People’s Manifesto Calls for Overhaul: Land Reforms, Corruption Crackdown, and Adivasi Rights in Focus Ahead of Jharkhand Polls
Mobilized and determined, Jharkhand’s citizens challenge leaders to prioritize the rights of Adivasis and the landless among others
Ranchi: A citizen’s charter was made public today in Ranchi ahead of the forthcoming assembly polls in Jharkhand by Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan, a Jharkhand-based campaign aimed at saving democracy. The public manifesto, released for the 2024 Legislative Assembly election, demanded the following:
The Land Acquisition Law (Jharkhand) Amendment 2017 and the Land Bank Policy should be repealed. All projects being established without the consent of the Gram Sabha, that violate land laws, or are opposed by locally affected communities, should be canceled.
A Displacement and Rehabilitation Commission should be formed. Land should be provided to the displaced, landless, Dalits, and poor farmers. In line with a recent Supreme Court decision, the state government should immediately impose a state tax on mining and give at least half of it to the Gram Sabha. PESA rules should be formulated, and provisions of the Sixth Schedule should be implemented in Adivasi-dominated areas like Kolhan and Damini Koh. All pending individual and community forest pattas should be distributed within three months of the formation of the new government.
The campaign calls for action within the first six months of the government’s formation on the issues for which the state was created—jal, jangal, zameen, identity, Adivasi autonomy, and freedom from exploitation.
The Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan (Abua Jharkhand, Abua Raj) held a press conference at the Ranchi Press Club, urging political parties that support communal harmony and constitutional values to include these demands in their manifestos. Following the press conference, the Abhiyan delegation submitted the manifesto to the state leadership of the JMM and Congress.
During the press conference, an assessment was given on the Hemant Soren coalition government’s rule over the last five years. Several initiatives aligned with public expectations were undertaken by the coalition government, such as significant increases in social security pension coverage, the Maiya Samman Yojana, support for migrant workers during and after the COVID-19 lockdown, agricultural loan waivers, withdrawal of cases related to the Pathalgadi and CNT-SPT movements, and halting the extension of the Netarhat Field Firing Range project. Additionally, major demands like the 1932 khatiyan-based domicile policy, 27% reservation for backward classes, and the recommendation for a Sarna religious code were passed by the assembly.
However, the Abhiyan pointed out that many promises made by the coalition parties remain unfulfilled after five years. For instance, the Land Bank and Land Acquisition Law amendments were not repealed, the Icha-Kharkai Project was not canceled, PESA rules were not created, and a mob lynching law was not enacted. Additionally, merged schools were not reopened. Moreover, ground-level corruption in government schemes, including MGNREGA, was not adequately curbed. Many government announcements remained limited to paper, such as providing eggs to children in Anganwadi and mid-day meal programs. Over these five years, the BJP and the Modi government continuously attempted to topple the state government. The central government also blocked many state policies.
Looking forward, the new government needs to address key issues. According to government data from last year, around 15,000 undertrial prisoners are in jail, most of whom are Adivasis, Dalits, backward castes, and Muslims, many incarcerated under false cases. These prisoners should be immediately released, and a high-level judicial inquiry should be established to identify and dismiss false cases against Adivasis and marginalized people.
It was also noted that appointments over the past five years were based on the anti-Jharkhand domicile policy of the Raghubar Das government. The new government should implement a khatiyan-based domicile policy (including special provisions for the landless) within three months, in line with public expectations. Laws should also be enacted to ensure substantial representation of Adivasis and Mulvasis in leadership and decision-making positions in both private and government sectors. In Fifth Schedule areas, locals, especially Adivasis, should be prioritized for decision-making roles in police stations and local administrations. Lakhs of landless Dalits and displaced individuals in the state lack caste certificates, depriving them of education, employment, and other rights. The process of issuing caste/residential certificates should be simplified, and camps should be organized to distribute these certificates.
Various communal organizations and parties are undermining the fabric of Jharkhandi society through divisive politics, using issues like Bangladeshi infiltration, Sarna-Christian, and Hindu-Muslim tensions. Halting such activities should be a priority for the next government. An important step toward equality and communal harmony would be to prohibit the construction of religious-specific worship spaces in police stations, police camps, and government offices. Additionally, it should be ensured that religious flags and symbols installed in public places, roads, electric poles, government offices, police stations, and paramilitary camps for religious events are removed within 48 hours after the event concludes.
Another priority for the new government should be improving the state’s poor public education and healthcare systems. Vacant positions, from primary schools to colleges, should be filled, and regular quality classes must be ensured. Similarly, vacancies in sub-health centers to district hospitals should be filled, and provisions for medicines and tests should be guaranteed. The government should avoid focusing solely on works involving contractors and large sums of money, such as building construction.
To end the widespread migration and unemployment in the state, an urban employment guarantee law should be enacted, and the daily wage rate under MGNREGA should be set at Rs 800. Additionally, the amount of social security pensions should be increased to Rs 3,000, and all pregnant and lactating women should receive Rs 20,000 in maternity benefits without conditions, as is done in Tamil Nadu. To combat malnutrition, the government should ensure that all children receive an egg daily in mid-day meals at Anganwadis and schools. The centralized kitchen system for mid-day meals should be discontinued.
Lastly, tackling ground-level corruption should be a top priority for the next government. Immediate measures should be taken to curb the contractor system, and an active, decentralized grievance redressal system should be established. All commissions, such as the Women’s Commission, Human Rights Commission, and Information Commission, should be appointed and made functional.
The press conference was addressed by Ambika Yadav, Ajay Ekka, Aloka Kujur, Basing Hessa, Dinesh Murmu, Elina Horo, Nand Kishore Ganjhu, Riya Pingua, and Tom Kavala.
