Sugarcane worker and an aware society

I am living in Talasari city (located in Palghar district of Maharashtra state in India) near Maharashtra & Gujarat state border. My flat is on the third floor of the building and hence from bedroom window, I had a clear view of sugarcane field spread over few acres on back side of the building. On the day of Holi festival, I noticed around fifty people had gathered there. I immediately observed that those were Sugarcane workers and must had been appointed for harvesting Sugarcane field.  I always look for such opportunity to communicate with such working people from different class, different fields or different area etc. Actually I was very happy and much excited to know about them, their daily routine, about their children, their life experiences. Since then I started observing them and their daily routine from my house window only. They have built temporary sheds on the entry side of same farm. Very shortly I could manage to get introduced with one of the Sugarcane worker Mr. Tarachand-a middle aged married man having two children.

Temporary House's buit by sugarcane workers

There are total twenty families with their children ages from 2 months upto 10 years. All this workers have come from small village of Nandurbar district in maharashtra state. All of them were working for the Sugar factory and always appointed at different locations in Maharashtra & Gujrat states by their supervisors for Sugarcane harvesting. They were here for around 15-20 days for work. There first day spent to get settled themselves with their goods & all the stuff they brought with them. From the next day, they started sugarcane harvesting. After observation, I get to know that their work starts early morning before sunrise and finish with the sunset. They had same daily routine, cooking food for the day, Go to the work, leaving the children behind at sheds. I found that their children were well aware about their parent’s routine as they are used to with it since their birth.

It was too terrible to watch that 8-10 year old children have to take care of their younger siblings as both parents need to go for work for family earnings. Especially, I like their own created handmade toys. I examined some of them were playing with toy vehicles made with shoe boxes and others were busy playing with cardboard-the younger kid was seated on the cardboard and elder one was pulling that cardboard by using rope attached to the cardboard by themselves as like kids motor car. I was so surprised to watch them playing with such joy & enthusiasm

though they dint have comfortable childhood like any of us or like our children.

After sunset, those workers return back from the work in farm, took a bath with cold water from Well(Known as “Vihir” common available water source at rural areas) in open without well bathroom. Actually women also didn’t have another choice for taking bathing other than open ground. These are very basic needs of human life like a proper shelter, toilets or the bathrooms and this is rare for these people living in open yard. After a day full of hard work, women workers had to rush to the kitchen so as to prepare dinner for their family before complete dark. As they were living in the temporary shelters, electricity is another privilege they could not afford. But those people were so used to with this lifestyle that they never complained and still able to manage to get deep sleep in their “Machardani” (Mosquito net).

My friend playing with a little boy

I asked Tarachand about children’s school & their education and got his reply as expected. They don’t understand the importance of education, rather they don’t get chance to understand the importance of basic education. They have a simple & clear concept of life, as Tarachand told me “Sir, we are farmers. farming is our “Roji Roti”(Means of livelihood). We do farming and so will our children. What will education do for us?” At that moment, I was speechless & couldn’t answer him back. Sugarcane workers never have a stable & settled life, they have to migrate whenever and wherever their supervisor asked  them to do so as per work. Even if they decide to settle down at one place, then they don’t have enough work or source of income for survival. Due to Lack of money, many of them borrow money from the “Savakar”(Private money lenders) and in return, they work in “Savakar’s” farm or home and this money circle never ends for them. Because of this many people choose to be a Sugarcane worker.

My colleague while talking with women

Their journey starts with the end of  “Diwali” festival(November -December) and they return back to their native place during “Aakhaji Festival”(An annual spring time festival of Hindus, also known as “Akshaya Tritiya”, late April or early May). At present, in Talasari they have finished their work and ready to move on for another work location. But due to Covid-19 crisis they are forced to live here longer than deadline as government has started lockdown. Tarachand told me that they tried to leave the place twice but unable to cross tehsil boundry due to lockdown. And now lockdown is extended  by government and they don’t have any idea how much more time they have to stay here. The tension and worries were clearly seen on Tarachand’s face. They are far away from their Native place and now don’t have any work to do. Within next few days, the “Rashan”(The stock of foods) will finish.

Z.P.School teacher's during distribution of the kits

There are 70% of school teachers living in my building , who works in “Zilha Parishad Schools”(Public schools run by Government). I know some of them personally. Before lockdown, every evening they used to gather at same place near our building for chatting. At the end of the March when I went out for some grocery shopping, I saw that, group of teachers have arranged face mask distribution for woman workers, working in the Industrial factories. Also They are aware of the situations of Sugarcane workers and decided to help them in every possible way, although they are from middle class family without having any special support or additional finances. The teachers had arranged some food, cooking oil, biscuits, etc. for Sugarcane workers. Because of them many other local people came forward and offered their help towards sugarcane workers. One farmer gave them “Shimala Mirchi” (capsicum) from his farm. Another farm owner supplied Sacks of rice and vegetables etc. I saw this picture of humanity from my house window and also clicked one photo without knowing them. I asked my colleagues to come forward and offer what they can do to help these people.

Office staff during distribution of the kits 

At present because of the kindness and awareness of local people, Sugarcane workers have sufficient “Rashan” for next couple of days. We all are facing the biggest crisis of our generation, in this disaster time feeling of having each other’s moral support is the biggest need of the time. I am very Thankful for all those people, Teachers, farm owners and my colleagues for their humanity and kindness towards other human being. I felt special bond for them.

Written by - Shailesh Dinkar Patil

Translate by - Jyoti Ajay Jagtap

Edited by - Mayuri Patil-Yevale