discrimination to a new society). The Dalit Express, which will cost nearly Rs 2.5 crore, is expected to be ready for visitors before Nano rolls out with one compartment already ready. “There has been serious thinking within Navsarjan on doing something to bring about a revolutionary change in mindset and inculcate rational and scientific temper. That’s how the new idea of setting up a science museum and learning journey programme came up,” says Dalit rights activist and DSK director Martin Macwan, explaining that the objective was to give children a life demonstration of science and create an atmosphere that textbooks cannot. In addition to the science museum, a museum on Dalit history too will be set up to link history with the fut u re. While the train will d e m o n - s t r at e n ew types of toilets as alternative to manual scavenging, there will be a prototype of a space toilet too. The museum will also be equipped with NASA space models as well as robotics, solar and biotech technologies. The museum will also have a science bazaar offering scientific experiment equipment at reasonable rates to enable students to perform experiments at home. “We plan to start bus services to bring children from villages to the museum to ensure that science reaches the masses and is not restricted to a privileged few. For DSK students, the train will bring employment opportunities,” explains Macwan.

US-returned couple teaches tribal girls

Vijaysinh Parmar/TNN/Surat: If you happen to be in the hilly area of Dharampur in Valsad district, don’t be surprised if you hear tribal girls singing famous Pocahontas’ song, “You think I am ignorant savage and you have been to many places”, in English. US-returned couple Aparna and Pankaj Kadikar and friends set up a residential school for tribal girls three years ago. Interestingly, in this ‘kedi’ school, priority for admissions is given to those girls who are rejected by other high schools or whose parents do not want their girls to study due to socio-economic reasons. Moreover, this school’s methods of teaching are different from conventional ones. “We decided not to encourage students traditional education which students cannot relate to their lives. We want to chart a new path,” says Aparna, who is an architect and worked in US for 20 years. Her husband Pankaj worked in corporate management sector in the US. Apart from studies, girls are also taught to operate computers, nursing, agriculture, sewing and zardosi work. “We want to build a strong foundation for them so that they can become independent,” says Jayant Desai, 74, a retired English teacher from Mumbai. English is compulsory in this school. So, from next year many girls will appear in class X board exams with English as subject.

For Dholakua villagers, donating is in their blood

Vijaysinh Parmar/TNN/Dholakua (Mansa taluka): In Dholakua village, just 17 km from the state capital, Gandhinagar, a unique tradition thrives. That of giving life to others by donating blood. Every year, villagers of Dholakua start their new year with donating blood. There are more than 300 blood donors in this tiny village. On October 31, Red Cross Society, Ahmedabad, collected 85 bottles of blood from this village on the third day of Gujarati new year. “Blood donation is in our blood. Everybody in this village donates blood and they are happy that he or she is a regular blood donor. It is a matter of great honour. Even women are encouraged to donate blood. There are 30 women blood donors in this village,” says Raman Patel, a farmer-turnedbusinessman who has donated blood 103 times till date. Patel, 57, started donating blood way back in 1982 and still continues. An SSC passout, Patel has been source of inspiration for villagers as he has played a major role in organising blood donation camps in the village. His wife Kantaben and 10 other family members have also been donating blood. “Earlier, we used to go to Ahmedabad to for blood donation. But from 1985, we started organising blood donation camps in village itself as more people joined us in the movement. People from neighbouring villages have also seen us donating blood. So, now they know that there is nothing wrong in this and it has helped to erase people’s misconceptions about donation,” adds Patel. “Every time, I donate blood I feel very happy that I have done something which helps during emergencies at hospitals. Even during the agricultural season, I do not miss blood donation. In a way, we are part of saving others’ lives,” says Amrut Patel. Patel has donated blood 25 times. His two sons also donate blood. Getting inspired by the gesture of Dholakua residents, people from neighbouring villages have also joined hands. “We counsel our relatives and friends to donate blood. So, when we organise blood donation camps they come to our village,” says Iswarbhai Patel, 63. Villagers also encourage people to donate blood by giving gifts to the donor every time. Like on October 31, Iswarbhai gifted shawls to every blood donor. “Blood donation is allowed only up to the age of 60. So, I can’t donate blood anymore. But, I can surely encourage by gifting to blood donors,” adds Patel.

This teacher gives students a haircuts

Vijaysinh Parmar/TNN/Sanath (Deesa taluka): Rabindranath Tagore did it in a poem for kids now famous for its innovative approach. In faraway Deesa in north Gujarat, Bhavesh Pandya has made it to the Limca Book of World Records for penning 874 stories in Gujarati that do not have ‘jodakshar’ or compound consonant, making it simple for children learning the language. In his village Sanath, 18 km from Deesa on the banks of Banas river, the one bright spot amidst poverty is the primary school where Pandya teaches. From cutting the hair of children who cannot afford to go to a barber to taking care of picking a student as the head boy so that he learns to be responsible, Pandya has made the school a very different place of learning. He has converted the whole school campus into a learning process, using every wall, door, window and floor for educational purpose. “My first aim was to make children interested in coming to school. I created an atmosphere so that they would like to stay on even after school,’’ says Pandya. “In our school, there are no laws which hamper kids’ liberty, creativity. Children decide what they want to learn. If children say that we want to learn mathematics the whole day, we do it’’ adds Pandya. Every Saturday, Pandya gives students a haircut and clips their nails. “The nearest barber is about 20 km from the village. This would mean children would miss classes and their parents their daily wage. And, most of them can’t afford the cost of a haircut. So, I do it myself,” says Pandya.

80 years ago, she got girls to school

Vijaysinh Parmar/TNN/Ahmedabad: She played badminton and was a champion swimmer. What’s new? She did this 80 years ago, in pre-Independence India. But, that’s not just what we remember Sarla Joshi for today. In Junagadh, she single-handedly got girls enrolled in schools. And soon, there were so many girls that Ladlibibi Kanyashala fell short of classrooms. Sarla Tai, as she was fondly called, re-interpreted the story of Dronacharya and Eklavya in her own way and said the great guru should not have asked for the thumb of his shisya Eklavya, as a teacher’s duty is to give and not ask. The twist moved his grandson Abhijat Joshi to write his film ‘Eklavya: The Royal Guard’ in 2007. Joshi also wrote the script for ‘Lage Raho Munnabhai’. “She used to say a teacher should see that more Eklavyas are born. She was a true teacher,” said Joshi. Way back in 1939, Sarla Tai, one of the first few women post-graduates in the country, went from house to house, asking parents to send their daughters to school. “Your efforts in girls’ education created a revolution,” said a memento Ladlibibi Kanyashala, where she taught, gave her. Sarla Tai, who died at 93 in 2002, graduated in 1933 from Nagpur University in Marathi and Sanskrit and did her post-graduation in 1935. She joined Ladlibibi Kanyashala in Junagadh in 1936 and taught until her death. Her husband Raghunath Joshi was a professor in Bahauddin College in Junagadh. “Sarla Tai wrote a drama on the theme that girls want to learn and we should provide them the opportunity. She invited prominent people of Junagadh, including the nawab’s wife, to come and watch. The result — donations poured in instantly and a new building came up,” says Sarla Tai’s son Jayant Joshi.

Driving the science express in rural Gujarat

Vijaysinh Parmar/TNN/Chulla village (Sabarkantha): He goes where no man has been before to set up science labs. Armed with special kits and models, primary school teacher Prakash Suthar from Chulla village in Vadali taluka, Sabarkantha district, spends his weekly offs and holidays travelling to remote villages on his bike. He has been on this mission for last eight years. Many of the schools he visits are in tribal pockets. Suthar calls his journeys ‘Vignan ni Tirthyatra’ (pilgrimage of science). The aim of these ‘yatras’ is to simplify the subject and spread awareness among children in rural areas. These children have no access to science labs where they can understand in practice what they learn in textbooks. In the initial part of this drive, he wrote postcards to all village primary schools in the taluka saying if teachers were ready to spare time on Sundays or holidays, he would come to their schools and make a presentation using experimental models. “I will not even charge for travel expenses,” he said in the card. In order to make science easy, Suthar has developed many models for classes V, VI and VII. With them, children can perform more than 100 scientific experiments which cover their entire syllabus. When a teacher or student asks him for models, he makes another kit for them. “I let students experiment as they want. Even if they break a model, I don’t mind. After all, the models are not meant to be showpieces.” Teachers now ask him to establish science labs in their schools. So far he has set up 20 in the district. “My aim is to simplify teaching of science in village schools. Teachers can do this too,” he says. Earlier, if a teacher was unable to communicate science effectively, there was a chance that students would drop out. Experimental models prevent this by serving as teaching aids. Suthar has also broken the myth that science models are unaffordable. He makes them using waste material and inexpensive stuff. As a result of his efforts, students from remote villages have started taking part in state science fairs. “Prakash’s dedication is commendable. It’s because of him that our students have started participating in science fairs and have also won prizes. He was with our school for five years. Now, he is with Chulla primary school,” says Geeta Sagar, principal of Kesharganj Primary School, two km from Chulla village. Before he joined Chulla school, children from that village used to come here to study, but not any longer, she adds.

Pied piper of Modasa

Vijaysinh Parmar/TNN/Khambhisar (Modasa): If there’s one man who has done a great deal for education of girls in the state, it’s Motibhai Nayak. And, he’s done it with bhungal (musical instrument), harmonium, poetry, songs and puppetry. In this village, education was low priority, but due to his efforts Khambhisar Primary School achieved 100 per cent girls’ enrolment way back in 1980. “Khambhisar is dominated by Patels, Thakardas and Dalits. Demand for education was low when I joined as a teacher. Most of the children were engaged in farm labour and other work. I was determined to change this situation,” says Nayak. There are more than 100 women teachers of this village who have been students of Motibhai. The 61-year-old retired three years ago, but his passion drives him on. “I recollect days in the 80s when Motibhai used to come to every home in our village with his bhungal and harmonium to convince parents to send their girls to school. In my case, I would not have studied if not for him,” says Usha Patel, primary school teacher in Khambhisar village. She was the eldest daughter in the family and had to look after three brothers. Her mother didn’t want her to go to school. “He created a kind of movement for girls’ education in our village. Otherwise, at that time, parents were not even contemplating sending their daughters to school,” she adds. Currently, Motibhai performs Bhavai to spread message of ‘Kanya Kelavani’ in the region. He has written many ‘halardas’ (children’s songs) for girls to convey the message that girls should be educated. When he joined as a teacher, the condition of the school building was very poor and infrastructure minimal. That’s when he used his background in folk theatre to raise money for the school. He found out that one of the reasons for high dropout rate among girls was that there were no toilet facilities for them. “So, I decided to raise money through Bhavai to build urinals in schools,” he says.

Scrap vendor turns RTI crusader

Vijaysinh Parmar, TNN 20 July 2009,RAJKOT: Altaf Chichodara, 42, a scrap vendor in the city is known as Arjiwalo Altaf' in various government departments. Reason: Chichodara has filed over 85 applications under the RTI Act, covering a range of issues. "RTI is a weapon for common people like me. I use it for common good," said Chichodara, who propagates the use of RTI even when he is collecting scrap. Also an animal rights activist, Chichodara makes it a point to inform the police control room whenever he finds an abandoned animal or even vehicle. He, then, follows up by filing RTI applications to find out what action has been taken. "In an application regarding abandoned vehicles in the city, I was given incorrect information by the police. I took up issue with the information commissioner, who directed the then police commissioner to provide the accurate and full details," he said. After receiving answers under the RTI, he gives this information to people who are likely to benefit from it. "Three months back, I obtained information about concession in electricity bills for BPL category. There is a government scheme that those living under BPL are entitled to get electricity per unit at Rs 1.50 for 30 units. Most of these BPL families did not know about this. So, I go to people and try to educated them about such things," he said. But, alleges Chichodara, that due to his RTI mission he was recently charged by police under Sections 186 and 114 of Indian Penal Code for disturbing police work. "I fear that because I am using RTI extensively to seek information from police department they (police) might harass me," he added. Two years back, a contractor was fined Rs 27,000 for delaying work at police commissionerate.

RTI fought off hunger for these BPL families

Vijaysinh Parmar/TNN/Rajkot: The written word can’t fight pangs of hunger, but a Right to Information (RTI) application can. If some of the poorest families of Fulzar village in Jasdan taluka of Rajkot are not living a desperate hand-tomouth existence today, it is largely because one among them filed an RTI application and exposed loopholes in the Public Distribution System. Farmer Laxman Chauhan, 25, has ensured that his family, and others like him, don’t have to live a desperate hand-to-mouth existence any more by demanding to know his right under RTI. In the last few months, the families have started receiving the ration entitled to them under the Central government’s Antyodaya Anna Yojana, a specific scheme for families who are the poorest of the poor even among those living below poverty line (BPL). Chauhan filed the RTI application five months back to know the amount of ration entitled to BPL, above poverty line (APL) and Antyodaya families. He sought all details including the number of BPL, APL and Antyodaya families in his village, how much ration (wheat, rice, kerosene and sugar) was distributed in the village and how much ration should reach beneficiaries of the Antyodaya scheme. “When we received the reply under RTI, we came to know that Antyodaya card holders are entitled to 16.5 kg wheat at Rs 2 price per kg every month. Also, each Antyodaya card holder is entitled to 16 kg rice at Rs 3 per kg every month from fair price shops. But the ground reality was Antyodaya families in our village barely got five kg rice and 5 kg wheat every month. After the RTI application, everyone gets the full ration,’’ says Chauhan. “We accepted whatever was given under the scheme as we had no idea what was entitled to us. Now that we know and ask for it, we get it,” says Vallabha Sarviya, an Antyodaya card holder and casual laborer in Fulzar. “There are 318 ration card holders in our village. Of them, 12 are Antyodaya card holders, 32 BPL card holders and the rest of holders are APL. A single RTI application has given them their right on their doorstep,” says Chauhan.

Man converts place of death into cradle of life

Vijaysinh Parmar TNN /Amarapar (Rajkot district): Meet Teja Vasani, 50, landless labourer with a passion for nature. This resident of Amarapar village in Jasdan taluka, Rajkot district, has turned a crematorium into an oasis by planting 1,000 trees. Vasani owned two chhagadas which he rented out to make a living. Three years ago, when he decided to plant trees in the crematorium, he sold one for Rs 80,000 and ploughed the money into planting trees and conserving soil. “I’m a casual labourer and had no money to pursue my interest in tree plantation. Also, there was no space in my village for large-scale planting. I found a crematorium but the land was rocky. To make it suitable for cultivation I needed money. So, I sold my chhagada,’’ says Vasani. When he began his work people used to laugh at him and many villagers opposed it. People believed the land was not suitable for growing trees. Some thought he would encroach on it using tree plantation as an excuse. “But, I went ahead working almost 24X7 for two years. I’ve planted 20 different species at the site,” says the determined green activist. Often, Vasani had to sleep in a spot at night where someone had been cremated in the day. But, this didn’t scare or disgust him. “I wanted to complete my mission at any cost. I have nothing to leave behind as a legacy but these trees,” he says. Earlier, he lived with his wife in the village. Now, they have made this crematorium their home.

Check dams or health, he gets them on track

Vijaysinh Parmar TNN/ Vangdhra village(Rajkot district): For Hanubhai Derawaliya, sarpanch of Vangadhra village in Jasdan taluka, RTI is a tool to fix all ills — from getting an ill-constructed check dam repaired to having money allocated for health committees being put to proper use and making village panchayat accountable. “In 2007, the government built a check dam on Guma river here under the Sardar Patel Sahbhagi Sinchai Yojna at Rs 12 lakh. But the construction was so poor that the very first monsoon left it damaged. It was public money and villagers contributed 20 per cent to it. I sought information under RTI about details of construction materials used and the reason behind the damage. First, engineers were not willing to provide answers. But, I decided to fight for villagers’ rights. Later, the local administration was convinced. It accepted the the irregularities and spent Rs 4.80 lakh to repair the check dam,’’ says Derawaliya. “Right now, farmers on both sides of the river are getting benefits of the check dam as it has helped their well get re-charged,’’ he adds. As member of the village panchayat last year, Derawaliya was upset no meetings were called for a long time. “I approached the talati but he refused to act. So, I sought details under RTI. He was careless in responding to my application, which went to information commissioner and the talati was fined Rs 500 for not giving information,’’ says Derawaliya. He is now the village sarpanch and also works with a local NGO, Saurashtra Voluntary Action. “I came to know about money for the village health committee lying unused. According to the rules, every village-level health committee receives Rs 10,000 from the government. But in most cases, grants were not used. I sought details of money spent under this scheme,” says Derawaliya. “When we received the information, we found many norms were violated. Later, health officials decided to spend the entire grant in every every village and also streamline the system by the use of RTI. The application benefited 102 villages in Jasdan taluka,’’ he adds. “Whenever I find irregularities in any sector in my taluka, I use RTI immediately. I have found that it results in serving the larger public interest. People now come to me to learn how to use RTI,’’ says Derawaliya.

Fishermen saviour of whale sharks

Vijaysinh Parmar TNN/Rajkot: Myths about whale sharks have made them look like voracious predators. However, the fact remains that whale sharks at the Gujarat coastline are at the mercy of fishermen who in recent years have played the role of their protectors, much to the joy of wildlife lovers.
As many as 34 whale sharks were released voluntarily by the fishermen in April and May alone this year. The fishermen communities, particularly the Kharvas, released 26 whale sharks at Veraval mid-sea and another eight at Jamavada sea — these had accidentally got caught in fishing nets.
Forest officials say the numbers of release of whale sharks will see an increase this year. The fishermen intimate forest officials immediately whenever a whale shark gets caught in their nets in mid-sea. The officials then take the help of fishermen in the rescue operation, enabling the trapped whale shark to swim free again.
“Fishing has been officially stopped due to the ensuing monsoon. It will now resume in October. However, by releasing 34 whale sharks in April and May, caught off Gujarat coast, the fishermen have shown a tremendous understanding about wildlife and the need to protect the rare species,” forest officials said.
The ‘save the whale sharks campaign’ was launched four years ago by spiritual leader Morari Bapu. The campaign run by Wildlife Trust of India and International Fund for Animal Welfare with support from Tata Chemicals Ltd and Gujarat Forest Department has left a huge impact on the fishermen community, yielding good results, says KR Vaghasia, range forest officer, Veraval.
The whale shark, which migrates in winters from Africa to Gujarat coast, was placed under schedule I of Wildlife (Protection) Act in 2001.
Vaghasia said in 2005-06 there were only two instances of release of whale sharks which by 2008-09 have gone on to touch the 99 mark. “This year we expect the number to cross 120’’, he said. “All mid-sea rescue operations are conducted with local fishermen’s assistance. The fishermen, whose fishing nets need to be cut to free the trapped whale sharks are given up to Rs 25,000 as compensation,” said IM Kureshi, RFO, Jamvada Range, also in Junagadh district. However, there is strong resentment among fishermen over the compensation amount.
“We are supporting the government in its ‘save the whale sharks campaign’ by making it a Kharva community initiative out of respect to Morari Bapu. However, the government has not kept its promise on compensation,” Jitendra Kuhada, a Kharva community leader in Veraval, told TOI.
“On many occasions the compensation paid was just Rs 5,000 though the actual loss suffered by a fisherman has been quite high. There is a need to raise the amount of compensation,” he added. Forest officials too are of the opinion that the policy on compensation should be reviewed in favour of fishermen.

Special cards for Salaya to tide over water crisis

Vijaysinh Parmar/TNN/RAJKOT:The breach in Narmada canal near Malvan in Surendranagar district has paralysed the water distribution system in Saurashtra, forcing the local authorities of Salaya, a coastal town in Jamnagar district, to issue water cards to families. The town has a population of 35,000, mainly fishermen, and the water card has been issued in the last two days to avoid stampede or quarrel over drinking water among the people. "The card system is the best way for water distribution here. Salaya Nagarpalika's tankers go to various areas in the town. Water distribution is done on the basis of the family's size. Signatures of members of the respective families are taken after water allocation. This has brought down complaints over water distribution by about 60 per cent," said AB Shaikh, chief officer, Salaya Nagarpalika. Water crisis is not new to the residents of the town. Earlier, local authorities used to distribute water to ration card holders only. Sources estimated the daily requirement of water in Salaya at four lakh litres. However, the nagarpalika distributed two barrels of drinking water (450 litres water in a barrel) for a five member family for six days. For other use, residents have to make do with saline or contaminated water. The town is dependent on Sihan dam for its water requirements. However, with the onset of summer, the reservoir dries up and Narmada water is the only hope for people here. Interestingly, Salaya Nagarpalika is yet to get a water storage sump or over head tank built to store Narmada water. "We need a water tank with 20 lakh litres capacity for the town. We have written to Gujarat Municipal Finance Board and Gujarat Urban Development Mission for administrative and technical approvals respectively," sources said.

Barda Wildlife Sanctuary faces threat from mining

Vijaysinh Parmar/TNN/RAJKOT: At a time when the state government is mulling shifting lions from Gir to Barda wildlife sanctuary in Porbandar and Jamnagar, information sought under the Right to Information Act (RTI) revealed rampant mining activities in the surrounding areas. The sanctuary is spread over 192.31 sq km falling in Jamnagar and Porbandar districts. According to Wildlife Protection Act (1972), mining is not permissible in 5 km periphery of the sanctuary. An RTI application filed by Bhanu Odedara, a resident of Porbandar, has revealed how a number of mining licences have been given within the 5-km area of Barda wildlife sanctuary since 2002 till date. As per the information provided by state geological department, 21 permissions for mining around the forest area have been granted since 2002 many of which were given without a no-objection certificate (NoC) from the state forest department. There are around 38 more applications pending. Forest department officials in Barda said they have not issued any NoC to carry out mining operations near the sanctuary. Odedara said he also sought information about name of the lease holders, locations and survey numbers as well as area of the mines. He also sought to know how many mines leases were given or renewed by mines department without the NoC of the forest department and the period of the leases. Officials in the state environment and forest department said Barda is the only ecological spot in the state, where more than 650 flowering plants have been recorded. The sanctuary was also home to Asiatic lion in the past apart. Today, it houses sambar, chital and chinkara. In 1979, the reserve forest of Barda was earmarked as a sanctuary. "There is a great danger to ecology of the sanctuary and environmental degradation of the area if these mining activities are not stopped. It will affect animals, too. If the government considers Barda as the second home of Asiatic lions, it should stop mining operations immediately," said Odedara.

Beating the heat to fetch water the only option

Vijaysinh Parmar TNN/Rangpar (Wankaner): Around 40 km away from the bustle of Rajkot, hot winds start blowing from early morning. The winds only get more scorching as the day passes. Stepping on this parched land when temperatures are touching 43 degree Celsius, that too with naked feet, is unthinkable. But, Mavu Rabari braves it all. If she doesn’t, life would come to standstill. This is Rangpar, where Mavu and many other women walk three km daily to fetch drinking water. Mavu was married to a person in another village near Rangpar but she has come down to this village so that her 70-year-old mother does not have to walk miles to get water. Her brothers, like many other men in the village, have migrated to nearby farms with animals, due to water scarcity. “We have to spend fours hours daily to get drinking water. Our suffering is getting worse by the day,” she laments. With all lakes, ponds and wells drying up, villagers here have no option but to fetch water throughout the day. “We have dug up virdo (small well) on the outskirts of the village but it is not sufficient to provide water to this village of nearly 1,000 people. So, there is a scramble for even a single drop,” says villager Ratnabhai Ala. Sources say that 70 per cent of the villagers have migrated to nearby farmlands due to water crisis. And, fetching water after so much agony is not the end of their troubles. “We have to consume contaminated water, as there is no potable water source around the village. We do not give our children a bath for at least 10 days. Bathing is a luxury,” says Mani Takmaria. According to village sarpanch Rata Gogia, government will start distributing water through tankers, but it will send only just tanker daily which is not sufficient for the entire village. “We urged them to send three tankers so that quarrels can be avoided when tankers come to village,” he said.

Surendranagar milks its way to success

Vijaysinh Parmar TNN/Surendranagar: This parched region is waking up to a white revolution. Water-starved villages of Surendranagar district are scripting a success story in the dairy sector. Increased returns to farmers have resulted in an impressive growth in the number of dairy co-operative societies in the district. Sample this: From 221 in 2003-04, the number has shot up to 620 in 2008-09. Milk procurement too has grown at a handsome rate of 27 per cent as compared to previous year — 930 lakh kg as against 730 lakh kg last year. “The average per kg milk prices paid to farmers during 2008-09 has been Rs 19.09 as compared to Rs 18.17 previous year. This is a growth of 5 per cent,” said Dhiraj Chaudhary, manager of Surendranagar District Co-operative Milk Producers’ Union Ltd, a member of Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF). One of the fastest growing dairies of the federation, Surendranagar dairy plans to start packaging Amul milk in near future. Milk procurement has touched 2.55 lakh litres per day (LLPD) as against 1.99 LLPD last year. The peak procurement has been 3.58 LLPD, said Chaudhary. There are 10 talukas in the district with 620 milk co-operative societies and 94,771 members. Many of these villages are traditionally associated with animal husbandry. But, good prices offered by dairy co-operatives are luring them. “We have taken various initiatives to encourage farmers. We are planning to award highest producers at taluka level,’’ said Chaudhary.

These Saurashtra farmers sow Jowar to feed birds

Vijaysinh Parmar TNN\ Rajkot: People feeding birds with generous quantities of bajra and jowar is a common sight, in cities too. But, farmers in Jamnagar district are a tad more charitable. In a unique initiative, farmers in villages of Jodia taluka are sowing jowar specially for birds. Two lanes of jowar are being sowed and the crop is meant only to feed birds. Called Bhagwan no Bhag (God’s share) in local parlance, this move stemmed out realisation that the birds were going hungry after farmers stopped sowing bajra and jowar and shifted to cash crops. Raju Bala, a farmer in Tarana village, said, “For many years, we have stopped cultivating jowar, bajra and other crops and diverted to cash crops. This was staple food of the birds. But now I have decided to cultivate at least two lanes of jowar for the birds.” Bala is one of those farmers who is inspiring his community too to adopt this noble idea in order to save the birds and the environment. Interestingly, VD Bala, a forester at Hingolgadh sanctuary and members of his Navarang Nature Club, have been going from one village to another since a year with the message — ‘Ram ki Chidia, Ram ka Khet’ (Birds and fields both are due to grace of Lord Ram) in the region. “Besides shifting to cash crops, there was a tradition in agrarian community to keep aside some parts of their crops for birds and other animals. But this is on a decline now. We want to revive this tradition,” he said. Bala said, “Wherever we go we receive a good response from the villagers. Farmers have also been urged to make a small pit filled with water in their farm for birds. “We expect that by this monsoon, more than 10,000 farmers in Saurashtra will join this drive by cultivating one or two lanes of jowar and bajra for birds,”

Mother’s pyre inspired him to embark on green drive

Vijaysinh Parmar TNN\Rajkot: One would surely not expect a crematorium to be an inspiring place. That too for someone lighting his mother’s pyre. But, while cremating his mother three years ago, Manoj Boricha, a small-time businessman in the city, was pained thinking about the sheer number of trees that are chopped down for a person’s final rites. Since that day, he embarked on an endless ‘green drive’. A resident of Thorala area, Boricha has made it a mission to plant at least 50 different trees at various locations in the city every year. These days, too, he is finalising a proper place for planting 50 trees before monsoon sets in. “I have identified a space at ‘Smashan Gruh’ (crematorium) in Thorala, where tree plantation is required and is safe’’ Boricha says. Boricha, who has planted over 300 trees, mostly fruit-bearing, near Aji dam and Kalipar, has decided to take care of all the saplings till they are fully grown. “Everybody must plant at least five trees in his life. So that when someone dies, they don’t need to chop down precious trees for their pyres,’’ Boricha adds. “Only plantation is not enough. We have to see whether they are growing properly or not. I arranged vermicompost and water for the plantations. I am happy that out of 300 trees, 250 survived,” Boricha says. Interestingly, his noble initiative has inspired many friends, who have joined him in this drive. “Many people have joined me in this and they help me in whatever I require for this cause. My motto is Rajkot city should become ‘Green City,” he adds.