Many Koya tribals, especially children, who fled Chhattisgarh to Andhra Pradesh to escape a brutal conflict, complain of flashbacks and nightmares.
In each of the four villages an ActionAid team visited in Khammam district of Andhra Pradesh, tribal after tribal told us that staying alive back home had become tough. They recounted the names of relatives and neighbours allegedly killed by Salwa Judum.
In Andhra Pradesh, their trauma is still fresh.
At a government-supported residential school for four to 14 year-old displaced children, a nine year old girl would often wake up shrieking at night, according to a local activist.
"Her parents told me that she had seen her village being set on fire and a neighbour shot dead by the Judum," says the activist.
"The little girl said, 'In my dreams I see a person coming close and shooting me,'" he adds.
Kunjajogi (name changed), a seven year old Koya boy, rarely smiles and frowns often. In Chhattisgarh, he had seen his father being shot dead when he was up on the terrace mending a leak in their hut. He would not like to go back to Chhattisgarh, even if Salwa Judum stops. "Because Judum will never stop," says a convinced Kunja.
"In my sleep, I see myself running. Sometimes I find myself shouting 'run, run'. Sometimes I pick up my kids and start running, only to realise it was only a nightmare," says 40-year-old tribal woman Muchki Gangi laughing shyly in Monalli village.
Several got separated from loved ones. Damaganga who is 65 years old believes his wife and daughter are still in Chhattisgarh, but he is not sure.
Salwa Judum
Judum is a troop aimed at killing Maoists in Chhattisgarh. With government support, it takes on civilians, mostly tribals, gives them arms and makes them fight Maoists, better known as Naxalites.
Naxalites have been conducting an insurgency in this part of India for over 30 years to oust the government and local traders. Human rights violations multiply in the bid to counter Naxalites. Tribal men, women and children, who do not shift to government-run camps that line the sides of major highways outside their villages, are labelled either Naxalites or their supporters and caught and killed.
Too afraid
Figures of displaced tribals are hard to get, as they are too scared to make themselves known. A 2008 Human Rights Watch report states that an estimated 65,000 villagers had run away to the bordering states of Maharashtra, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh. Almost 50,000 have settled in Andhra Pradesh, mostly in Warangal, East and West Godavari, Karimnagar, Vishakapatnam and Khammam districts.
Often they would say they have been in the state for many years. For example, in Napana village of Khammam, some 19 tribal families who fled Kanchala village of Chattisagarh told us they came two years back. A little more probing later, we get to know they have been here for only six months.
There's hesitation, akin to that of a fugitive. Gundichina Nagaya shows his daughter Gundi Punjam to us after he feels he can trust us. The six year old girl has deep gashes in her upper arms, symptoms of Yas, a disease which typically afflicts tribal people. She needs medical attention and the helpless father does not know how to get it for her.
Much needed help
With government support, Vyavasaya Mariyu Sanghika Abhivrudhi Samstha (Agriculture and Social Development Society) or ASDS, an ActionAid partner organisation helps operate a few residential schools in Khammam. It also runs seven non-residential centres in seven villages where young children and pregnant and lactating mothers get cooked lentils, rice, coconut oil, soap, and a dish made of jaggery and groundnuts. Three such centres are supported by ActionAid.
At residential schools, displaced tribal children find themselves clambering back towards normal life. These schools are important as they provide good cheer, studies, games and food. Here they feel cared for.
"Ship sails on the sea, the whistle blows wiee wiee," they sing while learning Telugu alphabets.
"More such schools are needed. Initially when the children came here, they would refuse to venture outdoors. They were really scared. Now they boldly go to the nearby market or even the local dispensary if a younger one falls ill. They have found new confidence here," says Venkatesh of ASDS.
Text by Anjali/ActionAid
Pictures by Srikanth Kolari/ActionAid