Magnificent PILLALAMARRI: Fast falling into a pitiful state?

Four kilometers from Mahbubnagar town, sprawling an area of about three acres stands the majestic old Pillalamarri – the famous 700-year-old banyan tree which is both a tourist attraction and a place of pilgrimage. 

Described once as “a large green umbrella under which at least a thousand people can easily take shelter” (The Hindu, August 13, 2003), Pillalamarri is today losing its splendour. 

“More than half of the tree has been cut down,” says Shiv Kumar G, a ticket collector at the site. “One of the main reasons for this is that the public climb the branches and cause damage.” 

Along similar lines, local shopkeeper Nandu says, “There is a lot of difference in the way the tree used to be in the past and how it is now. Ten years ago, the tree was huge and one could see its giant sprawl from far away. But now, in order to make it more comfortable for visitors, they laid cement flooring that ruined the beauty of the banyan tree”. 

The main trunk of Pillalamarri is hard to locate because the entire foliage comprises many other banyan trees which grew close together, like “children” of the original plant. This is how the place got its name – “pillalu” meane children and “marri” means banyan tree. Beneath the tree lies the tomb of a Muslim saint, and many devotees frequent the place. There is also a small zoo, an aquarium, and an archaeological museum beside the site, and during the monsoon, one can also go boating. 

“Twenty years ago, there were a lot of people visiting the place,” says Shankar, a watchman who has been working here for twenty three years. “They would consider the trip here as a mini pilgrimage and spend the whole day with family. The number of visitors has gone down in recent times,” he adds. Speaking further about the zoo he says, “There are at present only 200 animals, including deer, fox, rabbits, peacocks and others. A lot were handed over to the animal and zoo welfare department.”

Nonetheless, this historic site continues to attract large numbers of visitors, especially school children. On week days, the numbers range from 200-300, and this increases to 500-600 on weekends and holidays. 

“I know this is one of the largest banyan trees in the world but it is not as grand as I’d expected.” said Sudarshan Reddy, a first-time visitor to Pillalamarri. This sense of disappointment is shared by old-timer Vijay Nandula who has been fond of the place for many years. “What I remember of this tree as a child and what I see today are two different things. It is sad to see the beauty of the tree being lost,” he says. One can’t help but feel that the Pillalamarri remains a symbol of the transformations in its district. Hopefully the people here will find a way to rejuvenate this monumental tree, and a way to balance its welfare and development.

By Amoga Laxmi Sukka

Reported in March 2013 during my educational visit to Mehbubnagar from University of Hyderabad

Spreading Smiles, my good friends

On an official trip, i was in Nowrangpur, a maoist affected area located in the borders of Chattisgarh and Odisha. I was assigned the duty to visit one of the ten gram panchayats in Jharigaon block where the tribal girl children literacy levels was found to be around six percent.

In the assignment, i came across these three Santhalese tribal women who later became my companions or good friends talking to me in their own language and helping me to understand their culture.

Language was never a problem for us as we exchanged our views through our eyes and actions. I spent some time walking through the fields along with them and understanding their daily dose of activities.

After being addicted to 24/7 internet and daily huzz buzz of the city, being away from this schedule and spending time in a remote area like Baalujaran, without continuous power cut and good transport system was not a silly thing for me.

But these two days spent in Baalujaran was a different experience. The first time i went close to them with a camera in my hand, they were not panicked but welcomed me with a cute smile. Innocence was clearly visible and friendliness was extended without any expectations. 

I sat beside them and questioned all possible things that i want to ask and got replies which i understood to an extent. When i asked for a photo, they dint understand anything, but after showing few clicks they agreed to me.

I was not understanding how to make them sit or stand in postures or locations.. but felt that i should make the best of ambience that was offered in the location. I had to show them how to laugh for my photo so that they will laugh. After couple of sessions, they came out with hearty laugh and the result is this photo.

God always made beautiful things and we humans exploit and kill the quality. Natural beauty is something god gifted. Having seen these women without any make up or without using sunscreen to combat scorching heat or get tanned, this is something that has to be appreciated. Beautiful souls and beautiful them.

Miss those days and them.

By Amoga Laxmi Sukka

The Change Makers at GB Road

The generosity of two young Samaritans hailing from sex workers community is providing a new lease of life to the children of sex workers in Garstin Bastion Road, New Delhi, which is a major red light area in the country.   

GB road has a large and strong nexus of prostitutes, pimps and traffickers, forcing innocent and vulnerable girls and women for sex trade. Only 10 % or even less than of the total earning goes to the victim (sex workers) from which she has to manage her expenses. 

While the sex workers are into their business, their children roam on the road or stay in the dark closed rooms (that are used for keeping make up boxes or luggages) without going to school. These circumstances badly impact the access, availability and affordability of education to the children of Female Sex Workers.

“Children of sex workers are most often not taken into schools due to identity crisis, as most of them are not aware of their father. On the other side, even if registered in the school, children have to face stigma, for the reason that they belong to sex workers community”, says Raghav, an outreach worker of Pahal project, a day care center that ensures care to the children of sex workers community.

Raghav (21) and Vasim (20) (names changed) hailing from sex workers community underwent this harrowing experience in school and at work place that hampered their growth. “The school teachers after identifying children hailing from sex workers background often tease and black mail them which have impact on their self esteem. It doesn’t stop here, as the other school kids and parents do the same”, says Vasim. 

 

Born in GB road and educated till Tenth standard from ICSE syllabus, the duo did petty jobs in offices nearby GB road, but they were often bullied by their colleagues due to their background. “When the colleagues come to know about our identity, they ask us to take them to GB road for having fun. They avoid us and socially reject us in many ways thus hampering our growth”, the duo says.

It was around that time that they came to know about Pahal project,  that offers educational and vocational rehabilitation and prevents second generation girls from entering sex work, implemented by Aide et Action South Asia (NGO).  “In Pahal, there are many kids who belong to same community as us but are innocent children. Then we made our minds, to help these children get a better future, so that they don’t remain in this dark field”, Vasim adds.  They strongly feel that stigma and rejection from the society should not stop children of sex workers community from building a better future.

With the kind of interaction they have with the community of GB road, every day morning the duo visit the houses of sex workers and bring their children to Pahal center. “As we are much known to the community, the sex workers have faith and hope that drives them to send children with us”, says Raghav. 

The project has created a positive and conducive environment for the children in the age group of 0-6 years. “The children are taught poems, basic maths and english, reading books, singing and rhythmic movements which keep them active and included in the community that contributes to their physical and gross motor skill development”, says Vasim.

The children are given breakfast, lunch, evening snacks every day. Periodic health checkups are also organized for both the children and their mothers.  

Once the children attain a stage, where they can do things independently, their parents strongly feel that they must be sent to far off hostels and get a good future. “Many children in Pahal after attaining six years are sent to government school hostels and join formal education system as other kids”, says Raghav. The fee is paid by the single mother and most of the times, the children is never told about his/her background and remain anonymous, he adds.

                                                                                                

                                                         

                                                     By Amoga Laxmi Sukka

The story was featured in ACJ ENGAGE, application, a joint initiative of Asian College of Journalism,  Chennai and UNICEF.

The story was published in One World South Asia, that works in the field of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for sustainable development and human rights. The OneWorld network disseminates relevant and topical information to audiences worldwide on development issues, makes technology work for the people at the grassroots and conducts research on best practices in governance.

Back to School, Once again!

For the past three years, there has been a major transformation among tribal community of Jharigaon block, Nabaranpur, Odisha. The girl child enrollment is increasing and slowly school drop outs are coming back to schools. 

Bhavani Majhi (14), a tribal girl child is a native of Jharigaon block, Nabarangpur, Odisha. She is the eldest among three girl children in the family, studying in Sixth class. However, her younger sister Uvaasi Majhi (13), is a Ninth standard student in the same school.

Bhavani Majhi

The stark educational difference between these siblings is attributed to the fact that the elder child of the family was involved in sibling care and household chores in the house. Khem Singh Majhi (35), father of Bhavani says, “We are daily wage laborers without any land or regular income and depend on petty works to get our three meals a day. Having three children in the home, we felt Bhavani can take responsibility of her sisters and help in household chores when we leave to work”. 

Sibling care by young children at Nabarangpur, Odisha

Khem Singh Majhi, father of Bhavani

Sibling care and household chores are the primary roles for tribal girl children living in Nabarangpur district, Odisha. It is also one of the main reasons for highest school dropout ratio at primary level education. 

The literacy rate for tribal girl children is around 6% in 10 Gram Panchayats (GPs) including Chittabeda, Gurusingha, Kutrichhappar, Banauguda, Telnadigaon, Ekamba-B, Phupugam, Palia, Chaklapadaqr, Badtemra in Jharigaon block according to Bijaya Kumar Sethi, block development officer (BDO) for A, B, D, O blocks in Jharigaon. He says, “People are more likely to involve their children in house hold chores or in skilled works that benefit them financially rather than sending them to schools”.

There is a huge gap in enrollment and retention of the students, especially of girl children due to practice of early marriage system, poor health facilities in distant villages leading to absenteeism in school during rainy season, lack of proper infrastructure in schools, poverty and high illiteracy rate among parents, according to Mr Kumar, BDO.

In many tribal communities, parents give minimal importance to girls' education due to economic and social limitations. They send them to school only intermittently or keep the girls 'sheltered' from the outside world. Most frequently, girls, apart from taking part in agricultural activities and collection of forest products are engaged in sibling care, he says.

It is only after the intervention of Aide et Action South Asia, an International NGO in association with JOCHNICK foundation for strengthening Tribal Girl Child Education in Odisha, which initiated the "Aamar Nani" project (2011) in these 10 Gram Panchayats (GPs) in Jharigaon block that major transformation has been brought about among tribal communities.

Aamar Nani project was able to improve access, assimilation and retention of the tribal girl children of communities in the primary education system with the help of various committees. Some of those include child clubs, star clubs (a program that focuses on the talents of children), animators (motivating parents to send children to school), aamar nani committees ensuring strong monitoring on the implementation of the Right to Education in the project areas, strengthening the institutional capacities of the local CBOs, PTA's, School Management Committees (SMC's) and Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRI). These committees were also encouraged to promote and monitor the educational achievements, use cultural practices like storytelling, dramatics, puppetry, folk play and work with teachers, parents and other stake holders to make schools more children friendly.

Bimala Harijan, Animator

Once the girl child attains maturity in the family, the main aim of the parents is to get her married says Bimala Harijan, one of the animators in Nabarangpur district. “We go to their homes and explain the consequences of early child marriages and the problems that they face. We counsel the parents, and inform them that, with good education, the girl child can lead a good life unlike them, who toil hard to put a meal on the table”, says Bimala. The animators conduct several competitions and group activities to motivate parents and explain to them various government services like Mid Day Meals, free books which can change the destiny of the girl child.

Rukmini Majhi, mother of Bhavani

In the case of Bhavani, the animator’s motivation helped her get re-enrolled in the school. “We felt sad when girls of Bhavani's age were going to school and more importantly, our other two children were also going school but not Bhavani. At that point of time, the animator of our village counseled us and explained the benefits of what a girl child can do with the help of education”, says Rukmini Majhi, mother of Bhavani.

Re-enrollment in a school is not easy for a child who has to undergo certain mental trauma due to the fact that there will be students younger to her/him in the class. “Initially I was scared to go back to school as there were many children younger than me in my class. I did not know whether to answer yes or no and just bowed my head to the teacher’s questions”, says Bhavani. 

Motivation by animators and school teachers with the help of Teaching Learning Materials (TLM) helped her regain her confidence. “I will become a police officer and give strict punishment to those men who harass their households after consuming alcohol”, she says, talking about her life's aim.

Bhavani's father, Khem Singh, says that as he is uneducated, he could not tell what actually his daughter is learning, but accepts that there has been lot of transformation since she joined school says. “Her talking style and grooming aspects have changed a lot”, he says.

Bhavani with her parents at her home

Awareness created by Aamar Naani project has not only bought changes in improving the literacy levels among tribal communities, but also in various other issues including sanitation, curbing alcoholism and other social activities. 

Junnu Santhali, animator interacting with women of Santhali tribes at Baalujaran, Nabarangpur, Odisha

The Aamar Nani committees consulted health department officials and organized special health camps when four villages of the block were affected with diahorrea in August 2012. They have also succeeded in organizing ‘Immunization Day’, ‘Health Day’ and ‘Annaprassana Day’ every month to bring awareness about various issues. They have organized rallies and mobilized people to meet the concerned officials that resulted in opening primary schools run in Nakshapadar, Chirumati, Jamkoot, Phuljadi and Gaibandha villages.

“In Ekamba (B) village, we requested women washing clothes near the taps to stop such activity, but they dint pay heed. Later, we strictly imposed a fine of Rs 10 for the ones denying rules, that slowly resulted in hygienic surroundings and environment”, says Chandavathi Badhra, Aamar Nani Committee member.

Gaining trust of the people is not an easy job and it requires consistent effort to understand their mindset and their notions. “Whenever we visit a home, the household lady offers us tea. We sit down on the floor along with her, have tea and wash the cup ourselves that improves our communication with people”, says Manju, animator. In men’s case, it is opposite. They sit on the cot along with the men in the family and discuss issues which make a lot of difference, she adds.

Ghinu Panaka, Field Co-ordinator  of Aamar Naani project

In Rangmati village, Ghinu Panaka, Field Co-ordinator  of Aamar Naani project
succeeded in motivating Jadhav Santha to donate a part of his house for school as there was no educational institution within the radius of five kilometers for surrounding four villages. Now, due to his generosity, around 65 children come to school every day. “If we get education, village will be educated and that changes everything”, says Jadhav.

Bijaya Kumar Sethi, Block Development Officer

 For the past three years, we have observed major transformation among tribal community. The girl child enrollment is increasing and slowly school drop outs are coming back to schools, says Mr Kumar. “Now people are directly coming and reporting their problems to BDO which is a revolutionary change”, he adds.

Despite the government initiating activities like mid day meal scheme, providing cycles to children for commuting and school dresses, people were not enticed to go to school. In this context, NGOs have a major role to motivate and strengthen education system among tribal communities emphasizes Mr Kumar.

Raj Laxmi, district tribal girls' education co-ordinator

Raj Laxmi, district tribal girls’ education co-ordinator (Right to Education- Sarva Siksha Abhiyan) says, "The government has formed School Management Committees (SMC's) to motivate parents for sending children to schools."

Under Right to Education Act (RTE), many children were enrolled back in schools. “In Nabarangpur, nearly 380 children have got enrolled into schools. Block Resource Center co-ordinators (BRCs), Cluster resource center co-ordinators (CRC), State project directors are focusing on school drop outs to bring a change”, she says.

The government has formed 11 Kasturbha Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (national scheme) for the girls who are not interested in pursuing school education. "The residential faculty present in the Vidyalayas will train them in vocational courses", says Raj Lakshmi. Timely health check-ups and counseling are given to the girl children that help them in the future, she adds.

The Aide et Action's Amaar Naani (Our Girl) project has been selected as one amongst the 18 best practices across the World by United Nations Girl's Education Initiative (UNGEI). It is the only project selected from India.

Story courtesy:  Amoga Laxmi Sukka, Chandra Kiran Katta

Six percent literacy rate among tribal girls of Nabarangpur

Sibling care and household chores are the primary roles of tribal girl children living in Nabarangpur district, Odisha. It is also one of the main reasons for highest school dropout ratio at primary level education.

The literacy rate for tribal girl children is around 6% in 10 Gram Panchayats (GPs) in Jharigaon block according to Bijaya Kumar Sethi, block development officer (BDO) for A, B, D, O blocks in Jharigaon.

The district of Nabarangpur has a relatively low literate population and holds a higher percentage of literate male as 28.10% than literate female as 9.01% as per 2011 census.
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"People are interested to involve their children in house hold chores or in skilled works that benefit them financially rather than sending them to schools”, says Kumar.

Despite, government initiating activities like mid day meal scheme, providing cycles to children for commuting and school dresses, people are not attracted, he says.

Very slowly, school drop outs are returning back to schools and at grass roots level, there has to be lot of motivational activities to increase the literacy rates among tribal communities, he adds.

Raj Laxmi, district tribal girls education co-ordinator (Right to Education- Sarva Siksha Abhiyan) says, "The government has formed School Management Committees (SMC's) to motivate parents for sending children to schools. "

The government has formed 11 Kasturbha Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (national scheme) for the girls who are not interested in pursuing school education. "The residential faculty present in the vidyalayas will train them in vocational courses that help them in future", says Raj Lakshmi. Timely health check ups and counseling are given to the girl children, she adds.

Story and Photo: Amoga

Friends Forever!

Friends Forever!

During my visit to Odisha, I came across Dambroo Santha (60), a native of Baalujaran block, Nabarangpur.

What fascinates me was his interest towards rearing mice. He says, "Since childhood, I'd been rearing mice and always spend time with them".

Dambroo carries these tiny creatures in a red color pot filled with wild grass which keeps them safe. His day begins by pulling them out of the pot and giving them enough space to enjoy fresh air and Sun. He takes them into his hands and gives them a head massage. It gives a tingly feeling to the mouse and it relaxes.

He finally adds, "Like you people in cities rear dogs and cats, I love to have mouse as my friend".

Photo and Story

: Amoga

The ‪Golden‬ ‪Beauty‬

The ‪#‎Golden‬ ‪#‎Beauty‬

In Baalujaran, when I was almost done with my work and packed bags to return room, I was surprised to find this beautiful woman (90) with a child in her lap. For a moment, I was in a shock and cursed my ignorant eyes for not noticing her.

Sitting in a bed with a cute lad in her lap, she was feeding the one and half year old. She was not responding to my movement in her vicinity, that’s when one of our translators’s informs that she is visually challenged. The translator introduces me as a new visitor to the village and she was glad to talk to me.

Though she looks skinny and pale, her intensity of voice will definitely drive away thieves who dare to enter her house. She lives along with her son and daughter-in-law. When they go to field work, she takes care of the child and feeds him. The neighbors help her out in case of any emergency, she says.

When I asked to pose for a photo, she smiles with a gleam in her eyes and fondly gives a pose. But truly she is a Golden Beauty. Look at her smile and radiance in the face.

Story and Photo : Amoga