Stop eviction of tribals, restore their right on forests

Baghlingampally: About 600 representatives from various states participated in All India Tribal Convention organised by All India Kisan Mazdoor Sangh (AIKMS) at Sundaraiah Vignana Kendram on Thursday.

Addressing the convention, forest rights activist and High Court advocate P Trinatha Rao said, "It is essential that the focus be shifted to forest lands issue rather than on 'podu' lands issue. Conspiracies are being hatched to keep tribals away from forests and stop them from enjoying forest resources."

The current Forest Act is a colonial law of 1865 and the current law continues the same spirit of suppressing tribals, he said. The first Indian forest law was enacted in 1875 and another law was enacted after the Independence, he said. While governments say that tribals have rights over forest resources, they have always been subjected to mental agony by rulers, he said.

He alleged that the governments have been gradually transforming the reserve forests, denying tribals their rights over forest resources. Questioning the eviction of tribals from forests, he demanded to know from governments under what rule tribals were being evicted from forests.

He said the issue is not about land distribution or land pattas, but about the recognition of their rights over forest lands. He condemned the recent ruling by the Supreme Court to evict tribals from forests. About 100 million tribals depend on forest resources even today and evicting them from forests is atrocious, he said.

Expressing apprehensions on the commitment of the central government led by Modi towards tribals, he alleged that the government failed to appoint a good lawyer in the case.

Other speakers also expressed their concerns over the Supreme Court ruling and said that although State and central governments are silent on the issue, the governments may try to evacuate tribals from July month.

Criticizing the Telangana CM KCR for not keeping his promise during the recently held elections to address podu lands issue, the speakers alleged that the State Forest department has been terrorizing theinnocent tribal farmers. They also called upon people to wage a united struggle for the rights of tribals and forest dwellers.

National president of AIKMS Vemulapalli Venkataramaiah, Rangarao, Balachander, former MLA GummadiNarsaiah, national convener VM Singh, Koteshwar Rao, Madhuri, D Suresh and others spoke at the convention.