Mumbai: Veteran Gadchiroli-based tribal community leader and advocate Lalsu Soma Nogoti has written to the Maharashtra government seeking urgent acton for the recognition of ‘Habitat Rights’ as guaranteed under Secti…

Mumbai: Veteran Gadchiroli-based tribal community leader and advocate Lalsu Soma Nogoti has written to the Maharashtra government seeking urgent acton for the recognition of ‘Habitat Rights’ as guaranteed under Section 3(1)(e) of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditonal Forest Dwellers (Recogniton of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.Nogoti has sent formal letters to the Chief Secretary and Chairperson of the State Level Monitoring Committee. Maharashtra: Scheduled Tribe discontent welling up this GaneshotsavNogoti, who is based in Bhamragad, is a former Gadchiroli zilla parishad member and has been taking up the cause of the adivasi community.According to him, the Forest Rights Rules, particularly after the amendment of 6 September 2012, place a clear responsibility upon the District Level Committees to ensure that the rights of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) and other vulnerable forest-dwelling communities are recognized in accordance with the objectives and spirit of the Forest Rights Act. Rule 8 specifically mandates the District Level Committee to examine whether the claims of PVTGs have been adequately addressed, he said. He said Rule 12B explicitly requires the District Level Committees to play a proactive role in the recognition of Habitat Rights of PVTGs. The Rules require consultation with traditional institutions of PVTGs and mandate that Habitat Rights claims be facilitated before the concerned Gram Sabhas, taking into consideration the floating and dispersed nature of their settlements and Gram Sabhas wherever necessary.Nogoti pointed out that these provisions have also been reinforced by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs through Circular No. 23011/16/2015-FRA dated 23 April 2015, which emphasizes the need for proactive action by State and District authorites for recognion of Habitat Rights of PVTGs.To ensure effective implementation, a day-long consultation of experts, government officials, tribal representatives and civil society organisations may be convened to discuss and prepare a framework and roadmap for recognising Habitat Rights in Maharashtra. “The consultation may also consider the recommendations of the Expert Sub-Group on Habitat Rights of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) constituted by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs under the chairmanship of Hrushikesh Panda,” he said.The Maharashtra government is currently undertaking a mission-mode drive to clear pending Forest Rights claims. This provides an opportunity for the State Level Monitoring Committee to direct all District Level Committees to simultaneously begin the process of recognising Habitat Rights under Section 3(1)(e) of the Forest Rights Act, 2006.“Such an initiative would strengthen the implementation of the Forest Rights Act and help secure the constitutional and statutory rights of PVTGs and other eligible forest-dwelling communities. In view of this, I request the State Level Monitoring Committee to issue necessary directions to all District Level Committees to immediately begin the process of recognising and vesting Habitat Rights under Section 3(1)(e) of the Forest Rights Act, 2006,” he said.

Source: Deccan Herald