Date:02/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/02/stories/2008110251920300.htm

Tamil Nadu

Tribals can collect forest produces

K. Raju

Thanks to Forest Rights Act, which provides them rights over community forest resources

WELFARE MEASURES: Collector R. Vasuki handing over a community certificate to a tribal at Vadakaraiparai on the Kodaikanal hill on Saturday.

KODAIKANAL: From now, tribal people living on upper and lower Kodaikanal hills since time memorial, can enter reserve forests and collect produces without fear, thanks to promulgation of the Forest Rights Act, that, for the first time, provides tribals the rights over community forest resources.

Earlier, tribal people residing in forest land for generations have been cultivating and collecting produces like firewood and fruits. But they have not got any right over the property. Sometimes, they are viewed as encroachers.

After the promulgation of this act, tribal people have the legal right to own, collect all minor forest produces.

It will also ensure rights and ownership of tribal and traditional forest dwelling communities over natural resources.

While interacting with tribal people at Vadakaraiparai, 20 km away from Kodaikanal on Saturday, Dindigul Collector R. Vasuki said that biodiversity conservation was also envisaged in the act.

Tribal people may submit claims for community rights such as use of fish or water bodies, traditional resource and bio-diversity access along with adequate evidence in support of their claims they enjoyed so far.

The Forest Rights Committee will verify these claims and table before the gram sabha for approval. Later, these claims will be recommended to the district-level committee for final approval. “Decision of the district committee is final.”

Eighteen committees, each comprising 15 members of which one third are tribal people, mostly women, have been constituted in all panchayats on upper Kodaikanal, and certain panchayats on Adalur and Pandrimalai hills in the district so far. More committees will be formed in other panchayats to uplift tribal people.

Tribal people can also submit claims for establishment of schools, hospitals, crèches, fair price shops, power supply and telecommunication facilities, drinking water connections, small irrigation channels road and community centres.

Earlier, Ms. Vasuki distributed community certificates and membership card to of the Tamil Nadu Tribal Welfare Board to 105 tribal people residing at Vadakaraiparai, Moolayaru and Vazhaigiri on the hill.