"I Have Asked The Government To Re-examine Amendments To Land Laws"

Jharkhand's first tribal governor, DROUPADI MURMU, has been featured in the news more than Raghubar Das, the state's first non-tribal chief minister. Murmu refused to give her assent to two bills approved by the Legislative Assembly seeking amendments to the Chhotanagpur Tenancy Act, 1908, and the Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act, 1949. The state has witnessed widespread protests against these amendments, which seek to allow the use of tribal lands for commercial purposes. She speaks to DEEPANWITA NIYOGI in Ranchi

- Deepanwita Niyog

You recently returned amendment bills to two tenancy Acts seeking explanation from the government on whether it would benefit tribals. Do you feel it is a move to grab tribal land from people?

The government should have anticipated the mood of the public. I talked to experts and thoroughly studied the bills. I felt the bills should be reconsidered and a rethinking is needed. There were 192 non-political and political meetings over the bills. Even people from outside the state approached me. The amendment bills have now been returned to the state government, along with 192 memorandums which were received opposing the amendments. I have asked the government to re-examine the amendments afresh in the light of these memorandums.

How would you interpret the relationship between tribals and land?

Three things are needed for development: education, money and power. But tribals only have land. They feel when land is there they can work and will be able to live. But if land is taken away, tribals will not be able to survive. They consider land as God.