Case4-February-2014
Jawadhu hills, the tribal block in Thiruvannamalai district though very backward in respect to education, livelihoods and health, recently face the effect of modernization, but in a negative way. While the basic amenities have to be improved to larger extent, more problems are being created because of wrong guidance of the youth and lack of proper livelihood opportunities at locally. The issues like alcoholism, lack of proper education, unutilized potential in agriculture and tourism are presented here.
It was my first visit to Jawadhu hills. Jawadhu is a block situated in Kalasapakkam taluk of Thiruvannamalai district. Jamunamarathur, which comes under Kovilur panchayat, is the center point and a important market town in the hill. I was on an official visit to do a field survey and study on ‘Social seed network’ as a part of a revalorizing small millets project implemented in the hill station. Apart from the study I came across many developmental issues in Jawadhu hills which needs to be addressed for the well-being of the natives especially the youth and women. Many of the issues is related to lack of proper education, guidance, culture and less importance given to agriculture in the area both by the people and the government.
Jamunamarathur is 24 km uphill from Alangaayam, which is again an hour travel from Vaniyambadi. One can reach Alangaayam from Tirupatthur also. The beauty of the hill and the pleasant climate will enthrall all the nature lovers. When you travel still interior, there are many villages even without proper approach road, the landscape of which are a treat to your eyes. And during my visit in last week of June, 2013the travel was made more cherishing by the swarm of butterflies. Butterflies of different colour’s blue, black and yellow were flying everywhere. Some dashed against the two-wheeler we were travelling, some against my face and body and it seemed that I got in a wind swirl of butterflies. The place is yet to become a tourist spot. There is a waterfall called Bheeman falls near Jamunamarathur. Unfortunately there was no water in the falls during the visit.
The people living there are mostly ‘Malayali Tribes’, very hospitable and innocent by nature. While their earlier generation was deprived of formal education, the generation today is blessed with enough schools both Government and private. Despite this the school dropout rate is higher. Most of people are poor living in houses with mud walls and thatched roofs. However one could observe that their houses were maintained very neat and clean. Agriculture is their main livelihood occupation and predominantly rainfed. Crops like little millet (Samai), finger millet (ragi), Horse gram (kollu), Niger, maize, cholam and cumbu are grown in rainfed conditions while paddy is grown in irrigated lands. It seems that they do not put much effort towards agriculture, satisfied with what they grow and what they have. Though the red loamy soil there is very fertile and suitable for sowing a variety of commercial crops, the people are satisfied with what they grow. Usually they retain the seeds and sow it for the next season or borrow from neighbors and relatives, in case of need.
A curious thing about the houses is that most of the houses are surrounded by a fence, many a times without a proper gate, constructed so to protect themselves from wild and grazing animals. One can enter their premises only by jumping or trespassing the fence (the fence usually is made of bamboo/ bamboo + Lantana (lantana is a weed crop which is available in abundance in the hills. However the height of the fence is lesser at a particular place so that one can jump around it easily).
Rice which is available through ration shop free of cost occupies majority of their diet. Earlier little millet (Samai) used to occupy a definite place in their diet and presently its consumption is limited. However people continue to cultivate Samai, as the rainfed conditions and soil favors the crop apart from the market. Ragi and maize are grown by the people purely for consumption purpose, but only in very limited area. When you walk around a village you can see most of the people rearing pigs at least one or two, which forms a important place in their diets especially during family functions and festivals. Vegetables are grown rarely and hence they have to source it from outside. Unlike in plains their rice meals go just with sambar and with no accompanying vegetable side dish. In sambar however they use minimum quality of vegetables. Apart from these there are some naturally growing plants which are consumed as greens by the local. Being uncultivated and growing in millet fields, barren lands, around houses, near fences and forest lands these greens serves as a source of food and nutrient during the rainy season from July to December every year.
The youth in the hills are a cause of concern, since they seem to be carried away by the negative influence of modernity. Though situated remote, Youth in Jawadhu hills were fond of all modern amenities mobile phones and motor cycles. This is evident from existence of two-wheelers all, brand new and some even without proper number plates in the hill, despite the fact that many still live in huts. There is a two-wheeler showroom Jamunamarathur, to capitalize the existing market. Most of them ride their bikes in the hilly terrain at rash speed. The death of youth due to accident is very common, which even occurred on my second day of visit. And there are at least five mobile shops in Jamunamarathur which sells mobile phones. It is a small town and existence of five mobile shops shows how mobile phones have occupied the life of invariably everyone.
Smoking and drinking is very common among youth. Even kids at the age of six starts smoking and they start consuming alcohol at twelve or fifteen years. This is of very serious concern. There are many widows in the villages, which can be seen as a result of these habits. A study has to be undertaken to know the health and social issues caused by smoking, drinking and dietary habits in their villages
Agriculture is not so prosperous, people are not eating
proper diet and don’t live in proper houses. Yet many
youths have a bike and a mobile phone, the symbol
of status. Where does the money comes from? The
answer to the question came as a shock- “Smuggling
of Red sandal wood”. The youth here who were born
and brought up in the hilly terrain covered with forests
have the strength and knowledge to cut trees. This is
misused by some greedy people, who lure the youth
promising high wages for cutting red sandal tress in
the forest areas of Thirupathi (र200/ as labour cost for
cutting a kg of red sandal wood) . A trip to Thirupathi
forest for a month or more will fetch a person more than
र 50000/-. And when they are caught they will pay a
fine of र 15000/- , goes through some legal procedures
and let free. However there is a risk of death if being
shot by the Andhra forest department personal.
The cutural issue among youth has to be addressed through proper education and guidance.
Little millet (Samai) is the predominant crop grown in rainfed condition. The varieties grown are Chittan Samai, Karunsamai, Kolluthunan Samai of which Chittan Samai is grown widely. The farmers do not pay much importance to the quality of seeds and after harvest they follow the same processing steps for grains for consumption and for seeds. Though they grow local land races, admixtures of these seeds cannot be ruled out because of improper handling of seeds. Application of fertilizers and pesticides is very minimal, but the application of inorganic fertilizers is slowly catching up due to non-availability of organic manure. The farmers used to grow Panivaragu (Proso millet) and Thinai (Fox tail millet) too, earlier the practice of which is now extinct. Ragi and maize are also grown under rainfed condition purely for consumption purpose; Horse gram is grown after the harvest of little millet. Paddy is grown by few farmers who have irrigation facility. Farmers usually retain the seeds for next sowing and they purchase rarely from outside. Small millets especially little millet is procured by traders in Jamunamarathur, from which it was sent to wholesalers at Bangalore and from there to Nasik for processing.
The natives of the hill though not satisfied with the low yield obtained from the crops they grow, doesn’t have any urge to improve agriculture. The lack of access to knowledge of new seeds, cultivation practices and other technologies in agriculture can be attributed as a reason. However when they are provided with the opportunity of growing new varieties, they never hesitate to try, which can be known from the positive support they are giving for the participatory varietal selection trials through our RESMISA project. Introduction of improved varieties in little millet and finger millet and reintroduction of Proso millet and foxtail millet is very well received. New farm implements ranging from iron plough, sieves for little millet sorting and harvester and binder machine is done through the project with the support of the people.
impact of red sandal smuggling on agriculture can be seen in few villages. Especially in the village Kuttakarai, many have given up farming and they did not cultivate any crop last year, which partly affected our trials in the village. This year also there is no sign of farming operation in many of the lands. Migration for labour also happens to coffee and tea estates in Kerala and Karnataka.
Since Jawadhu hills have its remote nature and lack of infrastructure facilities such roads, communication etc, and the access to medical services is one of the major problems. Tribal community knowledge towards health care practices and personal hygienic is alarming in Jawadhu and girls used to get marriage in the age between 14- 16, it leads various health related issues. The health indicators such Institutional delivery, early registration, Immunization is ensued by push rather than pull efforts.
In general distance between habitations and villages are very high in this hill. Around 50 percent habitations are not reachable through transport facilities; it is possible only through walk/ two-wheeler. Even though there are two Primary Health Centers and 13 Health Sub Centers, the service is not penetrated to all habitations due to poor transportation, non-availability of enough staff and poor infrastructure facilities.
The existence of quacks (unqualified/untrained in handling medicines) is becoming severe problem in this area. It leads to health complications (sometimes death) which create unnecessary expenditure to them. It is found that there is existence of home deliveries handled by ‘untrained Thais’ which may leads to Maternal Mortality and Infant Mortality. As per the report of Reproductive Child Health, District Level Household Survey, 2002-04, Tamil Nadu, IIPS, MOHFW, GOI, PRC Gandhi gram, the maternal and child health indicators were critical in Thiruvannamalai district especially hill areas like Jawadhu.
It was noticed that the prevalence of anemia among adolescent girls was 95.5 percent and 45.4 percent of children under three are malnourished. The exclusive breast feeding recorded only at 16.0 per cent, Institutional delivery was recorded at 63.7 per cent and the percentage of Full Ante Natal Check-up recorded at 25.8. As per the National Family Health Survey (NFHS 3) for 2005-06 in Tamil Nadu, around 53 per cent of the ever married women and pregnant women and 73 per cent of the children below the age of three years have been affected by the anemia disorder.
Without awareness of health issues, most tribal populations tend to fall ill more frequently and wait too long before seeking medical help, or are referred too late by untrained village practitioners. The health care expenses per household also increased over a period of time.
The site offers much scope for ecotourism opportunity, due to the presence of Bheeman falls, just three kilometers from Jamunamarathur, the pleasant climate and natural scenic beauty of the villages. Bheeman falls however, currently have some safety issues. Right below the falls is a steep valley and at times of heavy waterfalls, there is high probability of people being swept away with no safety barricades in place. Also there are no good hotels or staying places in the hill.
The nature has bestowed us with plenty of wealth. Putting them to right use can transform the lives of the poor. The soil and climatic condition are well suited for growing for a wide range of small millets and other rainfed crops. Enabling the people to do agriculture and allied activities with a business sense, taking care that the natural wealth is retained can transform the lives of the thousands of poor living in Jawadhu Hills.