Pathalgarhi movement takes backseat?

RANCHI: The coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent lockdown, coupled with proactive approach of the authorities, have prompted villagers in Pathalgarhi hotbed, Khunti district, to abandon the tribal movement and approach the government, seeking help for their return to the mainstream.
Pathalgarhi movement hit national headlines in 2017 and 2018 during the erstwhile BJP government when Khunti villagers demanded self-rule, installed stone plaques highlighting dos’ and don’ts on entry and work in villages.It later turned violent, leading many of the villagers to surrender their government-issued identity cards and block entry of officials into the villages. Thousands of them were booked for the protests and blocking officials on duty.
The pandemic has, however, brought about a change in these villages where livelihood and finding a job have become a challenge. The district authorities, too, is pro-actively working to bring back the villagers to the mainstream.
Two days ago, over 100 families of Medahatu, Tintila, Bhusudin and other villages met with Arki block development officer (BDO) Gautam Prasad Sahu and submitted a memorandum to the government. The memorandum sought return of their surrendered I-D cards, ration and other government benefits. Since February this year, over 500 out of the 3,000 families, who had surrendered their I-D cards, have also requested the cards back.
Talking to TOI on Thursday, Sahu said, “It is true that people from Pathalgari affected regions now want to return to the mainstream. I don’t know if the lockdown has triggered it or not, but certainly, it happened at a time when livelihoods are threatened due to the virus. The government has been looking forward to helping the villagers. It is a welcome change.”
About his recent interactions with the villagers, he said, “Over 100 families met me seeking ration and other facilities. They wanted their surrendered government I-D cards back to avail the benefits. Many of them said they were forced to surrender their cards due to the pressure from the gram sabha. Some others said they were framed. But, we are helping them now.”
The BDO said they have helped over 145 families since March to get houses under the PM Awas Yojana. “Construction works of many houses have already begun. In Pathalgarhi-sensitive areas like Kochag, 66 houses were allocated while 75 were allocated in Bahunda and 56 in Birbanki. Before the lockdown, 200 families have availed the benefits.”
A senior district official termed the development as “work in progress”. “Many Pathalgarhi leaders are linked with leaders of ‘sati pati cult’ based in Gujarat. They were tutored there and the villagers are brainwashed to start a rebellion against the government to suit their interests. Due to lockdown, the entire movement has collapsed. It was the right time to counsel the villagers positively. The results are starting to come but it is still a work in progress. We are expecting 20,000 more people to come back,” the official said on condition of anonymity.
He added, “People are gaining confidence in the government set up as we have taken a conscious decision to work towards helping them.”
After the change of guard in December last year, the chief minister Hemant Soren-led Mahagathbandhan government had announced that it would drop sedition cases against thousands of Khunti villagers filed during erstwhile BJP regime for being part of the Pathalgarhi movement.
Aloka Kujur of Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha, who was part of several independent fact-finding teams during the Pathalgarhi movement, said, “The change is good and is a slap on Pathalgari leaders who had twisted the tribal culture of installing stone plaques into a fight for autonomy during the erstwhile BJP rule. In the process, thousands of poor villagers suffered.”
She said roughly 10,000 sedition cases were slapped against unidentified villagers, while 249 others are named. “Cases were filed against all 11 villages of Birbanki, each village having a population of roughly around 1,500 people. After the Soren government announcement, some got bails and are out. However, the matter is sub-judice and we are yet to officially hear on the status of the cases.”