TRIBALS – 2007 - Indian Social Institute

distributing pattas. Addressing a function organised as part of Janadesh-2007 SatyagrahaPadyatra organised by Ekta Parishad here over the weekend, the Chief Minister announced opensupport to any non-violent movement in the interest of the common people. The Chief Ministersaid influential persons illegally occupying forest land allotted to the tribals would be evicted andpossession of land would be given to the rightful owners. He said Janadesh was enhancingawareness and educating the poor about their rights. (The Hindu 7/10/07)Communal tension in Kandhamal (6)BERHAMPUR: Tension mounts up in Kandhamal district as Kui tribals are continuing their publicmeetings and awareness campaign among tribals against the Pana harijans of the district. ThreeKui tribal organisations of the district -- Nikhil Utkal Kui Samaj of G. Udaygiri, Kui Kula Samiti ofBaliguda and Kui Samaj Seva Samiti -- have joined hands to form Kandhmal Zilla Kui Samajcoordination committee. They are opposed to recent demand by a section of Pana harijans to beidentified as Kui tribals in official records as they speak Kui language and obey some tribal rituals.The recent tension started due to activities of an NGO named Phulbani Kui Jankalyan Sangh ofBhubaneswar which has approached Orissa high court with the demand that Panas ofKandhamal should be treated as tribals. The secretary of the coordination committee, LambodarKanhar, has alleged that State Minister Padmanabh Behera is behind the effort. According to Mr.Kanhar, the committee has already sent letters to the State Government demanding removal ofMr. Behera from the Cabinet as he is involved in fanning communal tension for political gains.Since last month the coordination committee of Kui tribals has held a series of meetings indifferent parts, where they have openly come out against Mr. Behera. (The Hindu 9/10/07)Social activists to meet Sonia (6)NEW DELHI: Led by Magsaysay Award winner Aruna Roy, a delegation of social activists willmeet United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi on land-for-landless issue. In thisregard, they will remind her on Monday about the importance of land redistribution legislation aspledged for in the National Common Minimum Programme. Working on the premise that thecountry will not achieve a structural end to rural poverty without land reforms, includingredistributive measures, and security of tenure and ownership, the delegation will also submit adraft National Land Reform Policy prepared by the Ekta Parishad for the government’s perusal. Acopy of the draft policy has already been submitted to the Prime Minister’s Office. The meetingwith Ms. Gandhi takes place in the backdrop of a people’s march to Delhi that began fromGwalior on Gandhi Jayanti. Landless people and tribals from a dozen States are scheduled toreach the Capital by October 28 after walking 350 km to up the demand for land redistributionlegislation. The draft policy submitted to the PMO envisages a scenario where land reformsbecome central to public policy measures of all state governments. Some salient features of thepolicy suggested by the Ekta Parishad include reduced statutory ceilings on agricultural landholdings in the light of enhanced land productivity, particularly where assured irrigation isavailable; strict enforcement of ceiling laws by plugging all loopholes, including benamitransactions; and an end to exemptions on land given to religious, charitable, educational andindustrial organisations/units. Also, according to the social activists, government revenue landshould be allotted to the landless poor with highest priority to those belonging to the ScheduledCastes/Scheduled Tribes who constitute the largest number of landless agricultural labour; andwomen’s rights of inheritance to agricultural and homestead lands ensured. Besides, singlewoman-headed households and SCs/STs should be given “tree pattas” over non-cultivable andforest wastelands. (The Hindu 15/10/07)Kui tribals up in arms in Kandhamal district (6)BERHAMPUR: Despite promises from the Chief Minister and officials, Kui tribals of Kandhamaldistrict are continuing their agitation, seeking action against persons who instigated dalits of thedistrict to categorise them as tribals. On Sunday, the district Kui Samaj Coordination Committeeorganised a tribals’ meeting on the issue at Sarangada of Nuapada block. On Saturday, a similarmeeting was organised at Linepada of the Chakapada block. The meetings were part of a seriesbeing organised since last month to mobilise tribals throughout the district. The tribals met ChiefMinister Naveen Patnaik on Friday in Bhubaneswar with a list of four demands. The Chief