Thread by @parthpunter

Over the past few weeks, been following the tribal district of Palghar to look at how the most disadvantaged section of the society is coping post lockdown.

Meaningless stories at a time Rhea's chats had to be unearthed. But posting a #thread of 8-9 stories I've done so far.

In June, an Adivasi woman strangled her 3-year old daughter to death & hung herself in a remote tribal hamlet in Palghar.

I met her husband. “She probably thought there would be two less stomachs to feed,” he said.

ruralindiaonline.org/articles/in-pa…

Late last month, I followed it up and wrote about the Adivasi residents of Palghar that are struggling to feed their kids. In fact, malnutrition has been on the rise since the lockdown.

Some have resorted to begging.

firstpost.com/india/battling…

Amidst all of this, the state govt started talking about online education. Visited some of the remote villages in Palghar where smartphones are a luxury and internet connectivity is non existent.

Residents said it would further marginalise their kids

ruralindiaonline.org/articles/schoo…

And that is exactly what happened. I went back to the district after online learning began.

E-learning divide in Maharashtra's Palghar left Adivasi, poorer students in lurch
firstpost.com/india/out-of-c…

Palghar also has a significant fishing community. Burdened by debt and loss of livelihood, they have resumed fishing even as the weather continues to be dangerous.

I wrote about them here:- firstpost.com/india/burdened…

While livelihoods continue to be devastated, Palghar's health facilities are overwhelmed too.

firstpost.com/india/we-are-e…

26 physicians, 18 anaesthetics and 102 medical officers were approved for appointment in Palghar.

Not a single one of them has been appointed so far.

In April, the district was also hit by a gruesome mob lynching of two sadhus and their driver

Here I wrote about the islamophobic rumours that led to the #PalgharMobLynching

newsclick.in/palghar-lynchi…

But four days after #PalgharLynching, RSS mouthpiece published the names of five "main accused", who are "said to be CPM activists."

I visited their families. They are Adivasis living in abject poverty.

They denied any political affiliation.

newsclick.in/Palghar-Lynchi…

And lastly, a piece on the tragic aftermath of #PalgharLynching that included two suicides.

One being a 15-year old girl. 3 of her family members are arrested in the crime

One is a 32-year old man who was questioned as an eyewitness

firstpost.com/india/two-suic…