TRIBALS - 2012 - Indian Social Institute

Munda for failing to understand tribals sentiments. "The state government under the governance of Arjun
Munda has done injustice with tribals by forcefully acquiring their lands. The government is using police
force to pressurize tribals and forcefully acquiring their farmlands. We condemn the state government and
its activities in the state," said Barla. According to an Annual Report of the Ministry of Rural Development
of the Government of India, Jharkhand topped the list of Adivasi land alienation in India in 2004-05, with
86,291 cases involving 10,48,93 acres of land. (ANI) (New Kerala 19/1/12)
Two questioned in Jarawa tribe video case (6)
Port Blair, January 19, 2012: Andaman and Nicobar Police have questioned two persons including the
taxi driver who drove the Observor journalist through the jungles on the pretext of showing him Jarawa
tribal people and also arrange for their photography discreetly. According to official sources, the two
persons Rajesh Vyas alias Raju, proprietor of Vyas Brothers gift shop and Guddu, the taxi driver,
featuring in the article which appeared in 'The Observer' were questioned by Police. During the course of
their interrogation, Guddu said that he had arranged for taking the reporter of the British newspaper to
different places in Port Blair and also to Middle Strait through Andaman Truck Road. Further, Vyas said
he arranged the vehicle and driver for the reporter of the Observer and also told the reporter that he
would organize Jarawa tourism and the photography of the Jarawas for a handsome amount. Police
claimed that he was trying to dupe the foreigner by hiking the amount on the pretext of paying the police.
Various police teams are questioning several tour operators and taxi drivers of the city in an effort to track
down the source of the video, the sources said. Police have carried out searches at various video, CD
and souvenir shops in the city and adjoining areas to recover any offensive video concerning the
Jarawas. The controversial video showing semi-naked Jarawa tribe women dancing before tourists was
shot sometime between September and October 2008. The issue had sparked controversy when "The
Observer" reported the incident and also uploaded a video and a recorded conversation between the
journalist of the newspaper and a purported travel agent. (Hindustan Times 19/1/12)
Focus on tribals' problems to win anti-Maoist battle: Jairam Ramesh (6)
Hyderabad: Opposing mining, power and irrigation projects that cause mass displacement of tribals,
Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh today said the battle against Maoists cannot be won
without addressing issues like resettlement and rehabilitation of those affected. "Our approach to mining
is causing serious ecological and social havoc across the country. Over 20 million tribals have been
displaced across the country in the last 50 years because of various projects. "We have been totally
insensitive to the tribals' problems and unless we are serious about resettlement and rehabilitation which
accompany industrialisation, I am afraid we are not going to win this battle," he said while addressing a
programme organised by MV Foundation (MVF) here. Ramesh noted that the battle against Maoists was
not that of guns, drones, planes and helicopters. "This is a battle for the minds... a psychological warfare
we are involved in. Unless we change the way our forest administration and tribal administration
work...unless our approach to mining, which is causing such serious ecological and social havoc across
the country, is changed, we are not going to win this battle." One of the emerging features of Maoist
ideology was the progressively reducing age of the recruits, he said. "This is a matter of grave concern for
us that Moaists cadres are comprising young boys and girls in age group of 12-15 years." "If in the long
run we are going to make a dent on the attractiveness of Maoist ideology for young boys and girls who,
because of the force of economic circumstances, are forced to join the cadres, it's only through the
involvement of groups like MVF (fighting against child labour)," he said. Ramesh said his ministry was
focusing on transforming the way development programmes were implemented so that "people begin to
see the difference".Ramesh Ramesh noted that Andhra Pradesh has demonstrated how to combat
Maoist violence and ideology through a combination of political activity, development interventions, and
effective intelligence gathering and police action. All three have to go hand-in-hand, the minister said.
Providing an environment in which children have meaningful opportunities for going to school and for