look news india
In the politics of Jharkhand, the debate regarding the water, forests, land and historical identity of the tribals has once again heated up. Kalpana Murmu Soren, MLA from Gandey assembly constituency and senior leader of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), has expressed deep anger over the administrative difficulties being faced by local residents and especially the tribal community during the process of Summary Intensive Revision (SIR) and voter list verification. Kalpana Soren clearly said that the history of tribals in this country is centuries older than the invention of paper and documents. He said that demanding old documents and certificates from tribals to prove their existence and citizenship in their own birthplace is a direct insult to their glorious history and constitutional rights. After this statement, a huge debate has erupted in the political circles of the state as well as in the social circles regarding the citizenship and electoral verification processes.
#1 Kalpana Soren’s scathing attack on certificate and technical mistakes in SIR process
Kalpana Murmu Soren, while addressing a public forum, highlighted the administrative negligence being faced during the Special Review and Verification (SIR) process. He said that today when administrative officers and BLOs go to the ground level for investigation, they ask the tribals for their old certificates and documents. Due to small mistakes in technology and spelling, people’s names are being removed from the voter list. Giving an example, he said that due to technical shortcomings of the system, ‘Marandi’ is written as ‘Mardi’ or other surname in the records and then on this basis, the names of Bhumiputras living for centuries are removed from the voter list. He raised the question that why should the poor and simple tribals bear the brunt of this negligence of the officials?
#1 ‘History older than paper and respect for Olchiki script’: A blunt statement on the identity of tribals
Referring to the historical roots and cultural richness of the tribals, Kalpana Soren said that the Constitution of India also gives full recognition to the ‘Olchiki’ script of Santhali language. Even before paper was invented in the world, the tribal society has been living on this earth in the lap of nature and protecting its existence. Therefore, tribals do not need any piece of paper or colonial mindset to prove their existence on their own soil. He made it clear that the people of Jharkhand will not accept any attempt to separate the tribal community from their identity or entangle them in the web of papers.
#1 Reference to conflict with British rule: ‘Tribals know how to use bow and arrow for their rights’
Adding historical context to his speech, the Gandey MLA said that tribals do not need to learn from anyone else to fight for their rights and entitlements. When the country was under the rule of the British and the oppression of the British colonial power was at its peak, the tribals were the first to raise the alarm and revolt without any modern weapons and only with the help of their traditional ‘bow and arrow’. Great immortal martyrs like Siddho-Kanhu, Chand-Bhairav, Lord Birsa Munda and Baba Tilka Manjhi gave martyrdom to protect their water, forests and land. Kalpana Soren said in a warning tone that bow and arrow are the identity of self-respect, honor and existence of the tribal society. The government and administration should not create such situations that the tribals have to choose the same path again for their rights.
#1 Appeal for unity by reminding the sacrifice for the formation of Jharkhand
Recalling the long struggle of the Jharkhand state movement, Kalpana Soren said that this state has not been given to anyone easily or as a gift. Under the leadership of ‘Dishom Guru’ Shibu Soren, thousands of Jharkandis left their homes, families, faced lathicharge and spent years in jails, only then the state of Jharkhand was formed. Today, it is the common responsibility of all of us to protect the resources, culture and rights of the citizens of this state. Calling for unity in the society, he said that a single finger is weak, but when all five fingers come together to form a fist, it acquires immense strength. To save their land and identity, the tribals will have to forget their mutual differences and stand united.
#1 Demand raised for administrative reform and simplification
After this strong stance of Kalpana Soren, the pressure on the local administration and election department to improve the verification processes has increased. Social activists and regional leaders also say that it is sheer injustice to deprive genuine citizens of voting rights or government schemes due to the complexity of paper documents in inaccessible and rural areas. It is being demanded that during SIR and voter list verification, priority should be given to colloquial language, local traditions and historical ground records and not to snatch people’s rights on the basis of mere paper discrepancies.