a special leave petition in the Supreme Court of India. In July 1997 by a three judge-bench. In its final verdict the Supreme Court of India declared that the term ‘person’ would include both natural persons as well as juristic persons, including constitutional governments, and that all lands leased by the government or its agencies to private mining companies in the scheduled areas were null and void. It also held that transfer of land to the government or its instrumentalities is an entrustment of public property. Since public corporations function in public interest, such transfers were upheld. Community development focus For the last ten years Samata has focused on community-based development with the following objectives: Assist tribal people in obtaining basic development and infrastructure facilities for education, health care, drinking water, and housing. Encourage sustainable development with regard to forests and other natural resources. Raise consciousness of legal rights among tribal groups. Organize tribal communities to resist exploitation, assert their rights and control their natural resources. Promote accountable, grassroots-level institutions for socio-economic independence and self-governance. Problems and issues Land alienation, exploitation by non-tribal groups, industrialization and displacement, state violation of constitutional and protective legislation Loss of control over natural resources and rights to decision-making Economic exploitation and abuse by moneylenders and traders Deforestation and indiscriminate plunder of natural resources through ill-conceived development policies of the state Government negligence and lack of infrastructure facilities to the tribal groups whose basic needs are scarcely addressed; Ill-health and inaccessibility of health services resulting in high mortality; Inadequate and substandard educational facilities to the tribal children with a very high drop out rate at the school level particularly, of girl children. we are testing 26/02/2022 - 4.19pm Activities of Samata during the period Within a larger development context, Samata explored ways of creating holistic approaches to supporting tribal groups struggling for land rights, environmental protection, and a responsive democracy. Samata's action took the form of grassroots campaigns to address the problems and issues facing tribal groups. These campaigns included: Building up micro credit networks among tribal women. Encouraging alternative development systems and local democratic institutions to avoid future economic exploitations and deprivations. This led to the creation of business associations and cooperatives, grain banks, property protection groups, health centers, and water-user associations. Constructing community managed primary education centers to meet the growing demand for education among tribal groups at the village level. Resolving forest