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| Gujjars seek rights on forest lands in J&K | | | Early Times report
Jammu, Sept 12: Demanding similar rights on Forest lands as constitutionally made available to other Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities in India, the Gujjars of the Jammu and Kashmir today sought extension of "Forest Rights Act 2006" to state immediately.
Raising the issue in a meeting of Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation-a premier organization of Gujjars, the members of tribal community said that in J&K more than 95% of nomadic Gujjars are landless, shelter less and deserves dwelling rights on forest lands which they are using as traditional inhabitants since centuries together.
Javaid Rahi, secretary of Tribal Foundation said to give benefits to Scheduled Tribes the Forest Rights Act implemented in all the major states of India except Jammu and Kashmir.
He urged for an identical Act in J&K to accommodate the nomadic communities honourably.
Rahi said the extended Act will give nomads the "Title Rights" ownership to land that is being farmed by tribals or forest dwellers as subject to a maximum of 4 hectares with "Use Rights" to minor forest produce (also including ownership), to grazing areas, to pastoralist routes, etc.
He said Foundation has already written to Prime Minister of India to intervene with the justification that Forest Rights were available to Gujjars even before independence. In Dogra rule Gujjars were enjoying Forest Rights but later with the establishment of Forest department after 50s the same was snatched through legislations and Gujjars in J&K are just demanding the restoration only of rights on Forests.
It was urged in the letter that J&K Govt may be directed to issue an SRO immediately in this regard so as to provide rights on forests to dwelling communities over the land and other resources, denied to them over decades.
"The Gujjars have been protecting forests against mafias, land grabbers but as per laws available, till date protection of forests by any community is illegal here in Jammu and Kashmir which is unjust, bizarre and against tribal rights, the letter said.
The forests are the home of lakhs of nomadic Gujjars in J&K and they are to be declared as a forest protector by settling them properly and lawfully, the letter read. |
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