In a Vanmahotsava programme with a difference, about 28 members of the Parab family from Pissurlem went to their traditional land in Sonshi and planted about 300 cashew saplings at the site, which till 2012, was a site bustling with mining activity.
What made this exercise historic was the fact that this Vanmahotsava programme was being conducted after several decades. The Parab family claims to have about 2.18 hectares of land at Sonshi.
“We had given the land to the mining company some decades ago and now that the lease period is over, we have gathered here to plant cashew saplings so that our children could benefit from the income generated through these cashew trees,” Vasudev Parab told Herald.
Another family member, Tulshidas Parab, said they were hoping to return to the livelihood of their ancestors.
“Our forefathers had made their livelihood on farming activity and also from the merger income they got from cashew plantation. However, all the trees and farming activity vanished after the land was given to the mines. Now, we don’t even know when they will resume mining activity,” said Tulshidas.
“We chose cashew saplings as this tree needs very little water and can take root even where there is less fertile soil. Besides, they are cheaper to maintain and we can get a decent annual income without much effort.”
The Parab family has voiced apprehension over the resumption of mining activity. “The matter is still in court and we don’t know the future of mining. Even if they restart mining activity, it would take about two years and since the lease period is over, it’s up to us to decided whether to return our land or not,” said another member, Satyawan Parab.
The Parab clan feels that they did not benefit by leasing out their land for mining.
“The agreements were done many years ago and what we got peanuts in return for our land. The one who benefited the most was the mining company,” remarked Gunaji Parab.
Praising the Parab clan for returning to agriculture, noted environmentalist Ramesh Gawas said such practices should be promoted in the area.
“The trend towards agriculture in some of the mining areas is very good not only for those involved in it, but also for the entire society,” said Gawas.
“The government should promote such endeavour as agricultural activity is sustainable economy.”
“If the government can support the people by waiving off the defaulting loans of those people depending on mining activity, it should also support this trend of returning to agriculture. The government can either provide subsidies, good quality seeds or can supply technology to these farmers,” said Gawas.
