After the Historic Samata
Judgement upholding the Rights of the Tribals in the Scheduled
areas, the State Government of A.P. and the central Government made
the following moves:
March 6th
2000
The
Supreme Court dismissed the petitions of State and Central
Governments for modification of the Samata order.
May
2000
The
Andhra Pradesh government moved the Tribes Advisory Council
for amendment to the Land Transfer Regulation Act of 1959
July 10th
2000
The
Ministry of Mines drafts and circulates a Secret Note (Ref:
16/48/97-MVI) To the committee of Secretaries proposing an
amendment of the V Schedule to overcome the Samata Judgement
to facilitate the leasing of land to outsiders in tribal areas.
August
2000
On
popular protest and opposition the CM of AP issues statement
indicating the withdrawal of the proposed amendment
September
21st 2000
Indian
Express carried an article in the edit page exposing secret
note of Ministry of Mines titled "displacement not an
issue" by Manoj Mitra
September
24th 2000
Another
widespread protest against the proposed bauxite mine in Tribal
Areas of Visakhapatnam
September
30th 2000
An
Action Alert was put out for Starting a campaign to protect
the rights of tribal people under the banner of CPCNR (Campaign
for peoples control over natural resources) and the secret
note was widely circulated.
December
2000
A
national consultation was called for at India Social Institute
(ISI) Delhi on Land Acquisition act, V Schedule and Rehabilitation
and Resettlement Policy, in which many Political parties also
sent their representatives.
Till January
2001
Extensive
coverage of this issue in the national & regional Media
and many people have written to to the concerned minister
including the PM and the President.
January
26th 2001
The
President in his Republic Day speech issued a veiled warning
against plotting to amend the V Schedule of the Constitution.
February
2001
The
BALCO divestment process was in progress and raised a controversy
in the V Schedule and Samata Judgement.
March
15th 2001
The
controversy on the tribal land being leased to private companies
dogged the Central Government and finally on March 15 the
PM to a question by Arjun Singh replied in the Rajya Sabha
that the Government has no intention of amending the V Schedule
to overcome the Samata Judgement.
April
2001
The
Central Government moves the SC to post all cases related
to BALCO to its jurisdiction and the SC issues orders. The
much awaited opportunity to review the Samata judgement is
opened again this time in the court of law..
May 1st2001
Draft
Approach Paper: Tenth Five Year Plan (2002 - 2007) speaks
of the Samata Judgement as a hurdle to private coal mining
and suggests "other amendments" to overcome the
hurdle.
May
11th2001
Mr.
Arun Shourie, Minister for dis-investment issues a statement
that they want to review the Samata Judgement. Hindu Business
line, May 11 2001. New Delhi Bureau
And so the efforts continue for depriving Tribal India of its means
of survival. The next section summarises and links some of the documents
cited here and other Press clippings.
