In the Khamora and Kherwa villages of Banda District, there is a community of Kuchhbandiyas comprising around 70 families. This community lives away from the main village as they are considered untouchables. The villagers generally avoid interacting with the Kuchhbandiyas, even in normal circumstances.
The Kuchhbandiyas live in poor sanitary and hygienic conditions. The livelihood of these families depends on pheri, which involves selling small household items and providing services in nearby villages by travelling from one village to another.
Housing conditions are extremely poor for most families. Some of the hut-like houses are so cramped that family members have to sleep outside even during winter and remain seated through rainy nights. Accommodating guests is difficult, and families often have to seek the assistance of neighbours for this purpose.
The government’s Awaas Yojana is riddled with corruption and irregularities, and only a few houses have been completed satisfactorily. During the year, residents of Khamora and Kherwa submitted applications for housing assistance and were determined to assert their rights.
Through the collective advocacy efforts of the Vidya Dham Samiti team and community leaders, 33 members of the Kuchhbandiya community succeeded in getting their Awaas applications approved. News reports highlighting gaps in the implementation of the scheme further increased pressure on the authorities, resulting in the applications being accepted without undue difficulty.