HOW BHARAT COPES: By depending on the mercy of kirana shops
BHADUTOLA: The tarred roads of western West Bengal, popularly known as Junglemahal, have seen war and peace. In November 2008, on one such road near Bhadutola, then chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, industries minister Nirupam Sen and Union ministers Jitin Prasad and Ram Vilas Paswan narrowly escaped a Maoist ambush. This sparked police excesses, particularly in Chotopeliya village, which triggered the Lalgarh movement in which 700 lives were lost over the next three years.
In 2011, top Maoist leader Kishenji was killed near another tarred road not far from Bhadutola. There’s been peace and some development in this forest region since then. But demonetisation has stalled all that for now.
For workers building a 10 km road project near Bhadutola, November 9 was to be the weekly pay day. Narendra Modi’s announcement on Nov 8, demonetising Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes, put paid to it. The contractors decided to keep their cash.
Since then, the project has been running on credit. Labourers, JCB operators and truck drivers have not been paid any money since November 8.
“We were last paid 15 days ago,” says Sudha Singh of Chaita village. Asked how they have been managing, Sudha’s wife Ashalata pointed to a kirana shop. Its shutters were down. “The kirana shop used to give us credit. However, even he has stopped giving now. Now, we ask the upper caste farmers for food on credit.”
Munna Mitra, the contractor, pleads helplessness. “I’m operating even the JCBs on credit. On Thursday morning, the workers rebelled against me seeking credit. If I don’t get any money, how can I pay them?”
The solitary bank in Bhadutola, which serves 28 villages, is giving out only Rs 2,000 notes or tattered Rs 20 and Rs 50 notes. “Who will give me vegetables if I hand him a Rs 2,000 note? And who’ll take tattered Rs 20 and Rs 50 notes,” grumbled Kartik Singh of Chaita village.
Agriculture has come to a standstill in this part of Bengal. Not all farmers tilling their fields for potato have Kisan Credit Cards, which have been made mandatory for withdrawing Rs 25,000 per week as per the new rules introduced last Thursday. “I am not able to buy fertiliser,” said marginal farmer Soumendranath Khamrai, who does not have the card.
A group of 30 Banjaras, a nomadic tribe, have camped near the tarred road near Bhadutola, making and selling plaster of Paris dolls. But sales have been poor and they are now contemplating shifting to another village. “Our dolls cost Rs 60-Rs 80. We don’t accept bigger notes. Our sales have dropped. We should move to a newer place. But it’s the same everywhere, right?” sighs Manju Devi.