-The Economic Times Tribal affairs minister Kishore Chandra Deohas reportedly written to the governors of nine states asking them to cancel mining concessions granted in violation of the law. The Forest Rights Act of 2006 mandates the permission of the gram sabha of a tribal community for using their habitat for purposes other than customary use. So, if mining leases have been granted without the permission of gram sabhas on tribal land,...

-The Hindu Study conducted by Madurai-based NGO reveal Villupuram, Virudhunagar, Dharmapuri and Theni among districts topping the list Madurai: In the last 15 years, atrocities against Dalits touched their peak in 2012 across Tamil Nadu, with Villupuram, Virudhunagar, Dharmapuri and Theni among districts topping the list. A comprehensive study conducted by Madurai-based NGO ‘Evidence' recently reveals that except in the Dharmapuri incident, compensation and rehabilitation had not reached the victims across the...

-The Hindu     Governors can repeal or amend any law when peace is disturbed: Kishore Chandra Deo VISAKHAPATNAM: Unrelenting in his battle against destruction of tribal habitations for exploitation of forestland and resources, Union Minister for Tribal Affairs V. Kishore Chandra Deo has written letters to Governors of various States asking them to cancel mining leases in the Agency areas. Noting with alarm the growth of extremism in Schedule V areas, the Union Minister...

-The Hindu Forest rights campaigners have slammed the satellite image-based study on the implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA) in Maharashtra as "deeply faulty and obviously biased," arguing that it manipulates data and facts to make a case against the Act. Countering the report which a private company prepared at the behest of the State Forest Department, a critique by Madhu Sarin and others of the Campaign for Survival and Dignity...

-The Hindu ‘Construct dwellings at a cost of Rs. 2 lakh each for the houseless' Gulbarga: A convention of houseless people has urged the State government to frame a separate housing policy for the poor of rural areas who are houseless and do not own sites, and constitute a village development authority on the lines of the urban development authority. The convention was jointly organised by the Centre of Indian Trade Unions...