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From Poverty to Power Green, Oxfam 2008 - weman

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3 POVERTY AND WEALTH LIVING OFF THE LANDCo-operative leaders and sympathetic outsiders got <strong>to</strong> know eachother on their endless visits <strong>to</strong> police stations in search of justice in theAchrumata case. Working <strong>to</strong>gether, they convinced the police <strong>to</strong> accept anofficial complaint, seen as an unprecedented symbolic blow <strong>to</strong> the landlords.Word spread and other communities also filed formal complaints.Although the police did no more than accept their complaints, suchofficial recognition galvanised the fishing communities. Six communitiesmarched <strong>to</strong> Achrumata and fought back. Three people were seriouslyinjured and houses were burned down in the battle, but the landlordswere forced <strong>to</strong> back off. As their self-confidence grew, the communitiesseized several other ponds. A meeting of some 150 people then decided <strong>to</strong>launch a campaign <strong>to</strong> persuade the authorities <strong>to</strong> enforce the law.Fishing communities now control over 100 ponds,and 67 communitiesare now planning <strong>to</strong> set up a commercial company <strong>to</strong> market their fish.Their numbers, and the extent <strong>to</strong> which they had organised, also persuadedlocal officials <strong>to</strong> adopt a more sympathetic stance. With Vikalp’s advice,the groups are improving the ponds and their organisation, emphasisingthe empowerment of women in the process.The success of the people of Tikamgarh depended on fac<strong>to</strong>rs common<strong>to</strong> many change processes. Technological shifts triggered changes inbehaviour. A series of violent clashes radicalised people. Government<strong>to</strong>ok the lead in passing new laws, and the police, under pressure from apopular movement, amazed everyone by enforcing the rule of law.The communities themselves are the heroes of the s<strong>to</strong>ry, but theyreceived important support from enlightened political leaders andNGOs. They overcame a powerful opposition and are now building theirorganisations – a key step in defending their gains.Unfortunately, the progress achieved by the fishing community ofTikamgarh is being undermined by a drought that has lasted for threeyears. Up <strong>to</strong> 75 per cent of the local workforce has been forced <strong>to</strong> migratein search of paid work until the rains return <strong>to</strong> fill the ponds.‘I don’t knowwhy it’s raining less – God must want us <strong>to</strong> migrate,’ laments one old man.The skills and organisation gained, however, remain and will be essentialas the communities seek <strong>to</strong> adapt <strong>to</strong> the changing climate.CASE STUDYSource: author visit, Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 2006.147

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