Raipur
Over the past 50 years, this tribal medicine practitioner has steadfastly been serving the people in the Naxal-infested Narayanpur and Bastar region and treating many an incurable disease with his special herbs and medicines. He shot to national fame after the Centre conferred the Padma Shri for 2024 on him recognising his contribution in the field of Medicine.
What’s Special About Hemchandra Manjhi?
Manjhi is known for his knowledge of special herbs from the remote Abujhmarh Forests. Born on January 1 in 1953 in a poor family, Manjhi could go to school only for a day, having to quit due to household chores and family pressure. His father too passed away in his childhood leaving upon him to bear the responsibility of his family. He started working as a fire watcher in the nursery section of the forest department of the village, during which his health deteriorated significantly. Despite several treatments at the local level, there was no improvement in his health.
Then one day, he had a divine dream directing him to particular herbs of the forest for his ailment’s cure. The next morning, he set out towards the forest to search for these herbs and identified those herbs. He brought them and prepared it for himself. And lo and behold, it resulted in his quick recovery and good health. So, soon he started trying the same herb on other people too, due to which their health also started improving.
Subsequently, the teenaged Manjhi left the fire watcher’s job and engaged himself totally in serving the people selflessly since then. As of now, he employs 20 people from the villages.
Why Has He Announced To Return His Padma Shri?
Manjhi on Monday (May 27) said he will not only return the country’s fourth highest civilian honour but also discontinue his traditional medicine practice. Popularly known as Vaidyaraj, he had received the Padma Shri by President Draopadi Murmu just last month.
The reasons behind his expression of intention is that on Sunday the Maoists had set ablaze two under-construction mobile towers in Chameli and Gaurdand villages under Chhotedongar police station limits of the district and put up banners and dropped pamphlets there threatening Manjhi of dire consequences alleging he received huge kickbacks for helping in the commissioning of the Aamdai Ghati Mining Project and threatened him with dire consequences. Manjhi has accused the Narayan administration of not providing him and family proper security and safe housing.
After that incident, the police shifted Manjhi to Narayanpur town from his native Chhote Dongar village for his safety and provided with three security personnel. But Manjhi along with his family members shifted to a rented house.
“I shifted in a rented house as the house provided by the district administration was without boundary wall and has water scarcity besides lack of other basic amenities. I appeal to the administration to provide a better house,” he said even as he demanded security at his village house.
“If the government does nothing, there is no point in keeping the award. I will return it. I serve people without taking any money, and if I cannot continue this, there is no reason to hold onto the award,” he asserted.
Manjhi’s Counter
Manjhi has refuted the Maoists’ allegations outright.
“They have accused me of taking money, but I have not taken a single penny. They should have called for a public hearing and questioned me face-to-face, even if it meant killing me afterward. These threats are an insult to people who earn their living honestly. I have already told the villagers in the past that I have no connection with the iron ore mine,” he said.
Manjhi said, “The Maoists asked me how I got the Padma Shri award from the President. I didn’t demand for the award but I received it for my service towards the people. I have been giving herbs for various ailments, especially for cancer patients, since I was not even 20 years old.”
“In December 2023, Maoists had killed my nephew Komal Manjhi in Chhotedongar in the district accusing him of acting as an agent of the iron ore project and making huge money,” Manjhi said adding that his family is under the shadow of threat as he is being repeatedly threatened by Maoists for a long time.
“After discussion with the family members, I have decided to return the award and stop treatment of people through traditional medicines,” he added.
Maoists On Killing And Destruction Spree
Ever since the Aamdai Mining Project was revived in 2016, the ultras as also several civil society organisations have been opposing it vehemently.
The Maoists have in the last few months itself killed as many as six BJP office bearers/workers, torched many vehicles carrying iron ore from the mines, triggered IED blast to kill two workers of the Project. Hemachandra’s nephew Komal Manjhi, a BJP worker, was brutally hacked to death by the Maoists when he was returning after offering prayers at a local temple in the Chote Dongar area on December 9. Maoists also dubbed the other BJP workers as “police informants”.
Maoists oppose such projects as it could lead to infrastructure development like roads providing accessibility to security forces besides generate employment to locals that could weaken their cadre and control bases, a police officials said. That’s why they even don’t spare school buildings and dams, he added.
What Is the Aamdai Ghati Mining Project?
It is an iron-ore mining project allotted to Jayaswal Neco Industries in Narayanpur’s Dongar Hills in the Amdai Ghati amid protests over likely displacement of tribals and other locals and environmental hazards.
The mining lease has been granted over 192.25 Hectare forest land. Locals allege the Gram Sabha’s consent was not taken for diversion of forest land. While mining started in 2016, it was revived for bigger operations in 2021. Locals, civil society organisations also allege that crops are getting destroyed due to washing of coal and iron, water is getting contaminated and animals are dying. Besides, there are breathing issues as well.
The Jayaswal Neco Industries Limited is the flagship company of the NECO group in India. It is the largest producer of iron and steel castings, pipes and fittings. “Originally incorporated as a small scale iron foundry unit at Nagpur in 1976, it has grown to be a pioneer in the steel production industry,” as per the company’s profile.
