Chances for settlement of Adivasi stir brighter

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM,OCT.14. The chances for settlement of the one- and-a-half month-old agitation by tribals have improved. However, several issues still remain unaddressed and unsettled by the Government, and this forced the tribals to go on a hunger strike by its leader, Ms. C.K. Janu. (The decision was taken by the "Gothra Sabha" here on Sunday).

The Chief Minister, Mr. A.K. Antony, has stated that the Government is identifying 42,000 acres of land for distribution to the tribals and Ms. Janu has welcomed it.

However, more than 25,000 acres of this land is vested forests. When the land was vested in Government, the law enacted for the purpose had specified that part of the land could be distributed to the tribals and agricultural workers. But, subsequent Central legislation and court orders have made it mandatory for the State to get clearance for diversion of the land for non-forest purposes.

The Union Minister for Tribal Affairs, Mr. Jual Oram, categorically stated during a visit to Kerala recently that the Centre was not going to approve of the State Government's plan to allocate vested forests to tribals in lieu of their alienated land. He wanted alienated lands to be restored to the tribals. However, he made strong statements only at the press conference and not during his talks with the Minister for Scheduled Castes and Tribes Welfare, Mr. M.A. Kuttappan, here.

It is possible that the Centre may give clearance provided the request is made with appropriate proposals for sustainable and integrated management of the forests. The Central Forest Policy acknowledges that tribals are part of the ecosystem. However, there are variations in the degree of integration of various tribal communities with forests. It would be inappropriate to allocate forest land to communities such as the Paniyas.

Moreover, it would be highly risky to allocate any land to tribals unless the Government ensures that these lands too would not be alienated. This had happened in the past because the Government never showed any determination to prevent the alienation, with political parties of all hues siding with the settlers. Further loss of vested forests could gravely affect the State's environment. It is also notable that it is public property that is being given away because of the Government's unwillingness to restore alienated land under the Kerala Scheduled Tribes (Restriction on Transfer of Land and Restoration of Alienated Lands) Act. Even today, the alienation is continuing with settlers taking land on lease from tribals and later refusing to return it.

The tribals are demanding that their land should be brought under Schedule V of Article 224(1) of the Constitution to prevent alienation. Though Tribal Sub Plans were being carried out in the State, no habitation of tribals in Kerala had so far been declared as a Scheduled Area. The Bhuria Committee, appointed by the Centre, had recommended that tribal pockets in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka needed to be covered under the Scheduled Area notification. The tribals also demand that the provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, should be enforced in the State. However, no steps have been taken by the Government so far to meet any of these demands.

Meanwhile, it has decided to transfer implementation of the Tribal Sub Plan from the panchayats back to the Tribal Development Department, disregarding the views of the Planning Board. This department has a long history of facilitating the diversion and swindling of funds meant for Adivasis. If the department had carried out various programmes sincerely during the past 50 years, it would have by now fulfilled its mandate. However, the department has been keen on implementing various welfare programmes, which did not address the economic upliftment or empowerment of tribals, repeatedly for its own sake. It even perpetuated the theory that the tribals were incapable of managing their affairs so that welfare was the only way out. (They also had the support of research which did not take note of the history, inner strength and skill of the tribals.) Even if this was true, the tribals who are demanding land and employment now are the next generation. However, the department still swears by `welfare'.

The Government has reiterated that it would be extending full rights for exploitation of non-wood forest produce to the tribals, conceding their demand. However, it is yet to draw up any plans for value addition and marketing of these produce. The tribals have been getting low prices for the produce collected by them. Now, the potential for some of the produce have increased. At the same time, prices of items like cardamom dropped owing to imports. There is considerable scope for harvesting of medicines, phytochemicals and edible products such as honey and mushrooms from the forests. However, sufficient facilities for post-harvest treatment and marketing do not exist.

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