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| Scenic Valley from the top |
It was 1990 when I went to Patalkot first time. The valley was very beautiful and scenic. Tribals were living happily. They
had enough forest produce to live life joyfully. Things began to change all of sudden. Outsiders started entering into the
forest for their own benefit. No one was there to stop them. No forester, no agency, nothing. Deforestation began to happen.
Govt kept itself silent (no one was there to make complaint). Politicians, outsiders, and foresters were there to exploit
the forest and its people. You wont believe, CHARBIJI and SAFED MUSALI (Important medicinal) were found abundantly in the
forest. Tribals used to collect and use it in daily life. Few brokers came there and things changed after that. They purchased
these important forest produces in cheaper cost (around 8-10 Rs per Kg) and sold it in market for 300 Rs Kg. There was no
government agency to collect these minor forest produces.
Major population of Bharia community resides in Patalkot valley where life supporting facilities are lacking. The people
here depend on plant resources for their livelihood including the native therapy for health care. This treatment is based
on plants. Tribals in Patalkot depend upon the plant resources for their livelihood because of the weak economy. Bhumkas (Local
healers) and few older people know the system of healing. Such knowledge which is verbalized and is limited only to them may
be erased in near future. Considering these facts, I aimed to document folklore medicine used for the treatment of various
disorders. I started visit the valley most frequently.
In July 2001, when I visited
the village Kareyam (deep in the valley), I was shocked to find loggers cutting down the trees in the surrounding forest.
I rushed to the village chief and asked ""What's happening? Why are all the trees being cut down?" The villager
replied, "We had no choice, we need money to survive." Money or currency was never a big issue or matter to worry.
I was literally shocked hearing this. Patalkot people are using the forest plants for their basic needs from the time immemorial
and they were never in run of money and they never behaved in such a rude way. I had a discussion for an hour or more, he
discussed a lot about the ongoing issues in the valley and the village chief, at the end of talk concluded "I am very
unhappy to see the forest disappearing." I thought there is certainly something going wrong. Later I came to know that
Govt is willing to shift them on the top of the valley. Tribals were never happy after this declaration. This declaration
was made after a land sliding occurred and claimed 20 lives in the valley. Involvement of outsiders, local politicians and
few NGOs is still a matter to worry.
Ask Faaglal Kavreti, Sarpanch (Village Chief) of Sidhouli village in Patalkot, he will tell the real story or meet Tekchand
in Rathed and he will tell you, how a Thekedar (Contractor) cheated him. As per the labour rule, contractor has to pay around
60 Rs per day to a labour working under his supervision. Tekchand worked 5 months to make peripheral wall of a stop dam, he
was not paid a single penny. Its a different issue that Lakhs of rupees were issued for the making of the stop dam. There
is no stop dam today except the inaugural stone.
Villages like Gaildubba, Rathed and Chimtipur are in developing stage. Here the development means only electricity, school
and primary health clinic. Electricity; God only knows if it works 5 hrs a day. They do have school up to primary/ middle
level. In case of primary health clinic, doctor is seen rarely or never.
According to the current development processes, within the next few years, and for the first time in human history, more
people will live in cities and towns than in rural areas. This process of urbanization is linked to what has been called the
'urbanisation of poverty'. I dont think there would be more changes in the valley except few fund raising and ON PAPER works.
Poor tribals of Patalkot are the real role models to raise funds. Their dances, rituals and other ceremonies are featured
in 15TH August and 26th January on Parade ground at district head quarter.
Government allots lots of finance time to time, still it is hard to find out where has to money gone. It is said that
more than Rs 2 crore has been allotted in last three years. Tribals are still in the same conditions, rather they are learning
how to cheat. Only thing they learnt and developed among themselves is ASKING MONEY. They, after knowing the value of money,
are getting themselves engaged in earning it by any means. They sell Safed musli in Rs 100 and they do not have anything to
do if the broker sells this musli in 20000 Rs. For them, this 100 Rs is far better than anything else. They would purchase
locally made wine out of this. They used to make their own wine in the valley but now it's a wastage time for them, they come-up
and purchase the ENGLISH branded wine. They have stopped cultivating their traditional crops as the Govt is providing them
Rice and Wheat in cheaper value. Why will they grow a traditional crop like, Bajra, Chana, sem, if the Govt is providing alternative
food material in relatively cheaper rates? Its a serious issue. Traditional cropping system or practices should not die. Culture
methods should remain live.
Government should come forward and act quickly to protect the land and its people. For them earning is a major issue now.
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