SANGUEM: Despite several assurances over the years, tribal villagers and farmers from Sanguem residing in the Netravali area continue to fight for their rights under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, social worker Mithil Ulhas Dessai said while speaking to media persons in South Goa. He was reacting to a report by the Centre for Promoting Indian Economy – CPIE India.
Tribals living in fixed habitations within the boundaries of the Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary are promised a solution to their cases involving alternate accommodation or compensation for the loss of their ancestral agricultural and horticultural activities following the implementation of the Forest Rights Act in Goa in 2012.
According to the CPIE India, villagers have come out openly to speak about their problems. The same problems were echoed during an event two years earlier, when social worker Mithil Dessai went to distribute organic fertilisers to farmers in Netravali. They claim that their long-pending rights are still not accorded, the CPIE India claims.
While the government clears more than 1,000 cases over the last two years, more than 100 villagers claim that their cases are yet to be cleared by the Collector, Mithil says. These cases involve tribal villagers who reside in forest areas and have been engaged in agricultural plantation activities for more than 50 to 60 years.
Some families occupy agricultural land within the Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary zone for more than 100 years before they are displaced after the area is declared a wildlife sanctuary.
The villagers claim that they produce relevant documents before the designated officers, but their cases remain pending due to one reason or another.
The opening of special courts in villages helps villagers to a large extent by enabling them to attend hearings more easily. However, several families continue to run from pillar to post in an effort to secure their rights, Mithil says.
Most of these tribal families remain economically backward and have little or no formal education or skilled training, making it difficult for them to secure employment in the private sector. They have been forest dwellers and farmers for decades, depending on the proceeds from plantation activities for their livelihood. Apart from farming and plantation work, they are unable to pursue other occupations due to a lack of the requisite skills, Mithil says.
The Centre for Promoting Indian Economy (CPIE India) suggests setting up similar farming activities outside the boundaries of the wildlife sanctuary zone. However, the straying of wild animals into these areas and the resulting destruction of crops remain a major concern.
Farmers in Netravali remain worried about damage to their crops as wild animals venture into agricultural fields in search of food. Mithil says the damage is substantial, particularly because animals such as gaur, wild boar and wild pigs regularly stray into the fields in the area.