New Awakenings in the Trans-Himalaya

As threats to common properties magnify, as people’s traditional access to living systems is denied, the Forest Rights Act starts making its way into people’s lives, in the trans-himalayan valley of Spiti, to uphold the rights that have sustained residents here for centuries. On an overcast day, we stirred a conversation with few members of […]

H.P. High Court provides relief to Kinnaur occupants

High Court Order of 9th July provides relief to occupants by quashing DFO orders; High Court Bench puts ball in DFO Kinnaur’s court to hear matter; High court mentions FRA and gives liberty to make submissions under FRA to State government. The orders of the Hon’ble High Court, dated 6th April 2015, followed by subsequent […]

प्रेस विज्ञप्ति: वन अधिकार कानून के अंतर्गत जल्द से जल्द मिलें अधिकार: वन अधिकार मंच, 2 मई 2018

2 मई 2018 शिमला हिमाचल वन अधिकार मंच के सदस्यों ने शिमला में 1 मई को रणनीति बैठक का आयोजन किया और 2 मई को राज्य सरकार के वरिष्ठ अधिकारियों से मिल कर वन अधिकार कानून 2006 से जुड़े मुद्दों पर चर्चा की और ज्ञापन भी सौंपा। मंच की बैठक में चंबा, सिरमौर, काँगड़ा, किन्नौर और लाहौल स्पीती […]

Press release: Himachal Groups join forest rights groups; reject draft national forest policy

17/4/2018  Shimla Himachal Van Adhikar Manch is one of the 150 signatories of the submission made to the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change raising objections to the serious flaws in the Draft National Forest Policy 2018. The MoEFCC came out with the draft last month, for which they had comments and suggestions from concerned citizens […]

What Lies Behind the Resistance to India’s Highest Dam?

Not only has the government failed to do a cost-benefit analysis of building the Pancheshwar Dam or assess its environmental impact, it has also fallen short of addressing the growing concerns of locals. Exactly a year ago, our prime minister, in his campaign speech just before the Uttarakhand state elections, declared from the podium in Pithoragarh town that […]

पै्रस विज्ञप्ति: पंचेश्वर बहुद्देशीय नही बहुधोखीय परियोजना है

5 November 2017 पंचेश्वर बहुद्देशीय नही बहुधोखीय परियोजना है: पंचेश्वर बांध व रुपालीगाड बंाधों की प्रक्रिया तुरंत प्रभाव रोकी जाये। वन अधिकार दो – जैव विविधता रजिस्टर ग्राम स्तर पर बनाओं प्रभावित जनता को अंधेरे में रखकर पर्यावरण और वन स्वीकृतियंा लेने की प्रक्रियंा पूरी की जा रही है वह यह बताता है कि सरकारों […]

‘Development’ Projects and Forest Rights ‘विकास’ परियोजना और वन अधिकार

This is our second video on the Forest Rights Act 2006 (To see the first video go to https://youtu.be/Igoyj5POOeU). This time we take a closer look at forest diversion for large development projects and the provisions of FRA that are applicable before any diversion is allowed. These provisions need to be understood by communities to secure […]

Why Forest Rights Act, 2006 is the way to go in Himachal

To address historical injustice faced by the forest-dependent communities in India, UPA government had passed the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of) Forest Rights Act in 2006. But the Congress, at least in Himachal, has failed to make use of this legislation to provide relief to tribal population. In fact, Himachal is […]

Forest Rights Act awareness video

A short video that briefly summaries the ForestRightsAct2006. Please circulate widely to spread awareness about this very important piece of legislation. “The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act” was passed by the Central government in 2006. This Act was historical because it provided the much needed relief to those […]

Press Note: FRA only option to protect small land holders with forest land occupations: Himachal Van Adhikar Manch; 18th January 2017

The Himachal Van Adhikar Manch, a state level forum of social organisations advocating for implementation of the Forest Rights Act 2006 have petitioned the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh and the High Powered Committee reviewing status of encroachment cases. The memorandum submitted highlights that the Forest Rights Act passed by the Indian Parliament in 2006 […]