Impacts of Government Policies on Sustenance of Tribal ... - Samata

Hens are raised for meat and sold forincomeNimmalpadu) for prices ranging betweenRs. 11,000/- and Rs.17,000/- per animal.None <strong>of</strong> the bullocks were bought duringthe study period in 2008; however severalhad been purchased in the year 2009. One <strong>of</strong>the interviewees had earned an income <strong>of</strong>Rs. 7,500/- by renting the bullocks outduring the study period.Goats are raised for household consumptionand sale to augment income especiallyduring financial crises. Goats are also stallfedand open grazed for 7–8 hours every dayin each instance. One <strong>of</strong> the intervieweeshad purchased a goat during the studyperiod for Rs. 10,000/- from the santha,while another had purchased one for just Rs.4,000/- from Kasipatnam.Goats were sold in one case to meetexpenditure <strong>of</strong> house construction, anotherinstance to meet educational expenses andhousehold expenses. One <strong>of</strong> theinterviewees had sold two goats for Rs.4,000/- while another had sold two for atotal <strong>of</strong> Rs.5,300/- during the study period.One <strong>of</strong> them had sold a goat for as low asRs. 1,500/- in 2008.Hens were bought for domesticconsumption <strong>of</strong> eggs and meat and are alsosold for their meat to augment income. Thehens are purchased either from others in thevillage or from the santhas. Open grazingand stall feeding for 6–8 hours was commonin each instance. One <strong>of</strong> the intervieweeshad bought five hens for Rs. 180/- duringthe study period another six for Rs. 200/-.One <strong>of</strong> the interviewees had sold four hensfor their meat during the study period for asum <strong>of</strong> Rs. 600/- to overcome financialproblem at home, while another had soldtwo for Rs. 500/-. Another interviewee hadsold two for Rs. 300/-.Two <strong>of</strong> the interviewees also mentioned thatthey had pigs; one pig had been sold for Rs.2,500/- to augment income and the other forRs. 2,000/-.<strong>Government</strong> schemes accessedThe villagers were accessing differentschemes <strong>of</strong> the government. These includethe housing and pension scheme underIndiramma Programme (Integrated NovelDevelopment in Rural Areas and ModelMunicipal Areas), self-help group (SHG)membership under Indira Kranthi Pathakam,MGNREGA as well as accessing the DRDepots to meet the essential requirements <strong>of</strong>the household.The primary aim <strong>of</strong> the IndirammaProgramme launched by the AndhraPradesh state government with effect from 1April 2006 is to provide nine services inidentified villages that include puccahouses, pension, drinking water, roads,elementary education, electricity, IntegratedChild Development Scheme (ICDS), healthand sanitation. In the case <strong>of</strong> pension, thestate government was initially providingpension under the National Old Age PensionScheme. The state government decided toenhance the number <strong>of</strong> old age pensionsunder the Indiramma Programme as well asthe amount paid per month as pension to Rs.200/- from the earlier Rs. 100/-.48