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Agrarian tribe Bhil dang Development displacement Forced Migration Gujarat Tourism Corporation Hill station Indigenous people Kokni tribe Kunbi Land grabbing Lush Green Roshan Saroliya Saputara Tourism development Tourist destination tribal Tribal welfare Warli
Land grab in the name of tourism development has left hundreds of tribals displaced in Gujarat’s dang.
Saputara is a hill station in Dang which is home to several tribal communities – such as Kunbi, Warli, Bhil and Kokni. Together the tribals form 92% of Dang’s population. Roshan, the correspondent of this video is also a Dangi tribal who says, most of the people in his community are dependent on agriculture now victims of land grab.
About 3 decades ago, Gujarat govt started developing Saputara as a tourist destination. Since then over 50 small and big hotels, log huts and cottages have come up there. The govt promoted Gujarat Tourism Corporation has also constructed a multistoried luxury hotel in Saputara. The entire land on which the hotels are built has been grabbed from local tribals who have been shifted to a place far away from Saputara.
The displaced tribals have not been paid either the price of the land, nor have they been given alternative land to cultivate even after thirty years. But as the govt clears more hotel projects, the tribals face yet another round of displacement, this time further away from Saputara.
As a tribal youth Roshan feels extremely angry and bitter about the development in Dang which he feels reflects govt’s anti-tribal policy. This is because the development plan has been drawn without keeping in mind the livelihood needs of local tribals who are so dependent on their land. So, although lots of revenue is coming to Dang through tourism, tribals are still denied the compensation.
Roshan decided to shoot this video when he saw that displacement of tribals in Saputara sparked fear in his own village. People fear that tomorrow they may have to give up land to a tourism project. To stop the spread of such fear and to stop further displacement of tribals, the mushrooming of hotels and grabbing of tribal land must stop immediately, Roshan demands.
Dear Manish and Roshan,
A good job done, from the journalistic perspective. But you are the community reporters and need to bring the truth, rather than masala like people will go on hunger strike or torch the public property. I also visited that Navagam. If you research properly you will find that people got more money than the piece of land they lost, moreover they also got the land in Navagam, and they are getting employment from the tourists of Saputara. Now if u want to make Singur all the development place than its upon you. I came in to the contact of so many people who have encroached the govt land and no body asks them to vacate bcoz they threaten to strike and destroy public property. This is the news for media that tribes are harassed and NGOs and so called social workers earning their bread and butter by provoking them. By making Singur developmental places the same people will blame the govt not providing any facility and jobs. In the both the situation NGOs can raise the funds.
Dear Nimesh
Thank you so much for watching our video and sharing your thoughts.
As you are aware, IndiaUnheard brings stories that are told by communities and views as expressed by community members. Most of the time these views and stories may astonish people. This is because community views are rarely expressed in media and therefore sound new and unknown.
As for displacement of tribals in Saputara, you are welcome to contact Roshan Saroliya who would be happy to show you the affects on the tribals, as described in his video.
We would also be glad if you have any specific story idea on the economic development of the tribals (because any positive change is also a great news) and if you would like to see that story appearing on IndiaUnheard.
Please keep watching IndiaUnheard and expressing your views.