Bista claims Centre work on forest land rights

SNS, 23 AUGUST, SILIGURI:  The Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) will be working with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to ensure that all pending Parja Patta (deed of land rights) issues related to forest dwellers are resolved at the earliest, Darjeeling MP Raju Bista said today.

Quoting Union Minister for Tribal Affairs, Arjun Munda, Mr Bista said the union government will write to all states concerned to ensure that the Forest Rights Act (FRA) law is implemented in their respective states at the earliest, and en sure t he implementation of the FRA in its true spirit.

Accordingto Mr Bista, with this decision, all pending issues relating to granting of Parja-Patta to forest dwellers will be taken on a "mission mode" as the MoTA and MoEFCC will review the implementation of the guidelines every three months.

It may be noted here that the decision may be a huge relief for some organisations, including the Hlimalayan Forest Villagers' Organisation, in this region, including in the Hills, which have been fighting for their rights over their ancestral land for decades.

"Our region is home to various indigenous tribes and communities, who have been denied their rights for over the decade. Even though forest villages are protected under the Forest Rights Act of 2006,

Non-implementation of this crucial act in our region by the West Bengal government, has continued to deprive those from our region living in 'Ban Busty', their rights to their land," the MP claimed.

Notably, Mr Bista wrote to the Union Minister for Tribal Affairs on 3 July this year, requesting his intervention to protect the rights of forest dwellers of Darjeeling and Kalimpong.

The MP pointed out that under Section 3(h) of the FRA 2006, it is specifically required that "rights of settlement and conversion of all forest villages, old habitation, unsurveyed villages and other villages in forests, whether recorded, notified or not into revenue villages." "While the West Bengal government undertook this exercise in the district of Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri, they have refused to carry out similar exercise in Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts," Mr Bista said, adding " I will continue to follow up with the Union Ministry to ensure strict implementation of the FRA guidelines in our region."