DANTEWADA MASSACRE

(Written on 8th April, 2010)

I was shocked by the killing of 75 CRPF jawans in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh by the maoists. It only increased my resolve and readiness to go and work in such remote and backward areas. Even now, I do not have deep ill will against the naxals. But, I do not support such dastardly attacks by any stretch of imagination. I realise that winning the confidence of the people is the answer to the problem. But, right now it has reached such a stage that outright military action can only establish civilian administration in such areas.

I am hopeful that the cycles of offensive and counteroffensive by the government and the ultras does not degenerate into mere blood bath without addressing the core concern of the backwardness of the regions. If human rights violation takes place in further operations, the government may end up alienating itself from more number of tribals. In fact, I was shocked to know that many tribal people were also involved in the Dantewada massacre with their bows ans arrows. What may have led to such innocent people taking up arms and fighting against the mighty establishment?

I was initially angry with the naxals for their antiquated ideology and the path of violence that they adopted. But, after reading newspaper reports about various committees' findings, I realised the deep rooted nature of the problem. Now, both the parties (the government and the naxals) claim to be the champions of the poor and berate others as betrayers. It looks that the poor tribals living in far flunged forests are the ultimate victims.

We must admit that even after sixty years of independence, the government is unable to play a central role in the lives of the people living in such remote areas. The systematic denial of user rights to the forest dwellers through various forest laws led to the loss of their livelihoods. All the dams and development projects only led to the displacement of the underprivileged. All the mining projects and factories are perceived by the tribals as looting ventures by outsiders. We also could not get them educated so that they can be reasonably employed in such projects. Unfortunately, tribals are not as vociferous and agitating like many dalits and OBCs in the northern belt who got awakened in the last couple of decades.

Tribals must have felt that naxals can offer them a better deal when they distributed public land in such areas. Naxals started operating parallel administration and delivered instant justice through local courts by punishing the moneylenders and land grabbers from outside. As the violence component kept increasing, the naxals now have grand dreams about overthrowing the civilian administration and hoisting red flag over the red fort.

The measures adopted by the government could not sufficiently address the quantum of seriousness of the problem. Poor police response initially and insufficient training of the police personnel only allowed strong linkages that naxals forged across the 'red corridor' and even from outside the country. Idealogical support to 'salwa judum' only led to dividing the tribals into mutual faction groups affecting their livelihoods very badly. Now, the writ of the elected government does not run in many districts at all. Hence, law and order administration and development administration must go hand in hand to solve the issue.

It looks to have become natural that we do not listen to the voice of the hungry people unless they start agitating. So, we must thank the naxals for shaking the government to the grave needs and aspirations of the remote and inaccessible areas. We can afford to forget such areas only at the expense of losing such territory to misguided elements. Let us use this opportunity to integrate tribals and their habitat with the mainstream on equitable terms. Their unique culture needs to be preserved and the pristine natural surroundings must be conserved. But, they also need to be educated like us, get health facilities and must have infrastructure like in other places.

The same issues that government raised in the early days of independence like land reforms are now used by the naxals. Hence, the government must walk the extra mile and display utmost commitment in addressing the concerns of the people. As long as government servants look at the work in inaccessible areas as punishment postings, the tribals will remain like before. The urban conglomerations are moving ahead at such a rapid pace that we can not imagine how the world will look like in the coming decade. Hence, we want the best of talented people to work in geographically disadvantaged areas as well. The government must be ready to provide extra facilities so that people do not work out of compulsion, but out of volition.

The increasing human needs will place more demands on the ecology and forests. The new paradigm of sustainable development must aim at rejuvenating the resource base in proportion to the growing needs. There are no more contradictions, but all mutual interconnections. The battle against naxals is a military one only in the short one. But, it is an ideological and developmental challenge in the long run. Let us take the challenge for the benefit of all.

As I write these lines, I become impatient to go and work in such districts. I am hopeful that GOD gives me an opportunity to go and do it this year. If I do not get through now, I will not be disappointed that I did not get a job. But, there will be definite unhappiness that I need to wait for some more months. Anyway, now or in future, the destiny remains the same.