Conclusion
It took a long time for the Government to recognize the forest
rights of the tribal communities and traditional dwellers through
the Forest Rights Act but again that recognition is seemed to
have been fading away. It has just been 9 years since the Act has
come into force and as rightly pointed out by the District Forest
Officer of the Nilgiris the Act is still young. Implementation of
the Act has certainly not been up to the mark but that does not
mean the Act is a ‘bad law’. The government instead of trying to
impede the implementation of the Act must try and work a way
to give the Act a stronger position. The unpleasant history again
seems to be repeating for the tribal communities and traditional
dwellers in the forests. Their voices are again being unheard.
Development and growth has consumed the government and is
leading them to take irrational decisions. Subversion of the Act
will only lead to consequences that are unasked for. A good
government is which recognizes the right of every individual and
then move towards development and growth. Sustainable
development should be the buzzword today and the government
should work towards achieving that by recognising the rights of
the traditional forest dwellers.
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