Uttar Pradesh tribals demand forest rights

Sonebhadra (UP), Mar 17 : Around 10,000 tribals in Uttar Pradesh's Sonebhadra District have demanded land and forest rights to sustain themselves.

" We have no land to till and are facing hardships. How long this plight will continue?" asked Sursati, a tribal woman.

Eminent social worker Medha Patkar also addressed the rally.

Over seven thousand women protesters took part in the event.

Over 40 million people live in the country's resource rich forest areas -- which include protected wildlife reserves and dense woodlands -- eking out a meager living from simple farming, picking fruit and collecting honey.

For generations, they have had no legal entitlement over the land or the use of forest resources.

They claim they are treated as "encroachers" and "criminals" on their own land and forced to leave it by forestry officials, mining and logging companies.

ANI