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Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) of Ralegan Siddhi Village

1. Introduction

Name of the Village: Ralegansiddhi Gram Panchayat: Ralegansiddhi

Mandal: Parner District: Ahmednagar

State: Maharashtra

Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) is a technique to interact with the villagers,

understanding them and learning from them. A process of communication and menu of

methods for seeking villagers participation in putting forward their points of view about any

issue and enabling them to do their own analysis with a view to make use of such learning. It

initiates a participatory process and sustains it.

PRA is a growing family of approaches and methods to enable local people to share,

enhance and analyze their knowledge of life and conditions to plan and to act (Chambers,

1992). It is a way of learning from and with community members to investigate, analyze and

evaluate constraints and opportunities and make informed and timely decisions regarding

development projects (Gooselink and Strosser, 1995).

PRA emphasizes on both Participatory and Rapid approach. Because of its

participatory nature, it is a useful methodology to focus attention on people, their livelihood

and their inter relationships with socio economic and ecological factors. The emphasis on

rapid however is more in terms of data collection and less in term of development/even

implementation of plans.

2. Objectives of PRA For greater and better involvement of villagers by learning about their perceptions,

experiences, and capabilities.

To generate information and collection of data for immediate/future use. For learning about the impacts of earlier/on-going policy and programmes and to

frame new ones.

For validation/cross checking of data collected from other resources. For establishing trends and ascertaining conditions of the issues at hand.

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3. Principles of PRA

Some of the principles of participatory Rural Appraisal are discussed here

o Offsetting biases o Triangulation o Optimizing tradeoffs o Optimal ignorance o Appropriate imprecision o On-the spot analysis o Bottom-up approach o Searching for difference o Rapport Building o Check list of items o Facilitating, observing and catalyzing o Embracing error o Dissemination of knowledge

4. PRA Exercise - Ralegan Siddhi Village

4.1 Methodology

A participatory methodology was adopted for the exercise with an aim to involve

majority of the village residents. It involves interacting with local farming communities,

developing rapport with villagers and learning their problems and potentials. It also involves

interaction and involvement of farmers at each and every stage of decision-making. With the

help of identified Key Informants (KIs), we walked along with the villagers and interacted

with them and observed and collected the information regarding the village situation (village

information) and also regarding agriculture and allied practices. The information told by one

KI was triangulated (verified) with other KIs and the analysis was made on the spot. We also

analyzed socio-economic conditions, problems and challenges faced by the farmers. The

principle and methods of PRA was adhered for gathering information on 9 PRA tools.

The following specific PRA tools were adopted in Ralegan Sidhi village.

1. Rapport Building 2. Transect Walk

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3. Social Map 4. Resource Map 5. Seasonal Map 6. Matrix Ranking 7. Preference Ranking 8. Time line 9. Focused Group Discussion 10. Venn Diagram

TOOL-1: RAPPORT BUILDING

Rapport building with the villagers

The villagers were requested to gather in a common place to conduct the PRA. Mrs. P.

Anuradha, PRA coordinator introduced herself to the participants. Then each one of the

participant was asked to introduce themselves. The participants were briefed themselves and

also clarified their doubts regarding the programme.

TOOL-2:TRANSECT WALK

Transect Walk in Ralegan Siddhi Village

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Ralegan village is having good communication, educational, health and electricity facilities in and the surrounding locations.

The villagers were found to be very cooperative, expressive and helpful. Villagers expressed that for few years there were insufficient rains. Roads are well established with tar roads majorly and cement roads in few streets.

Drainage system is well-planned and constructed in the form of pits dug in their house surroundings.

Most of the houses are Pucca houses.

TOOL-3: SOCIAL MAP

Social Map of Ralegan Siddhi Village

Results

Total geographical area - 982.31 Hectares

Area under cultivation: 940 hectares.

Residential houses Total: 2317

Population : 3585

Male : 1280

Female : 1037

Animal husbandry

Cows : 1000 (Jersey Cows, local breed, etc.) Bullocks : 211 Buffaloes : 3000 (Murrah, Local breed, etc) Cattle : 2000 Sheep : 433

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Goats : 26 Pigs : 50 Poultry : Hens- 15000 & 3 sheds

No. of persons in Professional jobs : 500

No. of persons in Government jobs : 100

No. of persons in Private jobs : 400

Drinking water supply (PWS Scheme): Yes

Hand Pumps: 7

Community well: 1

Tap Water Scheme: 1

Drainage facility: Well established with pits arranged in underground

Electricity Facility :

No. of households with power connections: 750

No. of households without power connections:137

Temples: 2 (Shree Baba Yadav Samadhi temple & Shree Padmavathi temple)

Church : 3

Mosque : 0

In Ralegan village houses are independent from each other. People of different castes live in the village Some local Maharashtra castes found in

the village are Nomadic Tribe and Vimuktha Jathi Nomadic Tribe along with Gen, OBC,

SC and ST. There is no Muslim representation of the village.

Healthy interaction among various castes and religions which promote healthy social structure of the village has been found.

Formal leadership is mostly based on political parties and the informal leadership is caste based. Elected candidates also played a major role in leadership when situation

arises.

Majority of the houses are nuclear families. Presence of a number of churches and temples in the village indicates social harmony

and secularism.

Village women have undertaken many responsibilities as they participate in Self Help Groups (SHGs) and many other income generating activities like jobs, kirana shops,

tailoring, dairy, etc.

Livestock constitutes a variety of cattle, buffaloes, besides poultry farming.

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Majority of the houses in the village are Pucca houses.

TOOL-4: RESOURCE MAP

Resource Map of Ralegan drawn on the ground with Rangoli

Lesson learnt

1. The village has become an example for various developmental activities throughout the country. This is because of the villagers dedication under the leadership of the great social worker like

Shree Anna Hazare.

2. The village has all essential resources for social, cultural, economic and agricultural development. There are good transportation facilities as well as it is nearby its Mandal head

quarters Parner and industrial locations like Shornur.

3. Basic amenities like water supply, Tar road and hospital/PHC, veterinary clinic, etc. are

available within the village.

4. Public transport system is well established through autos, bikes,

5. There was severe water problem in Ralegan village as the village falls in rain shadow region

and receive below average rainfall. But because of communal activities taken up by the

villagers watershed dams have been constructed and thats how the village became role

model for the world.

6. Drainage system is well established with pits dug in their house surroundings.

7. The villagers had suffered from social evils like alcoholism during few years back. But it

has been eradicated with the efforts made by Shree Anna Hazare. Now the villagers have

taken oath not to take alcohol.

8. The villagers donot eat non-vegetarian food.

9. Resources like Post office, telephone exchange, Pucca Panchayat building, Bank of

Maharashtra, etc. have been established in the village.

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TOOL-5: SEASONAL MAP

Results

Crop/ Fish Variety Sowings Harvestings Average yield / Acre

Jowar Oct Jan 5-10 bags/acre

1 bag = 100 Kg

Bajra June Oct 5-10 bags/acre

1 bag = 100 Kg

Wheat Oct Jan 5-7 bags/acre

1 bag = 100 Kg

Moong

June Oct 4- 5 bags/acre

1 bag = 100 Kg

Onion Jun

Sep

Oct

Jan

200 bags/acre

1 bag = 50Kg

Garlic Oct Jan/Feb 100 bags/acre

1 bag = 50 Kg

Other Crops

Vegetables -

Lettuce,

Ladiesfinger,

Brinjal, Tomato,

Chillies, Potato,

etc.

June/Aug/Oct/Nov

/Dec

July/Sep/Nov/Jan/

March

-

Lesson learnt

Major occupation for the villagers is Agriculture and usually cultivating crops like Jowar, Bajra, Wheat, Moong, Onion, Garlic and Vegetables like lettuce, potato, tomato, ladies finger, brinjal, etc.

TOOL-6: PREFERENCE RANKING

Based on the no of individual preferences indicated by the villagers variety wise were

summed up. Accordingly the ranks were arrived.

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Results: Preference Ranking on Energy Sources

Sl. No.

Energy Sources No. of technologies preferred by the

individual Dung Cake

Wood Charcoal Kerosene Gobar gas

LPG Gas

Electricity Wind Mill

Solar Energy

1 3 2 - - 6 3 - - 5 4 5 5 - - - 4 6 - 2 7 - 6 8 - - 2 9 - - 5 10 - 2 11 - - 6 12 - - - 4 Total 4 5 2 6 1 8 9 6 10 Rank VI V VII IV VIII III II IV I

TOOL-7: MATRIX RANKING

Matrix Ranking on Energy Sources

Sl.

No

Criteria ICT technologies

Dung Cake

Wood Gobar

gas

LPG

Gas

Electri

city

Wind

MIll

Solar

Energy

1

Local

availability

2 Adequate

availability -

3 Timely

availability

-

4 Less cost

5 Easy to use/operate

-

9

6

Easy to maintain -

TOOL-8: TIME LINE

Results

Lessons learnt

1. Major developments have taken place after independence.

2. The village has a great historical background with constructions like Shree Padmavathi

temple, Shree Baba Yadav Samadhi temple, Banyan tree, etc. Many tourists visit the village.

SI.No. Year Event 1 1970 Electricity 2 1955 Gram Panchayat 3 1979/80 Post Office 4 1970 Bus 5 1928 Bicycle 6 1975 Bike 7 1984 Car 8 2001 Mobile 9 1991 Cell Tower (BSNL) 10 1991 Telephone 11 1975 Tractor & Jeep 12 Before 1800 Padmavathi Temple

13 Before 1800 Pucca building in 1998 Baba Yadav Smadhi temple

14 1972 Television 14 1976 News Paper 15 1982 Gobar Gas 16 1990 Solar Power 17 1990 Gas 18 1960 Kirana Shop 19 2001 Medical Shop 20 1920 Primary School 21 1979 Secondary School 22 1972 Water Tank 23 1952 Kutcha Roads 24 1988 Tar Roads

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TOOL-9: FOCUSSED GROUP DISCUSSION

1. Villagers have plenty of resources of energy like wood, cow dung, electricity, etc.

2. The villagers were using gobar gas few years back but because of maintenance

problem and also availability of LPG gas and ease of cooking, people stopped using

it.

3. During last few years back 1 small solar panel was set up but later because of

maintenance problems and high cost villagers could not sustain and stopped using it.

Gobar gas used by the villagers few years back

TOOL-10: Venn Diagram

Lessons learnt

1. Village administration is well planned and orgaised.

2. Majority of the organizations and associations are working independently but will be

monitored by the Gram Panchayat.

3. There are associations or trusts like Hind Swaraj Trust, Prakrithi Foundation, Shree

Baba Yadav Samadhi Trust and Shree Padmavathi temple association.