CPI(M) For Restoration Of Adivasi Land

THE Communist Party of India (Marxist) Jharkhand state committee demanded the BJP state government to immediately take steps to restore 197 acres of land to adivasis in Daladali and Simalia village in Ratu block as per order of South Chotanagpur Commissioner dated August 13, 2001.  All three judgements – first by LRDC, then by Ranchi Deputy Commissioner and then the next appellate authority, South Chotanagpur Commissioner – uniformly held that 212 acres of land of Ramekar & Co tea garden during British period was in the capacity of sikmidar on the land originally belonging to adivasis, that sikmidar had no legal right of transfer of land to any other persons except the original riyats under section 46 of the CNT Act and, hence, the land must be restored to original adivasis. Only on 15 acres of land there is a stay by the Ranchi High Court. But, there is no stay on the remaining 197 acres of land. Yet, neither Babulal Marandi nor Arjun Munda government have taken any steps to restore the land to adivasis.

The CPI(M) also demanded investigation into the illegal sale of lands belonging to adivasis by landlords and land mafia in the villages Kudlong (Panchayat Balalong), Jazpur (Panchayat Saparong), Lalgutua (Lalgutua Panchayat), and also Pundag (Pundag Panchayat), Kathitand (Panchayat Ratu), Tendar (Tendar Panchayat). The CPI(M) is organising protests in these villages against such illegal activities directed against adivasis and other poor people. The landlords and land mafias are taking provocative actions against adivasis, and also against the CPI(M) functionaries using hired goons, particularly in Daladali. The CPI(M) state committee warned the Arjun Munda government that it will be held responsible if the situation becomes serious It therefore urged the government to act urgently for restoration of land to adivasis.