Recently after the petition filed by the Wildlife First along with Nature Conservation Society, Tiger Research, and Conservation Trust, The Supreme Court issued orders to evict the lakhs of tribal from the forest area who failed to prove they were forest dwellers.
Though, this petition raised a lot more questions than this merely. Firstly, the Supreme Court ordered the State Governments to verify the claims of lakhs of tribals who called themselves as the forest dwellers as per the Forest Rights Act of 2006.
Then, once Gram Sabhas and State Governments completed this project, the Supreme Court put a stay on the order and asked to re-examine if the claims rejected by them were done following the due process under the Forest Rights Act.
Though, there are many benefits that amendments to the Indian Forest Act,1927 brings like sustainable management of the forest and its resources, addressing the issues on climate change, creation of new category of forest called “Production Forest”, granting Patta or occupancy rights to the forest dwellers and strict regulations in order to safeguard the wellbeing and ecosystem of the forest and its culture.
But at the same time, it suffers from major back flaws like lack of paperwork of the forest dwellers which could prove their truth, and officers unmindfully taking away their lands without proper research. As per the Tata Institution of Social Sciences research, it is found that community participation boosts nature conservation while on the other hand, exclusionary approach makes the situation worse both ecologically and socially.
Infact, there is a spreading fear among the forest dwellers that this act empowers the forest officers to take away their lands, injure them, put a cess on them for continuing to live, or drag them to court like terrorists are to be treated.
Though, it is their fear but very much possible outcomes if growing powers of the forest department from this Act is not checked by some other department. This may easily result in regional riots, protests and social upheaval.
Now, the Supreme Court must make a wise decision meeting the international commitments regarding climate care and along with that safeguarding the interests of forest dwellers.
References:
https://byjus.com/free-ias-prep/upsc-notes-pdf/
https://pixabay.com/photos/trees-forest-fog-foggy-haze-mist-975091/
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