Sunday, December 19, 2010

We are semifinalists! Vote for us!!

OMD_finalist_Shramik.gif

VISIT THIS LINK AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT!

Rukmini Award


Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra State Open University gave us the Rukmini Award for work on issues of rural women. The ceremony was held on 11th December, 2010 at the Abhinav Adhyapak Vidyalaya, Latur. Dr. Hari Narke, renowned academician, handed over the award.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Forest Land Title in Maharashtra = Forest Land Title in Andhra Pradesh?

Eternal Vigilance is the Price of Freedom Indeed!
I have another example of how neither a law nor a policy can ensure rights without a constant watch over the implementation process. I would go to the extent of saying that a bad implementation process can effectively scotch every chance of any positive outcome from a good law or policy.
The Forest Rights Act was passed by the parliament in 2005 and the rules were framed a couple of years later. It is crucial to note that the implementation was left to the states because ‘Forest’ is a subject included in the Concurrent List of the Constitution. So of course we ended up with a very uneven picture where the impact of this legislation was concerned. Maharashtra was possibly the slowest to take off, while others like Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh did a better job.
It is only recently that titles started to be distributed to forest land cultivators in Maharashtra. Behind the euphoria of finally getting hold of a piece of paper protecting the rights of the cultivator was a nagging doubt that all was not well. At a meeting farmers discussed the problems that could lead to problems and litigation in the future. One of the farmers had gone to the neighbouring state of Andhra Pradesh and got a copy of the title being distributed in that state. A comparison of the titles issued by the two neighbouring states pursuant to implementation of the same legislation tells a great story of how things can be totally different across state borders.


Maharashtra - In some cases the names of women are missing. Names of parents of women holders are not included. In some cases even the names of parents of the male holders are missing. Photograph of title holders not inlcuded. Names of other members of the family not included. Only land under cultivation is included; homestead land is not identified. Only forest compartment number is given. Division, range, round and beat are not identified. Maps not included. Boundaries are identified by natural features or names of adjoining farmers. In some cases even this is not given.The rights and duties are not given on the title. Number of Pages - One


Andhra Pradesh - Names of husband / wife as joint holders are noted.The names of parents of both male and female holders are included. Photographs of titleholders included. Names of other members of the family included. Land under cultivation as well as homestead land are separately included.Forest compartment number is given along with names of division, range, round and beat.Two maps are included. One of the area that is being regularized. The second map is of the forest compartment showing the location of the area being regularized. Boundaries are identified by latitude and longitudes shown on the maps.
Rights and duties of the titleholder are clearly enumerated on the title itself.
Number of Pages - Ten


A delegation of forest land cultivators met with the Minister, Tribal Development Department, Government of Maharashtra to discuss their concerns and to demand for more detailed and accurate titles. They produced the ten-page title distributed by Andhra Pradesh as a better example of how they wanted their property rights to be protected. While the Minister assured them that the titles handed out by Maharashtra government would be updated to include corrections and their suggestions, it remains to be seen if the changes come about without struggle.

Friday, September 10, 2010

Land+Rights+through+Organising

Land+Rights+through+Organising

The above site gives our entry for a competition titled 'Property Rights: Identity, dignity and opportunity for all' in changemakers.com It is based on our experiences on land rights in Chandrapur and Gadchiroli districts. We really look forward to your feedback and comments. So please do visit the site.
Thanks!

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Land Acquisition for Manikgarh Cement Factory - a Victory for Farmers

Manikgarh Cement Factory in Rajura block of Chandrapur district wanted to acquire a strip of land - around 5 acres - to build a conveyor belt. The land belonged to forest department but was being cultivated by eleven tribals as well as nontribal farmers. The acquisition process began around 5 years ago - at least that is when the forest department and the company started to approach the farmers to hand over possession. Shramik Elgar helped the farmers to continue farming and not give in to any threats. Several times the forest department and the company came with machinery to initiate work but the farmers were firm and united in their opposition. This situation continued till August 2010. The company offered to negotiate with the farmers. The farmers said that they were ready to hand over the land at market rates i.e. Rs.4 lakhs per acre. The company was not ready to give any price because the farmers were not titleholders and mere encroachers according to them. They had procured the required clearances from the Ministry of Environment and Forests and also deposited the 'net present value' with the department. The farmers negotiated on the strength of their entitlements under the Forest Rights Act. Finally it was decided that the farmers would give land at the market rates, and additionally the company would give jobs to one family member, that none of the farmers would be rendered landless and that the standing crops of cotton and pulses would not be harmed. The company agreed to all these conditions and made payments of around Rs.22 lakhs accordingly. The land will be handed over in November after the crops are harvested.
The issues that were discussed during the process was whether land should be given to the company at all. The main reason for the farmers agreeing to give the land was that the land was a narrow strip that cut across their fields at an edge. The demand for market prices was also discussed at length. The farmers argued that the company had acquired some land at a nearby village from titleholders and since the Forest Rights Act, 2005 had given potentially the same rights to forestland cultivators they were entitled to the same rate.