Letters - May 31, 2012

Focus Rural The interview, “Tribal philosophy can’t be ignored beyond a point” (April 1-15, 2012), is highly relevant in the context of the ongoing conflict between development and tribal philosophy. Mahatma Gandhi was the first pre- and post-Independence politician and social activist to comprehend the importance of rural way of life. He wanted the state to protect it.

Operation Saranda: from Maoists to Miners

Self-portrait: pillion riding inside Ho territory. In the tribal dialect the word Ho mean human. Photographs by: Sayantan Bera Also read: Between Maoists and mines

Operation Saranda: from Maoists to Miners

According to Indian Bureau of Mines’ 2010 report on mining leases and prospecting licenses, West Singhbhum is the most mined district in Jharkhand, and accounts for almost the entire share of iron ore mined in the state. Already 44 mining leases for iron ore is operational covering an area of 12,374 hectare. As of now most of the mining is concentrated around the periphery of the Saranda forests. The plan is to rip open the seven hundred hills of dense forests where sunlight cannot enter, to 19 new mining leases for the private sector, covering an additional 11,000 ha (approximately). Add to it the concrete roads, CRPF camps and ancillary developments for mining- there is little hope the forests and its perennial streams will survive the assault. Photographs by: Sayantan Bera Also read: Between Maoists and mines

Operation Saranda: from Maoists to Miners

In an around Saranda are doco areas- a local name for illegal raising of iron ore- from river beds, fields and forests. An un-estimated number of crusher units operate in the periphery of Saranda (in Jamda, Manoharpur, Noamundi and littered on the 140 km road running from Barbil in Jharkhand to Rourkella in Orissa) which procures iron ores and sells it to legal mines. ‘4 people can gather as much as 12 tonnes of ore within 3 hours. It is then trucked to a crusher unit; the villagers get about Rs 1000,’ tells Sushil Aind sitting on a pile of iron ore stacked inside Tontogera forest village, neighboring the hills cleared for mining by ArcelorMittal. Photographs by: Sayantan Bera Also read: Between Maoists and mines

Operation Saranda: from Maoists to Miners

Among the Ho’s it is customary to give burials in a corner of the village under the shade of trees. In 1889 when the British uprooted Ho villages in Saraikela by declaring them as reserve forests, the Ho’s argued the Sasandiris (burial stones) are their land titles. Eventually they moved southwards to Saranda forests. Photographs by: Sayantan Bera Also read: Between Maoists and mines

Operation Saranda: from Maoists to Miners

Jaunga Banda, part time worker at SAIL’s Chiria mines is uncertain of the impact of mining. ‘Will I not get my datun (a forest twig used as toothbrush) also?’ he asks before saying, ‘I hope they will leave some forest for our graves’. Burial is customary among Ho’s. Photographs by: Sayantan Bera Also read: Between Maoists and mines

Operation Saranda: from Maoists to Miners

The mandatory public hearing for the mining leases are often held 20-30 kms away from their villages, complain residents. In 2012, Jairam Ramesh argued for no private mining inside Saranda and said ‘more mining means more Maoism.’ Photographs by: Sayantan Bera Also read: Between Maoists and mines

Operation Saranda: from Maoists to Miners

A school in Ushariya village bordering a new mining lease area. The guideline prepared by the MoRD on the Saranda action plan notes that ‘the tribal inhabitants have been victims of long years of official apathy and isolation from the development process due to Maoist’s presence.’ But activists, historians, local politicians and tribals say the region was free from insurgency till the year 2000. The area was a melting pot of parallel struggles, for tribal autonomy and government recognition of rights to forests- the monumental failure of which eased the entry of Maoists. Photographs by: Sayantan Bera Also read: Between Maoists and mines

Operation Saranda: from Maoists to Miners

Of the Rs 263 crore development package Rs 164 crore will be spent on building roads and construction of integrated development centers (IDCs). The remaining Rs 99 crore will be spent on housing for BPL families, watersheds, residential schools and freebies like cycles, solar lanterns and radios. While World Bank officials visited as a part of the team which drafted the package, the tribals were kept aside during planning and for future monitoring. Photographs by: Sayantan Bera Also read: Between Maoists and mines

Operation Saranda: from Maoists to Miners

A dried stream laden with iron ore in Dhobil village and 100 acres of cultivable land laid waste: consequence of Chiria mines owned by SAIL. Photographs by: Sayantan Bera Also read: Between Maoists and mines