Vast open fields dotted with
patches of lush greenery, trees swaying in summer breeze, cluster of newly
constructed houses amidst the arid fields, wide streets separating rows of
these houses, their colorful facades, street lights, water taps at their door
step, temple of community deity, a Balghar that keeps the children occupied
through the day. This is not a dream but
a reality that 22 families of Nath-Vadee community are living. They had never in their wildest of dreams
imagined living this lifestyle. Tarpaulin sheets supported by bamboo sticks,
suffering a continuous onslaught of abuse and stigma, children refused
admission in the village school, a life of complete deprivation is what they
lived till now.
22 Nath-Vadee and Vaas-Vadee
families have been staying in the outskirts of Dhaniyawada village of
Banaskatha's Dantiwada block. VSSM's initial contact with these families was in
2007. These families than had no identity proofs or other documents to prove
their existence. Absence of such documents is an established norm with the Nomadic
and De-notified communities. The initial efforts focused on getting the
required identity proofs like Voter's ID cards and Ration cards. There were almost 46 children of school going
age who, just loitered around or helped their families earn living. These children accompanied their parents and
begged with them. The frequent efforts by the community and VSSM to enroll
these children in Dhaniyawada government school were resisted by the village
communities and teachers. VSSM initiated
a school for these children in the settlement.
The village of Dhaniyawada
resisted the settling down of these community near their village hence hindered
the effort that VSSM undertook be it getting the voter's ID card or APL card,
plots for residence, inclusion of names in BPL list, mainstreaming the children
in school etc. The village honchos challenged each and every move VSSM
undertook for the benefit these Nath Vadee families, making the realization of
their basic rights and entitlements an absolute uphill task. It took 4 years of untiring efforts to get
residential plots allotted. To receive funds for construction of houses the
family required to feature in the BPL list. Ironically, in spite of reeling
under absolute poverty the names of these families could only get their names
included in the BPL list after mammoth efforts. The community received generous
contributions for the construction of homes during the Ram-Katha by Res. Shri.
Morari Bapu. The contributions
facilitated construction of homes for 22 families. Roads, power, streetlights and water
facilities followed. From a desolate place to a beautiful neighborhood the Nath
Vadee settlement of Dhaniyawada has come a long way. It has taken almost 6
years to realize this possibility.
Recently, the children have also
started getting transport facility to reach the school that is 3 kms away. 61
children from the settlement otherwise had to walk that distance daily. After
relentless efforts and letters to higher authorities including the Chief
Minister of Gujarat these children now have facility to make their commute
easy. These children now do not wander with their parents instead some elders
stay back in the settlement and take care of all the children so that they can
continue with their schooling. Such shift in the mindset of the community
reflects their desire to embrace change.
As Ramesh Nath, a community
leader from the settlement reminisces
'what life we led till now, our lifestyle was like that of wild animals
who survive in forests!! No house, no bathing, no changing of clothes,
surviving without food, absolutely no importance to education and hygiene. This
is how life was earlier but VSSM taught us to live like humans. We have heard
people tell us why do you all need land for building houses, do Vadee's stay in
houses?? It pains us when we hear other communities taunt us saying now even
the beggars have pucca houses. None of our earlier generations have ever stayed
in a pucca house, even our distant relatives who visit us from parts of Gujarat
and Rajasthan remain awestruck when they see our settlement. For them ours is
the best settlement, 'Settlement Number One' is what they call our
neighborhood.'
It has taken us almost 7 years to
reach this benchmark. We have been able to accomplish all that we had planned
for this settlement: starting with identity proofs, residential plots, building
houses, children in school. All that remains is creating alternate livelihood
opportunities for these families to pull them out of cycle of migration and
begging.
60,000 individuals receive Voter's ID Cards
4,000 families acquire Ration Cards
1,000 families receive residential plots
209 families supported to build houses
23 new permanent settlements created
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