LAND ALIENATION AND TRIBAL DISPLACEMENT: A STUDY ON TRIBAL COMMUNITY IN LALGARH OF WEST BENGAL

Abstract

India is a secular country where people from different caste and creeds are living according to their choice. After independence, though India has shown remarkable progress in science and technology but this development has failed to change the life style and living fashion to certain segments of our population. The tribal people (8%) of total population are peace lover and they live in forests or in the wasteland, their process of life also depends upon the productivity from natural resources. They are recognized as tribal accordingly their rights are protected in our constitution. Though the majority of our population in the country is progressing and their life style has been changed, the condition of the tribals remains unchanged. Though government initiated adequate steps to the tribal development later, it took U-turn because of changes in policies for modern development and industrialization process. The scarcity of lands due to mass population has left no other option with the government other than to use the instrument for encroachment of land and using natural resources for the development that lead to the tribal unrest. Lalgarh in West Bengal is not exception to witness all these episodes. It is located in Binpur1 Subdivision West Midnapore District in West Bengal. 57% of total population are scheduled tribes and they lived in nature in symbiotic relation with ecology and environment and their livelihood security depends upon the production from forests, ponds etc. Deforestation about 4500 acres of land in Salboni for the industrialization process in the recent times which was felt by these people are insecure for their survival resulted in protests and violence in Lalgarh.