| The tears haven't dried for Laxmiben even a week after she and 1,200 other Maldharis like her gave up their homes and moved to this transit camp.
The Maldharis, a cattle-rearing community in north Gujarat, left their village Zinzuwada unable to cope with the harassment of the upper caste Rajputs.
"We were so insecure that till the time our young boys used to return homes, we used to be worried that something untoward would happen to them," said Laxmiben.
According to the Maldharis, the Rajputs have been harassing them for years now.
But in the past few months the level has escalated from assault on their young children to harassment of women.
"The womenfolk who used to go to fetch water from the well or wash clothes used to be harassed by these men, the harassment was too much to be tolerated," said Rachchodbhai.
While the district administration is shying away from the camera, it has deployed extra security at
Zinzuwada. Security has also been provided around the transit camp in Nagwada.
But the Maldharis accuse the local police of turning a blind eye to their complaints in the past. The result: the security now has done little to instill confidence amongst them.
For the record though the Rajputs deny harassment.
"It's not a big issue, in fact, there have been no clash between the two communities. There are members from Kayashtha community, Maldharis and other communities but there is no problem here," said Udhaysinh Jhala, Sarpanch, Zinzuwada.
As the stalemate continues, Laxmiben and her neighbours can only wait and hope that the government will do more than just posture and get them back their homes and their lives. |
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