Chacko Anthony
World’s indigenous people are at the crossroads of life today. Their identity is being threatened. Centuries-old land and abode are encroached by forces that have no interest in their lives. Their cultural identity is getting obliterated.
From the Amazon jungle to the north east of India and beyond to the ends of the earth, displacement in the name of development is the order of the day. People are forced to give way to business tycoons and international business who want to make a fast buck at the expense of the indigenous.
Forest wealth and mineral resources are the prize catch for big business. Legislators and politicians dance to its tune. Law is bent backward to roll out red carpet for capitalist forces.
In order that the wheel of wealth has to roll, iron and copper, coal and gold, uranium and cobalt, mica and granite and the like are needed. The areas where the indigenous, the Adivasis dwell are rich with such items. Hence, they are targeted. The inhabitants are forced out or sent out with promises which never get honoured.
Among the displaced in India at least 40% are Adivasis. The 1996 amendment of the Panchayat Raj Act confers on local communities the legal right to participate in decisions that affect their lives and resources. Yet, Gram Sabhas are side-tracked when it comes to acquiring land and resources by the marauding business lobbies. The law remains on paper. Compromising bureaucrats and thriving politicians have a hey day!
Between 60 and 65 million people are estimated to have been displaced in India since independence. Globally this is the highest number of people displaced in the name of development.
According to one study, only 20-25% internally displaced people are re-settled. The rest are to not even counted as internally displaced.
Illiteracy, lack of leadership, lack of intelligent assessment by the people the affected, and political pressure are the causes of such a horrendous situation.
