Former Agricultural Minister Vadde Sobhanadreeswara Rao expressed concern that progressive laws such as Forest Rights Act and Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, are being whittled down, engendering destruction and displacement of Adivasis.
At a programme ‘Adivasis-Rights-Indian Constitution’, organised by the Adivasi Hakkula Porata Sangheebhava Vedika in Vijayawada in connection with the International Human Rights Day on December 10, Tuesday, Mr. Sobhanadreeswara Rao pointed out how religious authoritarianism is undermining democracy, with the judiciary itself being part of it.
The meeting was presided by C. Chandrasekhar of the Civil Liberties Committee (CLC), veteran journalist A.M. Khan Yazdani, who explained how a whole human civilisation is being destroyed through the destruction of forests for developmental projects.
Another speaker G. Rohith of the Human Rights Forum(HRF), said while Aadivasis, who are opposing the destructive development, are put down through militarising their region, the activists who stand in solidarity are hounded with oppressive Acts such as Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Rather than encouraging people-centric development, the governments are supporting destructive projects as Pumped Storage Projects (PSP) and mining, he added.
Siddhartha Dora, an Aadivasi leader and advocate, said while the TDP government tried to take away their lands in the name of bauxite mining, the YSRCP government handed over thousands of acres to Pumped Storage Projects. “While the large infrastructure intend to help the resource extraction are being promoted, the basic infrastructure Aadivasis require is not being provided,” Mr. Siddhartha Dora said.
Prof. Anwar Khan, Convener of the Vedika, P. Prasad of the Indian Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU), C. Bhaskara of Organisation for Protection of Democratic Rights (OPDR), Pinaka Pani of Virasam, Suresh of Indian Association of Peoples Lawyers (IAPL), and others spoke at the event.
Published – December 10, 2024 09:10 pm IST