‘Neglect’ seems to be the latest acquisition of the Tribal Museum and the Memorial of legendary Adivasi martyr Kumram Bheem here in Kerameri mandal of Kumram Bheem Asifabad district. The government has surprisingly not made any budgetary provisions for the upkeep of the place built in honour of the martyr in 2016.
Jodeghat is where Bheem and 14 of his followers were killed by the armed policemen under the rule of the Nizam on September 1, 1940 (or on September 10 as is given in one of the government documents of that time). The Adivasi Raj Gonds have ever since paid homage to the martyr annually at the village.
“The government has forgotten maintenance of the place despite having spent a whopping ₹ 25 crore to construct these structures. Leave alone funds for maintenance, even the three temporary employees have not been paid their salaries for the last five months,” lamented Rai Sidam Jangu, sarmedi or chief of the Sakhra Rai Centre or the Raj Gond advisory council in the mandal, as he commented on the current status.
Tribal lifestyle
The museum has on display articles and exhibits connected with the lifestyle of different aboriginal tribes living in erstwhile undivided Adilabad district. Some of the personal belonging of the martyr are also on display.
The memorial has an entrance reaching to a large sized bronze statue in a round enclosure which has also enough place earmarked for development of greenery as in a garden. The pretty flowering plants in the entrance and round enclosure, however, have been overwhelmed with weeds like parthenium.
“No funds,” is the answer you get if you happen to ask for reasons for such neglect. The forest officials who are involved in Telanganaku Haritha Haram a few metres away and have the paraphernalia to clear the weeds do not seem to be bothered about clearing the weeds.
Jodeghat is located some 22 km away from the main road connecting Kerameri and Asifabad towns in the district and the absence of adequate public transport service makes it difficult for the common man to reach the place. Footfalls at the museum and memorial, nevertheless, are increasing steadily and more number of visitors will be attracted if basic facilities are provided to them.
It is quite appalling that there is no water in the bathroom since the last six months. “The electricity transformer was damaged and has not been repaired since,” a villager revealed. Some 500 students of schools in Bellampally town of Mancherial district visited the memorial on Sunday. Imagine their plight as the bathrooms without running water.