Dr Mohinder Kumar
The concluding part-II of article on Maniga (Kupwara district) focuses on major adversities afflicting the village, related to: flood in nallahs; health center; safe drinking water; school building; power supply (no poles & wires); link roads; ration supply & ration cards; inter-connectivity with ‘bastis’ on hill-top; social mainstreaming of ex-militants; and footbridges.
Maniga has 30 nallahs crossing the village. Gushing flow of nallahs causes soil erosion and damages houses. Villagers want check dams and pucca drains for protection of crops on both sides of nallahs. Villagers demand ‘meshed wire protection walls’ on both sides of big Maniga nallah. Check dams joined with four crates are needed for durability. Village has 50% land rain-fed. Nallahs gushing with flow of water by snow-melt (March-May) caused flood-like situation; they got dry in June-July and filled with water during rains. Watershed structures are feasible at various locations. Panchayat submitted several project proposals for drain-canal and watershed development during 2011-2013 though not yet approved by Irrigation Department. There is potential of 40-50 water harvesting structures/ tanks on 30 nallahs for irrigation of 1250 acres to benefit 1200 households. Villagers complained that authorities are adamant on roping-in all villages of four Panchayats in a single big watershed; villagers are not agreeable who want small watersheds of mini ponds so that all farmers are benefitted with assured distribution of water. Divergence between farmers’ views based on local wisdom/ ground reality and views of authorities at district level is causing the delay.
VILLAGE WEEKLY
Gram Panchayat and a Junior Engineer cited the example of a failed watershed (check dam) that was not conceived and planned properly at district level, and led to failed implementation. Maniga farmers desire that same thing should not happen to their watersheds. The failed project is ‘Irrigation Dam Project Cherwani Gulgam’ near Ziarat Rishi Baga in Trehgam block. Its project cost was Rs.2.50 crore and implemented by outsourcing construction work to private contractors. The main problem faced by this project was wrong site selection; water source (except rainwater) did not exist; field survey was not done properly. As contractors started extraction work on foothill, land caved-in and depressed; project failed within a year. Project started in 2011 soon got ‘completed’ and bills were cleared in 2012. Vigilance inquiry was underway on the project. Villagers demand that their genuine requirement of small watersheds in Maniga should not meet with same destiny. Over 75% of water from streams in Kashmir valley is unutilized; small watershed structures, visible and functional on ground, can be created.
Village has always faced the problem of food security. In 1992, one kanal (0.12 acre) patch of agricultural land was donated by a farmer to CA&PDD for construction of godown. Godown of 20 metric ton capacity was constructed for storage of food-grains (local surplus/imported under PDS). Farmer was assured compensation by posting him Village Guard (Chowkidar). Gram Pachayat reported that file got misplaced in district offices. In 1993 militants killed the farmer. Though godown is used as a ration shop run by his family amid food shortage villagers demand compensation for land to the family. Many households have 3-4 ‘chulhas’ after apportionment. Supply of food grains may be increased proportionately, or separated ‘chulhas’ need to be issued ration cards. Food deficit i.e. more demand compared to fixed supply (35 kg/family) often causes quarrels among villagers and even fights and conflicts. Villagers demand system of food grains distribution to be revised from ‘per family’ to ‘per member’ of family. System of ‘per member’ food ration was abolished in the State in 2001. Food Security Act may revive that system. Maniga required 400 new ration cards for the extremely poor families. Villagers cited the case of Khair Mohammad s/o Miyan who had eight members in family but no ration card was issued even as family survived on daily wages of Rs.200/- from uncertain casual labor.
Villagers desperately need hospital as Maniga has population of 16000. Health center was set up in village in 1983 when population was 900. Health center needs to be upgraded. There is no regular doctor facility; a compounder is posted who could not prescribe medicines even as dispensary does not have stock. Villagers depend on private doctors who charge Rs.150/- for consultation and prescribe medicines from market costing up to Rs.1000/-. Due to poverty patients won’t buy all prescribed medicines. Dispensary in health center provides only paracetamol tablets. Staff comprises one compounder, one nurse and five ASHA workers. Villagers made a representation to the BMO (Kupwara); BMO and CMO surveyed the village and heard problems. Villagers were assured action. Three Pharmacists were posted; since there are no medicines in stock to distribute, services of Pharmacists are not being utilized properly.
Investment of Rs.1.75 crore was made on four water supply schemes (WSS) in Maniga However, supply of water is negligible. Two daily wagers are posted to oversee pipeline operation and supply. Water supplied is not clean without chemical treatment and proper filtering. Water from nallahs is diverted to the tank and pipeline for houses/street taps. Sometimes water in nallahs gets polluted by dead animals (dogs) or birds, or people use nallahs for washing clothes. The same polluted water is supplied through tank and pipelines. In absence of adequate and safe supply of drinking water by WSSs, villagers are forced to consume impure water fetched from nallahs directly, since ‘chashmas’ get dry in summer.
Village has one High School, three Middle Schools, and three Primary Schools. However, quality of education and facilities are inadequate for village in which 500 illiterate youth were misguided to turn to militancy in 1990. In 2011, High School registered zero per cent pass result of 10th class students. Out of 90 students, only six were registered for regular examination of State Board, and all failed. Other 84 students did not fill forms since they could not clear internal ‘golden test’ of school. Parents feel dissuaded even as students could drop-out and end-up in cattle grazing in forests. In 1990 these forest-pastures became feeding grounds of militancy by illiterate youth. Dismal state of classroom teaching and shortage of teaching staff are also reasons for poor performance. Student-teacher ratio is 50:1. TDS teachers are appointed; each teacher takes four-five subjects. Villagers submitted memorandum to the DEO in May-June 2013 and awaited action on posting of new teachers. The building of High School is basically a “goshala”. On the ground floor cows feed, roam and rest; on the first floor classes are conducted. Two rooms are in complete darkness without sunlight.
A basic problem reported is tendency of teachers to give good marks in internal examination of lower classes to show good result. Villagers demanded that such tendencies should be checked since weaknesses appear in higher classes (after 8th class). A few teachers were not reporting for duty properly and action was taken by district authority by suspension followed by reinstating. Some demands of teachers are genuine. Two teachers are compelled to teach English language subject though they are not competent with required degree. One teacher submitted that he could not teach English grammar; other teacher pleaded with excuse of having soar-throat; this led to dispute. For one month there were no classes in English subject; ultimately students suffered. Shortages of specialized teachers in various subjects are common in schools.
Areas of Karna and Macchal on LoC have got electric supply but villages of Kupwara block (particularly Maniga) do not have adequate and regular power supply. First phase of Rajiv Gandhi Vidutikaran Yojna (RGVY) scheme for rural electrification involved installation of poles, wires and transformers. Maniga is in total darkness. While parents are prepared to sell land for education of children, they have to study in light of ‘chulha’. There are no electric poles or wires. Slow pace of implementation of RGVY Scheme adds to the power woes of poor villagers. Solar lamps installed five-six years ago in 50% households are currently dysfunctional. Villagers use small LPG cylinder purchased in black market to lighten home lamps. Supply of kerosene oil for lighting kerosene lamp is badly affected by shortages. Though village is living in ‘dark age’ with school education miserable, it does not diminish villagers’ desire for setting up computer center (kiosk/ internet center). Maniga has 9000 youths of which 100 are matriculate and 10 graduates; 6000 youths live on wage-labor. The idea is to get connected by world-web.
Villagers desperately need link road from ‘Kashmiri Maniga basti’ to ‘Shalu Bhatta ‘basti’. Second link road constructed recently from Glasabzi to Bakh-Sabaya (6 km) is a narrow footpath though people had demanded motorized road. In 2012-13 a feasibility survey was conducted. Villagers submitted applications but are unaware about progress. Villagers suffer due to poor road connectivity. Pregnant women are taken to hospital on ‘charpoy’ (cot) by crossing nallahs, particularly from Bakh-Sabaya to Glasabzi. Maniga has three settlements on hills, separated up to 2-3 km. People demand settlements to be connected by internal roads. Shalu Bhatta, Sharkheli, Chakk and Khudar/Haji Nakka need inter-connectivity so that at least two-wheeler could be used. Patients are carried on shoulders to take them to city or health-center within village. Ration goods and other goods are also carried on head load as vehicle cannot move.
Around 250 militant youths from the village surrendered with assurance of leading a decent life. They are yet to get due services of police verification, compensation for rehabilitation/ mainstreaming, state acceptance, financial acceptance (bank loan for small trades/businesses), documentation service, etc. They are often maltreated in offices, police station. Overall environment for social mainstreaming of ex-militants is not congenial. Youths who surrendered are yet to find full state acceptance to lead a decent life. Sarpanch, an ex-militant, elected member of Panchayat reported that obstructions were faced in routine official matters and in taking ‘no objection certificate’ from police station for licensed weapon for self defense.
Villagers desperately need footbridges on all ‘nallahs’ -to go to town, school and ‘bastis’. Presently they have fixed wooden beams as temporary arrangement for crossing. Six people (school girls and a child) died due to falling in ‘Jumayri nallah’ that is the most dangerous to cross. Footbridges would connect ‘Sarkheli Patti’, ‘Vadpatti’ and ‘Sangepeer’ with ‘Shalu Bhatta’ and ‘Chakk’ basti. Panchayat submitted a project/design of motorized bridge with three pillars, as per BADP costing in 2012 for moving of vehicles. Files are moving. Villagers want freedom from protracted procedures causing delays. Development in Maniga is delayed by decades due to darkness, dismal quality of education, and almost complete absence of amenities.
(Author works for NABARD. Views expressed are personal)
Feedback:mohinder1966@gmail.com
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