Theme: Ecology from the Perspective of the Marginalized-Dalits, Adivasis and other backward classes.

Introduction: SAPI National workshop held at Bagaicha, Ranchi, Jharkhand from August 17-19, 2012, had 79 men and women from 8 States. It was participatory in nature, based on the theme: “Ecology from the perspective of the marginalized – Dalits, Adivasis and other backward classes. It called for taking more proactive responsibility to preserve and save Mother Earth (Ecology). The interactions and discussions during the workshop enabled the participants to come up with practical suggestions in response to certain challenges before SAPI; most importantly, making it independent and secular platform for lay leadership.

Theme: ECOLOGY from the perspective of Adivasis/Tribals, Dalits and the marginalized.

New Delhi: After discussing with SAPI Central Zone Province Coordinators, Sannybhai, along with Amrit Sangma, SAPI National Coordinator has announced Bagaicha, Ranchi as the venue for the SAPI National workshop to be held from 17-20 August 2012. The participants are expected to arrive by evening on 17 August and departure is scheduled for early morning on 20 August. An email in this regard has already been circulated by SAPI National office, Delhi.

Bagaicha, 29-30 March: Pointing a number of anomalies in relation to MNREGA, Activist Rose Xaxa shared on ‘situations of travel allowances if the work site is beyond 5 km’, ‘rate of work based on category’, ‘muster roll attendance’, ‘job cards’, ‘facilities at the work site’,  and ‘payment irregularities’.

Advocate Fr. Mahendra Tigga and his colleagues Advocate Mihir Samad and Activist Vinod Bhagat spoke elaborately explaining the article 244 (1) of Indian Constitution that talks about the Administration and Control of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes.

Jamshedpur, 21-22 March: Speaking at a workshop, organised by Tribal Research and Training Centre (TRTC) at Chaibasa, Social Activists, Ghanshyam Gagrai, Birsingh Sinku and Chandrabhusan Deogam highlighted the impact of displacement on the identity and culture of tribals. They suggested strengthening of Gram Sabha and its role in securing social and cultural identity of the tribals in Jharkhand.

Presenting the data on displacement in Jharkhand, Fr. Clement Kujur, CSA ruled out rehabilitation and resettlement as an option to land acquisition leading to displacement. “Development must be based on agriculture. We can develop agriculture through building check dams, ponds etc. for irrigation and better cultivation.” He said.