Now Reading: Tribal farmers in Gujarat intensify forest land protest over boundary dispute
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Tribal farmers in Gujarat intensify forest land protest over boundary dispute
Tribal farmers in Gujarat intensify forest land protest over boundary dispute
Tribal farmers from 12 villages in Gujarat's Narmada district have intensified a week-long sit-in protest after being stopped from ploughing forest land they claim to have cultivated for years. The standoff has…
The Story in Brief
Tribal farmers from 12 villages in Gujarat's Narmada district have intensified a week-long sit-in protest after being stopped from ploughing forest land they claim to have cultivated for years. The standoff has drawn political support from both BJP and Congress, but the Forest Department says the land falls under Surat district's jurisdiction and requires a Gram Sabha resolution from the local village, which has not been granted. The farmers argue that administrative boundaries should not override their traditional cultivation rights.
The Indian Opinion
The protest exposes a recurring failure in implementing the Forest Rights Act where bureaucratic boundaries trump community claims. Both parties are now politicking on tribal sentiment, but the real test is whether the state can resolve the inter-district anomaly without forcing poor farmers to shuttle between two district administrations. The question is simple: if farmers have tilled the land since before 2005, will a district redraw nullify their rights? That answer will settle more than this dharna.
Source: newindianexpress.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
