Geeta Tudu is from Hazaribagh district, a land scarred by coal mining. The coalmines are now the main sources of livelihood for the residents of this district and also often the bane of their lives. The mining has reduced forest cover and along with that income earning opportunities for the once primarily agricultural community. This has thrown up issues such…

Geeta Tudu

Phusri Village, Hazaribag district of Jharkhand | Geeta Tudu

Central Coalfields Limited (CCL), a producer and supplier of coal to power and steel sectors usurped 906 acres of land across 45 districts in Jharkhand in 1983. Over the next 30 years, a large number of people lost their land and were rendered unemployed as a consequence. CCL had promised people who had substantial portions of land permanent jobs. Those who had small portions of land were promised daily wage work in the coal dump. However, only 35 people have been employed by CCL so far and nobody in the village has found work at the coal dump.

As unemployment continues to be rampant and most are forced to migrate in search of work, the story of Phusri village throws up an important question about the need for social impact assessment and consent of the people while developing projects on farming or forest land, both of which have been done away with in the LARR Ordinance -- at whose cost are we seeking development?

Please call RD Singh, Project Officer, Tapin North, Charhi, Hazaribag on +91 8987784299 and appeal to him that all residents of the village receive employment.