Closing of crusher Factory by CLA members

Social action by Cluster Level Association (CLA) for the cause of the village

Name of the CLA: Nethravathi Unnathi Cluster Level Association  

Total CLA members: 16

Total SHGs in CLA: 8

Name of the Villages: Mareguddi and Mareguddi Cross

Success Story: Closing of crusher Factory by CLA members

Introduction

Nethravathi CLA was formed in July 2018 and is functioning from Mareguddi village. This CLA covers two villages namely, Mareguddi and Mareguddi cross and they have 8 and 7 SHGs respectively. There are 87 members in the CLA. All the SHGs have undergone various training programs on CLA formation, CLA strengthening (Communication and Leadership), Business Plan, EDP, Agricultural Methods, and Government Schemes. The members of the SHG have also been on exposure visits to agricultural demonstration centre, dairy farm demonstration centre and Organization for Development of People (ODP), Mysore. One of the members of the CLA had also participated in the exposure program organized by KNH at Tehri and Dehradun.

Problem identification

A crusher was set up in between Mareguddi and PM Budni which was 15 to 18 Km from Jamkhandi and 9Km from Mudhol Taluk. The noise and tremors it created as the rocks were crushed was a nuisance for the villagers as it also affected their farming lands. The big trucks carrying the crushed stones sped through school zones and caused many accidents.  Although the farmers spoke to the owners of the crusher, they paid no attention. Consequently, the farmers from two villages sat for a 48 days’ dharna and even discussed their problems with the government officials. They met the officials of Karnataka Electricity Board (KEB) and demanded to cut the electric supply to the crusher. Although the officials disconnected the power supply for a while, they stood in favour of the capitalists and no attempts were made by the panchayat to shut down the factory.

Project’s intervention

Nethravathi CLA meets on the first Friday of every month for their monthly meeting. While they were undergoing CLA goal setting training and setting their social goals, some of the CLA members along with project staff expressed the struggles they face because of the crusher factory. Consequently, CLA decided to set it as their social goal to shut down the crusher that was nuisance to the farmers and the villagers. As a result, the SHG women of the locality staged a dharna along with the farmers. As the women raised slogans for nearly 4 hours, KEB promised that they will not supply electricity to the factory and the line was disconnected in front of the farmers and women.

Outcome

Farmers of the two villages met CLA president and other members to express their gratitude for stepping in to resolve the issue.  The grateful farmers promised to support the women of their respective villages in all their efforts to develop the community. With the factory being shut, the villagers and their farmlands are now safe.