‘Mera parivaar gareeb hai’: Mysterious messages painted on MP tribal huts
Shivpuri district collector Tarun Rathi said the administration will institute an inquiry to find and punish those involved in painting the words on the walls of the tribals’ houses.
A complaint to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has brought to fore alleged insensitivity by the administration in Shivpuri district of Madhya Pradesh which has branded Shahria tribals poor by writing so on the walls of their houses.
The words ‘Mera parivaar gareeb hai’ (my family is poor) was painted on the walls of the houses of the tribals in Binega village under Chandanpura panchayat, along with numbers which identify them as Below Poverty Line (BPL) households which ensure they get benefits doled out by the government.
Abhay Jain, a student at National Law University, Orissa, found the branding insulting, and his association, in an email, brought to the notice of the chairperson of NHRC on November 20 the “dehumanising act of the government”, stating that it was extremely humiliating for the BPL villagers and in violation of their right to live with dignity.
Poverty is not a privilege, and it is not something to be worn as a badge and displayed, Jain, who is from Shivpuri district, told HT over phone.
He also pointed out in the complaint that some of those whose houses have been painted with such a declaration have not received ration in months, and those who refuse to put up the declaration are refused benefits under various schemes.
Shivpuri collector, Tarun Rathi admitted that there was no rule to write such words on the walls of the tribals’ houses. If any such words were found, they would be erased.
“I am not aware of who has written this. There was no instruction from the district administration to anyone to do this. I will institute an inquiry to find out as to who has written these words and the guilty will be punished”, he added.
(With input from Ranjeet Gupta in Shivpuri)