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KEY RESEARCH & PUBLICATIONS:
01. State of Orissa’s Environment Report – 1st edition, 1994.
02. State of Orissa’s Environment Report – 2nd edition, 1999.
03. Study of indigenous knowledge and Kond medicine system in Kondhmal , 1995.
04. Tribal Land Alienation in Un-divided Koraput District in 1998.
05. Scoping Study for Rural Livelihoods project in Orissa commissioned by Traidcraft, UK in 2002-03.
06. Livelihood of Forest dwellers and Non-Timber Forest Produce Marketing policy in Orissa, 1995-96.
07. Social Impact Assessment of Harabhangi Dam Project in 2000-2001.
08. Base-line Socio-Economic study and Rehabilitation Action Action plan for Displaced Persons
of Rengali and Harabhangi Projects in 2002-03.
09. Development Induced Displacement: Rehabilitation and Resettlement in the Mining and Industrial Projects of Orissa in 2002-2003.
10. Study on Livelihood Restoration of Cyclone Affected People in Coastal Districts of Orissa in 2000.
11. Social Impact Assessment of Ib-valley power project in 1991.
12. Child Labour situation in Bhubaneswar city in 1993.
13. Child Labour Problem in Orissa in 1996-97.
14. Study on Commercial Plantations in Orissa commissioned in 1993-94.
15. Impact study of R &R of displaced persons of Indravati-Hydro Electric Proj.1992.
16. An appraisal of Coastal Environmental problems of Orissa in 1993.
17. Socio Economic Impact of Industrial and Mining Pollution in Angul-Talcher in 1994-95.
18. Study on Kondh Art & Crafts of Orissa, commissioned by CPSW in 2003-05.
19. SIA and Base line Socio-economic survey of affected people in Kalinganagar area, 2007
20. Tribal Cultural Mapping of 4-tribal communities in Orissa, 2008
The policy research and advocacy unit primarily focuses on tribal issues and advocate for modification of social legislations.
Land Rights:
For Adivasi people of Orissa, land plays an essential role. Ownership and control over land in Adivasi areas is most clearly related with the economic and social well being of the people. There is a need to bring amendments to the existing legislation to prevent large scale transfer of land of Adivasi to non-Adivasi through variety means and the failure on the Government front for physical restoration of such alienated land to the original land owner. Also, the settlement of land, which is cultivated by the tribals for years needs to be done at the earliest. The amendments may be brought in the section 22 of the Orissa Land Reforms Act, 1960 Section 22 and 23, section 8 (A) of the Orissa prevention of Land Encroachment Act, Rule 6 of Orissa Government Land settlements Rule 1983, Orissa Gram Panchayat Act 1997, Orissa (Scheduled Areas Money Lenders Regulation 1967, Orissa Scheduled Areas Debt Relief Regulation 1967 Schedule Area Land Transfer Regulation Act). Adivasis cultivating on the land for more than ten years should get pattas on the land without any bureaucratic hindrances. The tribals are mobilized to put as many land patta applications. Legal help is extended for land settlement. Already we have mobilized about 800 families to file land applications during the year.
CPSW organized consultations on the draft Forest Bill in Orissa in 1995 and 1996 and submitted recommendations to the Government of India. Also, it participated in drafting of an alternative Forest Act and ”Joint Protected Area Management” in 1997. Presently, the forest rights of tribals and peasants are a crucial issue being fought. CPSW is actively involved in formation and processes of Orissa Adibasi Adhikar Abhijan (OAAA), a network of several tribal organizations in Orissa. This network is working on issues relating to the tribals, especially on their culture, identity, autonomy, rights over land and natural resources, etc. The tribal leaders of CPSW area are participating in this forum and its activities.
Forest Rights:
Government ownership over forests and forest products has alienated tribal communities from forests. Bestowing the rights to collection, marketing and processing of NTFPs on these users would strengthen their household economy and livelihood. The formation of local level primary collectors’ institutions could also widen the scope of forest dwelling activities of the primary collectors. Skill development activities through training could also ensure the use of sustainable methods of extraction of NTFPs, primary processing and value addition, besides increasing awareness on resource conservation and biodiversity.
Effective forest management to harness NTFPs in the JFM areas of Orissa can play an important role in improving the socio-economic conditions of the forest dependent communities and tribals in particular. Changes in the provisions of the Forest Acts, and rules that unreasonably limit the scope of procurement, marketing, primary processing, and value addition in the JFM areas would be needed. The state policy on NTFPs could focus on sustainable resource management and improvement of livelihoods of the forest dwelling communities both quantitatively as well as qualitatively, so that in the long run, these communities would be empowered to carry out activities to procure, process and market the available NTFPs and could thus sustain their livelihood and food security.
State of Orissa’s Environment Report, 2006
A documentation, data analysis and report preparation was done on State of Orissa’s Environment. Eminent experts Dr. M. C. Das edited work and has prepared the report. The report has 12 chapters and has brought out several critical issues. The report will help policy makers, journalists and activists to strengthen their work on environmental issues.
Land Rights Bill:
A state wide campaign in alliance with the national campaigns for survival and disguity is carried out to demand land rights for the tribals. CPSW has been actively participatory in the process. Several meetings and workshops were held on the issue during the year.
Tribal Policy:
CPSW has been working on tribal policy, which was initiated by ODAF. Consultations, analysis of policy and campaign as well as lobby is being carried out on this. Recently, government of India has came out with a draft policy, which is being debated among the people and CBOs in the state.
· Study on land conflict has been completed in 10 villages with complete demarcation of the individual landholders. The people those who claim land rights over the forestland have no records with them of how much land they occupy. For this demarcation is being made with the support of the experts on the subject by which they can quantify the land they occupy.
· One book has been published on Art and Craft on Kutia Kondhs has been prepared. It can be used for the reservation of art and craft of Kondhs, which is part of their way of life.
Workshops, Networking and Alliance Building:
One workshop was organized on NREGA at Bamunigaon in which 75 persons participated. In this workshop all aspects of the Act was discussed and the process by which people can get employment under the Act was also discussed. The workshop was continued for two days.
Panchayati Raj
To streamline PDS in interior villages women groups have mobilized dealership in two villages. They are distributing rice and kerosene oil to nearby villages.
· Reorganized proposed block level networks in 8 gram panchayats taking all networks like Rushimal Anchalika Unnayan Parishad, Pandhcyat federations, panchayat development committees, etc. They raised issues against appointment of doctor in PHC, VAS, high school teacher, PMGSY from Merama to Tamangi, safe drinking water, etc.
· In 4 Gram Panchayats, extensive Palli Sabha training organised in all villages, collaboration with government departments. The main purpose was to redesign planning of Palli Sabha for five years and included enrollment plan in Palli Sabha.
R. R. Policy: Finally the policy was adopted by the government with some pro-people provisions. The amount of compensation has increased. The process of land acquisition has been more people oriented and the earlier process of forcible occupation has been changed. The concept of family has been associated with each adult member of the family. The main thing is that the policy has some special clauses for Kalinga Nagar.
Farmers’ Rights: In the process of globalization the right of the farmers in the developing countries is at rise. The farmers of these countries are to depend on various multi-national companies for their various needs and their interest is hampered. Global Week of Action (GWA) is a campaign by the civil society organizations to fight for the farmers’ rights in respect to NAMA. Before the Hong Kong Ministerial of the WTO, a memorandum was sent to the Government of India and also to the WTO to include some provisions, which would be congenial to the farmers’ interest. The farmers should be free in choice of the seeds, pesticides, fertilizers they are using. A big meeting was organized at Bhubaneswar in which experts from various sectors like political economic and social sectors participated and put forth their views, which was sent to the WTO.
Minimum support price:
Most of the states have declared minimum support price for all agri-products. Government of Orissa also declared the Minimum Support Price for certain products, but not all the products and the middleman / traders are not practicing this because they are availing the opportunity of the distress sale and purchasing the products from the farm itself. If the products can come to the nearby mandis and hats and governments regulatory departments can ensure the price then ferments can avail their actual cost of production because still Government not declared the MSP of all the products. Particularity there should be a separate price structure for drought prone areas and the payment should be in cash. Farmers will lobby for MSP.
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