Regional Level Consultation in Koraput

A two days Regional level Consultation on “the Implementation of Forest Rights Act, 2006” was organized by Bhumiadhikar Sangathan, Koraput  affiliated to the Campaign for Survival and Dignity (CSD), Odisha on 24th  and 25th August 2012 at the Tribal Museum Koraput.

The consultation was inaugurated by  Mrs. Malati Nayak, the Sarpanch of the Ramgiri G.P and The State CSD, Odisha Convenor, Gopinath Majhi. The Member of the Bhuni Adhikar Sangatha, Gopal Nayak welcomed the participants and shared the objective of the programme.

The State CSD, Odisha Convenor, Gopinath Majhi presided over the meeting. Around 300 hundreds Tribals and Forest dwellers, Forest Rights Committee (FRC) Members, PRI members from 11 blocks of Koraput district and representatives from different western and southern  districts i.e Malkangiri, Nabarangapur, Rayagarda, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, Baleswar, Cuttack, Jajpur and Bolangir participated in the consultation.

The participants coming from different blocks of the Koraput and other districts shared on the various FRA implementation issues in the grounds. Raising concern over the non recognition of community forest rights in the State, Gopinath Majhi said that “the State Government has failed to recognize the community rights over forest in the State even after the passing of four years”.

Attacking the role of Forest Department he said that, “the forest department has lost its “Jamindary” over forest after the enactment and implementation of Forest Rights Act. However it still continued to play a divisive role in the villages by promoting Vana Surakhya Samitis (VSS) which has lost its legality. Further he has warned the NGOs still involved in promoting, supporting and strengthening VSS after the enactment and implementation of FRA in the State”. 

Mrs. Malati Nayak raising the number of FRA implementation issues in the district said that, “in Koraput, FRC has not been formed in a number of forest and un-surveyed villages and FRC has been formed in a revenue village under which there are 20 big hamlets, Whatever 58 community forest rights titles said to have distributed in the district are not as per Section 3(1) over traditional boundary of forest but for 3(2) meant for developmental rights i.e school, Aganwadi centre etc.”

Ranjit Pangi, the convenor of the Adibasi Ekta Manch, Koraput said that “there are lot of gaps in the recognition of individual forest rights in the district, in most of the cases, less area has been recognized, individual forest rights of the Other Traditional Forest Dwellers(OTFD) has been rejected despite the approval and recommendation of the concern Gram sabha; the SDLC and DLC have arbitrarily decided over the claims disrespecting the decision of the Gram Sabha and in many cases, titles issued to the tribal has not been demarcated and verified etc.”

In the meeting, “VSS hatao Jungle Bachao”, “VSS ku Prosahan Douthiba NGO Hatao”, Jungle Aau Jamin Haharta-Amarta Amarta” etc slogans were loudly uttered.
 In the consultation , besides members of the Bhumin Adhikar Sangathan, representative of  CSD, Odisha, Odisha Jungle Manch(OJM) , Adibasi Ekta Manch, Koraput , Odisha Adivasi Adhikar Abhijan, Bhumi Adhikar Sangathan,Koraput, Dongar Adhikari Samiti,Lamataput, Mahila Mahasangh,Ramgiri, Machhkunda Basachyut Mahasangh,Koraput, Jami Jungle Adhikar Sangathan,Bargarh, Wadaka Anchal Vikash Parishad,Kalahandi, Hirakud Budi Anchal Sangram Samiti, Jharsuguda , Adivasi Adhikar Manch, Jajpur also participated.

From the government side participating the Consultation on the first day, the Koraput Sub- Collector, Ramakanta Nayak and in the second day Ramesh Patra, ZIlla parishad Member, Baipariguda joined the programme, heard the number of issued raised by the participants and assured them to address the issues raised as soon as possible.

In the second day of the programmes, the participants of the consultation have planned for filling more and more community forest rights claims in the coming days; to return the faulty individual forest rights titles issued them to the District Level Committee (DLC) and to strengthen the protest against the VSS and Forest Department who have been the main hurdles before proper implementation of FRA in the region.

All the members of various community organizations gathered in the consultation warned the State and District Administration, Koraput to go for a massive protest, if their demands are not full filled.