Ranchi:
Residents of Maujanagri village, which is around 25 kms from Jharkhand's capital Ranchi, have been protesting for six months now against the construction of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) on a piece of land, which they say has been forcefully acquired by the state government.
The villagers have camped a kilometre away from where the construction is about to begin for the Indian Institute of Management and a law university. For the past six months, more than four thousand people have gathered on 227 acres of land, protesting against the government's land acquisition policy, which they allege is illegal. Some students have had to even drop out of school for the protests.
"We have given up studying. Day and night we are with our parents to ensure that somehow our land is saved," says a protesting young girl Sarita.
All around the land, the villagers have planted the 'Sarna', which in Adivasi tradition is a flag declaring that the piece of land cannot be sold or acquired.
"We will give our lives but not land," says Sanjay Munda, a resident of the Maujanagri village.
"The government and administration provided false evidence to the court and tried to buy off the villagers. It's only after an RTI that we found the truth and if this continues, it will not just be a Singur but a maha Singur," says Dayamani Barla, a social worker.
The acquisition bid goes back to 1955 when the government wanted this land and some villagers had even agreed and received compensation. But others protested and since then, they have been cultivating here. Till February 28, this year they have paid land revenue. The government has gone to the court where the matter is still pending.