Anil Kumar Saroj is a social worker and Community Correspondent who reports on issues related to employment, corruption, caste, and women’s rights. A spirit of entrepreneurship and a commitment to justice and equality are deeply embedded within Anil. His lower caste status caused him and his family to experience discrimination and unemployment. The hostility drove his family to move to…

Anil Kumar Saroj

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This issue started 58 years ago. The then Government, considering the contribution of the weaving community and seeing their poverty and landlessness, allotted a piece of land for them to settle in. In 1964, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Government and the weaving community about this agreement of settlement with a monthly rental of INR 30/-. The weaving community settled there in Mau District, Uttar Pradesh but economic prosperity was not easy to come by. They struggled with their livelihood issues - their chosen occupation was not a high revenue yielding system. Once, in those early years, they were unable to pay the rent to the Government. After not getting the standard rent for a few years, the Government issued summons to them to vacate their houses and leave the colony, but the community elders pleaded with the government, bought some time, and with difficulties, all of them gathered the required amount to pay the rent.

Now, the Revenue officials are asking for their land rights. As these were allotted land, they wanted the Weaving Community to register their land. The court fees and registration fees are so high that it is impossible for them to register the allotted land. This is pushing them to live in a constant fear of forceful displacement. They are requesting Revenue officials to subsidise the land registration fees, so that the community can gather money and work towards it. They need this assistance from the administration as they live in abject poverty and the new issue of registering their land is adding another burden on their already impoverished life. 

Hope the district administration will review the situation of these poor weaving communities and keep their promises of leased land.