Telangana: Seethakka Slams Centre’s Move To Open Tribal Forests for Mining

 Hyderabad: The BJP-led government at the Centre was trying to open up forest land, that is home to tribals, for mining, with utter disregard to the lives and rights of tribal people, tribal welfare minister Danasari ‘Seethakka’ Anasuya said on Friday.

She was addressing a meeting on International Day of World’s Indigenous Peoples here.

Seethakka said that following the Centre’s amendments to the RoFR Act, that enshrines the rights of tribals over their traditional land, any company planning mining operations can take over forest land with permission directly from the Centre.

“This means there is no longer a requirement for a grama sabha permission for taking up such operations in forest land,” the minister said. “These provisions must be fought and everyone should join hands to protect tribal rights. It is never the tribals who destroy forests as their lives are entwined with nature. If forests have been protected for so long, it is because of those who live in them,” she added.

The Centre which was willing to open up forests for destruction, however, did not give permission for even laying roads to tribal villages inside forests. The attitude of the Centre was unfortunate and would spell doom to future generations, Seethakka said.

The Congress government in Telangana, she said, has set aside Rs 17,000 crore for tribal welfare this year and would work to resolve the problems that these groups face. The previous BRS government in the last 10 years, did nothing to provide employment in Agency areas. By cancelling GO No. 3, the then BRS government robbed tribals of finding employment locally. The Revanth Reddy government was committed to the development of tribal communities and to ensure their welfare, Seethakka added.