Well...they dig for their rights here, literally

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Shivpuri, MP: Here’s the nineteenth part of a series on how the government’s big-ticket programmes have impacted the hinterland, filed by our reporters from across the country

The Sahariyas of Dwarka village in Pichore block of Shivpuri district of Madhya Pradesh (MP) had to literally dig for their rights. And dig they did! They have dug wells, ponds and even pathways, under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act.

Their enthusiasm is born out of survival. The Sahariyas are considered low caste tribals and therefore barred from using the community well, the only water resource in the village in the dry region.

They only came to know about their right under the NREGA, with the help of an advocacy agencies.

Once the agitation began, they were sanctioned a road laying scheme to work on. Thanks to the agitation, while the project was cleared within the stipulated 15 days specified by the Act, the tribals now decided to demonstrate their strength. They refused to work for the stretch of land which passed through that section of the village, where people of the upper caste community lived, as it would have benefited them. Instead they demanded permission to dig a well for themselves at their end on the village.

“The demography of the area has undergone a sea change,” said Saurabh Kumar, of Actionaid, an NGO working in the area. The Sahariyas who were considered pretty shy, are now coming out in groups to approach the circle officer, block officer and even the collector.”

After the permission to dig the well was granted, the Sahariyas defying logic, dug a well that was 40 feet higher than the ground level in a mountain zone. But wonder of wonders, they struck water. Buoyed with their success, they then took to dig a pond to supplement their resources and store rainwater. With their basic needs met, the tribals were now more amenable to lay a road. But, they did so to build a new approach.