Bhu Adhikar Cycle Yatra :
Ekta Parishad is a National level peoples organisation which works on rights of natural resources like land, water and forest. Ekta Parishad identified land rights as a main focus for most of its struggle work and it continued to press for food self sufficiency and small – scale agricultural development as its economic agenda. For this reason it has been pressurizing the state to change its policy priorities and implement “a radical land reform agenda”.
During 2004 Jan to Feb, Ekta Parishad, Orissa organised one “Bhu Adhikar Satyagraha Yatra” which culminated on 24th Feb’2004 at Bhubaneswar. On that day the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Orissa Mr. Naveen Pattnaik declared about the formation of 3 tier task force to resolve land issue and the SC & ST department of Govt. of Orissa released its notification of formation of 3 tier task force on 26th Feb’2004. But, however till date neither committee as suggested by Ekta Parishad was formed nor the task force was made functional. Many a time Ekta Parishad drew the attention of Hon’ble Chief Minister for its execution and also presented memorandum to His Excellency the Governor of Orissa. But it is not implemented till now. Hence Ekta Parishad once again organised a “Bhu Adhikar Cycle Yatra” with other land related demands to create a pressure on the Govt. through the people as follows:
Demands of Ekta Parishad:
The Anti peoples mining policy should be changed and make a rule of clear and alternative humanistic policy.
Provision of Agriculture and homestead lands for landless.
Expedite the task force formation and distribution of pattas in every district.
Distribution of permanent pattas for the tribal of forest and centaury areas.
Expedite the un-served and un-distributed Bhoodan lands.
Formation of land commission involving the social organisation in the states.
Rehabilitation of displaced peoples after 1956 according to present context.
Give the compensation to the tribals who are died on Kalinga Nagar accident and suspend the S.P. & Collectors.
The traditional rights of fisher folks in Chilika.
Before starting of Cycle yatra, route mapping was done by 4 activists of Ekta Parishad. Previously, it was decided to start the yatra from Malkanagiri. But due to the problem of rough road it was decided to start from Ampani of Kalahandi district. A preparatory training for the yatris also organised for the instructions about rules and regulations of Cycle yatra.
Bhu – Adhikar Cycle Yatra – 2006 started from Ampani on 13th March and culminated at Bhubaneswar on 10th April with a Mukhia Mahasamabesa. This yatra was passing through seven districts of Orissa like Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Ganjam, Nayagarh and Khurda. The Yatra was headed by the State Convener Mr. Bharat Bhushan Thakur, the State Ekta Mahila Manch Convener Miss Bishnupriya Swain alongwith 50 cyclists from 9 districts. Almost all the cyclists were the youth cadres who were the products of youth leadership training camps.
The message of Cycle Yatra reached to the peoples through different ways. Those were:
Leaflets and Posters.
Wall writing.
Public Meeting.
Street Corner Meeting.
Cultural Programmes.
Public hearing.
Press Conference.
Rally.
Leaflets and Posters: The message of Cycle Yatra is reached to the public through leaflets and posters. The detail schedule and purpose of Cycle Yatra was printed on the leaflets and posters which was one way to aware people about the Bhu Adhikar Cycle yatra.
Wall Writing: To aware about the message of cycle yatra and to involve other like minded organisations and landless people , wall writing was done in different places in different districts and state capital.
Public Meeting: During Yatra, 4 nos. of Public Meeting were conducted in different places of seven districts. The public meeting were held in the following places with the message of Janadesh – 2007 and 9 demands of Bhu Adhikar Cycle Yatra.
Training on Janadesh – 2007: A training on Janadesh – 2007 was conducted on 19th March at Dadpur of Kalahandi district where the national convener of Ekta Parishad Mr. Ransingh Parmar, Mr. Rakesh Dixit the Coordinator of Janadesh – 2007 and Mr. Ramesh Sharma the national advocacy coordinator were participated.
The meeting was chaired by Mr. Ransing Parmar, the National Convener of Ekta Parishad and conducted by Mr. Rakesh Dixit convener of Janadesh – 2007. Rakesh Sharma set out the overall structure of Janadesh – 2007 and established the chain of command. The demands being made by Janadesh – 2007 are that
A land reform agenda be included in the manifestos of all political parties
National land reform committee be convened
Land distribution system be devised to provide land rights for people
Land be given to all who have titles to land.
Displacement of tribals from forests immediately stop and there be just distribution of livelihood resources including land, water and forest.
The outcome of Janadesh – 2007 will be
Landless will get land all over India
People whose livelihoods have traditionally been based on forests will get rights to occupy forestl and
People will get recognised rights to livelihood resources
Formulation of Agriculture based labour policy.
Formulation of a policy to support marginal farmers and Govt. will guarantee a fair price for agricultural products.
This state level meeting was held with the activists of Ekta Parishad state unit Orissa to design the state level programme relating to Janadesh – 2007. Ekta Lok Kalamanch will mobilize people through street play and songs. Ekta Parishad will maintain continuous contact with the target groups, intellectuals, journalists as well as like minded organisations. Ekta Mahila Manch will ensure the women participation in Janadesh – 2007.
Street Corner Meeting: During yatra several street corner meetings were conducted in different places of seven districts. The topics of discussions were as follows:
The aim and objectives of Ekta Parishad.
The aim and objectives of Bhu – Adhikar Cycle Yatra that to mobilise the people and pressurize the Govt. to distribute 4 acres of Agricultural land and at least 4 dec. homestead land to each landless family and to fulfil the 9 demands of Ekta Parishad.
The aim and objectives of Janadesh – 2007.
Distribution of Bhoodan land i.e. about 6,40,000 acre land among the landless peoples.
Change in Land acquisition Act of 1894 and Forest Act of 1927.
Cultural Programme: During Yatra Ekta Lok Kalamanch has played an important role to mobilise the people and spread the aims and objectives of Bhu – Adhikar Cycle Yatra, problems of tribals and poor villagers and the aim and objectives of Janadesh - 2007 through Street play and songs. Through this cultural programme most of the peoples were aware of the Bhu Adhikar Cycle Yatra.
Public Hearing: During Yatra public hearing is taking in different places. In public hearing the peoples of the village presented their personal and village problems. Local peoples leaders were involved and the eminent intellectuals, senior citizens from the concerned district deliberate their speech and keenly involved with the rally.
Major Focused issues during Cycle Yatra:
Sanctuary problems in Kalahandi and Kandhamal districts.
Industrialization like Vedant in Lanjigarh of Kalahandi district.
Forest dwellers non – entitlement in Kalahandi, Rayagada, Kandhamal, Ganjam and Nayagarh district.
Atrocities by Forest officials in protected areas.
Tribal Identity crisis in Khurdha and Rayagada district.
Un – distributed Bhoodan land at Rayagada district.
Large scale landless identified.
Press Conference: Mass media is the best and easiest method to propagate the news. To make attention of the political leaders and bureaucrats from district level to state level and create an environment of the Cycle Yatra among the people as land issue is a primary issue, Ekta Parishad organised 3 nos. of press conference. The news were published in different local news papers, national level news papers and different electronics media like Dharitri, Samaj, Sambad, Times of India, Sambad Kalika, Anupam Bharat, Pragatibadi, the Pioneer, Dinalipi, Bhaskar, Samay, the Statesman, Paryabekhyak ,Indian Express. E.TV., O.TV, NDTV, AJ TAK, DD National, India TV, Nayagarh Diary etc.
Rally: During Cycle Yatra 2 nos. of mass rally were conducted by Ekta Parishad. One rally was conducted at Bhawanipatna on 18th Mar’06 where more than 2000 peoples participated and the other State level rally was conducted at Bhubaneswar on 10th April,06 where more than 3000 peoples from 8 districts and different like minded organisations were participated.
Achievement of Cycle Yatra:
Ø Peoples are aware of the aim and objectives of Ekta Parishad.
Ø Peoples are aware of their problems, Govt. policy like Land Acquisition Act of 1894 and Forest policy of 1927 and mobilised not to displace from forest areas.
Ø Tahasildar of Rayagada district distributed about 104 acres of Bhoodan land among 21 families at Muniguda of Rayagada district on 25th March, 2006 along with Mr. Bharat Bhushan Thakur, the State Convener of Ekta Parishad, Orissa and Miss Bishnupriya Swain, the State Convener of Ekta Mahila Manch, Orissa in a street corner meeting.
Ø Memorandum was given to Collector of Kalahandi district at Bhawanipatna, Sub – collector of Bhanjanagar and Khurda, Tahasildar of Nayagarh district at Ranpur.
Ø Memorandum also given to the Hon’ble Chief Minister Mr. Naveen Pattnaik and about one hour discussion was made between the Chief Minister of Orissa Mr. Naveen Pattnaik and the state convener of Ekta Parishad, Orissa Mr. Bharat Bhushan Thakur along with 4 other delegates namely former chief whip Mr. Ajay Ku. Jena, Mr. Gouranga Mohapatra, Miss Bishnupriya Swain, Miss Snehalata Mohanty. Following points were discussed with chief minister:
1. The formation and better execution of Task Force for land settlement notified by SC & ST department can be more systematize with formation of a Coordination committee at State & District level comprising Revenue, Forest and SC & ST department which was agreed upon.
2. All the un-surveyed areas are to be surveyed at the earliest and 300 slopes should be given to tribals for cultivation.
3. All pre 1980 forest dwellers are to be settled where they are with homestead and cultivable land with proper entitlement.
4. Bhoodan land distribution to be expedited. Large scale land distribution work initially may be concentrated undivided Korapurt, Kalahandi, Nayagarh and Kandhamal district.
5. The Forest department people’s exploitation of the tribals will be enquired and action initiated in Bandhamunda G.P. of Nayagarh district.
6. Rehabilitation package may be worked out keeping in view of the land price of the locality after the project comes up.
7. Large scale land distribution should be tagged with the Employment Guarantee Scheme for tribal land development.
8. A special land development policy may be formulated keeping the poorest of the poor in mind.
9. Social Activists are to be included in the Task Force Committee.
10. Steps to be taken to renovation of the old mouth of Chilika.
11. A discussion is to be organized with CDA, Fisherman Community Leader & the State Government chaired by the Hon’ble Chief Minister.
12. Chilika Bill is to be tabled during next Assembly Session keeping the interest of the Fisherman Community at the top.
During discussion the Chief Minister was convinced and instructed to the officials for taking immediate action to expedite land distribution process,
A month of Bhu – Adhikar Cycle Yatra was passing through more than 350 villages of 7 districts and covering about 1100 kms and the message reached to more than one lakh peoples. During Yatra 400 membership was done. During yatra some cyclists also injured due to rough road. The cyclists were welcomed by the villagers, different organisations, personnel in different places during the yatra. A German team of 5 students also participated in Cycle rally for 3 days. There is a great euphoria and acceptance among the people for Ekta Parishad to check the violent movement and create a space of non – violent democratic movement.