Chhottu Vasava to march for rights of tribals

SURAT: Tribal leader and Janata Dal (U) MLA from Jaghadia, Chottu Vasava has decided to expand his area of influence beyond Bharuch and Narmada districts in south Gujarat. Vasava with the help from some adivasi organisations like Ekta Parishad and Adhyapak Mandal will be on a 'Constitutional Rights March' from February 22 onwards.
The 11-day march will begin at Virampur in Banaskantha district and end at Dharampur in Valsad district.The march will pass through Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, Vadodara, Panchmahal, Godhra, Bharuch, Narmada, Surat, Tapi, Navsari, Valsad and the Dangs districts.
Vasava told TOI, "Our aim is to make the adivasis aware of their rights under the Constitution. Unfortunately after the Independence, no leader has has taken the trouble to reach out to our people."
A staunch critic of multi-nationals and Gujarat government, the 68-year-old class X pass leader said, "As if the tortures on the adivasis are not enough, the state government is planning to take away our land from us. It plans to do away with the law of 73 (A)(A) that bars anyone from purchasing the land belonging to the tribals. We want partnership in the ownership of land along with education and healthcare. Development can only be brought about with local support."
He termed his march as an enlightenment process for the tribals. However, political observers say it is a ground preparation for the 2012 Assembly elections. There is a sizeable tribal population in 12 districts of the state. Despite BJP winning the last three Assembly elections with a huge majority in the state, Vasava has remained undefeated since 1989 in his stronghold of Jaghadia in Bharuch district.