Dawn of Positive Change for Kamar Basti

Raipur(TEAM NEWS BUDDY).Kamar tribe is known for their simple lifestyle and their connection with forest and nature. People of this tribe did not have much hope for change in their circumstances. But with the new government coming into power, their circumstances are changing for good. Their hamlets are now being equipped with basic facilities and they are now being connected to the main stream of development. Under Pradhan Mantri Jan Man Yojana, special initiatives have been taken to provide basic facilities in every Kamar and special backward tribe settlements. Facilities such as housing, clean drinking water, paved roads to settlements, electricity, toilets, education and health are being developed at an expedited pace.

Jhalakhamaria of Mahasamund district is one such village where the Kamar community has been living in a special hamlet separate from the main settlement for hundreds of years. There are 16 Kamar families living here which have 55 members. Till a few years ago, these families neither had permanent housing nor pure drinking water. Ram Singh Kamar, who used to live in a hut made of straw and grass earlier, says that because of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, we have a permanent roof over our head otherwise it was a distant dream for us. Today we are living a happy life in a pucca house. Ram Singh, Manisha Bai Kamar and Phuleshwari Kamar told that there was a time when we were forced to drink ‘Jharia’ water. There is a pond nearby where we used to dig a pit and wait for the water to seep out. Today we have a tap connection in our houses along with access to safe drinking water supply.

Lakshmi Kamar, who lives in Kamar hamlet of Jhalkhamaria, says that we used to wake up in the morning and go to the forest to collect wood, tendupatta, char, kand-mool etc. Despite the hard work, we could barely make out both ends meet. But today all our families have LPG connection through Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana. Now instead of relying on wood, we cook on a gas stove. We have formed a self-help group and we are earning well through various livelihood activities. Work is also being provided through MNREGA.

The era of positive change has begun for the Kamar settlement of Jhalkhamaria in Mahasamund development block. People of Kamar tribe are joining the mainstream of development while keeping their cultural tradition and heritage intact. Now their children are studying in schools. Hiralal Kumar, Munnibai and Sonwati, who live in a house built under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, said that now they are not afraid of wild animals. Earlier they lived in fear, as their mudhouses and huts could barely keep them safe. But now with the construction of pucca houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, they feel safe and protected from wild attack and extreme weathers. He said that everyone in the village has ration cards, Ayushman cards and Aadhar cards. Birth certificates and caste certificates of people are also being made as per the requirement.
There are 894 families of special backward tribe Kamar in Bagbahra, Pithora and Mahasamund development blocks of Mahasamund district, and their total population is 3240. Camps under Pradhan Mantri Janman Yojana have been organized in all of these villages to ensure that people of backward tribes such as Kamar are benefitted under government schemes. Scheme has also been formulated to connect slums and tribal settlements with pucca roads.
Public welfare schemes of the Central and State Government are proving to be a boon for special backward tribes such as Kamar. Pradhan Mantri Jan Man Yojana is being implemented across the state to improve the socio-economic condition of the special backward tribes. Under this scheme, facilities such as drinking water, housing, roads, mobile medical units are being developed, construction of hostels is being ensured, nutritional requirements are being met through Anganbadi centres, Van Dhan Kendra are being established, Aadhaar cards, Ayushman cards are being issued, permanent housing, tap water scheme, internet and mobile service are being provided in coordination with various departments. Skill development facilities are being provided to enhance the availability of livelihood opportunities.