The meeting organized by Dhaatri Trust had Adivasi women and their representatives came from all over the country to talk about their rights, agency and livelihood, here on Thursday.
The two -day event has seen that women speak of oppression and marginalization that they face on all fronts, especially from forest department officials in terms of implementation of forests and housing inside protected areas.
Namrata from the network of support services and activities in the river basin presented a presentation on the grass, which is facing tribal and women Chenchu as they travel down the hills to grazing cattle Krishna. Chenchus, even though he did not own cattle, took over the task for payment from other communities living in the forest. When pasture was banned from the forest -protected areas, they are often at the receiving end of harassment by forest department officials. While foresters often show forest fires that have begun to catches the cattle as an apology, Namrata explained that cattle is truly beneficial for the forest because it feeds on grass that helps spread fire. In addition, the pastures also arrest weed growth.
A group of Tadoba-andari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra spoke about a number of issues from paying a reward for relocation and lost living and opportunities to find food for women. In the notification of relocation, the authorities did not give a reason to move and the exercise did not take into account the rights of forests in the community. There are no consultations to declare critical wildlife stations.
The only narrative supplied is about the conflict of human and Tistina supported by evidence of human deaths, deaths of animals, grazing and mining of resources. However, traditional regulations on the preservation of natural resources are not listed anywhere. No evidence is provided by the claim that human housing has disrupted wild animals.
The women of the Chenchu tribe of Amrabad Tiger Reserve said that forest officials withdrew their homes in Raelet Pent and Rollaband Penta Hamlets without any warning.
“We were here for ages. Our older ones were buried here. However, we were told to go to Vatuvarlapally, because it is a protected area. In Vatuvarlapally we had neither land nor home, so we returned here and built houses.
Aravind, an activist from Dhaatri Trust, explained that while 15 forest law claims were issued as solved by forest departments, the title documents must still be given.
“We get money Rythu Bharosa in accounts, but there is no trace of title documents,” said Eedamma Mandli, another farmer.
Aadivasi from Karnataka on Nagarhole, Telangana’s Kawal Tiger Reserve and Madhya Pradesh also performed at the meeting, which will continue on Friday.
Published – April 24, 2025 20:54 is
