Update on Janadesh 2007

The latest bad news is from Chhattisgarh. The forest department has destroyed crops of 600 tribal families living in 8 villages of Kawardha district. This is the same old story where the tribals will cultivate land during the Monsoon and the forest department would destroy everything. This happens among a particular tribal community, called the Baigas. They are also called primitive tribes. This is an ongoing battle between forest department and tribals of India.

I was part of the investigation team constituted by Government of India, Ministry of Panchayati Raj to look into the various violations prevailing in the tribal areas. What one can see across the country is total violation of economic and human rights of the tribal communities by the industrial houses and mining companies. 

For instance, Village Barpali, situated about 25 K.M. away from Rourkela, there are two iron factories on both sides of this village. You will be shocked to see how people survive in this highly polluted village.  Many are migrating and others are getting sick in such villages. This is a kind of corporate responsibility that you will experience if you happen to visit any of these villages.

Recently 12 Adivasis (tribals) were shot dead in Orissa; their crime was that they did not agree to give their land to industrial houses in order to build a steel factory.

The good news is that the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) has recommended that the claims of Adivasis on forest land should be settled. There is a lot of opposition to this recommendation and we are hoping that the Parliament will pass an Act to settle these long standing claims.

The second good news is that the Sub-committee on Land Reforms, set up by the Planning Commission of India has formulated some very good recommendations on the land reform agenda.

I was also part of this Sub-Committee and we hope that through mass mobilization we can force the government to look into the recommendations.

Ekta Parishad and National Campaign Committee on Land (NCCL) are working together on these issues. During Chetawni yatra in October 2006, we are planning to popularize the Planning Commission Report and create public opinion around these issues.

Another news, which is from Bihar, is also encouraging, where the new Government setup a Land Commission to look at the land reform agenda.  Ekta Parishad organized a state level consultation to create a common platform in order to generate pressure on government and also on the Land Commission.

Tamil Nadu government has also announced two acres of land to the landless. In this context, Ekta Parishad has recently organized a Padyatra and a National Convention on Land and Livelihood Rights to create a climate as a support to this program.

Across the country, especially in states where is Ekta Parishad is active for many years, many programs are taking place like Cycle Yatra, Foot march, Rallies, Sit-in and protest.

Now, everything is focused on Chetawni Yatra and Janadesh 2007. In the meantime, I have written letters to the Prime Minister of India and Ms. Sonia Gandhi.  I took this opportunity to inform about the preparation of Janadesh, I am yet to hear from them.

During last few months, we had five volunteers from France each one of them looking at different aspects of our work.  Each one of them will produce a report that will benefit our work in India and Europe. One of the volunteers, named Emmanuel from France, would facilitate the Janadesh message in Europe and work full time for this agenda when he goes back to France by end September 2006. Two volunteers, named Emilie and Emilia have written a book titled “Back to the Land” that would be published by the National Campaign Committee on Land soon.

There are more volunteers to come on a visit to India; may be one from England, one from France and two from Switzerland to support the Janadesh work.

In Bihar, a Ghero Dalo Dhera Dalo (Indefinite Sit-in Programme) is to be organized in Patna from September 24 onwards. About ten thousand landless people and activists will protest for three days and will demand resolutions of the land and livelihoods problems. They will also demand for progressive land reforms policies in the state.  

Along with preparations for Chetawni yatra and Janadesh, preparations are also going on for Indian Social Forum in Delhi during November 2006 and World Social Forum in Nairobi during January 2007.  During these events, National Campaign Committee on Land would like to organize land and livelihoods convention and festivals. In case you are coming to Delhi or Nairobi during these events, please do make it a point to participate in these conventions and festivals as well. 

On the fund raising front, we are receiving good support from Christian Aid, Concern, Novib, Ekta Europe, CASA etc.  At the moment the final proposal and budget are circulated to 20 organizations. No one has made any commitment but has shown interest in the event. We need your support in this crucial task. I am sure that the Ekta Europe meeting to be held in Paris during 28-29^th October 2006 will also look into this matter.

I have just completed one round through Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Jharkhand, Bihar, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. There is great enthusiasm among the field level workers. From Chhattisgarh, I would like more people to join than what they were asked to bring at the moment.

 Local fund collection in terms of money and grain is progressing well in the Bundelkhand region.

A team in Delhi is also shaping up and they are taking their job of advocacy and networking seriously.

You know Ekta Parishad is also involved in the Peace agenda in South Asia.  Recently we had a good consultation in Delhi on Combat Poverty Campaign.  Mr. Jean Pierre Dardaud, Chairperson of Fdh, France and Mr. Karamat Ali, President, Piler, Pakistan were with us to speak during this consultation.  This campaign will basically demand reduction of military expenses and to divert funds or a greater allocation of funds to deal with Socio-economic program for the poor. This Campaign is also proposing to set up a People’s Peace Fund through public contribution of Rs. 3.00 or 3.00 Euro.

Another South Asia Consultation was held at Madurai during from 02-03 September 2006. Mr. Thaya from Srilanka and Ms. Shobha Behan from Nepal attended this Consultation.

The South Asia Peace Alliance core group will be meeting in Pakistan in November 2006. We are also planning to hold a trainer training program for South Asian representatives during the same period.