Urging that as per the Forest Rights Act, 2006, tribe people be allowed to collect Minor Forest Produce (MFP), and ensure their rights are protected, members of Tamil Nadu Scheduled Tribe (Malayali) Peravai, staged a demonstration near the Collectorate here on Monday.
Led by its State president K. Gubendran, members said that as per the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, 39 Tribal Village Forest Committees were formed in tribal villages and the committees were also approved by the Revenue Divisional Officers of the concerned areas. But, the members allege that they were denied entry into forest and collect the produce.
“The Collector, being the chairman of district committee, should ensure that our rights are protected and be allowed to collect the produce,” they said.
They also wanted action to be taken against the forest officials who auctioned the produce to private persons and also cancel their auction. Members alleged that only if bribe was paid to officials, community certificate are issued to them.
“Camps should be conducted in our villages and certificates should be issued,” they demanded. They said that educational assistance to tribal students were not paid properly for the year 2012 and demanded immediate disbursement of the sanctioned amount. They said that Silver Oak trees grown in patta land of the tribes in Shevaroyan Hills should be allowed to be cut only by the tribes and not by private persons. They said that forest land belong only to tribes and cannot be sold to non-tribes. Hence, they demanded cancellation of lands registered in the name of non-tribes.
