PRA-PALM Series

EXAMPLE 9

Changes in Lifestyles

Eight women from Ardhanaripura served as informants for this exercise which attempted to trace how life had changed for the people over the years in a number of areas and ways. The word ‘past’ was not especially defined but used in a very general way as being different from the present. The following information was collected :

Sl.No.	Past	Present
1.	They were bonded labourers.	Now leading independent lives.
2.	Mode of transport was by walk and bullock cart.	Transport facility has improved; six buses travel to and fro.
3.	People were scared of wild animals.	No fear of any animals.
4.	Heavy rains, surplus crop yields, thick forest, good vegetation.	Depletion of resources.
5.	Plenty of wild animals.	Wild animal population depleted.
6.	Chemical fertilisers did not exist.	Use of chemical fertilisers quite common.
7.	Crops : Ragi, Avare, Niger Mustard, Horsegram Navane, Same, Castor	Additional crops of Jowar and paddy.
8.	Stream water available in plenty for human & livestock consumption	Though there are open wells and hand pumps, water is a scarce resource.
9.	Agricultural fields were cultivated by manual labour.	Lands cultivated with bullocks.
10.	Earning from agriculture labour was less due to bondedness.	Earnings from agriculture labour more due to independent life.
11.	The population was less and there were thatched houses. (5 families).	Population has increased and pucca houses constructed with Government assistance. (41 families).
12.	Child marriages common (11 to 15years) and expenses less.	The marital age has increased to between 18 to 20 years and expenses on marriage increased.
13.	Dowry pattern was different - the groom paid a bride price of Rs.5.25/- and 2 kolagas of ragi. Use of silver and brass for ornaments.	The bride price now is Rs.200/- and 200 kolagas of ragi.
14.	Clothing material was handloom which cost less.	Different materials used now which cost more (Man-made fibre)
15.	Coffee, tea were not in use.	Coffee, tea are in practice.
16.	Mud vessels were in use and firewood for cooking was common.	Different types of vessels used (steel, aluminum) and kerosene stoves in use though firewood is also used.
17.	Social functions & celebration of festivals were limited; drama, circus and puppetry were common.	There is an increase in celebration of festivals; cinemas and radios are common.
18.	School and hospitals did not exist.	School and hospital facility is now available.

VALUES :

Sl.No.	Value	Past	Present
1.	Currency	Coins	Rupee & Paise
2.	Measurements	Pavu, Saeru	Litre, Kilogram Weight
3.	Wage (women)	12 paise, 1 palla grain	Rs.6/- to Rs.10/- per day or 2-3 seers of Ragi.
4.	Wage (men)	4 pallas ragi	Rs.10/ to Rs.15/- per day or 3-4 seers of Ragi.
5.	Exchange	Barter system common.	Reduced barter system, cash is used to purchase oil, pulses, clothing etc.
6.	Cost of living	More articles purchased for less money	More money spent for a lesser amount of goods.
7.	Clothing	Saree cost was around Rs.1.25/- per saree.	The saree is now purchased at Rs.65/- per saree.
8.	Metal	Brass - Rs.0.25 per gram Silver - Rs.1.25 per gram.	Brass - Rs.10/- per 10 grams Silver - Rs.300/- per 10 grams.
9.	Values	Elders were respected.	No respect for elders.
10.	Storage	Iron and wooden trunks were used for storage	Now brief cases and leather bags are common.

HEALTH :

Sl.No.	Past	Present
1.	Less human diseases. Reasons : a) Quality & quantity of food; b) No ‘English’ medicines	Diseases increased. Reasons : a) Poor quality offood; b) ‘English’ medicines.
2.	Use of local ayurvedic medicines	Use of ‘English’ medicines & hospital facilities.
3.	Less people treated.	More people treated.
4.	Local medicines for a) Head-ache : Ragi flour, mustard juice. b) Stomach ache : salt water, patte juice, turmeric. c) Wounds : Jaggery & oil, jhujhakkil leaves applied on wound. d) Fever : apply hot ash powder. e) Mortality less in homes, Khus-khus juice, pepper juice used by mothers for deliveries. f) Breast feeding upto 2 years of age common.	‘English’ medicine - do - - do - - do - Infant mortality high in hospitals; now tonics for mothers. Even now breast feeding is common upto 2 years.

The above information is an expression of people’s perceptions. Information to be verified, eg. infant mortality

HYGIENE :

Sl.No.	Past	Present
1.	Bathe once in 15 days.	Bathe twice a week.
2.	Green leaves used as vegetables and also roots of few plants enabling better health.	Use of greens reduced considerably, leading to ill health.
3.	Prepare chilli powder at home.	Now purchase chilli powder.
4.	No family planning.	Family planning a must now to decrease population to match available resources.
5.	No vaccinations.	Immunisation common.
6.	No varieties of food.	Different types of food available.
7.	Smoking, drinking and drugs like Ganja did not exist.	Cigarettes, Liquor, Ganja etc., in common use as they are easily available in rural areas.

EXAMPLE 10

Participatory Mapping and Modelling

This technique has already been described on Page 2 of this report. In Ardhanaripura once the modelling process was initiated, the people got interested and used it with a difference; they first made a model of what the village and their fields looked like now; next they also made a model of what it could look like if watershed development activities were taken up; and finally, they made a model of what it would look like soon, if no attempt was made to check the process of erosion and degradation. The three models - copied on to paper subsequently - are as attached.

See LEGEND

TO CONCLUDE :

Feed back from the participants showed that both the objectives stated on Page 1 had been suitably demonstrated.

Further, the methods and techniques used, both to elicit information and present them in ways that the farmers could also clearly understand was a major learning. None of the materials used were brought in from outside. Besides, the use of stones, coins, diagrams and models were only a few examples of methods and materials that could be used; the more imaginative and creative the team, the more improvements and innovations there could be in the methods and techniques used.

Participation from the villagers had been enthusiastic and very useful to both sides. Plenty of information had been generated. It was now upto the participants to follow up on this for a good Watershed Development Plan.

L E G E N D

SL.NO.	P A R T I C U L A R S	S Y M B O L
1.	WATERSHED BOUNDARY
2.	NALA WITH GULLY PLUGS
3.	ROAD
4.	CART ROAD
5.	FARM POND
6.	WELL
7.	SPRING
8.	VILLAGE
9.	FIELD BOUNDARY WITH TREE PLANTING
10.	FOREST WITH HILLOCK
11.	STATE BOUNDARY
12.	AGAVE PLANTING