New Delhi” Dec 17 (IANS) Violent clashes in forest and tribal areas in India have been increasing due to brazen takeover of community-owned lands by the government and investors” according to a research released Monday.
According to findings released by the Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI) and the Society for Promotion of Wastelands Development (SPWD)” the nation can expect rising civil unrest in response to major projects planned for the next 15 years” requiring over 11 million hectares of land and affecting the livelihood and welfare of millions of people.
The research recorded protests in 130 districts” most of which took place since 2011.
“Brazen takeovers of community-owned lands have become a burning issue in large parts of India”” said researcher Shankar Gopalakrishnan of the Campaign for Survival and Dignity.
Gopalakrishnan said India has legislation on the books already that could address the root causes of the conflicts reported in their studies.
“There are laws designed to protect forest dwelling and tribal people from illegal takeovers” but is being routinely violated”” he said.
The RRI and SPWD examined recent land acquisitions” court cases and news reports to reveal that an increase in protests against land grabs in India is emerging as one of the country's most pressing development challenges.
“We have seen projects such as phosphate mines in Jaisamand and highway projects in Rajasthan” bio-fuel plantations in Chhattisgarh” and they all share a need for more and more land”” said Viren Lobo” the executive director of the SPWD.
Citing research carried out by the International Land Coalition (ILC) – Land Matrix” RRI executive director Arvind Khare” said the Indian government and Indian-owned companies have acquired land in Africa and southeast Asia for agricultural purposes.
“Investors from emerging economies are beginning to encounter community resistance to their activities in the rich agricultural nations of Africa” much like that faced by investors in India. But India's role in the global land rush is difficult to assess. Land deals are rarely transparent” so information about them is limited”” said Khare” a global expert on land rights of traditional and forest communities.