3. Tourists’ Paradise
Jhadol Tehsil, Udaipur district, Rajasthan – brings to
mind, undulating hills, scattered hamlets, Mahua trees,
Bhil dancers, Bhil hunters posing for tourists’ benefit,
beautiful havelis converted to grand hotels...
4. Behind the Scenes
The reality however, is much different —
poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, lost
childhoods are rampant problems faced by
the people of the area.
5. Untold Woes
In 46 village hamlets
in Jhadol Block:
7 out 1,000 mothers
die at child birth
70% of the population is
below the poverty line
Average family income is
between Rs. 5,000 – 6,000
per year
Almost every family is
indebted to local landlords
Low Immunization rates
among children
70 out of 1,000 infants die
of avoidable reasons –
malnutrition, pneumonia,
dehydration
60-70% of the
marriages are child
marriages
Distance of water
sources for 70% of the
households - 3km
There are 9 Upper
Primary Schools, 31
Primary Schools.
But hardly any are
functional due to lack
of infrastructure, poor
teacher attendance
and lack of funds
6. Harsh Conditions
Stemming from ignorance and poverty, these issues are
worsened by unfriendly geographical conditions.
At 400mm pa, rainfall is unpredictable, affecting
agriculture—their main source of income
It is also the cause for high cattle mortality during
the drought season
Ranging from 35º C in the summer to 8º C in the
winter, extreme temperatures make life a
hardship
7. Children are the Worst Hit
The situation is worse for Failing household
economics force children to work for survival
Some children drop out of schools as a result
Some get left behind with elders in the village
while the adults migrate seasonally
Even in the normal course, children help out the
family in agriculture and cattle grazing
8. A Vicious Cycle
This repeats generation after generation—children
deprived of proper childhoods have nothing but
deprived
adulthoods to look forward to.
10. Work at the Grass Roots
Since 1989, CRY supported project - Mahan Seva
Sansthan (MSS), a Not-for-profit organization has been
working at integrated development by promoting
sustainable education, health, environment conservation
and livelihood initiatives for the marginalized
communities, in rural Rajasthan.
They employ a community-based model to address each
issue parallely, so their combined results are holistic and
lasting.
11. Beginning of a
New Direction
Using their community based model, MSS began
work in Jhadol.
Their forum Manav Vikas Manch served as the
centre for all interactions. Their issue-specific
communities pooled back here to combine forces.
12. Communities-based Approach
Mahila Samiti: Works on women’s social and health issues
Jagruk Manch: Helps amplify the villagers voices on various
issues, including employment
NTFP Cooperative (Non-Timber Forest Produce): Manages
collection and marketing of minor forest produce, a
secondary source of income
Dai Morcha: Community for midwives; ensures training and
works at getting them recognition from the government. It
serves a symbiotic cause – job recognition for the Dai in the
health sector of the state, assistance during child birth and
care for women
Bal Panchayat: Emphasising on children’s role in the
decisions affecting their lives and future, building confidence,
encouraging leadership
13. Gauri, a Dai (mid-wife) says, “We know
the villages and villagers well and can
help in institutionalizing deliveries”
Health on the
Forefront
Awareness on birth registration, immunization of children,
and nutrition were increased through health camps
10 Integrated Child Development Centres (ICDs) were
made active
Government is forced to conduct regular health checkups
providing advice and treatment to the villagers
14. Mahendra Singh, 10 years, Head of the
Children’s group says, “Every
Panchayat (village council) should
have a Bal Panchayat (children’s
council) and all the children should
enlist in them.”
Back to School
MSS worked at bringing 100% enrolment and
retention of children in schools
4 schools lying defunct have been reactivated,
teachers appointed, new rooms built where
necessary and their smooth running is
monitored
Regularity of teachers’ attendance is monitored
7 Bal Panchayats were formed with children
between the ages 9-17 years, giving the children
an opportunity to raise their voices and their
Right to Participation.
A Bal Sarpanch is elected to ensure smooth
operation of the Panchayats.
16. Leela, a 13 year old girl, part of
adolescent boys and girls group
(Kishor- Kishoriya) says, “One
shouldn’t get married before the
Healthier Lifestyles
age of 18 ”
The combined efforts of all the communities have
borne fruit
Birth registration increased by 100%
100% immunisation of children has been achieved in 4
villages and 80% in 26 villages
235 children in 26 villages have been provided with
supplementary nutrition
Infant and mother mortality has been brought down
drastically
100% enrolment of children ages between 6 -14 years
Ensured 100% retention of children in schools
17. Hopeful Futures
With the root causes being addressed, Jhadol
now wears a happier, more prosperous look
People have better incomes and job
security even during the drought seasons
The women are aware of their health
issues. They receive proper medical aid
during child birth and post natal care
Children receive good, quality education,
are well nourished, immunized against
diseases and are healthy
19. An Active Partner
MSS was involved in the day-to-day issues of the
people and CRY worked from behind the scenes,
providing funding, planning, management, training,
and ensuring quality of work.
20. Jhadol is a success because of
the support provided by
people like you. You could
help us improve the situation
of many such Jhadols and
create a just world for the
CRY and YOU
This, in a nutshell is what CRY attempts to do with each of the
organisations and thousands of communities it works with. The
core of this is the belief that each child has rights that the society
and the state owe him/her. We work towards restoring to them
what is rightfully theirs.
children of India.
The right :
to survival
to development
to protection
against exploitation
to participation in the decisions
affecting their future
21. What do you think about CRY’s
work in Jhadol?
We will look forward to hearing from you.
You can mail us at webinfo@cry.org.
Special thanks to Kaushal for volunteering to shoot the project pictures
To know more about CRY visit www.cry.org
