BEGGARS YESTERDAY, TODAY LIVESTOCK KEEPS US GOING BY SHOBA RAM

We arrive from Srinagar via Baramulla after winding up the dusty and uneven terrain on this second attempt in Kanchen, in the earthquake stricken district of Uri. On the way there was an ugly sight of a massive rock defaced with some advertisement of some INGOs. A total crime against nature.

Where vehicles cannot access, we went up and down, wobbling on unlevelled surface and narrow human-made pathways through the rocky ground thick with forest trees. And there on one of the downward inclines was part of a colony of beggars where ActionAid works.

Each of the 5 families visited saw their houses crumble in the 08 October 2005 earthquake. Tin sheets helped them rebuild their homes and a nutrition kit with 50kg of rice, 2 bags of wheat flour, 2kg of salt 2kg of cooking oil, sugar, tea powder helped them survive in the aftermath.

 “My husband was killed 5 years ago in a shootout close by,” says Misra Begum. “I only saw the body. He was involved with the militants but I do not know who killed him. I used to go around to the neighbouring villages along with others in this colony to beg.”

She has four children, two girls and two boys of which one, the eldest, studies in class five.

“The younger boy finds it difficult to walk and so does not go to school,” she informed. “Where is he?” we asked. “He is out grazing the goats,” was her hesitant response. “But then you could send him to school or at least the Activity Centre close by,” we suggested.  “Why don’t you accompany him to the Activity Centre,” is what we suggested to the older boy and to this he agreed.

“I still beg but very irregularly since the introduction of ActionAid’s Livelihood programme.  Four months ago we were given 5 goats like all the families here but one died.  The milk is sufficient for home consumption and a few months from now we are sure it would fetch us more income.

Basheer Ahmed has no parents and five very young sisters to look after. The oldest of the sisters is eight years and attends class three. He is unmarried.

“I used to beg for money or food. I am a labourer now. When there is work in and around this area I earn about Rs50 to 100 per day.  Now I find it difficult to take my sisters to the Activity Centre where they give good care of the children and provide them with biscuits since I also go to graze the goats.”

The story of Mohammed Azim who lives with his wife and young daughter was similar:

 “These wooden pieces are all that we have left of our homes. We were out in the open.  Today we have these two big shelters and one more where we five families stay. These tin sheets which came as immediate relief for us from ActionAid were god send. They are the people who have brought light and hope to our lives. ‘Inshah Allah’ [God willing].”

“We can decide what livelihood support we want: chicken, cows, goats, etc. We will reap the benefits from this programme only after a few months since it started just a few months ago. Now the livestock take care of our immediate family needs but later they could help us with some income.  

“ActionAid has also helped to build a road that links so many of the villages. The ‘cash for work’ programme has given us a lot of dignity. Some of us who have skills like carpentry, masonry… we are given paid labour to help the community develop.”

Shoba Ram is publisher and chief editor of Books for Change. She was part of an all woman ActionAid team - Shabana, Saudia, Akeela and Shoba - that visited Kanchen on September 28, 2006.