Tribal land rights implementation poorest in Gujarat's backward Dahod district: Representation to chief minister

Tribals protest in Ahmedabad for land rights

By A Representative
A new compilation on providing cultivation rights to tribal farmers has revealed that in the backward Dahod district of Gujarat, out of a total of 20,150 claims submitted to the local forest rights committee, formed by the state government to verify and hand over land titles, just about 3,162 farmers -- just 15.68% as against the state average of 40% -- have been handed over cultivation rights over the last one decade.
A representation sent to Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani, with complete details of tribals who have failed to get cultivation rights, along with data from across Gujarat’s eastern tribal belt, says that a major reason why Dahod has suffered more than other districts is, officials here do not apply provisions of the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006.
The district officials disregard the provision that the tribal applicant should offer two records along with an elderly person’s statement, apart from visual evidence before the village council, as the valid documents for the right to cultivate, says the representation. Instead, it adds, they take into consideration the opinion and receipts of the forest department.
Worse, the representation says, the forest department has been forcibly carrying out plantation on the land claimed by the tribal cultivators. And when the cultivators go to the police to complain, nothing happens. “Police officials intimidate the cultivators, asking them why they are cultivate forest land”, the representation by Ekalavya Sangathan, operating in the tribal-dominated districts of eastern Gujarat, says.

Ekalavya had planned a rally in Ahmedabad with the participation of around 4,000 tribals to protest against "poor" implementation of the FRA, 2006, in Gujarat. While it could not hold its rally, it was allowed a mass gathering at Sardar Baugh in the city after the representation was handed over to the district collector, Ahmedabad.
Things are bad in other parts of Gujarat as well, says the representation. In Khedbrahma and Vijaynagar talukas of Sabarkantha district, forest officials forcibly carry out plantation on the forest land, on which the crops are ready to be harvested. They even take the help of the state reserve police (SRP) forces and to intimidate the tribals.
In Sabarkantha’s Poshina taluka, the representation adds, forest officials forcibly carries out plantation on the land which has been given cultivation rights. The does not accept complaint against the forest department in Kheroj and Poshina areas.
In fact, says the representation, at several places in Sabarkantha’s Poshina and Vijaynagar talukas, there has not been any verification of tribal land. In such cases the claimed land should be verified immediately, yet the approved claim application cultivation rights document does not have any or seal of the concerned authority.
On December 31, 2013, the representation says, the then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi handed over land entitlement to 2,596 tribal farmers out of 9,939 who were identified as valid claimants in Panchmahal district. The rest of 7,343 farmers have still not received entitlement till date.

Tribals show documents showing they have right to land

At some spots, the representation says, famers have the rightful possession of land, and have built their house over it. However, when farmers cultivate the land, the forest department expects them to pay fine.
Things are also bad in non-tribal talukas of some of North Gujarat districts. Thus, in Modasa, Himatnagar, Idar, Vadali and Malpur, FRA, 2006 has still not been implemented. Here, even forest rights committees have not been formed, hence claims have not been taken up for examination.
Then, in Mahisagar district’s Virpur and Balasinor talukas, says the representation, no FRCs have been formed, hence the claims of the applicants have not been submitted. In Lunavada and Khanpur talukas, application forms have been filled but nobody knows what has happened thereafter.
Blaming government policy of making non-cultivators as presidents and vice-presidents of forest rights committees for such state of affairs, the representation, says, such committees should be reviewed and dissolved, and new committee should be formed.
The policy has led to a situation where other backward class forest dwelling farmers’ claims have been rejected, even though they are equal claimants of forest land under FRA, 2006. Such claims should be approved and entitlement should be given, the representation says.

Comments

Grueling summer ahead: Cuttack’s alarming health trends and what they mean for Odisha

By Sudhansu R Das The preparation to face the summer should begin early in Odisha. People in the state endure long, grueling summer months starting from mid-February and extending until the end of October. This prolonged heat adversely affects productivity, causes deaths and diseases, and impacts agriculture, tourism and the unorganized sector. The social, economic and cultural life of the state remains severely disrupted during the peak heat months.

Stronger India–Russia partnership highlights a missed energy breakthrough

By N.S. Venkataraman* The recent visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to India was widely publicized across several countries and has attracted significant global attention. The warmth with which Mr. Putin was received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was particularly noted, prompting policy planners worldwide to examine the implications of this cordial relationship for the global economy and political climate. India–Russia relations have stood on a strong foundation for decades and have consistently withstood geopolitical shifts. This is in marked contrast to India’s ties with the United States, which have experienced fluctuations under different U.S. administrations.

From natural farming to fair prices: Young entrepreneurs show a new path

By Bharat Dogra There have been frequent debates on agro-business companies not showing adequate concern for the livelihoods of small farmers. Farmers’ unions have often protested—generally with good reason—that while they do not receive fair returns despite high risks and hard work, corporate interests that merely process the crops produced by farmers earn disproportionately high profits. Hence, there is a growing demand for alternative models of agro-business development that demonstrate genuine commitment to protecting farmer livelihoods.

A comrade in culture and controversy: Yao Wenyuan’s revolutionary legacy

By Harsh Thakor* This year marks two important anniversaries in Chinese revolutionary history—the 20th death anniversary of Yao Wenyuan, and the 50th anniversary of his seminal essay "On the Social Basis of the Lin Biao Anti-Party Clique". These milestones invite reflection on the man whose pen ignited the first sparks of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution and whose sharp ideological interventions left an indelible imprint on the political and cultural landscape of socialist China.

The Vande Mataram debate and the politics of manufactured controversy

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* The recent Vande Mataram debate in Parliament was never meant to foster genuine dialogue. Each political party spoke past the other, addressing its own constituency, ensuring that clips went viral rather than contributing to meaningful deliberation. The objective was clear: to construct a Hindutva narrative ahead of the Bengal elections. Predictably, the Lok Sabha will likely expunge the opposition’s “controversial” remarks while retaining blatant inaccuracies voiced by ministers and ruling-party members. The BJP has mastered the art of inserting distortions into parliamentary records to provide them with a veneer of historical legitimacy.

Concerns raised over move to rename MGNREGA, critics call it politically motivated

By A Representative Concerns have been raised over the Union government’s reported move to rename the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), with critics describing it as a politically motivated step rather than an administrative reform. They argue that the proposed change undermines the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi and seeks to appropriate credit for a programme whose relevance has been repeatedly demonstrated, particularly during times of crisis.

Why India must urgently strengthen its policies for an ageing population

By Bharat Dogra A quiet but far-reaching demographic transformation is reshaping much of the world. As life expectancy rises and birth rates fall, societies are witnessing a rapid increase in the proportion of older people. This shift has profound implications for public policy, and the need to strengthen frameworks for healthy and secure ageing has never been more urgent. India is among the countries where these pressures will intensify most sharply in the coming decades.

Thota Sitaramaiah: An internal pillar of an underground organisation

By Harsh Thakor* Thota Sitaramaiah was regarded within his circles as an example of the many individuals whose work in various underground movements remained largely unknown to the wider public. While some leaders become visible through organisational roles or media attention, many others contribute quietly, without public recognition. Sitaramaiah was considered one such figure. He passed away on December 8, 2025, at the age of 65.

School job scam and the future of university degree holders in West Bengal

By Harasankar Adhikari The school recruitment controversy in West Bengal has emerged as one of the most serious governance challenges in recent years, raising concerns about transparency, institutional accountability, and the broader impact on society. Allegations that school jobs were obtained through irregular means have led to prolonged legal scrutiny, involving both the Calcutta High Court and the Supreme Court of India. In one instance, a panel for high school teacher recruitment was ultimately cancelled after several years of service, following extended judicial proceedings and debate.

Search This Blog