via Philippines: MacroAsia And The Plundering Of Protected Areas – Unravelling The Roots Of Illegality.

via International: Governments Prioritize Profit Over Indigenous Peoples’ Rights.

via Philippines: DOLE 1 Empowers Indigenous Peoples Of Bagulin.

via West Papua: Indigenous Papuans Arrested For The Celebrating The UN International Day Of The World’s Indigenous Peoples.

Malnutrition and hunger deaths are not new to Adivasies’, they have been struggling with it for many decades now, and none of the government’s welfare schemes could ever solve it. To add to the injury is ever increasing degradation of environment which has direct telling effect on them. Adivasi of Betul & Harda district of MP has found a unique solution to both their problems in an operation “Guerrilla-Green”, a new kind of green revolution. Under the operation, they have resolved to plant a hundred thousand of saplings of fruit bearing trees every year alone in any barren- degraded land be it government, forest or private or Panchayat land. http://indigenouspeoplesissues.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=15881:madhya-pradesh-operation-guerrilla-green-going-into-second-phase&catid=33&Itemid=66

Source: http://tribal.nic.in/index2.asp?sublinkid=1169&langid=1

Draft: SCHEDULED TRIBES AND OTHER TRADITIONAL FOREST DWELLERS (Recognition of Forest Rights) Amendments Rules 2012: NEW
No. 23011/32/2010-FRA [Vol.II ]
Government of India
Ministry of Tribal Affairs
Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi
Dated : 20th July, 2012

Sub: Inviting objections and suggestions on the draft Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Amendment Rules, 2012.
********
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is the nodal agency for implementing the provisions of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, which seeks to recognize and vest the forest rights and occupation in forest land in forest dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers who have been residing in such forests for generations but whose rights could not be recorded. The Act was notified for operation with effect from 31.12.2007 (Annexure-I ). The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Rules, 2008 for implementing the provisions of the Act were also notified on 1.1.2008 (Annexure-II) .

2. The Ministry has observed that even after lapse of more than 4 years of the implementation of the Act, the flow of intended benefits of this welfare legislation to the eligible forest dwellers has remained constrained and several problems were impeding the implementation of the Act in its letter and spirit. The Ministry had accordingly undertaken an exercise to arrive at certain provisions/ steps for facilitating a robust implementation of the Act. The Ministry has already issued certain guidelines in this regard on 12.7.2012, for compliance by the State Governments/ UT Administrations a copy of which is available on the Ministry’s website (www.tribal.nic.in)

3. The Ministry is also proposing to make some amendments in the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Rules, 2008 to (i) lay down a procedure for identification or hamlets or settlements and process of consolidation of their lists, (ii) increase the mandatory tribal membership of Forest Rights Committees from the present one-thirds to two-thirds, (iii) reduce the present requirement of quorum of two-thirds in the gram sabha meetings to one-half, (iv) clarify that the term ‘sustenance’ includes fulfilment of livelihood needs of self and family, including the sale of any produce, (v) allow transportation of minor forest produce within and outside forest area through ‘locally appropriate means of transport for use of such produce or sale by forest rights holders or their cooperatives/federations for livelihood, (vi) lay down process for recognition of rights, including community rights, (vii) insert new Claim Forms for Rights to Community Forest Resource and Title Form for Community Forest Resources etc. A copy of the draft Rules titled “The Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Amendment Rules, 2012, have been published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II – Section 3 – Sub-section (i), dated 19.7.2012 in this regard (copy at Annexure-III

4. Any objections and suggestion in connection with the said draft “The Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Amendment Rules, 2012” may be forwarded at the following address, either through e-mail or by Post, by 19th August, 2012, positively for consideration by the Central Government:
Under Secretary (FRA),
Room No.416, B-Wing,
4th Floor, Shastri Bhawan,
New Delhi-110001
E-mail address: asit.gopal [at] nic.in
asit. kumar [at] nic.in

The Supreme Court of India has ruled that no private company can claim a right for mining leases and upheld the 2005 decision of the Jharkhand government and the Centre cancelling nine such leases. Among those whose mining leases were cancelled included Monnet Ispat and Energy Ltd, which had signed an MoU with the state government in 2003 to set up an integrated steel plant in Hazaribagh district with a proposed investment of Rs 1,400 crore. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Claim-for-mining-lease-not-fundamental-right/articleshow/15219978.cms?

  The Jharkhand Disom Party with support of different tribal groups and the villagers of Nagri has called bandh on Wednesday against the acquisition of land at Nagri Mauza for the construction of education hub. The representatives of several political parties with Nagri villagers also took out a torchlight procession from Morhabadi to the Albert Ekka Chowk on the eve of the bandh.  http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/ranchi/83285-jharkhand-disom-party-calls-state-wide-bandh-today.html

The locals near the Airport facing a similar problem have also come forward to support the bandh on July 25. “The bandh will be a landmark in the politics of Jharkhand as it will mobilise the people of the State. It is a sensitive matter and the Government must deal with it accordingly and should look for an alternative solution,” said the former Education Minister and Jharkhand Party chief Bandhu Tirky.

Tirky also said that the Government should consider the genuine demands of the villagers as cultivation is the main source of their livelihood. “The Government should shed its adamant stand in the matter and try to find out some alternative solution,” alleged Tirkey.

To attract people’s support, the villagers have also launched an awareness programme through ‘nukkad natak’ and public meetings at some of the prime locations of the city and hostels of schools and colleges. Some of the students are also said to have come in support of the agitation and participated in the torch-light procession on Tuesday.

“Some of the students have also promised us to support after the awareness program,” said Gladson Dung Dung an activist and a member of the Planning Commission of India. “People are being informed about the actual issues which we are concerned about and the role of Government and the court through nukkad nataks. They are also being convinced that our battle is not only for ourselves but for the people as a whole, if we win the battle on Nagri, its impact will be far reaching,” assured Dung Dung.

Besides the actual issues, people are also being informed about the alternatives and the offers been put before the Government to shift the construction site to the other 1,000 acre land being provided by the farmers.

The State Government however, tried to distribute the translated copy of the High Court order among the Nagri villagers but they refused to accept it saying that they are quite aware of the High Court order and will not settle on anything accept their own land-rights.

The High Court on July 16 had ordered the State Government to distribute translated copy of the High Court order so that the villagers get aware of the law related to the Land Acquisition Act in the State.

via India: New Guidelines Issued On Implementation Of The Scheduled Tribes And Other Traditional Forest Dwellers Act.