The 'wisdom' of protecting the Jarawas
Port Blair (Andaman), Feb 4: The recent controversy over the Jarawas started with a video uploaded by a UK-based daily showing semi clad Jarawa tribal women allegedly being forced to entertain tourists. Accusations were made, government and police officials and activists visited the island, probe was ordered and finally two got arrested by Superintendent of Police. And we came safe out of it!
Ask a local for his opinion on the matter and he will tell you that much has been made out of that video. The reality, however, has no titillating storyline.
On January 7 at about noon, a group of Jarawas, locally referred to as Tirur Jarawas, simply walked out of the forest reserve and ventured into the revenue villages of Tusnabad Gram Panchayat in South Andaman District. Laden with baggage neatly packed in baskets on their backs and tied with woven creepers - Jarawas, evidently were prepared for a long stay away from homes deep in the reserve forests, they also carried raw material to make new baskets, unfinished bows and arrows, and basic tools meant for hunting and fishing.
1-litre PET bottles packed with rice grains; and floats made of table-sized thermocol sheets and tightly capped empty plastic cans in the hands of the 'protected' Jarawas group were surprising enough for everyone but the locals.
During their visit to the revenue villages, Jarawas bring forest produce for barter with local residents living at the fringes of the forests. Bringing crabs, honey and other products, they were lured by the offer of tobacco and old clothes, and more interestingly, pepe, or cash. This, undoubtedly, is the most disturbing aspect of recent 'transgression' by the Jarawas.
The sight of ten or hundred rupee notes changing hands between the Jarawas and the villagers is a far cry from the Jarawa Policy of 2004 laid down by the Calcutta High Court aimed at "protecting the Jarawa from harmful effects of exposure and contact with the outside world while they are not physically, socially and culturally prepared for such interface".
Characterized by their dark skin and frizzy hair, this Negrito race is believed to be amongst the first migrants to have reached the Andaman Islands, many thousands of years ago. Today, the 400-odd surviving members of the tribe present a unique combination of a community that continues to use its traditional wisdom for sustainable livelihood security while leaving the rich biodiversity of the fragile forests intact.
The reserve forest they know as home is presently the largest single contiguous stretch of untouched and undisturbed forests that remain in the islands. Their understanding of nature and ability to read her warning signs can be estimated from the fact that no casualties were reported among these tribal groups, though thousands were killed elsewhere on the islands.
Till 1998-99, the Jarawas resisted all contact with outsiders. Later, on their own, they started coming into contact with the outside world. Much of the disaster that followed is blamed on the construction of the Andaman Trunk Road (ATR). A 35 km section of this road cuts through the restricted Jarawa Reserve Territory, truncating their area of habitat. Primarily hunters and gatherers, they are today confined to 765 square kilometers of reserve forest in the South and Middle Andaman Islands. The fallouts were inevitable.
Despite of the orders of the Supreme Court in 2002 to shut the road in the interests of the Jarawas, the Andaman administration has continued to defy the ruling by permitting traffic on the ATR, in the larger interest of the communities originally hailing from Bengal, Tamil Nadu and other Indian states who have settled on the northern islands since Independence.
In view of the alarming rise in increase in interactions between the Jarawas and others, SC recognised the need of reviewing the Jarawa Policy of 2004 and constituted an 'expert committee' to assess the perceptions of the Jarawas. The members of the committee maintain that the policy is well conceived.
Their report records its observation that rice has found its way into the lives of Jarawas through clandestine barter between Jarawas and non-Jarawas. If rice becomes a preferred and sought after item by overtaking their traditional indigenous food items, the Jarawas would become not only dependent on others for their food but become victims of exploitations by unscrupulous non-Jarawas, hence there is an urgent need to control the inflow of the rice among the Jarawas!
Manish Chandi, a research scholar working in these Islands since 1995 and a member of the committee, presents his own perspective on what is increasingly a complex issue with no ready answers, "From what I understand, they come out and go back on occasion with varying regularity and irregularity at some places, and they do not do so because of any miseries that we assume afflict them. It is an opportunity that they are using ever since hostile stances from both colonizers and Jarawas transformed into spectacles of barter, negotiation and our perception of being capable to serve their needs through welfare."
The lone Member of Parliament from the Islands, Bishnupada Ray, is against the shutdown of the ATR because it is the life- line of communities living in the North and Middle Andaman Islands, with essential goods being transported by trucks daily. Besides, he points out, the Jarawas wanted to come into mainstream and the government needed to "welcome and support the Jarawa community to join the mainstream on humanitarian ground."
From a society that ignored the complaints of its own people and took action on the same issue, shamefully when reported by a foreign newspaper, we cannot expect much. While deliberations continue and reports are drafted, incidents like those in the video footage will manage to create stir for a brief period of time and soon, like everything else, we will forget them.
"Our intervention should be based on the least intervention, in terms of 'welfare measures', in terms of messing with other peoples affairs. The Jarawas and other hunter gatherers have worked out their strategy- hunt and gather, forage and pillage where possible," says Chandi. "We have to be able to desist [from] the temptation to give them a strategy, but rather allow them to devise their own - henceforth, and as always."
The Charkha Development Communication Network asks, "Are the experts listening?" (ANI)
Jharkhand losing out battle to poor health schemes
Dumka (Jharkhand), Feb 04: Eleven years after its birth, Jharkhand still lacks the basic healthcare facilities and presently the state is being hounded by a high number of deaths caused due to malaria and cerebral malaria.
Jharkhand is a distinctive tribal state popularly known as "the land of forests" possessing a rich mineral wealth. This appreciation comes along with a tag of embarrassment that defines Jharkhand as one of the poorest states of the country.
Most of the population resides in the rural areas following traditional ways of living. Except for the introduction to the steel and power plants, the tribal cult still remains isolated from the contemporary changes that have swept all across the country. They lack awareness in terms of cleanliness and sanitation, which are the pre-requisite for having a healthy society. But they are not the ones to be blamed.
The government of Jharkhand has failed to provide adequate healthcare facilities in rural areas. Chatarpur sub-division in Palamu district has witnessed more than two dozen deaths because of cerebral malaria. Over 200 people are suffering from the same disease in tribal hamlets of Loto, Arar, Kasiyahi, Satgharwa, Khori and Navdiha. Boriyo, Udhwa, Patna, Godda, Sundar Pahadi, Boarijor of Sahibganj district and Gopikandar, Ramgadh, Shikaripada and Masaliya blocks of Dumka village add to the rising numbers of the diseased and the dead. These are primarily Adiwasi and Santhali villages.
Two months back, when the state was adversely attacked by Malaria and Chickungunya, all the promises of an efficient health policy to stop malarial upshot were shown a mirror. At this critical moment, when the state hospitals were expected to be all set for the treatment of the patients, they failed at management level. The hospitals in Jamshedpur and Chaibasa proved to be inefficient in admitting the patients.
Negligence of basic health care is not the one and only hurdle. There is a huge shortage of qualified doctors in the state. On falling ill, the inhabitants do not give a second thought before visiting quacks that pretend to be doctors and benefit from the ignorance of these people.
This creates a huge challenge in front of the Jharkhand State Government. In these 11 years, 1600 doctors have left their jobs and the state as no one wants to work in an undeveloped poor state. Only 400 contracted doctors are providing their services in the entire region.
According to World Health Index, there should be one doctor on every 3500 people, but here in Jharkhand, there are only 750 doctors for the entire population of 3.5 crore that means one doctor to take care of the health of 46, 000 people.
Opposite to the steep increase in the number of patients, the past decade has seen no progress in terms of construction of hospitals, medical colleges, clinics and medical dispensaries. In such situation, poor people are forced to pay heavy bills of private hospitals.
Schemes provided by Central Government are certainly beneficial, if only they reach the right hands, more importantly "through the right hands". Heights of corruption can be estimated from the fact that post the arrest of those involved in medicine scam, people still have to pay extra for the medicines and mosquito nets.
Being one of the poorest states, Jharkhand also competes in the race of highest mortality and malnutrition rates. 80 percent of the state's young women suffer from anaemia. Thousands of children between 6-9 months are facing blood deficiency. Iodine deficiency can be traced in more than 20 lakh villagers as only a small proportion of the entire population of the region includes iodized salt in their diet. The mobile medical health unit is still on its way to benefit the villagers with its services.
Every year, 46,000 children are dying, which means 125 children are dying every day. Infant mortality rate is 59 percent. If Vitamin A and Zinc doses were given to the children, we could have saved 26 percent of the deceased. Ignoring the high mortality rate of both mother and child, illiterate people continue visiting untrained "daiyees" (nurses) for deliveries. Even after the introduction of maternity vehicle "Mamta Vahan" for pregnant women, situation hasn't changed. Villagers, like always, are unaware of the scheme.
The current Health Ministry woke up to the alarming situation only after November as it deployed its members to find out reasons behind the widespread of Kalajar and Chickenpox.
Arjun Munda, Chief Minister, Jharkhand, has promised to achieve the target of providing complete healthcare to the entire population of the state by the year 2020. He also dedicated the year 2011 to the girl child announcing the "Laadli Laxmi Yojana" for the healthcare and empowerment of women. Involvement of locals in such policies will help create awareness in the interiors of the state.
The Charkha Development Communication Network feels that such steps are required to keep the faith of the people alive in government and its schemes. A few months after the launch of the schemes, we get to know about its success or failure - for this one, we can only hope that it falls in the "success" category! (ANI)
Passion for Bharatanatyam lures Belgium dancer to India
Chennai, Feb 04: In a bid to learn more about the mudras’ (hand gestures) and other technical details of the classical Indian dance, 20-year-old Belgium artiste, Michelle Sequeria took part in ‘Brahma Gana Sabha dance festival’ at Sivagami Pethachi Auditorium in Chennai city, on Tuesday.
Sharing her feelings about the authentic Indian dance forms, Sequeria said that her passion for Bharatanatyam was developed at a very young age after she had attended various cultural dance shows with her parents in Belgium.
“I, with my parents used to go to see many shows of Indian music and Indian dance, just to be in contact with the Indian culture and I saw quite a few Bharatanatyam shows and so I thought to continue,” said Sequeria.
Sequeria started learning Bharatanatyam in 1996 from Holland based classical dancer Kalpana Raghuraman.
Talking about Sequeria’s love for India’s traditional dance forms, Raghuraman said that she worked hard for 16 years to learn Bharatanatyam alongside her studies.
“In Holland we are very far from the source and in Belgium also. So Michelle is very dedicated to work hard. We have to work together to do that so she would come every time to Holland, she would stay with me and we’ll have full weekends, long courses,” said Raghuraman.
“I’ll give her homework to study and like that we worked together and I have to find a way to teach her in such a way that she understands what she is learning, not just reproducing it but really also becoming identified with what she is telling,” added Sequeria’s mentor.
Under the supervision of her mentor Kalpana Raghuraman, Sequeria has performed in more than 15 grand cultural festivals in Belgium, Holland, France and other places.
The warm reception she received at the festival in Chennai has boosted her confidence. (ANI)
Gold plated dosa in Bangalore a huge hit
Bangalore, Feb 04: A restaurant in Bangalore is witnessing large footfalls, since the debut of their latest delicacy, a gold-plated dosa, which is priced at a whooping Rs. 1,011.
One of the restaurateurs chanced upon the idea of creating these unusual delicacies, when he was surfing on the Internet for strategies to make his eatery stand out among other city’s food outlets.
“I wanted to do something in restaurant business, so I thought why can't we do something different, so when I once saw in a television channel that they are using gold foils for pizzas and ice creams, which cost 1000 dollars, thought why can’t we get this to Bangalore and use it on something else?” said Chandan Lokesh, owner of the restaurant.
Priced at an exorbitant rate, the dish is roasted crisp with a hint of olive oil and has a filling of mashed potatoes, in addition to the gold foil for the finishing touch.
The restaurant also serves a dosa covered with a silver foil, at an affordable price of Rs. 151.
According to media reports, the marketing strategy by owners has made the gold dosa a huge success.
“I got to know about this through my friends that they sell gold dosa over here and I wanted to try it. After I tried it, I liked it so much that I am eating it for the fourth time and I want others also to come and try here and this is ISO certified dosa, it's really good for the health,” said Nagashree, a resident.
The owners have planned to patent the gold dosa in the future. (ANI)
Tripura hosts three-day food festival
Agartala, Feb 04: A three-day food festival is underway in Tripura showcasing a range of traditional rice-based cuisines.
Scores of food lovers gathered at the Arkaneer Fair Ground on the outskirts of Agartala to sample homemade Bengali rice-cakes, one of the highlights at the event.
Organisers say the festival was put together in a bid to introduce the traditional dishes to a new generation.
“The main aim behind this food festival was to present dishes to a new generation that were very common in our houses some five decades back. Now we are gradually forgetting them in our fast paced day-to-day city life. So we are exhibiting and selling these items here,” said S K Ghose, one of the festival organisrs.
Housewives and several self help groups from across the state took part in the festival by cooking a variety of ‘pithas’ and ‘pulis’ (Bengali rice cakes).
The delicacies are renowned in the region and recipes are often passed down from generation to generation. Their popularity is waning however with the growing availability and preference for fast food.
A total of 60 stalls were present at the festival, with many reaping in steady profits from the sale of their dishes.
“We are 11 members of a self help group and have participated in this food festival. We are increasingly making good profits here, as the numbers of visitors is increasing. This is a step towards being independent,” said food stall owner, Sandhya Dey. (ANI)
