I contacted Mr. Bhose Ram Podiami, secretary panchayat who explained details of status of this village. Kasturpal Panchayat has 3 villages. Here is a figure from one village that I visited.

 

Population: Total population is 752 in 108 families (male 399 and females 353 including children) and 3-4 children per family. Population control is too weak. Government has not been able to succeed in its control program.

 

Education level: Among adults is zero but they encourage children go to primary schools which is 2 ½ kms from the village. 2-3 students could reach to higher secondary and 10-12 people completed 8^th standard. So these 10-12 people are semi- literate which government may say educated to complete its records but in actual job market hesitate to consume. He also quoted normally teachers do not come for 3 days apart from Sunday, so teaching is 3 days a weak. What teachers teach and what students learn only god knows!!!!

 

Source of Income and employment: 69 families live in below poverty line out of 108 families. Average income per family is nearly Rs. 3000-5000 (US$ 66- 111) per year. Their main source of income is from agriculture of paddy and corn which is once a year and for rest of the year they go to remaining forest to gather fruits, tamarind and other products. Unemployment level is very serious among young who want jobs.

 

Mr. Bhose Ram says has problems in the village:

• He needs schools should have facility of food, clothing, he also says need a residential school in the village.
• They have to sell their products in local markets specially forest items and do not get right price.
• Employment opportunity to semi literate and illiterate.

What I feel , solution As:

 

• To identify their ability and engage them in their field so they gain more than coming to urban areas for employment.
• Introduction of Cooperative stores which buys and sells to tribes. They generally do not get sufficient price for their forest products. I was surprised when one of the roots bought from them 20-30 times cheaper and sold at high price in urban shops. If cooperative system is introduced purchase is not direct but through cooperative societies. Many of villagers have to go 10-15 kms to market to sell and buy. Societies in all the villages will help them buy in reasonable prices.
• Heavy industries are not the solution for generating employment in tribal areas. Many products are sold in raw condition to urban where finished and packed to sell. This system is wrong as helps only urban population and helps increase its population. Only handmade and forest medicinal and cosmetic root extraction, production through semi (non polluting) plant, bottling, finishing and packing will not only generate employment but also will get them right price for their items.
• Marketing systems to be more systematic and modernized in order to promote demand.