Tribals in Madhya Pradesh seek their traditional rights

Bhopal, Mar 19: Hundreds of tribals in Madhya Pradesh converged at Bhopal on Friday to stage a mass rally against the state Government for not honouring various pro-tribal policies mooted and endorsed by the Union Government.

This protest-demo rally was organized by the Madhya Pradesh state unit of Congress party and in support of the tribals, scores of party workers took part in this demonstration, raising slogans against the state administration.

'Harassment has been increasing. Although the federal government of the Congress party has passed wildlife law under which the tribals residing on forest land before December 2005 will get ownership rights of the land, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ruled government here (in Madhya Pradesh) has not get given the ownership rights to the tribals,' said Suresh Pachauri, President of Madhya Pradesh state unit of Congress party.

Madhya Pradesh is the home to millions of tribals who have their unique cultural heritage and lifestyle.

Union Government passed the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.

The law concerns the rights of forest dwelling communities to land and other resources, denied to them over decades as a result of the continuance of colonial forest laws in the country.