Orphans of the forest

Displaced from their forests, brutalised by the forest department, condemned by the government, the Sahariya tribe in MP and Rajasthan are dying a daily death

Akash Bisht Shivpuri/Shoepur  

Sahariyas are a deprived, starving, primitive tribe in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan living in isolation and abject poverty for centuries. The name Sahariya is derived from the Arabic word Sehara or 'wilderness', and true to its meaning, members of this tribe seldom venture out of the forests on which they depend for their livelihood. There have been starvation deaths reported in the last few years in this region. The tribe is crushed by hunger and poverty and has derived no benefits from being in the scheduled tribe category, least of all reservation or affirmative action. Without basic human rights, here, illiteracy is high, health facilities are zero, there is no electricity or clean drinking water, a bankrupt public distribution system (PDS), no roads, malnourishment is rampant, several women die when in labour, other women are treated with scant respect by other communities. They are harassed and assaulted. Despite this abysmal condition, the governments of MP and Rajasthan have left them to die a daily death.

On the contrary, in recent times, the state government has taken up large conservation programmes to protect flora and fauna in the forests around Shivpuri and Shoepur, and to promote eco-tourism. More than 11 national parks and 32 tiger sanctuaries covering thousands of acres have been sanctioned. This means, an additional 450,000 tribal people have been shunted off their traditional lands. Each of these national parks and protected areas has meant mass displacement and deprivation for this tribe. And yet again, displacement and dispossession has resulted in starvation deaths, bonded labour and terrible living conditions.

It is estimated that the MP government is acquiring around 170,000 acres of land annually under compulsory land acquisition schemes whereas land distribution schemes are almost negligible. Various development projects since 1950, such as large dams, open cast coal mines, thermal power plants and mineral-based industries have displaced more than 50 million people.

Balharpur village is an hour's drive from Shivpuri. Villagers, mostly Sahariyas, were dependant on the forest for tendu leaves, honey, amla and other forest produce which they consumed and sold in the market as barter for essential commodities. But eight years ago, they were forcibly moved out of their village. Reason: Madhav National Park.

“These tribals were rehabilitated in a large tract of barren and rocky land. They left their cattle back in their village as they thought it would be impossible to graze their cattle here. These forest-dependent tribes are now living next to a highway with no means of livelihood,” informs Saurabh Kumar, a social worker with Action Aid.

Makkobai's family had 10 members before they were relocated. Since then, she has lost six of them because of malnutrition and tuberculosis. Now, her 30-year-old son is also critically ill inflicted with tuberculosis. Her life is steeped in intense and relentless tragedy.

In 2004, the state government initiated the Deendayal Antyodaya Upchar Yojana, aimed at providing 220 million people with better health facilities. This scheme has the provision of free health services up to Rs 20,000 per annum for poor families. As Kumar puts it, “Makkobai's family is also poor and she should have a health card issued under the yojana, but she does not have one. These cards are generally distributed to people from well-to-do families, for vote-bank politics or to those with political connections. More than 42 people have died in the recent past due to malnutrition and tuberculosis in this village but nothing is being done.”