15 -16 October 2007
ITF Ground, Port Blair
What: Over 5000 members of the ‘Ranchi’ community will come together for Mahasammelan (Mega Convention) to demand recognition of their identity and rights. They will be commemorating 132nd birth anniversary of Birsa Munda (tribal icon), who has been an immemorial source of
inspiration for the tribal struggle through mass gathering, rally, testimonies by community representatives and speeches by eminent guests from mainland India and local administration.
Andaman Adivasi Yuva Abhiyan Manch (Andaman Tribal Youth Movement Forum), a youth forum dedicated to raising awareness about the issues faced by their community – tribal identity, lack of education, health, alcoholism
etc- will perform skits at the two-day mega convention.
Hamari Pehchaan (our identity), a film on Ranchi community by New Concepts with ActionAid’s support will also be screened.
Anupama Muhuri of ActionAid says:
“An initiative to mobilise the Ranchi community on such a large scale is an attempt to integrate their issues and struggle with those of the mainland movement.”
Why: The Ranchi community largely comprises the tribes – Oraon, Munda, Kharia, Mahli, Tursi and Ghasi - from Jharkhand, Chattisgarh, Orissa, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar constituting 13% of the island population. These tribes
The tribal community now seen as a ‘migrant’ lot was first brought to the island way back in 1918 under the British government’s island development schemes. After India’s independence, they continued to be brought into the island, as their labour was required to clear jungles for settlements. While these tribes are recognised as scheduled tribes in their regions of
origin
The Scheduled Tribes have their fixed quota benefits for availing education, employment opportunities and other benefits. The Ranchis remain outside the fold of these benefits in the absence of a tribal status.
Sylvester Bhengra of Ranchi Association says:
“It was our community who first came to the island to work under harsh conditions when none would willingly come and today our contribution has been totally forgotten. Even after 89 years, we are struggling to reclaim our tribal status on the island.”
‘The local community sees us as an outsider and government refuses to recognise us as tribals on the island. Not only we suffer from threat to livelihood, access to government schemes on education and health schemes is also denied. Even the minimum basic services are not available.”
Who: The speakers and participants at the event include:
- Sylvester Bhengra, General secretary, Ranchi Association
- Sanjay Basu Mullick- Eminent Tribal Rights Activist, based at Jharkhand
- Prof. Virginius Xaxa- Prof. of Sociology (DSE/ NEHU), associated with civil society organizations, worker's issues and indigenous peoples movements.
- Rejan Guria: a well known name in Koel Karo movement, and works on displacement issue of tribals
- Anita Gari: is associated with Abhiyan which works on tribal issues in Jharkhand with a special focus on women and youth issues
- Edmond Andrew Sawra: a freelancer who has worked on migrant tribal issues in Assam. He formed student union movements related to this issue in the state
- Mr. Tamta: is the Chief Secretary of the Union Territory.
- Mr. Bhakta: is the only Member of Parliament who represents the Islands.
Other representatives of the Ranchi community will also be available to speak
Highlights:
ü Birsa Jayanti Mass Gathering: 15 November, 7:00 – 9:00 am
ü Rally flagged off by Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Mr Manoranjan Bhakta : 15 November, 9:00
ü Performance by Andaman Adivasi Yuva Abhiyan Manch:15 November, 4:10 pm; 16 November, 2:45 pm
ü Cultural program: 15 November, 5:30 pm
ü Testimonies by the Ranchi community members: 16 November, 11:30 am
ü Film Screening: 16 November, 5:00 pm
