THE RAIGAD EXPRESS

Illiteracy, ignorance and illnesses are a common phenomenon in Adiwasi villages or hamlets across the country. It is also common that they are deprived of their basic needs, such as roads, electricity and the most common being food and potable water. Some people address them nomadic, illiterate, and work hard for them, but when they do not get any positive response, they give up! Some people do their best; but never think of adiwasies as their part of mission. Some people work hard, give their best but never reach to the roots! The root cause being undeveloped of adiwasi, specially the Katkari tribe of Raigad does not lie in iliteracy alone. Being unemployed and ignorant is the other part, which propelled them to resort to various unwanted avenues to earn their breads. In addition, this is the harsh reality of their life that they became the most vulnerable agent at the hands of influential and political people of the society. It is also observed that the Constitutional rights of these

The industrial zone in Raigad district has eventually become unsafe to the villagers as well as workers. Since a decade, hundreds of incidents have reported from this MIDC area. In most cases, worker had succumbed to his injuries, and cases have never been came to light. Either it is hushed up or detained by political intervention. Thousands of poor tribal family’s livelihood are at stake owing to the pollution of the river, specially fish, have also been destroyed due to deadly chemical effluents. Last year, a serious incident had occurred in Mahad MIDC, reportedly two workers had sustained a serious burns and one of them succumbed to his injuries while taking a treatment at Mumbai hospital. It is learnt that workers had not been provided any safety measures to protect themselves from injuries in the factory while handling hazardous materials. The river pollution is a growing threat in the district. Almost all major rivers have virtually polluted, leading to several hazardous upshot.

Special Economic Zone has become a talk of the town today across the country. In Raigad district alone 30 thousand acre land will be acquired by Reliance, from farmers under the SEZ project and subsequent to SEZ- Reliance gas pipe line run under ground the paddy-field (land) of more than 450 farmers in Karjat tahsil alone, which adversely affects their substinence. Thousands of poor farmers will be stripped of their cultivable land at the cost of livelihood. Political leaders and social activists are pulling a big crowd, rally the farmers to raise their voice against the special economic zone project and its possible ill consequences. When a central committee of parliament members, from New Delhi were scheduled to visit the affected farmers to know their consensus/consent regarding to the SEZ project, there was a hue and cry of the event. It is also learnt that Reliance group were pulling all strength together to prevent the project stricken farmers from seeking audience with the commi

Malnutrition is a major health challenge among tribal children across Maharashtra. There are several reasons that have contributed to malnutrition. The most common reason being, poverty. It is true that poverty plays havoc in almost every social developmental sphere in the society. But this does not imply that poverty is the only root cause of every health hazards or development ! There are many questions that arises on poverty, like, what is poverty and how can one overcome unfortunate circumstances ? Which forces strongly influence the people to remain in dire misery? such questions may lead to a serious debate, but poverty is not the sole reason of malnutrition among tribal children. Regular monitoring of weight of a growing child, providing proper nutrition and immunization, educating mother for child’s illness and it’s consequences, intimate dialogue with mother and home base management of a ill child are a few simple and primary steps that can

Raigad district is a part of konkan region, Western Maharashtra, India, spread over 7,100 sq. km. area, adjacent to Mumbai. Strive to make Raigad district more environmental friendly , safe and pollution free. To achieve this goal, we all Raigadite should jointly venture to make this dream come true. Mission impossible to mission possible. This is a open forum for all like minded people to voice their opinions and views concerning Raigad’s current and upcoming events. Upsurge of commercial sex worker, HIV/AIDS, water and air pollution, malnutrition, etc. are emerging every day to grab our poor society. Flood and landslide during rainy season has become a common scenario in the district. Poor health infrastructure is another challenge, River water pollution has become a chronic menace, leading to multiple health hazards. A Recent upcoming issue is SEZ, millions acre of agricultural land would get engulfed by SEZ project, this may put our poor farmers in miserable plight, if not proteste