Vikas Maitri
Voluntary Development Society in Jharkhand
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www.vikasmaitri.org |
website for rural and tribal development |
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Vikas Maitri |
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Voluntary Development Society in Jharkhand |
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In Orissa, 17 persons were killed in a clash between police and tribals on 2nd January 2006. The tribals were protesting against construction of boundary wall by Tata Steel Company at the project site. The incident happened because neither any rehabilitation programme nor any employment opportunity were created for the local displaced people despite the claim of Government to have paid money as compensation. This incident happened at a time when Jharkhand Government is finalising its own deals with companies such as Mittals, Jindals, Tatas, Birlas and Ruias for settling up big industries on tribal land. Governor Syed Sibtey Razi admits that displacement is a major road block in the execution of MoUs signed by various industrial houses with the Government. Indigenous groups demonstrate in New Delhi Tribals living forest areas have been debarred from their traditional land and forest produce, declared encroachers and treated as disposable population by various developmental projects since Independence. Therefore, it is commendable that UPA Government acknowledged the historical injustices done to tribal people by passing the Scheduled Tribe (Recognition of Rights) Bill, 2005. However, the leaders of the Lok Sangharsh Morcha who organised a rally of indigenous people in New Delhi on Wednesday said that the present Bill is not enough to undo the "historical injustice" done to them. The timber and poaching mafias were plundering the forest wealth; the commercial-industrial lobby continued destroying forests in the name of developmental projects and various State Governments were only too eager to hand out on a platter vast acres of forest land to the multinational lobby, they said. Adivasi Rally On 30 Nov. Adivasi Adhikar Morcha (AAM) organised an impressive rally against the policies of BJP led government in Jharkhand. AAM is of the view that the Arjun Munda led NDA Government is trying "to deprive the sons of the soil of their Constitutional rights and turn them beggars in their own land." The
leaders accused the government of developing a sense of insecurity among the
tribals and asserted they will fight against any attempt to deny the right
to live a respectable and peaceful life. The organisations
participating in the rally were besides AAM, CPM, CPI-ML, Bharat Jan Andolan
and All India Sarna Samiti. Dr. B.D. Sharma leader of Bharat Jan
Andolan said the government was trying of wreck havoc on the tribals by
coming out with an industrial policy which did not address displacement and
rehabilitation. It is easier for the government to sign MoU with Steel companies but the actual acquisition of land for the proposed plants is proving to be a hard nut to crack. Government has so far signed MoU with not less than 9 big companies among them Tata and Mittal Steel have the biggest investment plans. Tata
company wants to set-up a steel plant at Tetoposi and requires 10,200 acres
of land. But the local people armed with bows and arrows are not
allowing any body to enter their area. Similarly the people of
Manoharpur and Asanbani are determined not to allow their land to be taken
away by the companies. Essar wants a steel plant to be built at
Manoharpur while Jindals wants to acquire land in Asanbani. The Kerala High Court on Monday ruled that nuns and priests could be enrolled as lawyers, provided that they are not engaged in full time profession i.e. teaching or nursing. Earlier the Bar Council of Kerala had decided not to enroll priests and nuns as lawyers. The Court ruled that profession was defined as "analogous to trade or business which generates income and not the profession of religion". An
increasing number of priests and nuns specially of the Roman Catholic Church
are taking up the profession of lawyer in view of the increasing cases
of human rights violations and need of protection of the weaker section of
the society. Let us hope they take up their profession worthily. JMM
Chief Shri Sibu Soren said that his party was not opposing any industrialist
or the government's initiative to attract investment in the State. But
he asserted that the people would not be satisfied with the offer of
monitory compensation and jobs only. The adivasis and the local people
have a right to be partners in the industrial projects to be set-up on their
land and one-third share of the profits from the business be given to those
who give-up the land for the industry. The Jharkhand Government is in a spree to sign memorandum of understanding with a large number of big companies including Mittel Steel to establish industries in Jharkhand who are so eager to exploit the mineral rich State. A large chunk of land is needed for this purpose and the government is thinking of using land acquisition laws to transfer this land to the companies. But the point is: Is this not unmindful of the core purpose for which the State of Jharkhand was created in the year 2000. The adivasis are not only at the risk of losing their traditions, culture and identity but are about to be displaced from the very physical possession they have on which they are rooted for centuries. It is also doubtful using present laws land could be transferred to companies. This is the legal opinion of some experts. The people have started realising the
grave situation and they have already started protesting here and there
during exploratory visit of company officials. In the 12th Ordinary Synod which was held from 16th October 2005 in Bishop Wescott Boys' School Ranchi, Rt. Rev. Joel Mal, bishop of Chandigarh was elected as the next Moderator of the CNI Church. He would be installed to his office today by a Ceremony. The meeting of the Synod started with controversies right from the beginning. A faction calling itself Peoples' Synod protested against alleged undemocratic functioning and corruption among church officials. The local police had to move in and about 300 protesters were forcibly moved away from the venue. However, after the
election of the new Moderator, the outgoing Moderator Rt. Rev. Z.J. Terom,
Bishop of Chotanagpur approached the protesters and promised to constitute a
committee to probe into the corruption charges against church
authorities. This pacified the protesters. The Jharkhand Government has submitted the report sought by the Central Government on the rape charges against Parvez Hayat an IPS Officer currently on central deputation. The report is in connection with the rape of a tribal woman, Sushma Baraik. The Palamau police has already lodged a
First Information Report at the victims behest and has already sought arrest
warrant from the court against the officer. It is likely, the central
government may repatriate Hayat back to Jharkhand where he could face
suspension charges. In the last two days 5 persons were trampled to death by roaming herds of Elephants. In the past two and half years at least 161 persons have been killed by these elephants. The elephants also leave behind a trail of destructions besides killing people the most horrific way as if taking a revenge. The Forest Officers say
the people have to live-up with this problem as there cannot be a permanent
solution. The elephants stray into residential areas as the forest
cover has shrunk considerably. The anticipatory bail petition of
absconding IPS officer P.S. Natarajan has been rejected by a Ranchi
court. He was wanted in a case of sexual exploitation of a tribal girl
Sushma (name changed to protect identity) Baraik in July 2005.
Natarajan has been evading arrest for the last one and a half month. A
few days earlier reference by no other than President Musharraf of Pakistan
about Sushma Baraik 's case created quite a flutter in the local
media. Fr. Ignace Bara, a Roman Catholic adivasi priest was killed in a melee between two clashing group in Simdega district over the recent ruling of the High Court over the PESA Act 1996. The priest was trying to prevent the groups from clashing. At the time of the event the activists of Adivasi Adhikar Raksha Manch were demonstrating for the implementation of PESA when they were attacked by a group of people appearing on motorbikes. This should be of grave
concern for Jharkhand as adivasis and local non adivasis have been
living here peacefully for many centuries. The statewide strike called by Adivasi
Adhikar Morcha (AAM) and Communist Party of India - Marxist-Leninist
(CPI-ML) on 7.9.2005 to protest the Jharkhand High Court verdict on
reservation in panchayats caused near total closure of all business and
institutions. There were reports of clashes between supporters and
opponents. The police made over 5000 arrests on the day. It is sad that
people who fought for creation of Jharkhand state are now fighting among
themselves. The Jharkhand Chief Minister on 2.9.2005 cancelled the notification for conducting panchayat elections in the state scheduled to begin on September 28. This decision was taken on the basis of a High Court ruling which struck down the provisions in the Panchayat (extension to scheduled areas) Act 1996 whereby all the solitary seats of panchayats in "scheduled areas" were reserved for scheduled tribes. The Court held 100% reservation is excessive and unreasonable and in violation of the fundamental rights of the constitution. The ruling is likely to
be challenged in the Supreme Court For the last ten days the sky is
clear. There is no sign of clouds. Already monsoon was late in
Jharkhand (see below). Consequence: transplantation of paddy, the most
important activity attributable for sustenance of rural folks was affected
and delayed. The acreage of cultivation has gone down by about 60 to
40%. Every farmer knows; late transplantation results in less
produce. If this situation continues Jharkhand will be in the grip of
severe famine like the one in latest 1992-93. The central committee of traditional adivasi leaders has called for a general strike today in all 112 scheduled Blocks of the state in protest against implementation of panchayat system. They are demanding for recognition of their own traditional system of panchayat. The present panchayat system is centred around individualism whereas the traditional panchayat is based on communal way of living, they say. Despite the direction of
central PESA Act the state government has virtually ignored the traditional
institutions of adivasis. The activists of JPPAM a group consisting of non adivasis called for a general strike in all the major cities of the state on 24 August 2005 demanding amendment to the panchayat act relating to reservation of certain posts for adivasis. They took to the streets brandishing traditional arms disrupting normal life including transport and rail. Jharkhand govt. notifies for panchayat polls After a lapse of 27 years
the rural people of Jharkhand may elect their representatives in the three
tier panchayat body. The govt. on 22.8.2005 issued a notification to this
effect. The election will be held in five phases : 26 Sept., 30 Sept., 14
Oct., 17 Oct. and 21 Oct. The counting of votes will be on 23 Oct. 2005. After intense spell of heat for a few months there was some relief by pre monsoon drizzle with thunder in the sky. The mercury immediately dropped to 37.5C. Normally monsoon starts in Jharkhand by 10 June every year. This year it is delayed. This caused tremendous difficulties to people specially because of scarcity of water in the city. One thing is sure, Ranchi is no more the same with regard to climate. There were, however, exceptional years in the past when monsoon was delayed i.e.
It is sad that though
there was some relief, 11 people lost their lives and 21 injured
through intense thunderbolt which struck them during the drizzle. |