Faquir Foysol with Sumona Sharmin Shorna
[This article was published in the Daily Observer, a leading English daily in Bangladesh back in 2014.]
1.
Imagine a day, early in the morning you have woke up listening a noise just at your lawn or downstairs. Some folks are busy with buckets and a bamboo-slit in the septic tank. One is pulling up a bucketful black wastage pushing upward by an invisible man deep inside from the tank. The air is full of intolerable odour that made you shut the door and windows.
Now you can remember there was a problem in the sewerage line few days back. Just think again, would you brave enough to do the odd job?
The answer is certainly “NO”.
2.
The south Indian community in Bangladesh is involved into the cleaning job for generations. Mainly they are Telugu and Kaanpuris who are introduced in our country in the British period. The colonial rulers relocated them from their homeland showing the dream of a better life. But the simple people did not what was waiting for them. The government gave them alcohol, red meat. Under the influence of liquor they found themselves with a basket of garbage and a duster. It was only the beginning.
They have established as sweeper or more commonly “mathore” of the city. They have found confined themselves in various colonies, far away from the civilized society. An inhabitant of the Telugu Community at Tikatuli alleged to us while we were in a visit at their colony. He was a lively man who spoke out in a warm gesture and told their suffering to us.
There are mainly two communities- Telugu and Kaanpuri, living in the colony. Three large buildings are allotted for them from Dhaka City Corporation. We could visit only the Kaanpuri colony as Telugus were not that much interested to communicate with us. Kaanpuris are living in two large buildings consist of rooms in each. About 2000 families are living in the area. The rooms are not big enough for the families consisting of 12 or 13 members in each.
They ought to share tiny space even the kitchen room is being used as their bed rooms. It is the most striking fact that there is no better sanitation facility provided for 350 families who are dwelling in the ground floors. Attached sanitation facility is provided only from the first floor of the colony buildings.
3.
Ground floor dwellers have only 10 toilets for their daily cleanness left in the dirtiest condition. Moreover, they have to use the public toilets nearby that costs Tk 5 to Tk 10 per head.
Wari Samaj Kollyan Club, the only welfare organization is dedicated to cope with their communal facilities. Ponchayet Somiti usually deals with their internal affairs, though we could not contact with officials. The only Staff Hospital at Gulistan in the capital city cannot provide the expected treatment for them. As a result they usually go to the nearby Salauddin Ash-shifa Hospital for their treatment at a high cost.
Mitthun, a student of honours final year of Sidhheswari Degree College told us they have became conscious. They are preparing themselves to get rid of their present situation by education. Even the families are interested to educate their female members. The last under age marriage, he could remember, was held about 15 years ago.
Nevertheless, this community have some identity crisis. The usually do not disclose their posterity or resident except the closest folks.
4.
Dhaka City Corporation took measures for their better facilities. A new colony is under construction on the east side of the Tikatuli Municipal Market.
In the afternoon, when we were coming back, the children circled round to the photo journalist (Shorna) to capture a photo of them while the elderly said in a sad voice, “Please write about us. Many members of different organizations had come to us, took our photo and interviews yet we have seen no remarkable progress in our life.”
Comments
Post a Comment