Jekyll and Hyde

Jekyll and Hyde

Adivasis in Gujarat are up in arms against a person who until recently was known as their spokesperson -- Harivallabh Parikh of Rangpur Ashram in Chhotaudepur taluk of Baroda district. Parikh's misdeeds came to light when Gitaben Rathwa, an unmarried tribal inmate of the Ashram accused the 72-year-old 'tribal messiah' of repeatedly raping her over a period of few months and of fathering her child.

Haribhai, as Parikh is better known, established the Rangpur Ashram three decades ago and was working in the tribal villages of Chhotaudepur and Naswadi talukas. His was one of the non- governmental organisations (ngos) which proudly claimed to be working with the Gujarat government for the resettlement of Sardar Sarovar's tribal oustees. Another ngo, Arch-Vahini, had earlier resigned from the resettlement body and had leveled charges of corruption against the ashram in its efforts at resettling the tribals.

The People's Union of Civil Liberties, Baroda, whose fact-finding team found Parikh guilty of the sexual exploitation of Gitaben, has called for a thorough and independent probe to look into other such incidents. Its report has been handed over to the chief minister. The result of a dna test taken to ascertain the identity of the child's father, is yet to be made public. Parikh has been absconding since the incident.

Tribals, human rights activists and a number of ngos in Gujarat are raising questions regarding the accountability of the leadership of people like Parikh, who claim to represent tribal interests, receive generous funds from national and international sources, and then exploit the very same people. A huge rally was organised in Chhotaudepur by the Rathwa Association -- an association of tribals -- demanding action against Parikh. A number of women's organisations have also demanded action against Parikh. 12jav.net12jav.net