[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
dam-l LS: Deaths In Rameshawarpura Resettlement Site
Dear Friends,
Please find the report on the dismal condition in one of the resettlement
sites in Gujarat. The authorities are trying to whitewash the same and
trivialise it as ' mere one incident'. In reality, Rameshwarpura presents
only a tip of the malaise inherent in the displacement and resettlement
process in the Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP). We hope that you will find it
useful . Please do the needful and respond back.
Medha Patkar
Visit to the Rameshwarpura Vasahat on 28th April,1999.
Introduction:
Rameshwarpura Vasahat, is one of the resettlement sites adjoining Vyara
village, Waghodia taluka, Baroda district in Gujarat. The people were
resettled at Rameswarpura when their village Kakrana, Alirajpur Tehsil,
Jhabua District in Madhya Pradesh came under submergence.. Today, there are
around 100 houses and 263 persons including men, women and children at the
Rameshwarpura Vasahat. The people have been displaced for almost five years
now and are adivasis belonging to the Nayak community.
The pucca houses with tin roof top constructed by the Nigam/Trust is an
eyewash to conceal the problems of the displaced people. Their community’s
basic livelihood has been agriculture. The people have been resettled from
one natural resource to an another, they face not just land related
problems but the problem of livelihood. The resettlement has diminished
the resources of the people: it has led to the deprivation of most PAFs
mainly food and fuel.
Death of persons:
Name Gender Age date of death time
1.Gita Dama Nayak F 3 yrs 10.4.1999. 4pm
2.Dalsing Devji Nayak M 60 14.4.1999. 5pm
3.Puna Rola Nayak M 65 15.4.1999. 2pm
4.Bansi Valji Nayak M 70 15.4.1999. 5pm
5.Gulbi Fulsing Nayak F 05 16.4.1999. 6pm
6.Rumasiya Jindala Nayak M 10 16.4.1999. 9pm
7.Muliben Manpriya Nayak F 65 16.4.1999. 9pm
Common Symptoms Traced:
Fever, Vomiting, Coughing.
Cause of death:
Dr.P.S.Shah and Dr.Patel have been posted at the site only since 19th
April,1999.They are keeping a constant check. They have stated four persons
‘probably have died due to tuberculosis and three children have died due to
heat-stroke’. The doctors have categorically stated that the deaths have
been due to severe malnourishment in the community. It is to be noted
that there was no medical help prior to the incident. The people reported
that the nurse had not come to the village for a month. The families,
though in severe poverty took the patients to the private clinics for
treatment.
i. 18 persons from the same resettlement site were admitted to the SSG
Hospital, Baroda on the 21st April.
ii. Again, four persons were admitted on the 23rd April suffering from the
same symptoms.
Presently, the doctors have not been able to diagnose the cause of the
death as well as the sudden symptoms found amongst the people. Dr.Shah
reported that since the post of the A.N.M was vacant nobody had visited the
vasahat. The people admitted to the SSG Hospital were discharged on the
26th April. Senior doctors from the SSG Hospital have carried out a health
survey on 22nd, 23rd April and the report is still awaited
Interviews:
· Rustom’s father Puna, suffered for five days with symptoms of fever,
vomiting and cough. The A.N.M had not visited the site since almost a
month. There was no doctor to attend to their needs. Rustom had to sell
the tin roof sheets of his deceased father’s house to perform the funeral
rites. Puna had no earlier symptoms of Tb disease and this was a sudden death.
· Door singh and his wife still find it hard to cope with their daughter
Gulbi succumbing to the syptoms in the evening and Door Sing’s Mother,
succumbing similarly later in the evening .
In the process of the interviews the people also came up with their problems.
They are in a miserable condition because of their displacement from Kakrana.
· The land given to the people is of very bad quality, they are able to get
just one Rabbi Jowar crop yield in a year( Nov - Feb.) that is only after
the rains. They are able to get approximately two-three quintals of jowar
from around four acres of land (to be checked) in the winter season.
· the land allocated in the site was five acres by the government but they
have been given only four acres.
· they were not provided with the agricultural implements which also was
promised before displacement.
· water logging takes place to very large extent during the rainy season
and they are unable to grow anything. Water logging causes ‘daab grass’
which has its roots deep in the soil and hence they are unable to use most
of their land.
· there is also no irrigation facility for their agricultural lands has
promised by the government before displacement.
· during the rest of the year they work as agricultural labourers ( at
Vyara or go almost 300km to Navsari for the same) they earn a paltry sum of
Rs.20/- to Rs.25/- per day
· during the interviews the people time and again recounted the good
agricultural lands at Kakrana and their simple happy prosperity compared to
the present misery. They grew in plenty moong, udid, makai, kultia, jowar,
tuvar, bajra, banti, bahdy. They diet was also rich from the fish that they
caught in the rivers Narmada and Hatani.
· the people told that they ate mostly bajra and jowar throughout the
year. Due to their poverty conditions they could not even avail the
facilities of the subsidised foodgrains at the society.
· some other misgivings of the displacement was also the loss of the old
age scheme, wherein the old persons were entitled Rs.900/- [for four
months ] by the M.P. govt but not available through the Gujarat Govt.
· the people came out with the strong stand, that if the Nigam does not
heed to their problems anymore have decided to go back to their village,
Kakrana. Many amongst the people are thinking of going back to Kakrana than
stay at Rameswarpura Vasahat.
The displaced villagers told their problems to Retired Justice P.D.Desai
and S.S.N.L. Rehabilitation Commissioner Vinod Babbar when they visited
Rameswarpura Vasahat :
a) Land given at Rameshwarpura vasahat, in lieu of the submerged
agricultural lands at Kakrana that the Government has given is of poor
quality. Their food requirements are also not met.
b) The people told him that, out of given land only 25% is good for
cultivation.
c) The then Gandhinagar officer; had claimed to give them better
amenities, but this has been a big lie.They have not even provided with
irrigation for their lands.
d) The people categorically told the committee if the facilities was not
provided they would go back to their original village.
Justice P.D.Desai Committee report:
Grievance Redressal Authority for the resettlement situatiion in Gujarat
was appointed by the Gujarat Govt. with the sanction of the Supreme Court.
This committee visited the Rameswarpura site after the deaths at the site
has gone ahead and given a statement in the Gujarat Samachar (reported on
24th April,1999.) to quote Justice P.D.Desai, "Justice P.D.Desai happy with
the resettlement aspects at the Rameshwarpura site "
Reflection on Justice P.D.Desais’ Committee statement:
· Justice P.D.Desai visited the site on the 23rd April as soon after the
tragedy.
· he was informed by the doctors about severe malnutrition in the community
and the doctors have categorically stated this to the several press
reporters.
· he has made this comment fully knowing well the severe conditions of
economic deprivation due to the displacement. The statement is a shocking lie.
· he has commented: that he was happy with the health facilities provided
after the seven deaths : but the very reason for such a tragedy is not
questioned !
· he has lied to the press: though the people told him about their
miserable living
· Why would he want to tell the people that : SSNL would train the people
in carpentry and masonry work if the people were happy with the
agricultural lands provided by the Govt. ?
· the people also reported that the Justice P.D.Desai harshly told them
that they do not get good yields because do not work hard on their land.
In a nutshell:
· It is the truth that six persons died within a span of three days with
common symptoms, it is also true that there were 22 persons had similar
symptoms. Yet, the state health department is evading to come out with the
cause for the deaths.
· the doctors on duty are giving only probable reasons as to the cause for
the deaths.
· doctors and officials are constantly stressing that there was no epidemic
in the region: so as to protect the interests of the SSNL.
· The press has widely covered the deaths at Rameshwarpura Vasahat but
there is a lot of discrepancy with respect to the date’s of the deaths of
the seven individuals, and their respective age .This has been due to
incorrect information given by the doctors and officials.
· The people of Rameswarpura are planning to go the SSNL Baroda office to
demand the promises made by SSNL beforethe dispacement( as told by Bhailal,
village headman ).Bhailal, angrily told us that we have not come here to
become sutaris’ as Justice P.D.Desai had told, about such training.
· MALNUTRITION:
The doctors categorically state that the deaths have been due to severe
malnutrition. It is important to see how this has been caused.
The Govt. is disstributing milk and biscuits to every household after the
deaths. they have also started distributing chana and bakri for the school
children.
The facts related to the issue of displacement and its recent
consequences at Rameswarpura has come under strong criticism. The health
department is trying a cover-up of the tragedy.
ALL THIS RAISES THE BASIC QUESTIONS AGAIN!
· How would the inadquate compensation of natural resources be ever
repaired in the case of the Project Affected Families ‘shifted’ but not
‘rehabilitated’?
· If the GOG has not been able to give good cultivable land for all the
PAFs shifted till date,for those who have already been affected by
submergence below 85Mts, who would be held responsible for NWDT Award and
gross injustice?
· Shamn before the court as ‘rehabilitated’ on the basis of which further
dam construction is permitted?
· How could the people of Rameswarpura and all other such sites Rehabilitated?
· Where is the land ? Will the Govt. give them good lands at other sites
when their houses are already built at Rameswarpura, When and Where ?
· How will the tribal families at Rameswarpura be done justice to?Even if
they are allowed to go back to their orginal village at Kakrana.