Villagers of Koraput district going to Jeypur town to sale the charcoal. This is one of their source of income to sustain their livelihood.
Thursday, 31 March 2011
Wednesday, 23 March 2011
Siali leaves
" Silai " leaves is one of the major source of income of the Dongria adivasi in Niyamgiri hill.
The dongria women collects leaves in the forest from early morning to afternoon and make bundles in the evening. They sale it in the markets situated on the foot hills of Niyamgiri after trekking down many kilometers.
Saturday, 19 March 2011
The tube well seen in the picture is the only source of safe water is defunct since many years, now the villagers of Serkapadi village in Niyamgiri hill are forced to use the fountain water ! It seems the administration not at all bother about the problems of the villagers !
Friday, 18 March 2011
Only source of drinking water in Sekapadi village
Serkapadi is small village is situated in the Niyamgiri hill. There are around 22 house holds in the village. The fountain is the only source of water in this village. People are using this water for drinking as well. Administration has not even provided a water purifier for the village. There is a school but no teacher is coming to the village so children or deprived of education as well.
Thursday, 17 March 2011
Wednesday, 9 March 2011
Bullock carts struggling to remain in road By Purusottam Singh Thakur
By Purusottam Singh Thakur
Bullock carts on concrete roads may look unusual to metro-bred young generation. But what they have seen in numerous old Bollywood films are common sight on roads of Chhattisgarh.
When the bullock carts have been vanished from many parts of the country it is amazing to find those in large numbers bullock carts are major modes of transportation of goods in Dhamtari, Kurud, Mahasamund, Bagbahara, Rajim and some other places as well.
There are around 180 registered bullock carts in Dhamtari. According to the Bailgadi Union Parivahan Sangh, Dhamtari, earlier there were around 300 bullock carts but their number has come down rapidly.
"From childhood, I have seen rise of bullock cart business and its decline. It was ours’ family business," said 46-year-old Rajkumar Sahu, president of this union who has been in this profession for last 35 years.
Describing as to how business of the bullock cart as means of transportation was running, Rajkumar said, “I was just extending my helping hand to load and unload the paddy bags in the cart. At that time the price per bag was 30 paise and for a cart was five rupees 25 paise.”
“Earlier my father was solely depending on bullock cart for earning income for the family. When he retired, my elder brother took over. We have only half acres of land and this bullock cart. Now my brother no more comes, " added Rajkumar.
Dhamtari is a district headquarter town of Chhattishgarh where the bullock cart owners come everyday in the morning from the nearby villages situated in between two to ten kilometer of radius of Dhamtari.
Villages include Hatkesar, Sorid, Gokulpur, Thelawan, Jodhapur, Bhatina, Khapri, Arjuni, Danitola, Koliari, Rudri, Mujgahan, Kostapara, Jalampur, Amapara and Nawagaon.
Bullock cart owners get Rs.110 for each trip of paddy bag being transported to the mandi to mills and mills to mandi. Bullock cart commerce in this small town goes on like any other motor vehicle business. When they come to the union in morning, they first register their names and wait for their turn.
Twenty-five-year old Rosan Sahu is one of them. He belongs to Hatkesar village. Rosan inherits the profession from his father who has gone past 50 year of age.
“We don't have any land except a homestead land on which our house could be seen. Grand father was an agricultural labourer. But a time went past, he could succeed to have a bullock cart. For him and our family it was a great achievement,” he says narrating how owning a bullock cart was prized possession in those days. “It had cost around Rs. 400. But now its costs is around Rs. 50,000, Roshan says.
Giving details of budget required for a bullock cart, he says a pair of bullock costs Rs. 30,000 to 40,000 whereas a cart costs 10,000 to 15,000 rupees.
But over the years, many innovations have gone into making of a cart. Instead of old wooden and iron wheel, second hand truck tyres are used. Other parts of the wheen such as bearing channel and iron angle would cost around Rs. 8000.
Daily life of operators of bullock cart is bit different from others. Take the example of Roshan. He start starts his day early in the morning. His breakfast box include water rice made in the previous night and chatni (made of tomato, chilly and salt) and he preserves the freshly cooked rice in the box for lunch. By the time clock ticks 10 am, Roshan could be found in Dhamtari.
The booming business has now reduced to life-saving profession for a few. "Now there is scarcity of works. Yesterday I could lay my hands on one order and it fetched me Rs. 110. Someday we get two trips. But such days does not come everyday. Last week I earned Rs. 500," says Roshan. The account of the bullock cart operator gives an impression that the monthly income of an individual does not go beyond Rs. 4000.
A major portion of the income is spent on the bullocks’ fodder. “Bullocks are like family members. They get the equal share of income as we enjoy,” says Satish kumar Sahu, another bullock cart man.
Rise in prices of essential commodities during past two years has, however, made their life miserable. Prices of fodder for the bullocks has increased and so as the prices of dal. However, the income of bullock cart operators has not increased accordingly, which has forced many people to leave this profession.
“Many of us have sold their bullock carts from Rs.12000 to Rs.20,000. Now out of 180 some 150 have remained. About 30 members have sold the bullock carts in last one and half year,” Satish says.
Life turns upside down after the sale of bullock carts. The men become daily wage earner as " hamal ' or " coolie " in the city
The price of the rent of bullock cart is fixed. “If one demands more money, he would be denied work which is worse than getting low amount," says Rajkumar. The rent is fixed by the rice millers association. There was an old agreement between vyapari ( businessmen millers ) and the bullock cart men.
The agreement is heavily tilted in favour of rice millers. It is agreed upon that businessmen will raise the price of Rs. 4.00 in each deepawali.
But this hike of Rs.4.00 is nothing in comparison to price hike in case of other commodities. “But we have no other choice, but to cling to the profession. Many of us live below poverty line,” 34-year-old Satish Kumar Sahu, who has been this profession for last 15 years.
Despite operating the most environment friendly mode of transportation, these people are leading a miserable life. The State government should come forward either to ensure respectable wage for these people or help them shift to other profession smoothly.
(EOM)
Bullock carts on concrete roads may look unusual to metro-bred young generation. But what they have seen in numerous old Bollywood films are common sight on roads of Chhattisgarh.
When the bullock carts have been vanished from many parts of the country it is amazing to find those in large numbers bullock carts are major modes of transportation of goods in Dhamtari, Kurud, Mahasamund, Bagbahara, Rajim and some other places as well.
There are around 180 registered bullock carts in Dhamtari. According to the Bailgadi Union Parivahan Sangh, Dhamtari, earlier there were around 300 bullock carts but their number has come down rapidly.
"From childhood, I have seen rise of bullock cart business and its decline. It was ours’ family business," said 46-year-old Rajkumar Sahu, president of this union who has been in this profession for last 35 years.
Describing as to how business of the bullock cart as means of transportation was running, Rajkumar said, “I was just extending my helping hand to load and unload the paddy bags in the cart. At that time the price per bag was 30 paise and for a cart was five rupees 25 paise.”
“Earlier my father was solely depending on bullock cart for earning income for the family. When he retired, my elder brother took over. We have only half acres of land and this bullock cart. Now my brother no more comes, " added Rajkumar.
Dhamtari is a district headquarter town of Chhattishgarh where the bullock cart owners come everyday in the morning from the nearby villages situated in between two to ten kilometer of radius of Dhamtari.
Villages include Hatkesar, Sorid, Gokulpur, Thelawan, Jodhapur, Bhatina, Khapri, Arjuni, Danitola, Koliari, Rudri, Mujgahan, Kostapara, Jalampur, Amapara and Nawagaon.
Bullock cart owners get Rs.110 for each trip of paddy bag being transported to the mandi to mills and mills to mandi. Bullock cart commerce in this small town goes on like any other motor vehicle business. When they come to the union in morning, they first register their names and wait for their turn.
Twenty-five-year old Rosan Sahu is one of them. He belongs to Hatkesar village. Rosan inherits the profession from his father who has gone past 50 year of age.
“We don't have any land except a homestead land on which our house could be seen. Grand father was an agricultural labourer. But a time went past, he could succeed to have a bullock cart. For him and our family it was a great achievement,” he says narrating how owning a bullock cart was prized possession in those days. “It had cost around Rs. 400. But now its costs is around Rs. 50,000, Roshan says.
Giving details of budget required for a bullock cart, he says a pair of bullock costs Rs. 30,000 to 40,000 whereas a cart costs 10,000 to 15,000 rupees.
But over the years, many innovations have gone into making of a cart. Instead of old wooden and iron wheel, second hand truck tyres are used. Other parts of the wheen such as bearing channel and iron angle would cost around Rs. 8000.
Daily life of operators of bullock cart is bit different from others. Take the example of Roshan. He start starts his day early in the morning. His breakfast box include water rice made in the previous night and chatni (made of tomato, chilly and salt) and he preserves the freshly cooked rice in the box for lunch. By the time clock ticks 10 am, Roshan could be found in Dhamtari.
The booming business has now reduced to life-saving profession for a few. "Now there is scarcity of works. Yesterday I could lay my hands on one order and it fetched me Rs. 110. Someday we get two trips. But such days does not come everyday. Last week I earned Rs. 500," says Roshan. The account of the bullock cart operator gives an impression that the monthly income of an individual does not go beyond Rs. 4000.
A major portion of the income is spent on the bullocks’ fodder. “Bullocks are like family members. They get the equal share of income as we enjoy,” says Satish kumar Sahu, another bullock cart man.
Rise in prices of essential commodities during past two years has, however, made their life miserable. Prices of fodder for the bullocks has increased and so as the prices of dal. However, the income of bullock cart operators has not increased accordingly, which has forced many people to leave this profession.
“Many of us have sold their bullock carts from Rs.12000 to Rs.20,000. Now out of 180 some 150 have remained. About 30 members have sold the bullock carts in last one and half year,” Satish says.
Life turns upside down after the sale of bullock carts. The men become daily wage earner as " hamal ' or " coolie " in the city
The price of the rent of bullock cart is fixed. “If one demands more money, he would be denied work which is worse than getting low amount," says Rajkumar. The rent is fixed by the rice millers association. There was an old agreement between vyapari ( businessmen millers ) and the bullock cart men.
The agreement is heavily tilted in favour of rice millers. It is agreed upon that businessmen will raise the price of Rs. 4.00 in each deepawali.
But this hike of Rs.4.00 is nothing in comparison to price hike in case of other commodities. “But we have no other choice, but to cling to the profession. Many of us live below poverty line,” 34-year-old Satish Kumar Sahu, who has been this profession for last 15 years.
Despite operating the most environment friendly mode of transportation, these people are leading a miserable life. The State government should come forward either to ensure respectable wage for these people or help them shift to other profession smoothly.
(EOM)
KBK : THE LAND OF EPIDEMIC, UNTIMELY DEATH AND ORPHANS
BY PURUSOTTAM SINGH THAKUR
On October 2nd on Gandhi Jayanti, when the members of Gandhi Foundation, Khariar visited the local Primary health centre to distribute fruits and bread to the patients they found a family of Bichhnapali village who were admitted as diarrhea patients. People of Nuapada districts are living with diarrhea since last July. Even the NAC khariar too was affected by it. Out of 52 diarrhea deaths in Nuapada district, 3 are belongs to Khariar NAC.
But Dr. Bajrangbali Jagat, CDMO, Nuapada says so far 27 people have lost their life due to diarrhea in the district.
And its not only the story of Nuapada dictrict but diarrhea has affected all most all the districts of KBK ( Undivided Kalahandi-Bolangir and Koraput ) in general and Raygada in particular.
" When the diarrhea did not stop and my health deteriorated, I decided to call a taxi from Sikarpai to hospital as there was no hope left behind. Prior to that, my family repeatedly called but neither doctor nor the health worker turned up. First my family took me to Shikarpai health center but when did not get well, so left for a private doctor in Raygada. The doctor took Rs.700. And I too had to spent on hiring taxi. In between my two sons were also affected by diarrhea, than they were too admitted in the hospital. " said Shirpati of Satpai village in Kashipur block in Raygada district.
" I had to spent around Rs.6000 for the treatment of the entire family. Now I am in debt. I have borrowed the money from a local money lender who gives money on 50 paise rate of intrest in a rupee" he added. When asked, " How did you repay the amount ? " he said that, It will took him few years to repay.
But the good thing in this case is that, the lives were saved. Satpai is one of the remote village where the diarrhea has been affected. There is absolutely no communication. If you can you can hire a vehicle. But that requires money, which many people does not have in this part of India. Neither many of the people are so lucky to get the medical facilities what ever the way like Shirpati who is little aware than others.
" Some 2050 people were affected by diarrhea this year, out of them 41 people are died till the last week of the September " according to Dr. Benudhar Naik, CDMO, Raygada. But the unofficial record says it is more than hundred. The epidemic out break in mid July of this year.
" In 2007, some 7800 people were affected by diarrhea and 90 people were lost life " says Benudhar Naik, CDMO, Raygada. " Lack of safe drinking water, connectivity and peoples awareness are the factors responsible for the regular out break of epidemic where health department is helpless " he added.
When this reporter visited the district in the first week of August there were around 7 deaths have been recorded and at that point of time also the CDMO said that, " the situation is under control ".
Six blocks have been affected by the epidemic this year. That are Kashipur, K.Singapur,Bisam-Cuttack, Gudari and Raygada.
But by the last week of August and 1st week of September it goes out of control and when there was hue and cry in the media, government pressed in to action. The Chief Minister asked the Health Minister Prasanna Acharya and the health secretary to go the district to monitor and take stock of the situations.
Prasanna Acharaya was there for 3 days and found two reasons for the spread of epidemic which known to all since many many years. He blamed contaminated water and inaccessibility for the outbreak of epidemic in Raygada among others. Besides that, the report said, the remote areas are worst affected. As the villages are inaccessible, decontamination of water was not possible. Majority of deaths are during night and night patrolling parties were pressed into service to provide medical assistance to the affected, the report said. However, inter-departmental coordination is utmost necessary at this time and a special programmed be launched in Rayagada district to tackle the crisis situation, Acharya proposed in his report.
Perhaps he wanted to say neither of the problems belong to his department and shifted the responsibility but his report also reveals that, the lack of co ordination among departments is very well exist.
Some doctors along with para medical staffs were sent from other places including Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. Temporary health camps were in service in some place where the patients were brought and treated. Many people were treated and live were saved. But there were many instances witnessed by the volunteers which well explained the attitude of the government service and its service holders. Some Doctors and paramedical staff deputed from outside says when there is no power, no connectivity nothing and how do the government expect that they will perform.
Ravi Das, the 70 years old social activist shared his experience of Baliguda village of Gudibali panchayat. There are 40/45 house holds in Baliguda village and almost all are very poor. There is tube well but defunct and repaired later when one died recently." When the villagers informed the nearby temporary camp set up by the government about a patient who was serious and requested them to sent the vehicle to transport the patient, the camp in charge a doctor was found missing, the para medical staff who was present there did not respond. When we saw this we also requested them but they said that, why the villagers are not bringing the patient. We told them when the villagers are saying that there was non to bring the old patient as the entire family is affected by diarrhea ! at last when they sent the vehicle it was too late, The 70 years old Binidhar Goud was brought and dead in the camp. " said Ravi Das with anguish.
Dr.Roy of Sarvodaya said, he spoke over phone to a senior state level officer of NRHM and complained about the apathy and their attitude, in reply the officer expressed his helplessness and said, the problem is that, our government people are not ready to step down from the pitch road ! They have attitude problem.
when asked why he is not taking action ? he replied, we already lacking staff so we can not just afford it. And you know the reality how it is difficult to suspend or dismiss even a 4th class employee in the government service.
" Now the season has changed. The continues rains has stopped and so the diarrhea cases. " said Ravi Das. He was here in 2007 when the epidemic was broke out and more than 200 people died, he was also done the same work of relief in Kalahandi last year where around 40 people lost their life.
" Its not just the contaminated water and inaccessibility rather its endemic poverty which is prevailed here. They have no access to safe drinking water and the food as well. They are still forced to take contaminated food like mango kernel and seeds of tamarind, roots and poisonous mushrooms " he added.
Reaching villages for outsiders is a very dfficult task so is for the people living inside. Outsiders can afford to go inside if they wish because they have the purchasing capacity but in case of villagers its beyond their affordable reach. You requires money in every step you go forward. So people even in distress and in badly need of health care prefer to die or forced to die a silent death but fear to go to hospital as he or she knows even its a government hospital you need money for the treatment.
And this reporter witnessd such an incident when he visited recently along with the Sarvoday team Huder village where a 7 years old boy Karan Majhi was found with a fractured and swelling hand, when asked he said he fell down from a guava tree a week back. The doctor with the team expressed his serious concern and said it may be lead to gangrene inside. When asked to his father Ghenu Majhi, he said he can not afford the treatment in a hospital so have treated with some paste of roots found in the forest. Than the Sarvoday team decided to take the boy and his father to Raygada district hospital. Next day he was treated in Raygada and returned to his village. So god knows if the boy would have brought by these people what would have happened to him.
In the same village we met 75 years old Rupali Majhi. When we were talking to some villagers, she came to us and try to listen to us. Than she told us that, " Please make a road to our village. You see the road is not good so you are too facing problem to reach us, you are not able to come with your vehicle. When we are felling ill who will carry us such a long distance to the hospital. So please do this, we will be grateful to you." It shows even the older people of the area understood where the problems are lies.
In the meantime the paramedical staffs have been returned to their respective places outside the district from where they were came and deployed in temporary health centers as the centers are with drawn.
The epidemic has spread to about six more districts including Koraput, Nuapada, Malkangiri, Nabrangpur, Gajpati, Bolangir and parts of Sundergarh. The districts which are known for its poverty and backwardness but, in almost all the districts, 60 percent of the doctors’ posts have been lying vacant for years. There are 128 sanctioned posts of doctors in Raygada but out of it 58 are vacant. Recently after the spread of epidemic the government as appointed 408 doctors on ad hoc in Orissa, out of them very few of them have joined by the end of the 1st week of October. In Koraput six out of 12 doctors have joined. But in fact those six were already working there as contractual doctors. Similarly in Malkangiri one out of 15, In Nabarangpur non out of 7 and in Kalahandi one out of 4 have joined. But that too was also working in the district as contractual doctor.
Its not only diarrhea, Malaria too is known as one of the dreaded killer in this part of Orissa. However, according to CDMO, Raygada, " The district becomes a " malaria endemic zone " during rainy season with about 97 per cent of the patients suffering from falciparum infection which causes brain malaria.
The tribal couple Rajendra and Solomi Majhi of Panabandha village of Tikri block has lost their two children out of four in a week time. Rajendra, who is a landless narrates the agony he has gone through. " I had no money when my son Bina (13) suffered from malaria. I borrowed Rs.200 and trek down to the Tikri hospital with my son on my shoulder. He died there. 5 days later my another son fell ill but I lost him at home because I could not arrange money." Villagers said, in last one and half month time 8 villagers have died in malaria.
Four children below the age of six have died in the Kadapadar village, which is situated just about 10 km away from Tikri following high fever. Health workers visited the village only twice in this tribal dominated village. People are still down with fever, but health workers have not come since the last 15 days. But the health worker blames the villagers, “It is not that easy to work here. We have distributed medicines in all villages. But the villagers dump them in their house.”
The Chief District Medical Officer too says “The villagers rely more on the quacks and people indulging in witchcraft. They come to the hospital as a last resort. Actually, there is lack of awareness,” he said.
But it is not true that villagers do not come to the hospital. But they cannot afford to. “To be aware means to cough up more money,” said Luki Majhi (29) of Kadapadar, who lost his 2-year-old daughter because he could not hire a vehicle at a cost of Rs.800 to take her to the hospital. “As such, during rainy seasons, vehicles do not come to the village as rain cuts off the road.”
“Going to hospital without taking money is meaningless " said Reu Majhi (30), who too has lost his 6-year-old daughter due to malaria.
Every year, diarrhea claims several lives in the inaccessible villages. Children have been a major victims. In the last three years, the infant mortality rate has increased from 78 per to 91 per 1000 children, against the state average of 69.
According to Acharya, vacancy of doctors is a vital problem, not only in Rayagada or KBK area but in the whole of Orissa. “Recently we recruited 408 doctors. All of them have been posted in KBK districts,” he said. But till 10th of October not all of them have joined in their respective places.
" The most irony is that, many children are becoming orphans every year due to these diseases. Either Diarrhea, cholera or Malaria, all are curable one and people dying with out medical attention is a shameful, inhuman and criminal act of the government. " said Ajit Panda, a social activist based at Khariar.
Six years old Shankar Majhi and his five sisters of Jamchuan village in Lanjigarh block, leading a life of orphans as they lost both of their parents last year. Shankar's mother Rupa Dei and 35 years old father Pulu Majhi died of diarrhea one after another. Dumbe Majhi of Madanguda village too lost her husband and her two children became orphan as he was a bread earner of the family. So is the situations in Raygada where every year numbers of children becoming orphans and also added as burden to their kith and kin who themselves are living in poverty.
On October 2nd on Gandhi Jayanti, when the members of Gandhi Foundation, Khariar visited the local Primary health centre to distribute fruits and bread to the patients they found a family of Bichhnapali village who were admitted as diarrhea patients. People of Nuapada districts are living with diarrhea since last July. Even the NAC khariar too was affected by it. Out of 52 diarrhea deaths in Nuapada district, 3 are belongs to Khariar NAC.
But Dr. Bajrangbali Jagat, CDMO, Nuapada says so far 27 people have lost their life due to diarrhea in the district.
And its not only the story of Nuapada dictrict but diarrhea has affected all most all the districts of KBK ( Undivided Kalahandi-Bolangir and Koraput ) in general and Raygada in particular.
" When the diarrhea did not stop and my health deteriorated, I decided to call a taxi from Sikarpai to hospital as there was no hope left behind. Prior to that, my family repeatedly called but neither doctor nor the health worker turned up. First my family took me to Shikarpai health center but when did not get well, so left for a private doctor in Raygada. The doctor took Rs.700. And I too had to spent on hiring taxi. In between my two sons were also affected by diarrhea, than they were too admitted in the hospital. " said Shirpati of Satpai village in Kashipur block in Raygada district.
" I had to spent around Rs.6000 for the treatment of the entire family. Now I am in debt. I have borrowed the money from a local money lender who gives money on 50 paise rate of intrest in a rupee" he added. When asked, " How did you repay the amount ? " he said that, It will took him few years to repay.
But the good thing in this case is that, the lives were saved. Satpai is one of the remote village where the diarrhea has been affected. There is absolutely no communication. If you can you can hire a vehicle. But that requires money, which many people does not have in this part of India. Neither many of the people are so lucky to get the medical facilities what ever the way like Shirpati who is little aware than others.
" Some 2050 people were affected by diarrhea this year, out of them 41 people are died till the last week of the September " according to Dr. Benudhar Naik, CDMO, Raygada. But the unofficial record says it is more than hundred. The epidemic out break in mid July of this year.
" In 2007, some 7800 people were affected by diarrhea and 90 people were lost life " says Benudhar Naik, CDMO, Raygada. " Lack of safe drinking water, connectivity and peoples awareness are the factors responsible for the regular out break of epidemic where health department is helpless " he added.
When this reporter visited the district in the first week of August there were around 7 deaths have been recorded and at that point of time also the CDMO said that, " the situation is under control ".
Six blocks have been affected by the epidemic this year. That are Kashipur, K.Singapur,Bisam-Cuttack, Gudari and Raygada.
But by the last week of August and 1st week of September it goes out of control and when there was hue and cry in the media, government pressed in to action. The Chief Minister asked the Health Minister Prasanna Acharya and the health secretary to go the district to monitor and take stock of the situations.
Prasanna Acharaya was there for 3 days and found two reasons for the spread of epidemic which known to all since many many years. He blamed contaminated water and inaccessibility for the outbreak of epidemic in Raygada among others. Besides that, the report said, the remote areas are worst affected. As the villages are inaccessible, decontamination of water was not possible. Majority of deaths are during night and night patrolling parties were pressed into service to provide medical assistance to the affected, the report said. However, inter-departmental coordination is utmost necessary at this time and a special programmed be launched in Rayagada district to tackle the crisis situation, Acharya proposed in his report.
Perhaps he wanted to say neither of the problems belong to his department and shifted the responsibility but his report also reveals that, the lack of co ordination among departments is very well exist.
Some doctors along with para medical staffs were sent from other places including Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. Temporary health camps were in service in some place where the patients were brought and treated. Many people were treated and live were saved. But there were many instances witnessed by the volunteers which well explained the attitude of the government service and its service holders. Some Doctors and paramedical staff deputed from outside says when there is no power, no connectivity nothing and how do the government expect that they will perform.
Ravi Das, the 70 years old social activist shared his experience of Baliguda village of Gudibali panchayat. There are 40/45 house holds in Baliguda village and almost all are very poor. There is tube well but defunct and repaired later when one died recently." When the villagers informed the nearby temporary camp set up by the government about a patient who was serious and requested them to sent the vehicle to transport the patient, the camp in charge a doctor was found missing, the para medical staff who was present there did not respond. When we saw this we also requested them but they said that, why the villagers are not bringing the patient. We told them when the villagers are saying that there was non to bring the old patient as the entire family is affected by diarrhea ! at last when they sent the vehicle it was too late, The 70 years old Binidhar Goud was brought and dead in the camp. " said Ravi Das with anguish.
Dr.Roy of Sarvodaya said, he spoke over phone to a senior state level officer of NRHM and complained about the apathy and their attitude, in reply the officer expressed his helplessness and said, the problem is that, our government people are not ready to step down from the pitch road ! They have attitude problem.
when asked why he is not taking action ? he replied, we already lacking staff so we can not just afford it. And you know the reality how it is difficult to suspend or dismiss even a 4th class employee in the government service.
" Now the season has changed. The continues rains has stopped and so the diarrhea cases. " said Ravi Das. He was here in 2007 when the epidemic was broke out and more than 200 people died, he was also done the same work of relief in Kalahandi last year where around 40 people lost their life.
" Its not just the contaminated water and inaccessibility rather its endemic poverty which is prevailed here. They have no access to safe drinking water and the food as well. They are still forced to take contaminated food like mango kernel and seeds of tamarind, roots and poisonous mushrooms " he added.
Reaching villages for outsiders is a very dfficult task so is for the people living inside. Outsiders can afford to go inside if they wish because they have the purchasing capacity but in case of villagers its beyond their affordable reach. You requires money in every step you go forward. So people even in distress and in badly need of health care prefer to die or forced to die a silent death but fear to go to hospital as he or she knows even its a government hospital you need money for the treatment.
And this reporter witnessd such an incident when he visited recently along with the Sarvoday team Huder village where a 7 years old boy Karan Majhi was found with a fractured and swelling hand, when asked he said he fell down from a guava tree a week back. The doctor with the team expressed his serious concern and said it may be lead to gangrene inside. When asked to his father Ghenu Majhi, he said he can not afford the treatment in a hospital so have treated with some paste of roots found in the forest. Than the Sarvoday team decided to take the boy and his father to Raygada district hospital. Next day he was treated in Raygada and returned to his village. So god knows if the boy would have brought by these people what would have happened to him.
In the same village we met 75 years old Rupali Majhi. When we were talking to some villagers, she came to us and try to listen to us. Than she told us that, " Please make a road to our village. You see the road is not good so you are too facing problem to reach us, you are not able to come with your vehicle. When we are felling ill who will carry us such a long distance to the hospital. So please do this, we will be grateful to you." It shows even the older people of the area understood where the problems are lies.
In the meantime the paramedical staffs have been returned to their respective places outside the district from where they were came and deployed in temporary health centers as the centers are with drawn.
The epidemic has spread to about six more districts including Koraput, Nuapada, Malkangiri, Nabrangpur, Gajpati, Bolangir and parts of Sundergarh. The districts which are known for its poverty and backwardness but, in almost all the districts, 60 percent of the doctors’ posts have been lying vacant for years. There are 128 sanctioned posts of doctors in Raygada but out of it 58 are vacant. Recently after the spread of epidemic the government as appointed 408 doctors on ad hoc in Orissa, out of them very few of them have joined by the end of the 1st week of October. In Koraput six out of 12 doctors have joined. But in fact those six were already working there as contractual doctors. Similarly in Malkangiri one out of 15, In Nabarangpur non out of 7 and in Kalahandi one out of 4 have joined. But that too was also working in the district as contractual doctor.
Its not only diarrhea, Malaria too is known as one of the dreaded killer in this part of Orissa. However, according to CDMO, Raygada, " The district becomes a " malaria endemic zone " during rainy season with about 97 per cent of the patients suffering from falciparum infection which causes brain malaria.
The tribal couple Rajendra and Solomi Majhi of Panabandha village of Tikri block has lost their two children out of four in a week time. Rajendra, who is a landless narrates the agony he has gone through. " I had no money when my son Bina (13) suffered from malaria. I borrowed Rs.200 and trek down to the Tikri hospital with my son on my shoulder. He died there. 5 days later my another son fell ill but I lost him at home because I could not arrange money." Villagers said, in last one and half month time 8 villagers have died in malaria.
Four children below the age of six have died in the Kadapadar village, which is situated just about 10 km away from Tikri following high fever. Health workers visited the village only twice in this tribal dominated village. People are still down with fever, but health workers have not come since the last 15 days. But the health worker blames the villagers, “It is not that easy to work here. We have distributed medicines in all villages. But the villagers dump them in their house.”
The Chief District Medical Officer too says “The villagers rely more on the quacks and people indulging in witchcraft. They come to the hospital as a last resort. Actually, there is lack of awareness,” he said.
But it is not true that villagers do not come to the hospital. But they cannot afford to. “To be aware means to cough up more money,” said Luki Majhi (29) of Kadapadar, who lost his 2-year-old daughter because he could not hire a vehicle at a cost of Rs.800 to take her to the hospital. “As such, during rainy seasons, vehicles do not come to the village as rain cuts off the road.”
“Going to hospital without taking money is meaningless " said Reu Majhi (30), who too has lost his 6-year-old daughter due to malaria.
Every year, diarrhea claims several lives in the inaccessible villages. Children have been a major victims. In the last three years, the infant mortality rate has increased from 78 per to 91 per 1000 children, against the state average of 69.
According to Acharya, vacancy of doctors is a vital problem, not only in Rayagada or KBK area but in the whole of Orissa. “Recently we recruited 408 doctors. All of them have been posted in KBK districts,” he said. But till 10th of October not all of them have joined in their respective places.
" The most irony is that, many children are becoming orphans every year due to these diseases. Either Diarrhea, cholera or Malaria, all are curable one and people dying with out medical attention is a shameful, inhuman and criminal act of the government. " said Ajit Panda, a social activist based at Khariar.
Six years old Shankar Majhi and his five sisters of Jamchuan village in Lanjigarh block, leading a life of orphans as they lost both of their parents last year. Shankar's mother Rupa Dei and 35 years old father Pulu Majhi died of diarrhea one after another. Dumbe Majhi of Madanguda village too lost her husband and her two children became orphan as he was a bread earner of the family. So is the situations in Raygada where every year numbers of children becoming orphans and also added as burden to their kith and kin who themselves are living in poverty.
" यह हमारी सरकार नहीं है " लोदो सिकोका से पुरुषोत्तम ठाकुर की बातचीत
कुनी, उसकी सहेली और माँ, गाँव के पास ही पहाड़ी के नीचे वाली ज़मीन में सरसों के खेत में सरसों के फुल और पत्ती तोड़ रहे थे और तोड़ते-तोड़ते अचानक कुनी चिल्ला उठी- “लोदो दादा आ गये, लोदो दादा आ गये…”
नियमगिरि के इस लाखपदर गाँव में रहकर पिछले चार दिनों से हम इसी खबर का इंतजार कर रहे थे. चार दिन पहले जब हम इस गांव में पहुंचे थे तो पता चला कि लोदो यानी लोदो सिकोका कुछ ही देर पहले भुवनेश्वर के लिये रवाना हो गये थे. वहां किसी बैठक में उन्हें भाग लेना था.
नियमगिरि के डोंगरिया आदिवासी नियमगिरि में बाक्साइट माइनिंग के लिए कोशिश कर रही ब्रिटिश कंपनी वेदांता के खिलाफ संघर्ष कर रहे हैं और लोदो सिकोका, नियमगिरि सुरक्षा परिषद के एक प्रमुख नेता हैं.
लोदो पिछले साल अगस्त में पहली बार तब चर्चा में आये, जब वेदांता कंपनी के इशारे पर लोदो को पुलिस उस समय उठा ले गई, जब वह अपने साथियों के साथ एक बैठक में हिस्सा लेने दिल्ली जा रहे थे. उन्हें रायगढ़ा पुलिस ने थाना ले जाकर मरते दम तक पिटा, माओवादी होने का ठप्पा दिया और तब जाकर छोड़ा जब मीडिया से लेकर स्थानीय सांसद और कार्यकर्ताओं ने दबाव बनाया.
सरसों के खेत से गाँव पहुँच कर जब हमने लोदो के बारे में पूछा तो एक ने कहा कि वह भूखे और प्यासे थे और अपनी डोंगर (डोंगर में स्थित अपने खेत) की ओर चले गए हैं. हम भी पीछे चल पड़े. वैसे भी पिछले चार दिनों में हम कई लोगों का डोंगर चढ़ चुके थे, जिनमें लोदो का डोंगर भी शामिल था.
असल में फसल कटाई के इस समय गांव के सभी लोग अपने परिवार समेत अपने-अपने डोंगर में छोटी -छोटी कुटिया और मचान लगाकर रहते हैं. डोंगर में ही वे धान, मड़िया, गुर्जी, कांदुल,अंडी जैसे कई तरह की फसलों को काटकर लाते हैं.
नियमगिरि पहाड़ में रहने वाले ये डोंगरिया आदिवासी डोंगर में ही खेती करते हैं. यहां खेती करना काफी मेहनत का काम है, जिसमें पूरे परिवार को जुटना पड़ता है. डोंगर में क्योंकि जुताई नहीं हो पाती, इसलिए वहां हाथ से कोड़ाई करनी पड़ती है. इसलिए इस खेती में घर के छोटे बच्चे से लेकर बुढ़ों तक का योगदान महत्वपूर्ण होता है.
वहां चार दिन तक रहते हुये हमने इसे और बेहतर तरीके से समझा था. जब बड़े लोग फसलों की कटाई कर रहे थे तब पांच से दस साल के छोटे बच्चे नीचे झरनों से छोटे-छोटे पात्रों में पानी लाने जैसा काम कर रहे थे. जीवन के अंतिम दिनों की ओर बढ़ रहे कई बुजुर्ग महिलायें भी कुछ न कुछ काम करते दिखीं.
डोंगरिया लोगों की प्रकृति पर निर्भरता और प्रकृति से इतना जुड़ाव है कि बाहरी चीजों के उपर इनकी निर्भरता नहीं है. यही वजह है कि जब बाकी देश महंगाई को लेकर इतनी हाय-तौबा कर रहा हैं , तो ये लोग उस से कोसो दूर हैं. वह इसलिये भी क्योंकि इनके जीवन में बाज़ार का हस्तक्षेप नहीं है. इनका बाज़ार से ज्यादा लेना देना नहीं है. वह बाहरी दुनिया से जितना लेते हैं, उससे कहीं ज्यादा देते हैं. पहाड़ के नीचे बसे लोग नियमगिरि के फलमूल और फसल के लिए इंतजार करते रहते हैं. इसलिए महंगाई होने पर उन्हें दो पैसा ज्यादा ही मिलता है कम नहीं. हालांकि बिचौलिए सबसे ज्यादा फायदा उठा लेते हैं, जो इनके उत्पादों को कम मूल्य में इनसे लेकर काफी मुनाफा कमाते हैं.
हमने रात उनके साथ डोंगर में ही बिताने का निश्चय किया ताकि उनसे लम्बी बातचीत हो सके. ठण्ड का दिन था और उस पहाड़ी में न तो बिजली है और न मोबाइल के लिए नेटवर्क. लाखपदर गाँव में तो सरकार ने एक स्कूल खोलने की भी जरूरत महसूस नहीं की है. कभी यहाँ स्कूल था पर वह कई साल पहले बंद हो गया. जो बच्चे पढ़ना चाहते हैं, उन्हें घंटों पहाड़ी और जंगली रास्ते से गुजर कर दूसरे गाँव के स्कूल में जाना होता है, इसलिए सिर्फ कुछ बच्चे दूर गाँव के आश्रम स्कूल में पढ़ते हैं. बाकी बच्चे तो इस सर्व शिक्षा अभियान के दौर में भी अनपढ़ रहने को मजबूर हैं.लोदो के डोंगर में चढ़ाई के दौरान रास्ते में उनका सलप यानी सल्फी का पेड़ है. सलप के पेड़ से निकलने वाला रस पीया जाता है. वहाँ हमने देखा, लोदो पेड़ पर चढ़े हुए हैं और सलप निकाल रहे हैं और नीचे उनके मित्र खड़े हुए हैं, जो उनके साथ ही भुवनेश्वर से लौटे हैं.
हमारे पहुंचते तक लोदो सलप लेकर नीचे आ गये. दुआ-सलाम के बाद छूटते ही कहा- “पिछले चार दिनों से सलप नहीं पिया था इसलिए बहुत प्यास लग रही थी.”
लोदो अपनी भुवनेश्वर यात्रा के बारे में बताने लगे- "वहां सब चीज़ के लिए लाइन में लगना पड़ता था. नहाने के लिए लगना पड़ता था और गरम पानी दिया जा रहा था. पीने के पानी को बोतल में भरकर बेचा जा रहा था, वह भी दस से पंद्रह रुपये में."
“मैंने उन लोगों को कहा कि आप लोग हमारे नियमगिरि आ जाओ, हम आपको एक ट्रेन भर के पानी देंगे, वह भी बिल्कुल मुफ्त. हमारे यहाँ बहुत सारे झरने हैं, जहाँ शीतल और स्वच्छ पानी है. ...इसलिए मैं तो जब तक भुवनेश्वर में रहा, नहाया भी नहीं.”
हम अगर नियमगिरि में नहीं होते तो शायद लोदो की बातों का मतलब समझ नहीं पाते, लेकिन वहां रहने के बाद हम भी महसूस करते हैं कि नियमगिरि जिसे वह नियमराजा भी कहते हैं, उनके लिए कितना उदार है और उन्हें क्या कुछ नहीं दिया है नियमगिरि ने. जो लोग प्रकृति के इतने करीब हैं, वह हम जैसी सोच-समझ वाले कैसे हो सकते हैं, जिनके लिये सब कुछ नफा-नुकसान और व्यापार का विषय है. जिस नियमगिरि को वह अपना भगवान मानते हैं, उसे हमारी सरकार भी तो रुपये के लिए बेचने पर उतारू हो गई है.
मैं कई बार सोचता हूं कि हमारी सरकारें इन आदिवासियों से इनके जल, जंगल, ज़मीन और खनिज लूटकर वेदांता, टाटा जैसी कंपनियों को देने का फैसला चंद मिनटों में कर लेती है लेकिन आज़ादी के इतने सालों बाद भी इन आदिवासियों के लिये एक स्कूल भी क्यों नहीं खोल पाती ? उल्टे जो कुछ इन आदिवासियों के पास है, उसे भी क्यों लूट लेना चाहती है?
ज़ाहिर है, जो काम कथित तौर पर संवेदनशील, शक्तिशाली सरकार और कल्याणकारी राष्ट्र नहीं कर पा रहा है, उसके लिये एक ऐसी कंपनी से उम्मीद करना तो बेमानी है, जो खनिज और वन संपदा को निचोड़ कर मुनाफा कमाने आई है.
कथित विकास के दलाल यह प्रचार करने में लगे हैं कि ‘विकास के लिए वेदांता चाहिए !’ लेकिन वेदांता का सच क्या है, यह किसी से छुपा हुआ नहीं है. अगर इस तरह के खनिज उत्खनन से गरीब और आदिवासियों का विकास होता है तो पड़ोस के केन्दुझर का इतना बुरा हाल क्यों है ? पिछले पचास साल से भी ज्यादा समय से टाटा कम्पनी वहां पर खनिज उत्खनन का काम कर रही है और अब तक लाखों करोड़ रुपये मुनाफा भी कमा चुकी है लेकिन वहां के आदिवासी अब भी बुरे हाल में हैं.
हम लोदो के साथ और थोड़ा ऊपर पहाड़ी पर चढ़ गए जहाँ उनका मचान था और उसके नीचे मडिया, कोसला और कुछ फसलें काटकर रखी गई थीं. ठण्ड से निजात पाने के लिए लोदो ने आग जलाई और वहां अपना खटिया खींच लाये और हमें उपर मचान में सोने के लिए कहा.
मचान के निचले हिस्से में छह लकड़ी के खम्बे थे. वहीँ ऊपर में पट्टा बिछा हुआ था और चारों ओर बांस से घिरा हुआ था, छत पुआल से ढका हुआ था. लोदो ने इसे बहुत ही खूबसूरत तरीके से बनाया था. यहाँ सभी किसान इस तरह के मचान बनाने में माहिर हैं. उस मचान में चढ़कर रात बिताने का अनुभव हमारे लिए काफी रोमांचक था.
सुबह जब सूरज की रोशनी पड़ती है तो वहां का नज़ारा और भी खूबसूरत होता है. उस सुबह भी चारों ओर पहाड़ ही पहाड़ दिखाई दे रहे थे और इन पहाड़ों में दूर-दूर पर कहीं-कहीं ऐसे ही मचान भी दिखाई दे रहे थे और उसके पास से ही धुआं उठ रहा था . रात भर हमने उनसे बहुत सारी बातें की, उनके बारे में, नियमगिरि पर्वत के बारे में, उनकी आजीविका से लेकर वहां रहने वाले डोंगरिया आदिवासियों के बारे में और वहां ब्रिटिश कंपनी वेदांता आने के बाद उसका विरोध और विरोध करने पर उन पर हो रहे जुल्म-सितम के बारे में.
गौरतलब है कि काफी ज़द्दोज़हद के बाद भारत सरकार के पर्यावरण मंत्रालय ने नियमगिरि में खनिज उत्खनन को ‘ना’ कर दिया है, जिसके बाद से नियमगिरि की रक्षा के लिए लम्बे समय से लड़ाई लड़ रहे काफी लोग राहत महसूस कर रहे हैं. लेकिन नियमगिरि में रहने वाले डोंगरिया आदिवासियों का मानना है कि उनकी लड़ाई अभी खत्म नहीं हुई है.
• आखिर ऐसा वह क्यों कह रहे हैं ?
हम यह जानते हैं कि माइनिंग फिलहाल रोक दी गई है, लेकिन हमें लगता है कि माइनिंग फिर शुरू की जा सकती हैं. क्योंकि जब तक वेदांता की फैक्ट्री लांजीगढ़ में मौजूद है, तब तक यह डर बना रहेगा. हो सकता है हमारी मौत के बाद ये हमारे बच्चों को बहला-फुसला कर उनसे जमीन छीन लें. इसलिए अगर फैक्ट्री भी यहाँ से चली जाती है तभी हम आश्वस्त हो सकते हैं. हमारे लोगों का कहना है कि उस फैक्ट्री को बंद करके यहाँ से हटा दिया जाए. यह फैक्ट्री जब तक हमारी ज़मीन में मौजूद है तब तक यह हमारे लिए ठीक नहीं है. हम यह बात उनसे कहेंगे और देखेंगे कि वह फैक्ट्री हटाते हैं कि नहीं और अगर वह ऐसा नहीं करते हैं तो हम सब इकट्ठा होकर जायेंगे और उस फैक्ट्री को नेस्तनाबूत कर देंगे. इसलिए जब तक यह फैक्ट्री है तब तक हम इसे न तो अपनी जीत मानते हैं और न अपनी लड़ाई खत्म होने की बात करते हैं.”
• माइनिंग के बंद होने को क्या आप अपनी आपकी लड़ाई की जीत मानते हैं ?
सब लोग यही कह रहे हैं कि हम इसलिए जीते क्योंकि हमारे लोगों ने इसके लिए काफी संघर्ष किया और यही वजह है कि हम फिलहाल नियमगिरि की सुरक्षा करने में कामयाब रहे. इसलिए अब अगर यह फैक्ट्री भी यहाँ से चली जाती है तब यह हम सब के लिए अच्छा होगा. अगर यह फैक्ट्री यहीं रहती है तो इसकी चिमनी से उठने वाला धुआं नियमगिरि के पर्यावरण को दूषित कर देगा, हमारे खेती किसानी जिसमें हम मड़िया , कोसला जैसी कई चीज़ उगाते हैं, को प्रभावित करेगा. हमारे ज़मीन बर्बाद हो जाएंगे. कंपनी यहाँ रहे, यह हम लोगों के लिए ठीक नहीं है क्योंकि यह कंपनी हमारे लोगों को परेशान कर रही है. कंपनी हमारे गाँव में पुलिस भिजवाकर हमारी पिटाई करवा रही है. अगर यह फैक्ट्री यहाँ से चली जाती है तो हम लोग खुश होंगे.
पुलिस यहाँ 2-3 बार आ चुकी है और हमारी बहुत पिटाई की है और युवतियों को भी परेशान किया है. वह हमारी मुर्गियों को मारकर और हमारी टंगिया छीनकर ले गए हैं. एक बार वह हमारे गाँव से 4 टंगिया ले गए और गाँव के युवकों की खूब पिटाई की. जब उनसे हमने पूछा कि हमें क्यों पीट रहे हो तो पुलिसवालों ने कहा की " तुम तुम्हारे नियमगिरि दोगे कि नहीं .......... ?( माँ की गाली देते हुए कहा ) यह सरकार की है, क्या तुम सोचते हो यह तुम्हारी है ? नहीं, यह तुम्हारी नहीं है."
लेकिन मैं जानता हूं कि यह सब हमारा है, कुछ भी सरकार का नहीं , यह नियमगिरि, यहाँ का पहाड़, यहाँ का पानी, हवा सब हमारी है. यहाँ का सब कुछ, यहाँ के लोगों का है. इसलिए हम लड़ाई कर रहे हैं.
• माइनिंग बंद होने के बाद भी लड़ाई क्यों जारी रखे हैं ?
माइनिंग बंद होने के एलान के बाद भी हम डोंगरिया अपनी लड़ाई बंद नहीं करेंगे. हम आन्दोलन नहीं छोड़ेंगे. क्योंकि अभी केवल नियमगिरि में खुदाई को रोकने का एलान किया गया है, इसलिए हम अपनी लड़ाई और आन्दोलन जारी रखेंगे. यहाँ जब तक शांति और आज़ादी वापस नहीं आ जाती तब तक हम आन्दोलन जारी रखेंगे.
• क्या इस लड़ाई में सभी लोग शामिल हैं ?
हाँ इस लड़ाई में कंपनी दलालों को छोड़ बाकी सब लोग एक होकर लड़ रहे हैं और धीरे-धीरे और ज्यादा लोग इसमें शामिल हो रहे हैं. हम डोंगरिया यहाँ पर और बहुत सारे लोग बाहर देश ओर विदेश में इसके लिए लड़ रहे हैं, जिससे हमें ताकत मिलती है. हमें अच्छा लगता है कि हम इस लड़ाई में अकेले नहीं हैं. हमारे साथ-साथ बाहर के लोग भी इस लड़ाई में स्वस्फूर्त शामिल हो रहे हैं, जिससे हमारा हौसला बढ़ रहा है, और हम भी आगे बढ़ रहे हैं.
जब मैं भुवनेश्वर की बैठक में गया था तो बहुत सारे लोग आये और कहा कि वह हमारी लड़ाई में हमारे साथ हैं, अच्छा लगा कि लोग हमारी जज्बात और हमारी भावनाओ को समझते हैं . भुवनेश्वर की बैठक में कई ऐसे लोग आये हुए थे, जो अपनी -अपनी जगह ज़मीन की लड़ाई लड़ रहे हैं और जहाँ दूसरी कम्पनिया उन्हें तोड़ने में लगी हुई हैं. कई जगह तो लोग ज़मींदारों के खिलाफ लड़ रहे हैं जहाँ ज़मींदार उनके बाप-दादाओं को बहला फुसलाकर या शराब पिलाकर ज़मीन हथिया लिए हैं. ज़मीन की लड़ाई हर जगह जारी है. अगर हम डोंगरिया चुप बैठ जायेंगे तो हम अपना ज़मीन अपना देश बचा नहीं पायेंगे, इसलिए हमें एकजुट होकर लड़ने की ज़रुरत है.
• वेदांता कंपनी का रव्वैया इस आंदोलन को लेकर कैसा है ?
कंपनी लोगों को तोड़ने में लगी है और कई जगह उन्हें सफलता भी मिली लेकिन हमने गाँव-गाँव जाकर लोगों को समझाया कि अगर हम टूट जायेंगे तो यह हमारे लिए ठीक नहीं है, अगर हम एकजुट होकर लड़ते रहेंगे तब जो हम चाहते हैं वह कर पायेंगे. वेदांता ने हमें बाँट दिया है. अगर वेदांता यहाँ नहीं होता तो आज हम बंटे हुए नहीं होते. यह लोगों को रिश्वत देकर, बहला-फुसला कर अपनी ओर खींचने में लगी है, और जो जानवर हैं और जो अपनी ज़मीन और माँ को बेचने को तैयार हैं वह उनके साथ जा रहे हैं. जो समझदार हैं वह हमारे साथ हैं और कह रहे हैं कि हम अपना घर और देश नहीं छोड़ेंगे.
• आपकी लड़ाई में नियमगिरि के बाहर भी लोगों का समर्थन है ?
जी हाँ, हमारी लड़ाई में यहाँ के अलावा बाहर के लोग भी शामिल हैं. दुनिया भर के लोग हमारे साथ हैं. इसलिए हमें कोई डर नहीं है. हमें पता है कि आन्दोलन करते हुए अगर हममें से कोई मारा जाता है तो दुनिया भर में और भी लोग होंगे जो हमारे साथ होंगे. आज मुझे ओडिशा और भारत में भी लोग जानते हैं इसलिए अगर मैं मारा भी जाता हूँ तो लोग जानेंगे कि मैं अपनी ,ज़मीन, देश और अपने लोगों के लिए लड़ते हुए मारा गया. हम किसी भी सूरत में अपनी, ज़मीन, घर और यह देश (नियमगिरि) नहीं छोड़ेंगे. यहाँ हमारी महालक्ष्मी है, ज़मीन हमारे लिए सब कुछ है.
• क्या आपको पुलिस की बन्दूक से डर नहीं लगता ?
नहीं , क्योंकि डर के हम अपनी ज़मीन और घर छोड़कर कहाँ जायेंगे ? यह छोड़ने की बात तो हम सोच भी नहीं सकते. इसलिए बन्दूक, पुलिस और कंपनी से नहीं डरते, आखिर वह यही तो चाहते हैं कि हम डर कर नियमगिरि छोड़ कर भाग जाएँ .
• आपको पता है कि दूसरे जगह भी आदिवासी अपनी ज़मीन की लड़ाई लड़ रहे हैं, उन्हें आप क्या सलाह देना चाहेंगे ?
हम उन्हें यही कहेंगे कि आप लोग सब एकजुट हो जाओ कंपनी को भगाने के लिए, अगर आप उन्हें खदेड़ भगा सकते हो तो यह तुम्हारे और तुम्हारे बच्चों के लिए ठीक होगा. हम अपने बच्चों का भविष्य अच्छा बनाना चाहते हैं, उनके कल्याण के लिए उनके अधिकार की बात सोच रहे हैं. इसलिए आज अगर हम नहीं लड़ेंगे तो हमारे बच्चे यहां नहीं रह पायेंगे, इसलिए आन्दोलन ज़रूरी है.
• डोंगरिया लोगों के लिए नियमगिरि का क्या महत्व है ?
नियमगिरि हमारी जिन्दगी है.यह हमारी माँ, हमारा बाप है. इसलिए अगर इसकी मौत होती है तो हम जैसे उसके बच्चों की भी मौत हो जायेगी. वह हमारी माँ है जो हमें न केवल जन्म देती है, बल्कि वह हमें ज्ञान और कौशल भी देती है. इसलिए हमें अपने माता-पिता को बचाना होगा. आप अगर हमारे माँ -बाप को मार देंगे तो हम भी नहीं बचेंगे. यह हम समझते हैं और इसलिए अपनी लड़ाई जारी रखे हैं.
नियमगिरि हमें वह सब कुछ देता है, जो हमें चाहिए. नियमगिरि हमें पानी, हवा, कोसला, मडिया, झुडुन्ग, कांदुल, केला, जाड़ा, हल्दी, लहसुन और कई तरह के फल-मूल, और दवाई देता है. इस तरह से बहुत सारी चीजें यह देता है. यह हमें दूध (सलप रस को माँ की दूध की तरह देखते हैं ) भी देता है ....यह सब कौन हमें देगा ? यह हमारी माँ है, इसलिए यह सब हमें दे रही है. हम अगर अपनी मां को छोड़ देंगे तो हम कैसे जिंदा रह पायेंगे ? इसलिए हम उसके बच्चे होने के नाते उसे बचाने के लिए लड़ते रहेंगे क्योंकि उसमें ही हमारी भलाई है.
• अगर आपको नियमगिरि छोड़ना पड़े तो ?
हम जिंदा नहीं रह पायेंगे. मैं भुवनेश्वर में तीन दिन था, पर वहां गरम पानी में नहाया ही नहीं. जब वहां लोगों ने पूछा तो मैंने कहा कि –‘’ नहीं मुझे ऐसा पानी पसंद नहीं है, हमारे यहाँ पानी ठंडा होता है, हम खुश हैं, हमें अच्छा लगता है, उस ठन्डे पानी में नहाने से लगता है जैसे हम फिर से जिंदा हो गये हैं. नियमगिरि जैसी जगह दुनिया भर में ढूढने से भी कहीं नहीं मिलेगी. "
नियमगिरि से बाहर निकलो तो आपको नहाने से लेकर खाने और पीने तक के लिए सब चीज़ के लिए पैसे देने होंगे. इसलिए हम बाहरी दुनिया में चल नहीं सकते. यहाँ हम कहीं भी खाना खाते हैं या और कुछ करते हैं तो उसके पैसे नहीं लगते. जब हम बाज़ार जाते हैं तो सिर्फ हम कपड़ा, नमक, केरोसिन और सूखी मछली लाते हैं और वह भी अपनी चीजों या उत्पादों के बदले में. और हमें पूरी आज़ादी है कि वह ख़रीदे या नहीं. इन तीन-चार चीजों के अलावा हमारे नियमगिरि में हमारी ज़रुरत की सब चीजें उपलब्ध हैं. इसलिए हमें कोई डर नहीं है क्योंकि यहाँ सब कुछ मौजूद है. यहाँ तक कि यहाँ अगर एक साल बारिश भी नहीं होती है तो भी हम जिंदा रह सकते हैं. कम बारिश या बिना बारिश में होने वाले फसल, कंदमूल और फल के सहारे हम जिंदा रह सकते हैं.
• क्या पुलिस ने आप पर इसलिए निशाना साधा है क्योंकि आप नियमगिरि आन्दोलन से जुड़े हैं ?
जी हाँ , इसीलिए तो वह मुझे उठाकर ले गए थे, मुझे कहा गया कि "तुम आन्दोलन में हो, तुम संगठन में हो, यही वजह है कि नियमगिरि में खुदाई का काम नहीं हो पा रहा है, तुम आन्दोलन को हवा दे रहे हो, पहले इसे दबा दिया गया था लेकिन अब दोबारा लोग एकजूट हो रहे हैं क्योंकि तुम आन्दोलन की अगुवाई कर रहे हो. इसलिए लोग तुम्हारी बात सुन रहे हैं. जब हम बुलाते हैं तो कोई हमारी नहीं सुनता है. ऐसा क्यों है कि जब तुम बुलाते हो तो वो सब आते हैं.”
उन्होंने मेरी बेरहमी से पिटाई की और मुझे और मेरे मित्र को ले गए.
उन्होंने आरोप लगाया कि मैं माओवादी हूं. मैंने जब इस झूठे आरोप से इंकार किया और माओवादी होने या माओवादियों से जुड़ाव का कोई एक भी सबूत जानना चाहा तो उनके पास इसका कोई जवाब नहीं था. मेरी बेरहमी से पीटाई हुई. पुलिस वाले मुझे मारते जाते थे और गालियों के साथ-साथ झूठे आरोप लगाते जाते थे- "हरामजादे, तू हमें कहता है कि तूने माओवादियों को नहीं देखा है तो फिर हमारे तक रिपोर्ट कैसे आयी है ? तू ही उन्हें यहाँ बुलाके लाया है. तू नियमगिरि को लेकर खेल खेल रहा है. हम तुझे नहीं छोड़ेंगे.”
मैंने कहा- हम नियमगिरि कभी नहीं छोड़ेंगे भले इसके लिए हमें जान देना पड़े. अगर हम नियमगिरि छोड़ देते हैं तो हमारे बच्चे परेशान हो जायेंगे, वह कहीं के नहीं रहेंगे . हम छोड़ देते हैं तो हम ग्लानी महसूस करेंगे. इसलिए अगर हमें मरना भी पड़े तो हम नियमगिरि नहीं छोड़ेंगे.
जब मैं यह सब कहा रहा था तब और एक पुलिस वाला हवालात में घुस आया और उसने कहा- नहीं-नहीं हम तुम्हारी नियमगिरि के लिए पिटाई नहीं कर रहे हैं बल्कि हम तो तुम्हें तुम्हारे माओवादिओं के साथ संबंध होने की वजह से पिटाई कर रहे हैं.
मैंने उनसे फिर पूछा कि आखिर इस झूठे आरोप का आधार क्या है ? किसने देखा है कि मेरे संबंध माओवादिओं के साथ हैं?
उन्होंने कहा- नहीं नहीं हमने नहीं देखा है पर तुम्हारे कुछ लोगों ने यह खबर दी है तो हमने सोचा यह सच होगा. इसलिए हम तुम्हें यहाँ लेकर आये हैं. हम जब भी नियमगिरि जाते हैं तब तुम दादागिरी दिखाते हो.
मेरा जवाब था-जब कोई हमारा नियमगिरि लेने आएगा तो उसे हम कैसे छोड़ देंगे, क्या हमने नियमगिरि को बेच दिया है?
पिटाई के साथ उनका जवाब था- तुम बेच रहे हो. तुम्हारी सरकार बेच रही है. यह तो तुम्हारी सरकार है.
मैंने कहा- नहीं यह हमारी सरकार नहीं है, हमारी सरकार होती तो यह हमें मारती नहीं बल्कि बचाती.
उनका जवाब था- यह तो लोगों की सरकार है.
मैंने पिटाई के कारण फट चुके होंठ से बह रहे खून को पोंछा और जवाब दिया- अगर यह हमारे लोगों की सरकार है तो इसे बुलाया जाए और पूछा जाए की नियमगिरि को कौन बेच रहा है, और कौन कितना पैसा ले रहा है.
तब उन्होंने दो बन्दूक लाकर मेरे सीने में रखकर कहा-हम तुम्हें मार देंगे.
मैंने कहा- मार दीजिये. यह आपकी मर्ज़ी है. आप यहाँ एक आदमी को मार सकते हो लेकिन वेदांता के कारण जो दूसरे लोग हैं, वह मारे जायेंगे.
उन्होंने कहा- हम तुम्हें आंध्र ले जाकर मार देना चाहते थे.
उन्होंने मुझे बहुत पीटा. मैं अधमरा हो चुका था, उठकर बैठने की स्थिति में नहीं था. चार-पाँच लोग मिलकर मुझे लगातार मार रहे थे. मैं कब तक बर्दास्त कर पाता. जब मैं गिर गया तब मेरे मुंह और आँख में कुछ पानी छिड़का गया. होश में आने पर उन्होंने कहा- खड़े हो जाओ लोदो, खड़े हो जाओ.
मैंने धीमे स्वर में कहा- न तो मैं खड़ा हो सकता हूँ और न कुछ बोल पाने की स्थिति में हूँ. आप लोगों ने मुझे इतना जो मारा है!
उन्होंने गालियां बकते हुये कहा- क्यों तुम्हें नहीं मारेंगे ? तुम सरकार को परेशान कर रहे हो, तुम सरकार से जबान लड़ा रहे हो, तुम अपनी ही सरकार के खिलाफ लड़ाई लड़ रहे हो. उन्होंने एक बार फिर मुझे मारना शुरु कर दिया था.
मैंने उन्हें जवाब दिया- यह अगर हमारी सरकार होती तो यह हमसे हमारी ज़मीन नहीं छिनती, हमारी दुनिया नहीं उजाडती. हमारी बाक्साइट कभी नहीं लेती. हमें यह पता है कि यह विदेशी सरकार है, राक्षस सरकार है. बाहर से आया हुआ राक्षस सरकार.
इस जवाब से तिलमिलाये पुलिस वाले ने कहा- हम इतने पढ़े-लिखे लोग हैं, यह बात हम नहीं जानते. लेकिन तू जानता है. इसलिये ही तो कह रहे हैं कि तू नेता है और लोगों को भड़का रहा है.
• इतनी पिटाई के बाद आपको डर नहीं लगा ? ऐसा नहीं लगा कि आपको इस आन्दोलन में नहीं रहना चाहिए था ?
नहीं-नहीं जितना जोर से उन्होंने पीटा, मुझे उतना ही गुस्सा आया. वह मेरी जितनी पिटाई करते, मैं अंदर से उतना ही मजबूत होता गया और ठान ली कि अब तो कुछ भी हो जाए हम अपनी ज़मीन, अपना घर और अपना नियमगिरि किसी भी सूरत में नहीं छोड़ेंगे. हम कितना सहन करेंगे? सहने की भी कोई हद होती है.
वह हमें डराना चाहते थे. तुम्हें आन्दोलन नहीं करना चाहिए कहा. तुम किसी मीटिंग में मत जाओ कहा. वेदांता के खिलाफ आन्दोलन को बंद कर देने को कहा. तुम अगर आन्दोलन में नहीं जाओगे तो और कोई भी नहीं जाएगा, तुम आन्दोलन को छोड़ दो.
मैंने कहा- आज से मैं नहीं जाऊँगा, मुझे छोड़ दीजिये.
पुलिसवालों ने कहा- अगर तुम आज से नहीं जाओगे तो हम तुम्हें नौकरी देंगे.
मैंने कहा- मैं तो अनपढ़ गवांर हूँ, मैं न तो पढने जानता हूँ और न लिखने, और आप मुझे कैसे नौकरी देंगे ?
उन्होंने कहा- तुम सिर्फ घर में बैठे रहना. पैसा तुम्हारे घर पहुँच जाएगा.
फिर मैंने पूछा- क्या आप मुझे यूँ जिन्दगी भर पैसा देते रहोगे ?
हाँ-हाँ, हम तुम्हें जिन्दगी भर पैसा देते रहेंगे, तुम उसकी चिंता मत करो.-पुलिसे वालों ने कहा.
तब मैंने कहा- मैं चिंता नहीं करता, दरअसल हम आपसे पैसा लेकर या आपके पास नौकरी करके बड़ा आदमी नहीं बनना चाहते, हम तभी बड़ा बने रह सकते हैं जब हम अपनी ज़मीन के साथ एक होकर रहेंगे.
मेरा जवाब उनके लिये अप्रत्याशित था. उन्होंने मुझे ‘बेवकूफ’ कहते हुये फिर से पिटना शुरु कर दिया.
मुझे लगा कि इस तरह ये मारते रहे तो मैं तो मर ही जाउंगा. मैंने पैंतरा बदला और कहा कि आप जैसा कहेंगे मैं वैसा करने के लिये तैयार हूं. मैंने भी सोचा चलो पहले इस नरक से तो मुक्ति मिले तब सोचते हैं.
• तो पिटाई के बाद आन्दोलन छोड़ दिया ?
नहीं-नहीं, उस पिटाई ने हमारे आन्दोलन को और मजबूत किया, एक की पिटाई हुई इसका मतलब नहीं है कि हम चुप होकर बैठ जाते. हमने कई बैठकें बुलाई. मैंने अपने लोगों से कहा कि केवल मेरी पिटाई हुई है, आप लोगों की नहीं हुई है. मुझे पीट कर उन्होंने मुझे और नाराज कर दिया है. मेरी बात का गहरा असर हुआ. लोगों ने साफ कहा कि मेरी पिटाई उनके लिये भी नाराजगी का कारण है. इस तरह से आन्दोलन और तेज़ होता गया और हम एकजुट होने लगे. हमने लांजीगढ़ में एक बहुत बड़ी रैली निकाली.
हम यह आन्दोलन अपनी मातृभूमि, अपनी ज़मीन और हमारे लोगों के लिए लड़ रहे हैं. यह सिर्फ नियमगिरि, काशीपुर, कलिंगनगर के लिए नहीं है बल्कि हम पूरी दुनिया और मानवता के लिए लड़ रहे हैं. जंगल, ज़मीन, पानी और हवा की सुरक्षा से ही मानवता की सुरक्षा हो सकती है. हमें पता है कि दुनिया भर में कई लोग इसके लिए आन्दोलन कर रहे हैं. लड़ाई लड़ रहे हैं. इस तरह के आन्दोलनों में जहाँ भी जरूरत होगी, हम जायेंगे.
अब कंपनी आस-पास के दूसरे डोंगर लेना चाहती है, हम उसका भी विरोध करते हैं क्योंकि उन डोंगरों में भी आदिवासी रहते हैं और ये सभी डोंगर हमारी जिन्दगी है. काशीपुर में बाफला माली, कुद्रू माली, सिजू माली जैसे कई डोंगर हैं जिनमें आदिवासी रहते हैं और उस पर उनकी जीविका निर्भर है, इसलिए हम उसके लिए भी लड़ाई करेंगे.
दूसरी ओर कलिंगनगर में भी हमारे लोग हैं. कंधमाल, मलकानगिरी और कोरापुट में भी हमारे लोग रहते हैं. इस तरह से हमारे लोग सभी जगह हैं और वह सभी हमारी तरह अपनी ज़मीन को बचाने के लिए लड़ रहे हैं. इस तरह से हम नियमगिरि में अकेले नहीं हैं, इसलिए हमें कोई डर नहीं है. अगर हम अपनी ज़मीन को बचाने की लड़ाई में मर भी जाते हैं तो कोई चिंता की बात नहीं. अगर हम मरते हैं तो हम अपने लोगों के साथ मरेंगे, अगर जिंदा रहेंगे तो लोगों के साथ जिंदा रहेंगे.
लोदो की बात सुनते हुए लगा कि हम जिस दुनिया से आये हैं वह दुनिया बड़ी है, कथित तौर पर बहुत तरक्की कर चुकी है, विकास कर चुकी है. लेकिन जीवन और अपने लोगों के प्रति सोच के मामले में हम लगातार सिकुड़ते जा रहे हैं. हम अपने स्वार्थ और हवस के लिये एक सुंदर दुनिया को नष्ट कर देना चाहते हैं. हमारी दुनिया और हमारी सरकारों ने उन्हें अभी तक कुछ भी नहीं दिया है लेकिन उनके पास जो कुछ है, उसे भी लूटना चाहती है.
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