In Girwa, particularly, the communities also reviewed their work on a number of development issues that they have carried out so far. In group discussions, it turned out that the communities like to do more with their common property resources and supporting development initiatives such as rural schools and balwadis. Many of these communities have successfully worked for the management of pasturelands and forests protection, installed lift irrigation systems, supported families with fodder and grains during droughts, organized cattle camps, managed seed banks, created opportunities for income generation, supported development by appointing a guard or paid for the teachers’ or sanchalikas for Balwadis. These activities have helped communities meet their immediate needs and their cohesion has also strengthened as a result. The democratic practices have brought them together and created opportunities for them to voice their challenges. The communities realize to strengthen their records and therefore, discussed ways of improving their books.

Similarly in Kherwada, the communities proposed to appoint a skilled account on a cluster level. A cluster will consist of few villages together and the account will be responsible for keeping their records. These villages will together support the cost of keeping their books. Those villages that are not able to support the cost of keeping their records may seek help from Seva Mandir. These meetings are a symbol of vibrancy in these communities and their capability of bringing the change. The discussion held in these meetings is the kind that inspires confidence and faith in development work.

The total farming area is 21.5 bighas that these farmers cultivated on. In the beginning, the farmers didn’t receive a fair price for their crops but later, as their total produce increased as a result of better rainfall. The farmers were able to make good income. A total of 13,300 of cluster beans were produced from the total 4.59 hectare of land. They sold their produce between Rs 10 – Rs 25 (below $1) stabilizing the price at an average of Rs 18 per kilos.

In total they all earned an income of more than Rs 236,800 (USD 5,262). Apart from cluster beans, the farmers also  grew other vegetables like Ridge Guard, chilies, coriander, pumpkin, lady finger (okra), tomatoes, moong (Green gram) and  earned Rs 711,00 (USD 1,590).

Ms. Neelima Khetan (Country Director AIF, India) was invited to give a memorial lecture this year. She considered these initiatives of communities and efforts of many individuals involved in similar development activities with ‘experiments of Swaraj’. She quoted a definition of Swaraj given by Gandhi ji and brought forth how communities in villages are using non-violent means in bringing the change. Especially, when today, individual and economic wealth is considered essentials of life, these communities (in areas where Seva Mandir and similar organizations are working) are protecting common lands and forests for common good. She considered ‘honest expectations’, ‘trust that everyone is capable of doing the right thing’, ‘asking everyone to follow the rules’ and ‘honesty and respect towards the work’, as some of the ingredients of doing this work that these communities have been able to do.

In October, Seva Mandir became the implementing agency for the MNREGA projects for 32 sites in rural Udaipur. It is a significant achievement as well as an indicator of the faith of the 74 Panchayats in Seva Mandir’s work. These Panchayats have endorsed us to be their implementing agency for MNREGA. Of these 32 sites that were sanctioned, the work has begun on the 22 sites. Most of these sites of pastureland development and currently the building of boundary wall is going on.

In 2011, Seva Mandir has been included in two working (sub) groups – {i) Child Survival & Development and Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and ii) Girl Child} constituted by the Ministry of Women and Child Development to review the existing priorities, policies, strategies, programs and their implementation for fulfilling the rights of children to survival, development (including early childhood care, early learning, elementary education). Also, to highlight emerging issues and recommendations, resources allocation and utilization for Twelfth Five Year Plan of Government of India.

Several of Seva Mandir’s programs have seen a maturing in the last years. For example, in the villages where Seva Mandir organized regular immunization camps, the complete immunization of children is 60%, while in comparison villages it is only 35%.

Similarly, the work on Natural Resources is yielding a lot of benefits to the poor. Every year grass worth Rs. 52 lacs (5.2 million rupees) is being harvested from the common lands developed under this program.

In April 2011, Champa Devi from Vassela village was awarded the “Woman Exemplar Award 2011″. It is another reason to look back and feel joyous to see that a community member of Seva Mandir was being recognized by rest of the society for her selfless services.

We are privileged to experience exciting stories of women like Champa Devi.  It is gratifying that with your support we have been able to create spaces where ordinary people can exercise truth force to bring about social and political transformation.

The full and deep impact of Seva Mandir’s work lies not so much in the tangible development activities that it promotes, but more in bringing the poor and rich together and enabling them to work for the commons of building more just and oppression free communities.

We look forward to all our friend’s continuing support in the year 2012 too. Wishing you all a very happy New Year.

In 2008 under the MN REGA the pastureland was taken up for treatment. Some Jatropha plants were planted and a few check dams (to prevent soil erosion) were built. However, Mohan says, with inadequate funds the boundary wall was built only halfway through.

The villagers were concerned that if the boundary wall is not completed sooner, the land would be contested again. The issue remained a concern in their several subsequent village meetings. Eventually they decided to ask Seva Mandir to help them develop this pastureland. It was a good sign that everyone in the village was concerned about a piece of land which was mostly encroached upon. Mohan says, we had understood the significance of taking care of the land which will yield benefits to all of us in the village.

Therefore, the villagers made a proposal to Seva Mandir along with the full details of the land and the blue print of the work. Seva Mandir conducted a survey with the help of its engineers and estimated the resources required (cost was Rs. 2.85 lacs or USD 6,334). The work began including digging trenches and building check dams (to prevent the soil erosion and facilitate water percolation), building the rest of the boundary wall, digging pits, planting saplings and sprinkling grass seeds.

However there was another two hectares of land which was encroached upon. The villagers began a dialogue with the trespasser families. Eventually these families agreed to vacate their possessions. Therefore, villagers requested Seva Mandir to take up the remaining land for pastureland development. With Rs. 1.54 lacs (USD 3,422) the remaining two hectares of land was taken up for building the fence, digging trenches and pits, plantation of saplings. The pastureland was closely located to a road with a small bridge. This allowed the animals an entry into the pastureland. Therefore, a thorny (spiky) wire was installed to prevent animals entering into the pastureland.

The villagers decided to penalize (Rs. 501) those families whose cattle enters into the pasture. It helped. They also appointed one person to guard their pastureland. Every family pays 2kgs of wheat every year to the guard.

Mohan says, years ago the pastureland was a piece of stones and barrenness. Now when he looks at it, he sees greenery all over. It makes him feel serene. Earlier, he was concerned about fodder for his cattle and now he has plenty. Currently he is thinking of buying another buffalo.

According to Mohan if they haven’t developed this pastureland, in future his children would only see private encroachments and barns on the land. With their collective work on the pastureland they re-generated the land as well as produced enough labor work for everyone. Their cattle have an access to leaves and grasses now. Some fruit trees such as custard apple are of much delight to children. In future they can sell the surplus of the fruit and generate village revenue.

The villagers are also planning to grow more trees including Neem, Tamarind, Mango, and Bamboo. The pastureland is having a positive impact on the environment. In the region mining is growing and to Mohan pastureland like this will be the only greener areas around in future. The 145 families of his village will continue to reap benefits from this pastureland since the entire village has vowed to take care of their lands.

The story is written by: Kishanlal (Zonal worker, Seva Mandir Kumbhalgarh).

Since now there was a government school the SK was closed down in Khara Fala. The village decided to take it to some other remotest hamlet of the village where there was no Government School. In the other remotest hamlet, the first year 30 children got enrolled. However in the second year, the enrollment was raised to 50 children because the parents were not satisfied with the performance of the Government school in Khara Fala. It meant that children who got enrolled in the government school began to come to the rural school which was located very far from their homes. Every year, more and more children got enrolled in the rural school. In village discussions the parents reported that they would not send their children to government schools because their children were receiving better education in the rural school.

Currently there are 107 children at the rural school. The children who have graduated in the past are excelling in their higher studies. Two children have acquired Bachelor degree (Under Graduation) , one is pursuing his Masters in Hotel Management, the other one is pursuing a Nursing course and 2 others are pursuing their B.S.T.C (Basic School Teaching Certificate).

Some children who have more recently graduated from the rural school are also pursuing higher education including – two children are in their first year of under graduation degree (Bachelor), five children are in 12^th standard, 11 children are in 11^th standard and fifteen children are in 10^th standard.

The children who are graduating from the school have secured good grades in their higher studies too. They are all very happy to have access to quality education which will help them live a good life that they aspire to.

Prof. Ravinder Kaur addressing whole audience.

Prof. Ravinder Kaur enlightened the audience at Seva Mandir with a talk on the crucial issue “Sex ratio trends in Census 2011”on November 22, 2011. She explained “Sex ratio is an indicator of gender equality where normal sex ratio stands for 950 girls for every 1000 boys but the girl child sex ratio stood on 914 in census 2011”.
She elaborated reasons, facts and figures behind the declining sex ratio. One main reason which came out of her discussion was sex determination and selective abortion of female foetus.  A study done by LANCET puts the number at around 12.1 million for selective abortions which took place between 1980 to 2010. The discussion was complied on the issue of  not wanting a daughter because of her low economic value as compared to a son in our society. The audience too shared their life experiences of facing differences between a male and a female child.

Due to increase in violence against women, availability of means to determine sex of the foetus, the status of girl’s education,  prevalence to career etc are some of the reasons that contribute towards poor sex ratios.  Though there are laws and policies to protect girl children, the presence of the stereotypes in our society ensures that a girl stands nowhere when compared to a boy.
She further added that despite there are improvements in some northern states of India (like Punjab Haryana, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh etc.) the decline in child sex ratio stands 26 points for Rajasthan in 2010-2011. Apart from Banswara, Bhilwara, Dungarpur, and Udaipur where the child sex ratio is 915-920, all other districts are miserably between 830 and 903.
The talk was very useful in bringing the perspective together for all the participants.  Everyone felt to do more efforts in sensitizing everyone about the issue by spreading more awareness and organizing more gender trainings. The participants discussed the steps ahead. Ms. Pamela Philipose (a veteran journalist and feminist) and Prof. Ravinder Kaur suggested to record experiences and observations from Seva Mandir field staff on the issue. They suggested to a) break the stereotypes of symbolic behavior and attitude towards a girl child and b) organizations like Seva Mandir to sensitize people by focusing more on the issue.

Chief Executive Ms. Priyanka Singh also shared her concerns. She said it is unfortunate that people not only go for selective abortions but also kill a girl child after her birth.  She also added,that expectations are high from civil society organization such as ours. The organizations also find it very challenging because the people working in organizations also come from the same society. Therefore, it is very significant that everyone works on this issue collectively. She thanked everyone for participating in the discussion and talking so openly about the issue.

BACKGROUND: Seva Mandir started conducting residential learning camps for children in 2001. Till then, most of our work in the field of primary education was through village-based centres called Non Formal Education centres (now called Rural Schools/ Shiksha Kendras or SKs). However, field assessments revealed that even in villages with SKs, there were a large number of children who were still out of school/SK. Many of the children were those who would migrate out of their villages for work hence, attending a regular school or an NFE was not a very viable option for them. These out of school children also included those who had gone to school but dropped out very quickly because they had some bad experience in the school. These bad experiences included beating or ill treatment by teacher, beating by other children, or non-comprehension in the classroom.

Looking at these reasons, we conceived of conducting residential learning camps (henceforth referred to as camps) for such children. The first camp was conducted largely by Vidya Bhavan on our behalf. Vidya Bhavan is an NGO based in Udaipur. They have immense experience and expertise in field of education. They have been Seva Mandir’s partner in the education programme and helped us improve it qualitatively. We identified the children and negotiated with their families and communities to bring them to the camp but Vidya Bhavan was more involved in the academic activities.

The camp had 80 children and was conducted for 20 days. Since then, our understanding on how to conduct camps has evolved and we have been conducting camps with support from Vidya Bhavan. There were a lot of questions among ourselves about starting the camp, how good was it an idea to bring children out of their natural environments for learning? What will the camps achieve, at most enable the children to read and write because the probability was that most of them will never go back to school- so were we adopting a minimalist approach for such deprived children’s education? Many such questions plagued us and we have not found answers to all. Nevertheless we have since then continued and some answers were provided through overwhelming response to the camp.