Amlasole1 In last decade: Interventions and outcomes

Sourav Dhar2 and Dr Smarajit Jana3

Abstract

Background: Present paper explained the strategy and activities under taken by sex workers collective named
Durbar for the upliftment of the tribal communities in Amlasole. In the year 2004 Amlasole came into limelight
because five people of Sabar tribe died due to starvation and malnutrition. This very news drew attention from
people of different sectors, however slowly the interest from civil society and other development agencies
declined as the news moved from front page to 3rd page and gradually lost its news value in the mind of people.
During this period Durbar took an initiative to know and learn about the community and slowly engage them in
various development work and activities. Methodology: This study has followed a multi-pronged, mixed
research methodology involving both quantitative and qualitative methods. Participatory Action research was
undertaken which is a sort of improvisation of what is widely known as Community Based Participatory
Research (CBPR). Primary data was collected based on ethnography with the use of PRA (Participatory Rural
Appraisal) and action research. Number of tools were used which includes open ended, semi-structured and in-
depth interviews. Based on the experience of the research team (which includes liaison officer, anthropologist
and social workers) who were involved in creating an enabling environment to help and engage community
members to build their self-esteem and confidence to begin with. Focus group discussions and participant
observation was found to be an excellent and useful tool to study livelihood issues including daily challenges
faced by them. Analytical study of the existing secondary data did help in better understanding the social and
structural impediments for the developments. Process: the processes of initiation of developmental program and
processes the original team worked to influence on cognitive and psycho cultural dimension of this tribal
community members with a view to sensitize to sensitize them regarding government schemes and entitlements.
The process of building self-esteem and confidence took a while, as they were exposed to past history of their
community where they could trace their pride and legacy. The team member studied history about sabar
community in addition to other communities like munda and lodhas. This includes finding their totem. In
addition to that their glorious past they invigorated citing their active participation in freedom struggle. Slowly
the community members started regaining their dignity and their young generation slowly inducted in skill
building opportunities. Sabar being a pre-agriculture tribe they were in inclined toward agriculture. Women folk
of the family used to collect forest produce from nearby forest which was their only means for survival. Male
member of the community were mainly addicted to haria. As a result they were not engaged in to any
productive work. Results: This study was conducted a decade after initiation of development activities in 2005
showed significant changes both at subjective and objective level. At present almost all family member are
engaged in agriculture. About 80% of children below 5 years of age are currently enrolled in schools. The youth
member has built their own collective and majority of them are engaged in cultural activities, some of them also
moved to cities for job. Mobility have increased in contrast to baseline (2005) when only one person has visited
ghatshila railway station.

1
Amlasole is a remote tribal village of Jharkhand border in Banipur II Block of West Medinipur district of West Bengal
2
ICSSR Project Fellow, Department of Anthropology, University of Calcutta. Email: soudhar@outlook.com
3
Chief Advisor, Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee, 44 Balaram Dey Street, Kolkata- 700006, West Bengal, India. E-mail:
smarajitjana@gmail.com