Yesterday saw the
arrival of the Deputy Director, Narmada Valley Development Authority,
Indore. The oustees went to the NVDA office in order to put their
demands only to meet with the response that the NVDA would talk to the
oustees individually and not collectively. This stand is a clear
violation of the right of Indian citizens to organise and raise demands
collectively, a right enshrined in the country's constitution. In
response, the oustees refused to let him leave the office till this
stand was set out in writing and given to them. The stand off continued
till midnight till the official finally agreed to give his response in
written form.

Today the oustees have demanded a meeting with the District Collector,
who as the Chief Land Acquisition officer is responsible for the
numerous anomalies and mistakes in the village lists of affected persons
for a time bound, participatory process of rectification of the oustee
lists.

Over the past few years, Jhabua District as well as the region as a
whole has witnessed a spurt in popular mobilisation around religious
issues. The Hindu Sangam organised by the RSS last year in Jhabua and
the increasing hysteria sought to be created around the Bhojshala issue
in Dhar more recently are clear indications of this. The predominantly
adivasi population of Western Madhya Pradesh is mired in poverty due to
decades of neglect by the state; forced to migrate seasonally for upto 4
months in a year in search of work. The irony is that the submergence
zone of the SSP is relatively resource rich and free from migratory
pressures. They are legally entitled to rehabilitation based on the
principle of land for land. The very fact that over 200 adivasi oustees
have been forced to agitate for 6 days now in order to raise such basic
demands as rectification of the village lists of affected persons and
rehabilitation on lands of their choice. Is a stark demonstration of the
state administration's indifference to issues of rights and livelihood.

We believe that this indifference has partly contributed to the rise of
fundamentalism in the region. The recent notes in Gujarat in tribal
areas adjoining this part of Madhya Pradesh are dangerous portents for
the future. People's organisations like the Khedut Mazdoor Chetna
Sangath, Alirajpur and the Narmada Bachao Andolan have fought for the
principles of secularism, sustainable and equitable development and
adivasi rights. The state government refusal to respond to the adivasi
oustees of the SSP even after a week of sustained agitation demonstrates
the hollowness of the professed principles of decentralisation, people's
empowerment etc. the administration is even refusing to accept as valid
documents and certificates issues by the gram panchayats in the region.

Today the collector was forced to come to the dharna place and talk to
the people. He acknowledged that there were serious problems with the
PAF lists and land records and that mistakes were made during the land
acquisition process. He agreed with the people that rectifications
needed to be made but was not ready to commit to any time bound process.
He also said that these were policy matters and he could do nothing else
about it, apart from passing on the complaints to the concerned
authorities. He mentioned that he could only make a proposal for
rectification.

While there has been some discussion with the officials and the
Collector with regards the rectification of PAF lists, other extremely
important policy issues of land for adult sons, land records etc. have
not yet been discussed with the officials, since they refuse to address
these issues.

The dharna in Alirajpur will continue till the topmost echelons of the
administration come down to Alirajpur and a genuine dialogue on the
process and mechanism of rehabilitation begins.

Please organise solidarity actions and issue statements in support of
this adivasi struggle. (Please fax copies to 07394-23341)

Vanya Suliya Shashank Kela