The Hindu : National : Manmohan approves Bill for granting land rights to adivasis

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Wednesday, Jan 26, 2005

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Manmohan approves Bill for granting land rights to adivasis

By Our Staff Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JAN. 25. The Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, has given approval for the introduction of the Scheduled Tribes and Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Bill in the Budget session of Parliament.

The Bill seeks to recognise the land rights of tribal communities living in forest areas prior to the coming into force of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, but were left unsettled in the government records. It will also benefit tribals living in villages called "forest villages" where they have not been given land rights despite living in these areas and are agriculturists for several generations, according to the Prime Minister's Office.

The National Common Minimum Programme (NCMP) had called for developing strategies to reconcile the objectives of environment conservation and development and protecting the interests of tribal communities.

By settling the issue of land rights, the proposed Bill seeks to open up opportunities for effectively engaging the tribal communities in the greening of degraded forest lands and increasing forest cover.

The NCMP also promised to confer ownership rights in respect of non-timber forest produce for weaker sections working in the forests and discontinuation of eviction of tribal communities and other forests dwelling communities from forest areas, the PMO said.

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