CEE April-June 2012

Corporate Social Responsibility A CRUSADE FOR TRIBAL IDENTITY Bringing about change in the society is not child's play. There are, however, certain groups religiously working towards the upliftment of the underprivileged. One of them is the Nayantara Memorial Charitable Trust (NMCT) in West Bengal. A registered public charitable trust, formed by a group of like-minded individuals to extend a helping hand to the tribals, the Trust, since its inception in November 2002 has been deeply involved with 'Project lllambazar' for the integrated development of the 14 tribal villages of the Chawpahari Jungle in the Birbhum district of West Bengal. The objective of the trust is to raise the awareness levels of rural tribals and strengthen their existing livelihood options. The Chawphari region of lllambazar is primarily inhabited by the Santhals and is one of the most backward regions of the district. Since the tribals live in the forest, they are dependent mostly on the yield of the minor forest produce to eke out their livelihood. Currently, the Trust focuses on three major areas of project activities - health, livelihood, and education. In 2002, the Trust installed 13 (200 to 250 feet deep} hand pumps in 10 tribal villages, thereby providing safe drinking water. This took care of serious health hazards like skin diseases and chronic stomach ailments, previously related to unhealthy drinking water. The Trust further encouraged the tribals, traditionally hunters and gatherers, to make farming their major source of livelihood, by developing community kitchen gardens near these hand pumps, hence utilizing the runaway water. In the field of healthcare, the Trust conducts free medical camps and clinics, eye camps, distributes free spectacles, and conducts nno<>.,:>tonr'" periodically. ,... _ ,..,.. "The tribals of the Chawpahari jungle have little chance of survival in this challenging environment where their habitat is under constant threat of being taken over by encroaching civilization. Keeping this in mind, we have introduced several sustainable livelihood programmes, by opening up new avenues of earning and sustenance, in addition to their traditional occupation of 'Sal Leaf Collection'. These programmes help steel their ability to overcome the obstacles," says Dip Kumar Gooptu, a trustee of NMCT. These livelihood programmes include formation and strengthening of over 54 Self Help Groups (SHG} to provide vocational training in bamboo and palm coir handicrafts, paper bag, and seed-ornament making. NMCT identified the problem of lack of education carefully before adopting any method as solution. The tribals are first generation learners and lack conducive environment at home. Economic compulsions, in most cases, keep them busy with work that would generate earnings for the family. To address this problem, two Free Supportive Coaching Centres were started for over 200 children from eight villages. It has also provided financial aid to poor students and plans to set up hostels for tribal students. Other activities in the literacy drive include Teachers' Training to community youths for extension of education and setting up of library for reference purposes; exposure visits; co-curricular activities; reading, writing, and recitation competitions; promotion of local art; seminars on tribal education; and workshop for Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS} workers. As an outcome of the Trust's involvement in the area of education, several positive results were noticed. Several girls belonging to marriageable age group decided not to marry, but continue studying in order to help their fathers support the family in future. However, such unconventional steps taken often resulted in the villagers socially boycotting the respective families. NMCT addressed the challenge by counselling the victim families as also the people involved in the boycott. For more information log on www.nayantaratrust.com Courtesy: TERRAGREEN, May 2012,P55. 69