om e 's Ali a - Land ss De elo en - Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, India Office

their source of livelihood – mainly small
pieces of agricultural land (average size
holding 2.5 bighas) which has been
their main source of survival. Now
they are being engaged by contractors
as labourers in the booming
infrastructural development spree in
and around Udaipur city from time to
time. The report adds that talking to
Impact of Aggressive Growth
Bhils and Land Grabbing Touts
The Story of Tulsi Bai
A woman named Tulsi Bai said that alienation of tribal land is rampant in and around her
village, which is being enforced in league with the kith and kin of the prospective sellers
who operate as touts. She says that these touts are mainly Bhils and most of them are from
the village itself. They are being promoted by hoteliers and other rich business houses from
Udaipur city. These land sharks, in connivance with the local administration, are indulging
in proxy land registration using touts or their accomplices, as law does not permit transfer
of tribal land to non-tribal. These most trustworthy proxy candidates are being paid a
token amount for their service.
While explaining the process of land grabbing, she told the team members that the prospective
client is first separated from his family, then the tout works hard on him with several false
promises inducing him to part with his land. He is being constantly cajoled to see the future,
which promises prosperity, and well being once substantial cash is made available to him
in lieu of sale of his land. Constant harping on these rosy promises influences his thoughts
so much that he hardly cares to consult other family members and agrees to part with his
land. Once the decision is taken, he behaves as a rogue with his family members, creates
enormous tension and violence and dares them to stop him from selling the land.
In certain cases the prospective client is given an advance ranging from Rs. 20,000 up to one
lakh depending on size and quality of the land. She further says that the hapless simpleton
Bhil is quite amazed to receive such a huge amount unseen for generations, succumbs to the
allurement and decides to sell his land. Once advance is taken, he is contracted to repay four
times the advanced money in case he refuses to sell, which is beyond his capacity. Hence, he
surrenders to the greed of the land sharks. In the process, within a span of one-and-a-half
years, Bhils of Wada hamlet received crores of rupees, says Tulsi.
people from different hamlets of the
village revealed that they felt a sense
of total loss, despair and helplessness.
It was evident that their innocence,
coupled with a free living, and merrymaking
lifestyle provided land sharks
ample opportunity to dupe them
and get their land at a meagre price.
Kajod, Mega, Naru, Teka, Jamuna
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