Dang is a tribal district in the southern part of Gujarat inhabited by the Kukana, Bhil, Varli, Kotwalia, Kathodi and Gamit tribes. Almost 86% of the total number of families are below the poverty line and most of the population is engaged in rain-fed agriculture and migrate seasonally from October to May in search of livelihoods, as there is a lack of rainfall and the land is a mountainous area and therefore they are unable to engage in agriculture during the rest of the year and so they migrate to the sugarcane fields and work as day laborers.
These workers borrow money from the middleman who hires them and takes them to the sugar cane fields. They are paid only after cutting the entire crop, which sometimes takes about 6 months and they are paid interest at a rate of 50% and it is very difficult for these tribal workers to ever pay, and they remain bonded laborers generation after generation. Because of this practice, our people are permanently exploited, overworked and underpaid.
Aware of the hardships our people face in the sugarcane fields, we, the sisters of the Pimpri community, have taken a significant step to support these people in need in the sugarcane fields through our medical and nutritional assistance. From the Pimpri Mission, about 150 families have migrated in search of work. We visited them all during the month of December, and they were happy to see us at their workplace. During our second visit, Sister Dr. Joemol from the Subir community joined us. As a doctor, her visit was of great help and gave our people hope and joy—exactly what the Christmas season is all about and why Christ was born. That is why this year’s Christmas was special for us, as the true message became a reality for us and for those most in need.
