ASHOK BHAGAT
In the 24 years since Jharkhand was formed, every government has done something to develop the state, but the land problem remains the same.
Due to this, if you see Ranchi’s crime record alone, you will be stunned. Someone is murdered in Ranchi almost every week due to land disputes and scams. The names of many administrative officials have come up in land scams, action has been taken and many officials are also in jail. This matter is becoming a sore for Jharkhand. If it is not solved in time, the future can be dangerous for Jharkhand.
Govt has no right over Bhuinhari land
The number of people who know the history of tribal lands in the state is very low. Many people do not even know that the government has no right over Bhuinhari land. Even dozens of owners of this land do not know where their land is, how much it is and in what condition it is. Experts on tenancy laws believe that the tribals who were owners till yesterday are losing their land and from land brokers to traders, everyone is getting rich by selling the same land.
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Many land reform laws were made for the tribal community in Jharkhand since the time of undivided Bihar. These did benefit the tribal community a little, but due to a lack of awareness, the law has become a mere tusk. The land of the tribals has been looted the most in the state.
Bhuinhari land was once inhabited in 2,482 villages
There are many types of land in Jharkhand, one of which is Bhuinhari land. Such land is in Lohardaga, Gumla, Simdega and Khunti, which are part of the old Ranchi district. Statistics show that Bhuinhari land was once inhabited in 2,482 villages. In areas like Morhabadi, Bariatu, Kokar, Lalpur, Kanke, Doranda, Hinoo, Sirom, Chutia, Namkum, Katahalmod, Daldali, Kokar, Kathitand in Ranchi, about 80 percent of Bhuinhari land has disappeared since Ranchi became the capital.
Oraons, Mundas lose 80 per cent of land in urban areas
According to experts, the owners of these lands are Oraon and Munda. About 80 per cent of the land in the urban area of Ranchi has gone out of the hands of both communities. Most of the records of Bhuinhari land have also been erased. This land does not come under the purview of the Bihar Land Reforms Act 1950. Tribal landlords have full rights over it.
Bhoot Khet
Bhuinhari land is that which was made cultivable by clearing the forest. In this land, there is a Bhoot Khet, that is, natural land dedicated to the village deity. It was used by those who worshipped their revered deity. Bhoot Khet, which was generally cultivated with the help of the villagers, was led by the village Pahan. The produce of such a field is used in the worship of the village deities. All the villagers together elect their Pahan for three years and the ownership of Bhoot Khet land keeps changing. This system is run everywhere in every way. Earlier, people did not come to this area because the land was not flat and there was dense forest. However, in the 19th century, the number of settlers in Chhotanagpur started increasing. In 1871, the number of non-tribals was only 96,000, but by 1931, this number increased to 3,07,000. Under the guise of the sections of the Chhotanagpur Tenancy Act, urban land was transferred to people from outside the society, and large buildings were constructed by buying the land of poor people of their community at a very low price. People of all classes have earned immense wealth in connivance with middlemen and brokers.
The control of the tribal agricultural system and social structure by groups with colonial tendencies in the plains of the southern plateau began in the 19th century. Non-tribals succeeded in spreading their footholds on tribal lands only after 1869.
Organised gang behind land loot
An organized gang works behind the looting of tribal land. It also includes those local tribal leaders, who keep making headlines in newspapers by opposing the looting of land. In Jharkhand, not only Bhuinhari land has been looted. Private land of tribals is also being looted. But the government and administration are maintaining silence. The law is such that a tribal cannot go to another area and buy land, but here non-tribals from all over the country are buying land of tribals. Most of the land in Ranchi belonged to the Oraon tribe. Now they do not have land to settle themselves.
Outsiders should contribute to tribal culture
The role of religious and social organisations is also suspicious in this whole matter. Looting of forests, sand, water, and minerals is a big loot, here even private land is being looted. If this does not stop, then 26 per cent of the tribals of Jharkhand will be evicted. I do not say at all that outsiders should not come, but they should come to contribute to the culture and system and make the state advanced.
(The writer is a Padma Shri award recipient and Secretary, Vikas Bharti Bishunpur)
