Durgapur:- Citing multiple burning issues including rehabilitation, compensation, education, employment, and the forest and land rights of indigenous people, the Adivasi Gaota, Paschim Bardhaman District Committee, has called for a massive mass deputation at the Paschim Bardhaman District Magistrate's office on September 1. Preparations have begun for this movement demanding a permanent and acceptable solution to the multi-faceted problems faced by the indigenous society for a long time in this industrial and coal-rich district. Various mass organizations and social forums, including the 'United Forum', have already extended their full support to this important program of the organization.
To make this movement successful and comprehensive, a press conference was organized on Wednesday afternoon in the area adjacent to the Durgapur Bhagat Singh Stadium. There, the top leadership of the organization outlined the framework and context of the movement.
It was detailed by the organization that a well-organized march will begin on September 1 from Shaldanga village in the Jamuria area. This march will traverse various rural routes and reach Asansol. After a large rally there, a delegation will go to the Paschim Bardhaman District Magistrate's office to submit a mass deputation and a memorandum. Thousands of people from various parts of the district including Asansol, Durgapur, Jamuria, and Raniganj—including indigenous families, agricultural laborers, farmers, workers, students, youths, and various progressive mass organizations—have been urged to participate in this program.
Expressing strong anger at the press conference, the organization alleged that due to various expansion projects in coal mines and industrial areas, many indigenous families in Paschim Bardhaman district are living in extreme fear of losing their ancestral homesteads and agricultural land today. Severe concern was expressed especially over the incidents of eviction and land-related notices sent by the administration in Adivasi-dominated areas including Shaldanga. Their clear demand is that poor indigenous people must not be illegally evicted in the name of development. The real benefits of development must reach the common people, and the traditional rights to land, water, forest, and livelihood of local residents must be fully protected.
According to the announcement made today, the main five-point demands of the September 1 mass deputation include— 1) Proper and dignified rehabilitation and adequate financial compensation for families affected by industry and coal extraction. 2) Provision of suitable land or plots in exchange for acquired land. 3) Special government assistance for indigenous students to continue their studies. 4) Arrangement of permanent employment for unemployed youth, and 5) Immediate assurance of forest, land, and livelihood rights of indigenous people as per the 'Forest Rights Act, 2006'.
Leadership alleged that although applications regarding all these fundamental demands have been submitted multiple times to the relevant government departments for a long time, no effective and satisfactory steps have been taken by the administration so far, forcing them to choose this path.
In addition, a specific demand was raised today that the indigenous families who lost their land for the IQ City Medical College and Hospital must be given jobs for at least one member of their families as promised. The organization alleged that despite multiple promises made by the administration in the past, many families are still deprived of those job opportunities in reality. Alongside, a strong demand was also raised to restart the suspended government grants and vocational assistance for the smooth education of indigenous students in the area.
Overall, centering around this mass deputation program of the Adivasi Gaota at the Paschim Bardhaman District Magistrate's office on the upcoming September 1, a stir has already been created in the political and social circles of the industrial belt. It remains to be seen how much impact the indigenous society can make in this battle to protect their existence and rights.
