PATNA, Bihar, India - What do we do with a radio when we have nothing to eat? This is the refrain of many Mahadalits (poorest of the poor) in Bihar who are selling off free radios given by the state government to buy meat and country liquor.More than 1,500 Mahadalits, the poorest of the poor in Bihar, in Dhanarua block in Patna district are reported to have sold their radios for just Rs150 (Dh11) to Rs200 in the last few days.
"What will we do with a radio when we have nothing to eat? Where is the money for its battery? That is why we have sold the radios," Brahamdeo Manjhi of Anjani village, a beneficiary of the radio scheme, said.
- He said the money he got was used for a small party with his friends. "We enjoyed our country locally brewed liquor," he said.
- Radios were distributed to educate the Mahadalits about the importance of literacy, sanitation and kicking bad habits like consuming alcohol and tobacco.
- Another beneficiary of the Mahadalit radio scheme, Doman Manjhi, said: "Songs and news sound bad when we have empty stomachs."
Doman admitted he along with dozens have already sold radios provided by the government."After I sold my radio, I purchased country liquor and chicken for dinner," he said.
Dhanarua Block welfare officer Sadhna Kumari said there was information that Mahadalits in some villages had sold their radios.
According to block officials, to date, 5,552 radios have been distributed and 663 are yet to be distributed.
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