Dalit, Adivasi protest in Jharkhand against 'illegal' transfer of land for development

By Rishit Neogi
Displacement and eviction are not new terms. It is surprising that they are still continuing and have become a tool in the hands of state backed corporates to forcibly occupy lands in the name of development.
The Harijan Basti of Sukurhutu village in Kanke block, Ranchi district, was inhabited by 76 Dalit families who were allotted 4 acres 68 decimals land by the Bihar government in 1982. According to Lagnu Mahato, Magul Nayak and Sukhdev Kumhar Mahato of Sukurhutu, many families were forced to flee the area due to riots in 1986, though quite a few families are still residing in the area, doing daily labour jobs like plumbing, carpentering, etc. to sustain themselves.
Since 2012, what are described as “local conspirators” are alleged to have illegally occupied 2 acre 68 decimal of the land and began selling it in cohorts with the district administration by using fake certificates. After grabbing the community land, the land grabbers reportedly also started plotting on how to take over the whole land plot of 4 acres 68 decimals in the name of some development scheme.
Since locals are aware of the designs, they apprised about it to the civil rights organization Adivasi Adhikar Manch, Ranchi (AAM) and the Adivasi Adhikar Manch, Kanke, which organized a marched to the Kanke block office on November 5. In fact, local people were trying to seek legal redressal of their issue for long, but, according to them, they are being given false assurances. On the other hand, they says, they have been receiving threats that they will be evicted. 

Under the national urban policy, such lands inhabited by communities should be developed only with their participation. As far as possible, any redevelopment can only take place by rehabilitating them on the same site or location by upgrading their houses, sanitation, drinking water, electricity etc. amenities. It is the state’s imperative to legalize and regularize possession of land in urban areas inhabited by people of marginalized and impoverished families or households. 

A protest dharna was held at the Kanke block office. It was addressed, among others, by Aloka Kujur (AAM. Ranchi), Aparna Bara (AAM. Kanke), Niraj Bhokta (Congress), Vinod Sahu (Other Backward Classes Morcha, Congress), Kundrasiya Munda (Bhartiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad, Ranchi), and Surendra Linda (educationist).
Ward members Mukul Nayak, Sukhdev, Dasrath Munda and others from the community submitted a memorandum to the Block Development Officer (BDO) with the following demands:

• Cancel the Ranchi Masterplan 2037 that threatens eviction and displacement of urban poor.
• Cancel the Farm Bills 2020. 
• Cancel the Essential Commodities Bill 2020. 
• Plot No. 6373 in Sukurhutu should be restored to its rightful owners i.e. the community. 
• Release social activists like Stan Swamy arrested under draconian Acts like Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). 
• Ensure safety and security of women in India. 
• Cancel Jharkhand Land Mutation Act 2020.