The answers to my questions from letter to Jaher Samiti
dated June 24, 2002 are below. These are excerpts from an email from Ms.
Jahermuni Alphoso dated August 9, 2002.
Thank you,
Ananth
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Now to answer your questions
1)
What is the people's view of this fishery project? Do they
support it? We knew that they supported the school by building structures for
them, but what about in this case?
- When
we where in need of funds to run tour school it was the people [ Women’s
Group] idea to run the fishery project it was their decision to divide the
profit giving a share to the school and they did it for three consecutive
years . We have a good rapport with the people and always count on their
contribution in any project or work.
2) Where is the fish being sold? How is the market for fish?
Do they need to sell in Ranchi? Is there is a lot of competition for the fish
market?
- There
are many local weekly markets in the plains where there are colonies of
CCL ( Central Coalfields Limited )
and Tata coal mines
employees and their families who are mostly Bengalis and Biharis and
relish Fish. Besides there is a Fish Export center from Ramgarh about Fifty
Kilometer from here the Fish is sent outstations. At present Hazaribag
Consumes Five Truck load of Fish weekly from Andhra Pradesh.
3) Do the people in the village have to buy it as well for
food? at the same price?
- The
people in the village will all have a share from the pond as Land owners and / or as Mahilla
Mandal members. Besides it a
custom when the Fish is caught the whole village is in the pond with their
own nets and fishing equipment. The Big fish caught personally is handed
in and Later an equal amount of this equally distributed among all the
Villagers. The smaller Fish can be kept by the individual in this way
every family gets One to Two Kilos fish free. Aside from this if any
villager wishes to buy more they do so at the market price. The fishing is
done about three times in the season aside from this on occasion the whole
village may decide to fish. Then only the big fish is caught and equally
distributed and if the small fish if caught is immediately returned to the
pond.
4) Is there a contract between the mahila mandals and the land-owners? If not,
what is mechanism for ensuring that they don't break away in the middle of the
project?
- There
is a formal Contract made between the Land owners so that the smooth
running of the project is ensured. The sample of the same is attached.
5) Who are the fishermen? Also santali? Will they be from the same village? or
some specialized people?
- At
present because we do not possess the nets we have to bring fishermen from
the plains these are all Non Santhals. They take one fourth of the total
catch as a payment for their services besides taking a big share for their
own consumption as well for their own friends and relatives. Sometimes
they take upto half the total catch. If we are able to purchase their own
nets it will definitely increase the income.
6) When the village has a local school, it seems that the education share will
go to that school. However, we have only evaluated the Jaher Primary school and
not those schools. So, who is running those schools? The samiti or someone
else? Do those schools have the same credibility and standards that the Jaher
school has?
- All
12 villages where the 12 ponds are do not have schools in the area of the
12 villages there is Jaher
Primary school with branch school at Chirubera and Bando tola. In Gondwad there is also a Government
primary schools aside from this four school there are no other school. All
four school are under the supervision of the Samiti
7) There was lots of discussion on the financial aspects of the plan in terms
of a regular business. While we all knew that the project would be really
useful for the Santhal society, we could look at this purely from a financial
point of view and state that the Rs.50,000 for school can be gotten from the
interest from putting the Rs. 6,80,000 in a bank. But, there is a larger risk
in undertaking the project, while the interest from a bank is less risky. Any
comments on this?
- It
is true that the interest from a bank is a lot less risky than the interest
from a peoples project but the benefits reaped from a people project is
hundred fold. A few for your conviction are
- With
this project we are building a fishery cooperative that will spread over
the area to encompass all the ponds belonging to the santals and making
them a strong group both economically and there fore socially and that
will raise their standards of Living.
- The
Mahilla Mandals in all these areas will be strengthened to such an extent
that eventually they will not have to stretch out their hands for help
but will extend their hands to help others.
- The
Education of all the children of these families will be ensured not only
primary education and higher education and further besides this Adult
education for the women and the Adult population is also encouraged.
- From
this they will be encouraged into many more income generating to better
their own lifestyles.
8) There was some feeling that Asha should not be solely responsible for the
financial risk of the project. So, would be reasonable for the Samiti to borrow
say Rs. 3,00,000 from a bank, and Asha can act as a guarantor for this money?
Of course, there is some interest to be paid, but maybe it is reasonable. Is
that a possibility?
- Regarding
the Bank Loan I had spoken to the provincial about this since the Money
would have to come through them. He does not think that at the present it
is a good thing. He would prefer that we get less money and do this only
rather than taking a Loan from the bank even if Asha stands as a guarantor. The Provincial suggest we
ask for a project for six ponds only and later build on this alone.
9) It seems that the timing of the project is reasonably critical. Since our
approval has been so delayed, it is possible for you to start this next year
(2003)?
- It
is possible to start this in January 2003.
10) There was a math error in calculating cost for repair
for the village Bali, Tola - Tala Tola (#4), where 20 workers x 15 days x Rs.
50 = Rs. 15,000, rather than the Rs. 18,750 that is mentioned. I think this is
a simple math error, which I have corrected.
- This
was Mathematical error. Thank you for correcting it
We are really looking forward to your visit with us in
October. Do let us know your dates if Possible. Kindly spend as much time as
possible with us.
Thanking you once again for the cheque and for all your
Concern and for all the Santhals
Sincerely
Jahermuni Germaine Alphonso