United Boro People's Organization demands enforcement of 'Forest Rights Act-2006'

A CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR: The UBPO (United Boro People's Organization) has demanded that the State Government must enforce the 'Forest Rights Act-2006' in Assam after undertaking a survey of the forest villages at the earliest.

In this context, UBPO president Manoranjan Basumatari, general secretary Pitambar Brahma, and its chairperson Badal Mussahari stated in a press communiqué, "The Scheduled Tribes-cum-forest dwellers, who have been living in the forest areas of the State for years, are being deprived of land rights only because the 'Forest Right Act-2006' has not been enforced."

Notably, the 'Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act- 2006' is a key piece of Forest legislation passed in India on December 18, 2006. It has been also variously called the 'Forest Rights Act', 'Tribal Rights Act', 'Tribal Bill', and 'Tribal Land Act'. The law dwells on the rights of the forest-dwelling communities on land and other resources, which has been denied to them over the decades as a result of the continuance of colonial forest laws in India.

The organization further demanded that the State Government must stop the eviction drive initiated by the Forest Department to evict the people belonging to the Riyang (Bodo) tribe who have been living in the area at Hatikhal village under Muniakhal Gaon Panchayat of Sonai Revenue Circle under Kachar Forest Division since 1950.

"According to the 'Forest Rights Act-2006', the Scheduled Tribe forest dwellers, who had been living in the forest area till 2005, deserve land right. Under such circumstances, the issue of eviction notice to these people is non-humanitarian," the UBPO dignitaries said in the press communiqué while demanding to withdraw the eviction notice.

Also Read: New executive body of UBPO formed at Uriumghat under Golaghat District

Also Watch: