http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Schemes-come-and-go-Musahars-remain-lowest-of-the-low/articleshow/6848004.cms
Schemes come and go, Musahars remain lowest of the low
Sachin Parashar, TNN, Nov 1, 2010, 05.02am IST
PATNA/GAYA: As the Centre and the Nitish Kumar-led state government
continue to fight to take credit for poor-oriented schemes, the
Musahars of Bihar, the legendary rat-eaters who are at the bottom of
the social ladder, are wondering what the debate is all about. Whether
it is MNREGA or benefits promised under Kumar's Mahadalit initiative,
development seems to have passed them by.
According to Musahars themselves, there is no other scheme which has
failed them more than the high profile and ground breaking MNREGA.
Right from Danapur near Patna to Jehanabad and Gaya in central Bihar,
there is no dearth of Musahars who mouth expletives at the mere
mention of MNREGA.
"We were promised 100 days of paid work under the scheme but can you
see a single entry in my job card? Despite having made several
complaints to local authorities including the BDO, nothing has
changed," Ramnath Manjhi said squatting outside his mud hut at the
Musahar Toli in Purushottampur near Naubatpur Bazaar in Patna
district. He and his brother Laloon display their job cards with no
entry at all.
The story is similar in the Musahar Toli at Raja Bigha village in Gaya
district. "Despite repeatedly asking for it, there is no work. We were
told that there would be some unemployment allowance too but nothing
has happened," said Jitendra Lal of the village.
According to Munna Manjhi, a resident of the Musahar Tola on the road
leading to Shivala Crossing from Danapur station, though, Rahul Gandhi
cannot be blamed for continuously praising MNREGA during his election
campaign. "We believe the state government has not implemented it
well. We have complained so many times to the BDO and other local
officials but it seems nobody wants to listen to us at the panchayat
and district level at least," said Munna, surrounded by many others
who too said they were yet to get any work.
Musahars were included in the Mahadalit category but even this doesn't
seem to be of much help. According to these Musahars, the inclusion of
other educationally better off communities like Pasi in Mahadalit
section in 2009 has further hurt Musahars. "The Tola Sewak of this
area happens to be a Pasi when the fact is that we are more than
double their number in this area," said Laloon. A Tola Sewak is
appointed at the village level with a salary of Rs 1,000 per month to
help members of dalit communities.
Musahars account for close to 16% of the total SC population of Bihar
and are generally regarded as the most backward and illiterate among
all communities of the state. Manjhi and his brother Laloon said
Musahars of their village, which falls under Bikram constituency, will
vote for the LJP candidate even though the party is dominated by
Paswans.
For most Musahars, paldari or carrying load on their shoulders in
local markets remains their main occupation. "For us, a good day is
earning Rs 60 through paldari," said Laloon.
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