Rampant mining of bauxite is in full swing under ‘red shadow’ in the pat area of Netarhat in Jharkhand. The red rebels’ active in this bauxite rich belt, keeping eyes on mining and providing protection to the contractors as well as private and Government servants to allow them function without hassles in return of levy.
The red rebels have threatened to the innocent tribal people (local), who have obvious reasons to not to approach police, said a local tribesman of Asur tribe on anonymity. Ecological hazards causes by rampant mining, deforestation, naxal menace and other factors have made the Asur tribes, living in the lap of nature, endangered in Jharkhand.
Amid fears with naxal atrocities innocent tribes are forced to spend nights. “We remain in fear as the rebels usually come and threaten us with terrible penalty if we go against them or disobey their orders”, he said. For mining, we are deprived from our lands and forest. Mining is on rise in our areas said a tribesman residing at Sakhupani village. And now mining officials are depriving us from work (daily wage) too. Our conditions are pathetic and we are finding hard for our livelihood”, he added.
Demanding employment (on daily wages basis) once we (youths) got vocal and stir-up at mining site, but they refused and all goes in-vain. At mid-night naxal cadres rushed to our houses and threatened to kill us if we go there for our demand. Before leaving they urged to keep distance from the mining site, alleged the youths of Asur tribe.“Red brigades suggested us to keep ourselves away from the mining site”, added the youths. living in the dearth of basic amenities innocent Asura are forced to spent sleepless nights.
Instead of banning mining, the promotion of bauxite mining in our forest land leads us for forced eviction, said told Punam Asur a member of a primitive tribe of Sakhuapani in the pat area of Netarhat. The forests are not only the source of livelihood for us (Asur’s) but have an intricate relationship between tribals and the eco-system she said.
“The depleting forest resources with rampant mining are threatening imminent food security not for Asurs only but hits other tribal groups too”, added Punam.The destruction of forest cover has ruined our traditional livelihood occupation and the pursuit of alternative activities such as agriculture has been beset with problems.
“We have land but we cannot grow crops in absence of irrigation facilities. We have to depend upon monsoon”, she said. Studying under the Jharkhand Media Fellowship-2012 its’ found that there are countless constraints responsible for lower pace of Asur’s development process than desired. Some of the major constraints are — mining, destruction of forests, lack of awareness, protection of tribal rights and others.
[This Article has been written under Jharkhand Media Fellowship-2012]