The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Justice delayed is justice gained!

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Friday, Jun 30, 2006

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Justice delayed is justice gained!

Special Correspondent

Manku Bai at a workshop organised by SERP in Hyderabad on Thursday.

HYDERABAD: "I am happy that after so many years of struggle, I got my land back," says Manku Bai, a tribal woman and former Mandal Mahila Samakhya president from Jaongon, a remote tribal village in Adilabad district.

With help from Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP), poverty-stricken Manku Bai successfully fought a legal battle and secured the land. It took 37 long years for the tribal family to take possession of 18 acres of land valued at Rs. 30 lakhs.

Struggle pays off, finally

"Nothing can be achieved without struggle," Manku Bai said speaking at a workshop organised by SERP on `Land and legal assistance' here on Thursday. Narrating her struggle, Manku Bai said her father Todsam Gangu took a loan of Rs. 1,400 from a non-tribal moneylender B. Shanker in 1969 to perform a marriage in the family and agreed to give his land on lease.

Shanker got Gangu's thumb impression on a blank paper but refused to restore the land after the lease period expired. In 1974, Gangu approached the Special Deputy Collector (Tribal Welfare) to adjudicate the dispute. Though Gangu got a favourable verdict, it was repeatedly challenged by Shanker in the higher court. As the case dragged on, Gangu passed away. His legal heirs lost hopes of getting the land back, thanks to poverty, ignorance and lack of legal support.

March 20 a historic day

But Manku Bai who became samakhya chief in 2003 approached Indira Kranti Patham officials. Integrated Tribal Development Agency officials restrained Shanker from selling the land and the legal assistance programme for land unit of SERP took up the case in October last. March 20 this year was a historic day for Manku Bai as the Mandal Revenue Officer of Jainoor after due enquiry passed orders in favour of legal heirs of Gangu. Today, Manku Bai enjoys 10 acres as her brothers voluntarily gifted part of their share to her.

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