It tooks four decades for justice to be done and implemented. Land usurped from Dalits was finally returned as a result of continued pressure leading to action by the administration.

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Retrieving their Land

It was in 1952 that government granted land to the in Thimmammanahalli of Pavagada Taluk. Four Dalits lost 4 acres each totalling 16 acres of land to the tricks of the caste forces in the village. The four people are Thimmkka W/o Babaiah: Muthyalappa S/o Muthyalappa; AK Gangappa S/o Hanumantharayappa; AK Gangappa S/o Anjanappa. In the year 1986 they went to the AC court under the PTCL Act (Prevention of Transfer of Certain Land). In 1994 the court passed a verdict in favour of the Dalits. But the people went on appeal to the DC court against the judgment of the AC court in the year 1996. But the same year the DC sent back the case to the AC to be decided there. In 2002 the AC court once again decided in favour of Dalits. But the people kept quiet as they did not have necessary support to take the caste people head on. But after the formation of Dalit Panchayats things started changing rather fast. The case was taken up. The entire team of Pavagada went to the AC to give actual possession of the land to the Dalits. The AC was in jitters. He dithered endlessly. He wrote a letter to the other officers but kept his signature pending. Our leadership asked for even an unsigned letter. He was wondering why such a demand was put up. We informed him that even if he did not sign the letter he and we know that he made the letter though we cannot use it anywhere else. He gave a copy. We kept on pestering him till he finally signed the letter and sent it to all other officers. Today was the day. The entire officialdom was in the village from the morning. Our village people and leaders were present in full strength. Survey was done, boundary was marked, stones were laid and our people are in actual possession of 16 acres of land that was lost to them for more than four decades. Wow, what a saga this was for us and the achievement and satisfaction knows no bounds. We are simply immersed in this pool of success. Hope we shall wake up before we drown into it. There are many other challenges waiting for us in the world of realities. TEAM REDS, Dalit , Jyothi and Raj

Shanthinagar

Karnataka - India
It was in 1952 that government granted land to the in Thimmammanahalli of Pavagada Taluk. Four Dalits lost 4 acres each totalling 16 acres of land to the tricks of the caste forces in the village. The four people are Thimmkka W/o Babaiah: Muthyalappa S/o Muthyalappa; AK Gangappa S/o Hanumantharayappa; AK Gangappa S/o Anjanappa. In the year 1986 they went to the AC court under the PTCL Act (Prevention of Transfer of Certain Land). In 1994 the court passed a verdict in favour of the Dalits. But the people went on appeal to the DC court against the judgment of the AC court in the year 1996. But the same year the DC sent back the case to the AC to be decided there. In 2002 the AC court once again decided in favour of Dalits. But the people kept quiet as they did not have necessary support to take the caste people head on. But after the formation of Dalit Panchayats things started changing rather fast. The case was taken up. The entire team of Pavagada went to the AC to give actual possession of the land to the Dalits. The AC was in jitters. He dithered endlessly. He wrote a letter to the other officers but kept his signature pending. Our leadership asked for even an unsigned letter. He was wondering why such a demand was put up. We informed him that even if he did not sign the letter he and we know that he made the letter though we cannot use it anywhere else. He gave a copy. We kept on pestering him till he finally signed the letter and sent it to all other officers. Today was the day. The entire officialdom was in the village from the morning. Our village people and leaders were present in full strength. Survey was done, boundary was marked, stones were laid and our people are in actual possession of 16 acres of land that was lost to them for more than four decades. Wow, what a saga this was for us and the achievement and satisfaction knows no bounds. We are simply immersed in this pool of success. Hope we shall wake up before we drown into it. There are many other challenges waiting for us in the world of realities. TEAM REDS, Dalit , Jyothi and Raj

Shanthinagar

Karnataka - India
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