Latest news with #RecognitionofForestRights)Act
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
India earns crores from cattle, and takes away their grazing land rights: Seeman
1 2 Madurai: India earns ₹30,000 crore through beef exports and over ₹1,800 lakh crore from the dairy industry, but nothing has been done for the cattle that sustain these sectors, said Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) chief coordinator Seeman at the party's Goat and Cattle Conference at Viradhanur village here on Thursday evening. "I am speaking on behalf of these cattle about the demand for their grazing land rights," he said. "Out of 1.7 crore hectares of grazing land in India, Tamil Nadu has around 12 lakh hectares. But more than half of it has been encroached upon. Lands are being diverted to Sipcot and other industrial estates, with no concern for the pastoral communities who've used them for generations," he said. Referring to Megamalai and Western Ghats region, he asked how once-accessible areas have been steadily turned into reserve forests and tiger sanctuaries. "The Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, does not permit cattle grazing in protected forest areas, but these pastoral people have been grazing their livestock there for centuries," he said. Pointing to the worsening condition of water sources that once supported cattle, he said cattle are being forced to feed on plastic in cities. On the alleged manhandling of a 60-year-old pastoralist, J Sannasi, by forest guards near Kurangani hills, he said he will go ahead with 1,000 cattle and graze in the same forest area near Western Ghats on Aug 3. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Dubai villas | search ads Get Deals Undo Seeman garlanded Sannasi at the conference. Among the 15 resolutions passed was one calling to implement the provisions of the Act that support grazing, reclaim encroached poramboke and grazing lands, and officially recognise traditional migratory routes of cattle and goats. The party also resolved to seek establishment of a Tamil Nadu Pastoral Economic Development Board, creating insurance schemes for livestock affected by natural disasters, and halting industrial projects on grazing lands. Other points included issuing ID cards for pastoral families, fixing procurement prices for buffalo milk, and creating tunnel crossings for safe cattle movement on roads. Viradhanur, 18 km away from Madurai city, was selected as venue as it lies along a traditional migratory route used by pastoralists from Sivaganga and Virudhunagar districts. Around 2,000 heads of cattle were lined inside a barricaded arena in front of the main stage during the conference to drive home the point that it was a conference for cattle. Many pastoral community leaders and members from across the southern districts took part.
The Hindu
10-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
NTK to march with cattle towards forest area in Theni to retrieve grazing rights
Naam Tamilar Katchi would stage a protest in Theni on August 3 with cattle to press for the rights of cattle-rearers on grazing lands in forest areas. Addressing 'Adugal, madugal' (goats/sheep, cows/buffaloes) conference' on 'Grazing land our rights', organised by the party near here on Thursday, party chief coordinator Seeman said he would mobilise lakhs of cattle farmers and animals to uphold the grazing rights along the foothills of the Western Ghats in Theni district. 'I will take with me the very persons who were attacked by the forest staffers for grazing animals in the forest lands,' he said, adding that unless people protested their rights could not be upheld. The conference passed a resolution on upholding the rights for cattle-rearers for grazing domestic animals under The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006. Stating that over 12 lakh hectares of grazing lands in Tamil Nadu had been encroached upon for setting up industrial units and other facilities like bus stands and residential houses, he said, 'If such vast areas of grazing lands are usurped for other purposes from where will the lakhs of head of cattle find their fodder,' he asked. He also denied the contention of the government that allowing cattle to graze in lands adjoining forests area would lead to destruction of green cover and infect wild animals. 'What evidence does it have to prove the allegation?. If the head of cattle threatened ecology and prevented natural water sources, why are then the wild animals coming into residential areas in search of water,' he asked. He also charged that rivers and forests were being allowed to be destroyed for mining sand and manufacturing m-sand. 'Rivers have been turned into sewage carrying bodies,' he said, pointing to the failure of the government machinery in protecting natural resources. Officials had promoted chemical fertilizers over the years only to further the interest of corporates that wanted to wipe out the cattle which provided farmers the natural manure with its dung. 'Now even the soil has lost its fertility with increased use of chemical fertilizers. The irony is that the government is now taking pride in promoting organic food after destroying cattle-rearing,' he charged. The meet passed resolutions to retrieval of grazing lands, documentation of traditional paths of 'kidai madus', a separate board called Tamil Nadu Pastoral Economic Development Board to protect the interest of kidai madu farmers and an insurance scheme for them, and special insurance scheme to protect kidai madus affected by natural calamities.
Time of India
08-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Claims of forest rights face challenges as Dec deadline looms
Margao: Sixty-five-year-old Mahadev Velip clutches weathered papers outside his mud house at Morpirla, in Quepem taluka — documents that could secure his family's future under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act. Like thousands of others, he waits as chief minister Pramod Sawant's Dec 19 deadline to clear all pending claims faces mounting challenges. With 10,500 claims filed across the state, only 871 families have been cleared to be issued sanads (title deeds) so far. Another 949 claims have been rejected, leaving 8,680 families in limbo — including Velip's. Sanads will be issued to 150 families at a function to be held on Monday at Ponda. Also, a special camp will be held on June 14 across six talukas to fast-track pending cases. 'This land has been our home for generations,' said Velip, his eyes scanning the foliage around his dwelling. 'Without official recognition, we have always lived in fear.' Sources in the tribal welfare department reveal three critical obstacles threatening the Dec 19 timeline. The most pressing is a severe shortage of skilled personnel for spot verification and demarcation of claimed land — the crucial step in the validation of each claim. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Esta nueva alarma con cámara es casi regalada en Bragado (ver precio) Verisure Undo Survey teams currently manage only three to four verifications per day, a pace that appears insufficient given the massive backlog. The monsoon compounds these difficulties. Heavy rain triggers extensive vegetation growth and waterlogging, making forest sites virtually inaccessible and bringing verification work to 'almost a standstill', officials said. A forest department official said, 'We are racing against time and nature. The monsoon window severely limits our working months.' A third challenge involves ensuring adequate gram sabha attendance to validate claims — the requirement of 50% quorum at gram sabhas, with a third of them women, has turned out to be a major impediment in the speedy processing of the claims. Further, processing claims that are not supported by adequate documentation is fraught with delays. With the Dec 19 deadline only six months away, sources said the fulfilment of the promise depends on navigating these formidable challenges.
New Indian Express
30-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
BJP instigating violence after Kamal Haasan's comment on Kannada: CPI(M) leader Shanmugam
KRISHNAGIRI: BJP is instigating an issue over language between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, after actor-politician Kamal Haasan made a comment on Kannada at a movie promotion, said CPI (M) state secretary P Shanmugam at Hosur on Thursday. While speaking to reporters, Shanmugam said, "Each and every one will take pride in their mother tongue and Kamal Haasan is not a linguistic expert, he shared experts' opinion that 'Kannada was born out of Tamil'. People have the rights to argue or share this view, but they should not indulge in violence. BJP is politically instigating a language issue between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka." Earlier, over 350 people took part in a demonstration organised by the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) in front of the Hosur sub-collector office. During the demonstration, Shanmugam said, "Implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 is poor, forest department officials are ill-treating the poor in forest and sanctuary areas. Chief Minister MK Stalin should convene a meeting with the forest officials on the implementation of forest rights and advise officials to avoid excessive measures against public." He further said there are over 2,000 acres of land in Chennasandiram panchayat in Hosur taluk being cultivated by farmers for decades and patta should be provided to them. Similarly, people without houses in Krishnagiri district should be allocated with land for house construction. The state secretary added, "Effluent water in South Pennai River from Karnataka entering Hosur in Krishnagiri district is polluting farmlands, which should be prevented by holding dialogues between the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka chief ministers. Similarly, effluents released into South Pennai from Krishnagiri should also be prevented." Shanmugam submitted a petition with a charter of demands to Hosur Sub-Collector RA Priyanga, who assured that all issues will be inquired into in a phased manner and steps are being taken to provide patta to the poor and land less. Issues regarding the forest department will be informed to Collector C Dinesh Kumar, Priyanga said. AIKS Krishnagiri district secretary C Prakash also participated in the demonstration.
Time of India
18-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Centre to Karnataka: Mitigate Jenu Kurubas' woes
Jenu Kuruba community leaders allege the forest department installed boards warning against trespassing inside the area BENGALURU: In a significant relief to 52 Jenu Kuruba families of Karadikallu Atturu Kolli , a tribal hamlet located inside Nagarahole Tiger Reserve , the Union ministry of tribal affairs directed the tribal welfare department of Karnataka to take necessary action to mitigate the challenges faced by the community. This hamlet is situated in Ponnampet taluk of Kodagu district, 90km from the district headquarters of Madikeri. Since the first week of May, these 52 families returned to their original haadis inside Nagarahole Tiger Reserve. They are seeking rights on their ancestors' land as per provisions of Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights ) Act, 2006. The forest department earlier asked the tribals to leave the haadi. However, the tribal families are demanding land rights under the FRA. According to the Union govt's directive, it asked the state-level monitoring committee to monitor the process of recognition and vesting of forest rights and resolve such field-level problems. Consequently, the representation is being forwarded to the state govt to take action that will mitigate the challenges faced by the community. According to the activists, all Jenu Kuruba families are now staying inside the tiger reserve. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Want Lower Bills Without Changing a Thing? elecTrick - Save upto 80% on Power Bill Learn More Undo Tribal welfare department secretary Randeep D informed, "We will first ask the district-level committee (DLC) under the DC to submit a report for further necessary action," he said. Jenu Kuruba community leader Shivu said on May 20, a gram sabha under the forest rights act will be held where the decision on the land rights of Jenu Kuruba community members will be decided. "We will seek the opinion of our ancestors on future course of action," he explained. "Out of 10 makeshift huts we built, the forest department demolished four. Now we are staying in three huts while the rest of the huts are dedicated to our gods and ancestors. The forest department are deputed here to monitor us," he said. "Recently, they installed a board warning that trespassing inside the tiger protected area is a crime," he added.
