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

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