CHAMBAL: Sattarlal (58), is a landless farmer in the village Kapura of Sheopur district. A few decades ago, his own land near the village Jharer was captured illegally by people from the local Rajput community. They later sold that land to the Punjabi community, which migrated from their region to own more lands in this discriminated theater of Chambal. "We are simple people. Only a piece of land that we had is now owned by some powerful people. They have their men in government offices. We cannot even complain.”

Chambal region around the district Sheopur is one of the major drought-prone regions in India. But the despair of the poor tribals is not only attributed to their harsh fate. In fact, the poor bureaucratic management and the unchecked oppression of the powerful communities play major roles in adding to the tears of tribals.

Sattarlal, a landless farmer in the village Kapura.


Bhola (9) a tribal from village Panaar, collects Tendu leaves from the forest in order to contribute to his family's earning. Money earned from rolled Tendu leaves constitute a major portion of tribal earnings in the region. "Schoolmaster doesn't turn up for more than once in a week. So it's better to help family instead of sitting at home" says Bhola. There is a complete failure of the education program in the region, including the Anganwadis. "The uneducated children will add to the population of illiterate tribals who after some point of time either choose seasonal labour in the fields of upper castes or migrate to the cities for menial jobs," says Jaishankar Singh, a local activist.

Bhola (9), a tribal from Panaar village.

An abandoned settlement was seen on the way to Jharer village. Due to harsh weather conditions and lack of government support, some of the tribals keep on migrating from one place to another in search of resources. Unfortunately, the places where the resource is available are under the control of the influential Rajputs and Jats.

"We have no right to the land where we lived for years," says Ramveer (25) of Dhawa village. Suffering from pulmonary Tuberculosis, Ramveer is compelled to work as a seasonal labourer in Gwalior. "I have to pay my late father's debt that he owed to a Rajput family of the village Awada. All that he did 12 years ago was to borrow Rs. 10,000 from them" According to him, the debt today has reached the amount somewhere close to Rs. 70,000.

An abandoned settlement of the tribals near Jharer village.

Ramveer (25), a seasonal labourer from the Sahariya tribe.


Daulatram Kumar (42), a local activist from the village Sesiapur is working in the region for more than 20 years. He has been attacked several in past by the people from the upper caste community for his service to the tribals of Adhwadha village. "In this region, I say without any doubt that there is no law. Police, Lekhpal, Collector, every state machinery listens to the powerful elite.”

Daulatram Kumar (42), a local activist is working in the region for more than 20 years.


"My crop suffered the loss last year. The patwari came but we have not been granted any compensation. I just pray, that this year's crop doesn't fail otherwise it would be hard for us to survive" says Ramdayal (23), of Sahariya tribe living in the village Dhawa. According to Shailendra, a social worker active in the region, the Patwaris and Lekhpals ask for commissions to estimate the loss in order to show the crop damage above the mark of 33% decided by the Central Government. "According to the rule, one state-level officer should accompany Patwaris when they are estimating the crop damage. But it never happens" says Shailendra.

Ramdayal (23) a farmer in Dhawa village.


Rajjan, a tribal from Banjara community used to live in Adhwadha village a month back. On 20th June this year, his house was destroyed and set on fire by the goons of a local moneylender from the village Masaawani. "This happens to everybody who is not able to pay his debt. It's nothing new. Even the police is not much concerned about this" says Phoolan, one of the neighbours. Rajjan with his family of four left Adhwadha after the incident. Some in the village even say that he is working as a bondage labourer in the moneylender's field.

Jaamphali Bai, (36), a tribal, is the resident of Aameth. Her husband works as a seasonal labourer in the fields of Jats of Awada village. "No one has got a job under MGNREGS here. Most of us do not even know about this" says Jaamphali Bai. After talking to other villagers it was known that the Panchayat Secretary who has the responsibility to ensure the facilities, programs, and policies in his region has not even shown up since May last year. It seems the bureaucratic failure is in consonance with the failure of various policies on the ground in the region.

Destroyed home of Rajjan in Adhwadha village.

Jaamphali Bai (36), of Aameth village.

Jandha, (28), a tribal belonging to Sahariya community lives in Kapura village. A month ago, his child Bargha, (6) died due to snake bite. "We don't have any hospital within 50 kilometres of the village. They (upper caste elites) have taken away our jungles otherwise we could have cured him through 'Saawa' seeds." says Jandha. He works as a seasonal labourer in the nearby city of Sheopur. MGNREGS is something which he too hasn't heard of.

Jandha (28), a Sahariya tribal of Kapura village.

According to the tribals, between March and April this year, dozens of cattle have died due to the shortage of water in the region. "Many cattle jumped into the well in search of water. The sight was horrible and gruesome for the tribals" says Shailendra. He continues, "Most of the tube wells and water resources are constructed by the authorities near the villages of upper caste communities. These tribals are given water in favour of some labour. Isn't it a spectacle of unchecked discrimination?”

Dozens of cattle have perished due to the shortage of water in the tribal villages around Chambal region.

Dryland of Adhwadha village.


The harsh climate that is usually blamed as the bitter enemy of the poor tribals of Chambal is not as harsh as the insensitive bureaucracy, state machinery, and police. This year, the region has experienced a moderate rainfall in July. With this are ending the discussions and debates around the distress of these tribal regions. But what seems to be the actual cause of distress is the attitude of the state towards these citizens who are away from the power centers, be it Bhopal or Delhi. Rainfall is just one of the causes and hence, the discussion around their misery should go on.

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VISHANK SINGH