Social activist Md Nayeemuddin may not be far-fetched when he says the tribal pathalgadi movement – erecting stone slabs to apparently establish self-rule by gram sabha and overthrow the government and its agencies – has the potential to turn Khunti into a mini-Afghanistan.
Nayeemuddin was reacting to Sunday’s pathalgadi ritual in six Khunti villages on Sunday, the biggest of them all in rebel-hit Kochang, where opium farms flourish. Read more
Courtesy: The Telegraph
In what may be interpreted as a controversial move, at least two prominent civil rights organisations, Mines, Minerals and People (MM&P) and Goa Foundation, even as talking of mining rights of the local people, especially tribals, have said that they are ready to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Make in India thrust, provided that locals are “involved” in a reasonable way. Read more
Courtesy: Counterview
Raising a major policy issue, a top advocacy group, Mines, Minerals and People (MM&P) has regretted that the plight of the “mining children” is not the responsibility of the Ministry of Mines, Government of India, which looks after all the mines in India, and the result is a strange “mess”: the lives of children as a result of mining has to be addressed by other departments like child welfare, education, tribal welfare, labour, environment and others. Read more
Courtesy: Counterview
Tribal evacuees subjected to submergence under the Polavaram major irrigation project have not received their share of compensation under the Relief and Rehabilitation (R&R) package even after one decade, though they are ready to vacate their villages.
The evacuees are residing on the left bank of the Akhanda Godavari and the villages include Angaluru, P. Gonduru and Nelakota in P. Gonduru panchayat limits, Nagallapalli, Varasanapadu, Bodugudem and Ravilanka in A. Vemavaram panchayat. There are allegations of large-scale misappropriation in the first phase compensation.
Complete relocation of residents of Angaluru and Nelakota was done on the ground but as per government records, the process, including payment of compensation, was completed in five villages, and officials are trying to vacate P. Gonduru and Nagallapalli villages, home to the Kondareddy, Koyadora and Kondakammara tribes.
Courtesy: The Hindu
The Chhattisgarh Assembly on Thursday passed the Chhattisgarh Land Revenue Code (Amendment) bill which would facilitate the government to acquire tribal land for various development schemes.
The bill, presented by Revenue Minister Prem Prakash Pandey, was opposed by Opposition members during discussions in the House.
After tabling the bill, the minister said that the amendment in the previous Act will ease the process of land acquisition in the tribal areas for various welfare schemes. Congress member Mohan Markam while opposing the amendment said that the fifth schedule in the tribal area protects the interests of tribals but the new amendment would create distress.
The tribals provided their land for Lohandiguda and Nagarnar projects but unfortunately they have not received any benefit, he said.
Courtesy: The pioneer
