All-India Adivasi Mahasabha calls for unity among tribals

Smita Gupta

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‘In democracy, solution must come from peaceful exercise of people's power'
“Creamy layer” in tribal community must help fight poverty and illiteracy

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New Delhi: The All-India Adivasi Mahasabha, on the first day of its three-day long conference here on Monday at the Talkatora Indoor Stadium, stressed the need to unite the diverse tribal communities from across the country to gain a voice in Delhi, as a starting point to controlling their own destinies – and their land, water and forests.
In his speech, Meghalaya Governor R.S. Moosahary told delegates: “Let us unite all tribal groups so that we can compete – this is a competitive world.” Calling on the “creamy layer” in the tribal community to understand the aspirations of those less fortunate, he asked them to help fight poverty and illiteracy.
Appeal to Maoists
Criticising the government, Mr. Moosahary said poor administration and corruption in parts of the country had created Maoism. Making an appeal to the Maoists, he said, “You may be fighting for a good cause but you cannot get anywhere by killing innocents. In a democracy, the solution must come from the peaceful exercise of people's power – look at the example of Egypt.” Referring to the Indian Constitution, he said, “The Indian Constitution is a flexible document – short of Independence, you can get virtually anything.”
The national conference is being jointly organised by the Indian Confederation of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples (ICITP), an umbrella organisation overseeing over 310 issue-based tribal communities' organisations along with various other tribal forums. The meeting hopes to exert pressure on the government to properly implement laws such as Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act, the Forest Rights Act and other pro- tribal laws, as well as strategise to address emerging challenges for the tribal communities as well as to protect tribal cultural identities.
Issues
The conference will focus on issues related to land laws and land alienation, development induced displacement, forest and encroachment and eviction, extremism in Adivasi areas, poverty and migration, among others. It also plans to look at the different laws enacted in the country for the welfare of the tribals and decide how to take advantage of laws such as the Right to Information (RTI), PESA and the FRA.

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Allocation of loans for SC/ST students hiked manifold: Govt

Government has said it had increased allocation of loans for SC/ST scholarships manifold and was aiming to provide the benefit to 40 lakh pre-metric students from this category.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha on a discussion to the answer given by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on 11th March, his deputy Namo Narain Meena said the education loans to SC/ST students was Rs 273 crore in 2003-04 but stood at Rs 2,252 crore in 2009-10.

He said the percentage of SC/ST students covered under the loans from this category was 17.69 percent of their population.

For loans to SC/ST on agri-business, a special cell has been established in public sector banks, the Minister of State for Finance said on Thursday.

Opposition members, especially those from the BJP, countered the claims made by Meena, saying these provisions were already there and the main issue was their proper implementation. They claimed no cells had been established in banks for SC/ST.

Jyoti Dhurve (BJP), who had asked for the half-hour discussion on Mukherjee's reply, raised some important points during her presentation.

"The SC and ST have are not getting dues. What is the reason behind the poor development of these communities despite spending a lot of money by the government. I think that they have not got their due," she said.

Dhurve also talked about the unaffordable education finance which is hampering the growth of downtrodden in the country and pointed out that the rate of interest on such loans is as high 11 percent.

She demanded cheaper education loans for the SC and ST students.

Shailendra Kumar (SP) said the enumeration of SC/ST population has till now not been done properly, as a result of which the real number of those living below the poverty line is not known.

He said provisions should be made for giving reservations to SC/ST in private sector as well.

Arjun Meghwal (BJP) said the government should find out how many banks have not met their target of providing loans to SC/ST under its DRI scheme.

He insisted that government should provide for coaching classes for SC/ST students.

Paramjeet Kaur Gulshan (SAD) said the minister's answer was way off the mark and sought to know who are the beneficiaries of the government schemes for SC/ST.

She complained that the loan never reaches the intended beneficiaries at the ground level.

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Avalanche threat in tribal areas of Himachal

Shimla, Feb 7 (PTI) Avalanche threat today loomed large over tribal Lahaul and Pangi Valleys in Himachal Pradesh as intermittent heavy snowfall disrupted normal life affecting water, power supply and vehicular movement.

Acting Deputy Commissioner, Lahaul and Spiti, Varinder Sharma has advised people not to venture out in view of the avalanche threat and ordered closures of all schools in the Valley tomorrow.

Keylong, headquarter of the district, recorded over 50 cm of fresh snow and snowfall was continuing, reports reaching here said. Heavy snowfall was continuing in the high altitude tribal areas, mountain passes.

The ski slopes at Solang nallah are experiencing fresh snow, while key tourist resort of Manali had another spell of moderate snowfall.

Shimla and other mid-hills were lashed by a severe thunderstorm accompanied by intermittent heavy rains while tribal areas were experiencing fresh snowfall.

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Growing Naxalism: A stigma on face of 'shining' India

Recently, Indian Minister for Home Affairs Ajay Maken made a starling revelation before the Lok Sabha that more than 577 people including security personnel and civilians were massacred during Naxal attacks this year till October 31. At least 1,850 incidents of violence reported in the country’s Maoist-hit areas, this year yet. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had already declared the Naxal problem as the most serious security threat to New Delhi than Northeast insurgency.
Naxal movement is gaining momentum with every passing day. It has spread its tentacles to 200 districts of India. The question arises why the Naxals have been able to expand their area of influence and operations over the years to become a serious threat to the India’s internal security. This is due to multiple factors. The failure of the administration to make sure that the benefits of development percolate down to the common man, especially tribals should be considered as the main factor. The Naxal infested states have large tribal populations with poor infrastructure.
According to India’s Shankar Aiyar, “Each of the 80 worst Naxal-affected districts has no schools, poor heath care, exploitative feudalism, no employment opportunities and pathetic social infrastructure.” Over 0.3 million villages have no road connectivity.
As a case in point, Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh is on the list of 100 worst-affected districts for the past two decades. Corruption, displacement due to large scale projects, inability to avail of benefits from mining of mineral resources, and exploitation by local officials are enough to multiply resentment and increase reception to Naxal ideology.
Another factor is that Naxals have become more organised rather than a scattered force. Naxals model themselves on the Indian army, from training manuals to undercover training. The manuals translated into Hindi from Telugu by the security forces give a chilling insight into People’s Liberation Guerilla Army (PLGA) planning military skills and motives. This is very similar to the training of a Jawan or even a JCO.
The PLGA’s basic military courses begin with handling automatic weapons, compass and map reading, defensive and attack formations. The manual analyses Naxal operations since 1997 and suggests means to increase enemy casualty.

It discusses how to collect intelligence, stalk the enemy, and lay an ambush and attack. It also instructs how to retreat when attacked, regroup later using coded communication and how to raid protection installations.
The fighting forces of Naxals are divided into three categories. The primary force is of extremely well-trained personnel who spearhead any attack with superior weapons. The secondary force forms the bulk of a large group with less sophisticated weapons. Finally, the people’s militia comprises on poor farmers, labourers and such other people.
Naxals have over 80 training camps, each training between 200 to 300 people at any point. There are 84 training camps which are operating in several states such as Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Jharkhand.
In such circumstances supporting Naxals is far better option for the locals. 200 out of 600 districts are under Naxalite rule. They rule there because the people in these places support them in a majority and believe in them because the Naxals give them food, money and land, snatched from the rich land owners. To the people against whom they fight are villains and terrorists but the people for whom they fight are the heroes.
Indian government cannot stop the growth of Naxals through police, Salwa Judum or the military. It can only do so by erasing the reasons of Naxal movement. The Naxal belt is trapped in a vicious cycle of underdevelopment and violence. The foot soldiers of the movement believe that the Naxal movement will bring about development and prosperity. So the government can reduce people’s appeal for the movement by providing opportunities to the people of Naxal belt through sound economic and infrastructural development programmes. Despite well aware of the reasons that are behind the rise of Naxalism, Indian government is only depending upon force to end that problem.
At a time when India is a desperate aspirant for the United Nations Security Council permanent seat, it must look towards Naxals and uprisings in other northeastern states, and clean the stigma of Naxalism from its face.

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‘The Chittagong Hill Tracts: A Victim of Indian Intervention’: Book Review

Flag of the Chittagong Hill Tracts

Book Review : ‘The Chittagong Hill Tracts: A Victim of   Indian Intervention’ A K Zaman
akz5153@gmail.com

Zainal Abedin in his informative and research-based book has reflected the problem of insurgency in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) of Bangladesh from multi-dimensional points of view. A number of books on CHT issue are available in the realm of publication, but this book makes a distinctive and analytical approach to rethink about the long-term desire and interest of some vested quarters at home and abroad.
The writer has highlighted all the issues relating to CHT, geo-political importance and economic potentials of CHT in this region, the origin of migrated tribals and   settlers in CHT. The  premise narrated in the book are :

1. CHT is a part and parcel of Bangladesh from time immemorial and the tribal people migrated to CHT from adjoining areas of India and Myanmar .
2. The Bengalis have been the original inhabitants in CHT even before British rule in this region .
3. India plotted conspiracy to destabilize and hinder economic upliftment of Bangladesh by floating guerrilla war in CHT instigating the tribal secessionists.
4. Only a section of Chakma tribals is involved with the insurgency and majority of resident tribals are against this secessionist group.
5. During Pakistan rule tribal community never claimed regional autonomy of CHT.
6. The peace treaty is suicidal and detrimental to the interest of the country.
7. The withdrawal of army from CHT area will give the secessionists a opportunity for strengthening their position.

The writer has elaborately ventilated root causes of the crisis of CHT, but he exerted little on the measures to resolve the problem. However, this book is undoubtedly a research-oriented document which contain valuable information about CHT. It may be mentioned that even the educated section of our country is quite ignorant of prolonged crisis of CHT and sinister design of India behind it. This book will be a great help to create awareness of the people in home and abroad about the deep conspiracy of India and its stooges against Bangladesh. The writer has categorically illustrated that the tribals of   different communities living in CHT area are neither original dwellers nor aborigines as they try to claim. From historical and anthropological perspective he proved that they   migrated from adjoining areas of China, Myanmar and India , particularly from her North-Eastern region. Their physical stature, dialect, life-style and cultural identity indicate that they are outsiders who settled in CHT.   History also reflects that the Chakma headmen   were under the control of the Muslim rulers. But the tribals particularly the Chakmas intentionally try to misinterpret the concept ‘aborigines’ to draw sympathetic attention from native and overseas communities to achieve their ill interest. It may be mentioned here that a section of electronic and print media, intellectuals, journalists and politicians also echo the same sentiment and express solidarity with the tribal leaders to gain narrow political advantage.
The writer has rightly pointed out the common interest and malicious anti-army propaganda made by Jana Sanghati Samity (JSS) and India. Both the parties are also in favour of total implementation of so-called peace accord. They demand withdrawal of army from CHT region to ensure their hidden agenda. Besides, Indian newsmen, media and intellectuals also share identical views in this regard. But it is very mysterious that India herself has not yet signed similar agreements with the insurgent groups of North-East or Kashmir. India is unabatedly committing large-scale atrocities and violence and enacted various draconian laws like TADA, Armed Forces Special Power Act, POTA etc to validate their heinous activities in insurgency-ridden areas for a long time. Besides, India has not withdrawn its troops and other security agencies from the concerned troubled areas. But India prescribes totally opposite formula for Bangladesh.
The writer has indicated that Indian North-East region bordering CHT is geo-politically and strategically very important and volatile. Besides, this region is also rich in natural and mineral resources. In fact, CHT area is also considered as sensitive and strategically significant from Indian defence and security point of view. The writer truly reflected the intervention and involvement of India in order to destabilize the CHT region to help her to subdue insurgency in one hand and to get direct access to North-East region. On the other hand this will also enable her to contain China.
The writer has pin-pointed that India uses the Chakma insurgents to keep constant pressure on Bangladesh and weaken it slowly and swallow it finally. He has precisely asserted that by doing this India will be able to intrude its own citizens through ‘push-in’ in CHT area from its North-East region. The writer has cautioned about the pernicious tendency of India. He showed arguments that where India herself has been ruthlessly suppressing and torturing the innocent tribal people of North-East and Kashmir with a view to occupying their lands. The writer has also proved that the implicit presence of India trained insurgents in CHT area will simultaneously jeopardize the interest of the Bengalis as well as the tribals of CHT.
As a result, India will be able to project Bangladesh as a violator of human rights and international pressure will increase which will help India to dominate over Bangladesh. The writer in his book projected India ‘s presence of army in different insurgency-prone areas where human rights violation is rampant and atrocities committed by India go beyond description. India makes tall talks and shed crocodiles’ tears about human rights, democracy of other countries but such type of norms are not followed by India herself. It may be mentioned that military crackdown on unarmed minority and civilians in North-East India and Kashmir is not properly reflected in Indian media.
The writer has also clearly reflected the impracticability, non-transparency, and duplicity of various clauses of the peace treaty which needs to be reviewed and amended for greater national interest. Some clauses incorporated in the treaties are directly against the majority people of the land and contradicts the basic premise of the constitution.

‘The Chittagong Hill Tracts: A Victim of   Indian Intervention’
By Mohammad Zainal Abedin, Published by Eastern Publications
16 Silvester House, London EI 2JD, February 2003, ISBN 984-32-0513-2
Pages: 238 A K Zaman, akz5153@gmail.com

Posted by Isha Khan, who can be reached at bdmailer@gmail.com

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