Dear all
I agree with little difference of opinion with Mr. Stan Swamy. I am of the opinion that yes, Land and Agriculture has the most important place for tribals to make a living but forest produces also goes a long way to sustain them.
I also agree with him that Industry and mining activities have proved destructive for tribals. What is seen as development by others has proved total destruction for tribals. This has happened in the past, is happening today and if the present trend is allowed to be continued, it will happen even tomorrow.
Despite enough provisions to safeguard the basic rights and land ownership of tribals, by making a mockery of the PESA in full public view, those rights are bluntly intruded. Collusion of the industrial houses with the local administrative machinery and corrupt politicians in power has resulted in large scale displacement of tribals all over the country, much against their will by use of force.
Mr. Swamy has neatly described various aspects linked with JAL – JANGAL AND JAMIN. Tribals have also fallen victim at the hands of the corrupt forest department officials who have also piled up false cases to harrash tribals and pave easy way for the timber and mining mafias in the forest areas.
The demographic attack on the tribal areas is also the gift of the industrialisation and mining activities. There are examples in shape of Jamshedpur, Rourkela, Bhilai etc where tribals are pushed to corners. Sundergarh district is now home to many highly polluting sponge iron plants. At the time of independence, tribal population of Sundergarh district which was about 80 % is now only 50.19 %. Rajgangpur block which has nearly 100% tribal population, which is a declared Gandhi Block, is having less than 50% of tribal population.
Open cast mining activities due to mindless bastings; felling of tress and huge pollution of the sponge iron plants have resulted in the problem of Elephant menace. Not only tribals but animals like elephants are also disturbed. Elephant menace is one such additional gift at the tribal areas of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Orissa.
Agreements and Memorandum of Undertakings inked with the industrial houses by the state government is kept secret from those very people who have elected them to power. Lands of tribals is offered to the industrial houses by keeping the tribals whose land is targeted for forcibly taking over and even state government acts as a property dealer as is the case with Kalinga Nagar where tribals were paid a paltry sum of only Rs. 31,000 in average but the lands were handed over to Tatas on lease at about Rs. 3, 57,000 per acre. Protests were silenced by firing live bullets on them. This is the reality of democracy. Industrialisation for tribals is that they are to be exploited as cheaply paid daily wage earner on contract.
Amir Dharti ke Garib Log ['RICH LAND - POOR PEOPLE'] is due to our natural wealth, allowed to be virtually looted at throw away prices. Despite drawing the attention of the Chief Ministers and Prime Minister, there is no change in the attitude goes to prove that there is a deep rooted conspiracy to fix laughably low rates of royalty on iron ore, bauxite etc. All the stake holders; be it mining company, bureaucrats and politicians all have a share in the loot. Despite international market rates of IRON ORE were about 230$ a ton, [exchange rate was Rs. 44/-] i.e. about Rs. 10,000 per ton, the rate of royalty on iron ore begins with Rs. 4/- on fines to as high as Rs. 27/- per ton. Is this any thing less than committing day light robbery? But in the name of development it is justified as necessary. No where in the entire world we can see a parallel of the same. While a handful few accumulates wealth, large number of tribals are pushed out from their generations old lands and homes, to struggle and suffer for rest of their lives. This is the real definition of development for the corrupt people in the corridors of power.
While Mr. Dhuni narrates the realities, the basic difference in those areas where there is no industrialization, it has very little change in Demography and little influence on the tribal culture. I am of the firm belief that government lacks in political will to ensure that rights of the tribals are protected. When the corrupt people in power are seen dancing to the tunes of industrialists, the displaced persons are not on their lists of priorities. Industrialization in the tribal areas should be welcomed only if it takes care of the tribals, with the consent and approval that ensures them, to walk on the path of development with pride. Development without equity for all needs no attention and should be rejected.
Mr. Prem Verma has also rightly stated "It is foolish to keep repeating that farming is non-sustainable". I would like to share with you all that Dr. Subhash Mohapatra who is President of Indo American Friendship Foundation and a renowned scientist and researcher in the field of Agriculture was kind enough to visit few rural tribal pockets in the Sundergarh District of Orissa, Simdega District of Jharkhand and Bilaspur, Kawardha and Raipur district in Chhattisgarh during last few days. He has studied the situation and has emphasized that with the use of technology, within three years or so even a farmer with one acre of land will walk out of Below Poverty Line without the help of government. Three models in Sundergarh district (Orissa), one in Simdega {Jharkhand} and two at Bilaspur and Raipur {Chhattisgarh} are expected within next few months. A technology park to train and transfer technology to marginal farmers is also proposed. Any doubts that agriculture is not profitable will evaporate soon.
The need is to have more and more awareness programs to be conducted in rural areas to empower them about their rights and to show them how to protect those rights. Once they are empowered with knowledge, it will not be easy to prey tribals.
Pravin Patel
