‘Salem Declaration’ by tribals

‘Salem Declaration’ by tribals

SALEM: Tribals and activists have come out with ‘Salem Declaration,’ on the `International Day for Indigenous People,’ which urged the Tamil Nadu government to redraw the tribal areas so that they could be clubbed together under the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution that ensures the tribal people’s rights and also enforce the Scheduled Tribes and other Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act 2006 in Tamil Nadu with immediate effect. The activists were participating in a state-level convention on tribals to mark the International Day for Indigenous People here on Saturday. Deliberating on the issues that confront the tribals in Tamil Nadu, the activists pointed out that tribal habitations had been split and adjoined with other areas thus denying them to forge a common platform. The State should redraw the boundaries of tribal villages and pockets where the tribals are living so that they could be earmarked under the Fifth Schedule.The Declaration stated that the Forest Act talks about the rights of tribals on lands only in the areas falling under the jurisdiction of the gram sabhas, since many adivasis are living in Town Panchayats and Municipal limits, their rights on lands should also be safeguarded. Till the provisions of the Forest Act were implemented, no tribal or hill dweller should be evicted, it urged. The other demands included the access to small forest produce, free lands under the TN Chief Minister’s Programme, banning the mining in forest areas, etc. (The Hindu 10/8/08)