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Tribals oppose formation of forest panels in haste

BERHAMPUR: Tribals of Orissa feel the State Government’s hasty move to float ‘Village Forest Protection Committees’ in March would mar the scope of proper implementation of Recognition of Forest Rights Act in the State.

As per the State Government’s notification, the village forest protection committees or ‘Gram Sabhas’ have to be formed on March 16 or Mar 23. The Orissa Adivasi Manch (OAM), an orgnaisation of tribals of Orissa, has opposed the move by the State Government and has demanded at least two months to be given for the formation of these committees, which are the basic units for the implementation of the Act.

Speaking at a press conference organised by the OAM, its convener Ido Mandal also demanded the State Government include representatives of tribal hamlets in the committees to be formed. Most of these hamlets are not part of revenue records.

This Act passed in December 2006 vests forest rights and right of occupation on forest land to the traditional forest dwellers. The bill outlines 12 forest rights, which include the right to live in the forest, to self cultivate, and to use minor forest produce. The Gram Sabhas or the ‘Village Forest Protection Committees’ are key units for implementation of this Act. These empowered committees would identify beneficiaries and determine the extent of forest rights of Forest Dwelling Scheduled Tribes (FDSTs).

The committees would be empowered to receive claims, consolidate and verify them. The resolution passed by village committees would be forwarded to the Sub-Divisional Level Committee (SDLC), constituted by the State Government. The SDLC would examine the resolution passed by the village committees and prepare the record of forest rights.

It would then reach the District Level Committee (DLC) for final decision. “A State Level Monitoring Committee would only be there to monitor the process of recognition and vesting of forest rights, which speaks of the importance of village level committees,” said Madan Kisani, a tribal leader of Koraput district.

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