Following the request of various farmers’ organisations, complaints related to title deeds and land disputes are likely to be considered by the Forest Department at its upcoming district-level adalats. A favourable decision to this effect was taken at a recent State-level meeting chaired by Forests Minister K. Raju.
To be published soon
Leaders of Rashtriya Kisan Mahasangh, a national coordination of farmer organisations, said a directive on the decision would be published soon on the Forest Department’s website for the information of farmers.
They pointed out that the decision was taken by the Minister, disapproving previous objections raised by the Forest Department officers.
The Association’s south India coordinator P.T. John said land disputes and complaints related to title deeds, which were not settled at the district-level adalats, would be considered at a separate State-level adalat to be chaired by the Chief Secretary.
“There will be one more option for the farmers, in which the government will directly attend all unsettled disputes at the State-level adalats,” he said.
According to Mr. John, the plan of the department was to consider only complaints related to wild animal encroachments, issues related to agriculture activities and welfare of tribal communities.
“It was a protest staged by our organisation against the invalidation of some farmers’ title deeds that actually prompted the State government to come out with the latest forest adalats. If disputes related to land ownership and title deeds are not considered, it will not serve the purpose,” he added.
Submitting plaints
The forum has also asked its district-level leaders to help farmers submit their grievances on time to the Forest Department. They made it clear that any move on the part of the Forest Department officers to reject land-related complaints would be taken up seriously. Spot protests would be organised at the venue of the adalats, they added.
In Kozhikode, the district-level adalat will be held on August 19. The complainants may submit their grievances with relevant documents to the Forest Department till August 10.
In Wayanad, the adalat will be held on August 30.
