Protests planned in several states against Centre's silence on SC order to "evict" a million tribals
The Campaign for Survival and Dignity (CSD), a national platform of adivasi and forest dwellers' organisations, has announced a national struggle over the next two weeks against the "unjust attack" on millions of people whose claims under the Forest Rights Act (FRA) have allegedly rejected through a Supreme Court order.
CSD said in a statement, "The Supreme Court's order to evict over one million claimant families is the direct result of the BJP government's decision to not say a word in court for the last four hearings. This is only the last step in this government's consistent sabotage of this law, from May 2014 to the present."
Mass protests would be launched under the banner “BJP Sarkar Jawab Do!”, starting on February 26 and ending on March 10. On February 26, Jal Jangal Jeevan Bachao Sajha Manch will be holding a mass rally in Bhopal.On February 28, Adivasi Chhattra Sanghatan and allied groups will be holding rallies in all districts of Madhya Pradesh. On March 3, Sarv Adivasi Samaj and allied groups will be holding a mass rally in Raipur.
On March 3, a mass protest will also be held by the Adivasi Patel Sangh in Warla (Badwani district, MP). On March 5, Jangal Jameen Jan Andolan will hold a mass rally in Udaipur followed by indefinite dharnas in the tribal districts of Rajasthan. On March 8, Adivasi Mahasabha will holding a mass rally in Godhra in Gujarat in which thousands of tribals from four districts will join. On March 8-9, a mass rally will be in Bhubaneshwar.
At the same time, CSD said, meetings will be held over the next four days in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and mass protests will be held in all these states. Each protest will be accompanied by poster and awareness campaigns about the Central government's role, and in Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Nagar Haveli rallies will be accompanied by padayatras in affected areas.
CSD said, the Central government should immediately act to reverse the February 13 order, by any means appropriate, and to ensure that all rejection of claims under the Forest Rights Act are reviewed through gram sabhas (not only by officials). It The must ensure that, as per law, every village in forest areas in the country receives title to protect and manage their community forest resources, and to use their non-timber forest produce without any conditions or restrictions.
Added CSD, all compensatory afforestation and other forestry funds (including Joint Forest Management) should only be utilised under the control of forest welling communities through their gram sabhas. All diversion of forest land for corporate projects without consent of affected gram sabhas and without recognising rights should be stopped. And, all officials responsible for violating forest rights should be prosecuted.
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