Part I : There are 75 landless musahar ( literally translated as rateaters) households in the village where I did my fieldwork. They are probably among the most deprieved communities in India.All of them are landless without any exception. The failure of the government to implement land reforms and their continuing deprivation lead to the strong naxal support among them. But they got tired waiting for the promised change and there is hardly any support for the ideology now.
Part II: Nitish government in Bihar had formed a land reforms commission headed by D Bandyopadhyay.The commission has submitted its report. Couple of months back ; just prior to the by election in Bihar a rumour spread that the government was going to implement the report in some parts. The landed gentry in Bihar voted against the government and the ruling coalition lost heavily in the byelection. The government now is sparing no effort to give the message that it never intended to implemnt the report and it has no plan to do so.
What is the option left for the Musahars now ?
1 comment:
looking at the current scenario in the Bihar may be depending on land reform option to bring about a change in the lives of mushhaars may not be the viable option.it would be better if they are provided with livelihood option other than agriculture.As the state government is planning to revive milk cooperatives in the state,Animal husbandry may be a good option for them.
Naveen Jha(30022)
Post a Comment