Will the Govt realise Patru’s dream project?

By Kartik Lokhande  

On March 16, 2015, Patru Durge had travelled more than 1,000 kilometres from his native village Damrancha in Aheri tehsil of Maoist-affected district of Gadchiroli, to the State capital of Mumbai. He visited the offices of Chief Minister, Finance and Planning Minister, and Water Resources Minister, and submitted copies of a memorandum seeking a lift irrigation scheme in his village. And, on April 19, 2015, the anti-development Maoists killed him. 

Patru Durge or Patru Durgam was Deputy Sarpanch of Damrancha Gram Panchayat. An active pro-development Dalit leader, Patru had passed Class IV but he commanded immense respect of people of Damrancha and Bhangarampetha. For, he was the man with vision for development of the area, and bringing in positive changes in the life of people of the remote and Maoist-affected area. Damrancha is located on the banks of rivers Bandiya and Indravati. However, it is cut off from the rest of the world as far as development is concerned. There is no proper hospital, Government ashramshala, high school, regular bus service, etc. Patru knew that to change the situation, villagers had to come together. 

For long, Patru had been involved in various interventions. He had conducted an informal study of the requirements of Damrancha and Bhangarampetha at his level and as per his own understanding. Accordingly, in the memorandums submitted to the offices of Chief Minister, Finance and Planning Minister, and Water Resources Minister, he had raised a valid demand for a lift irrigation scheme. “We have got fertile land. We are living closer to two rivers. Still, farm productivity is not to the desired extent for want of irrigation facilities. If we get irrigation, in five hectares of land holding, we are confident of taking 200 quintals of paddy harvest,” Patru Durge had stated in the memorandum. 

As per his understanding of the geography of the area, Patru had prepared a rough map of lift irrigation scheme he had proposed. The memorandum demanding lift irrigation scheme both were submitted to various Government agencies in Gadchiroli district -- from Collector to District Superintending Agriculture Officer. He was told by some officials that a proposal for lift irrigation scheme should require at least 1,000 hectares of land that could benefit from the scheme. 

Considering this, he took pains to convince farmers to form clusters and calculate total land holding that would benefit from the scheme. The Gram Sabha (village-level meeting) held on December 22, 2014, under his chairmanship had passed a resolution that 150 farmers in Damrancha and Bhangarampetha villages will form 15 clusters, so as to press for lift irrigation scheme for 942.02 hectares of land in the area. 

Arvind Sovani, Joint Secretary of Bhumkal Sanghatan, knew Patru very well. Sovani recalled Patru telling him once, “Sir, if the total land holding in the area is 942.02 hectares, should it deprive us of the lift irrigation scheme and increased farm production and productivity?” However, sadly, even before he could follow up the matter with the Government, the Maoists killed him brutally on April 19, 2015. The Maoists killed him as he did not pay heed to their warning of not contesting Gram Panchayat elections. For, the Maoists feared that if he got elected again, he would organise farmers for development. 

In him, Gadchiroli district lost not only an upcoming Dalit leader but also a man dedicated to the development of the remote area. According to Sovani, it is essential for the State Government to consider the proposal submitted by Patru Durge if it wants to usher in development in Maoist-affected areas. That, he said, will be a real tribute to Patru Durge. “The Government action in this regard will inspire others to stand up for development of their areas. Patru did not fight in vain for lift irrigation scheme, agricultural development, road, bridge etc. And, Patru did not die in vain...” Sovani told ‘The Hitavada’. 

For now, there is only one question and one hope -- Will the Govt realise Patru’s dream project? 

SC/ST Commission probe sought into Dalit killings by Maoists 

Bhumkal Sanghatan, which claims to be an ideological struggle against Naxalism, has demanded a probe by State SC/ST Commission into the killings of Dalits by the Left Wing Extremists in Gadchiroli district. 

In a letter sent to C L Thool, Executive Chairman of SC/ST Commission, Bhumkal Sanghatan has pointed out that Maoists have killed 19 innocent Dalits branding them as ‘police informers’ in the past some time. They have killed Dalits aspiring for development in Damrancha, Chhallewada, Dechlipetha, Chintalpetha, Kudkeli, Kopela, Tambda, Yerkad, Odera etc. 

“Dalits in south Gadchiroli and especially in Aheri block are aware of their rights, and are fighting for education, development, and employment. There are several villages that have more number of Dalits than tribals. However, Naxalites do not want such aspirations to rise. Naxalites are against construction of schools or roads. As a result, development has come to a halt in many areas,” said Arvind Sovani, Joint Secretary of Bhumkal Sanghatan. Sovani flayed the Naxalites for trying to attract urban Dalit youths in the name of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, and killing Dalits aspiring for development in remote areas. 

As Dalits in Naxal-affected areas are living in the shadow of terror, it is time that killings of innocent Dalits must be probed by SC/ST Commission, said Sovani.

(25-08-15)