2005 - Indian Social Institute

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(Hindustan Times 5/3/05) Tribals demand CBI probe (6) NEW DELHI, MARCH 16. Alleging that the Kerala Government and the Central Bureau of Investigation were trying to kill the tribal movement, members of the Adivasi Gothra Maha Sabha today demanded quashing of a CBI report on the Muthanga incident. "In 2001, the then Kerala Chief Minister, A.K. Antony, had signed a land agreement with the adivasis. We thought it was a historic moment that marked the success of the adivasi movement in South India. But in complete violation of the so-called accord, nothing was implemented. And so the adivasis decided to resume their protest," said a leader of AGMS, C.K. Janu, at a press conference here today. Recalling the Muthanga incident in 2003, she said: "The adivasis had organised a peaceful protest at Muthanga. But the police arrived there and started firing indiscriminately. Many were put behind bars even though they had not done anything." (The Hindu 17/3/05) April 2004 Land rights: Environment, tribal ministries slug it out (6) New Delhi: A new law being framed to give rights over forests to tribals is caught in a fresh controversy with the environment ministry virtually rejecting the draft Bill prepared by the tribal affairs ministry The conflict is set to escalate, with the tribal affairs ministry planning to take its proposal to the Cabinet. Last week, the environment ministry is learnt to have gone to the extent of telling the tribal affairs ministry it really has no business piloting — or administering — a Bill which seeks to provide rights to tribals in forest areas. The environment ministry is understood to have indicated there is no real need for the Scheduled Tribe (Recognition of Forest Rights) Bill. Existing rules and guidelines are more than adequate. In fact, it is learnt to have indicated that the Bill in its present shape could cause irreparable ecological damage, with the government losing control over nearly two-thirds of all forest land. There is even a suggestion that this move is aimed at hiding inadequacies in development work. Eschewing controversy, environment ministry officials are only willing to say that the new law would require "careful drafting". There is a need, they say, to harmonise the rules of the two ministries so they don't end up working at "cross-purposes". The final shape of any law, they argue, has to be consistent with the Forest Conservation Act and the forest policy The bone of contention between the two ministries is about the definition of "ownership rights" to tribals. While the tribal affairs ministry is in favour of granting them farming rights as well as rights over minor forest produce, the environment ministry is much more circumspect. (Times of India 5/4/05) Madhya Pradesh to crack down on forest encroachments (9) BHOPAL, APRIL 4. The Madhya Pradesh Cabinet headed by the Chief Minister, Babulal Gaur, today approved the new State Forest Policy which lays special emphasis on the need to check forest encroachments as well as efforts to curb forest-related crimes. As per the new policy the revenue being generated from the felling of timber and collection of minor forest produce should not be treated "only as profit" but used for meeting the hopes and expectations of the forest dwellers. This specific thrust is significant as the previous Congress Government under Digvijay Singh had decided to distribute the entire profit accruing from exploitation of forests among the Van Samitis (forest committees). While focusing on the need to go for optimum exploitation of forest resources, the new policy spells out guidelines to improve the degraded forests through intense afforestation. Tree plantation should also be encouraged on barren and fallow private land by rationalising the forest rules, the Policy adds. For the sake of improving environment, the State Government even proposes to plant trees along highways and railway tracks. The forest policy also spells out the need to ensure a proper security mechanism for forests. It talks of the urgent need to complete the demarcation of all forest land and a speedy initiative to convert the existing forest villages into revenue villages. There is also a proposal to set up special courts to try forest related crimes. The policy underlines the, need to curb grazing on forest land and goes on to emphasise that non-forest activities would not be allowed on forest land. (The Hindu 5/4/05) Implement welfare policies for tribals (6)
NEW DELHI, APRIL 10. Carrying forward its pledge to organise continuous struggle by the scheduled tribes against all forms of exploitation, social oppression and discrimination, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) today decided to force the Government to implement welfare policies for tribal people. The ongoing party congress adopted a resolution demanding that the Policy Document prepared by the previous National Democratic Alliance Government be scrapped and the eviction of tribals from the land they were living on for ages be stopped. The focus was part of the programme adopted by the last party congress through a 13-point tribal people's charter of demands. The party noted that its capacity to emerge as the representative of the toiling scheduled tribes was illustrated in Tripura and West Bengal. The resolution demanded that the land from which the tribals were alienated through fraudulent means be restored to them through fresh enactment and that the loopholes that permitted such fraud be plugged. It also wanted the Forest Conservation (Amendment) Act of 1988 to be amended, the implementation of a comprehensive rehabilitation package for those displaced before undertaking any development project in tribal areas, the enforcement of the Samata judgment of the Supreme Court and amendments to the Fifth and Sixth Schedules of the Constitution to provide more autonomy to these areas. It wanted the Government to provide wage employment, institutional credit, universal school education, health facilities and social welfare schemes in the tribal areas and the implementation of reservation policies for all categories of education and employment. (The Hindu 11.4.05) Tribals raid police station (6) 6. WARANGAL, APRIL 11. Scores of Tribals in Maripeda mandal went berserk and raided a police station, accusing the police of beating to death a tribal youth here today. According to information reaching here, the police summoned one Cherupula Srinu of Jarpula thanda on the charge of a theft on Sunday night. After making enquiries, they let him off. Feeling insulted for being accused of theft, he reportedly consumed pesticide and died in front of the police station today. The tribals reached the police station and staged a dharna keeping the body in front of the station. They burnt used tyres and threw stones at policemen. They allegedly forced their way into the station and beat up the policemen. Two constables were reportedly injured. Meanwhile, the police suspect that a Kakatiya University employee, Ramdas, had allegedly provoked the tribals and have launched a manhunt for him. (The Hindu 12/4/05) Ministries differ on tribal’s rights (6) THIS IS a tough decision but one the government has to take. The ministry of tribal affairs wants to de-notify large tracts of forest land and distribute it, at a rate of 2.5 hectares, to landless tribals in recognition of their traditional right over the forests. Along with the land, those allotted plots would have the right to convert their property into agricultural land. The ministry of environment and forests has suggested that while the tribals' traditional rights need to be preserved and protected, this doesn't necessarily translate into permanently giving away 16 per cent of forest land. Ministry officials say traditional rights vary from place to place and that while an attempt was made earlier to get the states to individually notify traditional rights in their respective territories, the matter went to court and the process was stayed. Officials further point out: "Historically, tribals didn't have the right to fell trees in forest areas to carry out agricultural activity. What they did have was rights over minor forest produce like mushrooms, honey and fruit. They had rights over small game but this too was restricted to only those animals not protected under various schedules. In addition, they had rights to water holes. To some extent, tribals in some states have enjoyed cultivation rights but only in natural clearings and not by felling trees". (Hindustan Times 15/4/05) Tribal convention to focus on culture (6) NEW DELHI: It is probably the best introduction that the Tribal Land Rights Bill - that is expected to be tabled in Parliament during the current session -could have hoped for as 1,200 tribals and nomads gather in the corridors of power here in the Capital to tell their story this coming week. While they might not have politics on their minds, more than 80 communities of tribals and nomads that have been left behind in the race for development will let their culture lead the way. Coming together at the National Convention of Nomads and Adivasis being held at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) here from April 21 to 23, the event aims at going beyond just adding to their archives to get these isolated groups to actually talk. "This is not just a village fair. The idea is not to get all these people to the Capital so that researchers can benefit from documentation of their lives. The convention is to help the tribal and nomadic communities. We hope to act as a catalyst, so that these communities from different
Page 1 and 2: TRIBALS - 2005 Compiled by K. Samu,
Page 3 and 4: Return our land, demand tribals (6)
Page 5 and 6: Tsunamis: 1,400 island tribals died
Page 7: Forbidden by church, priest looks f
Page 11 and 12: encroachments on forest land in the
Page 13 and 14: Tribal MPs claim Sonia to protect F
Page 15 and 16: attention. Now the SP says: "Police
Page 17 and 18: "The evolution of the tribes may be
Page 19 and 20: ATTAPPADY (PALAKKAD): Protest is mo
Page 21 and 22: sleeping in my small thatched house
Page 23 and 24: akha samitis had accordingly been f
Page 25 and 26: National Human Rights Commission, a
Page 27 and 28: of a few," he added. Blaming the Mi
Page 29 and 30: ``The reason is simple. The Maoists
Page 31 and 32: Nagaland and the adjoining state of
Page 33 and 34: (UPA) was committed to grant rights
Page 35 and 36: An angry en vironment ministry then
Page 37 and 38: the region. "The fight between the
Page 39 and 40: 45,000 homeless, Gogoi under fire (
Page 41 and 42: Sheela who ekes out a living as a h
Page 43 and 44: Prof Joshi, the dis trict administr
Page 45: government has not formulated any p

2005 - Indian Social Institute

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