Cyclone-hit want dues, not promises

BHUJ, AUGUST 30: It's a tragedy of vast proportions that got drowned in affairs of national interest. At about the same time that the arm...

BHUJ, AUGUST 30: It’s a tragedy of vast proportions that got drowned in affairs of national interest. At about the same time that the armed forces launched military operations to flush out Pakistan-backed intruders in Kargil, a devastating cyclone swept through western Kutch, ravaging Lakhpat, Abdasa and Nakhtrana talukas. Thousands of cows, goats and sheep were killed. Though there were few human casualties, the maldharis, the traditional cattle-raisers, were ruined.

Today, as parties and candidates do the rounds in the Kutch Lok Sabha constituency, those affected by the cyclone – and the few who were not – are left cold.

Colourful posters showing victorious soldiers standing around a Bofors gun, detailing Sonia’s foreign origin or praising Atal Behari Vajpayee’s character are all Greek to the scores of cattle-raisers of western Kutch.

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Hayat Alana, a 39-year-old cattle-raiser from Motichur village, lost three cows and two calves during the cyclone and his house was badly damaged. Though hereceived Rs 15,000 as compensation for the cows, the Rs 400 he got for the house was too little. Though he’s aware of an impending election, he doesn’t know who the main candidates and their parties are. So which party will Hayat support? “We vote as advised by our village elders,” he replies curtly.

The Lok Sabha elections doesn’t seem to interest Hayat much. “I’m more interested in electing my village sarpanch,” he says. However, he says that voting for anybody should result in some benefit for the village and its people. “One thing I have expected from politicians is good medical facilities. Even for minor health problems, we have to go to Bhuj,” he complains.

Suleman Hasam of Paya village, whose cows graze nearby, lost 10 cows and a calf and hasn’t received a single paisa in compensation. Only because he couldn’t produce a veterinary doctor’s certificate. All he wants from the election is compensation.

Iblabhai Koli of Ghaduli village of Lakhpat taluka, who lost 10 goats, is more articulate.He’s aware of the elections and also about Sonia. “I don’t know her caste but I know she belongs to a family which has lost many members,” he says. Elections, to him, are a time when party workers and local leaders come to the village, small gatherings are addressed and some community leaders bribed.

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Ghaduli village was one of the worst hit by the cyclone in the area, where 100 cows and 200 goats died. Though the BJP-ruled state government had promised compensation, nearly 80 of the 100-odd affected families are yet to receive it, says Hussainbhai Mandhra, who himself lost two buffalos and two cows. “We have told the BJP and Congress candidates, but they say that nothing can be done now with the code of conduct in effect.”

He alleges that those who owe allegiance to the BJP have received the compensation and that even the veterinary doctor’s certificate are managed at the behest of a local BJP leader.