Citizens for Justice and Peace
My fears evaporated after the near fatal attack on me: Forest Rights leader, Nivada Rana Human Rights Defender profile
23-Jul-2019
In her 40s now, and a mother of four children, forest movement leader Nivada Rana not only sustained near fatal attacks, but has resolved to carry forward the struggle with more resolve. When they accuse us of destroying wildlife, I am very clear; I tell them that they are spreading falsehoods. I tell them,…
FRA 2006 can’t be diluted, needs to become political issue Public Hearing on Forest Rights highlights lacunae in implementation
19-Jul-2019
Public Hearing records grave incidents of atrocities on forest dwelling communities and argues for a rigorous implementation of the FRA 2006, a systematic and scientific mapping of land dubbed as ‘forests’, argues for a political programme for the implementation of the law and appointment of Court Commissioners to oversee this implementation. A public hearing…
Mahua coloured dreams Forest produce and its relevance in the lives of forest dwelling communities in Sonbhadra, UP
10-Jul-2019
Mahua, which has found mention in folk poetry, songs and stories is rightly called the “gift of Gods.” Flowering in summer, especially during March and April, the flowers provide respite to the lands and peoples stricken by drought and summers. These deciduous trees flower even as all other trees lie bare. It’s a revered tree…
Forest Rights Movements to intervene “collectively” in SC eviction order case National Consultation on Forest Rights declares protests across the country on July 22
09-Jul-2019
A national consultation on forest and land rights has declared protest actions across India on July 22, tentatively the date for hearing in the case of the recent Supreme Court order on eviction of forest dwelling communities. Bhumi Adhikar Andolan, a platform working for the land rights of communities called for a two day…
Lobby of Corporate Interests, Bureaucrats and Mafia looting Forest Land: Roma Part 1 of a two part EXCLUSIVE video interview
18-May-2019
In an exclusive conversation with CJP Secretary Teesta Setalvad, Roma Malik highlights the illegality of the February 2019 Supreme Court order (later stayed), the challenges in the implementation of the Forest Rights Act, 2006, the farce of pitting arguments of survival of forest dwellers versus wildlife conservancy and many more issues. The first part of…
A Commitment to Forest Rights could change the course of the 2019 General Election A campaign for implementation of the FRA could capture 133 seats
20-Mar-2019
Poor implementation of the Forest Rights Act, 2006 (FRA) which legalises the land rights of India’s 200 million forest dwellers, could be, if made into a vibrant election issue, become a deciding factor in how a fourth, i.e. 25 per cent (133 of 543) constituencies vote in the coming general election. A detailed analysis by the…
A Campaign for Forest Rights could affect these Constituencies in 2019 Some key areas are in Maharashtra, Odisha and Gujarat
17-Mar-2019
In tables, the study shows where the Constituencies where a Campaign for Forest Rights could impact. The earlier part of this series revealed how an analytical study by Community Forest resource-Learning and Advocacy Network shows how the forest and land rights of India’s 200 million forest dwellers, could be, if made into a vibrant election…
What should a Campaign for Forest Rights demand in 2019? Strengthening conservation efforts and transforming forest management are key focus areas
16-Mar-2019
Evidence from the ground shows that rights holders that have rigorously used FRA 2006, specially its community rights provisions, to achieve the following goals: Transforming forest management to meet local livelihood and cultural needs; Ensuring food security and poverty alleviation; Securing gender justice and rights of women over land and forest; Strengthening conservation efforts and…
CJP in Action: Defending Adivasi Human Rights Activists in Courts CJP is providing legal aid to leaders and members of the forest workers movement in Uttar Pradesh
25-Feb-2019
India’s indigenous peoples, most commonly called ‘Adivasis’, which means ‘original inhabitants’, are under attack in various areas of the country. With the rising looting and exploitation and mounting corporate greed and the thirst for mineral-rich land, India’s Adivasis are increasingly being displaced from the very lands they helped cultivate and fertilised for generations. Not only…
Deliberate Attempt to weaken Forest Produce scheme? Slow and certain moves to attack incomes and rights of forest dwellers
01-Dec-2018
For the longest time, the lobby of contractors, bureaucrats, forest department officials and other traders have kept local forest dwellers away from their own work of labour, namely Minor Forest Produce or MFPs, giving them only wages for the work they would do to collect and process forest produce. The profit would inevitably be scooped…