Leader of Opposition in the Chhattisgarh Assembly, Dr. Charandas Mahant, has raised serious concerns over the alleged denial of legal rights to Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers in the state. He has written to Droupadi Murmu, seeking intervention to ensure strict implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006. In a letter, Mahant urged the President to direct the state authorities to immediately enforce Section 3(1)(d) of the FRA, which grants eligible forest-dwelling communities rights over water bodies located on forest land, including fishing and the use of aquatic resources. According to Mahant, despite the Act being in force since December 2007, Chhattisgarh has failed to implement this crucial provision for nearly 18 years.

 

He alleged that more than 50,000 tribal and forest-dwelling families dependent on fisheries for their livelihood continue to be deprived of their legally guaranteed community rights. Mahant stated that approximately 1.58 lakh hectares of water bodies are situated on forest land across the state. However, instead of granting rights to local communities, the state’s fisheries policy allegedly allows these water bodies to be leased out, while reservoirs larger than 1,000 hectares are allotted through tenders to private contractors. As a result, he claimed, tribal and traditional forest-dwelling communities, who should legally hold community rights over these resources, are being forced to work as labourers under outside contractors.

 

The Leader of Opposition has requested the President to direct the Governor and Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh to ensure immediate implementation of the FRA provisions so that affected families can secure their rightful economic and livelihood benefits. Expressing gratitude for the President’s attention to the issue, Mahant said he was confident that intervention from the country’s highest constitutional office would prompt the state government and senior officials to address the matter with the seriousness it deserves. He described the President’s response as reflective of her commitment to democratic values and the welfare of the people of Chhattisgarh.