(This is an open letter issued by the Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha, a forum of numerous social activists and 30 people’s organizations. Established in August 2018, the Mahasabha’s main objective is to organize and strengthen struggles against attacks on people’s rights and democracy)
Dear MLAs and political leaders from all parties,
On the occasion of Jharkhand’s 25th anniversary, we are writing to say how disappointed we are with your work, and to appeal to you to mend your ways.
The creation of Jharkhand was the culmination of a long struggle. Public-spirited persons from all communities played a leading role in this movement. Many have sacrificed their lives for it. Their dream was that the creation of Jharkhand would enable the adivasis-moolvasis of this area to develop according to their own values – values of freedom, equality, friendship and harmony with nature. Jharkhand’s independence was also supposed to put an end to exploitation from outsiders.
Twenty-five years later, the dream has turned sour. No doubt, most people in Jharkhand are better fed, clothed and housed today than they were twenty-five years ago. But millions are still living in grinding poverty. And Jharkhand is not what it was supposed to be. The beautiful civilization of Chhotanagpur and Santhal Parganas is threatened with destruction as powerful companies eye its land, minerals and other natural resources. Jharkhand’s free and proud farmers are turning into wage labourers and drifting into dilapidated cities. Soon, there may be little to distinguish Jharkhand from the rest of India, except for it being poorer.
You, Jharkhand’s political leaders, bear prime responsibility for this. Instead of emulating the stalwarts of the Jharkhand movement and working for the common people, you have colluded with the exploiters to enrich yourselves. You are selling Jharkhand’s rich resources to greedy businesses at the expense of local people. You have allowed the schooling system to go to rack and ruin, forcing lakhs of youngsters to become migrant workers. You have looted NREGA in collusion with corrupt contractors, depriving millions of their right to work. For twenty-five years, you have failed to make rules for PESA. You have allowed gross violations of the CNT-SPT acts and the Forest Rights Act. You have made plenty of money from big infrastructure contracts even as basic facilities like drinking water, drainage and pavements are missing everywhere, even in Ranchi.
Some of you have also divided the people of Jharkhand and incited them against each other to consolidate your power. “Dhan naheen, ek sahee” (unity, not wealth) was one of the popular slogans of the Jharkhand struggle. Today, little remains of this unity. The exploiters have a field day as people fight among themselves.
The outlook is unlikely to improve unless political leaders mend their ways. We already count some of you as our comrades, and we have some hope from others too. But if the political class does not mend its ways, it may face complete rejection from the people. More importantly, we are hoping that a new generation of leaders will emerge, made of women and men who have the interests of the people to heart. For our part, we shall continue to work for change in our own way.
On behalf of the Mahasabha,
Ajay Ekka, Aloka Kujur, Aman Marandi, Afzal Anis, Ambika Yadav, Ambita Kisku, Apurva, Arunanshu Banerji, Ashok Verma, Bharat Bhushan Choudhary, Binsaya Munda, Birsingh Mahto, Charles Murmu, Chandradev Hembrom, Dinesh Muru, Elina Hiro, James Herenj, George Monipalli, Jean Dreze, Jyoti Bahan, Jyoti Kujur, Kumar Chandra Mardi, Lina, Manthan, Manoj Bhuiyan, Mary Hansda, Munni Devi, Mina Murmu, Naresh Pahadia, Pravin Peter, Prem Bablu Soren, P.M. Tony, Puneet Minz, Nand Kishore Gunjhy, Paran, Riya Tulika, Pingua, Raja Bhai, Ranjit Kiro, Ramesh Jerai, Rose XaXa, Rose Madhu Tirkey, Ramesh Malto, Rejina Indwar, Reshmi Devi, Ram Kavindra, Sandeep Pradhan, Sangeeta Beck, Siraj Datta, Shashi Kumar, Santoshi Lakda, Cicilia Lakda, Shankar Malto, Tom Kavla, Timothy Malto, Binod Kumar, Vivek Kumar
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