Bhoomi Adhikar Yatra

Bhoomi Adhikar Rally (Jabalpur)

Rural people in developing countries are losing their land and natural resources because of insecure property rights, with negative effects on livelihoods, well-being, local environments, and ecosystem services. Though agriculture is the main occupation in India, Land plays a dual role in rural India: aside from its value as a productive factor, land ownership confers collateral in credit markets, security in the event of natural hazards or life contingencies, and social status. Those who control land tend to exert a disproportionate influence over other rural institutions, including labour and credit markets.

Land acquisitions by governments and companies that fail to meet minimum national or international standards contribute to this insecurity. Furthermore, rural people are increasingly migrating to ever expanding cities, contributing to informal settlements vulnerable to climate change and other environmental hazards.

A massive Bhoomi Adhikar Rally was organised at Jabalpur, M.P. which was led by Sh. Sanjay Bharti Ji, jointly led by Prakash Khalbale, Moni Burman and Ashok Maradi on 19th September 2014.

Dalits and Adivasis actively participated in the rally. They have marched from one village to another. More than 1000 people participated in the rally. The rally got a full support from the Dalits and Adivasis from all around the state of Madhya Pradesh. This massive rally was fully organised and coordinated by the Dalits and Adivasis. This is the first time that Bhoomi Adhikar Yatra and Rally fully coordinated and led by Adivasis and Dalits.

After spearheading a mammoth rally at Commissioner’s office the Rally submitted their charter of demands, primarily the demand pertaining to land rights. The Demand Charter has the following demands:

The Yatra demands for 5 acres of land for all SC/ST households.
The Yatra is also demanding the proper implementation of the land related laws and policies.
The Yatra also demands for the transfer the name of the Patta in the name of Dalit and Adivasi family whose land has been snatched by the so called “upper caste people”.
Another demand the Yatra is emphasizing on taking strict actions against the perpetrators of the violence against Dalit women in the villages.

Bhoomi Adhikar Yatra (Omariya)

Land is an important asset not only for the purpose of livelihood but the dignity of a person is attached to it. Though agriculture is the main occupation in India, Land plays a dual role in rural India: aside from its value as a productive factor, land ownership confers collateral in credit markets, security in the event of natural hazards or life contingencies, and social status. Those who control land tend to exert a disproportionate influence over other rural institutions, including labour and credit markets.

The encroachment of land by the dominance caste people has led to unequal distribution of land. More powerful groups may gain effective control over land through ‘illegal’ acquisition of occupancy rights, while already landless may lose effective control in spite of legal entitlement). Most of the farmers face Alienation of tribal land due to loss of effective control over land owing to indebtedness/ land mortgage. In this regard, National Confederation of Dalit Organisations, Rashtriya Dalit Mahasabha and Adivasi Adhikar Andolan had taken an initiative to raise their voice against the injustice.

A massive Bhoomi Adhikar Yatra is going to start today (on 5th September 2014) in village Obra, district Omariya of Madhya Pradesh. The Yatra is structured by Rashtriya Dalit Mahasabha and Adivasi Adhikar Andolan, jointly led by Chhotu Kole, State President of Adivasi Adhikar Andolan, Ram Prasad and Sanjay. More than 1500 people participated in the Yatra. The Yatra is getting a full support from the Dalits and Adivasis especially Dalit Adivasi women from all around the state of Madhya Pradesh. This Yatra is fully organised and coordinated by the Dalits and Adivasis. They are struggling hard to get their Land Rights and entitlements without any external support. They have full faith in their strengths and capabilities.

The Yatra demands for the following:

The Yatra demands for 5 acres of land for all SC/ST households.
The Yatra is also demanding the proper implementation of the land related laws and policies.
The Yatra also demands for the transfer the name of the Patta in the name of Dalit and Adivasi family whose land has been snatched by the so called “upper caste people”.
Another demand the Yatra is emphasizing on taking strict actions against the perpetrators of the violence against Dalit women in the villages.

The Yatra is also demanding for more equitable distribution of operational land holdings that would enhance growth in the rural farm as well as non-farm sector and remove some of the differences that arise from the unequal distribution of assets and power. This Yatra will move all around the district covering all the villages.

Bhoomi Adhikar Rally (Ajaygarh)

Land rights of Dalits and Adivasis, either individually or collectively is very important. Land and resource-related rights are of fundamental importance to Dalits and Adivasis for a range of reasons, including: the religious significance of the land,self-determination, identity, and economic factors. Land is a major economic asset. The majority of indigenous peoples living in forest areas depend on the natural resources of their lands to fulfill their subsistence needs.

Land and related resource rights are of fundamental importance to Dalits and Adivasis since they constitute the basis of their economic livelihood and are the source of their spiritual, cultural and social identity. Land is an important asset not only for the purpose of livelihood but the dignity of a person is attached to it. Though agriculture is the main occupation in India, Land plays a dual role in rural India: aside from its value as a productive factor, land ownership confers collateral in credit markets, security in the event of natural hazards or life contingencies, and social status. Those who control land tend to exert a disproportionate influence over other rural institutions, including labour and credit markets. Rural people in developing countries are losing their land and natural resources because of insecure property rights, with negative effects on livelihoods, well-being, local environments, and ecosystem services.

A massive Bhoomi Adhikar Rally was organised at Tehsil Ajaygarh, M.P. which was led by Chhotu Kole, State President of Adivasi Adhikar Andolan, Ram Prasad and jointly supported by Sh. Sanjay Bharti Ji, Rashtriya Dalit Mahasabha and Adivasi Adhikar Andolan, jointly led by on 28th August 2014.

After spearheading a mammoth rally at Collector’s office the Rally submitted their charter of demands, primarily the demand pertaining to land rights. The Demand Charter has the following demands:

The Yatra demands for 5 acres of land for all SC/ST households.
The Yatra is also demanding the proper implementation of the land related laws and policies.
The Yatra also demands for the transfer the name of the Patta in the name of Dalit and Adivasi family whose land has been snatched by the so called “upper caste people”.
Another demand the Yatra is emphasizing on taking strict actions against the perpetrators of the violence against Dalit women in the villages.

Bhoomi Adhikar Yatra (Panna)

Rural people in developing countries are losing their land and natural resources because of insecure property rights, with negative effects on livelihoods, well-being, local environments, and ecosystem services. Land is an important asset not only for the purpose of livelihood but the dignity of a person is attached to it. Though agriculture is the main occupation in India, Land plays a dual role in rural India: aside from its value as a productive factor, land ownership confers collateral in credit markets, security in the event of natural hazards or life contingencies, and social status. Those who control land tend to exert a disproportionate influence over other rural institutions, including labour and credit markets.

A massive Bhoomi Adhikar Rally was organised at District Panna, M.P. which was led by Sh. Sanjay Bharti Ji, Rashtriya Dalit Mahasabha and Adivasi Adhikar Andolan, jointly led by Chhotu Kole, State President of Adivasi Adhikar Andolan, and Ram Prasad on 21st August 2014.

After spearheading a mammoth rally at Collector’s office the Rally submitted their charter of demands, primarily the demand pertaining to land rights. The Demand Charter has the following demands:

The Yatra demands for 5 acres of land for all SC/ST households.
The Yatra is also demanding the proper implementation of the land related laws and policies.
The Yatra also demands for the transfer the name of the Patta in the name of Dalit and Adivasi family whose land has been snatched by the so called “upper caste people”.
Another demand the Yatra is emphasizing on taking strict actions against the perpetrators of the violence against Dalit women in the villages.

The Rally has shown the power of Dalits and Adivasis who must enjoy rights over land. The impact of open economy and privatisation has neglected the rights of the Dalit and Adivasi farmers. The Yatra is an initiative to achieve these Right of Dalits and Adivasis over Land.

Bhoomi Adhikar Yatra (Rewa)

Land assures identity, dignity and a modest and permanent means of livelihood. Bhoomi Adhikar Yatra under the aegis of emerging new Dalit-Adivasi force in Madhya Pradesh, Rashtriya Dalit Mahasabha and Adivasi Adhikar Andolan demanding 5 acres of land for all SC/ST households. The Yatra is also demanding the proper implementation of the land related laws and policies. Another demand the Yatra is emphasizing on taking strict actions against the perpetrators of the violence against Dalit women in the villages.

The people marched from one village to another. The purpose of the March was to sensitize people about the Land Rights of Dalits and Adivasis and sensitize the policy makers to enact and implement policies for distribution of land to SCs/STs. The March focused on an important agenda point for the inclusion of Dalits in economy and Post 2015 goals, i.e. a just redistribution of natural resources in favor of the poor and socially excluded communities.

Millions of people live in and near India's forest lands, but have no legal right to their homes, lands or livelihoods. A few government officials have all power over forests and forest dwellers. The result is unequal distribution of land among all. Most of the land is in the hands of a few powerful communities, the so called “Upper caste communities”. The entire march was initiated, led, organised and culminated by the Dalits and Tribals themselves in their own leadership. The Yatra also demands for the transfer the name of the Patta in the name of Dalit and Adivasi family whose land has been snatched by the so called “upper caste people”.

Bhoomi Adhikar Yatra has started on 15th July 2014 in District Rewa, Madhya Pradesh and today is 36th Day of the Yatra. The Yatra has already travelled 6 Tehsils in Rewa in which they have already visited more than 100 villages and had been to the houses of each and every Adivasi and Dalit family. They marched from one village to another. The support from the villagers (Dalits and Adivasis) is encouragement for the Yatra in odd circumstances.

The Yatra has already given four Memorandums in the Tehsil offices regarding the above mentioned demands. The Collector in the given photograph is receiving the Memorandum by a women leader as the Dalit/ Adiavsi women are also playing a big role in the Yatra. They are continuously supporting the Yatra and they are forming an important part of the Yatra. They are also raising their voice against the atrocities going on the presently on Dalit/ Adivasi women.

Presently the Yatra is getting ready to participate in a Bhoomi Adhikar Rally in Rewa, a district bordering Allahabad, in MP. Finally Adivasis of Madhya Pradesh throwing away imposed leadership of Brahamanical and Casteist forces.

Bhoomi Adhikar Yatra (Rewa) - Held on 20th August, 2014

Five Dalits and Adivasis named Sadhu Kole, Ram Garib, Madan Lal, Ram Singh and Ram Dulare, three of them are working as labourers and two are working as farmers. They all have been allotted a piece of land in Nandini Pur, Rewa. But due to the dominance of the tehsildar, they have not given the control over this land. It is still under control of the dominant and so called upper caste people. They told that they were not informed by the tehsildar that where their land is? They fought against this but they still didn’t get the full control over the land allotted to him. They are still struggling hard to have this piece of land. This is not the only case; this is one of the several cases where Dalits and Adivasis are facing the dominance from the upper caste. The encroachment by the dominance caste people has led to unequal distribution of land. More powerful groups may gain effective control over land through ‘illegal’ acquisition of occupancy rights, while already landless may lose effective control in spite of legal entitlement). Most of the farmers face Alienation of tribal land due to loss of effective control over land owing to indebtedness/ land mortgage. In this regard, National Confederation of Dalit Organisations, Rashtriya Dalit Mahasabha and Adivasi Adhikar Andolan had taken an initiative to raise their voice against the injustice.

A massive Bhoomi Adhikar Rally was organised by Rashtriya Dalit Mahasabha and Adivasi Adhikar Andolan, jointly led by Chhotu Kole, State President of Adivasi Adhikar Andolan, Ram Prasad and Sanjay on 20th August 2014. More than 1500 people participated in the rally. The rally got a full support from the Dalits and Adivasis from all around the state of Madhya Pradesh. This massive rally is fully organised and coordinated by the Dalits and Adivasis.

This time the Rally got a tremendous support from the Dalit and Adivasi women. They participated in the rally in their full strength. They are demanding for their own land rights which are very important to live a dignified life.

Rally met Commissioner and handed over a charter of demands. The Demand Charter has the following demands:

The Yatra demands for 5 acres of land for all SC/ST households.
The Yatra is also demanding the proper implementation of the land related laws and policies.
The Yatra also demands for the transfer the name of the Patta in the name of Dalit and Adivasi family whose land has been snatched by the so called “upper caste people”.
Another demand the Yatra is emphasizing on taking strict actions against the perpetrators of the violence against Dalit women in the villages.

The Rally demanded for more equitable distribution of operational land holdings that would enhance growth in the rural farm as well as non-farm sector and remove some of the differences that arise from the unequal distribution of assets and power.

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