Amnesty, others urge PM to implement Forest Act

New Delhi, Aug 9 (UNI) Alleging that large-scale violation of human rights is taking place in tribal areas, the Amnesty International and the other rights organisations today demanded full implementation of the Recognition of Forest Rights Act, 2006 with immediate effect.

In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the organisations called for a complete stop to all evictions and prosecution of those responsible for rights violations. They also plan to take out a march from Gwalior to Delhi on October 2 to exert pressure on the Government to implement the Act.

Elaborating on their demands at a press conference, Joe Athialy, campaign coordinator of Amnesty International, said,''We have pointed out in the letter several drawbacks in the Act. The draft rule is dicriminatory towards non-ST populations who are mainly Adivasis, pastoral communities, and they have to produce written proof of legitimacy of their residential status since 1930.'' He also said the powers of gram sabhas have been severely diluted in the Rules and the Forest department has been given more importance.

Stating that there must be an end to further displacement in adivasi areas, Mr Ashok Chowdhury, co-founder of the National Forum for Forest People and Forest Workers, also a signatory in the letter, said, ''The Forest Department which is the biggest landlord in the country, has been quite oppressive towards the tribals and those actively involved in the people's movements. False charges have been slapped against the activists and few of them are in jails.'' ''There has been little action against officials suspected for attacks on human rights defenders and those indulging in sexual and other violence against adivasi women,'' he said.

Raising doubts about the Government's intent to fully implement the Act, the activist said even after 60 years of Independence, a tribal policy is not in place. ''If the Provision of Panchayat Extension to the Scheduled Areas Act has not been implemented, then how can we expect the Government to put the Forest Act in action?'' he asked.

Mr Ramesh Sharma of the Janadesh, said about 25,000 people from 17 states including Orissa, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand, would converge at Gwalior for the October 2 march. ''We have decided that the agitators would not go back until the Government gives its commitment on the Act. Till then, they will sit on dharna near Jantar Mantar or the Supreme Court.'' He also emphasised that for the ''full implementation'' of the Act, several amendments had to be brought about in other legislations like the Land Acquisition Act or the Wildlife Act or Mines and Minerals Act.

Mr Amitabh Behar of the National Centre for Advocacy pointed out that at least the Government had admitted in the Act's draft that gross injustice had been done to the tribal people. ''We have welcomed the Act and hope the hurdles in its way of implementation are removed soon.'' UNI