PONDA: Complying by the Human Rights Commission’s directive on the plight of Vanarmare tribe members from Maharashtra residing in Nirankal-Bethora forest, the government may have provided some relief to them with a water tank and allowing them to repair their huts on comunidade land, which were demolished by unknown persons. But this relief now has given a ray of hope to the tribe members, who now desire to have a permanent shelter (a proper house) of their own.
The tribe leader said, “There are around 15 huts with 90 people including children residing. It is almost five decades we have been residing in Goa. After the media highlighted our plight, we got some basic facilities. Electric poles have been erected to provide us with light, water has been supplied to us and now our children can have bath. We have been issued ration card, Aadhaar Card and voter ID card. However, we want to live a normal life and desire to have a permanent shelter (proper house) of our own”.
“Our huts are made of coconut palms and during monsoon the rainwater from the hill enters our huts. Our utensils get washed away due to flooding. We have to spend sleepless nights as the floor gets wet. Our huts are just for namesake and we want to improve our living. After working in bagayats of the locals, we too feel like living in a sweet home so that our children can sleep well, take proper education and gain employment,” the leader said.
It may be recalled that the primitive life of the tribe members, who were struggling to meet their basic needs went unnoticed by locals and even by the government.
It was in 2016 that their plight was highlighted by media when their huts were damaged by some unknown persons.
It was only when some activists approached the Human Rights Commission, which took serious note of their plight and directed the government to provide basic necessities and police protection to the tribe members.
Following directions of the commission, the government has now provided them with temporary relief. The locals are helping them with essential items. Besides, people from across the border have started visiting them with rice, clothes etc.
Bethora locals feared that the primitive life of the tribe members could impact their children. Even some villagers had demanded that the State rehabilitate them with the support of Maharashtra government.
The said land on which the tribe members are residing is in the possession of the Forest Department. The department had taken the land on lease for 25 years from the Comunidade of Nirankal. However, the comunidade had not given any permission for any huts on the land. As tribes have no land, the locals want the government to rehabilitate them with proper housing facility for their upliftment.
