People in Saranda do not need roads but rights over jal, jangal, jamin
What the Adivasi people in Saranda villages need is not so much roads but restoration of their rights over their land, forest and minerals. The historical emergence of naxalism in this area is precisely because of the deprivation of these rights. Lot of news paper publicity is being given to the central & state govts allotting Rs. 2183 crore to construct 6,500 km roads that will connect the state’s villages. For whom are these roads really meant? They are mainly meant for the use of govt, police, military and businessmen’s vehicles so they can reach the villages easier and faster. Their intention will not be to serve the people but to control and exploit them. Ordinary villagers actually do not need these roads because there are no functional schools to take their children to nor are there functional health facilities to take their sick persons to.
Instead of this expensive circus, the govt should recognize the Adivasis people’s traditional rights over jal, jangal, jamin and provide irrigation & drinking water facilities, provide functional schools for their children and functional health facilities for their sick.
Stan Swamy २० अक्टूबर .2011
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