Contemporary Voice of Dalit, Ahead of Print.
Various forms of protest such as rail-road roko and election boycott have been displayed by the Kurmi community to show their strength and legitimacy in their claim for Scheduled tribe status. By analysing pre-independence census data by British anthropologists, their study of culture and tribal way of life, and current socio-economic and political standing, the authors have attempted to trace the location of Kurmis (Mahto) of Chotanagpur region in the indigeneity discourse and their claim for ST status.
Author Archives: Sachchidanand Prasad
Tribal Self-Governance in Jharkhand: Insights into the Implementation of Self-Rule through Pathalgadi Practices
Contemporary Voice of Dalit, Ahead of Print.
Gram Sabha is the lowest functionary of grassroots democracy in India. An empowered Gram Sabha is the base for establishing a sound democratic system. The article highlights the Pathalgadi movement as a critical way of empowering Gram Sabha. A recent argument from Jharkhand High Court about tribal self-governance has raised the relevancy of local governance in fifth scheduled areas. Jharkhand High Court also obliges about the power of Gram Sabha from Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) of Jharkhand. The study’s rationale is to raise the concern of inclusion of tribal self-governance and the provisions of PESA Jharkhand in Panchayati Raj. The article elaborates on the historical background of the Gram Sabha, the empowerment of Gram Sabha in scheduled areas and its present status, analyses how PESA Act, 1996 and Forest Rights Act, 2006 have enabled democratic decision-making in Gram Sabha and the validity of Pathalgadi movement as a critical way of empowering Gram Sabha. The article concludes that government must not intervene with the rights of the indigenous tribes.
Gram Sabha is the lowest functionary of grassroots democracy in India. An empowered Gram Sabha is the base for establishing a sound democratic system. The article highlights the Pathalgadi movement as a critical way of empowering Gram Sabha. A recent argument from Jharkhand High Court about tribal self-governance has raised the relevancy of local governance in fifth scheduled areas. Jharkhand High Court also obliges about the power of Gram Sabha from Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) of Jharkhand. The study’s rationale is to raise the concern of inclusion of tribal self-governance and the provisions of PESA Jharkhand in Panchayati Raj. The article elaborates on the historical background of the Gram Sabha, the empowerment of Gram Sabha in scheduled areas and its present status, analyses how PESA Act, 1996 and Forest Rights Act, 2006 have enabled democratic decision-making in Gram Sabha and the validity of Pathalgadi movement as a critical way of empowering Gram Sabha. The article concludes that government must not intervene with the rights of the indigenous tribes.