Halma
Topic: State, Government and Governance: Organs, Levels and the Citizen · NCERT: Class 6, Ch 9 "Family and Community"
Meaning
Halma is a tradition of the Bhil tribal community in the Jhabua region of Madhya Pradesh. When a family or a village faces a crisis, the community comes together and gives unpaid labour to help. It shows that a community can solve problems through shared duty and service, without waiting for the government.
Example
The Shivganga movement revived halma for tree planting and water harvesting, such as digging ponds and trenches to hold rainwater. Mahesh Sharma received the Padma Shri in 2019 for this work.
Don't confuse with
- Government welfare scheme: a scheme is run and paid for by the government through its officials. Halma is voluntary, unpaid work that the community organises itself.