Struggle and Survival: Rabha women in Bengal wait for their husbands return

The women of Rabha tribal community, residing in Alipurduar district of North Bengal are struggling for survival, as their husbands are stuck in cities due to coronavirus-induced lockdown and wait for their return. Unknown to the fact that when will their trouble come to an end, Rabha women hope lockdown gets lifted soon.

Alipurduar:The women of Rabha tribal community residing in Alipurduar district of North Bengal, are surviving the pandemic alone as their husbands are stuck in cities due to coronavirus-induced lockdown.

Left with no money and food, these impoverished women keep gazing at the Porobasti bus stop with hope, waiting for their husbands return.

All men of the village work as migrant workers in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh and the lockdown has restricted their movement.

As the migrant men, who are unemployed for the last 45 days struggle to send their wages back home, the livelihood of 29 families, residing in the hamlet, is in the lurch.

A teary-eyed Rupali, residing in the Porobasti village of the district narrated her ordeal to ETV Bharat, saying "My husband went to Kerala a few months back, to work as a mason. He has no work there and can’t return also due to the lockdown. No one is here to feed us."

Residing 15 km away from the district amidst Buxa Reserve Forest, the villagers have to walk miles to arrange for essentials, although the state government had arranged for rice and flour that was not sufficient. Hence, the women are venturing into the forest risking their lives to arrange food for their families.

"We try to get hold of something from the forest and try to feed our children. It is like a bad dream," she said.

Another woman, whose son and husband both are stuck in Kerala, said, "I don’t know what will happen. My son says he wants to see me but doesn’t know how to come back. I have stopped thinking."

A villager said two women are pregnant in the hamlet and there is no means through, which they can bring medicines for them or admit them if their health turns critical.

Alipurduar District Magistrate Surendra Kumar Meena said, "The issue has not been brought before us, but I will instruct the Block Development Officer to look into it and do the needful."

Unknown to the fact that when will their trouble come to an end, Rabha women just hope lockdown gets lifted soon.