Malda Students and Women Take to the Streets in Protest against Government Indifference to Erosion Crisis
In the district of Malda, over 200 school students and women staged a powerful demonstration on 21st August by walking onto a state highway and erecting a blockade. Their actions were motivated by their dissatisfaction with the state and central governments’ lack of effort in curbing erosion. The Ganga River, swollen by monsoon rains, has recently caused severe erosion in the Manikchak and Ratua-I blocks of Malda. As a result, chunks of land and houses in localities like Gopalpur, Keshartola, Kalutontola, Bilaimari, and Mahanandatola have been devoured by the relentless waters.
The protest began when students from Gopalpur High School, accompanied by their guardians, congregated at Budhia, a crossing in Milki under the Englishbazar block, to block the Malda-Manikchak state highway. Wielding placards with powerful messages, the students emphasized that their school would soon be engulfed by the Ganga if immediate and decisive steps were not taken to prevent further erosion. A Class X student highlighted the collapse of a dyke in Gopalpur, explaining that their school building is located less than 100 meters from the Ganga. With another embankment precariously standing, the threat of the river swallowing their school looms large. Faced with the urgency of the situation, the students felt compelled to voice their concerns through protests.
The school currently has approximately 750 students, further emphasizing the gravity of the situation. The guardians of these students echoed their frustration, stating that both the state and central governments have been shirking their responsibilities and failing to address the erosion crisis that affects thousands in Malda as well as the neighboringMurshidabad district year after year. The erosion nightmare has resulted in the loss of numerous homes. However, instead of taking effective measures to support families in distress, political parties and the governments have engaged in blaming each other.
The protest, which commenced at 10.30am, halted traffic along the route, making it impossible for the issue to be ignored. Officials from the Englishbazar police station intervened and engaged in discussions with the protesters. After approximately four hours, the police team successfully persuaded the demonstrators to withdraw their blockade, allowing normal traffic flow to resume.
AmlanBhaduri, the general secretary of BJP in Malda South (Organizational) district, accused the Trinamul-ruled state government of lacking a concrete plan to prevent or control erosion. Bhaduri criticized the state irrigation department for only carrying out temporary measures, generating temporary relief for the impacted areas. He stressed that the protest was a spontaneous outpouring of frustration, highlighting that unless the state government takes immediate action, the number of erosion victims in the district will continue to rise.
In response to Bhaduri’s statement, Dulal Sarkar, a district vice-president of Trinamul, highlighted that local BJP leaders were well aware that the central government was not providing funds for anti-erosion initiatives in Bengal. Additionally, Sarkar pointed out that even the Farakka Barrage Project Authority had ceased its erosion control efforts. While people in the region suffer losses of land and houses, BJP leaders are focused on finding fault with the state government instead of collaborating to address the pressing issue.
The voices of over 200 students and their parents echoed through the streets of Malda as they demanded urgent attention and action to prevent further erosion. Their impassioned protest serves as a reminder that the impact of natural disasters reaches beyond mere statistics and population numbers. The government must prioritize the protection of vulnerable communities and work together to implement effective strategies that mitigate the devastating effects of erosion. Failure to do so will only perpetuate the erosion crisis, leaving even more families displaced and communities in peril.
News Mania Desk / Agnibeena Ghosh 24th August 2023
