Congress and tribal ire

By Manas Dasgupta

Even two years after the enactment of the new central act to give them ownership of the forest land they cultivate, the tribals in Gujarat have so far gained nothing. On the eve of the parliamentary elections, the tribals are asking questions about the intentions of both the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre and the BJP government in the State about implementing the “Scheduled Tribe and Other Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Land) Act, 2006.”

The challenge issued by Chief Minister Narendra Modi last year to the Centre to take action against him for “allocating” forest lands to the tribals without New Delhi’s permission, has not impressed anyone. There was no further action by the State government to give actual ownership rights and the tribals remained where they were, facing harassment by forest officials for alleged encroachment, continued repression and often forcibly displaced from their holdings.

The tribals feel alienated both from the Congress and the BJP. Not known for religious intolerance, the tribals had surprisingly sided with the Sangh Parivar during the 2002 communal riots and overwhelmingly supported the BJP in the State Assembly elections that followed. However, the voting pattern in the 2004 parliamentary and 2007 Assembly elections indicate that the tribals had returned to the Congress fold; most of the tribal-dominated seats were recaptured by the Congress.

The Congress and the BJP blame each other for the plight of the tribals but neither appears to be serious about addressing their problems. The BJP claims that the Centre was not clearing the State government’s recommendations for allotment of forest lands to the tribals, while the Congress maintains that the Centrally-sponsored welfare schemes were not being implemented by the Modi government.

More than one lakh tribals in south Gujarat alone have submitted their claims for getting legal recognition over forest land under the 2006 Act. They have pressed their demands at the district, State and the Central levels, but to no avail. Thousands of tribals have staged demonstrations in front of Parliament demanding that December 13, 2005 be made the cut-off date for recognising ownership rights. But nothing has happened and Gujarat lags far behind other States giving the tribals legal rights over their land.

The tribals are also seeking effective implementation of the national rural employment guarantee scheme, revision of “Below Poverty Line” (BPL) cards and its allotment to the needy, 35 kg food-grains for BPL card holders, home for landless, educational facilities for all especially up to higher secondary, filling the vacant seats reserved for tribals and subsidy in agricultural inputs like, seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and other assistance for the marginal tribal farmers.

At a recent meeting convened by various voluntary organisations, the tribals decided to support the CPI candidate for the Bardoli reserve seat, Shantaben Patel, and appealed to the tribals to vote for Left democratic candidates. The tribal vote, constituting about 14 per cent of the electorate, can impact on seven parliamentary seats in the State. Observers say Mr. Modi has cleverly choked the implementation of the forest land allocation act to turn the ire of the tribals against the Congress, and this will hurt the Congress more than the BJP.

Source: The Hindu

Tribal group accuses forest officials of implicating member

Bhopal: A tribal rights group in Madhya Pradesh Sunday complained to the Election Commission that forest officials had implicated its member in "false cases" under the Wildlife Protection Act because he was assisting a Lok Sabha candidate supported by it and other local groups in Khandwa.

In the complaint, the Adivasi Ekta Sangathan, working for the uplift of tribals in the state's Nimar region, said it "encouraged rural people to nominate their own candidate in the Lok Sabha election with a view to intervening in the democratic process and they selected Nahar Singh as their candidate for Khandwa seat supported by Lok Rajneeti Manch and other human right groups".

However, they alleged that this "did not suit the forest officials who beat up and took away Gopal Dubey - the Sangathan activist working for Nahar Singh in his election office at Borgaon market place in Khandwa on April 18".

The group's founder Vijay Bhai told IANS that the forest officials later registered a false case against Dubey under various sections of Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, charging him with hunting wild animals including deer, though he alleged the officials took him to a secluded place in the jungle and photographed him with the carcass of a wild animal.

The group has also complained to the police and Khandwa collector A.B. Singh and even filed an application in the high court.

Vijay Bhai demanded Dubey be set free and the guilty forest officials including the ranger and the deputy ranger, whom he charged with colluding with the forest mafia in illegal activities, be punished.

Source: Jansamachar

Congress looks to further strengthen hold on tribals

One of the two tribal constituencies of south Gujarat bordering Maharashtra, Bardoli is a Congress bastion, which was breached only once by the BJP in 1999. Renamed from Mandvi to Bardoli post delimitation, this predominant tribal area is a lush green region, historically known for Sardar Patels’ Satyagraha and now for a good number of Gandhian institutions. It is also the home to Gujarat’s lone tribal Chief Minister Amarsinh Chaudhary, whose son Dr Tushar Chaudhary is now the sitting MP.

A vital link to neighbouring Maharashtra, the region has the famous Vedchhi ashram, run by Gandhians, who also run educational institutes. Sugarcane farming has led to the presence of sugar co-operatives, which play a major role in local politics.

The traditional consumption of alcohol remains one of the banes in the region, though some tribal villages have passed resolutions banning liquor consumption. Although Bardoli is relatively water sufficient, displacement due to dam projects affecting tribals still rankles. Many prefer to migrate to bigger cities like Surat for better employment opportunities.

Compared to the northern and central tribal regions of the state, the tribals in southern Gujarat are much better organised politically as well as socially. The concentration of Gandhian as well as Christian missionary organisations, later challenged by saffron outfits, has led to relative better presence of schools and health institutions in the region. But for tribals, forestland rights still remain an emotive issue.

The constituency also witnessed the recent carving of a new district — Tapi — just before the 2007 Assembly polls. The tribals’ affiliation remains fiercely contested, with saffron groups having made inroads and taking on Christian converts as well as missionary groups quite often.

The late Chief Minister Amarsinh Chaudhary’s son Dr Tushar Chaudhary made his LS debut in 2004 and is the favourite this time also. The BJP has fielded newcomer Ritesh Vasava — a UPSC aspirant — to take on him.

Congress old-timer Chhitu Gamit, who now stands sidelined and has taken near retirement, had consecutively won the constituency earlier. But his sons now stand divided between the Congress and the BJP. One of his sons continues to be a committed Congressman, while other openly moves with BJP candidate Ritesh Vasava.

The Gamit juniors nurse resentment for being sidelined after Amarsinh Chaudhary’s son emerged as the leader in the region even as their father won the seat for seven times.

The region will also miss the presence of Jhina Darji, an old time Congressman, who had clobbered together the feuding factions of the Congress in 2004 to ensure victory in both the tribal seats in the region.

Post delimitation, with parts of Surat being included in the Bardoli (ST) seat, it could mean more caution and work for the Congressmen though.

Source: The Indian Express

Tribals take out rally in Kolkata to protest against “police excesses” in the Lalgarh area

Kolkata: Trouble broke out here on Friday evening after supporters of the Lalgarh-based resistance group protested against alleged police high-handedness towards some of its members in the city. The protesters blocked arterial streets.

The incident was a sequel to an altercation between supporters of the Police Santrash Birodhi Janashadharaner Committee (People’s Committee Against Police Atrocities) and the police over what the latter claimed was violation of traffic rules by drivers of some buses that had brought PSBJC men into the city for a rally.

PSBJC leader Chhatradhar Mahato alleged that the police had attacked a few buses and assaulted their drivers.

Peak-hour traffic was disrupted as a result of the blockade. Leaders of the PSBJC and those of some allied organisations demanded an apology from the police for attacking the buses that were to take their supporters back to Lalgarh. They threatened to hold an indefinite protest on the streets unless their demand was met.

The police later assured the protesters that their allegations would be inquired into.

Earlier, PSBJC members, many of them tribals armed with bows and arrows, took out a procession to the rally site.

The rally was organised in support of the PSBJC’s agitation against “police excesses” in the Lalgarh area of Paschim Medinipur district.

Parts of Lalgarh have been declared out of bounds to the police by the PSBJC ever since trouble broke out there following attempts to track down those responsible for a powerful IED blast that narrowly missed Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s convoy which passed through the region on November 2, 2008.

The police have not entered the area for more than five months.

Friday’s developments came at a time when the Election Commission is considering special arrangements to ensure peaceful polls in the Lalgarh as well as adjoining areas, where Maoists, suspected to be backing the PSBJC, have been active in recent times.

Source: The Hindu

Naxal threat fails to deter tribals

By B.V.S. Bhaskar

Gurthedu (East Godavari/Vizag Agency): Illiterate tribal people proved that ballot (now EVM) is powerful than bullet on Thursday, where first phase of election took place in Rampachodavaram Assembly segment. Particularly in Gurthedu, where no police or Revenue officials dared to cross Maredumilli till 2007 as the Maoists are active in this area.

But tribal and police are moving freely from last two years in this area, despite the movement of some group or other from the neighbouring Visakha, Orissa and Chhattisgarh borders.

Even now Maoists had called for a poll boycott, but the tribals took it casually. Only three gunmen with AK-47 at polling station and other special, greyhounds, striking forces in remote forest areas shows the sea change in this election compared to 2004 elections, where the security personnel outnumbered the voters.

Tribals in large numbers turned out to polling stations situated in Gurthedu, Daragadda (Irlavada), Bodlanka, Boduluru, Aaku Mamidikota, Maredumilli and Rampachodavaram from early morning on Thursday. It is like turning up to a wedding ceremony in one of their relative’s house. Tribal couple dressed in their best and with children came to polling booths.

Source: The Hindu

The Hinduised face of Bastar’s tribals

By Aarti Dhar

For people who worshipped nature and knew only one God, the new deities are now Shiva, Durga and Hanuman. Chanting of the Gayatri mantra, Hanuman Chalisa and Vande Mataram appears to come naturally to them; and Gayatri Parivar, the Brahma Kumaris, Art of Living and Baba Ramdev are now their inspiration.

Welcome to the new face of tribal culture in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region: temples on the roadsides, Ramlila on stage and the worship of Ganesha during the annual 10-day Ganesha festival.

This changed socio-religious character of the tribal population has also impacted on the voting pattern, the beneficiary being the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The BJP is now reaping the rewards of a long campaign by the various outfits of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS). This tribal support has greatly strengthened the party in the State. Right from the 2003 Assembly elections, the tribal vote has been polled in favour of the BJP and the trend is likely to continue in 2009, unless something dramatic happens.

The BJP now has a dedicated cadre in terms of voters. “The biggest beneficiary of the silent work carried out by the RSS outfits has been the BJP,” says Yogendra Kaushik of the Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram. Decades ago when the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) and its related organisations started work in the tribal regions of the State — Bastar and Surguja — it was to provide basic amenities like healthcare and education that would also help check the increasing influence of Christian missionaries.

The RSS started institutions like the Vanvasi Kalyan Ashrams, Ekal Vidyalaya and Saraswati Shishu Mandirs to provide informal education to tribal children that also included lessons on Indian “culture, religion and tradition.” Basic healthcare was provided by women through “Arogya Vidhi” or alternative medicine.

The schools and ashrams were opened in areas where no government facility was available; the children were subsequently shifted to government schools, but the lessons in Hindutva continued to ensure that they were not lured by the Church or Left ideologies. “We have also lost teachers to naxalites, who have opposed our work tooth and nail. It is not easy for us,” Mr. Kaushik explains.

The changed politics has become more evident in the recent past with tribals shifting their support from the Congress to the BJP.

The young men and women coming out of these institutions year after year swell the cadres of the Hindutva organisations. Over 500 Ekal Vidyalayas are functioning in the Bastar region alone. Vanvasi Kalyan Asanvasi Kalyan Ashrams are present in Orchha, Lanjoda, Barsur and Bhanpuri where children from Salwa Judum camps have also been enrolled.

Source: The Hindu

Remembering Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar

The importance that Dr. B.R. Ambedkar had in the shaping of modern India should not be forgotten. He led millions of the oppressed (including the tribals) to a life of self-respect, dignity, and responsibility. Babasaheb always stressed the importance of better education, so that our position in society can be uplifted. It was he who was primarily responsible for the Constitution, which was adopted after India became independent. His was the task of awakening India’s millions of excluded and oppressed to their human rights. He experienced their suffering and the cruelty shown to them. He overcame the obstacles to stand on an equal footing with the greatest men of his time. His work and mission continue today - we must not rest until we see a truly democratic India of equal citizens living in peace together.

Lalgarh tribals want unconditional apology

Despite announcement of compensation by the state government, the tribals of Lalgarh continue boycotting the West Midnapore administration, demanding unconditional apology from the district police chief for the assault on tribal women.

Based on an inquiry conducted by RD Mina, Principal Secretary, Backward Classes Welfare Department on November 16, 2008, state Home Secretary

Ardhendu Sen said on Monday that if required, the government will start departmental proceedings against the two officers involved in the assault.

A local tribal leader, Chattradhar Mahato, however, said: “The inquiry has proved that the police officers had assaulted the tribal women in Chhotopelia village on November 6 last year. Now, we want the district police to apologise to the victims.”

He added that until their demand is not met, the non-cooperation movement would continue in Lalgarh.

When contacted, N S Nigam, District Magistrate, West Midnapore, said the administration has not yet received any offer for talks with the tribals. He said the administration is maintaining a strong vigil on the tribal movement.

The tribals had begun a non-cooperation movement against the administration on January 7, demanding police apology for assaulting women in the raids conducted after the Salboni blast on November 2 last year.

Earlier, the tribal leaders had urged shopkeepers not to sell essential commodities to police personnel. They have also decided to stop paying taxes to the state government.

Source: The Indian Express

Lack of awareness on SC/ST schemes

The Director of Postal Services and Liaison Officer, SC/ST cell, Karnataka Postal Circle K K Sharma on Tuesday said, there are now more opportunities, concessions and facilities from the government as well as the private sector for the SC/STs but lack of proper information is the problem.


Speaking after inaugurating the birth anniversary of Dr B R Ambedkar and release of a book ‘Reservation and Concession for Schedule Caste and Scheduled Tribes & SC/ST Act’ which was held by All India P&T SC/ST Employees Welfare Association at the Meghadoot auditorium in the General Post Office premises here, he said, “Dr Ambedkar was a visionary. He was the architect of the

Constitution and his ways and theories of life are a model to all. This book by M Loganathan is a descriptive information that is of great value to all those who belong to the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribes.”

Source: Deccan Herald

Reservation for SCs, STs not must at prelims: Supreme Court

Observing that vacancies are not filled by "charity", the Supreme Court has said the government is not under any Constitutional obligation to provide reservation to SCs, STs etc, in preliminary tests conducted for filling up official posts.

"Judging of merit may be at several tiers. It may undergo several filtrations. Ultimately, the constitutional scheme is to have the candidates who would be able to serve the society and discharge the functions attached to the office. Vacancies are not filled up by way of charity," the apex court said.

A bench of Justices S B Sinha and Cyriac Joseph said preliminary examination is not a part of the main examination and as such the rule of reservation available to socially- disadvantaged sections cannot be insisted on at a threshold stage.

"The merit of the candidate is not judged thereby. Only an eligibility criterion is fixed. The papers for holding the examination (preliminary) comprise of General Studies and Mental Ability. Such a test must be held to be necessary for the purpose of judging the basic eligibility of the candidates to hold the tests," the apex court said.

The apex court passed the observation while rejecting the contention of certain reserved category students who challenged the Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission's (APPSC) refusal to provide reservation benefits at the preliminary exam stage for appointments of Deputy Collectors, Commercial Tax Officers and other Group-I posts.

For filling up 196 posts, the Commission had conducted a preliminary test for which 1,68,000 candidates applied.

At this stage, no reservation benefit was extended as the same was to be applied only at the main examination stage for which 9,800 candidates were shortlisted.

However, some of the reserved category candidates who were unsuccessful at the preliminary exam moved the Andhra Pradesh High Court which ruled that the rule of reservation should be applied even for the preliminary exam.

Aggrived by the ruling, the public service commission filed the appeal in the apex court.

Upholding the commission's rule the apex court said "lowering of marks for the candidates belonging to reserved candidates is not a constitutional mandate at the threshold. It is permissible only for the purpose of promotion. Those who possess the basic eligibility would be entitled to appear at the main examination."

According to the Bench, the disadvantaged group or socially-backward people may not be able to compete with the open category people but that would not mean that they would not be able to pass the basic minimum criteria laid down therefore.

Source: Press Trust of India

In West Bengal, Lalgarh tribals resist police entry

While Darjeeling has been simmering on the demand for a separate state, the Left Front government in West Bengal is faced with trouble from yet another corner — the tribal community of Lalgarh, in West Midnapore. The state government is taking necessary measures to ensure a free and fair election in Lalgarh in the wake of increased Maoist presence in that area.

The people in Lalgarh have been resisting the entry of police and paramilitary forces in their area since November. Their major grievance is that in the name of tackling Maoists’ threat, the police often harass and arrest innocent tribal youth.

The state administration was forced to to yield some major concessions, including withdrawal of paramilitary forces from the area, following stubborn resistance put up by the tribals. Now, the administration wants to deploy police personnel in that region as part of its election preparedness.

But the tribals are not giving in. Chhatradhar Mahato, the leader of the Committee Against Police Atrocities, who rushed to Kolkata to mobilise support for their cause, told Business Standard “people want elections. But we don’t want police to come in. In the name of holding elections, the police and CPI(M) cadres will try to take control and capture our area. We will definitely resist that.”

State home secretary Ardhendu Sen said: “Our priority is to hold elections there. We know Maoists are still operating there. If it leads to confrontation, what can we do?”

Elections in Lalgarh, which comes under the Jhargram Lok Sabha (ST) constituency, is scheduled on April 30. Pulinbehari Baske of the CPI(M) is pitted against Congress candidate Amrit Hansda in this seat. Aditya Kisku, the leader of a splinter group of the Jharkhand Party is also contesting. The CPI(M) has been winning this seat for many years without much contest. According to Chhatradhar, “Despite our efforts, both the factions of the Jharkhand Party are determined to put up their candidates, thereby dividing the opposition vote.”

Lalgarh, which shares a border with Jharkhand, has witnessed increasing Maoist attacks in the past few years. According to the state home department, there have been enough evidences that the Maoists are active behind the tribal agitation there.

However, Chhatradhar denies this strongly, saying “This canard has been going on since the 1990s. But this is an attempt to deflect the focus from the deplorable condition of tribals here.”

It is alleged that the tribals in Lalgarh were subjected to regular harassment by forest officials and the local police. Yet, they stood by the Left steadily all through the past 30 years.

Source: Business Standard

Orissa tribals get trampled under apathy & negligence

By Akshaya Kumar Sahoo

It was a dew-drenched December morning. The winter was at its peak. The picturesque Rayagada town on the borders of Andhra Pradesh and Orissa was wearing a beautiful bridal look. Alluring greenery on the hills nearby, hordes of buffaloes and sheep feasting on the long-grown grass presented a picture perfect for a nature artist to capture it on the canvas.

All this had no meaning for Sukru Himrika. He had no longer any hope to live in this pretty place where he was born 23 years ago. He decided to leave his home to feed his family.

The local forest officials had stopped Sukru and his villagers from entering the nearby jungles to collect firewood and sell them in markets for sustenance.

With his dhangidi (young wife), the frail and tribal youth Sukru was waiting at Rayagada railway station to catch his train to Surat (Gujarat) to work in a cloth factory. Not sure of the nature of work there, he had just made up his mind to leave his maa mati (motherland) for Surat to eke out a living.

"I don’t know whether I will fit into any job there or not. Nor do I know anything more other than collecting firewood and non-timber forest produces," says Sukru. "Satakatha babu. Aamar aau kichhi chara nahin. Aame kemiti banchibu se nei aamar chinta. (What Sukru says is true. We do not have other means of sustenance. We are worried over our future)," said Kalu Himrika, another tribal youth who, along with his two children and aged father, was waiting to board his train to Surat, nearly 2000 km away from his home.

Sukru and Kalu are among hundreds of tribals who depend mainly on the forests for their survival. But, as they allege, they are no more allowed by the authorities to enter forests, and if at all they do, they are harassed and tortured.

"The forest officials are harassing us for no reason. Whenever they find us in forests, they seize our axes and other traditional weapons that we use to cut and lift branches of dead wood which get rotted and wasted without any use. They ask us for bribes and threaten to send us to jail if we do not comply with their demands," Kalu said, adding that many of his fellow villagers had in the past been sent to jail for their inability to offer bribes.

The government statistics itself says that more than 10 million tribals in Orissa, mostly in southern and western Orissa districts, directly depend upon forests as a source of non-timber forest produce (NTFP) for sustenance. The tribals collect numerous items including sal leaves, sal seed, tubers kendu leaves and various medicinal fruits and seeds like amla, harida, bahada, patalgaruda, chireita, honey and mohua.

The NTFP trade in Orissa is valued at over Rs 3,000 crores annually with the benefits directly flowing to the tribal population. Since land holdings are absent or negligible, this extra income is critical to their survival. However, harassment by the forest officials and recent restrictions imposed by the government on the movement tribal people in forests have made their life miserable.

According to Food Security Atlas published by the UN World Food Programme, the regional patterns of development in Orissa reveals that development has not spread and there have been pockets of underdevelopment. The South-West Orissa region constituts of three districts: Koraput, Bolangir and Kalahandi (KBK). This KBK region has been divided into eight districts since early 1990s. The districts are Koraput, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Bolangir, Sonepur, Kalahandi and Nuapara.

The region accounts for around 31 per cent of the total area of the state and 20 per cent of population because of its rugged and hilly topography. Low levels of land development in the KBK region have resulted in poor performance on the agricultural front. There is very small area that can be cultivated twice in an agricultural year. This has resulted in a very low cropping intensity. As the area lacks industrial activities and other business activities, hundreds of Sukrus migrate to far-off places, leaving their wives, parents and children to their fate at home.

Adivasi girl fighting for community in Lok Sabha polls

Guwahati: Stripped of her dignity publicly in Beltola two years ago while participating in a rally for adivasi rights, Laxmi Oraon contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Tezpur, is a determined young woman.

Not putting the humiliation of being publicly stripped on November7, 2007 behind her, Laxmi, contesting on an Assam United Democratic Front(AUDF) ticket, says she is determined to fight for justice and recognition for marginalised sections of the society, including her adivasi community.

Undeterred at having taken on Congress heavyweight and sitting MP Mani Kumar Subba and AGP's Joseph Toppo, she hits the campaign trail at daybreak with her supporters.

She takes her message to fight for scheduled tribe status for adivasis and promises to draw national attention to their problems in tea gardens.

The young adivasi woman believes that the four lakh strong community of the 12.5 lakh electorate is her strong point.

Appealing for votes, Laxmi says that her suffering was not personnel, but was representative of the way her community has been suffering for generations.

Laxmi points out that nothing has changed since her ancestors were brought here by the British to work in the tea industry.

"Nothing has really changed. We remain just a vote bank," she says.

She narrates that when adivasis went to Guwahati to demand ST status for themselves two years ago they were attacked.

She decided to join politics and work for the welfare of downtrodden peoples as her community has been ignored by political parties.

The support of the people, including non-adivasis and the minority community, was her strength and inspiration to work for them, she says.

Source: Business Standard

Kurukh font launched

Ranchi: Kelly Tolong, a font based on Kurukh script Tolong Siki, and the script itself, were launched together at the Central Library, in Ranchi University, today.

HRD Minister Bandhu Tirkey inaugurated the software. Besides, a calendar in Kurukh was also given to those who attended the function.

For those uninitiated Kelly Tolong is a computer font based on the Tolong Siki script, which is again based on Kurukh, a language spoken by the Oroans. The font was developed by software developer, Kislaya. While Gumla-based doctor, Narayan Oraon, developed the Kurukh script Tolong Siki.

It took Oraon 18 years to work on the script and he was ably guided and helped by the director of Centre Institute of Indian Language, Mysore, late Francis Ekka. to understand the Kelly Tolong software better one may log on to http://newswing.com or contact kislaya@hotmail.com.

“The state has accepted the script and has also informed the Union human resource ministry, New Delhi, about it,” said Oraon. Till date Kurukh was being taught, along with five other tribal languages, at RU with the help of the Devnagari script.

Source: The Telegraph

The Success Story of Ajay Linda

Ranchi: Children of illiterate or semi-literate parents have proved their mettle once again by cracking the Union Public Service Commission Examinations from Jharkhand last year.

The parents of Ajay Linda, a tribal (Oraon) youth, are illiterate and work at Heavy Engineering Corporation. But Ajay excelled beyond anyone's expectations securing 532th position in the UPSC.

"In 1990, my mother had to mortgage her belongings for Rs 2,000 to admit me at Indian School of Mines University in Dhanbad. This is my payback time to them," Ajay told The Telegraph.

Ajay, a native of Tundhuldoria village, 25km south-west of the state capital, passed matriculation from St Ignatius School, Gumla, in 1988 with 78.6 per cent marks.

A graduate from St Xavier's College, he proved his mettle by cracking the all-India admission test of ISMU in 1990. Ajay served as a mining engineer with BCCL and CMPDIL before cracking Jharkhand Public Service Commission examination in 2007 and getting appointed as block development officer of Bharno in tribal-dominated Gumla district. "This was my third attempt at UPSC. My optional subjects were geography and public administration. I never opted for any coaching, but had taken help of correspondence material from Synergy to prepare for the exams. After I was declared successful in the mains, I formed a group and shifted to Delhi, where I prepared for the interview," said Ajay.

Ajay's friend Sandeep Lakra with whom he prepared for interview part also cracked UPSC securing a rank of 603. Sandeep, a resident of Harmu in Ranchi, is the son of a senior bank officer.

West Bengal's tribal body to boycott polls

Siliguri: Akhil Bharatiya Adivashi Vikash Parishad (ABAVP), a tribal body in West Bengals northern hills, Wednesday announced that they will boycott the Lok Sabha elections in the Terai-Dooars region of the state.

We had given a memorandum to the Jalpaiguri administration over a month back, asking for a separate constituency at Terai-Dooars to be reserved for Scheduled Tribes," John Barla, ABAVPs Terai and Dooars co-ordination committee president, said here.

"There were a couple of other demands like the proposed East-West corridor should pass through this region, said Barla.

The ABAVP gave the administration an ultimatum till March 31. Since we didnt get any response from them on the demands, we in a party meeting today (Wednesday) decided not to cast our votes. In fact, all the tribals of Terai and Dooars will boycott the polls, he said.

Barla said about 60 percent of the total population of Terai-Dooars are tribals.