NOT ONE TO GIVE UP: Mankubai at the agriculture fields which were restored to her brother after her two-year struggle

JAMGAON (ADILABAD DT.): Restoring the faith of sceptics in the efficacy of governmental machinery, Kumra Manku Bai, a tribal self help group leader from Jamgaon in Jainoor mandal of Adilabad district has succeeded in getting possession of her father's land from a non-tribal `encroacher'.

This recent success story comes in the background of land-related problems plaguing the tribal areas. A non-tribal moneylender had cultivated for 40 years an 18-acre plot belonging to Manku Bai's father Thodasam Gangu. The land had been mortgaged with the moneylender for a paltry Rs. 500.

False cases

Though this loan had been repaid the moneylender refused to part with the land and went to the extent of physically harming and foisting false cases against Gangu's sons.

The advent of `Velugu' project in the district saw formation of women's self help groups. In course of time Manku Bai became the president of the Jainoor Mandal Samakhya.

"On coming to know that my land was under the possession of a moneylender, officials advised me to approach the authorities. I lodged a complaint two years ago with relevant details," recalled Manku Bai.

B. Raghunath Rao, the Assistant Project Manager (APM), Velugu, at Jainoor said, "We helped Manku Bai in sorting out papers related to her claim on the land".

V. Sheshadri, then the Project Officer of Utnoor Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) adjudicated the case in Thodasam Gangu's favour. "Every Monday I inquired about the progress of my case with the ITDA PO," recollected Manku Bai.

The perseverance resulted in the Jainoor Mandal Revenue Officer restoring the land to Gangu's son Thodasam Sone Rao in March. It took about two years for the whole process.

"Had I not participated in the Velugu activities, I would never have known that I can get the land back," observed the doughty tribal. On hearing the tale of Manku Bai, Rajya Sabha member Jairam Ramesh had planned the "Giri Nyayam' a programme to impart legal education to tribal youth.

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