Social activist Padma Shri Ashok Bhagat called for giving more time to the incumbent State Government before jumping to any conclusion about the success and failure of the Government and insisted on keep it under watch for a better insight about its overall performance on the parameter of aspirations of a common man.
Bhagat, who is Secretary of Vikas Bharti, was addressing a conference of tribal community assembled on the outskirts of the capital at Ramdayal Munda Stadium at Hotwar and drawn mostly from hinterland of Jharkhand. The two-day conference will focus on Panchayati Raj system with emphasis on Panchayat Extension to Schedule Area (PESA) Act where experts of tribal development will deliberate on the existing state of affairs besides lacuna in the system vis-à-vis adivasis.
“We should not be in a hurry to discredit the government which has been just formed. Collision will not make things work. Instead we must give time, watch them and make them work,” said Bhagat.
The conference has been timed to awaken tribal community about their rights and powers vested in Gram Sabha before Panchayat elections which are likely to be held in October-November, 2015. As grass-root democratic institutions will complete its tenure in next few months, the Secretary of Vikas Bharti put emphasis on evaluating performances of representatives to Panchayati Raj Institutions.
Even as attempts are being made by opposition parties to jointly put pressure on government to roll back land Acquisition Bill, the Padma Shri recipient advocated for pragmatism on the part of community associated with jal, jangal, jameen and sought to allay the fear of exclusion from development.
“leave alone Jharkhand, even this country cannot develop without support of adivasis. If this country has to develop then adivasis must be taken into confidence because they control minerals and other natural resources,” asserted Bhagat.
Notwithstanding the views being circulated about the repercussions of land Acquisition Bill, the social activist suggested that land will not be taken away from adivasis and that the gram-sabha would protect the tribal community from forced displacement. Bhagat also underscored the point that any expenses made in social sector do not restrain adivasis to take benefit of it.
Meanwhile, former Vice-chancellor of Vinoba Bhave University, Ravindra Kumar Bhagat highlighted the threat to identity that the tribal community is facing because of multitude of reasons. The former VBU VC expressed that culture must be protected to save identity.
“Our culture is vanishing very fast and the day we will forget our culture will be the day we will lose our identity. So, this the time to ponder upon how to protect our culture and what steps we need to take make sure that,” maintained, the former VC.
The conference was attended by representatives of adivasi organizations besides experts of tribal culture.