TRADITIONAL FOREST DWELLERS ARE BENIGN DENIED OF THEIR RIGHTS

TRADITIONAL FOREST DWELLERS ARE  DENIED OF THEIR RIGHTS

Senior journalist and Writer Jay Singh Rawat addressing\
 Forest dwellers Gujjarars

More than 50 Van Gujjars met at the RLEK Auditorium to discuss and request the implementation of The Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 which clearly says that any Traditional Forest Dweller who is living in the forest area since last 3 generations or 75 years are entitled to remain in the forest area and may be allotted 4 hectares of land in the same place as per Section4 of the Act. Not only that, Section2 of the Act, says that the forest land for which rights are recognized for tribals and forest dwellers include unclassified forests, un-demarcated forests, existing or deemed forests, Protected Forests, Reserved Forests, Sanctuaries and National Parks. Critical wildlife habitat have been defined under this section and these are required to be kept as inviolated for the purpose of wildlife conservation under this Act.”

The meeting started with a brief introduction by A.K. Sharma, who invited Chairperson, RLEK to address the meeting, followed by Van Gujjars. Speaking on the occasion Padmashri Avdhash Kaushal spoke about the Act and also about his experiences and observations while working with the Van Gujjars. He appreciated the entire community saying, “This is the best community he has ever seen, inspite of being Muslims, they are pure vegetarian, and they are animal lovers. They don’t consume alchohol and the best thing is that they contribute to the protection and conservation of the forests in which they dwell. The forest areas in which they dwell are greener and have more animals than those areas where they do not reside. No court can ignore the Recognition of Forest Rights 2006. In the Supreme Court, bench headed by Mr.Justice Madan B. Lokur also commented that this Act has not been fully implemented and there are some people who are stopping the implementation of this Act. These people need to be identified.”

Padma Shri Avdhas Kaushal assuring van Gujjars all possible
legal help in a meeting held in RLEK office

The meeting proceeded with opinions from Van Gujjars like- Noorjamal, from Shivalik hills had put his views in the meeting on behalf of all Van Gujjars from Shivalik Range saying people from the army are practicing firing in the forest areas where they live just to remove them from forest.  He said they have nothing except a permit to live in forest where we do animal rearing since ages which is our only source of livelihood. They believe in Gandhian philosophy of fulfilling the need, not greed. Further he added, that forest officials are also not allowing us to stay inside forest because of which they are also harassing and beating us because of this our life is in danger. He said this is my request to RLEK to help us in getting our legal rights as per Recognition of Forest Rights Act, 2006 and if needed in approaching the Supreme Court.

Addressing the Gujjars, Senior. Journalist and writer The Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006”. He said that forest bureaucracy is misleading the court in this matter and they should be penalized for this deliberate offence. Jay Singh Rawat said that more than 25 crore population of India is living in and around the forest and forests are the part of their life and culture. These forest dwellers like van Gujjars can not be separated from the forest.

Jay Singh Rawat said, “It is regrettable that the Forest minister of the state also has no knowledge of the

Van Gujjar Roshandeen from Gaindikhata Hill Range said, “They have been provided with a land for them to reside but they are not allowed to do agriculture or even do not have the right to sell their piece of land. They cannot even take loan from bank. This policy of depriving them to enjoy their rights fully is not correct. He insisted that Gaindikhata should  be declared as Revenue Village and all the rights and other facilities should be given to them or should be allowed to return to Rajaji National Park as per the 2006 Act. Safi Lodha from Gaindikhata added that they are living in darkness as they are deprived of all the facilities which every citizen enjoys. Their ration cards too have been confiscated. We want that The Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 should be followed in letter and spirit”.

 Nazakat Chechi from Shyampur Range added, that Van Gujjars are used  just for political benefits and considered as Vote Banks but he makes an appeal to the government to consider their rights and should too be favoured. Irshad Kasana, Chilawali Range further added, we have been residing in forests for more than 150 years but the courts surprisingly blamed us for encroachment, therefore there is a need to put forth correct facts in front of the High Court.

While Ghulam Ali shared that they have been blamed unnecessarily that they kill animals and sell skins, but it is not true. It has been ages we have been residing in the jungle, we don’t eat meat as we are vegetarians. We have domesticated wild buffaloes. He said that slaughter is being done by someone else, but the Van Gujjars are being defamed blamed and killed for this. And Babu Khatana from Gaindikhata further shared that there are 1390 Van Gujjars are residing in Rajaji National Park of Uttarakhand. The forest department is harassing the Van Gujjars.

Unfortunately Uttarakhand Government is neither following the Recognition of Forest Rights Act, 2006 but also misrepresenting it in the High Court. As a result the High Court is passing orders to remove Gujjars from the forest area ignoring the Act.

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