Van Gujjars being harassed, say activists

Dehradun, January 4

The All India Union of Forest Working People (AIUFWP), along with Van Panchayat Sangarsh Morcha, Van Gujjar Kalyan Samiti and other social groups, have decided to stage an agitation against the alleged eviction of Van Gujjars from various forest areas of Uttarakhand. The protest day hasn’t been decided yet.

Van Panchayat Sangarsh Morcha leader Tarun Joshi, at a meeting here today, said a lot was required to be done for the implementation of the Forest Rights Act in the state. He said sincere efforts were needed to ensure that forest dwellers get their rights as envisaged in the Forest Rights Act. “Despite Uttarakhand being a forest predominant state, very little has been done so far to implement the forest Act,” he said.

Roma from the AIUFWP said Van Gujjars had been forcibly evicted from forests in the state. “Forest authorities continuously harass Van Gujjars and even police are hand in glove with them. The fight for the rights of forest dwellers will continue,” Roma added. — TNS