States have allowed exploitation of mineral-rich regions without locals' consent
The conflict between the government and the Maoists in the tribal areas didn't start with the abduction of Sukma Collector Alex Paul Menon and it would not end with his release, observed B.D. Sharma, the mediator who secured Mr. Menon's freedom after two weeks in captivity.
Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, Mr. Sharma said: “At the core of the clash between the governments and the Maoists lies the question of ownership of jal, jangal and zameen of the tribals, who used to be the owners of the mineral-rich region, and the model of development which the governments, State as well as the Union, are thrusting upon them.”
Referring to the “understanding” reached between the Chhattisgarh government and Maoists, he hoped the temporary ceasefire in Operation Green Hunt will lead to an era of peace. However, he added: “Only astrologers can predict the longevity of the current ‘ceasefire.”
The former District Magistrate of Bastar talked about the situation prevailing in the tribal region while highlighting the government's failure in protecting the rights of tribals.
“When I asked a local tribal in Bastar about the difference the Maoists' presence has made to his life, he replied that the tribals don't get troubled by the patwari and the daroga,” Mr. Sharma said.
Talking about the “inherent contradiction” in the government's policy on tribals, Mr. Sharma said instead of resolving core issues like rights over forests, forest produce, people's rights over land and resources, and the trader-contractor-politician nexus, governments have signed hundreds of memoranda of understanding with foreign and domestic companies for exploitation of minerals without the consent of the local people.
“Our Prime Minister calls the tribal people poor! How can you call the community poor which historically and naturally used to own and cultivate the mineral-rich region and its resources?” he said.
Mr. Sharma regretted that the Bhuria Committee's 1996 recommendation regarding community ownership of industry had not been adopted still. He said tribals had not been given any stake in the present model of development despite the Centre having envisaged carving out a zone to ensure the partnership of tribals in development.
He highlighted the “open violation” of the provisions of the Panchayat (Extension to Schedule Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA) — the PESA had envisaged that “every Gram Sabha shall be competent to safeguard and preserve the tradition and customs of the people, their cultural identity, community resources and the customary mode of the dispute resolution.”
Keywords: Tribals' rights, Maoist militancy
Jal jangal aor Jammin for Tribals Dear friends, Hul Johar! When Tribals are driven out of their home and alienated from their land then there is development of the Nation and the state. When Tribals raise their voices for their right and protection then they are the Naxalites or Maowadi. Brand them Naxalites or Maowadi and kill them. In South America, North America and Mexico, the indigenous people (Red Indians) were hunted, chopped off their heads to clean the land for the use of the white people, the European settlers. The white people from Europe believed that the red Indians were without soul, hence they should be killed, they should be eliminated. In Australia and New Zealand also the aboriginals were hunted by the white people for their fun. The philosophy of the Indian Government also, I fear seems to be similar. The tribal people are being hunted, killed in the name of maintaining law and order. But the fact is that the tribals are being terrorized so that their land can be acquired for the mining activity without any protest. Government is engaged in hunting tribal people as its name of the Operation was given green hunt. When tribals want their proportionate share in job and other things, then brand then inefficient and deprive them of their rightful share. When Tribals live their way of life then brand them Jangli. Do you know how many persons were admitted in Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad? Can you tell how many tribal people got job in Coal India Limited (ECL, BCCL, CCL, CMPDI etc.), Tata etc.When Tribals seek job or get job with difficulties they are the land loosers. Most of the people employed in CIL are not land losers and they are non Jharkhandis or outsiders or nontribals.How can these people justify this? Are the Tribal people not eligible for the job? Then whose development these people are talking about? Do you think that Tribals should be killed or driven out of their houses and land so that the other people can be given happy and a prosperous life? I have strong doubt that the Government is concerned for the equal and proportionate share for the tribal people. Already outsiders have imbalanced the population of Jharkhand or any other tribal region in our country. Due to this the seat of MLA, MP even at panchayat level are affected. That way these would be reduced. The identity of the land is affected. The best example is Bangla, Oriya and Urdu recently accorded second languages of Jharkhand. This certainly shows the ill intention against the Tribal people to undermine them. Do you think that the land owner of the proposed IIM would be admitted in IIM and they will be the CEO of the company? The people who think that Tribal should give up their land for IIM or mining activity or any other Government project should donate their land for the purpose. Do these people know the pain of the displacement of land alienation? Every sensitive Indian citizen should be sympathetic to the tribal people who are the original inhabitant of India. Do you know that there are more than 2 lacs Jharkhandi tribal girls working as maid in Delhi (NCR), Mumbai and other places of our country? These girls are constantly facing ill-treatment, being sexually and physically abused. Do these people, who are in favour of IIM at Jharkhandi's land, have any concern for these little girls of rich Jharkhand state? The Jharkhand contains 40% of mineral deposits; it has abundant forest produce also. who are being benefited by this? The Jharkhandi girls who belong to such a rich state are forced to migrate out of Jharkhnad for their livelihood for petty salary and in return they are being tortured, raped and murdered. Do the people who support IIM or Mining activity in Jharkhand or other national institute will take care of the Jharkhandi people or these unfortunate tribal girls? I protest the IIM in Jharkhnadis' land. I demand through this social media to the Government of India and the Government of Jharkhand that the Tribals should get their equal and proportionate share in every sphere of development of the Nation and the state. Baba Tilka Manjhi was not Naxalite. He revolted against Britishers to protect Tribal land. Martyrs Sido Murmu and Martyrs Kanhu Murmu were not Naxalites. They fought against the British government and the Mahajans and dikus for the protection of the tribal people. Martyrs Birsa Munda was also not Naxalite. He fought against the British government and the dikus to save tribal people. Let us fight back in all the level.
Dear friends, Hul Johar! We don't want charity from the Government.
We want equal and proportionate share in the socio-political and
economical fields. We want to live with dignity and with Tribal
Identity. Stop killing Tribals. Stop hunting Tribals. Stop chasing
Tribals. Stop colonization on Tribal's land. Stop looting tribal
land. Stop discriminating Tribals. Stop socio-political and
economical invasion upon tribals. You make many laws, acts etc. in
the Parliament to protect and develop Tribals, but the Government
system at the grassroots’ level are contrary to that. Don't repeat
the history of the European settlers in America, Mexico, Australia,
New Zealand etc. Don't repeat the treatment, the European settlers
had given to the Native American, Aboriginals of Mexico and Aboriginals of Australia and New Zealand etc. The action or the treatment given by the ruler of our country to the tribal people looks similar to the European settlers. Martyr Baba Tilka Manjhi, the first freedom fighter of India; Martyr Sido Murmu, Martyr Kanhu Murmu, the great heroes of the world famous Santal rebellion in 1855-1857; Martyr Birsa Munda also known as Bhagwan Birsa Munda, the great freedom fighter of India fought against Britishers and the Mahajans and other exploiter Dikkus. Remember, they were not Naxalites or Maovadi. Now Millions of Baba Tilka Manjhi, Martyr Sido Murmu, Martyr Kanhu Murmu and Martyr Birsa Munda are born. Would you kill all tribals or the people who support tribal cause? Is this method of ruling the country? Or is this method of administrations in the country? Don't undermine the existence of the tribal people. Don't throw the criminal philosophy upon the country. Don’t push the country into the civil war. India is great country having peace loving people.
Yes State is responsible for it but 'Holding guns' & intimidating poor tribals is no proper way to bring revolution. Dr. B.D. Sharma has closely seen the plight of poor tribal people & knows many things better than us.
Dear friends Hul Johar!Do you know that Indian tribals have 15 % land holding of India's total land mass? Do you know that, that 15% land of India which belong to Tribal contains almost 100% mineral deposit? Do you know that the tribals are driven out of their land and houses for the mining activities? Do you know that tribals are being killed or harassed in case they refuse to give their land or demand for their rightful privileges? Do you know that Aboriginals of Australia been eliminated(killed)? What about American aboriginals(red Indians)? What about Mexican aboriginals?Do our leaders want to give similar treatment to the Indian tribals who are the aboriginals of India? Think about it????Do something according to your own capacity.
Seeing the violation of PESA it appears that new rules for tribal areas are made ignoring its possible contradiction with the exiting rule.
On paper, the scheduled tribes enjoy facilities for special protection by the state and its agencies. But in practice, they are being treated like gypsies in Europe. They deserve to be treated like the natives of Fiji and other erstwhile British protectorates. They are as good Indians as other Indians. They are not as yet adequately organised to articulate and safeguard their own interests. It is in the long-term interest of the state to help them to come up, instead of snatching away everything that they possess, and pass it to those who help the power- holders of the time to stay in power for the time being.
The Maoist problem is essentially a political problem (the fact that a young District Collector who was motivated for developmental work, when reached out to such a village that might not have seen a DM in decades, was abducted), which seeks to find catalyst in social situations, and certain part of our intelligentsia intentionally or without their own knowledge facilitate the process.
Such a misleading idea has long been pompously fed by certain section of intelligentsia, who unfortunately are in overwhelming majority in Indian Academia & Rights groups. The issue of developmental shortfalls or at many places, no development at all, natural rights of the Tribals over forests etc. is very essential & the Govt's lack of will or erroneous policy in those areas is a fact; but, in every discourse about the Maoist problem this issue is raised with a cursory approach, without adequately analysing or informing the readers / audience about the bleak future of Tribals as a distinct community in an Egalitarian society as proposed in left ideologies.
From Australia to USA, the democratic governments have been able to govern peacefully and inteligently by recognising the rights of Tribal people to their resources. Government of India should not treat them as Colonial Subjects- Let the government work out formula so that everybody is a winner. It is question of sharing the wealth of Mineral,Forest and water resources in a equitable fashions. Business or the Government should not be the only winners in this respect. People who are the ultimate owners of these wealth shuld be compensated well.In the rush to develop resources and make profits, people should nto forget the basics. Will good will and compassion, these things can be worked out. Don't treat the true owners of the wealth badly-!!
From the observations of Mr.B.D.Sharma, it is understandable that the
dispute between the Government and Maoists can be resolved if the
Government displays concern about the welfare of the tribal community.
There is natural justice in their claim of rights on land and
resources. Nature has provided them the jal, jungle and zamin. It is
not any body's mercy. They cannot be deprived of that in the name of
development. Development would be a criminal act if it threatens the
culture and traditional living of the tribal people. The Government
may get in to the process of resolving this problem immediately
instead of dragging the feet over it.
Mr Sangma had recommended that a tribal leader must be made the
President of India. May be a man who understands the problems of the
Tribals ,may be Dr Binayak Sen, is the right candidate for the post of
the President.The problems of the Tribals and the Maoists can be resolved only by negotiations and understanding their problems.
It is really painful to see that killing of a single naxalite gets enormous support from human righs groups and a number of people like Mr B D sharma but no support comes out when 76 CRPF jawans are killed by these naxalites.When operation Green Hunt was launched, it was vehemently criticised for taking such action against our own people.So I would like to know, who these police people are ? Are they not our own people ? Are they not doing their job ? What was the fault of Alex Paul that he was abducted ? Was he not trying to solve the problems of tribals is Sukma ? I want to ask from Mr B D Sharma that how can he justify the killings of the two bodyguards of Alex Paul by these naxalites ? If these naxals are really fighting for a cause then what is the purpose behind stopping various developement projects in these areas ? Are they not depriving the youth in these tribal areas of their fundamental rights of education ? Now we should stop acting as sympathisers and deal sternly.
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