MAJA K0ENE
SOCIAL JOURNALIST AWARD 2010
Conferred on 29th November 2010
By CESCI Foundation India and Switzerland
Mr. Rajendra Prasad
Social Journalist, Cochin, Kerala
Mr. Rajendra Prasad has been mobilizing adivasis and dalit communities in Kerala for more than a decade. As a socially engaged journalist, he sought to give voice to the voiceless, and he started a monthly journal, Gothrabhoomi, that describes the struggles of marginalized people. Gothrabhoomi gives to the people themselves, information that directly relates to their lives, and celebrates the positive character of their community and social life.
In appreciation of his contribution to the larger development of the society, We CESCI (Centre for Experiencing Socio-Cultural Interaction) is happy to confer the Maja Koene Journalist Award for the year 2010 on Mr. Rajendra Prasad for his achievement in making journalism a tool for positive transformation of the society and wish him a very bright future.
Mr. Laxmi Narayan Awadhiya
Social Journalist, Dindori, Madhya Pradesh
Mr. Laxmi Narayan Awadhiya has been an outstanding grassroots social journalist fighting for the rights of the marginalized tribal community, namely, the Baigas of eastern Madhya Pradesh for many years with his writing capacity. As the Baiga adivasis are a forest dwelling community, facing extinction, the work of Laxmi Narayan Awadhiya as a social journalist is of stellar proportions as he is bringing forward their claims to forestland rights. As a reporter he used his skills to the empowerment of deprived community.
In appreciation of his contribution to the larger development of the society, We CESCI (Centre for Experiencing Socio-Cultural Interaction) is happy to confer the Maja Koene Journalist Award for the year 2010 on Mr. Laxmi Narayan Awadhiya for his achievement in making journalism a tool for positive transformation of the society and wish him a very bright future.
MAJA K0ENE
SOCIAL activist AWARD 2010
Conferred on 29th November 2010
By CESCI Foundation India and Switzerland
Mr. A. Vinoth
Social Activist, Chennai, Tamilnadu
Mr. Vinoth has exemplified exceptional leadership in his work with the Dalit community in Tamilnadu over two decades, particularly through the work of Adi Tamilar Viduthalai Iyakkam. He has made a unique contribution to the Dalit and other marginalized communities by bringing them together to address the larger issue of social exclusion and discrimination in the society.
In appreciation of his contribution to the larger development of the people, We CESCI (Centre for Experiencing Socio-Cultural Interaction) take this opportunity to confer the Maja Koene Social Activist Award on Mr. A. Vinoth for the year 2010 as a token of our appreciation and wish him many success in the coming years.
Mr. Mr. Lalit Sharma
Social activist, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh
Mr. Lalit Sharma has been unique social activist in his efforts to network with different groups in Uttar Pradesh around poverty and landlessness. In particular, his efforts during the Janadesh March of 2007, Lalit Sharma brought together many middle class communities, including youth to support and join the struggle of the march, and as a result he made a contribution to the landless poor achieving limited land reform.
In appreciation of his contribution to the larger development of the society, We CESCI (Centre for Experiencing Socio-Cultural Interaction) is happy to confer the Maja Koene Social Activist Award for the year 2010 on Mr. Lalit Sharma and wish him many success in the coming years.
Mr.Nanhu Baiga
Social Activist, Dindori, Madhya Pradesh
Mr. Nanhu Baiga is an active social worker from the State of Madhya Pradesh. He was responsible for mobilization of large number of adivasis around various social and economic issues affecting the life of adivasis. Mr. Nanhu Baiga has formed many village level groups and has empowered them to address problems from local to the state level. Mr. Nanhu Baiga deserves full appreciation for his hard work for the last many years for inspiring local peoples not only to understand their problems but also to solve the same through their own efforts. He is now leading a large Baiga adivasi movement for protecting their land and food security.
We CESCI (Centre for Experiencing Socio-Cultural Interaction) is happy to confer the Maja Koene Social Activist Award for the year 2010 on Mr. Nanhu Baiga and wish him many success in the coming years.
MAJA K0ENE
Peace AWARD 2010
Conferred on 29th November 2010
By CESCI Foundation India and Switzerland
Mr. Paul Schwartzentruber
Mr. Paul Schwartzentruber (Paulbhai) has made a substantial contribution to promoting peace and non-violence both in Canada, his home country, and in India. Trained in theology, Paul came to India to work on inter-religious dialogue, and in his search to bring different communities together; he has enlarged his role to becoming a spokesperson for global peace education, with a strong connection to the non-violence practiced at the grassroots in India. He is actively engaged in getting the message out via facebook, blogs and website communication.
In recognition of his valuable work in the field of peace and nonviolence, CESCI (Centre for Experiencing Socio-Cultural Interaction) is happy to confer the Maja Koene Peace Award 2010 on Mr. Paul Schwartzentruber and wish him all the best in his efforts to spread peace and nonviolence around the world.
Dr. Margrit Hugentobler
President, CESCI, Switzerland
Dr. S.N. Subba Rao
President, CESCI, India
Shri. P.V. Rajagopal
Secretary, CESCI, India
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Indigenouse land struggle of Paliyan adivasi in Theni dt of tamilnadu -reg, By. Mr.Marirajan.T
All of us we know that FRA 2006 is not bearing any fruits in Tamilnadu for the sake of court case against the same.
45 families Paliyan adivais of Pulichimandurai, Bodi agamalai hills in Theni district of Tamilnadu wants to occupy the land under FRA 2006 allotted for them two years before which was encroached by forest department. They were planted the 7 saplings of Bee Nari tree and take possession of the land during last year. The land allotted to Paliyan is adjacent to forest boundary. Presently the paliyan adivais families lived in scatted manner in near by agri & horticulture farms as wage labourer under bonded system for 20kg of PDS rice and Rs. 500 per month.
The continouse educational and capacity building process initiated by young adivasis activist & Coordinator of CAFAT Mr.Dhanaraj and Mr.Raja, Director of ARUDECS, a member group of CAFAT who working among paliyan tribes in Bodi area. The result of the 4 years work yield some result by emergence of paliyan leadership among the community. The village leaders of the community continuously discus with their community to broke the bonded system with the support traditional and customary rights ensured under FRA 2006. A separte informal meeting was held at Madurai on 6th November for occupying housing land in Karakaddu, a foot hills bodi agamalai hills and its consequences was disused deeply by the leaders of Paliyan.
On early morning of 8th November, 24 families were moved to Karakaddu site and to build the huts. Around 11'o clock, the forest officials came and try evict the people by using muscle power. Leaders of Paliyan were opposed the move. All the families of Paliyans were ready to cooperate with forest officials if arrested legally with their cattle and other small animals. A three hour dialogue was gone both parties. Finally the Paliyan leaders asked forest dept officials to initiate dialogue with Mr.Dhanraj though he was in Madurai at PEAL office.
On behalf of Forest dept Ranger of Agamalai hills spoke to Mr. Dhanaraj over by phone. He explained the land related facts and provision given in FRA 2006 to Ranger. Finally they came to a conclusion of keeping the 7 Bee Nari plants as its in the site and the forest department never make evict which was also conveyed to DFO of theni by the officials. Paliyan adivaisis also offered a suggestion to forest dept, if they give fruit bearing trees in coming rainy sesson, they will ready to plant in the backyard of their huts. The forest official return back from the site around 2 clock when people joy and thanked effort made by leaders of Paliyan and Dhanaraj.
After that we both Paliyan adivasi leaders and activist team of CAFAT decided to expose the above said issue and the non implementation of FRA in Tamilnadu when Chief Minister of Tamilnadu visiting to Madurai for his grand son marriage on 18th of this month.
We spoke to Hindu, a national daily team in Madurai to cover the situation of Paliyan adivasis and their struggle for seeking CM personal attention during his visit to Madurai. Hindu press team visited Pulichimandurai (Sarakkadu) area and spoke to paliyan on 15th. It was finally published today in Tamilnadu column page which CM read regularly. Now we waiting for further actions both Patta issue at local and FRA at state level from higher official who are not taking any fruitful steps to implement the act so for.
Here is the link for your reading and referecne - http://www.hindu.com/2010/11/18/stories/2010111863840500.htm . I am also attaching the news clipping in PDF form.
With best wishes and Solidarity
T.Marirajan
State coordinator - JASuL
No;1, 3rd St, Maruthupandiya nagar,
Narimedu, Madurai - 02, TN, India
Ph: 09442524545
E.Mail:jasul.tn@gmail.com,tmarirajan@gmail.com
45 families Paliyan adivais of Pulichimandurai, Bodi agamalai hills in Theni district of Tamilnadu wants to occupy the land under FRA 2006 allotted for them two years before which was encroached by forest department. They were planted the 7 saplings of Bee Nari tree and take possession of the land during last year. The land allotted to Paliyan is adjacent to forest boundary. Presently the paliyan adivais families lived in scatted manner in near by agri & horticulture farms as wage labourer under bonded system for 20kg of PDS rice and Rs. 500 per month.
The continouse educational and capacity building process initiated by young adivasis activist & Coordinator of CAFAT Mr.Dhanaraj and Mr.Raja, Director of ARUDECS, a member group of CAFAT who working among paliyan tribes in Bodi area. The result of the 4 years work yield some result by emergence of paliyan leadership among the community. The village leaders of the community continuously discus with their community to broke the bonded system with the support traditional and customary rights ensured under FRA 2006. A separte informal meeting was held at Madurai on 6th November for occupying housing land in Karakaddu, a foot hills bodi agamalai hills and its consequences was disused deeply by the leaders of Paliyan.
On early morning of 8th November, 24 families were moved to Karakaddu site and to build the huts. Around 11'o clock, the forest officials came and try evict the people by using muscle power. Leaders of Paliyan were opposed the move. All the families of Paliyans were ready to cooperate with forest officials if arrested legally with their cattle and other small animals. A three hour dialogue was gone both parties. Finally the Paliyan leaders asked forest dept officials to initiate dialogue with Mr.Dhanraj though he was in Madurai at PEAL office.
On behalf of Forest dept Ranger of Agamalai hills spoke to Mr. Dhanaraj over by phone. He explained the land related facts and provision given in FRA 2006 to Ranger. Finally they came to a conclusion of keeping the 7 Bee Nari plants as its in the site and the forest department never make evict which was also conveyed to DFO of theni by the officials. Paliyan adivaisis also offered a suggestion to forest dept, if they give fruit bearing trees in coming rainy sesson, they will ready to plant in the backyard of their huts. The forest official return back from the site around 2 clock when people joy and thanked effort made by leaders of Paliyan and Dhanaraj.
After that we both Paliyan adivasi leaders and activist team of CAFAT decided to expose the above said issue and the non implementation of FRA in Tamilnadu when Chief Minister of Tamilnadu visiting to Madurai for his grand son marriage on 18th of this month.
We spoke to Hindu, a national daily team in Madurai to cover the situation of Paliyan adivasis and their struggle for seeking CM personal attention during his visit to Madurai. Hindu press team visited Pulichimandurai (Sarakkadu) area and spoke to paliyan on 15th. It was finally published today in Tamilnadu column page which CM read regularly. Now we waiting for further actions both Patta issue at local and FRA at state level from higher official who are not taking any fruitful steps to implement the act so for.
Here is the link for your reading and referecne - http://www.hindu.com/2010/11/18/stories/2010111863840500.htm . I am also attaching the news clipping in PDF form.
With best wishes and Solidarity
T.Marirajan
State coordinator - JASuL
No;1, 3rd St, Maruthupandiya nagar,
Narimedu, Madurai - 02, TN, India
Ph: 09442524545
E.Mail:jasul.tn@gmail.com,tmarirajan@gmail.com
ON THE WARPATH:The families of Paliyar tribe at Serakkadu near Bodinaickanur in Theni district.
ON THE WARPATH:The families of Paliyar tribe at Serakkadu near Bodinaickanur in Theni district.
http://www.hindu.com/2010/11/18/stories/2010111863840500.htm
MADURAI: Twenty-eight families belonging to the Paliyar tribe (Scheduled Tribe) at Serakkadu, 10 km from Bodinaickanur in Theni district, have intensified the fight for their rights by erecting hutments and claiming land title on lands surveyed for them.
The 28 families, which have been protesting for more than two years for title deeds, finally decided on Sunday (November 7) to erect huts and settled down on the foothills.
Officials of the Forest Department, Bodi Range, have threatened to remove the huts but the adivasis have asserted that the hutments were erected on revenue land, which was supposed to be distributed to them under the Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers Recognition of Forest Rights Act (FRA) 2006.
The Paliyars, originally a nomadic hunter-gatherer tribe found here, settled down a few decades ago. The adivasi families in Serakkadu work as ‘serfs' in the large mango plantations mostly for a meagre sum of Rs.100 and a maximum of Rs.1,000. In most cases the payment is made in kind rather than cash and includes 10 or 15 kg of ration rice.
R. Karuppayi (40), who has worked for long in the plantations, said on Tuesday, “In most cases we have to work as families but still we will be paid wages equivalent to that of an individual.” A few members still go into the forests to make use of the common property resources available for tribals, like honey, twigs and fruits.
Whenever they demand more payment or come out with any grievance, the adivasis are threatened that they would be evicted. R. Paliyaraj said that the threat of eviction was an every day reality in their lives and there were times that almost all families were evicted more than once. The Paliyars here do not come under the ambit of citizenship as they have no proof. None among them has cast a vote till now and, after a long struggle, a few families were given ration cards over the last 6 months. There is no one in the tribe who has crossed primary education.
All they claim is a piece of land, concrete houses, drinking water and a balwadi for the children. G. Dhanraj, tribal rights activist, who was instrumental in organising the Paliyars, said that even though there were numerous laws to ensure the rights of adivasis, the State was not interested in implementing them.
Burying the dead
The most disturbing thing about the Paliyars here is the fact that they have no place to bury the dead. For long they have been burying the dead in a place called ‘Kozhi Koodu,' which is four km away from where they dwell. In the middle of a small mound there is a large cave and it is where they bury the dead.
Printer friendly page
http://www.hindu.com/2010/11/18/stories/2010111863840500.htm
http://www.hindu.com/2010/11/18/stories/2010111863840500.htm
MADURAI: Twenty-eight families belonging to the Paliyar tribe (Scheduled Tribe) at Serakkadu, 10 km from Bodinaickanur in Theni district, have intensified the fight for their rights by erecting hutments and claiming land title on lands surveyed for them.
The 28 families, which have been protesting for more than two years for title deeds, finally decided on Sunday (November 7) to erect huts and settled down on the foothills.
Officials of the Forest Department, Bodi Range, have threatened to remove the huts but the adivasis have asserted that the hutments were erected on revenue land, which was supposed to be distributed to them under the Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers Recognition of Forest Rights Act (FRA) 2006.
The Paliyars, originally a nomadic hunter-gatherer tribe found here, settled down a few decades ago. The adivasi families in Serakkadu work as ‘serfs' in the large mango plantations mostly for a meagre sum of Rs.100 and a maximum of Rs.1,000. In most cases the payment is made in kind rather than cash and includes 10 or 15 kg of ration rice.
R. Karuppayi (40), who has worked for long in the plantations, said on Tuesday, “In most cases we have to work as families but still we will be paid wages equivalent to that of an individual.” A few members still go into the forests to make use of the common property resources available for tribals, like honey, twigs and fruits.
Whenever they demand more payment or come out with any grievance, the adivasis are threatened that they would be evicted. R. Paliyaraj said that the threat of eviction was an every day reality in their lives and there were times that almost all families were evicted more than once. The Paliyars here do not come under the ambit of citizenship as they have no proof. None among them has cast a vote till now and, after a long struggle, a few families were given ration cards over the last 6 months. There is no one in the tribe who has crossed primary education.
All they claim is a piece of land, concrete houses, drinking water and a balwadi for the children. G. Dhanraj, tribal rights activist, who was instrumental in organising the Paliyars, said that even though there were numerous laws to ensure the rights of adivasis, the State was not interested in implementing them.
Burying the dead
The most disturbing thing about the Paliyars here is the fact that they have no place to bury the dead. For long they have been burying the dead in a place called ‘Kozhi Koodu,' which is four km away from where they dwell. In the middle of a small mound there is a large cave and it is where they bury the dead.
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http://www.hindu.com/2010/11/18/stories/2010111863840500.htm
Adivasi Land Rights Movement (ALRM) Work Plan for 2010 to 2011
WORK PLAN FOR PROMOTING & STRENGTHENING OF ADIVASI LAND RIGHTS MOVEMENT (ALRM) IN TAMILNADU TO IMPLEMENT FOREST RIGHTS ACT 2006 UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF EKTA PARISAD – TAMILNADU
Adivasi Land Rights Movement (ALRM) Work Plan for 2010 to 2011
Context of ALRM:
1.1.0 Introduction:
1.1.1 The 90 million people belonging to "Scheduled Tribes" in India are generally considered to be 'Adivasis', literally meaning 'indigenous people' or 'original inhabitants', though the term 'Scheduled Tribes' (STs) is not coterminous with the term 'Adivasis'. Scheduled Tribes is an administrative term used for purposes of 'administering' certain specific constitutional privileges, protection and benefits for specific sections of peoples considered historically disadvantaged and 'backward'.
1.1.2 However, this administrative term does not exactly match all the peoples called 'Adivasis'. Out of the 5653 distinct communities in India, 635 are considered to be 'tribes' or 'Adivasis'.
1.1.3 For practical purposes, the United Nations and multilateral agencies generally consider the STs as 'indigenous peoples'. With the ST population making up 8.10% (as of 2001 Census) of the total population of India, it is the nation with the highest concentration of ‘indigenous peoples’ in the world!
1.2.0 Understanding Adivasis in India:
1.2.1 Back in history, the Adivasis were in effect self-governing 'first nations'. In general and in most parts of the pre-colonial period, they were nationally part of the 'unknown frontier' of the respective states where the rule of the reign in fact did not extend, and the Adivasis governed themselves outside of the influence of the particular ruler.
1.2.2 Historically the Adivasis, as explained earlier, are at best perceived as sub-humans to be kept in isolation, or as 'primitives' living in remote and backward regions who should be "civilized". None of them have a rational basis. Consequently, the official and popular perception of Adivasis is merely that of isolation in forest, tribal dialect, animism, primitive occupation, carnivorous diet, naked or semi-naked, nomadic habits, love, drink and dance. Contrast this with the self-perception of Adivasis as casteless, classless and egalitarian in nature, community-based economic systems, symbiotic with nature, democratic according to the demands of the times, accommodative history and people-oriented art and literature.
1.2.3 The significance of their sustainable subsistence economy in the midst of a profit oriented economy is not recognized in the political discourse, and the negative stereotyping of the sustainable subsistence economy of Adivasi societies is based on the wrong premise that the production of surplus is more progressive than the process of social reproduction in co-existence with nature.
1.2.4 The source of the conflicts arises from these unresolved contradictions. With globalisation, the hitherto expropriation of rights as an outcome of development has developed into expropriation of rights as a precondition for development. In response, the struggles for the rights of the Adivasis have moved towards the struggles for power and a redefinition of the contours of state, governance and progress.
1.2.5 A process of marginalization today, the total forest cover in India is reported to be 765.21 thousand sq. kms. of which 71% are Adivasis areas. Of these 416.52 sq. kms are declared as Wild Life Sanctuaries and 223.30 thousand sq. kms. are categorised as reserved and protected forests respectively. About 23% of these are further declared as Wild Life Sanctuaries and National Parks which alone has displaced some half a million Adivasis. By the process of colonisation of the forests that began formally with the Forest Act of 1864 and finally the Indian Forest Act of 1927, the rights of Adivasis were reduced to mere privileges conferred by the state.
1.3.0: Understand about Tamilnadu state:
Tamil Nadu State has a population of 62,405,679 as per Census 2001 and covers an area of 130,058 sq.kms. Chennai (formerly known as Madras) is the State Headquarters. The administrative units of the State are:
No of District 32
No of Revenue Divisions 76
No of Taluks 220
No of Firkas 1,127
No of Revenue Villages 16,564
No of Municipal Corporations 10
No of Municipalities 148
No of Panchayat Unions (Blocks) 385
No of Town Panchayats 561
No of Village Panchayats 12,618
No of Lok Sabha Constituencies 39
No of Assembly Constituencies 234
1.4. Understanding Adivasis in Tamilnadu
1.4.1. Of the 300 million indigenous peoples in the world, 100 million live in India constituting 10 % of the total population of the country. There are 6,51,321 Adivasis living in Tamilnadu, 48.97% being women and 51.03% men, constituting 1.03% of the Tamilnadu population. In term of Adivasi population, Tamilnadu ranks 16th in the country, being home to 0.85% of the national Adivasi population. Adivasis communities in Tamil Nadu are largely concentrated in 18 districts namely Vellore, Villupuram, Nammakkal, Salem, Tiruvannamalai, Trichi, Dharmapuri, Coimbatore, Erodu, Theni, Dindigul, Madurai, Virudhunagar, Tiruvallaur, Krishanakiri, Kanniyakumari, Nilgiris, Kanchipuram and many adivasis groups have been displaced to the plains.
District-wise population of Scheduled Tribes in Tamil Nadu Census 2001)
Sl. No District Total
Population Scheduled Tribes % of
District Total
Rural Urban Total
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 Chennai 4,343,645 - 6,728 6,728 0.15
2 Kancheepuram 2,877,468 18,062 8,446 26,508 0.92
3 Tiruvallur 2,754,756 28,885 8,973 37,858 1.37
4 Cuddalore 2,285,395 7,241 4,532 11,773 0.52
5 Villupuram 2960373 61,687 2,233 63,920 2.16
6 Vellore 3,477,317 58,237 4,803 63,040 1.81
7 Tiruvannamalai 2,186,125 69,198 3,562 72,760 3.33
8 Salem 3,016,346 98,722 5,199 103,921 3.45
9 Namakkal 1,493,462 50,454 962 51,416 3.44
10 Dharmapuri 2,856,300 57,763 1,786 59,549 2.08
11 Erode 2,581,500 15,120 2,573 17,693 0.69
12 Coimbatore 4,271,856 19,559 9,544 29,103 0.68
13 The Nilgiris 762,141 19,600 8,773 28,373 3.72
14 Tiruchirapalli 2,418,366 14,383 4,529 18,912 0.78
15 Karur 935,686 1,075 375 1,450 0.15
16 Perambalur 1189170 10675 1161 11836 1.90
17 Pudukkottai 1,459,601 432 360 792 0.05
18 Thanjavur 2,216,138 1,302 2,339 3,641 0.16
19 Nagapattinam 1,488,839 1,618 1,802 3,420 0.23
20 Tiruvarur 1,169,474 971 1,702 2,673 0.23
21 Madurai 2,578,201 2,054 3,918 5,972 0.23
22 Theni 1,093,950 1,046 640 1,686 0.15
23 Dindigul 1,923,014 3,512 2,972 6,484 0.34
24 Ramanathapuram 1,187,604 396 682 1,078 0.09
25 Virudhunagar 1,751,301 953 1,404 2,357 0.13
26 Sivagangai 1,155,356 375 708 1,083 0.09
27 Tirunelveli 2,723,988 3,202 5,156 8,358 0.31
28 Thoothukudi 1,572,273 1,060 2,434 3,494 0.22
29 Kanniyakumari 1,676,034 3,561 1,882 5,443 0.32
STATE 62,405,679 551,143 100,178 651,321 1.04
Source : DCS, 2003
1.4.2. The Central government has listed 36 Adivasi communities residing in Tamilnadu, of which 14 numerically dominant groups form 96.33% of the state’s Adivasi population. Only two communities, namely the Malayalis and Irulars, have a population size exceeding 100,000 persons and together from 68.88% of the total state Adivasi population. Three communities, namely the Kattunayakans, Kondareddies and Kurumans have a population exceeding 10,000 persons; nine communities have population between 3,000 to 10,000 persons, and 22 communities are classified as small populations of 2000 persons or less, with 16 communities numbering less than 1,000 persons each and five less than 100 persons.
Tribal Population in Tamilnadu and their Eco Region based Habitations
Adivasi community Habitat with District and its Eco region or mountain Population
1. Adiyan Tamilnadu area near Kerala border, wayanadu and Kannur district of Kerala and Kudagu district of Karnataka 2230
2. Aranadan Tamilnadu area near Kerala border and Kerala 44
3. Irular Nilkiri Irular: Anaimalai, Maruthamalai, Siruvani, Mettupalayam, Irular in Plain: Ganjipuram, Vellore, Chengalpattu, Selam, Dharmapuri, THiruvannamalai and Villupuram districts 155606
4. Ooralai Ellakkai Malai, Mukkudal area which Kerala, Karanataka and Tamilnadu hills areas were connected. Especially Sathiyamanagalam, Thiruvithangoor, and Kochin areas 9116
5. Eravalan Pollachi and Udumalaipettai taluks of Kovai dt, Kanyakumari, Thirunelveli district in scattered nature 1554
6. Kaniyan Most of the people living in Kanyakumari dt, Thirunelveli, Covai to Chennai were in scattered nature 1660
7. Kammara Tamilnadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhrapredesh areas in scattered nature 593
8. Kattunaiyakkan Nilkiris, Mudumalai, Other district in Tamilnadu, Keral 45227
9. Kadar Nilkiris, Aanaimalai, Parambikulam, Perumparai 568
10. Kanikkaran Kaniyakumari and Kerala 3136
11.Kudiyar, Malaikudi Tamilnadu and Karnataka border hills, and Kudagu dt of Karnataka 126
12. Kuruchian Krishnakiri dt in Tamilnadu and Kerala 3168
13. Kurumbar Nilkiris, Malabar, Vaiyanadu, and Mysore 5498
14. Kuruman Most of the people lived in Dharmapuri, Vellore, Kirishnakiri dt, Some of them were in Mettor taluks of Salem dt 24963
15. Kochuvellan Near Thiruvedangoor area of Tamilnadu border 133
16. Kondakapu Tamilnadu and Andhrapradesh in scattered nature 516
17. Kondareddy Most of the people lived in Mettor, Bhavani, Idippadi, Pennagaram taluks, and some of the lived in Madurai, Thirunelveli, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Puduchery in scattered nature 19653
18. Korar Near Thiruvedangoor areas of Tamilnadu border, Kazarkodu dt of Kerala, South Kannada dt, and the near areas of Tamilnadu borders 159
19. Kothar Nilkiris 925
20. Chollagar Pargoor Hills (Bhavani), Billikiri Rangan Hills, Matheswaran Hills of Karanataka. This people lived in both Tamilnadu and Karanataka states. 3853
21. Thothavar Nilkiri 1560
22. Palliyan Palani hills 1525
23. Palleiyan Palani hills, Madurai dt 339
24. Palliyar Lawer Palani hills of Madurai dt, Uppar Palani hills, Ellakkai Hills, Sirumalai, Kodai hills, Varushanadu hills, Periyaru Hills, Iddukki dt of Kerala 3052
25. Paniyan Guddalore taluk of Nilkiri dt, Kozhikodu, Malappuram taluks of Kerala, Kudagu dt of karanataka 9121
26. Mahamalasar Covai, Udumalaipettai, Dindugal area hills 183
27. Malasar Anaimalai, Kerala area 6043
28. Malai araiyan Covai, Kottaiyam dt of kerala 499
29. Malaikuravan Madurai, Kanyakumari, Kerala hill areas 18296
30. Malaipandaram Kanyakumari, Kollam dt areas of Kerala 3156
31. Malaiyakandi Tamilnadu, Kerala 464
32. Maliyalli Kolli Hill, Pachimalai, Servarayan Hills, Ellakiri Hills, Javathu Hills, Sitheri Hills, Kalrayan hills, Palamalai Hills 310042
33. Malaivedan Mothiramalai of Kalkulam taluks and Villavankodu taluks in Kanyakumari dt is the ancient birth place. Now they are living in scattered nature 6411
34. Mannaan Madurai, Kodaikannal, Elakkaimalai 82
35. Muthuvan Anaimalai, Ellakkaimalai in Tamilnadu, Thiruvethangoor, Kochi area of Kerala state 339
36. Muduvan, Mudukar Anaimalai (Covai), Kannan thevan malaikal, Ellakkaimalai, and Kerala 1297
Adivasi communities are largely concentrated 15 districts, including Chennai, most of them residing in the Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats, in the area extending from Erodu to Kanyakumari in the west and in the area of Tiruchirappali, Nammakkal, Salem, Dharapuri and Vellore in the east.
1.4.3. Within the listed Tamilnadu Adivasi communities, the Kattunayakan, Kota, Kurumba, Irular, Paniyan and Toda communities, numbering 1,58,000 have been identified as ‘primitive tribal groups, due to their pre – agricultural level of technology, low literacy and stagnant or diminishing number .
1.4.4 The Present Status of Adivasis in Tamilnadu :
Adivasis, who are scattered in western Ghats and eastern ghats, lived in small hamlets who are in search of their lost identity, livelihood resources, healthy food habits, rich traditional heritage, access to herbal medicines and minor forest produce. They are forced to live in plains, reduced to the level of plantation workers or agricultural coolies in their ancestral land.
1.4.4.1. Basic Amenities:
Even after 63 years of Independence, hill tribes in Tamilnadu have not secured their basic amenties like housing, protected drinking water, Street light, link roads, schools, Primary health centre and proper marketing facilities
1.4.4.2. Payment of minimum wages:
Remuneration paid to the tribels by the plantation and Land owners and contractors is far below the wages fixed by the minimum wages act.
1.4.4.3. Forest Department:
The practices of forest department auctioning forest produce gave way to contractors and middlemen resulting in the deprivation of the traditional rights of tribal community.
1.4.4.4. Atrocities on Tribals:
Since the Adivasis are not organised and continued to be week they became easy victims of forest officials and local land lords. Victimisation and and abuse of women by the officials and local landlords are quite common.
1.4.4.5. Health Issue:
Most Adivasis live in poor hygienic condition resulting in various problems such as infant mortality, nutritional status, fertility, neo-natal mortality, post-natal mortality, peri-natal mortality, poor life-expectancy etc. The inadequacy of public health care delivery system, poor preventive measures, insufficient income and high consumption of tobacco and alcohol have led Adivasis to an unhealthy life. Comparing to the earnings of Adivasis, the expenditure on health is a heavy burden which keeps Adivasis living in a poor health conditions.
1.4.4.6. Extreme Poverty and Hunger:
The Adivasis in India live under extreme poverty and hunger because the majority of them do not have land for cultivation. The Adivasis do not have the habit of saving money. Most of the displaced Adivasis are denied of their right to live in forest which used to be their source of livelihood. Now they depend only on daily manual work to meet their expenses.
1.4.4.7. The major political issue in Tamil Nadu for adivasis is the non-implementation of V schedule and new panchayat extension Act 1996. The corporate sector is making hectic attempts to alienate adivasis from their land and to scrap the V schedule as it gives powers to adivasis to prohibit the outsiders into the adivasis areas.
1.4.4.8. Development of tourism, Hydropower projects, large scale plantation units, mining industries, mono cropping and cash cropping patterns, agro industrial chemical pollution. Encroachment of adivasis lands by non- adivasis and exploitation of forest resources in a massive way have resulted in serious ecological and environmental problems and in loss of bio–diversity.
1.4.4.9. The announcement of forest covers as Tiger Sanctuaries, National Parks and Wild Life Sanctuaries threatens the forest adivasi to quit from their forest dwellings and livelihood resources. The promises of the State to pay huge compensations, forcible eviction of the adivasis for mining activities of the State are other threats adivasis face today.
1.5.0 Forest Rights Act 2006:
1.5.1 The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 , is a key piece of forest legislation passed in India on December 18, 2006. It has also been called the "Forest Rights Act", the "Tribal Rights Act" and the "Tribal Land Act." The law concerns the rights of forest dwelling communities to land and other resources, denied to them over decades as a result of the continuance of colonial forest laws in India.
1.5.2 Supporters of the Act claim that it will redress the "historical injustice" committed against forest dwellers, while including provisions for making conservation more effective and more transparent. The demand for the law has seen massive national demonstrations involving hundreds of thousands of people.
1.5.3 However, the law has also been the subject of considerable controversy in the English press in India. Opponents of the law claim it will lead to massive forest destruction and should be repealed.
1.5.4 A little over one year after it was passed, the Act was notified into for on December 31, 2007. On January 1, 2008, this was followed by the notification of the Rules framed by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to supplement the procedural aspects of the Act. In these 12 months, December 2006 to December 2007, adivasis in various forest areas of the country have been subject to systematic assaults by the forest department and a host of other forces, who did not like the idea of India's forest resources being controlled by the forest dwellers. Thousands of people living in forest areas for generations in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Chattisgarh, Gujarat, Kerala, Tamilnadu and elsewhere battled eviction attempts, and in many cases, were brutally evicted, their villages burnt or bulldozed, people tortured, harassed and arrested in false cases simply because they had demanded forest rights.
1.5.5 Paying no heed to laws passed by a sovereign country's Parliament, a handful of forest bureaucrats, continued to tyrannize the rightful owners of Indian forests. While on the ground forest officials denied the very existence of the Forest Rights Act, the Ministry of Environment and Forests,(MoEF) Government of India, issued a guideline to State Forest Departments, to identify 'inviolate' Critical Wildlife Habitats as defined in the Act! The Act was not notified, and neither had the rights settlement process prescribed in the Act started anywhere. This did not stop the MoEF from issuing the completely illegal guidelines. Not to be left behind, the State Forest Departments notified 'inviolate' tiger habitats in several states, claiming that the rights provided in the Forest Rights Act will not apply to such notified areas.
1.5.6 The forest communities of this independent country expects that, with notification of the Forest Rights Act, the implementation of the Forest Rights Act must start in right earnest, giving full primacy to the Gramsabhas. The notification of the Act is a welcoming move but the Rules for the Act are still extremely vague and sketchy, and these do not clear the ambiguities latent in the original Act. Demand is that suitable Amendments are brought to the Forest Rights Act, to include the recommendations of the Joint Parliamentary Committee, and to ensure that all genuine forest dwellers of the country come under it, and rights enshrined in the Act do not get in any way compromised by interference from Government Officials.
1.5.7 In the above mentioned context, Adivasi Land Rights Movement (ALRM) with its like minded activist groups has taken up the task of widespread campaigning of Forest Rights Act 2006 among the adivasis and the Officials with the Gramsabha members in between.
2. Profile of ALRM Member Group and its Like Minded Tribal Activist Group:
2.1. Adivasi Land Right Movement (ALRM) is a small attempt initiated by ARUDECS (All Rural Development and Social Construction Society, Theni among Paliyan Tribes in Bodi – Agamalai Hills of Theni district from 2004 onwards. Last 6 years of involvement with Paliyan Adivais, ARUDECS promoted a cadre based People’s Organisation called Adivasi Land Right Movement - Theni, formerly known as Bodi & Agamalai Adivasis Paliyar Federation (BAAPF) with strength of over 15000 members constituted by 20 settlements.
2.2. ARUDECS is also actively involved Campaign for the proper implementation of Forest Rights Act 2007 at Bodi Agamalai Hills of Western Ghats in Theni district with support of ARUDECS. Activities carried out are as follow:
• Two Awareness Camp and Training for Youth and Village Leaders on FRA 2006 during the year 2008 - 2009
• Formation of Adivasi traditional Gramsabha in 15 tribal hamlets
• Two village level Resource Mapping excercise conducted through PRA Techniques
• 800 Claim Forms prefared and submitted to the district administration.
• 45 bonded labour families were released and rehabilitated from landlord, Bodi with the guidance of ARUDECS.
• 5 atrocity cases against women and Dalits was filed and won the legal battle against the upper caste people.
• District forest rights committee – Theni was formed by district administration working close contact with ARUDECS for implementing FRA 2006.
• 300 paliyan Adivasi family got community certificate with the support of ARUDECS.
2.3. ARUDECS is technically and conceptually supported by a group of like minded tribal activists namely
1. P.V.Rajagobalji, National President – EKTA Parishad
2. T.Marirajan, Research & Activist and he leading a state wide campaign against globalization related livelihood issues in Tamilnadu
3. K. Biju, Coordinator, Centre for Socio-Cultural Interaction (CESCI), Madurai
4. S. Dhanaraj, Lawer & Tribal activist working for the speedy implementation of FRA 2006 in Tamilnadu
5. Mr.Nagalingam, a leading labour activist and core team member of EKTA Parisad – Tamilnadu
6. Ms.Sivarani, Ecological farming specialist
2.4. ARUDECS, and Like Minded Tribal Activists works together for promoting EKTA – Parisad, Tamilnadu for the wider campaign on Forest Rights Act 2006 all over the state. It also focused regional issues at the district level or Eco region level by promoting and strengthening of Adivasi Land Rights Movement (ALRM) to fight for the traditional and customary rights adivasis in Tamilnadu.
2.4. Formation of Adivasi team among Existing EKTA – Parisad, Tamilnadu Setup:
A separate planning meeting for developing workplan for promoting and strengthening of ALRM was held at CECSI, Madurai on 22nd May 2010. 9 participants took part the meeting. The tribal situation in Tamilnadu and the implementation of FRA 2006 was discussed during the meeting. End of the meeting, EKTA – Parisad, Tamilnadu Adivasi team was selected. The following persons were elected as members, namely P.R.Raja, G.Nagalingam, S.Dhanaraj, S.Jegadesan, T.Marirajan and Pappathi (Women Leader from Paliyan Tribes).
3. Goals and Objectives of ALRM
3.1. The vision of ALRM is to ensure the rights of forest adivasis, their lives and livelihoods.
3.2. The wider objective of ALRM is to empower adivasis with active participation for improved and sustainable management of natural resources including forest for secured livelihood, governance of forest and tree resources, protection of their forest rights, land rights and customary rights on forest and other entitlements.
3.3. The objectives of ALRM are:
• To mobilize Adivasi community into a movement for protection of their rights in the present complex socio-Political condition.
• Wider campaigning of Forest Rights Act 2006 in all forest adivasi areas to reduce the information gaps.
• Empowering gramsabhas to take decisions on their community development processes and understanding the Forest Rights Act 2006, the roles and responsibilities of gramsabhas;
• To empower the Adivasis on their rights to protect, regenerate or conserve or manage and community forest resource, which they have been traditionally protecting and conserving for sustainable use.
• Organising and capacitating adivasis across the state to protest against on-going exploitation and displacement due to so called industrialisation through the active participation of Janasatygraha 2012 jointly with other EKTA Parisad Units in all over India;
3.4. Primary Focus:
The ALRM has planned to focus primarily on Campaign on Forest Rights Act 2006 and to Preparing Jansatyagraha 2012.
3.4.1. Preparing Jansatyagraha 2012:
EKTA Parishad is going to organize one-year foot march of Jansatyagraha 2012 is a vital event at national level as well as the state chapter of Tamilnadu to achieve the traditional and customary rights of Adivasis. The main objective of this event is to gather 100,000 people on the 2nd of October 2012 in front of the Parliament, for the recognition and application of the rights to the natural resources of the most destitute people.
Adivasis team of EKTA Parisad, Tamilnadu already promised to Rajaji during the time of his visit to CESCI, Madurai to participate with 5000 cadres from all over Tamilnadu. During the planning meeting held at CESCi on 22nd May 2010, the team discussed the mobilization process to Janasatyagraha 2012. 18 eco regions were already identified for cadre building work
3.5. PRIORITIES
The priorities of action are forming grass root level Eco Region based Collective to facilitate the Adivasis to register as an organized co-operatives at district level to ensure their right over minor forest produce; to be informed about Forest Rights Act 2006; and to document traditional and customary rights in Gram sabha resolutions by the Adivasis themselves for the better implementation of the Forest Rights Act 2006.
Adivasi habitats in Tamilnadu were divided in to 18 eco regions. The names of the Eco regions were as follows.
Eco regions in Western Ghats:
1. Pachiparai 2. Manimutharu, Kalakkadu, Mundanthurai 3. Sathurakiri, Sirumalai 4. Kuthiraimalai 5. Varusanadu 6. Bodi – Agamalai 7. Uppar and Lower Palani Hills 8. Valparai, Top Slip 9. Thirumoorthimalai, Amaravathi, Thalinchi 10. Sathiyamangalam 11. Thalavadi, Yanaikatti 12. Ooty, Kothakiri, Gudaloor,
Eco Regions in Eastern ghats
13. Kollimalai 14. Kalrayan hills 15. Pachamalai 16. Javathu Hills 17. Erkadu 18. Ellakiri hills
3.6. Strategies:
The following strategies were planned to implement the work plan during the year 2010 to 2011.
3.6.1. Strategy 1: Information collection and identification of grass root level tribal activists and community leaders
• Data collection through known source or contacts
• Consultation meeting for selected participants
• Spot Visit with selected participants
3.6.2. Strategy II: organizing and strengthening of Eco region Level forums
• Strengthening of Grama Sabhas and Communities
• Capacity building for forest right committees
• Formation of Eco Region Level forums to monitoring of FRA work
• Capacity Building of Eco region level forum or Federation Leaders
• Support for Adivasi cultural mela process with inter-village cultural activities to strengthen the self-confidence of Adivasis and to bring the spirit of the sustainable and equitable Adivasi forest life also to the awareness and recognition of the modern society.
• Strengthening of Local struggles and activists
3.6.3. Strategy III: Community based mass sensitization programme across the state for unifying adivasi communities to ensuring the traditional and customary rights.
• Coordination work for promoting ALRM at state level
• Campaigning through rallies, padiyatras, posters, statements, press releases, publications, etc.
• Organized a Public Hearing on Tribal issues and FRA
• Campaign / Lobby / Advocacy at the state and national level for land rights jointly with EKTA parisad
3.6.4. Strategy IV: Campaigning to protect, validate & legalise sustainable life practices of Adivasis :
• Sustainable ways how Adivasis live (by use of plants, trees, etc.) without eliminating the wild/natural renewal of plants, trees, etc.
• Sustainable Adivasi mode of holding/ownership of land/wilds/forests/indigenous knowledge& subsistence
• Subsistence of landless Adivasis (against contract farming/commercial plantation/cultivation)
• Formation of State resource centre for Adivasis in Tamilnadu
7. Expected Results
• Solidarity and unity among adivasi communities will be strengthened. Collective articulation of forest adivasis for equitable forest policy, strategies, law and regulation to ensure tribal and forest dependant community’s rights and entitlements.
• Adivasis networking and contacts will improve through collective efforts across the country.
• Awareness will improve natural resource management in adivasi communities.
• Bio-diversity in the forest adivasi area will be maintained through peoples’ initiatives.
• Organised pressure will be built up on the State to formulate policies on adivasi welfare and to implement FRA 2006.
• Adivasi Community resource mapping will be done to strengthen the claim forms of adivasi community rights over forest.
• Adivasi economies, cultures and traditional knowledge systems will be protected.
• Leadership will be developed among adivasi communities with enriched information sharing on Forest rights.
• Capacity will be built to resist so called development programmes and projects which result in displacement and forced migration of majority of people from their traditional motherland and livelihood resources.
• On the whole, 5000 Adivasi Youths and community leaders will take part Janasatyagraha 2012 from Tamilnadu.
Other Issues to Consider
• Though Forest Rights Act 2006 is considered one of the best legal provisions for the forest adivasis, the rules and regulations still have gaps. The lack of integrated approach in the National Law is also a stumbling block in the enforcement of FRA 2006.
• The National Wild Life Parks, Wild Life Sanctuaries and Tiger Reserves poses eviction threat to adivasis from their forest dwellings and livelihood resources.
• The international development agenda and the process of globalisation, privatization and liberalisation also favours the vested interests of MNCs and their profit motives with gross exploitation of natural resources on contrary to the decentralized, subsistence and sustainable economy of the adivasis.
Adivasi Land Rights Movement (ALRM) Work Plan for 2010 to 2011
Context of ALRM:
1.1.0 Introduction:
1.1.1 The 90 million people belonging to "Scheduled Tribes" in India are generally considered to be 'Adivasis', literally meaning 'indigenous people' or 'original inhabitants', though the term 'Scheduled Tribes' (STs) is not coterminous with the term 'Adivasis'. Scheduled Tribes is an administrative term used for purposes of 'administering' certain specific constitutional privileges, protection and benefits for specific sections of peoples considered historically disadvantaged and 'backward'.
1.1.2 However, this administrative term does not exactly match all the peoples called 'Adivasis'. Out of the 5653 distinct communities in India, 635 are considered to be 'tribes' or 'Adivasis'.
1.1.3 For practical purposes, the United Nations and multilateral agencies generally consider the STs as 'indigenous peoples'. With the ST population making up 8.10% (as of 2001 Census) of the total population of India, it is the nation with the highest concentration of ‘indigenous peoples’ in the world!
1.2.0 Understanding Adivasis in India:
1.2.1 Back in history, the Adivasis were in effect self-governing 'first nations'. In general and in most parts of the pre-colonial period, they were nationally part of the 'unknown frontier' of the respective states where the rule of the reign in fact did not extend, and the Adivasis governed themselves outside of the influence of the particular ruler.
1.2.2 Historically the Adivasis, as explained earlier, are at best perceived as sub-humans to be kept in isolation, or as 'primitives' living in remote and backward regions who should be "civilized". None of them have a rational basis. Consequently, the official and popular perception of Adivasis is merely that of isolation in forest, tribal dialect, animism, primitive occupation, carnivorous diet, naked or semi-naked, nomadic habits, love, drink and dance. Contrast this with the self-perception of Adivasis as casteless, classless and egalitarian in nature, community-based economic systems, symbiotic with nature, democratic according to the demands of the times, accommodative history and people-oriented art and literature.
1.2.3 The significance of their sustainable subsistence economy in the midst of a profit oriented economy is not recognized in the political discourse, and the negative stereotyping of the sustainable subsistence economy of Adivasi societies is based on the wrong premise that the production of surplus is more progressive than the process of social reproduction in co-existence with nature.
1.2.4 The source of the conflicts arises from these unresolved contradictions. With globalisation, the hitherto expropriation of rights as an outcome of development has developed into expropriation of rights as a precondition for development. In response, the struggles for the rights of the Adivasis have moved towards the struggles for power and a redefinition of the contours of state, governance and progress.
1.2.5 A process of marginalization today, the total forest cover in India is reported to be 765.21 thousand sq. kms. of which 71% are Adivasis areas. Of these 416.52 sq. kms are declared as Wild Life Sanctuaries and 223.30 thousand sq. kms. are categorised as reserved and protected forests respectively. About 23% of these are further declared as Wild Life Sanctuaries and National Parks which alone has displaced some half a million Adivasis. By the process of colonisation of the forests that began formally with the Forest Act of 1864 and finally the Indian Forest Act of 1927, the rights of Adivasis were reduced to mere privileges conferred by the state.
1.3.0: Understand about Tamilnadu state:
Tamil Nadu State has a population of 62,405,679 as per Census 2001 and covers an area of 130,058 sq.kms. Chennai (formerly known as Madras) is the State Headquarters. The administrative units of the State are:
No of District 32
No of Revenue Divisions 76
No of Taluks 220
No of Firkas 1,127
No of Revenue Villages 16,564
No of Municipal Corporations 10
No of Municipalities 148
No of Panchayat Unions (Blocks) 385
No of Town Panchayats 561
No of Village Panchayats 12,618
No of Lok Sabha Constituencies 39
No of Assembly Constituencies 234
1.4. Understanding Adivasis in Tamilnadu
1.4.1. Of the 300 million indigenous peoples in the world, 100 million live in India constituting 10 % of the total population of the country. There are 6,51,321 Adivasis living in Tamilnadu, 48.97% being women and 51.03% men, constituting 1.03% of the Tamilnadu population. In term of Adivasi population, Tamilnadu ranks 16th in the country, being home to 0.85% of the national Adivasi population. Adivasis communities in Tamil Nadu are largely concentrated in 18 districts namely Vellore, Villupuram, Nammakkal, Salem, Tiruvannamalai, Trichi, Dharmapuri, Coimbatore, Erodu, Theni, Dindigul, Madurai, Virudhunagar, Tiruvallaur, Krishanakiri, Kanniyakumari, Nilgiris, Kanchipuram and many adivasis groups have been displaced to the plains.
District-wise population of Scheduled Tribes in Tamil Nadu Census 2001)
Sl. No District Total
Population Scheduled Tribes % of
District Total
Rural Urban Total
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 Chennai 4,343,645 - 6,728 6,728 0.15
2 Kancheepuram 2,877,468 18,062 8,446 26,508 0.92
3 Tiruvallur 2,754,756 28,885 8,973 37,858 1.37
4 Cuddalore 2,285,395 7,241 4,532 11,773 0.52
5 Villupuram 2960373 61,687 2,233 63,920 2.16
6 Vellore 3,477,317 58,237 4,803 63,040 1.81
7 Tiruvannamalai 2,186,125 69,198 3,562 72,760 3.33
8 Salem 3,016,346 98,722 5,199 103,921 3.45
9 Namakkal 1,493,462 50,454 962 51,416 3.44
10 Dharmapuri 2,856,300 57,763 1,786 59,549 2.08
11 Erode 2,581,500 15,120 2,573 17,693 0.69
12 Coimbatore 4,271,856 19,559 9,544 29,103 0.68
13 The Nilgiris 762,141 19,600 8,773 28,373 3.72
14 Tiruchirapalli 2,418,366 14,383 4,529 18,912 0.78
15 Karur 935,686 1,075 375 1,450 0.15
16 Perambalur 1189170 10675 1161 11836 1.90
17 Pudukkottai 1,459,601 432 360 792 0.05
18 Thanjavur 2,216,138 1,302 2,339 3,641 0.16
19 Nagapattinam 1,488,839 1,618 1,802 3,420 0.23
20 Tiruvarur 1,169,474 971 1,702 2,673 0.23
21 Madurai 2,578,201 2,054 3,918 5,972 0.23
22 Theni 1,093,950 1,046 640 1,686 0.15
23 Dindigul 1,923,014 3,512 2,972 6,484 0.34
24 Ramanathapuram 1,187,604 396 682 1,078 0.09
25 Virudhunagar 1,751,301 953 1,404 2,357 0.13
26 Sivagangai 1,155,356 375 708 1,083 0.09
27 Tirunelveli 2,723,988 3,202 5,156 8,358 0.31
28 Thoothukudi 1,572,273 1,060 2,434 3,494 0.22
29 Kanniyakumari 1,676,034 3,561 1,882 5,443 0.32
STATE 62,405,679 551,143 100,178 651,321 1.04
Source : DCS, 2003
1.4.2. The Central government has listed 36 Adivasi communities residing in Tamilnadu, of which 14 numerically dominant groups form 96.33% of the state’s Adivasi population. Only two communities, namely the Malayalis and Irulars, have a population size exceeding 100,000 persons and together from 68.88% of the total state Adivasi population. Three communities, namely the Kattunayakans, Kondareddies and Kurumans have a population exceeding 10,000 persons; nine communities have population between 3,000 to 10,000 persons, and 22 communities are classified as small populations of 2000 persons or less, with 16 communities numbering less than 1,000 persons each and five less than 100 persons.
Tribal Population in Tamilnadu and their Eco Region based Habitations
Adivasi community Habitat with District and its Eco region or mountain Population
1. Adiyan Tamilnadu area near Kerala border, wayanadu and Kannur district of Kerala and Kudagu district of Karnataka 2230
2. Aranadan Tamilnadu area near Kerala border and Kerala 44
3. Irular Nilkiri Irular: Anaimalai, Maruthamalai, Siruvani, Mettupalayam, Irular in Plain: Ganjipuram, Vellore, Chengalpattu, Selam, Dharmapuri, THiruvannamalai and Villupuram districts 155606
4. Ooralai Ellakkai Malai, Mukkudal area which Kerala, Karanataka and Tamilnadu hills areas were connected. Especially Sathiyamanagalam, Thiruvithangoor, and Kochin areas 9116
5. Eravalan Pollachi and Udumalaipettai taluks of Kovai dt, Kanyakumari, Thirunelveli district in scattered nature 1554
6. Kaniyan Most of the people living in Kanyakumari dt, Thirunelveli, Covai to Chennai were in scattered nature 1660
7. Kammara Tamilnadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhrapredesh areas in scattered nature 593
8. Kattunaiyakkan Nilkiris, Mudumalai, Other district in Tamilnadu, Keral 45227
9. Kadar Nilkiris, Aanaimalai, Parambikulam, Perumparai 568
10. Kanikkaran Kaniyakumari and Kerala 3136
11.Kudiyar, Malaikudi Tamilnadu and Karnataka border hills, and Kudagu dt of Karnataka 126
12. Kuruchian Krishnakiri dt in Tamilnadu and Kerala 3168
13. Kurumbar Nilkiris, Malabar, Vaiyanadu, and Mysore 5498
14. Kuruman Most of the people lived in Dharmapuri, Vellore, Kirishnakiri dt, Some of them were in Mettor taluks of Salem dt 24963
15. Kochuvellan Near Thiruvedangoor area of Tamilnadu border 133
16. Kondakapu Tamilnadu and Andhrapradesh in scattered nature 516
17. Kondareddy Most of the people lived in Mettor, Bhavani, Idippadi, Pennagaram taluks, and some of the lived in Madurai, Thirunelveli, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Puduchery in scattered nature 19653
18. Korar Near Thiruvedangoor areas of Tamilnadu border, Kazarkodu dt of Kerala, South Kannada dt, and the near areas of Tamilnadu borders 159
19. Kothar Nilkiris 925
20. Chollagar Pargoor Hills (Bhavani), Billikiri Rangan Hills, Matheswaran Hills of Karanataka. This people lived in both Tamilnadu and Karanataka states. 3853
21. Thothavar Nilkiri 1560
22. Palliyan Palani hills 1525
23. Palleiyan Palani hills, Madurai dt 339
24. Palliyar Lawer Palani hills of Madurai dt, Uppar Palani hills, Ellakkai Hills, Sirumalai, Kodai hills, Varushanadu hills, Periyaru Hills, Iddukki dt of Kerala 3052
25. Paniyan Guddalore taluk of Nilkiri dt, Kozhikodu, Malappuram taluks of Kerala, Kudagu dt of karanataka 9121
26. Mahamalasar Covai, Udumalaipettai, Dindugal area hills 183
27. Malasar Anaimalai, Kerala area 6043
28. Malai araiyan Covai, Kottaiyam dt of kerala 499
29. Malaikuravan Madurai, Kanyakumari, Kerala hill areas 18296
30. Malaipandaram Kanyakumari, Kollam dt areas of Kerala 3156
31. Malaiyakandi Tamilnadu, Kerala 464
32. Maliyalli Kolli Hill, Pachimalai, Servarayan Hills, Ellakiri Hills, Javathu Hills, Sitheri Hills, Kalrayan hills, Palamalai Hills 310042
33. Malaivedan Mothiramalai of Kalkulam taluks and Villavankodu taluks in Kanyakumari dt is the ancient birth place. Now they are living in scattered nature 6411
34. Mannaan Madurai, Kodaikannal, Elakkaimalai 82
35. Muthuvan Anaimalai, Ellakkaimalai in Tamilnadu, Thiruvethangoor, Kochi area of Kerala state 339
36. Muduvan, Mudukar Anaimalai (Covai), Kannan thevan malaikal, Ellakkaimalai, and Kerala 1297
Adivasi communities are largely concentrated 15 districts, including Chennai, most of them residing in the Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats, in the area extending from Erodu to Kanyakumari in the west and in the area of Tiruchirappali, Nammakkal, Salem, Dharapuri and Vellore in the east.
1.4.3. Within the listed Tamilnadu Adivasi communities, the Kattunayakan, Kota, Kurumba, Irular, Paniyan and Toda communities, numbering 1,58,000 have been identified as ‘primitive tribal groups, due to their pre – agricultural level of technology, low literacy and stagnant or diminishing number .
1.4.4 The Present Status of Adivasis in Tamilnadu :
Adivasis, who are scattered in western Ghats and eastern ghats, lived in small hamlets who are in search of their lost identity, livelihood resources, healthy food habits, rich traditional heritage, access to herbal medicines and minor forest produce. They are forced to live in plains, reduced to the level of plantation workers or agricultural coolies in their ancestral land.
1.4.4.1. Basic Amenities:
Even after 63 years of Independence, hill tribes in Tamilnadu have not secured their basic amenties like housing, protected drinking water, Street light, link roads, schools, Primary health centre and proper marketing facilities
1.4.4.2. Payment of minimum wages:
Remuneration paid to the tribels by the plantation and Land owners and contractors is far below the wages fixed by the minimum wages act.
1.4.4.3. Forest Department:
The practices of forest department auctioning forest produce gave way to contractors and middlemen resulting in the deprivation of the traditional rights of tribal community.
1.4.4.4. Atrocities on Tribals:
Since the Adivasis are not organised and continued to be week they became easy victims of forest officials and local land lords. Victimisation and and abuse of women by the officials and local landlords are quite common.
1.4.4.5. Health Issue:
Most Adivasis live in poor hygienic condition resulting in various problems such as infant mortality, nutritional status, fertility, neo-natal mortality, post-natal mortality, peri-natal mortality, poor life-expectancy etc. The inadequacy of public health care delivery system, poor preventive measures, insufficient income and high consumption of tobacco and alcohol have led Adivasis to an unhealthy life. Comparing to the earnings of Adivasis, the expenditure on health is a heavy burden which keeps Adivasis living in a poor health conditions.
1.4.4.6. Extreme Poverty and Hunger:
The Adivasis in India live under extreme poverty and hunger because the majority of them do not have land for cultivation. The Adivasis do not have the habit of saving money. Most of the displaced Adivasis are denied of their right to live in forest which used to be their source of livelihood. Now they depend only on daily manual work to meet their expenses.
1.4.4.7. The major political issue in Tamil Nadu for adivasis is the non-implementation of V schedule and new panchayat extension Act 1996. The corporate sector is making hectic attempts to alienate adivasis from their land and to scrap the V schedule as it gives powers to adivasis to prohibit the outsiders into the adivasis areas.
1.4.4.8. Development of tourism, Hydropower projects, large scale plantation units, mining industries, mono cropping and cash cropping patterns, agro industrial chemical pollution. Encroachment of adivasis lands by non- adivasis and exploitation of forest resources in a massive way have resulted in serious ecological and environmental problems and in loss of bio–diversity.
1.4.4.9. The announcement of forest covers as Tiger Sanctuaries, National Parks and Wild Life Sanctuaries threatens the forest adivasi to quit from their forest dwellings and livelihood resources. The promises of the State to pay huge compensations, forcible eviction of the adivasis for mining activities of the State are other threats adivasis face today.
1.5.0 Forest Rights Act 2006:
1.5.1 The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 , is a key piece of forest legislation passed in India on December 18, 2006. It has also been called the "Forest Rights Act", the "Tribal Rights Act" and the "Tribal Land Act." The law concerns the rights of forest dwelling communities to land and other resources, denied to them over decades as a result of the continuance of colonial forest laws in India.
1.5.2 Supporters of the Act claim that it will redress the "historical injustice" committed against forest dwellers, while including provisions for making conservation more effective and more transparent. The demand for the law has seen massive national demonstrations involving hundreds of thousands of people.
1.5.3 However, the law has also been the subject of considerable controversy in the English press in India. Opponents of the law claim it will lead to massive forest destruction and should be repealed.
1.5.4 A little over one year after it was passed, the Act was notified into for on December 31, 2007. On January 1, 2008, this was followed by the notification of the Rules framed by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to supplement the procedural aspects of the Act. In these 12 months, December 2006 to December 2007, adivasis in various forest areas of the country have been subject to systematic assaults by the forest department and a host of other forces, who did not like the idea of India's forest resources being controlled by the forest dwellers. Thousands of people living in forest areas for generations in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Chattisgarh, Gujarat, Kerala, Tamilnadu and elsewhere battled eviction attempts, and in many cases, were brutally evicted, their villages burnt or bulldozed, people tortured, harassed and arrested in false cases simply because they had demanded forest rights.
1.5.5 Paying no heed to laws passed by a sovereign country's Parliament, a handful of forest bureaucrats, continued to tyrannize the rightful owners of Indian forests. While on the ground forest officials denied the very existence of the Forest Rights Act, the Ministry of Environment and Forests,(MoEF) Government of India, issued a guideline to State Forest Departments, to identify 'inviolate' Critical Wildlife Habitats as defined in the Act! The Act was not notified, and neither had the rights settlement process prescribed in the Act started anywhere. This did not stop the MoEF from issuing the completely illegal guidelines. Not to be left behind, the State Forest Departments notified 'inviolate' tiger habitats in several states, claiming that the rights provided in the Forest Rights Act will not apply to such notified areas.
1.5.6 The forest communities of this independent country expects that, with notification of the Forest Rights Act, the implementation of the Forest Rights Act must start in right earnest, giving full primacy to the Gramsabhas. The notification of the Act is a welcoming move but the Rules for the Act are still extremely vague and sketchy, and these do not clear the ambiguities latent in the original Act. Demand is that suitable Amendments are brought to the Forest Rights Act, to include the recommendations of the Joint Parliamentary Committee, and to ensure that all genuine forest dwellers of the country come under it, and rights enshrined in the Act do not get in any way compromised by interference from Government Officials.
1.5.7 In the above mentioned context, Adivasi Land Rights Movement (ALRM) with its like minded activist groups has taken up the task of widespread campaigning of Forest Rights Act 2006 among the adivasis and the Officials with the Gramsabha members in between.
2. Profile of ALRM Member Group and its Like Minded Tribal Activist Group:
2.1. Adivasi Land Right Movement (ALRM) is a small attempt initiated by ARUDECS (All Rural Development and Social Construction Society, Theni among Paliyan Tribes in Bodi – Agamalai Hills of Theni district from 2004 onwards. Last 6 years of involvement with Paliyan Adivais, ARUDECS promoted a cadre based People’s Organisation called Adivasi Land Right Movement - Theni, formerly known as Bodi & Agamalai Adivasis Paliyar Federation (BAAPF) with strength of over 15000 members constituted by 20 settlements.
2.2. ARUDECS is also actively involved Campaign for the proper implementation of Forest Rights Act 2007 at Bodi Agamalai Hills of Western Ghats in Theni district with support of ARUDECS. Activities carried out are as follow:
• Two Awareness Camp and Training for Youth and Village Leaders on FRA 2006 during the year 2008 - 2009
• Formation of Adivasi traditional Gramsabha in 15 tribal hamlets
• Two village level Resource Mapping excercise conducted through PRA Techniques
• 800 Claim Forms prefared and submitted to the district administration.
• 45 bonded labour families were released and rehabilitated from landlord, Bodi with the guidance of ARUDECS.
• 5 atrocity cases against women and Dalits was filed and won the legal battle against the upper caste people.
• District forest rights committee – Theni was formed by district administration working close contact with ARUDECS for implementing FRA 2006.
• 300 paliyan Adivasi family got community certificate with the support of ARUDECS.
2.3. ARUDECS is technically and conceptually supported by a group of like minded tribal activists namely
1. P.V.Rajagobalji, National President – EKTA Parishad
2. T.Marirajan, Research & Activist and he leading a state wide campaign against globalization related livelihood issues in Tamilnadu
3. K. Biju, Coordinator, Centre for Socio-Cultural Interaction (CESCI), Madurai
4. S. Dhanaraj, Lawer & Tribal activist working for the speedy implementation of FRA 2006 in Tamilnadu
5. Mr.Nagalingam, a leading labour activist and core team member of EKTA Parisad – Tamilnadu
6. Ms.Sivarani, Ecological farming specialist
2.4. ARUDECS, and Like Minded Tribal Activists works together for promoting EKTA – Parisad, Tamilnadu for the wider campaign on Forest Rights Act 2006 all over the state. It also focused regional issues at the district level or Eco region level by promoting and strengthening of Adivasi Land Rights Movement (ALRM) to fight for the traditional and customary rights adivasis in Tamilnadu.
2.4. Formation of Adivasi team among Existing EKTA – Parisad, Tamilnadu Setup:
A separate planning meeting for developing workplan for promoting and strengthening of ALRM was held at CECSI, Madurai on 22nd May 2010. 9 participants took part the meeting. The tribal situation in Tamilnadu and the implementation of FRA 2006 was discussed during the meeting. End of the meeting, EKTA – Parisad, Tamilnadu Adivasi team was selected. The following persons were elected as members, namely P.R.Raja, G.Nagalingam, S.Dhanaraj, S.Jegadesan, T.Marirajan and Pappathi (Women Leader from Paliyan Tribes).
3. Goals and Objectives of ALRM
3.1. The vision of ALRM is to ensure the rights of forest adivasis, their lives and livelihoods.
3.2. The wider objective of ALRM is to empower adivasis with active participation for improved and sustainable management of natural resources including forest for secured livelihood, governance of forest and tree resources, protection of their forest rights, land rights and customary rights on forest and other entitlements.
3.3. The objectives of ALRM are:
• To mobilize Adivasi community into a movement for protection of their rights in the present complex socio-Political condition.
• Wider campaigning of Forest Rights Act 2006 in all forest adivasi areas to reduce the information gaps.
• Empowering gramsabhas to take decisions on their community development processes and understanding the Forest Rights Act 2006, the roles and responsibilities of gramsabhas;
• To empower the Adivasis on their rights to protect, regenerate or conserve or manage and community forest resource, which they have been traditionally protecting and conserving for sustainable use.
• Organising and capacitating adivasis across the state to protest against on-going exploitation and displacement due to so called industrialisation through the active participation of Janasatygraha 2012 jointly with other EKTA Parisad Units in all over India;
3.4. Primary Focus:
The ALRM has planned to focus primarily on Campaign on Forest Rights Act 2006 and to Preparing Jansatyagraha 2012.
3.4.1. Preparing Jansatyagraha 2012:
EKTA Parishad is going to organize one-year foot march of Jansatyagraha 2012 is a vital event at national level as well as the state chapter of Tamilnadu to achieve the traditional and customary rights of Adivasis. The main objective of this event is to gather 100,000 people on the 2nd of October 2012 in front of the Parliament, for the recognition and application of the rights to the natural resources of the most destitute people.
Adivasis team of EKTA Parisad, Tamilnadu already promised to Rajaji during the time of his visit to CESCI, Madurai to participate with 5000 cadres from all over Tamilnadu. During the planning meeting held at CESCi on 22nd May 2010, the team discussed the mobilization process to Janasatyagraha 2012. 18 eco regions were already identified for cadre building work
3.5. PRIORITIES
The priorities of action are forming grass root level Eco Region based Collective to facilitate the Adivasis to register as an organized co-operatives at district level to ensure their right over minor forest produce; to be informed about Forest Rights Act 2006; and to document traditional and customary rights in Gram sabha resolutions by the Adivasis themselves for the better implementation of the Forest Rights Act 2006.
Adivasi habitats in Tamilnadu were divided in to 18 eco regions. The names of the Eco regions were as follows.
Eco regions in Western Ghats:
1. Pachiparai 2. Manimutharu, Kalakkadu, Mundanthurai 3. Sathurakiri, Sirumalai 4. Kuthiraimalai 5. Varusanadu 6. Bodi – Agamalai 7. Uppar and Lower Palani Hills 8. Valparai, Top Slip 9. Thirumoorthimalai, Amaravathi, Thalinchi 10. Sathiyamangalam 11. Thalavadi, Yanaikatti 12. Ooty, Kothakiri, Gudaloor,
Eco Regions in Eastern ghats
13. Kollimalai 14. Kalrayan hills 15. Pachamalai 16. Javathu Hills 17. Erkadu 18. Ellakiri hills
3.6. Strategies:
The following strategies were planned to implement the work plan during the year 2010 to 2011.
3.6.1. Strategy 1: Information collection and identification of grass root level tribal activists and community leaders
• Data collection through known source or contacts
• Consultation meeting for selected participants
• Spot Visit with selected participants
3.6.2. Strategy II: organizing and strengthening of Eco region Level forums
• Strengthening of Grama Sabhas and Communities
• Capacity building for forest right committees
• Formation of Eco Region Level forums to monitoring of FRA work
• Capacity Building of Eco region level forum or Federation Leaders
• Support for Adivasi cultural mela process with inter-village cultural activities to strengthen the self-confidence of Adivasis and to bring the spirit of the sustainable and equitable Adivasi forest life also to the awareness and recognition of the modern society.
• Strengthening of Local struggles and activists
3.6.3. Strategy III: Community based mass sensitization programme across the state for unifying adivasi communities to ensuring the traditional and customary rights.
• Coordination work for promoting ALRM at state level
• Campaigning through rallies, padiyatras, posters, statements, press releases, publications, etc.
• Organized a Public Hearing on Tribal issues and FRA
• Campaign / Lobby / Advocacy at the state and national level for land rights jointly with EKTA parisad
3.6.4. Strategy IV: Campaigning to protect, validate & legalise sustainable life practices of Adivasis :
• Sustainable ways how Adivasis live (by use of plants, trees, etc.) without eliminating the wild/natural renewal of plants, trees, etc.
• Sustainable Adivasi mode of holding/ownership of land/wilds/forests/indigenous knowledge& subsistence
• Subsistence of landless Adivasis (against contract farming/commercial plantation/cultivation)
• Formation of State resource centre for Adivasis in Tamilnadu
7. Expected Results
• Solidarity and unity among adivasi communities will be strengthened. Collective articulation of forest adivasis for equitable forest policy, strategies, law and regulation to ensure tribal and forest dependant community’s rights and entitlements.
• Adivasis networking and contacts will improve through collective efforts across the country.
• Awareness will improve natural resource management in adivasi communities.
• Bio-diversity in the forest adivasi area will be maintained through peoples’ initiatives.
• Organised pressure will be built up on the State to formulate policies on adivasi welfare and to implement FRA 2006.
• Adivasi Community resource mapping will be done to strengthen the claim forms of adivasi community rights over forest.
• Adivasi economies, cultures and traditional knowledge systems will be protected.
• Leadership will be developed among adivasi communities with enriched information sharing on Forest rights.
• Capacity will be built to resist so called development programmes and projects which result in displacement and forced migration of majority of people from their traditional motherland and livelihood resources.
• On the whole, 5000 Adivasi Youths and community leaders will take part Janasatyagraha 2012 from Tamilnadu.
Other Issues to Consider
• Though Forest Rights Act 2006 is considered one of the best legal provisions for the forest adivasis, the rules and regulations still have gaps. The lack of integrated approach in the National Law is also a stumbling block in the enforcement of FRA 2006.
• The National Wild Life Parks, Wild Life Sanctuaries and Tiger Reserves poses eviction threat to adivasis from their forest dwellings and livelihood resources.
• The international development agenda and the process of globalisation, privatization and liberalisation also favours the vested interests of MNCs and their profit motives with gross exploitation of natural resources on contrary to the decentralized, subsistence and sustainable economy of the adivasis.
PROJECT PROPOSAL To Strengthen Mobilize and Advocacy Activities in Kerala and Tamilnadu in Support to Jansatyagraha 2012
PROJECT PROPOSAL
To Strengthen Mobilize and Advocacy Activities in Kerala and Tamilnadu in Support to Jansatyagraha 2012
INTRODUCTION
The term ‘movement’ stands for dynamism, the momentum of people motivated from within and the popular support that is essential for successful and sustainable development and change at a State and national level. A movement by definition must have a leadership but it becomes a mass movement only when people join it. A mass movement has to be based on the urges of masses and on popular consciousness. It has to rely on their self-activity. Ekta Parishad has become one of the peoples movement in India with its commitment, leadership and its large peoples membership. Ekta Parishad the one of the largest nonviolent social movement in India is going to organize a major peoples foot march in the year 2012 from Gwalior to Delhi to pressurize the central Govt. on land reform policies and its implementation. This program is called as Jansatyagraha 2012. One lakh peoples from all sections of deprived community will take part in this massive rally. Therefore it is vital to mobilize peoples from all over the country to take part in this important satyagraha padayatra for a political change on land and livelihood issues. Along with mobilization Advocacy support is much significant to reach the expected result. Therefore it is important to strengthen the advocacy component in Ekta Parisahd and its activities in Kerala and Tamilnadu.
Status of EktaParishad in Kerala and Tamilnadu
Ekta Parishad did substantial work in Kerala and Tamilandu to create a platform and sowed its seeds in various sectors. EP has become popular among Gandhian Sarvodaya groups, Adivasi/Dalit right groups, Youth empowerment, women rights and land and livelihood based right organization sections. In Tamilnadu and Kerala there are number of organizations are working in the peoples right over land and livelihood issues on different areas and various levels. We think it is necessary to net work with them and make sure with those organizations in both states to take part in this political action process to change the land right policy of the country to benefit large number of deprived community. Therefore it is important to initiate various programs in both states in support to the process of Jansatyagraha 2012 advocacy and mobilization.
JS 2012 and its importance
For many years Ekta Parishad was in the forefront of land struggle in India to get equitable land distribution and also to protect access to the natural livelihood resources to the downtrodden community. There is a long history of struggle for access to land and it has always been the most vulnerable communities that find themselves left out of the political dialogue for change. Control over natural resources and land lies in he hands of state and the vague and the inefficient campaigns of the past have done nothing for the developments of a true village based democracy that can bring the needs of the landless to the forefront of the political agenda.
After Janadesh 2007, the Govt. of India announced to set up a National Land Reform Committee and National Land Reform Council with the participation of civil right activists. Looking after 3 years of time we can see that the councils and committees didn’t do anything what they have promised. To make the accountable and to implement what they have promised EP has decided to continue its struggle for the landless. Jansatygraha 2012 is major action EP is planning to challenge the Govt. It will begin on the 2nd October 2012 from Gwalior to Delhi will carry for one month with one lakh people covering 350 km. The demand will be same as for Janadesh with high expectation of change.
Need of Mobilization and advocacy in a focus to FRA 2006, Adivasi/Dalit Rights, Youth against violence, Women empowerment
There are various issues prevailing in the states that affect the poor and marginalized. We are thinking to focus FRA 2006, Adivasi/Dalit Rights, Youth Groups, Peace Circles, and Women Groups in support to Jansatyagraha mobilization and advocacy activities. Numbers of organizations are working in these areas to empower them and to get their rights. We should invite and engage those organizations to make participate in JS 2012.
Need of Human Resource
Human resources are an important area to achieve what we are dreaming. Without enough man power it will be very difficult to continue all our work what we are planning. There will be an Advocacy Organizer in Kerala and one will Tamilnadu to lead all the activities. The State Organizer is responsible for all the activities in support to JS in each state. The Organizer has to work with the mobilization team in their respective states, and will report to the National advocacy office on time.
Need of training support to Staff team and peoples leaders (various trainings)
The Organizer should get proper training to become a fulltime advocacy person. National Advocacy office has to take responsibility to provide trainings and monitor the activities of the State advocacy Organizer. Along with the Organizer it is also vital to provide advocacy training support to the mobilization staff team and the village leaders. The national office has to decide a set of trainings that can enhance the capacity of the main organizer and other kind of trainings that will provide knowledge and capacity to the mobilization team.
Need of initiating various media and advocacy programs (various trainings)
Training on Media and Advocacy
Training on Human rights, Dalit rights, land rights, FRA, Women rights, etc
Understanding Advocacy for social change
Organizing Public hearings
Training to organize different media meetings (Press meet, visual media, free lancers etc.)
Organizing seminars, Conferences, and Conventions etc.
Traning on Visual media, Virtual media, etc.
Need of an Office in both states
A coordination office is important in both states to coordinate the Jansatyagraha activities. Right now in Kerala KGNS office and in Tamilnadu CESCI office is being used for the coordination purpose. Both offices are providing its space free of coast to the advocacy activities. We should consider providing some administrative support to both state offices to make it as a coordination point. But looking in to the advocacy perspective it will be good to have an office in the capital of both sates i.e. in Chennai and in Trivandrum. This will enable the team to do advocacy with political parties and media much effective.
Materials needed for office and programs
Some minimum materials are required to the Organizer to continue the advocacy activities. The organizer should have an office with enough office stationeries, a mobile phone, a digital camera, a laptop with Internet data card, a printer.
Documentation and research (engaging part time persons)
Documentation is a vital area in the advocacy work. The Organizer has to do the work based documentation, press clip collections, case studies collection, petitions collections etc. when ever there is a need we should engage part time researchers to do the documentation work. The research materials and documents have to be filed and kept in the office properly. There should be a proper collection and system for photo and video documents. Unwanted photo and video documentation will not be encouraged, because it is an expensive medium. We need such documentation, but the organizer should have to use his/her wise in doing so.
Administration support
Office rent, Current bill, communication expenses, stationary, travel, visitors meeting; etc will all lead in to a administration support area. There will be separate expenses towards travel cost in the administration work. There are some travel cost will come under program travels. There will be many internal administrative meetings to strengthen the work. It all requires money.
To Strengthen Mobilize and Advocacy Activities in Kerala and Tamilnadu in Support to Jansatyagraha 2012
INTRODUCTION
The term ‘movement’ stands for dynamism, the momentum of people motivated from within and the popular support that is essential for successful and sustainable development and change at a State and national level. A movement by definition must have a leadership but it becomes a mass movement only when people join it. A mass movement has to be based on the urges of masses and on popular consciousness. It has to rely on their self-activity. Ekta Parishad has become one of the peoples movement in India with its commitment, leadership and its large peoples membership. Ekta Parishad the one of the largest nonviolent social movement in India is going to organize a major peoples foot march in the year 2012 from Gwalior to Delhi to pressurize the central Govt. on land reform policies and its implementation. This program is called as Jansatyagraha 2012. One lakh peoples from all sections of deprived community will take part in this massive rally. Therefore it is vital to mobilize peoples from all over the country to take part in this important satyagraha padayatra for a political change on land and livelihood issues. Along with mobilization Advocacy support is much significant to reach the expected result. Therefore it is important to strengthen the advocacy component in Ekta Parisahd and its activities in Kerala and Tamilnadu.
Status of EktaParishad in Kerala and Tamilnadu
Ekta Parishad did substantial work in Kerala and Tamilandu to create a platform and sowed its seeds in various sectors. EP has become popular among Gandhian Sarvodaya groups, Adivasi/Dalit right groups, Youth empowerment, women rights and land and livelihood based right organization sections. In Tamilnadu and Kerala there are number of organizations are working in the peoples right over land and livelihood issues on different areas and various levels. We think it is necessary to net work with them and make sure with those organizations in both states to take part in this political action process to change the land right policy of the country to benefit large number of deprived community. Therefore it is important to initiate various programs in both states in support to the process of Jansatyagraha 2012 advocacy and mobilization.
JS 2012 and its importance
For many years Ekta Parishad was in the forefront of land struggle in India to get equitable land distribution and also to protect access to the natural livelihood resources to the downtrodden community. There is a long history of struggle for access to land and it has always been the most vulnerable communities that find themselves left out of the political dialogue for change. Control over natural resources and land lies in he hands of state and the vague and the inefficient campaigns of the past have done nothing for the developments of a true village based democracy that can bring the needs of the landless to the forefront of the political agenda.
After Janadesh 2007, the Govt. of India announced to set up a National Land Reform Committee and National Land Reform Council with the participation of civil right activists. Looking after 3 years of time we can see that the councils and committees didn’t do anything what they have promised. To make the accountable and to implement what they have promised EP has decided to continue its struggle for the landless. Jansatygraha 2012 is major action EP is planning to challenge the Govt. It will begin on the 2nd October 2012 from Gwalior to Delhi will carry for one month with one lakh people covering 350 km. The demand will be same as for Janadesh with high expectation of change.
Need of Mobilization and advocacy in a focus to FRA 2006, Adivasi/Dalit Rights, Youth against violence, Women empowerment
There are various issues prevailing in the states that affect the poor and marginalized. We are thinking to focus FRA 2006, Adivasi/Dalit Rights, Youth Groups, Peace Circles, and Women Groups in support to Jansatyagraha mobilization and advocacy activities. Numbers of organizations are working in these areas to empower them and to get their rights. We should invite and engage those organizations to make participate in JS 2012.
Need of Human Resource
Human resources are an important area to achieve what we are dreaming. Without enough man power it will be very difficult to continue all our work what we are planning. There will be an Advocacy Organizer in Kerala and one will Tamilnadu to lead all the activities. The State Organizer is responsible for all the activities in support to JS in each state. The Organizer has to work with the mobilization team in their respective states, and will report to the National advocacy office on time.
Need of training support to Staff team and peoples leaders (various trainings)
The Organizer should get proper training to become a fulltime advocacy person. National Advocacy office has to take responsibility to provide trainings and monitor the activities of the State advocacy Organizer. Along with the Organizer it is also vital to provide advocacy training support to the mobilization staff team and the village leaders. The national office has to decide a set of trainings that can enhance the capacity of the main organizer and other kind of trainings that will provide knowledge and capacity to the mobilization team.
Need of initiating various media and advocacy programs (various trainings)
Training on Media and Advocacy
Training on Human rights, Dalit rights, land rights, FRA, Women rights, etc
Understanding Advocacy for social change
Organizing Public hearings
Training to organize different media meetings (Press meet, visual media, free lancers etc.)
Organizing seminars, Conferences, and Conventions etc.
Traning on Visual media, Virtual media, etc.
Need of an Office in both states
A coordination office is important in both states to coordinate the Jansatyagraha activities. Right now in Kerala KGNS office and in Tamilnadu CESCI office is being used for the coordination purpose. Both offices are providing its space free of coast to the advocacy activities. We should consider providing some administrative support to both state offices to make it as a coordination point. But looking in to the advocacy perspective it will be good to have an office in the capital of both sates i.e. in Chennai and in Trivandrum. This will enable the team to do advocacy with political parties and media much effective.
Materials needed for office and programs
Some minimum materials are required to the Organizer to continue the advocacy activities. The organizer should have an office with enough office stationeries, a mobile phone, a digital camera, a laptop with Internet data card, a printer.
Documentation and research (engaging part time persons)
Documentation is a vital area in the advocacy work. The Organizer has to do the work based documentation, press clip collections, case studies collection, petitions collections etc. when ever there is a need we should engage part time researchers to do the documentation work. The research materials and documents have to be filed and kept in the office properly. There should be a proper collection and system for photo and video documents. Unwanted photo and video documentation will not be encouraged, because it is an expensive medium. We need such documentation, but the organizer should have to use his/her wise in doing so.
Administration support
Office rent, Current bill, communication expenses, stationary, travel, visitors meeting; etc will all lead in to a administration support area. There will be separate expenses towards travel cost in the administration work. There are some travel cost will come under program travels. There will be many internal administrative meetings to strengthen the work. It all requires money.
One day consultation on Janstyagraha 2012 with right based organization from Tamilnadu
One day consultation on Janstyagraha 2012 with right based organization from Tamilnadu.
Ekta Parishad the one of the largest nonviolent social movement in India is going to organize a major peoples march in the year 2012 from Gwalior to Delhi to pressurize the central Govt on land reform policies and its implementation. This program is called as Jansatygraha 2012. One lakh peoples from all sections of deprived community will take part in this massive rally. Therefore it is vital to mobilize peoples from all over the country to take part in this important satyagraha padaytra for a political change on land and livelihood issues.
In Tamilnadu there are many organizations are working in the peoples right over land and livelihood issues on different areas and various levels. We think it is necessary to inform organizations in Tamilandu to take part in this political action process to change the land right policy of the country to benefit large number of deprived community. Therefore it is important to invite all of them for a one day discussion to share about the process of Jansatyagraha 2012. Rajagopal.P.V the founder and president of Ekta Parishad will be available in this consultation to meet all the important delegates. We would like to invite at least 100 delegates from different sections from Tamilnadu to take part in this one day consultation.
Date: November 8th (Monday) 2010
Venue: At CESCI Training Centre, Majagram, Chatrapati (PO), Madurai
Time: 10.00 AM to 5.00 PM
Ekta Parishad the one of the largest nonviolent social movement in India is going to organize a major peoples march in the year 2012 from Gwalior to Delhi to pressurize the central Govt on land reform policies and its implementation. This program is called as Jansatygraha 2012. One lakh peoples from all sections of deprived community will take part in this massive rally. Therefore it is vital to mobilize peoples from all over the country to take part in this important satyagraha padaytra for a political change on land and livelihood issues.
In Tamilnadu there are many organizations are working in the peoples right over land and livelihood issues on different areas and various levels. We think it is necessary to inform organizations in Tamilandu to take part in this political action process to change the land right policy of the country to benefit large number of deprived community. Therefore it is important to invite all of them for a one day discussion to share about the process of Jansatyagraha 2012. Rajagopal.P.V the founder and president of Ekta Parishad will be available in this consultation to meet all the important delegates. We would like to invite at least 100 delegates from different sections from Tamilnadu to take part in this one day consultation.
Date: November 8th (Monday) 2010
Venue: At CESCI Training Centre, Majagram, Chatrapati (PO), Madurai
Time: 10.00 AM to 5.00 PM
Biju report for the month of September 2010
Report for the month of September 2010- By K. Biju
- In the first week of September I was invited to participate the Ekta Parishad National Management Committee meeting at
- Had a brief discussion with Mr. Aneesh about the advocacy activities and he shared some of the information’s about the progress of Land reform Committee and its present status. From the discussion I understand that the planning commission is making some progress in terms of taking some of the recommendations given by EP to the Land Reform Council.
- Had a small meeting with Mr. Mael and Jill behan in connection with the use of cyber space in promotion to EP activities. Mael was not happy to have more Blogs and sites in the Internet world. But after the discussion he has agreed to and understood that it is important to have more information’s in the website and cyber space about the organization and the leaders.
- After the
- In the month of September Rajaji visited Kerala and Tamilnadu and had few important meetings. Rajaji got a viral fever and he has decided to postpone some of the programs he has planned already. In Kerala he was invited for a Gandhian Award by the poornodaya group at Thrissur on the 18th. On the 23rd he had a meeting with EP Kerala team along with KAF team. The three different regional coordinators will closely work with KAF in terms of JS 12 mobilization work. Mr. Suresh of KGNS will coordinate this process and KGNS office will be the base for the JS coordination work.
- Participated a public hearing on atrocities against tribal in the state jointly organized by Evidence Madurai and Tamilnadu Adivasi Forum (TAF) at
- Due to the bad health condition of Rajaji we have decided to postpone the proposed ToT program for Tamilnadu from September to October 7,8,9 at CESCI Madurai and intimated the leaders the change of new date.
- Mr. P.A. Raja of Theni and Mr. Jagadisan from Pollachi went to Madhya Pradesh to participate the 10 days jeep yatra program under the leadership of Rajaji. This was a good opportunity for peoples like Jagadisan and Raja to understand the work of EP.
Jai Jagat
Friday, September 10, 2010
Biju monthly report for the month of August 2010
Report for the month of August 2010- By K. Biju
1. In general the month August was quite good in the sense of understanding the works done during the last few months. I didn’t made nay out station travel during August, but there is one important Dhal Nayak meeting held at CESCI from 17th to 18th August 2010 with Rajaji and Ransingh ji. Leaders from Kerala and Tamilnadu participated in this important meeting. Dr. Ransingh ji and Shri.Rajaji was the chief trainers in this program. There will be a detailed report will come very soon.
2. On the 7th August I got opportunity to participate a lecture at Gandhi museum Madurai on the topic of growing violence and the importance of Gandhism in the present situation? Shri. Mariyapan ji and and Mr. Madu raj from the MKU spoke.
3. On the 31st August Kerala EP team called a one day meeting at KGNS office at Calicut with an agenda of creating an ekta Parishad state council. Seven persons who have given responsibility only turned in this meeting instead of various district committee members. (Santhosh, Sreeja, Vasudevan, Shaji, Ramesh Methala, Krishnakumar, Biju, Sathees, Shamsudhin). Each one who was responsible for different districts made brief presentation about their district committee coordination meeting and conventions?
• Santhosh concluded this sharing session by explaining his experience in different districts and said that it is important to have coordination office in Trivandrun with a strong advocacy team, to have a training team, to have senior gandhians team as well wishers and some capacity in publication. Based on his explanation the other members reacted. Krishnakumar said there is no need to have a separate office at this moment as we are not operating in such a level and have agreed the other things. Similarly others also supported his ideas.
• Santhosh informed that he is ready to change his position as a coordinator of Ekta Parishad Kerala and want give the responsibility to others. Based on this discussion it was decided to inform this development to the National Committee and they will take a final decision in this regard and will engage some one as a coordinator. In the same time we have decided to divide Kerala as three regions and give the responsibility to three persons to coordinate the work (North Kerala, Central Kerala and South Kerala) Vasudevan will take charge in the Northern Kerala districts (Kasargod, Kannur, Waynad, Calicut, and Malappuram). Ramesh Methala will take responsibility in the districts of Thrissur, Palakkad, Aluva, Ernakulam and Idukky. Sreeja will take responsibility in Kottayam, Alapuzha, Kollam, Pathanamthitta and Trivandrum.
• Satheesan, Shamsu, Vasudevan and Ramesh who came to Madurai to participate Dhalnayak meeting made a presentation about Madurai meeting.
• Shaji from Waynad said it is hard to spare lots of time to the social work, if people don’t understand the importance of the meetings and decisions.
• The three member team will Meet Mr. Suresh the secretary of KGNS and will discuss the programs in Kerala and continue the mobilization activities.
• Sreeja will focus on MM activities and will make to participate 500 people form the MM activity areas from Kerala to join JS 2012. In the next TOT program for Kerala MM will send 10 leaders to get training.
4. Joined with Mr. D.K Jha the internal auditor of EP who visited CESCI for four days from the 11th to 14th to understand and the accounts and make review of the accounts.
5. Arranged a week long training program on Bee keeping for the village program in support with KVIC Madurai division. There are 46 people from the nearby villages participated in this program.
6. KGNS office team Mr. Suresh and Mr. Udhayan went to Kollam to wind up the project activities in the Kollam area based on the decision from the KGNS committee.
1. In general the month August was quite good in the sense of understanding the works done during the last few months. I didn’t made nay out station travel during August, but there is one important Dhal Nayak meeting held at CESCI from 17th to 18th August 2010 with Rajaji and Ransingh ji. Leaders from Kerala and Tamilnadu participated in this important meeting. Dr. Ransingh ji and Shri.Rajaji was the chief trainers in this program. There will be a detailed report will come very soon.
2. On the 7th August I got opportunity to participate a lecture at Gandhi museum Madurai on the topic of growing violence and the importance of Gandhism in the present situation? Shri. Mariyapan ji and and Mr. Madu raj from the MKU spoke.
3. On the 31st August Kerala EP team called a one day meeting at KGNS office at Calicut with an agenda of creating an ekta Parishad state council. Seven persons who have given responsibility only turned in this meeting instead of various district committee members. (Santhosh, Sreeja, Vasudevan, Shaji, Ramesh Methala, Krishnakumar, Biju, Sathees, Shamsudhin). Each one who was responsible for different districts made brief presentation about their district committee coordination meeting and conventions?
- i. Krishnakumar was responsible for Palakkad and Pathanam thitta. He only had palakkad district committee meeting. Nothing happened in Pathanamthitta.
- ii. Ramesh was responsible for Thrissur and Ernakulam. He had meeting only in Thrissur.
- iii. Vasudevan had meeting and convention in Waynad nothing I Idukki. District.
- iv. Sreeja had meeting in Trivandrum and Calicut.
- v. Shamsudhin had meeting in Malappuram and not in Allepy
- vi. Satheesan had meeting in Kannur not in Kollam
• Santhosh concluded this sharing session by explaining his experience in different districts and said that it is important to have coordination office in Trivandrun with a strong advocacy team, to have a training team, to have senior gandhians team as well wishers and some capacity in publication. Based on his explanation the other members reacted. Krishnakumar said there is no need to have a separate office at this moment as we are not operating in such a level and have agreed the other things. Similarly others also supported his ideas.
• Santhosh informed that he is ready to change his position as a coordinator of Ekta Parishad Kerala and want give the responsibility to others. Based on this discussion it was decided to inform this development to the National Committee and they will take a final decision in this regard and will engage some one as a coordinator. In the same time we have decided to divide Kerala as three regions and give the responsibility to three persons to coordinate the work (North Kerala, Central Kerala and South Kerala) Vasudevan will take charge in the Northern Kerala districts (Kasargod, Kannur, Waynad, Calicut, and Malappuram). Ramesh Methala will take responsibility in the districts of Thrissur, Palakkad, Aluva, Ernakulam and Idukky. Sreeja will take responsibility in Kottayam, Alapuzha, Kollam, Pathanamthitta and Trivandrum.
• Satheesan, Shamsu, Vasudevan and Ramesh who came to Madurai to participate Dhalnayak meeting made a presentation about Madurai meeting.
• Shaji from Waynad said it is hard to spare lots of time to the social work, if people don’t understand the importance of the meetings and decisions.
• The three member team will Meet Mr. Suresh the secretary of KGNS and will discuss the programs in Kerala and continue the mobilization activities.
• Sreeja will focus on MM activities and will make to participate 500 people form the MM activity areas from Kerala to join JS 2012. In the next TOT program for Kerala MM will send 10 leaders to get training.
4. Joined with Mr. D.K Jha the internal auditor of EP who visited CESCI for four days from the 11th to 14th to understand and the accounts and make review of the accounts.
5. Arranged a week long training program on Bee keeping for the village program in support with KVIC Madurai division. There are 46 people from the nearby villages participated in this program.
6. KGNS office team Mr. Suresh and Mr. Udhayan went to Kollam to wind up the project activities in the Kollam area based on the decision from the KGNS committee.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Biju monthly report for the Month of June 2010
1. I had a meeting with Raja of theni on the 3rd June at CESCI in-order to discuss about their meeting held at CESCI on the 22nd May with the Tamilnadu Adivasi Land Rights Forum. He has brought the minutes of the meeting and a working plan copy that they have collectively prepared in support to Janadesh 2012 in a direction to work among the adivasis on FRA. Based on the discussion we agreed to send the same to Rajaji by email for his support to implement the activities in Tamilnadu.
2. Accompanied the research visit of Christop and Paulo from Chennai to
3. Participated the inaugural function of Chatrapati tailoring centre. This centre is new initiative of CESCI village program to support women’s economic empowerment activities. There are 15 girls are getting training in tailoring here and other three women’s from a MHG has started a tailoring job unit to work for a garment company. Ms. Uma and Ms. Lalitha are coordinating this process.
4. As part of the CESCI village program the MHGs has decided to create a federation to strengthen their activities and have organised a one day orientation meeting at CESCI on federation building. There are 30 women leaders from 15 MHS’s participated in this meeting. Finally the team has decided to create a new Federation in the name of Ekta Sangamam and have another meeting some experts to make its guidelines. Ms. Lalitha will follow up this process in consultation with CCD Madurai and will invite Mr. Olaganathan from CCD to the next meeting.
5. The honey project in the Vemparali villages is picking up. The group has started to collect the honey from their bee colonies. We are thankful to KVIC and its Director Mr. Wakode for providing this opportunity to empower the rural community.
6. CESCI organics oil production unit is started to function now under Mr. Natarajan, the new manager. The unit has purchased about 100 bags of raw ground nut during this season and will start to produce oil from it. The unit is also working as a service centre for framers and villagers to make oil for their house hold needs. To sustain the centre the team is trying to expand the work by making oils from non-edible products like neem and some other seeds by using the second grinding machine. The neem oil and cake has high demand in the market and it will create more income to the centre and it will help to become self reliant the centre.
Biju monthly report for the month of July 2010
Report for the month of July 2010- by Biju . K
1. On the 1st of July we had a meeting at KGNS office with Jill Behan, Ms. Sreeja, Mr. Suresh Babu and Mr. Udhyan about the work plan of EP Kerala. Sreeja was briefing her experience she had with the anti alcohol campaign. Later the group had decided to set up an eleven member EP coordination committee under the coordination of KGNS office. The group was also discussed the financial support from VOLENS Belgium and have reworked the budget in to the level of 6 lakhs and asked Mr. Suresh babu to rework the same and get approval from the KGNS committee. It was also decided to call an EP Kerala district members meeting on the 11th of July at KGNS office.
2. On the 11th July the EP Kerala Coordination committee had a meeting at KGNS office and have decided following.
a. About the question of having a clear Ekta Parishad structure in Kerala all of the participants have agreed to create a state council through a proper process. Without having a proper structure it is very difficult to coordinate the programs and campaigns.
b. Decided to select a seven member team as a temporary committee to set up and organize district committee and meetings. Each member is responsible for two districts and will organize committee meetings before August 15th. After completion of these district committees there will be a get together of all district leaders and the EP state council will be created. Mr. Santhosh Malampuzha will coordinate this process.
c. It was decided to cooperate with different social groups from the state who are working on various social issues with the same goal. As Janasatyagraha 2012 require support from about 2000 organizations, it is important to get their support.
d. The committee will maintain a proper minutes book system and will translate the bylaws and other important documents in to Malayalam language.
3. On the 15th July went to IITPD Pondychery to talk with a small group of French students about Ekta Parishad and Janasatyagraha activities. There are two students from this group has already decided to join with EP as volunteers for three months to help the organization. These two students will come to CESCI and will work some time in CESCI organics at Nagapattinam to create a business plan for CESCI organics and later they will visit different organization that work on Forest Right Act implementation and will create a report on that.
4. On the 16th had a meeting with Mr. Palanisamy at pondychery to discuss about his interest to join with JS 2012. He has agreed to send some about 100 to 200 people from pondychery to JS 12 padayatra. I will have to work with him closely to identify the leaders because as Palanisamy is engaged in media work he doesn’t have enough time to coordinate the work of EP.
5. On the 19th had a meeting with Raja theni and discussed about progress of the TALRM (tamilnadu adivasi land rights movement) creation process. To continue the process even without bigger funding it is important to get some small financial assistance to travel different adivasi areas.
6. On the 20th and 22nd I had a meeting with Mr. Nagalingam after his
7. On the 26th & 27th visited CESCI organics with the two French volunteers. Had a meeting with Natarajan the manager and with the students about their internship. The students will stay at CESCI organics for three weeks, during the time they will visit few villages and some small scale production units and will write a proposal to develop the centre in a right direction. Mr. Arul will help the volunteers to visit the villages. On the 15th August they will come back to CESCI to meet the Secretary and will explain and also get further direction.
8. On 28th &29th accompanied and had discussion with a small group of Swiss friends who visited CESCI. They are very much inspired by our work and have agreed to join with CESCI Switzerland as a member. They will collect a Janadesh DVD from Kude and will show it in different forums in
9. On 30th had a short meeting with Mr. Nicco and his family who came from
10. Apart from the above report I got involved with many things in connection with CESCI programs and campus activities. The main activities are repairing the roofs of the kitchen and meeting hall buildings. We kept aside 10 days for repairing during 5 to 15th July and have completed the works. Campus team was very active during the repairing work process in terms of cleaning and removing the old materials. Based on the request from Kadavur village people we have given the old wooden materials to them to make use for their temple renovation work. A new parking space was created in the front part of CESCI office to avoid vehicles parking in the middle of the campus.
11. As part of the village program we have decided to organize one more bee keeping training program with the help of KVIC and have selected 30 peoples from the CESCI villages. The training will be held at CESCI during 17 to 23 august 2010.
12. Organized few meetings with Mr. David Swiss volunteer who is at CESCI right now. David is helping CESCI to develop as a model centre in terms of waste management, organic, solar power etc. David visited the Kerala to see the Ponnani land and building, and also visited Auroville pondychery to learn about various alternative systems and create linkages.
13. Organized the travel plan for Mr. Krishna the film maker in Kerala with the help of EP Kerala team
Thanks
Biju
30th July 2010
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Minutes of the meeting held on 22nd May 2010 at Pavana Centre, Manathavadi, waynad, Kerala.
Minutes of the meeting held on 22nd May 2010 at Pavana Centre, Manathavadi, waynad, Kerala.
Present
1. Shri.Rajagopal.P.V
2. Fr. Stephen
3. Mr. Raghavan
4. Ms. Saradha
5. Mr. K. Biju
The youth camp with 68 participants from the Kerala Adivasi Forum is going on at PAVANA centre under guidelines of Rajaji. There was a small evaluation also happened on the 21st Morning to asses the Wayanad padayatra organized by ekta parishad in association with other adivasi forums. It was quite encouraging for every one to understand to use padayatra as a tool to challenge the present system of the Govt.
The youth camp will continue until 24th evening. Fr. Stephen will facilitate the remaining days of the camp in a direction to strengthen the Adivasi Form of Kerala.
In the mean time we had a meeting and have decided few major decisions in relation to the work of Adivasi Forum and Ekta Parishad in connection with strengthening the work among adivasis in Kerala in support to Janasatyagraha 2012.
1. Adivasi Forum will work among the adivasi communities in Kerala to empower them to get their rights and justice.
2. KAF will join with Ekta Parishad to create a linkage in a National Level and will join all the major action programs of EP at the national level.
3. In support to Jansatyagraha 2012 action on the issue of land KAF will participate from Kerala by bringing about 1000 adivasi’s and landless from Kerala.
4. Ekta Parishad will provide leadership training to 1000 cadres of KAF on Advocacy, constructive action programs, etc.
5. Ekta Parishad will provide exposure and linkage to KAF with the other states in India in-order to strengthen their struggles on land issues.
6. KAF can communicate with Mr. Biju, EP South India coordinator to continue their relation and communication development with EP at the national level.
Notes taken By: K. Biju and will forward the same to (stephen707@gmail.com, ekta.rajagopal@gmail.com) for corrections.
Present
1. Shri.Rajagopal.P.V
2. Fr. Stephen
3. Mr. Raghavan
4. Ms. Saradha
5. Mr. K. Biju
The youth camp with 68 participants from the Kerala Adivasi Forum is going on at PAVANA centre under guidelines of Rajaji. There was a small evaluation also happened on the 21st Morning to asses the Wayanad padayatra organized by ekta parishad in association with other adivasi forums. It was quite encouraging for every one to understand to use padayatra as a tool to challenge the present system of the Govt.
The youth camp will continue until 24th evening. Fr. Stephen will facilitate the remaining days of the camp in a direction to strengthen the Adivasi Form of Kerala.
In the mean time we had a meeting and have decided few major decisions in relation to the work of Adivasi Forum and Ekta Parishad in connection with strengthening the work among adivasis in Kerala in support to Janasatyagraha 2012.
1. Adivasi Forum will work among the adivasi communities in Kerala to empower them to get their rights and justice.
2. KAF will join with Ekta Parishad to create a linkage in a National Level and will join all the major action programs of EP at the national level.
3. In support to Jansatyagraha 2012 action on the issue of land KAF will participate from Kerala by bringing about 1000 adivasi’s and landless from Kerala.
4. Ekta Parishad will provide leadership training to 1000 cadres of KAF on Advocacy, constructive action programs, etc.
5. Ekta Parishad will provide exposure and linkage to KAF with the other states in India in-order to strengthen their struggles on land issues.
6. KAF can communicate with Mr. Biju, EP South India coordinator to continue their relation and communication development with EP at the national level.
Notes taken By: K. Biju and will forward the same to (stephen707@gmail.com, ekta.rajagopal@gmail.com) for corrections.
Minutes of the Ekta Parishad Tamilnadu Adivasi Program Planning Committee Meeting held on 22nd May 2010 at CESCI Centre
EKTA PARISHAD, TAMILNADU
Minutes of the Ekta Parishad Tamilnadu Adivasi Program Planning Committee Meeting held on 22nd May 2010 at CESCI Centre.
• Main Agenda
To develop a Adivasi land Rights Movement in Tamilnadu in support to Janasatyagraha 2012 action
The Following Persons were present
1. R. Kalimuthu, Tribal Activist, Theni
2. P. R. Raja, Member, Taminadu Ekta Parishad
3. G. Nagalingam, Tamilnadu Ekta Parishad
4. A. P. Mayandi, Social Activist, Madurai
5. V. Muniyasamy, Organic Farming Activist, Ramanathapuram
6. S. Jegadesan, Tribal Activist, Pollachi
7. R. Rajaraman, Advocate, Dalit Human Right Activist, Nagai
8. S. Dhanaraj, Tribal Activist, Madurai
9. T. Marirajan, Tribal Research cum Activist, Madurai
Apology for absent:
Ms.Pappathi, Women Leader from Paliyan Tribes, Theni informed over phone to Mr. Raja her inability to participate the meeting.
1. Mr. P. Raja, member Ekta Parishad Tamilnadu, welcomed the participants and gave introductory note about the founder P.V.Rajagopalji and Ekta Parishad. In his introduction he said, Ekta Parishad is a people’s movement dedicated to non-violent principles of action. Ekta Parishad working in 11 states of India on the issue of land and livelihood rights of the marginalized communities such as tribals, Dalits, nomadic communities, agricultural labourers, small and marginal farmers, etc. Ekta Parishad is a federation of approximately 11,000 community based organizations and has thousands of individual members. Today Ekta Parishad has become a national mass movement for land rights. P.V. Rajagopal Founder of Ekta Parishad, left his village in Kerala very early in his life, to do agricultural studies at Seva Gram. In the early 70s he worked in the violence-ridden area of Chambal (Madhya Pradesh) helping to rehabilitate dacoits. In the years that followed, Rajagopal traveled to several tribal areas and developed an understanding of plight and needs of India's tribal people. Their cause became part of his lifetime mission. His initial efforts to support various grassroots initiatives resulted in two organizations, PARIVARTAN ("Change") and LEHAR ("Waves"). Later these organisations became important institutes in supporting Ekta Parishad ("United Forum"). In Ekta-Parishad, Rajagopal has helped to create an important social mass movement for the past twenty years in Madhya Pradesh and other central India states. The movement consists of over 100,000 poor people, mostly made up of landless and tribal people who have been alienated from their land or marginalized by industrialization. He believes that through ahimasak sangharsh (non-violent struggle) the rural communities of India can secure Gandhi’s vision of gram swaraj. Srijan, or the creation of a self-reliant society, is possible when community ties are strengthened through mutual respect and social equity. He is a well known Sarvodaya leader and the follower of Vinoba and JP. Presently he is a member of the National Land Reforms Council of India.
2. After the introductory note, Mr.T.Marirajan explained the objective of the meeting and its process to the participants. Mr.Dhanaraj, gave presentation about adivasi situation in Tamilnadu and the importance of implementation of Forest Right Act 2006. Mr.Mayandi facilitated the discussions and plan of actions. The following decision were taken;
a. It was decided to create new forum under Ekta Parishad Tamilnadu in-order to work among only the adivasi peoples in the Tamilnadu state by empowering them and also develop a people’s movement in the state. The group has decided to name it as “Tamilandu Adivasi Land Rights Movement” (TALRM)
b. Areas of work: Mr.Dhanaraj, explained the demographic details and the eco regions of Tamilnadu in which tribal people are scattered living in the 18 eco regions. The names of the Eco Region are as follows Eco regions in Western Ghats: 1. Pachiparai 2. Manimutharu, Kalakkadu, Mundanthurai 3. Sathurakiri, Sirumalai 4. Kuthiraimalai 5. Varusanadu 6. Bodi – Agamalai 7. Uppar and Lower Palani Hills 8. Valparai, Top Slip 9. Thirumoorthimalai, Amaravathi, Thalinchi 10. Sathiyamangalam 11. Thalavadi, Yanaikatti 12. Ooty, Kothakiri, Gudaloor, Eco Regions in Eastern ghats: 13. Kollimalai 14. Kalrayan hills 15. Pachamalai 16. Javathu Hills 17. Erkadu 18. Ellakiri hills. Based on this presentation the team had brief discussion and decided to concentrate community based eco region approach for future work plan to build work among adivasis in Tamilnadu.
c. Selection of separate Adivasi Program team for Ekta Parishad Tamilnadu: Mr. Nagalingam raised question about the structure of tribal team among existing Ekta Parisad, Tamilnadu setup. He also suggested that to form a separate Adivasi Program team from the participants who took part in this meeting today. The suggestion was well received by the participants. The following persons were elected as members, namely P.R.Raja, G.Nagalingam, S.Dhanaraj, S.Jegadesan, T.Marirajan and Pappathi (Women Leader from Paliyan Tribes). Mr.P.R.Raja elected as convener of the Committee. The committee authorized Mr. Raja to report to this development to State committee of Ekta Parishad Tamilnadu for their approval and to get their concern officially.
d. Preparation of Work Plan for 2010 – 2011 for Tamilandu Adivasi Land Rights Movement” (TALRM): Based in the discussion the team requested Mr. Marirajan to develop the work plan and circulated to the member for correction and further improvement before submission to Ekta Parishad
The meeting came to an end with vote of thanks by Mr.Jegadesan.
Minutes of the Ekta Parishad Tamilnadu Adivasi Program Planning Committee Meeting held on 22nd May 2010 at CESCI Centre.
• Main Agenda
To develop a Adivasi land Rights Movement in Tamilnadu in support to Janasatyagraha 2012 action
The Following Persons were present
1. R. Kalimuthu, Tribal Activist, Theni
2. P. R. Raja, Member, Taminadu Ekta Parishad
3. G. Nagalingam, Tamilnadu Ekta Parishad
4. A. P. Mayandi, Social Activist, Madurai
5. V. Muniyasamy, Organic Farming Activist, Ramanathapuram
6. S. Jegadesan, Tribal Activist, Pollachi
7. R. Rajaraman, Advocate, Dalit Human Right Activist, Nagai
8. S. Dhanaraj, Tribal Activist, Madurai
9. T. Marirajan, Tribal Research cum Activist, Madurai
Apology for absent:
Ms.Pappathi, Women Leader from Paliyan Tribes, Theni informed over phone to Mr. Raja her inability to participate the meeting.
1. Mr. P. Raja, member Ekta Parishad Tamilnadu, welcomed the participants and gave introductory note about the founder P.V.Rajagopalji and Ekta Parishad. In his introduction he said, Ekta Parishad is a people’s movement dedicated to non-violent principles of action. Ekta Parishad working in 11 states of India on the issue of land and livelihood rights of the marginalized communities such as tribals, Dalits, nomadic communities, agricultural labourers, small and marginal farmers, etc. Ekta Parishad is a federation of approximately 11,000 community based organizations and has thousands of individual members. Today Ekta Parishad has become a national mass movement for land rights. P.V. Rajagopal Founder of Ekta Parishad, left his village in Kerala very early in his life, to do agricultural studies at Seva Gram. In the early 70s he worked in the violence-ridden area of Chambal (Madhya Pradesh) helping to rehabilitate dacoits. In the years that followed, Rajagopal traveled to several tribal areas and developed an understanding of plight and needs of India's tribal people. Their cause became part of his lifetime mission. His initial efforts to support various grassroots initiatives resulted in two organizations, PARIVARTAN ("Change") and LEHAR ("Waves"). Later these organisations became important institutes in supporting Ekta Parishad ("United Forum"). In Ekta-Parishad, Rajagopal has helped to create an important social mass movement for the past twenty years in Madhya Pradesh and other central India states. The movement consists of over 100,000 poor people, mostly made up of landless and tribal people who have been alienated from their land or marginalized by industrialization. He believes that through ahimasak sangharsh (non-violent struggle) the rural communities of India can secure Gandhi’s vision of gram swaraj. Srijan, or the creation of a self-reliant society, is possible when community ties are strengthened through mutual respect and social equity. He is a well known Sarvodaya leader and the follower of Vinoba and JP. Presently he is a member of the National Land Reforms Council of India.
2. After the introductory note, Mr.T.Marirajan explained the objective of the meeting and its process to the participants. Mr.Dhanaraj, gave presentation about adivasi situation in Tamilnadu and the importance of implementation of Forest Right Act 2006. Mr.Mayandi facilitated the discussions and plan of actions. The following decision were taken;
a. It was decided to create new forum under Ekta Parishad Tamilnadu in-order to work among only the adivasi peoples in the Tamilnadu state by empowering them and also develop a people’s movement in the state. The group has decided to name it as “Tamilandu Adivasi Land Rights Movement” (TALRM)
b. Areas of work: Mr.Dhanaraj, explained the demographic details and the eco regions of Tamilnadu in which tribal people are scattered living in the 18 eco regions. The names of the Eco Region are as follows Eco regions in Western Ghats: 1. Pachiparai 2. Manimutharu, Kalakkadu, Mundanthurai 3. Sathurakiri, Sirumalai 4. Kuthiraimalai 5. Varusanadu 6. Bodi – Agamalai 7. Uppar and Lower Palani Hills 8. Valparai, Top Slip 9. Thirumoorthimalai, Amaravathi, Thalinchi 10. Sathiyamangalam 11. Thalavadi, Yanaikatti 12. Ooty, Kothakiri, Gudaloor, Eco Regions in Eastern ghats: 13. Kollimalai 14. Kalrayan hills 15. Pachamalai 16. Javathu Hills 17. Erkadu 18. Ellakiri hills. Based on this presentation the team had brief discussion and decided to concentrate community based eco region approach for future work plan to build work among adivasis in Tamilnadu.
c. Selection of separate Adivasi Program team for Ekta Parishad Tamilnadu: Mr. Nagalingam raised question about the structure of tribal team among existing Ekta Parisad, Tamilnadu setup. He also suggested that to form a separate Adivasi Program team from the participants who took part in this meeting today. The suggestion was well received by the participants. The following persons were elected as members, namely P.R.Raja, G.Nagalingam, S.Dhanaraj, S.Jegadesan, T.Marirajan and Pappathi (Women Leader from Paliyan Tribes). Mr.P.R.Raja elected as convener of the Committee. The committee authorized Mr. Raja to report to this development to State committee of Ekta Parishad Tamilnadu for their approval and to get their concern officially.
d. Preparation of Work Plan for 2010 – 2011 for Tamilandu Adivasi Land Rights Movement” (TALRM): Based in the discussion the team requested Mr. Marirajan to develop the work plan and circulated to the member for correction and further improvement before submission to Ekta Parishad
The meeting came to an end with vote of thanks by Mr.Jegadesan.
A letter to Kerala Ekta Parishad
10th June 2010, Madurai
Dear Friends
Jai Jagt and greetings from Madurai
Hope all you know that I was given the responsibility to work as a South Indian coordinator for Ekta Parishad in-order to support Janastygraha 2012 action and its preparations. I am sure all of you are very active in your districts and regions on various programs and issues in the name of Ekta Parishad or Ekta Mahila Manch or Ekta Kala Manch or Ekta Yuva Manch. It is interesting to see all these developments in the name of Ekta Parishad and your participation and responsibility in the social issues and development activities. Through its various programs and interventions EP Kerala has created a better name in the state as a responsible organization. After the cycle yatra the direction went in to the tsunami rehabilitation project activities and same time it has created some linkages with different organizations in the state and also started directly to work among the youth, women, adivasis.
Based on this analysis we can understand that there is a great possibility in Kerala for Ekta Parishad to become a responsible social movement with its nonviolent philosophy. It will only happen if we all become serious and responsible towards the cause of EP. We need to look back and understand our strengths and weakness. A kind of SWOT analysis is needed to continue our work and we really need to go forward. I think we should come together for a day to discuss about the possibilities and to create an action plan for EP activities in Kerala at least looking Janasatygraha 2012 action as point to focus. For that a one day get together is important with all our district committee members with following agenda.
1. Review of our last seven years activities
2. Plan of Action of EP Kerala
3. Selection of a state committee
4. Other matters
Please understand clearly that Ekta Parishad as a social movement, not as a project or funding agency. In Kerala we have done substantial constructive work along with political intervention, because it was a need at that time and there was a possibility to do so. Understanding EP as social movement we can do much more to make the state responsible and change their policies to the empowerment of the poor and downtrodden.
There should be a proper membership drive in the state to understand our cadres and to should have a system. To learn EP much better please read carefully the attached document. (We may have to translate important information’s in to Malayalam or we may have to collect all the Malayalam materials that people already have created).
Please do reply your valuable suggestions, and based on that we can find a date to sit with Rajai during the month of July 2010 for a creative beginning. Also please send some activity news from your areas to include in our Ekta Parishad South Indian News Letter. You can find information’s in our Blog http://ektaparishadsouthindia.blogspot.com and you can also join in our Facebook http://www.facebook.com/search ekta parishad south india.
With thanks
Jai Jagat
K. Biju
Coordinator- Ekta Parisahd South India
Dear Friends
Jai Jagt and greetings from Madurai
Hope all you know that I was given the responsibility to work as a South Indian coordinator for Ekta Parishad in-order to support Janastygraha 2012 action and its preparations. I am sure all of you are very active in your districts and regions on various programs and issues in the name of Ekta Parishad or Ekta Mahila Manch or Ekta Kala Manch or Ekta Yuva Manch. It is interesting to see all these developments in the name of Ekta Parishad and your participation and responsibility in the social issues and development activities. Through its various programs and interventions EP Kerala has created a better name in the state as a responsible organization. After the cycle yatra the direction went in to the tsunami rehabilitation project activities and same time it has created some linkages with different organizations in the state and also started directly to work among the youth, women, adivasis.
Based on this analysis we can understand that there is a great possibility in Kerala for Ekta Parishad to become a responsible social movement with its nonviolent philosophy. It will only happen if we all become serious and responsible towards the cause of EP. We need to look back and understand our strengths and weakness. A kind of SWOT analysis is needed to continue our work and we really need to go forward. I think we should come together for a day to discuss about the possibilities and to create an action plan for EP activities in Kerala at least looking Janasatygraha 2012 action as point to focus. For that a one day get together is important with all our district committee members with following agenda.
1. Review of our last seven years activities
2. Plan of Action of EP Kerala
3. Selection of a state committee
4. Other matters
Please understand clearly that Ekta Parishad as a social movement, not as a project or funding agency. In Kerala we have done substantial constructive work along with political intervention, because it was a need at that time and there was a possibility to do so. Understanding EP as social movement we can do much more to make the state responsible and change their policies to the empowerment of the poor and downtrodden.
There should be a proper membership drive in the state to understand our cadres and to should have a system. To learn EP much better please read carefully the attached document. (We may have to translate important information’s in to Malayalam or we may have to collect all the Malayalam materials that people already have created).
Please do reply your valuable suggestions, and based on that we can find a date to sit with Rajai during the month of July 2010 for a creative beginning. Also please send some activity news from your areas to include in our Ekta Parishad South Indian News Letter. You can find information’s in our Blog http://ektaparishadsouthindia.blogspot.com and you can also join in our Facebook http://www.facebook.com/search ekta parishad south india.
With thanks
Jai Jagat
K. Biju
Coordinator- Ekta Parisahd South India
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