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MIGRATION ATLAS OF INDIA
All Photographs By: Simon Williams
SUCCESS OF EKTA PARISHAD
CAMPAIGNS
Land Occupation Movement
(1984-2000)
200,000 HECTARES of Land successfully OCCUPIED & RECLAIMED by Landless Poor across Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Bihar, and other States.
NEGOTIATED FOR Land Rights with local and State administration. Nearly 20,000 LANDLESS POOR were benefited and received land rights against their land occupation.
Occupied lands have been used for individual and collective farming. Strengthen cooperation within the landless community for land-based livelihood and also for building community-focused alternative occupation. These efforts DIRECTLY BENEFITED TO NEARLY 100,000 LANDLESS POOR across various States.
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The success of Ekta Parishad's work can be attributed to the tireless efforts of thousands of activists, community leaders, and the hundreds of grassroots organizations that are a part of this movement. Over the years, we have made incremental progress in reducing inequality and ensuring that villagers get access to land and resources that they are entitled to.
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Land Rights Foot March in Madhya Pradesh (1999-2000)
WALKED 3500 Km across Madhya Pradesh THROUGH 8000 VILLAGES and mobilize thousands of landless poor for their land rights. Supplemented by Joto Jito Andolan (Land Occupation Movement) and Janmbhumi Wapsi Andolan (Back to Native Land Movement) to disobey the anti-poor land & forest laws.
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Negotiated for setting up a Task Force on Land Reforms, with a very clear focus of allotment of land to tribal, Dalit and other landless poor. Ekta Parishad members were given equal representations in State and District Level Task Forces. As a result, 340,000 LANDLESS POOR RECEIVED LAND RIGHTS entitlement.
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Land allotted to the landless poor has started to a FOOD GRAIN CUM SEED BANK in every village which further resulted in a secured seed bank (a collection of traditional seeds) and grain bank (as a secured collection for the crucial period of scarcity). This is successfully OPERATED OVER 10,000 VILLAGES
Land Rights Foot March in Bihar
(2001-2002)
WALKED 1000 Km ACROSS SOUTH BIHAR and mobilize thousands of homeless and landless poor. Loudly raise the issues of Bhudan Land (land received by Vinoba Bhave during land donation march in mid 60s). March was supported by various ideological groups.
Negotiated for setting up a Land Commission for addressing the issues of unresolved land questions and suggest measures for the allotment of land to the landless and homeless poor. HOMESTEAD LAND DISTRIBUTED TO 18000 HOMELESS POOR WITHIN A YEAR and later this becomes a flagship program of the Bihar government resulted in allotment of homestead land to nearly 200,000 homeless poor across various districts of Bihar state.
People who received land rights were united. Later series of Shramdan Camps in the South Bihar resulted IN THE REJUVENATION OF TRADITIONAL IRRIGATION SYSTEM (Ahar Pyne) and thousands of people were benefitted directly. In a few places, small landholders were united as Vegetable Grower Cooperatives.
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Land Rights Campaign in Chhattisgarh (2003)
Covered 200Kms ACROSS CHHATTISGARH and mobilize the tribal community against anti-tribal Forest Laws and Policies. Also speak out loudly against the massive land acquisition of farm and forest land.
Negotiated for setting up a Task Force on Land Reforms. ALLOTMENT OF LAND TO 6000 TRIBAL FAMILIES IN KAWARDHA DISTRICT. A high-level order issued for a complete halt in atrocities against tribal people and consideration of consent of tribal people before any land acquisition.
FOREST PRODUCE COOPERATIVES have been started IN 50+ VILLAGES which strengthen the means of alternative livelihood. All tribal people who received land rights were also motivated for the adoption of organic and low-cost agriculture.
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Land Rights Campaign in Odisha
(2004-05)
Covered 2500 Km and mobilize thousands of landless and homeless poor ACROSS ODISHA. Successfully linked the various movements into one united action which was supported by 100+ land rights organizations.
Nearly 400+ VILLAGES ADOPTED SYSTEM OF GRAIN BANK and also engaged in various Shramdan Camps RESULTED in building water conservation structures and Forest Produce Cooperatives in 50 VILLAGES ACROSS ODISHA.
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Negotiated for a Task Force on Land Reforms. Later 'MO JAMI MO DEHA' (My Land My Home) policy ADOPTED BY STATE GOVERNMENT resulted in ALLOTMENT OF LAND TO NEARLY 100,000 HOMELESS POOR. Also ‘Operation Vasundhara’ started to resolve the land disputes achieved significant result over the years.
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Rehabilitation and Resettlement Campaign for the Tsunami Affected People
(2005-2006)
A very important grassroots CAMPAIGN ORGANIZED IN TSUNAMI AFFECTED AREAS OF KERALA & TAMIL NADU. Mobilized thousands of affected people across these States.
CONVERGENCE was made WITH THE LOCAL ADMINISTRATIONS in order to strengthen the processes of rehabilitation and resettlement of affected people.
More than 100+ SMALL & MICRO VILLAGE BASED ENTREPRENEURSHIPS STARTED and strengthened which benefitted to 2000+ families directly. Farmers were also motivated for organic farming.
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Janadesh
(2007)
A HISTORICAL FOOT MARCH OF 25000 LANDLESS AND HOMELESS POOR COVERED 350Kms FROM GWALIOR TO DELHI. an example of nonviolent direct action. 500+ social organizations the first time came together for the mass campaign. 1500 COMMUNITY LEADERS were TRAINED for the successful operation of Janadesh's action.
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Negotiated for the declaration & implementation of the Forest Rights Act. This negotiation was extended to the constitution of the National Land Reforms Council (Rajgopal Ji appointed as a Member) and the National Land Reforms Committee (Ramesh Sharma appointed as a Member). FIRST TIME A DETAILED POLICY NOTE WAS PREPARED FOR THE LAND REFORMS. NEARLY 100,000 TRIBAL PEOPLE HAVE BEEN RECEIVED LAND RIGHTS within the operational area of Ekta Parishad, after the successful implementation of the Forest Rights Act in various States.
NEARLY 5000+ LAND HOLDERS WERE ADOPTED ORGANIC AND LOW-COST FARMING in various States. They are also engaged in the processes of Grain and Seed Bank. Several cooperatives also started for strengthening their local economy. In the recent past, these farmers were also organized more than 100+ Shramdan Camps for building water conservation structures.
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Jan Samwad Yatra
(2011-12)
MOBILIZED NEARLY A MILLION PEOPLE BY COVERING 80,000 Kms IN 24 STATES OF INDIA BY CROSSING OVER 350 DISTRICTS AND THOUSANDS OF VILLAGES.
BUILT AN ARCHIVE OF VARIOUS SUCCESS STORIES OF LAND RIGHTS MOVEMENTS and their impact on the rural economy.
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BUILT AN ALLIANCE OF 2000+ LAND RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS & movements for one larger decisive action Jan Satyagraha (2012). Built a common consensus over key asks of Jan Satyagraha.
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Jan Satyagrah
(2012)
A HISTORICAL MOBILIZATION OF 100,000 LANDLESS AND HOMELESS POOR FOR THE LAND REFORMS. This mass action was led by 12000 grassroots leaders who were fully trained in nonviolent actions. It also brings representatives of 2000+ land rights movements for the decisive action of Jan Satyagraha 2012.
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AGREEMENT ON 10 POINT AGENDA FOR LAND REFORMS, WHICH INCLUDES SET UP OF NATIONAL TASK FORCE ON LAND REFORMS (Rajgopal Ji and Ramesh Sharma appointed as a Member). Drafted and presented the National Homestead Land Rights Act and National Land Reforms Policy. A detailed circular was issued to 17 States of India for the allotment of land to the landless & homeless poor and do land reforms. Clear guidelines sent to all the State governments for setting up Community Paralegal Support Centers in order to resolve land disputes. Finally, the housing scheme amended for increasing the financial allocation for building houses to the homeless poor.
Nearly 50,000 LANDLESS AND HOMELESS POOR were benefitted directly and RECEIVED LAND ENTITLEMENT THROUGH VARIOUS STATES ACTIONS. These new landholders also decided to adopt organic and low-cost agriculture. A series of Shramdan Camps were organized in order to ensure water for the farming, which resulted in securing irrigation for 10000 acres of land in various States. These farmers also connected with the systems of Grain & Seed Banks in order to protect their agriculture and alternative livelihoods.
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Campaign for Homestead Land Rights (2016)
MASS MOBILIZATION OF THOUSANDS OF HOMELESS POOR IN MADHYA PRADESH. Created a decisive mass pressure for the Homestead Act in order to ensure homestead land to each homeless poor in the State.
NEGOTIATED FOR THE HOMESTEAD ACT. The Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh announced and enacted the Madhya Pradesh Homestead & Housing Land Guarantee Act (2016). Also Land Commission was constituted for the land reforms.
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Women Farmer Rights Campaign and Jan Andolan (2018)
A MASS MOBILIZATION OF 25000 LANDLESS AND HOMELESS POOR FOR LAND GUARANTEE POLICY AND LEGISLATION. Spoken for the rights of Women Farmers and Land Holders.
NEGOTIATED with Central Government and also WITH GOVERNMENT OF MADHYA PRADESH AND CHHATTISGARH FOR THE LAND REFORMS and distribution of land to the landless poor.
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Global Walk for Justice and Peace
– Jai Jagat (2019-2020)
Mobilization of Peace Activists in India and many other countries across Asia, Africa, Latin America, North America, and Europe. A foot march from Rajghat (New Delhi) to the United Nations (Geneva) with the active engagement of voluntary organizations and peace activists.
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An extensive process of alliance building across various countries and international institutions towards common action for Peace Ministry, Peace Education, and Nonviolent Economy towards achieving peace and justice to everyone in the world.
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Relief Operations during Corona Pandemic (2020)
Conducted extensive relief operations across 20 states of India and ensured food supplies to nearly 80 thousands migrant workers. Interface with the Government agencies for the implementation of appropriate policies and laws in favor of migrant workers
Organized 240 Shramdan Camps towards rebuilding the resources for rural livelihood with the voluntary action of thousands of migrant workers and landless communities. Planted 200 thousand fruit trees with the active ownership of villagers across 11 states of India.
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