The Trajectory of TAMILNADU LAND RIGHTS FEDERATION
Broken people A brief on Dalit communities Agriculture, village structures, private property, etc. Social Exclusion based on decent Discrimination, marginalisation and occupation based violations Sanctioned and justified by religious hegemony Belief in Karma - destiny
Political economy of Dalits Slavery based on caste Major work force Labour capital and key source in food production Landless through enforcement and belief of rigid system Reward attached to conformity and punishment for change. Beaten to death, starving to death, sexual abuse, negation of knowledge, bonded labour, etc
Land entitlements Panchami land allocation with conditions by the colonial government
Loss of control over land Allocated, not occupied or transferred due to ……………….
Emergence of Ambedkar Peravai Villupuram riots 1978 Popular reassertions by Dalit communities for dignity and identity in the region. Iconisation of Dr.B.R.Ambedkar (the chief architect of the Indian Constitution) Formation of Ambedkar Peravai (Forum) and Ambedkar Mandrams (Associations – clubs)in the region Establishment of registered legal entity – IRDS (Integrated Rural Development Society) in Villupuram
Popular awareness on Land A new beginning of popular awareness on Land entitlements among Dalits (inclusion of non-traditional communities in village administration and revenue matters – new VAOs in 1987) Land owners, commons, boundaries, resources, fish, etc. Rediscovery of Panchami Land and emergence of reclamation lobbies Advocacy actions leading to John Thomas and Elumalai killings in Karanai, then Chengalpattu District in1994
Establishing Dalit Land Rights Federation (DMK) in Northern districts Origin of DMK and its rational Actions
Entry of Neo Liberal policies (1990s) The introduction of Neo Liberal economic policy and programmes… Industry and economic growth takes precedence over people’s life (Habitation, culture, displacement, negation) Structural Adjustment Programmes Single window clearance Land Acquisition Act Entry of mega projects Special Economic Zones Nuclear plants, Thermal plants, Hydro projects
Official Land and resource grabbing Land policies in the name of progress and development Forest Act - Legislations Coastal Regulation Zone - Legislations Land Acquisition Act – Legislations Containing the geo-cultural population into smaller geography
Widespread growth centric violations Agitations and actions against land grabbing, resource grabbing taken up by various movements, individuals and communities - Tribals, fisher and coastal people struggle, forest dwellers, dalits struggle Mining – Major and minor minerals Highway and Road expansion projects PPP centric mega projects Industrial corridors Tourism projects and Wildlife sanctuaries
TNLRF – Collective response Politicizing the resources and addressing the issue collectively. Sensitivity on the regional habitats and eco- systems Significance of geo-cultures Challenging the trickle-down model Challenging map nationalism Revisiting administrative concepts and language Reaching out to other struggles – solidarity building
Prepared by C. Nicholas L.A. Samy Sundara Babu