Nomadic Gujjars Settle to a Better Life

Srobana Bhattacharya

Collective efforts of individuals, NGOs and the forest department to move Gujjars out of Rajaji National Park have resulted in a better life for the families that moved to the new rehabilitation sites.

Study materials being distributed to the Gujjar children

Situated in Dehradun, Haridwar and Pauri Garhwal districts of Uttaranchal, the Rajaji National Park (RNP) is marked by its scenic beauty and rich biodiversity. The park suffers from intense biotic pressure in the form of tree lopping, cattle grazing, grass cutting, wood cutting and poaching of wild animals. This pressure is exerted by the resident pastoral Gujjar families, who live with their livestock within the Protected Area boundaries and also by residents of villages that exist on the periphery of the park.

A search for rehabilitation sites to relocate the 1390 Gujjar families settled in RNP resulted in a plan for rehabilitation of 512 Gujjar families to Pathri, the relocation site which was developed by the government of Uttar Pradesh in the early 1990s. Families were given houses with cattle sheds at Pathri and basic amenities like roads and a school were constructed.

A new site was created at Gaindikhata near Haridwar to deal with the space crunch. With the establishment of this new site, 336 Gujjar families shifted out voluntarily to Gaindikhata. At Gaindikhata rehabilitation site each family has been given 2 acres of land for agriculture and cattle rearing and 200 sq. meters of land for the construction of their huts. Important amenities like drinking water, irrigation facilities, human and veterinary hospitals, community building and schools were provided by the Forest Department.

However used to a nomadic way of life, shifting and settling at the new rehabilitation site has not been a smooth process for the Gujjars. Initially a large number of cattle died due to a change in environmental conditions and feeding habits when some Gujjar families were relocated to the Pathri rehabilitation site. Cattle were obviously not used to stall-feeding. This generated a fear among the Gujjar community living inside the forest and acted as a major obstacle to further rehabilitation.

To assist in relocation, rehabilitation, animal welfare, and to address the need for fuel and fodder, Wildlife Trust of India moved quickly to take urgent action through Rapid Action Projects (RAPs). RAP is the outreach arm of WTI that extends support to individuals and grass roots organizations and works closely with the government doing small, short and medium term interventions to address urgent or critical conservation needs.

Forty Gujjar families of Motichur range are now being assisted to move to the Pathri rehabilitation site. These 40 families comprise of at least 300 people with 800 cattle heads. These 40 families had already been allotted land and they wanted to move out before the monsoon but due to financial problems they were unable to hire transport. The Director, Rajaji National Park requested WTI to intervene in the form of an RAP to provide for transport to enable the 40 families to shift to Pathri.

Chilla range has already been vacated of Gujjars. Though initially this project was planned for one a half months it has been extended to six months. Program Officer, Joydeep Bose back from his recent tour to Haridwar reported, ” bad condition of roads, lack of enough tractors for carrying the Gujjars with their belongings, festivals etc. are some reasons for delay. Roads are still not fit enough for tractors to reach the interiors.”

Roshandin, the President of Gujjar Vikas Samity of Gaindikhata in Haridwar requested another RAP to provide LPG connections to rehabilitate Gujjars located in this place. The project which started in January, 2004 will run till January 2005. The objective is to provide 100 LPG connections to Gujjars at this rehabilitation site which is situated outside Rajaji NP. This effort will provide a boost to ongoing Gujjar rehabilitation program. Also fuel wood consumption from the adjoining forests can be stopped, thereby saving the forest cover from being depleted.

The Forest Range Officer, Mr. Ranganath Pandey sent a letter to WTI supporting this scheme. According to an estimate provided by him, each Gujjar family uses 20-25 kg of firewood each time per day. If LPG connection is given to the families, then it will reduce consumption of firewood at the rate of 50 kg per day per family amounting to 1500kg per family per month.

So far 51 Gujjars have signed the application but the Range officer feels that once the LPG connections are given to them, demand will rise and more people will join in. He has suggested a provision of 100 connections. The Gujjars have offered to bear 50% of the total cost involved (Rs. 1400/- per connection). Twenty-eight connections have been provided and distribution of second lot of 35 connections was set for the 29 th of October. Joydeep Bose went to Haridwar to attend the distribution ceremony. “Unfortunately there was a robbery at the gas agency on the 23 rd night. According to media reports 405 cylinders were stolen. Due to this incident the distribution could not take place. A new date will be decided upon soon,” he said.

Cattle being treated and vaccinated at Gaindikhata rehabilitation site

Cattle rearing is the main occupation of Gujjars and each family owns 25 heads of cattle. Due to the Gujjars’ nomadic lifestyle, cattle fed on grass and leaves of different species of trees in the forest. When the Gujjars settled down at their rehabilitation sites, cattle had to be stall-fed. Chances of cattle mortality rose with the onset of monsoons and there was urgent need to provide veterinary support to the animals. Another RAP was conducted on the request of Forest Department, Rajaji NP through Anil Kumar Singh, Sr. Field Officer WTI. Held during the month of May-June 2003 the project was conducted for three months.

The objective of this project was to support Gujjar Rehabilitation in Rajaji NP for long term conservation of flora and fauna, to reduce cattle mortality at Gaindikhata Rehabilitation centre and generate faith among the Gujjars. An experienced veterinary doctor was hired for three months during the rainy season during which 869 cattle were treated and vaccinated. The doctor also suggested suitable fodder for the cattle and medicines and vaccines were provided free of cost.

To provide the Gujjars with basic amenities a school was constructed in Gaindikhata. At the Pathri Rehabilitation site a school was established by Uttaranchal Forest Department and the school was run by a local NGO and became very popular with the Gujjar children and is one of the major attractions of this relocation site. However, in Gaindikhata, the new rehabilitation site the school constructed by the Forest Department (FD) was not being supported by any NGO or private organization in the initial stage.

Dr. Anil Kumar Singh distributing study material to the children

To make Gujjar rehabilitation a success so that they proceed to a better life, yet another RAP was organized which aimed at providing immediate help in appointing temporary teachers at the school constructed by FD for rehabilitated Gujjar children in Rajaji NP. Dr. Anil Kumar Singh who initiated this project said, “providing education and awareness to children is essential to any rehabilitation process. Schools are a big attraction for the Gujjar families and will encourage other families to accept the rehabilitation program.”

WTI was involved in overall conservation of Rajaji NP through its various activities and is very much a part of the Gujjar Rehabilitation Committee of Uttaranchal Government. The project began in May 2003 and the organization decided to lend support for a short period of six months. To sustain the program, help was sought from other NGOs. Study materials in the form of books and uniform were also distributed among 165 children.

These projects not only aimed at conservation of the forest cover but also aided the Gujjar population to relocate to a new site. Hopefully these interventions will help secure the rich bio diversity of the Rajaji National Park which is a magnificent ecosystem nestled in the Shivalik ranges and the beginning  of the  vast Indo Gangetic plains.

(Srobana works with the Wildlife Trust of India as an Intern)