On September 11, thousands of tribal men and women spearheaded by a tribal rights group named Jagrit Adivasi Dalit Sangathan (JADS) gheraoed the District Magistrate’s office in Madhya Pradesh’s Bharwani district.
The protesters demanded compensation for crop losses due to deficit rainfall in the region, according to a press statement released by the tribal rights group.
“All the tribals unanimously said that despite such a terrible situation, no initiative was taken by the government to provide relief nor was any compensation announced by the government. That is why we have to come here today,” the press release stated.
The statement alleged that despite the protesting women showing samples of their dried harvest to the government, the administration bolted the main gate of the magistrate’s office, paying no heed to the demands.
The protesters demanded compensation for crop losses due to deficit rainfall in the region, according to a press statement released by the tribal rights group.
“This created anger among the tribal farmers. An attempt was made to stop the tribal men and women at the gate itself but people did not agree. And went to the main gate of the Collector’s office and staged a protest,” it noted.
Quoting Harsing Jamre, a farmer, the press note said, “How can the government not see our hungry families? Why don’t the prices of our crops increase? Why are the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission not being implemented? Even today our people are forced to do bonded labour in Gujarat and Maharashtra, they have not been able to get the benefit of any social security as per the rules till date”.
According to the statement, most of the tribal families of the district are marginal farmers who don’t have means of irrigation and practise rain-fed agriculture. Such farmers are able to grow only one crop in the year which is the only source of food for their family the entire year. Deficit rainfall directly puts their food security in danger.
According to the statement, most of the tribal families of the district are marginal farmers who don’t have means of irrigation and practise rain-fed agriculture.
Furthermore, the press note demanded the crop insurance amount be immediately disbursed to tribal farmers who have been paying the premiums. It also questioned the government on reducing electricity distribution at the time of drought-like conditions, alleging that the farmers get electricity supply for only seven hours in a day.
Along with increasing the limit of 100 days of work annually to 240 days under MGNREGA [Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act] the press statement also mentioned other demands like increasing the daily wage rate from Rs 221 to Rs 600 and doing away with digital attendance and budget cuts under the employment guarantee scheme.
“Even after 16 years of implementation of the Forest Rights Act, only 3352 claims out of 16000 claims have been resolved in Barwani. Lakhs of tribals are still deprived of their forest rights,” a farmer named Nasri Bai Ningwal was quoted.
A memorandum was submitted to the sub-divisional magistrate [SDM] in the name of the Chief Minister and Barwani District Magistrate.
