GNLA bandh in Ampati crosses one-month mark
AMPATI: A month of closure of all working days in Ampati has hit life hard. It has become even more difficult for the public since the banks have failed to rise to the occasion.
The State Bank of India (SBI) which is the lead bank at Ampati has not opened up for business for even a single working day, except on Saturday. This has resulted in long queues stretching hundreds of meters on the only day of its function-which is a Saturday.
There is the presence of the Meghalaya Rural Bank at Ampati town but given that a majority of all financial transactions are undertaken by the SBI nothing much has moved on the currency front.
“The overall situation has basically returned to normal with most government offices functioning and educational institutions running despite the militant diktats. It is only the banks, particularly the State Bank, which remains closed for most part of the week hampering the financial transactions,” revealed Deputy Commissioner Ram Singh while speaking to this scribe at Ampati.
Due to the closure of the bank, people are unable to deposit or withdraw money throughout the week and only the privilege few having the ATM cards have been able to exercise their financial power for a limited sum each day.
Government funds sanctioned for various state and central projects are also stuck in the doldrums on account of the bank’s reluctance o open up for business during weekdays.
“We have spoken to the bank officials and even assured them of all round security to the staff but they refuse to open up on working days other then Saturday,” added DC Ram Singh.
Daily wagers and
Woodcutters
Those having deposits in the bank are not the only ones to feel the pinch from the militant closure. Daily wage labourers and villagers who made a livelihood felling trees for firewood are facing a difficult moment to earn two square meals a day for their families.
“I use to fetch firewood to Ampati market every second day and sell it to the tea stalls for a considerable price. But now all the tea stalls are closed except for Saturday and Sunday. So my earnings have fallen drastically,” said A R Marak even as he showers praise on some of his richer villagers who have gone out of their way to provide for basic amenities to the less fortunate in the villages.
“Today in Ampati constituency there is no rich and poor. Everyone is at par. The rich have money but nothing to buy. Thanks to our traditional Garo culture that even in the midst of our difficulties each one fends for the other. The rich help the poor,” said Marak.
60-year-old Septen Sangma used to be a daily wager from Chengkompara village but since the militant bandh work has dried up. He now tends to his cattle grazing on the outskirts of Ampati Degree College.
“Work is scarce since big traders are not coming from Mankachar,” he laments.
Traders No-No to Ampati
The month long militant closure has had a resounding effect on the trading community from nearby Mancachar town of Assam which depended heavily on produce from Ampati area.
Ever since the militant threat, big time traders have stopped setting foot into the tribal region for fear of abduction.
One of the biggest exports of Ampati region has been areca nuts. At its peak, which usually took place between March to June, several hundred tonnes of areca nut (betel nuts) is lifted from the region for export to Assam where it is refined into Supari (dry betels) for export.
“Two 500 kg rice bags filled with areca nuts use to fetch us Rs. 4500/-. Now we are compelled to sell the same for Rs. 3500/- due to the ongoing situation and absence of big traders. We are facing an economic paralysis,” revealed former district council MDC, Binvichand D Sangma who also happens to be the secretary of the only degree college in Ampati.
“Most of us have betel nut plantations surrounding our homes. But prices have fallen,” he says.
The silver lining for him has been the gradual progress in attendance of students to the higher level of learning.
“Initially attendance of students and teachers in the college fell drastically but the situation has improved vastly. We have students coming from as far as Mahendraganj and thankfully the militants do not disturb the educational establishments and the teaching fraternity,” said Binvichand Sangma.
One weekly market closed, another survives
Since ages, Ampati town had the privilege of hosting two markets every week until the militant GNLA came calling.
The Wednesday market, which used to be held on a smaller scale, has literally ceased to exist since the militants announced their diktat. Today, only the main market day on Saturday is alive with life as people from the far corners of the constituency come down to barter and purchase much required food and household items.
The famous cattle market of Ampati, which once did roaring business, has had its numbers drastically slashed.
“We use to sell anything between 500 to 800 cattle during each weekly market in Ampati. Today we are barely able to sell around 300-400 cattle. That figure becomes realistic provided the well known traders from Assam arrive on the scene,” said a cattle exporter from Ampati.
The same is the fate of vegetable vendors doing brisk business at the weekly market.
Rashid Ali, who sells vegetables brought over from neighbouring Assam is compelled to sell his old stock due to want of customers.
“I manage to bring supplies from Mankachar town for the Saturday market but extend my sale to Sunday. I cannot afford to bring fresh produce on Sunday because the rest of the week is closed and I may not get customers,” says Ali.
Ray of Hope on immunization: In the face of threats from the barrel of a gun against those not adhering to the diktats of the GNLA, the medical and health workers of the beleaguered region have witnessed a phenomenal success on the immunization front.
Medics reveal that there has been no drop in the medical work and the immunization programme for children despite the blockade call by the rebels.
“Immunization is taking place without any hindrance and our community health centre (CHC) ambulance at Ampati is dropping our ANMs to the various villages for conduct of the health programme. The 108 ambulance service is also providing immense help to the health sector picking up the sick and the elderly to the hospital,” revealed outgoing medical doctor Dr Debajit Rudra Sangma.
Initially when the militants bandh first took affect the number of patients dwindled from three digits to two.
“From an earlier attendance of 150 average visits by patients to the hospital it fell to around 30 patients. Now we are getting as many as 70-100 patients on a daily basis. The militants do not disturb the sick and the elderly which is a good thing,” said a medical worker posted at Ampati centre.
There is hope and aspiration of life getting back to normal for everyone like the turnaround in Ampati health centre despite all odds.