Shadow of the Clouds

My laughter would still be echoing on the hills across NH 76. Silently, mirthfully, contently.

I am in the sumo with a varied coterie. Harilalji is at the wheel. His super-sensitive pendrive (it plays song according to the average age and mood of the passengers) playing quite, reflective, romantic songs. Maybe, Harilalji's pendrive is really gifted, because I'm jubilant at the resonance of the lyrics and my internal state-

Bahut dinose jamanat se shikayat nahi...

How true! I really have no complaints against the world these days, I am so content and grounded. I scribble the line in my diary. Ashutosh, seated on my left, glances at me. What must he have been thinking? 'What notes is this girl taking now? Maybe, she's a cracko' Adarsh, seated at the front beside Harilalji, still wears the same suit of silence. I wonder about his eyes - they are silent too. Rupal and Mukeshji's conversation drifts to my ears. Rupal is surprised that the song brings back 15 years old memories to Mukeshji. Well, I think to myself, to memories it's never about their age but the strength of their fragrance. I look out to the hill-dipped horizon. There are intermingling patches of shadows and sunlight - it's the amazing phenomenon of shadow of clouds. Memory of the Tuljapur landscape, my home of three years, is brought back to me. I wonder about the past three hours. In addition to being an exposure, the field office visit had also been a test, hadn't it? The clouds chuckle with me.

Ashutosh, Adarsh and I are interview candidates for the post of Area Manager (Financial Services) at the Aajeevika Bureau. Mukeshji is the General Manager (Operations) and Rupal is the General Manager (Financial Services). We had been taken to the taluka offices of Aajeevika and RSSA. This was to give us a feel of the work which would enable us to gauge our suitability for the profile. Ashutosh hails from Bhopal and had been a part of SKS (microfinance). Adarsh, originally from Varanasi, works at Wipro Delhi (financial analysis and MIS). And me? Currently looking for jobs, I was compelled to visit Aajeevika, despite my preference to work closer home (I was so attracted to their work).

Picked up from my arriving place, allowed to refresh at the guest house and fed, I was finally united with the team for the visit. As Rupal, our sutradhar phrased it, we had a 'beautiful drive' across NH 76 to Gogunda. On the way I noticed groups of people moving with their cattle. 

It was amazing to watch Rajashthan's rural people up so close and real. The women wore traditional flowing skirts, blouses and pallus, and bangles. The cattle differed according to groups. The first group I saw moved with camels (I noticed a camel suckling its mother!). Then there was another with sheep, and another with donkeys! Luggage was tucked upon the animals. Mukeshji confirmed my observation - they were migrating to greener pastures for the monsoons.

We stopped at a nondescript building. I saw Aajeevika's board. It was a typical ground-level NGO setup. After climbing a floor of steps, we met Rajendraji and another lady. Rajendraji manages the work at the Taluka level, while the lady (I do not remember her name), seemed to be a grass-roots worker. After a formal introduction of everyone, Rajendraji explained Aajeevika Gogunda's work since its establishment. The information he shared was quite interesting, especially the statistics. I'll summarise the same below-

Being a region lacking in cultivable land, water and irrigation, migration started in Rajasthan around 150 years back. Today, it is so common that 54% of the population is into migration. And if you include those below 18 years (yes, children too), the statistic rises to 65%! However, the life of these migrants is dismal. The starting remuneration is Rs. 1000 per month which may go only upto Rs. 4500 even after working for 20 years. Wow! I compared this to my career (the likely remuneration and benefits); what a stark contrast! This happens in the case of unskilled workers. Therefore, Aajeevika engages in skill training and placement.

Caught in the Vicious Cycle: Rajasthan's Migrants

Gaining skills (construction, electrical work, etc) helps these migrants to break out of the vicious cycle they are caught in. They depart from their villages aiming to collect some amount of money. However, they are required to come back home sometimes or send in money in-between due to contingencies. Also, whenever they fall ill, they return to their villages to avail treatment - they are so ignorant of the services at their work destinations. This pattern continues for years. Finally, these migrants retire. By this time, another generation of migrants (their 13-14 years old sons) is ready. Skilled work helps them earn better remuneration, save money and graduate to a more secure lifestyle. 
Aajeevika also helps these workers through money management advice and micro-loans. The literacy rate of women at the tehsil is appalling - less than 20%! The NGO works with women to empower them to gain access to available government services and even engage in jobs suitable for them. Aajeevika also organises migrants. Currently, they have four collectives collaborating with them, one of which has been registered as a union. Despite migration being a major livelihood source, there is hardly any government intervention in this sector. There is no labour department at the block level (there are 18 other departments serving citizens' needs). A recent RTI by Aajeevika revealed that zero workers were registered in the state under the Inter-State Migrants Act! This was why Aajeevika took up the gargantuan work of registering workers. Today this ID card is recognised by the Department of Labour of Rajasthan government. I had a chance to look at one when Rajendraji showed us the cards. It had basic details such as full name, address and occupation.

I did not note down all the statistics on the ppt. But I could deduct that Rajendraji's team had done considerable research. They had squeezed out the juice of migration issue in the area. And, in Rajendraji's words, their services had evolved organically from the community.

Post Rajendraji's presentation, we relaxed for tea. I took the opportunity to step out of the room and peep in where a group of rural people had gathered. Men folk were seated on one side, and women on another. A few social workers peppered this group. The conversation on the men's side was animated while that on the women's side was quieter and shy. Some forms were also being filled. I took my leave after my brief 'audacity'. It was a part of the organisational culture to wash your own cups (I liked this part :)). We honoured it before leaving.

We stepped out of Aajeevika office and were stalled by a loud and colourful procession. I couldn't resist taking snaps - the folks danced without abandon! We were later updated that an idol was being instated at a nearby temple.

We then walked to RSSA office, just a couple of blocks away. Again, we discovered RSSA office to be situated at an upper level with a few humble rooms and an equally humble staff. We interacted with the General Manager, Sampatji. We followed, with some variations, the same process of formal introductions, a brief explanation of the work and then clarification of our doubts. Here is a summary of the information shared by Sampatji-

Samriddhi programme encompasses RSSA's financial inclusion activities such as financial literacy training, gullak bachat, pension scheme, etc. The other major activity is provision of micro-credit. The credit activity follows in this manner: forms are filled in for applicants, which are verified by the Sarpanch. The applicant has to name one individual from family who would take joint responsibility (Joint Responsibility Individual - JRI) for the loan repayment. S/he would also have to name two guarantors failing which the loan application would be rejected. RSSA only requires the guarantors to be working individuals; it does not look into their financial situation. Once the verification is completed, a committee reviews the applications and approves the worthy ones. The loans are given at a declining interest of 2% per month. The loan amount falls within the range of Rs. 5000 to Rs. 20,000.

Sampatji also explained the organisational structure (starting from Branch Manager going down to Financial Service Provider working at panchayat level) and profile of debtors (Long Duration Migrants, Short Duration Migrants and Retired Migrants - preference is given to LDMs for loans). Sampatji mentioned that the biggest challenge in his work was tackling detractors in community meetings and loan defaulters. He shared an example where the debtor, JRI and guarantors had all left the village. In such cases, they used the technique of community pressure to recover the amount. Despite all this, Sampatji's high at his job was the knowledge that his efforts were benefiting the people. It was inspirational to hear this young Branch Manager speak passionately about his work.

Green, not Brown: The Scene outside RSSA Terrace

                                           

We broke up our discussion after a round of samosas (famous in the area) benevolently brought for us by staff member Kanhaiyalalji.

Our visit was thus completed. The general mood in the jeep was relaxed, though Adarsh and Ashutosh were a bit pensive. And that's when Harilalji's pendrive started playing the songs.

Hmm, it has been an interesting visit. I think about this new land. It has the same undercurrents of other rural areas I had visited. It holds a great scope of work; Aajeevika's contribution has paved the path in the right direction.

The running scenery beyond my window captivates me. My trail of thoughts go back home, to Amma seated on her usual chair.

Amma, hold my hand, step out and look at those laughing hills. Does Rajasthan beckon us?

Beyond the Walls:
In the waiting lounge,  Head Office, Aaajeevika

Note: I began typing this article before the result of the interview was disclosed to me, and I have completed it maintaining the same mode of my mind.