"Saberi goes for learning, my son Kame goes for eating at Vedanta Phuldumere Child Care Centre, Lanjigarh", Majhi

It is an amazing feeling to travel in the forests of 'Niyamgiri 'of Kalahandi in Orissa. I believe, though it is difficult to except the change with pre-notions, but it is always a satisfaction if they are proved wrong. I'm continuing from where I left.

Majhi was waiting for me much before I reached the village tea stall and greeted me with his traditional tribal style. A simplicity wrapped in dignity. He had promised me to show the Vedanta factory. I had read on wires, referred by various reputed NGOs about its pollution and disposal of waste material in the streams.

After having a good cup of village tea I began my journey to take a complete round of the factory, of course with my guide, Majhi. The lush green forest is a divine to watch and feel. As I'm use to trekking I could match up with Majhi. In between he offered me some local fruits. I was a little reluctant to have because of hygiene issue. Majhi could sense my hesitation and smiled "have it please, we have learnt to wash fruits and vegetables before eating". I smiled but a little embarrassed . Passing through the lush green forest, Majhi showed me few small streams which must be tributaries of a large stream , "Agyan (this is how he was calling me) these small streams have sweet water and their sound is beautiful in the night, it is like a musical instrument". He smiled and informed that some people even talk about pollution in these small streams". My instant question was, are these small streams polluted? "No". Till now I have not seen any pollution happening in these streams. He lifted some water in his hand and drank. "See it is not polluted, you drink it". Going by his confidence I took some water from the stream in his style and drank. He was correct, the water was actually very good, drinkable. My next query was, "if so many NGOs and people talk about streams being polluted, there must be some truth about it, and what about 'Bansdhara'?. He was quite innocent in this reply, "If I cannot see any pollution, you cannot see any pollution, my people cannot see any pollution, than how come only these NGOs see pollution." . We will reach the 'Bansdhara' shortly and you can taste the water there as well.

Majhi thought of educating me on pollution, he said "Agyan, the pollution in stream need a passage which is not there. The factory and the stream needs to be connected somehow, which is not there, so how will there be pollution". I remembered Majhi telling me the human waste being projected as factory pollution. Majhi said "people talk about Dongria tribe being effected by factory pollution. Do they know only about 15% Dongria tribe live in Kalahandi and rest live in Rayagada. Do they know it is difficult to interact with Kondhs as very few know our "Kui" language. I'm one of the very few who can talk and understand little English. I have seen Dongria talking something else and it is written something else". There are three tribes here, Dongria, Kuttia and Jharnia . All are peace loving.

Crossing through the woods we reached 'Bansdhara', the stream referred by many NGOs being polluted by Vedanta factory. I was searching for some pollution in the stream which has been repeatedly seen and mentioned by NGOs in their various reports available on the net, actually I wanted to prove them factually right. I was wondering, how true Majhi was, "if there is a pollution and it is being seen by NGOs and some people, then I should also see it. I don't understand how can they see which Majhi and me cannot see".

I asked him about how educated he was? to which he replied, not much it's only that so many people from outside have come in last few years, and most of them spoke English, I learnt a little bit of this language. I asked about education to his children. His eyes twinkled, as he mentioned his daughter's name 'Saberi' who is 3 years old and his son 'Kame' who is 4 years old and are going in 'Phuldumer' Child Care Center of Vedanta. Child care Center of Vedanta?, in these hilly villages?. "Yes, they have a number of Child Care Centers and many children from Phuldumer and Khemdipadar go in these centres. Vedanta people teach our children with toys and the children also get good food. My daughter is very happy and I drop her every day. My son goes only for the food, he smiled. Saberi has learnt so many words that I have learnt in this age. Vedanta is also opening up a Child Care Center at 'Palberi'. Dongria and other kondhas children are very excited going in Child Care Centers. Something our children had never seen.

By this time we had crossed the 'Bansdhara', which was less than a kilometer away from the Vedanta factory. I actually forgot I had come to see pollution, factually I couldn't find any. Taking a complete round of the factory and not finding any sort of pollution was quite satisfying. I couldn't relate to what I have been reading in NGOs reports.

It is most difficult to undo the mind which has already been fed with much of negative information. Perhaps, the solution lies in actually seeing and believing your own eyes. Something I have always been advocating.


The Journey Continues......................