The answers to my questions from letter to Jaher Samiti dated June 24, 2002 are below. These are excerpts from an email from Ms. Jahermuni Alphoso dated August 9, 2002.

 

Thank you,

Ananth

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Now to answer your questions

 

1)       What is the people's view of this fishery project? Do they support it? We knew that they supported the school by building structures for them, but what about in this case?

 

  1. When we where in need of funds to run tour school it was the people [ Women’s Group] idea to run the fishery project it was their decision to divide the profit giving a share to the school and they did it for three consecutive years . We have a good rapport with the people and always count on their contribution in any project or work.

2) Where is the fish being sold? How is the market for fish? Do they need to sell in Ranchi? Is there is a lot of competition for the fish market?

 

  1. There are many local weekly markets in the plains where there are colonies of CCL ( Central Coalfields  Limited ) and Tata coal mines employees and their families who are mostly Bengalis and Biharis and relish Fish. Besides there is a Fish Export center from Ramgarh about Fifty Kilometer from here the Fish is sent outstations. At present Hazaribag Consumes Five Truck load of Fish weekly from Andhra Pradesh.

 

3) Do the people in the village have to buy it as well for food? at the same price?

 

  1. The people in the village will all have a share from the pond as  Land owners and / or as Mahilla Mandal  members. Besides it a custom when the Fish is caught the whole village is in the pond with their own nets and fishing equipment. The Big fish caught personally is handed in and Later an equal amount of this equally distributed among all the Villagers. The smaller Fish can be kept by the individual in this way every family gets One to Two Kilos fish free. Aside from this if any villager wishes to buy more they do so at the market price. The fishing is done about three times in the season aside from this on occasion the whole village may decide to fish. Then only the big fish is caught and equally distributed and if the small fish if caught is immediately returned to the pond.

 


4) Is there a contract between the mahila mandals and the land-owners? If not, what is mechanism for ensuring that they don't break away in the middle of the project?

  1. There is a formal Contract made between the Land owners so that the smooth running of the project is ensured. The sample of the same is attached.


5) Who are the fishermen? Also santali? Will they be from the same village? or some specialized people?

 

  1. At present because we do not possess the nets we have to bring fishermen from the plains these are all Non Santhals. They take one fourth of the total catch as a payment for their services besides taking a big share for their own consumption as well for their own friends and relatives. Sometimes they take upto half the total catch. If we are able to purchase their own nets it will definitely increase the income.


6) When the village has a local school, it seems that the education share will go to that school. However, we have only evaluated the Jaher Primary school and not those schools. So, who is running those schools? The samiti or someone else? Do those schools have the same credibility and standards that the Jaher school has?

  1. All 12 villages where the 12 ponds are do not have schools in the area of the 12 villages there is Jaher Primary school with branch school at Chirubera  and Bando tola. In Gondwad there is also a Government primary schools aside from this four school there are no other school. All four school are under the supervision of the Samiti


7) There was lots of discussion on the financial aspects of the plan in terms of a regular business. While we all knew that the project would be really useful for the Santhal society, we could look at this purely from a financial point of view and state that the Rs.50,000 for school can be gotten from the interest from putting the Rs. 6,80,000 in a bank. But, there is a larger risk in undertaking the project, while the interest from a bank is less risky. Any comments on this?

  1. It is true that the interest from a bank is a lot less risky than the interest from a peoples project but the benefits reaped from a people project is hundred fold. A few for your conviction are
    1. With this project we are building a fishery cooperative that will spread over the area to encompass all the ponds belonging to the santals and making them a strong group both economically and there fore socially and that will raise their standards of Living.
    2. The Mahilla Mandals in all these areas will be strengthened to such an extent that eventually they will not have to stretch out their hands for help but will extend their hands to help others.
    3. The Education of all the children of these families will be ensured not only primary education and higher education and further besides this Adult education for the women and the Adult population is also encouraged.
    4. From this they will be encouraged into many more income generating to better their own lifestyles.


8) There was some feeling that Asha should not be solely responsible for the financial risk of the project. So, would be reasonable for the Samiti to borrow say Rs. 3,00,000 from a bank, and Asha can act as a guarantor for this money? Of course, there is some interest to be paid, but maybe it is reasonable. Is that a possibility?

 

  1. Regarding the Bank Loan I had spoken to the provincial about this since the Money would have to come through them. He does not think that at the present it is a good thing. He would prefer that we get less money and do this only rather than taking a Loan from the bank even if Asha stands as a guarantor. The Provincial suggest we ask for a project for six ponds only and later build on this alone.


9) It seems that the timing of the project is reasonably critical. Since our approval has been so delayed, it is possible for you to start this next year (2003)?

  1. It is possible to start this in January 2003.

10) There was a math error in calculating cost for repair for the village Bali, Tola - Tala Tola (#4), where 20 workers x 15 days x Rs. 50 = Rs. 15,000, rather than the Rs. 18,750 that is mentioned. I think this is a simple math error, which I have corrected.

  1. This was Mathematical error. Thank you for correcting it

 

We are really looking forward to your visit with us in October. Do let us know your dates if Possible. Kindly spend as much time as possible with us.

 

Thanking you once again for the cheque and for all your Concern and for all the Santhals

 

Sincerely

 

Jahermuni Germaine Alphonso