Organization envisages Jodhpur and Barmer as its interventional districts as these
are one of the most deprived and disadvantaged areas in Rajasthan where there is
scarcity of minimum reducible basic amenities. This western part of Rajasthan is
economically and politically backward. The vast area of these districts is desert
where there is very less vegetation. Land is covered by large sand dunes. The climate
is very hot and strong and sandy winds blows throughout the day. Like other deserts,
this area also has scarcity of water. The water table is very low and whole population
has to depend upon the rainwater for drinking and agriculture purposes. These all
use to store water for their whole year requirement. Between 1998-99 and 2002-03,
Western Rajasthan faced continuous droughts. Land had dried up and there was no
fodder for the animals. Today, the people of this area are facing the problem of
livelihood, drinking water and other irreducible needs. The scattered population
is deprived of health, education, transportation, and deprived of health, education,
transportation, and other basic amenities. Though Dalits and women have constitutional
rights to participate in the local governance, it is at the minimum level in these
districts.
Most of the rural parts of this area of Jodhpur and Barmer districts where TERDS,
Osian is currently working are populated with the people living in their fields
called Dhanis, the remote and isolated hamlets, which are home to sizeable portion
of the desert population. The dhanis are mostly devoid ofbasic support facilities
like drinking water, transport, primary health services, primary education facilities
etc. The local development machinery is often found to be not very responsive to
the felt needs of the community. Lackadaisical approach of the bureaucracy, coupled
with presence of structured deficiencies prohibits the outreach of development to
the needy and oppressed section. The human development indicators are low for this
district.
Target group
Visualizing our vision of an equitable and just society, we decided to forward our
interventions to marginalized and disadvantaged section of the society who have
been deprived of their rights and basic amenities of life. Thus, we identified women,
children, and depressed classes as our target groups. Rational of selecting women,
as target group, is prevalence of dominant patriarchy in this region, which is responsible
for the abysmal status of women in the region. They play a subservient role in a
social fabric and are relegated from any decision making process. Gender inequity,
early marriages, emphasis to produce male child leading to repetitive births are
major cause of poor health status of women. Small children are focused for quality
education as we consider education can change the status of the poor and marginalized
by improving their livelihood standards. Form of Intervention
Relationship with community: We do not envisage community at the recipient end and
organization at the donor end. We strongly believe in the partnership approach where
community will be responsible to implement the interventions designed with a view
for sustainable development of their own and future generation.
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