Participation of Traditional Baiga Chiefs of Baigachak, Madhya Pradesh in the Baiga Mahsabha organised by Jan Swasth Sahyog and Sarv Adivasi Sabha’s Program

By Naresh Biswas

13^th February 2018, Dagniya village, Mungeli Distirct (Jan Swasth Sahyog)

UD fellows and Baiga leaders from Dindori District’s Baigachak participated in a program organised in the village of Dagniya in Achanakamar Wildlife Sancturary on the 13^th of February 2018. In the course of the program that went on till 5:00 pm Charra Singh Rathoria from Dindori District shared information and his knowledge about the benefits traditional desi grains and wild food with program participants. Jonhoo Singh Baiga gave a talk on seven villages of Baigachak receiving habitat rights, describing their struggle for their rights and outlining the entire process involved. In opposition to the displacement of 22 Baiga dominated villages due to the building of the Achanakamra Reservoir and the displacement of Baiga tribals residing inside Achanakamar Wildlife Sanctuary, the Baiga Community should learn from example of how the Baigas of Baigachak took advantage of the special Habitat Rights provision for PVTG communities of the Forests Rights Act, 2006 to obtain their Habitat Rights title, and make similar efforts to obtain Habitat Rights in this area as well.

Naresh Biswas highlighted that in light of the efforts to displace Baiga tribals from their traditional forest habitats, there is a need for the Baigas of MP and Chhattisgarh along with organisations and networks working for the development of the Baigas to work together to combat these efforts. The three books on wild food of the region and the poster on Traditional mixed cropping agriculture brought out by Nirmaan as part of UD project activities were also presented through the program.

Through this program Naresh Biswas met Dr. Yogesh Jain of Jan Swasth Sahyog and provided him with detailed information about the UD program and its activities.

14^th February 2018, Amliya-Kui Village, Kabirdham District (Aastha Samiti)

 On their way back from the program organised by Jan Swasth Sahyog the team from Baigachak participated in a meeting – “Hamr Habitat – Hamar Dongar” – on community forest rights and habitat rights issues of the Baigas organised by Aastha Samiti in Kabirdham District of Chhattisgarh. In this meeting the baigas from Dindori provided a detailed description of the entire process through which seven villages of Baigachak received Habitat Rights over their traditional forest habitat. In Kabirdham District the systems of self-rule of traditional Baiga institutions (Mukardam, Devan, Samrath) have come to an end. The program involved a discussion on the need to promote re-appointment of Mukardam, Devan and Samarth leaders and empowerment and revival of traditional Baiga institutions for community empowerment of the Baigas of the region. The meeting’s participants included Itwari Baiga – former Sarpanch of Amliya; Pyare Lal – Chikhliya; Gouthoo Ram – Sarpanch of Damgad Gram Panchayat; Antooram Padhiya – Baiga Mukhiya; Chandrakant – Aastha Samiti; and Ramkumar Sinha – Sabhapati, Janpad Panchayat, Kavardha.

Due to continuous heavy rainfall on the 13^th and 14^th of February the program could not be organised as per the original plan. Despite the challenging weather conditions the program was held successfully.