BHOPAL: The review committee formed by Chief Minister Kamal Nath to look into land rejection cases under Forest Rights Act is expected to provide relief to a large number of tribals and forest dwellers.
The committee after looking into the whole process of accepting and rejecting the claims has pointed out at several lapses in following the procedure, said an official requesting anonymity.
Among several provisions, to accept ones claim by gram sabha samiti, one provision says that a statement of a senior citizen residing in the village saying that he stands witness is sufficient for a person as a proof. “Forest officials played negative role in the whole process and depended heavily on the documents. Large numbers of genuine cases were rejected in absence of documents,” added the official.
Moreover, upcoming Lok Sabha election too is seen to be one of the important factors behind the decision. Congress has won by a marginal victory in assembly is looking to gain grounds on its traditional vote base. Appeasing tribal population of 21% in MP could work wonders for the Congress in regaining its traditional vote base.
CM Kamal Nath had formed committee to propose action taken on SC decision. The committee includes home minister Bala Bachhan, minister of law and legislative affairs PC Sharma, forest minister Umangh Singhar and Scheduled Tribe Welfare minister Omkar Singh Markam. Principal secretary of tribal welfare department has been appointed as coordinator of the committee that will discuss the issue in detail with all the stakeholders and then submit its report to the government.
The implementation of FRA or land eviction from forests (though the SC order not relaxed) is to be implemented by the tribal welfare department. Sources confirmed that the representatives from tribal welfare department will have more say than the forest department in review committee this time.
