Title: Need to take steps for protection of rights of tribals and traditional forest dwellers in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh – laid.
SHRI MADHUSUDAN MISTRY (SABARKANTHA): The Government of India has recently enacted Forest Rights Act for the tribals and traditional forest dwellers living in the forest areas of the country. Under the Act those tribals and traditional forest dwellers who are cultivating the forest land before 13-12-05 will be regularized on their names. They are also given the rights to collect, keep and sell the minor forest produce.
However, despite this Forest Rights Act in prevalence the Forest Department of state of Gujarat and other states are unabatedly evacuating the tribals and forest dwellers from the land that they cultivating prior to 13-12-05, digging trenches, pits and fencing the area in a gross violation of the provisions of this Act. The Forest Department is registering the offences on those who collect minor forest produce and try to sell also.
I request the Minister of Forest, the Minister of Tribal Affairs of Government of India to take an immediate step and direct the forest Department of state of Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh to stop this and reverse the land to the tribals and other traditional forest dwellers and stop digging trenches, pits and fencing the land.