The Forest Rights Act

Friends,

Yesterday, in Udaipur, Rajasthan, more than 3000 people joined a protest called by the Sanyukt Jan Sangharsh Manch, an alliance of the Jangal Jameen Jan Andolan (the State federation of the Campaign in Rajasthan), the CPI, the CPI(M) and the Janata Dal (Secular). The call for the agitation was given on multiple issues, but the main focus was the Forest Rights Act and the NREGA, and the State government's willful flouting of both law and justice in the manner in which it has handled both legislations. The protest was preceded by three days of negotiations with the State government to force some kind of an agreement, which eventually led to a written commitment from the State government to address the demands of the protest. In particular, with regard to the Forest Rights Act, a review of rejected claims has been promised as well as better implementation on community rights. After the written commitment, the Manch called off the indefinite dharna.

The Rajasthan protest is the third in a series of mass mobilisations over the past month. The preceding two were in Maharashtra and Gujarat. The Maharashtra protest was the largest, with more than 10,000 people walking across the State to Mumbai to demand community control over forests and respect for the rights of people under the Forest Rights Act. Their protests were again met with negotiations from the State government side, which tried to wriggle out of any firm commitment and to instead engage only in symbolic gestures.

This series of State mobilisations will culminate in a proposed mass rally in Delhi, tentatively fixed for May 20th, in which it is expected that people from more than 12 States will participate.

Campaign for Survival and Dignity
Ph: 9873657844, www.forestrightsact.com