The Forest Rights Act has been in place for three years, but its implementation continues to be stuck in a haze of conflicting signals. A TSI exclusive
The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, commonly known as the Forest Rights Act, came into force in the winter of 2006. Three years on, its implementation is still embroiled in seemingly intractable differences in perception among those whose rights the Act is designed to protect – tribal and other forest dwellers – and the government and industry.
Last week, a senior official of the Madhya Pradesh forests department – this official is in line to take over as state chief secretary – sent a proposal to the Union environment ministry suggesting that multinational companies be granted a 90-year lease on forest land and be made accountable for their upkeep. His argument is that MP is fast losing its forest cover and needs to do something drastic to reverse the process.
Even as Union minister for environment Jairam Ramesh is set to place the proposal before the Union Cabinet for the latter’s approval, influential sections of the MP Congress leadership is opposing the move. MP Congress Committee spokesman Pramod Kumar Tandon has pointed out that the forest land proposed to be leased to the MNCs is worth Rs 2000 crore and surrendering the rights would amount to a sell-out.
In Kolkata, Jnanpith Award-winning writer Mahasweta Devi described the proposal as “a calculated and dangerous move”. She told TSI: “It seems to be in line with the demands of the global capital lobby to grab the natural resources in India. We have to move immediately against the sinister design of the multinationals. I would exhort the tribals to fight any such move.”
The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, commonly known as the Forest Rights Act, came into force in the winter of 2006. Three years on, its implementation is still embroiled in seemingly intractable differences in perception among those whose rights the Act is designed to protect – tribal and other forest dwellers – and the government and industry.
Last week, a senior official of the Madhya Pradesh forests department – this official is in line to take over as state chief secretary – sent a proposal to the Union environment ministry suggesting that multinational companies be granted a 90-year lease on forest land and be made accountable for their upkeep. His argument is that MP is fast losing its forest cover and needs to do something drastic to reverse the process.
Even as Union minister for environment Jairam Ramesh is set to place the proposal before the Union Cabinet for the latter’s approval, influential sections of the MP Congress leadership is opposing the move. MP Congress Committee spokesman Pramod Kumar Tandon has pointed out that the forest land proposed to be leased to the MNCs is worth Rs 2000 crore and surrendering the rights would amount to a sell-out.
In Kolkata, Jnanpith Award-winning writer Mahasweta Devi described the proposal as “a calculated and dangerous move”. She told TSI: “It seems to be in line with the demands of the global capital lobby to grab the natural resources in India. We have to move immediately against the sinister design of the multinationals. I would exhort the tribals to fight any such move.”
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