CWEH Activists Blog: 21 March 2018
Gladson Dung Dung

At the end of February 2018 we got reports from Saranda rights activist Gladson Dung Dung about local movement against the Jharkhand Government decision to reject the forest rights claims, based on the Forest Rights Act 2006, of several villages.

One protest was called regarding the allocation of two coal blocks - Rajbar and Banhardi - in Latehar district of Jharkhand. The administration has rejected 72 claims out of 118 in Renchi village, stating that these villagers cannot be given forest rights because the coal block is already allocated to the NTPC. This is in violation of the section 4(1) & (5) of the Forest Rights Act 2006. According to section 4(5), no one can be displaced from the region before the completion of recognition of forest rights. In response, the villagers of these villages have started protest under the banner of Gram Sabhas (village councils). There have been three protests already and more are planned.

Some videos on recent activities can be seen on youtube channel “Adivasi Hunkar”.

The other protest, a Dharna (sit in protest) at the office of Deputy Commissioner, Chaibasa, had been organised demanding to enforce the Forest Rights Act 2006 in the Saranda and Podahat Forest Regions, withdraw the proposed Wildlife Corridor Project, withdraw a letter of DFO regarding withdrawal of all the welfare schemes from 20 villages of Saranda Forest and withdraw the Land Acquisition Amendment bill 2017.

The district administration, instead of hearing protestors plea, attempted to suppress their voice by not allowing to use microphone during the protest. The protestors strongly opposed it and a confrontation took place between the protestors and government officers. The police was deployed to disrupt the protest, but finally they were able to continue the speeches and submitted a memorandum to the Governor of Jharkhand through the Deputy Commissioner.  Attached photos from the protests.