Ram Dayal Munda

Ranchi, June 15: The Indian Confederation of Indigenous and Tribal People (ICITP) has appealed to the United Nations to direct the Indian government to revoke the eviction order issued by the Union ministry of forest and environment in May 2002.

Chief adviser of the confederation Ram Dayal Munda said the Centre had issued a circular on May 3 last year directing all state governments to evict encroaches from forest lands to maintain the ecological balance and protect wild life. The confederation has requested the United Nations to recognise the rights of indigenous and tribal people to own land, which belong to them for generations, and permanently reside in forest areas.

The issues were discussed at second session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York from May 12 to May 23. “Over the ages, tribal people have enjoyed customary community right over forest areas, including agriculture rights. Unfortunately, soon after Independence, forest areas were taken away from them in the name of conserving wild life. But over the years with illegal felling of trees, only a few shrubs are left in the forests. The government is now planning to hand over these areas to multi-national companies for mining,” Munda said.

The confederation requested the United Nations to ensure that all evicted families are given compensation. It asked for ex-gratia grants for the family members of those killed in violence during the eviction drive.

“The names of tribals living in forest areas should be included in the census report and the voters’ list as they are bona fide citizens of the country. Hamlets coming under forest areas should be recognised as full-fledged revenue villages,” Munda said.

The former Ranchi University vice-chancellor called for proper implementation of the Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act, 1996, while honouring the Supreme Court’s Samata judgment, which upholds participation by indigenous and tribal people in development projects launched in Scheduled Areas.

“The governments of Assam, Manipur and Kerala are demolishing indigenous settlements, which are hundreds of years old, with bulldozers and elephants. The Assam government is also using the eviction order to crush the demand for greater autonomy. Other states too will soon follow the suit. On one hand the government is passing laws to entrust control over natural resources to indigenous and tribal people and on the other hand it is bent upon taking away those rights through this circular. This is very distressing,” Munda said.

The confederation proposed at the United Nations meeting that the indigenous communities and tribals be made parties to MoUs so that they can participate in projects launched for the welfare of forest areas. They should be asked to lease out and not surrender the ownership of forest areas to avoid displacement, said the members of the confederation. However, if eviction becomes inevitable, rehabilitation packages would be worked out so that the displaced people are resettled as a community, they added.

The confederation further proposed that indigenous and tribal people be made share holders in the welfare projects.