-Tehelka The Centre must empower forest-dwellers and strengthen legislation instead of bypassing the Forest Rights Act and playing into increased conflict What did not raise much chatter last week was a hint that the ‘development' juggernaut was considering scrapping the Forest Rights Act, using one of many backdoor methods available to bypass legislation. It will force the country back to intense mineral-based conflict and also the never-ending struggle for land, which fill over-crowded...

-Down to Earth While the state government aims to cut costs, children in remote tribal areas will be most affected After repeatedly putting off a decision on the matter, the Maharashtra government has finally decided to close down some 13,905 schools which have a student count of less than 20. Notices to this effect have already been sent to education officers in the state. Officials in the state's Directorate of Primary Education...

-The New Indian Express   PADERU (VISAKHAPATNAM DT) : It looks like there is no end to the plight of Tribals in Agency areas of the district. They are being fleeced, cheated and robbed almost in every sphere of their lives. Here is a classic example of how the ‘shahukars' or the money-lenders loot the Tribals with the banned instruments of measuring foodgrains. The ‘shahukars' shortchange the Tribals as the latter barter their...

-Deccan Chronicle Khammam: Gender discrimination is the same everywhere in our country and Tribals are no exception. This was proved beyond doubt after a recent incident in a school in Bhadrachalam. Vanaja, a girl student in the school collapsed in the classroom and she was rushed to the hospital. The doctors examined her and found that she was suffering from anaemia. The government opened 3,250 angangwadi centres in Khammam district to offer nutritious...

-The Business Standard Forest Rights Act being reinterpreted to avoid amendment Led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government is discussing possible ways to do away with the mandatory requirement of securing consent from tribal gram sabhas (village councils) before cutting down their forests for industrial purposes. The deliberations, on among various ministries, are for zeroing in on such a way that the requirement is removed without...