THARUHAT OF WEST CHAMPARAN (BIHAR) :
CRYING FOR MLA/MP SEAT FOR SCHEDULE TRIBE
(All the images are subject to IPR)
The Election Commission of India has proposed two Uttar Pradesh seats for Schedule Tribes after the continuous demand from the tribal population of the state seeking assembly constituencies reserved for Schedule Tribes.
Out of five STs , Tharu is the most populous tribe. They constitute 77.4% of the tribal population of the UP. Buksa is the second major tribe followed by Bhotia, Jaunsari and Raji. Tharus of Uttar Pradesh now Uttarakhand also have been Schedule Tribe soon after India got Independence.
But Ironically their brethren the Tharus of West Champaran (Bihar) remained deprived of this status for more than five decades and subjected to all sorts of exploitation & humiliation which can never be compensated. After long, continuous but peaceful struggle the Tharus of West Champaran attained the status of Schedule Tribe in 2003.
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| A VIEW OF BAKHARI BAZAAR (THARU TRIBE VILLAGE) Photo(c)Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha |
After carving out of Jharkhand, the Tharus of West Champaran have become major tribe of Bihar who inhabit tarai region of West Champaran district from east to west and their population is substantial. But not a single MLA constituency of Tharuhat has been ST constituency. The lone Bagaha MP constituency is also SC constituency in which Tharuhat comes.
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| WEEKLY TRIBAL (THARU) MARKET IN BAKHARI BAZAAR OF THARUHAT Photo(c) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha |
Now it is proper time to lobby for the creation of ST constituency in West Champaran so that the voice of neglected & exploited Tharu Schedule Tribe can be heard in Legislative Assembly or Parliament. Let us not allow this opportunity to slip through our fingers. Perhaps this way we may compensate the loss occurred due to deprivation of Schedule Tribal status for more than five decades, at least to some extent.
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