Mahajani: “Hunger is our old friend” 
East Champaran district, Bihar (India) 

Mahajani Devi is old and ailing. She talks as she is waiting for her turn to get food relief, the staple chura (flattened rice) being distributed in Suryapur village of Piprakothi block by ActionAid partner Samajik Shodh Evam Vikas Kendra (SSEVK) – the Social Research and Development Centre, together with community organisations.

Amongst Dalits, (lowest in India’s caste hierarchy), Mahajani’s community is one of the most marginalised groups. The Musahar (literally ‘rat-eaters’) are so called after one of their survival techniques in times of extreme hunger. 

In Bihar, the Musahar often live in the lowest lying areas so are hit hardest by the annual monsoon floods. 

“Seeing food distributed gives me joy”

“You ask about how the rains and flood have affected me! What can I say? It’s been the same old story for as long as I can remember. No, we haven’t seen any government food or money as flood relief. Hunger is our old friend here. 

“But now I see food being distributed and it gives me joy. It’s being done by our organisation – Musahar Vikas Manch (Musahar Development Forum) – and Amar and his team of volunteers from SSEVK.

“How do I live when the floods come? In the mud, how else! And then some shelter somewhere. There’s no one to look after me. So I have to fend for myself. I am suffering from Kalazar (a disease that takes a high toll of lives in the entire swampy north Bihar region). Age? All I can say is that’s time to die.”

Water everywhere

“Now I am having stomach problems too. That’s because of the flood water. But I have been given some medicine by volunteer organisation. Yes, I know about the dangers of diarrhea. But what can one do when there’s water everywhere for more than a month? Sometime it rains, other times the sun is out – and it’s hot and humid.”

No work no money

“I can’t do much work. Others try to earn by working as farm labourers – planting crops, irrigating, digging up clay, making water channels, and then harvesting – all for a few rupees. But that too goes when the rains come. No work and no money for four-five months. 

Worse than ever

“Death is our constant companion – from hunger, disease and natural disasters. And this year, so much rainfall! I don’t remember anything like this in the recent past. So much water! It’s not just lack of food. Women have no clothes to cover themselves. Children are constantly falling ill. It’s shameful.