Citizens for Justice and Peace
Meet Ramu Ghumman, the happiest man in Vasai A labourer who eats only when he earns, yet never complains
29-May-2021
He sat there going about his work quietly, when I approached him. I did not want to startle him and had just taken a candid photo of him. I wanted to show it to the old man and ask if I could use it for my report. I wanted to know his name and age.…
Migration is not really a choice Adivasi community members travel in family groups to Ambadi, ‘settle down’ near the roadside
26-May-2021
Ambadi is a small town in Bhiwandi taluka. As it is a centrally located area, many people from the Jawahar and Mokhada talukas of Palghar district migrate, often on foot, to this place in search of work. They belong to the Thakur, Warli, Katkari communities and travel in family groups. However, once they reach, the…
Kaulale: All is not idyllic in this picture perfect village Villagers migrate in droves to escape unemployment, caste conflict and water scarcity
21-May-2021
Nestled in the heavily forested Jawhar taluka of Palghar district, lies a sleepy little village called Kaulale. While it is breathtakingly beautiful and looks like it was plucked out of the pages of a children’s storybook, the village is struggling. There is widespread unemployment, water scarcity and caste conflict. “Everyone thinks that education will change…
Bullets and bureaucracy: Van Gujjars of Shivalik hills are caught in the crosshairs At least 4,000 families of the originally nomadic community have settled in the region that is also home to an Army shooting range
17-Apr-2021
The Van Gujjars of Shivalik forests have a curious dilemma. Should they stay put in the middle of a region that is used by the Army for firing practice, or pack up and leave… and then go where? Should they revert to the nomadic life of their ancestors, or start life afresh on rented land?…
Why does this ‘haat’ run on our forest land? Residents of a Santhal village are demanding that the Khowai Haat be shut down
09-Apr-2021
A haat is the Bengali term for a weekly marketplace, most in rural Bengal. They are more than a mere shopping zone, and often become a hub where locals gather and meet. It is here that area residents who do not really have opportunities to travel far, can interact with customers who often came from far away to get…
In pictures: Adivasi women file land claims under FRA in Chitrakoot AIUFWP and CJP showcase how history was made one step at a time
23-Mar-2021
On March 23, the day celebrated commemorated nationwide as a tribute to martyrs Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, who redefined the revolutionary struggle for Indian independence, the All India Union of Forest Working People (AIUFWP), assisted by Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP), has achieved a historic milestone. In our endeavour to support the recognition…
Forest Land Claims filed in Chitrakoot: AIUFWP and CJP make history! Claims filed for eight villages, 10 more in the pipeline
23-Mar-2021
Rights of Adivasis and forest-dwelling communities have always been a key focus area for both, Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) and our partner organisation All India Union of Forest Working People (AIUFWP). We have been supporting these communities, especially their women grassroots leaders, navigate the complex labyrinth of bureaucracy and stake legal claim to…
What happens if an ‘unregistered’ labourer dies suddenly? Adivasi woman dies, authorities appear apathetic towards her family
22-Feb-2021
Kakdi Kakdya Potinda’s wrapped up body lay on a small cleared patch of red earth, as shocked mourners sat around, perhaps waiting for the last rites to be held. One wonders if the death of the 50-year-old Adivasi woman would ever make the news. She was not famous. She was just another worker eking out…
Who sprayed chemicals in an eco-sensitive forest area in Haldwani? Brave Van Gujjar woman’s video recording reveals atrocities by Forest Department officials
02-Feb-2021
“Hit me, I dare you… Do what you want, don’t you have stomachs,” a woman belonging to the forest dwelling Van Gujjar community is heard confronting a man, reportedly a Forest Department guard who can be heard threatening her. She was recording a video of the guards attacking a group of her fellow Van Gujjar community members who were resisting the department’s plan to…
Hard work and resilience: The success story of two men from Jawhar Born into abject poverty, they overcame all obstacles to become financially independent
16-Jan-2021
This report is part of CJP’s Grassroots Fellowship Program, and has been written by Mamta Pared who hails from the Warli tribe and lives with her family in Nimbavali village in Palghar district. The daughter of brick kiln workers, Mamta wants to be a journalist, and is working on earning a master’s degree in journalism…
Adivasi women forest workers allegedly assaulted by UP Police Police arrested the women for protesting an unauthorised construction on forest land
11-Jan-2021
In yet another display of impunity, Uttar Pradesh Police have allegedly physically assaulted women forest workers in Lilasi village of Sonbhadra district. The police whisked the women away from the protest site on Thursday, January 7, and then allegedly beat them up in custody. Speaking to CJP, Shiv Prasad, a villager said, “For two days (January 5…
Have you ever heard the hypnotic notes of the Tarpa pipe? The Warli art of making music from gourds, bamboos and an ancient playbook of memories
08-Jan-2021
It looks as unusual as it sounds, a bulbous pot-bellied gourd on one end, merging into slender bamboo on the other. You may have seen it in the centre of some traditional Warli wall paintings, where a Tarpa player is the core of the spiral of dancers, who seem to be moving in unison under…
From bonded labour to farmers waiting for ownership rights The struggle continues for this Warli tribal family
22-Dec-2020
This report is part of CJP’s Grassroots Fellowship Program, and has been written by Mamta Pared who hails from the Warli tribe and lives with her family in Nimbavali village in Palghar district. The daughter of brick kiln workers, Mamta wants to be a journalist, and is working on earning a master’s degree in journalism…
Revealed! An ancient migration route that may vanish soon Tracking the path taken by Van Gujjar nomads
10-Dec-2020
In this interview, 40-year-old Shamshad, a Van Gujjar, reveals the unique seasonal migration of the community. Shamshad hails from Kumau Chaurd, Gohri Range, Pauri Garhwal, and undertakes the seasonal migration to the river plains of Ganga Naur near Muzaffarnagar and then onto the grasslands on the Bijnor border. He leads his herd of 15 Cows,…
Bandna Parab: A festival that celebrates light and life A lesser known festival of lights, celebrated by indigenous communities to mark the changing season and give thanks to the land
05-Dec-2020
Around the same time most parts of the country celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights, there are many indigenous communities who celebrate many ancient festivals of their own. Most of these festivals are not yet recognised on the mainstream calendars, even though they are ancient, and are rooted in celebrating the elements, changing seasons, and…