Monday, September 20, 2010

Narmada Invite: 25 Years of Struggle and Reconstruction [4 Attachments]



---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Pervin Jehangir <pjehangir@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, Sep 19, 2010 at 12:23 AM
Subject: [IHRO] Fwd: [NAPMConveners] Fwd: Narmada Invite: 25 Years of Struggle and Reconstruction [4 Attachments]



25 years of Struggle and Reconstruction in Narmada Valley

October 22nd – 23rd, 2010

Dhadgaon (Mah)  and Badwani (M.P.)

NBA_logo.jpg

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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NARMADA has been a witness to the 25 years long struggle by the communities reared in its laps over generations in the three states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat. Supported by a large number of individuals and groups across the country, their non-violent and perseverant struggle together grew into Narmada Bachao Andolan. Adivasis in the mountain ranges of Satpuda and Vindhyas, farmers, labourers, fish-workers and potters in the plains of Nimad have stayed put and challenged Sardar Sarovar (SSP), other large dams and massive canals, destroying prime agricultural land, large tracks of forests, rich horticulture and hilly as well as densely populated habitats. The saga that began in 1985 has completed 25 years of the battle which tried to question, not only large dams but lop-sided development, displacement and disparity growing with the presently imposed growth-centric paradigm of development.

Our sangharsh (struggle) through questioning displacement, assertion of land and forest rights, right to fisheries, right to food and health, livelihood security, exposure of corruption and navnirman (reconstruction) through the Jeevanshalas (life schools), micro-hydel projects, and solar projects, with the help of our support groups has continued and progressed through various phases and strategies. Over these years, we have driven away the World Bank and many other international financiers from the valley by 1993, with the help of our global supporters and compelled the governments to rehabilitate thousands of adivasis with land, yet the task is far from complete and the struggle must continue. NBA has also contributed to the building of progressive alliances, especially the National Alliance of People's Movements.

Much water has flown through Narmada in spite of many dams being built at enormous human, social and environmental costs, but the over-estimated benefits remain unattained and the mockery of rehabilitation, replete with crores of rupees worth corruption stands exposed. The undemocratic State using the 'divide and rule' policy, fraudulent nexus of officials-agents, money and market continues to push the destruction, violate laws, manipulate the processes of sanctioning and monitoring, yet the Dam remains stalled at 122 mts and the people continue in the movement mode, taking up challenges through battles in the field as well as courts, from local to Supreme, and surviving the continued betrayal over two decades and more by various governments.

 

The struggle in SSP is now linked with the assertion of rights by adivasis affected by the Jobat dam in M.P. People in many canal-affected villages across Nimad are also questioning the unjust acquisition of irrigated lands for the canals and serious environmental impacts. The serious violations of environmental laws have been exposed by the Andolan and the MoEF's Expert Committee has also strongly indicted the state governments for gross non-compliance. Lack of political will, however, keeps the Projects alive. The people are also not relenting, and are challenging the impacts of the various large dams in the valley and the struggle for justice is only intensifying.

 

We, the Adivasis, farmers and others, with activists and all our supporters have to come together and look back and look forward at this juncture of completion of 25 years. It can't be a mere celebration when the sword is still hanging, full justice is still to be achieved, large dams are still being pushed and challenged. We can't even get over our grief since Ashish, Sanjay, Shobha and other colleagues have left us, forever. Yet, we have to take the torch forward … which was lit by them, carried by thousands and thousands of people across the country and beyond borders.

 

People in the Narmada valley would like to come together with you all who have joined us on the long path during last 25 years at some point during our actions, testing times, crises and victories. All those who worked with us, stood by us, spread the message and extended support are invited to the valley on the occasion of 'Reflections from Narmada : 25 Years and Beyond'.

 

We will also be planning other initiatives on this occasion that would be carried on through the coming year and would urge you to take forward the message the lead in taking our common struggle in your own areas, regions, countries, institutions, organisations or wherever, in any befitting manner. You will be hearing more from us over the coming weeks. Come, be with us at this opportune moment with your colleagues, comrades and friends.

     October 22nd at Dhadgaon, District Nandurbar, Maharashtra and

     October 23rd at Badwani, District Badwani, Madhya Pradesh.

Reach Dhadgaon on 21st evening or 22nd morning and your journey from Dhadgaon to Badwani, through Narmada in boats would be our responsibility. Rallies and public meetings at both the places amidst adivasis of Nandurbar, Alirajpur and farmers from the plains of Nimad would be reinforced with your presence and together, we shall reiterate our commitment to the common cause. As always, you are welcome to come and spend more time with us, work with us, VOLUNTEER WITH US or just travel with us in this journey towards justice.

 

The events in Narmada on the 22nd and 23rd will be followed by the 8th Bi-annual Convention of National Alliance of People's Movements at Badwani, Madhya Pradesh from October 24th to 26th. Do stay on for this important occasion too. The invite for the NAPM Convention is separately attached. Become an ally of NAPM.

 

Phone:                       09179148973 | 09818905316 | 09423571784

E-mail:                      napmindia@gmail.com | www.napm-india.org |

 

Please do inform us of your arrival and itinerary, so that we can make adequate arrangements and plan your visit and stay fruitfully. You can reach us by phone or write to us on nba.badwani@gmail.com | 25yearsofnba@gmail.com

 

In Solidarity,

Surbhan Bhilala

Mohan Patidar

Kailash Awasya

Kamla Yadav

Keshav Vasave

Noorji Padvi

Ranveer Tomar

Bawa Mahariya

Jankibai

Bhagirath Dhangar

Ratan Vasave

Shankar Kagada

Devram Kanera

Shantabai

Siyaram Padvi

Yogini Khanolkar

Chetan Salve

Bhagirath Kavche

Gokhru Barela

Lalchand Patidar

Ramesh Prajapati

Madubhai Machwara

Devendra Tomar

Khema Vesta

Medha Patkar

Contact in Dhadgaon:

Narmada Bachao Andolan, Maitri Niwas, Kakawadi, Dhadgaon, Maharashtra

Ph: 02595-220620; Mob: 09423944390, 09423965152, 09420375730

E-mail: yogini.narmada@gmail.com and vijaya.chauhan@gmail.com

 

Contact in Badwani:

Narmada Bachao Andolan, 62, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Badwani, Madhya Pradesh – 451551 Ph: 07290-222464. Mob: 09179148973 and 09423965153

E-mail: medha.narmada@gmail.com and nba.badwani@gmail.com |

 

 

 

 

OTHER CONTACTS

 

Ø  Delhi Forum, New Delhi                            :011-26680883 / 26680914

Ø  Joe Athialy, New Delhi                               :09868114470

Ø  Suniti S R, Pune                                           :09423571784 / 020-24251404

Ø  Pervin Jehangir, Mumbai:                          :09820636335

Ø  Vijaya Chauhan, Mumbai                         :09820236267

Ø  Geo Jose / Hussain Master, Kerala           :9446000701/ 9445375379

Ø  Jacob Vadkanchari, Kerala                       :09495925799

Ø  Philip Mathew, Kerala                               :09446456616

Ø  Chinmay Mishra / Amulya Nidhi, Indore :09893278855 / 09425311547

Ø  Sarvodaya Press Service, Indore               :0731 – 24010183 (1:30 pm to 6:00 pm)

Ø  Rakesh Diwan & Rolly Shivhare, Bhopal : 09424467604 / 09425466461

Ø  Manish Manke, Girish Sharma, Manmad : 09822190078

Ø  Shyam Patil, Dhule                                           :02562-246419 & 09423496020

Ø  Sister Celia / Clifton D Rozario, Bangalore: 09945716052 / 09448135832

Ø  Debjit Dutta, Kolkata                                       :09433830031

Ø  Ramakrishnan Raju, Hyderabad                    :09866887299

Ø  Gabriele Dietrich, Madurai                             :09442511292

Ø  Prafulla Samantara,Orissa                              :09437259005

Ø  Arundhati Dhuru, Lucknow                           :09415022772

Ø  Swati Desai / Rohit Prajapati, Gujarat         :094295561613 / 02652413840

Ø  Madhuresh, NAPM                                           :09818905316 / 011 - 24374535

Ø  Medha Patkar, NBA & NAPM                          :0942396515


HOW TO REACH NARMADA

 

Directions to Reach Dhadgaon

Dhadgaon is a Tehsil amidst Satpudas in Maharashtra. Nearest railhead is Dondaicha (Ahmedabad – Howrah Railway line, 3 hours away), Chalisgaon (Howrah – Mumbai Line, 4.5 hours), Nandurbar or Dhule (3 hours away), Bharuch / Ankaleshwar (4.5 hours away), Manmad, 5 hours). From any of these rail stations come by bus to SHAHADA and then change for Dhadgaon by another state corporation bus or share-taxi.

 

Route 1: From Mumbai/Pune:

1.     Take a bus to Dhule (7 hours) and change for Dhadgaon via Shahada (4 hours). Dhule is on the Mumbai –Indore bus route and lots of buses are available from both places. For bus tickets:



Contact National Travels: Ph – 022-25271248 and 9869302066

 

2.     From Mumbai: take a train to Chalisgaon and take a bus to Dhule (1.5 hours) and change for Dhadgaon via Shahada (4 hours). Available trains:

a.      Dadar- Dhule Exp: Mumbai (2230)-Dhule (0600) – Direct Train

b.     2139 Sewagram Express: Mumbai (1510 hrs)-Chalisgaon (2015 hrs)

c.      2105 Vidarbha Exp: Mumbai (1910)-Chalisgaon (00350

d.     2809 Howrah Exp: Mumbai (2035)-Chalisgaon (0225)

 

Route 2: From Chennai:

Reach Nagpur by train. Change for Chalisgaon/Manmad (on Nagpur-Mumbai route – 8/9 hours from Nagpur), take a bus to Dhule (1.5 hours) and change for Dhadgaon (4 hours). You may also locate some direct train to Manmad and reach Dhadgaon via Dhule-Shahada. Some trains:

a.      8030 Shalimar Exp: Nagpur (1315)-Chalisgaon (2215)

b.     2140 Sewagram Exp: Nagpur (2050)-Chalisgaon (0535)

 

Route 3: From Bangaluru/Hyderabad

1.     Reach Manmad by train and take a bus to Dhule and Dhadgaon

a.      2627 Karnataka Exp. Bangalore (1920)-Manmad (1455)

2.     You can reach Manmad by Ajanta Express from Secunderabad (departs every day at 6 p.m. and reaches Mammad at 6:30 a.m.) and follow the Dhule-Shahada-Dhadgaon route.

3.      Reach Pune by train and follow the directions at Route 1

 

Route 4: From Keralam:

1.     Take Mangla, get down at Manmad, take a bus to Dhule and the change for Dhadgaon

a.      2617 Mangla Lakshadweep Exp: Ernakulam (1300)-Manmad (1735)

2.     Reach Pune / Mumbai and follow directions at Route 1

 

Route 5: From West Bengal:

Reach Manmad by train (on Howrah-Mumbai route) and take a bus to Dhule and change for Dhadgaon

a.      8030 Shalimar Exp: Shalimar (1500)-Chalisgaon (2215)

b.     2810 Mumbai mail: Howrah (2015)-Chalisgaon (2300)

 

Route 6: From Delhi:

Reach Manmad by train and bus to Dhule and Dhagaon

*  2618 Mangla Exp. Nizamuddin (0920)-Manmad (0435)

*  2138 Punjab Mail: New Delhi (0500)-Manmad (0205)

*  1058 Amristar Dadar Exp. New Delhi (2015)-Manmad (2145)

 

Route 7: From Ahmedabad / Baroda :

Reach Dondaicha by train and take a bus /Taxi to Shahada and then another bus to Dhadgaon.

            a. 2655 Navjeevan Express Dep Ahmedabad 06:30

            b. 2833 Howrah Express Dep Ahmedabad 23:55

 

Directions to Reach Badwani

Badwani is a district headquarters in Madhya Pradesh and is at a distance of 4-6 hours by bus / taxis from Khandwa or Indore (MP), Baroda (Gujarat). There are regular buses from Indore from morning till evening from the main bus stand, one bus in evening at 9 pm from Bhopal new bus stand, from Khandwa buses till 4 pm and from Baroda till 2 pm in the afternoon.

Route 1: From Mumbai / Pune:

1.     Mumbai and Pune is well connected with Indore by bus. Almost all of them are overnight buses. For timings/bookings contact the


Contact National Travels: Ph – 022-25271248 and 9869302066

To reach Badwani, you don't go all the way to Indore but get off at Julwania and take a bus to Badwani. Jhulwania – Badwani is 2 hours by road.

 

2.     Mumbai-Indore is also connected by train:

a.      2961 Avantika Exp: Mumbai (1905)-Indore (0920) (Overnight)

Pune-Indore is connected by train as well:

b. 9311 Pune Indore exp (Tu, F, Sa): Pune (1530)-Indore (0950)

From Indore, take a bus to Badwani (5 hours)

 

Route 2: From Chennai/ Hyderabad:

Reach Bhopal by any train. Take bus / shared taxi to Indore (4 hours) and change for Badwani from Indore. (5 hours by road)

Route 3: From Bangalore/Kerala:

Reach Khandwa by train and take a bus from there to Badwani (5 hours)

a.      2627 Karnataka Exp. Bangalore (1920)- Khandwa (1935)

b.      2617 Mangla Exp: Ernakulam (1300)-Manmad (2240)

Route 4: From West Bengal:

1.      There is one direct train to Indore from Howrah

a.      9306 Shipra Exp (M,Th,Sa): Howrah (1740) Indore (0330)

2.      Can get down Jalgaon (on Howrah-Mumbai route) and change for Khandwa and from there, take a bus to Badwani (4 hours)

Route 5: From Delhi:

1.      2416 Nizamuddin Indore Exp: Nizamuddin (2215)-Indore (1140) – Direct Train

2.      2920 Malwa Exp: New Delhi (1900) Indore (1240) - Direct Train

Indore to Badwani by bus (5 hours)

 



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__._,_.___

Attachment(s) from Pervin Jehangir

4 of 4 File(s)

Recent Activity:
International Human Rights Organisation (IHRO), of the Indian subcontinent, is a NGO, with national focus and overseas lobby network. It agitates both in India and internationally.
.

__,_._,___



--
Priya Ranjan, Practicing Ph.D. in Internet Technologies

Official Internet Wanderer
दिलदार वेताल ऑफ़ इंद्रजाल :)

Prof. Mohan Bhagat@UMD ate up all the money raised for adivasis :)

"It dose not occur to Balfour to let the Egyptian speak for himself, since presumably any Egyptian who would speak out is more likely to be the "agitator [who] wishes to raise difficulties"

la vie est trop courte pour s'ennuyer :)

The sewer is the conscience of the city. 
Victor Hugo, Les Miserables, 1862


Al-Cuhal has drowned more men than sea :)

यद्यपि सुवर्णमयी लक्ष्मण लंका मयि ना रोचते 
जननी जन्मभूमिश्च  स्वर्गादपि गरीयसी 

मौन से विस्फोट होता है

Equality maximizes creativity, hierarchy maximizes control...make a choice.. 

पुरुष का निर्माण यदि पुरुष करे तो वह त्रासक होता है और पुरुष का निर्माण यदि नारी करे तो लड़ाई में वह हार जाता है. समस्या प्रेम की हो अथवा युद्ध की, कठिनाइयाँ सर्वत्र समान हैं!
-दिनकर, उर्वशी से.

Hypocrisy is the act of persistently professing beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that are inconsistent with one's actions. Hypocrisy is thus a kind of lie.

Put your fav hypocrisy pronounced hypocracy (in India) at hypocracy.in .


************************************************* 
Good job Pakistan! Keep your female players in Burqa and start taking ours when they are at the top of their game.

We need a theory of BOREDOM-NeuroScientist, Psychologists?!

We also could use a theory of HAPPENING i.e. how and why things happen-Emergent behavior folks??

One Billion overfed and one billion underfed
What we need is a nutrition bridge...

A government is like core of an electric motor, its torque is welfare of its people.

Communicate!  It can't make things any worse.
-From Fortune on LINUX

सर्वे गुणाः कांचनं आश्रयन्ति-भर्तृहरि

All the qualities take shelter at gold.
-Bhartrihari

A Russian saying translated in english is correlated-When money talks, the truth is silent.

Visit www.jkmonitor.org  www.ijaal.org, www.ijaal.in.




-Priya Ranjan
*********************************************

Industry jitters over profit clause in draft mining bill: Why stop at 26%? Tribals should be partners

Industry jitters over profit clause in draft mining bill
INDIACSR, 2010-09-20 11:19:46
Print    Share/Save/Bookmark    Subscribe in a reader Font Size
 

Ranchi: It has reported that the existing and prospective industry and mining players of Jharkhand are apprehensive about the draft mining bill, which seeks to make them share 26 per cent of profits with locals. A group of ministers (GoM) approved the draft bill on September 17.

Speaking to a leading newspaper, Jindal Steel & Power Limited's (JSPL) senior deputy general manager (corporate affairs) V.P. Sharan said: "The proposed clause — sharing profits with local people — sounds good as we have been involved in several activities related to corporate social responsibility (CSR). Besides, we have provided jobs to land losers under the rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) policy.

"But many things should be first defined properly with advance consultation with corporate houses and industry representatives. The word 'local' should be defined properly, that is, whether it means only the displaced people or the populace of adjoining area or the state's entire population," he added.

JSPL, owned by Kurukshetra Congress MP Naveen Jindal, has been earmarked an iron ore mine in West Singhbhum and two coal blocks in Santhal Pargana.

Former chief executive officer of JSW Steels Jharkhand Limited R.P. Singh was more vocal in his criticism of the bill in the wake of weak implementation of R&R policy.

"Efforts should be made to first revamp the laggard government machinery so that people can reap the benefits of compensation if they part with their land for mining or industrial projects. Theoretically, things sound good, but they turn murkier on ground," said Singh, who has served in a senior managerial position in state-owned Steel Authority of India Limited, which is not in favour of 26 per cent profit-sharing with locals.

Aditya Birla Group company Hindalco Industries Limited's senior vice-president (corporate affairs) R.P. Sharma said he was yet to go through the details of the draft bill. "I need to first find out the details of the profit-sharing proposal before commenting on this vital issue," he added.

Hindalco owns a majority — over a dozen — of bauxite mines in Lohardaga, Gumla and Latehar districts of the state. The company is in expansion mode and has proposed to come up with a smelter plant in Sonahatu area of Ranchi district.

Notably, a majority of private players have been allotted/earmarked mines for captive purposes, which means they are expected to use the mining products for consumption locally in respective industrial projects as promised in MoUs. There are a few players like Roongtas who sell iron ores in the market without any local value-addition.

Activists fighting for the displaced have been pressing for profit-sharing in mining/industry projects for a long time. However, activist Dayamani Barla expressed doubts over the machinery that would dole out the benefits to real land losers and local people.

"In my opinion, the profit-sharing percentage should go up to 50 per cent and the government should ensure that people, who are really affected by such projects, are benefited," said Barla, who had spearheaded the protest against steel behemoth ArcelorMittal in Khunti-Torpa region.

The draft mining bill, initially approved by the GoM, will need a second nod from the same body before it is sent to the Union cabinet. Thereafter, it will be placed in Parliament, probably during the winter session.

The draft bill will amend the existing Mines and Mineral Development and Regulation Act, 1957 and seeks to improve the conditions of tribals, who are affected the most by mining projects.

 
Tags: Companies CSR Company Bill 2009 JSPL Naveen Jindal
 
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--
Priya Ranjan, Practicing Ph.D. in Internet Technologies

Official Internet Wanderer
दिलदार वेताल ऑफ़ इंद्रजाल :)

Prof. Mohana Bhagat@UMD ate up all the money raised for adivasis :)

"It dose not occur to Balfour to let the Egyptian speak for himself, since presumably any Egyptian who would speak out is more likely to be the "agitator [who] wishes to raise difficulties"

la vie est trop courte pour s'ennuyer :)

The sewer is the conscience of the city. 
Victor Hugo, Les Miserables, 1862


Al-Cuhal has drowned more men than sea :)

यद्यपि सुवर्णमयी लक्ष्मण लंका मयि ना रोचते 
जननी जन्मभूमिश्च  स्वर्गादपि गरीयसी 

मौन से विस्फोट होता है

Equality maximizes creativity, hierarchy maximizes control...make a choice.. 

पुरुष का निर्माण यदि पुरुष करे तो वह त्रासक होता है और पुरुष का निर्माण यदि नारी करे तो लड़ाई में वह हार जाता है. समस्या प्रेम की हो अथवा युद्ध की, कठिनाइयाँ सर्वत्र समान हैं!
-दिनकर, उर्वशी से.

Hypocrisy is the act of persistently professing beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that are inconsistent with one's actions. Hypocrisy is thus a kind of lie.

Put your fav hypocrisy pronounced hypocracy (in India) at hypocracy.in .


************************************************* 
Good job Pakistan! Keep your female players in Burqa and start taking ours when they are at the top of their game.

We need a theory of BOREDOM-NeuroScientist, Psychologists?!

We also could use a theory of HAPPENING i.e. how and why things happen-Emergent behavior folks??

One Billion overfed and one billion underfed
What we need is a nutrition bridge...

A government is like core of an electric motor, its torque is welfare of its people.

Communicate!  It can't make things any worse.
-From Fortune on LINUX

सर्वे गुणाः कांचनं आश्रयन्ति-भर्तृहरि

All the qualities take shelter at gold.
-Bhartrihari

A Russian saying translated in english is correlated-When money talks, the truth is silent.

Visit www.jkmonitor.org  www.ijaal.org, www.ijaal.in.




-Priya Ranjan
*********************************************

Friday, September 17, 2010

Is HEC really solving problems of adivasis?

By Dayamani Barla;

Freelance Journalist,

Convener-Adivasi Mulvasi Astitva Rakcha Manch

Jharkhand  


For more detailed document with pictures.
 

The real problems of displaced persons in the Ranchi district of Jharkhand state have not been properly understood by the Heavy Engineering Corporation and the Govt. Officials. The victims of  HEC have been  struggling for their survival. They are fighting for their inalienable rights. They are demanding JUSTICE, because they have been forcibly and unjustly uprooted from their homeland. They are systematically and methodically being dispossessed of the ownership of their means of production and particularly of the very means of human existence. The Adivasi are deeply concerned for their future, as they are dispossessed of their socio-culture and socio-political autonomy and their community life is being broken up in the name of development. Their cultural values and their social values, their history, their identity is fully depend on Land, Water and forest. It is true that displaced lived in harmonious relationship with their environment. Their culture is closely related to nature. Land, Water and forest are the basic natural resources of their means of livelihood. They have a symbiotic relationship with their resources. By tradition, they are agriculturists. They cannot survive without their lands and forests.  
 


HEC-Secretariat Building.  

According to report in 1956 HEC have been acquired 9,500 acres of 16 villages. people displaced due to the establishment of HEC, the first industrial venture undertaken after independence for 'development' of Ranchi, Jharkhand, has not done the proper rehabilitation by either the State Government or the Central Government or by the HEC( Have Engineering Corporation). More than 40,000 Population have been displaced. The displaced Population is not only the Adivasi but Mulvasi  like Kurmi Mahto, Rajput, Sahdev (Landlord family) and Muslim communities also displaced. Before acquiring the land, the Government had promised that the people of all the displaced families would be given jobs to generation by generation. To reconstruct their religious, saran-sasandiri, mashan, madir and masjid space would be allocated in each rehabilitated area. In addition, one of the conditions for resettlement was the provision of amenities like schools, hospitals, water and electricity. These conditions have not been fulfilled by the Government till today. Also, no land was given for the masana, hadagadee, sasandiri or churches. Therefore, each displaced family, given between 0.10 and 0.15 decimals of land, has constructed their house. Displaced used one portion of the land  as a graveyard to bury their dead. The people have simply made their samana in their own houses, yards, and gardens. Since sarana and akhada have not been made available, the social, cultural, and economic spirit of the adivaasi (tribal) community in the displaced villages has drawn its last breath. The people are being compelled to forget their language, culture, traditional festival and celebrations, as well as customs and practices.

 
The HEC (Heavy Engineering Corporation) was set up in the Hatiya region in 1956 with collaboration from Russia and Germany. Land from 16 villages was appropriated for this project. The people living in these villages belonged to the Orano, Munda and Khadia adivaasi tribes as well as to communities such as sadan, turi, lohra, kumhar and ghaansi. After being uprooted from their farms, fields, forests, lands, homes and yards, the displaced were not resettled in a single region as they used to live before. People from a single village were 'scattered' haphazardly in several spots. The Government had no model policy for resettlement. That is why, to build the resettlement villages, some villages were given 0.10 decimals  of land, some, 0.20 decimals and others, 0.25 decimals All the displaced were not given the equal land for resettlement. 
 
The people of the displaced villages Naya Latama, Choreya Toli, Satranji, Naya Saray, Kute, Bhusur, Ladeb, Tiril, Jagaranathpur, Aani, Modama, Nachiyatu, and Kachnartoli say that the Government had talked about giving jobs to each displaced family generation after generation. But the reality is just the opposite. Each displaced family did not receive employment. Let alone the matter of giving employment to the entire family goes, if in the beginning one member of a family was given a job at all, then a second member of the family was not given a job after that. The Government had also promised that young men or women of employable age from all families that would be given training at CTI and then employed in the Plant. The displaced people said that some young men and women were given a chance to avail this opportunity. But, they say that now the villages of the displaced are mired in fundamental problems of unemployment, poverty, illness, Drinking Water and lack of education. The stranglehold of unemployment had forced the displaced people to flee to other States. Mangtu Oraon and Champa Oran, Snatosh Mahto, pusha lakra told  that more than hundreds families have left the village many years ago in search of a livelihood.
 

 
Mahali Oran and Vishu Paahan told us that Latma was the first village to be displaced by HEC, and each family was given 0.20 decimals of land to establish the village of Naya (new) Latma. They informed us that since the settlement of this village was the first task undertaken, the village was provided with a hadagadee, sarana and masana. However, no arrangements were made for water, school, hospital, electricity and other amenities. Today90-95 displaced families live in Naya Latma. The population now would be around 900, of which 95% people make a living as manual labor or rickshaw puller . The displaced folk of Choreya Toli were given 0.10 decimals of land per family and resettled in Naya Choreya Toli. A total of 70 families now live here. Saroj Tamba and Ratani Oran tell us that in the terms of facilities of sarna, masana, hadagadee, akhada, water and wells, electricity, and hospital, the Government has not given them anything at all. According to them, since there is no cremation ground, the dead are cremated on the banks of the river though cremation is not a practice in adivasi culture. Most people have made masana in their yards and gardens itself and bury their dead in these 'graveyards'. The people told us that a sarana spot has also not been established in this village. Due to this, they are unable to celebrate  the Sarhul pooja, people just worship and perform the pooja in their own homes itself though this used to be traditionally done in the sarana. (spiritual place, basically it is the part of  forest) 
 
Only the Munda family remains in Choreya Toli. Budhva Munda, the Assistant Secretary of the Munda Regional Pahada Committee says "the sarana-sasandiri and akhada are the centers of the spiritual and cultural of society but the sarana-sasandiri has completely vanished since the displacement. Due to the unavailability of the masana-sasandiri, we are unable to worship and offer other services (ghar devati) to the souls of our ancestors". For the record, historically, the identity of the Munda aadivaasis (Khontkatidaar) was based on the sarana-sasandiri. Birsa Munda said that the Government had talked about giving jobs to the displaced families, but the young men and women from the displaced families are scouring around for jobs. He said that some family ( not to all) only one person in a family was given a job, but that is just not enough to run a family. Not only this, when an employed person retired, another member from that family was not given a job. Consequently, once the employed person retired, his family once again became displaced from their livelihood. Today 99% of the people of Choreya Toli are manual laborers, scrap collectors, rickshaw puller, made servant, kully and raja.

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This is the family of sukhlal Lohara, they have more four brothers , Atwa Lohra, Udit Lohra, sukhdev Lohara, Kartik Lohara, such a small house five members are living.(photo by me on 2 august 2010) Naya Sarai- Resettlement colony.

The displaced women do reja. Some women wash the dirty dishes at homes of the rich folk in the towns of Hatiya and Ranchi. Some women are callecting ghaans-pora and sell it market.  while some sell hadiya (rice beer ) on the roadside to run their families. Saroj Tamba says that now it has become very difficult to educate the children as the good schools have raised their fees enormously. Charva Munda of Naya Naachiyaatu said "Before the resettlement, the Government had promised arrangements of sarana, masana, akhada, schools, water, electricity and such amenities, but none of these have been provided". The displaced folk tell us "There are 70-75 displaced families in Sataranji ,Naya Naachiyaatu. The Government has not provided sarana-masana. Due to a lack of sarana, the people are not able to celebrate the Sarhul festival that is associated with Nature. Since a designated masana burial place was not available, people started burying their dead in a piece of vacant government-owned land next to their settlement. But the Forest Department put a stop to this. Due to this, a dispute is currently underway between the displaced people and the Forest Department. The people of the region were give to 0,20 decimals for per Family to resettlement.  

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This is the Family of Chkeya kachap, they have for sons, Dhuna kachap, Narku Kachap, Matun Kachap and Sukra Kachap.  Total 18 members are living in this house.  they resettled by the HEC in Naya Satranji . (photo by me on 2 Ausgust 2010) Charawa informed us that very few people from the displaced community were given jobs. Not just that, once an employed person retired, another member from that family was not given a job. Charawa say "We have been evicted from our fields and land and converted directly into coolies and daily laborers". The family of Somara Lohara has been displaced from Bhusur village and now lives in Naya he is a rickshaw pullar. Somara said "We are four brothers. The eldest is Jagarnath, who was given a job in HEC in the place of my late father". The other three– Somara, Shahdev and Bhanu – are pulling rickshaws to support their families. Somara adds "The factories took away the lands and fields, and in exchange we got not enough land to live in Naya Sarai. The only life-support we have left to us now is pulling a rickshaw and manual labor or scrap dealing". Worried about the children's education Somara says "The children are being educated in Government Schools: classes there are held sometimes, and sometimes not". 
 
There were nearly 90 families in Jagarnath village; they have been displaced and resettled in Latma, Sataranji, Hinoo and Naya Saraay. Triloki Rajvar, who was appointed as a Security Guard in HEC in 1961 and retired in 1996, says "Before annexing the lands, the displaced people were assured that in exchange for their source of livelihood, they would be provided a job generation after generation. The officials had also promised us this that if our children were capable, they would be given jobs". The 85-year old Rajvar says, "I got compensation for the land, I got a job also, but my son did not get anything". The Rajvar family, settled in Naya Saray, told us that the Government gave each family 0.20 decimals of land for resettlement. Land was given for a masana burial or cremation ground, but some people have appropriated that land and are using it for farming. Land has been given for an akhada for Ramnavmi Zanda. On the other hand, no provisions were made for amenities such as water, electricity, schools and hospitals. At present, there are six or seven Rajvar families, of which only one family has an employed person.

Dhanenath Munda was employed as a Grade IV worker in HEC in 1962. He retired in 1994. Dhanenathji says, "We are three brothers – Dashrath (now deceased), Zhubra and Dhanenath. We received only 0.10 dismil of land to build a house. Today the late Dashrath has two sons, Dhanenath has three sons and Zhubra has three sons". One of Dashrath's sons is employed but all sons of Zhubra and Dhanenath are wandering around searching for jobs. Dhanenath has purchased 0.20 decimals of land for his sons where they live in a small room they have constructed. With an aching heart he says "Our lands have been taken by the HEC for the factory, and we were given 0.10 decimals of land. The family has grown. How can such a big family live on 0.10 decimals of land?. Therefore we had to purchase land to construct a house". Hari Prasad and Lutka Baitha are brothers. Hari Prasad said, "HEC took away all the land of our family, which was more than five acres. As compensation, the two brothers were given jobs, and a sum of 70 thousand rupees and 0.10 decimals of land. Today Hari Prasad has two sons and Lutka has five sons. All sons of both brothers are unemployed at present. Hari Prasad said "Now the whole family has to live on this 0.10 decimals of land for their entire lives. Our grandchildren also have to live on this land". When asked "How will you live, what will you eat?" he says, "What can we say, this is the biggest problem. In Mudma, land was taken from eight or ten Baitha families, they are also in the same situation".

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This is the resettlement colony in Naya Satranji . it is only 4 killi mitar distance from HEC Plant . but this colony has not provided till date, the power, drinking water, no school, no hospital, no road.  
 

Lalbrajeshwar of Kute has three sons: the eldest son Arun has been working in HMBP as a laborer in the Supply Department for the past 14 years. Arun said that in the beginning, he was earning rupees 500 per month as salary, and today, in 2006, he gets 2,600-2,700 per month. In other words, he gets rupees 85 per day. Arun says that he has been working away as temporary labor – there is no hope at all of getting a permanent post. His younger brother is a teacher in Senha, and the youngest brother is working in a pole factory in private factory  . Arun said that the Government had said that the sons of displaced fathers would be given jobs, but not one son was given a job by HEC. Prem Prakash Sahdev, also of Kute, has been working in the Supply Department of the HEC forge plant since 2005. He said that though he is technically qualified, HEC has not given him a permanent post and he is toiling away as daily labor, and earning a monthly salary at the rate of Rs. 104 per day. Five youth from Kute are working in the Supply Department. He told us that it did not matter that he was educated, because as he was in the labor force, he has to operate the trolleys and even wield the broom. He told us that all the people employed in Supply were employed by a contractor, not HEC directly.

As far as the matter of cash compensation is concerned, the displaced were given upto Rs. 60 thousand for five acres. Land was given to construct a house on which the displaced had to construct a house at their own cost, and make their own arrangements for water. Looking at the condition of the displaced, what one can say is this – "Whatever land was given to them in lieu of their land, whatever amount of money was given as compensation, it was given in exchange for destruction of their community, their financial and cultural existence and their entire livelihood. What the displaced people have received as the gift of compensation is homelessness, poverty, unemployment, lack of education, illness, and forced migrants. Every resettlement  colonies story is same. There is big question the displaced family not got the legal ownership on that land, which has been given in the name of resettlement.    
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How Can We Hope For Better INDIA?(photo by me) on 2 August 2010

During acquire the land by farmers HEC gave paid Rs. 3500 per acre as the cost. Total 8,500 acre land has been enquired.  Out of 8,500 acres HEC have used only 5,000 acres. Surplus land near about 3,500 acres. These surplus land have been illegally  enquired by outsider. As per the Company act, theses surplus land have been returned back to the original tenants or owner of Land. But State Gov. and HEC management now became the Broker of Land. They sold the land to private institution at the rate of 58 Lukas per acre. Other hand displaced peoples are fighting against the Management and Govt. to returned these land to the tenants since last 30 year.

The most important question today is this: 10 years have been completed since the establishment of Jharkhand as a separate State. State have seen the seven CM and two times Governor's rule.  The NDA and UPA Government of the State has made many policies for the wealthy and mighty capitalists to develop Jharkhand, but, it has not formulated the policy for the resettlement or improvement of the condition of the six million people displaced in the name of development since Independence of India. On the other hand, the State Government has signed MOU agreements with 101 big MNC's to give them land, water, forest and hills for establishes the plant, minis, Dam act. If Govt. will allow all the company to invest their capital for Industrialization in Jharkhand, then Not a signal inches of Land, forest will be remain in Farmers, adivas's  hand. Here want to that State has only 79,741 KM. here need to mention that, out of these 101 Companies, 98 Companies are Steel Makar.   And all the MOU's Company is mining base company. All company need coal block, iron ore, river for dam, land for steel plant, land for power plant , land for road, land for urban and other facilities. This will accelerate the displacement not only the population but will displaced the Environment, forest, agriculture, water bodies, and hall ecosystem.


By Dayamani Barla;

Freelance Journalist,

Convener-Adivasi Mulvasi Astitva Rakcha Manch

Jharkhand  


--
Priya Ranjan, Practicing Ph.D. in Internet Technologies

Official Internet Wanderer
दिलदार वेताल ऑफ़ इंद्रजाल :)

Prof. Mohana Bhagat@UMD ate up all the money raised for adivasis :)

"It dose not occur to Balfour to let the Egyptian speak for himself, since presumably any Egyptian who would speak out is more likely to be the "agitator [who] wishes to raise difficulties"

la vie est trop courte pour s'ennuyer :)

The sewer is the conscience of the city. 
Victor Hugo, Les Miserables, 1862


Al-Cuhal has drowned more men than sea :)

यद्यपि सुवर्णमयी लक्ष्मण लंका मयि ना रोचते 
जननी जन्मभूमिश्च  स्वर्गादपि गरीयसी 

मौन से विस्फोट होता है

Equality maximizes creativity, hierarchy maximizes control...make a choice.. 

पुरुष का निर्माण यदि पुरुष करे तो वह त्रासक होता है और पुरुष का निर्माण यदि नारी करे तो लड़ाई में वह हार जाता है. समस्या प्रेम की हो अथवा युद्ध की, कठिनाइयाँ सर्वत्र समान हैं!
-दिनकर, उर्वशी से.

Hypocrisy is the act of persistently professing beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that are inconsistent with one's actions. Hypocrisy is thus a kind of lie.

Put your fav hypocrisy pronounced hypocracy (in India) at hypocracy.in .


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Good job Pakistan! Keep your female players in Burqa and start taking ours when they are at the top of their game.

We need a theory of BOREDOM-NeuroScientist, Psychologists?!

We also could use a theory of HAPPENING i.e. how and why things happen-Emergent behavior folks??

One Billion overfed and one billion underfed
What we need is a nutrition bridge...

A government is like core of an electric motor, its torque is welfare of its people.

Communicate!  It can't make things any worse.
-From Fortune on LINUX

सर्वे गुणाः कांचनं आश्रयन्ति-भर्तृहरि

All the qualities take shelter at gold.
-Bhartrihari

A Russian saying translated in english is correlated-When money talks, the truth is silent.

Visit www.jkmonitor.org  www.ijaal.org, www.ijaal.in.




-Priya Ranjan
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