annual report print final.qxd - Asian Centre for Human Rights
annual report print final.qxd - Asian Centre for Human Rights
annual report print final.qxd - Asian Centre for Human Rights
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INDIA HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2005 Jharkhand<br />
ongoing 710 MW Koel Karo power<br />
project is likely to displace more than one<br />
lakh people. The major displacement took<br />
place in Jamshedpur, Ranchi, Bokaro and<br />
Dhanbad districts. One third of the state<br />
population was affected. In total, 2,26,022<br />
families were displaced over the years in<br />
the state. 32<br />
The state government did not<br />
implement its promises of rehabilitation of<br />
the affected people. The State Government<br />
gives the land to companies interested in<br />
setting up projects. And the companies in<br />
turn prepare rehabilitation packages. Apart<br />
from cash compensation, many of these<br />
companies promise providing jobs to each<br />
of the displaced families. But in reality,<br />
hardly ten per cent of them are given jobs<br />
and the rest are left to fend <strong>for</strong><br />
themselves. 33<br />
On 4 December 2004, the State<br />
Cabinet approved a couple of proposals to<br />
rehabilitate thousands of families<br />
displaced either by the Bokaro Steel<br />
Limited (BSL) or in major irrigation<br />
projects like the Subernarekha Multipurpose<br />
Project (SMP). The Cabinet<br />
<strong>report</strong>edly sanctioned Rs 7.82 crore <strong>for</strong><br />
distribution of compensation among the<br />
BSL displaced pursuant to the Supreme<br />
Court order of 17 February 2004. 34<br />
ii. Violation of the Chotonagpur<br />
Tenancy Act<br />
Tribals’ lands have been grabbed with<br />
impunity by Dikus (outsiders) in clear<br />
violation of the Chotonagpur Tenancy Act<br />
of 1908 that was <strong>for</strong>mulated to safeguard<br />
112<br />
the land rights of the Adivasis. While<br />
grabbing of tribal land is visible in almost<br />
every village of Dumka district, it is more<br />
prominent in the villages under the<br />
Shikaripara block where there are a<br />
number of stone quarries. According to<br />
official records, there are about two<br />
hundred stone mines, which cover over<br />
nearly 500 acres of land. Srijal Tudu and<br />
his brothers of Sarasdangal village gave 17<br />
bigha of land (i.e. plot no. 25, 26, and 40)<br />
to one Lallan Pandey who is allegedly<br />
running a stone quarry without proper<br />
grant of lease. According to the contract,<br />
Pandey was to pay Rs 2,500 per bigha<br />
yearly <strong>for</strong> ten years. But Tudu’s family did<br />
not received a single penny. 35<br />
Kishun Hembram of Chitragarihia<br />
gave his land on lease to a miner <strong>for</strong><br />
digging a pond only. But later on<br />
Hembram’s family members were shocked<br />
to find that the lease-holder had got<br />
Kishun’s thumb impression on a document<br />
which showed that the land had been given<br />
on lease to them <strong>for</strong> ten years. 36<br />
Similarly, Sheetal Hansda of<br />
Makrapahari village also leased her land to<br />
M/S Dina Nath Stone Works <strong>for</strong> five years.<br />
When she wanted to take back the land<br />
after five years the miner claimed that it<br />
was leased out to him <strong>for</strong> ten years. He<br />
also showed a document to prove his<br />
claim. But Hansda was not given a copy of<br />
the agreement. 37<br />
Sometimes the miners create such a<br />
situation where land-holders have no way<br />
out but to surrender their land <strong>for</strong> money.<br />
Sabori Hembram of Sarasdangal gave up