NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has sought a consensus on the issue of granting rights to tribals so that the Scheduled Tribes (Recognition of Rights) Bill was tabled in Parliament in the winter session.

Attending a meeting of the stakeholders, including officers from the Ministries of Environment and Forest, and Tribal Affairs, environmentalists and those working for the tribal rights here on Friday evening, Dr. Singh asked them to thrash out differences over the issue as the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) was committed to grant rights to tribals under its national common minimum programme (NCMP).

Giving details of the meeting that went on till late in the evening, Dr. Singh's media adviser Sanjaya Baru told reporters that the Prime Minister wanted the concerns of the environmentalists and those working for tribal rights to be addressed before a final draft was prepared. As of now, there are two drafts: one prepared by the Ministry of Environment and Forests and another by the Tribal Affairs Ministry. A Group of Ministers is also looking into the matter.

Before leaving for another meeting, Dr. Singh heard the members for a good two hours. He told them to arrive at a consensus in the coming days. Dr. Singh suggested the holding of a workshop for stakeholders to iron out differences, Mr. Baru said.

The issues that come up during the discussion included the livelihood of displaced forest dwellers the denial of which amounted to a violation of human rights, the threat posed to tigers if they co-existed with humans and problems related to forest management.

Among those present were social activists Jean Dreze and Aruna Roy and wildlife activist Valmik Thapar.

Dr. Singh had asked the Ministry to implement seven major recommendations within three months. That period ends in October.

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