CROWDFUNDING FOR THE SARANGIYA LANGA OF THAR
Since the Covid-19 lockdown was announced very suddenly in India, villagers had no time to prepare for sustenance within the confines of their localities. Starting April 03, 2020, GATIKA collected funds through a crowdfunding campaign for the purchase and distribution of food rations to two villages in the remote deserts of the Thar in Rajasthan – home to the Sarangiya Langa folk musician communities. Our objective was to provide short-term food security to the two villages so these musicians could tide through the lockdown in the desert.
The Patrons behind this fundraising campaign at Team GATIKA, consisted of IT engineers, architects, economists, craft-based designers, ethnomusicologists, music supervisors, academicians, artists and other individuals who believed in the invaluable heritage and fragility of the Sarangiya Langa folk music form.
In late March, under remote supervision, a team of musicians on-ground in the village started the production of masks. Villagers were instructed on necessary covid-19 precautions since they had no awareness related to the disease or its prevention. Graphic literature for this purpose, in pictorial form and local languages for ‘covid information’ dissemination were designed by Patron graphic designers from Team GATIKA.
An exhaustive list of beneficiaries was made across both villages, details were collected door-to-door from anyone who wanted to be listed for food relief. A total of 1093 individuals (189 family units) volunteered their details towards the aid campaign, trusting no misuse of their data. Supported by a team of Patron data engineers, custom code was run through the village data to identify errors and outliers in the community, as a result, extra food stock was kept aside for ‘Houses with No Men’ in the lists.
Each relief kit contained a 2 month food ration for each individual, consisting of wheat, pulses, cooking oil, sugar, tea and sanitary materials. Each of the 1100 kits were labelled for clear individual beneficiary identification, designed by Patron graphic designers on the team.
In order not to disturb the dynamics between various groups in the village, the responsibility of purchase and distribution of rations was given to the wonderful folk at the Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF), to play the part of a neutral bystander. DEF is well known for its high benchmarks in data protection and privacy. DEF generously offered to add special articles to each kit, and purchase, parcel, deliver and ensure fair distribution of food rations, according to the list of villagers and funds provided.
An organised team of villagers under GATIKA’s supervision provided all man-power required to handle the food rations, ensured storage facilities for over a month and helped in identifying and authenticating each beneficiary for DEF’s team at the time of distribution.
During the entire fundraising campaign spanning across 5 months, none of the folk musicians in the villages were ever asked to dispense off their music online for free public consumption through social media, this was highly appreciated by our contributors and patrons. DEF suggested a plan to train women under their SoochnaPreneur program, an infopreneur who would provide entitlements, services and digital services to the people of the community, and earn a livelihood for the same. A likely female candidate for the SoochnaPreneur program was identified by GATIKA.
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TIGER WATCH
In 2011 at 21 Tigers Entertainment, our studio in Bombay, Jitin Abraham was approached by sound engineer Hans Dalal to edit a video for a song he had recorded along with musician Sidd Couto in the forests of Sawai Madhopur, Ranthambore. I was asked to estimate candid footage shot on a little camcorder by the wonderful actor and musician Sugandha Garg who happened to be there on this trip to the forest. I estimated we could weave a film telling a light but important story, especially after hearing the POV of conservation biologist Dharmendra Khandal from Tiger Watch in the footage. ‘With a little help’ is a product of that edit as a first cut, it is a truly accidental film : )
The film ended up being well received by the villagers and Fateh Singh Rathore ji, the founder of Tiger Watch, also lovingly known as the ‘Tiger Man’ of India and we were thrilled.
After Fateh ji’s passing, Tiger Watch has been spearheaded by conservation biologist, Dharmendra Khandal. Tiger Watch runs many programs aimed at fostering a better understanding with the Mogiyas. The Mogiyas are ex tiger poachers and master tiger trackers, a semi nomadic tribe labelled by the British as a ‘criminal tribe’. Apart from enrolling Mogiyas in their tiger surveillance activities, Tiger Watch has also set up a hostel for the Mogiya children so they might attend school, providing healthcare services to the community and offering vocational training in the crafts to Mogiya women. Have a look at the film following the journey of two Mogiya boys as they explore a journey of music, With a Little Help.