Rural Livelihoods and Sustainable Living: Case-28: SAVED BY THE VILLAGE ORGANISATION!

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A Case Study of THE ANDHRA PRADESH RURAL LIVELIHOODS PROJECT”

Savitramma is a resident of Avulanna Village in Belugappa Mandal of Anantapur district.  Her husband is a temple priest. Previously the temple owned 200 acres of land. The priest was given a share of the crop and they lived happily. Gradually the temple land dwindled due to various reasons. Now the temple owns only 4 acres of land and that too is given out on lease. Therefore the temple trust pays a paltry Rs.600 per month as salary to the priest. Managing the family became difficult.  Savitramma could not work as a labourer, so they thought of pulling their sons out of school.

When the APRLP watershed development programme was launched in the village, some non-governmental organisations working there organised the poor into self-help groups.  Thereafter, all the groups in the village formed a village organisation. The village organisation was given a livelihood fund and Savitramma took a loan of Rs.10, 000 from the village organisation to start a small provisions shop.  There were already four provisions shops in the village but Savitramma persuaded all the members of the village organisation to buy from her shop. In the first year she was able sell goods worth Rs.300–400 per day, making a profit of only Rs.20-30. After repaying the first loan, she took another loan of Rs.10, 000 and upgraded the business. She started selling goods worth Rs.600–800 every day, making a profit of Rs.100 per day. With an income of Rs.3, 000 per month she was better able to care for her family.

Dwindling of Temple lands of 200 Acres to just 4 Acres is the classic case of almost every Temple in India, though this Government department chose not to discuss this aspect, as the purpose of the above is different.

This kind of depletion of assets of Temples, Masques, Churches and all has been happening on account of the mismanagement of the trustees, grabbing the land by the influential money-bags, with active connivance of the Administration!