Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Nomadic and De-notified Tribe’s Struggle to become ‘Voters’

During Gujarat State Assembly elections last year, due to pro-active role of Chief Electoral Officer Shri Vinod Babbar over 5000 members of NT-DNT community were registered in the Voter’s list and were issues Photo-identity Cards. In July 2008, with the direction of CEO’s office, a state wide Voter’s Registration programme was organized. This was in context of the forthcoming Loksabha elections. However, Nomadic and De-notifies tribes were not covered under such programmes as their settlements are not considered as apart of the village, even after residing for more than 20-25 years in the particular village. When community requests the district authorities for allotting housing plots under government schemes, there has been a strong resistance from the villagers. In such scenario, initiative from CEO’s office of registering them as voter’s must be appreciated.

During Gujarat Assembly Elections the Dafer settlement (De-notified Tribe) from Adavaal, Kaneti and Godhavi villages of Sanand Block of Ahmedabad district were chased away when communities talk filing voter’s registration form. In Advaal village 30 families of Dafer community were residing in the settlement from 1980 and were working for protecting the farms of the villagers. Similar incident happened in other parts of the state too. Residents of Dhandhalpur village of Surendranagar districts asked Vaghri (Devipujak) community to leave the settlement immediately if they want to register as ‘voters’. To overcome these problems it was decided that the registration be done at Mamletdar level (block level). However, the process of taking photographs for the card is done at village-wise and NT-DNTs were not allowed by the villagers to enter into the premises, and could not get their photographs clicked for the cards. Such incidences happened with Vaadi community of Chotila block of Surendranagar district and also with Dafer community of Sargawada, Jakhada and Vataman villages of Dholka block of Ahmedabad district.

Basis of these experiences, we get to know the dos and don’ts in the voter’s Registration in context of NT-DNTs. It was decided that the form of registration be directly submitted at Mamletdar along with photographs. This was possible only because of the Pro-active role of the CEO office, and its concern of including NT-DNTS as ‘Voters’.

The ratio of education amongst Dafer, Saraniya, Gadaliya, Vaadi is negligible and it is not possible for them to fill up the forms (Form – 6) for the Voters Registrations. When community approached for getting form-6, they were asked to collect it locally. Villages do not want them to get registered as voters so required forms were not given. In Vasna village, Talati (revenue secretary) denied of filing up of the forms, saying they are permanently resided in the village. Lastly Sarpanch was made understood that; Voter’s registration does not have any relationship of being the permanent resident and can be changed when they leave the village. The problem was resolved for Vasna village. But in for Latifbhai’s, from Iyava village (Sanand block of Ahmedabad district) and his settlement, they had to give in writing that they will leave the settlement whenever villagers asks them to go. Recently Latifbhai and the entire settlement have been forced to leave and currently they are residing near Kargathan village, Viramgam block of Ahmedabad district.

We gave information regarding various settlements to CEO that has to be registered as voters. Based on this information Collector office asks their officer to complete the formalities of the voter’s registrations. When officers approached village Sarpanch or Talati, they were informed that no settlements of NT-DNTs exist near to their villages. Collector officer blamed us for giving misleading information. Lastly we took the collector to the settlement and they realized that no village wants to mention the settlement of NT-DNTs with the threat of their being permanent in the village.

We also tried to have dialogue with the village Panchayat in some of the villages. In Advaal village, we had meeting with village Sarpanch, who is women but her husband looks after all the Panchayat work on her behalf. He argued, “If we allow them to reside near our village we also have to give them land for the grave yard and Masjid. Though settlement in our village for last 40 years, they are not to be considered as permanent resident’s o four villages”. Sadikbhai from Advaal settlement and others were given work of protecting the farms for last many years. The contract of the protection was cancelled by the villages and they were forced to leave the village. Communities also did not get any remuneration for their work of three months. Allarakhanbhai from the settlement expressed his anguish, “Village’s have cheated us. We will not be able to get work in any other village at this time of the year. Will our hunger understand the reason? It will ask for food? And what can we do? The only way out is to rob. We don’t want to do this but is there any option left for us?” Lastly families settlements decided to divide into several groups and migrate to villages where their relatives were residing.

Five months back, villagers of Advaal village again made contract for crop protection with the Dafer families as their crops were badly affected without protection. But Dafers were not allowed to fill voter’s registration form even this year too.

In Malaniyar village of Halvad block of Surendranagar district, community members were invited to Mamletdar officer. When they visited the office, police arrested all of them. This was immediately informed to CEO office and the district collector and they all were released.

NT-DNTs like Dafer, Saraniya, Vaadi wants to reside permanently at one single location. But no village wants to have them as part of the village. Community understands that if they are settled at one single place, their children will be able to go to school regularly. Getting registered as ‘voter’ may be the first step towards getting permanent location, an address of their house. But society does not want to recognize them as VOTERs ……..

2 comments:

  1. Shri Vinod Babbar

    I am belonging from devipujak community , I am very happy to read that you have help over 5000 members of NT-DNT community to registered in the Voter’s list and were issues Photo-identity Cards.

    My whole devipujak community is happy and wishing best for you.

    God blasé you....

    Regards
    Sanjaykumar Devipujak (Dehgam)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Dear Devipujak Mitro,

    Apana balako ne Bhanavo...1 bhanelo 2 ne bhanave.

    Please help people who wants to grow in their life.

    Devipujak Mandal- Gandhinagar

    ReplyDelete