Only 36 anti-atrocity cases filed since 2000 in Jharkhand's Adivasi dominated district

By A Representative
A Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha (JJM) youth conference in Ranchi saw participants expressing serious concern over rising majoritarianism, mob lynching, exploitation of Adivasis, Dalits and minorities, and lack of employment opportunities among the youth, even as expressing serious concern over refusal of the police to file cases under the anti-atrocities Act.
Criticizing the state’s cops, an activist with the civil rights organization, Manki Tubid, said that he had sought a reply from the West Singhbhum district police about the number of cases filed under the scheduled caste (SC)-scheduled tribe (ST) atrocities Act since the creation of the state, November 2000.

"I found out that only 36 cases have been filed in the whole district till now”, he said, adding, “The investigation is still going on in most of the cases, especially against the accused who are economically strong.” Adivasis form 67% of West Singhbhum district's population

A network of several people’s organisations and activists, JMM's conference saw animated discussions on current socio-political and cultural challenges facing the Jharkhand youth and to chart a way forward. While Faisal Anurag recounted the political and cultural history of Jharkhand, Dayamani shared details of continuous attack on land of Adivasis and the need to unite against all such attempts. She shared that the youth need to remember the struggles and contribution of Birsa Munda and Sidho-Kanho who died at a young age for their community.
Aloka, who has been charged with sedition because of a Facebook post, discussed attacks on freedom of expression. Jacinta Kerketta talked of the need to inculcate values of equality and egalitarianism enshrined in the Adivasi community and how they are getting eroded. Meghnath pointed towards how cultural initiatives have always been part of people’s struggles in the state and the need to strengthen them in the current times.
Birendra Kumar discussed the ongoing exploitation of marginalised communities. Reservation is essential for social justice but the BJP and RSS are continuously attacking it, he said, adding, the youth need to unite against the anti-people policies of the government politically. The upcoming Vidhan Sabha elections present an opportunity.

Comments

The golden crop: How turmeric is transforming women's lives in tribal India

By Vikas Meshram* When the lush green fields of turmeric sway in the tribal belt of southern Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat, it is not merely a spice crop — it is the golden glow of self-reliance. In villages where even basic spices once had to be bought from the market, the very soil today is yielding a prosperity that has transformed the lives of thousands of families. At the heart of this transformation is the initiative of Vaagdhara, which has linked turmeric with livelihoods, nutrition, and village self-governance — gram swaraj.

Buddhist shrines were 'massively destroyed' by Brahmanical rulers: Historian DN Jha

Nalanda mahavihara By Rajiv Shah Prominent historian DN Jha, an expert in India's ancient and medieval past, in his new book , "Against the Grain: Notes on Identity, Intolerance and History", in a sharp critique of "Hindutva ideologues", who look at the ancient period of Indian history as "a golden age marked by social harmony, devoid of any religious violence", has said, "Demolition and desecration of rival religious establishments, and the appropriation of their idols, was not uncommon in India before the advent of Islam".

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

Beyond the election manifesto: Why climate is now a kitchen table issue

By Vikas Meshram* March has long been a month of gentle transition, the period when winter softly retreats and a mild warmth signals nature’s renewal. Yet, in recent years, this dependable rhythm has been disrupted. This year, since the beginning of March, temperatures across vast swathes of the country have shattered previous records, soaring to between 35 and 40 degrees Celsius in some regions. This is not a mere fluctuation in the weather; it is a serious and alarming indicator of climate change .

As India logs historic emissions drop, expert warns govt against 'policy blunders'

By A Representative In a significant development that underscores the rapid transformation of India's energy landscape, new data reveals the country recorded its largest drop in power sector emissions in 2025. However, a top power sector analyst has urged the Union Government to view this "silver lining" as a stark warning against continuing to invest in new coal, large hydro, and nuclear projects, which he argues could become "redundant" stranded assets.

The selective memory of a violent city: Uttam Nagar and the invisible victims of Delhi

By Sunil Kumar* Hundreds of murders take place in Delhi every year, yet only a few incidents become topics of nationwide discussion. The question is: why does this happen? Today, the incident in Uttam Nagar has become the centre of national debate. A 26-year-old man, Tarun Kumar, was killed following a dispute that reportedly began after a balloon hit a small child. In several colonies of Delhi, slogans such as “Jai Shri Ram” and “Vande Mataram” are being raised while demanding the death penalty for Tarun’s killers. As a result, nearly 50,000 residents of Hastsal JJ Colony are now living in what resembles a state of confinement.

NGO Arunoday’s journey of support and struggle: Standing firm with the distressed

By Bharat Dogra It was a situation of acute distress. Nearly ten thousand people returning to their villages during the COVID-19 pandemic had gathered at the border of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh near Kanha. Exhausted after walking long distances with little or no food, they were desperate for relief. Yet entry could not be granted without completing essential records and complying with pandemic rules.

How wars are undermining climate promises even as accelerating global warming

By N.S. Venkataraman* Since 1995, global climate conferences have convened annually, with the 29th Conference of Parties (COP29) held in November 2024. These gatherings attract world leaders and generate extensive media coverage, raising hopes of decisive strategies to address the climate emergency. Yet, despite lofty promises and ambitious targets, the crisis remains unabated.

Fresh citizenship framework suggested amidst electoral roll concerns

By Kathyayini Chamaraj The ongoing exercise of Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls has raised serious concerns about the potential disenfranchisement of large numbers of citizens. In many instances, people are being asked to produce retrospective documents to establish their citizenship—documents that many genuine citizens are unable to provide. The challenge before policymakers is to identify prospective amendments to the Citizenship Act that would ensure that no legitimate citizen is excluded either from citizenship or from the electoral roll.

Search This Blog