Chhattisgarh govt asks International Red Cross to stop activities in tribal Bastar

Joseph John,

RAIPUR: In a significant development, the Raman government in Chhattisgarh has directed to the world’s renowned humanitarian organization-The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) – to suspend all its operations in the Naxalite affected Bijapur district where it was providing assistance to violence-hit people in improvised tribal Bastar region for the last two and a half years.

“We had issued an order two days ago, asking ICRC to suspend all its operations in the region. This was done after issuing a formal show cause notice to the international organization”, Bijapur district collector Mohammad Qaiser Abdul Haque told TOI over telephone.

The state government’s decision to ask the ICRC to stop its activities comes despite chief minister Raman Singh’s declared position that his government would welcome all organizations which were ready to work for peace and help out with education, health, shelter and basic facilities in the region. When ICRC had expressed its willingness to work in Bastar in 2008, Singh had maintained that with the kind of resources and expertise ICRC has at its command, its presence will benefit the poor tribals of the region where a huge population is suffering because of the conflict.

Elaborating on the reasons, Bijapur district collector said “ICRC is yet to enter into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the state government for working in the region. Besides, there are some diplomatic issues pertaining to the government of India”.

When contacted, IRCRC spokesman in India Marek Resich told TOI over telephone that “Currently, ICRC stopped its activities in Bijapur and seeking clarifications from the state and the union government”. He confirmed that ICRC had received a letter from Bijapur district administration, intimating to stop its activities.

Meanwhile, state government sources claimed that “ICRC is an international organization which obviously needs certain clearances from the centre for carrying out their services in India”.

Then Geneva based organization began providing health care facilities in the remote Naxalite affected areas in Bairamgarh tehsil in Bijapur in 2010, running primary health centre and mobile clinic besides taking up hand pump rehabilitation programme to ensure that the tribal people in the region gets safe drinking water.

ICRC, which has the expertise to the service that nobody else can provide in a conflict zone, had been trying to have a long term agreement with the governments at the state and the centre so that they could stay for a longer period and provide all humanitarian assistance such as medical help to the needy, shelter, relief and rehabilitation of all those affected in the troubled region.

Tribal Bastar region is one of the country most backward regions, affected by Naxalite violence for nearly three decades. More than 1500 people were killed while hundreds of others were maimed in the conflict. A vast area of Bastar region, which is bigger than Kerala in geographical area, still continues to remain backward where basic amenities such as health care, drinking water, education are abysmally low.

Claiming to be fighting for the rights of tribes, Maoists have been unleashing large scale violence in Bastar region for the last several years, adversely affecting development activities in the region.

Odisha miners to pay royalty for tribal welfare

Sugandh Junej

State CM approves formulation of new mining regulation; funds to be used for local infrastructure in Scheduled Areas

Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik has recently approved formulation of a new mining regulation in the state aimed at tribal welfare. Once approved by the State Cabinet, the Odisha Scheduled Areas Development of Mine Bearing Area Regulation 2013 would enable collection of funds from mines working in the Scheduled Areas of the state.

Profit for people

The regulation aims to collect an amount equal to royalty from mine owners. Royalty is a tax paid to the state for extracting a mineral. The collected amount will go to the peripheral development fund (PDF) already operational in the Scheduled Areas. Now, there is a proposal to form a peripheral developmental committee (PDC), which would collect funds from the mining lessees, to be deposited in the PDF. The funds would be used by the PDC for setting up and maintenance of water resources, hospitals, schools, drinking water, sanitation, communication and road infrastructure in the Scheduled Areas.

Recently the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Bill 2011 (MMDR) was tabled in Parliament which aims to introduce the profit sharing provision for the first time in the country. According to the Bill, all major mineral mines such as iron ore and limestone, will have to shell out an amount equal to royalty to a district mineral foundation (DMF). This foundation will then decide where and how the money can be spent in that particular district. For minor minerals such as granite, the percentage of royalty has to be decided by the state. For coal, while the Bill suggested sharing 26 per cent of the profit with DMF, the standing committee has suggested that a certain percentage of royalty be worked out for this resource as well.

Given the fact that the MMDR Bill is in the Parliament, this additional similar regulation is a surprise. It is indeed even more interesting since Patnaik has recently opposed the MMDR Bill in a letter to the Prime Minister on the ground that it encroaches on the state’s rights by transferring certain powers of the state to the Centre.

According to an analysis by Delhi-based NGO Centre for Science and Environment, if the MMDR Bill provision is implemented, Odisha will receive Rs 1,665 crore annually for DMFs.

Criticised, Odisha weighs expanding scope of locals in deciding Vedanta fate

Faced with flak from the ministry of tribal affairs (MoTA) and activists from Niyamgiri for its decision to limit gram sabhas to just 12 villages, Odisha is mulling legal opinion over the possibility of expanding the scope of such meetings.

“We are exploring legal angles to suggestions by MoTA on expanding scope of gram sabhas. If required, views of the law department will be taken,” said Santosh Sarangi, secretary, SC&ST development.

Defending the state’s stand to conduct gram sabhas in 12 villages on Niyamgiri hill slopes, he said, “A close scrutiny of the Supreme Court order dated April 18 would suggest it was referring to the 12 hill slope villages where the meetings were held earlier for settlement of claims under the Forest Right Act (FRA). It would not be feasible to hold gram sabhas in all villages of Rayagada and Kalahandi districts. Besides, the process would also be very time-consuming.”

Earlier, the SC&ST department had consulted the law department to interpret the order on holding of gram sabhas, citing lack of clarity.

In line with the views filed by the law department, the state decided to hold gram sabhas to decide the fate of bauxite extraction from Niyamgiri hills in 12 villages. These included seven villages in Rayagada district and five in Kalahandi district.

In his letter to MoTA, Odisha Chief Secretary B K Patnaik said: “At the time of filing of claims, neither the ministry of environment and forests nor MoTA had raised an issue before the court regarding coverage of villages over and above the 12 hill slope villages.” He added a reading of the court’s observation would make clear the reference was to the 12 hill slope villages for which affidavit was filed by Odisha. However, refusing to agree to the state’s contention, MoTA held limiting gram sabha proceedings was not in line with the order and the directions by the ministry under section 12 of FRA.

“The list of villages where rights of forest dwellers are guaranteed under FRA or where cultural and religious rights are likely to be affected, cannot be arbitrarily decided by the state government. It is to be decided by the people (palli sabha) where claims would be filed through a transparent manner so that no genuine gram sabha that has a legitimate claim is left out of the process. This is in line with para 59 of the apex court judgement,” Vibha Puri Das, secretary, MoTA, wrote to Odisha chief secretary Patnaik recently.

‘Tribals a part of forest ecology’

Subhro Niyogi

KOLKATA: A self-taught artist who honed his skills sketching fauna in Kanha before turning his attention to forest inhabitants believes the government’s attempt to displace tribals from forest is misplaced.

“Why is there a war cry against tribals who have lived in the forest for generations without disturbing the ecological balance? Do we raise an eyebrow if a tiger kills a deer? Then why make a hue and cry if a tribal hunts an animal for food? Tribals are part of the forest ecology as much as the tiger,” said Ashish Kachhwaha who lives in the Kanha with Baigas, a tribe that is traced to the Australian Aborigines.

Kachhwaha is currently in the city to showcase the tribals of Kanha through his paintings of Baiga men, women and children. (Baiga women have unique tattoos on their bodies that often tell their life stories.) The Tollygunge Club will host the exhibition of 27 charcoal sketches, watercolours and oils on Friday and Saturday.

Baigas, who live off forest produce – leaves, timber, honey – never exploit it beyond their limited needs, are facing a perpetual threat of relocation as part of the government’s conservation programme. The artist questions it, arguing that animal sighting in Kanha is traditionally more in regions where the tribals lived.

“Since tribals depend on the forest, they are keen that it survives. Their presence makes it difficult for poachers to operate. Driving them out of the forest will actually pave the way for poachers,” said Kachhwaha, who had turned down MF Husain’s offer to move to Mumbai, preferring to live in the forest.

Five years ago, Kachhwaha changed the subject of his works from tiger, barasingha and birds to people who protect these animals. “Without Baigas, there would be no animals. So I decided to sketch and paint the community and hold exhibitions across the country to show our tribal heritage,” said the artist, who as a child often got thrashed by his mother and grandmother for using coal to draw on the walls as it was considered a bad omen. By the time he learnt about charcoal, he had mastered the art.

Leading as frugal a life as the Baigas themselves, he has succeeded in promoting alternative livelihood opportunities for the community. Around 50 Baigas now showcase their culture to tourists, earning a tidy amount. “Many have shifted their orientation from hunting to conservation. I hope they are left alone and not uprooted,” Kachhwaha said.

GI certificate for Toda embroidery formally handed over to tribals

Toda tribal representatives on Thursday formally received a Geographical Indication certificate for their unique embroidery, which is known for its striking colours. District Collector Archana Patnaik handed over the certificate to the representatives at a function held here. The GI status was given in March by Chaitanya Prasad, Registrar of Geographical Indications. The recognition came after five years of effort by Toda Nalavaazhvu Sangham, Key Stone Foundation and Poompuhar (Tamil Nadu Handicrafts Development Corporation).

The status not only ensures uniform pricing for Toda embroidery products but also insulates the art from being duplicated.

Of the nearly 1,600 tribal people in nearly 69 hamlets, a little more than 400 are said to be actively involved in embroidery. The product range has now widened from Pootkhulu (shawl) to wall hangings, table mat, shoulder bags and gents and ladies shopping bag.

GI is a name or a sign used on prized goods to indicate their specific geographical location or origin, says Mathew John, trustee, Keystone Foundation. The three organisations are the Registered Proprietors of the GI.

The art of Toda embroidery, known as ‘pukhoor,’ has been passed on to generations. Organisations such as the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India have been facilitating training programmes.

The function was attended by Pratim Roy – director of Key Stone Foundation, Jailani of Win Lexis that supported the initiative for GI status, Prasanth from the Registry of Geographical Indications, Prem Kumar – Marketing Manager of Poompuhar, Geetha Srinivasan of INTACH, Dr. Tarun Chabra, patron of tribal community, and Kottradu Kuttan – Head of Toda Nalavaazhvu Sangham.

बॉम्बे हाईकोर्ट ने सौंपी सीबीआई को जांच, गावित की बढ़ सकती हैं मुश्किलें

मुंबई.बॉम्बे हाईकोर्ट ने आदिवासी विभाग के छह हजार करोड़ केघोटाले की जांच के लिए सीबीआई को नियुक्त किया है। गुरुवार को हाईकोर्ट नेसीबीआई को जांच के लिए विशेष जांच दल (एसआईटी) बनाने को कहा जबकि राज्यसरकार को दो सप्ताह के भीतर इस मामले की स्वतंत्र जांच कर हलफनामा दायरकरने का निर्देश दिया।

इसके साथ ही मंत्रालय से जारी किए गए आदेशों की जांच के निर्देश दिए गएहैं। इससे राज्य के मेडिकल शिक्षा मंत्री विजयकुमार गावित की भी मुश्किलेंबढ सकती हैं क्योंकि गावित जब आदिवासी विभाग के मंत्री थे तो कई वस्तुओं कीखरीददारी के आदेश जारी किए गए हैं। 

न्यायमूर्ति वीएम कानडे व न्यायमूर्ति आरएस बलदोटा की खंडपीठ ने यहनिर्देश नाशिक निवासी बलीराम मोतीराम की ओर से दायर जनहित याचिका पर सुनवाईके दौरान दिया। इससे पूर्व खंडपीठ ने आदिवासी विभाग की ओर से अलग-अलगयोजनाओं के अंतर्गत खरीदी गई विभिन्न सामग्री में गड़बडियों व करोड़ों रुपएके गबन पर हैरानी जाहिर की। खंडपीठ ने कहा कि आदिवासियों को सरकारीयोजनाओं का लाभ मिल रहा है या नहीं, इस पर नजर रखना सरकार का काम है।

जरूरी समन्वय स्थापित करना भी सरकार की जिम्मेदारी है।  खंडपीठ ने कहाकि राज्य सरकार लगातार तीन वर्षों से खरीददारी में हो रही धांधली को चुपचापदेख रही है। जबकि प्रधानमंत्री कार्यालय ने भी सरकार को विभिन्न वस्तुओंकी खरीददारी में हो रही गड़बड़ी को लेकर राज्य सरकार को आगाह किया था। यहांतक कि सीबीआई ने भी सरकार को सजग किया था फिर भी स्थिति में कोई सुधारनहीं हुआ है। इस संबंध में सरकार की ओर से दायर हलफनामे से हम संतुष्ट नहींहंै। 

खंडपीठ ने कहा कि प्रगतिशील राज्य होते हुए भी यहां पर कुपोषण के चलतेसबसे ज्यादा मौतें होती हैं। राज्य के बजट की नौ प्रतिशत राशि से आदिवासीइलाकों की स्थिति में बदलाव होता नहीं दिखता। मेलघाट, नंदुरबार व अन्यआदिवासी इलाके  दूर है लेकिन ठाणे में भी आदिवासियों के जीवन स्तर में कोईबदलाव नहीं आया है। क्या सरकार आदिवासियों को भोजन व दवा भी मुहैया नहीं करसकती है।

वैसे ऐसे मामले की जांच करना सरकार व पुलिस मशीनरी का काम है लेकिन इनकीनिष्क्रयता के चलते कोर्ट को मामले में हस्तक्षेप करना पड़ रहा है।

सुनवाई के दौरान याचिकाकर्ता की ओर से पैरवी कर रहे वरिष्ठ अधिवक्ताराजेंद्र रघुवंशी ने खंडपीठ को बताया कि कुछ सामान सीधे मंत्रालय से आदेशजारी करके मंगाए गए। इसके लिए किसी निविदा प्रक्रिया का पालन नहीं कियागया। अनाज व प्रोटीन पदार्थ की खरीदारी में करोड़ो रुपए की धांधली हुई।इसमें सीधे मंत्री स्तर के लोग जिम्मेदार हैं। सबकुछ 2004 से शुरू हुआ है।यह सब विभिन्न योजनाओं के अंतर्गत राज्य के 24 उपविभागों में किया गया।

6 अधिकारियों पर एफआईआर
इस पर सरकारी वकील ने कहा कि सरकार ने इस मामले में 6 अधिकारियों के खिलाफएफआईआर दर्ज की है। इसके अलावा उनके खिलाफ विभागीय जांच भी जारी है। इसकेअलावा मुख्यमंत्री ने मामले की जांच के लिए एक कमेटी बनाने भी मंजूरी दे दीहै। इसलिए सरकार को जांच का एक मौका देना चाहिए। इस पर खंडपीठ ने कहा किजब सारा आकाश की फट गया है तो सरकार क्या-क्या छुपाएगी। इसलिए सरकार पहलेनिष्पक्ष जांच करे।

आदिवासी आश्रमशालाओं  के लिए नियुक्त होगा  स्वतंत्र आयुक्त
राज्य में आदिवासी आश्रमशालाओं की स्थिति से खुद राज्य सरकार संतुष्ठ नहींहै। इसलिए इन शालाओं के लिए स्वंतत्र आयुक्त नियुक्त करने का फैसला लियागया है। नया आयुक्तालय नाशिक में बनाया जाएगा।  राज्य के आदिवासी विकासराज्यमंत्री राजेंद्र गावित के अनुसार आदिवासी आश्रमशालाओं में पढ़ाई केस्तर के साथ-साथ खानपान व साफ-सफाई व्यवस्था में भी सुधार की जरूरत है।

उन्होंने कहा कि राज्य की ८० फीसदी आश्रमशालाएं राज्य सरकार के नियंत्रणमें हैं। इनमें से कई १९७२ से चलाई जा रही हैं। लेकिन इनके स्तर में अभीतक सुधार नहीं हो सका है। आदिवासी शालाओं का स्तर सुधारने के लिए जरूरी हैैकि सभी आश्रमशालाओं को सरकारी नियंत्रण में लाया जाए। शेष २० प्रतिशतआश्रमशालाओं को भी सरकारी नियंत्रण में लाने के लिए प्रक्रिया शुरू है।

उन्होंने बताया कि ५५२ आश्रमशालाओं के पुनर्निमाण के लिए ६५० रुपए खर्चकिए जाने हैं। इसके लिए विभाग के पास निधि उपलब्ध है। इस बाबत मंत्रिमंडलकी मंजूरी लेनी होगी।  उन्होंने बताया कि आदिवासी आश्रम शालाओं के लिए नएआयुक्त की नियुक्ति होने से आश्रम शालाओं की शिक्षा व्यवस्था पर खास ध्यानदिया जा सकेगा। 

सीबीआई बताए-कितने अधिकारी चाहिए

जांच के लिए सीबीआई द्वारा पर्याप्त स्टाफ व इनफ्रास्ट्रक्टर नहीं होनेकी बात पर खंडपीठ ने कहा कि आप बताएं कि इस मामले की जांच के लिए कितनेअधिकारी चाहिए। कोर्ट सरकार को अधिकारी प्रतिनियुक्ति पर भेजने का निर्देशदेगी। लेकिन सीबीआई मामले की जांच को आगे बढ़ाए क्योंकि उसने दो उपविभागनंदुरबार व नाशिक में हुई गड़बडियों की जांच की है।

Adivasis hunt for solutions on FB

S. Harpal Singh

Forums discuss chalk out ways to uplift tribal groups

Young Adivasis have increasingly been using social media to highlight problems such as displacement faced by tribal communities all over India.

The youngsters have formed a few closed groups and open groups such as the Gondwana Friends and Adivasi People on Facebook, each with about 5,000 members. The groups provide a platform for lively discussions on the problems of aboriginal tribes, especially Gonds, the largest of the tribes in the country.

“Social media is a blessing,” says Chandresh Meravi, an active member of Gondwana Friends, who works with Thomson Reuters in Hyderabad.

Global meet of members

“The platform is being used to pass on to our youth our culture, heritage, and language,” he says. Adivasi Yuva Shakti, another forum of tribal youngsters, finds Facebook a great facilitator in uniting people. It hosted an international conference of tribal youth members of Facebook at Indore in October. Hiralal Alawa of New Delhi, a key organising member of the conference, says Facebook helps forge unity among tribal people. The conference was convened to discuss ways to uplift Adivasis.

Maoist angle

Their discussions on Facebook mostly revolve around the unwitting involvement of aboriginal tribes in the conflict between Maoists and governments. Gopal Thodsam, the Hyderabad-based endodontist who hails from Adilabad; Parwat Singh Marko from Navi Mumbai; and Rajkumar Saiyam, a banker from Madhya Pradesh, have taken up the infamous Operation Green Hunt in the forum, objecting to the Gonds’ loss of land to industrialists, contractors, and those involved in mining.

Government flayed

Mr. Saiyam says the government has not been doing anything to protect the interests of 10 crore Adivasis in the country. “Otherwise, how did the Gonds, who once ruled most of Central India, become so backward?” he asks.