The State government’s apathy in keeping its promise has forced the progeny of legendary Adivasi martyr Kumram Bheem run from pillar to post. A pain which he himself had undergone nearly 80 years ago when he was stonewalled in his endeavour to seek rights on lands tilled by aboriginal people under the Hyderabad Nizam’s rule. Bheem’s great-grand daughter Kumram Varalaxmi, who was promised suitable government employment is the victim of the government’s indifference in this generation.
On October 8, 2014, recognition of the Raj Gond leader’s supreme sacrifice of September 1940 had come by in the shape of a promise made by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao to extend financial and other help to the descendants during that year’s martyrdom anniversary event at Jodeghat in Kerameri mandal, now in Kumram Bheem Asifabad district. Among other things, he had promised government employment for the children of Bheem’s grandson Kumram Sone Rao.
Benefits withdrawn
“After a year of running around leaders and officials, I was posted as an outsourced junior assistant in the Pangidi Ashram High School in Sirpur (U) mandal,” recalled Kumram Varalaxmi. “Not only have my repeated pleas with officials and leaders for giving me a regular job failed but I am being denied all governmental benefits under welfare schemes like subsidised rations under Public Distribution System have been stopped because I draw contractual salary from the government,” she lamented.
On September 27, Ms. Varalaxmi had come to Jodeghat to explain her plight to KB Asifabad Collector Rajiv Gandhi Hanumanthu and Utnoor Integrated Tribal Development Project Officer S. Krishna Aditya who were conducting a preparatory meeting for this year’s martyrdom anniversary falling on October 24. She, however, failed to meet the officials.
No response
Speaking to The Hindu, she produced some official correspondence which the then ITDA Chairman M. Jagan Mohan who was Adilabad Collector, and Project Officer R.V. Karnan had sent to the government.
“There is no response from the government so far,” stated an official referring to those letters. This made Ms. Varalaxmi tearfully appeal to the government to make quick and proper efforts in solving the issues faced by ethnic people in these parts.