Kalam urged to stop displacement of MP Tribals due to Wildlife Act

New Delhi, Dec 24 (UNI) President A P J Abdul Kalam was today urged to intervene to stop the displacement of tribals in Hoshangabad district of Madhya Pradesh due to the Wildlife Conservation Act.

In a memorandum to President Kalam today, the Samajwadi Jan Parishad said the Hoshangabad tribals have been facing a crisis of livelihood after the forest department of the state banned fishing, harvesting, grazing of cattle and collection of forest products by these people for conservation of tigers in Satpura Tiger Reserve.

''The Satpura Tiger Reserve area, comprising Satpura National Park, Bori Wildlife sanctuary amd Panchmarhi Wildlife sanctuary, being a protected area, even the developmental activities carried out by village panchayats are not permitted by officials,''the Memorandum by the SJP, which have been fighting for ther cause of the tribals, said.

In this regard, the SJP, which has been on a month-long 'Sadbuddhi Satyagraha' from November 24, observed one-day satyagraha at Rajghat today in support of the Hoshangabad tribals. Several writers, journalists, students, teachers, artists and intellectuals articipated in the satyagraha.

The SJP is demanding revokation of the Wildlife Conservation Act describing it as 'anti-adivasi'.

In the memorandum to the President, the SJP said,''We seek your intervention so that no village is displaced from Satpura tiger reserve and the traditional right of the adivasis (tribals) and forest dwellers be protected.'' UNI AR SI RK2058