Himanshu Kumar is telling us about an adivasi rally he attended in Mumbai last week. He says adivasis from all over Maharashtra walked for 15 days with their food on their head to reach Mumbai.He says adivasis are unhappy over non implementation of forest rights act. A delegation went to meet the chief minister who announced a committee comprising of tribal representatives who will now keep an eye on the implementation of the law

Rajkumar Sahu of Pragatisheel Cement Shramik Sangh, Baloda Bajar Raipur says last week when he and his colleagues were distributing leaflets which contained information that Holcim multinational company is not giving minimum wages to its workers, police picked and beat them up. They were put behind bar but was not given the facility of medical examination. He says all the people should protest against this behavior of policemen. Sahu ji at 09685349162

Himanshu Kumar says you may recall the killing of 3 adivasis in Matwada Salwa Judum camp on 18th March 2008. Police first said the killings was done by Maoists the widows were blaming the police on insistance of Maoists. Now police have arrested 3 policemen and sessions court has also denied them bail. If you recall National Human Rights Commission had also showed its surprise on the police version and high court had asked for interim cash relief to the widows

“Police and SPOs have attacked villages near Chintalnar in Dantewada district and have burnt many houses” says Himanshu Kumar quoting his colleagues on ground. He alleges that police have also killed two people and raped 5 women during these attacks in last one week. He appeals to media to go to these villages and find out the truth
Moderators note : We have heard these reports from more than one sources in last few days. We are yet to find an eyewitness. Chief Minister Raman Singh was also informed about these unconfirmed reports in presence of MLA, Konta Mr Kawasi Lakhma and CM had promised to look into the cases

Himanshu Kumar is talking about a Adivasi rally in Valsad district of Gujrat which was a culmination of a 2 week long rally to apprise the tribals about constitutional rights of the adivasis. Dilip Singh Bhuria who was one of the architects of the 5th schedule of the constitution said we need not demand anything from the government but we should declare that no one can come to our land without our permission, constitution gives us that right. The meeting resolved to continue the same process with adivasis in other states