The Hindu : Other States / Orissa News : Experts fault Maoists for roping in forest dwellers

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Monday, Feb 18, 2008
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Experts fault Maoists for roping in forest dwellers

Satyasundar Barik

Villagers have evolved a unique forest protection practice called Thengapali

BHUBANESWAR: Did the dense forests and its human inhabitants in Nayagarh district provide Maoist rebels the launching pad to attack security establishments on Friday night? The answer seems to be in the negative.

Although exploitation of poor people under “restrictive” forest laws provided a fertile ground to the extremists, Nayagarh may not fit into the scheme of Maoists. The district witnessed first naxalite attack but all Maoist cadres came from outside, intelligence sources said.

Experts on security opined the extremist groups could never have roped in Nayagarh’s forest dwellers to attack police establishments but it was a well-devised plan and they executed it immaculately to loot.

Forest dwellers of Nayagarh are one of the most vibrant forest communities in the country and they are aware about their rights better than of their counterparts in other naxalite-infested districts such as Malkanagiri, Gajapati, Koraput, Rayagada and Sambalpur.

The awareness level was high so much so that villagers dictate implementation of Government welfare schemes in their respective regions.

“At any given point of time, each forest of the district is manned by villagers. Reports of any unusual movement inside the jungles gets circulated immediately,” Laxmidhrar Balia, former president of Jungle Surakshya Mahasangh (JSM) of Nayagarh, said.

Villagers in remote areas have evolved a unique forest protection practice called Thengapali (rotation of batons). As per the practice, every family of forest fringe areas is bound to donate one day for protection.

Moreover, forest dwellers of Nayagarh have managed to bargain better deals from minor forest produce traders by sheer strength of their awareness and community unity.

JSM President Prasanna Kumar Panda said police interference, which was often considered as way to further exploitation and favourable ground for naxalites to get closer to people, in day to day affairs of forest communities was almost negligible.

The forest communities have instituted an innovative parallel “judiciary system” called Jan Ban Adalat, (People’s Forest Court) for conflict resolution.

While forest protection federation is the apex body to decide people’s quarrel, six zonal committees and hundreds of regional committees dispose off petty matters at their own level.

At present, more than 700 villages are actively involved in forest protection in dense forested regions such as Dasapalla, Nuagaon, Ranapur and Khandapada. During last two decades, their efforts have helped regeneration of denuded jungles and prevent timber mafi

as from cutting down trees. The forest communities are very assertive about their rights and they determine as to how would be the shape of development in their regions,” Nayagarh Divisional Forest Officer Bansidhar Behera said.

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