Indian Social Institute, 23 August 2007
10:00 am – 5:00 pm
What: Tribunal on Indigenous People’s Rights. Over 40 indigenous people from Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand will assemble in Delhi to be a part of the tribunal.
Why: Sixty years on from Independence, the contrast between India's economic boom and the increasing marginalisation of those who are left out is stark. Displacement in the name of development is threatening the culture, religion, identity and livelihood of numerous indigenous groups. In the face of formidable odds resistance is growing.
The Recognition of Forest Rights Act 2006 came as a blessing and an outcome of the long drawn struggle of the indigenous communities. But while on one hand the Act recognizes the rights of the communities over natural resources, on the other hand, government policy of selling-off of forest areas combined with a land grab by companies for mining and industries, threatens the very essence of indigenous people’s rights and identity.
In Lanjigarh, Orissa Vedanta’s bauxite refinery and mining plans spell disaster for three ‘Primitive Tribal Groups’ the
Kuntia, Dongaria and Jarnia Kondh. Phulme Majhi, 25, a Kuntia Kondh woman from Orissa and local elected leader says: “For us it is a matter of life or death. Niyamgiri Raja – the mountain that is sacred to the indigenous groups in the area – is under threat and with it our land, livelihood and way of life.”
Jharkhand communities where mining is already underway will share major health and safety questions and the reality of 7 decades of mining where profit has ridden rough-shod over the interests of local people impoverishing indigenous communities.
The Sahariya community in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan
regularly face starvation. Cut off from their indigenous forest food while the public distribution system fails to fill the gap. Rambati, 35, an emerging Sahariya leader says: “Till three years ago, the food ration allotted to us was often rotten and infected with fungus, Chapatis made from those graoins used to stink. Even animals refused to eat them.”
Munnibai, 40 year old Sahariya from Madhya Pradesh recalls: “While some of us survived on flour made from dry flowers of the semar tree there were families who lived on wild grass, “just like cattle”.
Kondhs from the mining belt of Andhra Pradesh have been successful in halting bauxite hydro-electric projects that were threatening thousands of mountain families. They will also raise serious concerns over atrocities against tribal women. This week eleven
Girijan women in Visakhapattanam reported being gang-raped by policemen in their village.
These are just some of the cases that will be heard by the tribunal panel of academicians, activists, and government officials.
Panelists include:
Virginius Xaxa, Department of Sociology, Delhi School of Economics
Anuradha Chenoy, Jawaharlal Nehru University
Colin Gonsalves, Human Rights Law Network
Balkrishna Renke, Commission on Denotified Tribes
Highlight: Adivasi Members of Parliament including Jual Oram (Orissa), Sushilla Kerketta (Jharkhand), Kishore Chandra (Andhra Pradesh) will meet indigenous communities from these regions after the session concludes.
For more information or to arrange interviews contact: Pragya 9868 424 692, Anjali 9899 370 715, Alice 9810 923 904
CONTACT:
Alice Wynne Willson
Head of communications,
ActionAid India
