Govt disregarding procedures under FRA to give forest land to

CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat today accused the Narendra Modi government of handing over forest land to mining and other companies "disregarding proper procedures" laid down by the Forest Rights Act (FRA).
"Within two months of coming to power, the Modi government facilitated transfer of 7,000 hectares of forest land to mining and other companies. In the last two years, over 1,00,000 hectares of land has been handed over to companies with utter disregard for due procedures," she alleged.
Addressing a gathering at Jantar Mantar here to mark 10 years of the enactment of the Forest Rights Act, 2006, Karat alleged, "The government makes no attempt to amend the requirement from forest dependent communities to produce residential proof for 75 years to stake claim to their own land."

Forest dwelling communities, tribal activists and kisan unions from nine states including Jharkhand, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, Assam and Andhra Pradesh took part in the event.
Speakers at the event launched a scathing attack against the "distressing lack of political commitment" from states and Central governments regarding proper implementation of FRA and slammed the "efforts to dilute the progressive law" by reducing the authority of Gram Sabhas "for corporate interests".
While the FRA is yet to be "meaningfully" implemented, the BJP government in Jharkhand has attacked the protection given to tribal land by amending the Chotanagpur Tenancy Act and the Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act, tribal rights activist Dayamani Barla claimed.

"Adivasis have a right over their forests, hills, rivers and to live with dignity. The government intends to destroy the democratic structure of the country," she alleged.

Condemning the "apathetic" response of the government even after 10 years of passing of Forest Rights Act, the Bhumi Adhikaar Andolan (BAA), in its eight-point charter of demands, called for forming a nation-wide review and monitoring committee for proper implementation of FRA.
This committee will investigate the high percentage of rejection of claims, undue delay in settlement of individual and community claims and coerced eviction of forest dwelling communities, it said.
The BAA demanded identification of illegal forest committees and immediate settlement of community rights claims over Non-Timbre Forest Produce (NTFP), along with stopping all diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes.

A delegation from BAA met Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram and submitted a resolution along with their demands to him.