Udaipur— They have no permanent roofs over their head as they live in a makeshift tent-like structure covered by plastic bags and tarpaulins. Forget about bathrooms, they don't even have cots to sleep. The children and their parents sleep on sacks that serve as mattresses for them. No lights, drinking water, or even a hospital nearby. Life is hopeless and miserable for some 9 families belonging to the Kathodi tribe, nestled in the Ghata Fala forest area in Jhadol Tehsil of Udaipur district. Their lives seems in shambles as they are totally devoid of any facilities or schemes extended by the government to the scheduled tribes which includes free education, health care and ration. Their plight was known when a team from Udaipur visited their settlement and found out about the miserable living conditions.

Forest produce sole means of livelihood

The Kathodi tribes have been residents of this settlement for many decades now. Nothing has changed in this settlement for ages as the tribes here still lead a life that reminds one of a bygone era. The settlement has some forty residents including toddlers and children. The women cook food by burning woods that also helps them to battle the chilly weather. The men and women collect forest produce like Gooseberry (aaonla), Soapberry (reetha) Shikakai etc and sell them to contractors for meagre prices. This fetches them hardly five to six thousand rupees which is not enough for survival of any house hold. Some of the children are enrolled in the nearest government schools but most of them do not go to study and help their parents instead in the collection of the wild fruits.

No identity documents, no facilities

Bhojraj Padampura, member of a High Power Commitee that was constituted recently by the Rajasthan government for prevention of child labour and child trafficking, headed the team that visited Jhadoo. Members from the district Child Welfare Committee too had accompanied him. In conversation with The Mooknayak, Bhojraj said the Kathodi families do not have any identity documents like Adhaar or the JanAdhaar which is necessary to avail any facilities granted by the government. There is the Pradhaan Mantri Awaas Yojana for the marginalised community, free cooking gas, free treatment but they have no idea of these schemes, he says. The Kathodis go to quacks for treatment, their children are engaged in labour and menial jobs as they grow up. They are not skilled in any vocation. Many children work in small restaurants, tea stalls to support their families. Of 100 children, 30 percent are dropouts in the tribal area.

Jhadol a hotspot of child trafficking cases

The tribal dominant areas like Jhadol, Kotra, Panarwa, Falasiya etc have been the hotspots for child labour and trafficking cases. Now with better transportation facilities and creation of link roads connecting Highways, risks have increased. Bhojraj says "Few years ago a large rescue operation was held by the Rajasthan government in various cities of Gujarat. Over hundred kids were rescued then and most of them hailed from Jhadol."

Submit ground report to govt

Bhojraj said, a factual ground report would be made after visiting more settlements like this in the entire district. The report would be presented in the next meeting of the committee and later submitted to the government for needed intervention. The welfare schemes seem only on papers as the ground reality is harsh and bittter, things definitely needs to be changed as the people are devoid of the basic necessities of life including food, clothing and shelter.

About the Kathodi Tribe

The Khathodi tribe have their roots in Maharashtra who were brought to Rajasthan by traders who dealt in Kattha making. The community is skilled in extracting Kattha from the 'Khair' tree. Eventually with the mindless felling of trees and a prohibition on extracting kattha, the forest dwellers lost their prominent source of livelihood. As per the 2011 census, their number was only 4833 and more than fifty percent of the people were settled in Udaipur's tribal belt including Sarada, Jhadol and Kotra. Some families are known to have settled in Dungarpur, Baran and Jhalawad districts.