Chhattisgarh tribals striving inspite of gold in hands

Pathalgaon, Chhattisgarh, Sep 11 (UNI) The denizens of tribal-dominated Farsabahar and Pathalgaon areas of Jashpur district here, have to struggle for two square meals a day despite having gold in their hands.

''Due to exploitation by middlemen, there has not been any change in the economic condition of hundreds of impoverished tribals, who have been long ekeing out an existence by searching for gold particles in the soil and sand on the banks of the rivers Eeb and Sonajari,'' former MP Pushpadevi Singh told UNI today.

The villagers had been cheated for years while attempting to sell the particles at nearby weekly markets. An announcement, which was made a decade back, about opening of a National Mineral Development Corporation office at Tapkara for purchase of gold particles, remained unfulfilled, Ms Singh alleged.

''Collected soil is repeatedly washed by both children and elderly people in wooden vessels to isolate the gold particles,'' she explained.

Pathalgaon's Sub-Divisional Magistrate Santosh Devangan assured that strict action would be taken against middlemen if any exploitation-linked complaint was received.

Bhuinhar, Oraon and Jhora tribes predominate this area among the rough population of 500 families and their livelihood depends on gold-seeking.

Jewellers here give a mere amount of Rs 40-50 for every gold particle weighing equal to a paddy grain. So, the paddy is intentionally dampened prior to weighing so as to increase the weight.

Official sources said a team of geologists, camped at Pandripani, conducted a survey and confirmed the presence of gold, diamonds and uranium in Farsabahar, Tapkara and Pathalgaon.

UNI