Jang Sai Poya

Work area : Korba and Surguja districts, Chhattisgarh

Jang Sai became a member of Bharat Jan Andolan at the young age of 13. The group was formed by B. D. Sharma, a former IAS officer and social activist who took up the cause of Adivasis and was instrumental in bringing back on the national agenda the Fifth Schedule as a vital instrument for the very survival of the tribal people.

Mentored by the leaders of the Bharat Jan Andolan, Jang Sai led a 3-year-long struggle for proper rehabilitation of those displaced by the Madamsilli, Dudhwa and Sondur dams in the Dhamtari district. In the years to follow, he emerged as a young and committed Gond Adivasi leader in the region.

He has worked tirelessly over the years to build an active discourse on the vision of village republics. As per the spirit of Schedule V of the Indian Constitution and the empowering provision of Panchayats Extension to Schedule Areas (PESA), 1996 – these village republics have consolidated their responsibilities in managing and conserving the rich natural resources.

The Sangathan has taken up issues of illegal coal mining and used legal provisions to address forced displacement. It has also worked towards addressing the issues of elephants being displaced from rich bio-diverse areas and taken up active efforts towards the strengthening of traditional knowledge systems and indigenous cultures. The establishment of Gaon Ganrajya (village republic) sangathan has also brought strong adivasi voices in the state, who are aware of the legal provisions and contribute to building the understanding of the administrative machinery in implementing PESA at the ground.

Jang Sai is currently working towards strengthening self-governance in Schedule V areas and taking up cases of atrocities and social discrimination. He is an excellent orator, loves poetry and singing, and is well-known among progressive networks across the country as a youthful leader.

About Gaon Ganrajya Sangathan