Citizens for Justice and Peace
Sokalo Gond: Adivasi warrior who defends her people Human Rights Defender
14-Jun-2019
This is the story of Human rights defender Sokalo Gond who fights for the rights of her people, in Sonbhadra, a forested region of UP. She is one of the most important forces in the struggle for the implementation of forest rights act 2006 in Sonbhadra. Over the years, Sokalo has been working relentlessly with…
A Dalit Woman’s resilience forms the bedrock of the Forest Rights struggle in Sonbhadra Shobha's journey to secure her forest rights has been over uneven terrain
22-Mar-2019
Located in a peculiarly odd terrain, Badi is a set of small huts spread across small hillocks on uneven land just adjacent to National Highway 39, connecting Robertsganj and Renukoot. Badi falls in the Chopan block of the Robertsganj taluka, Sonbhadra district. A long stretch of land lies bare, baking in the blazing sun. Families here live in…
A Commitment to Forest Rights could change the course of the 2019 General Election A campaign for implementation of the FRA could capture 133 seats
20-Mar-2019
Poor implementation of the Forest Rights Act, 2006 (FRA) which legalises the land rights of India’s 200 million forest dwellers, could be, if made into a vibrant election issue, become a deciding factor in how a fourth, i.e. 25 per cent (133 of 543) constituencies vote in the coming general election. A detailed analysis by the…
A Campaign for Forest Rights could affect these Constituencies in 2019 Some key areas are in Maharashtra, Odisha and Gujarat
17-Mar-2019
In tables, the study shows where the Constituencies where a Campaign for Forest Rights could impact. The earlier part of this series revealed how an analytical study by Community Forest resource-Learning and Advocacy Network shows how the forest and land rights of India’s 200 million forest dwellers, could be, if made into a vibrant election…
What should a Campaign for Forest Rights demand in 2019? Strengthening conservation efforts and transforming forest management are key focus areas
16-Mar-2019
Evidence from the ground shows that rights holders that have rigorously used FRA 2006, specially its community rights provisions, to achieve the following goals: Transforming forest management to meet local livelihood and cultural needs; Ensuring food security and poverty alleviation; Securing gender justice and rights of women over land and forest; Strengthening conservation efforts and…
Supreme Court changes course on Adivasi rights SC order flies in the face of established jurisprudence
26-Feb-2019
Whereas previously SC affirmed indigenous people’s inalienable rights to their land, in 2019, under the Modi Regime, it now orders their unilateral eviction. The SC has turned established constitutional jurisprudence on its head. There are three significant SC judgments on the indigenous Adivasi people’s rights over their land and natural resources: 1. In 2011, the…
Crony capitalism imperils millions of India’s indigenous people SC order directs eviction of Adivasis and other forest dwellers across several states
26-Feb-2019
A Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra has ordered eviction of Adivasis and other forest dwelling communities from the ‘forest’ regions whose claims for entitlement have been rejected by the Forest department. The written copy of the order was made available on February 20, 2019. The court order says, “The Chief Secretary shall ensure…
Sokalo Gond Released from Jail Today Victory for CJP and AIUFWP's campaign to release forest rights defenders
01-Nov-2018
Sokalo Gond an Adivasi human rights defender & executive committee member of AIUFWP was illegally incarcerated since June 2018. Despite being granted bail on October 4, technical & procedural issues kept Sokalo behind bars till today. After 5 long months in jail she walks free today. Related: A Beautiful Show of Solidarity: Activists group reaches…
Sokalo Gond granted Bail Huge victory for the Adivasi struggle in Sonbhadra, UP
04-Oct-2018
Adivasi human rights defender Sokalo Gond had been illegally incarcerated since June 8th 2018 and was granted bail today. She is the member executive council of the All India Union of Forest Working People (AIUFWP). In this video, she talks to CJP about the Adivasi struggle in Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh, and the steps that they…
Kismatiya and Sukhdev Released Victory for CJP and AIUFWP's campaign to release forest rights defenders
26-Sep-2018
We’ve just had a huge victory in our campaign for Adivasi forest workers in Sonbhadra. Kismatiya Gond and Sukhdev Gond have finally been released. Now, we await the bail hearing for Sokalo Gond, who serves as Member Executive Council of the AIUFWP. Related: Victory! Kismatiya and Sukhdev, Adivasi HRDs from UP released on…