Rehabilitation Work in Dantewada and Bijapur - A Brief Report (2009)
--courtesy of the Association for India's Development--

Bijapur and Dantewada district are situated in southern part of Bastar. This area is inhabitated by many tribes and OBC’s , the major tribe here is Koya.

In 2005 state government initiated an anti insurgency operation named Salwa Judum. In which state tried to cut the supply line of naxalites by shifting villagers to the road side Salwa Judum camps. During this population shifting excercise thousands of tribes opted not to shift to the government camps and remained in their village. State forces blamed such tribals as naxal supporters and attacked on such villages. Thousands of tribes had to hide in jungle to save their lives or to migrate in neighbouring states. More than fifty thousand people migrated to Andhra Pradesh itself.

Tribals of Chhattisgarh who migrated to Andhra Pradesh have been living in sub human conditions. They had lost all their livelihood means including land, live stock, forest produce etc. on the other hand people hiding in forests of Chhattisgarh were also living under threat of Salwa Judum and state forces attack. These situations worsen the conflict situation. AID INDIA and A.S.D.S decided to intervene in this situation to minimize the measure of the people and explore the possibilities of a peaceful resolution of the conflict.

A.S.D.S. Rekhapalli Andhra Pradesh and AID INDIA decided to help people to resettle in their native villages and to reclaime their land. A.S.D.S conducted a survey of internally displaced people living in Andhra Pradesh and contacted certain social activist and social groups working in Chhattisgarh and explored possibilities of rehabilitation of these I.D.P. Administration of both the states, Andhra pradesh and Chhattisgarh were informed about proposed rehabilitation schedule. Tribes from Andhra Pradesh seen off by activist’s, local media and representatives of local administration. These tribes were escorted/accompanied by activist of Chhattisgarh. After a heavy struggle with local police officers and Salwa Judum, these tribes could go to their village. We had to show supreme court instructions and N.H.R.C.S recommendations about rehabilitation of these tribes.

So far following villages will be rehabilitated partially

Basaguda
Lingagiri
Dharmapur
Kumharpara
Sarkeguda
Kattaguda
Rajpeta
Basaguda
Peesepara
Pakela
Heerapur
Regadgatta
Etegatta
Gorka
Kurtipara
Pata Nendra
Kotta Nendra
Kotta Cheru
Darbhaguda

(cont.)