Bengal: 4-Year Promise Broken? Bankura Tribal Girl Awaits Treatment in AIIMS-Delhi

Approximately four years ago, Union Home Minister Amit Shah assured Rachana Hansda, a tribal girl student from Jangal Mahal’s Bankura, who was suffering from severe diabetes, that she would receive help in treatment, including at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi. Shortly after that, Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee instructed the District Magistrate, during an administrative meeting at Rabindra Bhaban, Bankura, that the state government would take full responsibility for her treatment.

A sense of relief enveloped this poor and marginalised family. Rachana's parents, Bibhishan Hansda and Monika, both brick kiln labourers from Choturdahi village in Bankura district, believed that their daughter's treatment was assured when the Union Home Minister and the Bengal Chief Minister gave these assurances. However, their hopes were soon dashed.

Four years later, Rachana is still awaiting treatment at AIIMS, Delhi. Hansda told this reporter that he had to give up hope and arrange for his daughter's treatment in Bankura itself. He said he was also suffering as both his kidneys were severely damaged in the past six months. He is unable to work due to his illness, as a result of which his meagre income has ceased.

 Hansda and his daughter displaying their prescription

He said the BJP Member of Parliament (MP) from Bankura, Subash Sarkar, provided the family some money for their daughter's medication. However, Hansda doesn’t know how he will manage the expensive treatment for his kidney disease? At present, no one is attending to this family, which is engulfed in extreme despondency and depression.

Why did Amit Shah and Mamata Banerjee promise Hansda?

Hansda, a marginalised bricklayer residing in Choturdiha village under Aandharthol gram panchayat of Bankura number 1 Block, is a known figure. This village, located approximately 180 km away from Kolkata and 8 km from the district headquarters of Bankura, lies on the left side of the Bankura-Ranibandh state highway near Sunukpahari village. Hansda lives here with his elderly mother Fulmoni, wife Monika, daughter Rachana, and son. He and his wife earn their livelihood by working as labourers in a brick kiln.

Hansda's household came to the limelight during a political event on November 5, 2020, hosted by Bharatya Janata party (BJP) leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, along with other party leaders, such as Kailash Vijayvargiya, Mukul Roy, Dilip Ghose and Rahul Sinha. All these leaders were invited for lunch at Hansda's residence, arranged by the local BJP.

Notably, this village is historically known as 'Joldubi Choturdihi,' owing to its establishment six decades ago to accommodate families displaced by the construction of the Kangsaboti Reservoir in the 1960s. These families, primarily from Basontopur of Mukutmonipur, received land here as compensation for their submerged properties.

Andharthol gram panchayat member Anima Mal at her house Bhalukgenja village.

On November 5, 2020, at noon as per tribal customs, the villagers welcomed Shah and his entourage with traditional rituals, including blowing shell conches and performing Santali dances. Hansda's house was adorned with indigenous Santal paintings, and a welcome message was displayed in Santali, Hindi, and Bengali languages on the walls. Additionally, the administration sanitised his residence prior to that event.

During the luncheon, which drew extensive coverage from mainstream media and social media platforms, the BJP leaders enjoyed a spread of Bengali vegetarian delicacies, including fragrant rice, lentil soup, handmade bread, fried pointed gourd, mixed stew, potato cooked in poppy seed paste, and assorted sweets. Shah, impressed by the hospitality, expressed gratitude on social media (X handle) stating: “Had amazing Bengal food at Shri Vivishan Hansdaji's home in Chaturdhi village. No words can express their warmth and hospitality.”

Before departing, the Union Home Ministere assured Hansda's family and the villagers, 'Hum log phir melenge' (We shall meet again). This gesture left a lasting impression on Hansda, who later shared with reporters that hosting Shah was an honour for him and a momentous day in his life.

A few days ago, Hansda, while speaking with this reporter in his home, alongside his daughter, expressed pride at hosting the Union Home Minister in his home. He said he informed Shah about his daughter’s diabetes and requested some financial assistance. Shah assured him of help.

A few days after the visit to the village, Shah told reporters in New Delhi that Hansda's daughter, Rachana, would receive treatment at the AIIMS in Delhi. Following this announcement, on November 25, 2020, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee convened an administrative meeting at Rabindra Bhaban in Bankura and instructed the district administration to take responsibility for Rachana’s treatment.

Reflecting on these events, Hansda said: "When I went to Delhi with my ailing daughter, I did not get the opportunity to meet Amit Shah. Unfortunately, my daughter did not receive treatment at AIIMS. It would have been nice if she had been treated there."

When asked, the Chief Medical officer of Health (CMOH), Bankura District, Dr Shyamal Saren, said they regularly provide insulin to Rachana. But Hansda refuted his claim, and said initially officials from the state government's health department provided insulin, but subsequently failed to supply the medication regularly, claiming shortages. He, however, expressed gratitude to Bankura MP, Sarkar, who personally covers the cost of his daughter's medication.

At present, Rachana, a third-year graduate student at Bankura Saradamoni College, receives treatment in Bankura. However. her blood sugar levels continue to fluctuate. She expressed the desire for comprehensive treatment.

Biswanath Saren and Susanto Hansda, both farm labourers from Chaturdihi village, corroborated Shah's visit to Bibhison’s home and his subsequent trip to Delhi with his daughter for treatment. However, they were uncertain about whether Rachana received any treatment there.

Chaturdihi village.

How is Bibhishan Hansda spending his days now?

"I have been suffering from kidney disease for the past six months. Both my kidneys are severely damaged. I am spending a significant amount of money on various medical tests and medications," he told this reporter, and displayed his and his daughter's prescriptions, revealing that they spend Rs 10,000 a month on medicine alone.

Due to his illness, Hansda is unable to work, and the pressure is on his wife to find consistent employment as a labourer. "We are living in abject poverty. We are barely getting by, selling our pet goats and relying on the support of acquaintances," Hansda said with a heavy heart. He expressed a strong desire to inform the Union Home Minister about their dire circumstances, and pleaded help for both himself and his daughter.

Anima Mal, a member of the Aandarthol Gram Panchayat and a resident of Bhalukgenja village, shed more light on the plight of Hansda’s family. "Amit Shah visited Hansda's house, promising to take charge of his daughter's treatment in Delhi, and Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also pledged support. Unfortunately, neither of them fulfilled their responsibility. With no work available in the panchayat for an extended period, Hansda and his family are languishing in poverty."

Union Home Minister Amit Shah having lunch along with BJP leaders on November 5, 2020, in Hansda’s house at Chaturdhihi village.

Dulal Paramanik, a worker from Life Insurance Corporation of India, and a resident of Sunukpahari village, said both Shah and Banerjee had failed to keep their promise regarding the treatment of this poor tribal labourer's daughter.

Sunil Ghose, a retired librarian and Hansda’s neighbour, also recalled Shah's assurance that Rachana would be treated at AIIMS, Delhi and and the Chief Minister's announcement. "He is selling the family's goats to make ends meet. How long can this continue? We urge for help to ensure proper treatment for them," he said.

As this reporter was leaving, Hansda once again expressed his despair, noting that no government (Centre or state) seems to be keeping track of their plight. "We simply want to live," he said.

The writer covers the Jangal Mahal region for ‘Ganashakti’ newspaper in West Bengal.