Maharashtra: Govt apathy makes them ripe for exploitation

Numerous government funded schemes aimed at safeguarding tribalsrsquo rights and wellbeing reveal a disheartening truth upon extensive reporting by this correspondent in Maharashtrarsquos tribal districts Many of these initiatives suffer from inadequate implementation or outright failure to reach their intended beneficiariesFurthermore systemic corruption within the administration deprives those in need forcing starving tribal populations to migrate from their forested homes in search of urban employment where they often fall into exploitative traps Foremost among these concerns is the exploitation of impoverished tribals by landlords luring them into longterm slavery with meagre advancesmdashan issue demanding urgent attention Activists hold the state government and bureaucrats responsible for their failure to curb this migration and address the root causesRajendra Gavit parliamentarianVivek Pandit chairperson of the Tribal Development Review Committee in Maharashtra said ldquoThe government holds responsibility for the conditions that force tribals into bonded labourrdquo Pandit criticises the governmentrsquos failure to develop skills among the tribal population essential for empowering them to pursue alternative livelihoods and escape the cycle of exploitation He said ldquoThese systemic failures need to be addressed for the wellbeing and rights of tribal communitiesrdquoThe underdevelopment in regions predominantly inhabited by tribal communities fosters a range of socioeconomic challenges encompassing poverty illiteracy and health issues Such marginalised areas often grapple with insufficient infrastructure limited educational resources and inadequate healthcare facilities exacerbating the socioeconomic disparity experienced by tribal populationsVivek Pandit chairperson of the Tribal Development Review Committee in MaharashtraParliamentarian Rajendra Gavit told midday ldquoDespite changes in governments within the state none have shown a willingness to address the upliftment of tribals Government secretaries must promptly identify these developmental gaps to elevate these communities and enhance their overall quality of liferdquomiddayrsquos coverage on bonded labourmiddayrsquos coverage of bonded labour has shed light on the grim realities faced by economically disadvantaged tribal communities in the state The reported incidents range from suicides among bonded labourers to kidnappings enslavement of females sexual abuses inappropriate touching of minors and even public floggings showcasing the extensive and distressing range of atrocities these communities endure in both farming and nonfarming sectorsIn August 2021 in Mokhada taluka of Palghar district a tribal individual took his own life after enduring harassment from his captor This individual had been enslaved after borrowing Rs 500 to buy a shroud for his son Shockingly the accused was identified as a close associate of a local MLAIn another instance reported weeks later midday brought attention to families trapped in intergenerational bondage in a Bhiwandi village These families were forced to work in brick kilns and stone quarry units with dissenters facing severe consequences like public floggings verbal abuse and starvation The female and minor members of these families were subjected to sexual abuse while attempts to seek help were thwarted by the captorsSurvivors despite the enforced silence confided in middayrsquos correspondent leading to the filing of a separate FIR against the accused under the POCSO Act This intervention aimed to bring justice and expose the pervasive exploitation faced by these vulnerable communitiesIn September 2022 midday exposed an interdistrict bonded labour racket A 10yearold girl from Igatpuri village was enslaved in Ahmednagar after her parents facing economic hardship accepted a meagre advance from the captor The captor abandoned the severely injured girl at her parentsrsquo doorstep and despite efforts she succumbed to her injuries The lack of immediate financial assistance forced the grieving parents in extreme poverty to dismantle their makeshift tent for their daughterrsquos cremationSimilarly in June 2023 a tribal woman fled Phaltan village in Satara district after a horrifying gang rape incident involving her captor and four accomplices The severity of the incident highlighted the urgent need to address the safety of vulnerable individuals in tribal communitiesPandit expressed concerns about the fundamental rights of tribals highlighting the governmentrsquos failure to protect their social and economic interests ldquoEfforts are required to address systemic issues enforce existing laws and implement effective policiesrdquo he said stressing the need for advocacy and legal interventions to hold both the government and exploiters accountableHe also highlighted the lack of effective utilisation of funds intended for tribal welfare ldquoThe absence of initiatives to eradicate poverty generate employment and provide suitable living conditions compounds the challenges faced by these tribesrdquo Pandit said emphasizing the necessity to address systemic issues and properly use allocated funds to improve tribal livesRegarding tribal migration Pandit said ldquoWhy do tribals migrate to urban cities and return to their home villages during monsoon Since these tribals are unskilled labourers the captors lure them with meagre advance so that they return after monsoon to continue their work And once they return to work to repay the loan the captors start exploiting them Irsquove been urging the state government for years to engage tribals in skill development programs to prevent their exploitation as unskilled labourersrdquo He was also disappointed that despite numerous schemes little upliftment occurs in tribaldominated districtsDuring the lockdown Palghar district tribals resorted to consuming jungle leaves due to the absence of government ration distribution contrasting sharply with official records Corruption in the distribution system exacerbates malnutrition Above all the consequences of inadequate medical facilities are tragic deaths among tribal children pregnant women and newborns in the stateRs 500Amount a tribal was enslaved for not repaying