On the occasion of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples (August 9), the Solidarity Forum for Adivasi Rights Struggle, based in the southern Indian states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, urges the global community to join in observing Solidarity Week from August 9 to August 15, 2024. This solidarity week is dedicated to supporting the ongoing struggles and advocating for the rights of Adivasis, the Indigenous people of India.
The Crisis Facing Adivasi Communities in India
The lives and livelihoods of Adivasi communities in India are in deep crisis. For decades, these Indigenous populations have been systematically neglected and marginalized by the state, which has denied them development opportunities and eroded the traditional, self-sustaining socio-cultural and political fabric of Adivasi life. This longstanding crisis is now compounded by an even more insidious threat: dispossession in the name of “national development.”
The Indian state, in collusion with powerful corporate entities, is orchestrating a land grab that pushes Adivasis out of their ancestral homes in the resource-rich forests of central and eastern India to make way for large-scale corporate mining operations and the construction of highways and railway lines for goods transportation. These and other industrial ventures benefit the elites at the expense of the lives and livelihoods of the Indigenous Adivasi peoples.
Cultural and Social Alienation
In addition to physical displacement, Adivasi socio-cultural life is under severe threat from the forces of so-called secular modernization and the simultaneous fundamentalist project of Hinduization under the current regime’s drive towards “one nation, one religion, one people.” Like other Indigenous peoples, Adivasis not only live on their lands but also live with them: their deep connection with and knowledge of nature is being rapidly eroded. The imposition of a singular cultural narrative not only alienates them from their rich and diverse cultures but also undermines their fundamental rights to life and protection.
Intensification of Corporatization, Militarization, and State Repression
The situation has been exacerbated by Operation Kagar, a military strategy launched by the Indian government in January 2024. This operation, ostensibly aimed at eliminating the Maoists, is being used as a pretext for violent repression against Adivasis living in areas of Maoist influence. In states like Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and Telangana, police and paramilitary forces are engaging in extrajudicial killings under the guise of crossfire. In the past seven months alone, 165 Adivasis have been killed.
Military “security” camps have been established to station hundreds of thousands of armed personnel in Adivasi regions to facilitate the construction of multi-lane highways and bridges, illegal military operations, and corporate exploitation. Drones and other modern technologies are being used to conduct surveillance and drop high-explosive devices to intimidate local populations. This multifaceted assault, under the strategic offensive banner of Operation Kagar [the Final Solution], represents a severe escalation of violence against Adivasi communities.
At the same time, in Jharkhand, a new suppression initiative called Operation Clean has been launched alongside Kagar, specifically targeting Adivasi communities. Similarly, the Maharashtra government has introduced the Maharashtra Public Security Act under the pretext of controlling Maoist forces, a move likely to increase the arrests and harassment of Adivasis and activists who support them. In Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Odisha, efforts to corporatize and militarize Adivasi lands have intensified.
This coordinated and all-out attack on Adivasis is being executed by the current regime under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It reflects a broader agenda of shrinking public services, increased corporatization with the civil administration serving as techno-managerial brokers, and increased militarization and cultural assimilation.
Resistance and Solidarity
Despite these challenges, Adivasi communities across India are courageously resisting the State’s offensive. They are engaging in peaceful and democratic movements to protect their rights, as enshrined in the Indian Constitution, including their rights to land, culture, and self-determination. These struggles have garnered the support of many democratic forces within India, who are standing in solidarity with Adivasi communities.
As part of this movement, the Solidarity Forum for Adivasi Rights Struggle in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh is organizing an All India Conference in Hyderabad on August 9–10, 2024. This event aims to amplify the voices of Adivasi communities and highlight their struggles for survival, sovereignty, and self-respect on the international stage.
Inspired by Indigenous Peoples Day on August 9, the Solidarity Forum for Adivasi Rights Struggle is calling on progressive and democratic forces worldwide to join in observing a Solidarity Week from August 9 to 15. This week of global solidarity is crucial for supporting the Adivasi people’s fight for justice, dignity, and rights, and for holding the Indian state accountable for its oppressive actions.
We invite organizations, activists, and individuals from around the world to:
- submit videos or written statements of solidarity by August 10, to be presented at the Forum’s national meeting
- share statements of support on social media and through media outlets to amplify the message using hashtags like #AdivasiSolidarityWeek and #StopOperationKagar
- participate by organizing events such as rallies, seminars, or workshops to raise awareness about the struggles of Adivasi communities in India.
Together, we can challenge the forces of oppression and work towards a future that honors and uplifts the rights and identities of Indigenous peoples not only in India but worldwide.
