Van Gujjars protest High Court order, demand review petition

DEHRADUN: A group of van Gujjars - who have been living inside and around Rajaji and Corbett tiger reserves for several years - assembled in Dehradun on Wednesday to register their protest against a recent high court order to oust them from the forest in order to minimise incidents of forest fire. The protesters demanded that the state government should file a review petition in the high court in their support as the natives are protected under the Forest Rights Act.
“The high court blamed the gujjars for setting fire in the forest area and asked for their removal, which is unfair. It is a baseless allegation. We must not forget that the rights of van gujjars have been protected under Forest Rights Act (FRA) of 2006, which is yet to be implemented in letter and spirit in the state,” said general secretary of All India Union of Forest Working People, Ashok Chaudhary.
Chaudhary further said that the state government should take immediate steps to implement FRA by making gram sabhas elect forest rights committees across the state.
People residing in the forests said that they were ready to be relocated for better opportunities, but do not want to be evicted from their homes.
“Around 1,610 van gujjars living inside Rajaji were earmarked for relocation, but many have still not shifted,” said Noor Jamal, who lives inside RTR.
Another van gujjar, Mohammad Safi from Terai West near Corbett, said, “We are now tired of actions that the forest authority takes in the name of encroachment or other such violation. We want a secure life, and the state government should help us get it.”
Roma Malik of All India Union of Forest Working People said that the FRA paves way for the ownership right of van gujjars over minor forest produce, which will financially empower them. Malik said that presently, the van gujjars are devoid of basic amenities like water, electricity, roads, school and hospital.