National Front for Tribal Self-Rule

Dr B. D. Sharma 11A, Nangli Rajapur

Member, National Front Nizamuddin East
Tel:011-24353997 New Delhi, 110013
e-miail:bharatjanandolan@gmail.com August 2, 2010

Dear friend,

Subject: Emergent and Holistic Tribal Agendas for Meeting the

Current Crisis in Tribal Areas
The tribal people are facing the worst crisis in their history. It
may prove to be ‘the End of History’ in some cases. The Village
India itself may not survive for long in this global imperialist-
capitalist onslaught. But this pressure on Village India, in the
immediate context, is bound to have spread effect and accentuate the
tribal crisis. Hence we have to concentrate HERE and NOW on the
tribal front in this crucial phase of NOW or NEVER.

Irony after Independence

The confrontation between tribal people and the State began
during the colonial regime. There was a brief lull after independence.
It started accentuating again in 1960s. It has gradually become so
pervasive by now that rulers are treating it as the ‘greatest internal
security threat’. The irony is that the same rulers have to their credit a
galaxy of Constitutional provisions, laws and policies. They can be
exhibited with pride anywhere in the World as insignia of their
commitment to the philosophy of ‘Rule of Law’. Yet, the very same
people can also earn effortlessly an ‘Olympian Gold’ in the Wild
Game of ‘Breaking Promises’ ignoring even the Constitutional
mandates.

An Impossible Task
Our India, nay, the exciting ‘World’ comprising people who
count, is agog with stories, nay, fables and fantasies of tribal people.
Nevertheless a systematic account of the tribal situation in the raw is
hard to find, especially in a form that ordinary people can understand
and appreciate. I have attempted this ‘impossible task’ drawing upon
my own rendezvous with tribal affairs spread over more than four
decades. I sincerely regret the handicap of virtually no reference to
academic archives.

‘Unbroken History of Broken Promise- Indian State and

the Tribal People’ is an attempt to present the panorama of tribal
life after independence. It begins with a call in the Foreword itself for
action on critical issues ‘Here and Now’. The overall ground reality is
presented at the end in capsule form as ‘Broken Promises’ and
‘Comprehensive Tribal Agenda’.

Actions Till Date

The countless issue-based interventions in tribal areas by
sensitive and dedicated people have no doubt given some relief to
some people. There are some major achievements as well that we can
be reasonably proud of. Nevertheless these gains are isolated and
ephemeral. The incessant running down of the System under
mounting pressure of global Imperialist-Capitalist forces is especially
pushing the simple tribal people to the precipice. This catastrophic
situation cannot be retrieved unless a holistic struggle frame, covering
all questionable aspects of the System, is adopted with a sense of
urgency ‘NOW or NEVER’. It is only then, and then alone, that the
System can be forced to acknowledge its errors and misdeeds with
renewed commitment to honour the ‘Promises’ made from time to
time.

I am fully conscious about this proposition being misconstrued

as idealism in the face of ruthless capitalist forces. Nevertheless the
first crucial step in any struggle to meet the current challenge is that
the victims must become aware about the nature of the challenge.
They should also have the opportunity of joining hands to meet these
challenges. I trust that the ‘Promises Broken’, ‘Emergency Agenda’
and ‘Comprehensive Tribal Agenda’ presented here will create that
opportunity.

A Call to All Concerned

I am addressing this letter to all those friends through out the
country with whom I have had the opportunity of working together
or interacting in other ways. I will be happy if you can forward this
letter to other friends with request to join this campaign for tribal self
rule in the real sense. I may add here with confidence that the basic
premises of democratic polity formulated under PESA for tribal areas
are universal. But the beginning, for strategic considerations, will
have to be in the tribal areas. Once a people are able to assert their
natural right against the Imperialist forces, its spread to other people
and areas will be a natural corollary.

The First Victory

I feel that we have already scored one point in the National
Development Council held on July 24, 2010. The Prime Minister in
the concluding speech acknowledged that PESA hold the key to ‘peace
and good governance’ in the tribal areas. I may warn here that unless we
are careful this gesture of the rulers also may prove to be mere façade
adding one more item to the galaxy of ‘Broken Promises’.

The First National Convention

We propose to hold a series of preliminary meetings on all the
three themes mentioned above in September, 2010 at regional centers
depending on the response. I may remind you that we have 9 States
with Scheduled Areas and 6 States and 2 Union Territories that have
tribal population but no Scheduled Areas. The States not having
tribal majority in the North East have a different system under the
Sixth Schedule. The regional meetings may be followed by a National
Convention in October with a clear plan of action for achieving the
Agenda goals.

Expecting an early response

With best regards

Yours Sincerely,

B.D.Sharma

Encl: 1. Promises Broken

2. Emergency Agenda
3. Comprehensive Tribal Agenda
 Promises Broken
(Promises to the tribals, broken again and again)

♦The adoption of Constitution without creating space for tribal

tradition led to ‘Criminalisation of Tribal Universe’.
♦The protective Shield of ‘Scheduled Area’ was belittled in 1960 and
retrieved in 1975. It has been forgotten after 1980.
♦Specific provision for raising the level of administration in tribal
areas under Article 275(1) proviso remains unfulfilled.
♦Continuing ‘punishment postings’ belie State’s commitment for ‘peace
and good government’ in tribal areas.
♦The ‘primitive tribal groups’ become more vulnerable.
♦Money lenders and land grabbers rule the roost with scant regard
for legislations or policies to control them.
♦After effective initiative in 1975, bonded labour abounds.
♦State exploitation through liquor mafias that vanished after ‘Excise
Policy, 1974’ is back with full vigour.
♦Ownership of ‘Minor Forest Produce’ sustaining tribal livelihood,
declared in 1976, 1996 and 2006, is still a mirage.
♦PESA, a frame for self-governance, self-empowerment and
command over resource has not been implemented.
♦Company predators, hungry for tribal land resources have scourged
the area that is flooded with MoUs.
♦The promise to recognise rights about land, MFP, Gram Sabha etc.
under Forest Rights Act, 2006 is unimplemented.
♦The right of the child for early learning in mother tongue forgotten
jeopardising future of concerned tribal people.
♦Dandakaranya Development Authority (1952) abandoned quite early the
tribal-centered regional development model.
 2. Emergency Agenda

1. Establish Eminent Domain of the Community in place of the

State over land, water, forest and mineral resources as envisaged in
PESA

2. Freeze all MOUs and review all deals with deference to

Community’s Command over Resources;

3. Review and reversal of decisions in cases of consultation

involving fabrication, coercion or other irregularities;

4. ‘NO’ to Punishment Postings, Single line administration;

Imbibing the spirit of Self-Governance as in PESA;

5. Administrative reorganisation of tribal areas located on the

borders of blocks/talus/districts; and

6. A vibrant chain of command up to the highest level dedicated to

comprehensive solution for existing chaos.
 COMPREHENSIVE TRIBAL AGENDA
Peace Now, Justice Now, Implementation Now

PESA envisages self-empowerment of community as Gram Sabha,

its command over resources in Scheduled Areas and effectively
protection of Community and individual rights.

♦Acknowledge these provisions Now and keep predators out

♦Schedule all tribal tracts covered by TSP immediately and identify and schedule
the rest in not more than a year.
♦Gram Sabha with ‘competence to manage its affairs’ can seek advice but cannot
be subservient to Government Rules.
♦Abide by Community’s Eminent Domain in SAs including its Ownership over
all Resource-based Enterprises
♦Enforce Excise Policy, Erase doubtful liabilities, Discipline money-lending,
Chastise bondage and Reward performance.
♦Let entire administration dedicated to ‘peace and good government’ under FS be
answerable to Gram Sabha.
♦Erase ‘punishment postings’; ensure Annual Review of State of administration
by the Union under Art 275.
♦Early education through mother tongue be adopted forthwith

Effective Command over Economic System

Regular Social Audit of all economic activities including government
programmes under PESA and other laws
Ownership over MFP be made effective NOW, collector getting full value, State
bearing transport and all other costs.
Restore alienated lands, enforce statutory entitlements in forest and make tribals
as partners in afforestation.
Special personal attention to vanishing tribes.
No displacement; a place of honour in new economy in all projects- linear,
industrial or irrigation/power
The entitlement of a worker shall be sufficient for a reason able living of ‘the
worker and his family’.

On whose side is the Sarkar. Maoists have stolen a march

over them on tribal entitlements. Development of tribal areas
without tribal empowerment is a farce.