Devipujak are not nomads….

A recent meeting with the  leaders of Nomadic communities living in Ahmedabad has made us revisit our decision of not working in cities.It was always our  impression that the issues the nomadic and de-notified communities residing in cities  are negligible compared to their counterparts in rural areas. But the meeting of 12th April 2014 proved to be an eyeopener. The issues these communities face in the urban areas  are equally complex. 

Most of the  families have been staying in shacks for years but are unable to prove it!! There is a ruling especially for the Nomadic and De-notified tries  by Election Commission that says that no documental evidences are required to be produced to process the application for acquiring  Voters ID card. The ruling requires the Booth level officer to make a night visit to the given address and  validate the given facts. Basis this visit the Voters ID card can be issued. But the apathy is that the officers are both in rural swell as urban areas not prepared to make such visits. Unless these officers are not presserised by their seniors they do not heed. 

Recently when families of Devipujak community filed applications for voters ID card the office of Mamlatdar  conveyed in writing that this community does not feature in Nomadic or De-notified Tribes category and refused to accept their applications. Instead of being sensitive to the need they preached the VSSM team saying  there is so much else do be done, why are you doing such work?? When we argued they asked for proofs and other documents. 

There are  officials within the system who have been supportive,  but how we wish that the tribe of such sensitive and empathetic officials increases..