Commission received an intimation about women and children displaced by political violence before and after the Lok Sabha polls in East Medinipur from Paschim Banga Ganatantrik Mahila Samity on 26.4.09. The district administration does not have any records of these displaced women and children because they are not living in any official camps. However, from information given by the women's organisation mentioned above, we were able to meet about 40-50 such women and about a hundred such children in different places in Tamluk and Haldia on 20.6.09. The women are mostly from Nandigram, Khejuri and Bhajachauli and they left their homes either after the Panchayat elections or immediately before or after the Lok Sabha polls as a result of political violence. Some of them said that their houses have been burnt down or locked up after extensive looting, which has left them pauperized. There were two women in Haldia whose husbands have been brutally murdered. One was the wife of Khaleque Mallik of Garchakraberia and the other was Sakila Bibi, wife of Abdullah Khan of Jadubarichak. They are living in a state of extreme poverty with their children, some of whom are minors. They are now unable to go back home. We met Kanika Mondal of Sonachura, the mother of teenaged Sumita Mondal, who had been raped and murdered two years ago. Kanika Mondal, with her husband, are afraid of going back. We met a disabled girl Asma, daughter of Abdul Khaleque, whose wheelchair has been destroyed in the attack. In Tamluk, Ranu Dhali of Jahanabad, Khejuri- I, reported that her husband's limbs have been broken and he is under treatment. Riktata Das Mondal of Keyakhali, Satengabari, Nandigram - II, is a Group D staff at Takapura, Baikuntha Balika Vidyalaya. Since she is unable to reach her workplace, she is afraid that her job may be terminated. Commission members advised her to immediately apply to the DI, School Education, Purba Medinipur, apprising the authorities of her situation in writing. Gauri Das, whom we met in Haldia, is an Anganwadi assistant from Kalicharanpur, GP - 9, and is also afraid of losing her job because of prolonged non-attendance. She was advised to report to the CDPO in writing. Many of the women informed us that their family has been torn apart because in some cases the husbands and/or some of the children had to be left behind. Some of them had been living in camps in Khejuri or Bhajachauli for quite some time, but after these camps were burnt down or occupied by armed miscreants they became displaced again. Some of them had some agricultural land or small business but the violent situation has led to a sudden loss of livelihood. Those who were able to, have shifted to relatives' houses in other parts of the state. But about one thousand persons are at present completely homeless and destitute. The school-going children are not going to school any more and the meagre amount of food in the unofficial camps is not sufficient for the nutrition of the children. Most of the women said that in spite of the criminal activities of looting their houses, arson, murderous attacks and enforced displacement, they are frightened of lodging FIRs with the police because they are afraid for the safety of their near and dear ones who are still in the areas under attack. We found women who had come to the camp only very recently, but some like Anju Dhara and her daughter-in-law Pratima Dhara have been moving from one camp to another for the last one year. Pratima's son Ranjit had been studying at Ramakrishna Mission school but has had to be withdrawn because they have no income.
Comment
Terror and despair were written large on the faces of the women we met. All of them belonged to settled households and had some or other livelihood. They are not used to living on doles. This is why their agony and despair is all the more pronounced. The effect that this situation is having on children of a tender age is terrible. However, the political situation in the Nandigram area is still so violent that we do not know whether these women and children will ever be able to return home. The main problem is that the administration is not only unaware of their plight, but can give very little immediate relief. The Commission has noted time and again that political violence and instability always lead to women and children being most vulnerable. It seems that in West Bengal such violence and instability has increased sharply in recent times. The Commission visited Nandigram during earlier incidents of violence and made recommendations to the Government to bring relief to affected women regardless of party affiliations. In Lalgarh, while giving its own investigation report on alleged police atrocities, it had also brought to the attention of the Government complaints of 'Maoist' violence on women. In this case also, we urge upon the Government to see that governance is restored in areas of Nandigram where political violence is going on, enabling the displaced to return home.
Recommendations
1. We recommend that the district administration may identify women and children victims of political violence in the Nandigram area irrespective of their political affiliations and make some minimum immediate arrangements for relief such as clothes, medicines, ICDS services for children and some temporary arrangements for schooling for the children.
2.. Those whose houses were burnt down might get some relief from the disaster management fund.
3. So far as those who have some employment are concerned, it should be ensured that they do not lose their jobs because of enforced absence.
4. The most important thing is that the administration should see that the law and order situation is improved, and all bonafide residents of an area, whatever their party affiliation, may be allowed to return home.
(DR. MALINI BHATTACHARYA)
Chairperson,
West Bengal Commission for Women
