India's Forest Dwellers Gain Land Rights
The Parliament in India has passed bill granting more than 27 million forest dwellers legal rights to their ancestral lands. Before the bill's passage, the forest dwellers were defenseless as logging and mining interests moved in.
"More than 40m people live in India's forests, foraging for honey and fruit. India's forest dwellers are among the poorest and most marginalised people in the country."
"Without the rights to the land of their forefathers, many have been ordered to make way for logging and mining companies."
"They will be allowed to farm on small plots of land and be given the right to collect forest produce like honey, wax, medicinal plants and herbs. But they will not be allowed to hunt wild animals."
The bill awaits approval by the president.
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