Dear friends,

We are happy to inform you about the publication of our new title ' Bhoomi Saksharata ki aur'.. in Hindi. The book has a 17 chapters. It talks, albiet, in brief, about the historicity of the land movement and then come to the practical issues of land at the village level which are purely administrative in nature. In the introduction, the narratives are basically about the current challenges to the livelihood with growing disparity and privatisation of natural resources. It has some new chapters like ' Know your village', which is a small idea about village mapping. Again the issue of Women's land rights also thrown open for discussion. The issue of tribal rights is also discussed giving details about the entitlement of the new tribal law. The book is essentially a compilation. The notes, briefs are taken from various articles from different books that have come out recently on issues as SEZ in particular. But the main focus of the book is the information which is needed for the person living on the ground, the administrative issues of land.

The book also have the new land acquisition act which is being discused by a select committee of the Parliament. It talks about the issue of SEZ and its impact on agricultural workers and the initiatives by the government.

One of the major chapter is devoted to human rights issues. Each issue pertaining international human rights laws is discussed in detail. A format for filing complaint with NHRC is also enclosed along with guidelines for submiting report. Again application for a Job under NREGA to the village Panchayat is also enclosed.

The most important factor for the grassroot activist is the technical know how of the land issue. It is here that minute details are provided about land measurement, land laws, ceiling laws as well as how to measure land. The instrument and units for land measurement is given in details which are of immense use for the grassroot activists.

Knowing the importance of the right to information act, we have also included the entire act in the book so that the readers can understand its important and use it to get information.

The book also gives addresses and contact informations about a few national institutions like NHRC and other bodies where they can get their problems redressed.

The book's original target is the grassroot activists and individuals who face such kind of problems daily. It is not written in preachy mode but in friendly way with small chapters. The aim was that the grassroot activists should also understand the challenges to livelihood apart from his/ her daily battle for survival because of the land administration's problem. So it is basically a connection for the activists to the broader land issue and local issues of land.

Vidya Bhushan Rawat
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