Failed monsoon leads to large-scale migration in Kutch tehsils

The community largely consisting of landless labourers had lived without basic amenities for years before getting 20 government schools four years ago.

“Our children have hardly started going to school. This forced migration due to drought conditions in the area will upset the entire cycle of education here. But we cannot survive under the present condition,” said Valu Parakara Koli,a member of the community-based local group,Bhumi Adhikar Sangathan.

Without access to roads,water or ration card and without any skill other than manual labour,the community has organised themselves to their issues and have prepared a demand list that includes 300 days under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA),which they will submit to the district collector.

“Teachers refuse to strike off children from the rolls as that would result in school dropouts,” said Dinesh Sanghvi from the Gram Swaraj Sangh,a local NGO working for the uplift of the community.

Of 858 families in Balasar area,378 have migrated; 306 of 771 families in Fatehgadh,268 of 855 families from Gagodar,950 of 955 in Rapar and 144 of 378 in Ramvav have also migrated to other parts of the state.

“If this continues the same way,there will be no actual development of the future generation and therefore no hope for change in future as well,” Sanghvi said.

The Parakara Koli sub-caste was discovered only eight years ago.

This is because the community lived in settlements near small water bodies away from the 101 ‘revenue’ villages in the area ever since their ancestors had migrated centuries ago from Sindh.

While they usually pass off as Koli community members,they have no representation in the village panchayats due to illiteracy. Valu said,“Only a few of our children have completed two to three years in school.”

The community members walk for long distances to fetch water,fuel wood and still live on forest vegetation in many areas.

“The only developmental infrastructure (20 schools) that had come up only four years ago,are also on the verge of closing down now,” said Balu Devipujak,a community activist.