Wrapped in a simple cotton saree with an ordinary pair of sleepers and a jhola (cotton bag) hanging from her shoulders, 54 years old Anna Kujur from the tribal Sunajor (Kuten Pain) village of Sundergarh district has been blazing the trail of awareness among tribals on Forest Right Act (FRA).
She has helped over 30,000 Adivasis to realise their claims to land and forest rights under the Forest Rights Act, 2006. Since 2000, more than 10,000 tribals whose claim for land Patta was persuaded and facilitated by Anna, have got the land rights and leading a dignified life.
Malti Balka, a 47 years tribal woman from Buda Jharana narrates her story “till we got land Patta in 2008, we were a daily wage labourers. We were not getting regular wage in our area so we had to go to the forest to collect minor forest produce, but time and again we were threatened by the forest department officials who drove us away from the forest .We had been living here since generations. Still we were branded as forest land encroachers. We did not have the courage neither did we have the knowledge to fight against this injustice. Sometimes we were forced to migrate elsewhere to eke out a living. However, under the leadership of Anna, we were mobilised to raise voice for our rights over the land and subsequently we got it.”
“Now we have a patch of land where we cultivate pulses and earning our livelihood. It is only made possible due to Anna Di”. She proudly said.
Sundergarh district is a tribal dominated district of Odisha where the schedule tribes account for 50 percent of the population. Most of the tribals depend on the forest and cultivation for sustenance. Forest provides them sustenance in the form of minor forest produce, water, grazing grounds and habitat for shifting cultivation, therefore like other people elsewhere, thousands of tribal in Sundergarh district have been living in or near the forest lands for decades.
Since every time they depend on forests and forest land for a livelihood, they love and guard it as their own children. But unfortunately, even after the implementation of the Forest Rights Act 2006, they did not have the legal rights over their homes, lands or livelihood. It is true that under the FRA- 2006, they got the Rights to use, protect and conserve the forest they live in, however practically at the grass root level things continued to remain the same. A few government agencies like the forest department have all power over the forests and forest dwellers. Almost all forest-dwellers inhabiting protected areas face hassles at the hands of the forest department.
Thus there was a time when these ordinary tribals even after having a long and deep bond with the forest, had nothing to claim as both their ownership and identity. They ran from pillars to posts to get their rights over the land they lived for decades. But every time their plea went unheard. Their trouble was doubled when many landlords and non-tribal and the forest department personnel exploited them by destroying their houses and their harvest- the backbreaking effort for which they worked round the clock and sweats their blood in all seasons.
It is at this critical juncture Anna Kujur emerged as a life changer for the tribals. Anna ,who herself has endure many unspoken troubles for being a poor landless tribal since her childhood, took a vow to put an end to the long misery of the unfortunate and downtrodden tribal and bring solace and happiness to their lives.
“Since childhood I wanted to serve my community and fight injustice .In 2000 I formed the Athkosia Adivasi Sangathan,” said the feisty fighter, fondly called the forest tigress.
Anna was fearless and brave since her childhood. Through Athkosia Adivasi Sangathan she began her fight for the right of the tribals. In 2003 she got a chance to associate with Campaign for Survival and Dignity (CSD) and received training on the rights of the forest dwellers. That perhaps was a turning point of her life.
“When Forest Rights Act 2006 came in place, things became slightly easier to achieve my goal. Being at the helm of organising awareness programmes among residents in around 148 villages in the forest, I mobilised them to get united and demand for their rights over land. With the help of the villagers we opened a village fund to meet the financial needs for the official expenses. It was challenging to get the work done and mobilise the file in various offices for land patta, but I with the help of CSD activist’s guidance I could move forward with my mission. Today it gives me immense pleasure when I see my fellow tribals cultivating their land without any fear after getting the Patta,” said Anna while narrating her journey.
Though at an advanced age, Anna covers 20 to 25 kms on her bicycle every day to reach people in the tribal hamlets in the district in order to make them aware on their rights over their land. She has not only shown a ray of hope to the tribals but also to the entire community. Anna will be a true inspiration for generations to come.