VILLAGERS FIGHT TO PRESERVE THEIR ENVIRONMENT

Inhabitants of Lapodia village in Rajasthan protested against deforestation and planted more trees, writes Osama Manzar
The Certificate of an award says, “Shri Laxman is a very dedicated and active social worker. He has made a commendable contribution in establishing two new schools for children of weaker sections, in the repair of old water tanks and construction o the 3-km canal. He took keen interest in tree plantation and developed a nursery for Neem tree seedlings for distribution among villagers. He helped in setting up a number of mahila mandals to improve the condition of the girl child and succeeded in creating awareness among women. During communal disturbances in Rajasthan he undertook padytras to maintain communal harmony.”
Yet, if you save the trees, you are bound to be caught. Literally. That is what has happened to many villagers of Lapodia village, 70 km from Jaipur, when they decided by consensus to save their forests. Lapodia, in the Dudu block of Rajasthan’s Jaipur district and situated on the Jaipur-Ajmer national highway, has a population that is 90 per cent Bairawa Samaj Scheduled Castes.
And it is a harassed population. The tehsildar, Pratap Singh, gives notice to Laxman Singh, saying, “With what authority are charahgah (medows)?” It is the same Laxman Singh who was bestowed the National Youth Award (1990-91) and the Special Sports Award (1991) by the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports under the Ministry of Human Resources Development.
The livelihood of the villagers is a largely depend on agriculture, forest trees and animal husbandry. Therefore, three years ago, the 1,600 villagers had decided to protect the forest trees, come what may including those on government land on the periphery of the village from illegal cutting by the villagers themselves.
Says Laxman Singh, 35, whose is the only Rajput family in the village, “At a weekly meeting, we took on oath not to cut any tree.” He works under the banner of the Gram Vikas Nav Yuvak Kendra (GVNYK), which he established in 1980 to protect the village’s natural resources and to motivate the villagers into community participation.
But as soon as he circulated a notice stating: “He who cuts a tree will have to replant another and look after it,” Pratap Singh raised an objection and countered with another notice, seeking explanation form the GVNYK. It said: “Has your mandal taken the permission from the government to prevent people from cutting the trees on the government land?” He had vehemently objected to what he saw as the villagers interfering in the forest land.
“He completely ignored our good intentions,” complained Laxman Singh. “Even district forest officers and rangers said that no government rule allows the free distribution of trees.” The tehsildar’s notice, however, only steeled the villagers further.
Using shramdan (joint involvement), the villagers have dug ponds, deepened wells, constructed bunds and planted grass in the meadows and trees beside the roads and in every nook and corner of the village. In the past one year alone, they have constructed two bunds and dug two ponds. Laxman Singh affirms that Lapodia’s soil has always been arable but cultivation has been on only over the past decade. Lapodia is a perfect example of sustained and completely devoted people’s participation.
But as soon as he circulated a notice stating: “He who cuts a tree will have to replant another and look after it.” Pratap Singh raised an objection and countered with another notice, seeking explanation from the GVNYK. It said: “Has your mandal taken the permission from the government to prevent people from the cutting the trees on the government land?” He had vehemently objected to what he saw as the villagers interfering in the forest land.
“He completely ignored our good intentions,” complained Laxman Singh. “Even district forest officers and rangers said that no government rule allows the free distribution of trees,” The tehsildar’s notice, however, only steeled the villagers further.
Using shramdan (joint involvement), the villagers have dug ponds, deepened wells, constructed bunds and planted grass in he meadows and trees beside the roads and in every nook and corner of the village. In the past one year alone, they have constructed two bunds and dug two ponds. Laxman Singh affirms that Lapodia’s soil has always been arable but cultivation has been on only over the past decade. Lapodia is a perfect example of sustained and completely devoted people[s predication.
Laxman Singh, a graduate from Rajasthan University, says that he “used to be associated with social service activities” right form his university days. But he started working for the betterment of the villages the early 1980s after he was confronted with the evil of dowry when he had to get his sisters married. Then he initiated the teaming up of illiterate villagers against social evils like dowry, child marriage, post-death bhoj (feast), widow marriage restrictions and the menace of liquor.
In order to meet their basic needs, the villages started planting charahgah and constructing bunds, besides learning and teaching how to manage hand pumps and dispose of rainwater through safe outlets. “Every year before the monsoon commences, we hold a special meeting to discuss how to harvest rainwater,” says Ramchander, a young villager. This harvesting is of supreme importance because agriculture and livestock are the only sources of livelihood in Lapodia. Khel-kota (drinking water tank for animals) and charagah therefore, remain the primary works of the GVNYK. There are 20 khel-kotas for 1,000 animals in the village.
In addition, every house, usually made of mud, has at lest two neem and kandir trees besides tulsi and lemon plans. Says Man Singh, Laxman Singh’s younger brother, “We have planted such selected trees because they are good for health and of domestic use. Whereas neem prevents diseases like eczema, kandir cures stomach gas problems.”
In order to execute the programmes in different villages, the GVNYK has built up small subgroups in all the 40 villages, surrounding Lapodia. Environmentcamps, eco-preservation, padyatras, group meetings and development trainings, animal breeding and agriculture training are some of activities that the GVNYK organizes time and again. Slogans like, Vanya jeevan par anyaya nahin sahega jan samodaya (the people will not surrender to injustice to the environment) is a house hold protest in Lapodia.