TRIBALS – 2007 - Indian Social Institute

They said they will carry the logs and then file cases and send us all to jail," said RamchandraMurmu, a local. The tribals also say that in the past they have been jailed for crimes committed bythe timber mafia. "A similar thing happened years ago when the officials felled trees but filedcases for illegal felling against us," said Fagu Soren. A strict ban has been imposed on felling oftrees in the State's forests for the past 16 years. The forest department was given a temporarypermission in 2005-06 to cut a limited number of damaged and diseased trees and working planswere drawn up for 11 Forest Divisions. However, activists say the working plans were completelyignored. "The Government spends so much money on forest conservation and takes huge loansfrom the World Bank," said Akshay Pani, Coordinator, Adivasi Kranti Sangathan. "In principle, aforest so well protected by local tribals should not have been touched. Secondly, the norms forfelling have been violated by the forest department." Despite repeated attempts, the DhenkanalDistrict Forest Officer and Manager of the Forest Development Corporation refused to give theirreaction on the matter. But it's clear that as the tribals wait for the State Government to institutean inquiry, their anger is rising with each passing day. Pioneer 14/2/07)Tribal land grab cases on rise in Jharkhand (6)Ranchi : Jharkhand tribals are facing challenges from different corners. Their problem is evidentfrom the fact that their population is declining in the State while their land is grabbed in theirhomeland. Anthropologists and social scientists are concerned about the declining population oftribals in general and primitive tribes in particular. The tribal population has declined to 27 percent in the State from 42 per cent in 1951. The impact of the declining population trend is seen onthe reserved seats of Assembly constituencies. The Delimitation Commission has recommendeddecrease the reserved tribal seats in Assembly from 28 to 21. The number of cases lodged bytribal people indicates that land grabbing by non-tribals increased manifolds after creation of theState. The cases lodged under Special Area Regulation Court (SPRC) have increased. In 2003-2004 a total of 2,608 cases were registered which went up to 2,657 cases in 2004-2005. A total of3,230 cases were registered in 2005-2006 and in 2006-2007 till January this year the figure is3,789. Tribal people lodge their cases under SPRC. The SPR court hears the cases and finespeople who are found guilty of land grabbing. If anyone has made construction on the tribal plotthen the court slaps a fine, which is given to the original owner (tribal). Two laws are in force toprotect the land rights of tribal people in the State -Chotanagpur Tenancy Act and SanthalParangan Tenancy Act. Both Acts prevent sale of tribal land to non-tribals. "It is a game ofmoney. Those who are poor have no say in politics and they remain neglected and downtroddenand same is the case with tribal people. Heavens were promised to tribal people before creationof the State and now their voices have been crushed. Those who never participated in theJharkhand movement are the ones who rule the State now. And the poor (tribal) never figured intheir agenda," said father Benni Ekka, director of St Xavier Institute of Social Service. (Pioneer14/2/07)Minister seeks quota for tribals in jobs (6)New Delhi : The Minister for Tribal Welfare Kunwar Vijay Shah put forward a demand ofreservation in jobs for the tribals of Madhya Pradesh in proportion to their population in centralservices in the 'Conference of States Ministers incharge of Tribal Welfare Development' at NewDelhi on Wednesday. He also made a fervent plea for early approval of the proposed projectspending before the Union Government as well as release of maximum funds for the welfare oftribals of the State. The schemes being implemented by the State Government for the welfare ofthe tribals were lauded in the meeting. The ministers of tribal welfare of various States attendedthe meeting presided over by the Union Minister for Tribal Affairs PR Kindiya. Drawing attentionof the Union Minister towards the fact that Madhya Pradesh has a very little representation in thecentral services despite 20 per cent of the population is covered by the tribals, Kunwar Shahstressed that Madhya Pradesh tribals should get proper representation in the central services. Hefurther mentioned that special focus should be laid while posting tribal officers in Madhya Pradeshunder the administrative services and Indian Police Services. There is no tribal battalion underthe defence department, although tribal population constitutes 8.2 per cent of the total populationof the country. Several tribal freedom fighters have sacrificed their lives in the freedom struggle.(Pioneer 15/2/07)