Nari Adalat

1
October, 2012
Greetings!
With the eighth issue releasing this quarter I am pleased to inform you about
the unique initiatives taken by the government for its citizens which are both
inclusiveandpro- developmentinnature.
The cover story of this issue focuses on 'Tribal Development' and I would like
to tell you that our vision of “Collective Efforts, Inclusive Growth” has been
instrumental in shaping the lives of our tribal citizens. It gives me immense
pleasure to share with you how good and transparent governance can reach every
sphere of the society and ensure their growth and secured future. Our sustained
efforts in education, health, power supply, agriculture and many other sectors in
the tribal areas have brought them into the mainstream culture and have set a true
example of social inclusion. We have also included a special section on revisiting
'Mission Mangalam', a program which empowers women by providing them
financial independence. This issue covers the success of this novel initiative and
thepositivechangeithasbroughtinthelivesofthewomenof Gujarat.
Inclusive growth demands participation from even the marginalised sections
of society and good governance binds them together with leaders, government
machineryandcivilsociety.
I also need to tell you about the launch of innovative healthcare services for
the people of Gujarat. With the Mukhyamantri Amrutam Yojana BPL families in
thestatewillbeprovidedwithmedicalcarefor criticaldiseases freeofcost.
I have always believed that pro active measures help in anticipating events
that can affect the interests of people in the long . Hence the challenge lies in
creating a sustainable future with advanced planning and preventive action, our
recent visit to Japan has enforced this vision of having a consistent policy which
ensures confidence,growth andpridetothecitizensof Gujarat.
I hope you will find this edition an informative and enjoyable read and will
experienceaflavorofdevelopmentstakingplaceinthestate
Message from the CM
Jai Jai Garvi Gujarat
Narendra Modi
Chief Minister, Gujarat
VOL-2, ISSUE-4 October,2012
CHIEF EDITOR
V. Thiruppugazh
MANAGING EDITOR
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TEAM 'THE GUJARAT'
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Madhurima Mallik
Sahit Chirutapudi
Abhishek Shandilya
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Pranjal Srivastava
Sahil Jhingon
Dhaval Parmar
Kruthika Rao
Lenin Samuel
DESIGN & LAYOUT
Grey Orange Brand Pvt. Ltd.
DISTRIBUTION
Sharad Bumbadiya
Jayesh Dave
______________________
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Floor no 2, Block no 7, Old Sachivalaya,
Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India- 382010
All rights reserved. Any reproduction of this
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E-mail: thegujaratmagazine@gmail.com
An English Quarterly Magazine
THETHE

Index Quick Bites
2 3
October, 2012
Modelschools ineverydistrict
In a programme held in Gandhinagar as
a part of Teacher's Day celebrations on
September 5, 22 teachers of the state
were felicitated and prizes were
distributed. The Chief Minister also
interacted with around 1.5 crore
students and teachers of the schools
across the state via satellite broadcast.
On the occasion, the setting up of two
'smart schools', one eco-friendly 'green
school' and one 'sports school' in every
district as models was announced
Keeping in view the 125th birth
FodderCultivationEncouraged Benefits for Gujarati Cotton
A state cabinet meet held recently Farmers
reviewed the plans for fodder The Government announced a slew of
distribution and management in the initiatives under the policy that would
Saurashtra, Kutch and north Gujarat largely benefit the textile industry with
regions. Various schemes offering special focus on the cotton farmers. The
incentives for farmers and NGOs with a new policy ensures that the Gujarati
view to encourage fodder cultivation cotton farmers get better valuation at
were approved. It was decided to give the national and international markets.
It has also made provisions for`25 per animal per day to every
development through financialGaushala and cattle feeding houses
assistance, tax concessions andmanaged by NGOs/trusts.According to
infrastructuralsupport.spokespersons, at present fodder is
The new Textile Policy is expected tobeing distributed through 91 fodder
depots at the concessional rate of rupees attract investment of over `20,000
two per kilogram. So far, about 11 lakh crore, creating new employment
kilograms fodder has already been opportunities for over 25 lakh people,
distributed to cattle-breeders. 50 per cent of them being rural women,
Considering the need for more number over a period of the next five years.This
anniversary of Dr. Sarvapalliof fodder depots the government will
Radhakrishanan next year the Chiefform village clusters at the radius of 15
Minister called upon the teachers tokms. and will start new fodder depots
deliberate upon the ways to bring aboutthere.
all-round qualitative changes in the
primary education. He asked teachersEmphasis on Reading
to take the 125th birth anniversary ofThe Chief Minister announced a 30-day
Dr. Radhakrishnan as an opportunity tocelebration of 'Vivekanand Reading
strengthen the education system –Festival' in the primary schools of the
starting from this September 5, tostate from September 11. According to
September5,2013.him, the weak link among the children
of primary schools is the lack of reading
Encouragement to Gujarat'shabit. The Vivekananda Reading
Homeguardswill also increase the state's revenueFestival was held on September 11th
The allowance of 50,000 Men andand growth rate along with growth of2012 to encourage reading among
Women homeguards contributing tothetextileindustry.children.
Gujarat this quarter
October, 2012
Table of Contents
Success Story
Book Review
On a lighter note
Special Feature
In Focus
26 Mission Mangalam
Tracing success
30 Dholavira
31 Gujarat Luminaries
Jhaverchand Meghani
32 Fulfilling Ambitions
On Eklavya’s Path
34 Nari Adalats
36 Independence Day
37 Strengthening Relations
38 Photo Feature
Redefining Social Justice
CM visits Japan
Environment
In Conversation with
Travel
Arts & Culture
At a Glance
40 Blackbuck National Park
Model for Wildlife
Conservation
42 Sunita Avani Amin
On Dhrupad’s Depths
44 Patan-The Lost Capital
Rediscovering Anhilpur
46 The Stage of Bhavai
The elegant art of theatre
48 Upcoming Events
3 Quick Bites
Gujarat this Quarter
6 The Canopy Plantation
Livelihood Enhancement with
Forest Conservation
10 Security for the Urban Poor
Housing Initiatives
14 Mukhyamantri Amrutam (MA)
Making healthcare affordable
16 Business this Quarter
A snapshot of business news from
across Gujarat
18 Education
The key to Gujarat’s Development
20 Tribal Development
Paving the way for Social Inclusion
Government Initiatives
Business
Sector Analysis
Cover Story
Tribal Development (Page 20 - 25)
Call of the Wild
(Page 40 - 41)

Quick Bites
4 5
October, 2012 Quick Bites
Govind Guru, the martyrdom of the students of biotechnology actively greens along the riverAmbika attracted
heroes of the movement would be participated and benefited from the quite a number of visitors. Some of the
rememberedbythegenerations. event. events that were the part of the festival
were: Water sports, adventurous
UK review lauds Gujarat's PPP Call of the monsoons – Satpura activities, laser show, photography
projects Festival exhibition, heritage walk, cultural
A two-year review of the Indian The Satpura Monsoon Festival was evenings,foodfestival,contests,etc.
infrastructure sector conducted by held to celebrate the beauty of Satpura,
London's financial district lauds the called the Hill Station of Gujarat,
state's performance in implementing during the monsoon season. The lush
public-private partnership (PPP)
projects. It also gave credit to the
thriving investment environment and
emphasised that the state is 'fiscally
credible'. "In terms of financing,
Gujarat is in a strong position, having
emerged as a top investmentdestination
in India; the government is also fiscally
credible, meaning that payment risk is
consideredverylow," itsaid.
NationalBiotechnologySymposium
National Biotechnology Symposium
was organised at AMA's J.B.
Auditorium Hall in Ahmedabad on 1st
of September 2012. A galaxy of
eminent speakers from industry,
academia & regulatory bodies dwelt on
the theme of the Seminar - Innovations
in Biotechnology: From Education to
Industry. Over 500 delegates mainly
Mukhyamantri Amratum (MA) reduce Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and promoteinstitutionaldeliveries.
launched to provide poor patients with Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) and
health protection cover of upto `2 lakh
forthetreatmentofcriticaldiseases.
“Khilkhilat” is an unique initiative to
promote institutional deliveries in the
state. The “Khilkhilat” van would be
providing free of cost transport to the
mother and the new born from
Government Hospital to home after 48
hours of delivery. Also, the transport
would be provided for sick babies for
30 days after the birth. Along with this,
proper counseling will be given to the
mother for proper care of herself and
the baby. This is seen in the light to
Vivekananda's 150th birth anniversary, Van Mahotsav – of Environment,
the Sports Authority of Gujarat (SAG) Cultureand People
o r g a n i s e d a Wo m e n C h e s s This year Gujarat’s Van Mahotsav
championship in which women players celebrations were unique with the Chief
from across the state participated. Minister Narendra Modi announcing
Nearly 3,500 women chess players that the state would celebrate the
including 1,250 differently-abled Centenary of the tribal reformist
players gathered at Mahatma Mandir in Govind Guru's freedom movement
Gandhinagar for a day-long Swami against the British Rule in 1913 AD.
Vivekanand Mahila Chess Mahotsav This time, the Van Mahotsav celebrated
onMonday. not just the environment and forests,
but also the cultural heritage associated
Saurashtra Narmada Avataran with these. With the celebration of
Yojana
The Gujarat government has launched a
major Rs 10,000 crore scheme to divert
surplus Narmada river water into
Saurashtra's 115 dams. Known as the
Sauni Scheme (Saurashtra Narmadamaintenance of law & order in the state
Avataran Yojana), it will be used tohas been increased by upto 400%.
supply more than 1 million acre feet ofPreviously the daily allowance was
surplus Narmada water to fill up the`80, has now been increased to `200.
dams located in Saurashtra's sevenAdditionally, the homeguards are now
districts. This initiative was taken witheligiblefor a trainingallowanceof `200
the intention of dynamically changingper day and a mess allowance of `100
the status of irrigation led projects in the
perday.
Saurashtra area. The Chief Minister
also used the opportunity to encourage
VivekanandMahila Chess Mahotsav
the use of drip irrigation and desilting of
Organised
irrigation dams which at present are not
O n t h e o c c a s i o n o f S w a m i
inuse.
government decided to completely ban requested support from all sections of
the substance. The government the society to support it in creating
awareness about the ill effects of
Gutkha.
HealthcareSchemesLaunchedGutkhaMuktiAbhiyaan– Gujarat
The government launched importantfights cancer
healthcareschemesthisquarter–Gujarat imposed a comprehensive ban
Gujarat Medical Services Corporationon Gutkha consumption across the state
was inaugurated and would now befrom September 11th 2012 in a bid to
providing quality life-saving drugs, atfight oral cancer. It was on the same day
affordable rates – 569 life saving drugsin 1893 when Swami Vivekananda
are being provided free of cost. Thegave a soul stirring speech at the World
corporation would also provide goodParliament of Religions in Chicago.
quality medical equipement in a timelyGutkha consumption has led to many
andeffectivemanner.deaths due to oral cancer and the state
October, 2012
n
aB
no
Healthy Gujarat

Government Initiative October, 2012
he existence of forest
d e p e n d e n t t r i b a l
communities is oftenTinseparable from their surroundings
and their relationship with the forest is
one of nurturing and being nurtured.
The forest where they have historically
dwelled fulfills their everyday
requirements-fuel wood, food, fibre as
wellasameansoflivelihood.
by Sohnee Harshey &
Siddharth Gadvi
Government InitiativeOctober, 2012
7
cooperative and entrepreneurial spirit implemented in two new forestThe nation awoke to the gifts of the
and bring them to the sustainable level divisions- Narmada and Valsad Northhitherto unknown and unexplored
ofholistichumandevelopment. in 2011-12. This year (2012-13), theforests around the beginning of the last
First implemented in the Dangs in programme has been taken up in Valsadcentury. With this discovery also came
2010-11, the scheme was envisaged to South, Dahod, Vadodara and thethe exploitation of forest resources at
be expanded in phases. It was Panchmahals.the hands of different agencies. The
tribals, the original children of the
forest, could not cope up with this rapid
change.
In order to combat these conditions
and to revive the model of self-reliance
which was the essence of the tribal
existence, the State Forest Department
launched the Canopy Plantation
Programme.
Conceptualised in 2009, the
programme seeks to promote bio
diversity, ensure climate proofing,
promote disease resistance in plant
species and restore forest cover. At the
same time, it is also expected to act as a
socio economic umbrella over the
forest dependent tribals who can then
utilise the produce from the plantations
for income generation.The canopy thus
acts as a source of economic security
for the dependent population. It is
expected to provide multiplier benefits
especially to the Below Poverty Line
(BPL) tribal population in the state of
Gujarat.
The programme in its entirety
nourishes basic tenets of democracy,
wherein citizens are instrumental in
ushering positive change in their own
lives. The idea is to catalyse their latent
6
The Canopy Plantation ProgrammeThe Canopy Plantation Programme
Integrating Livelihood Enhancement with Forest Conservation
Canopy plantations are essentially plantations under
which all plant forms such as trees, shrubs, herbs and
climbers are grown together to give a forest with more
species and product diversity. It represents a symbiotically
integrated multi-canopy forest capable of providing socio-
economic security to local people along with achieving the
objectives of bio-diversity augmentation and ecological
conservation.
Stepsoftheprocess
»
»
»
Since the expected results include reduced drop-out rate of
children from schools and reduced migration, the Canopy
Plantation Programme will definitely prove advantageous to the
community in the long run. Evoking ownership for the Programme
among the tribal community was thus a prerequisite in the nascent
stage.
To achieve this, interaction between the Presidents of few Joint
ForestManagementCommittees(legallyconstitutedvillagelevel
bodies functioning in sync with the forest department for
protection and regeneration of forests) and the local tribal
leaders was encouraged, which helped in acquainting the tribal
populationwiththeideaofCanopyPlantation.
In preparation for smooth execution, meetings of officials of the
forest department were held and suggestions from various
stakeholders were incorporated. The scheme was implemented
infewpocketsoftheDangsDistrictin2010.
In2011,athirdpartyreviewoftheschemewasundertaken,after
which it was gradually expanded to Valsad, Narmada and other
districtswithpredominantlyforestsdependentpopulations.
JFM, Communication Co-ordinators
Forests and Environment Department

Within the first 6 months of its been generated so far. The table below the programme is highly replicable and
implementation the project proved to shows the division-wise income yields good results irrespective of the
be a winner, largely due to its ingenious generated through Canopy Plantation area. The tailor-made programme
design. Approximately 1500 hectare of in four divisions-Dangs North and which promotes indigenous species
land under canopy plantation in 91 South,NarmadaandValsadNorth. also ensures that the local population is
villages in the state has become a source Since the nature of the plantation is not alienated from the gains of the
of income for the local population. uniform in implementation and yet plantation. Moreover, the plantation
localized in terms of choice of 'canopy', has already been successfullyIncome to the tune of over `3 crore has
implemented both on forest land as well
as on private lands. Since 2010-11, the
programme's outreach has expanded
from 3 to 10 Forest Divisions and 426 to
1337hectaresthisyear(2012-13).
Forward market linkages are being
established for the products too.
Marketing of the products is done
through existing local channels with the
Forest Department giving leverage to growth and environmental protection
the local people to sell their products at have to go hand in hand. Increasingly,
competitive prices. Once the we shall understand that, with smart
plantations attain maturity, it is planned public policies, governments can grow
that these plantation will be tied up to their economies, alleviate poverty,
larger firms willing to purchase fruits, create decent jobs and accelerate social
vegetables and other products in bulk progress in a way that respects and
wherein, the local population will be conserves the earth's finite natural
interacting directly with the market and resources.
pricing their products suitably. In
addition to this, certain processes are
already underway to brand these forest
productswiththehelpofspecialists.
The Canopy Plantation Programme
also marks a paradigm shift from the
usual afforestation works taken up by Canopy Plantation Programme
the Forest Department in the way of recognises the plural nature of
integrating normal territorial forestry deprivation, and therefore attempts to
with social forestry. The success of the provide a solution that is integrated and
programme is based on convergence pluralinnature.
with various other government Another remarkable aspect of this
schemes and programmes for programme is that it addresses both the
employment guarantee, afforestation, ecological as well as economic
watershedetc. concerns of society. As Ban Ki Moon,
The Programme stimulates the the Secretary-General of the United
feeling of community participation and Nations has said, we must begin to
community development. Through create a model for a 21st century
canopy plantations, people are helped economy that rejects the myth that there
to acquire capabilities for living their must be a zero-sum trade-off between
life with minimum deprivation. The growth and the environment, meaning
8
ForestDivision Numberof Area(ha.) Numberofbeneficiary Total Income generated over five
villagescovered families monthperiodin2011-12(`)
DangsNorth 13 470 223 9,22,260
DangsSouth 12 355 186 6,63,969
Narmada 55 (200+289.80*) 341 12,85,33,302
489.80
ValsadNorth 11 190 459 2,47,200
TOTAL 91 1504.8 4279 3,03,66,731
Division-wise data of income generated from Canopy Plantation Scheme
9
* 289.80 ha. of non forest private lands covered by the programme in Narmada district.
Approximately 1500
hectare of land under canopy
plantation in 91 villages in the
state has become a source of
income for the local population
generating income of over ` 3
crores
Planting Hope : Tribal women taking part in Canopy plantation
We must begin to create a
model for a 21st century
economy that rejects the myth
that there must be a zero-sum
trade-off between growth and
theenvironment
- Ban Ki Moon
Secretary-General of
the United Nations
Canopy Plantation – a holistic approach to blend conservation and economic development
Change in mindset
alongwith reduced
dependence on forests
Forest Regeneration
Increased production
of Medicinal plants
and fruit tress
Development of
Communities
Increased Income

benefits, especially improvement of the
HumanDevelopmentIndex(HDI).
As per 2001 census, Gujarat is the
seventh largest state in area and the
tenth largest in population. It has
witnessed a growth rate of 33% in
urbanization as compared to 21% in the
entire country during 1991-2001.
ffordable Housing is a Nearly 77 % of the fast growing SGDP
basic human need, and thus (State Gross Domestic Product) is
Aan important responsibility contributed by urban areas where there
of a welfare State. Several Government is a growing demand for housing,
initiatives have focused on integrating housing finance, and supporting
affordable housing into the growth infrastructure. On account of rapid pace
process. The housing sector is vital of urbanization, Gujarat is facing a
since it is one of the major boosters of challenge of checking haphazard
the overall economy leading to multiple growth of slums and ensuring that the
rising population in cities has access to
affordable housing. The rapid
urbanization has also brought a
significant shift in the occupational and
lifestyle profiles of the people residing
an urban area. In order to tackle these
challenges, effective steps have been
taken.
To begin with, 2.5 lakh houses have
been approved during 11th five year
plan for the urban poor in Gujarat.Also,
Town Planning (TP) schemes have
reserved up to 10 percent for socially
and economically weaker section
(SEWS) housing. Further, the
Government of Gujarat framed the
Regulations for Rehabilitation and
Redevelopment of Slums 2010 policy
in order to provide slum dwellers clean
and pucca houses and to rehabilitate
slums by incentivising private
developers. Seven slum sites in
11
Ahmedabad have been approved for
construction of 2,650 dwelling units
located atAmbawadi, Khokhara ,Vasna
and Amriwadi. According to the
provisions of the Regulations for
ResidentialTownships 2009.
5% land is to be reserved for the
economically weaker section housing
and additional 5% of the consumed FSI
(Floor Space Index)is to be reserved for
the service provider class such as
drivers , domestic helps etc. Additional
support is provided for the construction
of dwelling units for slum dwellers
under centrally sponsored schemes. A
total of 79,750 dwelling units and 3,800
units have been constructed out of the
approved 1,13,488 under BSUP (Basic
Services to the Urban Poor) in mission
cities and 27,859 under IHSDP
(Integrated Housing and Slum
Development Programme) in small and
mediumtownrespectively
In addition to providing housing to
slum dwellers the State Government from the economically weaker section stock which is also cost effective due to
has also felt the need for creating an to HIG (Higher Income Group) in the ease of construction, and low
affordable housing stock (a number of 12thfiveyearplan(2012to2017). maintenance cost resulting from the
residential units). Therefore, the UD (Urban Development) & UH
Gujarat housing board has been given TechnicalInnovation (Urban Housing) Departments'
the mandate of providing two lakh Innovative technologies are being decision to issue technology neutral
housing units in all categories ranging adopted in construction of housing tenders for the economically weaker
section housing projects. Monolithic
construction (construction with
concrete with everything cast in the
same time) technique in prefabricated
technology with framed structure has
been used widely for construction of
affordable housing stock. For ex: AMC
(Ahmedabad municipal corporation)
has used the low maintenance and easy
to use Aluminium foam based mascon
technology while precast units used by
the waffle technology is utilised by
AnandMunicipality.
InitiativesforUrban poor
Gujarat has witnessed steady
economic growth during the 10th five
year plan (2002 to 2007) in almost all
sectors of the economy. The
overwhelming response seen in the
Vibrant Gujarat Global investors has
reaffirmed the growing confidence of
private sector investors. Various towns
and cities have attracted nearly 70% of
10
Security for the Urban Poor
Housing and other initiatives taken by the state
by Mona Kandhar I.A.S
Secretary
Department of Urban Development
and Urban Housing
Challenges
»
»
»
»
Land in urban areas are
expensive and not easily
available
A lot of slum is located on
privateland
There are serious issues of
cost overrun which ULBs
(Urban Local Body) find
difficulttotackle.
There is not enough
interest among developers
contractors.
Land available for 216.63
development
Preliminary 72.10 26.05
TPS)
Final TPS 82.42 36.06
Total 154.52 62.11
Land in TPS which 464.47 103.33 567.80
are under approval
Grand Total 618.99 165.44 784.43
Municipal Development Total
Corporation Authority (in Ha)
1
2
3
Town
Planning Schemes (
LAND RESERVED FOR URBAN POOR
Garib Kalyan Mela : Realising dreams of unprivileged

theinvestmentinandaroundthem. integratedmannerfrom2007 Highlights of the schemes for the
Urbanization in Gujarat is well The scheme envisages a holistic Urban Poor
above the national average at 42.6% approach for providing better standard
and is estimated that it would reach of living at par with urban populace, by UMEED (Motivation, Employment,
50% by the end of the year 2021. This coordinating and integrating various Entrepreneurship, and Development
would create a higher demand on programmes undertaken by different for Urban Poor)
existing available basic infrastructure Departments. The scheme is aimed at UMEED is an innovative idea of skill
facilities, and basic services which even the overall development of urban poor, development through training of urban
presently requires further augmentation by providing opportunities for poor youth keeping in mind the need of
andintegration permanent employment, by upgrading the market in a particular area, so that
It is in this context the Government employment generation skills, ensuring employment of youth can be ensured. It
mandateda 20% reservationin all funds better health and proper nutrition, aims at providing a platform where
and grants to the urban local bodies for providing shelters and adequate basic employable youth can be trained.
the purpose of enhancing urban basic infrastructure facilities for up gradation Young men and women aged between
infrastructure in the slum areas. The of shelter like roads and electricity and eighteen and thirty five, from poor and
Government of Gujarat has decided to other essential amenities with a strong vulnerable families can become part of
implement “Garib Samrudhi Yojana” focusonempoweringwomen UMEED Programme. UMEED
across concerned departments in an training is completely based on market
13
needs. The market scan is a detailed
understanding of the requirements at
the local level through interactions with
leaders and heads of industry. The State
Government has planned to establish
UMEED centersineachMunicipality.
SJSSRY (Swarna Jayanti Shahari
RozgarYojna)
This scheme aims at alleviating urban
poverty by providing employment to
the urban unemployed by encouraging
them to set up self-employment
ventures. Also, it plans to empower
community in tackling the issue of
urban poverty by promoting self-
managed community structures like
Neighbourhood Groups (NHGs),
Neighbourhood Committees (NHCs),
Community Development Society
(CDS), etc.
Themaincomponentsofthisschemeare:
Urban Self Employment Program
(USEP)
NirmalGujrat 11th year plan (2007-2012) `167.18
Urban Women Self Employment Fully funded by the State Government, crore were allocated towards the
Program(UWSP) this scheme aims at constructing construction of 3,79,887 units.While in
community and individual toilets for the 12th five year plan allocation ofUrban Women Self Help Program
poor families. A subsidy of `4,500 is `191.25crorehasbeenproposed.(UWSP)
provided to the beneficiary for the
Urban wage Employment construction of such toilets. During the
Programme(UWE)
»
»
»
»
12
people think” explained a young man, Payal and Pari, who flashed a huge relationships. Just few days ago,
who works as a welder, whose balcony smile,themomenttheyspottedus. Nileshbahi's boss visited his house,
has over half a dozen tulsi plant pots. Right next to the school is a small, such an event might have embarrassed
“The atmosphere is very different when but a busy clinic run by Manishbhai, a him earlier, but now as he gave his boss
you stay in a shanty, here people health worker from the Ahmedabad a cup of chai, he felt a sense of growing
understand that they can become better Municipal Corporation. The clinic is dignityheadmitted.
and have a good life” he added with a also visited by a doctor thrice a week. On our way back we again bumped
smile. “Along with providing health care, I into Payal and Pari who were playing
Any residential complex is also supervise the hygiene and living “Hopscotch“under the watchful eye of
incomplete without an educational conditions in the complex” he added. many elders sitting outside by the
institution. Right in the heart of the He recently had sent a sample of pavement, as the sun set behind them .
complex is a kindergarten school. drinking water, which was severely “Earlier it was difficult to send my
Pramilaben, a cheerful lady with a contaminated to AMC, resulting in daughters out to play till late, but I now
ready smile is the teacher, who looks promptactionfromthecorporation. know that they are safe”, he said with a
after the facility and the students. “I Many of the resident youths have smile.
teach them to read and write and our been able to secure good jobs and bank
facility also doubles up as an loans based on the residence proof that
Anganwadi” she said. Two of the they now possess. Many talk about
students were Nileshbhai's daughters, increased self esteem and better social
buildings,neatlydividedbylanes.
Nileshbhai's house is on the top
floor. On entering his house, one sees a
clean and smartly furnished house. A
colour T.V adorns the wall next to the
door and a midsized couch has been
positioned right in front of it. Pretty“My daughters can play freely here”
little wall hangings and drawing madesaid Nileshbhai, a mild mannered
by Nileshbhai's younger daughter Paridriver, who works for a private firm.
hang on the walls. This family of fourPreviously a resident of a shanty by the
seems quite comfortable in their newSabarmati River now is a proud owner
1BHK home. His wife walked in to theof a house. Many like Nileshbhai, who
hall and gave us a bottle of cool waterused to reside in slums, have been given
from a fridge hidden from our sight.a new lease of life, thanks to Shaheri
The sight is more or less the same inGareebAwaasYojana.
most of the other houses. It becomesOne of the housing complexes
hard to believe that these families at oneunder the Shaheri Gareeb Awaas
timelivedinSlums.Yojana is located in Ahmedabad. The
“Environment changes the waycomplex has 32, four storeyed
Building Dreams
A Home Full of Happiness : Taking care of the poor
StateInitiatives
»
»
»
»
Landreservation inTPschemes&ResidentialTownship2009 forEWS
SlumNetworkingProjectisimplementedin Ahmedabad&Barodafroinfrastructureupgradation
Encouraging PPP by granting array of incentives in regulation for the slum rehabilitation &
redevelopment2010 andregulationforResidentialTownship2009
Raisedstateassistancefrom10,000 to 45,000forIHSDPproject

members of the family. Further, the coverageof`2,00,000perfamily.
scheme also includes a provision for The Department of Health and
transport allowance that will amount to Family Welfare, Government of
Gujarat will select private hospitals`300 per visit subjected to an annual
which will offer services as part of thisceiling of `3,000. The transport
scheme and they will be referred to asallowance is also part of the total
ealthcare services are one
of the most fundamental
requirements of a society,Hbut they remain largely beyond the
reach of the masses due to sheer
affordability factors. Alarge number of
households are pushed into poverty as a
result of the expenditure incurred on
health care. The situation is worsened
in case of BPL (Below Poverty Line)
families. To address this vulnerability
faced by the BPL population in the
state, the Government of Gujarat
launched a medical care scheme
–Mukhyamantri Amrutum (MA)
–which will provide free treatment and
cover medical care targeted at the BPL
population.
The Scheme will improve access to
healthcare for BPL families. BPL
families will now be able to avail
quality medical and surgical care for
treatment of identified diseases
involving hospitalisation, surgeries and
therapies through an empaneled
network of health care providers. The
s c h e m e m e e t s e x p e n s e s o f
hospitalisation and surgical procedures
of the beneficiary members up to
`2 lakh per family of five members per
year. The benefit on family will be on
f l o a t e r b a s i s i . e . t h e t o t a l
reimbursement of `2 lakh can be
availed individually or collectively by
P.K. Taneja I.A.S
Principal Secretary and Commissioner
Health and Medical Services and Education
15
the Network Hospitals. The state
government has tied up with 47 private
hospitals till now and the network is yet
toexpand.
The beneficiaries of the scheme are
BPL Families of the 26 districts of
Gujarat. According to a recent
enumeration made by the Rural and
Urban Development Department, there
are approximately 39 lakh BPLfamilies
inallthedistrictsoftheState.
According to the guidelines of the
scheme a BPL family consists of the
head of the family, spouse, and up to
three dependents. The dependents will
include such members as listed as part
of the family in the beneficiarydatabase
provided by the Rural and Urban
D e v e l o p m e n t D e p a r t m e n t ,
Gandhinagar.
An enrolled BPL beneficiary will
have to go to any Network Hospital A “State Nodal Cell” has also been
with a Bar Coded Plastic Card and can set up by the Government of Gujarat,
avail free services for the procedures for the implementation of this pan-
covered under the Scheme which Gujarat scheme. This cell will
include cardiovascular surgeries, implement, establish, provide,
neurosurgeries, cancer, neo-natal administer, modify and supervise the
diseases etc. In addition, any illnesses Mukhyamantri Amrutum (MA), thus
existing prior to the inception of the ensuring effective delivery to the
schemewillalsobecovered. beneficiaries.
14
The Scheme will improve
access to healthcare for BPL
families. BPL families will now
be able to avail quality medical
andsurgicalcare
MUKHYAMANTRI AMRUTAM (MA)
Making healthcare affordable
20 Khilkhilahat vans were flagged on the occasion. Like theHealthcareserviceslaunchedinthestate
108 ambulances these new service-vans too have beenOn the fourth of
launched in collaboration with GVK EMRI (a non-profitSeptember, the
organisation). It has been planned that 124 of them will bestate government
launchedinaphasedmannertocoverthestate.launched three
Also, GMSC will start four depots at Gandhinagar, Patan,h e a l t h c a r e
Amreli, Surat and Jamnagar, now under the jurisdiction ofschemes at an
the Central Medical Store Organisation (CMSO), thusevent held at the
decentralizing the system of drug-delivery. The stateMahatma Mandir
government plans to set up one depot between two districtsin Gandhinagar. Mukhyamantri Amrutam Yojana,
and add 7 more depots under the corporation. These depotsKhilkhilahat Yojana and the Gujarat Medical Services
willsupplyallopathicaswellasayurvedicmedicines.Corporation (GMSC), mentioned in the 2012 State Budget
wereofficiallyannouncedbytheChiefMinister. Speaking on the occasion the Health Minister said, “The
present State government has allocated three times moreMukhya Mantri Amrutam Yojana is a `200 crore project
budget for expanding the reach of health services. Even asaimed at providing free medical treatment upto `2 lakh to
the lifesaving drugs are easily available in governmentBPL families. Khilkhilahat Yojana is to ensure safe transport
dispensaries, the setting up of Gujarat Medical Servicefor new-borns and their mothers post-delivery and the
Corporation will add impetus in providing wider availabilityGMSC is to ensure distribution and availability of life-saving
ofmedicines”drugsthroughoutthestate.
Inclusive healthcare : Medical cover of `2 lakh for poor families

Business October, 2012 BusinessOctober, 2012
1716
during the next five years period. This
will also increase the state's revenue
and growth rate along with growth of
thetextileindustry.
Dahej features again among top 50
SEZs
Contributing around `900 crores to
exports and employing around 27,000
people Gujarat's Dahej is the 26th top
global free zone according to a survey
conducted by fDi magazine (Financial
Times). Last year Dahej was 25th on the
list.The other free zones included in the
list are located in 24 different countries,
with Dahej being the only one in India.
The 1732 hectare multi-project SEZ at
Dahej has been set up by the Gujarat
government arm of GIDC (Gujarat
Industrial Development Corporation)
in collaboration with ONGC (Oil and
Natural Gas Corporation, Government
of India).As many as 68 units have been
allottedplotsinDahej.
26 MoUs signed between industries
and ITIs
At the Industry Responsive Skills
Convention held at Mahatma Mandir in
Gandhinagar recently; 26 new MoUs
over the existing 119 were signed
between the ITIs and industries. This
among others is a major step taken
towards employment generation in the
state. It was stressed that imparting skill
development training through a public-
tap the investment potential and forge duringthisvisit. private-partnership (PPP) model is one
business partnerships with prospective of the highest priorities of the state in
firms even as setting up a permanent Gujarat Launches new Textile the quest of eliminating unemployment
trade office at Ahmedabad is emerging Policy,2012 from Gujarat.The state government has
asastrongpossibility. The Government announced a slew of already taken major initiatives such as
Scottish Development International initiatives under the new policy that up gradation of ITIs, setting up of 20
(SDI), a government organisation met would largely benefit the textile superior technology training centres,
120 representatives of leading industry with special focus on the introducing about 1074 skill
companies based out of Gujarat like cotton farmers. The new policy ensures development and training courses and a
Torrent Group, L&T, Equilibrium, that the Gujarati cotton farmers get new skill generation training centre
Pandit Deendayal Petroleum better valuation at the national and network under the PPP model. The
University etc to check whether there international markets. It has also made convention, meant to be a precursor to
are business opportunities around provisions for development through the Global Investors' Summit 2013,
multiple sectors for Scottish companies financial assistance, tax concessions was jointly organised by the state's
inGujarat. andinfrastructuralsupport. Industries Department, iNDEXTb and
Ahigh level business delegation visit of The new Textile Policy is expected to theIndustriesAssociation.
20 members from Scotland to Gujarat is attract investment of over `20,000
expected towards the end of the crore, creating new employment
year Substantial investments and opportunities for over 25 lakh people,
partnerships are expected to take shape 50 per cent of them being rural women,
Gujarat allocates `400 crore for
tourismpromotion
Gujarat has allocated `400 crore for
promotion of tourism in the state for the
current fiscal year.The amount includes
`120 crore as grant which has been
approved by the Planning Commission
fortheyear 2012-13.
According to Mr Sanjay Kaul, IAS,
Commissioner and Managing Director,
Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Ltd,
the funds will be utilised to develop and
improve infrastructure in several key
touristlocations.
“The Planning Commission has
approved `1,200 crore for Gujarat
tourism to promote coastal tourism in
the current Plan period till 2017. We
have drawn up major plans to promote
tourism in the state and the grant will
help us achieve our goals,” he told
newspersons at a road show organised
topromotetourism.
Gujarat Gas gets nod for pipeline
project
Gujarat Gas Company Ltd had received
authorisation for its Hazira-
Ankleshwar natural gas pipeline from
the Petroleum and Natural Gas
Of the 227 PPP projects worth over site and developers are constructing oneRegulatoryBoard.
floor every week. 25 floors have been`68,000 crore under operation in IndiaThe provisional system capacity and
completed already and it is hoped thatas of December 2011, Gujaratextra capacity for this pipeline shall be
theopeningwouldhappensoon.accounted for about 31 completed PPPequal to 5.06 mmscmd (million metric
The two towers are located in the non-projects worth over `24,000 crore. Thestandard cubic metre per day) and 1.265
SEZ area or domestic service area ofstudy was titled 'Inclusive Growthmmscmd, respectively, the company
GIFT City. However, the governmentthrough PPP Policy Imperatives' andsaid in a filing with the stock
envisages setting up an Internationalwas released by ASSOCHAM Gujaratexchanges.
Financial Services Centre (IFSC)StateCouncil.
withintheGIFTSEZ.Gujarat tops in Public Private
The SEZ Board ofApproval (BoA) hadTwo towers of GIFT City to bePartnership (PPP) projects under
approved the proposal of GIFTSEZ Ltdlaunchedoperation
- in November 2011, for setting up of anThe construction of first two towersGujarat has garnered the maximum
IFSC in the notified SEZ near(each having 30 storeys) at Gujaratshare of about 36% in the total number
Gandhinagar.International Financial Tech-Cityof completed projects put to service
(GIFT City) is likely to get completeddelivery under the public-private
Scottish firms plan to invest insoon and the government is planning topartnership (PPP) model, according to a
Gujaratoffer spaces to occupants in the towersstudy undertaken by The Associated
A large number of Scottish companiesassoon asitiscompleted.Chambers of Commerce and Industry
will be making a beeline for Gujarat toThe construction is in full swing at theofIndia(ASSOCHAM).
&
BUSINESS
NEWS
( Source : iNDEXTb, September 2012)

Sector Analysis October, 2012
education has been introduced to The increase in the number of
standard six and seven students and students also leads to the need for
over 22,000 primary schools have been qualified teachers. By adopting a
provided with computers. The state transparent, merit-based, on-line
recruitment procedure, 86,823 newgovernment has invested `1,000 crore
primary teachers were employed in thein computer infrastructure and
ne has to concede to the last decade. Also a new cadre ofprovided one 42 inch LCD screen in all
point that education has primary school headmasters wassecondary schools and 21,000 upper
played a key role in created and 5,000 such headmastersprimaryschools.OGujarat's success in every field in the were appointed. Fifty per cent of themThe infrastructure upgradation has
past decade. The education sector in were appointed through thebeen supported by massive enrollment
Gujarat has seen a sea change with the government approved teacher'sdrives through programmes like the
literacy rate increasing from 69.14 % in aptitude test and the remaining 50 perKanya Kelavani Rathyatra and Shaala
2001 to 79.31% in 2011. The female cent through promotions. The statePraveshotsav (for the support of girl
literacy rate in the last decade has gone government has also created the Indianchild enrollment). These programmes
up by 12.93%, a figure of achievement Institute of Teacher Education (IITE)have reduced primary school drop-out
which is one and a half times more than with the aim of preparing high qualityrates from 38.92 per cent in 2001 to
the achievement of the previous teachers. IITE has started with initial7.56 per cent in 2011.Also to encourage
decade. The schemes initiated by the intake capacity of 100 students per yeargirl child enrollment into schools the
educationdepartmenthave truly led to a and offers a 4 year B.Ed program to theVidhyalakshmi Bonds were introduced
complete turnaround in the way the teachersoftomorrow.in 2003, according to which, bonds
importance of education is perceived in The state Government has started aworth `2000 are given for every BPL
thestate. new initiative called 'Gunotsav to
evaluate the quality of primary schools.
Focuson PrimaryEducation In this annual exercise, the entire
Gujarat has over 32,700 panchayat bureaucracy, i.e. officers of all the
and grant-aid primary schools. Around Government departments are involved.
80,750 new classrooms have been A group of 3,000 class 2 (and above)
constructed over the past ten years with officers and all ministers visit schools
the aim of ensuring one classroom each and spend one full day in a school to
for every teacher. The state can now examine teaching conditions, creating
boast of 100 per cent drinking water enormousaccountability.
facilities in primary schools. Nearly
62,000 new toilet blocks have also been SecondaryEducation Reforms
constructed and 18,513 primary In Gujarat most of the schools used
schools now have compound walls to (Below Poverty Line) girl child to be in the grant-in-aid sector,
ensuresafety. enrolled into school. On completion of Governments run schools were few.
Another major step taken by the standard seven, the bond money along But in the last decade, the number of
government is the electrification of with interest is handed over as an government secondary schools from a
primary schools. Gujarat now has 100 incentive to pursue secondary mere 140 in 2001 has increased to 744
per cent electrification in all in 2011. Some of the major initiativeseducation. Funds amounting to `115.48
government schools with the for quality enhancement in secondarycrore have already been distributed
expenditure on power being borne by level are: introduction of semesterunder this scheme to 11,84,655 girl
the state government. Computer system from class 9, introduction ofbeneficiaries.
Sector AnalysisOctober, 2012
19
comprehensive and continuous engineering has also significantly risen. and vocational training courses. Close
evaluation, change in pattern of Board Staying ahead of the demand, the to 1,86,000 youth have received
examination etc. Incidentally Gujarat Government has also increased seats vocational training through these
has chosen not to abolish Board exams for degree and diploma engineering in initiatives. Also to increase the
in Std 10, but has made this exam rote- Government Engineering Colleges. knowledge of the English language
free, to test students' understanding of Total seats in professional colleges among Gujarati youth, the state
thesubject. have increased from 22,475 to government has started SCOPE (The
Another key initiative for students, 1,38,740, while the seats available in Society for Creation of Opportunity
who have taken the unconventional Government and Grant-in-aid colleges through Proficiency in English)
route to higher secondary school, is the have also gone up from 13,470 to programs. Over two lakh students have
state government's decision to allow 33,955 in the last decade. In the acquired proficiency in English so far
diploma students from Industrial Government and grant-in-aid colleges throughthisinitiative.
Training Institutes (I.T.I) to seek students can study by paying just To sum up, these initiatives by the
admissions in any of the graduate nominal fees. Students belonging to state government in the education sector
degree courses. The Government has Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) clearly indicate that students are
announced a major policy of declaring avail 5 per cent reservation in provided support at every step in their
equivalenceofITIwithSSC andHSC. engineering and pharmacy courses. academic endeavours. From school
While students whose family annual enrollment incentives to providing
HigherandTechnicalEducation training to teachers on the latestincome is less than `2.5 lakh or who are
The number of Universities in the pedagogical practices, discussions onhandicapped and have secured
state has increased from 11 in 2001 to curriculum to enhance the quality ofadmission in a technical course through
around 45 in 2011.Over 9 lakh students education to job fairs and Englishmerit the tuition fee is waived. Over
are pursuing college education now as speaking courses- the state takes care of24,700 students have been provided
opposed to nearly half that number a everyrequirementofaGujaratistudent.freeeducationunderthisscheme.
decade ago. Number of students To address matters of employment
applying for technical courses like the state government organises job fairs
18
EducationThe key to Gujarat's development story
By Dr Hasmukh Adhia I.A.S
Principal Secretary
Department of Education
The education sector in
Gujarat has seen a sea change
with literacy rate increasing
from 69.14 % in 2001 to 79.31 %
in 2011; female literacy rate in
the last decade has gone up by
12.93%

Cover Story October, 2012 Cover StoryOctober, 2012
2120
Tribal DevelopmentTribal Development
Paving the way for Social Inclusion
the massive machinery of development.
`15,000 crores is the amount that the
Gujarat government had allocated
under the Tribal Sub plan during the
evelopment has always Eleventh Five year plan, against this an
been a sterile term when aggregate of over `17,000 crores has
Dlooked from the point of already been spent. To keep the
view of mere numbers and statistics. momentum on, the government has
Real development can only be seen sanctioned a plan to allocate a further
when it reflects in people's lives. `40,000 crores for the next five years.
Gujarat's, tribal population reflects
The highest amount ever allocated prior
such a change.Aconversation with any
to this was `4997 crores in the Tenth
tribal clearly highlights the progress
Five year plan. Implemented on a
they are undergoing. Talk to an old
mission mode, the task that the
school principal and he will introduce
government has taken up is in its
you to teachers who were formerly
fundamental nature a task to radically
students from the same school, meet a
uplift the standard of living of the tribal
bike rider and he will start chatting
community.
about his new found knowledge about
bike engines. Wherever one travels
The Special Purpose Vehicle- D-
through the tribal belt, one can meet
SAG
people talking about a change. Change
Innovation has been a constant buzz
that is just not random boon of
word in this programme. In order to
development, but a change that is the
reduce decision making time, the
resultofstate'sfocusedaction.
government setup an autonomous body,
It is seen in the life of a qualified
archery coach, who did all his
schooling in an ashramshala; in the life
of a father, whose son is a doctor; in the
life of a woman, who has become the
medium of change in her village. Such
arethemanystories.
Behind all these stories is the major
steptaken by the government. Every
tarmac road, bridge, school is a sign of
by Lenin Samuel

Cover Story October, 2012
plans and implemented them
successfully. At present around
1,47,000 hand pumps have been
installed in the 12 tribal dominated
districts, with the highest number being
in Dahod, followed by Valsad. The
government has seen to it that there is
one pump for every 50 tribal citizens.
At spots where the habitation had low
and scattered population the
government introduced a more
advanced UNICEF approved India
Mark II level handpump has
revolutionised water supply and
storage in the tribal belt. With the
capacity to discharge water upto 6
meters above the ground level it has
facilitated water storage in tanks. A
handpump has the ability to fill up an
800litretankinaround1hr.
Earlier handpumps were plagued
with the problem of sick bore wells.
They were borewells which went dry
and hence had to be recharged. In order
which was given the responsibility of about 50% of rural tribal households to resolve this issue, the government
identifying projects for the programme, relied on hand pumps and as per a has invested heavily in bore well
timely disbursal of funds and selection survey conducted by the water recharging techniques.As of now 5,500
of implementing partners. Equipped department in the year 2002 only 4% of sick borewells have been recharged.
with qualified and efficient personnels, households had tap connections within This technique has made sustenance of
D-SAG (Development SupportAgency their house. Drudgery was a nagging the available water supply system
of Gujarat) has spearheaded many of problem; the 2001 census states that extremelyeasy.
Vanbhandhu Kalyan Yojana's core 70% households had the nearest water The approach towards the idea of
activities: modernisation of agriculture, source at around a distance of 500 m, providing sustainable water supply has
skill development and education. while 25% of the households had to been grounded on downright
D-SAG is the reason for speedy labour for miles before they reached pragmatism and innovation. The
implementation and informed their source of water. The concept of government involved its main
improvisation of the projects as per the providing piped water becomes more stakeholders, i.e the tribal communities
needonthefield. challenging when one comes face to in the decision making process. The
face with the unique manner in which a celebrated “Pani Samitis” were formed
Watersupply tribal settlement is structured. Rarely as bodies of the Gram Panchayat to look
Reliable Water supply throughout does one find a cluster of houses; after the planning and implementation
the year has been a problem in the Tribal instead we have sparsely populated of the village water supply system. Out
belt due to its hilly topography. Even hamlets where houses are generally of the 5,164 tribal villages, Pani Samitis
though it receives the highest amount of 500-700metersapart have been formed in 5,012 and have
rainfall in the state, the terrain does not In order to tackle this situation the efficiently shouldered responsibilities
serve to the purpose of saving water government came up with an array of ofthewatersystem.
either by increasing the ground water An important quality of good
level or creating perennial rivers. During governance is its ability to accept
the monsoon, large swollen rivers with unique conditions and respond to it. In
strong currents are a norm, only to sync with the states progressive power
disappear by summer. The Situation was policy, the government has installed
rather grave, with cases of severe about 290 solar pumps. These pumps
drudgery and lack of good quality are effective at remote tribal habitations
drinkingwater. where the task of electrification is
The 2001 census indicates that challenging. Besides being environment
Cover StoryOctober, 2012
23
operation in the state including the Connectivity brought jobs, wealth and
tribal belt, the declining trend of ground education. “You might not notice that
water level has been considerably bike rider who passed by because you
arrested. are from the city, but for us it is a
All these effective steps have led to testimonyofprogress”hesaid.
a sea change in the water supply Such changes can be brought about
scenario in the tribal belt.At present the only due to government's heavy
state can boast of providing “direct to investment in this sector. An amount of
home water supply service” to over `710 crores has been allocated by the
41% tribal families, as compared to 4%, Gujarat government for roads and
adecadeago. bridges under the tribal sub plan to
improve the tribal infrastructure. The
Roads andTransport total tribal area is over 32,000 sq kms
A seemingly ordinary trip from and the overall length of roads in thefriendly, these pumps are also low on
Godhra to Dahod turned out to be tribal area as of January 2012 wasmaintenanceandarereliable.
pleasant surprise, when my vehicle around 17,000 kms, making it to beThe award winning WASMO
smoothly accelerated to 70 km per hour about 53 km for every 100 sq km area,(Water and Sanitation Management
on the newly built concrete road.The 70 compared to the non-tribal area whereOrganisation) was brought in the year
km stretch from the two cities is the average is around 35 km. In total2002 to fast track the implementation of
picturesque and forms a very important 99% villages have been connecteddrinking water facilities within
stretch in the tribal belt. I travelled from through roads. One gets a very positivevillages. This innovative model has
Vadodra to Godhra, then from Godhra perspective, when one realises that thebrought governance to a new level
to Chiloda and the sight remained tribal area constitutes of only 18% ofaltogether by creating community led
consistent. Either we found roads being the state area, but has 23% of overallwater management programmes. By
upgraded and bridges being built or I roadsinthestate.2011, over 17,000 village water and
was cruising. To ease the burden of transportation,sanitation committees were formed to
Raghusingh, principal of an 6newbusstationshavebeenconstructedactively decentralise water resources
Ashramshala has seen his village and about 882 new vehicles have beenanddeliverysystems.
change. Gharbada which is more than addedtotheexistingfleet.The enormity of the states action
10 kms from Dahod, recently got itscan be seen in its efforts. With over
tarmac roads. Since then the economy1.5 lakh check dams, 2.5 lakh farm
of his village has changed he says.ponds and 1.25 lakh Boribunds in
22
An amount of `710 crores
has been allocated by the
Gujarat government for roads
andbridgesunderthetribalsub
plan to improve the Tribal
infrastructure - 99% villages
have been connected through
roads
Realising Sauno Sath : Bringing tribals into mainstream

Cover Story October, 2012
Education uniforms for a cost of `20 crores and The government has come up with
Education is a major foundation on also increased uniform assistance from an interesting Scheme which provides
which sustained development resides. interest assistance of 6% on loans of`200to`300.
“Had it not been for my school, I All taluka's in Gujarat have a single upto `50 lakhs to M.B.B.S. Doctors
couldn't have possibly become what I ITI (Industrial Training Institutes) belonging to the Scheduled Tribal
am now” said an experienced archery based in it. The year 2012 saw the section . This will certainly promote
coach, who at present is the third archer formation of 33 new ITI in the state. establishment of dispensaries in the
in the state to have graduated from The state has also gone ahead and tribalarea.
Kolkata's prestigious Sports Authority proposed to start 30 new KVKs At present the government has also
ofIndiaschool(SAI). (Kaushalya Vardhan Kendra) in tribal provided assistance to 88 students, who
“I owe my confidence and my talukas. These Kendras impart skills desired to pursue higher education
independentnaturetomyAshramshala”, based on the WISH concept (Woman abroad. Over `8 crore were provided in
he said with a beaming smile.At present oriented, Industry related, Soft skills, loan. One area where tribal students
the state looks after 452 Ashram Shalas Hardcoretraditionalcourses) pursuing higher education had
and97SecondaryAshramShalas. The government has also taken repeatedly opted for is in the Aviation
Such testimonies are not exactly extremely encouraging steps in terms sector. As of now over `1.3 crores has
rare and unjustified either. The of fueling the ambition of tribal been provided as loans to 15
education system focussed on the tribal students seeking to excel in their commercialpilots
belt has gone on a major overhaul careers.
recently, with the state machinery
actively investing in replenishing and
upgradingthesystem.
All in all 28 technical institutes have
been started for higher education, while
the successful Eklavya Model
Residential School has been
implemented at 55 different places. A
remarkable 93% result of 10th (SSC)
Exams was achieved by the Ekalavya
Model Residential Schools which is far
above the state average of 61% in the
year 2009-10. At present the
government spends `42,000 per
studentperannum.
An ambitious project has been
initiated to cater to the higher
aspirations of tribal students. Under this
vision, five agriculture polytechnic
colleges, three engineering colleges
and a Physiotherapy college have been
setupintribaldistricts.
With a desire to strengthen the body
as much as the mind, Doodh Sanjivani
Yojana has been implemented in 252
primary schools belonging to 7 tribal
talukas. About 200 ml of fortified
flavoured double toned pasteurized
milk is distributed to students under the
project.
Every morning during my trip I was
greeted with a beautiful sight of
students going to school early in the
morning, dressed splendidly in their
uniforms. The government provided
over 9,83,000 students with brand new
Cover Story
25
Healthinitiatives 108-Ambulance services
The office of the state health “This is 108” said Zafar ali,
department is always in a flurry of Gharbodiya ( Vadodra) taluka's project
activity. The department has manager for 108 emergency services.
undertaken massive programmes to Instead of a big ambulance, I was
check health problems that generally introduced to a baby, who was barely a
affect the tribal belt. “The tribal region few months old. In answer to my
is our priority” said Dr. Dinkar Rawal, a surprised look, 108's mother Sumitaben
Senior Health official. It would not be explained how she delivered her son inAnother major initiative was the
boastful, if one is to mention that the the ambulance and in gratitude shewinner of the Prime Minister's Civil
state is committed in providing quality decided to name him after theServices Award (2011), the sickle cell
health services to the tribal belt. As of Ambulance services. Surprised as Ianaemia project. Sickle Cell Anaemia
now 31% of the Primary Health centres was, it also gave me an insight to thewhich is a hereditary disease is
and over 22% of the Community Health amount of good will this service haspredominantly found among the tribal
centres are located in the tribal belt. earned.population in India.According to one of
This is quite interesting, if one From the day of its inception it hasthe hypothesis, it is a natural mutation
considers the fact that the state's tribal drastically changed the way healthin Haemoglobin molecule to protect
population is only around 15%. Along services are availed by tribalRBCs from malarial parasites.
with providing the foundation for a communities. One area of medicalConsequently Sickle Cell gene is
robust health infrastructure, major emergencies that has seen a profoundmainly present amongst tribal groups
programmes (Sickle cell anaemia, change since the time the whiteonly, who originated from malaria
Leptospirosis) have also been launched ambulance started patrolling the roadsendemicforestareas.
to enhance the health services provided of the tribal districts, is in pregnancyThe programme was launched on
tothetribalbelt.
“First detected in the year 1994,
Leptospirosis has considerably risen to
become a big threat” said a senior health
department officer. Leptospirosis, a
Zoonotic disease, which spreads to
humans from animals, at times has been
fatal to the infected. Rodents are
generally blamed to be major carriers of
this disease. Cases were largely detected
during the Monsoons in Surat, Valsad,
Navsari and Vapi, which are tribal
dominated districts. To counter this
problem, the health department took
the first week of August this year and related cases. 2007, the year ofextensive steps. ASHA (Accredited
within the first month itself a total of commencement saw only 36 casesSocial Health Activist)workers were
1,46,315 tribal population were being reported, but the growth intrained to identify early symptoms and
screened. The aim is to screen around awareness has been phenomenal sincelocaldiagnosticcentresweresetupinthe
15 lakh tribals every year. Post the then. In all the 108 services hasaffected districts. The government
screening the individuals are presented attended to 4 lakh pregnancy cases inmedical college in Surat was developed
with a colour coded card.Where a white the tribal area. The figures speak forinto an advanced testing laboratory to
card indicates absence of sickle cell, themselves.confirm diagnosis. The department got
while a half yellow card suggests the The need had always been for aover two and half lakh pamphlets
possibility of the trait and an entirely wholesome strategy to usher indistributed and T.V and Radio
yellow card confirms the presence of development in the tribal belt. As muchadvertisements were aired to create
the disease.After distributing the cards, as improving human society requiresawareness.
adolescents are advised to avoid will and economy, it also requiresAll these efforts proved fruitful, for
marriages between two yellow card compassion and patience. Theit considerably brought down the
holders. In all 2,11,211 Sickle Cell government in this case has been able toviciousness of the disease. In the year
Trait – gene carriers were provided steadily turn the tide of backwardness2007, over 621 cases were reported,
counsellingabouttheirstatus. and bring in a revolutionary change inwhile in the year 2012 the number came
everytribalhousehold.down to89.
24
October, 2012

Success Story October, 2012 Success StoryOctober, 2012
27
Dubai. The shipping charges are borne for every woman she employs. The
by the customer. In UK packs of 200 most important part of the exercise
gms are sold for 70 -80 pennies which is which is kneading the dough and
almost double the price at which we sell adding appropriate quantity of flavour
it to them” said an executive from a andsaltisdonebyhertoo.
Khakra company of Rajkot that The women on their part have
procures the Khakras from these welcomed the change. “Since I have a
women. small child, I can't go to any other
Shraddha Sakhi Mandal, under the factory. Here he sits with me all day,”
umbrella of which these women came said Bhavana Ben with a four-year-oldn Paardi, a village in the
together five and a half year ago took up Vivek by her side. Women working atLodhika taluk of Rajkot district,
the Khakra making enterprise five the unit also claimed that the worka small house is abuzz withI months back. “I used to work in a atmosphere here was better than in theconversations. Amidst the chaos,
factory where we made Khakras, factory and they felt a sense ofaround 12-15 women are seen making
almost all these women worked there. I belonging and camaraderie with theKhakras at a frantic pace. While some
managed everything from buying the otherwomen.are seen stooped over a line of stoves
flour to making the dough and getting it The women claim that the onlyflattening the dough for any moisture
packed. It was then that I realized that, thing cutting down their profits is thewith wooden bases, others are seen
we were getting paid very less for our lack of a machine to pack the Khakrasmaking round chappatis out of the
work and could make more money if we in an air-tight manner.“We still don'tdough and supplying it to the women
started out on our own,” said Maya Ben have a vacuum machine to pack oursittingbythestove.
the head of the Sakhi Mandal and the produce and hence have to sell it for aAlittle boy is seen sitting next to his
managerofthewholeunit. lower price. We are trying to obtain amother, playing with the dough, as his
Maya Ben along with a close friend loan for it through the Statemother flattens the dough and cuts it
Damayanti Ben started this enterprise Government's Mission Mangalaminto shape and tosses it into a plate. The
by utilising the revolving fund of programme,”saidMayaBen.plate when full is passed on to the
Trupti Raval, Lodhika Taluka`5,000 available to them through thewomen by the stove, who fries them in a
Livelihood Manager when asked aboutSakhi Mandal enlisted in the Missionlow simmer until all the moisture is
the status of the loan, said, “All theMangalam program of the Stateremoved from them and stacks them in
procedural formalities have been doneGovernment. All the work is done ata neat pile next to her. For every 1.5 kilo
and the bank has also come andMaya Ben's place and she provides allof dough, a woman gets `8 for
inspected the site. Bank authoritiesthe necessary infrastructure like gasflattening the dough into circular
have assured us that the loan amount ofstove, pans, dough, oil and woodenchappatis or `16, if she is frying them.
flatteners to the women. Maya Behan `1lakhwillbesanctionedsoon.”Blue plastic chips stuck on every 1.5
also gets `50 per month as commissionkilo of dough, kept safely with the
woman flattening the dough are a
measure of her day's work. The chips at
the end of the day decide her wage for
the day. Each Woman makes up to
`3,000 per month. From morning 8 to
5:30 in the evening, except an hour
lunch break in between, the women in
this small house in Paardi are either in
frontofastoveorbentoverabailan.
These women are part of the small
household industry that supplies
Khakras to a local industrialist in
Rajkot, who vacuum packs them and
exportsthemallovertheworld.
The Khakras made in six flavours
are sold to the industrialist for `85 per
Kg, who in turn vacuum packs them
and sells them at `200 per Kg. “Our
main clientele is in UK, USA and
26
by Kruthika Rao
Khakras Go International
he Masala store is at the
end of a line of Stores. To
reach Pavitraben's shop,Tone has to walk all the way to the end of
the line. One thing that stands out is that
almost all the other shops are either
housing a Garage or are spare parts
vendors. I approached a rugged looking
mechanic and inquired about the
masala shop and immediately his hard
face melted into a big grin, “Oh, you are
looking for Parvatiben? just keep
walking straight and you will find her
shop”. Behind him stood five others, The veteran Mahila mandal's gavethemamuchneededexposure.
who joined him in wildly gesturing us venture recently plateaued, when they In order to increase their
in the right direction. A board were unable to find more oppurtunities. efficiency, Mission Mangalam also
welcomed us to the shop. Seated behind That is when Mission Mangalam's came handy in providing market
the counter was a confident Parvatiben Taluka level Manager Yogesh Parmar linkages. They identified on the unit's
and behind her were the all women met the mandal. He came up with an behalf possible vendors who would be
crewoftheMasalaMakingunit. elaborate branding and packaging interested by procuring their finished
The Jai Bajranbali Mahila strategy. It started with a simple, but product. At present the masala unit's
Mandal started the Unit eight years very vital task of printing the unit's products are also sold in Surat city.
back. Today they have earned the name on the package and methods of Expansion in their market coverage has
respect of all their neighbours. As soon quality standardisation. Thereafter he encouraged them to move into new
as the neighbours realised that introduced them to new market option, products, at present they have also
Parvatiben got visitors, couple of chairs when he helped them gain a stall at a started selling freshly packed tea
came hurrying from a garage and firmly local Valvada Haat (Sunday market) packets.
lodged themselves outside the masala and to put up a stall during the
shop. successful Gareeb kalian mela, which
t has been nearly two years since the Gujarat Government launched the Mission Mangalam Programme. This poverty
alleviation programme aims at empowering Gujarat's women by creating Sakhi Mandals and integrating them into the
Icorporate value chain has come a long way since then. In this issue, we look at four cases in different regions of Gujarat,
where the Mission Mangalam Programme has truly made a difference in the lives of rural women. We begin our journey with a
Masala Making unit in MahuaTaluka (Surat District) where one woman's initiative to transform traditional cooking knowledge to a
business enterprise has proven to be a source of income for others in the community. Then we move on to Paardi, a village in
LodhikaTaluka (Rajkot District), where one woman's entrepreneurial vision has led to the inception of a Khakra making unit. From
Paardi, we go to Indrapastha village of the Anjar Taluka (Kutch District), where a stitching unit is providing a steady source of
income to the women of this region. Our last story is set in Asai in Himmatnagar taluka (Sabarkantha District) where a
vermicompostunithasprovedtobeaneconomicalaswellaseco-friendlyinitiative.
Mission Mangalam - Tracing success
by Lenin Samuel
Masala Maker
I
II

Success Story October, 2012 Success StoryOctober, 2012
2928
Project Manager, Marketing Rural DAP in the last quarter were a great
Cottage Services, Mission Mangalam, boon. A demand for 15 lakh kilos from
explains “With funds through this unit alone is what followed.
convergence of various schemes like, Gujarati farmers have now realized that
SGSY, NREGA, TSC these units were not only is this product more efficient,
set up around two years ago. Under the butalsowaycheaper.”
first phase of Mission Mangalam, we Conversations over hot tea in the
talked the members of erstwhile SHGs portico of Jassi Ben's newly
into being a part of this project. Though constructed pink yellow house (a result
initially reluctant, once these women of the convergence of Indira Awasnarrow path snakes its way
saw organic fertilizer's efficiency and Yojana and Mission Mangalam) revealdown into a valley
the high returns, they agreed. Their that this constant source of livelihoodcheckered with lush greenA farmer husbands also encouraged them. has unleashed a new wave of self-fields where a single storehouse
Consequently, we now have 42 such confidence in these women. So muchstructure stands out. “Gram Lakshmi
functionalunitsinSabarkanthaalone.” so, that they smartly handled aSammohik Vermicompost Unit” reads
Talking on the marketing aspect, Mr. troublesome bank official creatinga bright green board outside the
Joseph Fernandes, District Level problems for years over minorstructure. Inside are 40 rectangular beds
livelihood manager, Mission Mangalam transactions related to their Sakhiin rows of 20 on each side separated by
elaborates , “The main roles of Mission Mandal account. “We told him wean aisle in between. Each bed is
Mangalam are to stimulate community would have to take legal action. Soonnumbered and allotted to the women of
involvement and to create market enough the man mended his ways”,the Jai Maldari Mahila Mandal of the
linkages. For the Vermicompost units, chuckles Jassi Ben with a sense ofpicturesque Asai village in the
an internal market was already present achievement.SabarkanthaDistrict.
within the network of Sakhi Mandals Discussing what the future holds,10 Rabbari (a dairy-farming
working in the Agriculture sector. To the women dreamily say, “We want ourcommunity) women, members of the
further expand the markets, the Mission market to expand and we plan to growMahila Mandal demonstrate the
Mangalam team planned to publish an into an autonomous producer companyprocedure involved in the production of
advertisement in a popular regional shortly.”Vermicompost, an organic fertilizer,
daily. The inflated prices of Urea andproven to have given far better results
as compared to its chemical
counterparts. All kinds of organic solid
wastes are brought and dumped into the
respective beds allotted to them, each
with a capacity of around 2500 kgs. A
bed is then fed with 20 kgs of worms
which turn the waste into organic
compost. Each vermicomposting cycle
takes 45 days for completion. After
which the product is packed in 25 kg
bags sold at the rate of `5/kg. The
worms reared in the compost beds are
also sold at `125 per kg. Therefore, the
Mahila Mandal earns around `12, 500
fromonebedeverytwomonths.
“We have already got orders for 15
lakh kilos of organic compost from
contractors in Rajkot, Petlad etc. We
have even tried the product in our castor
crops and have witnessed a remarkable
40% increase in the produce, not to
mention the better quality” says
Leelaben Desai, a proud-owner of 4
buffaloes, a farm and a member of the
SHG. Standing next to her, a smartly
dressed Tushar Rathore, Assistant
by Madhurima Mallik
Harnessing Organic Wealth
ramila Mewada's day begins
at nine-thirty every morning,
where she heads out of homePtowards the 'Sri Sakhi Swarnim Talim
Kendra', a stitching unit in Indraprastha
Navi Dudhai village of Anjar taluk in
Kutchchh district. Pramila's day ends at
five thirty in the evening and she
manages to earn close to `5,000 a
month, far higher than her income
previously when she ran a beauty
parlour in the village. Her husband, a
carpenter, who works on a contract
basis earns `200 per day. The work at
the stitching unit is a steady source of
income for women like Pramila, who
vouch for the change this enterprise has
broughtintheirlives.
these enterprises for the local populace finishing work. Each woman on anThe stitching unit in Indraprastha
approached both parties and offered to average works for 2-3 hours and earnsvillage is one of two in Anjar taluk and
bear the expenditure of the on an average `3,000-`5,000 perwas conceptualised in 2010 under the
infrastructure needed to set up a month.Mission Mangalam project. The first
stitchingunit. “Initially when I worked asproject was started in Varsamedi in July
Under the technical guidance of construction labourer I had to leave2010 and the next one in Indraprastha
Wellspun 25 sewing machines were home at seven in the morning.followed a year later in September
bought by the Department of Rural Sometimes I was forced to take my five2011. It is one of the few projects where
Development at a cost `22,500 per year old son because there was no onecollaboration between government,
machine.Ten out of the 25 machines are to look after him. Now I just leave atindustry and the NGO sector has
in Varsamedi while the remaining 15 nine in the morning. I earn close toresulted in providing livelihood
are at Indraprastha.At Indraprastha, the `3,000 per month by doing thread workopportunitiestowomen.
sewing machines are housed in a and finishing,” said Paru BenAt Indraprastha, Jan Shiksha
community hall provided by JSS, while Maheshwari, from the IndraprasthaSanstha, an NGO was already actively
in Varsamedi the machines are housed unit.involved in vocational training
in a building provided by the gram According to the women, theprogrammes and was looking for a way
panchayat. A month long training is stitching unit provides a homelyto ensure a secure source of income for
provided by Welspun and a trainer is atmosphere as compared to the stiflingthe women they worked with. Welspun
appointed by them at each unit. The atmosphere in a factory floor. “Becauseon the other hand had corporate social
women who show promise are then of the cultural background of theseresponsibility initiatives near a village
trained and taken into production where women they cannot work in a factoryin Varsamedi where they had trained
they stitch Welspun products with the like atmosphere. It was conceivedwomen to stitch and were providing
raw material made available to them by keeping that in mind and the womenraw material to them to stitch
thecompany. now feel it is their second home,” addedbedhseets, pillow covers and other
Around 35 women work at the Sharada Chhangani, the Welspun, CSRWelspun products. The finished goods
Indraprastha unit, while 25 of them take co-coordinatorforAnjarTaluk.were bought byWelspun on a piecewise
turn in the machines, the remaining 10basis. The Government of Gujarat
women are involved in ironing andsensing a secure livelihood option in
by Kruthika Rao
Stitching a Seamless
Enterprise
IVIII

Book Review October, 2012 On a Lighter NoteOctober, 2012
3130
Mahatma Gandhi called him the Rashtreeya
Shayar (national poet). Journalist , singer,
freedom fighter, a man who donned multiple
hats, Jhaverchand Meghani, till date remains one
of the most celebrated names in Gujarati
literature. Born (August 1896) in the quaint
religious town of Chotila, Gujarat, Jhaverchand
was among the noted few who were instrumental
in shaping the linguistic identity of Gujarati
language. The beautifully chronicled intriguing
oral traditions of Saurashtra, which were named
“ARuby Shattered”, can be accredited to him. He
even lent his unique voice to some of these
renditions. He authored around 100 works of
literature in a short span of 25 years ranging from
plays to poetry and from biographies to folk-
songs. He even served two years in prison for
writing “Sindhudo”, which allegedly contained
seditious material that inflamed the youth against
the British rule. This great man breathed his last
th
at the age of 50, on 9 March, 1947 in Botad
Gujarat. His sudden death came as a shock to
everyone including Sardar Vallabhai Patel, who
aptly said, “It is the greatest loss to Gujarati
literature.”
Jhaverchand Meghani
by Nirmish Thaker
intelligent and mysterious impact on the lifestyle of this
civilisations. “Dholavira – a civilization. His detailed analysis of the
harappan metropolis” by Varun water storage, distribution and drainage
Maira introduces us to the facilities present at Dholavira would be
ancient city of Dholavira in extremely helpful to first time visitors
present – day Gujarat and tries to of the site. Discoveries like the world's
explain the impact Dholavira's oldest signboard and seals with
d i s c o v e r y h a d o n o u r inscriptions and figurines of unicorns at
understanding of this ancient this site, have further intensified the
civilisation. mystery of this age and to those curious
Dholavira, located in the about learning more about Dholavira,
Kachch district of Gujarat is this book would be the right place to
among the largest and most start.
significant sites of this civilisation. This book also lays down various
The first major excavation of theories explaining the rise and fall of
Dholavira began in the 90s and this this great civilisation, the different
book summarises the discoveries made phases of its development and also
by archaeologists at this site, and also outlines the kind of trading that used to
proposes some theories that could take place between this civilisation and
explain their way of life and the others. Dholavira's strategic location
administration structure followed by between Lothal and the other majorhe civilisation known as the
thiscivilisation. towns of this civilisation meant that itIndus Valley Civilisation or
Apart from explaining the enjoyed an important sphere ofthe Harappan Civilisation isT discoveries at this site, Varun Maira influence in that age which is reflectedone of the most ancient and most
helps us visualise the same through on its size and its level of planning.mysterious civilisations in the world.
sketches and pictures of this site. “Dholavira – a harappan metropolis” isAlmost 5,000 years old, archaeologists
Beginning with an introduction to the an easy-to-read, clear and curiosity –have found sites of this civilisation just
civilisation, the book transports the inducing piece of literature and is aabout 100 years back along the Indus
reader to Dholavira, explaining the city must-read for all amateur historyRiver. Harappa and Mohenjodaro, the
design, its people, its relics and other enthusiasts who have a special interestmost popular sites of this civilisation
discoveries unique to this site. The inthisancientcivilisation.and probably the largest, have
A lot of questions about thisanswered a lot of questions about this
civilisation are still unanswered. Wecivilisation, but there are still hundreds
still do not know what language wasof questions that are left to be answered
spoken and have not yet deciphered– Who were these people? Are we their
their ancient script, nor do we know ifdescendants? What happened to them?
the civilization had a king or aHow did they manage to build such well
democratic system and what exactlyplanned towns and cities? Who did they
happened to it. But this is exactly thetrade with? What language did they
kind of challenge archaeologists anduse?
historiansaroundtheworld relish.So, ifWith more sites being discovered sketches of relics found in the site are
you want to join this journey ofover the last 100 years, from Iran in the truly useful to understand the ingenuity
discovery which promises to be full ofwest to Meerut in the east, and from of this race and also, induces curiosity
surprises, Dholavira would be a veryAfghanistan in the north to Maharashtra tolearnmoreaboutthecivilisation.
interestingplacetostartindeed.in the south, archaeologists from around The best feature about this book is
the world are slowly finding answers to Varun Maira's detailed explanation of
all these questions about this large, every discovery made at this site and its
Sahit Chirutapudi
a harappan metropolis
A stadium, an excellent
drainage system and the world’s
oldest signboard: Dholavira’s
unique story is captured in this
trulyfascinatingbook

Special Feature October, 2012
along with prominent archers like
Limbaram, Shyamal and Mangal
Shingh.
Bhil, who dropped his dream of
participatingininternationalcompetitions
Bows and arrows are the for the sake of coaching young budding
things we understand.Archery talent said, "Traditionally it is not difficult
is a skill we took up for our toprovidetrainingtotheadivasiyouthbut“security and livelihood. Now we are we require latest equipments to compete
honing it to gain recognition. Our internationally. Luckily, compared to
immediate goal is the 2016 Olympics. other states, Gujarat is blessed with better
It's high time we make our community, talent. After recent successes at the
state and country proud,” said a 20- national level, we are now working
year-old national level archer from a overtimewithanambitiontoparticipatein
tiny town called Naswadi in Gujarat the2016Olympics.”
withconfidence.
Archery is an ancient sport and
Indian history is replete with stories of
heroic tribal archers. Be it the legendary
Eklavya or the great Indian freedom
fighter Birsa Munda, tribals are
synonymous with archery. Though it
was mainly used for hunting and during
combat in ancient times, today archery
has become a precision sport. It is now
gaining popularity among the people of
Gujarat too, especially in the tribal belt
where it has received great acceptance Currently 20 students coming from
as a modern sport. Based in the hilly remote areas in and around the district
tribal village of Naswadi, 200 km south are being trained at the academy hostel.
of Ahmedabad, Eklavya Archery These include three female archers who
Academy is working hard to provide a are preparing for national competitions.
platform for Gujarati archers. Dinesh The daily routine of the students
Bhil, a two-time national champion is involves yoga, prayanam, meditation
the founder and the coach of the and other exercises which optimize
academy. The 35-year-old archer is a their archery performance. Care is also
diploma holder in archery from taken that besides archery, the students
Kolkata's SAI school (Sports Authority get the best of education under sports
of India). He was trained in the sport quotainnearbyschoolsandcolleges.
Special FeatureOctober, 2012
33
Most of the archery students have
already bagged medals at the national
level. One of the trainees and a national
level medalist, Magan Sunghadiya,
aged 20, said, “It is my dream to
participate in the 2016 Olympics. To
attain this goal, I practice every day for
about 4 to 5 hours and make every
arrow count. I am confident that archers
from Gujarat will win a ticket to the
Olympicsthistime.
Archery is a sport entirely based on
three qualities: concentration, patience
and balance. Most people have a
common perception that the more you
concentrate, better the results. But
professional archers disagree. Along
with concentration an archer requires
balance, the skill to release an arrow at
the right time and a great deal of
patience. These three steps can be
learnt, but it demands a lot of practice
and hard work to master this skill. More
importantly, a conducive environment
totrainisneeded.
Devgadh Baria is another small
town that is rapidly emerging as a hub
of young talented archers. At the centre
of all the action is the town's District athletesinthestate.” honouratOlympics2016.
Sports Complex that houses a total of Archers from Gujarat's tribal areas The Gujarat government is
15 archers including 4 girl trainees. have shown tremendous potential and increasingly working towards
Quality coaching complemented with promise in recent years. Most of them providing budding archers especially
immense practice has already resulted look forward to performing well at the from the tribal belt with quality
in 12 archers winning medals at the National Archery Championships and training, access to amenities and
state level and 3 at the national level. the National Games. Next up for them platforms to showcase talent. Mr. S. P.
Not surprisingly then, the state would be challenging international Sama, chief coach of the Sports
government has recently provided archers at The Asian Games 2013, The Authority of Gujarat added,” Our aim is
financial aid to the sport and given World Cup and The Commonwealth to enhance and develop the sporting
clearance to building a hostel with all Games. However, the ultimate dream spirit of the local indigenous
necessary amenities like study rooms, a for all of them is playing for national inhabitants of the state. The state
gymnasium, modern equipments etc. archers are doing really well now and
The archers have also been provided our job is to pave the way for them.
with modern imported equipment Under the Centre of Excellence (COE)
worth 1.5lakheach. scheme, the state government provides
Rohit Baria, senior coach at the need based assistance. The archers are
complex said, “Modern equipment has provided insurance cover by the
helped in training and boosted trainee's government. We have high hopes from
enthusiasm. We are also keeping a thearchersofthetribalbelt.”
check on their diet. Along with yoga, With raw talent, quality training and
pranayam and exercise, good diet is the determination of young archers, the
also important for the players.” Further, future for the sport in Gujarat does look
he added, “State level sporting events bright.
like Khel Mahakumbh and Gramin
Olympics encourage young sporting
talent and help discover the best
`
32
Fulfilling AmbitionsFulfilling Ambitions
On Eklavya's path
by Dhaval Parmar
Archery is an ancient sport
and Indian history is replete
with stories of heroic tribal
archers. It is now gaining
popularity among the people of
Gujarat too, especially in the
tribal belt where it has received
great acceptance as a modern
sport
Aiming at the future : Dinesh Bhil with the Chief Minister
Archeryisaskillwetookup
for our security and livelihood.
Now we are honing it to gain
recognition. Our immediate
goalisthe2016Olympics
- Dinesh Bhil

In Focus October, 2012
headlines and have been easily Eager to witness the process of law
forgotten after evoking momentary reaching out to a common woman, I
sympathy. met the District Project Co-ordinator,
In modern times while laws have Parulben Pandya, of the Mahila
ot very long ago, our cook striven for an egalitarian society, Samakya in Vadodara district. She told
Rekha used to come gender equality remains difficult to me, “Earlier, the Mahila Samakyas had
Naccompanied by a shy, achieve. This might be contested, by representatives (CRPs- Cluster
pretty teenage girl, her niece Kajal. stating that more and more women are Resource Persons) visiting each village
While helping her aunt with the kitchen standing up for their rights. But such interacting with the women and
chores she would take an occasional cases are rare restricted only to the discussing their problems. They
peep at the television, evidently educated. motivated 5 women from each village
enamoured by the shiny sari clad However, while sifting through to form a sangh and these sanghs from
bejeweled protagonists of our daily d o c u m e n t s f o r s c r i p t i n g a n all the villages in a block came together
soaps. It wasn't hard to tell that she advertisement, I came across a news to form a federation which started
harboured sweet dreams of marital story on Nari Adalats and how their conducting the NariAdalats. The sangh
bliss, of escape from the rigours of the remarkable success in Gujarat is being members were given three months of
monotonous domestic work she part lauded nationwide. As I read on I legaltrainingtowardsthis.”
tookin. One day, Rekhabrokethenews realized that Gujarat is leading the Loaded with this much information
of Kajal's grand wedding to us. She nation in women's emancipation too. It and accompanied by a CRP (Ketalben)
couldn't stop singing paeans of the has been continuously taking proactive and a camera person, I reached the
doting husband Kajal had found for steps to ensure social and legal justice Waghodia Taluka Panchayat, to attend
herself. forwomenthroughoutthestate. its weekly 12 to 4 Nari Adalat hearing.
Less than two months later, grim- Modeled on the Lok Adalat On the first floor of the old building,
faced, she asked my mother for a day concept, Nari Adalats are block level huddled together in a circle were
off saying that she had to pay a visit to autonomous tribunals of women around 30 women of all age groups
Kajal's in-laws. She brought the girl operated by them for addressing their including 2 infants. Sighting the
back home. Kajal had been subjected to grievances. These bodies are supported familiar Ketalben the group erupted
acute physical and mental torture for by Mahila Samakhyas of each district. into cheerful cries of greeting and
dowry. 42 of them have been sanctioned queries about the new person, that
Our history is replete with incidents throughout the state with the oldest being me.Aregister was quickly pulled
where women have suffered in silence. ones in Vadodara district which started out to record my attendance and other
Sadly, such stories have never made the in1995. necessary details. A loud and confident
by Madhurima Mallik
In FocusOctober, 2012
35
voice asked me for an introduction
assuring they would let me participate
in the proceedings which would follow
later.
The first case was a fresh one I was
told. A young girl with a wailing infant
stepped in. Rashmi, was a Rajput girl
from Jambuwada. She was married
early because of an ailing mother and
financial troubles. Soon after the
wedding her husband started
threatening to kill her. He sold her stree-
dhan(belongings she had brought with
her from her parental house) and has
been absconding for three days with
their one year old daughter. The adalat
members comforted the weeping
Rashmi and decided to issue a notice to
her husband. I was curious about what
look after my aging parents; you just get Adalats have taken up the onus.” saidwould happen if he chose to ignore it.
me my daughter.” I shifted at my spot ASI Pandav, full of admiration for these“Some of us will go to his house and ask
feeling uncomfortable with the tension grittywomen.him to appear at the Adalat. If he still
in the air. To my utter delight, far from Back at the adalat, the members hadrefuses the police will co-ordinate with
being intimidated, the women around by then, successfully counseled aus. ” was the united reply. In any case if
me did not as much as flinch. Their couple into reconciliation. I asked ifthe second party refuses to respond
composure was comforting. They they would keep a tab and check if theafter repeated reminders, some
simply said, “Start an account for your matter was fully resolved. They told memembers of the Adalat go with
daughter with the federation and each case was allotted a follow-uppolicemen from the local thana to make
period of two years and the membersdeposit a monthly sum of 1,000, if yousure that both the parties are heard.
personally went and checked if all wasagree we take your case further. YourAccordingly, they arrive at a consensus,
well. I further asked what if that was nottimeisupfortoday.”Iwas informed.
the case and the matter had worsened inBy this time I wanted to pay a visitThe second case was, to my surprise
the meantime. “We are not here to giveto the police station having spotted it inan appeal by a man Mukeshbhai, for
out punishments. If a matter needs morethe same campus before. A couple ofchild custody. The seemingly flustered
than discussion and counseling, weman showed pictures of his four year
hand it over to the court of law” I wasold daughter in his wallet. He said his
told. The best part is that the contestingex-wife was refusing to let him meet his
parties pay a nominal amount of 251daughter for the last 7 months.They had
(only if they can afford to), while filinggot a divorce on the condition that the
a case and that is all they have to pay.mother would let the father meet his
This money goes to the Nari Adalatchild every two months, failing which
fund and is used to sponsor the trips thethe custody could be contested. The
membersneedduringfollow-ups.Adalat members listened with rapt
All this while I was so engrossed inattention almost sympathizing with the
the proceedings, I did not feel time passman's story. Suddenly, one of them
by.Amidst hugs, farewell and invites tositting close to the petitioner pointed
visit again, I left the building premisesout, “Are you sure you can take care of a
overwhelmed by this simple4 year old with your meager income?”
mechanism of empowerment. Amembers enthusiastically escorted me.The enraged man went on the
striking example of the innate ability ofAt the station the Assistant Sub-defensive, now hurling abuses at the
women to manage kitchen to court withInspector, I.S. Pandav, greeted usestranged wife and saying, “What I do
equal élan, I pondered. Watching thesewarmly. “They have shouldered half ofwith my child is my business alone, I do
champions of social equality, I wasour burden; crime against women hasnot want to educate her beyond primary
confident that justice could finally bereduced by more than 50% in theschool as she would follow in her
broughttoKajal.locality ever since the behens of Narimother's footsteps. I would make her
`
`
34
Redefining social justice
Nari Adalats
Realising good governance : Empowering women with justice
Crime against women has
reduced by more than 50% in
the locality ever since the
behens of Nari Adalats have
takenuptheonus
- I.S. Pandav
Assistant Sub-Inspector,

Nari Adalat

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