Implementation of Forest rights act, 2006 is facing acute trouble in Maharashtra and Gujarat
"The Schedule tribe and other forest dwellers (recognition of forest rights) Act, 2006" is facing acute trouble during the process of its implementation in Maharastra and Gujarat. Thought the act, which is the outcome of long standing struggles of tribal, is already full of the flaws and also opening the door for severe anomalies in its implementation. Despite of this tribal has kept them enthusiastic for its implementation and were hopeful for getting legal rights over possessed forest land.
But now, when Act was enacted by the Indian parliament and now implementation is being in process, tribal are facing acute trouble by Government officials along with forest department.. Under the banner of Lok Sangharsh Morcha Tribal of Maharstra and Gujarat were stood on the forefront of the struggle and demonstrated at parliament thrice and district level several times. Lok Sangharsh Morcha has submitted a memorandum to joint parliamentary committee for the changing in cutoff date with the proposal of 2005 instead of 1980. Lakhs of tribal people of Maharastra and Gujarat endorsed the same and won the struggle.
Tribal ( known as encroacher in forest language ) belonging to Lok Sangharsh Morcha from 70 villages of akkalkuwa talluka and 15 from Taloda (district Nandurbar), 20 villages of Chopra, 15 villages of Yaval & 20 villages of Chalisgaon talluka of Jalgaon district in Maharastra as well as 48 villages of Songarh talluka, 32 villages of Uchhal, 10 villages of Nizher in Vyara district, 14 villages of Umarpada talluka in Surat, 25 villages of Sagbara and Dediapada talluka in Narmada district of Gujarat have filled their claims for getting legal rights over their possessed forest land according to Act. Total numbers of applicants are 22 thousand in Maharstra and 15 thousand in Gujarat and waiting for undoing the injustice was meted out with them in the past.
But the ground reality is very pathetic and placing the reverse picture. Forest department is derecognizing and ignoring to the "forest rights committees "as a final authority for deciding ownership of claimant over the possessed forest land, which was constituted by Gram Sabhas according to the Act. They are asking for Government proofs despite of other proofs enclosed by tribals and tribal department as a facilitator of law for its implementation is not only hostile but remaining dependent on forest department for related information, along with revenue department. Tribal people have always panelized by forest officials for wood cutting or for bringing other miner produce from forest instead of cultivating the land, that's why tribal have no access for official or judicial proofs. In Gujarat, forest officials are avoiding spot visits for verification of any encroached land and demanding the documents from claimant with government proof in their office, while the district administration and tribal department has failed everywhere to instruct them for behaving according to law. These departments are least bothered about the implementation of law as well as allotment of "pattas" for recognizing the legal rights of tribal. Whole drama is oriented only for delaying the process and rejecting the claims made by tribal. They want to through it into the dustbin after the exhausting process. Forest department are preparing the illegal papers for rejecting their claims. Political parties having the wasted interest of collecting merely votes of tribal is not even ready to address the issue. Massive struggle of tribals could not avoid in this area in coming days for their land rights. Lok Sangharsh Morcha is preparing itself for the same. We are needed your support in the struggle for fulfilling the Stribal rights.
Joint Rally of left forces at Ahmadabad on 17th March, 2009
A Joint meeting was held in Ahmadabad on 8 February, 2009 at Jan Sangharsh Morcha office. Meeting has discussed several issues of Gujarat like present political, economic scenario, agricultural crisis, human rights violation, pathetic situation of tribals, dalits and minorities, relation between communal politics and pro-corporate policies of Modi, passive oppositional roll of congress and also the authoritarianism of State. It was felt by several speakers that true opposition is absent in the state politics, while BJP and Congress is following the same policies in terms of speeding up liberal economic policies, depriving to the people from livelihood resources, implementation of SEZ, cutting the democratic rights of people in the name of fighting terrorism, relation with imperialist America and Israel, creating war mongering against Pakistan, on the issue of terrorism etc. It was also endorsed by the participants that people's struggles are continued everywhere in Gujarat and facing severe repression by Modi government, but unfortunately these struggles are limited in its pocket. It was decided that a state level campaign would be, known as 'Gujarat Jan Abhiyan' , launched by left forces for raising people's issues which is left behind since long as well as opening the door for the emergence of real political alternative in Gujarat. To make broader alliance, other left and democratic forces would also be invited in future provided they agree with the concept of campaign. A concept note would be made soon and also circulated widely after getting finalized by participants.
A rally of left forces, mass organizations and like-minded groups would be organized on 17th March at Ahmadabad for declaring people's agenda for coming elections and afterwards.
New Socialist Movement, Lok Sangharsh Morcha, CPI (ML) liberation, Socialist Unity Centre, JSM and other like-minded groups were participated.
Thanks,
Regards,
Ambarish Rai, Pratibha Shinde
President, General Secretary
Lok Sangharsh Morcha 