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The Hon’ble Minister for Local Self Government, Shri, Paloli Muhammed Kutty, on 22nd April 2000 officially inaugurated the implementation of Eco-restoration project. . Initially the Attappady Hills Area Development Society (AHADS) planned to execute the activities to be a phased manner. Hence DU 9 has been selected as pilot phase. Three DUs consisting 4, 10, and 13 as II phase and remaining DUs were proposed to be covered III and IV phases consequently. But AHADS was forced to cover 21 tribal hamlets at the pilot phase where the severe anemia cases were reported from those hamlets. A survey in this regard was conducted by AHADS in association with Agali PHC in 51 tribal hamlets being under malnutrition and unemployment. The survey was initiated to plan an appropriate programme to eradicate starvation & malnutrition on the background of starvation death reported in Vellakulam hamlet in the year of 1999. After thorough discussions with the Panchayats and other lien departments AHADS decided to select 21 hamlets out of those hamlets. Panchayats concerned were taken the responsibility to make programmes for remaining tribal hamlets. Subsequently AHADS commenced the activities in DU 9 as well as 21 tribal hamlets. It was a special package of programmes consisting nutrition garden, soil conservation, cattle shed and alternative energy etc. This programme was really worthwhile to eliminate malnutrition.
Another important factor is that AHADS modified the operational strategy envisaged to implement as phased manner. As far as phased implementation strategy is concerned, AHADS had to concentrate its full human resource and activities in to a selected target area. No activity could be planned for remaining area and population. It has made number of serious problems. Wherever the activities were taken up, the shortage of labour availability affected the progress of implementation while other areas were facing serious unemployment problem. Environmental reason was also valid in the case of phased implementation strategy. Many micro watersheds irrespective of Development units needed to take immediate attention for preventing further environmental degradation. Moreover, there was a high social pressure from local communities for spreading the activities not by stipulating the phased manner.
Considering all of those factors by last quarter of 2001, AHADS decided to cover the whole of Attappady Block under implementation and constituted a five multi- disciplinary team consisting different experts in order to handle the activities in comprehensive manner at fields.
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The eco-restoration project, through its concept, strategies and implementation activities, has brought about considerable ecological and socio – economic changes in Attappady. Since the programmes deal with holistic development of the region, there are tangible as well as intangible benefits from the project. It has to be recognized that the intangible benefits that relate to enhancing social capital of the marginalized people, such as the tribals, cannot be computed in monetary terms. Yet a large range of rejuvenation activities over the landscape and a desire to improve livelihoods are associated with the tangible benefits, accruing out of the effects of the project. Some of the achievements are briefly narrated below:
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Ecological Impacts:-
Greening of hills and valleys
Seven million plants, both in the State forestlands and private wastelands, have covered the otherwise degraded and fallow lands of Attappady due to the project implementation. In a recently concluded survey, it has been found that the survival rate of plants in the forest areas is about 70 percent and in the private wastelands is 62 percent. The growth of the planted stock has brought the greenery back to the landscape with significant positive future implications. A study by Kerala University on the changes in land use pattern between 2001 and 2005 in Attappady indicates positive impacts of greening efforts made by the Project.
Rejuvenation of water streams
Afforestation and soil and water conservation activities, both in forests and private wastelands have resulted in rejuvenation of streams that have completely dried away decades ago. The Kodungarapallam river that used to flow only during the rainy seasons has been flowing throughout the last year. Similar story is emerging in case of Varagar, a tributary of river Bhavani. Other streams, such as Alamarapallam, Dhaliyarpallam, Uppungarapallam, Puliyapathi stream etc. have also been showing improved annual discharge levels of water. The attempts in the project to ‘make the water walk instead of run’have greatly enhanced sub-surface water availability resulting in high discharge of water into the streams. These promising outcomes of soil and water conservation activities are a milestone in the development history of Attappady.
Increase in ground water availability
Hundreds of thousands of trenches, pits, water retention and harvesting structures constructed over the project period have improved ground water availability. The dry wells of eastern Attappady have increased their water levels by 5 to 40 feet. In a study conducted by the Kerala University, it was reported that in previously reported dry and semi dry wells, the water availability has increased substantially from 7 to 37.8 cubic metres per day.
Overcoming Drought
Attappady experienced a severe drought in the year 2002. Even as the drought adversely influenced the agrarian society and economy of Attappady, the employment opportunities generated through the project activities throughout Attappady helped the society to face the ordeal with ease.
Social impacts:-
Just wages
When AHADS started project implementation, the daily wage rate prevailing in Atappady, especially in eastern Attappady, was as low as 30 to 50 rupees. AHADS has established and ensured a just wage rate of 80 to120 rupees through the PIs. Efforts are being made to enhance the daily wage rate to Rs. 125 for both men and women in tune with the wages provided under Employment Guarantee Programme of the Panchayaths.
Abolition of starvation deaths
Starvation deaths were reported from Vellakulam hamlet in the year 1999, before the field implementation of the project started. However, no such incidents are reported now, which is attributed to the availability of year long employment for the local people, especially the tribals due to the project activities.
Malnutrition
Diseases related to malnutrition were prevalent in Attappady in the past. A health survey in 51 hamlets covering 2,051 families in the year 1999 had reported 437 cases of anemia. However reports from health care centers testify considerable reduction in such cases today.
Employment
The project has so far generated more than 3.45 million mandays of employment. These opportunities, in an area known for poverty and unemployment, have favorably influenced the socio-economy of Attappady.
Labour migration
The widespread tendency of the people of Attappady, mainly the tribal communities, to migrate to Kerala and Tamilnadu plains in search of employment has come down considerably since the advent of the project implementation.
School dropouts
The dropout rate of children from different schools of Attappady has come down when compared with the previous years. A survey conducted on 14 lower primary schools in the year 1999 – 2000 reported 174 dropouts. However a survey in the educational year 2003-04 had reported only 120 dropouts. In the case of upper primary schools, the reported dropouts in the year 2003-04 from 6 schools were 65 against 107 in the year 1999-2000. In the case of high schools, there were 70 dropouts against 83 in the past. The decrease in school dropouts is attributed to the better socio-economic conditions emerging in the hamlets as a result of project implementation.
Child labour
Child labour, a common phenomenon in Attappady in the past has drastically come down during the project implementation period, which can be related to the decreasing school dropouts, as more and more children are being sent to the schools.
Farming crisis and suicide of farmers
The crisis in the farming sector has led some farmers to commit suicide at places like Wayanad, Idukki and Palakkad in Kerala.However widespread project activities have been instrumental in helping the people of Attappady to face the farming sector crisis with equanimity.
Leadership development
More than 5000 people’s representatives are leading 93 UAs, 166 OVSs, 54 JFMCs, 111 TKSs and 198 IGA groups. The opportunities to officiate responsible positions in the PIs are in turn developing group and regional leadership among the local people. They are also exposed to administrative skills and finance management, which is being recognized by the three-tier Panchayths in the Government.
Farming crisis and suicide of farmers
The crisis in the farming sector has led some farmers to commit suicide at places like Wayanad, Idukki and Palakkad in Kerala.However widespread project activities have been instrumental in helping the people of Attappady to face the farming sector crisis with equanimity.
Constraints and limitations
The project implementation primarily depends on local skill and manpower alone. During the peak agricultural seasons, availability of adequate labour becomes a constraint for implementation of the project activities. As a result, the progress of the project is affected adversely.
The project has a conditional time slice upto the year 2010. Therefore, the insecured nature of employment makes experienced employees of AHADS to seek secured jobs elsewhere. The constant high out-turn of the staff adversely affects the progress of the project.
The inadequate availability of raw materials in Attappady for civil constructions and the higher costs involved in transportation of materials to remote corners slows down the pace of the progress of the project
The works are executed by PIs on estimates prepared in accordance with the Government approved rates. The demand equation in terms of skilled man power and raw materials exceed local supply,resulting in constant increase in the cost of civil construction. Therefore, many PIs are experiencing losses in the construction works taken up by them, thus slowing down the pace of implementation.
Interest groups related to production and consumption of illicit liquor and ganja act as formidable challenges to people, especially the women groups, and occassionaly members of TKS are harassed in this process. Such incidents decelerate the social drive of the project.
Inadequate co-ordination between the members of various PIs and political colours in the democratic process occassionally create conflicts, hamper smooth communication of project objectives and slow down the pace of implementation.
Illiteracy and lack of experience in conflict resolution, especially among the Executive Committee members often slow down the outreach of project objectives
Due to high investment profile of the project, the PIs and staff of the AHADS mostly interact technically to complete targeted activities on time. It leaves little time for emergence of ideas and procedures for equitable growth and distributive justice affecting growth of social capital.
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Impacts