Delhi Briefing Workshop on Minor Forest Produce: Forest Rights Act

New Delhi, November 12, 2010.

Center for Science and Environment had organized a round-table on November 12 regarding Minor Forest Produce under the community rights of Forest Rights Act. The motive of calling this meeting was to gauge the state of the implementation of Forest Rights Act, 2006, specifically its subset, Minor Forest Produce .

The meeting constituted of spokespersons from the ministry of home affairs, ministry of panchayati raj, ministry of environment and forest, activists, environmentalists, journalists and legal analysts.

A cover story done by the journalists from ‘Down to Earth’ on Minor Forest Produce was put up as a case study to make the scenario more clear. The story covers the condition of five states of India namely Jharkhand, Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Odhisha and Andhra Pradesh.

The grass root level activists came up with the point that the needy ones are not being benefited by it. The discussions were followed by facts and figures put up by both government and non-governmental sides. Questions were raised over the provisions of FRA and legal activists wanted the community rights to be an individual’s rights.

The debate on “Is bamboo a grass or a timber?” engaged the group along with issues like the transit passes, the right to disposal of the MFP, interference of Environment Protection Act with Forest Rights Act. 

One major drawback which came out of the discussion was ignorance towards the law. Whether officials at the lower level or people to be benefited by it, they were not aware of the power which they have because of the provisions mentioned in the act.
 

List of participants
     
Roma,
National Forum of Forest People and Forest Workers,
New Delhi,
Email: romasnb@gmail.com
  Vasudha Bali, legal representative,
Ministry of Panchayati Raj
Email:
vbali1984@gmail.com
     
Gautam Bandyopadhyay, convenor,
Nadi Ghati Morcha, Raipur,
Email: gautamraipur@gmail.com
 

Ashok Chowdhury,
National Forum of Forest People and Forest Workers
Email: ashok.chowdhury@gmail.com

     
Ankita Gupta, Research Assistant,
Council for Social Development,
New Delhi,
Email: ankitagupta4@gmail.com
 

Mohan Hirabai Hiralal, Convenor,
Vrikshamitra, Chandrapur,
Email: mohanhh@gmail.com, mohanhh52@yahoo.co.in

     
Usha Ramanathan, Programme Director,
International Environmental Law Research Centre,
New Delhi,
Email: urushar@gmail.com
 

Madhu Sarin,
Chandigarh,
Email: msarin@gmail.com, msarin@sify.com, msarin@sancharnet.in

     
N C Saxena,
National Forum of Forest People and Forest Workers,
New Delhi,
Email: naresh.saxena@gmail.com, nareshsaxena@hotmail.com
 

B D Sharma,
Bharat Jan Andolan,
New Delhi,
Email: bharatjanandolan@gmail.com

     
A M Singh, DIG (SV),
Ministry Of Environment & Forests,
New Delhi,
Email: arvindmsingh@yahoo.com,
  Charu Singh, Research Fellow,
Council for Social Development,
New Delhi,
Email: incharuby@gmail.com, hlthreporttwo@gmail.com
     

Sanjay Upadhyay, Managing Partner,
Enviro Legal Defence Firm,
Noida,
Email:
sanjay@eldfindia.com, su@vsnl.com

  Pradeep Yadav, Director (Naxal Management),
Ministry of Home Affairs,
New Delhi,
Email: yadavpradeep@hotmail.com
     
Richard Mahapatra,
CSE,
New Delhi,
Email: Richard@cseindia.org
  Sunita Narain, Director,
CSE,
New Delhi,
Email: sunita@cseindia.or
     
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List of media participants
 

Bhavesh Vasantrao Brahmankar, Lokmat Newspapers Pvt. Ltd.,
environment  journalist and sub editor,
Email:
bhavbrahma@gmail.com, globalbhavbrahma@gmail.com


Chetan Chauhan, Senior Assistant Editor ,
Hindustan Times,
New Delhi , 
Email: chetanchauhan@gmail.com, chetanchauhan@yahoo.co.uk


Meera Mohanty, Special Correspondent,
Business World,
New Delhi,
Email:meera.mohanty@gmail.com

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