Prakash Javadekar: 'Government has no intention of changing Tribal Law'

Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Prakash Javadekar, while commenting on that Forest Act Drafts, stated that the draft had a lot of issues and misconceptions are being spread. Javadekar further stated that he had stated in the Lok Sabha both in the written and oral formats that "the government has no intention of changing the tribal law, there is a misunderstanding about the draft, hence withdrawing the draft."

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'Govt committed to give more rights and justice'

Javadekar further stated, "On Bhagwan Birsa Munda's Jayanti today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has withdrawn the draft of amendment in Forest Act as the government has no intention to take away the rights of the tribals and forest dwellers." Javadekar added, "The government is committed to giving more rights and justice to tribals and forest dwellers. In a historic move to dispel any doubt, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government has withdrawn today the 'officers' draft' about the amendment in the Forest Act."

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Mizoram had "rejected" Centre's proposal 

The Mizoram Government had previously "rejected" the Centre's proposal to amend the Indian Forest Act, 1927, as the proposed amendments are in "conflict" with the special provisions the state enjoy under Article 371G of the Constitution, an official said on Friday. Mizoram Environment, Forest and Climate Change department secretary Ajai Saxena in a letter to the Director-General and Special Secretary in the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change said the state government has "rejected" the proposed amendments to the Indian Forest Act, the official said.

The letter dated October 21 was written after a consultation meeting was held in Aizawl last week. The meeting was chaired by state Forest minister TJ Lalnuntluanga and was attended by leaders of the civil societies, political parties, student bodies and churches. "The meeting could not accept the draft amendment as many provisions have to be deleted. Some of the provisions are in contravention to the protection of customary law and ownership and transfer of lands as enshrined in the article 371G of the Constitution while also affecting the autonomy given to the autonomous district councils created under the sixth schedule of the constitution," the letter said.

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