Findings of a study carried out by the Office for National Statistics
Ann Bridgwood, Clare Fenn, Karen Dust, Lucy Hutton, Adrienne Skelton,
Megan Skinner
Introduction
Welcome to Focus on cultural diversity: the arts in England.
The importance of cultural diversity to the vitality of the arts and culture cannot be overstated. Engaging fully with the range of different cultures, communities and complex identities that make up the face of contemporary England is imperative for everyone, for social, moral and business reasons. The 2001 Census showed just how much England is changing. As cultural facilitators, we need to be responsive to these changes and proactive in building bridges of understanding and awareness between communities.
At Arts Council England, we have articulated our commitment to cultural diversity in our current manifesto Ambitions for the arts. The information from this research will be invaluable in helping us to place cultural diversity as a ‘central value… running through all of our programmes and relationships’. We hope our partners, clients and colleagues in other agencies and government departments will find the information helpful in formulating, reinterpreting and implementing their own policies and positive action measures.
Some of the findings in this research are striking. Policy-makers and service providers alike will be intrigued by the extent of attendance and participation in cultural activity among all ethnic groups. The information on attendance at culturally specific artforms will aid programmers and audience development agencies in refining their activities. Likewise, the findings on how levels of participation vary by gender in certain ethnic groups can be a valuable tool for re-imagining how we engage with different communities. The striking differences in how various ethnic groups support the arts can provide us all with valuable opportunities for developing new partnerships and new ways of engaging with our culturally diverse population.
This research project owes its success to the efforts of several people, especially in Arts Council England, Resource (the Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries) and the UK Film Council. Particular thanks are due to the members of the Steering Group who oversaw the project: Sue Howley and Simon Matty from Resource; Jim Barratt from the UK Film Council; Ben Jeffries from Arts Council England, London; Mary Wright from Arts Council England, Yorkshire; and Ann Bridgwood, Phil Cave, Clare Fenn and Adrienne Skelton from the national office of the Arts Council. Valuable administrative assistance was provided by Caroline Scott and Luisa Bondi.
Most importantly, I would like to thank those members of the public who willingly gave their time and effort to make the research a success. The biggest way we can repay those efforts is by making the most meaningful use of the information. I am certain that significant progress will have been made in those aspects of cultural diversity identified here when we carry out future surveys.
Tony Panayiotou
Director of Diversity, Arts Council England
Executive summary
Introduction
The results of the most recent Census provide evidence of the diversity of England’s population. In 2001, Black and minority ethnic groups represented 9.1% of the total population in England. Asian or British Asian residents formed the largest group (4.6%), followed by ‘Black or British Black’ (2.3%) and ‘mixed’ (1.3%), with the smallest group being ‘Chinese’, at 0.9%. The Black and minority ethnic population is younger than the white population. It is also characterised by great diversity of education, income and religion. The mixed ethnicity group, one of the youngest and most rapidly growing ethnic groups, is particularly diverse, comprising people from a wide range of backgrounds.
The three partners in this research, Arts Council England, Resource (the Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries) and the UK Film Council, all place cultural diversity at the heart of their work. Arts Council England’s Ambitions for the arts 2003–2006 lists cultural diversity as one of its five priorities. In 2002, the Arts Council earmarked £29 million from the lottery-funded Arts Capital Programme for Black, Asian and Chinese-led organisations.
Other current initiatives to improve funding and opportunities for Black, Asian and Chinese artists and arts organisations include the decibel project, the development of work resulting from the 2001 Eclipse conference for theatre managers and Board members and the diversity strand of the New Audiences Programme. The UK Film Council launched its cultural diversity strategy in autumn 2003. Resource stresses that museums, archives and libraries have an important role to play in promoting the knowledge, understanding and value of diverse cultures, faiths and histories.
This research provides us with the first national information on how our culturally diverse population engages with the arts and culture. Policy- makers, practitioners, venue managers, programmers, curators and those working in arts marketing, audience development, arts and cultural education and lifelong learning all need reliable, up-to-date information if they are to engage with diverse audiences in a strategic and targeted way. However, although there have been local or small-scale studies of Black and minority ethnic attendance and participation, there has never previously been a large-scale, national study.
To start to address this gap, in 2002, the three research partners commissioned the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to carry out a survey of attendance, participation and attitudes to the arts and culture among Black and minority ethnic adults in England. The results of this survey were combined with those from a previous study carried out in 2001 (Skelton et al, 2002) to present a picture of cultural engagement across all the largest ethnic groups, including white people, in England. In total, 7,667 people were interviewed.
The report
The report presents information on attendance at a wide range of arts events and cultural venues in the 12 months before interview, participation in cultural activities and attitudes towards the arts and culture, including views on public funding. It also provides information on how people access the arts through broadcast and recorded media. People taking part in the survey were asked to which ethnic group they thought they belonged, using the Census 2001 classifications. As mentioned, the Black and minority ethnic population is a diverse one, with the mixed ethnicity group being particularly diverse; readers should bear this in mind when interpreting the results in this report.
Support for the arts and culture
The results of the survey show that, although there were some differences between individual ethnic groups, there were very high levels of engagement with and support for the arts and other cultural activities. For example, when asked whether, ‘Arts and cultural projects should receive public funding’, the following proportions agreed:
• 90% of the Black or British Black sample
• 85% of people of mixed ethnicity
• 79% of Asian or British Asians
• 75% of Chinese and other ethnic groups
• 74% of white respondents
Similarly, very high proportions agreed that, ‘The arts play a valuable role in the life of the country.’ This was true of:
• 86% of the Black or British Black sample
• 82% of people of mixed ethnicity
• 78% of Chinese and other ethnic groups
• 75% of Asian or British Asians
• 73% of white respondents
Attendance
Those taking part in the survey were shown a list of events or cultural venues and asked if they had been to any of them in the 12 months before interview. Attendance was high in all ethnic groups. The proportion who had attended at least one arts event in the last year ranged from 91% of the mixed ethnicity group to 77% of those describing themselves as Asian or British Asian.
Going to see a film at a cinema or other venue was the most widespread activity. The following had all been to a film in the last year:
• 82% of people of mixed ethnicity
• 66% of Asian or British Asians
• 63% of the Black or British Black sample
• 60% of Chinese and other ethnic groups
• 56% of white respondents
Other interesting findings include:
• Asian or British Asian respondents were most likely to have attended a culturally specific festival (32%). This was particularly true of those identifying themselves as Indian, 41% of whom reported doing this
• just over one-third of interviewees had visited a museum or art gallery. People of mixed ethnicity (44%), white (36%) and Black or British Black (32%) respondents were more likely to have visited than Asian or British Asian respondents (25%)
• the highest proportions of those visiting or using libraries in the last year were found among Black African, and Pakistani and Bangladeshi respondents (60% and 58% respectively), and the lowest among Black Caribbean people (41%) and people of mixed ethnicity (42%)
• although the mixed ethnicity group had one of the lowest levels of attendance at a public library, this group was the most likely to have attended events connected with books or writing
There appeared to be a relationship between ethnic group and attendance at culturally specific dance events. For example, attendance at African dance was highest among the Black African sample (8%), while attendance at South Asian dance was most widespread (again, at 8%) among Indian respondents.
Age and gender
Attendance at arts events is strongly age-related. However, there were clear differences between respondents from different ethnic groups that were not attributable to age. For example:
• among people of mixed ethnicity, 96% of those aged 16–44 and 80% of those aged 45 and over had attended at least one event
• among Asian or British Asian respondents, the corresponding proportions were 83% and 60%
Levels of attendance also varied by gender. For example:
• among Black African respondents, more men than women (88% compared with 72%) had attended arts events in the previous year
• 88% of women in the Indian sample had attended at least one event, compared with 77% of the men
Reasons for and barriers to attending arts and cultural events
People were asked about their reasons for attending events and whether they would like to go to more.
• Wanting to see a ‘specific performer or event’ was mentioned by 28% of people of mixed ethnicity, 27% of Black or British Black respondents, 13% of Asian or British Asian respondents and 10% of Chinese and other ethnic groups
• Those identifying themselves as Pakistani or Bangladeshi were the most likely to say that one of their reasons for attending was as part of a social event; 35% gave this as a reason
The majority of respondents in all ethnic groups said that they would be interested in attending more – either more events, or more frequently. The proportions saying this were:
• 85% of Black or British Black respondents
• 82% of the mixed ethnicity group
• 71% of those from Chinese and other ethnic groups
• 70% of Asian or British Asian respondents
• and 62% of the white sample
People were also asked what prevented them from attending (more). The most common reason was ‘lack of time’, mentioned by, for example, 65% of people of mixed ethnicity and 61% of Asian or British Asians.
• People of mixed ethnicity (45%) and Chinese and other ethnic groups (42%) were most likely to cite cost as a barrier
• Respondents who described themselves as Black African (10%) or Pakistani or Bangladeshi (8%) were the most likely to say that concerns about feeling ‘uncomfortable or out of place’ prevented them attending
Participation
People interviewed for the survey were asked whether they took part themselves, as opposed to seeing performances or work by other people, in a wide range of artistic and cultural activities. The results showed high levels of participation in the last year, ranging from 95% of people of mixed ethnicity to 80% of the Asian or British Asian sample.
Age and gender
As with attendance, there were age differences in participation.
• Among the Chinese and other ethnic groups, 93% of those aged16–44 had participated in at least one arts activity, compared with 75% of those aged 45 or over
• A similar pattern was seen among those who described themselves as Asian or British Asian: 85% of 16–44 year olds compared with 68% of those aged 45 or over reported doing one or more activities
Among white, Black or British Black and Asian or British Asian respondents, women were more likely than men to have taken part in at least one activity.
Participation in specific activities
• Black or British Black respondents were most likely to have sung to an audience or rehearsed for a musical performance in the last 12 months (14% had done so, compared with 6% of both the mixed ethnicity group and Chinese and other ethnic groups, 4% of white respondents and 3% of Asians or British Asians)
• Among those who had sung, performed or played a musical instrument, more than two in five (44%) Black Caribbean’s and almost one in four (24%) Black Africans had sung or performed choral music
• Black or British Black respondents were most likely to belong to choirs or vocal groups – 15% of Black Africans and 11% of Black Caribbeans mentioned this
• Black or British Black respondents were more likely than other ethnic groups to have done African, South Asian or Chinese, jazz or street dance in the last 12 months (22%). Black Africans (29%) were more likely than Black Caribbeans (16%) to have done this kind of dancing
• A higher proportion of younger people had created original works of art or animation using a computer. In particular, 19% of Black or British Black and 18% of Asian or British Asian respondents aged 16–44 had done this, compared with 5% of older people from both groups
• Craft activities were more common among women than men. For example, the proportions of women doing textile crafts ranged from 26% of the mixed ethnicity group to 12% of the Black or British Black groups. Only 1% of men from each ethnic group, however, reported engaging in textile crafts
Accessing the arts through audio-visual media
More than 90% of all ethnic groups had accessed the arts through a variety of audio-visual media – CD, mini disc, tape or record; television, video or DVD; or radio – in the last four weeks or on the internet in the last 12 months.
• Among white, mixed ethnicity, Black or British Black respondents, and Chinese and other ethnic groups, the most common medium – mentioned by more than 80% – was CD, mini disc, tape or record. Among Asian or British Asian people, however, the highest proportion (87%) had listened to the arts on radio
• Rock or pop music was the most commonly viewed or heard genre on CD, radio and television. This was true for all groups, with the exception of Asian or British Asian respondents, who were more likely to have listened to Asian radio stations than rock or pop on other radio stations (53% compared with 46%). Some may, of course, have listened to rock or pop on these Asian stations
• The proportion of respondents listening to jazz and classical music on CD, mini disc, tape or record, or on the radio during the four weeks before interview was generally higher than the proportion experiencing the same music at a live venue during the last 12 months
• More than one in five people of mixed ethnicity and from Chinese and other ethnic groups had used the internet to buy tickets or find out about arts events in the last year
Attitudes towards the arts and libraries
We have already seen that there were high levels of support for the arts among all ethnic groups. There was also widespread recognition of the value of the arts and libraries.
• 87% of Black or British Black and 84% of mixed ethnicity respondents thought that ‘Arts from different cultures contribute a lot to this country’, as did 71% of white respondents and Chinese and other ethnic groups
When asked whether ‘All school children should have the opportunity to learn to play a musical instrument or participate in other arts activities’, the following proportions agreed:
• 99% of people of mixed ethnicity
• 98% of white respondents
• 97% of Black or British Black people
• 91% of Asian or British Asian respondents
• 90% of Chinese and other ethnic groups
There was also strong support for libraries.
• Nine out of ten respondents, apart from Chinese and other ethnic groups (85% of whom thought this), agreed or strongly agreed that libraries provide a valuable service to their local community
Thursday, November 27, 2008
report on tsunami
read this report and give your comments
Report on Tsunami Research Feasibility Assessment Trip
Malaysia, India, Sri Lanka – May 4-9, 2005
Dr. Andy Johnson and Dr. Paula Palmer
Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research,
USC Keck School of Medicine
May 16, 2005
We thank all of our APACPH colleagues for inviting us to the Kuala Lumpur meeting so that we could present our ideas to the Executive Committee. We appreciated your suggestions and comments. Special thanks to Walter Patrick for connecting us with research contacts in India and Sri Lanka, and for his graciousness as our host in Sri Lanka. Our visit to both countries proved to be personally rewarding as well as successful. The spirit and enthusiasm of our new colleagues and the affected people of India and Sri Lanka were inspirational.
Below is a summary of events from our fact finding visit.
MALAYSIA
May 4th, Kuala Lumpur - APACPH meeting, Day 2
The APACPH Executive Board meeting was attended by Anuar Zaini (President), Brian Oldenburg (Director, Brisbane Office), Colin Innes (Treasurer), Chalermchai Chaikittiporn (Director, Bangkok Office), Walter Patrick (Secretary General & Director, Hawaii Office), Tomiko Hokama (Vice President), Wen Ta Chiu (Vice President), Ian Rouse (Dean, Curtin University of Technology), Andy Johnson (Director, USC IPR), and Paula Palmer (USC IPR). Discussion centered on APACPH post-tsunami efforts in affected countries. APACPH’s central post-tsunami efforts, which are consistent with APACPH’s overall objectives, emphasize education and training for the medium and long term. The purpose of Dr. Johnson’s visit to KL was to solicit input for his research plan and garner possible research collaborations with APACPH members. Dr. Chaikittiporn reported that he would look into the possibility of carrying out the research in Thailand through Mahidol University but was not overly optimistic and noted that most areas in Thailand had already been over surveyed and that governmental restrictions on tsunami-based research were strict and unyielding. Dean Rouse expressed reservations about the feasibility of the proposed survey, especially the potential for securing cooperation of local collaborators and authorities. Drs. Johnson and Palmer were encouraged to consider scaling back the research to something perhaps less rigorous and demanding, with a view toward salvaging something useful should they meet insurmountable obstacles. Drs. Johnson and Palmer left KL in the late afternoon for Chennai, India to meet with other prospective research partners through arrangements made by Dr. Walter Patrick.
INDIA
May 5th, Chennai, India
Drs. Johnson and Palmer met with Dr. K. R. Thankappan (Additional Professor and Head, Achutha Menon Centre, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Trivandrum,
The Achutha Menon Centre for Health Science Studies (AMCHSS) is the health sciences wing of the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology. The main objective of AMCHSS is to train health professionals in health research and in formulation and implementation of health policies. The AMCHSS offers an international Master of Public Health (MPH) program, short courses and Ph.D. program catering to all South Asian countries. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India recognized the AMCHSS as a centre of excellence for Public Health Training and sponsors candidates for the MPH under the WHO fellowship program. Additionally, AMCHSS is the secretariat for the Public Health Schools Without Walls network, a network of Public Health Schools in Asia and Africa.
Dr. Thankappan received his MPH degree from Harvard, and has been involved in numerous international collaborations. Currently, he is co-investigator on a Fogarty grant aimed at building tobacco research capacity and promoting tobacco cessation in India and Indonesia in collaboration with the University of Minnesota. In January, he oversaw a tsunami Public Health Preparedness for Natural Disasters- Management Plan for Kerala and Tamil Nadu conducted by a group of his AMCHSS MPH students. Dr. Thankappan attended the Brisbane meeting last year and would like to become a member of APACPH; however, there is no mechanism at his institution to cover the annual fee.
Drs. Johnson, Palmer, and Thankappan met with M. D. Gupte, Director, National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE), part of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and his colleague, Dr. M. Murhekar regarding possible tsunami research collaboration.
National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE). The broad objectives of the NIE cover development of human resources in epidemiology and bio-statistics, networking of the various ICMR and non-ICMR Institutes at the national level for epidemiological purposes, and consultant services. The NIE has the distinction of being the WHO Collaborating Centre for Epidemiology of Leprosy and provides technical assistance for HIV epidemiology for India’s National AIDS Control Organization. The NIE carries out a variety of research activities, including, intervention studies, disease modeling, health systems research, evaluation of health schemes and disease control programs, research methodology, epidemiological investigations and clinical trials of traditional remedies. The NIE’s field practice area covers a population of roughly 5,000,000 people in southeast India. The NIE is recognized by the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute of Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram for a two-year field epidemiology Training Program (FETP-INDIA) leading to Master of Applied Epidemiology (MAE) degree. The Institute has been conducting training programs annually in biostatistics, controlled clinical trials and basic epidemiology for medical doctors, medical students and para-medical workers. It also conducts WHO-SEARO 10 day regional workshops on surveillance, epidemic preparedness and response periodically.
Summary of research possibilities
During the visit Drs. Gupte and Murmekar presented some preliminary data from a tsunami study they conducted that included an assessment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety among 155 families, about 375 interviewed participants. The study was conducted among all surviving residents in a fishing village in Pondicherry roughly 175 km south of Chennai. The village, which was situated directly on the coast suffered severe damage and loss of life. Survivors have been relocated to a camp just across a lagoon from their former home. In-home, face-to-face interviews were utilized for data collection. Findings from the study conducted two months post-tsunami with adults from 19+ years indicated the following: Major depression 48.6%, PTSD 20%, low rates of anxiety, all according to DSM-IV criteria. Women were more affected than men, some participants rated high on suicidal ideation, communicable/infectious disease was minimal. Study staff included a psychiatric team that provided antidepressant meds to severely depressed patients and those exhibiting suicidal ideation. The results will be published shortly.
Drs. Johnson and Palmer presented the rationale for a population-based, longitudinal survey of more and less affected tsunami victims to study mid- to long-term effects of the tsunami on youth and families, including mention of research gaps that our collaborative research might fill. Dr. Gupte recognized the importance of such a study based on his own research, and has agreed to collaborate with USC. Dr. Gupte will oversee operations in Tamil Nadu (southeast) and Dr. Thankappan will do the same in Kerala (southwest). A survey (potentially census) will be carried out among adults and children in the families of the village previously assessed and additional fishing villages selected from among villages stratified for degree of tsunami impact and socioeconomic characteristics. Data will be collected in late summer, with plans for follow up data collection on the cohort in 2006 and 2007. Plans call for collecting data in 6 villages, 3 in each state. Collecting data from affected areas in two different Indian states separated by 500 miles provides a unique opportunity for cross-cultural, intra-country comparisons.
Following the meeting, Dr. Gupte suggested a trip to the Pondicherry site and sent along Dr. Murmekar, who was an investigator on the project and his statistician. In Pondicherry, we spent time in the re-location camp visiting with adults and children, who approached us to share their accounts of the tsunami. Just about all men in the village had gone out at 5am with the fishing fleet the morning of the tsunami. When they returned at 11am their homes were destroyed and over 70 women and children had been killed or were missing. Seven children are still unaccounted for.
Our Indian colleagues are well trained researchers, aware of gaps in the disaster literature, and were quick to recognize the opportunity to produce unique contributions to the literature. Drs. Gupte and Thankappan are well positioned to facilitate fairly swift movement in setting up and implementing our collaborative projects. Southern India offers the possibility for various research collaborations beyond our tsunami work. Its economic growth parallels that of China and offers interesting opportunities for cross-cultural comparative studies. The plan is for USC to finalize details of the research plan we discussed during our visit to Drs. Gupte and Thankappan within the next week for their input. Both were extremely enthusiastic about this and other future collaborations and the possibility of student training exchanges.
SRI LANKA
May 6th – 9th, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka
Drs. Johnson and Palmer and members of the APACPH group led by Walter Patrick met with the Chancellor, Professor T. Varagunam MD; FRCP, Eastern University, Sri Lanka, Batticaloa, in Kandy on the evening of the 6th and traveled to Batticaloa on May 7th. The group visited Eastern University for a short meeting with administrators to introduce the purpose of our visit, namely, to assess opportunities for and interest in training and research collaboration. Over the next two days, the group toured tsunami-ravage sites and met with various university, hospital, and psychological counseling staff.
Batticaloa is the regional capital of eastern Sri Lanka and is located about 190 miles (340 km) from Colombo. It’s located on a long sandy strip of land separated from the mainland by a brackish lagoon. Lagoon and coastal fishing and rice growing are the two main industries; both were adversely affected by the tsunami. The fishing fleet was washed out and a significant proportion of the rice paddies were flooded by sea water. Batticaloa was a stronghold of the Tamil resistance; militia remain stationed throughout the area. The area is severely depressed economically due to 20 years of civil war.
Navaladi:
(See map)
We visited Navaladi, a fishing village located on a sliver of sand between the Indian Ocean and a saltwater lagoon, on May 8th. One-lane roads connect the village of one-story brick homes and shanties with the mainland. The entire sandy strip is roughly three-quarters of a mile wide from ocean to lagoon at its widest. There are shattered brick and concrete house foundations and exposed circles of concrete; some palm tree and a few other shrubs are still standing. We spoke with survivors who told us stories of their personal experiences of loss and how they are rebuilding their homes and lives. The water rose to about 20 feet very suddenly, people were lifted over homes and the tops of palm trees. Of the 10,000 residents, roughly 2,000 were killed; 20% of the population, at least 1/3 of those were children. Rebuilding is underway but the government prohibits any re-building closer than 200 meters from the water (same is true for areas we visited in India). Navaladi citizens, as is the case with people in all stricken areas we visited, do not want to re-locate out of the area. Family, community, and religious ties run deep.
Navaladi
Eastern University, Sri Lanka (EUSL) is located in Vantharumoolai, Chenkalady, about 10 miles north of Batticaloa. At present EUSL has four faculties of study: Faculty of Agriculture, Faculty of Arts and Cultural Studies, Faculty of Management and Commerce, Faculty of Science. The university offers undergraduate and postgraduate (research MPhil) degrees. A medical school is under development and will be situated in the future Health Sciences Center. University operated tsunami website: http://www.eusl.info/index.htm EUSL post-tsunami projects have included testing water quality, assessing environmental impact, impact on local fishing industry, economic impact, including monitoring unemployment.
Summary of research possibilities
There is enthusiasm for collaborating in a longitudinal population-based study of youth, families, and communities in conjunction with Eastern University faculty. We were able to obtain a dataset from a post tsunami survey of 28,000 mostly in 120 relocation camps (representing an estimated 80% of affected people). Information was collected from people 19 years + Sri Lankans with oversight by Dr. T. Sritharan, Director, and Center for Information & Communication Technology & Head of the Mathematics Department, EUSL. This dataset will be helpful in determining the effect of the tsunami, including property and family loss and will aid sampling and stratification of the proposed USC study. Dir. Sritharan will serve as our primary research partner. He was instrumental in the organization and administration of the Batticaloa dataset, and can assist with arranging for data collectors, data entry, and analysis. David Harris, EUSL Registrar, may also be helpful in research logistics. Other faculty may join once the study design is in place. That our colleagues and many citizens in both India and Sri Lanka are fluent in English is a real plus for our research. It facilitates our ability to participate fully through direct interaction with tsunami victims.
Special attention to cultural considerations will be important in any assessment done in Sri Lanka. Past research and post-tsunami NGO activity has typically been well meaning but culturally insensitive and inappropriate according to reports from our Sri Lankan collaborators. Community input and that of local experts will be involved in study and measurement design and administration.
Special needs of Sri Lankan children have resulted from ethnic strife, civil war, floods, and the tsunami. Multi stressors need to be taken into consideration. Programs and psychological counseling and play therapy have been helpful in building resilience in affected youth. The Mangrove Psychological Counseling Centre (leadership in flux) and Butterfly Peace Garden (Father Paul Satkunanayagam, Director) are two examples.
As with the proposed Chennai research, time is of the essence in setting up and implementing the research plan and pilot. We will proceed with the same time line presented at the KL meeting with data collection to be completed by September at the very latest. The sampling plan as presented in KL will be slightly modified. Survey items will be expanded based on input from our research colleagues.
Note:
A memorial fund will be established in the name of Bala Sugumar’s 14 year-old daughter and only child who was swept away by the tsunami. Sugumar is the Dean of Faculty of Arts & Culture at EUSL. Vice chancellor, Prof. S. Raveendranath, provided a disk with names of students who could benefit from monetary support. Dr. Palmer will continue to work on this with Walter Patrick and our colleagues at EUSL.
Report on Tsunami Research Feasibility Assessment Trip
Malaysia, India, Sri Lanka – May 4-9, 2005
Dr. Andy Johnson and Dr. Paula Palmer
Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research,
USC Keck School of Medicine
May 16, 2005
We thank all of our APACPH colleagues for inviting us to the Kuala Lumpur meeting so that we could present our ideas to the Executive Committee. We appreciated your suggestions and comments. Special thanks to Walter Patrick for connecting us with research contacts in India and Sri Lanka, and for his graciousness as our host in Sri Lanka. Our visit to both countries proved to be personally rewarding as well as successful. The spirit and enthusiasm of our new colleagues and the affected people of India and Sri Lanka were inspirational.
Below is a summary of events from our fact finding visit.
MALAYSIA
May 4th, Kuala Lumpur - APACPH meeting, Day 2
The APACPH Executive Board meeting was attended by Anuar Zaini (President), Brian Oldenburg (Director, Brisbane Office), Colin Innes (Treasurer), Chalermchai Chaikittiporn (Director, Bangkok Office), Walter Patrick (Secretary General & Director, Hawaii Office), Tomiko Hokama (Vice President), Wen Ta Chiu (Vice President), Ian Rouse (Dean, Curtin University of Technology), Andy Johnson (Director, USC IPR), and Paula Palmer (USC IPR). Discussion centered on APACPH post-tsunami efforts in affected countries. APACPH’s central post-tsunami efforts, which are consistent with APACPH’s overall objectives, emphasize education and training for the medium and long term. The purpose of Dr. Johnson’s visit to KL was to solicit input for his research plan and garner possible research collaborations with APACPH members. Dr. Chaikittiporn reported that he would look into the possibility of carrying out the research in Thailand through Mahidol University but was not overly optimistic and noted that most areas in Thailand had already been over surveyed and that governmental restrictions on tsunami-based research were strict and unyielding. Dean Rouse expressed reservations about the feasibility of the proposed survey, especially the potential for securing cooperation of local collaborators and authorities. Drs. Johnson and Palmer were encouraged to consider scaling back the research to something perhaps less rigorous and demanding, with a view toward salvaging something useful should they meet insurmountable obstacles. Drs. Johnson and Palmer left KL in the late afternoon for Chennai, India to meet with other prospective research partners through arrangements made by Dr. Walter Patrick.
INDIA
May 5th, Chennai, India
Drs. Johnson and Palmer met with Dr. K. R. Thankappan (Additional Professor and Head, Achutha Menon Centre, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Trivandrum,
The Achutha Menon Centre for Health Science Studies (AMCHSS) is the health sciences wing of the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology. The main objective of AMCHSS is to train health professionals in health research and in formulation and implementation of health policies. The AMCHSS offers an international Master of Public Health (MPH) program, short courses and Ph.D. program catering to all South Asian countries. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India recognized the AMCHSS as a centre of excellence for Public Health Training and sponsors candidates for the MPH under the WHO fellowship program. Additionally, AMCHSS is the secretariat for the Public Health Schools Without Walls network, a network of Public Health Schools in Asia and Africa.
Dr. Thankappan received his MPH degree from Harvard, and has been involved in numerous international collaborations. Currently, he is co-investigator on a Fogarty grant aimed at building tobacco research capacity and promoting tobacco cessation in India and Indonesia in collaboration with the University of Minnesota. In January, he oversaw a tsunami Public Health Preparedness for Natural Disasters- Management Plan for Kerala and Tamil Nadu conducted by a group of his AMCHSS MPH students. Dr. Thankappan attended the Brisbane meeting last year and would like to become a member of APACPH; however, there is no mechanism at his institution to cover the annual fee.
Drs. Johnson, Palmer, and Thankappan met with M. D. Gupte, Director, National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE), part of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and his colleague, Dr. M. Murhekar regarding possible tsunami research collaboration.
National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE). The broad objectives of the NIE cover development of human resources in epidemiology and bio-statistics, networking of the various ICMR and non-ICMR Institutes at the national level for epidemiological purposes, and consultant services. The NIE has the distinction of being the WHO Collaborating Centre for Epidemiology of Leprosy and provides technical assistance for HIV epidemiology for India’s National AIDS Control Organization. The NIE carries out a variety of research activities, including, intervention studies, disease modeling, health systems research, evaluation of health schemes and disease control programs, research methodology, epidemiological investigations and clinical trials of traditional remedies. The NIE’s field practice area covers a population of roughly 5,000,000 people in southeast India. The NIE is recognized by the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute of Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram for a two-year field epidemiology Training Program (FETP-INDIA) leading to Master of Applied Epidemiology (MAE) degree. The Institute has been conducting training programs annually in biostatistics, controlled clinical trials and basic epidemiology for medical doctors, medical students and para-medical workers. It also conducts WHO-SEARO 10 day regional workshops on surveillance, epidemic preparedness and response periodically.
Summary of research possibilities
During the visit Drs. Gupte and Murmekar presented some preliminary data from a tsunami study they conducted that included an assessment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety among 155 families, about 375 interviewed participants. The study was conducted among all surviving residents in a fishing village in Pondicherry roughly 175 km south of Chennai. The village, which was situated directly on the coast suffered severe damage and loss of life. Survivors have been relocated to a camp just across a lagoon from their former home. In-home, face-to-face interviews were utilized for data collection. Findings from the study conducted two months post-tsunami with adults from 19+ years indicated the following: Major depression 48.6%, PTSD 20%, low rates of anxiety, all according to DSM-IV criteria. Women were more affected than men, some participants rated high on suicidal ideation, communicable/infectious disease was minimal. Study staff included a psychiatric team that provided antidepressant meds to severely depressed patients and those exhibiting suicidal ideation. The results will be published shortly.
Drs. Johnson and Palmer presented the rationale for a population-based, longitudinal survey of more and less affected tsunami victims to study mid- to long-term effects of the tsunami on youth and families, including mention of research gaps that our collaborative research might fill. Dr. Gupte recognized the importance of such a study based on his own research, and has agreed to collaborate with USC. Dr. Gupte will oversee operations in Tamil Nadu (southeast) and Dr. Thankappan will do the same in Kerala (southwest). A survey (potentially census) will be carried out among adults and children in the families of the village previously assessed and additional fishing villages selected from among villages stratified for degree of tsunami impact and socioeconomic characteristics. Data will be collected in late summer, with plans for follow up data collection on the cohort in 2006 and 2007. Plans call for collecting data in 6 villages, 3 in each state. Collecting data from affected areas in two different Indian states separated by 500 miles provides a unique opportunity for cross-cultural, intra-country comparisons.
Following the meeting, Dr. Gupte suggested a trip to the Pondicherry site and sent along Dr. Murmekar, who was an investigator on the project and his statistician. In Pondicherry, we spent time in the re-location camp visiting with adults and children, who approached us to share their accounts of the tsunami. Just about all men in the village had gone out at 5am with the fishing fleet the morning of the tsunami. When they returned at 11am their homes were destroyed and over 70 women and children had been killed or were missing. Seven children are still unaccounted for.
Our Indian colleagues are well trained researchers, aware of gaps in the disaster literature, and were quick to recognize the opportunity to produce unique contributions to the literature. Drs. Gupte and Thankappan are well positioned to facilitate fairly swift movement in setting up and implementing our collaborative projects. Southern India offers the possibility for various research collaborations beyond our tsunami work. Its economic growth parallels that of China and offers interesting opportunities for cross-cultural comparative studies. The plan is for USC to finalize details of the research plan we discussed during our visit to Drs. Gupte and Thankappan within the next week for their input. Both were extremely enthusiastic about this and other future collaborations and the possibility of student training exchanges.
SRI LANKA
May 6th – 9th, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka
Drs. Johnson and Palmer and members of the APACPH group led by Walter Patrick met with the Chancellor, Professor T. Varagunam MD; FRCP, Eastern University, Sri Lanka, Batticaloa, in Kandy on the evening of the 6th and traveled to Batticaloa on May 7th. The group visited Eastern University for a short meeting with administrators to introduce the purpose of our visit, namely, to assess opportunities for and interest in training and research collaboration. Over the next two days, the group toured tsunami-ravage sites and met with various university, hospital, and psychological counseling staff.
Batticaloa is the regional capital of eastern Sri Lanka and is located about 190 miles (340 km) from Colombo. It’s located on a long sandy strip of land separated from the mainland by a brackish lagoon. Lagoon and coastal fishing and rice growing are the two main industries; both were adversely affected by the tsunami. The fishing fleet was washed out and a significant proportion of the rice paddies were flooded by sea water. Batticaloa was a stronghold of the Tamil resistance; militia remain stationed throughout the area. The area is severely depressed economically due to 20 years of civil war.
Navaladi:
(See map)
We visited Navaladi, a fishing village located on a sliver of sand between the Indian Ocean and a saltwater lagoon, on May 8th. One-lane roads connect the village of one-story brick homes and shanties with the mainland. The entire sandy strip is roughly three-quarters of a mile wide from ocean to lagoon at its widest. There are shattered brick and concrete house foundations and exposed circles of concrete; some palm tree and a few other shrubs are still standing. We spoke with survivors who told us stories of their personal experiences of loss and how they are rebuilding their homes and lives. The water rose to about 20 feet very suddenly, people were lifted over homes and the tops of palm trees. Of the 10,000 residents, roughly 2,000 were killed; 20% of the population, at least 1/3 of those were children. Rebuilding is underway but the government prohibits any re-building closer than 200 meters from the water (same is true for areas we visited in India). Navaladi citizens, as is the case with people in all stricken areas we visited, do not want to re-locate out of the area. Family, community, and religious ties run deep.
Navaladi
Eastern University, Sri Lanka (EUSL) is located in Vantharumoolai, Chenkalady, about 10 miles north of Batticaloa. At present EUSL has four faculties of study: Faculty of Agriculture, Faculty of Arts and Cultural Studies, Faculty of Management and Commerce, Faculty of Science. The university offers undergraduate and postgraduate (research MPhil) degrees. A medical school is under development and will be situated in the future Health Sciences Center. University operated tsunami website: http://www.eusl.info/index.htm EUSL post-tsunami projects have included testing water quality, assessing environmental impact, impact on local fishing industry, economic impact, including monitoring unemployment.
Summary of research possibilities
There is enthusiasm for collaborating in a longitudinal population-based study of youth, families, and communities in conjunction with Eastern University faculty. We were able to obtain a dataset from a post tsunami survey of 28,000 mostly in 120 relocation camps (representing an estimated 80% of affected people). Information was collected from people 19 years + Sri Lankans with oversight by Dr. T. Sritharan, Director, and Center for Information & Communication Technology & Head of the Mathematics Department, EUSL. This dataset will be helpful in determining the effect of the tsunami, including property and family loss and will aid sampling and stratification of the proposed USC study. Dir. Sritharan will serve as our primary research partner. He was instrumental in the organization and administration of the Batticaloa dataset, and can assist with arranging for data collectors, data entry, and analysis. David Harris, EUSL Registrar, may also be helpful in research logistics. Other faculty may join once the study design is in place. That our colleagues and many citizens in both India and Sri Lanka are fluent in English is a real plus for our research. It facilitates our ability to participate fully through direct interaction with tsunami victims.
Special attention to cultural considerations will be important in any assessment done in Sri Lanka. Past research and post-tsunami NGO activity has typically been well meaning but culturally insensitive and inappropriate according to reports from our Sri Lankan collaborators. Community input and that of local experts will be involved in study and measurement design and administration.
Special needs of Sri Lankan children have resulted from ethnic strife, civil war, floods, and the tsunami. Multi stressors need to be taken into consideration. Programs and psychological counseling and play therapy have been helpful in building resilience in affected youth. The Mangrove Psychological Counseling Centre (leadership in flux) and Butterfly Peace Garden (Father Paul Satkunanayagam, Director) are two examples.
As with the proposed Chennai research, time is of the essence in setting up and implementing the research plan and pilot. We will proceed with the same time line presented at the KL meeting with data collection to be completed by September at the very latest. The sampling plan as presented in KL will be slightly modified. Survey items will be expanded based on input from our research colleagues.
Note:
A memorial fund will be established in the name of Bala Sugumar’s 14 year-old daughter and only child who was swept away by the tsunami. Sugumar is the Dean of Faculty of Arts & Culture at EUSL. Vice chancellor, Prof. S. Raveendranath, provided a disk with names of students who could benefit from monetary support. Dr. Palmer will continue to work on this with Walter Patrick and our colleagues at EUSL.
REPORT OF NCPCR on child rights - for study and comments
analyse this report and suggest your comments
NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHILD RIGHTS
VISIT TO DANTEWADA (Chhattisgarh) & KHAMMAM (Andhra Pradesh)
To Investigate Status of Health and Education of Children affected by Civil Unrest
17th to 19th December 2007
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction & Key Recommendations 3
Account of Fact Finding Team Visit 6
Annexures
Annexure 1 – Program 12
Annexure 2 – List of consultations held prior to the visit. 12
Annexure 3 – Testimonies presented in the Public Hearings. 13
Annexure 4 – Written petitions received in Cherla Public Hearing 19
Annexure 5 – Written petitions received in Kirandul Public Hearing 22
Annexure 6 – Letter to Chief Secretary- Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh 33
Bibliography 40
Introduction
The National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) conducted a fact-finding visit from 17th to 19th December 2007, to Dantewada (Chhattisgarh) and Khammam (Andhra Pradesh), in order to assess the status of children’s health and education in the situation of civil unrest in Dantewada district. The fact-finding team comprised Dr. Shantha Sinha (Chairperson, NCPCR), Mr. J.M. Lyngdoh (Former Chief Election Commissioner of India), and Mr. Venkat Reddy (MV Foundation, Hyderabad).
Executive Summary - Key Recommendations
The following report details a narrative account of the team’s visit and highlights key issues pertaining to children and families in camps and villages affected by conflict in Dantewada and those displaced across state borders as a result of the same. Specific action items recommended by the NCPCR team in response to these issues have also been noted.
During the team’s visit to the Dantewada Region, the members’ were struck by the enormous tragedies of one and all especially the tribals, their family members, women and children. This is indeed unfortunate. We strongly feel that the State has an obligation to extricate them from the unusual circumstances they have been caught in and ensure their security and fundamental human rights as paramount concerns.
We feel that with conscious effort in the direction of protecting children and their rights there is a window of hope in harmonizing the society. Giving every child an access to education up to class ten and investing in providing all that is necessary to make education happen, we feel can ensure a secure freedom for these children and their families and even deepen democracy.
Overall the NCPCR is of the view that there are a number of core areas of concern, which require comprehensive strategies and strong, time-sensitive implementation plans to address the profound impact of violence, deprivation and disruption on the lives and rights of children and their families affected by conflict in the region. The NCPCR team has issued key recommendations noted below and will continue to monitor progress on the implementation of these recommendations.
Child Rights Training & Development
- Underlining its concern for the protection of the rights of children in regions affected by conflict, the NCPCR committee has recommended the establishment of a Child Rights Cell in the office of the Dantewada and Khammam District Collector with members from the community, officials and non-officials;
- It has also called for and offered to facilitate the training of the functionaries of all institutions dealing with children (schools, hostels, Ashram Shalas, Anganwadi Centres etc) in a systematic fashion to sensitize them on child rights issues. Recognising the special role of police in protecting child rights, a group of SPO volunteers has been requested to be identified for Child Rights Protection training.
- Further a process of social audit of children’s rights to be led by the trained people has been recommended at Block and District level.
Monitoring and support of Inter-State Displaced Children & Families
- The NCPCR committee has identified the protection of entitlements and rights of displaced children and families and attendance to their needs as a priority concern to be addressed through inter-state collaboration. In this regard its recommendations include the conduct of survey work and maintenance of registers on the families who have shifted to AP over the recent years in the wake of the unrest; and sharing of this data between state governments with actions to be taken to ensure provision of access to all basic social services by these families.
- With regard to education both governments have been asked to collaborate on ensuring provision of education to the children of all those families who have fled from Chhattisgarh. Key measures to include facilitation of issuing of transfer certificates and other documentation to children who have dropped out of schools; assistance with readmission into the schools, supply of Hindi textbooks and deputation of school teachers to Andhra Pradesh for enabling reintegration of children into schools.
Schools as Zone of Peace
- In recognizing schools as a critical element in ensuring the protection of children’s rights the NCPCR Committee strongly urges that schools be identified as ‘zones of peace’ by all parties. This would include non-use of schools for any other than educational purposes, separation of schools from the camps, and introduction of programmes addressing the psycho-social needs of the children delivered within the school environment with appropriate training of teachers.
Re-building of disrupted education & health services/infrastructure affecting children in camps and villages
- A rapid assessment of food security issues and child malnutrition levels in camps and villages has been recommended together with the implementation of immediate actions to target gaps including meal provision through schools and anganwadis.
- Given the committee’s very high concern at the near invisibility of the adolescent age group of children – data has been requested on a priority basis by gender on this demographic in camps and villages focusing on school participation; a needs assessment and action plan addressing capacity / access to ashram schools, residential schools, hostels etc has also been requested.
- The establishment of procedures for greater transparency in all institutions such as schools, hostels, Ashram Shalas, Aanganwadi Centres etc., has been called for through the constitution of a committee for periodic review of the functioning of such institutions;
- Immediate action has also been called for with regard to provision of adequate toilet and sanitation facilities in the camps
The NCPCR committee would also like to draw attention to and call for adherence to the UNHRC guiding principles on all forms of internal displacement, which highlight fundamental rights addressing displaced children within the context of their families/guardians. These include:
(i) Principle 13 – prohibition of recruitment of children in armed forces and participation in hostilities
(ii) Principle 23 – right of displaced children to receive education
(iii) Principles 16 & 17 – right to be informed about the whereabouts of missing relatives and re-unification with dispersed family members
(iv) Principle 15 - protection of internally displaced persons against forcible return to re-settlement in any place which places their life, liberty, safety, health etc at risk
(v) Principles 28 – 30 – right to return in safety and dignity and the obligation upon authorities to help recover property and possessions or gain appropriate reparation
Account of Fact-Finding Team visit
A. Displaced Children & Families, Andhra Pradesh
Day 1: 17th December 2007
1. Public Hearing in Charla (Khammam District)
The civil unrest in Dantewada and Bijapur district, resulting from the reported conflict between Naxals and Salwa Judum, has forced many families and individuals to flee to Andhra Pradesh. Independent sources claim that at least 30000 people from South Bastar are staying in Khammam, Warangal and East Godavari districts. The public hearing was organized to understand the condition of these internally displaced people (IDP) and children.
The public hearing was held in Charla and was attended by more than 200 IDP: men, women and children. The team heard the testimonies of over 35 people. Every testimony included a narrative of extreme violence committed against them, their families and property, by the Naxalites, Salwa Judum and the security forces. Many people shared accounts of family members being killed and women raped by the Salwa Judum. The testimonies noted the difference between Naxalites and the Salwa Judum. Having faced repeated acts of violence, harassment, arson and pillage the only option for these people was to run away from their villages and seek refuge in another state. This movement often involved walking for three days through the jungle, to avoid detection by the Naxalites and Salwa Judum. The accounts described how often the old and infirm had to be left behind because they could not undertake this journey, and there are many such separated families where some family members are hiding in the forests of Chhattisgarh. Leaving behind their land and livestock they have arrived in Andhra Pradesh in a state of penury and distress.
Also noted was the increased pressure on infrastructure (such as water and housing) as well as on livelihood opportunities in villages in AP as a result of the increased population. The testimony accounts highlighted the neglect of the IDPs’ circumstances by the A.P. administration, which is further contributing to their continuing poverty, ill health, and despair. The team heard that some elected representatives of gram panchayats have taken up the issues of migrant tribal population regarding lack of services
Despite having faced such hardship all in attendance at the public hearing expressed a wish to return home once the situation returns to normal.
2. Visit to IDP settlement in village Sirivella (Charla mandalam, Khammam district.)
Enroute to Dantewada the team visited a settlement of displaced tribals in Sirivella village. The settlement was on the outskirts of the village with about 30 families including 29 children. They were told that this particular hamlet had been burnt about 3-4 times by the Forest Department because it was illegal occupation of forest land. Moreover the families described how they have also faced opposition from the locals in a situation where increases in population will place a strain on the resources.
These families are surviving on daily coolie work and missing one day of work translates into the next day spent in a state of hunger. One family had had nothing to eat that day, as the mother was unable to find work the previous day. The team noted that all the people, adults and children, looked emaciated. The children had protruding bellies, a telling sign of malnourishment. One 2-year-old girl looked hardly older than a three-month baby. It was evident that this settlement was experiencing a situation of chronic food deprivation.
The team also met a 14-15 year old boy, who had completed education up to 7th standard, but had not been able to enroll in school in Andhra Pradesh. He wanted to continue studies.
The issue of migration of tribals and their entitlements has to be dealt with in a systematic fashion.
Key issues highlighted during the public hearing and discussions are:
IDP Numbers & Entitlements: there is neither an estimate of the numbers of such settlers nor any plan for ensuring their entitlements.
Settlements: The Forest Department has been continuously evicting IDPs from their temporary hutments in the Forest Areas.
Livelihood: Most adults are engaged in coolie[1] work. They are denied access to work under the NREGA and the PDS grain as well. These families are living a hand-to-mouth existence, verging on the brink of daily starvation.
Education: Prior to moving to AP, the children would attend schools in Chhattisgarh. However in A.P. they are being denied admission as they have no school certificates and also because they are unfamiliar with Telugu as a medium of instruction.
ICDS facilities: Children in the age-group on 0-6 years have no access to Anganwadis and ICDS services. Nonetheless immunisation services have been made available to them.
IDP Return & Re-settlement: Everyone wanted to return to their home and villages.
The NCPCR has recommended the following specific action items for immediate follow-up:
1. There has to be a census of such population including a clear age- and gender-wise estimation of children in the 0-18 years age group.
2. All children below six years have to be covered under the ICDS, and a programme must immediately be launched to address the hunger and malnourishment of children, pregnant and lactating mothers and adolescent girls.
3. Schools dropouts are to be given education and arrangements of RBCs have to be made through the SSA to reintegrate them into formal schools. This would include collective meetings of the district collector with the district education officers. A meeting of the Chief Secretaries and district collectors of both A.P. and Chhattisgarh would be beneficial in redressing all issues of the displaced tribals.
4. The families need to be given ration cards, so that they can avail grain through PDS.
5. The adults also need to be given job cards, so that they can apply for work under the NREGA.
B. Children and Families in Camps & Villages in Dantewada District
3. Interaction with children of Ashram Schools, Konta (Dantewada)
The team interacted with nearly 250-300 children studying in the Ashram school at Konta. Most of the children were studying in class 1 and 2. Some of them looked older and could have been higher classes. In this interaction some children were specially identified and introduced by the Salwa Judum volunteers to the team as children whose parents were killed by naxalites.
4. Visit to Errabore and Injaram government camp (Dantewada district)
The NCPCR team made brief stops at Injaram and Errabore camps.
The Injaram camp presently has about 3500 people including 1500 children. The Injaram camp seems to be developing into a permanent settlement with pakka houses and tiled roofs. Schools and anganwadi teachers from Konta block have been shifted to this camp, thus there are about 25 teachers for 320 children, and five ICDS centres operating in the camp. The situation in Errabore camp is similar with five schools and about 15 Anganwadi centres. Though the teacher-student ratio may be ideal because of this, the general atmosphere of camps was not found to be conducive for children’s education and development. The team noted that there were many children who were not adequately clothed, and in light of the intensifying winter it is important to act on this immediately.
For their livelihood most camp inmates were working on dam and pond construction. Rations were also provided to the camp inmates at the rate of ½ k.g. rice per day per person, and ½ k.g. dal[2] per person, per week. In the absence of cultivating their lands it is pertinent to note that the diet of the camp residents was very limited, potentially resulting in malnutrition. Nonetheless it is important to note the children residing in the hostel, were provided a dinner meal everyday.
Day 2: 18th December 2007
1. Public Hearing in Kirandul (Dantewada)
Kirandul is a mining town nestled in the Eastern Ghats of south Chhattisgarh. The public hearing witnessed a participation of more than 200 tribals from Dantewada and Bijapur, mostly people living in villages, and a few from the government camps, Salwa Judum members, NGO representatives and government functionaries.
Here too the testimonies were replete with stories of bloodshed, arson and untold anguish. There were many tribals who had fled from their villages for fear of Naxalites and their atrocities. The villagers complained that the Naxalites allow no development works, road construction, they have blown up schools and they control all land and livelihood activities. Moreover they also disallowed visits by teachers and doctors to the villages. Many also complained that their children and women are taken away by the Naxalites and given training in revolutionary ideology. The villagers said that they wished to return to their villages but couldn’t do so without police protection because they will be persecuted by the Naxalites.
Simultaneously there were many accounts of violence by the Salwa Judum members and security forces too. Salwa Judum has forced many villagers to move to the camps, and burnt houses, livestock and in some cases standing crops, so that those who stay back in villages have no means of subsistence. There were numerous accounts of family members being killed for resisting the Salwa Judum. Also it was shared that the tribals are not allowed to leave the camps and return to camps- most who do so have been doing so surreptitously. Many participants in the public hearing had been hiding in the forests and trekked through the night to reach Kirandul. One woman had left her children under a bush, to be cared by others, to attend the public hearing.
A number of the villagers who have moved to camps have been there for two years. Even within camps all services and entitlements are not completely secured. Lack of sanitation facilities emerged as a big problem within the camps. Pilferage of funds from camps was also alleged. Livelihood activities within the camp comprise working on government works like road and dam construction. Many camp inmates with lands near the camps cultivate their lands during the day and return to the camp during the night. Many other have joined the Chhattisgarh Police as Special Police Officers (SPOs).[3]
The situation in the villages is reported to be worse than in the camps. All the testimonies of the camp inmates as well those currently residing in villages stated that there were no schools, anganwadis or primary health centers in their villages. Upon the admission of the government officers, even prior to Salwa Judum about 65% of the district was inaccessible to them because of Naxalite presence. In the districts of Dantewada and Bijapur most government services have been restricted to the roadside camps. However social activists of the area allege that when no teachers or doctors have been harmed by Naxalites, there is no reason to stop education and health services. A big problem is that schools and Anganwadi teachers have been shifted from the villages to the camps leading to a concentration of service-providers in camps and no services available to those who are still living in villages. Moreover the numbers of people in the camps has reduced, and the government should actively work on reopening schools and health facilities in the villages.
Most of the tribals who are not in camps stated, that they are living in the forests in fear of discovery by both the Naxals as well as the Salwa Judum members. They are cultivating their lands as best as they can, but apart from this there is little other work available. The situation of food security in the villages is grave, with many people at the public hearing not being able to concretely say what they had eaten the day before. Visits to the haats (weekly markets) have also become restricted, as the villagers fear capture by the salwa judum or police.
Key issues highlighted include:
The Salwa Judum volunteers’ insistence on showcasing children as victims naxal violence raises concerns for their re-integratio to normalcy. This can cause damage to children’s psyche resulting in a delay in the non-existent healing process. The food security situation and lack of social infrastructure /services in villages requires urgent attention.
The NCPCR team disturbingly did not see many children in the 10+ age group.
The ICDS centers run for only about 3 hours in a day, as a result of which the parents leave their children at home when they leave for work.
There is a grave need for creating spaces for dialogue between tribals and with the government as well. For this the government and civil society activists need to work together. All agencies are responsible for recreating trust in society.
Everyone wanted to return to their home and villages
Key action items with regard to the above issues are noted below:
Schools and anganwadi centers must be re-opened in the villages.
A village-level committee should be formed to monitor progress of every child in the village.
The PDS shops should be reopened in the villages, as also NREGA works should be started so that some livelihood opportunity can be created.
A rapid assessment of food security issues and child malnutrition levels in camps and villages has been recommended together with the implementation of immediate actions to target gaps including meal provision through schools and anganwadis.
A demographic survey of children in the 10+ age group and a needs assessment with regard to schooling must be conducted urgently
It is suggested that the ICDS centre timings be extended to serve as day-care centers. In this case a mid-day meal must be provided to children in addition to the supplementary nutrition.
2. Meeting with District Collector, SP and other District Officials
The NCPCR Committee raised all of the key issues noted in this report in discussions and dialogue with the district officials. We received broad based agreement on follow-up of the key actions we have recommended and hope to see progress on these in the very near future.
With regard to violation of children’s rights the Committee would like to specifically note that in reference to the practice of the recruitment of children under 18 years of age as SPOs, the government and police agreed that this had occurred in the past due to lack of strong protocols on age validation but assured us that these have now been strictly enforced.
The NCPCR strongly urges vigilant, strict monitoring by the government to ensure that this fundamental violation of a child’s rights does not occur.
Annexure 1
Programme Schedule
17th December 2007
10.30 a.m.: Public Hearing in Charla, Khammam, Andhra Pradesh
18th December 2007
10.30 a.m.: Public Hearing in Kirandul, Dantewada, Chhattisgarh
19th December 2007
9.00 a.m.: Meeting with the Chief Secretary, Chhattisgarh and other officials.
11.00 a.m.: Press Meeting, Chattisgarh Secretariat
Annexure 2
List of consultations held by NCPCR prior to the visit
UNICEF India
Campaign for Peace and Justice, Chhattisgarh
Medicins sans Frontieres (MSF)
Charkha
Annexure 3
Testimonies received at the public hearing. (Names have been changed to protect the identity of the petitioners)
At the CHARLA PUBLIC HEARING, KHAMMAM, A.P.
From,
Medium Ramanna, Sitara Association
We work for internally displaced people from Chhattisgarh and work to provide them ration cards, education facilities and health facilities. Have done a survey of IDPs in Khammam district and submitted a list to the NCPCR. IDP children are not being admitted to schools.
From,
Director, Sitara Association
In Konta taluka, 30-40 villages have been burnt by Salwa Judum. About 20,000 people from Chhattisgarh are staying in Khammam. The DSP, Khammam has provided help to IDPs in terms of clothes and utensils.
From,
Goppa Veraiyya
Teacher, Warangal
The IDP settlements are in the nature of 10 hutments in a single area. The Forest department is burning the houses of the IDPs as the settlements are based in reserve forests area. They are being treated as enemies of the state. There are no health, educational, and livelihood services and opportunities available to them.
Parminder,
Badagudem Kendram, Chhattisgarh
About 50 families have come here, which includes 40 children. They have been here (in AP) for about 2 years. The Salwa Judum and police has harassed us, and killed 4 of my family members. The village was burnt. We have escaped and left our cattle behind. Sometimes we go back to visit them.
Joginder,
of Lingagiri village, Vasaguda mandal, Dantewada
The salwa judum and police came to our village and asked us to come and stay at the police stations. But we refused to go, and they beat us. They returned another time and killed 3-4 people of the village. Some 50-60 villages have fled to A.P. from there, and have relocated in Peddamuselara village, Cherla mandal.
Our children are not ebing admitted into schools, as they have no certificates, and have a problem with reading and writing telugu. The children are given immunisation and polio drops.
Nirali,
of Lingagiri village, Dantewada
Salwa Judum would visit our villages and ask us to go to the police stations. The Salwa Judum members were people of other villages who would come together and harass us. They wore pants. No one from our villages joined the Salwa Judum. The police came with guns and killed 2 members of my family and raped my niece.
In the past we have been migrating to Charla for a few months to work as agricultural labourers. Since we knew this place, we fled here. A few families collectively traveled, on foot for three days to reach A.P. There was a pregnant woman amongst us, who delivered a baby on route.
Some IDPs say that if children speak telugu and study in telugu it will be a problem when we go back, because in Chhattisgarh the teaching is done in hindi. We want to return to our villages if circumstances permit. Our land papers have got destroyed when the houses were set on fire.
Sambasiva,
of Patanendra village, Darbaguda panchayat, Dantewada.
The Salwa Judum has burnt our houses and cattle. They accuse villagers about being supporters of Naxalites. We are farmers. We have fled to AP and are currently living in Chintoor mandalam, Khammam. Some 70 families from Patanendra village are staying here. A few elders have visited Chhattigarh about 3-4 times. Our children are not ebing admitted in schools on grounds of not having certificates. Some children have also got malaria.
Kantidas (age: 70 years)
Of Lingagiri Village, Dantewada
I have fled alone to AP. My sons are still in Chhattisgarh, living in fear in the forests. One son has been killed. I survive by doing coolies work here.
6 families from Chhattisgarh have settled in Enkatur village, Cherla mandal, Khammam. Their children are going to school.
Prabhudas,
Reporter, Varta newspaper
The children on IDPs need hindi medium schools for education.
Ramanadri
Of Lingapuram
We have come to AP two years ago. Our children are not being admitted into schools. They are getting immunisation. We survive by doing coolie work in the paper mill. For the work we get 3 ser rice and Rs. 30 daily. We have no ration card here.
We want to go back. We want you to send us back.
B. Venkatamma,
Ward member, Lingapuram village, Charla mandal, Khammam
There are about 75 IDP families in her area. Some IDP children are going to school, but no other facilities are being provided to them.
When the Mandal Revenue Officer told higher officals about the presence of IDP and lack of services to them, he was told that, since the IDPs will go back to their own villages, thus no services need to be provided to them.
At the KIRANDUL PUBLIC HEARING, DANTEWADA, CHHATTISGARH
From,
Kasoli Camp, Geedam block, Dantewada
We have fled from Abujmar village from fear of Naxalites. My husband was killed by Naxalites. There we have no schools, no anganwadis, no livelihood facilities, no bridges and no roads. This village is on the other side of the Indrawati river. We have been in the camp for 3 years and survive by doing coolie work (weaving bamboo). About 50% of the abujmar village is in the camp.
The Kasoli camp has 2 primary schools, 2 secondary schools, 2 ashram schools and 1 high school.
Gyaneshwar,
Orcha, Abujmar block
We have come to camp due to fear of Naxals. There are about 30 people from the village in the camp. The naxals have stopped road construction and other developmental activities. They have blown up 4 balak ashrams. They ask the students to vacate the school and then blow up the building. They control our land and cattle. They also forcibly take away our women.
We haven’t returned to the village after going to the camp. We cannot go back without security.
From,
Abujmar village, Bangoli panchayat, Bhairamgarh block, Bijapur district
The Naxalites don’t want any government services. They do not allow any government teachers and doctors. They have blown up 4 ashram schools, and there are no education facilities. They destroy buildings because they think the police forces will use them. They also take away all children above class 5. They are killing people, my own brother was killed when he protested against them. Naxals want everyone to remain poor.
All villagers of Abujmar have come to camps. I migrated to Dantewada in 2004. There are good education facilities for my children here. We haven’t returned from fear of the naxalites.
Inmate of Kasoli camp, Bhairamgarh block
(originally from Pallevai village)
The Naxals have trained us to do lal salaam. They tell us to work collectively and eat
collectively but the loot all the money that comes for government works.
The camp has school and anganwadi facilities. Children are in the camp ashram school.
Himanshu
Vanvasi Chetna Ashram, Kavalnar, Dantewada
Many children within camps are out of school and anganwadis. Malnutrition deaths have also been reported in the camps. Thus it is not true that all facilities have been provided in the camps.
Teachers, anganwadi workers, handpump mechanics and doctors are not going to villages out of fear that naxalites will target them. However an RTI I have filed shows that no such functionaries have been harmed by the naxalites, then why have these services been withdrawn.
Lingam Marka
Vanvasi Chetna Ashram (NGO), Dantewada
There are no sanitation facilities in the camps like: Injaram, Dornapal, Konta, Errabore and Kasoli.
N.W. Andrew
Executive Engineer, State Electricity Board
Our department is working in the interior areas as well, so Himanshu’s allegation is wrong. Our staff has also been threatened by Naxalites. Sometimes the movement is restricted for short durations, but resumed later.
Mr. Shrikant Dubey
Asst. Commissioner, Tribal Affairs
Dantewada
The Electricity board has to go once in a couple of years, but the teachers have to go daily. There is a greater threat to them. We have been talking to the Sangham leaders as well, about allowing teachers to function in these areas, but they have not agreed. The naxalites use school rations in many places.
In the past 2 years about 60 new ashram schools have been sanctioned. Infact 5000 additional children have already been admitted to school. 3 primary schools in an area will be closed to make 1 ashram school. In Dantewada the ashram schools are open all 12 months, unlike other places where they function for 10 months.
We do not have the statistics of children per village, and our communication lines are not complete, but 5000 new admissions show that there has been some communication.
Dr. G.S. Thakur
Chief Medical Officer
It is not correct that we are not providing services in the interior areas.
Manish Kunjam,
Ex-MLA, Konta
Konta is the biggest block in the country, and measures 100 km at its widest. The village schools have been closed and brought to camps. In Bijapur 140 schools have been closed. How can all children be serviced by roadside schools. All records are bogus. The work is concentrated only in the salwa judum areas and no work is being done in the non-salwa judum areas. Also there is much pilferage of funds in the camps. The villagers are not allowed to leave camp and return home. More than 7000 homes have been burnt by salwa judum.
Camps have been created for political purposes. They will remain till 2008 elections and then be disbanded. The voting lists are only being prepared for camp inmates and not in villages.
The solution would be that: (a) those villagers who wish to return to vllages must be allowed to do so, as 90% of the villagers have been brought to camp forcibly. Schools should be reopened in villages. Ashram schools should be opened at the block level, where a conducive environment for education should be created.
Swami,
Dhurli village
The zila panchayat and state government is taking land forcibly for steel plant. False gram sabhas have been held and 4 villagers were jailed for protesting. Then the villagers were made to sign over their land saying that they were signing attendance sheets.
Only teachers have been relocated, not children, thus they have lost out the educational opportunities. Also adivasi development is based on education opportunities.
There is no NREGA in Bijapur and Konta block.
From Ghumodi village
There is no anganwadi and school in the village. Children have been taken to another village to study.
From Tumalpatu village,
There is no school and anganwadi in the village. There are many children in the village. The salwa judum has burnt houses, taken their cattle and fowl. We have been living in the forest for 2 years because houses were burnt. We cannot farm and there is little to eat.
From Karaiguda village,
My husband was killed by Salwa judum while cultivating mirchi on our land. They also looted jewellery, 15 hens, and 3 goats. I have two children and there is no school or anganwadi in my village. I have left them under a bush to come to this hearing.
From Karaiguda village,
My house has been burnt and rice stock destroyed. We are now living in the jungle out of fear of being attacked again. The children are also with us in the jungle.#
# This person could not concretely list the food items he or his children ate that morning. This is a clear indication of food insufficiency.
From Batol village, Kirandul, Dantewada
Twenty-five houses in my village were burnt..
Up-Sarpanch
Kuakonda tehsil
The salwa judum burnt about 60-70 houses in my village. They also looted jewellery, utensils, clothes, hens and cattle.
Annexure 4
Written petitions received by Chairperson (NCPCR) at the Charla public hearing (Khammam, Andhra Pradesh): 17th December 2007
From.
Sitara Association (Reg. No. 1744/98)
Chinturu, Khammam district.
Andhra Pradesh
Sub: request to safeguard the future of displaced adivasi children
The Sitara Association is giving health services to the displaced tribals in the Palvancha and Bhadrachalam divisions of Khammam district. In our area of work there are about 430 such displaced children, who are engaged in child labour. Last year all these children were studying in class 4, 5, 6 and 7 in Chhattisgarh. In Andhra Pradesh they are working as goatherds in various villages.
We request that special RBC (Resident Bridge Course) centres in hindi language should be provided for these children, such that their education is safeguarded. In A.P. the administration is not undertaking any such action for these children. Whenever the officials were asked, we were told that these displaced children from Chhattisgarh will not be admitted into schools, because they will go back.
We request you to make provisions for the education of such children.
Sd.
Venkateswaralu
Executive Member
Sitara Association
From,
Sitara Association
Sub: Request to provide education, health, ration cards, drinking water facilities and enumeration in voters list.
Due to the civil unrest in Chhattisgarh almost 20,000 tribals have fled to A.P., and are living in pitiable conditions. Due to AP administration these children have lost out on education also.
Salwa Judum atrocities began in February 2006 in Konta taluk, Dantewada district, Chhattisgarh. Since this time tribals have been emptying their villages. Simultaneously Naxals have torched houses of tribals on the grounds that they have joined the salwa judum. However the salwa judum have burnt greater number of houses and entire villages in some cases. The people have list all their belongings-money, livestock, clothes, jewellery- in this arson. Teachers have stopped attending school from fear of Naxals and salwa judum. Additionally naxals have blasted school buildings as they may be used by police forces as shelters. The villagers have left their houses due to the collective fear of police, naxals and judum. They are living on forests to save their lives.
About 20,000 tribals have settled in Pavlancha and Bhadrachalam divisions of Khammam district. We are providing health services to some of these displaced people but our support is not adequate. We request you to recognize these displaced tribals as citizens of India and support the A.P. administration to inturn service these tribals.
Sd.
Medium Ramanna
Programme Coordinator
Sitara Association
# Petition includes a list of IDPs in Khammam.
Sub: Request to give protection from Salwa Judum and Maoists atrocities, which include violence, beating, killings, rape, arson and false cases on innocent tribals.
We are submitting this information for your knowledge and action.
I am Chidem Nagesh s/o Kishtaiah, resident of Lingagairi village, Bhoopalpatnam taluka, Bhasagoda police station, Dantewada district. I belong to the Gotti Koya tribe. There are 2 adults and 2 children in my family. We have undergone great atrocities by salwa judum.
Presently we are living in Peddamidisineru village, Cherla mandal, Khammam district. We have left all properties, livestock and land in Chhattisgarh and come to AP. Here we are surviving by doing labour work and begging.
We request you to protect us as we have nothing to do with the clashes between Maoists, Salwa Judum, CRPF and police.
Sd.
Chidem Nagesh s/o Kishtaiah
From
Telangana Adivasi Udhyogula Sangham
Warangal, Andhra Pradesh
Sub: Request to give protection from Salwa Judum and Maoists atrocities, which include
violence, beating, killings, rape, arson and false cases on innocent tribals.
We are submitting this information for your knowledge and action.
In Chhattisgarh the violence between the state, Maoists, and salwa judum, has resulted in innocent tribals being caught in between. Amongst this the Gotti Koya tribe has been greatly affected. There has been much killing, rape, arson and people being beaten up in this. The people have left behind all their possessions – their land, agriculture, cattle, goats, hens, houses, clothes, jewellery- and fled to Andhra Pradesh. Here they are surviving by doing labour work and begging. We request you to protect them as they have nothing to do with the clashes between Maoists, Salwa Judum, CRPF and police.
Sd.
Goppa Verraiyya
District Convenor,
Telangana Adibasi Udhyogula Sangham
Sub: Request to give protection from Salwa Judum and Maoists atrocities, which include violence, beating, killings, rape, arson and false cases on innocent tribals.
We are submitting this information for your knowledge and action.
I am Sode Sommaiyah s/o Chokkaiyah , resident of Nambi village, Bijapur taluka.. There are 2 adults and 2 children in my family. We have undergone great atrocities by salwa judum.
Salwa Judum members came to our village one day and asked us to join the salwa judum, otherwise they threatened to charge us as being supporters of Maoists. On their second visit they beat us up, torched our houses and raped women.
Presently we are living in Brahmanapalli village, ST colony, Mangapeta mandal, Warangal district.
We have left all properties, livestock and land in Chhattisgarh and come to AP. Here we are surviving by doing labour work and begging. We request you to protect us as we have nothing to do with the clashes between Maoists, Salwa Judum, CRPF and police.
Sd.
Sode Sommaiyah s/o Chokkaiyah
Annexure 5
Petitions received by the Chairperson (NCPCR) at the Kirandul public hearing, (Dantewada, Chhattisgarh): 18th December 2007
1. Sub: Complaint about my father being killed by the police and SPO.
I am Nagesh, S/o Hemlabori. I am a resident of Tumadpal village, Simlipenta panchayat, Jagargonda thana. Two months ago my father Hemlabori went to the Aavapalli bazaar to buy rice. Sodibhola and Hemlajoga of the village accompanied him. Its been two months my father has not returned home. Hemlajoga who had accompanied him to the market, returned to the village and told us that the police beat them up in Aavapalli bazaar, after which the SPOs took all three (Hemlabori, Sodibhola and Hemlajoga) to the Aavapalli salwa judum camp. The SPOs were 10-12 in number. The SPOs questioned them in the camp after which they took the three to the nearby jungle and started beating them with weapons. At this point Hemlajoga managed to escape from the clutches of the salwa judum. Hemlajoga returned to the village and told us that my father Hemlabori and Sodibhola have been killed. All of us villagers are terrified: members of Salwa judum are killing and looting people in village after village.
Sd.
Nagesh
(Tumadpal village, Jagargonda thana)
18/12/2007
2. Sub: Complaint of looting and beating by SPO
I am Sodi Bandi s/o Nanda. I am resident of village Ghumodi, thana Jagargonda, tehsil Konta, district Dantewada. Salwa judum and SPO have looted three lungi, sari and one pair of gold earrings, one pair of noserings, and 4 hens from my home.
All villages are living in fear.
Sd.
Sodi Bandi s/o Nanda
(Ghumodi vill., Jagargonda thana, tehsil Konta, district Dantewada
3. Sub: Complaint about my husband being killed by the police and SPO.
I am Jogi w/o Sodibhola. I am a resident of Tumadpal village, Simlipenta panchayat, Jagargonda thana. Two months ago when I went to Aavapalli bazaar with my husband Sodibhola to buy rice, the police beat up my husband and Hemlabori and Hemlajoga of the village. Then the Salwa judum SPOs took these three to the Aavapalli camp. Of the three Hemlajoga informed us that Sodibhola and Hemlabori were beaten up mercilessly by the SPOs. Hemlajogi escaped and returned to the village to give this information. I was scared so did not report this. All the villagers are very terrified even now.
Sd.
Mrs. Jogu w.o. Sodibhola
(Tumalpad vill., Jagargonda thana)
18/12/2007.
4. Sub: Complaint about salwa judum and forces setting fire to our houses and looting.
I am Hemlajoga. I am a resident of Tumadpal village, Jagargonda thana. Two years ago members of salwa judum and the forces came to our village and set fire to 18 houses. Our goats, hens and garinstock all got burnt in this fire. Also they looted Rs. 17,000 that was hidden in my wife’s sari. This hooliganism of the salwa judum and forces has terrorized the villagers. Even now we are staying under trees in the forest, out of fear.
Sd.
Hemlajoga
(Tumlapad vill. Jagargonda thana)
18/12/2007
5. Sub: Complaint about looting by jawans of SPO and forces.
I am Kosa s/o Koya. I am resident of Bengapal village, Gumiyapal panchayat, Nendipara panchayat. Last year SPOs of ‘salwa judum’ and ‘forces’ took away 4 hens and Rs. 2000. Also while leaving they set fire to a number of houses of the village and beat up some young people. All of us villagers are terrorized by the hooliganism of the salwa judum. The police do not pay any attention to our complaints.
Sd.
Kosa s/o Koya
(Bengapal village, Gumiyapal panchayat)
18/12/2007
6. Complaint about looting and arson by jawans of SPO and forces
I am Bhima s/o Gunda. I am resident of Badepalli village, Ghumiyapal panchayat, Patelpara thana, Kirandul, Dantewada. Two years ago jawans of SPO and ‘forces’ came to our village, broke the lock of my house, and took away 3 quintal rice, 2 quintal kosra, 2 big utensils, and later torched my house. All the villagers all terrified. Many houses of the village have been burnt.
Sd.
Bhima s/o Gunda
(Badepalli village, Ghumiyapal panchayat)
7. Sub: Complaint of beating by Salwa judum, SPO and jawans of ‘forces’
I am Lakhma s/o Pandu. I am resident of Nayapara, Badepalli village, Ghumiyapal panchayat. Last year in 2006 the jawans of SPO and salwa judum came to the village and beat me up. I have given a written complaint of this through the secretary, in the police thana. Noone pays any attention to the complaints. All the villagers are living in great terror. Many houses of our village were burnt and villagers beaten up.
Sd.
Lakhma s/o Pandu
Badepalli village.
8. Sub: Complaint about looting and arson by jawans of SPO and forces
I am Dhannu s/o Bundu. I am resident of Nayapara, Badepalli village, Ghumiyapal panchayat, Kirandul thana. Two years ago members of SPO and ‘forces’ came to my house and forcibly took away 15 quintal rice, 10 quintal kosra, Rs. 2000, 2 utnesils, 1 ganj, and burnt the house while leaving.The villagers are living in terror. The police and administration is not listening to our complaints.
Sd.
Dhannu s/o Budnu
(Badepalli village, Ghumiyapal panchayat)
9. Sub: Complaint about looting and arson by jawans of SPO and forces
I am Dursh s/o Suklu. I am resident of Badepalli village, Ghumiyapal panchayat, Patelpara thana, Kirandul. Two years ago members of Salwa judum, SPOs and jawans of the Forces, forcibly took away 3 quintal rice, and hens. The SPOS torched the house while leaving. The villagers are terrorized. No one has listened to us upon complaining. More villages of the houses have been torched.
Sd.
Dursh s/o/ Suklu
(Badepalli village, Ghumiyapal panchayat)
10. Sub: Complaint of beating by SPOs
I am Aaytu s/o/ Bhima. I am resident of Kanharguda village, Talagudem para, Jagargonda thana. A month ago when my brother, and two nephews were returning home, SPOs and force jawaans beat them up mercilessly, and broke their hands and legs. I was also beaten very much and was bedridden for many days. We are living in terror.
Sd.
Aayatu s/o/ Bhima
(Kanharguda vill., Talagundam para, Jagargonda thana)
11. Sub: Complaint about looting by salwa judum and jawans of forces
I am Budhram s/o/ Hura. I am a resident of Ghumiyapal village, Bengapal panchayat, Nendipara thana, Kirandul. Two years ago salwa judum members and jawaans of forces came to my house and took away 5 hens and Rs. 200 apart from beating us up. They beat up other villagers and torched more houses. We are living in terror.
Sd.
Budhram s/o/ Hura
(Ghumiyapal vill. Bengapal panchayat, Nendipara thana)
18/12/2007
12. Sub: Complaint about looting and arson by salwa judum and jawans of forces
I am Somdu s/o/ Phagu. I am resident of Badepalli village, Ghumiyapal panchayat, Nayapara thana, Kirandul, Dantewada. Salwa judm and jawaans of forces came to the village and beat me with rifle butt and took Rs. 500 from me but then returned it. They also burnt my house and beat up other young people.
Sd.
Somdu s/o/ Phagu.
(Badepalli village, Ghumiyapal panchayat, Dantewada.)
13. Sub: Complaint about the police and SPOs burning my house and all items perishing in the fire.
I am Sodibhima s/o/ Lakhma. I am resident of Gondpalli village, Sodi para, Gondpalli panchayat, Jagargond thana, Konta tehsil, Danewada. Around March 2007 we received information that police and SPOs were coming to our village. It must be noted that police and SPOs were going to villages and beating up people. Thus upon getting news of their visit, I and my family left home and ran into the forests. When they came they burnt our house and all the items perished in the fire. These items included 20 quintal rice, 8 gallons tora oil, Rs. 500, Rs. 5000 worth roof, and one hen (5 kilo).
We are submitting this information of police and SPO atrocities, so that you may forward it to the appropriate authorities.
Sd.
Sodibhima
(Gondpalli vill., Jagargonda thana)
14. Sub: Complaint about the police and SPOs burning house
I am Dodi Lakhma s/o Late Budhra. I am a resident of Gondpalli village, Karkapara, Gondpatli panchayat, Jagargonda thana, Konta tehsil, Dantewada. Upon hearing that police and SPOs were visiting my village, I ran away into the forests with my family. The police and Salwa Judum came and burnt my house. All necessary items perished in the fire including 10 quintal rice, 5 quintal kosra, 10 earthen pots, 2 copper pots etc.
I am submitting the above information for necessary action.
Sd. Dodi Lakhma
(Gondpallli vill., Jagargonda thana)
15. Sub: Complaint of looting and murder committed by Salwa Judum and jawaans of Forces.
I am Madiyami Hunga s/o Shri Deva. I am a resident of Ghumdi village, Konta tehsil. The jawaans of police and SPOs came to my house, beat us up and took away silver coins (80)and Rs.1500. They also took away social worker Gorka Singh. We are living in terror. Please listen to our petition.
Sd.
Madiyami Hunga s/o/ Deva
Gumdi vill. Konta tehsil)
16. Sub: Complaint of looting and murder committed by Salwa Judum and jawaans of Forces.
I am Mangu Midiyami s/o Pandu. I am resident of Tolivarti village, Kunder panchayat, Gayatapara, Jagargonda thana. In March 2007, members of salwa judum and Force jawaans shot dead my brother (Hidma), who was gathering mahua near the house. After this they came to my home and took away 3 hens, 2 Ganj and 1 water-container. They also beat up other villagers. All villagers are living in terror.
Sd.
Mangu Midiyami s/o Pandu
(Tolivarti vill., Kunder panchayat)
17. Sub: Complaint of looting by Salwa judum and jawaans of Forces.
I am Bhima s/o Kowa. I am a resident of Bengapal, Ghumiyapal panchayat, Gaytapara, Kirandul thana. Last year the ‘Forces’ jawaans came to my house and took away 6 hens, and Rs. 1500. They beat me and other villagers as well. We are living in terror.
Sd.
Bhima s/o Kowa.
(Bengapal, Ghumiyapal panchayat, Gaytapara, Kirandul thana.)
18. Sub: Complaint of looting by Salwa judum and jawaans of Forces.
I am Huri s/o Pandu. I am a resident of Bengapal village, Ghumiyapal panchayat, schoolpara thana, Kirandul, Dantewada. Last year SPOs and Forces jawans came to our village, broke the lock of my house and took away 4 hen, 3 blankets and clothes apart from Rs. 5030. They also beat up the villagers and torched many houses. All of us villagers are very terrified of the hooliganism of the salwa judum. The administration is not taking any notice of our complaints.
Sd.
Huri s/o Pandu
19. Sub: Complaint of looting by Salwa judum and jawaans of Forces.
I am Bhima s/o Masha. I am a resident of Bengapal village, Ghumiyapal panchayat. Two years ago SPOs and Forces jawaans came to our villages, broke the lock of my house and looted Rs. 1500 and 7 hens. They torched a few houses and beat up come villagers. All villagers are in a state of terror.
Sd.
Bhima s/o Masha.
(Bengapal, Ghumiyapal panchayat, Gaytapara, Kirandul thana.)
20. Sub: Complaint of looting and arson by Salwa judum and jawaans of Forces.
I am Raju s/o Duma. I am a resident of Bedapalli, Ghumiyapal panchayat, Patelpara thana, Kirandul. Last year salwa judum and jawaans of the Forces came to our village and forcibly took away 5 quintal rice, 10 quintal kosra, 10 hens and torched houses on their way out.
We gave a complaint of this incident to the village Secretary who in turn gave the same to the police thana, but no action has been taken on this complaint till date.
Sd.
Raju s/o Duma.
21. Sub: Complaint of looting by Salwa judum and jawaans of Forces
I am Hura s/o Vare. I am a resident of Bengapal village, Ghumiyapal panchayat, Kosupara thana, Kirandul, Dantewada. Last year salwa judum and jawaans of the Forces came to our village and forcibly took away 8 hens and Rs. 4000. They also beat upn the village youth and torched many houses. All of us villagers are very terrified of the hooliganism of the salwa judum. The administration is not taking any notice of our complaints.
Sd.
Hura s/o Vare.
22. Sub: Complaint of looting, killing and arson by SPOs and Naga Forces
I am Bhima s/o Joga. I am resident of Tamodi village, Bijapur thana. In 2005, the SPO and Naga forces torched 6 houses of my village including mine. In this fire 10 sack of kosra, 20 sacks of rice, Rs. 5000, and 2 goats perished. They also ate a few hens. They chased us away by firing guns. We are living in forest in fear.
Sd.
Bhima s/o Joga.
23. Sub: Complaint of my brother’s killing and looting.
I am Chaitu Padam s/o Magdu. I am resident of Tolivarti village, Tunder panchyat, Gayatapara, Jagargonda thana. In June 2007, salwa judum, SPOs and jawaans of the Forces, came to my village. They surrounded my brother Raju, and killed him by slashing his neck. They looted blankets and 3 big utensils apart from torching many houses of the village and took away 2 hens. All the villagers are very scared.
Sd.
Chaitu Padam s/o Magdu
24. Sub: Complaint of looting by Salwa judum and jawaans of Forces
I am Bhima Muchaki s/o Boda. I am a resident of Tolivarti village, Tunder panchyat, Gayatapara, Jagargonda thana. In June 2007, salwa judum, SPOs and jawaans of the Forces, came to my village and forcibly took away 10 goats. They also beat up the village youth and torched houses. All the villagers are very scared.
Sd.
Bhima Muchaki s/o Boda
25. Sub: Complaint of my brother’s killing and looting.
I am Padam Sukal s/o Pandu. I am a resident of Tolivarti village, Tunder panchyat, Gayatapara, Jagargonda thana. In June 2007, salwa judum, SPOs and jawaans of the Forces, came to my village and took away my brother (name: Padamsannu) from the house and killed. They also took away 10 goats, blankets, clothes, 3 big utensils. All us villagers are living in terror.
Sd.
Padam Sukal s/o Pandu
26. Sub: Complaint of killing of both my brothers
I am Padam Dhutva s/o Masa. I am a resident of Tolivarti village, Tunder panchyat, Gayatapara, Jagargonda thana. In June 2007 the Salwa Judum, SPO and jawaand of the Forces came to my house and killed my brothers Nanda and Lakhma, by slashing their necks. We are living in terror.
Sd.
Padam Dhutva s/o Masa
27. Complaint of looting, killing and arson by SPOs and Force jawaans
I am Soma Madvi s/o Nanda. I am a resident of Tolivarti village, Tunder panchyat, Gayatapara, Jagargonda thana. In the year 2007, the salwa judum, SPOs and Forces jawaans came to our village, surrounded my house and mercilessly killed my elder brother Aaytu and younger brother Soma, by slashing their necks. I escaped with my life. They looted 3 hens, 2 ganj, 2 utensils (used for collecting water). They beat up the villagers and torched houses. All of us villagers are in terror. We haven’t also filed a report of this due to fear.
Sd.
Soma Madvi s/o Nanda
28. Sub: Complaint of looting by Salwa judum and jawaans of Forces
I am Joga s/o Bhima. I am resident of Bengapal village, Bhumiyapal panchayat, Kosupara, Kitandul thana, Dantewada. Last year members of salwa judum and jawaans of Forces looted 7 hens, 6 lungi, 1 blanket, and Rs. 260. They torched many houses and beat up many people. We are living a life of terror in the village.
Sd.
Joga s/o Bhima
29. Sub: Complaint of looting and arson by SPO and jawaans of Forces
I am Punnem Soma s/o Punnem Boti. I am resident of Gondpalli village, Sodipara, Gondpalli panchayat, Jagargonda thana, Konta tehsil, Dantewada. Upon hearing that police and SPOs were visiting my village, I ran away into the forests with my family. The police and SPO came and burnt my house. All necessary items perished in the fire including 40 quintal rice, 2 hens, 1 quintal salt, 25 kg. dry Chilli, 50 kg Tamarind (imli), 2 quintal mahua, 4 earthen pots, one gold chain, 2 copper utensils, 2 blankets etc.
I am presenting the following information of atrocities by SPO and police for necessary action.
Sd.
Punnem Soma s/o Punnem Boti
30. Sub: Complaint of looting, violence and arson by salwa judem and jawaans of Forces
I am Muchaki Deva s/o Hidma. I am a resident of Ghumodi village, Konta tehsil. When the salwa judum and police forces did firing in my village, my cow got hit. They also beat up my family members and abused us.
We are harassed in this manner by the police and salwa judum, and are living in fear.
Sd.
Muchaki Deva
31. Complaint of arson by SPO and police.
I am Dodi Maglu s/o Late Masa. I am resident of Gondpalli village, Sodipara, Gondpalli panchayat, Jagargonda thana, Konta tehsil, Dantewada. We got information that police and SPOs would come to villages around March 2007. It must be noted that police and SPOs were going to villages and beating up people. Thus upon getting news of their visit, I and my family left home and ran into the forests. When they came they burnt our house and all the items perished in the fire. This included 30 k.g. ricegrain, 2 quintal mahua, 2 quinatl kosra, 50 kilo rice, 20 kg dal, 10 hens, 2 utensils, Rs. 5000, 4 blankets, 4 lungi, etc.
We submit the above information for further action.
Sd.
Dodi Maglu s/o Late Masa
32. Complaint of arson and violence by SPO and salwa judum
I am Kartam Deva s/o Ganga. I am a resident of Ghumodi village, Jagargonda thana, Konta tehsil. In May 2007 salwa judum and SPO looted my house. All villagers are terrified.
Sd.
Kartam Deva s/o Ganga
33. Sub: Complaint of arson by SPO and police.
I am Somdi w/o Joga. I am a resident of Gampur village, Madvipara, Jagargonda panchayat. I am a widow and stay with my 3 small children. In 2006 the salwa judum and SPOs looted 5 quintal rice, 3 quintal kosra, blankets and clothes from my house. I live in fear with my small children in the village.
Sd.
Somdi w/o Joga
34. Sub: Complaint of arson by police, SPO, and salwa judum.
I am Andu s/o Soma. I am a resident of Ursangal village, Sarpanchpara, Kundel panchayat, Jagargonda thana, Dantewada. My house was torched by police, SPO and salwa judum and I suffered the loss of the following items: One big fishing net, 4 big utensils, 1 gudi, 1 goat, 2 hens,1 golden chain.
I submit the above information for further action.
Apart from this, the following people of the village:
- Mr. Bogam Bisam killed by slashing his throat
- Mr. Karam Soma was shot dead
- Mr. Lekham Deva was beheaded.
Sd.
Andu s/o Soma.
ANNEXURE 6
Letter to Chief Secretary, Chhattisgarh
Dear
On behalf of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, (NCPCR) and its team which included Dr. J.M. Lyngdoh and Mr. R. Venkat Reddy, I wish to thank the Chhattisgarh administration for all the arrangements made during our visit to the State from 17th to 19 December 2007. We would particularly like to thank Mr. P. Joy Oomen, Additional Chief Secretary, for chairing the meeting of the Secretaries and offering to take immediate steps based on our suggestions.
Based on our interaction with the residents of Injaram Camp and Erra Bore Camp, public hearing in Kirandul where a large number of tribal population and others gave their testimonies and in our interaction with the District and Block level officers we present the following issues for immediate, priority action. In fact these were raised in the meeting that was held with the Secretaries of the State Government on 19th December 2007.
I. Child Rights Training & Development
Setting up of a Child Rights Cell in the office of the District Collector with members from the community, officials and non-officials;
Training of the functionaries of all institutions dealing with children (schools, hostels, Ashram Shalas, Anganwadi Centres etc) in a systematic fashion to sensitize them on child rights issues.
In this regard, the Commission offers to facilitate the training programme through National Institute for Rural Development (NIRD), Rajendranagar, and Hyderabad in consultation with UNICEF. The first tranche of this training is to be delivered to the currently operational 286 volunteers in the 4 camps of Dantewada district who have already been selected as part of a community microplanning process.
A second tranche of training is to be delivered to 25 volunteers (including teachers and officials) from each of the affected Blocks who are to be identified and who will then act as a monitoring group supporting the spread of ‘Jan Sunwai’ to all panchayats in the area.
Introducing a process of social audit of children’s rights at Block and District level by the trained people. The process should take place through Gram Sabha meetings to be held in each Panchayat on children’s issues, with consolidated reporting to be shared with the NCPCR.
Further recognising the special role of police in protecting child rights, a group of SPO volunteers to be identified for Child Rights Protection training.
II. Disruption to Education, Food/Nutrition and Sanitation Infrastructure & Services – Camps & Villages
Conduct a rapid assessment of food security issues and child malnutrition levels in camps and villages and implement immediate actions to target gaps including meal provision through schools and anganwadis.
Given our very high concern at the near invisibility of the adolescent age group of children, a special plan for identifying and providing education for them may be worked out.
Establish procedures for greater transparency in all institutions such as schools, hostels, Ashram Shalas, Aanganwadi Centres etc., by constituting a committee for periodic review of the functioning of such institutions.
Immediate action with regard to provision of adequate toilet and sanitation facilities in the camps.
III. Inter-State Collaboration – Displaced Families
Conduct a survey and maintain a register of families that have shifted to Andhra Pradesh in the past couple of years the wake of the unrest in the Dantewada area and share this data with the AP government to ensure access to all basic social services by these families.
Interact with the government of Andhra Pradesh for providing education to the children of all those families, who have fled from Chhattisgarh seeking shelter in the Districts of Khammam, Warangal, Adilabad, Karimnagar, and East Godavari. In this regard, it was also decided that the Chhattisgarh Government will facilitate issuing of transfer certificates and other documentation to children who have dropped out of schools and help in readmission their into the schools, supply textbooks in Hindi, and even depute school teachers to Andhra Pradesh for enabling reintegrating children into schools.
In addition to the above priority actions in the immediate term we request you to provide information regarding the population livelihood patterns, health and education status of people living in the camps as well as in villages in Dantewada and Bijapur Districts in accordance with the list of questions that is enclosed. On the basis of this further targeted action plans need to be developed and implemented to address access and quality of key service provision in the areas of health and education and ensure protection and rehabilitation with regard to the impact of conflict & violence on families.
During our visit in the Dantewada Region, we were struck by the enormous tragedies of one and all especially the tribals, their family members, women and children. This is indeed unfortunate. We strongly feel that the State has an obligation to extricate them from the unusual circumstances they have been caught in and ensure their security and fundamental human rights as paramount concerns.
We feel that with conscious effort in the direction of protecting children and their rights there is a window of hope in harmonizing the society. Giving every child an access to education up to class ten and investing in providing all that is necessary to make education happen, we feel can ensure a secure freedom for these children and their families and even deepen democracy.
We will visit Chattisgarh and the Dantewada and Bijapur district after four months to review the progress made on all the above points of action. We hope to receive a comprehensive response from you within one month time. A detailed report of the Commission’s visit shall be sent to you shortly.
With regards,
Yours sincerely,
(Shantha Sinha)
Encl. List of questions (Annex).
ANNEX
National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR)
The Chhattisgarh Government is requested to make the following information available:
A. With respect to CAMPS
POPULATION
o Names and dates of establishing each camp in Dantewada and Bijapur district.
o Population of men, women and children(with age and sex) for each of the camp.
o Numbers of individuals (with ages) without families in each camp.
o Do families reside together in the camp, or are adult males and children separated.
LIVELIHOODS
o How do families earn their livelihood in camps?
o What are the work/employment programmes that are being run in each camp?
o Are rations distributed to camp-residents?
o Are these rations free?
o What constitutes these rations?
o In what measure (per head/per family) and how frequently is each product distributed?
o For how long have rations been distributed in each camp, and for how much longer will they be continued?
HEALTH
o What are the numbers of doctors and other health professional who are active in each camp?
o How many of the above are residents of the camps? (data for each camp separately)
o What is the medical equipment that is available in each camp?
o Details of inventory of medicines and medical supplies?
o Camp-wise data on number of patients treated and their affliction?
o How many pairs of clothes does each child in camp have?
EDUCATION
o How many Anganwadi Centres are being run in each camp?
o How many Anganwadi workers and helpers in each anganwadi?
o Numbers of children, age-wise and sex-wise, of children attending anganwadis.
o How many different schools are being run in each camp?
o What is the capacity, enrolment and attendance data for each class (school wise)?
o How many teachers in every school?
o Names of each school from which these teachers have been relocated.
o What curriculum is followed in the camp-schools?
o Besides school curricula are any other teaching/learning activities taking place for children in camp-schools? If yes, who facilitates these extra-curricular activities?
o What is the sex-ratio in classes V – X. ?
o How many schools have sanitation and drinking water facilities?
o Details of organizations working in different camps. What is the work that each is doing and since when?
o What is the long-term plan for the camps?
B. Request the Government to provide ‘block-wise’ data related to people and services outside camps.
POPULATION
o Population of men, women and children(with age and sex) for each block.
o List of villages that have shifted to camps (block-wise)
o No. of evacuated villages and normal villages.
LIVELIHOODS
o How do families earn their livelihood in villages?
o Details of work/employment programmes (NREGA) that are being run in different villages?
o No. of PDS shops per block?
o Who is caring for property (land, houses, animals) left behind by villagers that have shifted to camps?
HEALTH
o How many Primary Health Centres, and sub-centres are located in each blocka?
o What are the numbers of doctors and other health professional who are active in each blocka?
o How many are trained in allopathic medicine and homeopathic medicine?
o Do they practice allopathic or homeopathic medicine?
o How many of the above are resident in villages? (block-wise data)
o What is the medical equipment that is available in each PHC?
o What are the programmes being run for maternal and child health?
EDUCATION
o How many Anganwadi Centres are being run in each blocka?
o How many Anganwadi workers and helpers in each anganwadi?
o Numbers of children, age-wise and sex-wise, of children attending anganwadis (outside camps).
o How many habitations are not covered by the ICDS?
o How many different schools are being run in the block?
o What is the enrolment and attendance data for each class (school wise/ashram schools)?
o How many teachers in every school?
o What curriculum is followed in the schools?
o How many schools have sanitation and drinking water facilities?
o How many out-of school children in the block and their age, sex and occupation profile?
o Have any schools been closed? If yes, please give details, with name and address.
o Details of school and ashram school buildings destroyed by Naxals?
………………………………………………………………………………………………
Letter to Chief Secretary, Andhra Pradesh
Dear
On behalf of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, (NCPCR) and its team which included Dr. J.M. Lyngdoh and Mr. R. Venkat Reddy, I wish to thank the Andhra Pradesh administration for all the arrangements made during our visit to the State on 17th December 2007. We would particularly like to thank Mr. Raghunandan (Joint Collector, Khammam) for offering to take immediate steps based on our suggestions.
A public hearing was conducted in Charla (Khammam district) to understand the situation of the displaced tribals from Chhattisgarh, who have fled from the civil unrest in Dantewada (Chhattisgarh) and sought refuge in Andhra Pradesh. Preliminary estimates show a minimum of 30,000 people, being settled in Khammam and the adjoining districts of Warangal, Adilabad and East Godavari. Any form of displacement puts a strain on family resources and children are particularly affected by this. In such situations special arrangements need to be made to ensure basic entitlements for displaced people and children.
The issue of migration of tribals and their entitlements has to be dealt with in a systematic fashion. Based on our interaction with the participants of the public hearing in Charla, where a considerable number of displaced tribals gave testimonies, our visit to one settlement of displaced people in Sirivella village, and in our interactions with the District and Block level officers we present the following issues for immediate, priority action.
Population Estimation:
There is a dire need for a census of displaced tribals in those districts of Andhra Pradesh that border Chhattisgarh. This census should including a clear age- and gender-wise estimation of children in the 0-18 years age group.
Nutrition, Health and Food Security:
We found the nutrition status of all displaced tribals to be precarious. Most families survive by doing coolie work and in some cases begging as well. We recommend a rapid assessment of food security issues and child malnutrition levels in camps and villages and immediate actions to target gaps including meal provision through schools and anganwadis.
Children in the age-group on 0-6 years have no access to Anganwadis and ICDS services. Nonetheless immunisation services have been made available to them. All children below six years have to be covered under the ICDS, and a programme must immediately be launched to address the hunger and malnourishment of children, pregnant and lactating mothers and adolescent girls.
PDS Ration cards should be given to the Internally Displaced People (IDP) as an emergency response. The adults also need to be given job cards, so that they can apply for work under the NREGA.
Status of Education:
Displaced children are not admitted to schools in AP because of
(a) lack of school-leaving certificates.
(b) change in language of instruction from hindi to telugu
The Commission recommends that all such children must be given admission in schools at the earliest. Schools dropouts are to be given education and arrangements of RBCs have to be made through the SSA to reintegrate them into formal schools. This would include collective meetings of the district collector with the district education officers. This problem was also discussed with the Chhattisgarh government and it was also decided that they will facilitate issuing of transfer certificates and other documentation to children who have dropped out of schools. They had even offered to depute school teachers, who knew Hindi, to Andhra Pradesh.
Institutional Responses:
There should be a cell in the District Collectorate to respond on children’s issues.
Gram Sabha to be held in each panchayat on ‘children’s issues’. Social Audit of children’s rights should be conducted at block-level.
Lastly, a meeting of the Education Secretaries and district collectors of both A.P. and Chhattisgarh would be beneficial in redressing issues of the children and their education.
During our visit, we were struck by the enormous tragedies of one and all especially the tribals, their family members, women and children. This is indeed unfortunate. We strongly feel that the State has an obligation to extricate them from the unusual circumstances they have been caught in and ensure their security and fundamental human rights as paramount concerns.
We will visit Andhra Pradesh and Khammam district after four months to review the progress made on all the above points of action. We hope to receive a comprehensive response from you within one month time. A detailed report of the Commission’s visit shall be sent to you shortly.
Thankyou
Yours Sincerely
Shantha Sinha
Bibliography
1. News articles & Media reports.
2. ‘When the State makes war on its own people’, PUDR et.al., April 2006
3. ‘War in the Heart of India’, Independent Citizens Initiative, July 2006
4. ‘Weekly Assessments and Briefings’, South Asia Intelligence Review, Vol. 5,No. 31, February 12, 2007.
5. Medicins Sans Frontieres Activity Report, September 2006-June 2007
6. Open Letters to Government and Maoists, EPW, VOL 41 No. 27 and 28 July 08 - July 21, 2006
7. Open Reply to Independent Citizens' Initiative on Dantewada, Ganapathi (General Secretary, CPI(Maoist)), EPW, VOL 42 No. 01 January 06 - January 12, 2007.
8. RedR Report – ‘Multisectoral Assesment of IDP Camps in Dantewada District – Education, Environmental Sanitation, Shelter, Health’, June 2006 (shared by UNICEF)
9. ‘Trauma of Adivasi Women in Dantewada’, Economic & Political Weekly, January 27, 2007
10. ‘The Adivasis of Chattisgarh: Victims of the Naxalite movement and Salwa Judum campaign’, Asian Centre for Human Rights, 17 March 2006
11. ‘Turning a blind eye – child soldiers at war in the Maoist conflict of India’, Staci Martin, Forum for Fact-Finding Documentation and Advocacy, November 2006
12. Kartam Joga and Others. Vs. State of Chhattisgarh and Union of India, Writ Petition (Criminal) 119/2007.
13. Nandini Sundar and Others Vs. State of Chhattisgarh, Writ Petition (Civil) 250/2007
[1] Coolie work includes agricultural labour, loading-unloading of goods in markets or factories etc.
[2] Dal: lentils
[3] According to a government official the criteria for selecting SPOs is that: (a) they should be above 18 years of age; (b) their families should be resident within the camp; and (c) they should be victims of Naxal violence.
NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHILD RIGHTS
VISIT TO DANTEWADA (Chhattisgarh) & KHAMMAM (Andhra Pradesh)
To Investigate Status of Health and Education of Children affected by Civil Unrest
17th to 19th December 2007
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction & Key Recommendations 3
Account of Fact Finding Team Visit 6
Annexures
Annexure 1 – Program 12
Annexure 2 – List of consultations held prior to the visit. 12
Annexure 3 – Testimonies presented in the Public Hearings. 13
Annexure 4 – Written petitions received in Cherla Public Hearing 19
Annexure 5 – Written petitions received in Kirandul Public Hearing 22
Annexure 6 – Letter to Chief Secretary- Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh 33
Bibliography 40
Introduction
The National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) conducted a fact-finding visit from 17th to 19th December 2007, to Dantewada (Chhattisgarh) and Khammam (Andhra Pradesh), in order to assess the status of children’s health and education in the situation of civil unrest in Dantewada district. The fact-finding team comprised Dr. Shantha Sinha (Chairperson, NCPCR), Mr. J.M. Lyngdoh (Former Chief Election Commissioner of India), and Mr. Venkat Reddy (MV Foundation, Hyderabad).
Executive Summary - Key Recommendations
The following report details a narrative account of the team’s visit and highlights key issues pertaining to children and families in camps and villages affected by conflict in Dantewada and those displaced across state borders as a result of the same. Specific action items recommended by the NCPCR team in response to these issues have also been noted.
During the team’s visit to the Dantewada Region, the members’ were struck by the enormous tragedies of one and all especially the tribals, their family members, women and children. This is indeed unfortunate. We strongly feel that the State has an obligation to extricate them from the unusual circumstances they have been caught in and ensure their security and fundamental human rights as paramount concerns.
We feel that with conscious effort in the direction of protecting children and their rights there is a window of hope in harmonizing the society. Giving every child an access to education up to class ten and investing in providing all that is necessary to make education happen, we feel can ensure a secure freedom for these children and their families and even deepen democracy.
Overall the NCPCR is of the view that there are a number of core areas of concern, which require comprehensive strategies and strong, time-sensitive implementation plans to address the profound impact of violence, deprivation and disruption on the lives and rights of children and their families affected by conflict in the region. The NCPCR team has issued key recommendations noted below and will continue to monitor progress on the implementation of these recommendations.
Child Rights Training & Development
- Underlining its concern for the protection of the rights of children in regions affected by conflict, the NCPCR committee has recommended the establishment of a Child Rights Cell in the office of the Dantewada and Khammam District Collector with members from the community, officials and non-officials;
- It has also called for and offered to facilitate the training of the functionaries of all institutions dealing with children (schools, hostels, Ashram Shalas, Anganwadi Centres etc) in a systematic fashion to sensitize them on child rights issues. Recognising the special role of police in protecting child rights, a group of SPO volunteers has been requested to be identified for Child Rights Protection training.
- Further a process of social audit of children’s rights to be led by the trained people has been recommended at Block and District level.
Monitoring and support of Inter-State Displaced Children & Families
- The NCPCR committee has identified the protection of entitlements and rights of displaced children and families and attendance to their needs as a priority concern to be addressed through inter-state collaboration. In this regard its recommendations include the conduct of survey work and maintenance of registers on the families who have shifted to AP over the recent years in the wake of the unrest; and sharing of this data between state governments with actions to be taken to ensure provision of access to all basic social services by these families.
- With regard to education both governments have been asked to collaborate on ensuring provision of education to the children of all those families who have fled from Chhattisgarh. Key measures to include facilitation of issuing of transfer certificates and other documentation to children who have dropped out of schools; assistance with readmission into the schools, supply of Hindi textbooks and deputation of school teachers to Andhra Pradesh for enabling reintegration of children into schools.
Schools as Zone of Peace
- In recognizing schools as a critical element in ensuring the protection of children’s rights the NCPCR Committee strongly urges that schools be identified as ‘zones of peace’ by all parties. This would include non-use of schools for any other than educational purposes, separation of schools from the camps, and introduction of programmes addressing the psycho-social needs of the children delivered within the school environment with appropriate training of teachers.
Re-building of disrupted education & health services/infrastructure affecting children in camps and villages
- A rapid assessment of food security issues and child malnutrition levels in camps and villages has been recommended together with the implementation of immediate actions to target gaps including meal provision through schools and anganwadis.
- Given the committee’s very high concern at the near invisibility of the adolescent age group of children – data has been requested on a priority basis by gender on this demographic in camps and villages focusing on school participation; a needs assessment and action plan addressing capacity / access to ashram schools, residential schools, hostels etc has also been requested.
- The establishment of procedures for greater transparency in all institutions such as schools, hostels, Ashram Shalas, Aanganwadi Centres etc., has been called for through the constitution of a committee for periodic review of the functioning of such institutions;
- Immediate action has also been called for with regard to provision of adequate toilet and sanitation facilities in the camps
The NCPCR committee would also like to draw attention to and call for adherence to the UNHRC guiding principles on all forms of internal displacement, which highlight fundamental rights addressing displaced children within the context of their families/guardians. These include:
(i) Principle 13 – prohibition of recruitment of children in armed forces and participation in hostilities
(ii) Principle 23 – right of displaced children to receive education
(iii) Principles 16 & 17 – right to be informed about the whereabouts of missing relatives and re-unification with dispersed family members
(iv) Principle 15 - protection of internally displaced persons against forcible return to re-settlement in any place which places their life, liberty, safety, health etc at risk
(v) Principles 28 – 30 – right to return in safety and dignity and the obligation upon authorities to help recover property and possessions or gain appropriate reparation
Account of Fact-Finding Team visit
A. Displaced Children & Families, Andhra Pradesh
Day 1: 17th December 2007
1. Public Hearing in Charla (Khammam District)
The civil unrest in Dantewada and Bijapur district, resulting from the reported conflict between Naxals and Salwa Judum, has forced many families and individuals to flee to Andhra Pradesh. Independent sources claim that at least 30000 people from South Bastar are staying in Khammam, Warangal and East Godavari districts. The public hearing was organized to understand the condition of these internally displaced people (IDP) and children.
The public hearing was held in Charla and was attended by more than 200 IDP: men, women and children. The team heard the testimonies of over 35 people. Every testimony included a narrative of extreme violence committed against them, their families and property, by the Naxalites, Salwa Judum and the security forces. Many people shared accounts of family members being killed and women raped by the Salwa Judum. The testimonies noted the difference between Naxalites and the Salwa Judum. Having faced repeated acts of violence, harassment, arson and pillage the only option for these people was to run away from their villages and seek refuge in another state. This movement often involved walking for three days through the jungle, to avoid detection by the Naxalites and Salwa Judum. The accounts described how often the old and infirm had to be left behind because they could not undertake this journey, and there are many such separated families where some family members are hiding in the forests of Chhattisgarh. Leaving behind their land and livestock they have arrived in Andhra Pradesh in a state of penury and distress.
Also noted was the increased pressure on infrastructure (such as water and housing) as well as on livelihood opportunities in villages in AP as a result of the increased population. The testimony accounts highlighted the neglect of the IDPs’ circumstances by the A.P. administration, which is further contributing to their continuing poverty, ill health, and despair. The team heard that some elected representatives of gram panchayats have taken up the issues of migrant tribal population regarding lack of services
Despite having faced such hardship all in attendance at the public hearing expressed a wish to return home once the situation returns to normal.
2. Visit to IDP settlement in village Sirivella (Charla mandalam, Khammam district.)
Enroute to Dantewada the team visited a settlement of displaced tribals in Sirivella village. The settlement was on the outskirts of the village with about 30 families including 29 children. They were told that this particular hamlet had been burnt about 3-4 times by the Forest Department because it was illegal occupation of forest land. Moreover the families described how they have also faced opposition from the locals in a situation where increases in population will place a strain on the resources.
These families are surviving on daily coolie work and missing one day of work translates into the next day spent in a state of hunger. One family had had nothing to eat that day, as the mother was unable to find work the previous day. The team noted that all the people, adults and children, looked emaciated. The children had protruding bellies, a telling sign of malnourishment. One 2-year-old girl looked hardly older than a three-month baby. It was evident that this settlement was experiencing a situation of chronic food deprivation.
The team also met a 14-15 year old boy, who had completed education up to 7th standard, but had not been able to enroll in school in Andhra Pradesh. He wanted to continue studies.
The issue of migration of tribals and their entitlements has to be dealt with in a systematic fashion.
Key issues highlighted during the public hearing and discussions are:
IDP Numbers & Entitlements: there is neither an estimate of the numbers of such settlers nor any plan for ensuring their entitlements.
Settlements: The Forest Department has been continuously evicting IDPs from their temporary hutments in the Forest Areas.
Livelihood: Most adults are engaged in coolie[1] work. They are denied access to work under the NREGA and the PDS grain as well. These families are living a hand-to-mouth existence, verging on the brink of daily starvation.
Education: Prior to moving to AP, the children would attend schools in Chhattisgarh. However in A.P. they are being denied admission as they have no school certificates and also because they are unfamiliar with Telugu as a medium of instruction.
ICDS facilities: Children in the age-group on 0-6 years have no access to Anganwadis and ICDS services. Nonetheless immunisation services have been made available to them.
IDP Return & Re-settlement: Everyone wanted to return to their home and villages.
The NCPCR has recommended the following specific action items for immediate follow-up:
1. There has to be a census of such population including a clear age- and gender-wise estimation of children in the 0-18 years age group.
2. All children below six years have to be covered under the ICDS, and a programme must immediately be launched to address the hunger and malnourishment of children, pregnant and lactating mothers and adolescent girls.
3. Schools dropouts are to be given education and arrangements of RBCs have to be made through the SSA to reintegrate them into formal schools. This would include collective meetings of the district collector with the district education officers. A meeting of the Chief Secretaries and district collectors of both A.P. and Chhattisgarh would be beneficial in redressing all issues of the displaced tribals.
4. The families need to be given ration cards, so that they can avail grain through PDS.
5. The adults also need to be given job cards, so that they can apply for work under the NREGA.
B. Children and Families in Camps & Villages in Dantewada District
3. Interaction with children of Ashram Schools, Konta (Dantewada)
The team interacted with nearly 250-300 children studying in the Ashram school at Konta. Most of the children were studying in class 1 and 2. Some of them looked older and could have been higher classes. In this interaction some children were specially identified and introduced by the Salwa Judum volunteers to the team as children whose parents were killed by naxalites.
4. Visit to Errabore and Injaram government camp (Dantewada district)
The NCPCR team made brief stops at Injaram and Errabore camps.
The Injaram camp presently has about 3500 people including 1500 children. The Injaram camp seems to be developing into a permanent settlement with pakka houses and tiled roofs. Schools and anganwadi teachers from Konta block have been shifted to this camp, thus there are about 25 teachers for 320 children, and five ICDS centres operating in the camp. The situation in Errabore camp is similar with five schools and about 15 Anganwadi centres. Though the teacher-student ratio may be ideal because of this, the general atmosphere of camps was not found to be conducive for children’s education and development. The team noted that there were many children who were not adequately clothed, and in light of the intensifying winter it is important to act on this immediately.
For their livelihood most camp inmates were working on dam and pond construction. Rations were also provided to the camp inmates at the rate of ½ k.g. rice per day per person, and ½ k.g. dal[2] per person, per week. In the absence of cultivating their lands it is pertinent to note that the diet of the camp residents was very limited, potentially resulting in malnutrition. Nonetheless it is important to note the children residing in the hostel, were provided a dinner meal everyday.
Day 2: 18th December 2007
1. Public Hearing in Kirandul (Dantewada)
Kirandul is a mining town nestled in the Eastern Ghats of south Chhattisgarh. The public hearing witnessed a participation of more than 200 tribals from Dantewada and Bijapur, mostly people living in villages, and a few from the government camps, Salwa Judum members, NGO representatives and government functionaries.
Here too the testimonies were replete with stories of bloodshed, arson and untold anguish. There were many tribals who had fled from their villages for fear of Naxalites and their atrocities. The villagers complained that the Naxalites allow no development works, road construction, they have blown up schools and they control all land and livelihood activities. Moreover they also disallowed visits by teachers and doctors to the villages. Many also complained that their children and women are taken away by the Naxalites and given training in revolutionary ideology. The villagers said that they wished to return to their villages but couldn’t do so without police protection because they will be persecuted by the Naxalites.
Simultaneously there were many accounts of violence by the Salwa Judum members and security forces too. Salwa Judum has forced many villagers to move to the camps, and burnt houses, livestock and in some cases standing crops, so that those who stay back in villages have no means of subsistence. There were numerous accounts of family members being killed for resisting the Salwa Judum. Also it was shared that the tribals are not allowed to leave the camps and return to camps- most who do so have been doing so surreptitously. Many participants in the public hearing had been hiding in the forests and trekked through the night to reach Kirandul. One woman had left her children under a bush, to be cared by others, to attend the public hearing.
A number of the villagers who have moved to camps have been there for two years. Even within camps all services and entitlements are not completely secured. Lack of sanitation facilities emerged as a big problem within the camps. Pilferage of funds from camps was also alleged. Livelihood activities within the camp comprise working on government works like road and dam construction. Many camp inmates with lands near the camps cultivate their lands during the day and return to the camp during the night. Many other have joined the Chhattisgarh Police as Special Police Officers (SPOs).[3]
The situation in the villages is reported to be worse than in the camps. All the testimonies of the camp inmates as well those currently residing in villages stated that there were no schools, anganwadis or primary health centers in their villages. Upon the admission of the government officers, even prior to Salwa Judum about 65% of the district was inaccessible to them because of Naxalite presence. In the districts of Dantewada and Bijapur most government services have been restricted to the roadside camps. However social activists of the area allege that when no teachers or doctors have been harmed by Naxalites, there is no reason to stop education and health services. A big problem is that schools and Anganwadi teachers have been shifted from the villages to the camps leading to a concentration of service-providers in camps and no services available to those who are still living in villages. Moreover the numbers of people in the camps has reduced, and the government should actively work on reopening schools and health facilities in the villages.
Most of the tribals who are not in camps stated, that they are living in the forests in fear of discovery by both the Naxals as well as the Salwa Judum members. They are cultivating their lands as best as they can, but apart from this there is little other work available. The situation of food security in the villages is grave, with many people at the public hearing not being able to concretely say what they had eaten the day before. Visits to the haats (weekly markets) have also become restricted, as the villagers fear capture by the salwa judum or police.
Key issues highlighted include:
The Salwa Judum volunteers’ insistence on showcasing children as victims naxal violence raises concerns for their re-integratio to normalcy. This can cause damage to children’s psyche resulting in a delay in the non-existent healing process. The food security situation and lack of social infrastructure /services in villages requires urgent attention.
The NCPCR team disturbingly did not see many children in the 10+ age group.
The ICDS centers run for only about 3 hours in a day, as a result of which the parents leave their children at home when they leave for work.
There is a grave need for creating spaces for dialogue between tribals and with the government as well. For this the government and civil society activists need to work together. All agencies are responsible for recreating trust in society.
Everyone wanted to return to their home and villages
Key action items with regard to the above issues are noted below:
Schools and anganwadi centers must be re-opened in the villages.
A village-level committee should be formed to monitor progress of every child in the village.
The PDS shops should be reopened in the villages, as also NREGA works should be started so that some livelihood opportunity can be created.
A rapid assessment of food security issues and child malnutrition levels in camps and villages has been recommended together with the implementation of immediate actions to target gaps including meal provision through schools and anganwadis.
A demographic survey of children in the 10+ age group and a needs assessment with regard to schooling must be conducted urgently
It is suggested that the ICDS centre timings be extended to serve as day-care centers. In this case a mid-day meal must be provided to children in addition to the supplementary nutrition.
2. Meeting with District Collector, SP and other District Officials
The NCPCR Committee raised all of the key issues noted in this report in discussions and dialogue with the district officials. We received broad based agreement on follow-up of the key actions we have recommended and hope to see progress on these in the very near future.
With regard to violation of children’s rights the Committee would like to specifically note that in reference to the practice of the recruitment of children under 18 years of age as SPOs, the government and police agreed that this had occurred in the past due to lack of strong protocols on age validation but assured us that these have now been strictly enforced.
The NCPCR strongly urges vigilant, strict monitoring by the government to ensure that this fundamental violation of a child’s rights does not occur.
Annexure 1
Programme Schedule
17th December 2007
10.30 a.m.: Public Hearing in Charla, Khammam, Andhra Pradesh
18th December 2007
10.30 a.m.: Public Hearing in Kirandul, Dantewada, Chhattisgarh
19th December 2007
9.00 a.m.: Meeting with the Chief Secretary, Chhattisgarh and other officials.
11.00 a.m.: Press Meeting, Chattisgarh Secretariat
Annexure 2
List of consultations held by NCPCR prior to the visit
UNICEF India
Campaign for Peace and Justice, Chhattisgarh
Medicins sans Frontieres (MSF)
Charkha
Annexure 3
Testimonies received at the public hearing. (Names have been changed to protect the identity of the petitioners)
At the CHARLA PUBLIC HEARING, KHAMMAM, A.P.
From,
Medium Ramanna, Sitara Association
We work for internally displaced people from Chhattisgarh and work to provide them ration cards, education facilities and health facilities. Have done a survey of IDPs in Khammam district and submitted a list to the NCPCR. IDP children are not being admitted to schools.
From,
Director, Sitara Association
In Konta taluka, 30-40 villages have been burnt by Salwa Judum. About 20,000 people from Chhattisgarh are staying in Khammam. The DSP, Khammam has provided help to IDPs in terms of clothes and utensils.
From,
Goppa Veraiyya
Teacher, Warangal
The IDP settlements are in the nature of 10 hutments in a single area. The Forest department is burning the houses of the IDPs as the settlements are based in reserve forests area. They are being treated as enemies of the state. There are no health, educational, and livelihood services and opportunities available to them.
Parminder,
Badagudem Kendram, Chhattisgarh
About 50 families have come here, which includes 40 children. They have been here (in AP) for about 2 years. The Salwa Judum and police has harassed us, and killed 4 of my family members. The village was burnt. We have escaped and left our cattle behind. Sometimes we go back to visit them.
Joginder,
of Lingagiri village, Vasaguda mandal, Dantewada
The salwa judum and police came to our village and asked us to come and stay at the police stations. But we refused to go, and they beat us. They returned another time and killed 3-4 people of the village. Some 50-60 villages have fled to A.P. from there, and have relocated in Peddamuselara village, Cherla mandal.
Our children are not ebing admitted into schools, as they have no certificates, and have a problem with reading and writing telugu. The children are given immunisation and polio drops.
Nirali,
of Lingagiri village, Dantewada
Salwa Judum would visit our villages and ask us to go to the police stations. The Salwa Judum members were people of other villages who would come together and harass us. They wore pants. No one from our villages joined the Salwa Judum. The police came with guns and killed 2 members of my family and raped my niece.
In the past we have been migrating to Charla for a few months to work as agricultural labourers. Since we knew this place, we fled here. A few families collectively traveled, on foot for three days to reach A.P. There was a pregnant woman amongst us, who delivered a baby on route.
Some IDPs say that if children speak telugu and study in telugu it will be a problem when we go back, because in Chhattisgarh the teaching is done in hindi. We want to return to our villages if circumstances permit. Our land papers have got destroyed when the houses were set on fire.
Sambasiva,
of Patanendra village, Darbaguda panchayat, Dantewada.
The Salwa Judum has burnt our houses and cattle. They accuse villagers about being supporters of Naxalites. We are farmers. We have fled to AP and are currently living in Chintoor mandalam, Khammam. Some 70 families from Patanendra village are staying here. A few elders have visited Chhattigarh about 3-4 times. Our children are not ebing admitted in schools on grounds of not having certificates. Some children have also got malaria.
Kantidas (age: 70 years)
Of Lingagiri Village, Dantewada
I have fled alone to AP. My sons are still in Chhattisgarh, living in fear in the forests. One son has been killed. I survive by doing coolies work here.
6 families from Chhattisgarh have settled in Enkatur village, Cherla mandal, Khammam. Their children are going to school.
Prabhudas,
Reporter, Varta newspaper
The children on IDPs need hindi medium schools for education.
Ramanadri
Of Lingapuram
We have come to AP two years ago. Our children are not being admitted into schools. They are getting immunisation. We survive by doing coolie work in the paper mill. For the work we get 3 ser rice and Rs. 30 daily. We have no ration card here.
We want to go back. We want you to send us back.
B. Venkatamma,
Ward member, Lingapuram village, Charla mandal, Khammam
There are about 75 IDP families in her area. Some IDP children are going to school, but no other facilities are being provided to them.
When the Mandal Revenue Officer told higher officals about the presence of IDP and lack of services to them, he was told that, since the IDPs will go back to their own villages, thus no services need to be provided to them.
At the KIRANDUL PUBLIC HEARING, DANTEWADA, CHHATTISGARH
From,
Kasoli Camp, Geedam block, Dantewada
We have fled from Abujmar village from fear of Naxalites. My husband was killed by Naxalites. There we have no schools, no anganwadis, no livelihood facilities, no bridges and no roads. This village is on the other side of the Indrawati river. We have been in the camp for 3 years and survive by doing coolie work (weaving bamboo). About 50% of the abujmar village is in the camp.
The Kasoli camp has 2 primary schools, 2 secondary schools, 2 ashram schools and 1 high school.
Gyaneshwar,
Orcha, Abujmar block
We have come to camp due to fear of Naxals. There are about 30 people from the village in the camp. The naxals have stopped road construction and other developmental activities. They have blown up 4 balak ashrams. They ask the students to vacate the school and then blow up the building. They control our land and cattle. They also forcibly take away our women.
We haven’t returned to the village after going to the camp. We cannot go back without security.
From,
Abujmar village, Bangoli panchayat, Bhairamgarh block, Bijapur district
The Naxalites don’t want any government services. They do not allow any government teachers and doctors. They have blown up 4 ashram schools, and there are no education facilities. They destroy buildings because they think the police forces will use them. They also take away all children above class 5. They are killing people, my own brother was killed when he protested against them. Naxals want everyone to remain poor.
All villagers of Abujmar have come to camps. I migrated to Dantewada in 2004. There are good education facilities for my children here. We haven’t returned from fear of the naxalites.
Inmate of Kasoli camp, Bhairamgarh block
(originally from Pallevai village)
The Naxals have trained us to do lal salaam. They tell us to work collectively and eat
collectively but the loot all the money that comes for government works.
The camp has school and anganwadi facilities. Children are in the camp ashram school.
Himanshu
Vanvasi Chetna Ashram, Kavalnar, Dantewada
Many children within camps are out of school and anganwadis. Malnutrition deaths have also been reported in the camps. Thus it is not true that all facilities have been provided in the camps.
Teachers, anganwadi workers, handpump mechanics and doctors are not going to villages out of fear that naxalites will target them. However an RTI I have filed shows that no such functionaries have been harmed by the naxalites, then why have these services been withdrawn.
Lingam Marka
Vanvasi Chetna Ashram (NGO), Dantewada
There are no sanitation facilities in the camps like: Injaram, Dornapal, Konta, Errabore and Kasoli.
N.W. Andrew
Executive Engineer, State Electricity Board
Our department is working in the interior areas as well, so Himanshu’s allegation is wrong. Our staff has also been threatened by Naxalites. Sometimes the movement is restricted for short durations, but resumed later.
Mr. Shrikant Dubey
Asst. Commissioner, Tribal Affairs
Dantewada
The Electricity board has to go once in a couple of years, but the teachers have to go daily. There is a greater threat to them. We have been talking to the Sangham leaders as well, about allowing teachers to function in these areas, but they have not agreed. The naxalites use school rations in many places.
In the past 2 years about 60 new ashram schools have been sanctioned. Infact 5000 additional children have already been admitted to school. 3 primary schools in an area will be closed to make 1 ashram school. In Dantewada the ashram schools are open all 12 months, unlike other places where they function for 10 months.
We do not have the statistics of children per village, and our communication lines are not complete, but 5000 new admissions show that there has been some communication.
Dr. G.S. Thakur
Chief Medical Officer
It is not correct that we are not providing services in the interior areas.
Manish Kunjam,
Ex-MLA, Konta
Konta is the biggest block in the country, and measures 100 km at its widest. The village schools have been closed and brought to camps. In Bijapur 140 schools have been closed. How can all children be serviced by roadside schools. All records are bogus. The work is concentrated only in the salwa judum areas and no work is being done in the non-salwa judum areas. Also there is much pilferage of funds in the camps. The villagers are not allowed to leave camp and return home. More than 7000 homes have been burnt by salwa judum.
Camps have been created for political purposes. They will remain till 2008 elections and then be disbanded. The voting lists are only being prepared for camp inmates and not in villages.
The solution would be that: (a) those villagers who wish to return to vllages must be allowed to do so, as 90% of the villagers have been brought to camp forcibly. Schools should be reopened in villages. Ashram schools should be opened at the block level, where a conducive environment for education should be created.
Swami,
Dhurli village
The zila panchayat and state government is taking land forcibly for steel plant. False gram sabhas have been held and 4 villagers were jailed for protesting. Then the villagers were made to sign over their land saying that they were signing attendance sheets.
Only teachers have been relocated, not children, thus they have lost out the educational opportunities. Also adivasi development is based on education opportunities.
There is no NREGA in Bijapur and Konta block.
From Ghumodi village
There is no anganwadi and school in the village. Children have been taken to another village to study.
From Tumalpatu village,
There is no school and anganwadi in the village. There are many children in the village. The salwa judum has burnt houses, taken their cattle and fowl. We have been living in the forest for 2 years because houses were burnt. We cannot farm and there is little to eat.
From Karaiguda village,
My husband was killed by Salwa judum while cultivating mirchi on our land. They also looted jewellery, 15 hens, and 3 goats. I have two children and there is no school or anganwadi in my village. I have left them under a bush to come to this hearing.
From Karaiguda village,
My house has been burnt and rice stock destroyed. We are now living in the jungle out of fear of being attacked again. The children are also with us in the jungle.#
# This person could not concretely list the food items he or his children ate that morning. This is a clear indication of food insufficiency.
From Batol village, Kirandul, Dantewada
Twenty-five houses in my village were burnt..
Up-Sarpanch
Kuakonda tehsil
The salwa judum burnt about 60-70 houses in my village. They also looted jewellery, utensils, clothes, hens and cattle.
Annexure 4
Written petitions received by Chairperson (NCPCR) at the Charla public hearing (Khammam, Andhra Pradesh): 17th December 2007
From.
Sitara Association (Reg. No. 1744/98)
Chinturu, Khammam district.
Andhra Pradesh
Sub: request to safeguard the future of displaced adivasi children
The Sitara Association is giving health services to the displaced tribals in the Palvancha and Bhadrachalam divisions of Khammam district. In our area of work there are about 430 such displaced children, who are engaged in child labour. Last year all these children were studying in class 4, 5, 6 and 7 in Chhattisgarh. In Andhra Pradesh they are working as goatherds in various villages.
We request that special RBC (Resident Bridge Course) centres in hindi language should be provided for these children, such that their education is safeguarded. In A.P. the administration is not undertaking any such action for these children. Whenever the officials were asked, we were told that these displaced children from Chhattisgarh will not be admitted into schools, because they will go back.
We request you to make provisions for the education of such children.
Sd.
Venkateswaralu
Executive Member
Sitara Association
From,
Sitara Association
Sub: Request to provide education, health, ration cards, drinking water facilities and enumeration in voters list.
Due to the civil unrest in Chhattisgarh almost 20,000 tribals have fled to A.P., and are living in pitiable conditions. Due to AP administration these children have lost out on education also.
Salwa Judum atrocities began in February 2006 in Konta taluk, Dantewada district, Chhattisgarh. Since this time tribals have been emptying their villages. Simultaneously Naxals have torched houses of tribals on the grounds that they have joined the salwa judum. However the salwa judum have burnt greater number of houses and entire villages in some cases. The people have list all their belongings-money, livestock, clothes, jewellery- in this arson. Teachers have stopped attending school from fear of Naxals and salwa judum. Additionally naxals have blasted school buildings as they may be used by police forces as shelters. The villagers have left their houses due to the collective fear of police, naxals and judum. They are living on forests to save their lives.
About 20,000 tribals have settled in Pavlancha and Bhadrachalam divisions of Khammam district. We are providing health services to some of these displaced people but our support is not adequate. We request you to recognize these displaced tribals as citizens of India and support the A.P. administration to inturn service these tribals.
Sd.
Medium Ramanna
Programme Coordinator
Sitara Association
# Petition includes a list of IDPs in Khammam.
Sub: Request to give protection from Salwa Judum and Maoists atrocities, which include violence, beating, killings, rape, arson and false cases on innocent tribals.
We are submitting this information for your knowledge and action.
I am Chidem Nagesh s/o Kishtaiah, resident of Lingagairi village, Bhoopalpatnam taluka, Bhasagoda police station, Dantewada district. I belong to the Gotti Koya tribe. There are 2 adults and 2 children in my family. We have undergone great atrocities by salwa judum.
Presently we are living in Peddamidisineru village, Cherla mandal, Khammam district. We have left all properties, livestock and land in Chhattisgarh and come to AP. Here we are surviving by doing labour work and begging.
We request you to protect us as we have nothing to do with the clashes between Maoists, Salwa Judum, CRPF and police.
Sd.
Chidem Nagesh s/o Kishtaiah
From
Telangana Adivasi Udhyogula Sangham
Warangal, Andhra Pradesh
Sub: Request to give protection from Salwa Judum and Maoists atrocities, which include
violence, beating, killings, rape, arson and false cases on innocent tribals.
We are submitting this information for your knowledge and action.
In Chhattisgarh the violence between the state, Maoists, and salwa judum, has resulted in innocent tribals being caught in between. Amongst this the Gotti Koya tribe has been greatly affected. There has been much killing, rape, arson and people being beaten up in this. The people have left behind all their possessions – their land, agriculture, cattle, goats, hens, houses, clothes, jewellery- and fled to Andhra Pradesh. Here they are surviving by doing labour work and begging. We request you to protect them as they have nothing to do with the clashes between Maoists, Salwa Judum, CRPF and police.
Sd.
Goppa Verraiyya
District Convenor,
Telangana Adibasi Udhyogula Sangham
Sub: Request to give protection from Salwa Judum and Maoists atrocities, which include violence, beating, killings, rape, arson and false cases on innocent tribals.
We are submitting this information for your knowledge and action.
I am Sode Sommaiyah s/o Chokkaiyah , resident of Nambi village, Bijapur taluka.. There are 2 adults and 2 children in my family. We have undergone great atrocities by salwa judum.
Salwa Judum members came to our village one day and asked us to join the salwa judum, otherwise they threatened to charge us as being supporters of Maoists. On their second visit they beat us up, torched our houses and raped women.
Presently we are living in Brahmanapalli village, ST colony, Mangapeta mandal, Warangal district.
We have left all properties, livestock and land in Chhattisgarh and come to AP. Here we are surviving by doing labour work and begging. We request you to protect us as we have nothing to do with the clashes between Maoists, Salwa Judum, CRPF and police.
Sd.
Sode Sommaiyah s/o Chokkaiyah
Annexure 5
Petitions received by the Chairperson (NCPCR) at the Kirandul public hearing, (Dantewada, Chhattisgarh): 18th December 2007
1. Sub: Complaint about my father being killed by the police and SPO.
I am Nagesh, S/o Hemlabori. I am a resident of Tumadpal village, Simlipenta panchayat, Jagargonda thana. Two months ago my father Hemlabori went to the Aavapalli bazaar to buy rice. Sodibhola and Hemlajoga of the village accompanied him. Its been two months my father has not returned home. Hemlajoga who had accompanied him to the market, returned to the village and told us that the police beat them up in Aavapalli bazaar, after which the SPOs took all three (Hemlabori, Sodibhola and Hemlajoga) to the Aavapalli salwa judum camp. The SPOs were 10-12 in number. The SPOs questioned them in the camp after which they took the three to the nearby jungle and started beating them with weapons. At this point Hemlajoga managed to escape from the clutches of the salwa judum. Hemlajoga returned to the village and told us that my father Hemlabori and Sodibhola have been killed. All of us villagers are terrified: members of Salwa judum are killing and looting people in village after village.
Sd.
Nagesh
(Tumadpal village, Jagargonda thana)
18/12/2007
2. Sub: Complaint of looting and beating by SPO
I am Sodi Bandi s/o Nanda. I am resident of village Ghumodi, thana Jagargonda, tehsil Konta, district Dantewada. Salwa judum and SPO have looted three lungi, sari and one pair of gold earrings, one pair of noserings, and 4 hens from my home.
All villages are living in fear.
Sd.
Sodi Bandi s/o Nanda
(Ghumodi vill., Jagargonda thana, tehsil Konta, district Dantewada
3. Sub: Complaint about my husband being killed by the police and SPO.
I am Jogi w/o Sodibhola. I am a resident of Tumadpal village, Simlipenta panchayat, Jagargonda thana. Two months ago when I went to Aavapalli bazaar with my husband Sodibhola to buy rice, the police beat up my husband and Hemlabori and Hemlajoga of the village. Then the Salwa judum SPOs took these three to the Aavapalli camp. Of the three Hemlajoga informed us that Sodibhola and Hemlabori were beaten up mercilessly by the SPOs. Hemlajogi escaped and returned to the village to give this information. I was scared so did not report this. All the villagers are very terrified even now.
Sd.
Mrs. Jogu w.o. Sodibhola
(Tumalpad vill., Jagargonda thana)
18/12/2007.
4. Sub: Complaint about salwa judum and forces setting fire to our houses and looting.
I am Hemlajoga. I am a resident of Tumadpal village, Jagargonda thana. Two years ago members of salwa judum and the forces came to our village and set fire to 18 houses. Our goats, hens and garinstock all got burnt in this fire. Also they looted Rs. 17,000 that was hidden in my wife’s sari. This hooliganism of the salwa judum and forces has terrorized the villagers. Even now we are staying under trees in the forest, out of fear.
Sd.
Hemlajoga
(Tumlapad vill. Jagargonda thana)
18/12/2007
5. Sub: Complaint about looting by jawans of SPO and forces.
I am Kosa s/o Koya. I am resident of Bengapal village, Gumiyapal panchayat, Nendipara panchayat. Last year SPOs of ‘salwa judum’ and ‘forces’ took away 4 hens and Rs. 2000. Also while leaving they set fire to a number of houses of the village and beat up some young people. All of us villagers are terrorized by the hooliganism of the salwa judum. The police do not pay any attention to our complaints.
Sd.
Kosa s/o Koya
(Bengapal village, Gumiyapal panchayat)
18/12/2007
6. Complaint about looting and arson by jawans of SPO and forces
I am Bhima s/o Gunda. I am resident of Badepalli village, Ghumiyapal panchayat, Patelpara thana, Kirandul, Dantewada. Two years ago jawans of SPO and ‘forces’ came to our village, broke the lock of my house, and took away 3 quintal rice, 2 quintal kosra, 2 big utensils, and later torched my house. All the villagers all terrified. Many houses of the village have been burnt.
Sd.
Bhima s/o Gunda
(Badepalli village, Ghumiyapal panchayat)
7. Sub: Complaint of beating by Salwa judum, SPO and jawans of ‘forces’
I am Lakhma s/o Pandu. I am resident of Nayapara, Badepalli village, Ghumiyapal panchayat. Last year in 2006 the jawans of SPO and salwa judum came to the village and beat me up. I have given a written complaint of this through the secretary, in the police thana. Noone pays any attention to the complaints. All the villagers are living in great terror. Many houses of our village were burnt and villagers beaten up.
Sd.
Lakhma s/o Pandu
Badepalli village.
8. Sub: Complaint about looting and arson by jawans of SPO and forces
I am Dhannu s/o Bundu. I am resident of Nayapara, Badepalli village, Ghumiyapal panchayat, Kirandul thana. Two years ago members of SPO and ‘forces’ came to my house and forcibly took away 15 quintal rice, 10 quintal kosra, Rs. 2000, 2 utnesils, 1 ganj, and burnt the house while leaving.The villagers are living in terror. The police and administration is not listening to our complaints.
Sd.
Dhannu s/o Budnu
(Badepalli village, Ghumiyapal panchayat)
9. Sub: Complaint about looting and arson by jawans of SPO and forces
I am Dursh s/o Suklu. I am resident of Badepalli village, Ghumiyapal panchayat, Patelpara thana, Kirandul. Two years ago members of Salwa judum, SPOs and jawans of the Forces, forcibly took away 3 quintal rice, and hens. The SPOS torched the house while leaving. The villagers are terrorized. No one has listened to us upon complaining. More villages of the houses have been torched.
Sd.
Dursh s/o/ Suklu
(Badepalli village, Ghumiyapal panchayat)
10. Sub: Complaint of beating by SPOs
I am Aaytu s/o/ Bhima. I am resident of Kanharguda village, Talagudem para, Jagargonda thana. A month ago when my brother, and two nephews were returning home, SPOs and force jawaans beat them up mercilessly, and broke their hands and legs. I was also beaten very much and was bedridden for many days. We are living in terror.
Sd.
Aayatu s/o/ Bhima
(Kanharguda vill., Talagundam para, Jagargonda thana)
11. Sub: Complaint about looting by salwa judum and jawans of forces
I am Budhram s/o/ Hura. I am a resident of Ghumiyapal village, Bengapal panchayat, Nendipara thana, Kirandul. Two years ago salwa judum members and jawaans of forces came to my house and took away 5 hens and Rs. 200 apart from beating us up. They beat up other villagers and torched more houses. We are living in terror.
Sd.
Budhram s/o/ Hura
(Ghumiyapal vill. Bengapal panchayat, Nendipara thana)
18/12/2007
12. Sub: Complaint about looting and arson by salwa judum and jawans of forces
I am Somdu s/o/ Phagu. I am resident of Badepalli village, Ghumiyapal panchayat, Nayapara thana, Kirandul, Dantewada. Salwa judm and jawaans of forces came to the village and beat me with rifle butt and took Rs. 500 from me but then returned it. They also burnt my house and beat up other young people.
Sd.
Somdu s/o/ Phagu.
(Badepalli village, Ghumiyapal panchayat, Dantewada.)
13. Sub: Complaint about the police and SPOs burning my house and all items perishing in the fire.
I am Sodibhima s/o/ Lakhma. I am resident of Gondpalli village, Sodi para, Gondpalli panchayat, Jagargond thana, Konta tehsil, Danewada. Around March 2007 we received information that police and SPOs were coming to our village. It must be noted that police and SPOs were going to villages and beating up people. Thus upon getting news of their visit, I and my family left home and ran into the forests. When they came they burnt our house and all the items perished in the fire. These items included 20 quintal rice, 8 gallons tora oil, Rs. 500, Rs. 5000 worth roof, and one hen (5 kilo).
We are submitting this information of police and SPO atrocities, so that you may forward it to the appropriate authorities.
Sd.
Sodibhima
(Gondpalli vill., Jagargonda thana)
14. Sub: Complaint about the police and SPOs burning house
I am Dodi Lakhma s/o Late Budhra. I am a resident of Gondpalli village, Karkapara, Gondpatli panchayat, Jagargonda thana, Konta tehsil, Dantewada. Upon hearing that police and SPOs were visiting my village, I ran away into the forests with my family. The police and Salwa Judum came and burnt my house. All necessary items perished in the fire including 10 quintal rice, 5 quintal kosra, 10 earthen pots, 2 copper pots etc.
I am submitting the above information for necessary action.
Sd. Dodi Lakhma
(Gondpallli vill., Jagargonda thana)
15. Sub: Complaint of looting and murder committed by Salwa Judum and jawaans of Forces.
I am Madiyami Hunga s/o Shri Deva. I am a resident of Ghumdi village, Konta tehsil. The jawaans of police and SPOs came to my house, beat us up and took away silver coins (80)and Rs.1500. They also took away social worker Gorka Singh. We are living in terror. Please listen to our petition.
Sd.
Madiyami Hunga s/o/ Deva
Gumdi vill. Konta tehsil)
16. Sub: Complaint of looting and murder committed by Salwa Judum and jawaans of Forces.
I am Mangu Midiyami s/o Pandu. I am resident of Tolivarti village, Kunder panchayat, Gayatapara, Jagargonda thana. In March 2007, members of salwa judum and Force jawaans shot dead my brother (Hidma), who was gathering mahua near the house. After this they came to my home and took away 3 hens, 2 Ganj and 1 water-container. They also beat up other villagers. All villagers are living in terror.
Sd.
Mangu Midiyami s/o Pandu
(Tolivarti vill., Kunder panchayat)
17. Sub: Complaint of looting by Salwa judum and jawaans of Forces.
I am Bhima s/o Kowa. I am a resident of Bengapal, Ghumiyapal panchayat, Gaytapara, Kirandul thana. Last year the ‘Forces’ jawaans came to my house and took away 6 hens, and Rs. 1500. They beat me and other villagers as well. We are living in terror.
Sd.
Bhima s/o Kowa.
(Bengapal, Ghumiyapal panchayat, Gaytapara, Kirandul thana.)
18. Sub: Complaint of looting by Salwa judum and jawaans of Forces.
I am Huri s/o Pandu. I am a resident of Bengapal village, Ghumiyapal panchayat, schoolpara thana, Kirandul, Dantewada. Last year SPOs and Forces jawans came to our village, broke the lock of my house and took away 4 hen, 3 blankets and clothes apart from Rs. 5030. They also beat up the villagers and torched many houses. All of us villagers are very terrified of the hooliganism of the salwa judum. The administration is not taking any notice of our complaints.
Sd.
Huri s/o Pandu
19. Sub: Complaint of looting by Salwa judum and jawaans of Forces.
I am Bhima s/o Masha. I am a resident of Bengapal village, Ghumiyapal panchayat. Two years ago SPOs and Forces jawaans came to our villages, broke the lock of my house and looted Rs. 1500 and 7 hens. They torched a few houses and beat up come villagers. All villagers are in a state of terror.
Sd.
Bhima s/o Masha.
(Bengapal, Ghumiyapal panchayat, Gaytapara, Kirandul thana.)
20. Sub: Complaint of looting and arson by Salwa judum and jawaans of Forces.
I am Raju s/o Duma. I am a resident of Bedapalli, Ghumiyapal panchayat, Patelpara thana, Kirandul. Last year salwa judum and jawaans of the Forces came to our village and forcibly took away 5 quintal rice, 10 quintal kosra, 10 hens and torched houses on their way out.
We gave a complaint of this incident to the village Secretary who in turn gave the same to the police thana, but no action has been taken on this complaint till date.
Sd.
Raju s/o Duma.
21. Sub: Complaint of looting by Salwa judum and jawaans of Forces
I am Hura s/o Vare. I am a resident of Bengapal village, Ghumiyapal panchayat, Kosupara thana, Kirandul, Dantewada. Last year salwa judum and jawaans of the Forces came to our village and forcibly took away 8 hens and Rs. 4000. They also beat upn the village youth and torched many houses. All of us villagers are very terrified of the hooliganism of the salwa judum. The administration is not taking any notice of our complaints.
Sd.
Hura s/o Vare.
22. Sub: Complaint of looting, killing and arson by SPOs and Naga Forces
I am Bhima s/o Joga. I am resident of Tamodi village, Bijapur thana. In 2005, the SPO and Naga forces torched 6 houses of my village including mine. In this fire 10 sack of kosra, 20 sacks of rice, Rs. 5000, and 2 goats perished. They also ate a few hens. They chased us away by firing guns. We are living in forest in fear.
Sd.
Bhima s/o Joga.
23. Sub: Complaint of my brother’s killing and looting.
I am Chaitu Padam s/o Magdu. I am resident of Tolivarti village, Tunder panchyat, Gayatapara, Jagargonda thana. In June 2007, salwa judum, SPOs and jawaans of the Forces, came to my village. They surrounded my brother Raju, and killed him by slashing his neck. They looted blankets and 3 big utensils apart from torching many houses of the village and took away 2 hens. All the villagers are very scared.
Sd.
Chaitu Padam s/o Magdu
24. Sub: Complaint of looting by Salwa judum and jawaans of Forces
I am Bhima Muchaki s/o Boda. I am a resident of Tolivarti village, Tunder panchyat, Gayatapara, Jagargonda thana. In June 2007, salwa judum, SPOs and jawaans of the Forces, came to my village and forcibly took away 10 goats. They also beat up the village youth and torched houses. All the villagers are very scared.
Sd.
Bhima Muchaki s/o Boda
25. Sub: Complaint of my brother’s killing and looting.
I am Padam Sukal s/o Pandu. I am a resident of Tolivarti village, Tunder panchyat, Gayatapara, Jagargonda thana. In June 2007, salwa judum, SPOs and jawaans of the Forces, came to my village and took away my brother (name: Padamsannu) from the house and killed. They also took away 10 goats, blankets, clothes, 3 big utensils. All us villagers are living in terror.
Sd.
Padam Sukal s/o Pandu
26. Sub: Complaint of killing of both my brothers
I am Padam Dhutva s/o Masa. I am a resident of Tolivarti village, Tunder panchyat, Gayatapara, Jagargonda thana. In June 2007 the Salwa Judum, SPO and jawaand of the Forces came to my house and killed my brothers Nanda and Lakhma, by slashing their necks. We are living in terror.
Sd.
Padam Dhutva s/o Masa
27. Complaint of looting, killing and arson by SPOs and Force jawaans
I am Soma Madvi s/o Nanda. I am a resident of Tolivarti village, Tunder panchyat, Gayatapara, Jagargonda thana. In the year 2007, the salwa judum, SPOs and Forces jawaans came to our village, surrounded my house and mercilessly killed my elder brother Aaytu and younger brother Soma, by slashing their necks. I escaped with my life. They looted 3 hens, 2 ganj, 2 utensils (used for collecting water). They beat up the villagers and torched houses. All of us villagers are in terror. We haven’t also filed a report of this due to fear.
Sd.
Soma Madvi s/o Nanda
28. Sub: Complaint of looting by Salwa judum and jawaans of Forces
I am Joga s/o Bhima. I am resident of Bengapal village, Bhumiyapal panchayat, Kosupara, Kitandul thana, Dantewada. Last year members of salwa judum and jawaans of Forces looted 7 hens, 6 lungi, 1 blanket, and Rs. 260. They torched many houses and beat up many people. We are living a life of terror in the village.
Sd.
Joga s/o Bhima
29. Sub: Complaint of looting and arson by SPO and jawaans of Forces
I am Punnem Soma s/o Punnem Boti. I am resident of Gondpalli village, Sodipara, Gondpalli panchayat, Jagargonda thana, Konta tehsil, Dantewada. Upon hearing that police and SPOs were visiting my village, I ran away into the forests with my family. The police and SPO came and burnt my house. All necessary items perished in the fire including 40 quintal rice, 2 hens, 1 quintal salt, 25 kg. dry Chilli, 50 kg Tamarind (imli), 2 quintal mahua, 4 earthen pots, one gold chain, 2 copper utensils, 2 blankets etc.
I am presenting the following information of atrocities by SPO and police for necessary action.
Sd.
Punnem Soma s/o Punnem Boti
30. Sub: Complaint of looting, violence and arson by salwa judem and jawaans of Forces
I am Muchaki Deva s/o Hidma. I am a resident of Ghumodi village, Konta tehsil. When the salwa judum and police forces did firing in my village, my cow got hit. They also beat up my family members and abused us.
We are harassed in this manner by the police and salwa judum, and are living in fear.
Sd.
Muchaki Deva
31. Complaint of arson by SPO and police.
I am Dodi Maglu s/o Late Masa. I am resident of Gondpalli village, Sodipara, Gondpalli panchayat, Jagargonda thana, Konta tehsil, Dantewada. We got information that police and SPOs would come to villages around March 2007. It must be noted that police and SPOs were going to villages and beating up people. Thus upon getting news of their visit, I and my family left home and ran into the forests. When they came they burnt our house and all the items perished in the fire. This included 30 k.g. ricegrain, 2 quintal mahua, 2 quinatl kosra, 50 kilo rice, 20 kg dal, 10 hens, 2 utensils, Rs. 5000, 4 blankets, 4 lungi, etc.
We submit the above information for further action.
Sd.
Dodi Maglu s/o Late Masa
32. Complaint of arson and violence by SPO and salwa judum
I am Kartam Deva s/o Ganga. I am a resident of Ghumodi village, Jagargonda thana, Konta tehsil. In May 2007 salwa judum and SPO looted my house. All villagers are terrified.
Sd.
Kartam Deva s/o Ganga
33. Sub: Complaint of arson by SPO and police.
I am Somdi w/o Joga. I am a resident of Gampur village, Madvipara, Jagargonda panchayat. I am a widow and stay with my 3 small children. In 2006 the salwa judum and SPOs looted 5 quintal rice, 3 quintal kosra, blankets and clothes from my house. I live in fear with my small children in the village.
Sd.
Somdi w/o Joga
34. Sub: Complaint of arson by police, SPO, and salwa judum.
I am Andu s/o Soma. I am a resident of Ursangal village, Sarpanchpara, Kundel panchayat, Jagargonda thana, Dantewada. My house was torched by police, SPO and salwa judum and I suffered the loss of the following items: One big fishing net, 4 big utensils, 1 gudi, 1 goat, 2 hens,1 golden chain.
I submit the above information for further action.
Apart from this, the following people of the village:
- Mr. Bogam Bisam killed by slashing his throat
- Mr. Karam Soma was shot dead
- Mr. Lekham Deva was beheaded.
Sd.
Andu s/o Soma.
ANNEXURE 6
Letter to Chief Secretary, Chhattisgarh
Dear
On behalf of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, (NCPCR) and its team which included Dr. J.M. Lyngdoh and Mr. R. Venkat Reddy, I wish to thank the Chhattisgarh administration for all the arrangements made during our visit to the State from 17th to 19 December 2007. We would particularly like to thank Mr. P. Joy Oomen, Additional Chief Secretary, for chairing the meeting of the Secretaries and offering to take immediate steps based on our suggestions.
Based on our interaction with the residents of Injaram Camp and Erra Bore Camp, public hearing in Kirandul where a large number of tribal population and others gave their testimonies and in our interaction with the District and Block level officers we present the following issues for immediate, priority action. In fact these were raised in the meeting that was held with the Secretaries of the State Government on 19th December 2007.
I. Child Rights Training & Development
Setting up of a Child Rights Cell in the office of the District Collector with members from the community, officials and non-officials;
Training of the functionaries of all institutions dealing with children (schools, hostels, Ashram Shalas, Anganwadi Centres etc) in a systematic fashion to sensitize them on child rights issues.
In this regard, the Commission offers to facilitate the training programme through National Institute for Rural Development (NIRD), Rajendranagar, and Hyderabad in consultation with UNICEF. The first tranche of this training is to be delivered to the currently operational 286 volunteers in the 4 camps of Dantewada district who have already been selected as part of a community microplanning process.
A second tranche of training is to be delivered to 25 volunteers (including teachers and officials) from each of the affected Blocks who are to be identified and who will then act as a monitoring group supporting the spread of ‘Jan Sunwai’ to all panchayats in the area.
Introducing a process of social audit of children’s rights at Block and District level by the trained people. The process should take place through Gram Sabha meetings to be held in each Panchayat on children’s issues, with consolidated reporting to be shared with the NCPCR.
Further recognising the special role of police in protecting child rights, a group of SPO volunteers to be identified for Child Rights Protection training.
II. Disruption to Education, Food/Nutrition and Sanitation Infrastructure & Services – Camps & Villages
Conduct a rapid assessment of food security issues and child malnutrition levels in camps and villages and implement immediate actions to target gaps including meal provision through schools and anganwadis.
Given our very high concern at the near invisibility of the adolescent age group of children, a special plan for identifying and providing education for them may be worked out.
Establish procedures for greater transparency in all institutions such as schools, hostels, Ashram Shalas, Aanganwadi Centres etc., by constituting a committee for periodic review of the functioning of such institutions.
Immediate action with regard to provision of adequate toilet and sanitation facilities in the camps.
III. Inter-State Collaboration – Displaced Families
Conduct a survey and maintain a register of families that have shifted to Andhra Pradesh in the past couple of years the wake of the unrest in the Dantewada area and share this data with the AP government to ensure access to all basic social services by these families.
Interact with the government of Andhra Pradesh for providing education to the children of all those families, who have fled from Chhattisgarh seeking shelter in the Districts of Khammam, Warangal, Adilabad, Karimnagar, and East Godavari. In this regard, it was also decided that the Chhattisgarh Government will facilitate issuing of transfer certificates and other documentation to children who have dropped out of schools and help in readmission their into the schools, supply textbooks in Hindi, and even depute school teachers to Andhra Pradesh for enabling reintegrating children into schools.
In addition to the above priority actions in the immediate term we request you to provide information regarding the population livelihood patterns, health and education status of people living in the camps as well as in villages in Dantewada and Bijapur Districts in accordance with the list of questions that is enclosed. On the basis of this further targeted action plans need to be developed and implemented to address access and quality of key service provision in the areas of health and education and ensure protection and rehabilitation with regard to the impact of conflict & violence on families.
During our visit in the Dantewada Region, we were struck by the enormous tragedies of one and all especially the tribals, their family members, women and children. This is indeed unfortunate. We strongly feel that the State has an obligation to extricate them from the unusual circumstances they have been caught in and ensure their security and fundamental human rights as paramount concerns.
We feel that with conscious effort in the direction of protecting children and their rights there is a window of hope in harmonizing the society. Giving every child an access to education up to class ten and investing in providing all that is necessary to make education happen, we feel can ensure a secure freedom for these children and their families and even deepen democracy.
We will visit Chattisgarh and the Dantewada and Bijapur district after four months to review the progress made on all the above points of action. We hope to receive a comprehensive response from you within one month time. A detailed report of the Commission’s visit shall be sent to you shortly.
With regards,
Yours sincerely,
(Shantha Sinha)
Encl. List of questions (Annex).
ANNEX
National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR)
The Chhattisgarh Government is requested to make the following information available:
A. With respect to CAMPS
POPULATION
o Names and dates of establishing each camp in Dantewada and Bijapur district.
o Population of men, women and children(with age and sex) for each of the camp.
o Numbers of individuals (with ages) without families in each camp.
o Do families reside together in the camp, or are adult males and children separated.
LIVELIHOODS
o How do families earn their livelihood in camps?
o What are the work/employment programmes that are being run in each camp?
o Are rations distributed to camp-residents?
o Are these rations free?
o What constitutes these rations?
o In what measure (per head/per family) and how frequently is each product distributed?
o For how long have rations been distributed in each camp, and for how much longer will they be continued?
HEALTH
o What are the numbers of doctors and other health professional who are active in each camp?
o How many of the above are residents of the camps? (data for each camp separately)
o What is the medical equipment that is available in each camp?
o Details of inventory of medicines and medical supplies?
o Camp-wise data on number of patients treated and their affliction?
o How many pairs of clothes does each child in camp have?
EDUCATION
o How many Anganwadi Centres are being run in each camp?
o How many Anganwadi workers and helpers in each anganwadi?
o Numbers of children, age-wise and sex-wise, of children attending anganwadis.
o How many different schools are being run in each camp?
o What is the capacity, enrolment and attendance data for each class (school wise)?
o How many teachers in every school?
o Names of each school from which these teachers have been relocated.
o What curriculum is followed in the camp-schools?
o Besides school curricula are any other teaching/learning activities taking place for children in camp-schools? If yes, who facilitates these extra-curricular activities?
o What is the sex-ratio in classes V – X. ?
o How many schools have sanitation and drinking water facilities?
o Details of organizations working in different camps. What is the work that each is doing and since when?
o What is the long-term plan for the camps?
B. Request the Government to provide ‘block-wise’ data related to people and services outside camps.
POPULATION
o Population of men, women and children(with age and sex) for each block.
o List of villages that have shifted to camps (block-wise)
o No. of evacuated villages and normal villages.
LIVELIHOODS
o How do families earn their livelihood in villages?
o Details of work/employment programmes (NREGA) that are being run in different villages?
o No. of PDS shops per block?
o Who is caring for property (land, houses, animals) left behind by villagers that have shifted to camps?
HEALTH
o How many Primary Health Centres, and sub-centres are located in each blocka?
o What are the numbers of doctors and other health professional who are active in each blocka?
o How many are trained in allopathic medicine and homeopathic medicine?
o Do they practice allopathic or homeopathic medicine?
o How many of the above are resident in villages? (block-wise data)
o What is the medical equipment that is available in each PHC?
o What are the programmes being run for maternal and child health?
EDUCATION
o How many Anganwadi Centres are being run in each blocka?
o How many Anganwadi workers and helpers in each anganwadi?
o Numbers of children, age-wise and sex-wise, of children attending anganwadis (outside camps).
o How many habitations are not covered by the ICDS?
o How many different schools are being run in the block?
o What is the enrolment and attendance data for each class (school wise/ashram schools)?
o How many teachers in every school?
o What curriculum is followed in the schools?
o How many schools have sanitation and drinking water facilities?
o How many out-of school children in the block and their age, sex and occupation profile?
o Have any schools been closed? If yes, please give details, with name and address.
o Details of school and ashram school buildings destroyed by Naxals?
………………………………………………………………………………………………
Letter to Chief Secretary, Andhra Pradesh
Dear
On behalf of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, (NCPCR) and its team which included Dr. J.M. Lyngdoh and Mr. R. Venkat Reddy, I wish to thank the Andhra Pradesh administration for all the arrangements made during our visit to the State on 17th December 2007. We would particularly like to thank Mr. Raghunandan (Joint Collector, Khammam) for offering to take immediate steps based on our suggestions.
A public hearing was conducted in Charla (Khammam district) to understand the situation of the displaced tribals from Chhattisgarh, who have fled from the civil unrest in Dantewada (Chhattisgarh) and sought refuge in Andhra Pradesh. Preliminary estimates show a minimum of 30,000 people, being settled in Khammam and the adjoining districts of Warangal, Adilabad and East Godavari. Any form of displacement puts a strain on family resources and children are particularly affected by this. In such situations special arrangements need to be made to ensure basic entitlements for displaced people and children.
The issue of migration of tribals and their entitlements has to be dealt with in a systematic fashion. Based on our interaction with the participants of the public hearing in Charla, where a considerable number of displaced tribals gave testimonies, our visit to one settlement of displaced people in Sirivella village, and in our interactions with the District and Block level officers we present the following issues for immediate, priority action.
Population Estimation:
There is a dire need for a census of displaced tribals in those districts of Andhra Pradesh that border Chhattisgarh. This census should including a clear age- and gender-wise estimation of children in the 0-18 years age group.
Nutrition, Health and Food Security:
We found the nutrition status of all displaced tribals to be precarious. Most families survive by doing coolie work and in some cases begging as well. We recommend a rapid assessment of food security issues and child malnutrition levels in camps and villages and immediate actions to target gaps including meal provision through schools and anganwadis.
Children in the age-group on 0-6 years have no access to Anganwadis and ICDS services. Nonetheless immunisation services have been made available to them. All children below six years have to be covered under the ICDS, and a programme must immediately be launched to address the hunger and malnourishment of children, pregnant and lactating mothers and adolescent girls.
PDS Ration cards should be given to the Internally Displaced People (IDP) as an emergency response. The adults also need to be given job cards, so that they can apply for work under the NREGA.
Status of Education:
Displaced children are not admitted to schools in AP because of
(a) lack of school-leaving certificates.
(b) change in language of instruction from hindi to telugu
The Commission recommends that all such children must be given admission in schools at the earliest. Schools dropouts are to be given education and arrangements of RBCs have to be made through the SSA to reintegrate them into formal schools. This would include collective meetings of the district collector with the district education officers. This problem was also discussed with the Chhattisgarh government and it was also decided that they will facilitate issuing of transfer certificates and other documentation to children who have dropped out of schools. They had even offered to depute school teachers, who knew Hindi, to Andhra Pradesh.
Institutional Responses:
There should be a cell in the District Collectorate to respond on children’s issues.
Gram Sabha to be held in each panchayat on ‘children’s issues’. Social Audit of children’s rights should be conducted at block-level.
Lastly, a meeting of the Education Secretaries and district collectors of both A.P. and Chhattisgarh would be beneficial in redressing issues of the children and their education.
During our visit, we were struck by the enormous tragedies of one and all especially the tribals, their family members, women and children. This is indeed unfortunate. We strongly feel that the State has an obligation to extricate them from the unusual circumstances they have been caught in and ensure their security and fundamental human rights as paramount concerns.
We will visit Andhra Pradesh and Khammam district after four months to review the progress made on all the above points of action. We hope to receive a comprehensive response from you within one month time. A detailed report of the Commission’s visit shall be sent to you shortly.
Thankyou
Yours Sincerely
Shantha Sinha
Bibliography
1. News articles & Media reports.
2. ‘When the State makes war on its own people’, PUDR et.al., April 2006
3. ‘War in the Heart of India’, Independent Citizens Initiative, July 2006
4. ‘Weekly Assessments and Briefings’, South Asia Intelligence Review, Vol. 5,No. 31, February 12, 2007.
5. Medicins Sans Frontieres Activity Report, September 2006-June 2007
6. Open Letters to Government and Maoists, EPW, VOL 41 No. 27 and 28 July 08 - July 21, 2006
7. Open Reply to Independent Citizens' Initiative on Dantewada, Ganapathi (General Secretary, CPI(Maoist)), EPW, VOL 42 No. 01 January 06 - January 12, 2007.
8. RedR Report – ‘Multisectoral Assesment of IDP Camps in Dantewada District – Education, Environmental Sanitation, Shelter, Health’, June 2006 (shared by UNICEF)
9. ‘Trauma of Adivasi Women in Dantewada’, Economic & Political Weekly, January 27, 2007
10. ‘The Adivasis of Chattisgarh: Victims of the Naxalite movement and Salwa Judum campaign’, Asian Centre for Human Rights, 17 March 2006
11. ‘Turning a blind eye – child soldiers at war in the Maoist conflict of India’, Staci Martin, Forum for Fact-Finding Documentation and Advocacy, November 2006
12. Kartam Joga and Others. Vs. State of Chhattisgarh and Union of India, Writ Petition (Criminal) 119/2007.
13. Nandini Sundar and Others Vs. State of Chhattisgarh, Writ Petition (Civil) 250/2007
[1] Coolie work includes agricultural labour, loading-unloading of goods in markets or factories etc.
[2] Dal: lentils
[3] According to a government official the criteria for selecting SPOs is that: (a) they should be above 18 years of age; (b) their families should be resident within the camp; and (c) they should be victims of Naxal violence.
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