District administration determined to create a new horizon for Sabars

Mail News Service

Jamshedpur, Feb 12: Until a few summer’s ago, people did not know about the existence of an almost extinct tribe – the Sabars. Government agencies tried to provide them the basics of living —- food, clothing and shelter. Hastily done up houses for shelter that gradually crumbled and almost turned to rubble, the Sabars were left to die their usual death as, after the discovery of their existence, medical centres in several forms were strewn about but at almost inaccessible joints where there were no roads for vehicular movement to carry a sick Sabar to a treatment or referral centre. As for the Sabars, they had to carry their sick by wading through treacherous rivers, rivulets, forests where lurked snakes and other carnivorous animals and paths riddled with stones making it more difficult; in fact so much that many a sick had reportedly died while being carried to the nearest medical centres. The Sabar communities were surviving in Paleolithic times in whichever forest they found their survival modes like wild fruits, monkeys and bats. Each death meant one more Sabar deducted from the already dwindling tribe.

 In-between, some tangible efforts were made to bring the Sabars to the mainstream of life but, with half interest, because none dared to reach this strewn forest community due to inaccessibility. So the uplift government schemes made for the Sabar community continued to collect dust in some obscure corner created specially for files and documents that were meant to be overlooked and forgotten.

But East Singhbhum Deputy Commissioner’s directives auger well for the survival, growth and prosperity of a long deprived Sabar community that is an indication to create a new horizon for the Sabars to lead life like normal mortals. The East Singhbhum Deputy Commissioner Vijaya Jadhav has taken up cudgels for the Sabars of the district to ensure that they get the benefit of several government schemes and in course they are able to get rations, pension and houses that are the basic necessities of life. Through her able leadership, she has been motivating her executive teams to visit Sabar colonies, review the tribe’s current status of living, evaluate their requirements to join the mainstream and posthaste arrange for providing all the benefits of government schemes that they are eligible for.

As soon as the DC received information of the state of Sabars in the Gurabanda Block area of Manu Sabar, she personally went to visit his Pawra Pahar locality to take personal stock of the condition of the families settled there. She visited Manu Sabar’s house and after reviewing their living conditions, she directed the entire Gurabanda Block officials to provide the benefits of all the government schemes they were eligible for. Thus began the ‘Mission Uplift’ of the Sabars as the Block pulled up its socks to provide the schematic benefits not only to Manu Sabar’s seven member family but to all the other Sabars living in the locality.

On the basis of the DC’s directives, the Gurabanda BDO along with his team went to Pawra Pahar where Manu Sabar and his family had settled. But, at the time of the BDO and his team’s arrival, only Manu’s dad, the elderly Lal Sabar was at home and he informed them that Manu and his family had gone to the forest. The Block team went to the forest and after and after a two hour intensive search, was able to trace Manu and his family. They were brought back to their village. Later, Manu Sabar and his family were taken to the Panchayat Bhawan at the foothill of Pawra Pahar where the necessary documentations for registration and issuing of new Aadhaar Cards were completed.

The seven members of Manu’s family include, apart from his elderly parents Manu and his wife, his sister and two sons. The Gurabanda BDO said, “Manu and his family will receive their Aadhaar numbers within 10 to 15 days post which, they will get their ration cards, elders including women their pension documents, Birsa Awas housing benefits. Other government benefit schemes provisions will also be provided to them. The processing of documents will not take much time. They will get the benefits shortly after receipt of their Aadhaar numbers. The children will be registered in nearest Anganwadi schools. Four of Manu’s family members have been found eligible for pension. The Sabar family has been provided with 10 kg rice and other essential commodities.” East Singhbhum DC, Vijaya Jadhav said, “There is a general opinion among the people that the Sabars are not interested in joining the mainstream. These tribals have a strange disinclination towards getting their Aadhar and ration cards. We have been making constant efforts with door-to-door visits to urge Sabars to have these essential works done. I expect them to see the light shortly and they will try to get the benefits of the government schemes. Of course, we will be assisting them in availing of their rights.”