Enforce Forest Dwellers Act effectively: Tribals

 
The demand was made during the World Earth Day celebrations by tribal organisations here recently. Budakattu Krishikara Sangha, Kodagu Grameena Abhivruddi Samsthe and Rashtriya Adivasi Andolana convened the programme.

The leaders urged that the legislation should be implemented apolitically and on a priority basis. Budakattu Krishikara Sangha District President J P Raju, who presided over the function said the families denied of land rights should be given four hectares of land, as per the legislation. The land encroached by the non-tribal should be given back to the tribals. The tribals should be given the land ownership, he urged.

The residential area of adivasis where they are living for generations should be declared as Revenue land. The traditional rights of the tribals, apart from their land rights mentioned in the Act, should also be given to them, he demanded. Former MLC C S Arun Machaiah said if the Act was not enforced, the life of tribals would go miserable even in the 21st century.

Taluk Panchayat President Kechamada Saritha Poonachcha said even though the Union government passed the Forest Dwellers’ Act in 2006, it is still a nightmare for the forest dwellers. They could not own a land of their own even after so many years, she said. BJP Taluk Unit President Machimada Ravindra, Avaregunda Hadi President M C Vasu, Kodagu Grameena Samsthe coordinator P C Vasanth and others were present on the occasion.