COVID-19 lockdown leaves Primitive Sabar tribal families hungry

In the absence of ration cards or food coupons, some families in Khuditand village of Puncha block amid the lockdown are facing hunger. Puncha BDO Anindya Bhattacharya said officials will be visiting the village and all measures will be taken to ensure that food reaches everyone.

Purulia: The COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing lockdown have brought in hard times for the Sabar tribe in Purulia district in the state of West Bengal.

Around 70 people of 18 primitive Sabar tribe families are facing hunger- which they never encountered earlier.

For generations, the Sabar tribal people have braved wild bears, venomous snakes, and occasional elephant encroachments to harvest their Kurkuts (red ants' eggs) and collect Sal and Tendu leaves and Mahua flowers.

The tribe finds its mention in the epic Mahabharata and had also earned the dubious distinction of being one of the 'criminal tribes' by the British under the Criminal Tribes Act, 1871.

But, the absence of ration cards or food coupons for 18 families of Khuditand village of Puncha block amid the lockdown, has left them in a worried state. The mandate of the state government that all needy persons be given adequate ration and essentials free of cost for the next three months, means nothing for these Sabar families as they are not 'entitled' for the benefits. The ration cards make them eligible to collect the ration.

Around 113 Sabar families reside in Khuditand village and most are daily wage earners. Some work as daily labourers, some work as domestic helps and others earn their livelihood by weaving brooms and collecting Sal and Tendu leaves. The leaves are, in turn, sold off to beedi weavers and Sal leaf plate makers. The lockdown has brought in an abrupt halt to their work and has eventually robbed them of their income. Without any ration cards, they have returned empty-handed from the only ration shop in the village and are now somehow sustaining after a few NGOs reached out with relief for them.

Juran Sabar, Subhas Sabar, Niyoti Sabar or Surodhani Sabar don't know what COVID-19 is. What they do know is, a lockdown is in place and everything is shut because of some disease and they have no work.

“There is a lockdown out there and we have no jobs. We don't have any money left and no ration card to get some food from the ration shop. Some outsiders have come and extended help, but that is not enough to feed a family of 5-6 persons. Once the police came and distributed some potatoes and rice. Only a few got it and the rest of us went without food,” says Subhas Sabar.

Purulia district magistrate Rahul Majumdar said the administration did not have any information on the hapless condition of the primitive tribal families. “I have instructed the local BDO of Puncha block to immediately look into the issue. Appropriate steps will be taken to ensure that no one goes hungry,” he said.

Puncha BDO Anindya Bhattacharya said officials will be visiting the village and all measures will be taken to ensure that food reaches everyone during this lockdown period.