Plight of Naxal victims’ families
Bijapur (Chhatisgarh), July 7 : Naxal violence has claimed the lives of many persons, security forces personnel, policemen and innocent villagers caught in the cross fire in Chattisgarh, Jharkhand and Orissa.
While there is spotlight on the violent incidents and the victims, hardly any attention is paid to the families of the victims of Naxal violence, except for a short while when the Government announces some compensation.
The violence indulged in by the Naxals kills not just the individuals. In addition, it ruins the entire family: parents, widows and children.
Recently, two residents-- Bhaman and Huma-- of Kotarpal Village in Chattisgarh’s Bijapur district fell vicitim to Naxals’ bullets.
Huma and his father-in-law Bhaman were on their way to their working place when they became targets of Naxals.
Both were the breadwinners of their respective families.
"My father used to run our home and was the breadwinner for us. Now we have nobody to seek help. We are facing a lot of trouble. We have got no help from the government. Police do came here to investigate but nobody else except them came thereafter," said Balo, Huma''s daughter.
The family has taken refuge at the transit camp set up by the government authorities for the victims of Naxal violence.
Under the rehabilitation scheme, the families at the transit camps are given Rs. 12,000 for building a house . For monthly rations, each family here gets 35 kilograms of rice at rupees three per kilogram.
Most of the residents of Kotarpal Village have been forced to desert their homes by Naxals. They are left to fend for themselves in transit camps.
"The Naxalites had troubled us. That''s why we fled our village and came here. We are afraid of returning back to our village. The conditions at the camp aren''t good at all. We can''t go out. All of us are scared. We don''t get proper food. We received 12,000 rupees two years back to construct our homes after that we haven''t got anything," said Mangal Ram, a neighbour of Bhaman.
The Government can set up camps, give food, but it does not ‘rehabilitate’ the victims’ families. The victims need to be members of families. They want to belong. But they can’t.
It is impossible for the Naxalites to understand their plight. For the Naxals do not believe in families, in humanity. Who will teach them its worth?
(ANI)