India’s forgotten tribes gain rights * Rupam Jain Nair

GIR SANCTUARY, India – Daya Rakha, 36, was born in the jungles of the Gir wildlife sanctuary in western India and knows little else except how to live off the forest’s resources.

Just as his ancestors did generations ago, Daya ekes out a meagre living mainly by tending to his cattle which relentlessly graze in Gir’s lush forests. But Daya – like millions of India’s forest dwellers – has never been able to call the forest his home.Instead he has been treated as a criminal by authorities as he has no legal right to stay in the forests where his forefathers lived and died.”It is the eviction notices from the government and rules made to uproot us by the forest officials that give us sleepless nights,” said Daya, who belongs to the 8 400-strong Maldhari tribe of Gir.Over 40 million of India’s most impoverished and marginalised people live in the country’s forests – including tiger reserves, wildlife sanctuaries and national parks – but for years have been neglected by the government and left to fend for themselves.The Maldharis have long lived with eviction threats, alleged harassment and extortion by officials who say they are guilty of environmental destruction and endangering wildlife in the sanctuary – one of the last bastions of the rare Asiatic lion.But a new law will for the first time enshrine their right to live in the forests and national parks.Conservationists are worried this could hamper efforts to save India’s endangered wildlife such as lions and tigers.Nampa-ReutersBut Daya – like millions of India’s forest dwellers – has never been able to call the forest his home.Instead he has been treated as a criminal by authorities as he has no legal right to stay in the forests where his forefathers lived and died.”It is the eviction notices from the government and rules made to uproot us by the forest officials that give us sleepless nights,” said Daya, who belongs to the 8 400-strong Maldhari tribe of Gir.Over 40 million of India’s most impoverished and marginalised people live in the country’s forests – including tiger reserves, wildlife sanctuaries and national parks – but for years have been neglected by the government and left to fend for themselves.The Maldharis have long lived with eviction threats, alleged harassment and extortion by officials who say they are guilty of environmental destruction and endangering wildlife in the sanctuary – one of the last bastions of the rare Asiatic lion.But a new law will for the first time enshrine their right to live in the forests and national parks.Conservationists are worried this could hamper efforts to save India’s endangered wildlife such as lions and tigers.Nampa-Reuters