As seen on the Times of India
VADODARA: A study on tribal farmers given land rights under the Forest Rights Act” 2006″ in Dahod and Vadodara districts should come as an eye opener to the state government that had till recently been dragging its feet on giving land rights to tribal areas on a large scale. The study conducted by the state-funded Anand Agricultural University points out that the income of tribal farmers” who were given land rights in these districts” has increased by 85 per cent.
The study was conducted during May this year by researchers and students of extension education. It studied 28 farmers” who were given titles under the act” and came to a conclusion that their income had increased significantly.
The farmers included 13 from Vadodara district and 15 from Dahod district” who were given titles for land sizes varying from less than an acre to five acres. The study concluded that the income of farmers increased by 85.35 per cent.
The average income of farmers” who were included in the study from Vadodara district” had increased from Rs 23″760 per annum to Rs 40″615 – a rise of 70.87 per cent. The income of farmers studied in Dahod doubled after they were given rights. It increased from Rs 17″333 per annum to Rs 36″966 – a hike of 101.6 per cent.
The study was widely circulated during the recent Krishi Mahotsava. Associate director of extension education at AAU” VR Boghra said the land titles brought a sense of ownership amongst the tribal farmers and they became more willing to invest in the land. “They take inputs form various avenues like the Krishi Mahotsava and invest these in their land”” he said.
The study points out that interaction with the farmers had also indicated that the productivity of land was earlier low as there was interference from the forest department. It also adds that many of these tribal farmers have started growing fodder and chances of starting dairy farming were bright.
Activists” who have taken up the cause of tribals” say that while the study was not in depth” if it was true there should be no hurdles in clearing legitimate claims. “But our experience has been that the state government has been dragging its feet on the issue. We had to move Gujarat high court (HC) after a majority of applications of tribal farmers were rejected. The state government decided to review these cases only after we moved the court.
The HC asked the state government to expedite the process and also consider various evidences to establish that a tribal was tilling a particular land”” said Ambrish Mehta” an activist from Action Research in Community Health and Development (ARCH).
Mehta said despite the order and state government's decision of reviewing the claims during the course of the trial” the process was moving at a slow pace at several places. “In some districts” the pace has picked up while in others it is still sluggish. Monsoon may be a reason for this presently and a true picture will emerge later”” he said.