Northern Extreme Trip
The Nomadic Gujjar villagers of Northern India are in danger of losing their homes, working with Corbett Trust Foundation the project aim is to buy land for them, ensuring their unique culture is preserved.
The forest dwellers that live inside and in the vicinity of Protected Areas are traditionally dependent on the forests for a multitude of forest products such as food items, fodder, fuel wood, raw material for housing etc. Due to the increase in human population dependency on the forest has increased, however because of local population increase depletion of forest cover has increased, the result, decreased supplies of forest produce.
Shrinkage of habitat for wild animals due to biotic pressures has led to many problems such as crop damage and cattle lifting which is the result of human animal conflict. To prevent loss of habitat for wildlife measures need to be implemented, these measures result in areas being 'closed' to local communities. Thus the impact of forest preservation affects local communities. There is a sense of loss and alienation, reasons for curtailment of rights and 'closure' have rarely been explained to these forest dwellers. Some of these communities, from being part of the ecosystem have now become ecological refugees. To change this situation, proper site-specific alternate strategies need to be developed for such communities.
The Muslim Gujjars of Uttar Pradesh are an obscure group and have not received adequate attention from social scientists. Despite their 'backwardness' and tribal characteristics, these Gujjars have not been included in the list of Scheduled Tribes or even Backward Castes in Uttar Pradesh, whereas their brethren in Himachal Pradesh are included in the list of Scheduled Tribes and those in Jammu and Kashmir are listed among the Backward Class.
The Gujjars came to Tarai and Bhabhar or Sub-Himalayan Tarai in Nainital district around 90 years ago. Today their main settlements are in Tarai, Bhabhar and Tarai Central, Tarai Eastern, Tarai Western Forest Divisions as well as Haldwani and the regions of RAMNAGAR. Originally settled in Himachal the fodder needed for their livelihood, that of cattle breeding started to decrease and became costlier, increasing costs resulted in their shift over to Tarai and Bhabhar where they found supplies in sufficient quantity along with water. Their nomadic nature could have been another factor which may have brought them here, on witnessing the abundance of grazing land, they made Sub-Himalayan Tarai their winter home. Because of their nomadic habits, they would migrate to the hills in Munsiyari, Tehri and Uttarkashi in the summer and return to Tarai and Bhabhar during the winter to graze their animals in the forests.
Since 1962 when China attacked India, the Gujjars of Tarai and Bhabhar have discontinued their summer sojourn in the hills, though within Tarai and Bhabhar they are still mobile and their movement is guided by better grazing facilities for their cattle.
The Gujjars are forest dwellers. For them forests are their livelihood, their very existence, and it is significant, number to approximately 600 extended families.
The Gujjars of Tarai and Bhabhar are called 'Van Gujjars' or Forest Gujjars.
For generations they have led a pastoral and nomadic life depending almost entirely upon their buffalo herds for subsistence. Being a nomadic tribe their material assets are very limited. Their main possessions are livestock and a home to live in, which is temporary, built from and in the forest. The dwelling of a Gujjar is called a 'Dera' these dera's are built on small clearings in the midst of thick forest and are isolated. In the Tarai five or six dera's are clumped together, also a distance of one to four kilometres can separate them. Usually the Gujjar dwellings are near a water source, and where water is not easily available the Gujjars have sunk hand pumps. Isolated from the outside world for a long period, the Gujjars have been apathetic and unaware towards any measures of change.
However recent contact with the outside world has resulted in a yearning within these people for economic betterment, achievement of this however, is no simple matter.
The Gujjar occupied forest and grazing land has to bear increasing human and cattle population. The life style and attitude of the Gujjars, steeped in tradition has resulted in social and logical constraints. The encouragement for progress and development must be adequately controlled monitored and implemented. The Uttar Pradesh Government are doing very little for these people. Presently there is total absence of non-government organisation work amongst the Gujjars of Tarai. A recent development in the present situation is the alleged discrimination by the forest department in their dealings with these people. Pursuant to an updated forest policy, which in reality needs to consider the needs of the Gujjar population. Since the Gujjars are no longer self-reliant they need a helping hand to launch themselves onto a course of development. Government, and non-governmental organisations can both be helpful. At present, neither body is working among them, because official agency responsibility is greater. However it is essential to these people that a supportive infrastructure is developed in the fields of veterinary services, livestock improvement, communication facilities, along with education, health and water supply issues.
Nurturing of panchayats and the implementation of cooperatives can help in focusing economic goals and social activities. Also it is essential to revive, restore and maintain their folklore, music and dance, which is slowly being lost with the passing of time and in the long struggle for survival.
The following recommendations can be made on the basis of a recent field survey:
1. Gujjars should be taken into confidence and actively involved in preparing a comprehensive program for their own development.
2. A scheme should be prepared for the permanent settlement in the' Tarai and Bhabhar of these people. It is suggested that those Gujjars who are desirous for getting land for fodder raising may be allotted land in plantations. It is hoped that given such incentives the Gujjars will raise enough fodder for their buffaloes and gradually start stall-feeding them.
3. A programme introducing improved varieties of buffaloes through crossbreeding should be implemented . Uneconomical cattle should be limited.
4. The Gujjars are suffering in their capacity for milk production owing to the inadequacy of water supply which is also needed for drinking, washing etc. Since the Gujjars are now more or less sedantry, they should be permitted to sink bore wells.
5. The main problem is to wean the Gujjars from a nomadic lifestyle, which is detrimental to regeneration of the forest. They should be grouped together in milking cooperatives and settlements congenial to their particular social and cultural needs. Together with providing for them a means of livelihood, their cultural heritage will be preserved.
6. The Gujjar women constitute an important segment of the population and work more than their male counterparts. However they are extremely 'backward', hence vocational/literacy classes should be established for young girls and women. They also need personal hygiene education. Village level workers can play an important role by working with them and educating them.
7. Schools and primary health centres should be opened in close proximity of Gujjar habitats.
8. No utilisation of dung of the live stock population of the Gujjars is being implemented. They should be encouraged to use it as fuel or to sell it as compost.
9. Many of these activities fall under ecodevelopment programs that the Corbett Foundation is presently operating in. There are 4 major Gujjar settlements to consider. It is possible for the Foundation to immediately setup development projects in these settlements provided required funds are available.