It is a story of remarkable coincidence, but a sad one.
In July 1985, a news story from Orissa caught the attention of whole nation. It was about a woman, Phanas Punji who sold her 14 year old sister-in-law to a ‘blind old man’ for Rs.40. She told everyone that it was an extreme measure she took to save her own starving children.
Phanas Punji and Family (Image: Everybody loves a good drought, P. Sainath)
This happened in Kalahandi district – infamous for starvation, malnourishment and extreme poverty – along with few more surrounding districts (KBK corridor – Kalahandi-Bolangir-Koraput).
Media extensively covered the story. Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi visited the district and announced special packages.
Nine years later, P. Sainath visited Phanas, her ‘sold out’ sister-in-law, Banitha – and he was appalled to see their conditions remain same. Banitha now had three children from her ‘old blind man’, and she was working in Anganawadi earning Rs 25 a day – insufficient to feed three children, and unemployed blind husband. (P Sainath says that the man was not old, but was in twenties when he ‘bought’ Banitha for 40 rupees – media, in its frenzy had vilified him).
After that story broke up, government ( J B Patnaik was CM) announced slew of relief measures for the region.
Even today, under KBK plan, 8 districts get Rs 130 crore every year from the central government along with many other funds from state government.
KBK plan is now brought under BRGF – Backward Regions Grant Fund.
This story attracted my attention because of a similar story published in The Hindu today.
A woman belonging to scheduled caste from Chitradurga district in Karnataka has put her daughters for sale – to raise money to bribe officials who have rejected her application for the post of anganawadi worker even though she is eligible.
She has scored 62.5% in matriculation, belongs to a priority category and is a widow.
Chitradurga is one of 5 districts in Karnataka declared as backward region and eligible to recieve funds under BRGF scheme. (other districts are: Davangere, Bidar, Raichur and Gulbarga).
My friend who was working as Panchayat Development Officer in the district used to narrate stories where the fund was systematically siphoned off from corrupt officials from bottom to top.
This is not 1985.
In 2012, in LPG India (Liberalized, ‘Politicized’ and Globalized), hysterical media has no appetite for such stories anymore. Media houses are owned by businessmen and politicians, and their agenda is profit maximization at the cost of ‘real’ stories.
Vanishri, the woman who has put her daughters on sale will not receive the audience of any of our politicians, not even DC of Chitradurga. (PM’s visit is beyond imagination)
What it tells us is that funds never reach people at the bottom. Rajiv Gandhi knew it better.
Vanishri and Her Daughters (The Hindu)
Vanishri needs that job to feed her daughters and secure them a future. She may not know the story of 1985, but her method of protest tells us that though separated by 30 years of time and thousand kilometers of distance, her story has a same plot and a climax.
After reading this story today, I referred P. Sainath’s award winning book Everybody Loves A Good Drought – stories from India’s poorest districts, and found the story of Phanas who had to sell her sister-in-law then in 1985.
Fortunately for Sainath, India’s poorest districts are still abound with such stories.
Very enlightening blog. Only two things can get you heard money or power(all forms). Rest all are part of closed circle circularity.
Media needs to bring forward the social issues and the problems of poverty ,for the indian educated masses to read and to decide on the myth about India being an economic power, prevalent in urban society.
Politicians, Bureaucrats, Media, NGOs etc etc every institution is aware of real problems daunting India. But, they do not want to solve; forget about solving, they do not want anyone even trying to do it as it will affect their existence…!!! N number of schemes will come and N number of problems will evolve; but still as a country we will be strong; thanks to the common man of this country and his ability to forget and forgive everthing.
Thanks Nikhil, Mahi and Mallikarjun for sharing your views.