the saltpans of little rann of kutch
DESCRIPTION
The Little Rann of Kutch is a salt marsh located in the northern region of Gujarat, close to the Great Rann of Kutch. It produces near 25% of India’s salt production and employs nearly 50,000 workers in the process. The saltpan workers working in the Little Rann of Kutch belong to the Agrariya community, are illiterate, and their professional skills are limited to salt making. It is the life of their children, however, which suffers the most. Due to being in the Rann for 8 months, they miss out on any formal education. While the young ones need care and hence, accompany their parents, some of the older children (14-16 years) aid their parents in salt making. Various NGOs have been working in and around Rann to resolve the plight of children and ensure their primary education. Education and awareness alone can facilitate their switching to some other occupation and hence the breaking of the vicious circle of illiteracy and poverty. One of the most prominent of these is Ganatar. Ganatar has come up with unique initiatives like schools in Rann, vocational training programme, bridge course to help students keep pace with mainstream education, with involvement of the community as its cornerstone principle. Inspite of such innovative solutions and impeccable spirit shown by the students who have continued in the education system after being impacted by Ganatar, the situation is still bleak. The change is coming but more vigorous efforts need to be made, both by the community and the government, to ensure that the right to education and hence, equal opportunity is made available to these children.TRANSCRIPT
GANATAR: EDUCATING THE CHILDREN OF THE DESERT
Group E6
The cost of Salt
• A life expectancy of 50 years for about 50,000 people
• Night blindness among 60% of the children of saltpan workers
• Temperatures of 55OC for children below the age of 6
• A daily wage as low as Rs. 30• A literacy rate of 1.3% in an entire community• Unnatural deaths due to Tuberculosis and
Gangrene
Saltpans
Little Rann of Kutch is a 5,200 sq-km area
Accounts for 25% of India’s total salt production
Saltpan Workers
About 1,00,000 people employed in this industry
80% of them are landless labors
They have been working here for generations
They fall under the De-notified Tribe list and are called Agariyas
Problems
Social
Economic
HazardsPlight of Children
GovernmentProhibitions
Ganatar- Introduction
Ganatar – Work Profile
Children
Health
Eradication of Child Labor
Education
Ganatar - Achievements
• Percentage of children going to school increased from 20% to 80% in 10 years
• Pushed for and secured an amount of Rs. 11 crore in the State Budget for setting up schools
• Comprehensive setup for education and vocational training
• Has a network in 90 villages through panchayats and schools
Organization of the society
Merchants
Agarias
Labourers (migrated from other states)
Agarias: Status in the society
Feel exploited
Little leverage to negotiate
Sustenance drivenFragmented community
No elected representative to take their cause
Role of government
Responsibility of ensuring education
(RTE)
Little help accorded till
now
No legislation to prevent
exploitation
The Solution
Government
NGOs
Community
Recommendations (for Ganatar)
Gather Funding
Ask for Regulations
Ask for Technology
Engage Government
Form Self-help groups
Thank You