JHARKHAND MIRROR

By Gladson Dungdung

Infochange 29 November, 2008 

The non-Adivasis used many tricks for acquiring Adivasis’ land. The best way of buying Adivasis land is get marry to an Adivasi girl and register the land in her name. The honest implementation of legislations and recommendations would be panacea to address the land issue of the Adivasis.

A building on Adivasis' land in Bokaro

The Chhotanagpur Tenancy Act 1908 known as the safeguard to the Adivasis prohibits the transfer of Adivasis’ land to non-Adivasis, marked 100 years on 11^th November 2008. The Adivasis across the state raised their voices for immediate action against breaching of the law as they have already lost more than 22 lakh acres of land since independence. The case of an Adivasi village ‘Tetulia’ situated nearby the steel city Bokaro in Jharkhand is one of the crucial examples of land alienation through tricks and breach of the laws. The village has lost it identity and now known as Bari Cooperative, where 250 posh buildings have replaced the mud houses and non-Adivasis have become the owners of the land of the Santha Adivasis. 45 Santhal families had been living in the village but their lands were grabbed, they were forced to leave the place and few who survived live in mud houses outside of the cooperative area. (more…)

By Gladson Dungdung

Tehelka  23 May, 2008

Until the Land Reforms Act is implemented in Jharkhand, it will continue to be the state’s most contentious issue.

Though undivided Bihar was the first state to introduce Land Reform Act in India in 1950, it failed in the implement of the Act with the right spirit. After the bifurcation of the state, Land became one of the complex issues for the newly formed state of Jharkhand। Today, land here is being used as a commodity by vested interest groups, which is a big threat to the indigenous communities, for whom land is not only an essential livelihood resource but also a means of autonomy, identity and social security.

The lands in Adivasi belts have acquired alarmingly a different meaning, purposes and values in the eyes and minds of government, non-tribal associates, corporate houses, businessmen and professionals because of the region’s mineral wealth, forests and other natural resources। People who possess land here have no entitlement. They do agriculture in the forest areas, where they are victimized and terrorized by forest officials to flee from the areas. All these throw them into food, social and economic insecurity. 54 percent of the total population is below poverty line in Jharkhand. (more…)