The Panvel taluka police have adopted six hamlets inhabited by 1,240 Adivasis on the outskirts of Navi Mumbai.
Satish Mathur, Director General of Police, said, “Under the guidance of Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner Hemant Nagrale, six tribal hamlets were identified. Development work was started with the help of NGOs a few months ago. The initiative aims to police officers in helping economically weaker sections of society join the mainstream. It is a voluntary initiative. It’s not mandatory or binding on any official.”
The hamlets — Kombaltekdi, Mohodar, Palewadi, Fanaswadi, Dangareshwarwadi and Khairatwadi — were selected after a year-long survey. Senior Inspector Maloji Shinde, Panvel Police Station (Rural), said, “Far-flung hamlets that lacked basic amenities and populated only by Adivasis were selected for adoption.”
Mr. Shinde said many families were deprived of the benefits of government welfare schemes. They did not possess Aadhaar cards, ration cards, voter identity cards, caste certificates and were not included in the Below Poverty Line category. Senior citizens were not able to access their pension benefits. Mr. Nagrale said, “The annual income per family is less than ₹ 35,000. Only one or two persons in a wadi have been to Vashi.”
Welfare programmes
In October 2016, the police began welfare activities in Kombaltekdi, which lacks potable water. Power supply to the lone Zilla Parishad school in the hamlet was disconnected due to non-payment of bills. The police with the help of Rotary Club, Panvel, paid the bill and restored power. They also restored water supply by repairing a faulty pipeline. Padi Ragho Kambadi, a 75-year-old resident of the hamlet, said, “It is so convenient now. We don’t have to climb down the hill to fetch water.”
Dhananjay Dattu Nikam, a gram sevak in the hamlet, said, “The police are helping the adivasis in every possible way. With their help, the youngsters are able to find suitable jobs, and widows and senior citizens are reaping the benefits of government welfare schemes.”
On November 11, 2016, a medical camp was organised in Fanaswadi with the help of D.Y. Patil Hospital, Nerul. A team of 17 doctors examined 149 adivasis and distributed medicines. Twenty six people who were diagnosed with serious ailments were given free treatment at the hospital. On November 13 and 14, an Aadhaar registration camp was held.
Pramod Kale, gram sevak, Fanaswadi, said, “The doctors helped change mindsets by spreading awareness of the adverse effects of open defecation. We are now constructing individual toilets for all the 38 families in our hamlet. There are also plans to install solar panels.”
Free medical camps
Another medical camp was conducted on January 3 this year at Dangareshwarwadi and Palewadi. Around 400 people were examined by doctors from MGM Hospital, Kamothe, and medicines were distributed. Sixteen people were given free treatment at the hospital. “Sarees and blankets were also distributed,” said Rahul Laxman Bhoj, Sub Inspector, Panvel police station.
The police have also taken initiatives to educate and teach skills to youngsters in the wadis. Mr. Shinde said, “We have been conducting awareness workshops and are forming a bhajan mandali . Discourses and talks on good behaviour and conduct were held to give a sense of direction to the youth. Most of them work in the agricultural farms nearby.”
On Republic Day, the police are planning to distribute uniforms, shoes and sweets in the wadis. Mr. Bhoj said, “While most of the inhabitants are illiterate, it is heartening to see that they are willing to send their children to school. However, these children neither have uniforms nor shoes.”
The police is relying on NGOs and individual donations for funding support. Mr. Mathur said, “I am trying to get government funds sanctioned. Even if 10 per cent of funds reserved for such activities is handed over to the police department, we will be able to reach out to many people.”
Tie-up with ITDP
The police department is also tying up with the Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP), Pen (Raigad), to provide more facilities to the hamlets.
“We will be conducting a survey to understand the people’s needs. There are plans to construct houses and concrete roads,” said Divakar Kalpande, Deputy Project Director, ITDP.
