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SARVAHARA JAN ANDOLAN (SJA)
SJA is working in more than 750 villages in 7 talukas (Roha, Shrivardhan, Tala, Mhasla, Mangaon, Raigarh and Mahad) of District Raigad. The region is located in Western Ghats and is part of Konkan area of Maharashtra. It is 100 kms south of Mumbai and is criss-crossed by the Mumbai-Goa highway. District Raigarh is having total area of 7148 sq. kms. Many of the villages are situated on hilly terrain. The region is part of the Konkan industrial belt starting from Mumbai and going south towards Goa.
The SJA started out by taking up the issue of Dali Land (land at hill slopes) and then moved on to take up other land issues, atrocities against tribals and proper implementation of government programmes. In the process, the SJA has been able to build the self-esteem and collective strength of the Katkari tribals and other oppressed sections. The village volunteers organize village level meetings and mobilize villagers on various issues. Women’s involvement with the sangathan is excellent. Several women or girls from the community are part of Activists and Volunteer team.
All the Activists and volunteers come together to celebrate and rejuvenate on annual day of sangathan. Achievements and successful case studies are shared with the local leaders. Annual income and expenditure is also shared with every body to maintain sangathan’s transparency.
Endeavors of SJA
Land Rights
Implementation of Government Schemes
Religious and Caste based Coexistence
Empowering People
Demographic Profile
District Raigad is having total population of 22 lakhs out of which 76% stays in rural areas. The district is having sizable ST population 12% and a small 3 percent of the total populations are Dalits in the district. Tribal population is having major concentration in Roha, Alibagh, Shrivardhan and Tala and Dalits are having concentration in Tala and Mangaon. The average sex ratio in 7 blocks is 1113 and only two blocks Roha and Alibagh trailing with an average sex ratio of 961 (still better that many states in India). Average literacy rate is 76 percent (67 percent in female) that is well above the national literacy rate. But, most of the dalit and tribal villagers associated with sangathan are illiterate and poor health facilities.
Economic and political profile
The area is part of the Konkan region and is situated along the Mumbai – Goa highway and rail track. The villagers are attracted to the urban lifestyle through their regular exposure to Goa and Mumbai. For those who couldn’t get opportunity to visit the two places are getting exposed to tourists on frequent basis. The costal belt is having rich and influential Muslim population as most of their relatives are working in West Asia. NCP is having political support from the area as. M.P. - Dul Rehman Antuley and all the MLAs of 7 blocks are from NCP only.
The location of the area has resulted in mixed economic opportunities. On relating them, we find 39 percent dependence on agriculture, 36 percent dependence on other work (petty business, industrial labour or some job in adjoining cities) and 23 percent on agriculture labour. The region witness a good rainfall of 2966 mm but land along the national highway is mushrooming with small scale industries and the sangathan is struggling hard to sustain peoples control on natural livelihood resources like land and forest. Most of the areas are identified for setting up MIDC and now SEZs area also in pipeline. The challenges like displacement and unemployment are increasing drastically.
Land Rights
A. Issue of Dali land
Initial mobilization of the people (in 1991) took on the issue of Dali Land (land on the hill slopes wrongly classifies as forest land and hence called encroached land). On this issue joined hands with other sangathans in the area under the banner of Shoshit Jan Andolan. It pressurized the state government to undertake surveys, to implement the resolution that the lands would be restored to the tribals. As things stands today the state government has agreed in principle to transfer the land to the tribals. The clearance from the Central government is awaited as the Supreme Court has stayed any regularization of forestland encroachments for the time being.
B. Prevention of Land Alienation
SJA has successfully taken up numerous cases of land alienation by companies, Hotel industry and real estate investors and developers. Various fraudulent in connivance with corrupt government official have been used by the company people to dupe the people of their land, illegally use government land, and illegally withdraw water for industrial use. Many times the cases would only come to notice when the construction would start and the companies would forcibly take land from the tribals.
In Sukeli village (on the Mumbai – Goa highway 80 kms away from Mumbai) SJA fought against the ‘Jindal Seamless Pipes’ to get justice for the Katkari tribal hamlet
whose land was taken without any compensation. After almost a 4 year long struggle the company had to provide alternate land (new gavthan), & construction expenses for the houses. In this case sangathan has achieved a full success. In Suman Motels resort case, judicial proceedings were initiated and SJA won the case against Suman Motels in favour of the tribals. SJA has successfully solved hundreds of cases like this.
Closed since ages - entrance gate of Suman Motels
C. Correction of land records and land titles
SJA took up many cases for correction of land records and land titles. The land transfers had not taken place even though the farmers had been tilling land for years. Inspite of the law being there, the govt officials in connivance with the landlords did not transfer the land to the actual tiller. SJA has taken up these cases and have been successful in getting the land records corrected. SJA also took up land ceiling cases.
A regular followup meeting between activists and village volunteers
Empowering People
SJA has also taken up the issue of streamlining the PDS system in the area in collaboration with the state level rationing Kriti samiti. In 2001, during the indefinite fast for Dali land, the SJA activists utilized the time to study the budget thoroughly to take on the government on the issue of Public Distribution System (PDS). After identifying the lacunae in the budget, they decided to take it up in the upcoming budget session and also create a demand for increase in food subsidy. After analyzing the budget, SJA conducted a shibir for the activist of various people’s organizations in Maharashtra who had come to Mumbai during the budget session to meet several MLAs and discuss the budget. Despite their best efforts, SJA and its associates could not bring the issue on the floor of the house for discussion. As a result of which the food subsidy was further reduced. However, they decided to take up the issue of PDS in big way.
The most significant achievement of the PDS andolan was that the state government raised the income limit poverty line for ration cards from Rs.4000 per year to Rs.15000 per year. Approximately, 10 lakh families in the state additionally get yellow ration cards (BPL) due to this decision. In the tribal area where the SJA is active, thousands of tribal and non tribal families benefited from this decision.
SJA also participated in a state level seminar on challenging the government definition of the poverty line. Several trade unions, representatives of political parties participated in this seminar. The struggle still continues in streamlining the functioning of ration shops.
Role in Electoral Politics
Since the inception of the Sangathana 3 election for state assembly and 2 panchayat elections have been held. All the elections have been a learning experience for the sangathan. In the initial years due to lack of finances and non recognition of the sangathan as a pro – poor sangathan resulted in sangathan candidates losing out to other candidates. But over the years SJA has become a political entity and the votes of the Katkaris are considered essential by all candidates to win the elections. SJA takes up voters awareness campaigns and serious discussions are held on which candidate to support. Along with the Shoshit Jan Andolan, people’s manifesto has been brought out and given to different parties to solicit their views and support. By and large the SJA rejected the candidates belonging to BJP/Shiv Sena. The decision to support the candidates was taken after studying his track record, personal character and support to the people’s demands. In the 1999 assembly elections the candidate SJA decided to support the NCP candidate and he won. The NCP candidate provided support in many issues. In 2004 assembly elections, a rival candidate has won who also happens to be the minister for food supplies. SJA is continuing its struggle for streamlining the ration shops and are keenly waiting for the minister’s respond to the demands.
Religious and Caste based Coexistence
SJA has continuously taken up issues of untouchability and discrimination. Recently it took up the issue of denial of drinking water to Dalit families in the village which is very near to Mahad where Dr Ambedkar had lead the Dalits for their right to access to water almost 60 years back. SJA mobilized the people and even got the government to respond to question in the state assembly. Though Dalit families have been allowed to take water, such cases of discrimination continue cropping up.
SJA has also been fighting against rampant communalism in the area and has been victim of communal politics where SJA has been branded as a Christian organization undertaking conversions of tribals. SJA successfully fought against this victimization and emerged victorious. They have also tied up with other groups fighting against communalism, having serious discussion with people.
Networking with National Movements & Campaigns
SJA has consciously networked with other struggle groups & state and national level movements. SJA is part of state level Shoshit Jan Andolan, Rationing Kriti Samiti and NAPM. SJA has extended support to other movements. Likewise SJA participated in the rallies at the Konkan region as well as in Mumbai. SJA also planned and participated in the Jagar Yatra orgainsed under the banner of NAPM. Sangathan tried to involve the MSEB Union, Dock Workers’ Union, the Bank Employees’ Union, the ST Workers’ Union, the political parties who are opposing globalisation were also appealed to participate in the yatra. This action gave a new direction to the organization. For the core group and other SJA volunteers, shibirs are conducted to understand the process of globalisation.
