‘Safety,dignity more important than homes,land’

Others,now staying in makeshift tents in the wastelands of the neighbouring Nagwada village with whatever possessions they could salvage and transport when they fled,say that such incidents are common in Zinzuwada.

“We have always faced trouble from Darbars. But in the last five years,they targeted women. Physical and sexual assaults on our women have been happening almost every other day. No one could protest,no one could dare to,” said 18-year-old Suraj Aal. She said Darbar youths would kidnap girls at will and keep them for many days. “Anybody can guess what happens to these girls,” she added.

This is not all. “Everyday we are subjected to humiliation by Darbars while going to fetch water at the village well,to attend to nature’s call or going to the market,” said Mulabhai Bhoku,adding,“Livestock is our livelihood. Darbars took money from us to let our cattle graze on the village wasteland.”

Another woman,Gugyben,said,“Is it our fault that our girls look good? How can we send our daughters to schools when even going to markets is an ordeal?”

Most of the Maldharis said they were not ready to go back,even if it meant loss of their houses and pastoral land. “We can live without those thing,but not dignity,” said Mulabhai.

The exodus is,however,not new to Zinzuwada. In the past,a number of Bania and Thakor families had also fled the village for similar reasons. “They left one after another,so no one noticed. Around 100 Bania families and 200 Thakor families left the village,” said Ishwar Aal,another Maldhari,adding,”Currently,shelter for our families is our main concern.”

Meanwhile,the district authorities today swung into action and provided primary amenities like water and health services at the makeshift camp. A police point has also been set up to protect them. A group of teachers carried out a survey of the children in the camp to help get them registered at a local school.

Surendranagar Superintendent of Police Ashok Kumar Yadav told The Indian Express that they have taken the complaints of Maldharis seriously and a woman police inspector has specially been appointed to look into the complaints of sexual harassment. He said they were trying to resolve the matter by talking to the community elders of both sides.