When the Padayatra
entered the Zara village in Hingoli district, it was its first interaction with
a significant tribal population. This was a mixed village with tribals and no
tribals in almost equal number. In each subsequent village the proportion of
tribals has increased. Prominent amongst them are the Aandh tribals.
The homepage of the
website of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, government of India has lovely
pictures of tribals in their traditional costumes and enjoying their
traditional dances. From the time that
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was the Prime Minister we have seen photographs of
dignitaries enjoying cultural activities with tribals. One has been conditioned from childhood to
associate innocence, a care-free attitude, colour, gaiety and festivities with
tribal groups. This is true, to a
certain extent…..but it is not the whole truth…
The assessment teams
which had been present in the area for a few days before the arrival of the
Padayatra did not see any gaiety… They found hunger, malnutrition,
illiteracy, exploitation in almost all families they spoke with. In these
villages a typical Aandh tribal family of 6 lives on yield from rain-fed
agriculture. The area is hilly and soil poor : this contributes to abysmal
levels of yield when compared with other areas even in Yavatmal district. The
yield is normally adequate to feed the family at subsistence level for around 4
months. Almost none of the produce is
sold and the family has very little cash income for meeting other requirements.
Degrading forests means that access to Non Timber Forest Produce is also
negligible. In any case forest guards do not take tribal forays into forests
lightly. To survive the tribal families are forced to migrate for sugarcane
cutting. The tribals are exploited even more in this fundamentally exploitative
business. A couple gets an ‘advance’ of around Rs. 6000/-. They are employed in
the backbreaking sugarcane cutting work for 5 months and at the end of that
they end up getting an additional amount of Rs. 2000 or so as wages. This
translates to a princely amount of Rs. 30 per day where 16 hours of labour is
the norm. A labourer from Marathwada would get 25% more for the same work. But
then the Aandh tribal is illiterate and ignorant and can be exploited easily.
We do
not need to belabor the point… it is clear that the Aandh tribal is involved in
a
daily fight for survival.
Now this is not
unknown. Everyone, including government of India and Maharashtra knows that
tribals are a special groups and need special attention. After all does the
government not have all those departments and schemes for tribal development?
In the budget speeches, year after year, we are told that the government is
spending more money on developing the tribals. Schemes and programmes are
announced with fanfare… At the ground level the assessment teams were not
able to find a single tribal family in 4 villages which has knowledge of these
schemes let alone having benefited from them. The tribals have been left to
their fate : at the mercy of exploiters of all hues.
These families are
still engaged in the very primary struggle for survival. We cannot really
expect them to scale the ladder of development when they have not even taken
the first step.
One of the most
poignant aspect that the assessment team has spotted is that Children in
these families have no dreams.. Its not strange… How can they dream on
empty stomachs? Who will teach them to
dream : their parents have no emotional space left and they have no teachers in
schools built for them…
The
situation is such that life of the poor in Marathwada seems to be easier! As a nation we have spent close to 60 years
in empty promises to people like the Aandh tribals. It is time that we, civil
society, corporate and government, wake up and contribute to upliftment of the
tribals. Not dole mind you… sensitive and sensible development programmes.
The MAHARASHTRA
VIKAS NIDHI (MAHARASHTRA DEVELOPMENT FUND) awaits contributions from all of
you… Watch this space for further updates. Do also watch the updated
blog at www.greenearthconsulting.org/padayatraprogress.htm.
Also read a compilation of some stories on www.empowerpoor.org
grnearth@vsnl.com, 020-25466103,
09422521703
Dushkaal Hatawu :
Manoos Jagawu
(Eradicate Drought :
Save Humanity)
February 14, 2006