Face off: Deffering Opinion on Major Issues
| • The problem | BABULAL MARANDI CHIEF MINISTER, JHARKHAND • Because of the rampant poverty here, people from outside are using the adivasis to cut trees | STEPHEN MARANDI OPPOSITION LEADER, JHARKHAND ASSEMBLY • The forest department is hand-in-glove with the contractors and timber smugglers in exploiting the adivasis |
| • The solution | • The forest department is working on a plan to involve natives in protecting the forest. It also aims to provide employment. The money made from the forest will be used for development projects here. The infrastructure is also being developed so that Saranda can be brought on the tourist map | • Take care of unemployment and most of the other problems will automatically disappear. The so-called illegal settlements should be legalised and the government should also make sure that people from outside do not come and settle here |
| • The manki-munda system | • It isn’t very different from the scheduled area panchayat system. The rights of the mankis, however, need to be looked into. But nothing will be done without the involvement of the villagers | • The system should be legitimised. The mankis and mundas should have powers to look after the forests. But the forest department isn’t doing that |
| • The political betrayal | • These allegations are baseless. We are doing more work for the adivasis than anyone, be it in the field of education or employment or housing. But some protest, because they have to | • The government is in the hands of the officialdom. In fact, some of our own party members have let down the tribal people |