River Erosion Crisis in Bengal: How Malda Residents Face Displacement and Voter Disenfranchisement

Kolkata:

The destructive force of river erosion has displaced thousands in Bengal's Malda district, leaving many without homes, documents, or a secure place on voter lists.

During monsoon season, the Ganges and Fulahar rivers regularly overflow, submerging villages and forcing residents to evacuate their homes.

NDTV visited Malda's Ratua area to document the plight of thousands displaced by the expanding Ganga river.

Residents of the "chars" (river islands) face particularly challenging circumstances. The constantly shifting river course not only destroys their homes but often washes away identity cards and critical documents. Even when papers survive, land documents become meaningless as properties disappear underwater.

With the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists currently underway, many displaced residents fear disenfranchisement.

Kuchi Kumari Mondal, an ICDS health worker who now lives on a river dam after losing her home, expressed her concerns: "My home in Jututola village was washed away by Ganga erosion. I've been living on this dam for three months now. I've completed my SIR enumeration process, but I'm uncertain if I'll be listed. Nearly 300 families from my village have been forced to make temporary homes on this dam."

The numerous 'chars' in Malda house residents who have experienced multiple displacements. The river's changing course sometimes places them administratively in West Bengal, sometimes Bihar, and occasionally even Jharkhand. This geographical instability leaves them without permanent addresses or residency documentation.

Sangeeta Mondal recounted her traumatic experience: "I'll never forget the night I lost my home last winter. At least three to four villages were completely washed away. I've submitted my documents and hope authorities hear our pleas so we're not excluded from the SIR process."

Booth Level Officers (BLOs) face significant challenges conducting the SIR exercise in these erosion-affected areas.

Local BLO Prasenjit Mondal was observed searching for displaced villagers. "They've relocated and I'm trying to reach them," he explained. "In my area alone, at least 300 families abandoned their village due to erosion. Some moved to the opposite riverbank, while many left for Bihar and Jharkhand. Others have departed from Malda entirely."

When the SIR process began, many locals assisted Mondal in locating displaced voters, though concerns about lost documentation remained paramount.

Manoj Mahato, a Ratua resident, shared: "Ganga erosion isn't new here. We've been dealing with it for three to four years. Nearly 400 people from my village were rendered homeless. We don't know their current whereabouts."

"An even greater challenge is the loss of vital documents. Camps are being organized to address this... We're uncertain if we'll be included in voter lists. We'll participate in SIR if we survive this erosion," added Bhanu Mondal, another local resident.

The situation has inevitably attracted political attention. Soumitra Roy, a local Trinamool Congress leader, stated: "The Ganga river falls under the BJP-led Central government's jurisdiction. Malda has a BJP MP and four MLAs, yet none have assisted these homeless people. Only the Trinamool is supporting them during SIR."

In response, BJP's Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari claimed: "People affected by erosion oppose Mamata Banerjee's government due to its ineffective performance."