Since 2005, more than 3 lakh tribals have been displaced from Bijapur and Dantewada districts of Chhattisgarh.  Facing starvation, harassment and brutality in Salwa Judum camps, many thousands have fled the state.   In 2008, the Supreme Court ordered the state to implement the National Human Rights Commission's recommendation to facilitate safe return and rehabilitation, compensate for damages and restore democratic rights.  Some families returned to Nendra in 2008 and several hundred more followed in 2009.  AID supported ASDS to provide relief as well as efforts to rehabilitate displaced tribal families of Chhattisgarh by providing safe transport and support for returning to their homes, resuming their livelihoods and demanding government services.  In the first six months 400 families have returned. Read brief report.

How they returned: See interview with Himanshu Kumar, Vanvasi Chetana Ashram

Sign Statement supporting Rehabilitation Rights for displaced tribal people of Chhattisgarh

Relief to Chattisgarh tribals fleeing to Andhra (March 2009 report) | Donate to All India Relief Fund of AID.

Rehabilitation Work in Dantewada and Bijapur - A Brief Report (2009)

Bijapur and Dantewada district are situated in southern part of Bastar. This area is inhabitated by many tribes and OBC’s , the major tribe here is Koya.

In 2005 state government initiated an anti insurgency operation named Salwa Judum. In which state tried to cut the supply line of naxalites by shifting villagers to the road side Salwa Judum camps. during this population shifting excercise thousands of tribes opted not to shift to the government camps and remained in their village. State forces blamed such tribals as naxal supporters and attacked on such villages. Thousands of tribes had to hide in jungle to save their lives or to migrate in neighbouring states. More than fifty thousand people migrated to Andhra Pradesh itself. 

Tribals of Chhattisgarh who migrated to Andhra Pradesh have been living in sub human conditions. They had lost all their livelihood means including land, live stock, forest produce etc. on the other hand people hiding in forests of Chhattisgarh were also living under threat of Salwa Judum and state forces attack. These situations worsen the conflict situation. AID INDIA and A.S.D.S decided to intervene in this situation to minimize the measure of the people and explore the possibilities of a peaceful resolution of the conflict.

A.S.D.S. Rekhapalli Andhra Pradesh and AID INDIA decided to help people to resettle in their native villages and to reclaime their land. A.S.D.S conducted a survey of internally displaced people living in Andhra Pradesh and contacted certain social activist and social groups working in Chhattisgarh and explored possibilities of rehabilitation of these I.D.P. Administration of both the states, Andhra pradesh and Chhattisgarh were informed about proposed rehabilitation schedule. Tribes from Andhra Pradesh seen off by activist’s, local media and representatives of local administration. These tribes were escorted/accompanied by activist of Chhattisgarh. After a heavy struggle with local police officers and Salwa Judum, these tribes could go to their village. We had to show supreme court instructions and N.H.R.C.S recommendations about rehabilitation of these tribes.

So far following villages will be rehabilitated partially

1. Basaguda
2. Lingagiri
3. Dharmapur
4. Kumharpara
5. Sarkeguda
6. Kattaguda
7. Rajpeta
8. Basaguda
9. Peesepara
10. Pakela
11. Heerapur
12. Regadgatta
13. Etegatta
14. Gorka
15. Kurtipara
16. Pata Nendra
17. Kotta Nendra
18. Kotta Cheru
19. Darbhaguda

So far we have been able to rehabilitate 400 families in this six month period. Plus 200 families were last year rehabilitated in Nendra area. 
 

Volunteers did the following activities with the communities. 

1. Helping them in constructing cottages/ repairing their old damaged house.
2. Organize their meetings to know about their problems/needs.
3. Distributing medicines and taking serious patients to Basaguda PHC or to Dantewada District hospital.
4. Volunteers survey each house hold about damage caused to them due to Salwa Judum attack to claim before Government, as per S.C. directions.
5. Advocacy on different issues were done with administration and certain amenities were successfully ensured.
6. All the rehabilitated families have cultivated land and sown paddy, maze & vegetables.

Achievements : 

During this six month period villagers could get following support from administration. 

Due to this rehabilitation drive a general sense of security and stability is spreading in terror -hit area around these rehabilitated villages.