TRIBALS – 2007 - Indian Social Institute

Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, a set of recommendationsthat was agreed upon stated, "in case when finally decision is taken to declare an area as criticalwildlife area, the rehabilitation plan should be prepared by the Government in active consultationand participation with the people of the area." Every village or hamlet or pada coming under theproposed critical wildlife area or National Park or Sanctuary should have the right to nominateone person to the expert committee, it said. The meeting, which was attended by lawyers, NGOactivists and people from tribal communities, resolved that for the displaced people who did nothave any such evidence or record or rights, there should be provision for verbal evidence.Moreover, palli sabha should be the unit for identification and vesting of rights to the forestdwellers. "There should be a time limit of 180 days for the completion of the whole process ofinitiation of the process of identification or rights by the gram sabha till the final vesting of rightsby the district level committees," it said. The recommendations will be submitted to the TechnicalSupport Group appointed by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. Technical Support Group member K.C.Malhotra and noted tribal activist Padmashree Tulasi Munda attended the consultation meet,which was organised by the Orissa Development Action Forum and Forum of Collective FormsCooperation (Eastern Region). (The Hindu 21/4/07)NGOs condemn police action against tribals (6)BHOPAL: Last week's pitched battle between police, forest and district authorities, on the oneside, and alleged encroachers, on the other, on forestland near Ghateha village in MadhyaPradesh's Rewa district has drawn protests. While non-governmental organisations and people'sgroups have condemned the use of force against forest dwellers, the Government is firm that nofresh encroachment will be tolerated. Activists of people's organisations, in a statement at a pressconference here on Monday, said the police attacked and opened fire on tribals, six of whomreceived bullet injuries. Over 250 others had been missing since the April 19 incident, thestatement claimed. The signatories included Ramesh Chandra Shukla of the Rashtriya Van JanShramjivi Morcha, Manohar Kothekar of the New Trade Union Incentive, Vijay Bhai of theAbhiyan Jungle Jeevan Suraksh, Anil Garg of the Madhya Pradesh Van Abhiyan, Rashida Bee ofthe Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationary Karmchari Sangh, Sushil Bhai of the Samajwadi JanParishad and Madhuri of the Jagrut Adivasi Dalit Sangathan. When contacted, Principal ChiefConservator of Forests V.R. Khare said it was a case of fresh encroachments. The authoritieshad on April 12-13 and April 17 tried to remove the encroachers, but they were chased away. Thefirst time, there were only a few encroachers. But when a larger Forest Department team wentagain, the number of encroachers had swelled, and it had to retreat under attack by tribals. OnApril 19, there was heavy stone throwing as a strong force, comprising police and forestpersonnel, led by the Sub-divisional Magistrate and the SDO Police, attempted to clear theencroachments. (THE HINDU 24/4/07)Tribals protest refinery plans in Orissa (6)Bhubaneswar : Thousands of tribal men and women armed with bows and arrows marched inOrissa on Wednesday to protest against an alumina refinery owned by Britain's VedantaResources Plc, police said. Dongria Kondh tribals vowed to stop Vedanta starting the refinery inthe mineral-rich Lanjigarh area of Orissa, about 475 km southwest of Bhubaneswar. Largebauxite deposits had lured the company to this remote and impoverished corner of Orissa, wherethey have already built the $900 million alumina refinery. At issue is Vedanta's plan to turn the topof the nearby Niyamgiri mountain into open-cast mines. Tribals say the project will rob them oftheir homes. "Niyamgiri or no Niyamgiri, Vedanta go back," shouted several tribal men, wearingcolourful headgear as they prepared to wage mock battle with spears and arrows. (Pioneer27/4/07)Exploitation of tribals well depicted (6)BERHAMPUR: The true colours of the `gentlemen' who exploit tribals, particularly girls, werethoroughly exposed in the play `Nila Amruta' that was staged by artistes of the Ganjam KalaParishad at its golden jubilee celebrations. According to director Nrusinhananda Mohapatra,playwright Raju Patro used `Desia' dialect of tribal dominated Koraput district in place of chasteOriya to lend authenticity to the play. Veteran theatre personality Raju Padhi, who acted in the