The
initiative of District Administration, Education Department and
support from other concerned departments for comprehensive
development of Birhor primitive tribe residing in five tandas of
Bagodar and Saria blocks has opened new avenues for BIrhor people.
Dreams can be seen in their eyes waiting to see people coming with
new interventions and work for their overall development.
Sugan Birhor,
age 42 of Kalichattan Tanda
is
very happy that everyday people from government and NGOs are coming
and talking about their development. He said that many people come
to our village but this is first time that people from NGO are
living with them, trying to motivate them to participate in
community development initiatives, personal cleanliness, benefits of
hygiene and sanitation practices. He has organized other Birhors of
his tanda to clean barren land and start community agriculture so
that their economic condition could be improved.
The pains of Sugni
Birhor , mother of three sons and one daughter was reflected in
her voice when
she
said that she is illiterate but understand the importance of
literacy and education in life. She is committed to send her
children to school. She also felt that educating girls is equally
important in today’s world. She also believe that hygiene and
sanitation practices is important for individual as well as
community and they along with other women of the tanda would keep
themselves, children and entire tanda clean and hygienic.
Mahendra and Gulel
Birhor , both in their early twenties had gone to brick making
units in Bihar to earn their living. They narrated the pathetic
condition of the unit in which they were bound to live. They now
like to work from home and earn for their family.
Chameli,
daughter of Saheb Ram Birhor of Budhachhanch tanda in her
teen age seems to be full of dream, joy and life. Lured by good job
and earning, she without informing her parents agreed to go to Delhi
with middlemen. Fortunately, her father came to know about the incidence and put
full efforts to bring her back to home. She is afraid of the
incident and don’t like to talk much about it. She now likes to
remain with her parents and continue her education in primary school
of her tanda.
Pachhu Birhor of
Budhachhanch tanda, practices as a Jari – Buti expert in the village
and surrounding area. He is famous as vaidh in the surrounding area
and keeps number of medicinal herbs and shrubs with him. He is
confident of curing many common and acute diseases with the help of
his medicinal drugs. He wants to develop his traditional practice
and train youth of new generation so that they can continue the
practice. He is hopeful that the recent influx of government
officials, NGOs, Media and other people in their village shown them
a new hope for better future.
Punam
Birhor of Kala Patthar Tanda has recently joined nearest
anganbadi Kendra as sevika. She is class 7th pass and likes to
continue her study. She is very optimistic about her future as after
completion of her education she likes to become a teacher. She wants
to do a lot for her people as most of them don’t understand the
importance of education in life and seldom send their child to
school.
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