The Bheels, a lower caste community have lived on their inherited land, in Bheeladi, near Chittorgarh, Rajasthan. In the 1964 land reforms, 8 bighas land was allocated to the Bheels. This land, fertile, water abundant and a grazing ground for the upper caste Jats’ cattle, was coveted by the Jats. When the Bheels refused to trade this land, the Jats ostracized them from the village.

When the construction of a new road began nearby, the Bheels did not protest as it did not interfere with them. However, on 26th October 2006, an excavator damaged several homes. The Bheels obtained a halt on the construction from the the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) with help from MKS. When the SDM tried to reach a compromise, a defiant Jat community offered the Bheels two options: 1) Let the road run through their homes and they would be given the fertile land they have cultivated since 1964; or 2) Let the road be laid as per the original plan and they would have to vacate the fertile land.

On November 10, the Bheels received a notice from the panchayat to evacuate their homes the next day. The Bheels, with MKS help, responded citing several legal acts stating that the panchayat has no judicial rights to do the evacuation. Once it was clear, there was no legal standing, the situation got out of hand: 100-150 men attacked the Bheels with sticks. The Bheels do not wish to give in to the new road, clearly planned for vengeance. Prayas along with LSS has been working to make the claim to their land legal and have been protecting them from further violence. They are also trying to get the public works department to lay the road according to the original plan.

Pressure from AID pays off!
Apart from supporting LSS and Prayas financially, AID-Austin volunteers also ran a campaign in support of the Bheels. The petition, with its 345 signatures, was sent to the police and judiciary, which has changed their attitude a bit. LSS has thanked AID for this timely outside pressure.