Natpurwa Report January 26, 2006

Respected Melli Didi, Sirish Bhai, Hansa Didi, Pingali Bhai,

General Works

It will be 4 years since the Natpurwa school has begun. Approximately 120 students study at this school. On a daily basis approx. 80-85 students attend classes. There are 3 teachers who teach here, Bikki Didi, Mamtaji and Narendra. These three teachers conduct all the classes, do all the teaching. They also ran health and moral values campaigns in the village. For example; ‘Stop Chewing Tobaku’, ‘ The children of drunkards become drunks (awareness intended for the parents who want their children to be better than them), They also started a campaign to plant trees in the village. They had the children plant the trees and told the children that the tree they planted was ‘their’ tree, that the tree is our life line and that it improves our environment. All the classes in the school run separately. From July 2006 onwards the school will start holding classes from 1-8 grade, the preparations of which we are starting now.

Mira Kheri School

This school is located at 3 km distance from the Natpurwa school. The school has between 20-25 students and runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Durgeshji teaches at this school. Durgeshji also runs a women’s group for and by the women of this village. The majority of villagers are laborers. This school has been functioning for approx. 2 yrs. now. The children who study in this school work in the fields after they leave school for the day.

Berihana school

This school has been started in July 05. There are 35 children in the school and it is run by Ram Babuji. The school was opened on the request of the villagers of Berihana. Ram Babu has started a union of the laborers in the village. (edit) The intent is to lobby for giving the laborers work instead of bringing in outside labor. There are (15?) girls in this school, their classes are held separately.

Government Primary School Sikarori

We have one teacher in this school (from our project). Rinivasji teaches in this school. The reason why we have brought in a teacher here is because the principal was taking Rs.50 from the students’ government scholarship payments and saying that this was his fee. When I asked the principal why, when the government was giving the children a scholarship did he have to deduct Rs. 50 each as ‘fee’, I got no straight answer. We reported the principal to the government authorities and he was suspended. The teaching in this school is done well, that is why we brought in Rinivasji.

S.H. Group Natpurwa

This self-help group has been in Natpurwa for approx. 1.5 yrs. This Bank is called the S.H. (G). Group and will give loans to women’s organizations who will use it to support their endeavours. The women of Natpurwa are very industrious. They organized and paid for the weddings of 2 girls so far. We only gave them moral support.

Gram Panchayat, Sarwa Gosawa and Pawayam Junior (Harsh?) School

I saw 2 junior (Harsh?) schoold that had been closed for the last 4 yrs. The landowners of the village had filled the school rooms with the grain-husks from their fields. When I went to talk to them they started to talk about cast and all other such things. I then went to the police and had the husks removed from the two spaces. These two schools are now open and running, they start on time and have around 50(0) students. I check on them from time to time. The children and their parents are very happy now. The parents too look after the school now. On occasion they ask me for advice when I am there, I try to help as much as I can.

August 2005 Peace Celebrations (see previous report )

Gram Panchayat, Uttar Kodh, Jalsu Khera land allotment

The Gram Panchayat had taken possession of the lands allotted to the Dalit and laborer casts. These possessions were in the hands of the Brahmins and landed casts. We demanded from the Gram Panchayat that these lands be returned, however to no avail. We then approached the S.D.M. (sub district magistrate) who promised to look into the matter. However, one month passed and no action was taken. We then decided to gherao the S.D.M.’s compound, which we did on 11/08/05 with about 300 people. Our dharna was endangered by 4 tractors sent by the Tahsil. Fortunately, no lives were lost, although one demonstrator lost 3 fingers. Our demonstration was quite successful, the Dalit land was restituted by the S.D.M. himself. There were about 25 land recipients.

Ration Cards (…)Gaon and Utter Khod

The shopkeepers in these villages do not give any rations of rice, oil and grains allotted on the ration cards. When I heard about this I talked to the villagers who informed me that their ration cards were with the Kotedar. We talked to the Kotedar, pleaded with him, and finally got to see the ration card list. The Kotedar had applied for a ration card on behalf of all the villagers , keeping the cards for himself. We have lodged a complaint on the basis of the Right to Food with the Food Commission on behalf of the villagers. Our case will be heard either in the last week of January or the first week of February. The D.M. and S.D.M. have also been informed.