Voice for Child Rights - Orissa

Union Budget 2009-10 bypasses India’s children once again

2009-07-11T03:44:00.000-07:00

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Union Budget 2009-10 bypasses India’s children once again
Source-http://www.ifp.co.in/shownews.php?newsid=3252
By Satya Gopal DeyKolkata, July 8, 2009:
“Social sector, in particular the children of India, have not got any significant attention in this year’s Union budget,” stated Brinda Karat, member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) and member of polit bureau CPI(M). On being apprised about the press release on the aspect of budget for children brought out by CRY (Child Rights and You), in a telephonic interview with the Kolkata correspondent of Imphal Fress Press, Karat stated that, “UPA government is going to table Right to Education Bill without appropriate budget allocation.”According to CRY, the Union Budget 2009-10 shies away from key allocations to education, health, and child protection. Despite being plugged as citizen-friendly, scratching the surface of the budget throws up three key shortfalls. Public expenditure on schooling falls short for the number of children entering school-going age every year. No new money allocated to realise the proposed Food Security Act. Without a holistic approach to food, there is no guarantee that children will grow up food secure. The promise to universalise ICDS has been long-standing and while the increased allocation to Rs. 6,705 crores for the ICDS is welcome, the impact on the ground can take years to materialise. In the context of ICDS as raised by CRY, Brinda Karat reminded about Supreme Court’s verdict. In short, the actual increase in expenditure on children is just Rs. 5,100 crores: approximate 14 percent increase that will hardly cover the number of children added to the population each year.“Children are forty percent population of our country, each and every budget should have special emphasis and increased percentage of share for the children,” stated Shatha Sinha, chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).“Most developed countries in the world like the USA, UK and France spend around 6-7 percent of their national budgets for public education and health, while India allocates around 3 percent for education and around 1 percent for health. When we emulate first-world economic growth, we must realise that economic growth is meaningless unless it reaches 70 percent of India’s poorest,” said Dipankar Majumdar, director of development support of CRY. “For a country that is firmly on a growth path, a decrease in public spending on education and health from 1999-2000 to now, is regressive,” Majumdar further added.The total allocation for school education and health is well below the need for 10 percent of GDP to be allocated to school education and health. Public spending on basic rights is not just good policy, but also good economics, feels Majumdar, since an educated, healthy India will enable a robust economy.“Given the UPA’s people-friendly appearance, an example of which is the increased outlay for the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), we expect the government to live up to its potential,” said Majumdar. “The Central government’s allocation for 40 percent of India’s population - its children - remains at 5.09 percent and it is clear that state budget allocations will not make up for the needs,” emphasised Majumdar.According to CRY, the government’s Aam Aadmi image needs to be backed up by not just allotment, but by a push on utilization.The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had rapped the government in early 2009 for SSA funds that were returned unutilised. Allocations, not backed by usage, remains an empty promise. Not just sanctioning new ICDS centres, but making them operational and staffed by trained personnel. Even the better developed states like Gujarat and Maharashtra have been unable to operationalise all the sanctioned anganwadis.Spending on school education is the same as last year, Rs. 13,100 crores for Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Rs. 8000 crores for Midday Meals Spending on food security and health not increased.According to Brinda Karat, there is an overall decline in the percentage of share for children. In the 14th Lok Sabha Karat was an important member of Parliamentary forum for children. “The 15th Lok Sabha would also reconstitute this forum,” Karat stated in her concluding statement.

Children's share of the Budget 09-10

2009-07-09T19:04:00.000-07:00

Common School System

2009-07-09T18:38:00.000-07:00

At the out set, it may be stated that this paper do not discuss about content of education, teaching and examination methods, medium of instruction and teaching of languages and other issues related with school education. This paper confines its discussion only to the question of access to quality education to every child through common school system of public education based on neighborhood school.

Though Common School System was proposed long back by Kothari Commission, it was not implemented for the last four decades and so. The only reason that can be cited to this non-implementation of this proposal of the commission is the lack of political will on the part of the successive governments. With the Supreme Court raising the status of the right of the child education to a fundamental right, in 1993 in its judgement on Unnikrishnan case, there developed a momentum in different democratic circles in favor of the long cherished dream, the Common School System. Even after such an epoch making judgement of the Apex court, successive governments at the centre could drag on the issue and could complete their tenures without bringing legislation to ensure right to education. Those very parties, which led the union governments in the last fifteen years, are contesting in the ensuing general elections for Loksabha to come to power again. Certainly it is the right time for institutions, intellectuals and activists to raise the question of CSS for a wider debate.

The state, after British rule, that came into existence in India, represented vested interests of certain privileged classes through out. Naturally, such a state would like an education system aimed at social reproduction for maintaining class relations and the prevailing economic order instead of one which can help the transformation of the society. The political parties which all wielded power either at centre or at provincial level did only run the system in the best interests of those very classes. The successive governments did not use the relative freedom within the system to achieve the democratic goals set in the constitution. However, people of this country still hope to achieve the long cherished goal of right to education through Common School System. So the debate and activism are alive. Supreme Court Judgement, certainly, continue to give strength to the debate and activism in favor of child’s right to education and related issue of common school system.

The hope of the people for common School system is not completely baseless. The egalitarian preamble of the constitution gives them the hope. So also, people of this country achieved many demands by waging heroic battles against different governments in the post independence period. People of this country, workers, peasants, women, dalits, tribal, teachers and students all fought against the successive governments for protection of their rights against ongoing corporate globalization. They were successful, of course, partially. So, the pioneers of the movement for common school system can keep all the confidence in the people of this country to achieve the goal. One can be certain that the peoples’ movement can achieve necessary amendments for the constitution within the scope of it’s’ preamble and can also restrain the on going corporate globalization to realize the dream of Common School System. Of course, one has to think where to start and how to proceed in building such a historic nation wide movement. Let us take certain important questions related with constitution in formulation and implementation of the policy of common school system through neighborhood school.

The constitution of India gives the religious and linguistic minorities the right to establish and run educational institutions of their choice (Art 30) and further it confers right to profession and occupation to all citizens (Art 19). These fundamental rights are extensively misused to commercialize education sector by vested interests. One can not oppose these rights conferred on minorities and all citizens, but one shall have to find ways and means to restrict the misuse of these rights. Kothari Commission also raised this very issue and concluded that private schools which do not seek aid could not be brought under common school system and the commission there by expressed its inability to curb commercialization of education. The commission proposed that by strengthening government schools and aided schools which come in the ambit of common school system and by providing quality education there, the children can be attracted to common school system of public education and there by unaided and fee collecting private schools could be rendered irrelevant gradually. After the four decades of Kothari commission report, today, the situation is still worse. While quality of education in government schools further deteriorated, the number of private schools increased multifold. If we take Andhra Pradesh for example, one out of three school students are in unaided private schools (47 out of 135 lakhs of students in 2007-08 academic years). The menace of unaided private schools was not nipped in the bud and now it has gained monstrous proportions. Vested interests are inter-woven with this sector of unaided private schools. It is late, but, may not be too late for establishing a common school system across the country. The misuse of the referred fundamental rights provided in Art 19 and 30 require being immediately checked for the purpose.

The Minorities’ right: Protection of minorities is the first duty of any civilized nation. The constitutional protections to that affect are to be guarded with all care. However, at the same time, one has to see that the same provisions are not misused by vested interests. Some states, say Andhra Pradesh, earlier tried to restrict the misuse of this provision is the point here. The government of Andhra Pradesh, under public pressure, made it a condition for recognition of minority institutions established under Article 30, that they should enroll minimum 85% of the students from the same minority community. This condition delivered good results for some time. Private operators could not open as many educational institutions as they wanted to make big profits by enrolling students from majority community due to this condition. However this condition was liquidated later in favor of educational tycoons. The point here is that there can be some legislation at all India level, on the above lines, to see that the article 30 is not misused. One may even suggest a suitable amendment to Art.30 of the constitution for the purpose.

The Right to Profession and article 19: The text of article 19 of the constitution of India reads as follows. “19. (1) All citizens shall have the right—(g) to practise any profession, or to carry on any occupation, trade or business.” Let us see how Supreme Court interprets the art 19 of the constitution of India in its Unnikrishnan vs Government of Andhra Pradesh case (1992).

Para-64: While we do not wish to express any opinion on the question whether the right to establish an educational institution can be said to be carrying on any "occupation' within the meaning of Article 19(1)(g), perhaps, it is we are certainly of the opinion that such activity can neither be a trade or business nor can it be a profession within the meaning of Article 19(1)(g). Trade or business normally connotes an activity carried on with a profit motive.

Para-67 Teaching may be a profession but establishing an institution employing teaching and non-teaching staff, procuring the necessary infrastructure for running a school or college is not 'practising profession'. It may be anything but not practising a profession.

From the above paragraphs 64 and 65 of the judgment, we understand the right to trade or business provided in article 19 is not applicable to education. So also, we understand that no citizen do have fundamental right to establish an educational institution employing teaching and non-teaching staff and run it under his ‘right to profession’. However, Supreme Court was not ready to give a precise meaning of the phrase ‘carrying on an occupation’ with reference to the said article. At the end, while vehemently opposing trade and business in the field of education, the SC allowed individuals and associations to establish educational institutions and to run them and even to collect fee from the students. The court was of the opinion that recognizing and affiliating public authorities have a right and duty to see that the admissions of students are in conformity with right to equality and other provisions of the constitution and do have the right and duty to regulate fee structure and quality of institution in an appropriate manner. This judgment was weak because it allowed individuals and associations to establish educational institutions on non charitable basis even. Such an allowance, though not allowed as fundamental right as the petitioners appealed, ultimately leads to the commercialization of education. That is what all happened.

Coming again to the question of ‘right to profession’, as explained by ‘Unnikrishnan’ , it do not give a fundamental right to citizens to establish an educational institution and employ teaching and non-teaching staff and earn money or otherwise. Yes, article 19 does not give a fundamental right to citizens to establish an educational institution, but every citizen does have a fundamental right to practice a profession of his choice. And, also it is to be noted that the right to practice a profession invariably includes earning a livelihood out of that. If a qualified person practice teaching profession and charges from the beneficiaries some fee against his service, he can not be penalized for that. So, in conjunction, it can be said that a citizen has a fundamental right to practice teaching profession which may include collecting fee from his students but do not have fundamental right to establish and run an educational institution by procuring infrastructure and by employing others. It means self employment in a profession including teaching profession is a fundamental right. Further, if few qualified teachers form into an association, run a school, teach lessons there to the students and collect fee from them, how can they even be penalized? They can invoke right to profession and right to association, both provided in article 19, in their favor. From the above discussion it is understandable that, there is no way but to allow so formed cooperative bodies to establish and run educational institutions. ‘Unnikrishnan’ did not explain the above part because it allowed individuals and associations to establish educational institutions even on a wider basis. Allowing individuals and associations to establish educational institutions even outside right to profession, as the judgment did, lead to the wide spread commercialization of education. The fifteen years’ experience after the judgment necessitates a fresh look at the issue. Now, it may be required to restrict the scope of allowance to individuals and associations to establish educational institutions only under the right to profession in conjunction with the right to association. In other words, to see that education service is not converted into trade, there shall be an amendment to the constitution effecting that no individual or association is allowed to establish educational institutions on any basis other than charity basis. There can be only two exemptions to that namely; article 30 and right to profession in conjuncture with right to association as elaborated above.

Cooperative associations of professionals: There can be a legislation to restrict the misuse of the provision of right to profession and right to association in the context of establishment and administering of educational institutions. Such legislation, however, shall make provision for the professional associations formed out of teachers, karmacharies, and other personnel required to run an educational institution to establish and administer an educational institution and collect fee from the students. It means, only those who would work in the educational institution form an association and the association establishes and administers the institution on its own and collect fee from the students both against the fixed and reoccurring expenditure of the school including their salaries. The membership of the association shall be restricted to only to those who practice one or other profession in the educational institution and also no person working in the educational institution shall be denied of the membership. Such legislation, while safeguarding the right to profession and right to association even in this context, at the same time restricts practice of trade in education. Such educational institutions established and administered by professional associations may be called as cooperative educational institutions and in the case of a school, it can be called a cooperative school.

The clause 6 of article 19: Before we close our discussion on article 19, we may be required to see the implications of clause 6 of Art 19.

“(6) Nothing in sub-clause (g) of the said clause (19) shall affect the operation of any existing law in so far as it imposes, or prevent the State from making any law imposing, in the interests of the general public, reasonable restrictions on the exercise of the right conferred by the said sub-clause, and, in particular, 2[nothing in the said sub-clause shall affect the operation of any existing law in so far as it relates to, or prevent the State from making any law relating to,—

(i) the professional or technical qualifications necessary for practicing any profession or carrying on any occupation, trade or business, or

(ii) the carrying on by the State, or by a corporation owned or controlled by the State, of any trade, business, industry or service, whether to the exclusion, complete or partial, of citizens or otherwise]”.

So, the sub clause 6 is clear and, it allows the state directly or through a corporation owned by it to carry on any trade, business, industry, or service, whether to exclusion, complete or partial, of citizens or otherwise. Many advocates of common school system invoke this clause for their purpose. This clause was very much there when Kothari commission gave its report. But ‘Kothari’ found it difficult to invoke this clause to bring the un-aided public schools in to the ambit of common school system in the then obtaining understanding of the constitution. However, this clause was interpreted by Supreme Court, later, in many a case in favor of public interest. Former chief justice, Chandra Chud was quoted in Unnikrishnan vs. govt. of AP for his out standing understanding of the essence of the constitution.
"Those rights (Fundamental Rights) are not an end in themselves but are the means to an end. The end is specified in Part IV.”

We can safely conclude here that the state has all the authority to nationalize all the educational institutions in the wider public interest on the basis of the provisions of the constitution. If banks can be nationalized, why not education?

But the mute question is that shall the democratic sections of the society allow the state to monopolize education process. Will it not pave path for fascisation of education and culture by the state. Shall our opposition to commercialization of education and multi tier system of educational institutions lead us to accept absolute state control on education? Can we accept state control as synonymous to public interest in a country with all possible forms of inequality and with the track record of the state in its pro hegemony conduct? The people who believe in transformation of the present system based on inequalities may require establishing and running alternative educational institutions. So also, is it not the responsibility of the democratic sections of the society to demand a suitable amendment to the constitution to state clearly that education neither be a trade or business nor it can be a occupation? Further, is it not required of us to demand again to clearly state in the constitution with suitable amendment that right to profession with respect to teaching and medicine is more sacrosanct? Shall not we plead for right to profession and right to association and for the use of both of the rights in conjunction to establish and run educational institutions as elaborated earlier? While concluding the discussion on article 19 it can be stated that, as it is given now, the article 19 allowed SC to interpret it in favor of self financed colleges with ‘reasonable’ margin of profits. This article 19, as it is given now, can also allow the state to exercise complete control over education process If it is so needed to restrict and regiment education as the German Nazis did. The article 19 is required to be suitably amended to protect the right to teaching profession and also to plug the holes of commercialization in the name of right to occupation. In a word, with respect to education, while right to profession is to be fully fortified, the right to occupation along with right to trade and business are to be completely liquidated.

Common School System: if there is an effective ban on commercialization of education by suitable amendments to the article 19 of the constitution, we will have schools of only three categories as far as ownership is concerned. 1) Schools run by central provincial and local governments, 2) schools run by charitable trusts and 3) Co-operative and self financing schools run by associations of teachers and karmacharies. These schools can co-exist in the same neighborhood. Here we can introduce the neighborhood concept. Legislation that is to be made for neighborhood school may provide that the parent/guardian can enroll their child/ward in any of the schools available in the delimited neighborhood only. While the first and second category schools would not collect any fees from the students, the third category schools which are essentially self financing schools collect fee from the students as the appropriate authority may fix time to time. However, all schools, irrespective of the category to whichever they belong, shall follow the same syllabus, same teaching and examination methods, same service conditions for the teachers etc.

Right to Choice of School: The question under consideration is the parents right to enroll their child in a school of their choice. Actually this is an unfound right. Votaries of private schools on commercial lines are bringing this question to the fore. Kothari commission did not raise this question at all. The recent Bihar commission on common school system denied existence of such right either in Indian constitution or in the constitution of any other democratic country. The very concept of compulsory elementary education is based on the right of the society in bringing up the child over the right of the parent. While parents give the child a physical entity, the society gives her the socio-cultural and intellectual entity and hence the right of the society in upbringing the child overrides the right of the parent or guardian as far as schooling is concerned. On the other hand, the right of the child to grow as a harmonious social being requires her to join a neighborhood school. So, from any angularity, the so called right of the parent need not be considered in formulating the common school system.

However, in the above scheme of things, a relative choice is offered to the parents. They can enroll their children in any of the schools in the delimited neighborhood. One restriction imposed in the above scheme of things is that a parent /guardian can not send her child/ward outside the delimited neighborhood. He has to choose only one of the available schools in the neighborhood if there are more than one school in a given neighborhood.

Universal and Compulsory Stages: The age group of child is now defined to be 0 to 18 years all over the world. India is a signatory to the Jomtin declaration of UNESCO which reiterates the same. So, the universal right to education should be extended up to age 18 years of the child. Bihar commission on common school system recommended the same. A child can complete two years Pre School, five years primary school, five years of lower secondary school and two years senior secondary school courses before she completes age 18. While it shall be compulsory on the part of the state to provide all the said four stages of education to all children, as far as child and parent are concerned, the pre-school education and senior school education (+2 levels) shall be made voluntary. The logic behind the proposal is that the state can not impose compulsory education on young child of below 6 years age and so also, formal structure of education can not be made compulsory to the children of adolescent age, say 16 to 18 years where the young child develops her own personality on her own imagination. However, the responsibility of the state to provide education to all children 4-18 age group remains all the same.

4 - 5 years-- Universal pre primary education
(Child care and education centers
attached to primary school)
6 - 15 years-- Compulsory and Universal 10 years of middle school education (5 years Primary and 5 years Lower Secondary)
16 -18 years-- Universal Senior School Education
(Pre University or Job enabling education)

In this scheme, a child, as he or she completes age 18, either become eligible to pursue higher education by completing pre-university course or become eligible to take up some vocation by completing some technical, industrial or skill oriented course. If the right of education ends at the age fourteen as the 86th amendment Act provides, the child will be neither eligible for higher education nor for skill oriented Job. It will be very dangerous to leave the child without direction at the age 14. So, any policy on school education shall provide for free and universal education up to age 18. The above proposed scheme, if implemented, will be in conformity with 10+2 system in vogue for many decades through out the country. This scheme facilitates 10 years common core curriculum in a given state and also provides for two years diversified courses to suit the conditions and interests of different individual children. At +2 level, some students who want to pursue higher education would like to join pre-university courses while others would like to take job enabling courses like polytechnic, industrial training and vocational courses.

Union list vs. State list: The subject, education was originally in state list and has been shifted to concurrent list in the period of emergency by 42nd amendment Act to the constitution. We know that states in India are linguistic and cultural entities and so they require formulating their educational policies at school level to pursue their linguistic and cultural identity needs. After twelve years of school education, as elaborated above, some students will pursue higher education to attend the professional and intellectual needs of the nation as a whole. So, it may be suggested that while school education will be in the state list, the higher education will be in concurrent list. If such a redistribution of powers is effected, different states can formulate their own common school systems in the given constitutional frame work. The shifting of school education subject to state list shall not come in the way of financial and academic support from the centre. Of course, the states will have to advance the ethos propounded in the constitution through their school system and will have to implement basic tenets of common school system of public education formulated at all India level and provide free education to all children up to age 18 for achieving the national goal of building democratic, secular and informed society.

Shifting of the subject of school education to state list facilitates the states to protect the cultural rights of the people of different regions and also to address the questions of inequalities between different social-sections. More important point may be that the people of different states can influence their own state governments to implement pro-people policies than they can influence the union government. So also, we know that more concentration of powers in the centre means faster growth of corporate globalization and enhanced danger of mono-culturist attacks. The point here is that while there shall be a broader framework of common school system of public education on the basis of neighborhood school concept at all India level, the states shall have more freedom to formulate their own policies to protect their own cultural identities on one hand and to achieve national goals on the other.

Equitable Quality: Earlier we have seen that, under the proposed regime, there can be only three categories of schools, at the most, in a given habitation. The numbers of schools which run on charity lines are falling very fast and for all practical purposes, we will find only two categories of schools namely, 1) Government run schools and 2) Self financing cooperative Schools run by professional associations of teachers and karmacharies on their own. If government schools are established in sufficient numbers and are facilitated to deliver quality education, 80% of the parents would only enroll their children in government schools. Only the families of top economic group, say about 20% may prefer to enroll their children to private schools. If government schools are provided with sufficient qualified teachers and necessary infrastructure, they can certainly deliver quality education. At such a stage, private schools can not excel government schools even they spend more money because education suits as a public service better than as private service. In a word, provision of needful conditions in government schools to deliver quality education leads to comparable standards across all managements in course of time. There are many examples, in Andhra Pradesh state, where government schools excel private schools in every aspect. The point here is that the government schools can be strengthened to provide quality education comparable to best private schools. Even after such a stage of development, private schools may remain in existence as status symbols and luxurious centers of richer sections of the society until radical transformation of the society.

Public-Private Participation: Bihar commission on Common School System proposed that the government should extend aid to all recognized private schools and bring them under common school system of public education based on neighborhood school practice and where those schools will have to stop collecting fee from the students up to class VIII. The report suggested that the schools which collect fee from the students be derecognized. I do not know whether such a suggestion can be implemented within the scope of our constitution as it stands now and whether can we make necessary amendments to the constitution, given its’ general frame work, to bring a suitable legislation to implement the suggestion of the commission. On the other hand there is every possibility that the private managements collect both the aid from government and fees from the majority students. This proposed aid to private schools may become a scheme of 100% reimbursement against the 30% reimbursement proposed by RTE-2009 bill recently introduced in the Rajya Sabha. Everybody knows that the World Bank formulated the Policies of Public Private Participation and is promoting in different countries with an aim of siphoning of public funds to private operators. At this stage, every person who are on the side of the people require to be careful against the designs of different governments trying to push PPP schemes in different forms. I propose that this seminar should suggest in clear terms that public funds are to be spent entirely in public institutions only and private institutions can not be supported by public funds. In the present situation of corporate globalization guided by World Bank and where state overtly is supporting forces of market, there is every danger that the public funds are siphoned to private agencies in one or other form if not taken care of.

Understanding of Common School System: From the above discussion, we understand the limitations of the constitution of India, even after possible amendments within its frame work, in evolving a common school system. We may be able to take the following measures within the broad framework of the constitution.

1) There shall be an amendment to the constitution effecting that no individual or association is allowed to establish educational institutions on any basis other than charity basis. There can be only two exemptions that are provided by article 30 and right to profession in conjuncture with right to association as elaborated above.

2) There shall be an all India legislation allowing professional associations to establish schools and administer them on the basis of self financing. They can collect fees from the students for running the school including fixed costs. The membership of the professional association shall be restricted to only those who work in the school and none of those who work in the school shall be denied membership in the association.

3) School education shall be in the state list and union government shall render financial and academic support to the states to achieve the national goal of universal child education up to age 18.

4) And all state governments/ UTs are required to establish sufficient number of schools, provide qualified teachers and necessary infrastructure and enable the staff there to provide quality education to the students in government schools.

5) The government shall universally provide to all children i) 2 years pre-primary education, ii) 10 years middle school education, iii) 2 years senior school education free of cost

6) Parents/guardians are required to enroll their children/wards in one of the available schools (government, charitable and self financed) in their neighborhood. They shall not be allowed to send their wards outside their neighborhood as delimited by appropriate authority.

ENABLING THE CHILD TO EXERCISE ITS RIGHT TO EDUCATION:

Of course, the provision of quality government school in the vicinity of every habitation is very important, no less important is the provision of necessary conditions for the child to participate in school education on regular basis. Many children are not able to go to school, even education is provided free of cost, due to their family conditions. In Andhra Pradesh alone 20 lakh children of age group 6-15 are out side school. They are expected to be in the middle school. They make more than 13% of the relevant age group. In Andhra Pradesh 27% children drop out before they complete class V, 43% of children drop out of school before they complete Class VII and only 25 out of 100 who enroll in class one graduate middle school that is class X. There are different reasons for this drop out of children from schools. But, all reasons are emanating from poverty of the family. This paper is not intended to elaborate on the question. What is attempted here is to suggest some measures to enable the child to exercise her right to participate in school education.

Bihar Commission on CSS took a historical stand when it suggested that no child shall be an orphan in our country. It suggested that if the child does not have her own guardians, state itself should become the guardian of her. It should also be understood that the responsibility of the state extends to the children who have guardians but whose guardians are poor and not able to give her nutritious food, decent cloths and who are not able to meet non-fee educational expenditure. The state shall provide every child what ever it requires to continue its education. Some children may require food, shelter, clothing education material and health services, they shall be provided all their needs. It means they require government residential schools. Majority children do not require residence, they can well stay with the parents, but, they require other things including nutritious food for three times a day. They shall be provided those needs through school. That is the only way to arrest drop out and achieve high rate retention of the children in schools. Mid day meal programme in Andhra Pradesh helped an increase in retention of children in schools. This shows very clearly how such support programmes can increase retention. Bihar commission on CSS recommended certain measures in support of the children from poor families. What this paper proposes is that the state shall support every child according to its needs to enable it to continue its education. This paper further proposes that the state support to child to continue her education shall be guaranteed by constitution with suitable amendment to article 21A.

Conclusion: Ban on trade in education, ban on different forms of Public Private Participation, ban on establishment of private schools on non-charitable basis only with exemption of article 30 and right to profession as elaborate earlier, extension of universal education up to age 18, strengthening of government schools and taking measures to enable every child to continue her education on regular basis seems to be the issues of paramount importance to achieve the goal of universalization of child education and for establishment of common school system of public education on the basis of neighborhood concept. The seminar may also find time to discuss issue of shifting of school education subject to state list.
Dr Ramesh Patnaik

Article on Child Labour- Jyoti Prakash

2009-04-30T19:00:00.000-07:00

Article on Election and Child

2009-04-29T19:52:00.000-07:00

VCRO news in The New Indian Express and The Hindu after Press Conference

2009-04-13T17:31:00.000-07:00

VCRO in a Press Conference asked political parties and candidates not to neglect children's issues

2009-04-12T20:38:00.000-07:00

PRESS RELEASE

Voice For Child Right Orissa (VCRO), is a state level alliance, of People’s organizations, NGOs, intellectuals and individuals across Orissa for the protection and promotion of child rights in the state of Orissa. . VCRO aims at building a mass movement for the protection of best interest of the children of Orissa. A child demands her/his definite right as a citizen of present than future. But taking the advantage of her/his helplessness and vulnerability, we intentionally or unintentionally do injustice. Thus the social, political, cultural and economic environment of children affects them most. The election is approaching and we are going to elect our representatives who will be policy and law makers. At this important juncture we are organizing this Press Conference to appeal the political parties to include the child right issues and the broader issues that are directly or indirectly affecting the children in their respective manifestos.

The country is now passing through a very critical juncture where every individual and every community are facing serious problems of different sorts deserving solution at the earliest. What is striking to us is that the issues of children though urgent and sensitive get sidelined in course of political discourse by parties as well. It so happens because the children are neither voters themselves nor articulate about their needs and demands. As a result the issues surrounding the children get multiplying and accumulating over time with no political will on the part of the regime that be to take any decisive move for solving them.

Now a day’s common people have realized that this election is going to be one where marginalized and common peoples issues will be neglected. Present unemployment situation, equitable education for all, loss of the cultivation of the farmer, displacement from livelihood, loot of natural resource etc are some of the great important issues. It results to increase in child related issues like child labour, child sexual abuse, child trafficking, school drop outs, street children, malnutrition, infant mortality, poor health condition and children in conflict with law etc. These entire questions should be addressed by this election. The Major Contestant political parties which are trying to capture centre– state power by hook & crook to this election, are fluctuating from answering and making the election agenda of the burning issues. For this reason some valueless attempts are made in distributing of candidature to the film stars and convicted criminals and brokers.

A country can be judged for its worth by several criteria, but the one that has a close bearing on the state of its civilization is how the children are treated, specially what sort of legal and institutional protection is guaranteed against the possibility of children getting abused, exploited, neglected and abandoned.

Such and many other questions associated with the status and future of children in our state are haunting the activists and members of VCRO since they have launched a united advocacy campaign for legal and policy reforms to promote all round development of children with the help of people organizations across orissa.

At this hour when the elections to Parliament and State Assembly are fast approaching, the contesting parties and candidates need be candidly told that they can’t afford to neglect children’s issues any longer in the their electoral manifestos and public discourses.

Under the circumstances, a minimum charter of demands centering round the children’s issues is put forward below to be taken up with priority by all the political parties and candidates who are going to join the electoral fray and seek votes from the public in the forthcoming Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha polls.

Charter of Demands on Children’s Issues
Uniform and quality education ( teacher-student ratio, Use of mother tongue & local culture, sufficient infrastructure etc) for all children in the form of common school system.
Enhancement of Budgetary provision for Primary Education by 10% of GDP
Prohibition of Child Labour
Stop those development projects which result in massive displacement rendering the fate of affected populations including children miserable
Declare a State Children’s Policy following a debate involving civil society groups working on children’s issues
Amend the Commission for Protection of Rights of Children Act 2005 so as to provide for timely penal action against the violators of children’s rights and interests.
Amend further the Juvenile Justice (Care & Protection of Children) Act 2000 as amended 2006 so as to provide for penalty clause against the concerned public servants found guilty of violation of the provisions of law.
Upward revision of quantum of financial assistance available to child care institutions including the Government Grant-in-aid to orphanages
Amend the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act 1956 to provide for stringent punishment against the traffickers
Ensure proper functioning of Anganwari Centres, Mid-day Meal Scheme, Janani Suraksha Yozana, and care and protection of children with HIV+ etc.
Ensure proper health care services to children

Issues That Are Directly And Indirectly Affecting Children
1. Combat Liberalization, Privatization &Globalization (L.P.G). Globalization is the term under which imperialism presents itself in the current face. Globalization is generating poverty, debt, and unemployment. We must participate actively in the growing worldwide movement against globalization.
2. Scrap SEZ policies. SEZ is neither inevitable nor necessary for industrialization. The indiscrimination acquisition of land for the purpose of SEZ is not only uprooting the farmers but snatching the means of sustenance from other working people dependent on land. Nearly 40% of the acquired land belongs to the tribal and other marginalized people.
3. Implement land reform: We should carry forward the struggle for land reforms and distribution of land to the landless people particularly land rights to women.
4. Put emphasis on agriculture and the farmers by giving them agricultural loans on subsidy, agriculture in surance and market to sell their product
5. Fight for food security. Our food sovereignty is under severe threat. The collapse of the Public Distribution System is further aggravating insecurity of food. Food for the poor has to be subsidized. So we demand the reintroduction of the universal PDS to curb and bring down prices and assure the food for the poor people. We demand for remunerative prices for agricultural produce.

6. Promote communal harmony in the state . Orissa is a peace loving state. The current communal riot has tarnished the image of Orissa. So communal harmony is to be maintained.
7. Ensure development without displacement so called development is specially targeting the Adivasis and other marginalized people who are displaced from the native habitat, deprived of their land, water and chased out of their forest dwellings.
8. Implement the Forest Rights Act 2006 to ensure the rights and ownership of the water land and forest to the tribal forest dwellers.
9. Ensure access to water. Water a basic human need gifted by nature is being privatized. Ensure easy availability and access to pure drinking water for and marginal people in both rural and urban areas.
10. Protect and Preserve Natural Environment to reduce loss of human live and damage of property due to natural disasters.
11. Ensure Social Security for the workers of unorganized sectors.
12. Ensure shelter for all homeless people in rural and urban areas
13. Include the provision of recall the elected representatives under the Peoples
Representation Act.
14. Ensure right to work for the unemployed the youth or unemployment allowance.
15. Prohibit and protect social atrocities on Dalit and marginalized people.
16. Fight against CMZ to protect and save the coastal areas people (fisher man and other coastal inhabitants.

2009-01-18T03:38:00.000-08:00

Participantants

Mr Sailesh Rabi Addressing

Chief Guest Mr Sangramjeet Nayak

Inauguration by Children

2009-01-18T03:35:00.000-08:00

State Level Children's Meet

2009-01-18T03:17:00.000-08:00

The life of any child is profoundly influenced by their social, cultural, psychological and physical environment. This can be considered in terms of the child him/she-self, his/her family and immediate social environment, the local social fabric and, directly and indirectly, national and international affairs. In many societies, views persist that children are their parents’ property, or are adults in the making, or are not yet ready to contribute to society. Children have no votes or political influence and little economic power. Too often, their voices are not heard. Children are particularly vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. It is only with the ratifying of the Child Rights Convention that children's rights to participation began gaining formal recognition, although several NGOs had initiated processes to enlist participation of children and young adults long before the CRC. There is, however, no universal or accepted definition of child participation. Various groups and individuals have defined it according to their own understanding. There is still a fairly long journey before this 'inclusion' of children's participation is internalised and accepted widely.
Is the situation confronting the lives of our children bleak, or is there reason for hope? Can we promise them an India that truly shines? What do elections hold for these non-voters? Iin case we forget, they are the adults of tomorrow, and they will hold the adults of today accountable someday.
With the above mentioned back drop Voice for Child Rights- Orissa has initiated a process to ensure child participation in the districts of Orissa. It created a space for the children to have interaction with themselves, show their cultural talents and speak of their mind in a state level platform. Particularly children of SC & ST communities and that to from tribal districts of Orissa are getting an exposure as well as opportunities to show their talents by participating in a state level children programme.
Voice for Child Rights- Orissa and its national alliance Nafre Jan Andolan jointly organized a two day State Level Children’s meet on 27th and 28th of December 2008 at Sahid Laxman Nayak Smruti Bhawan, Bhubanewar. Children particularly from remote parts of Orissa participated in the programme. Children from Koraput, Nabrangpur, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Balangir, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Cuttack and Kendrapada districts with more than 100 numbers took part in the meet. The objective behind the meet was to give exposer to the children towards various cultural activisms followed in Orissa and formation of a children’s forum in the state level.
The Programme was inaugurated by the children themselves. One representative from each district came to the stage and inaugurated the programme by blasting the balloons.
The programme started with a welcome song sung by children of Basundhara. Then a list of cultural activities which was to be performed by the participants were prepared. The cultural activities included drama, dance, one act play, music,singing, group activities & comedy etc.. Children displayed their talents. The themes of each of the activities were different from each other. Each activity gave a social message to the children. Starting from common school system to the issue of displacement, the prevalent issues were given top priority by the children in their performances.
In the evening three guests were invited to have an interaction with the children. Mr Sangramjeet Nayak, Under Secretary ,Science and Technology, Govt of Orissa, Mr Sailaj Rabi, noted social activist and revolutionary poet and Mr Ashim Kumar Ghosh of CRY, Kolkata addressed the children. Mr Nayak in his address said that he is happy to see children from backwards parts particularly from tribal districts have got an opportunity to get their talent displayed in the state capital. He thanked VCRO and NAFRE for that. Mr Rabi said children should not be hesitant to do a thing. They should act of their own without any fear. It is the duty of the elders to provide them the opportunities. Mr Ghosh said in the present age of globalization children are the worst affected. Children also perceive a society that we all do. So children should express their perception.
After the meeting the guest witnessed some beautiful performances by the Children and the programme of day one come to an end at around 9 PM. The first day activities were controlled and coordinated by Mr Khageswar Manhira and Shishudev Barik.
The second day programme started at 9 am. The agenda was to form a state level children’s forum in the state. Mr Santosh Dash and Mr Prasanna Modi coordinated the agenda. All the children selected two names among themselves who will represent at the state level.
The names of the members of the State Level Children Forum are given below.
Sl No
Name
Male/ Female
Address
1
Lipika Dash
F
Rajnagar, Kendrapada
2
Madhusmita Nayak
F
3
Tara Majhi
F
Jugsahipatna, Kalahandi
4
Dasna Majhi
M
5
Anjana Kumura
F
Kasada, Jamankira, Sambalpur
6
Saraswati Kumura
F
7
Kunti Chandan
F
Karmunda,Chandahandi Nabrangpur
8
Bikas Kumar Das
M
Motigaon,Chandahandi, Nabrangpur
9
Madhuri Mahanandiya
F
Goranmunda,Gaisilat, Bargarh
10
Bhagban Suna
M
11
Sauri Nanda
M
Kanipali,Loisingha, Balangir
12
Anand Biswal
M
Phalsamal,Loisingha, Balangir
13
Ram Khara
M
Ghodihanjar, Lamtaput, Koraput
14
Pramila Krisani
F
15
Abhishek Nayak
M
Ekatali, Jharsuguda
16
Saudamini Nayak
F
Housing Board, Jharsuguda
17
Munikumari Banchhor
F
Dahipada, Rajkhariar, Nuapada
18
Mukesh Gahir
M
Thekodongur, Rajkhariar, Nuapada
19
Itishree Panda
F
Sahdebpur, Nischintkoili,Cuttack
20
Monalisa Sahu
F
21
Mamina Das
F
Basundhara, Bidanasi, Cuttack
22
Anima Das
F

The state level committee selected Mamina Das as its president and Dasna Majhi as Vice President of the Children Forum.

The Children committee will interact among each other through letters, will intimate their issues to the VCRO offices and organize children groups in villages. They also said that if possible the state committee may meet twice in a year.

All the children moved towards Nandankanan, ZOO by a bus after having lunch and spent 3 hours there and moved towards their respective destinations after returning from the Zoo.

Mass Rally & Demonstration Organized by Badaka Mahila Morcha, Kalahandi

2008-09-30T04:20:00.000-07:00

By- Santosh

A mass rally & demonstration organized by Badaka Mahila Morcha on dt 27.09.08 saturday. The rally was started from Sikerguda to Chancher GP office where 150 women participated . The women put forward some demands to the collector through the Sarpanch of Chancher GP. Also the women directly asked the sarpanch about the corruption during the distribuytion of APL, BPL card.
Demands they placed are -
1. Proper distribution of PDS, pension , Indira Avas etc.
2. Better communication facilites in the GP
3. Activation of Health services
4. Proper functioing of High Schools in the area
5. Proper implementation of NREGA & FRA 2006.

VCRO FLOOD RELIEF AT NAHALPUR, CUTTACK, ORISSA

2008-09-29T22:55:00.000-07:00

By- Jyoti Prakash

The unprecedented flood in river Mahanadi submerged many villages of 16 districts of Orissa. The Nahalpur village of Nischintakoili Block Cuttack, is among the worst affected . The village is surrounded by river Chitrotpala in one side and river Luna in the other side . Chitrotpala is the closect touching the village. The breach of river embankment drowned the houses on 22nd of September at around 8 AM in the morning affecting more than thousand villagers. They have to spend traumatic hours seeing their houses in neck deep water for more than five days.

VCRO took a initiative to help the affected people. VCRO and its people organizations across the state collected relief materials. Some organizations and individuals who believes on VCRO ideology extended their helping hands for the cause. As a result of which 5 quintals of rice grains and Rs 3000 collected. VCRO with the help of its partner people organization of the locality Nabadiganta Grama Unnayan Sangha decided to distribute the relief materials in Nahalpur. The relief materials included Rice, Dal, Busicuits and Bread for children. Nabadiganta Grama Unnayan Sangha centra committee members such as Sridhar Barik, Dinabandhu Sahu etc hold a meeting with villagers for effective distribution of the relief materials. The villagers decided that the ward members of ward no 2 Kartik Chandra Das and ward no 3 Manjulata Bhoi will take the responsibility of their respective wards for the effective distribution of the relief materials. The biscuits and breads were distributed among the children immediately then & there.

VCRO also hold a meeting with Nabadiganta Grama Unnayan Sangha central committee members to take a long term strategy to fight the after effects of flood. It is decided that VCRO will submit a memorandum to the government demanding related issues of flood with Nabadiganta Grama Unnayan Sangha. The data regarding the damage will be prepared by Nabadiganta Grama Unnayan Sangha.

The villagers of Nahalpur showed their gratitude to all the POs who have send the relief materials for them.

Orissa Flood- Photographs after the visit of VCRO team

2008-09-26T02:16:00.000-07:00

Flood in Orissa due to opening of gates- Big Dams

2008-09-22T00:03:00.000-07:00

By- Jyoti Prakash, Bhubaneswar

This year Orissa is facing a devastating flood situation in coastal and some some part of western districts. Around 26 lakh people fled their homes to safer places in Orissa’s five coastal districts as a high flood hit Mahanadi river ad its branch rivers. The swelling Mahanadi began to submerge vast tracts in the deltaic regions carrying more than 15 lakh cusec water. The devastating flood has drowned up the whole coastal belt. River Mahanadi, Kuakhai, Daya,Kushabhadra, Bhargabi,Kathajodi, Biluakhai,Devi, Kandal, Birupa, Luna, Chitrotpala, Paika and Genguti etc are flowing beyond thri capacity. The condition of these rivers are very dangerous.

Till today flood had covered 200 blocks of 16 districts. Around 4500 villages are in flood. 1,80,000 people have been moved to safer places. It is feared that at least 25 people died in the flood. 2 lakh 47 thousand 132 hectres of irrigated agricultural land are damaged. The preliminary estimate reflects that 1522 Km long 657 roads,492 culverts are washed away. The worst condition is in Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Nayagarh and Khurda district.

Many places in southern and western districts like Rayagada, Gajapati, Kalahandi, Bolangir, Boudh and Sonepur were out of bounds as rain and flood water from local rivers submerged roads. The transport services in interior areas were worst affected. The Orissa government tried to play down the apprehensions hoping that flood may not be actually be as devastating as it initially appeared since rains had stoped upstream and water flow was being controlled. But the situation did not improve. 40 gates of Hirakud Dam is still open. The Relief has not reached many parts of many places. Govt also admit that. Though the fold water has been reduced the danger is still there.

VCRO as a forum of POs has taken some proactive steps to fight the after effects of the flood. It has alerted its POs to help each other in this acute situation. The POs of other parts of Orissa are going to send relief materials collected from their respective area to be distributed in Cuttack, Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur district. VCRO has also formed a team of volunteer to face the situation. Regular interaction with government officials is going on. A discussion with the Revenue Secretary, district administration of Cuttack and Khurda was held. They assured proper distribution of relief and also said that due to shortage of manpower they are not able to reach more than 5 lakh people yet. VCRO assured them all kind of manpower support in term of volunteers. The POs of Cuttack, Kendrapada and Jagatsinghpur districts are helping each other and also monitoring the proper distribution of relief.

The situation is very grim here and will continue till the coming seven days. Immediate supply of relief in terms of food and medicines will somehow minimize the worry of the affected people.

Fact Finding Team Report on Rourkela Observation Home Issue

2008-09-01T02:59:00.000-07:00

Children are always recognized as discrete group with identifiable rights and needs. This recognition is now accepted as a legal principle, which underlies much of the relevant human rights and humanitarian laws and argues for the special treatment of children and the fact that they are the new generation to be cherished as they represent the future. But the incident like Rourkela observation home where three juveniles in conflict with law took the home superintendents on hostage and later on they are beaten mercilessly by the police is aberration of law and a discredit to the Indian Justice delivery system.

On 18th August 2008 three juveniles in conflict with law took hostage the superintendent of observance home Mr B.K. Hembram. They held the superintendent hostage for about two hours. The Juveniles were demanding expedite their trials ad other basic facilities at the observation home. But the prime demand was speedy trial of their respective cases. The police rescued the superintendent and after that police mercilessly beat the three juveniles leading to their hospitalization. This inhuman behavior and the whole issue with photographs were shown in different forms of media. The issue became a concern for the entire human right activist especially child right activists in the state.

Getting the news Basundhara, Cuttack and Voice for Child Rights- Orissa (VCRO) constituted a Fact Finding Team (FFT) to trace out the fact behind the issue. The members of the FFT were Mr Harihar Nayak & Mr Sumanta Nath (Basundhara), Mr Jyotiprakash Brahma & Mr Prasanna Modi (VCRO) and Mr Rajendra Mishra, Journalist, Pravat Khabar.

The team visited the observation home on 21st August 2008 and met the home superintendent Mr B.K. Hembram and JJB member Mrs Saila Pujari.

Findings of the FFT
The Rourkela observation home has 81 juveniles who are in conflict with law. The juveniles are from 11 districts mainly from Western Orissa districts. The Juveniles are from very poor family and are victim of childhood poverty. They are allegedly involved in activities like theft, snatching, attempt to murder, rape etc. Apart from few most juveniles are charged under minor offences.
The three juveniles who took hostage the superintendent are Chiatan Mahanto (19), Gautam Saini (16) and Kushud Singh (14). One is from Baripada and other two are from Keonjhar district. Former one came to observation home on 23rd February 2007 and later two came home on 14th September 2006 and 1st February 2007 respectively. The most astonishing finding is that the cases of Gautam and Kushud have never been put of before any court of law after they are brought to the Rourkela Observation home. This is a gross violation JJ act and human right also.
The FFT interacted with the home superintendent on the issue. When queried about the steps taken by the home superintendent to expedite their trial he said that he has many times written letter to the concern district administration this matter. But no steps have taken on their side. He said the three juveniles are very modest in their behavior. They do not any rebellious antecedent or waywardness to the home rules during their stay at the home. After tying his hand they said him that Sir, we do not have any intention to harm you or put you in trouble. They said they are compelled to take him as hostage as they believed that by doing so their cases will be heard expeditiously. In many meetings the Judges, JJB members and others are saying that their cases will be heard but all those promises were false. They said they know the consequences of taking a person hostage but they are helpless as they are not left with any other options.

The observation home superintendent admitted that the Juveniles are also aggrieved by the food supplement provided to them. He said the WCD dept grant is Rs 500/- per month per juvenile on the head of Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. That’s why they are not able to provide the nutritious food supplement to the inmates. Sanitary condition of the observation home is also pathetic especially the condition of the toilets. Water scarcity is a regular phenomenon at the home. Overall the living condition at the observation home is pitiable. There is no vocation training provided not even a counselor is appointed. Shortage of staffs makes the condition worse.

The FFT realized that the hostage issue was reflection of accumulated anger of the juveniles. They are dissatisfied the way their cases are handled and they are wound up with the languishment at the home where there is no basic facilities like water and sanitation.

The Fact Finding Team asked whether the Police beat the Juveniles in the home? The Superintendent said this is a fact that they were beaten up and said he was not a part of it rather he requested the police not to beat the children. As per the report published in the newspapers and the photographs and the statement given by the observation home superintendent it a established fact that the Police mercilessly beaten the juveniles leading to their hospitalization.

One Juvenile who has completed the age of 18 has been shifted to jail. One legal issue comes here when a person commits a crime when he is a juvenile and stays at the observation home can he be shifted to the jail meant for hardened criminals after crossing the age of 18? This issue also needs legal intervention.

Then the FFT met the juvenile Justice Board member Mrs Shaila Pujari who is continuing her second successive term as JJB member at her residence. Replying to a question on delay of hearing of cases she explained that many children are from out station. They come by train and most of the time their identity could not be established. This makes the proceeding delayed. Where identity is established the parents do not turn up to release their children as they think the legal cost will be high. She said that the JJB of Sundargarh district is sitting regularly but could not give satisfactory answer to the question why then no appropriate instruction given by the JJB members to improve the living condition of the observation home.

Mrs Pujari also clarified that the JJ boards of Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar districts are responsible for the act of the three juveniles as they do not take any appropriate steps to expedite their cases. The FFT team brought the police atrocity on the juveniles in observation home to her notice. She said that she is aware of the atrocity through the media. When asked what measures she has taken against the barbaric police atrocity she said she has not been instructed by the CJM to do any enquiry nor she has any power to do so under JJ act even though the observation home comes under her jurisdiction. The FFT returned to meet the ADM but could not able to meet him as he was not at his office.

Recommendation of the FFT
* Immediate formation of Children Commission for protection and promotion of Child Rights in Orissa and enquire into this kind of matters.
* Expedite the trials of the juveniles in conflict with law who are languishing in different observation homes of the state.
* Stringent action against the police officials who have beaten the juveniles mercilessly by violating the JJ Act and judicial enquiry of the matter.
* Improvement of living condition of the observation home across Orissa in terms of Food, health and hygiene.
* Ensure the proper function of JJB as per the guidelines given under JJ Act and Rules.
* Reconstitute JJ Boards where it is non functional especially in Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar.

Violation of FRA, 2006 by Forest Officials.

2008-08-24T22:44:00.000-07:00

Butru & Jambri Pangi ( Kondha tribe) of Jangaljodi village of Dandabadi GP are in Jail and paid the price for protesting the open and daylight rape of FRA, 2006 by Forest Officials.

By- Bidyut Mohanty

On 7th of August Krishna Golari and other were beaten on the issue of forced plantation by forest Department on their land in the village Beniyamaliguda of Ramgiri GP. After much pressure built by the people and the gherao of the local police out post, four person were arrested but they were bailed after two days.

The arrest of the hired goons was difficult to digest by the Forest Ranger and he became angry and on 12th August the forester went with some people to the another forest village , "Jangal Jodi" of Dandabadi GP and forcibly allowed cows for grazing of the raggi field of the village. The villagers protested but the there was no effect.

On 20th of August the forester went with some goons to the village Jangaljodi around 1 PM and at that time two villagers, Butru Pangi & Jambari pangi were present. They had just returned from their agricultural field and having their lunch. The forester and the goons forcibly picked up Butru & Jambri and took them to the forest. Only two to three women and few old persons were present in the village. When other villagers came back, it was too late and they searched for butru and jambari near by jungle but didn't not found them.

On 21st morning some villagers came to Ramgiri police out post and submitted a FIR. Some members also came to koraput to meet District Collector and SP. On the way to Koraput they came to know that the kidnapped villagers are in Jaypore jail from 20th August.

Now Butru and Jambri are in the jail and the Ranger of Ramgiri has booked both of them in Orissa Forest Act, 1972, Section 67( C) & section 37.1.( C).On 21st, we moved the bail but the date was extended to 26th of August.

The OFA, 1972, 67© section is " Penalty for counterfeiting or defacing marks on trees and timber and for altering boundry marks- who ever with intent to cause damage or injury to the public or to any person or to cause wrongful gain as defined in the Indian Penal code-

(c) alters, moves, destroys or defaces any boundry mark of any forest or waste land to which the provisions of this act are applied.

Shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term (which shall not be less than three years but may extend to seven years and with fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees)

Section 37 is Penalties for acts in contravention of notification under Section 34 or of Rules under Section 36-(1) any person who

( c) Contrary to any prohibition under Section 34 breaks up or clears for cultivation or any other purpose any land in any protected forest or cultivates or attempt s to cultivate any such land in any manner.

Shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year………

The Ramgiri forest range is reserve forest area not protected area but the Ranger has slapped the section of protected area.

There are 30 "Kondha" tribal families in the village Jangaljodi and they are staying there since more than 50 years inside the reserve forest area. Some people have houses under IAY schemes and recently one school was sanctioned and there is also foundation for the school building.

In the village, Spread is helping the FRC to fill up the claims under FRA, 2006. In the first week of August the Forest department is trying have plantation on the legitimate claim land under FRA, 2006. In the same village many families have already lost their claim land for the plantation under KBK plan five year before.

The Forest officials are trying to suppress the people by sending them to jail in false cases. The local forest officials are also threatening the activists of Bhumi Adhikar Sangha and team of SPREAD to send to jail in similar cases.

I came to know that similar plantation is going on in Khairiput, Kudumuluguma, Padia and Korkunda Blocks of Malkangiri. In koraput district also in Kundra, Bandhugain and Narayanpatna Block forest department is forcibly evicting the tribals and other forest dwellers. Here in Ramgiri area people are protesting that is why they are either beaten are jailed ,while in other area out of fear people are silent. The pity is that some NGOs are also involved in the JBIC process as they are getting some grant under the scheme.

A team from the Ramgiri area and other CSD members meet the Chief Secretary on 22nd August at Bhubaneswar and he assured to look into the matters. But people are still in Jail and paying price for their legitimate rights under FRA, 2006.

This is an open & day light rape of FRA, 2006 by Forest officials.

Southern Zone VCRO People's Organisation Convention held at Koraput on 11-12th August 2008

2008-08-12T09:47:00.000-07:00

2008-08-12T01:01:00.000-07:00

Mass is ready for movement in Gandhamardan

2008-08-12T00:16:00.000-07:00

Mass meeting against minings at Malliparwat

2008-08-12T00:06:00.000-07:00

Krishna Golri, the claimant under FRA is beaten severely by Forest Dept. goons.

2008-08-08T02:34:00.000-07:00

By: Bidyut Mohanty, Koraput

On 7.8. 2008 afternoon, Krishna Golri, from the Kondha community of Beniyamaliguda village of Ramgiri GP of Koraput district was severely beaten by hired goons of the Ramgiri forest Ranger. The fault of Krishna was he opposed the plantation programme of forest dept on his land. Krisha is cultivating the forest land since ages together and he has already claimed the land under the FRA, 2006. The pallisabha passed his claim on 18th of July, 2008.Krishna Golri aged about 35 is seriously injured and admitted in the Baipariguda PHC, which is 35 kilometers away.

Tribals of Ramgiri area are opposing the forest dept. recent plantation drive under JBIC & RLTP on their agriculture land on which they have legitimate claim under the FRA, 2006. In the village, Beniyamaliguda the forest dept. forcefully trying to have plantation on the agriculture land of tribals under extension of RLTP( Revised long Term Plan) programme. The basic objective of RLTP is eradication of poverty in KBK region. Villagers of Beniyamaliguda opposed the plantation on their land when the forest dept. tried to plant in the second week of July, 2008, where the villagers have already shown the raggi.

The forest dept. has promoted a VSS in the main revenue village Ramgiri and most of the VSS members are non tribal and influential persons of the GP. The forest ranger of the Ramgiri is using the VSS for the plantation. On 7th August mainly four person Bapi Das( gen,, who is a outsider), Sama pujari( SC), Ganesh Sagar( SC) & Dama Dandsena( general) with other VSS members from the Ramgiri attacked Krishna when he was ploughing his land. The villagers have lodged a FIR in the Ramgiri outpost.

The conflict between forest dept & villagers of the area has become a daily affair in the Ramgiri range. The people's organization of the area " Bhumi Adhikar Sangha" raised this issue before the Sub-collector, jaypore, DFO, jaypore the Collector Koraput but without any solution to the problem. The scheme which is meant for welfare of the tribal people are going against them and this is clear violation of the revolutionary Act, FRA, 2006.

VCRO threatens mass stir over corporate crime

2008-07-24T09:45:00.000-07:00

VCRO threatens mass stir over corporate crime
Thursday, July 24, 2008
By Anurjay Dhal
Bhubaneswar( Orissa) Voice for Child Rights, Orissa and Mali Parvat Surakhsa Samiti, an outfit fighting to save Mali parvat from mining on Thursday threatened for a mass agitationand raise concern over the security of the tribal especially children, women and old age person in mineral rich areas of the State.
Locals alleged that on July 20, 200 hired goons of HINDALCO attacked the villagers of Maliguda and injured many. Even they have not spared the small children, women and old age persons. 10 injured including three children have been admitted at Koraput district hospital.
Arjun Khillo, secretary Mali Parvat Surakhsa Samiti said if mining of bauxite is allowed in the area then all the villagers will loose their livelihhod as the perennial streams that irrigate the agricultural lands will dry up. And there is no alternative option left to the poor tribals. The area is quite tense out there. Uday Singh Thakur of VCRO said his organisation behind maliparvat surakhsa samiti. If the company people will further try to attack innocent people a larger movement will take place.
A delegation of VCRO submitted a memorandum to the Governor and requested him to interfere in the matter immediately.HAL displacement forum president Trilochan Muduli, Maliparvat Surakhsa Samiti president Damburudhar Kihilo and VCRO advisor Dillip Ojha also condemned the attack on trbals by the company officials.
http://www.orissadiary.com/Shownews.asp?id=7586

2008-07-24T01:41:00.000-07:00

www.odishatoday.com
VCRO seeks Guv's intervention over Mali Parvat mining issue in Orissa
By Anurjay Dhal
Bhubaneswar ( Orissa) : Voice for Child Rights, Orissa and Mali Parvat Surakhsa Samiti, an outfit fighting to save Mali Parvat from mining, condemned the attack and raise concern over the security of the tribal especially children, women and old age person in mineral rich areas of the State. Locals alleged that on July 20, 200 hired goons of HINDALCO attacked the villagers of Maliguda and injured many. Even they have not spared the small children, women and old age persons. As many as 10 injured including three children have been admitted at Koraput district hospital, they alleged. Arjun Khillo, secretary Mali Parvat Surakhsa Samiti said if mining of bauxite is allowed in the area then all the villagers will loose their livelihhod as the perennial streams that irrigate the agricultural lands will dry up. And there is no alternative option left to the poor tribals, he said. Meanwhile Uday Singh Thakur of VCRO said his organisation behind Mali Parvat Surakhsa Samiti. If the company people will further try to attack innocent people a larger movement will take place, he warned. A delegation of VCRO submitted a memorandum to the Governor and requested him to interfere in the matter immediately.
http://www.odishatoday.com/orissa/VCRO_seeks_Guv_intervention_240708-84575134.html

press release on mali parvat issue Dharitri 24 Jul

2008-07-24T01:32:00.000-07:00

Media's Response on Maliparwat Issue

2008-07-23T22:40:00.000-07:00

News of Malliparwat in Media

2008-07-23T22:24:00.000-07:00

Company sponsored violence

2008-07-22T05:55:00.000-07:00

Project at Mali Parbat: How environment friendly?

2008-07-22T03:51:00.000-07:00

source-http://www.merinews.com/catFull.jsp?articleID=132320

Many projects are being proposed in the name of providing job and up lifting to the lives of the local people. Is that the real story, when the condition, is giving up their own land? Besides, how environment friendly are these?.

CJ: K. Sudhakar Patnaik , 12 April, 2008

MALI PARBAT is a hill, which falls under Eastern Ghats, that lies only kilometres away from the town of Semiliguda. Around it twenty-two villages with numerously high tribal populations, enjoy the hill’s four perennial streams, which feed the surrounding land used for agricultural cultivation. A proposed mining project by Hindalco to mine Mali Parbat’s rich bauxite, presence endangers not only to these people’s direct livelihood, but will cause an environmental catastrophe that will dry up the four rivers and make cultivation in its immediate surroundings impossible. It will force the villagers to move away from their ancestral land and look out for other livelihood options.

Industrial context of Orissa

Orissa has rich natural resources found in forest, rivers, land and minerals. For years now, the Orissa government has been trying to set up a state-wide programme, of rapid industrialisation based on a vastly increased scale of mining projects - primarily bauxite, iron-ore, coal and chromite - along with aluminium refineries and smelters, steel plants, plus coal-fired power stations and hydro-electric dams to power them.

The ides is that this will rapidly bring great wealth into the state in the form of foreign direct investment (FDI), which will quickly pay off Orissa’s foreign debt to the World Bank and other foreign multilateral institutions, at the same time. It will promote any overall development in the state, which has a high level of poverty and records of starvation causing deaths. Already a joint national aluminium company limited at Damanjodi have started producing alumina past several years, which is polluting the rivers. Hundreds of people suffer from skin diseases due to air and water pollution. Another two alumina companies one at the Langagorh and another at Kashipur of Raygada district are under construction in Orissa tribal populated area, as a string of big dams and four power projects (Machkonda, Kolab, Balimila and Indravati) started generating power and irrigation to benefit MNCS and big land lords. Three million indigenous cultivators are thrown from their lands in undivided Koraput and Kalahandi district without being provided proper rehabilitation.

The village of Pakhjhola

In all of the villages Mali Parbat agriculture is the main economic activity and a source of income. The land produces wide varieties of cereals, fruits and vegetables (including guava, mango, ladyfinger, ridge guard, sugarcane, eggplant, papaya, and maize to name but a few), which are sold on the weekly market in the nearby town of Semiliguda.

One of the twenty-two villages around Mali Parbat is Pakhjhola, a peaceful and fertile oasis of some 550 inhabitants, 70 per cent of which is of indigenous ancestry (Paroja tribe). One of the four perennial streams that source on the hill feeds the land throughout the year, giving the villagers the advantage of making a modest living all year round. The domestic animals, that are crucial for the cultivation of the land, graze on the hill. An abundant presence of wildlife can be found in the forest on the Mali Parbat: snakes, tigers, peacocks, deer and wild boars can be found there among others. But they are hunted during a yearly hunting festival in May. The hill is also the site where the villagers practice their animist religion. The rich deposit of bauxite in the Mali Parbat is a key feature in the fertility of the region. It acts as a sponge for its porous quality makes bauxite ideal for holding the monsoon rain-water over the coming months of the hot season, releasing it slowly through the streams through out the year, enriched with life-giving trace elements of all the minerals, which bauxite is rich in. Certainly, because capping of these mountains that Orissa has started to look like a desert - a process already visible around Panchpat Mali in Koraput district. For when bauxite is mined out, the mud that is left exposed which later hardens. Its previous life-giving properties of storing water, providing grazing ground for the cattle and feeding the land to make agricultural activities possible go into reverse. Pakhjhola will itself suffer from mud flows that will come down during the rainy season because of the mining waste and take away the land that lies in front of the hill.

Benefits are a fraud

What then are the so-called advantages that the proposed mining project will bring? The profit in the short-term is not in doubt. But profit for whom? Clearly not for the uprooted ‘adivasis’. The lack of respect being shown to them now in Lanjigarh and Kashipur is an ill omen for their future. This is why the inhabitants of the Mali Parbat villages have organised themselves in the Mali Parbat Protection Forum (Mali Parbat Surakshya Samiti). The tribals dispossessed by the Indravati, Kolab and NALCO projects, know that promises of a good "resettlement package", "employment opportunities", and other benefits are basically a fraud.

In the undivided Koraput district of Orissa, out of 71,794 persons displaced by various industries, a mere 17,225 (i.e. 3,445 families or 24 per cent) have bee resettled in colonies and around 10,000 others have been given some economic opportunities and limited resettlement. Thus more than two thirds of the displaced people are not resettled at all, giving them no future prospects and forcing them to look for alternative livelihood options in the urban periphery. However in Semiliguda most businessmen are not local but have come from other districts to take advantage of the local poor. In this competitive context it is unlikely that the ‘adivasis’ will manage, because they don’t have a feeling for this kind of business its only for the lack of money that they have agreed to set up such businesses.

The social structure of tribal society is inevitably fractured by displacement, as numerous studies have shown. ‘Adivasis’ know what is at stake is nothing less than their continued existence, as a culture. They live in close-knit communities. Their social values are centred on their relationship with their land and natural environment and in being self-sufficient for most of their needs by their own labour: for food, building their own houses. To call them “poor” is correct only when the system of exploitation imposed on them by trader-moneylenders is already taking away a large part of the food they grow. Where they are still largely self-sufficient and control their own land – as in Pakhjola – they do not see themselves as poor. Corporations know this and try to influence the to be displaced villagers, by violence, bribe, threats or court cases. While I was talking to some villagers of Pakhjola, one such situation had occurred in one of the three villages, where the road for transporting the bauxite is planned. At a moment when some villagers were drunk, people from Hindalco took them to a hotel, served them beef and tried to bribe them with Re 5,000 to get their fingerprint in order to make a road though the village possible.

Hard livelihood conditions

It is because of this lack of training in modern technology, only a negligible harvest is produced every year. Sometimes it is too little to meet their own needs, in such cases they have to buy what is needed in Semiliguda; but with what money? When there is surplus production it is sold but with very low profit. The villagers are unable to get a right price for their produce goods. Businessmen ask Rs five to six per kg of tomatoes, forcing the locals to sell them at Rs two to three per kg, which can hardly be called a fair price. When talking to them, they mentioned that big agricultural farms get subsidised, while small scale cultivators like them are relentlessly forced into the competitive market logic. According to them, the government should do something about this unequal situation.

Extra financial income is generated through daily labour, which is the second biggest economic activity in Pakhjola, followed by gathering the selling of forest products. Next to construction work, the villagers are employed in granite cutting. The leaves – mainly gathered by female workers – are sold for one rupee per bundle. The men collect firewood and carry them on their shoulders all the way to Semiliguda by foot, where they get Rs 80 to 100 for 40 kg. Hundreds of households in the nearby villages around Mali Parbat depend upon this kind of economic activity.

Although they face many problems, the Paroja tribe of Pakhjola is destined to stop the proposed mining project on Mali Parbat. Let us wait and see what will happen the fate of these people living in 22 villages.

Stir against bauxite mining turns violent

2008-07-21T22:01:00.000-07:00

Source-http://www.hindu.com/2008/07/22/stories/2008072257850300.htm
Six persons injured in the attack by supporters of mining

KORAPUT: At least six persons, including three women, were injured when a group of people attacked those opposing the bauxite mining in Maliparvat region in Semiliguda block on Sunday.
The conflict between a section of villagers from Kankadaambo, who were supporting bauxite mining, and people from K-Maliguda village, who were opposing the mining activities in the region, was on for the last many months. However, the situation took a turn on Sunday when members of Mali Parvat Surakhya Samiti (MPSS) were allegedly attacked by people of Kankadaambo.
MPSS members were returning from the nearby weekly market after distributing leaflets inviting people to attend the proposed meeting at Doliambo against mining attempts in Maliparvat, Arjun Khilo, secretary of the MPSS said.

Road blocked

The villagers of Kankadaambo had blocked the road linking the entire region to the national highway immediately after the attack.
However, as condition of six injured persons was getting worse, they were carried by villagers to the PHC at Kunduli via Dekapar covering more than 5 kms, Dambarudhar Khilo, a villager and an eyewitness from K-Maliguda, said. Arjun Khilo and Trilochan Muduli lodged a complaint with Semiliguda police, who immediately rushed to the spot. .
However, the police were not able to break the blockade raised by the villagers of Kankadaambo due to darkness.
The villagers attacked the policemen and damaged their vehicle.

18 persons held

With no other option left, the police waited till the dawn and arrested 18 persons from Kankadaambo on charge of attacking the police, Deepak Kumar, Superintendent of Police, said. Meanwhile, agitation against bauxite mining by villagers got a boost on Monday when Prafulla Samantray, president of Lokshakti Abhiyaan from Bhubaneswar, extended support to the agitation.
He said corporate sponsored violence would not be tolerated whether it was POSCO or Hindalco.

HINDALOCO HIRED GOONS ATTACKED THE INOCENT TRIBALS IN MALIPARBAT AREA OF KORAPUT DISTRICT

2008-07-21T04:54:00.000-07:00

By- Bidyut Mohanty, Koraput, Orissa

On 20th, July around 5 PM, 200 hired goondas of HINDALCO attacked the villagers of Maliguda. There are many seriously injured persons. Even they have not spared the small children, women and old age persons. There are three childen seriously injured. All the 10 seriously injured persons are admitted today at district Hospital, koraput.

Hearing the news some of the people informed the Local police station at Similiguda & around 9 PM a police party went to the spot. But the hired goons attacked the police party and they returned. In early morning of 21st, July the police party went with the force and arrested some of the goondas.

The hired goons are from the village Kankada amba, where there are some people who are supporting the HINDALCO, they are regularly supplied liquor and money by the company. Last 15 days there is tension in the area. The main king pin is the Nagu Dora, who is the PA of Giridhari Gomanga, the Congress MP and former chief Minister of Orissa. Nagu Dora has a transport company" HANUMAN TRANSPORT" and the Hanuman transport is awarded the contract by HINDALCO for the mining of Bauxite.
Yet another incidence of corporate sponsored violence in Orissa and this time it is the tribals of Maliguda who had been facing the threats to their lives for months now from the goons of Kankada amba. Yesterday when they attacked they didn't spare children, they molested the women and beat up everyone and anyone they could lay their hands on. One such, a seventy year old man is now lying in the hospital with a fractured leg, his son and wife said he was sitting inside his home when he heard a ruckus outside. When he went out to find out the matter he was severely beaten up by the goons who beat him up mercilessly till his legs gave away. Right next to him in the hospital is a boy in his late teens with a huge bandage around his head. The goons had struck him with rods and sticks. Many young girls have suffered wounds all over their bodies. They were sexually assaulted also and the goons had torn off their clothes and then thrashed them with sticks. One of the injured girls was as young as 9 years. Arjun Khillo, a local anti Hindalco activist says it was a planned attack at a time when most of the youth had gone to a nearby town to make arrangements for the meeting on the 22nd. Despite the attack the villagers have resolved to hold the meeting tomorrow and stregthen their resistance to Hindalco's proposed mining.
There was a proposal for a big meeting in the area on 22nd of the July by the villagers those are opposing. Now the Company wants to disturb the meeting, so this is a well planned attack on the innocent tribals and dalit people.

Tough for ArcelorMittal to acquire land in Jharkhand

2008-07-16T22:49:00.000-07:00

By-Ashim Kumar Ghosh

Steel giant Arcelor Mittal has finalized the site for 12 million tonne Greenfield steel project. The site is in Topra-kamdara blocks of khunti and Gumla district of Jharkhand. The site is chosen because of availability of the water, mines and land in that region for industrial purposes. The company had signed a MOU with Jharkhand government on October 8, 2005 for setting up this plant. The company has asked for help from government for development of infrastructure, rail and road facilities. ArcellorMittal has already applied for four mines in the region including Karampada and Ghatkuri. It is also interested in Chiriya mines that have an estimated reserve of 2 billion tonne.The central government has allocated a large percentage of 150 million tonne steam coal available at Sereghara block in Jharkhand on sharing basis.
After MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) with State Government (Jharkhand) Mittal Company has started survey in that area in order to acquire the land from the local tribals. Under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) company has already started sports and health related activity to mobilize the locals for getting the land. They have organized hockey tournament and health camps in those areas for taking the youths and community in their own control and command in order to build the rapport in the locality.
During the survey work local people also started their protest, as because as survey started, company vehicle and technical experts of company visited the area with their own gesture and posture and interacted with the tribal people of the area, it has created discomfort among the tribal population. It is not so easy to understand the tribal community and therefore big bosses of the Mittal Company returned back from the area without any initiative
Arcelor Mittal team forces to return from Project site in Jharkhand
JHARKHAND, India -- "Economic Times reported that ArcelorMittal's proposed 12 million tonnes steel project in Jharkhand seems to have run into trouble as a company team comprising of Mr Vijay Bhatnagar CEO for India, Mr Sanka Mishra CEO of Jharkhand & Orissa projects and Mr PS Prasad GM technical of ArcelorMittal has been made to retreat from the survey work after protests by a local group. According to Torpa Block Development Officer Mr RB Singh, around 500 people of Rania, Karra, Torpa, Kamdara and Basia blocks in Jharkhand's Khunti and Gumla districts, under the banner of Adivasi Moolvasi Astitva Rakhya Manch, forced the 6 member ArcelorMittal team to retreat,"
The residence of Karra, Torpa, Basai of Khunti and Gumla districts had already started their protest against the Government of Jharkhand and Company during the year 2005. It was organized by the JAMIN BACHEO SANGATHAN , they have organized meetings at village and cluster level, during that process company men in support with the local touts also tried their best to manage the local leaders of the movement and even though they threatened the leaders. Protest was in peak and local tribal blocked the road and also gheroed the block office against any types of displacement.
Local people registered their voices as “we will not give the land- we don’t want any displacement and package. There will be loss of agriculture and loss of livelihood- loss of cultural identity; therefore we continue the battle against the State and the Company”
In the year 2006, when the company men faced series of obstacle and failed to acquire the land from the tribal, they returned back to the Singhbhoom districts of Jharkhand for acquisition of land. Protest started at Singhbhoom (Asanboni, Nimdih, Chaibasa, potka) by the local tribals, they have also organized meetings at village level and come down to the road for protest. Tribals are made their protest before the District collector office and they repeated the slogans as it was voiced by the tribal of Karra, Torpa and Basai. It became trouble for Mttal to establish the Steel factory in both the places. Henceforth company has to return from the Singhbhoom.
During 2007, Once again the green field steel plant tried to enter in Karra, Torpa area for land acquisition. This time they have taken the support of the local administration, Blcok Development Officer and Circle Officer made their visit to the area and tried to convince the villagers for giving the land to the Mittal Company.
In between Government of Jharkhand started the process of delimitation (Pariseeman) of scheduled and non scheduled area. It has recommended reducing the seat of tribal reserved area under parliament and assembly election. The state wide demonstration started in the State against the Government decision to reduce the tribal quota ultimately Jharkhand Government withdraws the announcement and suggested for status quo. New forum under the leadership of Dyamani Barla “Adivasi Astitab Raksha Manch” has been formed for long term struggle against the government decision and other small people’s movement also supported this movement against the state government and the Multinational companies who want to acquire land in Jharkhand in the name of industrialization.
During January 2008, Mittal Company announced that they have signed MOU with the State and will acquire 10,000 acres of land for Green Field Steel Plant and Dam construction on Koel Karo River.
“Adivasi Astitab Raksha Manch” in support with the local village level activist continued its activity in the block; they have organized meeting/ Sabha/ awareness during March under the banner in the area Kamdara, Torpa/ Karra – against the company. Series of rally organized at Kamdara, Torpa, Karra and Basai block.
Village meeting was continued and day by day villagers under the traditional forum of Munda and Oraon came and joined with the movement against the government policy of providing land to the company. Protest came to the Ranchi before the Governor house. During that period non tribal people also participated in the displacement struggle and Manch called as “Mulbasi Astitab Raksha Manch” committee formed in all the Panchayat and block for organized resistance against the land acquisition in the name of industry by the Mittal Company.
On 13th May 2008- ETV organize the programme and called the bureaucrats- politicians- displaced people and the activist for discussion- leaders and bureaucrats assured for the rehabilitation against the displacement- but displaced people told and asked about the people who are already displaced by various dams/ industry in Jharkhand where are they ? They also raised the questions about tribal girls are working in Delhi as servant in houses- why this happen, who is responsible and what they are thinking for them. Discussion didn’t come with any conclusion.

“Mulbasi Astitab Raksha Manch” decided to organize rally on18th May 2008 before the Governor house at Ranchi, Jharkhand but it was postponed and lastly finalized on 29th May 2008. Local tribal and non tribal assembled in Governor house for registering the protest against the land acquisition in Khunti and Gumla districts of Jharkhand.
On 30th May 2008 -Representatives of the “Mulbasi Astitab Raksha Manch” met with the Madhu Koda (Chief Minister) of the Jharkhand but no specific response by the chief minister to the delegates
CM statement came in the news channel and paper on 10th June 2008- it is an ordinary protest and plant will be built on the place and Government will help in acquiring the land. Company is also spreading the propaganda in the area and other side people are also organizing the meeting against any type of displacement. Khunti and Gumla districts of the Jharkhand are the historical area of the State from BIRSA MUNDA started the battle against the British imperialist forces and the movement forced the Britishers to go back with the proposal of Zamindari and permanent settlement act therefore “Munda Khut Khatti Right” are being ensured under the Chtonagpur Tenanct Act (CNT). Definitely it will be very tough for Mittal to acquire land in those districts due to people’s protest.
http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/30/stories/2008053051670300.htm

Indian Philosophy and process of dialectics

2008-07-16T04:20:00.000-07:00

By- Ashim Kumar Ghosh
In the development of the Indian history, there was a culture of Class (Varna) struggle and that leads to the historical dialectics, it develops the philosophy of Indian society. There was a struggle among the Varnas, development of socio-historical dialectics, invaders came, indigenous people reacted and fought against them, struggle happens, the origin of history took lead, civilization established, rules for behavior framed, institutionalization of the philosophy took lead through education and rituals- Veda- Upnisads- Bodhisataba- Bhagbata etc.

The socio-politics of the society defines by the production process of the community. Production, philosophy and struggle leads to the development of history. The socio-political analysis of history clarifies the dialectics. Production process of the community also says about the social relation in between the members of the society. Social relation and politics of the society transforms as changing process of the relations of production. The mode of production of the society always tries its best to fulfill the growing need of the individual and collective, it happens due to the forward movement of the society (birth-child- adult-old-death) this is reality and with this identity, individuals moves one step to another and accordingly need comes are addressed or unaddressed. In other way around individual and collective move forward to get the basic need (food) and develops the production process. When human being come closure and started to live in cluster (Kabila) it has created dynamics (positive and negative both). Positive means when we are thinking for collective development of the society and individual is taking the responsibility of collective well being, whereas negative means self centric and personal interest and no responsibility for the collective development but try to establish supremacy. Dynamics was basically related to take the society ahead in order to meet the need (food-shelter-cloth) of individual and collective and this has develop the sort of systems in society. Actually this happens with the society who settled in a place for long time. The settlement of the society depends upon the production of the product for the need. The system became the ideal if positive dynamics plays by all the individuals for taking society ahead with basic values of collective and the system became challengeable and struggle starts if powerful negative dynamics plays dominating role and among them particular individual (community) finds own place more secured in the system and then process starts to institutionalize the system in structured way, it creates set of structure (Baibastha) in both way.
Archimedes' Principle explains the nature of buoyancy.
An object immersed in a liquid, either wholly or partially, receives an up thrust equal to the weight of the liquid displaced by the object.
· If the total displacement, i.e., the weight of the displaced liquid, is greater than the weight of the submerged object, the buoyancy will be positive and the object will float.
· If the weight of the object is equal to that of the displaced liquid, the buoyancy will be neutral and the object will remain suspended in the liquid.
· If the weight of the submerged object is greater than that of the displaced liquid, the buoyancy will be negative and the body will sink.
In other way when society is maintaining the social relation according to the process of production and mode of production for fulfilling the need of the individual and collective without disturbing the nature’s prosperity. Not thinking for permanent settlement with the sources of production and ownership of individual on the object- where labour is to act for production. They also have the systems to take the society in social change process. But if any system which grows with the object of negative dynamics and it tries to take a permanent place in society then it displaces the democratic social relations, ultimately displaced collective will go for another place to fulfill the need. This is happening in social change process and Archimedes’s principle on displacement theory can be interpreted in social context as well.
In this way one can analyze the process of migration, displacement, formation of ruling ideology, formation of dynasty, attack of one to another and social transformation. Invaders came, reactions by the indigenous community, struggle took place, relation and coordination established, resulted to change in structure, and develops the history. Historical society moves forward as acute barbarian society- barbarian age-east and north stone age- Dravid- Sindhu river basin civilization and in this process went through series of struggle and those are not clear but struggle and production took society to present society.

In social transformation process the means of production (The tools which people use to carry on production—from stone axe to automated plant and the intellect of individual or collective helps in developing the tool) develops. The development of the means will act on the object for production and then the need of the society. When we find there is a lack of production pluralism (UTPADAN BAHULTA) in society, where it is difficult to trace the class struggle.

But when dialectical class struggle, inequality in economics- property, plurality in production process are present in the society- then the class will be more divided-clear, struggle will be broad and very clear, and development of society will move very smoothly. It doesn’t mean that production is the only reason for struggle in society.

Actually we can’t assume social transformation in permanent absence of production process of society and therefore the permanent absence of struggle also can’t be assumed. It may be slow and low intensity. In that case the area of struggle goes from purely economic to other direction ie philosophical- social- caste etc. but no doubt struggle – production and economics are always are in the base of the society, it may be micro and invisible. Philosophy discussion and struggle is the advanced stage of society, when starvation and food is not in focal need of the society. First production- then surplus- then rules- regulation for the society ie (system) is being framed. Therefore we can find workship and worship (Purohit, magic, Tona, superstition) in every society. Therefore there is philosophy in every society. When hunger is prominent then production is in priority and when society became economically strong then philosophy takes the prominent place.

It is true that after the north stone age, there is development of Dravid civilization and the uses of metal seen in the society and it was the stage when Dravids expanded their civilization up to the side of Sindhu and Rabi river in India. Indian history starts from Dravid and it developed in Sindhu Civilization and in this process there must be struggle in the society for giving the permanent shape to the production process. It was found in Mohan-judaro civilization, where we can find the worship of trees- plant- animal etc. which is found in the coins and in metal sheet.

It can be seen in the history in between 3050 to 1550 before the birth of Christ, Sindhu river basin and Aryan civilization was expanded. Thus process started destroying the Kabila civilization, war started, lost and won the battle, kingship established, slaves are being engaged in agriculture, and production of grains reached to the surplus level, Aryans established their rules in different part.

2000 years before the birth of christ, the kabila (of intruders) almost established in north- west part of India and there was struggle in between the Sindhu civilization and the intruders. The intruders were never seen the brick made houses and streets and it was totally new for them, the struggle continued for more than 300 years and lastly the indigenous civilization of India got destroyed in struggle which can be seen in the river basin of Sindhu. Those who won the battle, they make their home in Saptasandhu area, they established villages and made kings who rule over the mass, indigenous slave (who lost the battle) were engaged in the agriculture production process, those winner community was the ARYANS. The slaves who lost the battle are being used by the Aryans to get the
Techniques, knowledge, tool, idea for getting the basic needs of the agriculture, weaving the threads, construction of building etc.

Aryans acquired the properties from the slave and gifted the ornaments to the purohits. During that period ARTHAVEDA was written by the pandits and it was institutionalized in the society through the rituals. Rituals and mantra was the centre of the Arthaveda and lastly this became the patriarchal property of the Aryans and the Sindhu civilization. Rituals became the part and partial of the religious system of the society, this has created the VARNA system in the society- that leads to the division of labour in the society and in production process- set of hierarchy and structure was established in the society and ultimately it has given the birth of class struggle in the community. Huge surplus was created in the society and thus class struggle in between Brahmin and Kshatriya started for getting the control over the surplus production. We can see the struggle of the Viswamitra, Prasuram, Devarta (Brahmin) with the Kshatriya ruler during that period. Brahmins created the Vedas and in response to the Veda Kshatriya written the Upanishads. In 200 B.C we can see the kingdom of Brahmin in West and South of India. After the Brahmin, Saka defeated the Brahmin and they established their kingdom. Brahmin and Kshatriya were not in the position of kingdom in that period but after this Kshatriya once again come in power and it was again defeated by the NANDA BANSHA (sudra). Sudra established their kingdom. But three veterans Brahmin were the important ministers in the Nanda dynasty. These Brahmin supported the Sudra King Nanda for defeating the Kshatriya Kingdom but Chanikya came in the power and made Chandraguta (Kshatriya) as king of Magadh kingdom. Chanikya had written the economical policy and it was famous as (Chanikya Arthaniti) and also the code of conduct for the ruling class, once again he was trying to establish the spirit of Vedas and maintained the Brahmin spirit and in that period India went for nation building process as “STATE”. Magadh kingdom was almost defeated all the small GANARAJYA and developed one rule for entire India. During the Peak of Magadh Empire and after the Kalinga war, SAMRAT Ashoka adopted Budhism and the philosophy of Budhism spread in Asia. It has challenged the spiritual practices of Brahmin Grantha. Budhism destroyed the Brahmain and Kshatriya culture during that period and created space for humanity.

In this process we can see that control over the production process, attacks of one dynasty to others, development of philosophy by Brahmin- Kshatriya - Budhism for developing the own kingdom, process of institutionalization of custom and tradition was also moved parallel. Kingdom based on the Varna system tried it best to establish own kingdom. Budhism developed PALLI in order to challenge the Sanskrit and definitely also against the Brahmin culture and literature. Budha tried its best to destroy the Varna culture of ancient India and therefore Budhism developed the philosophy against the Brahminical society. These are the struggle based on the production and the philosophy of the kingdom. One philosophy tried its best to counter others and also developed own logic and here class (Varna) system is clearly visible in centre of struggle.

It is well understood in the Indian history all the dynasty they have ruled the country from the river basin area and from their they have extended their rule in entire places, during that process tribal who has developed the agricultural system while practicing the jhoom or podu cultivation in basin area and after making the land for cultivable, they moved to other places for converting forest land to the cultivable land and in other way around tribal population never returned to the land in river basin area where they have converted the non cultivable land to the cultivable land and also it was captured by the land lord (invaders) or (permanent settler on resources). Therefore till now there is a provision in land record system that if you have developed any non cultivable land to the cultivable land by using your labour, land and revenue department will bound to transfer the ownership of land from State to the individual (Gair Majura land to the Raiyati Land), as because land is the source of production and production generates the economy of the state and therefore state is imposing the tax/ revenue on that piece of land and the relationship established in between cultivator and state as tax payer and revenue collector. This is very clear when we will go through the land and revenue settlement theory of our country.

If we go to the social transformation process then we can see that people (Labour), the resources on which labour will act ie object (Land- water- forest), tool (basically technique or tool for using the labour forces in resources) are the major sources for the production of the product for human as per the need of the society. At initial level people was totally dependent upon the forest produce and from there they used to collect the food, cloths and shelter for survival. During that process they move from one place to another places for search of food and also developed new tools for getting more and more food commodity for getting more and more need of the community for the survival. It has also developed the techniques of agriculture and then dependency held on forest as well as agricultural land. When agriculture started it has given the birth of various dynamics like storing of food grains for (drought- flood), when we used to the hunting than we will have to finish the product as soon as possible as because there was no scope of storing the product and it should be divided to all so that it can consumed and no wastage of the labour. But in case of agriculture it needs time and engagement of labour for long term for getting the product for distribution and during that processes it has developed the control dynamics over the resources and the man power and so on. This has also developed the labour division in the production process. At initial stage, people using own labour in own resources with own developed equipment and tools and definitely getting the right over the product and accordingly members of society developed the exchange process among the members with the product and developed the social relationship in the society based on the production process, the vital thing was the ownership of the resources and the production within the community and therefore exploitation was not seen in society, but this practices of the production was not static and it has been changed in due course of time.

In Socio- Economic- Politico transformation process in India, it is very clear that there was struggle Class (Varna) for taking the control over the productive forces, accordingly the relation established in the society (ruler and ruled – winner and looser), slaves are being engaged in production process for getting more and more surplus, winning community developed the philosophy, system, structure to implement the rules and rituals, educational institution established for taking the control over the mind, set of rules defined for institutionalized the ruling ideology, temples made and destroyed, literature developed and it moved towards the “STATE” building process.

Jan Hakk Yatra Orissa- Voice for Child Rights

2008-07-16T02:04:00.000-07:00

Orissa- NAFRE JAN ANDOLAN is organizing People’s Right March at national level for strengthening the people’s unity and it strives towards establishing an equitable and just society. Therefore our slogan is “NAFRE KI AWAZ – SAMTAMULAK HO SAMAJ”. Nafre People’s Movement is seeking to unite various struggles that are working for establishing a Secular Democracy and are ready to take various challenges and mobilizing the oppressed and exploited communities towards a larger unity of people’s movement.
YATRA started in Orissa with the tribal tradition and rituals
JAN HAKK YATRA started from Koraput districts of Orissa. It has started with the traditional rituals of the tribal people from Kolab Displacement area, where tribal people used to worship the village stone. After the traditional ritual yatra started and mass was addressed by the representatives of NAFRE JAN ANDOLAN and VCRO, Orissa.
1st Day-28.02.08- Koraput District
The NEFRE Janhakk Yatra was flagged off from Koraput district of Orissa on 28th February – 2008. The first meeting was held at Upper kolab Budi Anchal Bisthapan Sagathon, a people’s organization fighting for the right of the Kolab displaced people. The village head performed tribal ritual to start the programme. The objective of the “Janhalk Yatra” was intimated to the villages. Then the villagers discussed the strategy of fighting the issue for their rights. The cultural team spread the objective of the Yatra in a poetic way. They in their song made the audience understand the issue of the globalization and common school system. This meeting was attended by the villagers of Tatulipada, Podagada, Chalanput, Jamuda, bankai, Roseiput, Koraput, Dumuriput, Jeraput & Umbel villages: Mr. Manish, Mr. Birendra of Bihar Lok Adhikar manch & Mr. Jerorn of CREJ Jan Mukti Andolan also addressed the meeting.The second meeting of the day was held at Pangiguda. This is a village displaced by Hindustan Aeronautics limited (H.A.L). The villagers were shared how taking the regional movements, a national level movement will be built up by NAFRE. Mr. Sushant of VCRO shared that the prime objective is to safeguard the right of the children.In the evening the third meeting of the day was held at Alligaon village near Maliparbata area. Sarapancha of Pakjhola, Pitaguda, Daleiguda G.P and the Vice-chairmen of Semiliguda block addressed the gathering. The villagers addressed the problems of Maliparbata area and how the Government has given the Maliparbata for mining. Emphasis was given for cultural troops perform in their play. The Jatra team stayed for night halt at Alligaon & moved towards lamtaput on 29th morning.
2nd Day – 29.02.08- Koraput District
The Yatra reached at Mattamput village of Lamtaput block. The villager’s hare are fighting for the right over the hills in which they are living for years. Villagers of Godihanjar, Guneipada & Chikenput G.P participated in the Yatral. The noteworthy point is that large no of women actively deliberated in the meeting. The cultural troop performed their play on land, water, forest rights etc. mr. Shankar Muduli a student leader shared the movements of Orissa and appealed the people to be united to fight against the imperialist forces.The second and last meeting of the day held at Surumi, a village affected by the Machhkund Dam. Several speakers including friends from Jharkhand & Bihar delivered the Yatra objective and explained how the present system is promoting a new imperialist structure in the governance system. Then the cultural troop performed on several issues. After that the meeting was ended by a vote of thanks from the leaders of Machhakund Bisthapita Mahasangha.The team stopped at Koraput for night stay on 29th.
JAN HAKK YATRA reaches Bhawanipatna, Kalahandi District of Orissa
3rd Day – 01.03.08- Kalahandi District
The Jan Hakk Yatra reached Bhawanipatna on 1st of March from Koraput. A meeting was convened at Sagada covering all the villages of Sagada GP of Bhawanipatna. The population of this GP is affected by the decision taken by the Govt to declare the Karlapat forest area as Sanctuary. This decision is now affecting the livelihood of the poor villagers. A youth team started the programme by singing revolutionary songs. Mr Saroj of JKS introduced the jatra team and invitees to the villagers. Mr Khageswar Manhira brifed the participants on the objectives of the Jan Hakk Yatra and how the jatra visited other states. Mr Sidharth of Niyamagiri Surakhya Samiti applauded the initiative taken by Nafre. He said the call of the day is to unite all the people struggles and develop a sense of fraternity among them. So that they can help each other. Then Mr Bharat Bhusan Thakur put the local focal issues before the villagers. He said once the area is declared sanctuary then it will be very difficult for the forest dwellers to survive as no livelihood option will be left out. The law will restrict them from collecting NTFPs and fire wood from the forests. He further said from years animals and humans are living together in forest without damaging the ecology. But the govt is only thinking of the animals living in the forest not of the villagers. Mr Birendra and Mr Manish of Bihar Lok Adhikar Manch shared their movements continuing in Bihar. Mr Jerom of CREJ Jan Mukti Andolan, Jharkhand shared about the Netrahat movement of Jharkhand and appealed the villagers to join hand with Nafre Jan Andolan to build a larger movement in the nation. Mr Sushanto Chakraborty of VCRO said the noble initiative taken by Nafre should not be let wasted. He said how the imperialistic and fascist forces in the guise of big industrialists and a part of the governance system playing with the fate of the poor people. So being united we should make them clear that “NA JAMIN DENGE NA DENGE JAN” . This is only possible we feel the issue and spread awareness among the people those who are affected and going to be affected.The Local people shared their problem and assured the Yatra team of all kind of support. Then the cultural team performed on issues that are affecting the poor tribals. They performed on the issue of forest, sanctuary, CSS and globalization which was immensely appreciated by the villagers.The Yatra team returned to the base camp for night stay.
4th Day – 02.03.08- Kalahandi District
The next morning the yatra team marched towards another sensitive area for its next destination. It is Lanjigarh of Kalahandi district where Vedanta company is establishing an aluminum factory by displacing thousands of villagers. When the yatra team reached the area it was quite tense. The people of the rehabilitation colony were staging agitation before the company and had blocked the roads. They were protesting against the heavy electricity bills slapped on them by the company. The company earlier promised to pay the electricity bills but when the villagers left their land and stay in the rehabilitation colony the company played tricks by slapping the electricity bills. Many platoons of police fore were deployed in the area. The police stopped the yatra vehicle and queried about the purpose of the visit. They let the vehicle go to the meetings place. The local People organization Niyamagiri Suraksha Samiti arranged the meeting and welcomed the Nafre Jan Hakk Yatra. Local villagers actively participated in the meeting. Mr Khageswar briefed the objective of the Jatra. Mr B.B. Thakur NEC member of Nafre and Mr Siddharth put some light on the current situation of the country and how the system has become a part of the capitalists. Mr Thaur also commended the effort taken by Niyamagri Suraksha Samiti and promised all kind of support from Nafre Jan Andolan and VCRO. Mr. Manish, Mr. Birendra of Bihar Lok Adhikar manch & Mr. Jerorn of CREJ Jan Mukti Andolan also addressed the meeting. Mr Kumti Majhi the president of Niyamagri Suraksha Samiti presided the meeting and thanked Nafre from bring the Jatra to this highly sensitive area. The meeting was surrounded by the policemen as they were dogging the event.The yatra team returned to Bhawanipatna for Night stay.
5th Day – 03.03.08- Nuapada District
Nafre Jan Hakk Yatra proceeded towards Boden of Nuapada district. Several issues like displacement, florosis and migration are prominent in the area. People from lower Indra dam displacement area, Sunabeda Santuary area, Jamin Jungle Mukti andolan, Tikhali Dam Bistapith Andolan participated in the metting. So all the issues were discussed vividly. Basically local people addressed the meeting on their issues.Mr Birandra of BLAM, Bihar and and Mr Jeron of CREJ, Jharkand discussed the issues of their respective states. Mr Khuturam Sunani, a social activists linked all the issues and urged the people to join hands together to strengthen Nafre People Movement. Then the cultural team performed and spread the message of Nafre Jan Hakk yatra and how the companies exploiting the poors.
Jan Hakk Yatra, after completing the programme of the Boden Block of Nuapada district, it has started its journey towards Bolangir district, it has traveled near about 80 K.M and reached to the Rengali Gram Panchayat of the Bolangir district. Yatra was welcomed by the Gandamardhan Surakha Sammittee members. It was around 8 O’ Clock Night, villagers accumulated their and programme started by the team members of the Yatra, team members stated about the purpose of Yatra and appeal to the mass for further movement on the issue of displacement. People those are surrounding to the Gandamardhan Parbat, they have struggled against the BALCO mining work and ultimately they have won the struggle and company didn’t start the mining work. The cultural team of the Yatra also presented the cultural programme on the issue of displacement globalization, education, employment and health and through the process of cultural programme they have given the message to the community for long way struggle for getting their right. Team members from Jharkhand also addressed the villagers and shared the movements of the Jharkhand on the issue of the displacement. At the end of the programme the Sarpanch of the Rengali Panchayat also shared his own view and assured to all support to the struggle of the displacement.
6th Day - 04.03.2008 – Bolangir District
Lower suktel Budi Sangram Parisad- Dungripalli- Boalngir
After conducting the programme in Gandamardhan prabrat area, next morning team move to Lower Suktel area of Bolangir, it was nearly 70 K.M from the night stay place. At around 1.00 p.m Yatra team arrived at Dungerpalli village of the Lower Suktel area. It was the area where government is trying to build the irrigation dam and for that 36 villages are going to displace from the village. This was the issue of the Yatra in the region, after taking the meal, Yatra team started their programme with the cultural programme and through the process of cultural song, skit, pala team has given their message to the community. After the cultural programme team members from the Jharkhand, Kalahandi addressed the mass and given the message for struggle and mass movement and very objective of the NAFRE JAN HAKK YATRA. After the programme, meeting started with the community and discussion and debate held with the community and they have raised the basic questions before the Yatra team that how the NAFRE and other alliance members will support to the local movement. What type of support they can provide to the local movement so that people’s resistance can be strengthened for getting their own right? After finishing the discussion, team move towards the Bargarh district.
7th Day – 05.03.08 – Bargarh District
Kendumunda
After conducting the programme of the Dungerpalli, Bolangir, Yatra team moved to the Gaisalet, Bargarh. Yatra reached at the night of the 4th March and stayed at night at Gaiselat and on 5th programme started in the villages of the Gaisalet block of the Bargarh district. The representatives of the CREJ Jan Mukti Andolan, BLAM, NAFRE, VCRO addressed the mass and trying to understand the local issues of the region with the discussion to the villagers and the leaders of the Jai Bharati Shramik Sangh. NAFRE Jan Hakk Yatra addressed the mass on the issue of migration, forest issue, employment, common school system and also appeal made to the youths of the region to participate in the 9th March Rally in Rourkela against the policy of imperialism and fascism of the state and national government.
We have done meeting at Kendumunda U P school premises in the presence village members and PRI members. The school children were also gathered there. At first Mr U S Thakur welcome all and give brief about aim and objectives of NAFRE Jan Andolan and told the different issues like health, education, child rights after the independence of 60 years. the NAFRE Jan Andolan Yatra is moving National level, state level to aware them who are fighting for them their rights. We point by create a stage of POs in Orissa VCRO is that you are invite to join in this peoples movement. This will conclude at Rourkela on dt 08.03.08
Then the cultural troops communicated their message on issues through song to the people. In same time the people also ask question on issues.
S S Bagarty also shared Yatra’s aim and gave message to the people we should fight with mutual cooperation by involving in the process.
Village leader- We learn more things from this meeting & we will keeping our mind the message and do practice in future.
The village people shared that this type of programme should be organized in future. We will not change the system an hour, it will take time and will come very soon if we jointly coordinate our fight for our rights.
In the afternoon we the Yatra team proceeded towards Sambalpur –
Sambalpur –Bidi Sramik Mandal
We reach there at 7.00 P M and did a meeting with mahila mandal .
Mr K Manhira share the brief objectives of NAFRE Jan Hakk Yatra and managed the meeting .
Birendra Jee – I am very happy that here the participants are women only . The women have a big role in a movement . We have done land movement . There at Bihar in 52 areas , we are being treated as animals . There was not any school till 1980. The women were in very bad condition as country side alcohol were being sold. The women agitated against it and played the main / lead role to make the movement successful . We believe that you have power to won the rights . Dhaneswari all the spoke on their local focal issues in regional language .
Manish – NAFRE Jan Andolan has come for equal right. At NAFRE national level we give importance to the women and keep women in central committee . There at Bihar the role of women in PRIs election is major . Now they have occupied 50 % seat . In Orissa the women were anxious by participate in movement . If we will move forward then we have to strengthen women capacity .
Jerom – We have come here to find out the strong them of women in tribal area . You develop the strength, self- confidence. Don’t be silent when you see the wrong step taken by anybody..
Susil (BAVP ) share the issues and BAVP’s youth manch and how they are trying to solve the problems in that area to strength Badaka Anchal Vikas Parishad .
At last Dhaneswari gave thanks to all then cultural troops perform their play . About 40 / 50 women were from two blocks gathered there .
In the evening the Yatra team got more strength by the inclusion of 4 new members ( 3 women from NARI SHAKTI and NAFRE’ s Gour Gopal Sardar )
8th Day 06. 03. 08 – Sambalpur District
Mendra Bhahal, Jamankira Block ,Sambalpur
At aroung 1.P. M we reach place and distributed leaflet, pasted the posters on the wall . When people gathered we start cultural programme and started the meeting . About 70 / 80 male & female, children gathered there . That area is very remote and the Government officials do not visit the area regularly . There we saw lack of education, NREGA wage problem,and people lack the information of different benefit scheme. We shared the objective of the Yatra and appealed to join the regional culminatioj of the Yatra on 9th at Rourkela.
Then cultural programme was organized.
Beroich ( NARI SHATI ) –Women have right’s in our hand . We have the difference in wage labour in our village. The thikadar cheated us in payment of wage . Then we collect members and raised our voice against it. . Then we get the actual wage . Also we are successful in anti-alcohol movement in our area . So I my invite you to join the mega rally at Rourkela . Women should have united and come to get their right .
Suresh Naik ( local village leader ) –Come united by carry forward the organization . In our own area, officers all are corrupt . We should know every thing and fight against them unitedly .
Proceed to Deogarh
9th Day - 07.03. 08- Deogarh District
Village Tileibani Kalaput - We reach at 8.00 P.M ( 06.03 .08 ) stay at right. In the day time we have done meeting at Church with 8 village members and local women .At first Mr Daud Tapno welcome to yatra team and over the meeting . Mr Manhira shared the Yatra objective.
Birendar Jee- Shared their movement at Bihar and how they fight against land lords & Ganga Bhagan movement . The poor people maintain their livelihood to catch fish from from Ganga river, but the middle man rich man capture the whole river and torture them They take major part of the income of fisher man. The affected people fight against them and won the movement .
At Bodhgaya they have done fight against land lords and won the battle .Now they are involved in NAFRE movement process . He said they have united POs and formed Bihar Lok Adhikar Manch in Bihar.
Jerom Kujur –After independence we think that we will live independently but now we are not able to do so . We are in constant pressure. The Government keep us in a chain, now we feel we will fight against this and raise our voices collectively this movement Dam, mining is being done and Adivasi lands are being snatched away. Why this is happening ? The issue of displacement is not addressed properly..They are working as labourers in factories side, as wage labourer, as house servants,as rickshaw pullers etc. We know that the capacity of tolerance is over now. We should demand for our rights. .Sidhv kano, Birsamunda, are the leader of Bihar ,we are impressed by them. We stop the Netrahat firing range proposed by the govt .Today we have the power to fight against the imperialistic forces .Today I invite you to join the movement.. We share the massage that one day we will definitely win .
Gour Gopal- In India there are 50 % illiterate. Ambedkar’s dream have not been fulfilled. . equal education to all is our demand. The rally was over in south India on 9th feb ,North India this was concluded on 8th feb at Lucknow . While the Maharastra Rally concluded and on 9th march this eastern Yatra will culmniate at Rourkela in Orissa.
This NAFRE movement is empowering India. Please involve with VCRO to take this process at Orissa level .
Manish- Everywhere communal fascisim is ruling. The attack on church at Kandhamal is a shame.This Yatra is against communal fascism. Education is now imparted on the name of religion . All children should get equal education. We have done Protests against the attack on church at Bihar and Delhi also.
At last Daud Jee gave thanks to all and close the meeting. Then we left to Jharsuguda .
10th Day - 07. 03 . 08 – Jharsuguda District
Pancha pada , Jharsuguda
People of Pragatishila Shramik Manch welcomed the Yatra.
Mr Manhira shared the aim and objective of NAFRE JAN HAKK YATRA , before that we distributed the leaflet and posted posters in the wall.
Birendra Jee- also share the movements of Bihar .
Then cultural groups performanced their play.
There we gave slogans. There are about 100 / 120 people were gathered for the evening meeting.
11th Day - 08. 03. 08 – Sundargarh District
Kuanrmunda- Rourkela –
We had a small meeting there. We shared the Yatra objective and distributed leaflet This was a road corner meeting and after that we moved towards Rourkela join the regional culmination on 9th March.
YATRA IN COASTAL ORISSA:
5th March 2008 – Cuttack District
JHK yatra of NAFRE jan Andolan started in coastal orissa on 5th March from Buhalpur of Cuttack district. NGUS members, frontrunners of the yatra process in the coastal districts of orissa, addressed the mass with yatra objevtives and plan for the future. The meet was attended by Ms. Lakhi of NAFRE Jan Andolan, Ashis of CRY-Kolkata and Ms. Tilottama Das NEC member of NAFRE including a large number of villagers from different villages of Nischinta koili block. People mostly women attended the yatra program raised various issue affecting their livelihood and showed solidarity to both VCRO and NAFRE. The issues got discussed during the yatra were how people and will get their due right in terms of land, meaningful employment and other services such as health and education. Of these, womens issues were given major focus in the meet.
6th March 2008 – Kendrapara District
The Yatra comprising 12 Activists moved from Nischianta Koili towards Bhitar Kanika National Park of Rajnagar Block in Kendrapara District. The activists distributed leaflets on the way. The volunteers of CHALE CHALO and community leaders warmly welcomed the team at different places in Pattamundai and Rajnagar block. The volunteers distributed the leaflets and hold group discussions on the way at different places.
Meeting on Sanctuary and Fishermen Issues at Dangamal:
Upakula Surakshya Abhiyan (A people’s organization of fishermen, small and marginal farmers and other marginalized people), CHALE CHALO Team and Local People in Dangamal area warmly welcomed the JAN HAQ YATRA. More than 150 community leaders, social activists and volunteers had participated in the meeting. They had interaction on various issues pertaining to National Park laws, Displacement and Livelihood of Fishermen and Farming communities. Due to Bhitar Kanika National Park and Marine Sanctuary the local people are facing lots of problems. They are deprived from basic services and infrastructures. They have problems in moving freely from one place to another place and they had to pay entry fees time and again while visiting different areas. The wild animals are entering to the crop fields, vegetable gardens and even houses and damaging crops, grains, other property and lives. The farmers are facing heavy loses due to deer and boars etc. The forest department people are harassing the local people every now and then. As it is sanctuary area there is no all weather roads and the local people are facing lots of problems in rainy season. The health, education and PDS services are not functioning properly. The worst affected are the fishermen communities due to ban of fishing from 1st November to 30th April. They are losing their livelihoods and the forest departments are seizing their boats and nets. There are thousands of cases against the fishermen and local people. All these actions of government people further marginalize the poor. Besides, the Orissa Truism Corporation Limited is taking the land of the farmers for building rest houses. The land the farmers have been using for hundreds of years but have not been provided the land rights. As a result of which the government is no way concern to give any compensation and trying to forcefully occupy the land. The villages have records form more than 500 years, but the forest department is serving them notice to vacate the villages as it is within and near the sanctuary area. Other departments are not responding the needs of the local people as it the tail end of the state and close to Bay of Bengal.
After thread bread discussion on the issues Ms. Lucky, Mr. Ashis and Mr. Ranjit explained the gathering about the objectives of JAN HAQ YATRA and highlighted how NAFRE and VCRO are trying to build real alliance among the people and their organizations who are fighting for their rights. They advocated that the local people must have the rights over forest, land and water and have the responsibility to take care of the needs of the marginalized people while protecting the environment.
They also shared the experience of people’s struggles that is going on in different states and in different parts of Orissa.
The participants felt the needs of strengthening the people’s organization “Upakula Surakshya Abhiyan” and took decision to build solidarity with VCRO and NAFRE and with other people’s movements on similar issues. They also resolved to raise the issues of fishermen and other problems related to Sanctuary and National Park in different forums and put pressure on government to look into their interest.

Mass Rally on Child Rights

2008-07-13T01:27:00.000-07:00

VCRO addresses child right issues from its root. The approach has shifted from need based to right based. Poverty is an important contributing factor but may not be the only reason why children are exploited, abused or discriminated. There are several other issues which also contribute to the violation of child rights. VCRO as a state level alliance addresses those issues in a consolidated manner.
In its attempt to unite people organizations and other forums to a common platform and give VCRO a political visibility it planned a state level rally on different issues that are directly and indirectly have an impact on child right violation.. VCRO planned to have 2000 participants. but by 26th December night we got the information from the districts that people are very enthusiastic to attend the rally as the issues raised by VCRO is very core to their heart.
Around 200 participants from Jharsuguda district reached BBSR one day before the rally to avoid rush in the train. In the morning other participants across Orissa reached by train and bus. The participants were asked to go to the nearby park assemble there near Master Canteen square. By the mean time the stage at lower PMG was constructed. Two large drinking water tanks were kept at the meeting place. The number of participants increased as the time progress. By 10 AM around 3500 participants were gathered. They were shouting different slogans on child rights as well as slogans that are directly or indirectly violating child rights. They also performed cultural activities in the park.
At 11 AM, all the participants queued up in two lines in the banner of VCRO. They also carried the banners of their own respective people organizations. Two mikes were also put in the middle of the rally to shout slogans. The procession of around 3500 people started in a manner showing conviction towards the cause of children of Orissa. Activists from POs like Lower Suktel Budi Anchal Sangram Samiti, Machhkund Basachyut Mahasangha, Badaka Anchal Vikas Samiti, Pragatishil Shramik Sangha, Basti Unnayan Mahansangha etc lead the rally. Handbills were distributed to the commuters, slogans and placards were the highlight of the rally. The rally marched towards Lower PMG from Master Canteen Via Rajmahal Square. It took more than one hour to the rally to reach Lower PMG.
At lower PMG the public meeting was held. Retired High Court Justice Mr Ch. P.K. Mishra was the chief guest in the occasion. Mr Prafulla Samantray, noted activist was the speak speaker. Justice Mishra in his address raised the issue of displacement and how illegally the government giving land to the industrialists. He emphasized that POs has to develop strategy to tackle the situation. He also praised the initiative of VCRO to bring all the POs in one forum. Mr Prafulla Samantray focused on different ongoing people movements in Orissa. He said that government totally closing its eye on the impact on environment caused due to industrialization. People struggle is inevitable to make the government act in favour of the mass not for the capitalists. Leaders of several POs also presented their local issues and how they are struggling to fight against those issues. They highlighted the issue of land, water and forest.
The media coverage of the rally was very wide. Both print and electronic media covered it. The national English and regional vernacular newspapers published news items with photographs and made the people feel the issue of child right as their own issue.