The Congress party on Thursday alleged that the Narendra Modi government is tweaking tribal laws and forcibly acquiring Adivasis’ land in Maharashtra due to which they are being dislocated.
The data compiled till March 31, 2018, by the state’s Tribal Development department shows that more than 62 per cent of claims filed by tribals for individual land titles in Maharashtra under the Forest Rights Act has been rejected.
Congress leader Mohan Prakash told GoNews, “Congress led-UPA government had made laws so that people can continue to live in the land where they have been living for generations.”
“According to these laws they should also have access to the food grown in their land,” he added.
To avail benefits, tribals have to reach out to the particular Gram Sabhas, Subdivision Magistrate (SDM) and Zilla-level committees.
Prakash said, “Since 2006 there were not more than five- 10 per cent cases where Gram Sabha had denied land to the tribals.”
“But, now the Zilla-level and SDM-level committees are continuously denying it,” Prakash added.
Prakash called the government “anti-Dalit” and “anti-Tribal”.
“Especially after the recent SC/ST Act amendment by the Supreme Court there is an air of suspicion against the government,” said the veteran Congress leader.