Campaign for Survival & Dignity

Recognition of Forest Rights

The nationwide people's campaign on Survival and Dignity has been initiated to recognise the rights of forest dwelling communities and to stop the eviction of these people from forest land. In 2002, the Government of India classified the large population of tribal people living inside forest areas as 'encroachers' of forestland and the Supreme Court ordered their eviction. Hence, the campaign on Survival and Dignity started, in order to try to regularise land settlement in favour of the forest dwellers.

The campaign has led to the formulation of the Scheduled Tribes (Recognition Of Forest Rights) Bill in 2005. The bill was referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for further consideration. The JPC's recommendations emphasised the rights of people over the forestland. Following the recommendation, have intensified the campaign to ensure that the bill gets enacted.

In Orissa, this campaign has attracted large media coverage and has also provided a common platform for people to stand up for the forest dwellers' cause. CYSD has been extending its support and playing a modest role in the campaign's initiatives.