Poinguinim: On top of the jaw hill deep in Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary, a population of 100-odd from Keri Hamlet followed a primitive lifestyle.
Although the government’s declaration has reached 100% of household electrification in Goa, a member of the Velasp and Gaonkar tribe community from Keri has not seen what an electrical connection.
The government does try to provide solar power to these tribes, but the protensive supply forest cover is cut off during the rainy season.
Located more than 700 feet on average sea level, this is a 12 km dangerous journey from the Cotigao Village Panchayat office to get to Keri.
The trip can only be done by foot with the absence of a road, and it takes three hours to get there.
“In 2018, keri was protected by 80 people in 15 houses.
While 40-50 of them were in the village, the young population of school students, drivers and daily wage workers living in the hamlet base to be able to study and work,” said Laxman Kushta Velasp, a resident senior.
The condition of a bad life, without basic facilities, even forces some villagers to try to shift to nearby hamlets such as Tirval, Poinguinium, Velip said.
“There is no electricity in our hamlet, even though other hamlets in the base of the hill have had power for decades now.
We have made constant demands on the government, but we have not received an electrical connection, the right way or medical assistance,” Velip said.
Other Keri Residents, Goouresh, have female family members who need care for mental illness.
However, he was forced to continue his life without medical assistance because of his residence.
“We don’t know where to take it because nobody helps us.
Previously, in the case of pregnancy, the midwife will come up the hill to help.
But now, the women walked hamlets and lived with their relatives,” Goouresh said.
This is not an unusual sight to see the sick wrapped in cloth and taken down the hill in seeking treatment.
“I had a paralyzed attack, and was taken to Canacona Hospital, the villagers wrapped me on a piece of cloth and took me to their shoulders for 15 km until we got several vehicles.
The experience was very painful,” said a resident.
The tribes now hold that the government must provide them with basic facilities such as roads, schools and health care, or plan to rehabilitate the population of keri to other areas that can offer better quality of life.
“What we receive so far from the government is four solar panels for all villages and two tubers for each house during the previous election.
But this solar panel does not work during the rainy season,” said 27-year-old Gokuldas Velasiap.
Cotigao Sarpanch Umesh P Gaonkar said that under the Committee of Forest Rights, the installation of underground cables was carried out until Nadkem.
“We are looking forward to making keri with electricity.
We cannot cut trees due to strict restrictions from the Ministry of Forestry.
Twice I have sent a letter to the Minister of Strength, and in all probabilities, I hope this problem will be resolved soon,” he said.
Range Forest Officer (Wildlife), Canacona, Anant Velip, said that permits from the National Wildlife Council and the State will be asked to do development work in the forest.
“If there is electricity there, residence is no doubt it will grow, but transportation through the forest can have a bad effect on the forest.
The government has promised they landed on the plains.
If they go down and stay, they will get all basic facilities.
Health facilities and health facilities and Education can also be given to them easily by the government.
Second, their food and language habits are also slightly different from other Goan tribes, and they need to decide to shift and mix with others, “he said.
The Velips in a distant and isolated settlement from Keri has not given their original places from the settlement for years, as their existence is very closely related to the land they hold, said Professor Arvind N Haldankar from Shree Malikarjun College, Canacona, who has Doctoral degree to deal with the life of Velip tribes.
“But after experiencing the absolute seizure of the simplest need, the majority of Velips now realize the slope of leaving their ancient habitat.
In the wake of embracing modernity, the forest depends this family aspires not to remain marginalized but is part of the mainstream community.
Thus, their desires and hopes for better future warrants of special attention and interventions needed, “said Haldankar.
This will require sustainable investment with government and non-government institutions to reconstruct their livelihoods, he said.
There is no power, school or health center, the BELIPS from Cotigao Hamlet wants to join the mainstream
