No takers for dhakis of Junglemahal

15 September 2011

biswabrata goswami
JHARGRAM, 15 SEPT: Thirty-five-odd tribal families who live in the remotest fringe of Maoist-hit Junglemahal in West Midnapore are having a tough time now: not because of the rebels; but because Puja organisers haven't called them yet for their traditional drum-beating performance at Puja pandals.
For these part-time farmers, landless labourers and dhakis (drum-beaters) in  their native village at Tinga in Jhargram, Durga Puja is the time when they make most money at one go: about Rs 1,000-2,000 per dhaki and another Rs 500 each for accompanists; the bakshish can go up to Rs 100 per day.
“This year is particularly bad,” says Subhash Midda, a famous drum-beater in the locality. “For us, beating dhak is still a part-time profession. Till last year, we were in demand due to High Court direction on restricting the sound limit. We were getting hardly five to six orders for performance. This year, I have received a single order from a Puja organiser,” he said.
“Each dhak (drum) costs about Rs 2,000. There is a yearly maintenance for it. But without it (dhak), nobody will teach you; so each one of us has his own instrument,” says Raju Ghorai, a part-time farmer. The learning process starts early on ~ at about 10 years of age ~ from a guru. The skill is, more often than not, handed down from father to son. Sporting stork feathers and other colourful knick-knacks, the men are obviously in love with their instruments. Subhash refuses to pose for a picture unless his hair is done and his dhak has a colourful “dress” on.
Dhak, mridangam and madal are the traditional forms of drums. Their beats generate a soothing rhythmic resonance. Dhakis are dexterous in their own inimitable way while dancing to the beats of the drums.  “It’s heartening to note that the art is now beginning to get noticed. It is a melodious fusion of music and dance. This form of art needs to be patronised more,” said a Puja organiser in Jhargram.
These tribal families earn some extra money during the festive season only. During the rest of the year they work as either farmers or labourers. This year many Puja organisers in Jhargram and bordering Chakulia in Jharkhand have reduced their Puja budgets for various reasons and they are planning to use pre-recorded drum beats, reproduced through electronic instruments instead of calling the traditional dhakis.

Tuberculosis hits Jhargram Deer Park

14 September 2011

biswabrata goswami
JHARGRAM, 14 SEPT: Two spotted deer, one monkey and a camel died of infectious tuberculosis at Jhargram Deer Park in West Midnapore in the past two days.
A culture of the lung tissue of the dead animals revealed tuberculosis bacilli,  typed as M. Tuberculosis on the basis of standard bio-chemical tests, a forest officer said. Though the source of infection was not yet established, deer park employees suspect migratory birds which can spread the disease among the animals. And so the forest officials are worried about the spread of the disease among other animals.
Mr Partha Pratim Tripathi, a forest ranger in Jhargram said, “We have sent a detailed report to the state forest department and urged the officials to send a proper guideline to save other animals which are in captive in the park”.
Mr Tripathi also said the post-mortem reports of the two dead deer and a monkey revealed the Tuberculosis infection while the post-mortem report of the dead camel has not reached till today. According to the park employees, when they went into the monkey’s cage to clean it at 10.30 am on Monday, they found it unconscious and reported the matter to the forest ranger. They took the monkey in the treatment cage and administered some emergency drugs but it did not respond to the treatment and died in an hour at around 11.45 am.
Two deer were similarly found dead at two different places inside the park premises on Monday. Yesterday, the only camel which was kept in the park was found unconscious when they went to feed her. Later, the camel died.
“The apparent clinical signs were emaciation, sunken eyes and a prominent spinal cord. Medical treatment was given to the monkey which fell ill about a month ago. But the two deer which found dead could not be detected ill”, said a deer-park employee.
Alleging negligence, the wildlife activists have demanded a probe into the deaths of the animals. They blamed the deer-park officers for the deaths, saying that the park authorities have no knowledge of treating wild animals. Mr Subrata Purohit, a wildlife activist, said the animals died due lack of treatment. “We will take up the matter with the chief wildlife warden,” he said.
A section of conservationists feel that with lack of proper treatment facilities and space, the fate of other animal in this deer park hangs in balance. At present, the deer park has over 100 spotted deer and three monkeys in captivity, a forest officer said.

Maoists caution youths not to apply for government jobs

13 September 2011

biswabrata goswami
MIDNAPORE, 13 SEPT: The state government may have initiated the recruitment process of “national volunteer force” for around 10,000 posts from youths living in three districts of Junglemahal, but Maoists have started threatening the youths asking them not to apply for the jobs.
Several Maoist posters have been found at different places in Salboni, Lalgarh, Belpahari, Nayagram and Gopiballavpur in West Midnapore in which the rebels have threatened the youths, asking them not to join the police recruitment process.
“Je Ba Jara Police-e Jog Debe, Tader Mrityu Danda Deoa Habe (Those who will join the police force will be given death punishment)”, a Maoist poster written in red ink found at various places in Junglemahal read.  Apart from putting up posters, Maoists have also threatened many youths and asked them not to join the police. “I am eligible to be recruited as a national volunteer force or junior constable, but some leaders (Maoists) have asked me not to file an application,” said Manoj Mandi (name changed on request) in Salboni.
A senior police officer, who often conducts raids in Junglemahal, said, “We have seized such posters from Salboni and Lalgarh. But we are trying to instill confidence among the youth so that they feel free to file applications for recruitment”. Since these are regular posts there will be no lowering of standards, unlike the recruitment of junior police constables. As chief minister Miss Mamata Banerjee has already promised several employment opportunities for the backward regions in Junglemahal and Darjeeling, the huge backlog of ST reservation has come in handy to the state government. But several organisations and Maoist sympathisers have already criticised Miss Banerjee’s initiative and said the state government is following the same model of Salwa Judum that existed in Chhattisgarh.
Dr Binayak Sen, a human rights activist, also criticised the move recently and said, “We feel the problem of Red insurgency in West Bengal cannot be solved by the law and order approach. It can only be addressed through sustained socio-economic reform. And for that the government has to follow an approach based on equity, justice and peace.”
To protest against the government’s policies with regard to the development issues in Junglemahal, the Democratic Forum against Terror, Corruption and Imperialistic Aggression had recently organised a rally at the venue where Miss Banerjee had addressed a gathering last year. Chhatradhar Mahato, the jailed PCPA leader, had contested the Assembly poll under its banner.
While criticising Miss Banerjee for skipping “major issues” and talked of their “apprehension” about her decision to recruit 10,000 special police constables, Mr Nabarun Bhattacherjee, secretary of the Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR), said: “She is failing to keep her promises made before the Assembly poll. The Central forces have not been withdrawn till today while she had promised the withdrawal of security forces from Junglemahal. No political prisoner has also been released as yet.”

Flood-hit farmers threaten agitation for compensation

9 September 2011

biswabrata goswami
TAMLUK, 9 SEPT: Thousands of villagers of at least 25 villages in East Midnapore are living in terrible condition as these villages have been lying inundated since June.
The farmers are now facing severe difficulties as paddy seedlings were damaged in recent floods. Left with no other options, they have now turned to the government for financial assistance. The farmers have threatened to launch massive agitation if the state government denies compensation.
Villagers living in the Brindaban Chawk, Siddha-I, Pulsita and Sagar Bandh gram panchayat areas gheraoed the block administrative and irrigation department officials demanding immediate compensation and proper drainage of the stagnant water. “If the water is not drained out immediately, the entire area will be polluted and infectious diseases will spread,” said a villager. Mr Sudipta Chakraborty, Block Development Officer, said: “I have visited the area today and spoke to the villagers. I will send a report to the district magistrate regarding the present condition of the areas.”
During the second phase of floods in August, 9.070 hectares of farmland, spanned over 892 villages of 126 gram panchayats, were submerged. The zilla parishad has already appealed to the state government for funds. According to the assessment report prepared by the district agriculture and horticulture departments, the total loss has been estimated at around Rs 36 crore ~ of which major losses have been estimated from the damage to crops, seedlings and flowers. The district agriculture department, however, has not mentioned the losses in terms of money, but officials said the loss would be around Rs 15 crore. Similarly, the district horticulture department has assessed the damage to flowers, betel vines and vegetables. It put the loss at Rs 21 crore.
Tamluk, Panskura, Kolaghat, Moyna, Pataspur and Ramnagar are the most affected areas in the district. However, the devastation would not have been so severe had the river embankment eroded in last year’s floods been repaired on time.
Some cases of diarrhoea and dysentery have already been reported from the flood-ravaged areas which were waterlogged for the past few days and the figure is rising

Soccer to bring Junglemahal youths to mainstream

6 September 2011

biswabrata goswami
MIDNAPORE, 6 SEPT: The state police has started a football tournament in Junglemahal for the first time after the state sports ministry decided to encourage youths to return to the mainstream in three Maoist-hit districts.
The much-awaited tournament ~ Junglemahal Cup 2011 ~ started on 3 September at Lalgarh in West Midnapore, when a team of interlocutors engaged by the state government was busy initiating talks with Maoists.
A total of 719 teams will participate in the tournament where more than 700 matches will be held at about 30 venues across Junglemahal. About 10,066 youths have enrolled their names in different teams and 16 top players will be selected for a tour to Germany, where they will be given special training in association with the famous players and coaches of Germany, said Mr Praveen Kumar Tripathi, superintendent of police, West Midnapore.
The district sports officials said the youth, especially the tribals of the three districts, can contribute significantly to Bengal football and if the government organises such tournaments every year, talented players from here will surely make it to the Indian squad in future.
“This game is like a religion in this country. We know that football is popular among tribal youths here. Given proper facilities, the game can be a success here," said a senior footballer.
“If proper facilities are provided, the youth can start thinking about sports as a career option. Football can be used as a tool for peace and development. If young people take to football, they won't wield a gun,” said Mr Tripathi.
Besides the football tournament, the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) has chalked out a way to popularise cricket and look for talents in the districts of West Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura.
The CAB will first start a 15-day coaching camp for boys under 16. It will also provide cricket equipment to those who join the camp. “Given proper training, the tribals, with their natural athletic abilities, can be successful in the field of sports,” said a CAB member. Mr Tripathi, who termed it as a “fantastic initiative”, said that the CAB's effort will help the government's move to bring back the youths of Junglemahal to the mainstream. “We will provide CAB with all the support. This will definitely help improve the situation,” said Mr Tripathi.

Villagers turn against Maoists

31 August 2011

Locals set PCPA activists’ bikes on fire for forcing them to attend rally
biswabrata goswami 
LALGARH, 31 AUG: After suffering severe losses at the hands of the Central forces, the Communist Party of India (Maoist) appears to be losing its influence on the people of Junglemahal in West Midnapore.
The rule of terror that the Maoists had established in the region since November 2008 may well be facing its strongest challenge, this time from the local people whose cause the Maoists profess to espouse.
This was evident today when activists of Peoples’ Committee against Police Atrocities (PCPA) went to Dhanguri village in Sankrail to bring in the villagers to a rally organised at Ramkrishna Vidyalaya ground in Lalgarh for the first time to raise voice against the new government.
Hundreds of villagers who refused to attend the rally clashed with the PCPA activists when the latter beat them up. The angry villagers set two motorbikes of the PCPA activists on fire and vandalised a Tata Sumo before pushing it into a pond. “Two villagers were injured during the clash, but the PCPA activists fled the scene after facing strong resistance," said Mr Alok Rajoria, additional superintendent of police.
Not only this, the PCPA activists but also faced resistance at other villages in Binpur, Belpahari, Gopiballavpur, Salboni and Nayagram where many villagers declined to attend the rally, a senior police officer said.
To protest against the government’s policies with regards to the development issues in Junglemahal, the Democratic Forum against Terror, Corruption and Imperialistic Aggression organised a rally at the venue where Miss Mamata Banerjee had addressed a gathering last year. Chhatradhar Mahato, the jailed leader of PCPA, had contested the Assembly poll under its banner.
Several frontal outfits of Maoists and sympathisers attended the rally, but the gathering was not up to the expectation of the organisers, a police officer said. “They expected a gathering of 50,000 people, but it was hardly 10 to 15,000," a senior police officer posted at the venue said.
While criticising Miss Banerjee for skipping “major issues” and talked of their “apprehension” about her decision to recruit 10,000 special police constables, Mr Nabarun Bhattacherjee, secretary of the  Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR), said: “She is failing to keep her promises made before the Assembly poll. The Central forces have not been withdrawn till today while she had promised the withdrawal of security forces from Junglemahal. No political prisoners have also been released as yet."
“Mamata had conveyed her inclination not to use the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) freshly and be lenient to those already booked under the Central law during the Left Front rule. But, at least 90 people in the state have been booked under the law, including Maoist leader Sushil Roy and PCPA leaders Chhatradhar Mahato and Sukhshanti Baske. But no steps have been taken to release them," a PCPA leader said.
“There will be no talk with the state government before the promises which Miss Banerjee made are not fulfilled," said Joydev Mahato, a PCPA spokesperson.
More tribal cops to be recruited
KOLKATA, 31 AUG: The state government will undertake a special drive to recruit tribals from Junglemahal and the Hills to fill up 1,000 vacant posts of constables reserved for Scheduled Tribes. The vacancies in the reserved category has come as a boon to the new government to fulfil its job promise for the residents of the two areas rocked by agitation and extremism. The proposal, which will be placed before the Cabinet soon, states that 700 out of the 1,000 posts will be filled by STs from Junglemahal and tribal youths of the Darjeeling Hills will be recruited in the rest 300 posts.
This recruitment will be over and above the 10,000 junior police constables, home guards and national volunteer force (NVF). Since these are regular posts there will be no lowering of the standard unlike the recruitment of junior police constables. According to sources, there are huge accumulated vacancies in SC and ST categories in various departments and police, apparently, because suitable candidates are often not found. “Any department can undertake a special drive to fill up its vacant posts reserved for SCs and STs at any point of time,” said an official of backward classes welfare department. As chief minister Miss Mamata Banerjee has already promised several employment opportunities for the backward regions in Junglemahal and Darjeeling, the huge backlog of ST reservation has come handy to the state government. sns

Primary teachers apply for transfer from Junglemahal

30 August 2011

Maoist threat cited as reason
biswabrata goswami
MIDNAPORE, 30 AUG: At a time when the Trinamul Congress has been charged for building “armed squads” in the remote areas of Junglemahal in West Midnapore to counter attacks and extortion demands of Maoists, several primary schoolteachers in Junglemahal have sought transfer from the area in the face of Maoist threats.
In the past two months, at least 75 teachers from different schools of the Salboni, Goaltore, Lalgarh, Jhargram, Jamboni, Binpur, Silda and Nayagram areas have applied to the chairman of the district primary school council seeking transfer to schools in areas which are not affected by Maoists.
In most of their applications, the teachers have alleged that they are being often asked to pay ransom by the Maoists.
“In the past two years, the Maoists have extorted money from me thrice. Recently, activists of the People’s Committee against Police Atrocities (PCPA), a frontal outfit of Maoists, have again demanded Rs 50,000 from me,” Mr Abhirup Basak (name changed on request), a headmaster of a primary school, barely three kms away from Salboni, said.
“It has now become unbearable to me. So, I have applied to the council chairman urging him to transfer me to some other schools,” Mr Basak said.
Mr Rathin Pandey (named changed on request), a primary schoolteacher of Binpur, said: “I am compelled to stay away from my school for the past two months out of the fear of Maoist attack. Two months ago, a group of rebels came to me and threatened to kill me if I fail to pay money to them."
A senior police officer, who often conducts raids in Junglemahal, said with the withdrawal of the Central forces, who had been deployed during the last Assembly poll, the rebels are trying their best to regroup again. “The Maoists require funds to regroup. Schoolteachers are soft targets as they have an assured monthly source of income,” the police officer said.
A police report suggests that the Maoists had murdered 22 primary schoolteachers either for having links with the CPI-M or for refusing to pay money in the past two years.
Mr Biswanath Mandal, secretary of the All Bengal Primary Teachers' Association (ABPTA), said the schools in the Junglemahal are already understaffed. In the Junglemahal, there are about 1,200 schools where 2,500 posts are still vacant. Hundreds of teachers had applied for transfer in the past months, but no one has been transferred yet, he said.
Mr Swapan Murmu, chairman of primary council, however, said it was not possible to transfer so many teachers at a go. “No one is interested to go to schools in Junglemahal. So, it’s very tough to consider the appeal," Mr Murmu said.
Meanwhile, repeated incidents of Maoists threatening local Trinamul Congress leaders and MLAs, including Mrs Churamoni Mahato and Mr Srikanta Mahato, as well as attacks on state Paschimanchal development affairs minister Mr Sukumar Hansda, have forced the Trinamul Congress leaders to build their “armed squads”.