Team Herald
PONDA: Thanks to the widespread media coverage regarding the plight of Makadmare (monkey hunters) tribe at Nirankal village in Ponda taluka, a group of social workers and the State government have joined hands to usher in some hope for them. They have been languishing in the absence of potable water, electricity and basic health facilities for more than 50 years now.
The Deputy Collector, Paresh Faldesai and Ponda Mamlatdar, Joao Fernandis, visited the site and started a water tanker service on a daily basis from Tuesday.
Besides this, power through solar panels will be provided to them with the help of Goa Energy Development Agency. The Shiroda Health Centre doctors will check on the children of the area.
Following the widespread coverage, people from all walks of life visited the tribal site and the entire matter has gone viral. Following this, the government had to pitch in with the help of NGOs to provide the basic necessities to this hapless group.
The ransacking of their huts took place during the BRICS Summit here. According to Ponda Dy SP Sunita Sawant who is investigating the case, out of 14 huts, five were completely demolished. The tribals were apparently threatened with dire consequences too. One person has been arrested and several cases have been filed against unknown miscreants.
There are around 40 children in the area. Some of whom are studying in primary and high schools in Nirankal. These tribals have no source of livelihood. In the past, they used to hunt monkeys for a living but had to relinquish that job following strict wildlife rules.
According to a senior member of the tribe, Gopal Powar, members of the group are mostly engaged in agricultural jobs. The men get Rs 150 as daily wages while the women are paid as little as Rs 75 a day! They reside in the hilly area in a cluster of 14 huts at Gawalwada Nirankal.
After their plight went viral, this group had received a lot of attention from people of various walks of life, who have been distributing food and daily necessities items. Those who visited them include Bicholim MLA Naresh Sawal.
