New Delhi: The Hasdeo Aranya Forest in Chhattisgarh, known as the “nation’s lung”, has witnessed felling of over 15,000 trees, with another 81,000 at the risk of destruction. Likewise, the Manjingmali-Siyumali-Kurumali-Niyamgiri hills in Odisha, abundant in bauxite reserves, and the Bailadila and Amdai Ghati hills in Bastar (Chhattisgarh), have become focal points for alleged corporate exploitation.

Efforts to protect flora and fauna by many indigenous populations and grassroot activists have failed, and such issues have seldom received the spotlight. In order to highlight the acts “against” environment and human rights, Forum Against Corporatization and Militarization (FACAM) has decided to conduct ‘Adivasi Adhikar Sabha’.

The meeting will be conducted on March 23, 2024 — a date that marks the martyrdom of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev. The freedom fighters stood against the corporate powers of British colonisers. 

According to the forum, it would be worthwhile to remember the national heroes while similar atrocities are taking place against the communities by conglomerates and the state.

The sabha hopes to amplify the grassroot voices and demand accountability from those in power. “If we truly honour the legacy of our great patriots, we must ensure that the struggle against exploitation and injustice endures until every last vestige of oppression is vanquished,” it says in a press statement.

Briefing about the programme, FACAM member Ehtmam said many Adivasis have been protesting against mining, paramilitary camps, fake gram sabhas and fake encounters through democratic processes for a long time. 

“Anti-camp movements in many regions have been going on since the last three years. But the state often terms them as ‘Maoists’ so that they can be denied a hearing,” he told The Mooknayak.

The member further explained “repression” has been happening for many years. If the state is still not listening to them, he said, it is high time the activists come to the capital to voice out their thoughts.

“Elections are happening and in any stable democracy, the process is supposed to be representative of the aspirations of the citizens. It is high time that the issues of adivasis (tribals) and jal-jungle-zameen (water, forest and land) become a poll narrative,” he asserted.

According to the member, many grassroot activists who have been a part of anti-mining and anti-camp struggles will be joining the public meeting.

Demands

1. Stop the “violation” of mandatory Gram Sabha under the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA).

2. Scrap of the “undemocratic” and “anti-people” amendments in the Forest Rights Act, 2006 and the Forest Conservation Act, 1980.

3. Stop the forceful grabbing of adivasi lands and displacement of adivasi peasants.

4. Stop “massive militarization” of mineral-rich regions through hundreds of paramilitary camps in a bid to intensify corporate “loot”.

5. Stop the “genocide” of adivasi peasants in the form of “fake encounters, aerial bombings, bogus arrests, forced fake surrenders, sexual violence etc.”

6. Implement PESA and 5th & 6th schedule in adivasi areas.

7. Stop the “targeting” of democratic progressive organisations and individuals in the name of conspiracy theories such as “urban naxals” and “naxalism of the pen”.