Recasting Citizenship for Development - File UPI

Transgressing Political Spaces and Claiming Citizenship 71
of employment exist. In Orissa, the trade in KL was ‘nationalised’ in 1973
to protect the interests of KL pluckers by eliminating middle-men and to
maximise revenues from the trade. A number of studies indicate the high
degree of local dependence on KL for livelihood in the state.
In Orissa, it is estimated that about 30 million person-days’ work is
created by KL collection within a short span of three to four months.
Given the state monopoly in KL trade and the absence of state-operated
phadis, KL collectors are left with almost no option but to sell their labour
to private illicit KL traders, who offer them only a fraction of the price
fixed by the government. In Ranpur block, about 5,000 persons, mainly
women from about 113 villages, suffer because KL phadis are not available.
The problems faced by these KL pluckers were first raised in a meeting of
the women’s sub-group of the Parishad.
Prior to nationalisation in 1973, there were 10 phadis operated by
private traders in the Ranpur area. After nationalisation, there were two
to three phadis in the area; these were closed down after a few years, apparently
at the behest of private traders. There continue to be many private
beedi companies operating in the area. A recent survey conducted by the
MMJSP (December 2004–January 2005) shows that there is plenty of KL
available in the area. In this survey, 974 pluckers were interviewed in 41
sample villages. Of the 240 villages in Ranpur block, 125 villages are involved
in KL collection. About 3,100 households and 15,800 people
depend on KL for subsistence, and the income from KL provides critical
subsistence for about two months. It is estimated that approximately
8,000 quintals of KL are collected in the area (most traded ‘illicitly’). The
average income from KL at the rates offered by private traders in the 2005
season was Rs 1,560 per household and it is expected that opening of KL
phadis can enhance this income by an additional amount of Rs 1,350 per
household.
The problems that KL pluckers face in the absence of KL phadis in the
area were brought forth at a women’s meeting in 2000. Raising the issue
of forest-based livelihoods, the women repeatedly emphasised that it was
not enough to simply protect forests; they also need to work towards
improving the incomes of women (especially from forest products). As
part of these discussions, the specific issues and problems of KL pluckers
came up. At a meeting of the Central Women’s Committee (CWC) on
18 January 2001, it was decided to undertake advocacy to address the
problems of KL pluckers in Ranpur block. Accordingly, at this meeting a