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A young neighbor looks on as Kavita, age 23, takes a break from preparing masala to accompany a lunch of potatoes for her mother-in-law who is working as a laborer in a nearby field. Though only recently married, Kavita's hunsband, like many of Kharihaniya's men, began working in Chennai as a casual labour one month ago. The family own less than one bigha of land (1,300 sq metre) which is not enough to support their food-needs.
Ostracized, largely illiterate, ignored by an indifferent administration, without land adequate to support their families' needs, the Dalit residents of Kharihaniya village regularly suffer from hunger. The land around the village floods every monsoon season, destroying crops and forcing resident to vacate their homes and move to higher land. Without local opportunities for work, many of Kharihaniya's men have migrated, undertaking menial jobs in far off cities including Mumbai and Chennai. Only about 25% of those living in Kharihaniya village receive subsidized food as part of the PDS (Public Distribution System) even thought the circumstances of most would entitle them to such assistance. Intervention by Oxfam partners (Grameen Development Services) led to the establishing of a local SHG (Self Help Group) three years ago. The SHG allows women to save and borrow and invest in their farms while offering an opportunity to discuss problems and share ideas.
Photo: Tom Pietrasik
Kharihaniya, Marajganj District, Uttar Pradesh. India
February 27th 2011
Ostracized, largely illiterate, ignored by an indifferent administration, without land adequate to support their families' needs, the Dalit residents of Kharihaniya village regularly suffer from hunger. The land around the village floods every monsoon season, destroying crops and forcing resident to vacate their homes and move to higher land. Without local opportunities for work, many of Kharihaniya's men have migrated, undertaking menial jobs in far off cities including Mumbai and Chennai. Only about 25% of those living in Kharihaniya village receive subsidized food as part of the PDS (Public Distribution System) even thought the circumstances of most would entitle them to such assistance. Intervention by Oxfam partners (Grameen Development Services) led to the establishing of a local SHG (Self Help Group) three years ago. The SHG allows women to save and borrow and invest in their farms while offering an opportunity to discuss problems and share ideas.
Photo: Tom Pietrasik
Kharihaniya, Marajganj District, Uttar Pradesh. India
February 27th 2011
