BHUBANESWAR: Campaign for Survival and Dignity (CSD) Odisha, a forest rights body, has urged the state government to review its decision to hold gram sabhas (village meetings) in only 12 villages around Niyamgiri Hills.
Such a decision is not in compliance with the Supreme Court order and the directions issued by the ministry of tribal affairs under Section 12 of the Forest Rights Act, 2006, the forest rights’ body stated. Besides, these 12 villages (five in Kalahandi and seven in Rayagada district) are the same as the ones the state government mentioned as affected villages in its affidavit filed in the apex court in January, the forest rights body argued.
“The Niyamgiri Surakhya Samity (NSS) has raised concerns over the decision to hold gram sabhas in only 12 villages. There are about 80 villages in the 10-km radius of the mining area, mostly inhabited by the Dongria and Kutia Kondh tribals, which could have been included. We would organize a protest in the capital on June 5,” CSD convenor Gopinath Majhi said. It can be recalled that apart from the Supreme Court order, the ministry of tribal affairs too has written a detailed letter on May 2 to the state SC and ST Development department to take time-bound actions in compliance with the apex court judgment.
Madhubaganiar's Blog 