Perilous retreat: On gram sabhas, tribal land issues

The article warns that attempts to dilute the Forest Rights Act (FRA) by requiring consent from only a majority, rather than all, affected gram sabhas for projects, pose a significant threat to tribal land rights and survival. It highlights a suggestion by the Committee on Public Undertakings and criticizes the potential reduction of gram sabhas to mere corporate stakeholders. The article also points out a dangerous regulatory vacuum created by the Tribal Affairs Ministry's refusal to claim jurisdiction, leaving Centre and State governments unchecked. It emphasizes that land is fundamental to tribal communities' livelihoods, culture, and autonomy, and calls for strengthening the powers of gram sabhas under FRA, PESA, and the Land Acquisition Act.