From Landless Labourers to Self-Reliant Entrepreneurs: The Musahar Transformation Through Kitchen Gardens

For most urban denizens, a kitchen garden is a small green space in their backyard or on their terrace where they grow a few vegetables. However, this concept has found an unlikely and transformative home in the Musahar colonies of eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The Musahars, historically marginalized and often referred to as 'rat eaters,' have taken a significant leap towards self-empowerment through kitchen gardens, thanks to the efforts of the JanMitra Nyas & People's Vigilance Committee for Human Rights (PVCHR) with support from CRY, Parul Sharma, 200 Swedish donors, IRCT, and the High Commission of New Zealand.

Background and Demographics

The Musahar community, comprising approximately 30 lakh individuals in Bihar and 10 lakh in Uttar Pradesh, traditionally lives in ghettos outside their designated villages. They are largely landless laborers, working in agricultural fields and brick kilns, with most of them remaining without work for more than half a year. Their dire economic conditions often force them and their children into bonded labor.

The Kitchen Garden Initiative

The kitchen garden initiative was launched in 2018 as a pilot project in some villages in Varanasi district. Despite being landless, the Musahars utilized spare pieces of land around their homes, which were often covered with weeds or used as dump yards, to cultivate vegetables. By 2022, with support from the InternationalRehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT), the project had expanded tocover 3,000 families.

Impact on Food Security and Nutrition

In 2022 alone, PVCHR volunteers distributed seasonal vegetable seeds to 2,261 families in Varanasi, Sonbhadra, and Badaun districts. These families collectively grew 36,536 kg of vegetables, of which 2,523 kg were sold in the market. This initiative addressed the community's nutritional deficiencies, as most Musahars, including their children, were severely malnourished. The availability of homegrown vegetables not only improved their diet but also significantly enhanced their health and well-being.

Economic Empowerment and Social Change

The sale of vegetablesearned the families Rs 26,775 during the summer of 2022. This income was used for essential needs such as clothing, education, and household commodities. The initiative has provided Musahars with a source of economic independence and social respectability. For instance, Manta Banwasi, a widow in Varanasi’s Baragaon block, transformed a small piece of unused land into a thriving kitchen garden. She grew and sold local pumpkins, sponge gourds, and bitter gourds, earning enough to improve her family's living conditions and send her children to school.

Similarly, Savitri, a widow from Puarikhurd village, earned Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000 per month from selling her homegrown vegetables. This newfound income allowed her to sustain her family and improve their diet significantly. The community garden in Barhikala village, home to 22 Musahar families, has demonstrated the potential for collective growth and cooperation, breaking traditional social barriers as Musahars share their produce with high-caste villagers and Muslims.

Educational Outcomes

The improved nutrition and economic stability provided by the kitchen gardens have encouraged more Musahar children to attend school regularly. PVCHR has successfully enrolled hundreds of children in schools and continues to monitor their progress to prevent dropouts.

Conclusion

The kitchen garden initiative has provided a pathway for the Musahar community to transition from landless laborers and beggars to self-reliant entrepreneurs. This innovative approach has not only improved their nutritional intake but also brought about significant social and economic benefits. By fostering self-reliance, economic empowerment, and social integration, the kitchen garden initiative stands as a successful model for community development. The Musahar community's leap through kitchen gardens underscores the profound impact of grassroots initiatives in transforming lives and fostering sustainable development.

---

Transforming Health Through Kitchen Gardens in 43 Villages: A Success Story by JanMitra Nyas

In a remarkable effort to combat malnutrition and improve the health of children and pregnant women, JanMitra Nyas with the support of CRY in 2024 has successfully implemented kitchen gardens across 43 villages, involving 1,184 families. The initiative has yielded significant results, both in terms of nutritional benefits and community empowerment.

Child Health Status

The project initially identified the following concerning statistics among children aged 0-5 years in these villages:

• Total children covered under weight monitoring: 798 (411 male, 387 female)
• Severely Underweight (SUW) children: 107 (45 male, 62 female)
• Moderately Underweight (MUW) children: 242 (126 male, 116 female)
• Normal weight children: 449 (241 male, 208 female)

Pregnant Women Health Status

Among 202 pregnant women surveyed, the findings were as follows:

• High-Risk Pregnancies (HRP): 41
• Moderate anemia: 54
• Mild anemia: 141
• Normal hemoglobin levels: 1
• Severe anemia: 0

Kitchen Garden Initiative

To address these health challenges, JanMitra Nyas facilitated the creation of kitchen gardens for 1,184 families. These gardens produced a bountiful harvest of vegetables, including pumpkins, gourds, and beans, totaling 16,674 kilograms. These homegrown vegetables played a crucial role in improving the diet and health of both pregnant women and children.

Impact on Child Health

The introduction of kitchen gardens led to significant improvements in the nutritional status of children:

• SUW children moved to MUW grade: 55 (28 male, 27 female)
• SUW children moved to normal grade: 19 (8 male, 11 female)
• MUW children moved to normal grade: 101 (61 male, 40 female)
• Total grade movement: 175 (97 male, 78 female)

Impact on Pregnant Women

The project also had a positive impact on pregnant women. Among the 117 women who gave birth during the project:

• Babies born with normal weight (2.5 kg to 3 kg): 142
• Babies born with above-normal weight (over 3 kg): 10
• Babies born with low birth weight (under 2.5 kg): 20

According to WHO standards, 11.2% of the babies were born with low birth weight, highlighting the ongoing need for nutritional interventions.

Conclusion

The kitchen garden project by JanMitra Nyas with the support of CRY demonstrates how simple, sustainable interventions can make a profound impact on community health. By providing access to fresh, nutritious vegetables, the initiative has not only improved the health outcomes for children and pregnant women but also fostered a sense of self-reliance and empowerment among the participating families.

As we continue to fight against malnutrition and strive for healthier communities, the success of this kitchen garden initiative serves as an inspiring model for similar efforts worldwide. 

#JanMitraNyas #KitchenGardens #CommunityHealth #Nutrition #WomenEmpowerment #ChildWelfare