Rural Camp Report, MSW, Jamia Millia Islamia
Rural Camp Report, MSW, Jamia Millia Islamia
Rural Camp Report, MSW, Jamia Millia Islamia
Introduction: The Social work Department of Jamia, makes serious efforts to make
the curriculum more skill based and practical. As part of field work, we are required
to experience a rural environment, from the closest possible quarters. To serve this
purpose the rural camp has been designed. We were a privileged batch to be placed
under such professors, who made great efforts and put their heart and soul into
making this experience fruitful for all of us. We were able to make the best of this
opportunity. This report is an attempt, to pen down all the memorable moments and
observations that were made. It is in no way sufficient to explain the real impact of
the experience.
We then proceeded to a local shop in the village. Here we met a few men from
different age groups, some were even small school going boys, and some were very
old. We asked them to give us a criteria according to them for defining the happy, not
so happy and sad people of the community. The opinions by and large remained the
same. We were able to make a well being analysis. A few people were also asked to
give us a detailed description of their daily time schedule. We observed all through,
that the women although present, sat aside and did not interfere when the men spoke.
The group was a mix of people from all castes and regions, there seemed to be no
differences. We also learnt about the vegetation patterns and the local terminology for
months and seasons. The discussion about other occupations also helped us to
formulate a livelihood chart.
Later in the day we visited Mr. Satyanarayan, who is the elder brother of Mr Chauhan,
the Saini school principal. He is a village priest and people often come to him for
ayurvedic treatments. He appeared very learned, his wife was bold and outspoken too.
Satyanarayan encouraged his wife to talk to us and also told us that his daughter was
studying in Gurgaon and planned to be an engineer. We visited the water chamber
that we had come to know of, during the mapping.
Back at the campsite, we had an interactive session with members of Mewat
Development Agency and Nayi Roshni Mahila Vikas Samiti. Mr. Rakesh Sharma,
explained to us elaborately the formation of an SHG and discussed a few examples.
On the following day, the morning session was organised by MDA officials. Ms.
Mohammadi gave us a speech on the work of SHG’s in Mewat district. We learnt that
MDA was established, because of all regions in Haryana, Mewat region was the most
backward. She was the first woman graduate of Mewat Dist. She had also done her
MA in History from Jamia. According to the 2001 consensus, female literacy in the
districts had gone up from 2% in 1980 to 24% in 2001. Of these the literate Muslim
women were only 0.001% in 1980. Currently the literacy rate is 44%.
MDA works on infrastructure, education and self-employment. Mewat Model School
and Aravalli Public School have been opened by MDA. We also met Mr. Asri, who
was an alumnus of Jamia. He answered many of the questions raised by students on,
the role of Sarpanch, power of panchayat, PDS, NREGA etc.
After this we went o Pinanguan village, here we met many families in their houses.
We saw that they were working in groups of women on sewing machines. They made
beautiful hand fans, pillow covers and bed covers. These were ordered by wholesalers
in bulk. The women were now earning almost Rs. 10,000 a month. This income was
in addition to the income that comes from the regular activities of agriculture or
animal rearing. We met ‘Akbari’ along with a large group of women. Akbari was one
of the first women to become a member of an SHG. She proudly exhibited her
handiwork and also showed us the awards and appreciation letters that she had
received. This interaction with the women, left us all very motivated to do something
more.
The last day brought mixed feelings for all of us. We were eager to get back home,
but also sad to leave behind the hospitable people of the villages who took care of us
like their personal guests. We practiced for the cultural programme and soon left for
the villages. Some of the villagers were already present at the chaupal to witness the
show. Soon a huge crowd gathered. We were happy to see that there were many
women and children. IN the other villages, our fellow students had faced some
friction and hostile attitude from the imam and other elders. IN Karheda everyone
seemed happy and willing to let us perform. The street play concentrated on various
issues in the village life but tried to link everything and bring the focus to community
participation. The aim was to tell people not to blame everything on the government
or the system, but to fight for their own rights and make themselves self dependent.
The villagers really appreciated our efforts and even requested us to stay back and
come again. We were all very encouraged and touched by their warmth and support.
After this we met all the people that we had developed bonds with. We bid farewell
and gave our thanks. At the camp we prepared a meal of biryani and gajar ka halwa,
to celebrate our last day. We invited the Sarpanch of every village for dinner. They sat
with us for a long time and told us how much they appreciated us. They expressed the
need for more young workers like us and the desire to move on towards development.
On the 10th day, after packing up we left for New Delhi, only 80km away from
karheda, yet a world apart.