Dr. Mohinder Kumar
Phaksoo is located 25 km from Doda city and 10 km from Thathri town. The hard working youths of this hilly village are famous for taking up challenges of performing the toughest kinds of manual labor. Phaksoo survives on two factors, viz., remittances from migration of youths to Ladakh, Shimla and towns of Himachal Pradesh as loaders, and youths working as wage-laborers with mining contractors at sand extraction sites on river Chenab.
Total area of village is 625 acres of which common land is 325 acres (52%) and private agricultural land 250 acres (39%). Average size of holding is 0.93 acre per farm household. Minimum size of holding is 1 kanal (0.12 acre) and maximum 45 kanal (5.50 acres). Out of 300 households, 30 are landless and 270 are farm households. Out of 270 farm households, 100 households (40%) own a meager holding of one ‘kanal’ (0.12 acre). It shows sheer unviable size of holdings for decent survival; sustainable farming is sheer rhetoric. Naturally, youths depend on contracted wage-labor in sand mining on Chenab which is their life line. Common land is used exclusively by farm households; landless households are excluded from having access to it. Farm households have oral “rights” of possession and control over common land since many generations. Earlier each farm household owned 5-10 kanal, now it has got reduced to 4-5 kanal (0.50 acre) due to apportionment.
Out of 300 households, 290 are Muslims and 10 are Hindu households. A majority (73%) of the households is ST and 23% are OBC. They speak Bhadrawahi (similar to Dogri), Kashmiri, Urdu and Hindi. Agricultural land has irrigation facility from chashma from where pucca “kools” (drains) are sourced. Equal distribution implies there is shortage of water. Adequate irrigation water is not available to all. Paddy cultivation has been discontinued for the past two-three years. Scarcity of irrigation water often leads to disputes and quarrels among farmers. Reason for shortage of irrigation water is that a greater part of water from the only chashma is diverted through pipeline for drinking water supply. Village faces urgency of management of scarce water resource between the two competing uses of irrigation and drinking. Drinking water is supplied from chashma by pipeline installed by PHED, which charges Rs.300 per year from each household. Water charges are collected by the Department (not Numberdar) from all households.
There is no ‘nallah’ flowing through village, which is extraordinary situation leading to acute water-shortage. They cultivate two crops: wheat in winter and maize in rainy season. For rice food, they have to depend entirely on purchases from ration store or market grocery shops throughout the year. Maize produce is dried and sold to wholesalers in Thathri @Rs.10-12 per kg to earn some cash. Farmers reported that wholesalers sell it @Rs.20-25 per kg. Indirectly, farmers hinted at marketing and remunerative price problem with respect to maize produce. Rarely do farmers indicate solution for marketing. Probably they are aware that remunerative price on sustained basis is a complicated issue having no easy solution. Or they find margins, vying for profits and returns humanly irrational endeavors -being subsistence farmers since so many generations whereas economists emphasize profit-orientation only as “rational” pursuit.
Mutual relations among village households were reported as good. However, they reported that generally villagers did not help-out each other, except in case of serious illness. Villagers feel that “khudgarzi” (self-indulgence) in village is on the rise. This attitudinal change has come about in the recent few years. Mutual “good” relations (etiquette) reported among them are to be seen differently from mutual help. They do not share goods, farm produce, items of necessity, etc. as was the custom in traditional society, and do not enter into credit/exchange relation during necessity. It can be inferred that credit-worthiness among people is non-existent or waning-out. It could be due to widespread economic poverty. Women are allowed to work on family farm and do all field operations, from sowing to harvesting. It could imply freedom, gender equality or self help for survival.
Literacy (overall) few years ago was 50% which is now 90%. Report card of performance of Panchayat is reported as unsatisfactory. It does not create awareness on development schemes. Sarpanch occasionally visits village for short duration, and generally not, for villagers’ problems. Forms for Kisan Credit Card (KCC) for all 270 farm households were filled and submitted by Numbardar (runs NGO). All forms were filled correctly and Patwari gave true record of land ownership of each farm household. However, 50 farm households were issued KCC.
Some irregularities were reported under implementation of MNREGA in village. There is demand for 200 Job Cards; however, 150 job cards are provided. Each job card holder got average 30-35 days employment as against 100 days stipulated. It is reported that muster roll was prepared for 100 days. Villagers/youths resorted to Right to Information (RTI) Act with regard to MNREGA implementation in the village. Villagers reported that different “rates” of wages (amounts) were fixed for different card holders. Some card holders got Rs.4000 (@Rs.120 x 34 days); some got Rs.6000; card holders who were “friends” and in good books of Panchayat got Rs.7000. Villagers argued that that they were still being paid wages @Rs.120/- while increased rate as per revised norm was Rs.145/-. Villagers suspect that in view of muster rolls prepared for 100 days, there are irregularities in the implementation of MNREGA. Villagers reported that variable amounts of Rs.5000 to 10000 were deposited in the Job Card holders’ bank accounts. They also reported that Panchayat people and others accompanied Job Card holders to the bank branch; amount was withdrawn and shared by many hands. This aspect requires systematic study focusing on completed works, accounts, job card holders, and other stakeholders.
Villagers’ economic relation with sand resource collected from river Chenab is one of employment for extraction of sand on wage basis. Sand contractors are licensed for sand extraction. They sell sand to the local villagers and other population surrounding villages on Chenab. Donkeys and horses are used for transportation of sand. Phaksoo has 600 youths, out of which 300 are perceived by villagers as “employable” in government service as they are educated. However, only 200 youths are employed, and that too in wage-labor activity. There is no youth employed in army, police or other government service from this village. With youth strength of 600 persons, unemployment is 67% (400 youths) as only 33% (200 youths) are absorbed in menial petty jobs. Around 100 youths are absorbed in sand extraction labor with sand contractors who employed village youths on daily wage basis. They loaded sand on horses and transported to required demand points in Doda villages and in the city. Other 100 youths had migrated to Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, etc. for hard physical labor on mountains for 3 months; and some of them went to Thathri town/block head quarter for wage labor. Main aim of every villager is, however, to get hold of salaried employment with government service or even private service. They are also prepared to do own small business though do not have capital for investment. Farm households mainly survive on selling maize for some cash in hand to spend.
Village has one veterinary center. Patwari’s office is situated in Thathri tehsil office. There is one NGO in village which was involved in Self Help Group (SHG) formation under erstwhile SGSY scheme (till 2013). Eight SHGs were formed in Phaksoo village by this NGO. Under ‘Indira Awas Yojna’ (IAY) scheme 30-40 houses are so far provided financial grant assistance. The condition of street lanes, sanitation and drainage is very poor. Streetlights are non-existent; there are electric poles erected in streets but no bulbs are installed. Phaksoo village has one dispensary. There is no private doctor clinic though village has three medical shops. It has 10-15 grocery shops and two ration stores. Means of private transport (Tata Sumo) are accessible to the village though condition of road, from Thathri to Phaksoo, is extremely poor.
Economic assets of households under private ownership includes meager land holdings of 270 households (30 households are landless), two thresher machines used on hire basis by farmers (@1 kg wheat paid per 10 kg of wheat threshed), 1000-1200 poultry birds (three-four in each household) and two-three cows per household. Private economic assets are oriented to the production for subsistence purpose; even maize cultivation is for subsistence purpose though some part of produce is sold in the market; saving of income from sale is negligible/non-existent. They cannot investment because they cannot save. Hence Phaksoo has very little economic accumulation of capital even as its mode of survival is sheer subsistence-based and wage-labor based. Entire income from selling maize is spent on consumption in household and family subsistence. However, only 30 households (10%) are BPL. None of the households is facing problem of inadequate food for family, inadequate warm clothing for winter, inadequate fuel wood, etc. Problem of inadequate finance is faced by 50% households. Their problems relating to money are rooted in expenses on disease, death, marriage and festivals. Bank loan is felt as necessity by 50% households while 50% households think that bank loan involves risk (of failure) and repayment problem. Village youths are more inclined to wage-labor instead of self-employment, since wage-labor proclaims freedom -freedom from the need to maintain owned means of production, management, responsibility, accountability, etc.
(Author works for NABARD. Views expressed are personal)
Feedback:mohinder1966@gmail.com
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