Samikhsya Bureau
It is not only in India but the forest heritage remains at the bottom of all resource mobilisation world over. A recent report from the UN also laid extreme emphasis on the preservation of jungle as a crucial aspect of sustainable harmony in resource building. Be it water, air or dependence on forest resource by a majority for survival, the forest dwellers are principal arms to safeguard it.
But, if their eviction, in mllions, if is envisaged as a means for development, then no argument can hold water if it is promulgated through judicial strictures.
rotests will be held in several parts of the country on July 22 against the Supreme Court ruling of February 13 on eviction of “millions of Adivasis and other traditional forest-dwelling communities”.
“This is a call for action against the Supreme Court ruling of February 13 this year on eviction of millions of Adivasis and other traditional forest-dwelling communities. Simultaneous nationwide protests are being organised against the Eviction of Forest Dwellers on 22 July across the country. In Delhi a protest demonstration will be held at Jantar Mantar, 12 noon onwards,” sources in the Bhumi Adhikar Andolan told UNI on Sunday.
According to the sources, the two-day national consultation of Land and Forest Rights Movements held in Delhi on 1st and 2nd of July had decided to hold programmes and protest actions denouncing the government actions, amendments to the Forest Act on July 22 at the village, block, district, and state level.
The sources told that after the countrywide protests against Supreme Court ruling of February 13, the Supreme Court amended its ruling and stayed it till July 10. While on February 28 the Supreme Court stayed its earlier order putting orders for eviction on hold, the forest department is yet pushing people out of their lands destroying their farm fields. Several such instances have been reported in many states since 13th February 2019, the sources said.
The recent killing in Sonbhadra, UP, a result of caste and land conflict will be on the rise if the rights over land and resources are not settled, the sources added.
They added that the BJP Government was also proposing “draconian amendments” to the Indian Forest Act, 1927 to facilitate corporate loot and exploitation of the tribal people.
“All this will further vitiate the situation in the forests and snatch away the rights of the adivasis and forest dwellers,” the sources said.
(with UNI inputs)
