Chhattisgarh plans to win over Abujhmarh’s tribal population with habitation rights over land and break the Maoist stranglehold in the region
The Bhupesh Baghel government in Chhattisgarh is taking the battle against the Maoists right into the heart of rebel territory. Not better guns or intelligence gathering, the weapon of choice this time is a clause in the forest rights law that authorities hope will help win over the tribal people of the region.
The initiative is being put to test in Abujhmarh, in the Orchha tehsil of Narayanpur district. The 3,905 sq. km hilly terrain of teak and sal forests is predominantly inhabited by the Abujhmarias. Dandami Maria and Gond are among the other tribes. The only way to get about in these parts is to walk. Abujhmarh is a Maoist den, its inaccessibility serving as a safe haven for the rebels. Unlike the plains, the habitations—clusters of a few huts—are spread out thin. Abujhmarh is a typical strife-torn area. While the government claims it has no access to the villages deep inside, on paper, welfare programmes, such as the PM’s housing and sanitation schemes, are running.
Using section 3(1)(e) of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, or FRA, the government intends to grant people habitation rights. Such rights can be extended only to the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). Chhattisgarh has five of them—Pahari Korwa, Abujhmaria, Baiga, Kamar and Birhor.
This story is from the July 22, 2019 edition of India Today.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the July 22, 2019 edition of India Today.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
BJP's Big Paschim Test
On paper, the BJP-RLD tie-up is a winner for the NDA in west UP, though the INDIA bloc thinks otherwise. The BSP's entry with mixed candidates can unsettle both alliances
Why Gen V Matters
The Way The 210 Million-Strong Generation Viksit Bharat Casts Its Vote Will Determine The Outcome Of This Election As It Has In The Past
Heart Stopper
Cushions with tales of beauty, serenity, art and nature
THE NIPPON NARRATIVE
Say konnichiwa to good design and sayōnara to bad aesthetics, as this apartment in Bangalore is a lesson in how to use Japanese design effectively
RURAL RESPLENDENCE
This second home in a small village in Uttar Pradesh brings to life the beauty and simplicity of locally sourced materials
Curves in the Right Places
Arches may be taking over interior design, but how and where you place them in your home can make or mar the look of the room
Marvels in Mud
Here's how this humble material is changing the way we look at eco-friendly homes in India
DESIGN FOR THE AGES
Five homes, five distinct design styles that help decode how to curate age-appropriate spaces
TAKE FIVE
FROM RUGS TO CUSHIONS, THESE DECOR PIECES WILL GIVE YOUR INTERIORS AN INSTANT MAKEOVER THIS SEASON
TRENDY TABLESCAPES
At the turn of the season, three fashion labels throw a soiree that is stylish, suave and sophisticated