From: M C Raj <mcraj.reds@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Dec 21, 2010 at 10:49 PM
Subject: 3000 Acres, No joke
"Hey, do not trust them. They will keep on dragging your case. They will make you spend all your money and will abandon your case at the end. How on earth do you imagine that they can resolve this case against the Forest Department?" The caste people in the villages were sure that we would succeed in our case for regaining 3000 acres of land. They could not stomach the fact that we would ultimately succeed in this huge case. The acid of bitterness was coming out without any control over their tongue. Remember it is not 30, it is not 300 and be sure it is 3000 acres of land that we have got for the poor last week. It is not only for Dalits but poor of all castes are the beneficiaries of the High Court judgment in favor of the case that we filed in 2005. That is pretty fast by many Indian standards. Of course our lawyer was not an ordinary man. It is Mr. Dwarakanath who has just retired as the Chairperson of the Backward Class Commission of the Government of Karnataka. He has been a long time friend of ours, from the time of Ambedkar Era declaration in 2000.
'Please accept this as our offering to your Dalit Ashram." All the dominant caste beneficiaries brought 10 bags of ragi, their staple food millet even much before the case was won. They were sure that their own caste men were wily crooks who were obviously on a mission to misguide them. Taking help from the Dalit Ashram! Oh, what a change of attitude. Taking offerings to the Dalit Ashram! What a change of culture! All these are possible in India. But let us come to the point of struggle and success.
21 villages near the Booshakthi Kendra! They border on the Taluks of Sira, Gubbi and Tumkur. But only 7 villages have Dalit Panchayats. When the Dalit Panchayat of Thippanahalli was inaugurated in 2005 even the caste people came to Jyothi and Raj with their case and accompanying helplessness. No politician under the sky was worth their trust. Booshakthi Kendra swung into action. Dwarakanath came all the way from Bangalore to have a direct meeting with the people in Booshakthi Kendra. They narrated the chain of events.
They started cultivating the land from 1970 and possess the document of filing application to the government of the land that they were cultivating.
But in 1979 the Revenue Department handed over all the land to the Forest Department. People were not informed of this transfer of rights.
They continued to cultivate the land in 2005 without any hurdle.
In 2005 the Forest Department bared its fangs. It came with heavy machines to make trenches and prevent the people from cultivating the land
The Dalit Panchayat also had their hands ready to remove the teeth of poison. They stuck papers to the bulldozers and heavy machines and poured kerosene on all machines in order to set them on fire. The officers got the jitters of their life and pleaded with the people not to put fire.
They informed the 'higher ups' who rushed to the spot in no time and let the people continue their cultivation.
Our people were very clear on one thing. 'Let the High Court decide on who is the real owner of the land' The officers were flabbergasted. They did not even make a guess that the case had already gone to the steps of the High Court of Karnataka. It had in fact reached the benches.
We were concerned with only 972 acres of land. But when we came to know that there were other poor people involved we brought them under the purview of the case.
On 30 Sept. 2010 the High Court passed orders to the Secretary, Revenue Department of the Government of Karnataka, the Principal Conservator of Forests, the Deputy Commissioner (Collector) of Tumkur and other officers to give the land to the tillers.
We waited to give you the news till we got a copy of the High Court Order. We have it now clear and loud in our hands.
A stupendous achievement once again in our hands! A fitting gift at the end of the year! 3000 acres of land in our kitty! Worth struggling! It makes a total of 9495.16 acres of land that we have regained till now.
The New Year will begin for us with the Historic Round Table of the World Parliament of Indigenous Peoples. Hold your breath! 40 delegates from 11 countries, not a joke eh! We have a lot on our hands. We have to rush folks. All the best and greetings of the season to all those who are in a mood of celebration! We always are, be sure.
--
M C Raj
REDS, REDS Road
Shanthinagar
Tumkur 572102
Karnataka, India
Phone: ++91-816-2277026
Fax: ++91-816-2272515
Mobile: ++9845144893
Email for electoral reforms: ceri.reds@gmail.com
Email for REDS: jyothi.dalitreds@gmail.com
--
Palash Biswas
Pl Read:
http://nandigramunited-banga.blogspot.com/
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