IFA Projects
DISHA (Direct Initiative for Social & Health Action) -2019
Saving Fish, Saving Water & Preserving Livelihoods
Modern economy -- with its emphasis on profits and growth -- has long abandoned the Gandhian vision of economy by the people rather than for the people. No wonder, therefore, that while every government is elected on the promise of job creation, all such promises are quickly and consistently forgotten. The policymakers know (and it would be incredible if they didn’t) that for an economy driven by the need to maximize profits, job creation is a lot easier said than done. The first thing any savvy CEO does to increase profits is to cut costs and to cut costs you need to cut employees not hire them. Witness, as evidence, the subtle but worldwide move towards what is described as a Universal Basic Income, i.e., a plan to pay people for not working! It is a Trojan horse if there ever was one, a tacit admission of the economy’s inability to employ majority of the people, disguised as enlightened welfare. It is in this context that we must understand a world where jobs are not being created but are actually being destroyed. The fishers of India are a striking example.
THE FISHERIES SECTOR: A MAJOR SOURCE OF LIVELIHOOD
India has a vast coastline of over 8000 km that encompasses 2.02 million square kilometers of special economic zones in the marine sector. India also has I96,000 km stretch of rivers and canals along with 2.907 million hectare of reservoirs, 2.44 million hectares of ponds, 0.798 million hectares of derelict water bodies and 1.24 million hectares of brackish water areas. There are at least 6 million fish workers (4m inland and 2m marine) and with 4 to 5 dependents per family it means there are 24 to 30 million people who depend on fisheries for subsistence. This includes those who capture or farm fish, as well as those involved in drying, packing, transporting and selling. Women constitute about 60% of this workforce and more than 80% are marginal, small-scale workers. They are poor but not destitute since they do have livelihood. But our policies are threatening to make them so.
DISHA: EMPOWERING FISHERS, THE NATURAL CUSTODIANS OF WATER
Small and traditional fishing communities are by far the largest primary non-consumptive stakeholders of water bodies and they have a deep organic relationship with water. They are the natural custodians of water bodies because of the simple reason – Good Fish Needs Good Water! In 2016, IFA started supporting the West Bengal based NGO – Disha -- for its work with these fishers. This story is based on three IFA visits to the Eastern coast from Kolkata to Andhra.
FISHERS’ WOES
We learn that the majority of the fishers are facing tremendous hardship that, for the most part, is man made. The biggest single long-term threat to this sector is the ecological degradation of the water sources. No less damaging is the excessive and destructive fishing by investment driven mechanized methods. The net result of all this is the dwindling of fish resources, both qualitatively and quantitatively. A very pressing problem from the fishers’ point of view is also the array of impediments to the their access to fishing. The states unwillingness or inability to provide basic facilities for the conduct of their business only compounds the problem.
1. Ecological destruction of water sources
Sundarbans, the combined delta of the Ganga and the Brahmaputra in the Bay of Bengal, is the world’s largest mangrove forest. The mangroves stem the force of the ocean waves, prevent the intrusion of salt water and hold the soil together. They also contain pollution and serve as the largest nursery of fish in the Bay of Bengal. With the rising of the sea level due to climate change, the land has been sinking. At the same time, the numerous dams on the river tributaries are preventing the silt deposits that maintain these islands. The mangroves are also being destroyed by conversion to agriculture, aquaculture, tourism and mindless urbanization. In fact, the scientific community has already given up any hope of saving this valuable source. Along with the mangroves are disappearing the fish, an important source of livelihood and food security for this area’s 5 million inhabitants. The quality and quantity of fish is further damaged by the rampant pollution of the waters, both marine and inland.
2. Blocked access to fishing
One example of the limiting of the fishers’ access to fishing is the blocking of an entire area around the Chandipur Missile Center to fishing. Similarly, the designation of Sunderbans as a Tiger Reserve has turned people’s livelihood practice in to a criminal act. Forced to get a license the fishers are trapped in to the familiar license-raj with the resultant black market of licenses. Having to fish under the constant threat of forest guards, forces them in to danger areas where they fall prey to the tigers. The prevalence of the term tiger widows is a proof of this travesty. The forest also provides a large amount of honey that has been traditionally used by locals for livelihood. Now they have to deliver all their collected honey to the forest officials. The officials pay them a meager amount and sell the same honey to private buyers at a much higher price.
Similarly, in the state of Odisha, the small and traditional fishers are not allowed to fish in the 48 km long coastline of Kendrapara district in the name of crocodile and turtle sanctuaries. A particularly sorry example of lack of access is the heavy silting of the Panchuvisha River in the Baleswar area of Odisha. This is brought on by the extensive prawn cultivation along the river that calls for creation of ponds that disrupt the flow of water and thus causing heavy silting. The fishers simply can’t go to the sea since the river mouth is essentially dry. Only on the 2-3 days of high tide they can ride their boats out.
3. Conserving fish at the cost of livelihoods
One of the most damaging restrictions of livelihood is the annual 2 to 3 month ban on fishing. It is an irony that the small fishing communities, who suffer the most from ecological degradation of water bodies and destructive fishing, and who always and everywhere stand for the protection of water bodies and fish resources are denied access to fish resources in the name of conservation. What are the small fishers going to do then? If they don’t fish they don’t eat!
No one is against fishing ban per se. Natural resources have to be preserved and allowed to regenerate. But it can be done without creating such hardship to the small-scale fishers. The key is to match fishing effort to the maximum sustainable yield under the principle of Subsidiarity. A 6 months ban on mechanized fishing, 3 months ban on motorized fishing with compensation, and no ban on manual fishing is a fair and sustainable formula suggested by the group. They are also demanding total ban on destructive and aggressive fishing methods such as bottom trawlers, purse-seiners, fish finders, LED lights etc. For the fact is that the over all loss of fish is largely due to the introduction of ‘industrial’ methods of fishing over the last few decades. The so-called ‘bottom trawlers’ essentially scoop up the entire ocean floor. They collect the big pricey fish and junk the rest making them unavailable to the small fishers since they are now dead. Yet, it is the small daily livelihood earners who have to bear the brunt of the measures to stop this resource loss brought about by the large players.
GOVERNMENT SUPPORT: NON-EXISTENT OR INADEQUATE
Faced with such dire circumstances, the people need the governments to take steps for their welfare. These remain woefully inadequate if not non-existent. As an example, in the Baleswar area of Odisha where an estimated 2 to 300,000 fishers are working, the compensation for lack of fishing access covers no more than a 1000! Poor infrastructure adds insult to injury. Lack of proper fish landing centers facilities such as drying and storage, unavailability of ice for preserving and poor transportation from markets are a big negative as is the general neglect of unorganized workers with lack of credit, social security, health care, education, housing, etc.
DISHA INTERVENTIONS
Ultimately, the people must act in their own interest. Disha had been working on environmental preservation and ecological issues for many years. Recently, they have stepped in to assist the local fishing communities in collectivizing and developing their capacity to fight for preserving their livelihoods. The goal is to connect the various grassroots organizations on a common platform while engendering new organizations where none exist.
Since IFA started helping Disha, a number of new organizations have taken shape in West Bengal, Odisha and Andhra area. They are linking with many such groups in Tamil Nadu that are already in existence. In addition a national platform for inland fishers has also been formed since they constitutes 2/3rd of the total workers involved in fisheries. Members/groups from 9 states have already joined. Overall, about 25000 workers are directly participating in their campaign while another 25000 - possibly many more - are joining them from time to time. The fish vendors are also being organized. Recently around 4000 members constituted the fish vendors union in Kanthi, West Bengal.
POSITIVE RESULTS EMERGING
The benefits from this massive effort are beginning to be seen. The state has taken note and the group’s input has been sought at the national and state policy level. Recently more than 21,000 protest letters from fishing communities of West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat were sent to the India’s Ministry of Environment and Forestry against attempts to further open up the coast to corporate and business houses through introduction of a new notification (CRZ-2018).
The West Bengal Chief minister has been engaged and has publicly vowed to protect the fishers. She has ordered the South 24 Pargana DM to look in to the matter and report urgently. A comprehensive note on the legal, livelihood and human rights issues has been forwarded to the CM. They have also petitioned that the small fishers should be exempted from the 2-month fishing-ban. The government of India has accepted that. The government has also accepted their contention that the fishing communities livelihood should be preserved and enhanced including in the protected Zones.
The women’s wing of the organization has approached the state minister and they have been promised ongoing support. Solar lights are now installed in all the fish lending centers on the West Bengal coast. Availability of drinking water, toilets and community centers is now common. The state is providing cycles, cold storage boxes and at several places new drying platforms have been constructed. The material benefits accrued so far are not at all adequate, but are important as elements in state policy. The fish workers are being helped to form their own Cooperatives, Fish Production Groups and Self Help Groups for their economic self-empowerment.
BEING THE CHANGE THEY WANT TO SEE
The fishers and their organizations are ready to be part of the change they want to see. They work by enlisting local communities for support and also cooperate with the constructive actions undertaken by the authorities. Last year, the Jangalmahal Matsyajibi Forum undertook a Stock-replenishing project with the WB Dept. of Fisheries in the Telkarai and Bharaboni Reservoirs. They have assisted members in getting documents such as the biometric i-cards. More than 16000 such i-cards were provided in the Hemnagar area of the Hingalganj block in Sundarban alone. The group took active role in providing assistance during the devastating cyclone of 2017.
Save Bidyadhari river campaign initiated by the group has turned in to a mass movement. During the recent 15 km boat campaign by 30 activist, 10 gram Panchayats come forward to join in their campaign. Deputations have been made to the Jhingekhali Beat Officer for the Sundarban Tiger Reserve for immediate stoppage of the torture and harassment by the Forest dept. and for issuance of licenses to all genuine fishers. Mandatory consultation with the fishing communities before taking any decision regarding fishing in STR is being demanded.
Recently, the Medinipur District Coastal Fish Vendors Union agitated against extortion by the Fish Mafia. The SDO assured full support. He gave them an emergency number and the police have since come down heavily on the mafia.
In the final analysis, it is clear that lack of abilities is only one factor that keeps people from achieving their God given potential. Conducive environment for their occupation, a non-coercive system to get a fair price for their produce and a basic level of social security can go a long way towards improving their lives. In case of fishers, the communities’ lack of right over water is the main issue. They have no say while the precious water bodies are destroyed, degraded or taken away from them. This right must be championed as the crowning demand of any action in their support. Whosoever has the fishing net has the right to water. Save Water, Save Fish, Save Fisher People!
--Prithvi Sharma
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Bellary MiningBellary is a region in Karnataka known for its rich iron-ore deposits and natural beauty.
The rising global iron-ore prices and high demand from China brought into focus iron ore-deposits in Bellary. The Reddy brothers who were ministers in the Karnataka government during this period used their political clout to mine the land voraciously, violating all environmental laws and overcoming any resistance by intimidation, bribery or sheer arrogance.
This unfettered mining decimated the agriculture base and destroyed topsoil. The dust reduced the crop yield severely. Bore wells had gone dry and ancient tanks silted. Silt also appeared in the Tungabhadra reservoir threatening irrigation. The CEC estimated that 45% of the green cover in Bellary had been lost. Cattle rearing, another major occupation was also severely impacted. Process of ResolutionThe state government asked Karnataka Lokayukta to conduct an enquiry in 2007. In December 2008, the Lokayukta found severe irregularities in mining, stacking, transportation trading and exporting. It warned that at this rate, the mining deposits would not last more than 20 to 30 years; deposits that would usually be mined over 200 years.
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Challenges and final resolution
The mine barons tried to scuttle the Lokayukta probe by hand picking all the forest and revenue officials and police departments. U V Singh, the chief conservator of the Forests and who led the investigation was physically attacked. Due to lack of government action the SPS filed a PIL in Supreme Court. In 2010 the Lokayukta concluded that between April 2006 and July 2010, the state had lost Rs.16,085 crores to illegal mining. The court banned private mining from Bellary. Reddy brothers, their associates and the chief minister of Karnataka were arrested. The court also asked the government to come up with a reclamation plan and asked CEC to examine corporations like Jindal Steel and Adani
Future Challenges
The mining ban has affected around 50,000 people who want mining to continue for livelihood. However, a healthy relationship between nature, culture and society is a must and benefits must be shared equitably. Activities like mining must not be given into private hands. The SPS is now working with the local community to develop alternative sources of income while also working towards the regeneration of ecology and agriculture.
Click here to read full report on Bellary Mining Issue
Click here to read full report on Bellary Mining Issue
Sankalp
Freeing of Bonded Laborers
Sankalp is a volunteer group in Rajasthan with long standing record of working on behalf of marginalized and tribal communities for social reforms
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Issue BackgroundThere are thousands of bonded laborers in India. Faced by dwindling livelihoods, they are enslaved by debts that start out small, but escalate horrendously, as they and their entire family toil for more than a lifetime.
Process of Resolution
Sankalp organized a meeting of bonded laborers two years ago in which they encouraged them to come forward with their stories. Under pressure from many social elements, it was not easy for the laborers to speak of their plight. However, with consistent and earnest effort by Sankalp volunteers, they did share their gut wrenching stories and in the process, incriminated the powers-that-be in the feudal village structure and exposed the structural flaws in poverty resolution agenda of modern society.
Challenges and final resolution
The authorities shamelessly questioned the authenticity of these stories and there was expected backlash from the unscrupulous moneylenders who needed their cheap labor. As the event was well covered by the media, representatives of Sonia Gandhi, the Rajasthan Chief Minister as well as other government officials visited the area. Jagrat Mahila Sangathan helped the laborers file applications following the procedures of the Bonded Laborer Act. Facts were exposed which resulted in a dramatic attention and subsequent development for this community.
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Future Challenges
Obtaining freedom for over 140 bonded laborers has been one of the crowning achievements of Sankalp. They now want the state to hold surveys and commit to freeing all the bonded laborers in the entire state.
Click here to read full report on Sankalp project
Click here to read full report on Sankalp project
Karuna Trust
Primary Health Care Center
Karuna Trust is an organization engaged in integrated rural development running 25 Primary Health Care (PHC) Centres in all the districts of the state of Karnataka and 9 PHCs in Arunachal Pradesh (AP). Since 2007 IFA has supported two PHCs in AP.
The Mengio center and the Jeying center comprising of 54 villages are two of the most remote regions in AP.
The Mengio center and the Jeying center comprising of 54 villages are two of the most remote regions in AP.
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Future
The Karuna trust continues to grow and spread. It now operates 30 centers in Karnataka alone, and continues to branch out to different states each year. It plans to expand services to almost 60 centers in six states and will need additional funds from NGOs around the world.
Media Update
Dr H Sudarshan, founder of karuna Trust was recently recognized for
Click here to read full report on Karuna Trust's Primary Health Center
Click here to read full report on Karuna Trust's Primary Health Center
"How wonderful it is that we need not wait a single moment before starting to improve the world"
- Anne Frank
- Anne Frank