Reports :
All India Tribal Convention in Visakhapatnam , on 21 st May 2023
A one-day All India Tribal Convention was held on 21 st May 2023 at Visakhapatnam . Over 600 delegates from 11 states engaged in the struggle of the tribals participated in the convention .
The Convention began with the speech of the Chief Guest , renowned tribal author and activist , Dr . Vasavi Kiro from Jharkhand , who said Adivasis in India suffer because of state policy which is based on ‘ development induced displacement ’, loot of forests and natural wealth , land alienation , degradation of nature , failure to recognize their indigenous religions like Sarna and attempts to forcefully assimilate them into Hindu religion , failure to implement their Constitutional and legal rights . She said of the 10 crore people uprooted in India 80 % are Adivasis and Indigenous people .
EAS Sarma , retired Secy . to GOI , addressing the delegates said that the govt is bulldozing the Adivasis , attacking their rights and it should be mandatory that permission of Gram Sabhas , Tribal Councils be taken in all matters pertaining to them . But this government is so anti people that it does not consult even the National ST Commission .
Senior Journalist Ramanamurthy hailed the Convention for raising the issue of Constitutional rights of tribals and trying to unify the Adivasi movements all over the country .
Guest speaker , senior Advocate and writer on Adivasi issues , Pala Trinadh Rao explained in detail the legal and constitutional securities for Adivasis in Scheduled areas and how the govt is undermining them to favour Corporations and MNCs . He was sharp in his attack on alienation of tribal lands for mining , reforestation , Tiger Sanctuaries , Polavaram and other projects and on changes being made in law and in rules for these purposes . He said a determined struggle on the ground helps in asserting the rights legally also .
June - 2023
AIKMS President , V . Venkatramaiah appealed for widest possible unity of all Adivasi groups to wage a determined struggle for tribal rights . He appealed to all to learn from the SKM formation and struggle against the three anti-farmer black laws . He said we must build joint struggles on the basis of issues .
AIKMKS all India leader and Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh , Odisha State Secretary Comrade Srikant Mahanty attended the seminar and he presented a paper and seminar paper given below . Comrade Presidium & Comrades ,
On behalf of All India Khet Mazdoor Kisan Sabha , I thank the organizing committee for holding this All India Tribal Convention at a crucial juncture . At the outset , let me pay my revolutionary tribute to the thousands of martyrs who laid down their lives fighting against the British Colonial rulers such as , Baba Tilika Majhi , Sidho-Kanu-Chand-Vairab , Birsha Munda , Komaram Bhim , Alluri Sitarama Raju , Laxman Nayak , Dora & Chakara Bisoi and thousand others had sacrificed themselves fighting against the injustice , exploitation & loot . It is only because of their supreme sacrifices that we enjoy whatever rights we have today , be it our rights over forest , land or autonomous area .. I also pay tribute to the martyrs who laid down their lives in the struggles in the post 1947 periods . Particularly , the martyrs of the movements / struggles which are led by communist revolutionaries such as Telangana Armed struggle , Naxalbari struggle , Srikakulam Struggle and other struggles against exploitation & repression unleashed by the ruling classes and the state .
I also pay tribute to the martyrs , specifically , our tribal brothers & sisters who laid down their lives in various struggles for land and other struggles against forceful displacement and dispossession such as Kalinganagar , Kashipur , Koelkaro .
This convention is held at a time when the Modi Government at the Center strives to push the Forest Conservation Amendment Bill 2023 to minimize the rights of the Adivasi and other forest dwellers . This bill aims at completely curtailing the power of Gram Sabha . It seeks to water down substantially the provisions of Forest Right Act ., PESA , LARR Act . 2013 . It is also meant to take away whatever rights the Adivasi People have today . It will further marginalize the tribal and indigenous people . If this bill is passed , it will accelerate the process of deforestation , loss of livelihood and bio-diversity . And it will lead to large scale displacement , hunger and starvation of Adivasi & other forest dweller . The process of diversion of forest land for non-forest use , that is for mining , for setting up of industries and for construction of infrastructure , is going at an alarming speed . In between 2008 & 2019 , a total of nearly 4,00,000 hectares of forest land was diverted for so called development projects . ( E-green Watch )
Again in the name of compensatory afforestation under CAMPA Fund millions of acres of lands are being acquired including forest land & common land . Needless to emphasize , these lands have been cultivated by our tribal brothers & sisters and also by other deprived sections of the society for generations together . It may be noted that prior consent of Gram Sabha is not required for the diversion of forest land under compensatory afforestation . This compensatory afforestation is a myth . No amount of plantation will replace the naturally grown forest lost due to the projects .
Likewise , various State Governments have acquired millions of hectares of land including forest land and common property land through land Bank to be handed over to capitalists . There is a systematic plan to surrender our forest , natural resources , mines to foreign contd . in page 26 25