Life in the Narmada Valley

If the adivasi people are not rehabilitated they have to fend for themselves. People of some hamlets of Manibeli, one of the first villages affected by the dam had moved higher several years ago. In every village now this is happening. However as the dam height keeps growing how high can one move? The hills begin to peak and there is less and less land available to cultivate, the slopes are much steeper. The tribal family that loses its lands and cant find alternate land loses its survival basis. The situation is worse for those that had lower lying lands as these were submerged several years ago and these families have gradually been deprived.

Not only this the dam brings with it sediments. The combination of the slope and deposit of silt is extremely dangerous. While bathing or to get water people can slip and fall. They can be trapped in the silt. Indeed in the past 3-4 years several people have died either swept away in the rising waters, caught I silt or bitten by displaced and agitated snakes and crocodiles. These deaths have risen sharply this year with the 10 m rise id dam height.

The boarding schools or jeevanshalas that are run by the tribal’s themselves are also coming under submergence. The government’s medical service which was already non-existent is no where in this time of the need. Only some doctors who have come to volunteer inspired by the movement are spending time and the Andolan has worked to get the government at least hire these doctors for a few months.