NAA Demands Implementation of Forest Rights Bill, 2006

New Delhi, July 19 (UNI) A three-day national meet of National Adivasi Andolan (NAA) here has urged the Government to pass ''The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Bill, 2006'' by incorporating the recommendations of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC).

As many as 50 representatives from seven adivasi-dominated states, who participated in the meet, lauded the recommendations of the JPC on the Bill and described the recommendations as 'path breaking and historic'.

However, the representatives voiced concern over some of the recommendations of the JPC and urged the union government and Parliament to take note of the same when the Bill comes up for discussion in both houses.

They raised apprehension that vested interests rallied against the indigenous people and the protection of the nation's forest wealth may succeed in diluting the Bill to be placed before Parliament in the coming session.

The representatives unanimously resolved to observe August 15 as a 'Black Day' all over the country if such efforts succeeded and the Bill did not come up before Parliament for enactment without any dilution by then.

UNI VN AK DB2027