>Title: Need for carrying out suitable amendments in the Central Forest Conservation Act, 1980 for the welfare of Tribals.
(TRIPURA-WEST): Sir, more than five decades after the Independence, the plight of the tribal people has worsened. They are the poorest of the poor. The role of the successive Governments at the Centre have led to their lands being snatched away, their access to the forest obstructed, and they are displaced to make way for development and industrial projects without any consultation and without any full rehabilitation.
The tribal people and the Adivasis have got close and natural bonds with forest and its produce. But the Indian Forest Act and its successive versions treat them as encroachers in the forest and its produce instead of being an integral part of it.
The draconian circular issued by the Government of India on 2nd May, 2002 must be withdrawn and the eviction of the tribal people must be stopped from the forest areas.
I strongly demand that the lands tilled by the tribal people and used by them as house sites must be recorded in their names.
Throughout the country, they have been tilling and using the land for many years. So, for ensuring this, suitable amendment must be made to the Central Forest Conservation Act, 1980 at the earliest.
MR. SPEAKER: Thank you very much.