On 9th August 2024, Adivasi Sangharsh Morcha commemorated the World Indigenous People's Day, by holding programmes, protests and rallies in various parts of the country including Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Karbi Anglong, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and the submission of a 14-point demand Memorandum to the President through the district administration. This was held in the backdrop of the statement issued by the RSS-affiliate Akhil Bharatiya Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram declaring that the World Indigenous People's Day is of no relevance to India since all people of the country are indigenous to this land, which was outrightly condemned by Adivasi Sangharsh Morcha with the resolve to free Adivasis from the clutches of the Sangh Parivar.
In Jharkhand, a massive march was taken out in Ramgarh city, in which hundreds of Adivasis marched with songs and slogans through the city before convening a meeting at Subhash Chowk to voice their rights and demands. The rally highlighted the lack of implementing CNT/SPT Act, Wilkinson Rule and other constitutional rights made for the protection of Adivasis even as there is an increasing corporate attack on the of Adivasis’ rights to water-forest-land-environment.
In Odisha, Adivasi Sangharsh Morcha organised a cultural program in Gunpur, Orissa followed by a march in which a memorandum was sent to the Chief Minister of Orissa and the President. Apart from this, programs were also organized in numerous villages to celebrate the occasion.
A meeting was held under the banner of Adivasi Tribal Sangharsh Morcha at Kisan Bhawan in Diphu, Assam in which more than 150 people participated and a memorandum was submitted to the district administration in the name of the President, reiterating the demand for the Union Government to declare the tribal hill districts as autonomous state in Assam under Article 244(A) of the Constitution of India.
In Gujarat, a convention was in Valsad, which was attended by hundreds of Adivasis, Besides highlighting the various issues faced by Adivasis, the Convention in particular highlighted the plight of the 4 crore Adivasis living in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh as also in Dadra Nagar Haveli and Daman and reiterated the demand that the Union government must commit to the creation of Bhil Pradesh comprising the Adivasi belt currently spread over these states.
In Andhra Pradesh, a march and public meeting was held in Chodavaram, Anakapalli district which was attended by hundreds of Adivasis. Prominent Human Rights activist VS Krishna, Human Rights Forum (HRF) joined with Adivasis. In this meeting, the signatures were collected on the memorandum addressed to the President of India.
World Indigenous People's Day was also commemorated in West Bengal, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu through local programmes and submission of the 14-point memorandum addressed to the President.
Across the country, Adivasis continue to be one of the most deprived sections of society. State-sanctioned corporate loot and plunder of natural resources have dispossessed Adivasis of their forests and lands, without any security of life or livelihoods and in a constant battle to save their culture and identity. In fact, Adivasis continue to struggle for the most basic needs including land, education, healthcare, livelihoods, food security, drinking water and sanitation, etc. The occasion of 9th August, World Indigenous Peoples’ Day, was an opportunity to highlight the fundamental concerns and demands of Adivasis and the firm the resolve to build Adivasi Sangharsh Morcha and militant struggles to protect the interests of the Adivasi communities across the nation.
