The Forest Dwellers Rights Act

[mundaire]

After much debate and many amendments which have changed the entire theme of the original recommendation's, "The Forest Dwellers Rights Act" has been passed by the Lok Sabha.

The Act envisages giving local Gram Sabhas the power to allocate parcels of land from within protected forests, to tribal people recognized as the original owners of the forest land. While on paper it sound like the dispossessed are being finally given their rights back - this is without a shred of doubt going to turn out to be the single biggest land grab operation in Indian history leading to an almost complete decimation of our remaining forests! With dense forest cover (70% or more density) comprising less than 2% of our land mass, I think we all need to be very very worried about this new development!

See the CNN-IBN news story on this here >>

[Vikram]

"I think we all need to be very very worried about this new development"!

Sans doubt! I am sure that even the Green groups will be hesitant to take up this issue because of the "Forest People",who,of course, must have a chance for a better life, involved. I would like to know if any Judicial recourse is available.

Best-
Vikram

[kanwar76]

There goes that 2%

-Inder

[danish21]

where is our maneka gandhi gone ? I think she has got her share and she is sleeping.

Danish

[ashokpkl]

The problem is that people like us who are concerned are unable to influence bad policy decisions decided by populist themes. WWF-India and BNHS could have played a more proactive part here.

[Sujay]

Ashok,

There are plenty of people to volunteer but the authorities make is sure that nobody gets into their business. The guidleines of the recently constituted wildlife board are so restrictive that a person jokingly remarked " even Jim Corbett would not qualify for inclusion had he been alive" in that board. On severe protests, the authorities dismissed the activists such as Belinda Wright as " lay men with enthusiasm only.....".

The only viable way of saving tigers is to issue them voters identity cards

[ashokpkl]

Sad but the brutal truth. But I always say - if the bad guys gang up so effectively can't the good guys [us] learn some of their tactics and make some effect, if only in the future ???

[Sujay]

Sad but the brutal truth. But I always say - if the bad guys gang up so effectively can't the good guys [us] learn some of their tactics and make some effect, if only in the future ???

No good guys can't.

Good guys always either rest their hope on others' initiatives or expect to be lead whereas bad boys are more enterprising ; they get going quickly and more importantly are aware of the paralytic nature of the good ones.

[kanwar76]

Good guys always either rest their hope on others' initiatives or expect to be lead whereas bad boys are more enterprising ; they get going quickly and more importantly are aware of the paralytic nature of the good ones.

The only viable way of saving tigers is to issue them voters identity cards

Well said both times

-Inder