DEVELOPMENT CONTEXT: PROBLEMS AND ISSUES

By: Sarthak Jan Vikas Santhan

Backdrops:
Chhattisgarh State
The state of Chhattisgarh was created in 2000 when the region was separated from Madhya
Pradesh. Chhattisgarh covers 135000 square kilometres and is populated by 25.5 million people,
most of them living in rural areas (the urbanisation rate is 20%). 12% of the Chhattisgarh people
belong to Scheduled caste. Moreover, Chhattisgarh has fairly significant tribal or Adivasi
population comprising more than one third of the total population (32.5%). Remarkably, only
4% of tribal people live in urban areas, while the majority lives in the large forests which covers
whopping 44% Geography of Chhattisgarh. At the district level, tribals have their highest
concentration in Dantewada (78.5%) followed by Bastar (66.3%) and Jashpur (63.2%) districts.

Chhattisgarh is one of the richest Indian states in terms of forest mineral wealth. Chhattisgarh,
along with two other Indian States has almost all the coal deposits in India, which has led to its
'power hub' strategy. All the tin ore in India is in Chhattisgarh. A fifth of iron ore in the country is
here, and one of the best quality iron ore deposits in the world is found in the Bailadila mines in
south Chhattisgarh. Rich deposits of Bauxite, Limestone, Dolomite and Corundum are found in
the forest belts of the State. As a matter of fact, rural mineral rich forest area belongs to the
original inhabitants of this territory, who are mainly the Adivasis. Indian state introduced neo-
liberal reforms in late nineties and early twenties thatcleared the way for opening primary
industries and resource extraction industries to national and foreign private capital. As a
consequence investments and activities of private national and international mining companies
significantly increased in resource rich regions of Chhattisgarh. On the basis of this neo-liberal
paradigm the Indian state highly values the industrialization of its rural parts through private
capital as one main pillar of its development strategy which is why it has a strong interest in
making the resource rich lands in Chhattisgarh accessible to the private mining companies and
other multinational corporations (MNCs).

Though the GDP of the state has improved tremendously in the last decade the state’s poor
instead of reducing has increased. The problem is that these ventures are largely in direct
conflict with the interests of rural mass, primarily tribals. The Indian state supports private
mining companies in gaining ground in these tribal areas by legally dubious means. Today
Chhattisgarh has huge issues pertaining to unjust land acquisition by corporate, exploitation of
water and forest resources, which undermines the rights of the local people.
NAXAL MOEMENT IN THE STATE:-

Naxal Movement is the biggest threat and hurdle in between of

development in the tribal dominated areas of the Chhattisgarh
especially adjacent to the other states. Naxali movement has
grown dramatically in all over Chhattisgarh; Red zone in the
map beside clearly shows that how naxal movement has
affected the state. Surprisingly data of SATP indicates secular
decline in Maoist activities in 2011 compares to 2007-10.

The State witnessed 13 major incidents in 2011 (involving three

or more fatalities), as against 19 in 2010. Further, the number
of ‘swarming attacks’ by the Maoists (involving 50 or more
cadres/militia) also declined from 11 in 2010 to six in 2011.
Likewise, the numbers of blasts triggered declined from 15 to
13 while incidents of arson went down from eight to five.
Damage done to economic infrastructure has also diminished
considerably. According to a Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)
release, Damage to Economic Infrastructure, 21 incidents of Maoists
targeting economic assets were reported in Chhattisgarh in 2011, as against 42 in 2010, 36 in
2009 and 71 in 2008.

STATE 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 (up to

November
15)
Andhra Pradesh 138 92 6 100 44 (82)

135 164 232 307 274 (272)

Bihar

582 620 529 625

385 (538)
Chhattisgarh
Jharkhand 482 484 742 501 415 (436)

West Bengal 32 35 255 350 88(322)

Details of Naxal incidents during 2007 to 2011

Data in table implies that naxal movement has fallen down from last year
Some major fatalities in Maoist movement in Chhattisgarh 2005-2012

Years Civilians SFs Maoists Total

2005 52 48 26 126
2006 189 55 117 361
2007 95 182 73 350
2008 35 67 66 168
2009 87 121 137 345
2010 72 153 102 327
2011 39 67 70 176
2012 0 0 2 2
Total* 569 693 593 1855

Above figure shows the brutality of this war between Maoist and the government which prize is
being paid by the innocent tribal civilians.

The SF fatality figure of 67 in 2011 excludes the killing of nine Policemen, including the DSP of
Gariaband Police Station, who were killed in Odisha, after they crossed the inter-State border,
on receiving information about the movement of some Maoists there. On the other hand, the
Maoist fatality figure includes two large, but unconfirmed, claims. The first such claim was made
in the aftermath of a Maoist ambush on a Police party on March 14, 2011 at Chintalnaar in
Dantewada District. It was then claimed that 30 Maoists were killed in retaliatory fire after the
Police lost three troopers in the initial fire. Police also claimed of killing 10 Maoists in retaliatory
fire after the CRPF lost three men in Maoist attack on June 11, 2011, at Bhejji village in
Dantewada. In both cases the SFs failed to recover a single body. That effectively brings the total
fatalities among the Maoists down to 30, while it raises those among the SFs to 76. In 2010, the
total number of Maoists’ bodies recovered stood at 47,
as against a reported 102 fatalities.

In this series of Maoist movement in the state Maoists

abducted a Collector in Sukma in Chhattisgarh on 22nd
April. Two of his security guards were killed in the
incident.The kidnapping took place at around 4-4:30 pm
in a remote village where Alex Paul Menon was attending
the Gram SurajAbhiyaan - a state government-run
programme meant to promote greater coordination and
connect between the villagers and administration.
Suddenly, a few people, who were Maoists and had
mingled with the locals in the crowd, went up the dais
and tried to forcibly, take away MrMenon. The two
security guards accompanying him tried to stop the
Maoists and were shot dead in the process. Meanwhile,
another group of motorcycle-borne Maoists arrived at
the spot and whisked away the 32-year-old collector. The
village from where MrMenon was abducted is situated
Alex Paul
between Gadiras and Keralapal, areas that lie in the Sukma district which is a known Maoist
stronghold. MrMenon, a 2006-batch officer of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), is the first
collector of Sukma after it was carved out of Dantewada as a new district.The Collector of
Bijapur and the local MLA escaped the landmine blast triggered by the rebels but three people
in another car in the convoy were killed.

NEW 9 DISTRICTS
Chhattisgarh will have 9 new districts with effect from January 2012, taking the total number of
districts in the state to 27. These districts will be Sukma, Kondagaon, Gariabandh, Balodabazar,
Balod, Bemetera, Mungeli, Surajpur and Balrampur.
This was announced by the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh on 15 August 2011 while
addressing the people on the occasion of the Independence Day at the police parade ground in
Raipur. This step will be a mile stone in the administrative history of the state.

Chhattisgarh Budget 2012-13

Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh presented aRs 38,000-crore budget in the assembly
today which focuses on development and greater financial inclusion projecting fiscal deficit of Rs
4,623 crore. Raman Singh, who is also the finance
minister of the state, dealt with issues concerning
agriculture separately for the first time through a
separate ''Agriculture budget'' providing Rs 6,244 crore
for the sector accounting for 17 per cent of the total
budget.For the first time, a separate budget has
been introduced for the agriculture and allied
sector.

 Up gradation of rural and urban infrastructure has been given adequate importance. The
newly introduced Chief Minister's Rural Roads Development Programme will cover 4000 km
of rural roads in the next two years.
 A new scheme "Nava Jatan" will be implemented for improving malnutrition and anemia
among children and pregnant woman.
 Upgradation of rural and urban infrastructure has been given adequate importance. The
newly introduced Chief Minister's Rural Roads Development Programme will cover 4000 km
of rural roads in the next two years.
 The outlay for the social sector constitutes 41%, economic sector 39% and general services
20% of total expenditure. Social sector outlay includes 14.5% for education, 3% for health,
10% for SC/ST welfare and 2% for drinking water.
 Dr. Singh reiterated the commitment of his government to fight naxalite violence. He
informed the house that during the last eight years, the State government has increased the
strength of the police force by 200% and made huge investments on their modernization and
 training. Besides, the plan outlay in all the developmental schemes in the tribal dominated
naxalite affected districts has been increased substantially. The police budget for 2012-13 is
21% higher as compared to that of 2011-12.

DEVELOPMENT CONTEXT: PROBLEMS AND ISSUES

Environmental imbalance
The legendary forest of Chhattisgarh particularly the Sal forest have depleted fast during the last
fifty years. Earlier, these forest were so thick and dense that the sun rays never fell on the
ground due to close canopy of tall trees. However, the situation has changed. Deforestation and
related activities have had a detrimental effect on the environment and the people dependent
on forest. The environmental imbalance adversely affects the life style of the tribal people who
derived their sustenance from the forest around them. Tribals have always been able to draw
nearly half of their food requirements from the innumerable edible produces of the forest. Thus,
effect of famine has been limited in earlier times. However, the situation has changed to the
detriment of the people. Forest has diminished along with a large variety of wild life that was
there. Rivers and streams are no longer perennial. So far no viable alternative is available to the
people who are struggling for their own survival in a deteriorating environment. The region is
facing severe problem of environmental imbalance. Removal of large number of trees for timber
has completely changed the climate. In addition, felling of huge quantity of bamboos has added
to the problem. These bamboo forest are now the worst sufferer due to soil erosion. The
extensive felling of trees for timber and bamboo has led to closure of numerous productions
cum sales divisions of the forest department. The impact of all these is clearly seen in the rise in
temperature and fall in rainfall in the last 50 years.

From the available figures from the forest department it can be inferred that approximately one
crore cubic metres or 35 crore cubic feet timber has been removed between the year 1970-80.
The deforestation by other factors, both by local dwellers and illegal felling is not included in this
figure.

The other factors responsible for environment degradation are the mining and quarrying
activities and rapid industrialization at the cost of forest and forest dwellers. The impact of
environmental imbalance can be minimized by resorting to a community based long and short
term plan for afforestation using local variety of trees which are useful and valuable, fast
growing and of multiple use i.e. provide timber, firewood, fruit, fodder, fiber to the people;
particularly the forest dwellers. The strategy for protection of existing vegetative cover and
increasing natural regeneration needs considerable attention. The forest department has to
check use of forest for commercial considerations. It is also important on the part of other
States to strengthen their own forests through intensive efforts reducing dependency on others.
The over arching focus has to be placed simultaneously on policy advocacy for effecting pro
forest dwellers changes in the different acts as well as restore peoples access to forest and
forest resources. There is also an urgent need for development of collective understanding for
community participation in use and management of forest resources.

Droughts and Famines

Droughts, famines and scarcities are visitors to the region from the earlier times. Clear account
of droughts and famines is available since 18th century. This was the period when scarcity
conditions being created primarily due to natural calamities deteriorated further because of
wars and political disturbances. In 1771, 1783 and 1809, the food prices increased to 20 times
(i.e. 5 seers against 100 seers per rupee in Narsinghpur). Scarcity manual of 1973 describes that
in 1828-29 the Chhattisgarh region suffered and rice was sold at 12 seers for each rupee in
Bilaspur against 120 seers. There were again extreme crop failures in 1832-33, 1833-34 and
1834-35 in various parts and thousands of people are reported to have perished. In 1885
drought caused great distress in Chhattisgarh. As per record this is the only calamity affecting
the area after a gap of approximately 40 years. In 1868-69 which is known as the year of great
Bundelkhand famine Chhattisgarh also witnessed crop failure. The next famine was from 1893
to 1899 culminating in the terrible famines of 1899-1900. There was a rice famine in
Chhattisgarh in 1902-03 and some distress due to damage by frost in 1904-5. In 1907-8, 1918-
19, 1920-21 and 1928-29 there were crop failures in several districts. There was scarcity in 1940-
41. Finally there was severe scarcity in 1965-67 when many districts were badly affected. The
famine of 90s in Sarguja district created massive scarcity resulting in several deaths due to
hunger which had forced the then Prime Minister Shri P.V. Narasimha Rao to personally visit the
area. It is thus evident that the whole of Chhattisgarh is susceptible to crop failures and scarcity
in varying degrees.

To understand the response of the people against drought conditions, it is essential to look at
the material culture of Chhattisgarh related to agriculture. At one hand we find very big bins to
store grains – known as kothi – which indicates of surplus production in normal times and on the
other hand there are plenty of tanks which reflect the importance of water harvesting
strengthening coping mechanism of the local communities. Various studies suggest that every
drought was followed by digging of new tanks and reservoirs in Chhattisgarh. The SATNAMI
community of Bilaspur area are experts in soil cutting, bunding and tank making. However, the
local coping capacities have declined during the year.

The second half of 19th century also has an historic importance for Chhattisgarh. The great
famines provided causes for political upheavals. Starting as a response to the droughts, these
upheavals turned against the British rule. Narayan Singh’s revolt was the first, which was
originally an attempt to loot the grains from a local land lord’s stock to be distributed to the
drought affected tribals. Later these tribals aimed all their weapons against the Britishers who
tried to help the land lord and crush the uprising. No account to such a response to any drought
in the past is available in the history of Chhattisgarh.
Phenomenon of Migration

Around 8th decade of 19th century, the railway tracks were laid in this area which provided
labour to the local urban and rural population and also later contributed to the building of base
for migration of work force to distant places. This was the time when Tea Plantations in Assam
were coming up which needed large number of labourers. Thousands of labourers, popularly
known as Bilaspurias were taken to the tea estates who never returned back. Mostly these
consisted of SATNAMI labourers who were previously used for digging tanks and wells in the
area.

It is noteworthy that the Christian Missionaries also entered Chhattisgarh in late 60s of 19th
century who successfully proselytized the same SATNAMIS. The missionaries of that time had
reached even upto Bastar where a Methodist church was established. It was probably, the
higher frequency of droughts which helped their growth in addition to the British support which
was available to them. However, efforts of the Christian missionaries helped in curtailing the
migration of landless labourers to some extent.

The present scenario of Chhattisgarh is quite paradoxical where majority of the rural population
is striving hard for survival with no option but to migrate in search of jobs to far away
destinations. The rural urban divide has become more distinct in the drought conditions, which
is yet to have a significant impact on urban centres. Despite the provision of employment
guarantee scheme (EGS) of the government the flow of peasants and rural labourers till now
goes unabated in the region.

A deficiency of 40% in seasonal rains in Chhattisgarh has just crippled the problem of peasantry
of the whole of this newborn State. 50 cms drop in average rain in the past 100 years has
affected adversely i.e. crops specially paddy cultivation. This is evident from the fact that over
800 rice mills have closed and more than 700 mills are currently inoperative leaving only 100
mills operating on reduced capacity.

Though the general belief remains as if the shortage of rains is the sole reason behind the
creation of such conditions it is not so. After carefully examining the nature of migration it
becomes very clear that a big chunk of population which has to migrate in search of livelihood
are due to marginalisation of peasants and landlessness, fragmentation of land holdings, lack of
irrigational facilities resulting in less production and non-availability of employment
opportunities for about 2/3 of each year, non-accessibility to forest and forest produces etc. In
addition, deforestation, a well-known reason for irregular monsoons contributes significantly to
the process.
Afforestation is needed to correct the imbalance in the long-term alongwith creating
employment opportunities for a large number of people on regular basis. Facilitating
participation of the local population in policy making and programme implementation through
panchayats and other institutions shall also contribute significantly in improving the situation.

Development induced displacement

The government has created number of sanctuaries in the name of protection of wild life in
Chhattisgarh. In this process many tribals are forced to leave their villages falling inside the
sanctuaries. This has affected livelihood, identity, human rights and nature and human
relationship.

The democratically elected governments and its wings in planning and administration have not
been able to contain the mass exodus of the hapless rural Chhattisgarhi people as a
consequence of development interventions. Various plans and projects of development have
rather uprooted the local population without proper plans for their rehabilitation. From Bhilai
Steel plant, Gangrail, Kharkharu, Tandala, SECL, BALCO, Cement Corporation of India prominent
among the public sector undertakings and over a dozen of cement plants and hundreds of other
industries in private sector, each one of them and every new unit has costed in terms of eviction
of poor villages and procurement of agricultural land for industries operating under the control
of multinational corporations like LARFARZE, KETAKI, MONASENTO SEEDS and so on.

The establishment of huge industries like Bhilai Steel Plant, its captive iron ore mines, Bailadila
iron ore project, South Eastern Coal Field Ltd. and the total industrial and mining activities
started in the last 5 decades have hardly helped the local people to grow. These industrial and
mining activities have only forced the locals to evacuate from their ancestral land to make room
for lakhs of outsiders to come, settle and grow at the cost of local population.

In brief it can be safely said that industrial development of Chhattisgarh has only helped in
tightening the grip of imperialists and vested interest on the economy of Chhattisgarh.

The land acquisition act of 1894 is heavily in favour of big industries, business houses and
ignores the fundamental rights of the poor and local communities. The compensation package
offered is unjust and inadequate in sustaining the life. The process is time taking and many cases
are pending. Uprooted people generally migrate to cities and take shelter in the slum. These
avail themselves as cheap labour in the market, losing their identity, culture, tradition and
values. Many are forced to live inhuman life without basic sanitation, health, education facilities.
It is a man made tragedy that has made large number of people homeless and deprived in the
region. Under these circumstances the relevance of predominant paradigm of development is
under question. A paradigm which forces migration, displacement and evacuation of large
number of poor and villages mostly belonging to tribals and indigenous groups needs to be
corrected.

Institutions of Self Governance

The traditional panchayats of tribals and other groups were as vibrant in Chhattisgarh as in any
other part of the country. The traditional pattern was to have a cast panchayat and a village
panchayat. The tribals had very strong traditional panchayats, and these institutions governed
their way of life. The government, recognizing the strength and significance of these traditional
institutions for the tribals, did not impose its panchayat system on the tribals. The Madhya
Pradesh panchayat Act, 1962 had left out tribal areas from its domain.

Based on the recommendations of the Balwantrai Mehta Committee, the Madhya Pradesh
Panchayat Act, 1962 was enacted which as of now is also applicable in Chhattisgarh. It provided
for three-tier structure of the panchayat raj institution in the state. These levels were: the Gram
Panchayat at village level; Janpad panchayat at block level, and the zila panchayat at the district
level. The panchayat raj act was amended in 1978 to reduce the age of exercising franchise in
Panchayat election from 21 years to 18 years. Later on in 1988 it was amended to provide for
reservation of seats for SCs, STs and women in panchayats.

The panchayat institutions were not taken seriously and merely remained as legal bodies to be
managed by the bureaucracy. The state clearly lacked the administrative and political will to
institutionalise and empower the local institutions of self governance.

The Madhya Pradesh panchayat raj act was enacted and amended in 1993 in conformity to 73rd
constitutional amendment. This has created more scope to make panchayat institutions more
democratic through greater people’s participation, democratic decentralization and effective
local self-governance and agents of economic and social justice. Central provision of this act has
strengthened the PRI. They are: The seats to be filled by direct election; five years term; Seats
reserved for the ST, SC in proportion to their population at all levels on rotation basis; Seats
reserved for the OBC at all levels on a rotational basis; One third of the total number of seats of
all level reserved for women on rotation basis; Important 29 subjects like health, education,
water etc. allocated to PRI; Constitution of finance commission and election commission
specially for PRI. The 73rd Constitutional Amendment did not cover 5th schedule areas
predominantly inhabited by tribal groups. This was aimed at preserving and strengthening the
traditional self rule practices. A committee later constituted by the central government headed
by Dilip Singh Bhuria (M.P.) recommended specific measures for strengthening tribal self rule
which was accepted by the government. The 5th schedule areas in Chhattisgarh are governed by
these policies.

The 73rd Constitutional Amendment and subsequent interventions has scope for facilitating the
process of empowerment of the masses. Thus PRIs have become strategic for NGOs those who
believe in empowerment and people centred development process acting as a change
facilitators. NGOs have a critical role to play in facilitating the power sharing process and
participation in the PRI.

Complex nature of village social structure prohibits participation of the weaker sections.
Marginalised sections are sidelined in decision making. They lack general and specific skills for
effectively discharging their day to day responsibilities. Hesitation and lack of awareness
amongst women about their role and rights in Gram Sabha are major constraints in effective
functioning of these institutions. These are some of the areas, which need attention in the state
alongwith advocacy for policy changes at different levels for strengthening the PRIs leading to
empowerment of the masses.

High Risk Agriculture

Human beings form the top most part of pyramidal system. Even among the human beings
there exists a pyramidal hierarchical system as we notice in every socio-economic and political
set up. It is only one or very few who occupy the topmost point on the pyramid. Yet they play
the maximum dominant role in the eco system.

The implication of this pyramidal system hierarchy is that it is dangerous to disturb the
balancing proportion of various components in the eco system. Any disturbance in any of the
components will affect all the other components in the eco system. Disturb the top soil, then
the whole water system and flora and fauna and ultimately the human system will perish. Or
disturb the plant system; the soil and water, animal and human systems are affected.

The present agricultural production and marketing system is such that both the consumers as
well as producers are running a high loss economically and high risk existentially and
environmentally. Economically the consumers pay more and more while the producers get less
and less. The overall assessment of the present agriculture in the region, therefore, is that it is
running on two rails; high loss and high risk.
Therefore, the foremost concern of the future agriculture is to minimize the element of high loss
and high risk. The future agriculture should restore the quantitative and qualitative balance of
all major components like soil, water, air, plants, animals and human beings in the eco system.

Agriculture, though highly hungered and praised is now becoming least preferred occupation.
Now people want to avoid, risking human energy. Future agriculture is moving towards a state
of least human energy utilization. The basic human justice demands that we gratefully
acknowledge the immeasurable contribution made by the vast mass of population of the past
and present by doing agriculture by their raw manual. Due to various adverse factors and fault
in the present economic system they are not being remunerated with adequate compensation.
This area needs adequate attention to make agriculture less risky and profitable.

Impact of Globalization
Globalisation claims that the world will become a global village compressed in time and space.
Man in the third millennium will be characterized by his accelerated ability to conquer time and
space. This explanation on globalization is very poor. Basically this is the reflection of an
ideology that currently dominates thinking, policy making and political practice all over.
“Globalization” refers to the widening and deepening of the international flow of trade, capital,
technology and information within a single integrated global market. Terms such as “the global
village”, identifies a complex of changes produced by the dynamics of capitalist development as
well as the diffusion of values and cultural practices associated with the development.

In this context, reference is often made to changes in the capitalist organization of production
and society, extension of a process of capital accumulation.

Globalization involves the liberalization of national and global markets in the belief that free
flow of trade, capital and information will produce the best outcome for growth and human
welfare. Term globalization is usually presented with an air of inevitability and overwhelming
conviction, betraying its ideological roots.

Globalization is conceived differently by different class. People those who are conscious about
its effects upon ordinary people, interpret it as the outcome of a consciously pursued strategy,
the political agenda of a transnational capitalist class, and formed on the basis of an institutional
structure set up to serve and advance the interest of this class.

From the inevitability of globalization perspective, the issues is how a particular country, or
group or countries can adjust to changes in the world economy and insert themselves into the
globalization process under the most favourable conditions. There is also a strong view on
globalization as a class project rather than as an inevitable process.
Conflicting interests are playing in this controversial issue. The forces of opposition and
resistance has been generated at different levels.

The process of globalisation, liberalisation and privatisation being pursued by the government of
India and the States have left many questions unanswered. The impact of the same is felt in
States like Chhattisgarh also. Changes in the forest act allowing commercial plantations,
consolidation of small holdings for allocation to big companies, introduction of MNC and TNC in
forestry, agriculture and other areas previously dominated by locals are some of the
consequences of this process.

Free trade policies have led to the devastation of local producers, unable to compete with cheap
grain imports. For example, subsidies to agro-export producers have stimulated the
concentration of land ownership, credits and technical assistance at the expense of small
producer. All this is happening in the state of Chhattisgarh also.

The introduction of technology by corporations and agro-producers is replacing the labour of

local peasants and creating a mass of displaced people. The eradication of traditional crops is
promoting mono-culture undermining diversity. Thus the major adversaries to the process of
globalization in the region are people and peasants movements.

Labour classes are the second major adversary group in the area. There is mounting threats of
plant relocations, cuts in pensions, health plans and vacations, and most important, the massive
growth of job insecurity. Workers have started mobilizing themselves against low wages,
despotic working conditions, autocratic managerial rule, long workdays and declining social
benefits. Public employees are also adversely affected by budget cuts, privatization and massive
loss of purchasing power. The region, as has been said earlier has a large number of industries,
mines and other business establishments.

Small businesses are affected by cutback of public subsidies, de-industrialization, and

privatization of resources, minerals, electricity, transport etc. Floods of cheap imports have
bankrupted many local producers and provoked widespread protests. This has further resulted
in loss of job for local people.

Past development phenomena has shown that most growth was largely due to intensive and
extensive labour exploitation, extraction of raw materials and production of cheap
manufacturing goods. The process of internationalization of capital is thus based on exploiting
new frontiers and locating sites for high profits – not on developing and deepening the forces of
production and has failed to overcome the tendencies towards stagnation.
Food Security

Chhattisgarh is reeling under drought but all the godowns of Food Corpn. Of India, Chhattisgarh
Warehousing Corpn., Marketing Federation etc. are full to capacity. As a matter of fact the
market is facing the problem of plenty and there are no buyers. Contrast to this situation,
people does not have accessibility to minimum requirements. The responsibility of the
government to address this problem of the poor is not attended to properly. The loss of
entitlement of the poor needs to be restored by providing them with job opportunity to
increase their purchasing capacity. Once the rural population becomes capable of purchasing
food grains, it will certainly help in making the market dynamic.

Food should be considers as foremost basic human right. Everyone has the right to secure
access at all times too safe and nutritious food and water adequate to sustain an active and
healthy life with dignity.

This deals with land, labour, capital, technology, market and policy. The small land holdings and
continuous fragmentation has an alienating effect. The productivity declines due to over and
excessive use of chemical fertilizers and HYV seed and pesticides etc. Inputs like good quality
seeds, irrigation facilities and pest control become extremely rare and expensive. Farmers do
not get proper remuneration and return. Use of modern system and technology are out of
reach for small and marginal farmers. The economy and market are controlled by traders and
business community. The major policies and decision are made on political consideration rather
than social. The cumulative results of all these facts are wide spread poverty, food in-security,
unemployment and migration.

The globalization induced agricultural practices and policies guided by World Bank Institutions,
lead to conflicts environmental degradation, hunger and food insecurity. Hunger and
malnutrition are most severe in case where these combine with natural disaster. The unjust
social structure further exaggerates the situation by undermining the interest of people living at
the bottom of the society.

Indebtedness

In absence of adequate livelihood support, employment, credit support and income in order to
meet the basic necessities of food, cloth, medicine and other social and agricultural needs, the
poor are caught in the vicious circle of indebtedness. The high rate of interest for loans from
money lenders is a major setback for the poor. Once people are caught in this trap it is difficult
to get rid of the loan. In many cases this continues throughout the life and also leads to different
kinds of exploitation of the whole family from generation to generation.

Majority of the families in the area are indebted. Due to ignorance and illiteracy they are
cheated and exploited by manipulating the records and mortgaging valuable goods against the
low amount of loan. This has also become an instrument for transfer of land from tribals to non
tribals which is prohibited by the law.

Discrimination and Human Rights Issues

Equality and non-discrimination are central to the pursuit of human rights. Discrimination
creates misery, inequality, and conflict in the society. Struggle against discrimination could
produce a break through if agreement could be reached on issues that recognize historic
injustices. Discrimination is among the most powerful assaults on human dignity and freedom.
“No society can tolerate discrimination undermining peace and justice”. Talking global unity and
solidarity to bring people closer and closer, we are witnessing a resurgence of intolerance,
manifestations of caste and ethnic conflicts, xenophobia, racism and racial discrimination.

Diversity facilitates society to cherish. Action against discrimination is urgent. Larger

cooperation is needed for an endorsement of tolerance and respect for human dignity and to
act against apartheid and join the difficult struggle to eradicate that legacy of slavery,
colonialism, casteism and racism.

Dalits and tribals in India are still discriminated as impure, low and lesser humans. Multiple
deprivations, cumulative marginalization, structural inequalities and widespread
impoverishment mark the lives of Dalits and tribals. Societal violence of these groups human
rights, historial isolation, social segregation, economic exploitation and political suppression
have all contributed to their plights. They suffer from the indignities of caste-apartheid,
pollution, poverty and powerlessness. They continue to remain the “broken people”, victims of
atrocities and violence and the most backward sections of the society.
Socio-religious reform movements, anti-caste movements are now undergoing transform
through campaigns in the shape of human rights within the context of civil and political rights,
economic, social and cultural rights and the rights of communities. Similarly tribal movements
are increasing against the forceful evacuation from home and forest, displacement,
deforestation and for right on forest and other resources and equal socio-economic and political
opportunities.

Gender Concerns
The condition of women in the Indian society is a matter of concern for all. Dalit and tribal
women in particular face the triple burden of caste, class and gender. Women constitute the
major work force doing hard manual labour and engaging in agricultural operations. Their
exposure to outdoor work in interaction with other in unfavorable working condition makes
them vulnerable to sexual exploitation. Caste plays a vital role in defining status of women in
the society. Sexual purity of women is directly linked to the purity of the caste. This suggests
that female sexuality present a threat to those with “purity of blood”. The caste-based Indian
society generally believes that it is through women and not men that the purity of caste is
ensured and preserved.

Dalit, tribal and other women are raped as a form of retaliation, i.e. as part of an effort by
others to suppress movements to demand minimum wages, to settle share cropping disputes,
or to recline lost land. Sexual abuse and other forms of violence against Dalit and tribal women
in particular are used by the landlords and the police to crush their awakening. Women are
arrested and tortured as a means of punishing their male relatives.

In some areas, sexual violence is linked to debt bondage. Women are paraded naked in public,
gang-raped etc. Thus their human rights are violated. The lack of law enforcement leaves many
& Tribal Dalit women unable to approach the legal system to seek redress.

Thus the cumulative marginalization of women encompass state and societal violation of human
rights, practice of untouchability, barbaric atrocities and violence by the upper castes, denial of
basic needs and land rights, lack of access to livelihood resources, lack of occupational mobility,
legal discrimination, infringement of civil liberties, inferior or lesser human status, dehumanised
living and working conditions, impoverishment, malnourishment, bad health conditions, high
level of illiteracy, social ostracism etc. Despite the existence of constitutional rights and other
legislations that are meant to address their problems, marginalised communities are becoming
more and more marginalised because of their cumulative deprivation.
The status and position of women in marginalised communities of Chhattisgarh have been
based on traditional practices and norms. Their status and rights have been not equal to that of
men. The patriarchal system has forbidden them from having inheritances rights or land
ownership. Tribal women undergo harrowing experiences in their day to day life. Working at
home, in the field collecting fire wood, fodder and water from long distances, rearing and caring
of family members, sacrificing all comforts and needs of personal life and taking extra burden to
maintain the family.

Traditionally patriarchal system has deprived them from decision making, access and control
over the resource at family and community level. The modernization, deforestation, ecological
disbalance, drought, migration, displacement has further alienated them and deteriorated their
condition and position.

DEVELOPMENT ACTION IN CHHATTISGARH

There has been a tradition of voluntarism in Chhattisgarh. Resentment and Rebellion is in the
blood of the people. Political dynamics was high even during the ancient and mediaeval time.
During the modern time, people took active part in freedom struggle in an organized way. In
the beginning of 20th century as mining and industrial activities grew Trade Union movement
took strong roots. Trade Unions in the area are generally influenced by Gandhiji and Congress
movement, JP movement and radical communist (leftist) ideologies. Movements are also based
on issues of rural people and Bharat Jan Andolan is an excellent example in this regard. Mr
Shanker Guha Niyogi was a prominent labour leader of this region influenced by leftist ideology.
He was murdered by his rivals for his uncompromising stand vis-à-vis labour issues. He still
commands immense respect in the region. A number of individuals and organizations inspired
by spiritual and religious ideologies in dalit and tribal concentrated and remote forest areas are
operational in Chhattisgarh.

The area has different categories of NGO operations. The interventions are not identical in
nature. They vary considerably in size, understanding, approaches, capacities and nature of
work they do.

Christian Missionaries entered the region in late 60’s of 19th century and commenced
proselytization work. They established leper missions, educational institutions and later got
involved in social welfare and action programmes. Extensive relief work were carried out by
these organizations at the time of drought which helped them in proselytization in the past.
They still continue with different forces.
There are groups of activist organizations focusing on movement based approaches. These are
mostly unregistered, have strong organizational structure and networks. These groups are
working mostly towards mobilization of tribals around local issues affecting their lives and
livelihood more through rights based approach.

There are also smaller NGOs and their numbers are increasing at a rapid space. A large number
of these have commitment and professional capacities. Generally youth are leading such
organizations. Most of them have past experience of working with activist organizations. They
have a high level of commitment. They follow community organization and issues base
approach. The resource crunch is the major constraint for these groups.

NGOs are working on different issues with different approach and understanding. Main areas of
NGO intervention are listed below:-

 Drought management
 Surplus labour production and migration
 Sustainable agriculture
 Conservation of bio-diversity
 Tribal self rule
 Dalit issues
 Forest and forest related issues
 Child and women related issues
 Park and sanctuaries
 Globalization and related issues

Majority of the organizations are involved in community organization and awareness creation
on priority basis. Small organizations have generally focused interest on this approach as a
strategy for community mobilization and creating awareness of their rights to fight against
exploitation

Agriculture, forest, land and water management is an equally important area addressed by a
large number of organizations. This is understandable as these are the main source of livelihood
for the large number of people.

There is a shift in the approach of NGOs from monosectoral approach to adopting multisectoral
approach. Now more and more organizations are involved in more that one activity and follow
an integrated approach.

There is a growing interest among the NGOs towards advocacy and Panchayat Raj institutions.
This is an area, which needs strengthening with interventions focussed on capacity
enhancement and perspective building in appropriate areas. Income generation as a source of
livelihood is also attended to by a large number of organizations. However there is a need to
strengthen this area as an alternative to agriculture and for creating employment opportunities.
The major challenges for the development sector is the building of perspectives and capacity in
favour of a people centred, rights based sustainable development paradigm. The region lacks
competent capacity building institutions.

Following are some of the capacity building needs:-

 Perspective development, vision and mission articulation, strategy planning,

organizational development, gender and food security etc.
 Need for capacitation on participatory planning, monitoring and evaluation, group
organization and leadership development.
 Training of trainers and process documentation is equally important as it enhances in-
house capacity and reduces dependency on others.
 Ability to analyse context and identify changing roles
 Capacitation on advocacy and PRIs (self governance issue).

Creating platforms for providing space and opportunity for networking and collective action is
essential for increasing cooperation between various stakeholders and creating effective impact
of issue based interventions at various levels. At the same time linkages with other resource
agencies, government and peoples organizations need to be strengthened in the region.