YATRA started in Orissa with the tribal tradition and rituals

JAN HAKK YATRA started from Koraput districts of Orissa. It has started with the traditional rituals of the tribal people from Kolab Displacement area, where tribal people used to worship the village stone. After the traditional ritual yatra started and mass was addressed bt the representatives of NAFRE JAN ANDOLAN and VCRO, Orissa.

JAN HAKK YATRA reaches Bhawanipatna, Kalahandi District of Orissa

01.03.08
The Jan Hakk Yatra reached Bhawanipatna on 1st of March from Koraput. A meeting was convened at Sagada covering all the villages of Sagada GP of Bhawanipatna. The population of this GP is affected by the decision taken by the Govt to declare the Karlapat forest area as Sanctuary. This decision is now affecting the livelihood of the poor villagers. A youth team started the programme by singing revolutionary songs. Mr Saroj of JKS introduced the jatra team and invitees to the villagers. Mr Khageswar Manhira brifed the participants on the objectives of the Jan Hakk Yatra and how the jatra visited other states. Mr Sidharth of Niyamagiri Surakhya Samiti applauded the initiative taken by Nafre. He said the call of the day is to unite all the people struggles and develop a sense of fraternity among them. So that they can help each other. Then Mr Bharat Bhusan Thakur put the local focal issues before the villagers. He said once the area is declared sanctuary then it will be very difficult for the forest dwellers to survive as no livelihood option will be left out. The law will restrict them from collecting NTFPs and fire wood from the forests. He further said from years animals and humans are living together in forest without damaging the ecology. But the govt is only thinking of the animals living in the forest not of the villagers. Mr Birendra and Mr Manish of Bihar Lok Adhikar Manch shared their movements continuing in Bihar. Mr Jerom of CREJ Jan Mukti Andolan, Jharkhand shared about the Netrahat movement of Jharkhand and appealed the villagers to join hand with Nafre Jan Andolan to build a larger movement in the nation. Mr Sushanto Chakraborty of VCRO said the noble initiative taken by Nafre should not be let wasted. He said how the imperialistic and fascist forces in the guise of big industrialists and a part of the governance system playing with the fate of the poor people. So being united we should make them clear that “NA JAMIN DENGE NA DENGE JAN” . This is only possible we feel the issue and spread awareness among the people those who are affected and going to be affected.
The Local people shared their problem and assured the Yatra team of all kind of support. Then the cultural team performed on issues that are affecting the poor tribals. They performed on the issue of forest, sanctuary, CSS and globalization which was immensely appreciated by the villagers.

The Yatra team returned to the base camp for night stay.
02.03.08
The next morning the yatra team marched towards another sensitive area for its next destination. It is Lanjigarh of Kalahandi district where Vedanta company is establishing an aluminum factory by displacing thousands of villagers. When the yatra team reached the area it was quite tense. The people of the rehabilitation colony were staging agitation before the company and had blocked the roads. They were protesting against the heavy electricity bills slapped on them by the company. The company earlier promised to pay the electricity bills but when the villagers left their land and stay in the rehabilitation colony the company played tricks by slapping the electricity bills. Many platoons of police fore were deployed in the area. The police stopped the yatra vehicle and queried about the purpose of the visit. They let the vehicle go to the meetings place. The local People organization Niyamagiri Suraksha Samiti arranged the meeting and welcomed the Nafre Jan Hakk Yatra. Local villagers actively participated in the meeting. Mr Khageswar briefed the objective of the Jatra. Mr B.B. Thakur NEC member of Nafre and Mr Siddharth put some light on the current situation of the country and how the system has become a part of the capitalists. Mr Thaur also commended the effort taken by Niyamagri Suraksha Samiti and promised all kind of support from Nafre Jan Andolan and VCRO. Mr. Manish, Mr. Birendra of Bihar Lok Adhikar manch & Mr. Jerorn of CREJ Jan Mukti Andolan also addressed the meeting. Mr Kumti Majhi the president of Niyamagri Suraksha Samiti presided the meeting and thanked Nafre from bring the Jatra to this highly sensitive area. The meeting was surrounded by the policemen as they were dogging the event.

The yatra team returned to Bhawanipatna for Night stay.
03.03.08
Nafre Jan Hakk Yatra proceeded towards Boden of Nuapada district. Several issues like displacement, florosis and migration are prominent in the area. People from lower Indra dam displacement area, Sunabeda Santuary area, Jamin Jungle Mukti andolan, Tikhali Dam Bistapith Andolan participated in the metting. So all the issues were discussed vividly. Basically local people addressed the meeting on their issues.Mr Birandra of BLAM, Bihar and and Mr Jeron of CREJ, Jharkand discussed the issues of their respective states. Mr Khuturam Sunani, a social activists linked all the issues and urged the people to join hands together to strengthen Nafre People Movement. Then the cultural team performed and spread the message of Nafre Jan Hakk yatra and how the companies exploiting the poors.

JAN HAKK YATRA IN ORISSA- NAFRE JAN ANDOLAN addressed the tribal population of Orissa for long term movement on displacement issue

KORAPUT- ORISSA
The NEFRE Janhakk Yatra was flagged off from Koraput district of Orissa on 28th February – 2008. The first meeting was held at Upper kolab Budi Anchal Bisthapan Sagathon, a people’s organization fighting for the right of the Kolab displaced people. The village head performed tribal ritual to start the programme. The objective of the “Janhalk Yatra” was intimated to the villages. Then the villagers discussed the strategy of fighting the issue for their rights. The cultural team spread the objective of the Yatra in a poetic way. They in their song made the audience understand the issue of the globalization and common school system. This meeting was attended by the villagers of Tatulipada, Podagada, Chalanput, Jamuda, bankai, Roseiput, Koraput, Dumuriput, Jeraput & Umbel villages: Mr. Manish, Mr. Birendra of Bihar Lok Adhikar manch & Mr. Jerorn of CREJ Jan Mukti Andolan also addressed the meeting. The second meeting of the day was held at Pangiguda. This is a village displaced by Hindustan Aeronautics limited (H.A.L). The villagers were shared how taking the regional movements, a national level movement will be built up by NAFRE. Mr. Sushant of VCRO shared that the prime objective is to safeguard the right of the children. In the evening the third meeting of the day was held at Alligaon village near Maliparbata area. Sarapancha of Pakjhola, Pitaguda, Daleiguda G.P and the Vice-chairmen of Semiliguda block addressed the gathering. The villagers addressed the problems of Maliparbata area and how the Government has given the Maliparbata for mining. Emphasis was given for cultural troops perform in their play. The Jatra team stayed for night halt at Alligaon & moved towards lamtaput on 29th morning. The Yatra reached at Mattamput village of Lamtaput block. The villager’s hare are fighting for the right over the hills in which they are living for years. Villagers of Godihanjar, Guneipada & Chikenput G.P participated in the Yatral. The noteworthy point is that large no of women actively deliberated in the meeting. The cultural troop performed their play on land, water, forest rights etc. mr. Shankar Muduli a student leader shared the movements of Orissa and appealed the people to be united to fight against the imperialist forces. The second and last meeting of the day held at Surumi, a village affected by the Machhkund Dam. Several speakers including friends from Jharkhand & Bihar delivered the Yatra objective and explained how the present system is promoting a new imperialist structure in the governance system. Then the cultural troop performed on several issues. After that the meeting was ended by a vote of thanks from the leaders of Machhakund Bisthapita Mahasangha. The team stopped at Koraput for night stay on 29th