ASHOK Chaudhary and the National Forum of Forest People and Forest Workers (NFFPFW) were in the forefront of the campaign which finally delivered the Scheduled Tribes and Other Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forests Rights) Act 2006. After the law was passed, the Forum has wasted no time in informing tribal and forest communities about its provisions and mobilising them to seek its implementation by state governments. Chaudhary spoke to Civil Society on the plight of forest communities and implementation of the law on forest rights.

Why are forest communities alienated?

The main reason is lack of governance. Their basic needs, their democratic and constitutional rights are not protected or taken care of. Governments work for the benefit of companies and multinationals who don’t care for the Adivasi way of life, their culture. Instead they destroy their livelihoods.

We should remember that this Maoism is of typical Indian variety. It has no connection with Mao Tse Tung’s core ideological position, which was building people’s power. The Maoists are taking advantage of the alienation of forest communities. But their politics is not based on tribal issues. They want to capture the State. Here, the Maoists and the government are similar. They raise Adivasi land alienation issues only when violence happens. Both sides don’t follow democratic norms. The government discusses land alienation in the Maoist context. It doesn’t want to improve the living conditions of Adivasis by ensuring their rights as guaranteed by the Constitution and by international conventions.

Adivasis are being constantly displaced from their homes for the so-called national interest. In Sonbhadra district, people have been displaced three times in a short period of 40 years so that the ‘temples’ of modern India could be built. Lack of justice is the real reason behind the growth of Maoism in almost 30 per cent of the districts in India. The Forest Rights Act talks about removing the historical injustice done to Adivasis. But the states are not serious about implementing it.

Then, policymakers impose some kind of developmental agenda on Adivasis that are totally against their culture and needs. They are even deprived of their basic requirement of biomass for food and shelter. Attempts must be made to strengthen democratic institutions in these areas. We need more democracy, not bullets. The challenge is to strengthen the democratic process and institutions. Unless that is achieved, the fight against violence cannot be won.

Can the implementation of forest rights help?

Implementation of the Forest Rights Act of 2006 in its true letter and spirit can ameliorate this alienation to a great extent. Here, the forest department is openly opposing this Act and the government is silent. There is no action by the government. The Forest Rights Act should be implemented fully. Forest Rights Committees should be established and joint forest management (JFM) be disbanded.

The attitude of state governments in Maoist areas such as West Bengal, Jharkhand, Orissa and Chhattisgarh has been lopsided. For example, the West Bengal government is implementing the Forest Rights Act through gram sansads that are made up of several gram panchayats, and not through gram sabhas. In Chhattisgarh, the government is talking about giving lease deeds though these have no legal status. The Forest Rights Act talks about rights and not lease deeds. A lease is just a concession and can be taken back any time.

Can community forest management help?

Yes, full community management of forests along with land rights. Adequate land for agriculture should be given. It should be done through gram sabhas. Cooperative institutions must be strengthened. Forest communities must have rights to forest produce. If gram sabhas don’t want mining in their area, it should not be undertaken.

Also read : Interviews

Ashish Kothari, Kalpavriksh.

Ashok Chaudhary, National Forum of Forest People and Forest Workers

Pushpa Toppo, Jharkhand Jungle Bachao Andolan

Dipankar Bhattacharya, general secretary, CPI (ML)

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