TRIBALS – 2007 - Indian Social Institute

we should not react to Mane and his conversion campaign. But there are heated discussions inthe parivar on what stand we should take,” said a senior RSS leader. (Indian Express 24/5/07)Tribals' land rights subverted: Brinda Karat (6)BHOPAL: CPI (M) Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat on Tuesday accused the Ratlam districtadministration and Forest Department officials of subverting the tribals' land rights. Ms. Karat,who attended a public hearing at Ratlam's Sailana Development Block on Monday and touredsome villages in the block and the neighbouring Bajna block on Tuesday, told The Hindu that theForest Department had dug up huge holes in all villages on the pretext of a plantation drive"anticipating that the tribals will get permanent settlement rights once the Tribal Act isimplemented." She said tribals from about 50 villages attended the public hearing at Sailana.Their grievance was that the Forest Department officials were going to tribal villages and diggingup holes, saying they were required for plantations. It could be inferred from the public hearingthat almost 3,000 to 3,500 tribals families were directly affected by the digging at a time whenthey should be engaged in preparing the land for cultivation. Ms. Karat said the Collector told herthat he was not directly involved. However, the forest officials, who were asked to accompany herto some villages on Tuesday, admitted that the holes had been dug up over those pieces of landthat were already in the tribals' possession. "It is unfortunate that this is the state of affairs in adistrict represented by the State Forest Minister and a Minister of State at the Centre," she said.(The Hindu 30/5/07)Tribal students, parents block road (6)BERHAMPUR: Daringbadi in Kandhamal district was tense on Friday following an agitation bytribal students of the local residential high school for girls and their parents. They blocked theDaringbadi-Brahmanigaon road and laid siege to the tehsil office till evening. Additional DistrictMagistrate of Kandhamal district Suresh Chandra Suar, along with the Superintendent of Police,had to rush to the spot to hold discussions with the agitators. The agitation had the support of atribal organisation Lok Sangram Manch. Its leaders Raghunath Padhi and Tapan Mishra led theprotest in support of the suspended in-charge headmaster of the school Devraj Sahu, who wasabsconding to avoid arrest. The protesters alleged that Sahu was framed and demeaned by thepolice and administrative officials. It may be recalled that on March 23, the police had to interveneto allow a new headmaster take charge. The students opposed the new appointment and wantedSahu to continue. This led to unruly scenes and the school had to be closed down. The policelater recovered some pornographic materials and condoms from the room of Sahu on the schoolcampus. The protesters, however, believe, that Sahu was implicated. Sunita Pradhan and herfather Kasinath Pradhan alleged that the police were trying to frame-up Sahu. They alleged thaton March 23 some miscreants misbehaved with the girls and the police were yet to arrest them.They further said that Sahu was a victim of his detractors. "The fact is that not a single girl of theschool has spoken against the character and nature of Sahu," Mr. Pradhan said. The protesterssought legal action against police and administrative officials who, they alleged, damaged theimage of the school and its former headmaster. They relented only after Mr. Suar promised toinquire into the matter and take action within one week. (The Hindu 2/6/07)Tribals gearing up for a showdown (6)BERHAMPUR: Tribals of Gangabada panchayat under Rayagada block in Gajapati district arejoining hands to wage a united struggle against the proposed irrigation project by the AndhraPradesh Government across a tributary of the Mahendratanaya near the panchayat. Resentmentis brewing in villages like Akada, Manikpatna, Khambagaon, Dimirigaon, Bengasahi and Sankudathat are situated along the tributary on the Andhra-Orissa border. They say that the neighbouringState is planning an irrigation project called `Nakasahi' with an estimated cost of Rs. 33 crores.Sarpanch of Gangabada Sumitra Sabar says that the project spells doom because it wouldsubmerge over 1,100 acres of agricultural land and cashew orchards in the panchayat. Besides, itwill affect the livelihood of some 860 persons hailing from 158 tribal families. The villagers arealso worried over the prospect of submergence of the road connecting Gangabada panchayat toManjusa in the adjoining State, for the panchayat is more accessible by this road. This apart, theproject will also submerge some forestland, they say. While those displaced on the Andhra