SC order has tribals regroup to fight for rights on forest lands

ASIFABAD: Adivasis demanded that the Central government bring an ordinance in Parliament to protect the rights of Adivasis on forest lands like it did in the case of the SC and ST Atrocity Act following the Supreme Court judgement.   

While addressing the 14th National Gondwana Gond Mahasabha at Asifabad, Adivasi intellectuals and MLAs recalled that all the political parties had supported the SC and ST Atrocity Act following the SC judgement in the past. The ruling BJP government had brought in an ordinance against the SC judgement to protect the act from the judgement. It should do the same in the case of Adivasi evictions from forest lands they were tilling since a long time.

All India Gondwana Gond Mahasabha national president and MLA Shishipal Shori of Chattisgarh said, ‘The Central government should take note of the negative impact of the Supreme Court judgement on Adivasis and how it affects Adivasi livelihood.’ He said that a resolution would be passed in the ongoing Mahasabha in this regard. He said that all state committees would pass resolutions to mount pressure on state government to take steps to protect Adivasi rights on water, forest and land.     

Former MLA and Thudum Debba state president Soyam Bapurao said that they would will soon  launch an agitation to protect the rights of Adivasis on forest lands they have been cultivating. He called upon Adivasis and leaders, irrespective of their party affiliation, to come forward to fight for the rights on forest lands in the wake of the Supreme Court judgement.

Adilabad MP Godam Nagesh also expressed concern over the judgement and said that he will raise the issue in the appropriate platform. Asifabad MLA Atram Sakku said there is a strong link between the forests and Adivasis and government should not break this link by separating Adivasis from the forest.

Former MLA Kova Laxmi, Adima Girijana Salaha Mandali chairman Kanaka Lakkerao, R.N Druv , general secretary of Gondwana Gond Mahasabha, vice- president Sidam Arju, Gond Raja Dr Birshah Atram, Prof K.M Mythri of Hampi University, senior leader of the Mahasabha Sual Prasad, Yari Mohan, Sachidanand,  Jai Prakash Shaw, Sonuram Naitham,  Mangela Thai,  Sukhsing Akshay,  Veerandra Atram,  Mohan Oha, Pradeep Kumar Singh. G.R Rana, H.K Singh Gurucharan and others were present.