IWGIA URGENT ALERT CONCERNING GROSS HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES TOWARDS ADIVASI FOREST DWELLERS IN JHARKHAND, INDIA

pubIWGIA is deeply concerned about the human rights violations that are currently happening in Jharkhand, India

47 houses owned by the Adivasis have been razed in another attempt from the Jharkhand Forest Department, local police and the so-called forest mafia to evict the Adivasis from their land. Over 200 Adivasi villagers have been directly affected by the violent attempts to overtake the land and natural resources.

To support the Adivasis and raise attention to the land rights violations, IWGIA has shared an urgent alert with relevant authorities and embassies in India.

Here IWGIA calls on these institutions to urge the Government of India to:

Immediately stop the evictions

• Give the villagers entitlement to the land they reside and cultivate under the Forest Rights Act 2006.
• Register a criminal case against the officials, who were involved in forceful eviction and destruction of houses and other belongings.
• Conduct an investigation by an independent team
• Compensate the victims for the destruction of their houses and belongings.
• Immediately provide humanitarian assistance to the victims
• Establish a constructive dialogue with the Adivasi communities and their representative organisations regarding their concerns.
• Guarantee that the land, natural resources and livelihood rights of the Adivasi communities are respected as per national and international law.

Read the whole Urgent Alert here >>