Separated from mainland, voters on border want freedom from 'caged' life
Times of India | 19 May 2024
TEROGHARIA: In the Indian exclaves of Terogharia, Dogharia and Chattisgharia, across the border in Bongaon, residents find themselves trapped in a confined existence and a struggle between the hope for a better future and the deep-rooted attachment to their land.
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Life of residents in these cluster of exclaves - territories that belong to India but are geographically separated from the mainland - is challenging compared to that of people living elsewhere. The residents here need to carry their Aadhaar and voter cards always and sign a register maintained by BSF whenever they leave their home and come to mainland India for their basic needs and that too during specific schedules set by the security forces.
TOI had to sign a similar register, take a half-an-hour boat ride across Naobhanga canal - a tributary of Ichhamati river - to reach the Terogharia village which is surrounded by Bangladesh land on three sides and remain under constant watch of BGB. The island village with 13 families and a population of 48 doesn't have a single grocery store, medicine shop or a school. Electricity has recently been drawn by large overhead electrical lines connected to a sub meter at Firozpur on the other side of the canal.
People here are mostly into fishing and agriculture and every family owns a boat and every member knows how to row.
"It's a strange life that we live. But I aspire for more. My family has got a house under PMAY in the mainland of Firozpur and my brother has shifted there with his family. I too want to go to the mainland and leave behind this caged life. But my parents are not willing. They want to stay here holding on to this mud house and piece of land," said Bikash Halder, a graduate who is now preparing for public sector recruitment exams.
According to Nabajiban Sarkar (44), another resident, his only daughter lives in Firozpur at his in-laws' place and studies from there, but he and his wife are still holding on to the land. "There are a lot of challenges and curbs on movement, especially for women, and hence my daughter lives away from us. I know life will be better for us too if we move out, but this is the only piece of land I can call my own," said Sarkar.
Life is equally difficult in Chhattisgharia - another exclave that is separated by barbed wire fence from Jayantipur. Residents undergo body checks and sign registers every time they come out of their village. "We get all major welfare schemes of the state and Centre. But all we want from the new govt is to get us out of this life where we need to prove our nationality everyday," said Asanur Mondal, a truck loader on Petrapole border.
Polling can't take place here as there is no govt building and neither BJP nor Trinamool candidates come to campaign in these exclaves.