Alternative Development for Jharkhand

- Prem P. Verma

It was quite a coincidence that in the recently concluded 2-day Seminar on “Growth and Human Development in Jharkhand” under the aegis of Institute for Human Development, Eastern Regional Centre, such well-known personalities both from Delhi and Jharkhand voiced the same analysis for the ills plagueing the State –

Sri Subodh Kant Sahay, Union Minister and M.P. from Jharkhand – There are 46% people in Jharkhand below the poverty line.........Development should be such that the local culture and tribal population is protected.
Sri Babulal Marandi, ex-Chief Minister and M.P. – In development we should concentrate first on basic needs like roads, electricity, water, health and education and not big plans…….Only industries cannot give development to people.
Sri Sudhir Mahto, Deputy Chief Minister – Big industries will not give employment to all……Small scale sector has to be encouraged…..Labour migration has to be stopped. We should construct small check-dams.
Sri Bhuvaneshwar Mehta, M.P. from Jharkhand – There is plundering of mineral resources……Character of tribal state is in danger. 16% population has been displaced…….We need to concentrate on villages.
Sri Saryu Roy, M.L.A. – Agriculture should be given priority. We should not depend on large irrigation projects.
Dr. Ram Dayal Munda, Educationist and Social Worker – We have to take development to the jungles and mountains…….Villages have to be developed.
Dr. Abhijit Sen, Planning Commission Member – Instead of big investments, more welfare schemes are required. Basic needs like health, education, employment must be addressed.
Sri B. N. Yugandhar, Planning Commission Member – There should be proper use of resources. Jharkhand is a land of diversity. People’s participation is a must……Priorities should be defined.

It was wonderful to hear so much truth for the first time being spoken, perhaps unknowingly, from so many quarters at the same time. I was left wondering that how come the State does not opt for the right course when there is total agreement on the problem causing the malady. From the respected Planning Commision members like Abhijit Sen and B. N. Yugandhar to senior politicians like Subodh Kant Sahay and Sudhir Mahto to intellectuals like Dr. Ram Dayal Munda and Dr. Dev Nathan – all of them emphasized that agriculture and rural development were the keys to realizing the dream of Jharkhand that the people have and desire.

If this is so, why do we keep clamouring constantly for rapid exploitation of Jharkhand’s limited mineral resources and heavy industrialization as if this was the path of Jharkhand’s happiness? Is it because industrialization sounds modern and attractive in this age of technology while agriculture and talk of villages take us back to the past era? It almost seems and one gets led to the conclusion that the moment we feel educated in the anglicized mould, we must move away from any contact with and contamination from our rural brethren (who constitute incidentally more than 65% of the total Indian population). It is more fashionable in the corridors of power in Ranchi and Delhi to talk of cars, computers, mobiles, call centres, high technology gadgets than the simple nitty-gritty of adequate food production, housing, medical care, schools and basic sanitary needs. People at the bottom of the pile have waited for 60 years for their basic requirements to be met and all we have given them is the glitter of speeding autos, luxury ads in television and false promises of future happiness to be brought about by the trickle down effect of globalization. In the meantime, we keep asking them to be patient and give up their rich agriculture land (more often than not their only ancestral property) in return for future comfort and happiness which never comes. No wonder the credibility of the educated civil class including its leaders and bureaucrats is at the lowest ebb and the bottom frustrated population has taken the path of violence after patiently waiting for 60 long years.

We at Jharkhand Alternative Forum (JADFO), a group of concerned members of civil society, have therefore taken up some jobs of development in the rural sector, as so clearly enunciated in the successfully concluded Human Development Seminar. JADFO has enunciated that correct development of Jharkhand can only be carried out if the following points are kept in mind (agreed to by all in their own way in the Seminar) –

1. Rural development as opposed to urban
2. Investment in and modernization of agriculture and agro-based industries
3. Promotion of small and cottage industries in the rural areas
4. Minimal or nil displacement of the rural population
5. Creation of employment opportunities in the rural hinterland to discourage migration to urban centres
6. Development projects based on People’s Plan with grassroots participation
7. Community ownership of projects and assets
8. Protection of nature and environment along with rural growth

We at JADFO are currently working on -
a) Power generation for rural sector based on non-diesel, non-petrol generating models with the power generation, distribution and maintenance being done by the village gram sabhas
b) Revival of Jharkhand handloom weavers so that villages can once again hum with the sound of handloom machines
c) Building of ‘Akras’ (community halls) for community dialogue in villages where community participation and decision making is facilitated which has been a tradition in the tribal areas of Jharkhand
d) Promotion of tourism with community participation and ownership so that tourism becomes a direct income generating activity for the people of the area rather than outsiders. Chandil Lake on Ranchi-Jamshedpur highway is a good starting example of this community sponsored tourism.

There is a lot more to be done primarily in the agriculture field and JADFO invites experts in this sector to participate in the rural development of Jharkhand by helping the Jharkhand farmers to grow more food crops with natural seeds, organic manure and suitable small irrigation schemes.

JADFO is currently on a crusade to give electric power to villages of Jharkhand through small community-controlled units using no petrol or diesel. With adequate decentralized power available in villages, various employment schemes in rural areas can be worked out to prevent migration to cities which are already turning into overpopulated slums. Also, with availability of power, irrigation schemes with pumps operating in farms becomes a reality and a lot of inputs to agriculture can be provided.

To conclude, all our attention in Jharkhand henceforth has to be on agriculture and rural development than being obsessed with New Ranchi or flyovers or malls or cavalcade of VIP cars with flashing red lights. The so-called Naxalites are only asking for this from the leadership at the helm of affairs.

Is anyone listening?

(The author is the Convenor of Jharkhand Alternative Development Forum at Ranchi and can be contacted at email – premverma42@yahoo.com)

Alternative Practices: Action plans for implementation of alternative development models

Micro Thermal Power Plant


The trend in India, in emulation of the West, has always been to establish large super power thermal power plants to meet our galloping energy needs. In the process, we have –

1. Displaced large number of people living in the rural hinterland and taken away their fertile lands, thus depriving them of their source of living which has been in existence for generations.
2. Destroyed the environment through air and water pollution
3. Consumed our natural resources like coal reserves at a fast rate depleting the natural wealth
4. Provided little or no power to the rural areas since most power generated is meant for the urban affluent section of our society


In comparison, village Hurli in Barakagaon Block of Hazaribagh district of Jharkhand, under the leadership of Dr. Mithilesh Dangi, has created an alternative micro thermal model of power generation which almost eliminates most of the disadvantages enumerated above. He has done this to challenge the NTPC super thermal power plant of 1960 MW planned to be set up in his area and demonstrated conclusively that his alternate micro thermal model is the answer to Jharkhand’s woes concerning shortage of electricity. A comparison will explain the facts of the case.


S. No. Item NTPC Super Thermal Power Plant (North Karanpura Power Project) Micro Thermal Power Plant
(196000 nos. of 10 KW each)
1. (a) MW generated 1960 MW 1960 MW
(b) Available for Jharkhand 500 MW 1960 MW
2. Investment Rs. 16,000 crores Rs. 2,450 crores
3. Coal consumption per annum 15 million tons 11 million tons
4. Land requirement 2,500 acres in one place 1,000 acres spread across Jharkhand
5. Employment generation 700 6,00,000 spread across Jharkhand



Jharkhand’s total requirement of electricity is about 5000 MW. This can be generated by 5000 units of 1 MW each, requiring a total investment of Rs. 6,250 crores, generating an employment of 45,00,000. Small thermal units also minimize displacement in a particular area and can be managed by the beneficiaries concerned. The pollution effect is also minimized.

ALTERNATIVE DEVELOPMENT


Story of Chandil Dam Displacement



For the first time in the history of any displacement due to large dams, many innovative proposals and steps have been implemented under the leadership of Mr. Arvind Anjum as given below :
1. The right of promoting tourism on the lake has been taken by the cooperative efforts of the displaced and the authority for the same has been given by the Jharkhand Government after a long struggle. Today the Chandil Lake tourism with all kinds of boats for the tourists is managed by the displaced people themselves and the renewable lease is valid for 10 years.
2. The total fishing rights from the lake also has been taken by the displaced population and the Governement has been forced to sanction the same.
3. The right to draw water from the catchment area for irrigation of adjoining lands and to use lift irrigation and other means has also been achieved through a long struggle.

ALTERNATIVE DEVELOPMENT

Revival of Handloom Weavers

In association with Dastkar Andhra and the active support of the Jharkhand Government, weavers in Lohardagga will be given proper knowledge, support and training for restarting their handlooms which have lying idle for so many years. The problems that they encountered in the past will be addressed and with their active association removed. Jharkhand has a rich history of handloom and tussar silk weaving and their revival will give life to many families as well as stop the migration to cities.

The problems that they had faced in the past were –
Lack of proper yarn availability
Lack of adequate working capital finance
Lack of proper dyeing facilities
Lack of design inputs
Lack of proper marketing support
The alternative development program will address these and other issues during implementation.

Aims & objectives of JADFO

• To disseminate information on alternative development models and practices through exhibitions and seminars
• To implement such models in the State of Jharkhand through people’s participation at the grassroots level
• To publish and circulate information on successfully implemented alternative development models
• To make the public particularly the civil society aware of the dangers of the current economic model of globalization
• To prepare a true people’s plan for development to act on such Plans and programs
• To promote and project actively the necessity of rural development based on agriculture and agro-based industries
• To work for creation of employment opportunities in rural areas to stop rural migration to already overpopulated urban centres
• To work on promotion and development of small and cottage industries in rural hinterlands
• To get small industrialists, traders and businessman interested in the development of rural sector by highlighting the multiple gains to be made by them through such effort
• To ultimately work towards creation of a harmonious violence free fully educated and employed rural sector supported by the social conscious urban sector

Seventeen Years of Globalization has given us

• Widening of rich-poor divide
• Second largest number of billionaires in the world co-existing side by side with 77% of the population having to survive with Rs. 20/- per day
• Rural neglect in the name of speedy urbanization
• Curtailment of agriculture for rapid industrialization
• Displacement of rural poor to make way for urban growth
• Increasing violence due to large scale unemployment and disenchantment
• Insatiable urban consumption with rural starvation deaths
• Creation of a wealthy class unconcerned with how the other Bharat lives

Alternative Model of Development is aimed towards

• Rural development as opposed to urban
• Investment in and modernization of agriculture and afro-based industries
• Promotion of small and cottage industries in the rural areas
• Minimal or no displacement opportunities in the rural hinterland to discourage migration to urban centers
• Development projects based on People’s Plan with grassroots participation
• Community control over natural resources and community ownership of projects
• Protection of nature and environment along with rural growth

Jharkhand Alternative Development – Prospects and Practices

Jharkhand Alternative Forum organized a two-day Seminar on April 12th to 13th at YMCA Hall, Ranchi to discuss and evaluate various alternative development models being practiced in the country so that their adaptability could be considered for application in Jharkhand.

In the sessions, noted alternate development thinkers from across the country had been invited to share their experiences and expertise with the people of Jharkhand. Well-known activist of Narmada Bachao Andolan, Ms Medha Patkar, spoke and emphasized on the importance of development model being evolved from the grass-roots level like the gram sabhas, panchayats and municipal wards rather than being formulated in Delhi and being pushed down. People’s role and participation is the foundation of any proper developmental planning and issues like displacement, large scale industrialization, elimination of traditional methods of work, etc. without the consultation and participation of the people involved is the greatest threat to the fabric of our democratic system.

Noted economists Dr. Aseem Shrivastava and Dr. Arun Kumar from Delhi emphasized the investment in agriculture and rural economy as the overriding requirement of the correct form of development. Employment of people and not mere growth per say must be the basis of development if the masses are to find any answer to the years of poverty and neglect that has been their share since independence.

Alternate development practitioners from various parts of the country – namely, Dr. Rahul Verman from I.I.T. Kanpur and Yogeshwar Kumar from Uttrakhand – then presented models of cooperatives and micro hydro-electric power generation for adaptation by Jharkhand keeping in mind the rural development with least or no displacement.

The second and final phase of the seminar on ‘Alternative development Jharkhand – Prospects and practices conducted by ‘Jharkhand alternative development forum (JADFO), Ranchi was a remarkable success.

Presenting the opening statement Chairperson for the second day ‘Vasavi, a Prominent Journalist and tribal development social activist presented her thoughts on the development of the villages for sustainable development. Quoting the example of Ghandhian model of development she said that the India lives in villages has changed to Indian lives into shopping malls and multiplexes, they are mushrooming, while the poor are getting more & poorer.

Arvind Anjum ( renowned activist) addressing the audience assembled spoke on the commercialization of natural resources and said “ Development policies should be focused on preservation of environment and natural resources, so that the future generations can also enjoy them”. Quoting the example of Chandil Dam he said that the Government took over 10 years to increase the height of the dam by 4’ feet, development cannot go at this rate. The water collected in casement area of the dam, should be canalized for irrigation… the Romans has aqua ducts in pre historic times and in our so called modern times we let go of all the water as waste.

Mr. Banwari Lal Sharma (Independent writer and social activist) emphasized the need for awareness to discriminate between development and destruction to bring about real development. He said we need to focus on alternative development because of the consolidation of natural resources and biological resources. If the use of natural produce is done with the common consent of the society and the community only then we can think of sustainable development.

Dr. Aseem Shrivastava (Prominent economist) said that “India seems to be run by people sitting in Washington. We have been fed the erroneous concept that there is no alternative to development other than commercialization” he quoted example of the ‘1969 – Priority sector lending act’ which was later discarded by recommendations of the World Bank. Further speaking he added “western approach believes in having social sectors and not society”. Concluding his discussion he expressed concern on the need for a revolutionary change in all the so called sectors Finance, retail, insurance, banking, industrial and agricultural else these sectors as this sectionalisation has lead to a complete destruction of rural and natural resources.

Dr Ramesh Sharan (Eminent Economist) said development is cancerous in nature today and the need is for a non cancerous – non destructive development. Paying less to the producers or charging more from the consumers is profit… we must think of a equity based development. “Unless and until every individual is liberated from malnutrition, unemployment, discrimination and exploitation the development will never be completed”. He concluded his discussion with “Development must be human development indices based and not only human – if it has to qualify as sustainable and complete development.

Sanjay Bosu Mullick ( ) spoke of the community controlled; need based use of natural recourses. He said “Current development policy is not only anti social it is anti nature too. Asking for right on the land, water, and the forests is termed anti–development.” Praising socialistic ideologies he said “capitalism is far behind socialism because socialism has very high principles and ideologies. It emphasizes on listening to the voice of your heart not your mind”. Concluding his speech and expressing concern on the senseless exploitation of natural resources, especially the forests of Jharkhand he said that sadly the government is against the community forest management and hence against socialism.

Mr. Balram (State Advisor to Supreme Court Commissioner) said “development today is a myth and it is absolute slavery of different brands owned by capitalists. Discrimination based reservation cannot ever qualify as development it’s a myth that has been forced fed into our minds by a handful capitalists.

Dr. B.P Keshari (Jharkhand movement activist and anthropologist) chairpersoned the final round of the seminar and presented the vote of thanks, especially to the print and electronic media for giving space to a seminar of such an important magnitude.

Search for Alternative

While continuing to resisitthe anti-poor development processes in the statethrough people's movements, the project-affected people along with other deprived sections of society would like to opt for the sustainable development practices. their search for development without deprivation is matched with those of the practitioners in the small scale industries, who are also threatened by the Govt.'s industrial policy, which favors big business houses and multi-national companies. thusthe alternative development practice seems to be the point of convergence of the deprived sections of society and the practitioners in the small scale industries. Both agree that the alternative development approached must be pro-poor, labour intensive, small sclae based, resource regenerating, basic needs targeted and without causing displacement, besides being owned, managed and benefited by the people whose resources are used for the development purposes. Since there already exist some alternative development models of various types in the country, it is high time that these are discussed along with the clearer understanding of sustainable development, its strategies and action to initiate or replicate such development practices in the state.

Questioning Unviable Development

The JADFO is of the opinion that the present development process is anti-people and against of the country in the long run, due to its irrational development thimking and unviable development practice, which is primarily capital intensive, large-scale based, resource depleting, consumer and luxury goods targeted and displacement oriented. Economic Globalization and liberalisation has futher accelerated this process, the Special Economic Zone being the latest development paradigm the government is toying with.

Alternative Model for Development

- Prem P. Verma

The primary driving force behind today’s globalization and so-called liberalization is self-interest. It is promotion of self-interest that oils the engines of globalization and the free market is driven by the consumerism borne out of self-interest. I must have more – more goods, more comfort, more luxuries, more of everything that makes my life comfortable – without regard to any other human being. This is so contrary to everything that our Indian culture teaches us – care for others, service before self, visitors and neighbours before worrying about ourselves. In fact, what would Gandhijee would have thought of this materialistic crazy
world ? The path we are taking is so much opposite to what he believed and practiced.

As I said before, besides self-interest, globalization promotes consumerism and a craze for possessions. Under this suicidal hunger for more, not only we will never have enough; we will also be destroying and consuming the natural resources at such a fast rate that stark poverty of resources will stare in the faces of our future generations. We are hell bent on destroying nature and the environment under the false promise and glitter of globalization and thus leaving behind a world of conflicts for our future generations. Will our children ever forgive us ?

This globalization, urbanization, free market economy motivates us to be selfish and purely money-minded. A simple living man is looked down upon because we have stopped putting premium on scholarly pursuits like art, philosophy, music, history, etc. Economics is our only Goddess and profit the supreme deity. So where is the question of simplicity, humility and generosity ? We are supposed to flaunt our riches and mundane wealth and the newspapers today are obsessed with how many billionaires India has and has any Indian made it to the top ten richest men in the world. How come we are not concerned with how many poor people we have and what is the welfare index? A recent editorial that appeared in The Statesman is worth repeating :-

“Amartya Sen’s reference to India as a country that flounders between Sub-Saharan Africa and the Silicon Valley had at least presupposed a single entity. The subtext of the UNDP’s Human Development Report for
2007-08, virtually points to two countries in one. Despite the second highest growth rate in the world, the report has few bouquets to offer in terms of indices of welfare. The data on the human development index (HDI) – life expectancy, education and income – is chilling; it fully bears out the currently fashionable appellation of Incredible India. From the 126th slot in 2006 and 127th out of 177 countries in 2005, it has now been placed in the 128th position. So dangerous has been the process of slipping and sliding that India ranks below Equatorial Guinea and Solomon Islands in terms of the overall HDI. These places exist on the map, we know; if globalised India finds itself in their company the message quite starkly is that the orchestrated growth model and the high-voltage development mean little or nothing in tangible terms.

Specifics are still more damning. With life expectancy placed at 63.7 years, India ranks below Comoros (64.1) but may yet derive comfort from the fact that it is a notch above Mauritiana (63.2). The failure in the education sector is a national disgrace. For all the talk of a Knowledge Commission and universal education program, Malawi and Rwanda boast a higher adult literacy rate than does India. The report has even questioned the country’s commitment to education in terms of public spending which dropped from 12 per cent in 1991 to 10 per cent in 2006. Health was also accorded a relatively lower priority. The public spending of 0.9 per cent of GDP was only a fraction of Iceland’s 8.3 per cent. Civil strife may not have been a parameter of the UNDP report. It is now established that Rwanda is doing better in the search for learning. But if it has incurred international notoriety on account of man’s inhumanity to man, India’s record has been quite as dismal if Gujarat, Bengal and Assam are held up as case studies. The grot and size of human development is overwhelming. If an individual is judged by the company he/she keeps, so too must India.”

Many people congratulate us that we are living in India which is rich in ores and minerals and has an abundance of natural wealth. They tell us that with rapid large scale industrialization, India can become the leader of the world in terms of development. They all wonder why we are not doing so speedily and willingly and the country seems to be sleeping.

Many multinational industrial giants tempt us with the globalization development model that offers the false promise of tremendous employment and consequent happiness to all. If only they can be given the ores and minerals to exploit, they can make this country a glittering spectacle of modernity with large industries, expensive malls, modern townships, tall skyscrapers, etc.

The future looks very enticing and there is wonder all over why India is not enthusiastically jumping onto the bandwagon and taking care of all its pressing problems.

Let us analyze.

If we aspire to become like America, the eminent historian and writer of social issues, Mr. Ramchandra Guha warns us, “To approach the norm set by US - where two citizens in three own a car – 600 million Indians will have to drive around in their own, enclosed, private vehicles. And where will the steel and aluminium to make them come from ? And the oil to power them ? And the roads to drive them on ? The mind boggles at the number of square miles of earth that shall have to be devoted exclusively to mining. Or at the number of oil wells that would be required to move the minerals to the smelting plants to the car factories and eventually to the showrooms. Or at the number of peasants who will be displaced to build the highways these cars make necessary. Or, finally, at the number of tons of greenhouse gases that this mining and manufacturing and driving will cumulatively release into the atmosphere”.

What we need for development of this country that will be on an equitable basis for all is the now-discarded model of Gandhian economy which was based on each producing the need of the other through a large cluster of small-scale and cottage industries where people’s gainful employment becomes the overriding criterion. We don’t need these expensive SEZ’s where, in the words of our own Government spokesman, Union Commerce and Industry Secretary Mr. G.K. Pillai, “A total of 137 SEZ’s that had been notified so far in the country with allotment of land will invest a total of Rs. 1 lakh crore and this will result in 1 lakh jobs”, i.e. Rs. 1 crore investment to give employment to one person. What a misuse of public money!

I am neither an economist nor a social thinker, but what I am clear on is that we don’t need more slums, more displacement of farmers from farmlands, more uprooting of tribals from their natural occupations, more slavery of labour to produce more billionaires, and definitely we do not want more progress in the name of attractive label of “liberalization”.

We have to opt for a development model which will be village based and people oriented, consisting of self-reliant and self-governing small groups. The development model therefore will have to be of people living in small communities and producing mostly for self or local consumption on small machines.

This is not setting the hand of science backwards, as Jayaprakash Narayan declared in 1957 when endorsing the Gandhian model of development. As he continued to say, “Science and centralized large-scale production and large conglomerations of human habitations are thought to go necessarily together. Nothing could be more absurd. Science is of two kinds : (a) pure science and (b) applied science. I would call pure science alone science and the other technology. Now, the application of science does not depend upon science itself but upon the character of society. Large-scale, big machine production was profitable to the money makers, so technology took the course of that particular type of production. The money makers were the dominant class in society and their will had to be done. Government also – irrespective of ideologies – preferred centralized, big-scale production because that was necessary for war making (or defence, if you please), and – no less important – because it also concentrated great economic and, therefore, political power in their hands. Thus governments and profiteers combined to create the Frankenstein of modern society. Pure science had no say in the matter. Rather, had the scientists their way, many of them, I believe, would be happy to smash many of the engines of production and destruction that their discoveries had helped to create. But supposing, society had pursued not the aims of power, profit and war, but of peace, goodwill, cooperation, freedom and brotherhood, science could have been equally applied to evolve the suitable technology. If that were to happen, it would be not regression of science, but progression in a creative rather than destructive direction”.

The basis of the development model therefore would have to be, as so well explained by Schumacher in “Small is Beautiful” :
· An important part of the development effort should by-pass the big cities and be directly concerned with the creation of an ‘agro-industrial structure’ in the rural and small town areas.
· Primary need is creation of work-places, literally millions of work-places. We have to maximize work opportunities for the unemployed and underemployed.
· To quote Gabriel Ardant, “It is important that there should be enough work for all because that is the only way to eliminate anti-productive reflexes and create a new state of mind – that of a country where labour has become precious and must be put to the best possible use”.
· Hence the new development model must satisfy the following criteria –
1. Workplaces must be created in villages and small towns where people are living now
2. Workplaces must be cheap enough for creation in large numbers without high capital inputs and imports
3. Production methods must be simple, not requiring high skills
4. Production must be mainly from local materials and mainly for local use.

Let us remember that globalization destroys the culture and civilization of a nation and has no regard for its rich heritage and history. This single-minded pursuit of self-interest and running after material prosperity has only resulted in –
· Vast population displacements and genocide becoming, in the Swedish writer Sven Lindquist’s words, “the inevitable byproduct of progress”
· Serious rich-poor divide resulting in continuous conflict and unrest in society
· Destruction of nature and environment through insatiable urge for consumption of goods and luxurious comforts
· Gradual erosion of ethical and moral values with little or no examination of means to achieve the desired ends, resulting in disappearance of qualities like generosity, kindness, humility and altruism
· Art, music, humanities have been sacrificed at the alter of free market economies where measurement is carried out in terms of monetary value not spiritual need

We know now that man must live in balance with nature. The degradation of environment, the unbridled consumption of our resources, the squeezing of farmlands, the mania over machine productivity and the stress on efficiency of mass production, the dehumanizing of our population, the alarming chasm of rich-poor divide – all these can only produce a bare world devoid of emotions and relationships where human feelings don’t count and man is at the bottom of pile of our priorities. This alarming scenario is staring before us and we are looking the other way.

Hence the urgent need for immediate adoption of the Gandhian model of development to prevent the impending catastrophe looming over us which threatens to destroy the life of our future generations for the promise of a short-term gain of comfort for us.

To conclude, I would like you to ponder over these prophetic words of Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi wrote the following as early as 1929 and 1936 –

“I would categorically state my conviction that the mania for mass-production is responsible for the world crisis.”

“I do not believe that industrialization is necessary in any case for any country. It is much less so for India. Indeed, I believe that Independent India can only discharge her duty towards a groaning world by adopting a simple but ennobled life by developing her thousands of cottages and living at peace with the world. High thinking is inconsistent with complicated material life based on high speed imposed on us by Mammon worship. All the graces of life are possible only when we learn the art of living nobly.”

Glorious 100 years of CNT Act for strengthens the power of indigenous people on their land, forest and water rights

- Kumar Sanjay

Laws, acts, articles & provisions whatever had and have possible regards the protection of traditional rights of tribal communities, brought forth in the constitution, but the dismal truth is that these were never enacted honestly. The Chhota- Nagpur Tenancy Act-1908 and Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act-1912 are also the add in that, which prohibit the sale and transfer of tribal land to non tribals. But due the name of unexpected developments, the lands were snatched forcedly from the tribal. The constitutional rights, provisions for the Fifth scheduled Areas and the Extension of Panchayat Act- 1996 were never been implemented with the true spirit in the tribal regions. Off-course, the ruling elites always misused these laws for their own benefits.
Colonial rule and its accompanying commercialization affected tribal societies in a variety of ways. It strengthened penetration of tribal areas by the outsiders as moneylenders, traders, land grabbers, labour contractors, etc of the plains. It enforced alien concepts of private property. It forced sale of land out of sheer desperation of those in the vicious grip of debt. It ruthlessly exploited indigenous people as cheap indentured labourer. It led to alienation that was not just economic or material, but cultural, spiritual and community identity-related as well. ULGULAN by Birsa Munda was the culmination of a series of revolts in response, which forced the British to think back and devise some safeguards and protection for the indigenous people and forest based communities. And that resulted in the enactment of the Chhotanagpur Tenancy Act in 1908.
Chhotanagpur Tenancy Act (CNT) prohibits transfer of land to non-tribals and ensures community ownership and management rights of forest communities over Khuntkatti areas. In essence, the private forests under the zamindars (landlords) were reverted back to the Munda community. But, immediately after the independence, by dint of the Bihar Forest Act, 1948 (these areas of Jharkhand were within the State of Bihar till September 2000), the khuntkatti land was converted into private protected forests thereby depriving the Mundas of their ownership and management upon the forests. The entire land belonging to 600 villages was vested to the State Forest Department (FD). Although the subsequent Munda resistance forced the State Government to give back its land to the community. But, management still rested with the FD.
These include immediate restoration of tribal lands to the tribals from illegal occupation by landlords & land MAFIAS and other vested interests; not to dilute or exempt CNT, SPT Acts and Scheduled Areas Regulation; Replacement of 5th Schedule of the Constitution of India by 6th Schedule in 112 blocks in total 212 blocks in Jharkhand where 5th schedule and Scheduled Areas Regulation apply and establishment of elected Tribal Autonomous Council under 6th Schedule to protect the tribal land and other tribal interests; education in mother tongue including the tribal languages to begin with from primary education with establishment of schools and appointment of teachers; defense of central public sector units, which directly affects 60 per cent of 2.5 crore of people of Jharkhand and on whose economic activities the further economic development of Jharkhand depend; Rehabilitations, compensation and jobs to the largest number of displaced persons in Jharkhand compared to any other state in India due to mining and developmental activities protection and advancement of distinct tribal cultures and maintenance of communal amity; immediate Panchayat and local self bodies election etc. The charter also include the class and mass issue of the peasantry, agricultural workers, working class, women, youths, students and other toiling sections.
Ever since, history recalls ‘The Mundas’ and their other tribal brothers had been living in complete harmony along with themselves and nature, until the British set foot on their lands, and changed not only the rules of ‘Munda’ governance but also their culture to an extent that today their futures lie in the hangman’s balance.
The strict tribals rules were formulated under the light of their guiding star - ‘Sustainability’ – apparently an extinct term in the present development context. Which led to the sustainable development of the forest’s produce to support the livelihood of the dwellers. Seizing upon the opportunity to extract timber and other forest produces the colonial empire formulated ‘A forest department act in 1868 – inhibiting the tribal dependency on the forests, curtailing their pasture areas, collection of firewood, fodder, herbs, and other forest produce in commercially rich forest land. Whereas the Empire had the full rights over those potent areas. During 1893-4 all waste lands in villages, the ownership of which was vested in the Government, were constituted into protected forests under the Indian Forest Act VII of 1882
In Singhbhum as in Palamau and Manbhum the forest settlement operations were launched and measures were taken to determine the rights of the forest-dwelling communities. Villages in forests were marked off in blocks of convenient size consisting not only of village sites but also cultivable and waste lands insufficient for the needs of the khuntkatti villages. The Colonial interference brought with them countless adversaries of the tribal cultures… penetrating into their lifestyles, spirituality and even identity. Concepts alien to the tribals such as ownership of land, accumulation of wealth, money, power began cropping up.
Ulugan of Birsa Munda and his followers was a series of revolts against the forest department act.. forced the Colonial Empire to think back and lay down some safeguards and protection for the native people and forest communities consequential in the enactment of the Chotanagpur Tenancy Act in 1908.

Chotanagpur Tenancy Act (CNT) prohibits transfer of land to non-tribals and ensures community ownership and management rights of forest communities only over khuntkatti areas.
In essence, the private forests under the zamindars (landlords) were reverted back to the Munda community. But, immediately after the independence, by dint of the Bihar Forest Act, 1948 (this area of Jharkhand was within the State of Bihar till September 2000), the khuntkatti land was converted into private protected forests thereby depriving the Mundas of their ownership of and management to the forests. The entire land belonging to 600 villages was vested to the State Forest Department. Although the subsequent Munda resistance forced the State Government to give the community back its land management from the State Forest Department… the decision is awaited.
The next forty years was a story of loot and plunder of the forests in Jharkhand with active connivance of the FD officials and gradual alienation of the indigenous people from their forests. The primary forest cover was almost destroyed. The forest dependent indigenous community started asserting their rights over the forests. On many occasions the FD officials were not allowed to enter the forests and the villagers themselves initiated measures to save and regenerate forests. This movement was particularly strong in the khunkatti villages of Ranchi and West singhbhum forest .
Therefore, the forest communities in Jharkhand today, have decided to oppose and resist World Bank demanding:
a) restoration of the khuntkatti system;b) implementing the khuntkatti model in other forest areas of the State; andc) vesting the management of the forests to the gram sabha (lowest tier of the village self-governance model) in the indigenous Fifth Schedule Areas as per the Central Act of 1996 (extension of panchayati raj in scheduled areas).

Highlights of CNT Act 1908
11th November 1908
Passing of Chhotanagpur Tenancy Act

Section- 8.....The Mundari Khunkattidar is a Mundari, who has the right to hold jungle land. He is neither a Tenure Holder nor a Raiyat, but he is a tenant, a class in it.
Section- 3 (XI); 81(m); Khatiyan- Part II…..The community forest is a Jharkhand village, is a repository of the participatory culture of Jharkhand.
Section- 21 (A); 81(m)…..The nucleus of the Jharkhandi Community, providing into strength and energy, is the age old saying- "Fruits and flower for the whole village, Timber for the owner".
Section- 76…..This law of tenancy is tied down to the custom, usages and practices of the village concerned. Here, customary law prepares over the tenancy law.
Section- 3 (XIII)…..The wasteland of a village in Jharkhand, amongst the other community resources, is the key to the future development to that village. The village community has the first priority for any development activity on these G.M. lands.
Section- 81(I) (i) and (ii); 81(n)…..Rivers, lakes and hills dominate the geography of Jharkhand and, since there is life without water and no water without forests, so like the forests of Jharkhand, water is community property, first for the benefit of its people.
Section- 46; 47; 48…..This law of tenancy is the culmination of a long history of struggles between the concept of community ownership of resources- water, forests and the land- and individual ownership. Between democracy and feudalism. It protects agrarian relationships of all the people of Jharkhand, of all classes, castes and tribes. It is wrongly portrayed as a law for the protection only of the scheduled Tribe interests.
Section- 3(q) land Reforms Act 1950…..The Bhuinhari and Mundari Khuntkatti lands of Chhotanagpur have not bested in the Government as they are erupted from the provisions of the land reforms Act, for they are held in a collective of Bhuinhari or Mundari Khunkattidars. This theme of ownership of resources in a collective, in common, is the backbone of modern Panchayat laws.
Section – 76 …..Service Tenures known as Pahnai, Mahtoi, Mundari, Deshwali, Bhutkhata, Jaher, Sarna, Painbhora etc. in Jharkhand, form the basis of its ethos of SELF RULE. Therefore, self rule is our birth right. And this right has not been preserved and fought for from the Mughals and the feudal chiefs, but also from the British Raj. The Raj gave this region’s first written laws on agrarian relations, culminating in the Chhotanagpur Tenancy Act of 1908. Independent Indian gave these service lands constitutional recognition, making these communitarian lands the basis on which the Panchayat Raj System is based in the scheduled area of India.
Section – 49, Chhotanagpur Tenancy, section 53, Santhal Pargana Tenancy….. The Chhotanagpur and Santhal parganas tenancy laws are not only agrarian laws, but are also the thesis of development.

Tribal and indigenous people’s concept of land

Land , water & forest which togetherly constitute the surroundings in the nature are not only the traditional key sources of livelihood of the indigenous communities , but their culture , lifestyle , customs, rites-rituals, folkways and even their whole life vibrates accordingly . They worship these natural constituents and ecosystem’s surrounding bodies like the hill (Buru Bonga),the sun (Sing Bonga),village spirit (Hatu Bonga) as their gods and goddesses . Even they derive their identity by belonging to their respective tribes in special relationship with nature and resources like ekka(tortoise) , lakra(tiger) , xess(rice orpaddy) , kujur(a creeper) , panna(iron) , soreng(rock) , tete (a bird) . Therefore obviously, entering or interferences of the outer world in to their lives had and have affected all their traditional social, cultural and natural resources based economy & other natural establishments in very cruel manners. And very unpleasant that they are struggling to save their endangered existence in the capitalistic competitive neo-imperialistic world.

Truths of Tribal Women’s right on lands

As the socio-cultural anthropological history witnessed that the equal socio-cultural status of the male and female in the indigenous societies . At every scale both got the similar rights . But , the traditional & customary establishments got convulsed due to the cruel and exploited policies implemented forcedly by the government. As the long term result of this, the women’s position in the tribal culture and societies get diminished to a dismal low level .These lead to a very unpleasant and exploited status of women at all levels whether socio-cultural , political or family . The equal participation rights of the tribal women is now matter of history . Govt.’s anti-tribal Policies gave the opportunities to multi-national companies to come in India. In the mixed economy of India, these foreign companies made their strong existence and got the power to influence the direction of economy as they wanted. This resulted in large destruction of culture, traditions, customs, lives & life-styles of those peoples, whose economy & lives were completely dependent on Natural Resources. Industrial revolution came in Jharkhand and robbed all the natural resources from the Indigenous Peoples, who have only the rights for its consumption. Due to this, the traditional indigenous type agriculture and Handicraft based economy of Jharkhand gone totally in well. But, the mirage of total robbery of Natural Resources in Jharkhand is still continuing. For the establishment of industrial belts, the forest at many acres lands cut-down. The capturing of the lands of tribes is going on with more velocity after the making of new separate state Jharkhand. Acquisition of lands of tribal women is continuing for the establishment of Factories and Industries, for Dams, for National Parks & Sanctuaries, for Field Firing Range etc. The development is going on in the positive direction only for few peoples, but in the case of Jharkhandi Tribes, the developments are pushing them to the ancient. As the urbanization in the state is increasing, the landlessness of tribal women is also increasing with the same speed. We often see the incidents of deaths of poor women involved in coal thefts , due to the land-slides in coal-fields . Constitutionally , it may be the case of thefts , but , the big question is that , why the tribal women are involved in these types of illegal behaviours . Its answer is very simple –they have no any source of livelihood. They have lost their lands , they have no properties , they do not have their controls over forests . In such case , intellectuals can think that , what the ways tribal women have to travel on the journey of lives ? absolutely-Nothing . Then why they do not involve in the consumption (theft) of these resources, which were theirs own. Not only the coals, but , a number of various types of natural & mineral resources had been and have been taken from the tribal women forcedly . The culture & life styles of tribal women encountered with the disasters caused by these uncommon changes in the surroundings.