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Myriad Faces Of Tourism  |
| September 04, 2010 |
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| With diverse experiences and research in sustainable tourism, EQUATIONS has the wherewithal to justifiably turn into an advisory... |
| The Equal and Opposite Effect |
| August 30, 2010 |
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| We have never before witnessed such a huge multi-billion rupee racket as the Commonwealth Games in... |
| State tourism policy scrutinized by various concerned organizations |
| August 29, 2010 |
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| The second and the final day of the Regional Consultation on Responsible Tourism in the North Eastern States of... |
| NE Tourism conference has an eye for future prospects |
| August 26, 2010 |
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| A two-day regional consultation on responsible tourism in the North Eastern states of India kicked off this... |
| NE tourism stakeholders to brainstorm at Gangtok for responsible tourism code |
| August 25, 2010 |
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| A two day regional consultation on ‘responsible tourism’ in the North-eastern region of India organized by... |
Jairam warns against villagers’ eviction from reserves
June 28, 2010
PNS, New Delhi:
Relocation of villages from tiger reserves may henceforth have a more “humane face” with Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh warning against “forcible eviction” of villagers saying, “We will slash funds, if found so.”
He, however, categorically stated that eviction has to happen from the core reserve area and there was no such choice available for the villagers to stay on if they wished.
In an interaction with local groups, from major tiger reserves across the country, and senior State forest officials at a recent workshop, Ramesh also stated that the processes under Forest Rights Act (FRA) should be followed prior to relocation.
The Ministry will issue guidelines on its various provisions to the respective forest departments for their adherence, but simultaneously, the Minister clarified that the process of relocation would not be stopped till then.
Further, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) guidelines on relocation besides the documents on commitment/ agreement by the villagers would be translated into Hindi and local language for complete understanding of the provisions by the affected. So far, these documents were largely in English.
The Minister also agreed on more funds for setting up an independent monitoring agency to oversee the relocation process from the beginning to end. Further, the committee on relocation of villages, constituted by the NTCA, would also include social scientists and representation from local groups.
It was brought to the Minister’s notice that the villagers in Simlipal, Tadoba and Ranthambore were exposed to “threats, coercion and misinformation”. “The villages not willing to leave are being branded as Maoists,” said locals from Simlipal.
The Minister stressed that relocation has to happen from the core tiger reserve, but it has to address the human angle. “It is bound to be a time-consuming process,” he said.
The members also pointed to lapses in the implementation of the provisions of the Forest Rights’ Act in certain reserve areas. “In certain States, villages are being misinformed saying that FRA is not applicable to reserve areas and are being relocated,” they pointed out. Ramesh clarified that FRA rights of the villagers must be settled prior to relocation.
However, the contentious issues like whether cent percent unanimity of the Gram Sabhas (village committees) was necessary for relocation or it could be done away with a majority decision, the definition of a family, lack of clarity on threshold level of damage in core areas continues to persist. The Minister, however, directed for a study on the latter issue.
Jairam warns against villagers’ eviction from reserves
http://dailypioneer.com/265457/Jairam-warns-against-villagers%E2%80%99-eviction-from-reserves.html
28 June 2010
http://dailypioneer.com/265457/Jairam-warns-against-villagers%E2%80%99-eviction-from-reserves.html
28 June 2010
PNS, New Delhi:
Relocation of villages from tiger reserves may henceforth have a more “humane face” with Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh warning against “forcible eviction” of villagers saying, “We will slash funds, if found so.”
He, however, categorically stated that eviction has to happen from the core reserve area and there was no such choice available for the villagers to stay on if they wished.
In an interaction with local groups, from major tiger reserves across the country, and senior State forest officials at a recent workshop, Ramesh also stated that the processes under Forest Rights Act (FRA) should be followed prior to relocation.
The Ministry will issue guidelines on its various provisions to the respective forest departments for their adherence, but simultaneously, the Minister clarified that the process of relocation would not be stopped till then.
Further, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) guidelines on relocation besides the documents on commitment/ agreement by the villagers would be translated into Hindi and local language for complete understanding of the provisions by the affected. So far, these documents were largely in English.
The Minister also agreed on more funds for setting up an independent monitoring agency to oversee the relocation process from the beginning to end. Further, the committee on relocation of villages, constituted by the NTCA, would also include social scientists and representation from local groups.
It was brought to the Minister’s notice that the villagers in Simlipal, Tadoba and Ranthambore were exposed to “threats, coercion and misinformation”. “The villages not willing to leave are being branded as Maoists,” said locals from Simlipal.
The Minister stressed that relocation has to happen from the core tiger reserve, but it has to address the human angle. “It is bound to be a time-consuming process,” he said.
The members also pointed to lapses in the implementation of the provisions of the Forest Rights’ Act in certain reserve areas. “In certain States, villages are being misinformed saying that FRA is not applicable to reserve areas and are being relocated,” they pointed out. Ramesh clarified that FRA rights of the villagers must be settled prior to relocation.
However, the contentious issues like whether cent percent unanimity of the Gram Sabhas (village committees) was necessary for relocation or it could be done away with a majority decision, the definition of a family, lack of clarity on threshold level of damage in core areas continues to persist. The Minister, however, directed for a study on the latter issue.