A year after Mendha-Lekha model, Reds want Forest Act scrapped

Putting the heat on Government to withdraw operation Green Hunt, the Naxals have now opposed the Mendha-Lekha model which allowed Tribals to exercise rights to harvest bamboo under the Forest Rights Act, terming at as a “ploy to loot forests”.

The Gadchiroli Divisional Committee of the CPI (Maoists) have launched a campaign dismissing the model that received nationwide attention last year when the then Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh handed over the community rights over forest land to Tribals at Mendha Lekha village in this east Maharashtra district.

“It (the Forest Rights Act) is the ploy of the Government to loot the forest through the forest mafia...Ramesh’s initiative was merely a farce,” the handbills distributed recently by the Committee in Mendha Lekha village said.

“The Forest Acts was enacted during the British Rule to deprive Tribals from their basic rights over the forest. All these acts should be scrapped immediately,” the pamphlets stated.

Alleging that the ‘Mendha Lekha movement’ is deviated from its goal, the Maoists claimed that it was because of their “struggle” that the Government was forced to offer the rate of Rs 35 per bamboo to Tribals from the previous rate of 3 paise which was prevailing three decades back.

Villagers though confirmed having received the leaflets refused to speak fearing reprisal from ultras.

The Reds have accused Activist Mohan Hirabai who spearheaded the experiment and Tribal leader Dewaji Tofa as mere “tools” in the hands of the “capitalist government”.

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