CAMPAIGNS

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Campaigns are collaborative processes to raise awareness over issues, while also creating a platform for adivasi communities to assert their rights in a public forum.

Major campaign issues undertaken:
	Review of Community Forest Management (CFM) project;
	Strengthening of Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRI);
	Displacement of adivasis due to Bhupathipalem and Surampalem Reservoirs
	Property rights of adivasi women on both ryotwari and government lands
	Quick disposal of cases in Scheduled Areas;
	Corrupt practices in Agency Courts of ITDA area of East Godavari district;
	Lack of irrigation facilities for adivasi lands, and diversion of water resources to the plains;
	Framing the rules for local governance in accordance with the PESA (Panchayat Raj Extension to Schedule Areas) Act;
	Lack of government action on atrocities against adivasi women;
	Proper implementation of Land Transfer Regulations;
	Inclusion and implementation of the National Adivasi Policy in accordance with the PESA;
	Polavaram Project submergence;
	Problems of migrant settlement in East Godvari district;
	Issues of adivasi students;
	‘Delimitation’ process in adivasi areas;
	Illegal land purchases by Rural Divisional Officer (RDO);
	Recognition of podu cultivation in the Schedule Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006;
	Opposing the government move to establish a adivasi battalion;
	Adverse implications of cotton farming in the adivasi areas;
	Indiscriminate and unsustainable harvesting of medicinal plants and unsustainable consequences;
	Lack of government response to epidemic-prone health problems such as malaria.

The campaign processes have involved organising rallies, dharnas, marches, conventions, meetings, workshops, disseminating pamphlets/posters, undertaking media advocacy, submitting memoranda, petitions and facilitating representations to concerned officials and elected representatives. In cases of corruption, the officials took action at the local level. In issues regarding policy, the campaigns have helped in drawing attention of officials/elected representatives to the particular problem at hand so that they can take relevant action or specific recommendations in their reports.

IMPACT

Land Rights:

The government of Andhra Pradesh set up a Land Committee in 2005, chaired by a Minister to study and suggest recommendations to resolve land issues in the state of Andhra Pradesh. RLA presented a detailed report suggesting the changes to be brought in the administration and legal frame for effective enforcement of Adivasi Land Laws at a key internal meeting, where RLA was invited. The final report of the Land Committee to the Government of Andhra Pradesh, 2007 reflected 75% of the recommendations made by RLA.

Involvement in land issues and campaigns on land rights has facilitated our presence in the lok adalats to ensure justice. Furthermore in some landmark legal cases the government was forced to reopen proceedings against non-adivasis who have illegally usurped lands, which actually belong to adivasi communities.

SRI:

Our involvement with SRI cultivation has facilitated government and other organisations such as CARE-STEP to adopt and disseminate this practice.

Cotton Farming:

The campaign relating to the indiscriminate plantation of cotton contributed to making an informed decision by adivasi farmers on the choice of mixed crops to be grown on their lands.

Herbal Plants and Medicines:

Campaigning for the relevance and cost effectiveness of herbal medicines in adivasi areas has led to a revitalisation of the traditional herbal system of health care in the region.

The specific campaign against unsustainable collection of rare medicinal plants in the area: tippatiga (tinospora cordifolia) and naramamidi (lichea glutinosa) by facilitating the THP network to initiate various processes such as a signature campaign, dissemination of pamphlets, undertake rallies and ultimately submit a memorandum to the District Collector resulted in a marked reduction of sale of these herbs to the Girijan Cooperative Corporation (GCC).

Human Resource Empowerment:

In all processes relating to protection of adivasi rights the drivers of initiatives have been adivasi representatives. The CBO federation with significant participation of women, has actively campaigned on local issues particularly on for a adivasi policy at the State level as on many other local issues that are adversely militating against adivasi interests. The obstacles to success have been many but the real achievement has been in the capacities developed for advocacy initiatives among youth and women in this adivasi region.