Around a year ago, the Central Govt. directed the Jharkhand Govt. to sell the rights to mine coal from ground under a few villages situated in Pakaur District of Jharkhand, to the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB). The Jharkhand Govt. sold this land at rates well below its own practice. In the area thus sold are living over 50,000 Santhal families who have cultivated their land for generations. They own nothing except this land, but neither have they been consulted on this deal, nor offered compensatory land or rehabilitation, nor it seems, are they ready to quietly face this attempt to uproot them.

Two aspects are significant about this deal. The law against alienation of tribal lands has been circumvented by the Central directive and the costs taken by the Jharkhand Govt. are not even equivalent to their own prescriptions.

Meanwhile PSEB has entered into collaboration with a MNC and established a new company which went to the area to take possession of the land. The tribals resisted suggestions of evacuation, at which their representatives were invited by the company for talks. At these ‘talks’, the 11 tribals (and a local priest) who came were handed over to the police for ‘manhandling’ company officials.

It is apparent that the company officials are ill informed about Indian history. The tribals have an old history of armed struggle against occupiers, including the British. Further attempts of company officials to enter the villages have been met by armed resistance of the tribal women who have met their attempts at more ‘talks’ with bows and arrows.

The issue raises many questions and also places a special onus on the brave employees of PSEB who have fought in several struggles and programmes against NEP. While it is true that development calls for modification of nature, governments often take shelter under this truism for unbridled exploitation. Why should no logical, equivalent compensation and rehabilitation be offered to these tribal families if there is no alternative to this specific land plot being used? Why should the Jharkhand Govt. undercharge the PSEB for this sale? – What other purpose, if any, is there for evicting these tribals or selling this land? The rights of the tribals to their lands and against further impoverishment and marginalization, especially in view of the Supreme Court’s assault upon them in the name of forest land’s protection, must not be overlooked.