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Tribals deplore denial of rights
Telangana State Convention on Policy and Performance of Forest Rights Act 2006, organised here on Wednesday under the aegis of Adivasi Solidarity Forum, has expressed deep concern over the poor implementation of the decade-old legislation.
Adivasi Solidarity Forum organises a convention on Policy and Performance of Forest Rights Act 2006
Bhadrachalam: Telangana State Convention on Policy and Performance of Forest Rights Act 2006, organised here on Wednesday under the aegis of Adivasi Solidarity Forum, has expressed deep concern over the poor implementation of the decade-old legislation.
Presiding over the Convention, Dr Palla Trinadha Rao, a noted tribal rights activist and lawyer working for the tribal’s rights, expressed concern that the State government could recognise the forest rights of tribals only 8 per cent of the total estimated minimum potential community forest resources of 39.57 lakh acres available for recognition in the State.
These lands are situated within the village boundaries as well as outside the villages which come under the forest governance of Gram Sabha, he said.
The government has failed to recognise the community forest resources rights, community rights over large chunk of forest lands under the Forest Rights Act which was enacted to recognise the pre-existing rights of tribals and other traditional forest dwellers.
The government is continuing the community forest land titles in the name of Vana Samrakshana Samithis (VSSs) instead of conferring on Gram Sabhas against the directions of Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs issued in 2013, he said.
Moreover, the forest department officials are taking coercive actions to evict Podu land farmers in the name of ambitious Haritha Haram, Rao said.
Of the total 7.61 lakh acres claimed by tribals for Podu forest land pattas, the government could recognise titles for over 3.31 lakh acres only by July 2016 which constitutes 43.40 per cent, he said.
The habitat and habitation rights conferred on Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) like Chenchus, Kolams, and Thotis under FRA are not yet recognised in Telangana, Rao said.
“In the name of notification of Amrabad and Kawal Tiger Reserves, the government is trying to relocate tribals without recognising their forest rights in the protected areas.
The tribals in Bhadradri district are facing a threat of eviction from 707 acres of forest land due to construction of green field airport at Kothagudem,” he added.
In the meeting, a study report on Policy and Performance of Forest Rights Act in Telangana State, authored by Trinadha Rao, has been released by Adivasi leaders, which forms a part of national-level studies on Policy and Performance of Forest Rights Act in India conducted by two prominent NGOs Vasundhara and Kalpavriksha as part of Community Forest Rights Learning and Advocacy (CFRLA) group.
Sondi Veeraiah, convener of Gondwana Sankshema Samithi, Vattam Upender and Kursam Subbarao Dora, State leaders of Tudumdebba, Kechela Rangareddy, Muktha Pasha, State leader of CPI (ML) New Democracy, Yedullapalli Satyam, former MPP of Yellandu and other tribal leaders protest against the indifferent attitude of the forest officials in blocking the implementation of Forest Rights Act in the State.
