Do We Also Have Democratic Rights?
Over 5000 people in Khunti district in Jharkhand gathered to protest against police atrocities and demand their democratic rights.

Children of a People Tortured
In telling the story of an infant growing up without his father, Gladson Dungdung presents the human and sociological side of the war on adivasis, war of minerals that the Indian leadership has undertaken. What future beckons the children of a humiliated and tortured people?

Are these anti-Naxal Operations Mr. Chidambaram?
Chhattisgarh's Koya commandos, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and CoBRA battalions burnt more than 300 houses and food grains, raped 5 Adivasi women and killed 5 men of Timapuram, Morpalli and Tarmetla villages of Dantewada between March 11 and March 16, 2011. Gladson Dungdung asks who will be held accountable?

Adivasi Intellectuals Revitalizing Indian Democracy
Tehelka Magazine, Vol 7, Issue 49, Dated December 11, 2010. G. Vishnu presents the story of some key intellectuals among Indian Adivasis who are perhaps doing more to push and revitalize Indian democracy than many amongst us with government position, chairs or awards.

Why Adivasis’ Soldier is Silent?
Gladson Dungdung asks why the self proclaimed soldier for adivasis, Rahul Gandhi, is silent as migrant adivasis are being targeted, while vested power structures ignore century old dynamics of migrant adivasis from Jharkhand in Assam

The Operation NGO Hunt in Jharkhand
The Jharkhand government has launched a new operation in the state, which can be called the “Operation NGO Hunt”. In a latest discovery, the Jharkhand Police have found 1300 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as sympathisers of the Naxalites though nobody knows the ‘parameters’ of ‘sympathiser’.

Vindicating the People
The majority report by the Ministry of Evironment and Forests Committee has been a vindication of the continued people's struggle against POSCO.

People's Tribunal Report on Op Green Hunt

The Independent People's Tribunal organized in Ranchi has made clear recommendations that Op Green Hunt be ended and paramilitary forces be pulled out of tribal areas.

Adivasi History Repeating Itself?
Excerpts from Class IX Social Sciences text book by NCERT on "India and Contemporary World - I" suggests that the colonial past seems to repeat itself for adivasi communities.

Fake Encounters in Jharkhand
Gladson Dundung writes about the growing trend of encounters in tJharkhand and the impact on local communities.

Systemic Starvation in Melghat
Shirish Khare writes about endemic malnutrition of children and thousands of deaths in Melghat, Maharashtra. Deaths that happen every year, through starvation, and have been happening since records were maintained starting in 1993.

Endless Cry in the Red Corridor

The atmosphere in the red corridor is more or less the same as it was before with the full of anxiety, uncertainty, fear, pain and shock.

Land Grab For POSCO Project Begins
Today the Orissa government initiated "acquisition" of land in the proposed POSCO project area of Jagatsinghpur District, Orissa.

Tribal? No Job? Become SPO

No job? Wear the khaki and eliminate your kin. In her blog, Priyanka Borpujari describes the dynamics of the State machinery, the SPO and land acquisition in "Maoist" territory.

No Doctor, No Medicines: Only God Can Save In Kalinganagar

in her blog Priyanka Borpujari describes the conditions of life among the tribal communities in Orissa. Even as they oppose further pillaging of their resources, the absence of even basic infrastructure points to conditions worse than sub-Saharan Africa.

Anti-Posco Rejects Compensation Package

Anti-Posco agitators on Sunday burnt copies of the new rehabilitation package issued by the company and accused Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik of backtracking from his "promise" to visit the site for taking stock of the situation. As reported in Deccan Herald.

Lest the Kalinga fo Today Be Forgotten
As small communities of adivasis fight for their land against the might of the state and corporations with billions of dollars, Priyanka Borpujari documents their lives and their stories on her blogsite.

Voices in the Wilderness

Swara, an initiative of former journalist Shubranshu Choudhury, enables the tribals of Chhattisgarh to tell their version of stories, in their language and through a medium accessible to them… An article in The Hindu.

Do Not Renew POSCO MoU

The MoU between POSCO and the Govt of Orissa expires on 22nd June and is up for renewal. Given the violence and violation of rights that has been part of implementation of this project as well as its questionable return on investment to the people of Orissa, here is a petition requestion that the MoU not be renewed.

India's Bermuda Triangle

Any opposition to government policies and corrupt bureaucracy is being defined as opposition to the state; opposition is being jailed and tortured. And the media has stopped sharing the conditions in which those opposing state policies live their lives. In these conditions, writer and freelance journalist Priyanka Borpujari describes the state of the people in Kalinganagar opposing the government on her blogsite.

Op Green Hunt: GoI Abdicating Constitutional Responsibility

Dr. B. D. Sharma, former Commissioner for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes writes to the President of India with concern about the war-like situations that tribal communities are facing across the country.

Rise of Naxalism on Chidambaran's Watch
A lawyer questions the Indian home minister on the impact of economic policies on adivasi communities and their relevance to the rise in Naxalism.

End Militarisation of the Forests

Operation Green Hunt and the increasing militarisation of the conflict in central India is wreaking devastation in our homelands.and closing the space for democratic struggles. Forest communities and people's movements from around the country call on the government to end this brutality.

Am I A Maoist?

Gladson Dungdung, a human rights activist from Jharkhand talks about his own experiences with development and how his demands for constitutional justice has often resulted in people asking whether he is a Maoist.

Orissa Govt. And the Attack on Adivasis

While the central government talks about rights of adivasis and recognizes that they have been systematically oppressed, Orissa government is using extra-judicial militia to threaten adivasis. Is this precursor to another violent operation in Orissa. Write to the Orissa CM.

Stop Structural Violence Against Adivasis

The Independent People’s Tribunal on Land Acquisition, Resource Grab and Operation Green Hunt, organized by Citizen’s against Forced Displacement and War on People, kicked-off today to a packed hall, consisting of students, academics, activists and the media. The Independent People’s Tribunal is being held in New Delhi, Constitution Club.April 9th-11th.

More Violence Against Kalinganagar Communities

A fresh round of violence occurred in Kalinganagar against indigenous inhabitants with former high court judge, Justice Mishra, pointing to the brutality of the police. In the backdrop of operation Greenhunt, it seems that the central and state governments are going all out to remove indigenous peoples from the land that threatens multi-billion dollar industrial deals. An Economic Times report.

On the Coming of India's Civil War

The Indian state has gone to war to establish the interests of big capital in the central forests of India and the original inhabitants are fighting back. Writers and talkers who sincerely believe in what they write and talk about are experiencing great anguish at the collapse of the political space in which there is discourse and debate and the development of civil war in the country, a direct confrontation between two armies.

Fear of Attack on Anti-POSCO Movement

The threat of state and company sponsored violence looms large over farmers sitting on an indefinite dharna, at Balitutha in jagatsinghpur district of Orissa against the government's pet project - POSCO.

Any Way Out in Chattisgarh?

While few support groups continue to call for more democratic processes to prevail, the governments continue their offensive in Chattisgarh that have violated fundamental rights and derailed democratic processes. Within this context, perhaps a way out?

Mumbai Organizes Public Tribunal on DNT

Civic society groups in Mumbai organized a public tribunal to expose the conditions in which members of the tribes that had been categorized as 'criminal' continue to live. While the Government of India had 'denotified' the criminal status of these tribes, they continue to be stigmatized by communities as well as by government agencies.

Tribal Advocate Subjected to Police Atrocity

Alban Toppo - a fresh lawyer from a tribal family - recently got the taste of law enforcing agents in the Indian democracy. For asking questions about rights. Is the police overstepping?

Tribal Villages Win Right to Manage Forests

Maharastra is the first state to recognize the right of tribals over the forests. The government recently accepted the claims of two villages in managing their forests. This article was published in Down To Earth.

Indigenous People Suffer in Lalgarh

With alleged ongoing activity by Maoists groups and a major security thrust by State forces, reports tell of violence affecting people in Lalgarh.

Stories from Basaguda

Villagers who escaped the Maoist-Salwa Judum conflict return to their homes after three years - and still face unjust conditions. By Javed Iqbal.

Tribals Boycott Elections in Maharastra District

22800 members of tribal communities in 24 villages in Jalgaon district have not voted in election – boycotting the elections in protest of the systemic and government led violation of Forest Law, 2006.

 

Adivasi Frustration in Gujarat

Adivasi communities in Gujarat, frustrated with current administration, are asking for change.

Another Corporate Land Grab

Tribal rights activists Dayamani Barla said that the land given to ArcellorMittal was tribal land used by communities for their living or livelihood since 1932.

Whose Democracy Is It?

Sunil Kumar, editor of Daily Chattisgarh, Raipur, India talks about Salwa Judum, and the role of governmental and non-governmental organizations in Chattisgarh as tribals continue to be massacred.

Adivasis Struggle for Forest Rights

Aloka describes the contradictary laws, the unhelpful bureaucracy and steadily depleting livelihood sources that are destroying adivasis.

Plans for Tribal Rally in Gujarat

Lok Sangharsh Morcha is holding a massive rally at Sagbara (Gujarat) on 1 september,08, opposing the nuclear deal, price hike in essential commodities, deteriorating system of basic amenities like education, employment and health facilities  in rural areas as well as for the rapid implementation of forest act, 2006, providing legal rights to tribal over forest land.

The Twice Displaced

Twice displaced for development projects, Orissa's Machkund Adivasis are yet to get the compensation due to them, reports Aloka in her blog.

Yet Another Displacement Site

Adivasi communities in Maharashtra on dharna to protest displacement. A note from Pratibha Shinde.

Mining in the Niyamgiri Hills and Tribal Rights

The Orissa government’s agreement with Vedanta Alumina to allow mining of bauxite deposits in the Niyamgiri hills, the home of the Dongaria Kondha tribe, is an example of how corporate interests backed by state support are trampling on tribal livelihoods and threatening an ecologically rich and important region. A report by Geetanjoy Sahu published by CISED.

Indian Law Provides Forest Rights to People

Mansi Asher discusses the laws and rights of access to forests that the Government of Orissa ignores and continues to violate in attempting to 'clear the land of people' in setting up POSCO. The article was first published in infochange.

Tribals Rally Against Gujarat Government High Handedness

About fifteen thousand tribal people have participated in Surat rally demanding for the implementation of ‘Forest Act, 2006’ recently enacted by Indian parliament and simultaneously opposing their eviction by Gujarat government from their land, which is in possession since long.

Officials Attack Adivasis, Destroy Crops

More than 250 forest officials and local police along with talluka magistrate (Mamledar) armed with weapons entered into the cultivated forest land in Ummarpada talluka of district Surat, on 5^th September and destroyed about 200 acres out of three thousand acres of standing crops belonging to Adivasis.

Nepal's Maoists: Running Out of Issues

On 6 September 2007, Home Minister of Nepal and senior leader of the Nepali Congress, Krishna Prasad Situala publicly confirmed the Nepali Congress' decision to support the Maoists' principle demand to declare Nepal as a Republic. This article by Asian Center for Human Rights

Tribal Convention in Gujarat Demands Rights

Lok Sangharsh Morcha organized a state convention of tribal communities of Gujarat at Ahmedabad. The convention pledged that the struggle for land and democratic rights in Gujarat will continue

Fast in Khandwa for Rehab Ends

The 37 day fast for rehabilitation of the displaced by the Indira Sagar and Omkareshwar projects ended with promises to continue to monitor the rehabilitation process.

Collector Orders Exile for Gujarati Tribal Leader

One of the leader of Lok Sangharsh Morcha Bhikhu Bhai Tadvi was ordered by Narmada district Collector to quit his home district Narmada for two years.

Will a Rapist Police Officer be Held Guilty?

The following story was sent to us by a citizen's investigation group in Chattisgarh. While the source for this story is not clear, and though it has been reported in some niche blogs, we are hoping that discussions will shed some light on the matter as well as raise public pressure to hold the police superintendent(if responsible) guilty for rape of a tribal woman in naxal infested Chattisgarh.

Cultural Identities, Livelihoods and Empowerment

This is a story of change among tribal communities in Jharkhand - a story of economic empowerment, of government accountability and revival of a dying tradition. It is a story of revived cultural identity for tribal communities. It is a story not about change driven by money but by a motivation and commitment.

Another Farcicial Public Hearing

Despite widespread protest, a fraudulent public hearing organized by the Orissa State Pollution Control Board took place at Tikri on Tuesday, Oct 17, which addressed the expansion of the illegal mining and refinery project owned by Utkal Alumina International Limited (UAIL), a joint venture of Hindalco (Aditya Birla group) and Alcan (Canadian aluminium giant), in the 5th Schedule areas of Baphlimali and Doragurha in Rayagada district, Orissa.

Expansion of UAIL Illegal, Through Intimidation

With a public hearing for extension of UAIL planned in an atmosphere of intimidation, where dissent is impossible, human rights groups are writing to executive, judicial and legislative heads of the Indian governance for intervention.

Adivasis in Hoshangabad Just Keep Getting Displaced

Adivasis of the Hoshangabad district in Madhya Pradesh have been fighting for their right to a dignified life. This struggle has now reached a critical juncture where your support is required.

Malnutritions Deaths in MP
The Madhya Pradesh group of Right to Food has sent an alert of malnutrition deaths in Patalgarh village of Sheopur district.

How Should the Indian Democracy Address Naxalism?
Is the Indian State’s policy vis-à-vis Naxalism only addressing a symptom?

Citizen's Group Warns of Civil War in Chattisgarh

A civic society group finds that law and ordered in Dantewara district of Chhattisgarh State, in the midst of Maoist attacks, has been outsourced to local criminal elements called 'Salwa Judum' which is not accountable to any democratic process or bureaucracy.

Plachimada Resistance Drafts Water Policy

On the 4th anniversary of the Plachimada People�s Struggle, a community seminar including the adivasis of the affected areas came up with a water policy that would address the needs of people. Ajayan, the convener of Plachimada Solidarity Committee presents the resolution.

Siddamma and the Irula Struggles

Siddamma is a grassroots activist and an educator working with the marginalized Irula Tribals for the last 12 years.

CM Murders Tribals, Inaugurates Tribal Fair

Vidhya, with Agragamee, points out that “It is ironic that a Chief Minister, whose administration murders tribal people at the drop of a hat should inaugurate a 'tribal fair' less than one month after the most heinous of such acts”.

Tata Steel Must Own Responsibility

Public Interest Groups walk into Tata Steel office in Bangalore
risking arrest and submit representation

Kalinganagar Mutilation of Tribal Bodies Alleged

Independent Media consisting of a group of social activists in Orissa have presented what they say are the voices from the tribal communities while demanding that the mainstream media also present the concerns of the people. This report was sent by Nachiketa.

We Beat Our Children to Sleep

People's Vigilance Committee for Human Rights, Uttar Pradesh, India & Asian Human Rights Commission, Hong Kong, reports from a People's tribunal on starvation in eastern Uttar Pradesh

Protests in UK Against Killing of Tribals

Students across Universities in UK are joining together to protest killings of tribals by state police in Orissa. WorldOrissa carried this report.

Lathi Charge of Tribals in Orissa

Sixteen tribals, mostly women, critically injured. Massive lathicharge on adivasis.
Tense standoff between agitated tribals and police in Kashipur.