By Arnab Ganguly
Amlasole: In 2004, starvation deaths of five Sabars in Amlasole village had hit national headlines. But the state government had scoffed at the reports, describing them as "media hype". Later, it had said that the "deaths were due to malnutrition, not starvation".
Five years down the line, Amlasole is still paying for the state government's arrogance and complacency. And this apathy towards the village, 240 km from Kolkata, continues even after the state government has burnt its fingers over the Maoist siege of Jangalmahal.
Far from reaching out to Amlasole's villagers, the West Midnapur district administration has asked them to traverse the 25-km distance to Belpahari if they want to collect their entitlement of 6 kg of free rice per family. But travelling that distance is something the poverty-stricken tribals can ill afford. So, Amlasole residents held a meeting in the village on Wednesday to urge the BDO to set up a rice distribution centre in neighbouring Kakrajhor, 3 km away.
Moreover, even the word that free rice is being distributed hasn't reached all villagers. Among them are Muna Sabar, her husband Banamali and their five children. "I was down with fever for the past four or five days. But we are in the dark about rice being distributed free," said Muna. The family has ration cards, but is forced to survive on a diet of spinach and other vegetables sans cereals. "How can we buy rice that costs Rs 14-16 a kg. My husband barely earns Rs 40-50 a day, picking leaves and doing other odd jobs," she said.
Menoka Mandi, too, had a similar tale of woe. "I didn't know rice was being distributed free. No one told us," she said.
Though fellow Amlasole resident Gurcharan Munda had heard the BDO's message about distribution of free rice from Belpahari, he just didn't find it worth undertaking the journey. The only way to reach Belpahari from Amlasole is to hitch a ride on a trekker, paying Rs 15 for a one-way trip. "More than one person from each family has to go to carry so much rice back home. Besides paying Rs 30 per head for a round trip, there are attendant costs on meals and tea at Belpahari. The cost of the journey simply makes it uneconomical to collect the free rice," said Munda.
Amlasole isn't the only village the state needs to reach out to if it is to win the hearts of the people in Jangalmahal. Tales of neglect could also be heard from Simulpal, where Shibai Mura said: "I went all the way to Belpahari on Wednesday to collect rice, but was told that the authorities had stopped distribution. I returned empty handed."
Source: The Times Of India
Amlasole: In 2004, starvation deaths of five Sabars in Amlasole village had hit national headlines. But the state government had scoffed at the reports, describing them as "media hype". Later, it had said that the "deaths were due to malnutrition, not starvation".
Five years down the line, Amlasole is still paying for the state government's arrogance and complacency. And this apathy towards the village, 240 km from Kolkata, continues even after the state government has burnt its fingers over the Maoist siege of Jangalmahal.
Far from reaching out to Amlasole's villagers, the West Midnapur district administration has asked them to traverse the 25-km distance to Belpahari if they want to collect their entitlement of 6 kg of free rice per family. But travelling that distance is something the poverty-stricken tribals can ill afford. So, Amlasole residents held a meeting in the village on Wednesday to urge the BDO to set up a rice distribution centre in neighbouring Kakrajhor, 3 km away.
Moreover, even the word that free rice is being distributed hasn't reached all villagers. Among them are Muna Sabar, her husband Banamali and their five children. "I was down with fever for the past four or five days. But we are in the dark about rice being distributed free," said Muna. The family has ration cards, but is forced to survive on a diet of spinach and other vegetables sans cereals. "How can we buy rice that costs Rs 14-16 a kg. My husband barely earns Rs 40-50 a day, picking leaves and doing other odd jobs," she said.
Menoka Mandi, too, had a similar tale of woe. "I didn't know rice was being distributed free. No one told us," she said.
Though fellow Amlasole resident Gurcharan Munda had heard the BDO's message about distribution of free rice from Belpahari, he just didn't find it worth undertaking the journey. The only way to reach Belpahari from Amlasole is to hitch a ride on a trekker, paying Rs 15 for a one-way trip. "More than one person from each family has to go to carry so much rice back home. Besides paying Rs 30 per head for a round trip, there are attendant costs on meals and tea at Belpahari. The cost of the journey simply makes it uneconomical to collect the free rice," said Munda.
Amlasole isn't the only village the state needs to reach out to if it is to win the hearts of the people in Jangalmahal. Tales of neglect could also be heard from Simulpal, where Shibai Mura said: "I went all the way to Belpahari on Wednesday to collect rice, but was told that the authorities had stopped distribution. I returned empty handed."
Source: The Times Of India
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