Once bustling with trade activities of Tribal people, about 90 per cent of rural 'Haats' falling under insurgency-hit areas of Bastar are facing desolation, thanks to terror perpetuated by Maoists. The result too is palpable while thousands of rural traders are facing unemployment and finding it hard to earn livelihood, common man has been left into lurch as far as procuring their daily need items is concerned and are forced to walk extra miles for the same.
A youth of South Bastar, Nirmal Jhari, says, Bastar's 'Haat-Bazaars' have been an integral part of its Tribal culture which even the modern changes in lifestyle were unable to change. Alas! About 90 per cent of 'Haats' falling under the insurgency-hit areas of Bastar have lost their shine as not only traders avoid attending these 'Haats' fearing the ever-rising levy or reprisal on denial, but the village people also keep themselves away due to Maoist violence which breaks out any time at these places.
Notably, in Bastar on every five or six villages there has been a 'Haat' on weekdays. People from nearby villages used to procure their daily need items specially vegetables, spices, clothes and other such items for the entire week from here. These 'Haats' operated periodically in different areas and were of great relief to the rural populace. But with the rise in Maoist violence and increased action of security personnel, the scene has changed drastically.
Now, at an estimate, in nearly 300 villages of Bastar weekly 'Haats' have become a bygone reality forcing people to travel extra miles to go to 'Haats' which operates miles away from their village. Since village people used to bring their items like vegetable, minor forest produce, handicraft items carrying on their head to sell at these 'Haats' and the proceeds they received thereof, they purchased their household needs, but with the distance of these 'Haats' increasing enormously, this task too has become very difficult.
Ruing the closure of these 'Haats', another youth Prakash Gota of Kutru says, "In terms of Haat-Bazaars, rural people are suffering. While Maoists create terror among ruralites by indulging in violence, police treat these Haats as the place regulating the supply of food and other necessary items to insurgents but in both the cases common man is at the receiving end," Gota adds.