Unethical to call Badagas forest encroachers: Activist
"It is morally incorrect to term Badagas as encroachers of forest lands, owing to anthropological and archeological evidence, which is a testament to their intricate relationship with forests. The 1809 census enumeration, documented by the British, substantially claims the presence of a Badaga populace in Ajoor.
This data was gathered before the introduction of the Madras Forest Act and Indian Forest Act in 1882 and 1927, respectively. The contentious region today is mostly plantations and has around 350 houses, untouched by any factors impairing environmental balance," said Yukesh Saravanan, who sent a letter to Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary, Environment, Climate Change, and Forests, demanding the forest department withdraw its move.
He added that the residents bearing the brunt of eviction are fit to be classified as Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (OTFDs). "The provisions of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 aim to recognise and vest forest rights, including the right to live in the forest, cultivate and collect forest produce. Mulling their eviction not only undermines the harmonious co-existence between people and forests, but also disregards constitutional mandates to save the custodians of forests," he said.
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First Post
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In a statement, the Indian government said that it has 'taken note' of Trump's statement and is 'studying its implications'. The statement adds: 'India and the US have been engaged in negotiations on concluding a fair, balanced, and mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreement over the last few months. We remain committed to that objective.' India has reasons to be concerned about the 25 per cent tariffs imposed by Trump. The US is India's largest trading partner. The US imports significantly more from India than it exports. In 2024, the total value of goods traded between the two countries reached an estimated $129.2 billion. Imports from India amounted to $87.4 billion, while exports were $41.8 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $45.7 billion for India. India is one of the significant sources of imports for American consumers and companies. 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While the 25 per cent tariff rate would be slightly lower than the 26 per cent that Trump threatened on April 2, it is still a sharp increase from 2.4 per cent, which is the average tariff rate applied to Indian imports in recent years. Industries such as pharmaceuticals, gems and jewellery, textiles, and automobiles are expected to be particularly affected. Indian government officials reportedly believe any US tariffs imposed are likely to be temporary, as negotiations to reach a comprehensive trade pact are still ongoing and could be concluded by the fall. However, finalising the deal could still face hurdles, as has been the case till now. Key sticking points remain, particularly about access to India's agriculture and dairy sectors. Indian officials have maintained a firm stance, refusing to open these sectors to US exports. On the other side, the Trump Administration will continue to press India to fully open up its markets to American goods. 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Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
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UK ninja sword ban begins; 1,000 weapons surrendered to govt in knife crime crackdown
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