THE PROBLEM
Despite strong laws protecting the resource rights of tribal and rural communities, such as the Forest Rights Act (2006), these rights are not always recognized. Many communities struggle to take advantage of the resources rightfully afforded to them due to interference from the private and public sector. In some cases, when communities’ rights are ignored, they are displaced without recompense, such as in the case of the MANSI-WAKAL dam. This all reduces livelihood opportunities and makes the day-to-day survival of all ready poor communities even harder.
JJVS helps communities organize and advocate issues related to land, water and forest rights, particularly for the indigenous and marginalized. JJVS has created a network of 12 Non-Governmental Organizations in southern Rajasthan to voice these issues, and its advocacy has benefited 2500 households in 10 villages.
DISPLACEMENT
JJVS created Chandreshwar Kishan Sangarsha Samiti to advocate for communities displaced due to construction of the MANSI- WAKAL drinking water dam project. JJVS stood in solidarity with the communities when 4000 soldiers were deployed by the government to counter the protests of local residents. Ultimately, JJVS’ advocacy helped secure a government rehabilitation package for 844 of the affected families.
NATURAL RESOURCE RIGHTS
The organization Jungle Jameen Jan Andolan was created to help communities in southern Rajasthan avail of their rights to access and use Land, Water and Forest resources. This movement organizes community at block, district and regional levels to advocate issues and to recognize their rights to sustainable use of natural resources under the Forest Rights Act (2006), Biodiversity Act (2002), etc. These acts have special provisions for indigenous communities to cultivate their land in forest areas and collect minor forest produce for their livelihood.
MINING AND INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION
The largest rock phosphate company, Rajasthan Sates Mines & Minerals Ltd (RSMM, Rajasthan Govt. undertaking) works in Jhamarkotra near Udaipur, affecting the entire agro – ecology and livelihood of the 30 surrounding villages. The open cast mine lifts thousands of liters of water everyday affecting the groundwater levels in villages. This water is then transported away from local villages to Udaipur city as drinking water. Thus, the main source of livelihood, agriculture and animal husbandry, has been totally lost due to ground water scarcity and frequent drought. This has resulted in mass migration of community members to urban areas for employment.
JJVS is working through the community organisation Jhamari Bachao Andolan to strengthen natural water resources and create new livelihood opportunities in the area. We advocate people’s livelihood issues before the mine administration to provide village development funds and create community resources for new livelihood sources.
Apart from mining, the rock phosphate is being used to produce single super phosphate by fertilizer industries in Umarda village (10 km far from Udaipur city). The SSP fertilizer industries release poisonous gases into the atmosphere and create both air and water pollution in the area. About 23 villages are directly affected by this pollution; human and livestock health is deteriorating as a result of respiratory issues, joint pain, cough, miscarriage, skin diseases, teeth infections etc. The livestock population has been decimated due to these chronic health problems as well as the contamination of fodder sources. JJVS is conducting a technical study on the impact of pollution on people’s livelihood. On the basis of the study, JJVS can advocate issues before govt. administration and environmental judiciary under the above community organisation.