NTPC Mining In Jharkhand : Third Birhor Community Boy’s Death Goes Unreported

Chatti Bariatu Coal Mines in Hazaribagh District of Jharkhand has reported death of another Birhor Tribal. This time it is an eight-year-old named Rakesh Birhor. NTPC Limited and its Mine Developer and Operator (MDO), Rithwik-AMR Consortium, is regularly carrying out blasts to excavate coal, without the resettlement of the most critically endangered Birhor community in Chatti Bariatu Coal Mines and here, the orgy of death does not seem to abate.

The father of the boy, Rakesh Birhor says that he was offered Rs. 14,000, rice and wheat as “compensation to remain silent” for his son’s death by one Anurag Gupta, who he claims is an official working with M/s. Rithwik-AMR Consortium . Again, no post-mortem being conducted raised serious questions on the style of working of the local administration.

This is the third incident of death of a person belonging to the Birhor community in the same area close on the heels of the death of a minor girl, Kirni Birhor on 28th February, 2024. The second matter reported from the same area was the death of 36-year-old Bahadur Birhor who died on April 10, 2024. The family members of both the tribals said that they died due to respiratory problems due to intense blasts for excavation of coal in the nearby mines which has led to coal dust, soot and heavy chemical material in the atmosphere around the mines where the Bihror Colony is situated.

Serious questions were raised on NTPC Limited and its MDO M/s Rithwik-AMR Consortium. An investigation was carried out by district administration, taking cognizance of the report of www.indianpsu.com. The report which gave its findings on 29/04/2024, concluding that though there are some covers in the mining area and water is being sprinkled in the area by the NTPC on regular basis, these measures are not enough. The report came to the conclusion that till the time the persons of Birhor community are not shifted elsewhere, mining in the area is not suitable or desirable.

BUT NOT A SINGLE PERSON OR FAMILY WAS SHIFTED ELSEWHERE AND MINING CONTINUES UNABATED…

Since over more than two years, the Birhor Tribals have been complaining about coal mining being done in very close proximity to their residences and have been demanding resettlement since long. A letter to this regard, written on 22/04/2022, to various authorities of the state administration including the Chief Minister of Jharkhand is given below for the benefit of the viewers of www.indianpsu.com –

But, no one had the time to lend an ear to listen to the problems of these poor Birhor tribals, who are on the verge of extinction.

The mother of Rakesh Birhor, gave a written complaint to the police that on the fateful day, July 12, 2024, her son suddenly complained of difficulty in breathing and of acute pain in the chest. The parents took the child to Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Ranchi, where he was admitted for six days but there was no betterment in his condition, following which the parents were shifting him to another hospital, but he died midway. Mamta Devi claims that they were bringing the body of their son back home when they received a call from one Anurag Gupta from M/s Rithwik-AMR Consortium who enquired about the condition of Rakesh Birhor. On getting to know that the boy had passed away, Anurag Gupta with some other persons met them midway.

Mamta Devi mentions in the complaint that Anurag Gupta offered them Rs. 14,000, rice and wheat and promised to give them more money and convinced them to bury their son in in a place called Balughat. He also gave them a bait of more money later, following which the body was buried in Balughat.

The father of the boy said that till date, they are to receive a singly penny or a grain of wheat or rice.

Even the local police have refused to entertain the family of the deceased boy and till date, have not even given them a “received / stamped copy” of their complaint, leave registering an FIR into the case.

On 12/03/2024, The Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs took cognizance of the matter and shot off a letter to the Chief Secretary of Jharkhand, but as usual, everything remained on paper…… and now this third death has been reported.

Birhors : ‘Most Critically Endangered’ ethnic group according to UNESCO

Counted among the ‘Most Critically Endangered’ ethnic group among the eight ‘primitive tribes’ of Jharkhand, Birhors constitute only about 0.01 percent of the total tribal population of India and their main concentration is in Jharkhand. According to UNESCO, the Birhor tribe in Jharkhand is “critically endangered” with only 2,000 speakers remaining. The Birhor are one of the smallest primitive tribes of Jharkhand, and according to the 2011 census, there are only around 5,000 Birhor people in the state. Birhor is also listed by UNESCO as an endangered language.

Near NTPC’s Chatti Bariatu Coal Mines area, where mining is being done by M/s. Rithwik-AMR Consortium, there is a population of 250 persons belonging to the Birhor community and about 40 of these are children. The video given below is a very evident picture to show the circumstances these people are forced to live in.

As usual, three emails sent to Rithwik Projects Private Limited, did not receive any reply. Emails sent to CMD NTPC, Gurdeep Singh and Secretary (Power) Government of India, Pankaj Agarwal, also met the same fate. Emails sent to the Corporate Communications Division of NTPC, were also not replied to.

www.indianpsu.com also sent three emails to Ms. Nancy Sahay, the District Collector of Hazaribagh and also to the Chief Secretary of the state, asking them whether any action has been taken in this case, but they also chose not to reply.

To Be Continued ….