Tribals not safe in their own land

By : Alok K N Mishra, TNN | Aug 17, 2013, 02.53 AM IST, Times Of India

RANCHI: Cases of atrocities against tribals in the state are on the rise in Jharkhand. Tribals have been sandwiched, claim tribal leaders, between the Naxalites and the security forces in the forests despite the fact that the government has opened police stations in every district for a better outreach to them.

Atrocities against tribals include cruel and violent acts against them like kidnapping and abduction, rape,

 Murder, robbery, arson, skirmishes and other crimes.

These cases have witnessed over 100% growth in the past 10 years. In 2002, a total of 124 cases of crimes against members of the scheduled tribe were registered which was 287 in 2012. The total cases registered of crime committed against them were 125 in 2002. In 2012, it grew up to 696. The tribal leaders say that still a huge percentage of tribals do not go to register cases.

"The cases would grow manifold if all the tribals report them to police," said a tribal leader. The numbers have caught the attention of tribal leaders who have demanded implementation of domicile policy immediately.

"The government does not have any concern for tribals," said Salkhan Murmu, a tribal leader and strong votary of domicile policy. "The tribals would vanish if the government does not bring in the domicile policy to protect them," said Murmu.

Of the 32 tribes, around six are among the extremely endangered primitive tribes in the country. In 1940s, there were 50% tribals in Jharkhand. Today their population is roughly 25%.

"Where have they gone? No one has an answer," said Murmu.

Land sharks are roaming the state to capture tribal lands, said a leader.

A total of nine cases of skirmishes with tribals were reported in 2002. In 2012, a total of 77 cases of skirmishing with scheduled tribes were reported.

Under SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, 40 cases were reported in 2002 while 133 cases were registered in 2012. Similarly a total of 13 rape cases were reported in 2002, 13 each in 2003 and 2004, 20 in 2005, 21 in 2006, 22 in 2007, 18 in 2008, 13 in 2009, 18 in 2010, 27 in 2011 and five in 2012.

The cases do not mirror the actual problems which tribals are facing in the state, said MLA and tribal leader Bandhu Tirkey. "They are innocent and thus used by everyone for their benefits," said Tirkey.

Surya Singh Besra, another tribal leader, pitched for domicile policy. "The tribals are victims of rampant violations of constitution, law and human rights," said Besra. Jharkhand is a 5th schedule state where the governor has never made any intervention to protect the tribals. The Union minister of tribal affairs V Kishore Chandra has written to Jharkhand governor to use his power to protect the rights of the tribals. The successive governments have also not done anything for the welfare of the tribals, added Besra.

DGP Rajiv Kumar, however, said it was a good sign that more cases were being registered in connection to crime against members of SC/ST.

FIFTH SCHEDULE OF CONSTITUTION OF INDIA

[Article 244(1)]

PROVISION AS TO THE ADMINISTRATION AND CONTROL OF SCHEDULED AREAS

AND SCHEDULED TRIBES

PART A

GENERAL

1. Interpretation.—In this Schedule, unless the context otherwise requires, the expression “State” does

not include the [States of Assam 3 [, 4 [ Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.]]]

2. Executive power of a State in Scheduled Areas.—Subject to the provisions of this Schedule, the

executive power of a State extends to the Scheduled Areas therein.

3. Report by the Governor to the President regarding the administration of Scheduled Areas.—

The Governor of each State having Scheduled Areas therein shall annually, or whenever so required by the

President, make a report to the President regarding the administration of the Scheduled Areas in that State

and the executive power of the Union shall extend to the giving of directions to the State as to the

administration of the said areas.

PART B

ADMINISTRATION AND CONTROL OF SCHEDULED AREAS AND SCHEDULED TRIBES

4. Tribes Advisory Council.—(1) There shall be established in each State having Scheduled Areas therein

and, if the President so directs, also in any State having Scheduled Tribes but not Scheduled Areas therein,

a Tribes Advisory Council consisting of not more than twenty members of whom, as nearly as may be,

three-fourths shall be the representatives of the Scheduled Tribes in the Legislative Assembly of the State:

Provided that if the number of representatives of the Scheduled Tribes in the Legislative Assembly of the

State is less than the number of seats in the Tribes Advisory Council to be filled by such representatives, the

remaining seats shall be filled by other members of those tribes.

(2) It shall be the duty of the Tribes Advisory Council to advise on such matters pertaining to the welfare

and advancement of the Scheduled Tribes in the State as may be referred to them by the Governor.

(3) The Governor may make rules prescribing or regulating, as the case may be,

(a) the number of members of the Council, the mode of their appointment and the appointment of the

Chairman of the Council and of the officers and servants thereof;

(b) the conduct of its meetings and its procedure in general; and

(c) all other incidental matters.

5. Law applicable to Scheduled Areas.— (1) Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, the Governor

may by public notification direct that any particular Act of Parliament or of the Legislature of the State shall

not apply to a Scheduled Area or any part thereof in the State or shall apply to a Scheduled Area or any

part thereof       in       the State     subject to such exceptions and modifications as he may specify in the

notification and any direction given under this sub-paragraph may be given so as to have retrospective

effect.

(2) The Governor may make regulations for the peace and good government of any area in a State which is

for the time being a Scheduled Area.

In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such regulations may—

(a) prohibit or restrict the transfer of land by or among members of the Scheduled Tribes in such area;

(b) regulate the allotment of land to members of the Scheduled Tribes in such area;

(c) regulate the carrying on of business as money-lender by persons who lend money to members of the

Scheduled Tribes in such area.

(3) In making any such regulation as is referred to in sub-paragraph (2) of this paragraph, the Governor

may repeal or amend any Act of Parliament or of the Legislature of the State or any existing law which is for

the time being applicable to the area in question.

(4) All regulations made under this paragraph shall be submitted forthwith to the President and, until

assented to by him, shall have no effect.

(5) No regulation shall be made under this paragraph unless the Governor making the regulation has, in the

case where there is a Tribes Advisory Council for the State, consulted such Council.

PART C

SCHEDULED AREAS

6. Scheduled Areas.—(1) In this Constitution, the expression “Scheduled Areas” means such areas as the

President may by order declare to be Scheduled Areas.

(2) The President may at any time by order —

(a) direct that the whole or any specified part of a Scheduled Area shall cease to be a Scheduled Area or a

part of such an area;

[(aa) increase the area of any Scheduled Area in a State after consultation with the Governor of that State;]

(b) alter, but only by way of rectification of boundaries, any Scheduled Area;

(c) on any alteration of the boundaries of a State or on the admission into the Union or the establishment of

a new State, declare any territory not previously included in any State to be, or to form part of, a Scheduled

Area;

[(d) rescind, in relation to any State or States, any order or orders made under this paragraph, and in

consultation with the Governor of the State concerned, make fresh orders redefining the areas which are to

be Scheduled Areas;]

and any such order may contain such incidental and consequential provisions as appear to the President to

be necessary and proper, but save as aforesaid, the order made under sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph

shall not be varied by any subsequent order.

PART D

AMENDMENT OF THE SCHEDULE

7. Amendment of the Schedule.—(1) Parliament may from time to time by law amend by way of addition,

variation or repeal any of the provisions of this Schedule and, when the Schedule is so amended, any

reference to this Schedule in this Constitution shall be construed as a reference to such Schedule as so

amended.

(2) No such law as is mentioned in sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph shall be deemed to be an

amendment of this Constitution for the purposes of article 368.

*******