Gram Sabha' in regard to scheduled tribes and other traditional forest dwellers (recognition of forest rights) Act 2006 is more often seen as an outrage and infringement of the forest bureaucracy, said sources.
Sources said whenever the Gram Sabha disseminates rights enshrined in this Act among its populace it is linked to defiance and contravention of the Forest Act etc and its pronouncement made on wood or stone is seen as a great sin.
A noted and dedicated campaigner of the scheduled tribes and other traditional forest dwellers recognition of forest rights act Father George Monipally speaking to this correspondent on Wednesday said the forest bureaucracy must shun its red eyes on the scheduled tribes and other traditional forest dwellers.
A notification of the gram sabha within the lawful ambit of this act all for the purpose of saving, conserving, managing and protecting forest, wild life and its habitat, biodiversity etc is seen as a script of suspicion, distrust and disbelief by the forest officials said Monipally.
He said if the gram sabha puts up a writing asking for a no to forest fires, felling of trees and causing no harm to forest and its resources and also a determined stop to the loss of biodiversity, is misconstrued and over read by the forest officials as an invasion in their domain of power and authority.
George Monipally said the gram sabha is well within its legitimacy of right to pronounce to restrict any activity which is harmful to the forest and wildlife.
He said if at all such an activity unconducive to forest and wild life and biodiversity etc is taken upon without the permission of the gram sabha then the gram sabha is authorized to take legal action and no forest official should take any umbrage at it.
He said section 5 of the aforementioned act entitles gram sabha to pursue legal course of action where activities such as harmful to forest and wild life without its permission are reached or conducted in the forest then there is no room for any government agency to raise any hue and cry.
The campaigner pleaded for a better, effective, unbiased and unprejudiced appraisal of the gram sabha in regard to this act.