Protest in Ranchi reminds Jharkhand government of unfulfilled promises

By A Representative
Ranchi: Over 2,000 people from various districts of Jharkhand gathered in the state capital Ranchi today to remind the Hemant Soren government of its incomplete promises and the need to keep the BJP out of Jharkhand. The Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha organized the demonstration at Raj Bhavan. Slogans such as "Bhaajpa Hatao, Jharkhand Bachao" (Remove BJP, Save Jharkhand) and "Hemant Soren Sarkar, Jan Muddo Par Wada Nibhao" (Hemant Soren Government, Fulfill Promises on Public Issues) resonated at the protest.
At the beginning of the demonstration, Manthan stated that the JMM-Congress-RJD coalition had promised action on numerous public issues in their 2019 assembly election manifesto. While the state government has undertaken several works according to public expectations in the last five years, many significant promises remain unfulfilled.
Birsa Hembram mentioned that the previous BJP government had placed 2.2 million acres of non-revenue and community land of the state into a land bank. Land allocation from this bank is being done for various government and private projects without consulting the Gram Sabhas. The JMM had promised to cancel this, but the government has remained silent on the issue.
Similarly, James Herenj spoke about the forceful acquisition of private and community land, including multi-crop land, for private and government projects under the Land Acquisition (Jharkhand) Amendment Act, 2017, without the consent of the Gram Sabhas and social impact assessments. Helen Sundi, who came from West Singhbhum, questioned whether the elected government was waiting for the extinction of tribals.
Ajay Ekka expressed regret that even under the current government, the rules for PESA (Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas Act) have not been formulated to ensure the rights of traditional Gram Sabhas over resources and local systems. George Monippally, who has struggled for forest rights, stated that while the state government is making grand claims about the allocation of forest leases, thousands of individual and community claims remain pending. The government had announced the distribution of 100 community forest leases in each district on August 9, 2024, but none have been distributed to date. Pranesh Rana from Latehar said that the forest department is registering false cases against villagers who have been cultivating land for centuries.
Along with the fundamental problems of tribal communities, the Dalit community in the state is also fighting for its existence. Dharam Valmiki of the Safai Karamchari Andolan (Sanitation Workers' Movement) explained that the main struggles are merely obtaining caste certificates and the deaths occurring in sewer safety tanks. Many Dalit youths are being deprived of education and employment due to the non-issuance of certificates. Although the state government has created a process for caste certificates for landless families, it is so complex that obtaining a certificate is very difficult.
Jean Drèze reminded the gathering that false cases against tribals and Dalits and their prolonged detention as undertrials in jail is also a major problem. The coalition parties had promised in their manifesto to release long-term undertrial prisoners, but no action has been taken on this.
During the demonstration, people also raised the issue of widespread malnutrition among tribal and Dalit children. Somwati Devi stated that the Hemant Soren government has announced multiple times in the last five years that children will be given eggs daily in midday meals and Anganwadis. However, even after five years, the government has failed to provide eggs in the children's meals.
The protesters stated that the JMM coalition received widespread public support in 2019 against the anti-people policies of the Raghuvar Das government. Since then, the BJP and the central government have continuously tried to destabilize the state government. Yogendra Yadav of Bharat Jodo Abhiyan said that there are constant attempts to spread communalism in the state. The public does not want the "double bulldozer" BJP rule. However, the Hemant Soren government must stand with the people's struggle by taking action on public issues with truthfulness and commitment.
At the end of the demonstration, the Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha submitted a memorandum of demands addressed to the Chief Minister, urging the following actions before the assembly elections: 1) Cancel the land bank, 2) Cancel the Land Acquisition (Jharkhand) Amendment Act, 2017, 3) Distribute pending individual and community forest leases, 4) Cancel all anti-people projects including the Icha-Kharkai Dam and the Lugu Buru Power Plant, 5) Notify and strictly implement the PESA rules, 6) Allocate caste certificates and land leases to Dalits, 7) Provide eggs daily in Anganwadi and midday meals, and 8) Release long-term undertrial prisoners.

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