…..And He is Called HAZARDOUS!!!

…..And He is Called HAZARDOUS!!!

This was when I was doing my Certificate Course in Social work from TISS. As part of our study tour, we visited Ralegan Siddhi, more popularly known as Anna Hazare’s Village.

Similar to any other Village people there were very accommodating and welcoming, for a few who have not visited the remotest of villages in this country, people despite their poverty would welcome you into their homes and offer you water and parle G biscuits. Coming to Anna’s village, the conditions were much much better, it had good roads, people including women were educated and youth were employed, of which many prefer to join the army, following Anna’s footsteps.

We were a group of 10 and we spent 2 days in the village. Speaking to the people there, we learnt that Anna served the Armed forces for a while after which he came back to his village with a vision to improve living conditions. Ralegan Siddhi earlier had pathetic living conditions, the village was located in a rain shadow area, the land was undulating and barren, conditions adverse for cultivation which led to insufficient food production and unemployment. Most of the families survived on one square meal a day. Some people in the village thus started brewing liquor to earn livelihood and gradually breweries in the village started to increase, serving as a source of income. Extreme poverty led to alcoholism and frequent quarrels within families and amongst people.

Decided to dedicate his life for social development Anna started with water shed development in his village. He was convinced that people with an empty stomach would not listen to his ideologies and philosophies. He started with watershed development, his helped in conserving rain water, recharging the groundwater and raising the water table. He carried out afforestation programs and banned open grazing of cattle. This helped boost the agricultural productivity in the village. Agricultural development created employment and curbed migration of people into the cities.

Today the villagers have completely given up brewing of liquor. Nobody sells liquor in the village. shopkeepers also do not sell cigarettes, beedies and tobacco in the village for the last 13 years. The percapita income of the village increased from Rs 225 –Rs 2500. Ralegan Siddhi being a successful example of watershed development, this model of ideal village has been replicated in 80 – 85 villages in Maharastra.

And you need to see it to believe it, the problem of untouchability that existed in this village, no longer exists’, everybody despite their caste and creed live in perfect harmony. Respect for women in this village is immense. Apart from all this population control has worked wonders in this village.

It is not about whether we support Anna and the Lok Pal or not, it is about knowing the little he has been able to contribute. With his movement against anti corruption – he has definitely been able to create a rage amongst the general public. It is movement yes, whether it will work, we really do not know. Even when the great Mahatma started his non violent movement, we were not sure that it will work, but time has shown and he is a Mahatma.

And if you say Anna is hazardous be it, there are many more in this country in the true sense …..