  The Scheduled Tribes of India constitute a population of 84,326,240 or 8.2% of the total population. They are spread across the entire nation. But the majority of them live in the Central, Eastern and the North Eastern parts of the country. Though the constitution has provided them with safe guards and provisions to lift them up socially, economically and educationally they all still lack in education and live almost in primitive conditions but for a few exceptions like the Meenas of Rajasthan/M.P and in the NE region. The Scheduled Castes who constitute 16.2% of the population are a little bit more successful as they are slowly climbing up the ladder albeit slowly. Though millions of them still suffer untold sufferings their political voice is being heard nowadays and this self assertion is helping the community a little. But the case of the ST Population is totally different. Unlike their brethren these people didn't suffer much at the hands of other caste groups as they remain totally isolated from the main land. The reason why we discuss is that they are the people -who control the jungles of India. Unlike the modern man's hands whose 'touch' scorches the land, the tribal population has been living in the jungles and hills and hillsides in harmony with nature. naturally. It is cruel that we, the privileged exert pressure on these indigenous people and frame laws to which they are not a party. Their voice is not heard and the few representatives toe their respective party lines and hardly any 'real voice' of this poverty stricken people is heard. The question is why should we rob these innocents' lands, culture and livelihood? In our space a tenant who occupies a flat for a few years claims ownership and refuses to vacate and approaches the court of law. The people who live midst jungles and depend on the jungle for their livelihood since time immemorial are driven away from their roots and have to depend on the ration' provided by generous governments. In the name of 'modernity' we can't kill originality and indigenous communities and their culture. Expecting everyone to lead a life in a crowded city is foolishness. Over a period of time the change expected will come but till then people have to be patient. They should not be in a hurry in their anxiety to make every one a 'city dweller'. Development is not restricted to concrete houses and polluting vehicles and industries. By giving jobs to a few we can't help the millions if we uproot them from their natural habitations. Here the law is not in their favor. The ownership of developed cities are in the hands of the so called elite. But the land in which they live for millions of years belong to government and they come under Forest Act. I'm sure if we excavate/explore any of our cities on the banks of rivers will surely have gas/coal/or any useful mineral beneath them. Are we ready to ask our people to vacate their posh colonies. Are we in a position to make people vacate a few acres of lands for the development of airports/industries? Thousands of people go to courts against the land acquisition for development of roads/airports/industries and so on. Our city roads/rail links take umpteen alignments to accommodate the voice of the people. Even they are against polluting industries. Some people of Maharashtra and Tamilnadu were voicing their opposition to the setting up of nuclear power plants. And recently people blocked the laying of gas pipe lines in Western Tamilnadu and extraction of Methane gas in the Delta Districts of Tamilnadu. It is not to suggest that there should be no development. The issue is of voice and choice. We have no right to disturb their livelihood and uproot them from their traditional habitations. Why the ST fail to be heard? The community could not be used as a vote bank as their population is spread thinly across this vast nation. This disadvantage costs them a lot politically and economically. Even where their concentration is thick like the states of Maharashtra, M.P., Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa, A.P and Karnataka their voice is not audible. Though the ST's didn't suffer the ignominy of untouchability and other caste based atrocities as the SC population, their sufferings continue in various forms. The jobs reserved for them could not be filled often and gets de-reserved. It is time we don't impose our civilization! on them forcefully. We don't force them out of their natural habitations. They need to be given their rights and if some laws are unfavorable to their very survival let us re look at them. Mere roads and hospitals can't ensure development. We can educate the kids but what about the adults and how to educate them in our desired way? As this is a community that lives in harmony with nature we should be thankful to them and not impose any conditions from outside. Let the development we intend be voluntary. Let us search for alternatives for coal or other forest resources. Remember we are not in a position to make our city dwellers move an inch to accommodate a public facility, unable to shift a place of worship, unable to widen our roads and go for over bridges and by -pass roads and underground metros. Let us search for alternatives and not force any one to leave their place of dwelling and make them miserable. Whether the structure is a hut or a palace home has got its own feeling of security and oneness with nature. Let us live together with everyone's voice heard.
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Sunday, August 4, 2013
COAL IS THEIR GOAL
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