National Consultation on Forest Rights Act

National Forum of Forest People and Forest Workers (NFFPFW)

& Delhi Solidarity Group (DSG)

Dear Comrade, 16/2/2008

Greetings from NFFPFW & DSG!

As you are aware, after a year-long delay ‘The Scheduled Tribes and Other Forest Dwellers (Forest Rights) Act, 2006’ was notified by the Government of India on 1 January 2008. While this is a welcome step towards protecting and recognising the forest rights of hundreds and thousands of forest dwellers in the country, the Act is not without flaws that need to be addressed continuously.

We all know that this Act is an outcome of long and collective struggle towards ensuring a comprehensive legislation. Various movement based groups have come together thrashing out the minute details and putting across a strong voice on the rights of forest dwellers. Thus, while we all rallied together to get this legislation come to force, we have a much arduous role to play towards effective implementation of the Act on the ground.

While working with the people at the ground level on the forest rights issues, it is pertinent to remind ourselves that this is a part of the larger issue of livelihood and ownership of forest resources and there are much larger challenges hovering around implications of climate change, usurping of common property rights, destruction of natural forests in favor of plantations, and commodification of forest for global trade.

It is in this context, we would like to organize a two-day national consultation on the Forest Rights Act, 2006 in New Delhi with the objective to develop a collective understanding of the Act and to collectively strategize for its effective implementation on the ground. We take great pleasure in extending our invitation to you to participate in this consultation, share your experience & insights, build effective strategies and strengthen the effort. The details of the National Consultation are as follows:

Venue: Indian Social Institute, Lodhi Road, New Delhi

Dates: 24-25 February 2008

The Concept note on Forest Rights Act Consultation in Hindi is attached with this mail.

In case you need accommodation in Delhi kindly let us know immediately.

The details about the programme will be sent to you via email as soon as they are finalised. A word of confirmation will be highly appreciated.

Looking forward to your active participation and support.

In solidarity,

Munni Lal Vijayan MJ

NFFPFW DSG

Contact Address: Delhi Solidarity Group c\o F-10/12, Malviya Nagar, New Delhi 110017

Phone No.s : 011-26680883, 9868165471/ 9818147740

 

Read the concept note for FRA Consultation in English

Read the concept note for FRA Consultation in Hindi

Read the rules of Forest Act in English

 

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Act now for Bhopal Padyatra

Dear Friends 

As many of you know, the second padyatra in two short years is about to begin, and Bhopal survivors – sick, ignored by their government, still suffering after decades of suffering – will once again march to Delhi to demand action from their government. What they want is simple: justice and a life of dignity, the bare minimum that any of us should be able to expect. You all know that their cause is just and the moral imperative behind it is simple. What we need from you now is also simple – we need your support, and we need your ACTION.

As you can see, a new fax action targeting the Indian Government is online, linked from the front page of both bhopal.net and studentsforbhopal.org. Please send a fax right away, and encourage all your friends, relatives, and distant acquaintances to do the same.

However you can do much more, and we need you to do more. In fact you’ll find a “top ten” list of things you can do to support the padyatra at http://www.studentsforbhopal.org/MarchToDelhi.htm#Action. And much, much more information at http://www.studentsforbhopal.org/MarchToDelhi.htm.

This year, national and international supporters will be asked to do everything they can to support the padyatra, including:

• fax actions
• call-in actions
• postcard actions
• protests at Indian Government offices
• Web outreach via banners, blogs, etc.
• Outreach and media generation
• Public/relay fasts (a last resort if the Bhopalis are forced to fast in Delhi).

The stakes couldn’t be higher. You know what happens if we win – tens of thousands of people get the chance at a better life. They get jobs to feed their families. Their loved ones get better medical care. Their children get to drink water that doesn’t slowly kill them. This is clear and obvious.

You also know what happens if we lose – we get none of this. We don’t have the luxury of losing.

This is why your support – your action - is so important. Please do everything you can, and the time to start is now.

Shalini Sharma
Students Coordinator
International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal
www.bhopal.net
www.studentsforbhopal.org
Contact: 9891 44 2037

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