Gadchiroli snakebite tragedy exposes systemic neglect in tribal belt: Shiv Sena (UBT) in 'Saamana'

The Shiv Sena UBT on Wednesday accused the Maharashtra government of neglecting tribal communities in Gadchiroli citing the deaths of three schoolgirls in a snakebite incident at a residential tribal school as evidence of inadequate safety healthcare and infrastructure in the regionIn an editorial published by the partys mouthpiece the Shiv Sena UBT said the incident at an aided residential tribal school in Japatlai in Gadchiroli districts Dhanora taluka highlighted the risks faced by children living and studying in remote areasSix schoolgirls were bitten by venomous snakes according to the editorial Three died at the site while two others were reported to be in critical conditionParty cites snakebite deaths as sign of wider neglectThe party said the tragedy occurred on the International Day of the Worlds Indigenous Peoples and argued that it reflected the difficult conditions faced by tribal communities in the regionThe editorial said that although Naxalite activity in Gadchiroli has declined residents continue to face threats arising from inadequate infrastructure industrial activity and a lack of basic public servicesIt alleged that tribal communities which have traditionally depended on the regions land water and forests are being increasingly displaced by industrial and mining activitiesThe party also alleged that heavy vehicles associated with mining operations have created safety risks for residents It claimed that more than 1500 people had been killed in accidents involving speeding mining trucks though the figure was not independently verifiedMining activity blamed for environmental concernsThe editorial also criticised plans to develop Gadchiroli as an industrial and steel hub arguing that largescale mining and industrial activity had affected the local environmentAccording to the party industrial waste and residue have affected homes and agricultural areas while residents have faced concerns over the quality of water and foodThe Shiv Sena UBT also alleged that people who raise objections to mining and industrial activity are sometimes branded as Naxalites or traitors and face legal actionThe party argued that the expansion of mining activity has also affected wildlife habitats increasing the possibility of animals such as leopards and snakes entering villages residential areas and school campusesTribal schools face infrastructure shortagesThe editorial linked the snakebite incident to what it described as poor infrastructure in tribal residential schoolsIt alleged that several such schools suffer from structural problems including cracks in buildings inadequate sanitation and insufficient medical facilitiesThe party further claimed that students in some institutions lack basic furniture and are forced to sleep on floorsAccording to the editorial these shortcomings increase the vulnerability of children who live on school campuses and have limited access to immediate medical assistance during emergenciesThe party said the snakebite deaths should therefore not be viewed as an isolated incident but as part of broader concerns about the safety and living conditions of tribal studentsHealthcare gaps add to risks in remote areasThe Shiv Sena UBT also highlighted what it described as inadequate emergency healthcare facilities in GadchiroliThe editorial alleged that the absence of adequate emergency transport and government ambulance services forces critically ill patients and pregnant women in remote areas to travel long distances using makeshift stretchersIt further claimed that families have sometimes been forced to carry the bodies of deceased children over difficult terrain because of a lack of transportationThe party said the lack of timely medical assistance can prove particularly dangerous in cases involving snakebites where rapid access to treatment can be criticalParty questions governments approach to GadchiroliThe Thackerayled party sharply criticised the state government over its handling of tribal welfare and infrastructure in the districtIn a strongly worded observation the editorial suggested that government ministers should be made to experience the dangers faced by tribal residents to understand the severity of the situationThe party argued that the decline in Naxalite activity in Gadchiroli should have been followed by greater investment in healthcare education transport and basic infrastructure for tribal communitiesInstead it alleged that the primary focus of development in the region has been on securing industrial and mining interestsShiv Sena UBT links development to industrial interestsThe editorial concluded that efforts to reduce Naxalite activity in Gadchiroli had not sufficiently improved living conditions for the regions tribal populationThe party alleged that the security gains in the region were being used primarily to facilitate industrial and commercial projects rather than to address the basic needs of indigenous communitiesThe Shiv Sena UBT called for greater attention to the safety of tribal children improved residential school infrastructure better emergency healthcare facilities and stronger safeguards for communities living in areas affected by mining and industrial activity