Sonbhadra district forest dwellers buoyed by vote to end 130-year slavery

ROBERTSGANJ (SONBHADRA): For forest dwellers in Robertsganj in Sonbhadra district, once infested with Naxalism, vote in this Lok Sabha elections is not just about choosing a representative, but electing a government which will get them freedom from the ‘slavery’ imposed by British rules over 130 years ago. “British snatched our land in 1885 and made us labourers. After over a century of struggle, we got the Forest Rights Act (FRA) 2006, which promised to undo the historical injustice, but our claims for land under FRA have been rejected and we have been declared encroachers.Now a threat of eviction looms large. The matter is in the Supreme Court and only a government sympathetic to our cause can win the case for us,” said Mahendra Cheru, 52, a tribal in Padraich village.
Lakhs of forest dwellers will be displaced if SC rules against them, but if their claims are accepted, they will have the right to till the arable land under forest department and use minor forest produce like bamboo, tendu leaves and herbs like their forefathers.
Sonbhadra has highest forest cover in UP. Tribal and non-tribal forest workers (mainly Dalits) constitute 42% of the 19 lakh population. Under FRA, a tribal family is entitled for four hectares of arable land in forests. A non-tribal traditional forest dweller can get the same benefit if their three or more generations were dependent on forest or have been living in forest for 75 years prior to 2005.
Since 2008, around 64,771 claims have been filed, of which 11,251 were approved and 53,500 have been rejected. “Majority claims rejected are of those who could not prove 75 years residency,” said administrative officials. However, many tribals said that they filed claims in 2009 but have not been informed about rejections.
Despite rejection of claims; many forest dwellers continue to occupy small pieces of arable forest lands for livelihood. The defiance has cost them dear. Over the years, number of criminal cases have been filed against them for trespassing, encroachment and using forest wood and produce.
“We don’t have documentary evidence because we never had legal rights. However, the gazetteer, census, history books and forest department surveys mention tribes and forest communities living her since ages, but officials don’t consider it, said Jagdish Agaria.
“The state government is primarily responsible for FRA implementation and Lok Sabha elections are to elect government at the Centre, but through our vote we want to warn both – if you want our support, give as freedom from forest department,” said Munnar Singh Gond (55), forest rights activist.