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Primitive tribals in Dumka torn between Shibu and BJP

DUMKA: Barely 2km from JMM chief Shibu Soren’s residence in Dumka , Asansol Pahadiya Tola languished until a couple of months ago. However, ever since the elections the Lok Sabha were announced in March, the nondescript village of 175 families belonging to the primitive tribal group Maal Pahadiya, has seen a flurry of development activities.




The ground of the proposed Dumka airport, which is in the vicinity, was used by several politicians landing here to address rallies. Works on electricity and construction of a pucca road started only to cater to these leaders.

“Our houses were lit up two months ago. After neglecting us for years, the government seems to have suddenly woken up,” says Sonai Dehri (40), pointing at a heap of metal pipes piled up in his backyard. Sonai, a labourer who works at construction sites in various states, adds, “There is nothing for us here. There is no employment opportunity and we lost our agricultural land decades ago due to the proposed airstrip.”

In 2016, the Raghubar Das government had approved 2% reservation for primitive tribal groups in education and government jobs, but the promise is yet to be implemented.

Sita Ram Pujhar (37), a national-level kho kho player, says he has given up his pursuit of a government job. After matriculation, he did vocational training at XISS. “After winning accolades for the state in many tournaments, I now work as a labourer in other states. This is how skilled youths are rewarded here,” he rued.

The villagers also suffer because of middlemen who eat into their shares of welfare schemes. While a couple of villagers, including Kameshwar Dehri, say they are still availing benefits of the PVTG Dakiya Yojana, under which a primitive tribal family gets 35kg of rice and 6kg salt delivered to their doorstep every month, many others have been deprived of benefits including their old-age and widow pensions.

“I used to get Rs 600 a month as widow pension. It stopped abruptly six months ago. I went to the bank, but they couldn’t care less,” Samni said. “At the bank, a local dalal (middleman) approached me saying he has contacts in the block office and asked for money to help me,” she adds.

Samir Kumar Bhandari (26) explains, “Most of the villagers here are naïve and illiterate. They are not aware of their rights and do not know whom to approach. Middlemen make most of the situation.” Samir, one of the few non-tribals in the village, adds, “These middlemen are everywhere to fleece us. Even if someone wants to visit a bank or a government office, the middlemen stop them and ask for money for getting the work done.”

On being asked if they have apprised their Shibu of their plight, a murmur ran through a group of elderly villagers gathered at the village square. “Shibu has never visited us in the last 30 years even though he lives just a mile away,” said Sanatan Pujhar, the traditional rural head. “He takes the road adjacent to the village to reach the airstrip, but neither he nor his son Hemant have visited us,” he adds.

Most villagers migrate to the neighbouring Bengal for farm-related work. Expressing discontent at the lack of development, Sanatan, a villager said, “Dumka MLA Louis Marandi came here to inaugurate an irrigation project a few months ago. We asked for a pucca road from the main road to our village. She said she would get it done and pushed off.”

Asansol Pahadiya Tola comes under Dumka Lok Sabha constituency and has 550 registered voters, Sanatan says. When asked if he will cast his vote on Sunday, he said, “Of course, why won’t we exercise our right?” His opinion is also echoed by other villagers too.

But they were divided on whom to support. While some said they will go with Shibu’, others back BJP. “The electricity connection is a gift from the Modi,” said 30-year-old Sagar Mahto.

Sanatan differed, “Guruji has done a lot for the region. He struggled for the adivasis to give them their right in society.”

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