How New Land Acquisition Procedure by Odisha Government Will Dilute Rights Of Nearly Half A Million Tribals

The revenue department of Odisha introduced a ‘comprehensive’ circular to compensate forest-dwelling tribes for acquisition of forest land they hold legal rights over. The land acquisition law protects the rights of forest-dwelling tribes, even if their claims under the forest rights law are pending, but experts say the circular makes it easier to appropriate forest land for non-forest purposes and exclude those enjoying livelihood rights on forest land as a community.

30 Nov 2023        ANMOL GUPTA