Source: The Hindu (http://www.hinduonnet.com/2008/03/29/stories/2008032951240300.htm)
Other States
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Orissa
Concern over rights of forest dwellers
Correspondent
KORAPUT: “Forest Dwelling Scheduled Tribes means the persons who primarily reside in and who depend on the forest lands for bonafide livelihood needs” . This phrase in the “Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act” needs to be verified and understood well while sharing the information on the act at the grassroots, Abhay Kumar Pathak, Conservator of Forests, said. While the act was speaking more on the rights of the forest-dwelling STs, it had only offered some specific provisions for other STs, he added. He expressed concern after seeing that the meaning of the phrase was interpreted by people differently at different levels which could cause more harm than benefit to people in the villages of Koraput district .
Communication gaps
Moreover the problem was coupled with the gaps in the communication between the district administration and the villagers in forming ‘Forest Rights Committees’ in the district. While initially March 17 and 23 were fixed by the administration to conduct special Palli Sabha to form the ‘Forest Rights Committee’ in each revenue village by inviting at least 75 per cent of population, most of the meetings could not be organized for fear of violating the election code of conduct, Pravakar Adhikari, Secretary, Pragati , an organization working on forest issues, said. Now that fresh dates were not announced, the delay might derail the fruit of the entire effort if utmost care was not taken, he added.
The act allows the forest dwellers to apply before the village level forest rights committee to get occupational rights on the forest land, on which they were depending for livelihood. But documents such as voter identity card, passport, might be difficult for forest dwellers to furnish along with the application, sources said .
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