Background of Natwan Sangham

The focus of the project is two-fold, violence against tribal women and lack of sustainable livelihoods for them.  While these problems are deep rooted and need long-term solutions, organizing women to reflect on their own lives and supporting them to find solutions is the best way to overcome the exploitation and violence faced by them.  VR Puram Mandal witnesses extreme form of tribal women exploitation by non-tribal men.  These men establish relationships with tribal women, without marrying them, which is an accepted social norm amongst Koya and Konda Reddi tribes here.  Over a period of time, the non-tribal man gains access to the property of the tribal woman and before she realizes the man desserts her or disappears from the area, after availing himself of many benefits that accrue out of the woman’s Scheduled Tribe status.  There is positive discrimination in the area of government programmes and facilities for Scheduled Castes / Tribes, about which the tribes in general and their women in particular are least aware or unaware.  Such deserted women are left in lurch, not accepted by her community either (she is stigmatized thereafter).  In the end, even the state services would have reached only the non-tribes in some form or the other, whereas, for the tribes, it is non-existent.  There is a need to identify the extent of this exploitation in all its forms and fight against it.

As an entry point for all its development work, ASDS organized tribal women in VR Puram Mandal into 112 Self Help Groups (SHGs).   In 2000, ASDS supported these groups to collectivize themselves into a Mandal level federation, called ‘Natwan Sangham.’  With the gracious support of the Christian Aid, through Gramya Resource Centre for Women (Gramya), Secunderabad, ASDS implemented a three-year project, since January 2002, to strengthen the Natwan Sangham for its self-reliance.  With facilitation from ASDS, the Natwan Sangham started working on wide-ranging issues, encompassing agriculture, education, gender, health, natural resources management, etc., for holistic development of tribal communities.  Gramya, Centre for People’s Forestry (CPF), Centre for World Solidarity (CWS) and NABARD played a greater role in taking forward the agenda of the Natwan Sangham.  Today, the Sangham has a membership base of 2,910 (June 2008) and is self-managed with a 23-member Core Committee. It has become the voice of tribal women in VR Puram, Kunavaram and Dummugudem Mandals.  The notable achievements of Natwan Sangham are :

• Networking with other CBOs and NGOs at Mandal level
• Community led campaigns on domestic violence, girl child rights, child labour, dowry, child marriage and women’s property rights, girl child education, etc.
• Leveraging resources from state and other sources
• Provision of legal aid, medical aid and counseling to members
• Liaison with the district administration
• Actively participated in flood relief activity implemented by ASDS NGO with support of donor agencies like CWS, Actionaid, CPF.
• Capacity building of core group members on different themes, like legal literacy, state programmes and schemes, gender, sustainable agriculture, Panchayati Raj Institutions and local governance, livelihood enhancement, sustainable natural resources management and on managerial skills (book keeping and accounting skills)
• Established identity in Mandal and District level forums and NGO Networks. Staff of Care India’s ongoing project, namely, Sustainable Tribal Empowerment Project, from Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam and East Godavari districts visited the Sangham for learning
• Members serving as Resource Persons for AP Forest Academy at Dulapally, IKP.
• As part of the Disaster Preparedness Network, Natwan Sangham is actively involved in spearheading tribal movement against Polavaram Project in VR Puram
• Monitoring of girls hostels in V.R. Puram and Kunavaram Mandals
• Filed 185 court cases and got decree for 12 cases to get monthly maintenance
• 133 never enrolled and dropout girl children were admitted in residential schools following a Bridge Course at Rekhapally.
• Case studies of 134 exploited women are developed
• 26 expectant and nursing mothers were provided with health care
• 17 girls who failed in Class 10 have been supported with examination fee and study material to encourage continued education
• 12 widows / physically challenged single women were benefitted with housing program implemented by ASDS supported by CAPART
• Imparting training and skill building in livelihood enhancement activities for 56 women.
• Actively worked and participated anti polavaram movement, published polavaram magazine focusing displacement issues jointly with APVVU.

 Rationale for Consolidation

As mentioned above, Natwan Sangham accomplished significantly in addressing a number of women/tribal issues.  In its Review Meeting during January this year, the Sangham Core Committee realized that the achievements of the Natwan Sangham need consolidation, scale up and move on to level the play field.  The Core Committee took following decisions :

• Need to scale up similar efforts of organizing village sanghas/women groups/SHGs in other Mandals, namely Chintoor, Dummugudem and Kunavaram, into Mandal level federations and strengthening these federations as a Network and evolve as a regional platform to address the issues of tribal women, their rights  and livelihoods
• Organize greater number of women from VR Puram and neighboring Mandals, in terms of membership base, increased number of women’s groups and registered cooperatives
• Relate itself to the wider socio-economic, political, cultural and historical environment and be able to lead structural interventions for reduced physical and social vulnerability of tribal women. For instance, addressing issues such as Polavaram project at macro-level, which uproot tribes from their traditional forest-based habitations, push them further interior and shatter their basic social and cultural fabric
• Networking with other likeminded CBOs, federations, NGOs, Networks at district, regional and state level

In nutshell, the social capital of Natwan Sangham needs to be built so that it consolidates whatever good work it has done, scale up and move on to level its play field from self-reliance to empowerment.  It is in this context that a consolidation programme is concretized in consultation with the Natwan Sangham leadership with following goals and objectives :

Goal :

 To evolve as a regional platform so that Natwan Sangham is able to empower tribal women in all spheres of life, social, economic, political and cultural.

Objectives

• To increase the membership base of Natwan Sangham to 5,000 members with representations from Chintoor, Dummugudem, Kunavaram and VR Puram Mandals
• To build the human, institutional, advocacy and lobbying capacities of Natwan Sangham
• To build the capacities of CBOs (village sanghas/women groups/SHGs) in 4 Mandals and federate them at mandal level to integrate women issues with livelihoods and sustainable natural resources management (SNRM)
• To broad base the participation of NGOs and civil society in the campaigns against domestic violence exploitation and proper utilization of government schemes meant for tribal women.
• To establish linkages with various service / commodity delivery systems, programmes and schemes in government and non-government sector to gain sustainable livelihood and social security for tribal communities.

Approach

Natwan Sangham use a rights-based approach that includes community led advocacy and lobbying for better local governance.   This project recognizes that the need is not simply to pursue various progammes for improvement of the quality of lives of tribal women, but also to address problems related to inequity, differential distribution of power to affect changes in sustainable livelihoods for the impoverished majority.

The project responds to this through individual and collective actions.   To this end it binds various civil society constituents through work-based identity, mutual learning, grassroots alliances and commitment for learning and working together.

Synergies and Linkages

Apart from its own inputs, ASDS would link up with external resource agencies to ensure that the capacities of the Natwan Sangham are built.  Some of the collaborating organizations would be CWS, ACTIONAID, AID, APVVU, CPF, ANTHRA, AP State NGOs Forum for JFM, NABARD and related state institutions.  It will also use in house capacities of the NGO Networks and related agencies in the region on issues of common interest and facilitating collective action.

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Papi Kondala Kondareddy Mahila Samakhya 

Papi kondala Kondareddy Mahila Samakhya formed in 2013 from 10 villages of V.R.Puram Mandal with 100 women members. 10 village women elected core committee and pass resolution for this committee is acted as division committee.

This committee mainly formed for better development and improving their livelihood and family recast. The main needs were fed by this federation to meet the needs of Health, Agriculture and Education and other needs. 

With the help of ASDS this committee had opened an account in Bank account in State Bank, Rekhapally in January 2014 with 3 joint signatures. 

This committee conduct monthly meetings regularly both village level and mandal level. In this meeting they discuss the personal and village issues.  Committee pass resolution for loans and other issues.

After notifying the minutes in village level and mandal level, loans gives to those with needs, 3 joint signatures and give check to concerned community person with conditions. This committee distributed loans in 3 villages for agriculture and one village for education. Based on minutes 31 persons got Rs.1,30,000/- loan with Rs.1/- interest for fulfill their needs and amenities. If they take the loan from outside persons, they will pay huge interest for small amount also. Seeds and pesticides are also borrowed in the shop. The Kondareddy Mahila Samakhya has given with low interest rates without such a problem. Finally they escaped from middleman or brokerage. Now they are very happy.

The Sanghas members are now attending meetings and trainings without shy. They are expressing their opinions in village level meetings.

ASDS has given trainings and orientations to Kondareddy Mahila Samakhya for Farmers Produced Organizations and will be link with NABARD, then they are able market their crops without middleman or brokerages.

Shabari Vikalamgula Sangham

Shabari Vikalamgula Samakhya formed in 2017 for solving disable persons problems. The main concept of this Samakhya is increasing awareness of government schemes and Acts in village level and Mandal level. To ensure participate in Sadaram Camps. Increasing awareness on artificial parts and Physio therapy. Submitting representations and applications to Mandal level and District level Officers for their problem without support from others.

Displacement :

Government of India is constructing the Indira Jala Sagar (Polavaram) dam at Polavaram village. 125 villages are effected and submerged villages in Chinturu, V.R.Puram and Kunavaram mandals of East Godavari district. So, government announced package in the shape of Relief and Rehabilitation.

1. Conduct village level committees for better package
2. Who has 18 years of age must pay compensation
3. Government will provide Job for each house holder or educated in the family
4. Government has given notification for 17 villages
5. Government has appointed Director, ASDS as R&R committee membe

   

Entitlements :

Beside the PDS the status of other seven food security schemes such as; Antyodaya Anna Yojana, Mid day Meal, National Old age Pension , Annapurna Anna Yojana, ICDS, National maternity benefit scheme and National Family benefit scheme are also hardly reaches the Kondareddy and Koya families.

Public Distribution System (PDS) :

When the ration shop opens the Kondareddy do not know this and there is no system to inform them. They always become last to get their ration, some time they don’t even get ration due to shortage.  There are also cases where they get lesser quantity. As a result these tribals were not given the full quota and deprived from their benefits.  Supreme Court orders to provide Anthyodaya to these PTGs seems to be totally ignored in the area.

1. Submitted concerned pension application to M.P.D.O., Village Secretary, Project Officer, ITDA, offices and Grama Sabha, Janma Bhoomi programmes held in village wise.
2. Identified 280 names deleted in the PDS cards due to mismatch of Aadhar Cards. So, they did not accesses the full ration.
3. ASDS lobbying with Revenue department. Then department had given modified cards.

ICDS :

1. 398 ICDS centers in 4 mandal are main streamed and getting food regularly after visit of Project Director,  ICDS, Kakinada with the help of  Director, ASDS.
2. Due to for distance, children and Pregnant women did not go away from their village, so they suffered from malnutrition, With efforts of ASDS 9 new mini centers sanctioned. Now they are getting food regularly.
3. Distributed Plyaing material for 6 schools and floor mats for 2 schools with Gift fund
4. With efforts of ASDS team, Dharapally School Reopened after 2 months

Health :

The major PHCs are in Mandal head quarters, V.R.Puram, Kunavaram and Chnturu. Only one village Annavaram is 2 Km from VRPuram PHC, 3 villages are with in3 to 5 km, 7 villages are within 6 to 10 km and 24 are more than 10 km.

There are 4 sub-centres: Kunduluru, Jeediguppa, Kuturu and godlagudem 21 villages are with in 0 to 2 km, 11 villages are between 3to 5 km, 2 villages are between 6 to 10 km and 1 village is more than 10 km. Tummileru is far away even from sub centre as it is on the river bank and the means of conveyance is only boat. ANM services are available from sub centres. Every village has a Community Health Worker who is available, but lack of medicine supply and house visits are lacking during rainy season.

Making public health functional and effective :

After the new government took over, a detailed meeting was held between all AA partners and the son of the Chief Minister of AP, in Nov 2014. During the meet ASDS made a presentation and suggested to involve interested local NGOs in the PHC development committees to make public primary health in rural and forest areas efficient. Somehow, AP Govt issued a GO to strengthen PHC by involving NGOs and authorized district collector to nominate such posts. Accordingly two community leaders (active part of ASDS) and the director ASDS became chairpersons for 2 hospital development committees and other 4 community leaders became members of the committees in the operational areas.  This helped a lot to bring lot of changes to make public health to reach out more. The impact on this front can be summarized as :

• In these three hospitals institutional deliveries increased to 25 per month as against earlier average of 6-9. This enabled immediate immunization, breast feed in an hour’s time, including Rs 1000 incentive.
• Per day OP increased from 50 per day average to 200 in all the hospitals.
• ANMs visiting the pregnant tribal women very regularly
• 5 PHCs and 1 CHNC delivering prompt services and to more than 1 lakh population.
• This change saved lakhs of rupees at the community level, which earlier they were spending for health and it has significantly decreased private health practice in the area. Notably it saved the tribal communities from the unwarranted treatment which is common in private health sector.

ASDS has given orientation on health and seasonal diseases in village level meetings and conduct interface meetings with Medical officers.

1. ASDS personally conduct village level medical camps.
2. ASDS organized 11 medical camps and medical officer checkup and refer to Area Hospital, Bhadrachalam. ASDS has sent them to Area Hospital and Private Hospitals for better treatment
3. 173 children, 18 Pregnant women and 13 Lactating Mothers referred to Area Hospital and Private Hospitals, Bhadrachalam for better treatment. In Area Hospital blood infused to of 5 pregnant women during deliveries
4. 22 Children referred for Emergency health care ( Brain Malaria, Operations, accidents, Blood transfusion)
5. Boys.74, Girls.177, total 261 covered  in medical camp organized by ASDS held at ASDS office, Rekhapally  and  26 children suffered from eye problems and prescribed  spectacles.

   

   

Education :

1. ASDS identified dropout rate is high in schools and hostels
2. 2 Inter face Meetings Conducted with D.E.O (Agency) and education department for teachers appointments and streamlining of midday meal programme in our area (proposal  prepared and submitted  to ITDA) it is under process
3. 150 Non local Regular Teachers appointed for 3 mandals. 15 schools having drinking water with our efforts.
4. 1735 children got 2 pairs of shoes with support of Goonj with worth of Rs. 6,94,000/-
5. Boys – 14, Girls – 32, total 46 drop out children rejoined at schools
6. 5 male Child labour rejoined in APR,  Chinturu
7. Distributed note books total children – 1440 (Male  – 788, Female – 652)
8. Encouraging the children in their studies. Introducing new educational games and skills. Importing group activities, identifying drop outs and rejoin them in schools.

Pensions :

1. ASDS identified the eligible Old Age, Widow and Single woman for getting pensions from government
2. Submitted concerned pension application to M.P.D.O., Village Secretary, Project Officer, ITDA, offices and Grama Sabha, Janma Bhoomi programmes held in village wise.
3. Getting pension, they are accessing Ration and other essentials, otherwise they would be borrowed.

Women & Girls Rights :

1. Periodical visits by Natwan Sangham members to local Girls hostels.
2. Monetary support from ASDS..
3. Formation of groups through interaction and meetings. Child Club set up in girls hostel and their problems are brought to the attention of the authorities. Visits and representations to ITDA-P.O.
4. House visits, fact findings, creating awareness among girl children, moral, livelihood support and legal support.
5. Celebrating International Women’s Day addressing all the issues
6. Natwaan Sangham members visited 5 hostels and oriented around 1000 Adoloscent girls on Health and Sanitaion, Sex Ratio, and Hygienic conditions. 585 AG girls are using safe practices (good washed cloth) compare to Project Starting during their monthly sick.
7. Safe Drinking water scheme repaired within 15 days, ASDS has provided Safe Drinking water and other basic needs in girls hostel.
8. KGBV Rekhapally hostel is beside Rekhapally main road, children felt inconvenience for play ground. With efforts of ASDS and child club ITDA sanctioned Rs.10,00,000/- for Play ground repair works under NREGS
9. ASDS drilled 1 borewell at KGBV, Rekhapally with own resources
10. Conducted Rallies in 4 Kondareddy villages on Dropouts