#Daily Bastar News

[nidarchhattisgarh]

बस्तर सांसद दीपक बैज व नारायणपुर विधायक चंदन कश्यप विकासखंड स्तरीय शाला प्रवेशोत्सव मे हुए शामिल..

NCG News desk Bastar :- बच्चों को नियमित स्कूल भेज कर अपने बच्चों को शिक्षा के मुख्य धारा से जोड़े – सांसद बैज अतिथियों का स्वागत करते हुए शिक्षक एवम छात्र छात्राएं आज बस्तर सांसद दीपक बैज व नारायणपुर विधायक चंदन कश्यप विकासखंड स्तरीय शाला प्रवेशोत्सव मे शामिल होने नारायणपाल एवं देवड़ा हाई स्कूल पहुंचे जहां उनका स्वागत पारंपरिक रूप से ढोल नगाड़े के साथ किया गया। मां सरस्वती की पूजा अर्चना करते…

[infantisimo]

i want to gather my thoughts on the recently announced caste census. the last census was around 15 years ago. but this caste census which is seen as progressive and necessary is anything but.

it is announced at a time when our society, electorate and politics are extremely fascistic, miltarised and horrifying (please see what's happening in bastar, or the occupation in the kashmir valley, the daily caste atrocities, or why and how people are termed "bangladeshi, rohingya, pakistani, khalistani, naxal" - and what people around you are saying about it). i cannot help but see this caste census as a devious plan which will most likely includes NPR. this is nothing but an instrument in the long-running scheme of the union to strip people of their citizenship, especially muslims and particularly bengali muslims. i personally know non-muslims in bengal, assam, meghalaya and tripura who will be stripped of their citizenship because of 'lack of paperwork' at the time of crossing during the insanity that was the partition. and i want to remind people that there still exists tribunals that "legally" condemn citizens to statelessness and detention centres in which god knows what happens.

i also want to remind again that reports already exist that remain unimplemented, for example the sachar committee report (2006) on indian muslims which also touches upon the concerns of buddhists, mazhabi sikhs, dalit christians, parsis and christians, or the official 2013 report on the socio-economic conditions of tribals, or the many yet to published let alone implemented reports on sc, st and obc. their desperation, poverty and oppression is already made known to the state. yet no policy or redressal has been brought forth. one must ask why. in light of these reports, what new thing does a caste census accomplish which is not driven by divisive electoral, delimitation and disenfranchisement agenda?

i also want people remember that a lot of us took the streets to oppose this. we said we will boycott census if it has anything to do with NPR and NRC. any attempt at disenfranchising fellow citizens and rendering them stateless and "illegal" is evil and must be resisted. all the chatter around this caste census is pointless if it is still linked with population registers.

but i ask myself this question, and out of despair, i ask you: how do we resist?

[samacharapp]

28 Naxals gunned down in Chhattisgarh, 185 ultras eliminated so far in 2024

Bodies of Naxalites along with a cache of weapons, including an AK-47 rifle and one SLR (self-loading rifle), have been recovered from the encounter spot.

In one of the biggest operations against Maoists in Chhattisgarh, security personnel killed 28 Naxalites in a fierce encounter in the Bastar region on Friday, a senior police official said. The gunfight broke out at around 1 pm in the forest between Thulthuli and Nendur villages in Abhujmaad on the Narayanpur-Dantewada inter-district border, when a joint team of security personnel was out on anti-Naxal operation, Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) Sundarraj P told PTI over the phone. Personnel belonging to the state police's District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Special Task Force (STF) were involved in the operation, he said. Sundarraj informed that 28 Naxalites were gunned down in the encounter. A cache of weapons, including an AK-47 rifle and one SLR (self-loading rifle), were also recovered from the encounter spot, he said. Earlier, Dantewada Superintendent of Police Gaurav Rai had said around 30 Naxalites were killed in the gun battle. After the latest encounter, 185 Maoists have been gunned down by security forces in separate gun battles in the Bastar region comprising seven districts, including Dantewada and Narayanpur, so far this year, police said. On April 16, as many as 29 Naxalites, including some higher-ranking cadres, were killed in an encounter with security personnel in Kanker district. News is originally taken from: https://bit.ly/4eNTExn Samachar App: watch the live latest news of India and the world, business updates, cricket scores, etc. Download the Samachar App now to keep up with daily breaking news.

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[blake-belladonna-defence-force]

I Am So Sorry For This...

But I am in a discord server where chaos reigns supreme. It is the birthplace of Yird and it torments me daily.

In order to gain peace from it for two weeks, I agreed to write @haneychillypep a prompt. We agreed upon Bandit Yang and White Fang Blake.

But she had one condition: I had to include Yird somehow, in the shape of a pet bird.

I’m not happy about this. I downright hate it.

But it is done. The server will have peace for two weeks now because of this fic.

Try to enjoy 😭

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Yang tilted her head at the prisoner in her mother’s tent, her smirk falling slightly under her mask when the woman with long black hair and cat ears looked at her, her amber eyes narrowing into a clear challenge. Her chin lifted and she stared at Yang, proud despite the rope that tied her to her chair.

Blake Belladonna; A woman not easily broken.

“You know… perhaps my men wouldn’t have been so rough with you if you had played nice.”

“It’s cute that you think these injuries are from them. Trust me, bandit, I had these days before I entered your camp.”

“And who did give you those injuries?” Yang chuckled under her mask, trying to keep a calm facade. There was something in the woman’s voice, the way her eyes darkened behind the bruises, the way her smirk dropped behind the split lips, that made Yang’s chest ache. But she shook that feeling off. Why should she care? This woman was no more important than a dead rat. “I must thank them.”

“You’ll need to direct any and all compliments for this piece of work to Adam Taurus.”

“Adam-? Isn’t he your-“

“Leader? Mentor? Partner?” Belladonna smirked darkly, a low chuckle exiting her throat. It sent an unpleasant shiver Yang’s spine. “Yeah. And what of it? You think that’s gonna stop him? You’re a damn fool if you think that you’ll gain anything by holding me to ransom!”

“Squawk! Damn fool!”

“For fuck’s sake! Shut up, you goddamned feathered demon!”

“Squawk! Bastard woman!”

Yang turned to glower at the yellow parrot perched on the table by her mother’s bed. Why her mother still kept that thing, she didn’t know.

“You are the bane of my existence. I hope you know that, Yird.”

“Yird? As in… Yang plus bird?” Belladonna piped up her smirk growing bigger as she snorted. “How narcissistic of you.”

“...my mother’s second named it to get on my nerves.” Yang growled, still glaring at the bird. “I don’t have the heart to get rid of it.”

“My, my… does the big, bad bandit have a soft spot?” Belladonna practically purred, her amber eyes narrowing in delight. “How sweet.”

“You realise that I could kill you right here, right now. Right?” Yang snarled as she slammed her hands down onto the arm rests of Belladonna’s chair, frowning when she didn’t flinch. Instead, Belladonna looked up at her, her lips twisting into a lopsided grin. “I could gut you and Adam would be none the wiser.”

“You’ve had plenty of chances to kill me, Yang.” Blake murmured softly, tilting her head at Yang slightly. “No matter how hard you try, you can’t do it. But go ahead. Gut me. Slit my throat open. Watch the light leave my eyes like the bloodthirsty monster that you are.” Blake smirked, her ears twitching as she stared up into Yang’s mask. “Show me what the mighty Dragon of the Branwen Tribe is capable of. Prove to me that what I think is wrong.”

“And what do you think, Blake?”

“I think,” Blake whispered, voice soft and alluring as Yang felt her own arms tremble slightly. “That you don’t like it here. You don’t agree with the bloodshed. The cruel way of life out here. You don’t believe in eye for an eye. Nor do you approve of your mother’s mantra of “the strong survive and the weak die.” You can’t stand it here… you want out.”

“Then why haven’t I left yet?”

“Simple.” Blake smiled, her amber eyes glinting with something that Yang couldn’t identify. “You’d be on your own. You’d be giving up the companionship of your tribe for the life of a loner. And that scares you. But you don’t have to be alone.” Blake swallowed thickly, a sudden look of nervousness entering her eyes. “I think that we’re more alike than you care to admit. We both want freedom. But we’re both too scared to take it on our own.”

“What? You want me to run away with you?” Yang laughed, the sound weaker than she wished it to be. “You think you could trust a bandit?”

“Not a bandit.” Blake said softly. “You.”

Yang considered it. Blake… wasn’t wrong. She had never been happy in the tribe. And, as she gazed upon Blake’s wounds, it was obvious that Blake felt the same.

“Let’s go.” Yang quickly moved to cut Blake’s ties, releasing her and quickly throwing her her weapon. “But we need to move fast before-“

“Bastard woman escape! Bastar-squawk!”

Yang jumped at the sound of a blade being drawn and watched as Yird fell to the ground, dead.

“Ugh. I hate birds.” Blake snorted as she placed her weapon on her back. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be.” Yang huffed, a small grin on her face. “That bastard was getting on my last nerve anyway. Now… Let’s move.”

And so they ran. Yang threw her mask down as they entered the tree line, leaving behind the life she knew and stepping into a new one with Blake Belladonna.

[pinkykitten]

What if?

Hunger Games

Haymitch Abernathy x female! reader

Warning: curse words, haymitch kinda being a lil horn dog

Specifics: comedy, romance, angst, one-shot, prompts, pics, race neutral reader 

People: haymitch abernathy, president snow

Words: 1,427

Requested: By anon Hello, could you please write something about Haymitch x reader (Hunger Games) ? They're both former winners for their respective districts, longtime friends and they’ve feelings for each other but have never dared to confess anything to the other, with prompt #1: “how much did you drink?”, prompt #11: "you owe me a kiss." and prompt #21: "you’re not very intimidating." Thank you !

Prompts:

1 -  “how much did you drink?”

11 -  “you owe me a kiss.”

21 -  “you’re not very intimidating.”

Authors Note: ooooooooh i love how this one turned out! usually i hate my crappy writing but idk maybe i was overly inspired and i feel this came out actually pretty good imnotgonnalie!!! anywho i feel tho that this love story aint that rlly finished...i might IF YA GIRL GOT TIME i might write a second part to this idk i just IDK I REALLY FRICKIN LOVE THIS!!! i hope u guys do and thnx anon for request and if u guys ever want me to tag u...u know where to find me

You gathered your things, checking your attire as you stepped in front of a mirror. 

“I hate these things,” you muttered to yourself as you added the finishing touches to your makeup. You were on your way to a gathering, a party, where it was for the new tributes to the Hunger Games. 

Did you want to be there? No.

Did you have to be there? Yes.

You were a fierce mentor for your district. You had to show up, it was needed for the place you were in. People had to see that your district was trying. 

As you went over there you saw the invitation. Written in beautiful writing but smelling of a terrible, pungent odor you recognized it as President Snow’s scent. 

“Awful smell,” you covered your nose, throwing your invitation in your purse you stared longingly at the window. This will be another time where you would have to be face to face with Haymitch. You two started off as rivals but then eventually turned into longtime good friends. A point in time when you were maturing you two fell out of communication until recently you and Haymitch got back together as if there were never a space between you two. As if there never was a time when you two didn't see each other, it was like old times. Upon seeing him again however sparked something within that didn’t spark when you used to see him when you were younger. He age like fine wine. Becoming more gruff and tough than his youthful days, always leaning towards alcohol. 

Why did you have to see him again? You were fine all those years but now you yearned for something stronger. You yearned to see him daily, to express your feelings to him finally, you just wanted him to know the truth before it was too late. You were for once in your life terrified. You’ve been through the Hunger games, yet love scared you more than death. 

You arrived and stepped into the building. There were some old faces and some new but most of the people there were all fake. They wore a mask, a facade to agree with the Capital. You were not about that lifestyle. You believed everyone was entitled to their own opinion, they deserved a voice, a say. 

You were alone admiring the decor, noticing a few things here and there, like the way the glitter sparkled when the light hit it, or how the light blonde hair flew by like a feather against the bedazzled, sparkly background. 

“Wait blonde hair?”

As you looked to see who it was the person knocked into you almost sending you flying back into the bar but you caught the other and yourself just in time. “Hey what the he*l?”

“Don’t use that tone with me...young....lady,” Haymitch sorta slurred as he stood up straight, holding the glass cup to his lips. He was about to take a swig of his drink but he paused and squinted at you. “My you’re beautiful...who are you again?” 

You rolled your eyes. Of course Haymitch was drunk, when was he never. You placed your hands on your hip, you were almost like a parent to him sometimes. However, the feelings that rested within you did not leave or escape instead they made a home in your heart, rooting its way within your very veins. This was going to be impossible. 

“Hello to you to Haymitch. I’m your worst nightmare.” 

“Nooooooooooo,” Haymitch patted his lips with his finger as if thinking, “thats not it. You’re someone special, god I feel like I know you.”

“Are you serious Haymitch? Thats because you do know me! I’m y/n l/n! Remember?”

Haymitch was calm for a few seconds but then his eyes widened and a smile took onto his face. “See now I remember you, just took me a few minutes but I still got it. When you were younger you used to make me pins to wear every time we met, got any for me this time?”

You chuckled, unbelieving to you that he still thought about those minuscule gifts that you gave him so many years ago. “No not this time.”

Haymitch tried walking forward but he almost fell onto a group of people. He was swaying back and forth. “These parties are a pain in the as*.

“Tell me about it.”

Haymitch cackled as he tried taking another drink from his alcohol. You grabbed onto his arm to stop him. “Let go of me y/n.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“No!”

“Yes!”

“NO!”

“YES!”

“NO! Give me that,” you took the cup away from him and he tried grabbing it from you but you chugged the rest down. 

Haymitch glared at you,  “you b*tch.”

“B.I.T.C.H Beautiful Intelligent Talented Charming and Hot yeah i know. Now lets go get you sitting down so you don’t hurt yourself.” You guided Haymitch into a quiet room as you tried sitting him down. He moved out of the way and instead started to dance a little. His eyebrows wiggled as he bit his lip, “is this where you have fun with me and we moan so loud the rest of the bastar*s can hear us?”

“How much did you drink?”

“Enough to make me even forget why I’m here.”

“I can see that, wow.” You sat on the edge of the bed and Haymitch plopped himself beside you. You smiled up at him. His face made you reminisce, made you think about memories. Back then he was such an important person in your life. 

“Do you ever wish you could go back in time? Go back to when we were wild teenagers?”

You shrugged, “sometimes I do and then sometimes I don’t. My life is full of responsibilities now and so is yours. We are mentors now, its our job and duty to make sure these kids succeed.”

“You always were the serious type,” he scoffed.

“I was always the calm and reliable one, while you were off lying down with every girl and drinking every drink.”

Haymitch smiled as he thought about the past, “do you remember that one time me and you went to the lake and swam all night? The water was just perfect and the moon was so god dam* big I thought it was about to fall on us. Do you remember when our bodies met and touched? All wet, your lips perfect, our hearts beating fast as we got closer and closer to each other almost meeting. We almost but then...you stopped. You owe me a kiss.”

Trying to get his words out of your mind you pushed him back so he could lay down. “I think you are way too drunk.” You were bashful. 

Haymitch caught your arm and stared directly into your orbs, the windows to your soul. “Y/n, why did you stop?”

You clenched your hands into fists as you fought to stay in eye contact. “I was scared. We were young and I didn’t know if I would ever see you again. Then we just drifted apart. We’re grown up. Its time to forget about the past.”

Haymitch sat up so his forehead rested against yours, “how can I forget about the past when you were there? How can I not look forward to the future when you are here in the present?”

His collar shriveled up as you gripped onto it with all your might. “Haymitch you’re making this too difficult for me.” You inched closer and closer, wanting his lips. Wanting to finally connect. 

“Then how about I make it easy for you and shut you up already.” He crept closer and closer until you rested your head against his shoulder, “I should probably go.”

Haymitch heaved a heavy sigh. He thought he was finally getting to you. He thought the pain of not being together was over. All he wanted was you and that kiss. 

“It was nice seeing you Haymitch, hopefully we can stay in touch. Now you stay here for a while, get better.” You grabbed all your things and were about to leave the room when Haymitch says, “next time. Next time, I’ll get ya. Just you watch. I’ll make sure I’ll kiss you and I know for a fact you will end up kissing me.”

You raised your brow, “You’re not very intimidating.”

“I’m not?” 

You opened the door and taking a final glance of your past and present lover you thought of the what if. What if you did kiss? What would have happened?

Tag list: @harrington-lover, @angelgl16, @perfectlybeautifulsuit, @hyehoney, @haven-prelude (wont let me tag), @leasly, @totally-alexa21, @creamy-pasta-boi, @multireese, @fanfictionrecommendations-com, @prentisskelley, @malereaderforkpop (wont let me tag), @guardian-of-cookies, @justafangirl-97, @teenageshitposts (wont let me tag), @dippergravity (wont let me tag), @some-booty, @fromfoolishpeopletodeadpeople, @collectiveyou, @wtfisalltherandoms, @dirbel, @eastcoasthaven, @fangirl-4-life415 (wont let me tag), @marwantr

wanna be tagged in my crap? comment!

[raipurnews]

Gov, CM , Speaker, BJP President condole death of Senior Journalist Govindlal Vora .

Governor Balaramji Dass Tandon, Chief Minister Dr Rama Singh, Speaker Gauri Shankar Agrawal & Bhartiya Janata Party State President Dharamlal Kaushik today expressed their condolences on the demise of senior journalist Govindlal Vora. He was younger brother of veteran Congress Leader Motilal Vora.

Governor Balaramji Dass Tandon has expressed profound grief on the sad demise of veteran Journalist & Chief Editor of Hindi daily "Amrit Sandesh" Late Govindlal Vora . The governor in his condolence message said that Late Govindlal Vora has made invaluable contribution to Journalism of State & Country . He gave a new direction to the society with his writings . His demise is an irreparable loss to the Journalism of Chattisgarh. Governor Tandon empathised with the grief-stricken family of Late Mr Vora & prayed for the departed soul to rest in peace . In his message, Chief Minister Dr Rama Singh said in his death, Golden Era in Chattisgarh Journalism had came to an end . Dr Rama Singh added that Late Govindlal Vora was a simple man , easy to get along with & was one of the finest and brightest Journalist in the entire state . He served Journalism for six long decades. His demise in an irreparable lost to the Hindi Journalism . It may be recalled that Late Govindlal Vora was former Editor of "Navbharat Daily" & Chief editor of " Amrit Sandesh" for the past 34 years. He died late last night at a private hospital in New Delhi . CM Dr. Rama Singh who is currently touring Bastar as a part of state wide Vikas Yatra expressed his deep condolences while disclosing the sad news at his media briefing this morning at Kondagaon . Dr Rama Singh and assembled Journalist observed silence as a marknof respect to the departed soul.

[classyfoxdestiny]

Dindori: As district gets added to India’s Maoist map, what it means for State

Dindori: As district gets added to India’s Maoist map, what it means for State

Fitari is quiet. The kind of quiet that can only exists in a village in the middle of a Sal forest, its people from a tribe famously reclusive. A thin black tarred road snakes its way to the village, cutting through the Maikal hills, and two small rivulets. As a vehicle passes, the children scatter and the adults stop and stare. Most watch with surprise. The sound of an engine, or the voices of outsiders are still rare.

But there is now wariness in those eyes too. For uniformed visitors, both Maoists and the police, have become increasingly frequent. And for villages in Dindori, now on the country’s Maoist map, that can only mean trouble.

In July this year, the Union home ministry revised its list of districts affected by Left Wing Extremism across the country, bringing them down from 90 to 70. In every affected state, except one, the number of districts either stayed the same, or came down. The only addition, Madhya Pradesh’s Dindori.

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The list has also seen Chhattisgarh’s Mungeli district replacing Balod, which shares a border with Dindori, and the already declared Kabirdham district.

For security agencies, this is an admission that a decade long expansion project of the Maoists into these parts, first spotted in 2012, called the MMC (Maharashtra-Madhya Pradesh-Chhattisgarh confluence) zone requires focussed attention.

For 17-year-old Maha Singh Dhruv, the classification brings no solace, just a sense of dread, of the uncertainty and fear impending conflict bring.

“For the last year, I fear entering the forest thinking that if someday they (Maoists) meet me and ask for help, what will I do? I will have to help them because they carry weapons and if I do, the police will ask a hundred questions,” Dhruv said.

Dhruv is a Baiga, who form more than 80% of the population in Fitari, which has a population of 500 voters. The tribe, famously reclusive, are one of the 75 notified Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) in the country, and one of the seven notified in Madhya Pradesh.

The government defines PVTG’s as “tribal communities who have declining or stagnant population, low level of literacy, pre-agricultural level of technology and are economically backward”.

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Dhruv lost his father very young, and lives in small one room hut with his mother. He went to school in the village itself, but dropped out when his father died. Like with everyone else in the village, there is no income, only subsistence. There is paddy that grows seasonally in two acres of land, and a small kitchen garden where there are long stalks of maize. The rest, the forest has always provided for. But now, with the peace beginning to break, Dhruv wants to leave. “I want to leave this place now. I need a job in Dindori town, 80 kilometres away,” Dhruv said.

The mechanics of identification

The police focus is on three police station areas in Dindori district, Samnapur, Bajag and Karanjiya. The village has electricity but no mobile towers, and to make a phone call, the few who have phones climb up to specific areas atop hills where the signal bar on the handset flickers on.

Senior police officials told HT that earlier this year, they were given inputs of a team of Maoists attempting to speak to villagers in Fitari. Silence is perhaps the best escape and Dhule Baiga has an answer everyone else does too. “I know nothing,” he says.

Sanjay Singh, superintendent of police, Dindori, said the movement and interaction that the police have noticed in the area, have been in and around 65 villages, mostly in “Baiga Chak”.

In 1890, the then colonial government had notified “Baiga Chak” as an area that the Baigas lived in, where they would practice shifting agriculture, locally called “Bewar”. The residents would burn patches of forests and then sow seeds with the government instead training them to practice “settled farming”. At the time, the Baiga Chak had seven villages, but the term is now commonly used to refer to 52 villages, both in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

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But even if villagers are afraid to talk of the increase presence of Maoists, the police argue that there are clear indications of a growing presence. In 2018, four kilometres away from Fetari, in the biggest local market in Dhurkuta, where everything from an umbrella to spices is sold, a driver spotted a group of 28 armed cadres crossing the forests. “I remember it was a chilly morning and I was returning from a marriage in Dhurkuta. I counted them. Initially , I thought they were police personnel but later because they were very cautious, I realised that they are Maoists,” said the driver, tracked down by HT, who lives in Chhattisgarh’s Kabhirdham, bordering Dindori.

Acting on this information, the police had at the time, sent teams to the village and found telltale footprints at the spot the driver had mentioned. “I tried to ask the villagers but most said nothing. Only one elderly Baiga told me that he saw those people twice walking outside the village,” a local police officer said.

Officers of the Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh Police, who have interrogated surrendered cadres that worked in the MMC zone in the last three years believe that the Maoists are developing a new ‘base area’ in the dense Amarkantak forests. Amarkantak is where the Vindhya, Maikal and Satpura ranges converge in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

In 2012, the Central Committee of the CPI (Maoist) decided to form this new zone, apart from the one already operational in Bastar called the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC). Documents accessed by the police show that by 2017, the work of “social investigation” was completed by “vistar platoons” covering more than 500 villages in the area. This survey included analysis of demography, target population, economic status, employment, and socio-economic problems of the area along with the identification of safe routes for the movement of armed cadres. The aim is to create another “Abhujhmaad”, which is a 4000 square kilometre area in south Bastar, unmapped by the government, and known to be the area where members of the Central Committee of the CPI(Maoist) live and operate from.

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In their conversations, surrendered cadres have told police that the Maoists have surveyed the forests to map water bodies, high vantage points to watch the movement of troops and police stations in a bid to create a safe zone. The team responsible for developing this passage and base area is headed by Maoist commander Rakesh Ode, originally from Gadchiroli, who heads a team of 22 armed cadres. Rakesh heads three Area Committees of CPI (Maoist) – Bhoramdeo, Bodla and Khatiamocha and reports to Kabeer who heads the Kanha Bhoramdeo (KB) division of the MMC zone. Police records show that there are a total of 85 armed cadres operating in the area, of which 34 are women.

The beginning of a vicious cycle?

The increase in the Maoist presence is also throwing up a familiar, hotly contested argument, one that has caused much strife in areas such as Bastar. The Dindori police plan to set up four new police camps in the area, at Chauradadar, Padaripani, Chada and Gaurakanhari, all in Baiga Chak. In Dhurkuta, this plan worries Arjun Singh Dhruv, president of the Baiga Nritak Dal and a retired teacher. “I don’t know about Maoists and their presence in this area, but one thing is concerning for us – our freedom. When the forces will be deployed, we will be caged,” Dhruv said.

Dhruv said that Baiga culture has very little crime, close to no theft, so much so that there are very few homes that even own a lock. “The nearest police station, Bajag is 28 km from this village but when the police from outside (referring to paramilitary personnel) come to this area they definitely intrude into our daily lives, and can harass us,” he said.

Dr Vijay Chaurasia, a homeopathy doctor based in Baiga Chak, and author of the book “Prakriti Putra Baiga” shares similar concerns and said that it took him close to a decade to win the confidence of the Baigas. “If the Maoists are talking to Baigas and trying to enter this peaceful community, they are actually harming them. But the government decision to deploy forces in this area makes this tribe venerable. This is bad move,” he said.

But Ved Ram Hanote, Station House Officer of the Bajag police station has already spotted signs of a shift in stance and vocabulary in some sections of the population. “We have information that some people, possibly Maoists, are entering remote villages of Baiga Chak and encouraging the residents to encroach forest land for cultivation. To me it seems that the language of Baigas has changed, they have a new vocabulary where some are talking about rights and laws. Rights and laws are not bad in themselves, just that the change in words tells me that a new influence has seeped in,” Hanote said.

Although there has been no recorded Maoist violence in Dindori, the district police believe that the villages inside the forest of Dindori are now a “safe area” for Maoists. In March 2021, a massive anti-Maoist operation was launched by the Mandla police where, under fire, the Maoists escaped towards Dindori and settled there for about a week. “They travel along a river called Kharmer, which borders two states every time they feel pressure in Chhattisgarh or Mandla,” said the Dindori SP, adding that the state government had been trying to include Dindori in MHA’s list for last two years.

He said that he hoped that the Baigas being reclusive would stem the spread of Maoist influence, but hidden in that, is a double edged sword. “They rarely entertain outsiders and therefore the chances of widespread Maoist influence is less. But if the Maoists do manage this, then it would be really difficult for us because they rarely say anything to the police,” said Singh.

Also Read | The art of mediating conflicts

The district plans to deploy all Baiga policemen in these areas, who will aid the paramilitary in their operations, and attempt to “keep a check on them”. The plan is to deploy 400 central forces, but augment them with 550 district police personnel. “We have started training officers to prevent any harassment in the region. The behaviour of police must change while working in these tribal dominated areas; otherwise the Maoists could take advantage and we will lose the trust of the community,” said the SP.

However, within the state apparatus, there is no unanimity on what is clearly a complicated question. Intelligence officials HT has spoken to said that the large number of deployments themselves may be what the Maoists want the state to do. “I think that the Maoists want such a deployment of police forces because this will make tribes feel threatened and in turn, they create ideological space for themselves. What is need of such a huge deployment? These villages are merely a passage of Maoists towards Amarkantak. Baigas don’t like uniformed people and hence it could be dangerous,” an officer posted in the region said.

The Chhattisgarh dimension

In Chhattisgarh’s neighbouring Mungeli district, also newly added to the list of Maoist districts by the MHA, around 50 villages of the Khudiya post in Lormi, are being watched closely by the state. Police functionaries said that all of these are Baiga dominated villages and more than ten “interactions” have been recorded in the past year. Remote and sparsely populated, these villages get cut off in the monsoon.

“My brother lives in Aurapani and guards a small rest house there. He told me that about a year ago , four people in black uniforms came and asked him several questions about and topography. They enter our village from Ajgar Pahad in Mungeli,” said Chamran Singh Baiga, who once lived in Aurapanu, but has since moved to Mahuamacha village.

A senior police officer, posted in Chhattisgarh’s capital of Raipur said Mungeli has developed into an area of strategic importance for the MMC zone. “We have included the district in our list Khudiya outpost is the entrance point of their base area –the Amarkantak forests. If they get support or recruitment from the villages alongside, it will be very difficult to contain them in next few years,” said the officer.

Chhattisgarh DGP DM Awasthi said the state wanted to be careful with its planning and deployment and not exacerbate a sensitive situation. “In 2018, Kabirdham was added in MHAs list and now we have decided to add Mungeli. The reason is simple, Maoists are expanding MMC zone towards Amarakant and it is important to check them. We are still thinking about deployment and based on intelligence inputs decisions will be taken,” Awasthi said.

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[theyourclasses]

11 August 2020 Daily Current Affairs & Daily GK Update in Hindi

New Post has been published on https://yourclasses.in/today-important-current-affairs-daily-quiz-11-august-2020-in-hindi

11 August 2020 Daily Current Affairs & Daily GK Update in Hindi

Current Affairs 11 August 2020 

  Which of the following e-commerce company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding under One District, One Product scheme of the Government of Uttar Pradesh to bring the artisans, weavers and craftsmen under the ODOP scheme into the scope of that company’s initiative?

(A) Amazon

(B) Myntra

(C) OLX Group

(D) Paytm mall

(E) Flipkart

Flipkart has signed a Memorandum of Understanding under One District, One Product scheme of the Government of Uttar Pradesh to bring the artisans, weavers and craftsmen under the ODOP scheme into the scope of that company’s initiative

  Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) will open the first Silk Training cum Production Center in the tribal village in which state?

(A) Arunachal Pradesh

(B) Sikkim

(C) Nagaland

(D) Manipur

(E) Mizoram

  Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) will open the first Silk Training cum Production Center in the tribal village in Arunachal Pradesh.

  A-Line of Credit worth 18 million US dollars has been extended by the Government of India to which government?

(A) Maldives

(B) Seychelles

(C) Mauritius

(D) Sri Lanka

(E) Bangladesh

  A-Line of Credit of worth 18 million US dollars has been extended by the Government of India to Maldives.

  Which country has taken a decision to construct a monument for the Indian soldiers who died in 1971 during the country’s struggle for independence?

(A) Nepal

(B) Bangladesh

(C) Bhutan

(D) Myanmar

(E) Afghanistan

  Bangladesh has taken a decision to construct a monument for the Indian soldiers who died in 1971 during the country’s struggle for independence.

  Nandi Yellaiah, who died recently, was a famous personality in which field?

(A) Film Industry

(B) Politics

(C) Science

(D) Cricket

(E) Football

Veteran Congress leader and eight-time parliamentarian from Telangana, Nandi Yellaiah died of a brief illness after being detected positive for Covid-19 in Hyderabad.

  Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the submarine Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) to connecting which city from Port Blair via video conferencing?

(A) Chennai

(B) Bengaluru

(C) Hyderabad

(D) Mumbai

(E) Coimbatore

  Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the submarine Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) to connecting Chennai city from Port Blair via video conferencing.

  Which district of Chhattisgarh has become the first municipal corporation in the country to provide forest land rights certificates to people of an urban area?

(A) Bastar

(B) Korba

(C) Jagdalpur

(D) Jabalpur

(E) Dhamtari

  Jagdalpur district of Chhattisgarh has become the first municipal corporation in the country to provide forest land rights certificates to people of an urban area.

  Who has been took oath as a Prime Minister of Sri Lanka for the fourth time?

(A) Gotabaya Rajapaksa

(B) Maithripala Sirisena

(C) Mahinda Rajapaksa

(D) Ranil Wickremesinghe

(E) Basil Sirisena

  Mahinda Rajapaksa took oath as a Prime Minister of Sri Lanka for the fourth time.

  Which city of India has recently become the first city in India to have women symbols on traffic signals and signage?

(A) Lucknow

(B) New Delhi

(C) Mumbai

(D) Chennai

(E) Panaji

  Mumbai has recently become the first city in India to have women symbols on traffic signals and signage.

  Who has been bagged the Asian College of Journalism’s Award for Investigative Journalism?

(A) K P Narayan

(B) Kapil Duggal

(C) Nitin Sethi

(D) Ram Singh

(E) V S Matondkar

  Nitin Sethi has been bagged the Asian College of Journalism’s Award for Investigative Journalism.

  ANSWERS: – 1(E) 2(A) 3(A) 4(B) 5(B) 6(A) 7(C) 8(C) 9(C) 10(C)

[brajeshupadhyay]

While urban India falters, Bastar's tribals implement strict lockdown; villages self-isolate, barricade roads to prevent spread of coronavirus

It has been over a month since tribals in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region, a Maoist hotbed, suspended their centuries-old ritual of rooster fights in villages to adhere to social distancing and avoid being infected by the novel coronavirus.

Rooster fights forms an integral part of the tribal life and culture, and never before, as far as the people in the Bastar region could remember, was this ritual ever suspended. But, by doing so, these self-driven tribals have set an example for the urban population on how to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and maintain self-discipline during the nationwide lockdown.

Interestingly, when the administration and police are having a tough time restricting civilians in their homes and preventing them from gathering on streets, in several cities across India, including the metros, the tribals from the seven districts of Bastar region have voluntarily adopted the lockown measures within their villages, without much of the state’s intervention, to prevent the spread of the pandemic.

With a population of more than 30 lakh (as per Census 2011), not a single COVID-19 positive case has been found in the Bastar region yet.

The lockdown story of the tribals in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region is one of a self-driven initiative rooted in their traditional reverence for community values and their socio-cultural way of life. They pay utmost respect to nature, traditions, their value systems and totems, which in a way is a code of conduct for the tribal population of the Dandakaranya region of Chhattisgarh. The region comprises more than 20 lakh people, accounting for 67 percent of the total population of Bastar region.

“Rooster fights are a celebration, a ritual and a social sport, which tribals have been following for centuries. But this is probably for the first time that they have suspended it to avoid gathering of people at market places,” Basant, a resident of Naxal-affected Dantewada district in Bastar region told Firstpost.

Even Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel has commended the self-discipline shown by tribals in the rgion on Twitter.

Tribal population has shown extraordinary self discipline during this tough time.

Probably for the first time in recent history they have stopped their favourite 'Murga Ladai' i.e. Rooster Fight.

Salute to them.https://t.co/nuK3dsCIRJ

— Bhupesh Baghel (@bhupeshbaghel) April 22, 2020

Without much intervention of the state, the tribals in Bastar region have isolated themselves by fencing their villages with bamboos and tree branches placed on road sides and inside the jungles.

Handmade posters or placards have been hung at entry points preventing outsiders from entering their villages. Barricades have also been placed on rural roads connecting two villages.

Barring ambulance, health workers, Panchayat and public distribution system (PDS) workers for supplying rations, no one including vehicles, is allowed to enter these tribal villages.

Surprisingly, the Naxals who present themselves as ‘big brothers’ and often exert authority over tribals, have maintained silence on the lockdown. Unlike their regular calls to tribals for an armed struggle against the State to protect ‘Jal, Jungle, Zameen’ (Water, Forest, Land) and tribal rights, the banned outfit CPI (Maoist) has issued no instructions to Adivasis on hygiene, social distancing or isolating themselves for their safety.

Contrary to popular perception about the literacy and awareness level of the tribal population, the tribal villages in Bastar region seem better aware about cleanliness and rules related to isolation, quarantine and lockdown. Whatever guidelines they receive from the government, they implement it without questioning.

Many of the villagers, if not using masks, protect themselves by wrapping ‘gamcha’ (native word for a towel) on their faces.

“Initially, when we started getting news about COVID-19, we were worried about the tribals, but believe me they are more aware and wiser than us urbanites. The next day after the Janata curfew, my friend and I went on a round to Teknar village some 10 kilometres away from Dantewada town early morning. We were amazed when three villagers confronted us asking why we were roaming after prime minister’s instruction to stay home,” added Basant, who’s a field staff in the Chhattisgarh government.

According to the locals and government officials, the strong community values within tribals and their past experiences make them self-disciplined and follow measures needed during an epidemic.

“In the long past, there had been incidents of cholera and small pox epidemics, and Adivasis are aware of it through generations. So, while we create awareness among the tribal population on COVID-19, they get a warning signal that something big is happening and they need to protect themselves. This intuitive instinct helps in building a quarantined system in their society,” deputy collector, Dantewada district, Lingraj Sidar told Firstpost.

Routine life takes a backseat

With the imposition of the nationwide lockdown, the daily routine of tribals has undergone a change. There’s no more going to haats (weekly village markets) for buying and selling of crops and vegetables and panchayat meetings. Visits to other villages have also been suspended, and there’s no celebration of rituals and fairs.

Instead, they have isolated themselves within the boundaries of their villages. They go to forests to collect forest produce especially mahua or mahwah (Madhuca Longifolia), which is used for preparing local country liquor, and fishing. At home, many are busy in brewing liquor out of the mahua flower, as it forms an essential part of the tribal culture.

The government has allowed preparation and storage of mahua liquor up to five litres for each tribal household.

“Besides preparing mahua liquor, at this time, we’re repairing our huts and fixing the overhead roof tiles. As we don’t have much demand, the essential goods like rice, gram, salt, sugar or jaggery, etc, that we get from PDS are enough for us. Almost every household is involved in small poultry farming (chicken) and growing vegetables in the backyard, which is complemented by fishing. So, we don’t need to step out of our villages,” said Phoolchand, resident of Katulnar village at Geedam block of Dantewada district.

“Moreover there’re no haat, mela or mandai (village fair) to visit. Entry of outsiders into villages has been banned. So there’s no interaction with the outside world. Now, our village is the world for us. Inside the village, men, women and children maintain social distancing whether during fetching water from hand pump or collecting our ration supply," added Somaru of Gadhiya village under Lohandiguda block in the Bastar district.

Govt steps in with advance ration

The Chhattisgarh government has supplied two months’ ration to tribals in advance. At many inaccessible villages, where there’s no PDS outlet, door-step delivery has been ensured. Rice and salt are supplied for free.

In the wake of the lockdown, which led to shutdown of schools, the government has been providing midday meal ration (rice and pulses) for 40 days till 30 April by reaching out to the students at home or at a central place in the village.

Panchayat CEOs have instructed village sarpanchs (heads) and panchs (members) to prevent outsiders from entering any village and to inform local police about any such movement.

Every Panchayat samiti (society), which includes a village secretary, a patwari, a teacher and an employment assistant, is monitoring the movement of people coming from outside.

“With the help of PDS workers, panchayat members and self-help groups, we’re reaching out to interior villages with ration supply. We’ve supplied two month’s quota of rice in advance. Health workers are visiting them to advise them of preventive measures. Social distancing is being maintained everywhere. Each village is self-sustainable in Bastar. They don’t have much demand in life and lead a simple life. This has also helped them in isolating themselves in the strictest manner and follow government advisory,” Sidar added.

Amid lockdown, health workers have even gone into some of the tribal villages in Maoist strongholds inside deep forests in Dantewada, Sukma and Bijapur districts, where government schemes and supplies fail to reach due to inaccessibility and locational disadvantage.

Meanwhile, women self-help groups (SHGs) comprising Adivasi women are playing an inspiring role in combating the ongoing crisis in Bastar. Besides creating awareness on maintaining proper hygiene to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and reaching out to villagers with ration, these SHGs have made more than 18,000 masks as per health department’s guidelines for the tribals in Dantewada district alone. They are also producing vegetables for local consumption to counter shortage.

From the day lockdown was announced by Prime Minister Narendar Modi, the Bastar tribals have put themselves on a self-driven safety mode. And they have no qualms about it. As several people with whom Firstpost interacted remarked, “Once this mahamaari (pandemic) and lockdown ends, life will be back to normal. Tab tak aaraam karte hain (Let’s take a break till then)."

via Blogger https://ift.tt/35gtbGg

[kapishjewels-blog]

Indian Tribal and Ethnic Jewellery

The story of Indian tribal jewellery is associated with ancient times as people have been using the stuff to make a style statement.  Due to an inherent mix of tradition and culture, there are varieties of design themes for the users. They are still alive in the hearts and minds of Indians who wear jewellery on different occasions in style. Tribal bangles, necklaces, and armbands are still quite popular and form an integral part of the lifestyle accessories. Tribal population in past was poor and prone to attacks from the invaders, therefore the selection of the material was modest. Generally, they used clays and ivory to create artistic jewellery in an impeccable manner.

History:

In spite of so many years, the tribal culture has preserved its originality and it is also reflected in the jewellery. The product has retained its old charm that is deeply rooted in tradition. It is a far cry from the contemporary stuff that is available in the market. Ethnic jewellery has now made a great come back with people prefer the mixing of old and new school designs.

Tribal accessories are not only fashion statements but they also imbibe spiritual beliefs to a great extent. Century-old customs or worshipping of the deities is also manifested in the design. Unique themes go a long way in making them indispensable for the users. Style of jewellery provides a glimpse into the structure of a particular society of tribal people.

The ancient civilization of Mohenjo-Daro incorporated handmade ornaments that were very popular in those times. Excavations at the site in North Western India found plenty of evidence that people in those eras wore different types of jewellery. The royal population of ancient India used to wear amazing accessories that helped to define the social status in the society. Necklaces were studded with an array of embellishments to attract the attention of the onlookers.

In past, craftsmen were hired by the kings and queen to make unique jewellery that became the envy of the rest of the world. The knowledge flowed through generations and present-day craftsmen use similar level of skill sets to design amazing artworks.

Tribal jewellery focuses on using simple materials such as leaves, berries, feathers, leather, and claws to create jewellery that is worn for daily usage. In fact, demographic and resources of the region can impact the design of the tribal accessories. For Instance, a tribal population living in Rajasthan may wear different types of jewellery when compared to Madhya Pradesh.

Bastar:

In Bastar, grass and natural beads are used to make beautiful neck wears that have become the cynosures of all eyes. They also wear traditional ornaments made of copper, glass, and silver. Some of the examples of creativity include the creation of jewellery with one rupee coin.

Banjara tribe in Rajasthan wears not only colorful but also weighty ornaments. They use coins, shells, beads and many more materials. In addition, people also adorn the ornate belts around the waist. They play an important role in complementing the ethnic attires.

Tribes of Garo, Khasi, and Jaintia:

Red coral beads are the prominent materials used to create tribal jewellery. Thin glass fluted stems are also popular among the users. Beads and stems are mixed together to enhance the beauty of the jewels. Northeastern tribal population uses the beads to make necklaces, bangles and even earrings.

Bhutia tribes of Sikkim are known for their unique culture and tradition. They wear gold jewellery with unique design themes. In the modern era, they are now using silver due to the cost factor. One of the unique selling points of such jewellery is that they also incorporate turquoise stone and beautiful corals. They impart color to the yellow metal, thereby making it more diverse.

Arunachal Pradesh situated at the northeastern border is known for housing large number of tribes. They include Wacho, karka gallong and Rengami Nagas people. Generally, tribal people living in the state use seeds, beetles and feathers to create amazing pieces of art. They go a long way in attracting the attention of the people.

Tribes of Himachal Pradesh adorn iron headed bangles that are stylish and lightweight. In addition, ornate daggers are also very popular among the men.

To explore more visit us:  Kapish Group  

[nidarchhattisgarh]

आदिवासी बेटी नीतू सिंह ठाकुर बनी डीएसपी सर्व आदिवासी समाज युवा प्रभाग के पदाधिकारियों ने दी बधाई 

आदिवासी बेटी नीतू सिंह ठाकुर बनी डीएसपी सर्व आदिवासी समाज युवा प्रभाग के पदाधिकारियों ने दी बधाई NCG News desk Bastar :-    शनिवार को लोक सेवा आयोग की परीक्षा उत्तीर्ण कर उप पुलिस अधीक्षक बनी सुश्री नीतू सिंह ठाकुर से उनके गृह ग्राम घोटिया मे मुलाकात कर सर्व आदिवासी समाज युवा प्रभाग के पदाधिकारियों ने बधाई एवं शुभकामनाएं दी । बस्तर ब्लॉक अंतर्गत ग्राम घोटिया निवासी चंद्रभान सिंह ठाकुर माता…

[havishams]

How To Judge And Buy A Digicam By Price, Capability And Owner Reviews

Lucky Charms and Numerology your personal Magic Square Talismanby: Keith Abbott. By the conclusion of the eighteenth century these were in popular use as a casino game in England, France and Italy also it is most likely which they reached the USA via Chinese immigrant labourers. . There are various ways of laying on the dominoes one such method is similar to that used in tarot card spreads. In places like Raigarh and Bastar districts of Chhattisgarh, bronze, brass and bell metal are utilized to carve out Dokra craft/Dhokra art. What of a nice little orange camera? That is that which you get using this Pentax 18x optical zoom appliance. From Jim Beam to Jack Daniels, you simply might find a lesson filled with old friends. Canon PowerShot SD800 IS - 1 megapixel compact camera with a 8x wide angled optical zoom and image stabilization. Standard sets within the West consist of twenty-eight rectangular tiles called bones, cards, tiles, stones or spinners. Those who have shot action shots still discover that everything is crystal clear and there are not any blurs or smears that usually accompany other digital camera models that are out there. The folk cultures of these tribal belts have provided inspiration for Dokra motifs. Two/two - Celebrations in career and relationships. It's currently out of print, however you can find it out there. The question needs to be asked best professional camera by the person requiring guidance and meditated upon for a period of time. View More Videos from the "Hobbies" category:. There were traveling groups of metal craftsmen sporadically scattered all over the mineral rich, tribal belts of central India such as within the tribal districts of Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Vindhya hills region, Orissa and Bengal. . Stay tuned for that final round next week when we discuss American whiskeys. No matter whether a newbie is taking the plunge into photography or perhaps a seasoned professional needs a brand new camera, either of these cameras could be sufficient in providing quality photos. These nomadic metal craftsmen, owned by socially inferior castes are referred to as Dokra or Dhokra.

Amazon Price: $4400 $3751. com (Please see buy now link about the main page)Credit: Amazon. Use a mug to draw in around onto a piece of paper to produce a pattern piece. Caution needed if making fast decision. This technology are available in some models of Pentax, Sony, Samsung, and Olympus which could cost anywhere between 200 to 1000 dollars.

Using some very easy techniques and materials, anyone can make a potent talisman to attract money, good fortune, and assist you to reach your daily life goals all through the strength of numerology. Add in to the fact that it is produced by Canon, a name that has been trusted within the camera world for years, the individual will see they will not find something that measures up from what they are getting using the Canon EOS Rebel T3 SLR digital camera. While not as versatile because the Canon EOS Rebel series, it is often greater than enough for many photographic uses.

[thedailyexcelsior]

| Excelsior News | Bastar, Chhattisgarh: Meet 27-year-old Usha Kiran, the first Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) woman officer who has been deployed in Maoist hotbed Bastar. Download the official Daily Excelsior mobile app: Android : https://goo.gl/DrWrAu IOS : https://goo.gl/jFyjGY Stay Connected with us on our Social Media Links: Facebook : https://goo.gl/iV3s5o Twitter : https://goo.gl/bd1uEO Google+ : https://goo.gl/r9qSKH Instagram: https://goo.gl/G5pdE5 Tumblr : http://goo.gl/8qvBDb Pinterest: https://goo.gl/1bjh20 Visit our websites: Website: http://ift.tt/267gtn8 Epaper : http://ift.tt/1YwhqmR

[brajeshupadhyay]

It has been over a month since tribals in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region, a Maoist hotbed, suspended their centuries-old ritual of rooster fights in villages to adhere to social distancing and avoid being infected by the novel coronavirus. Rooster fights forms an integral part of the tribal life and culture, and never before, as far as the people in the Bastar region could remember, was this ritual ever suspended. But, by doing so, these self-driven tribals have set an example for the urban population on how to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and maintain self-discipline during the nationwide lockdown. Interestingly, when the administration and police are having a tough time restricting civilians in their homes and preventing them from gathering on streets, in several cities across India, including the metros, the tribals from the seven districts of Bastar region have voluntarily adopted the lockown measures within their villages, without much of the state’s intervention, to prevent the spread of the pandemic. With a population of more than 30 lakh (as per Census 2011), not a single COVID-19 positive case has been found in the Bastar region yet. The lockdown story of the tribals in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region is one of a self-driven initiative rooted in their traditional reverence for community values and their socio-cultural way of life. They pay utmost respect to nature, traditions, their value systems and totems, which in a way is a code of conduct for the tribal population of the Dandakaranya region of Chhattisgarh. The region comprises more than 20 lakh people, accounting for 67 percent of the total population of Bastar region. “Rooster fights are a celebration, a ritual and a social sport, which tribals have been following for centuries. But this is probably for the first time that they have suspended it to avoid gathering of people at market places,” Basant, a resident of Naxal-affected Dantewada district in Bastar region told Firstpost. Even Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel has commended the self-discipline shown by tribals in the rgion on Twitter. Tribal population has shown extraordinary self discipline during this tough time. Probably for the first time in recent history they have stopped their favourite 'Murga Ladai' i.e. Rooster Fight. Salute to them.https://t.co/nuK3dsCIRJ — Bhupesh Baghel (@bhupeshbaghel) April 22, 2020 Without much intervention of the state, the tribals in Bastar region have isolated themselves by fencing their villages with bamboos and tree branches placed on road sides and inside the jungles. Handmade posters or placards have been hung at entry points preventing outsiders from entering their villages. Barricades have also been placed on rural roads connecting two villages. Barring ambulance, health workers, Panchayat and public distribution system (PDS) workers for supplying rations, no one including vehicles, is allowed to enter these tribal villages. Surprisingly, the Naxals who present themselves as ‘big brothers’ and often exert authority over tribals, have maintained silence on the lockdown. Unlike their regular calls to tribals for an armed struggle against the State to protect ‘Jal, Jungle, Zameen’ (Water, Forest, Land) and tribal rights, the banned outfit CPI (Maoist) has issued no instructions to Adivasis on hygiene, social distancing or isolating themselves for their safety. Contrary to popular perception about the literacy and awareness level of the tribal population, the tribal villages in Bastar region seem better aware about cleanliness and rules related to isolation, quarantine and lockdown. Whatever guidelines they receive from the government, they implement it without questioning. Many of the villagers, if not using masks, protect themselves by wrapping ‘gamcha’ (native word for a towel) on their faces. “Initially, when we started getting news about COVID-19, we were worried about the tribals, but believe me they are more aware and wiser than us urbanites. The next day after the Janata curfew, my friend and I went on a round to Teknar village some 10 kilometres away from Dantewada town early morning. We were amazed when three villagers confronted us asking why we were roaming after prime minister’s instruction to stay home,” added Basant, who’s a field staff in the Chhattisgarh government. According to the locals and government officials, the strong community values within tribals and their past experiences make them self-disciplined and follow measures needed during an epidemic. “In the long past, there had been incidents of cholera and small pox epidemics, and Adivasis are aware of it through generations. So, while we create awareness among the tribal population on COVID-19, they get a warning signal that something big is happening and they need to protect themselves. This intuitive instinct helps in building a quarantined system in their society,” deputy collector, Dantewada district, Lingraj Sidar told Firstpost. Routine life takes a backseat With the imposition of the nationwide lockdown, the daily routine of tribals has undergone a change. There’s no more going to haats (weekly village markets) for buying and selling of crops and vegetables and panchayat meetings. Visits to other villages have also been suspended, and there’s no celebration of rituals and fairs. Instead, they have isolated themselves within the boundaries of their villages. They go to forests to collect forest produce especially mahua or mahwah (Madhuca Longifolia), which is used for preparing local country liquor, and fishing. At home, many are busy in brewing liquor out of the mahua flower, as it forms an essential part of the tribal culture. The government has allowed preparation and storage of mahua liquor up to five litres for each tribal household. “Besides preparing mahua liquor, at this time, we’re repairing our huts and fixing the overhead roof tiles. As we don’t have much demand, the essential goods like rice, gram, salt, sugar or jaggery, etc, that we get from PDS are enough for us. Almost every household is involved in small poultry farming (chicken) and growing vegetables in the backyard, which is complemented by fishing. So, we don’t need to step out of our villages,” said Phoolchand, resident of Katulnar village at Geedam block of Dantewada district. “Moreover there’re no haat, mela or mandai (village fair) to visit. Entry of outsiders into villages has been banned. So there’s no interaction with the outside world. Now, our village is the world for us. Inside the village, men, women and children maintain social distancing whether during fetching water from hand pump or collecting our ration supply," added Somaru of Gadhiya village under Lohandiguda block in the Bastar district. Govt steps in with advance ration The Chhattisgarh government has supplied two months’ ration to tribals in advance. At many inaccessible villages, where there’s no PDS outlet, door-step delivery has been ensured. Rice and salt are supplied for free. In the wake of the lockdown, which led to shutdown of schools, the government has been providing midday meal ration (rice and pulses) for 40 days till 30 April by reaching out to the students at home or at a central place in the village. Panchayat CEOs have instructed village sarpanchs (heads) and panchs (members) to prevent outsiders from entering any village and to inform local police about any such movement. Every Panchayat samiti (society), which includes a village secretary, a patwari, a teacher and an employment assistant, is monitoring the movement of people coming from outside. “With the help of PDS workers, panchayat members and self-help groups, we’re reaching out to interior villages with ration supply. We’ve supplied two month’s quota of rice in advance. Health workers are visiting them to advise them of preventive measures. Social distancing is being maintained everywhere. Each village is self-sustainable in Bastar. They don’t have much demand in life and lead a simple life. This has also helped them in isolating themselves in the strictest manner and follow government advisory,” Sidar added. Amid lockdown, health workers have even gone into some of the tribal villages in Maoist strongholds inside deep forests in Dantewada, Sukma and Bijapur districts, where government schemes and supplies fail to reach due to inaccessibility and locational disadvantage. Meanwhile, women self-help groups (SHGs) comprising Adivasi women are playing an inspiring role in combating the ongoing crisis in Bastar. Besides creating awareness on maintaining proper hygiene to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and reaching out to villagers with ration, these SHGs have made more than 18,000 masks as per health department’s guidelines for the tribals in Dantewada district alone. They are also producing vegetables for local consumption to counter shortage. From the day lockdown was announced by Prime Minister Narendar Modi, the Bastar tribals have put themselves on a self-driven safety mode. And they have no qualms about it. As several people with whom Firstpost interacted remarked, “Once this mahamaari (pandemic) and lockdown ends, life will be back to normal. Tab tak aaraam karte hain (Let’s take a break till then)."

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