Over 15,000 Adivasis rally in Burhanpur demanding justice under Forest Rights Act

By A Representative 

In a massive show of strength and unity, more than 15,000 Adivasi men and women from Burhanpur district gathered on June 9 under the leadership of the Jagrut Adivasi Dalit Sangathan and Adivasi Ekta Sangathan to protest against what they allege are illegal denials of forest land claims and increasing repression by the Forest Department.

At the heart of the protest is the alleged rejection of over 8,000 individual forest rights claims without due process, including denial of notices, explanations, or opportunities for appeal. Protesters accused the administration of gross violations of the Forest Rights Act (FRA) and constitutional provisions protecting Adivasi communities. According to them, legal claimants preparing for cultivation have been harassed, threatened, and had their bullocks and tractors illegally seized.

The rally submitted a detailed memorandum to the district administration, addressed to Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav. Protest leaders engaged the Additional District Magistrate (ADM) in a 90-minute question-and-answer session, demanding written assurances that the rejected claims would be re-examined and that agricultural implements and animals would not be seized. While the ADM gave verbal assurances on both counts, the protesters insisted on written confirmation and warned of a larger agitation if promises were not fulfilled.

Speakers at the protest reminded the administration that the same Forest Department allegedly involved in large-scale illegal logging and timber smuggling over 10,000–15,000 acres during 2022–23 is now attempting to dispossess thousands of Adivasi families of their lawful lands. They sharply questioned the failure to implement the FRA and the guidelines issued on December 13, 2005.

Despite the law being in force for 17 years, they said, it continues to be openly violated in Burhanpur. Government instructions at both the central and state levels—clearly stating that only Gram Sabhas are empowered to decide on claims—are being ignored, they charged. Protesters stressed that claims approved by Gram Sabhas cannot be arbitrarily rejected and must be sent back to the villages if additional documentation is needed. Crucially, the law mandates that every claimant must be given written notice and a chance to appeal before rejection—none of which was followed, they alleged.

The protesters had initially planned to demonstrate at the District Collector’s office but were blocked before reaching it. “So today, we are teaching the law to the administration from here itself,” they declared. “And if the administration does not learn, we will go directly to the Collector’s office next time!”

The demonstrators condemned the Forest Department’s actions as not just illegal, but a direct attack on the constitutional and legal rights of Adivasi communities. Traditional songs echoing determination to reclaim their rights were sung during the protest.

Their memorandum demanded:

- Re-investigation of all rejected claims and return of cases to Gram Sabhas.

- Written notices and full appeal opportunities to all claimants.

- Immediate halt to illegal evictions and threats by the Forest Department.

- Strict action under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against the officials responsible.

Publicly addressing the rally, the ADM promised action on these demands. He assured that all wrongly rejected claims would be reviewed and that no agricultural equipment or animals would be seized illegally.

The Adivasi leaders have demanded written confirmation of this commitment. If the administration fails to act, the organisations warned of an even stronger, larger mobilisation in the coming days. The memorandum will also be submitted to the Task Force chaired by the Chief Minister for the implementation of PESA and the Forest Rights Act in Madhya Pradesh.

Former Burhanpur MLA Shera Bhaiyya also joined the protest in support of the movement.