Ranchi, Nov. 26: Brandishing bows, arrows and other traditional weapons, thousands of tribals converged on the roads of the capital today on their way to the Assembly to assert their rights over “jal, jungle aur zameen (water, forest and land).”
Congregating under the banner of the Jharkhand Jungle Bachao Andolan (JJBA), tribal leaders stressed the need to change the “blacks laws”, which have given exclusive right to the government to acquire tribal forest and land.
Advocating the need for restoration of the “Mundari” and “Khuntkatti” holdings of the tribals over forest and land, JJBA leaders unanimously advocated the revocation of Private Forest Act, 1954, which was introduced by the Bihar government on the plea that the government would also help the tribals maintain and preserve forest resources.
“But in course of time, the PPF turned out to be a lethal weapon for ousting the tribals from their forest habitat and land. Till the government restores the khootdattidaari system, we will continue to protest come what may,” said a villager from Arki block, who came to take part in the agitation with bows and arrows.
“In the name of industrialisation, the government is bent upon usurping tribals rights over their natural resources which have sustained them for ages. The Marandi government is planning to call investors from across the globe, but we want to ask one simple question — what will happen to the tribals who have been living in and around the forests as with every new industry, thousands of people will be displaced and their exclusive right over jal, jungle aur zameen will be usurped,” said Simon Minz of the jungle andolan.
“After the British left our country, we hoped that a new suraj (good governance) will dawn and tribals will get back their right over their traditional resources.’’ Minz said.
“But unfortunately, successive Indian government adopted the same policies, which the colonial masters had handed them down the centuries — to loot the sons-of-the-soil. All forests rules have been framed with the specific purpose to oust the traditional right-holders,’’ he said.
Minz stressed the need to replace the Joint Forest Management policy with the Community Forest Management, which the government of Madhya Pradesh introduced after a prolonged agitation.
Ravi Shankar Bhure of National Forum for Forest and Forest People advocated for the revocation for the Acts on forests and wildlife preservation. He said since these Acts and laws had no place for tribals, they have done more damage to forests and wildlife.
“Black forest laws must go, under the eye of these very laws, forest officials and forest mafia, who are hand-in-glove, have been looting forest resources,” he said.
Bhure also charged the Union government with working at the behest of
World Bank and International Monatery Fund. “These funding agencies loan
money on certain conditions which are always in the interest of Western
countries which in turn see tribals people asserting for right on jal,
jungle and jamin as major threat over economic interest,” he added.
Bhure also accused successive Indian governments of discriminating
against tribals. “When the princely states were accessed to India,
princes and kingdoms were given a pension even during British period but
there has not been any similar provision for the tribals whose land is
usurped.
Referring to hundred of villagers had assembled at the Assembly gate,
JJBA leader and noted tribal scholar Ram Dayal Munda said: “During
domicile movement you must have seen, youths were at the forefront as
that concerned the problem of employment, but this time people of all
age groups have come, for the issue of jungle and land concerns all of
them alike.”
”Jal, Jungle and Jamin are the very bases of their existence. But
whenever tribals have risen in protest against the discriminating laws,
they have been termed outlaws and their voice has been gagged. To make
their voice heard, they will have to unitedly assert their right,” he
added.
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