Madhya Pradesh BJP government denying tribals their rights, usurping their land: Congress

All India Adivasi Congress chairman Vikrant Bhuria addresses a press conference, at AICC HQ in New Delhi on March 3, 2025.
| Photo Credit: ANI

NEW DELHI

The BJP government in Madhya Pradesh plans to privatise 40% of the State’s forests and seeks to displace tribals from their natural habitat, the Congress party alleged on Monday.

Addressing a press conference at the Congress party’s 24 Akbar Road office, newly appointed Adivasi Congress chairman and Jhabua MLA Vikrant Bhuria alleged that the BJP is “weakening” the constitutional rights of tribals and “snatching” their land. “BJP government of Madhya Pradesh wants to remove tribals from the forests,” Mr. Bhuria said.

“The BJP government in Madhya Pradesh is going to privatise 40% of forests. The government says these forests have been ruined, so they will give them to private companies so that they can develop them. But what is being hidden is that tribals are settled in these forests, either they have pastures in these forests, or they have agricultural land,” he said.

He asserted that tribals, who number 12 crore, and are the original inhabitants of the country, are being denied their rights. “So, the M.P. government has made all the preparations to remove them from these forests,” he said, adding that the previous BJP government of former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also “tried” to do this but had to roll it back due to “public opposition”.

The Congress leader said the aim of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act was to strengthen Panchayati Raj in the Scheduled Areas since the needs and laws of tribals are different. “As part of this, Gram Sabha laws are universally accepted, which means that self-governance in the village will function through the tribals. If you want to do any kind of work in the village, then you will have to take permission from the tribals. But the reality is that even today tribals are not being consulted,” Mr. Bhuria said.

Mr. Bhuria referred to a draft policy introduced by the State’s Forest Department that was put in the public domain to seek public’s opinion last month.

The draft policy — Policy for Forest Restoration Using CSR, CER and Non-Governmental Funds — proposes to restore the low density forests by bringing in private investment as well as through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Corporate Environment Responsibility (CER) fund from corporate companies and voluntary organisations.

Saying that out of the State’s more than 95 lakh hectare forest cover, 37 lakh hectare is degraded, the draft policy offers the investors the right to sell minor forest produce and earn carbon credits.

The first part of the draft policy says that a land parcel of minimum 10 hectare would be identified at district level for restoration through CSR and CER funds, while the second part says that a private investor will have to take up a land parcel between 25 and 1,000 hectares. The private investors can take up the land parcel through a tripartite agreement with the Madhya Pradesh Forest Development Corporation (MPFDC) and respective forest committees for 60 years.

“At present, the cost of plantation is about ₹5 to 8 lakh per hectare depending upon the variety, size of land cluster, soil and climatic conditions. However, it is dependent on the experience, skill and expertise of the private investor,” the draft document reads.

However, Aseem Shrivastava, State’s Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and Head of Forest Force (HOFF), denied that the policy proposes to give the control of forests to private players.

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Shrivastava said: “This is not privatisation. The policy only talks about bringing private investment. They won’t have any ownership control over the forests but will only be given a share of profit from the restored part. Other bodies like forest committees that will be involved with the restoration work will also receive a share from the profit.”

Mr. Shrivastava said that some “minor changes” have been made to the draft policy based on the suggestions received. “We have sent the amended draft to the administration,” he said.

Another forest department official, who requested anonymity, said that various organisations, including some linked with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), have “strongly opposed the” policy.

Wildlife and forest rights activist Ajay Dubey said that the process of seeking the public’s opinion failed to serve it purpose.

While welcoming the plan “in principle”, Mr. Dubey said: “Majority of the tribal population, which will be most affected by it, does not check the forest department’s website. There are pockets where tribals don’t even read Hindi. The government followed the tradition but it did not serve the purpose.”

Mr. Dubey also called for an action plan from the government in case anybody tries to encroach on forest land. “At present, everything seems vague. The government also must specify the degraded forest areas either region or district-wise so that the local communities can get a clarity,” he added.