Jharkhand government over the years signed over 74 MoUs, out of which 50 MoUs are still valid. There are several steel and power companies that have purchased land from ‘raiyyats’ (land owners). But the recent High Court order to the state government for strict compliance of the Chotanagpur Tenancy Act (CNT) Act restricting transfer and sale of land belonging to ST/SC/OBC outside community without the prior sanction of the deputy commissioner has left the industry fraternity confounded.

Government should immediately constitute a team for the Genetic and Haemolytic study of Birhors’ in a bid to protect them from extinction and to diminish their mortality rates. Birhor a nomadic forest tribe, life span/ life expectancy is significantly low and they are on the verge of extinction, writes Ashis Sinha