Hearing on tribal land – Adivasis get chance to prove claims

Islampur, Nov. 27: A two-day hearing began here today to examine the Adivasis’ allegations that tribal land was being illegally occupied by those from outside the community.

The hearing by the Jalpaiguri divisional commissioner is part of an inquiry ordered by the Mamata Banerjee government following a movement by the Adivasis to “take back” their land from the non-tribal people.

The Adivasis can place documents before the official to prove their claims that 3,500 acres of tribal land in Islampur subdivision are being occupied by outsiders.

Sources said 20 persons would depose on the first day of the hearing, which began at the Vivekananda Hall around 12.30pm. Leaders of the Adivasi Jami Raksha Committee and the Transferred Area Surjapur Organisation would be heard tomorrow.

Rati Oraon from Chopra was among those who deposed before the Jalpaiguri divisional commissioner, A.K. Singh.

“A person from Siliguri had taken on lease for one year about 25 acres of land belonging to my father Nenku Oraon in 1985. He paid my father Rs 3,000 and said he would grow pineapples. But we didn’t get back the plot and someone called Jiten Nandy has turned the land into a small tea garden. I have submitted papers to the official to prove that the land was owned by my father,” said Oraon.

The Land Reforms Act, 1955, stipulates that a tribal person can transfer land to someone outside his community only after a hearing is conducted by the government to ensure that the seller has been adequately compensated.

The movement to “reclaim” the land was being spearheaded by the Adivasi Jami Raksha Committee and the Transferred Area Surjapur Organisation. Members of the committee “occupied” a 90-acre tea garden in Ramganj, 20km from here, in August, saying the land had originally belonged to an Adivasi.

The two outfits also organised a dharna at Rani Rashmoni Avenue in Calcutta on September 13 and 14 to draw the attention of the government to the charges. The representatives of the organisations met Mamata at the Writers’ Buildings and she promised that an inquiry would be conducted into the allegations.

Committee leader Matru Hansda said he was happy with the quick response of the government.

“We are hopeful that members of our community will get back their plots, some of which have been illegally occupied for over 25 years. We had demanded a judicial inquiry into the illegal occupation of tribal land. We will furnish the divisional commissioner with relevant documents to prove our point.”

Hansda said about 3,500 acres of tribal land were with non-Adivasis.

“They had grabbed the land by luring the members of our community with false promises,” he added.

The divisional commissioner refused comment. “There will be another round of hearing tomorrow. I will talk to reporters only after that,” Singh said.Courtesy:TheTelegraph.