Ranchi, Nov. 7: An expert in tribal issues and a former MP, Salkhan Murmu, has raised serious concerns over the Raghubar Das government's attempts to amend the age-old tenancy laws that seek to safeguard interests of indigenous people in Chotanagpur and Santhal Pargana areas of Jharkhand.
In his letter dated November 6 to the chief minister, Murmu pointed out around 30 lakh acres belonging to tribals had been taken over for some or the other government, industrial or mining projects, leaving around 30 lakh tribals displaced in past four decades or so.
"All these happened in the presence of Chotanagpur Tenancy Act and Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act that are supposed to protect tribal land. Imagine what will happen when proposed changes in the tenancy laws come into effect to facilitate transfer of tribal acres," he wondered.
Also, the former MP from Mayurbhanj, Odisha, accused Das of working under the influence of the Centre and corporates, rejecting his recent claim that changes in the acts would help speed up development in the state.
"I want to ask whether schools, hospitals, roads, rail links etc were not built on tribal land in the past. The problem is not with the CNT and SPT Acts but the government, which intended to bring changes in areas dominated by tribal folks. I feel the proposed changes are only aimed at usurping the land of poor tribals," he alleged.
Moreover, Murmu, who happens to be the national president of Jharkhand Disom Party and Adivasi Sengel Abhiyan, contradicted the government's assertion that changing nature of land (from agriculture to non-agriculture) would benefit tribals and members of the SC and OBC.
"If government is serious about development of indigenous people, it should promote agriculture, horticulture, pisciculture, poultry and allied activities on tribal land to create livelihood opportunities and stop migration," he added.
The tribal leader said there were very few examples of restoration of unused tribal land.
Murmu has also been objecting to Das, a non-tribal, being the chairperson of the Tribal Advisory Council (TAC), which approved the proposed changes in the CNT and SPT Acts in its last meeting in Ranchi on November 3.
