By Gladson Dungdung
9 August, 2008
Inclement weather and bandh call could do little to dampen the spirit of tribal youths that celebrated World Indigenous Day in Jharkhand on August 9. Jharkhand Indigenous People’s Forum, an organization working for tribals’ rights in Jharkhand organized a programme to celebrate and discuss the United Nations declaration on rights of indigenous people. A noted Human Rights Activist Stan Swami, Journalist Sunil Minz, Xavier Kujur and Roseline Kishku jointly inaugurated the event by beating traditional drum.
In his introductory speech, Xavier Kujur, a tribal activist explained the concept of recognizing indigenous people by the United Nations. Kujur said indigenous people world over are granted special privileges and protection. The rights of tribals cannot be restrained or curtailed in any manner Kujur stressed. “Though the rights of tribals are recognized by the international community the condition of the scheduled tribe in the state and for that matter in the country is pathetic. The government has done little for the betterment of the tribals in Jharkhand,” Kujur said.
In his key address, activist Gladson Dungdung said that though the tribals had settled down in the vicinity for 3500 BC before Aryans arrival to the land but their indigenous identity was deliberately denied by the government of India because it was mostly dominated by the Aryans. Ironically, when the international pressure was created, the India government accepted in 2007 by singing the UN declaration on rights of Indigenous People, where the government accepts that tribals are the indigenous people of India and their rights will be protected.
He said that the tribals’ religion “Sarna” was not even recognized though the other religions, which came behind Sarna are recognized by the government. Thousand of religious groves of tribals were destroyed by the development projects but these never became the matter of religions sentiments. A development project like the Ram Setu becomes the matter of religious sentiments but not the tribals’ sacred groves. Their religions sentiments are bulldozed by the state and so-called people of the mainstream of the society.
He said that when the tribals cultivate on forest land for their survival they are being called as ‘encroachers’ of forest and threat to wildlife and thrown behind the bars but at the same time 100 acres of forest land is given to the religious institution and a nation wide protests are done in the support of government illegal act, which clearly shows how the tribals are being discriminated by the state and the society as well.
He said that we tribals have already given more than 22 lakh acres of land for the development projects, more than 15 lakhs people are displaced and our culture has been destroyed in the development process but we have not yet tested the development. Our children go to bed with empty stomach, they are illiterate and with bare back but today when we claim our rights over land, forest and water, we are coined as anti-development, anti-national and naxalites. Why? We are denied our rights by the state and society as well though we are the first citizens of this country. We do not belong to caste but we are discriminated because of our race. Tribals were treated like beasts for last 60 years of independence. Tribals are facing racial discrimination which the government denies. We must have to fights against injustice, inequality and exploitation. “We shall not give one inch of land for the development even they give us gold,” he added.
Activist Sirat Khchap said that Domicile is one of the most important issues for tribals because they are the most venerable in Jharkhand though the state is created in their names. Tribals have been given special domicile rights through the constitution of India under Article 19 (5), which clearly says that non-tribals masses can not be allowed to settle down in 5th and 6th scheduled areas. Tribals also have special domicile under the Chotanagpur Tenancy Act 1980 which must be enforced and realized.
Member of Adivasi Yuva Chetna Manch, Anju Kujur said that we must fight against displacement, which has been destroying our identity, livelihood resources and culture. All tribal youths should join hands to rights for our rights, autonomy and identity. Since our identity is based on land and forest therefore we must have to protect these.
Journalist Sunil Minz, Rakesh Roshan Kiro, Dr. Shanti Xalxo, Gyanmani Ekka and Amrit Tirkey also addressed the event. Jerom Jerold Kujur a member of Jharkhand Indigenous People’s Forum facilitated the programme. The programme was divided in a variety. A small dramas and skits laced with songs. The cultural aspect was designed and staged by the Adivasi Yuva Chetna Manch and Tarunoday. Artists displayed the life of tribals in the state. The drama portrayed the plight of the tribal masses, who were displaced, land were illegally taken away and got inadequate rehabilitation packages from the government. A booklet on the declaration of rights of Indigenous people was released by Stan Swami and Dr. Santi Xalxo. Thousands of tribal youths participated in the celebration.
9 August, 2008
Inclement weather and bandh call could do little to dampen the spirit of tribal youths that celebrated World Indigenous Day in Jharkhand on August 9. Jharkhand Indigenous People’s Forum, an organization working for tribals’ rights in Jharkhand organized a programme to celebrate and discuss the United Nations declaration on rights of indigenous people. A noted Human Rights Activist Stan Swami, Journalist Sunil Minz, Xavier Kujur and Roseline Kishku jointly inaugurated the event by beating traditional drum.
In his introductory speech, Xavier Kujur, a tribal activist explained the concept of recognizing indigenous people by the United Nations. Kujur said indigenous people world over are granted special privileges and protection. The rights of tribals cannot be restrained or curtailed in any manner Kujur stressed. “Though the rights of tribals are recognized by the international community the condition of the scheduled tribe in the state and for that matter in the country is pathetic. The government has done little for the betterment of the tribals in Jharkhand,” Kujur said.
In his key address, activist Gladson Dungdung said that though the tribals had settled down in the vicinity for 3500 BC before Aryans arrival to the land but their indigenous identity was deliberately denied by the government of India because it was mostly dominated by the Aryans. Ironically, when the international pressure was created, the India government accepted in 2007 by singing the UN declaration on rights of Indigenous People, where the government accepts that tribals are the indigenous people of India and their rights will be protected.
He said that the tribals’ religion “Sarna” was not even recognized though the other religions, which came behind Sarna are recognized by the government. Thousand of religious groves of tribals were destroyed by the development projects but these never became the matter of religions sentiments. A development project like the Ram Setu becomes the matter of religious sentiments but not the tribals’ sacred groves. Their religions sentiments are bulldozed by the state and so-called people of the mainstream of the society.
He said that when the tribals cultivate on forest land for their survival they are being called as ‘encroachers’ of forest and threat to wildlife and thrown behind the bars but at the same time 100 acres of forest land is given to the religious institution and a nation wide protests are done in the support of government illegal act, which clearly shows how the tribals are being discriminated by the state and the society as well.
He said that we tribals have already given more than 22 lakh acres of land for the development projects, more than 15 lakhs people are displaced and our culture has been destroyed in the development process but we have not yet tested the development. Our children go to bed with empty stomach, they are illiterate and with bare back but today when we claim our rights over land, forest and water, we are coined as anti-development, anti-national and naxalites. Why? We are denied our rights by the state and society as well though we are the first citizens of this country. We do not belong to caste but we are discriminated because of our race. Tribals were treated like beasts for last 60 years of independence. Tribals are facing racial discrimination which the government denies. We must have to fights against injustice, inequality and exploitation. “We shall not give one inch of land for the development even they give us gold,” he added.
Activist Sirat Khchap said that Domicile is one of the most important issues for tribals because they are the most venerable in Jharkhand though the state is created in their names. Tribals have been given special domicile rights through the constitution of India under Article 19 (5), which clearly says that non-tribals masses can not be allowed to settle down in 5th and 6th scheduled areas. Tribals also have special domicile under the Chotanagpur Tenancy Act 1980 which must be enforced and realized.
Member of Adivasi Yuva Chetna Manch, Anju Kujur said that we must fight against displacement, which has been destroying our identity, livelihood resources and culture. All tribal youths should join hands to rights for our rights, autonomy and identity. Since our identity is based on land and forest therefore we must have to protect these.
Journalist Sunil Minz, Rakesh Roshan Kiro, Dr. Shanti Xalxo, Gyanmani Ekka and Amrit Tirkey also addressed the event. Jerom Jerold Kujur a member of Jharkhand Indigenous People’s Forum facilitated the programme. The programme was divided in a variety. A small dramas and skits laced with songs. The cultural aspect was designed and staged by the Adivasi Yuva Chetna Manch and Tarunoday. Artists displayed the life of tribals in the state. The drama portrayed the plight of the tribal masses, who were displaced, land were illegally taken away and got inadequate rehabilitation packages from the government. A booklet on the declaration of rights of Indigenous people was released by Stan Swami and Dr. Santi Xalxo. Thousands of tribal youths participated in the celebration.
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