Dalits, Kolis migrate as quake creates great rift

Dalits, Kolis migrate as quake creates great rift
JANYALA SREENIVAS

BHUJ, MARCH 12: Two wars and two successive droughts have not displaced them. But the January 26 temblor has. Hundreds of villagers in the border taluka of Khavda have now started migrating. The migrants mostly include the socially backward Dalits and Kolis.

However, what is now driving them against the wall is the discrimination they are facing in many villages when it comes to applying for government relief and rehabilitation package and the reluctance of the upper castes including Muslims who do not want them to be a part of the relocating programme. ``I think this land is cursed for us now. First the drought and now the quake. We could brave the scarcity because we had our homes at least. But the quake has snatched that away too. Now there is no reason for us to stay here,'' says Harjibhai Harijan of the Moti Dhiran village near Khavda.

``We belong to the lowest strata in the villages. The others have pucca houses and enough money to rebuild lost homes. But we have lost everything and we have no money to rebuild it. There is no work forthcoming also so we have no option but to leave,'' says Dholabhai Harijan, another villager in Dhoravara.

However, one inherent reason why most of the Dalits and Kolis have decided to leave is the discrimination they have started facing from upper castes and the Muslims, who dominate quite a few villages.

About 25 families of the Moti Dhiran village, 30 families of Dhoravara, 20 families from Khavda have already migrated. Mostly walking by foot they have pitched tents at various places near farms on the Bhuj-Khavda state highway 45 where they are searching for work. ``We might go up to Bhuj even Gandhidham and Kandla. There is nothing left back there for us now. The land has become cursed. But if the monsoon is good we might go back but not now,'' says Bhimabhai, a Koli labourer.

The migration of these Harijans and Kolis has left uncertainty behind. While parts of the villages, mostly those occupied by Harijans and Kolis known as Harijanvaas' wear a deserted look, those who have stayed back are doing a rethink. Says Rajiben, former sarpanch and taluka panchayat member: ``We are trying to persuade them not to leave but I think the quake has dealt the final blow. If more and more people start leaving we also will have to join. Already some have packed their belongings and are ready to leave. They don't know where they will go but they are going.''

Sajanvela Harijan, the head of Harijans in Khavda says even his pleas to his caste members have been ignored. ``They are in no mood to listen now. They think that the land is cursed now and do not want to live here anymore. The drought and now the quake is the final straw for them. But if all of them start leaving those who have decided to stay back may also begin to leave.''