annual report print final.qxd - Asian Centre for Human Rights

INDIA HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2005 Jharkhand
ostracised from the village. While Galo
Kumari belonged to Pahan tribal
community, her husband was a scheduled
caste (Ghasi), which is considered ‘lower’
to the Pahan tribe. They reportedly eloped
and married against the consent of their
parents. 25 An FIR was lodged by Bishnu
with Khunti police under Section 307, 147
and 148 of the Indian Penal Code. Police
have reportedly arrested Galo’s father
Bagun Munda and younger brother Bhodo
Pahan, who had allegedly instigated the
villagers. 26
V. The status of the Adivasis
The tribal population in the State has
reportedly registered a sharp decline over
the years. As per the 2001 Census, the
Scheduled Tribe population went down
from about 45 percent to 26.3 percent. 27
On 4 December 2004, the State
Cabinet approved a Personnel &
Administrative Reforms Department’s
proposal for making recommendations to
the Union Government for the inclusion of
Maal (Maal Kshetriya) and Rautiya castes
in the list of Scheduled Caste (SC) and
Scheduled Tribe (ST) respectively. 28 The
state government also recommended for
inclusion of the Kurmis in the Scheduled
Tribes list. Different tribal organisations
like Adivasi Chatra Sangh, Adivasi
Morcha and tribal scholars and leaders
have opposed the State Cabinet’s decision
and have threatened to create a social
unrest, similar to what the State faced over
the domicile issue in 2002. 29 A 48-hour
statewide chakka jaam was called by 13
tribal organizations headed by the Adivasi
Chhatra Sangh on 17 and 18 December
2004 to protest the Jharkhand
Government’s move to include Kurmi and
Teli castes in the list of Schedule Tribes. 30
i. Land alienation
Displacement was not confined to
particular districts but has been an issue
for the entire Jharkhand. More than
3,48,628 acres of public land, 8,52,033
acres of private land and 3,45,083 acres of
forest land have been acquired in
Jharkhand during the period 1951-1995 to
set up industries, mines, sanctuaries,
thermal power plants, dams and other
development projects. However, the
displaced tribal people have not been
properly rehabilitated. 31
About 100 years ago Tata established
two companies in Ranchi - Telco and
Tisco. To set up Tisco, 3,546 acres of land
were acquired, displacing 7,000 families,
consisting mostly of tribals. To set up
Heavy Engineering Corporation in 1959,
12,990 families were displaced to acquire
9,200 acre of land. The acquisition of
34,227 acres of land for Bokaro Steel Plant
displaced 12,487 families. The Central
Coalfield Limited and Eastern Coalfield
Limited were set up, both for mining,
thereby displacing a total of 15,000
families for 1,58,000 acres of land. For
Swaranrekha river project, 85,000 acres of
land were acquired, affecting 68,400
families. To set up Tenughat Power Plant
at Hazaribagh, 76,300 families were
displaced for the 97,843 acres of land. The
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