Santbal A Saint with a Difference

Author(s): T U Mehta
Publisher: Navjivan Prakashan Mandir

Page 98

established. For this purpose about 96 Lakh Rupees (96 hundred thousands) were collected.
On the southern side or Anjar there was a large and vacant plot of land admeasuring about 200 acres where new settlement could be easily made. However, for the reasons best known to them, the authorities preferred to acquire fertile land of 96 acres on the eastern side of the Anjar which was occupied and cultivated by about 16 farmers. This land belonged to some rich merchants of Anjar who were having their residence and business outside Kutch. They could not have evicted the farmers who were cultivating the land and if acquisition was made, they would be getting sizable amounts by way of compensation. It was, therefore, suspected that these influential businessmen could manage the concerned authorities to acquire their land in preference to 200 acres on the southern side.
Acquisition proceedings started without notice to the farmers who were required to be ousted. These farmers came to know about this acquisition when proceedings for their dispossession started. The farmers, therefore, objected and made representations but did not get any redress as acquisition proceedings were already over. One farmer named Dharamshi was cultivating 22 acres of land as between himself and his five brothers. He was already dispossessed from 6 acres of land where some new construction was also raised by the new allottees. As he could not get any relief from anybody he approached one Maganbhai Soni of Kutch Prayogik Sangh. Maganbhai advised him to approach Santbalji. When Santbalji heard his story, he asked Ambubhai, the then Secretary of Gundi Khedut Mandal, to go to Anjar to ascertain the facts. Ambubhai collected necessary facts and on his report Santbalji entrusted this matter to Kutch Prayogik Sangh and Gundi Khedut Mandal with instructions to resort to Shuddhi Prayog, if necessary.
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