The diversity of tribal culture in south India was on display at the Adivasi Cultural Mela held in the city on Tuesday, but so was the anger at their forcible eviction from forests they have been inhabiting for centuries.
Among the demands, in an 11-point memorandum given to Social Welfare Minister A. Narayanaswamy during the event, was the incomplete implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 and the subsequent Rules, 2008.
“More than 10,000 tribal families in Karnataka have been denied forest rights. With no forest rights, they have no way of earning a livelihood,” said advocate Ravindra Naik, one of the speakers.
The importance of the implementation of the Act was apparent in 60-year-old Sanjeevaiah's case. As a tribal from H.D. Kote, he lost possession of his land more than a decade ago after it was declared ‘within forest limits'. He now ekes out a living as a menial labourer. Though he was guaranteed rights to his land under the 2006 Act, he told The Hindu that the “local officials have not implemented the Act and they are ignorant of forest rights granted to us”.
This angst formed the crux of the list of demands drafted by the Karnataka Adivasi Jana Seva Sanga (KAJSS). The demands included: informing local authorities about the Act, putting an end to the harassment of forest dwellers by forest officials and the police, lifting of false cases filed against tribal leaders, and provisions to protect the Adivasi culture.
Blame game
Mr. Narayanaswamy blamed the district authorities for the improper implementation of the Act. “Only four per cent of forest dwellers have been given forest rights in the State. To correct this, we have called district officials and ordered them to follow the law and disperse identity cards and lands to the tribal people,” he said.
He added that while it was imperative for tribal people in eco-sensitive forest zones to be relocated, he emphasised on the need for rehabilitation. “Apart from handing over compensation to them, they should also be given houses, land and access to education,” Mr. Narayanaswamy said, adding that the State Government would pressure the Centre to include these in the rehabilitation process.
The event featured dances by troupes from Tamil Nadu and Kerala. As the mela was held to commemorate the 136th birth anniversary of Birsa Munda, a freedom fighter and tribal leader from Jharkhand, the KAJSS also demanded that a Birsa Munda bhavan be set up in every district and an award be instituted in his name for those who have contributed to tribal welfare.
Published - November 16, 2011 09:27 am IST
