Citizens for Justice and Peace
A ray of hope is all we need How Uttarakhand’s Van Gujjars are rebuilding relationships with villagers
04-Jun-2021
Uttarakhand is home to the Van Gujjars, the nomadic community to which I belong. We traditionally breed cows, buffalos of a special breed called Gojri, and even horses, and earn a livelihood by selling milk and milk products. A defining factor of this community is that we migrate according to the season. In the summer…
How can you ever ‘resettle’ an ancient way of life? Resettlement not always constructive rehabilitation, forest dwellers face the loss of identity
27-Mar-2021
CJP Fellow Mohammed Meer Hamza travels to the resettlement area of Gendikhata, in Uttarakhand, and meets a rehabilitated Van Gujjar, and learns that resettlement does not always mean constructive rehabilitation for forest dwellers, who now face the loss of identity. The rehabilitation of Uttarakhand’s Van Gujjar families from Rajaji National Park to Gendikhata, is not…
Our life is linked to the forests we call home: Van Gujjars Receding forest cover and forced 'rehabilitation' is imperiling their existence
20-Feb-2021
They are often hailed as eco warriors, as they take care of the forests, they live next to. For the Van Gujjar community taking the health of the forest is a top priority. But now, their very existence, as a community is in peril, as the forest cover is shrinking across the land, and the…
#LoveAzaad Celebrate Love, Not Hate Episode 2 of CJP's podcast series Rightscast
18-Feb-2021
In the wake of “Love Jihad Laws” being enacted by states of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, #LoveAzaad campaign was rolled out. CJP has challenged the constitutional validity of the laws in the Supreme Court whilst also standing with the people of a diverse India. Podcast · #LoveAzaad Celebrate Love, Not Hate
Forest Rights and Covid-19: Through the eyes of UP and Uttarakhand grassroot activists Part-1 of CJP’s webinar reveals how authorities are abusing their power to usurp rights of forest dwellers
02-Sep-2020
On August 7 and 8, 2020, Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) and All India Union of Forest Working People (AIUFWP) conducted a two-day webinar titled Forest Rights Movement and Covid-19. The objective of this unique initiative was to provide a platform to forest rights defenders to share how officials of the forest department, police force…
यूपी-उत्तराखंड में वनाधिकार आंदोलन का चेहरा बने नूरजहां-मुस्तफा मामला राजाजी राष्ट्रीय पार्क का है
12-Aug-2020
‘डर के आगे जीत हैं’। यह फकत कोई जुमला नहीं, हकीकत हैं जिसे एक बार फिर सच कर दिखाया हैं राजाजी पार्क में डेरे में रह रहे एक वन गुर्जर परिवार ने। अपने संघर्ष के बल पर यह परिवार अरसे से यहां रह रहा हैं लेकिन 16-17 जून को जो हुआ, उसने नूरजहां व मुस्तफा…
CJP-AIUFWP move NCW against sexual assault and abuse of Van Gujjar women The women were brutally beaten up in broad daylight and were subjected to gendered violence in custody
24-Jul-2020
After having registered its complaint with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) along with All India Union for Forest Working People (AIUFWP) have now approached the National Commission for Women (NCW) against police personnel and forest officials of Rajaji National Park, Dehradun. The petition to NHRC was regarding the human rights…
CJP-AIUFWP petition NCST to take note of atrocities against Van Gujjars Their shelter destroyed, members of the tribe were even subjected to custodial violence
23-Jul-2020
The injustices meted out to some members of the Van Gujjar community of Rajaji National park Dehradun, allegedly by forest officials and police personnel, have been brought to the notice of the National Commission of Scheduled Tribes (NCST). In a joint petition, Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) and the All India Union for Forest…
A Day in the Life of Van Gujjars Photo Feature
19-Sep-2019
The Van Gujjars are a transhumance tribe of pastoralists belonging to the Himalayas. Their livelihood and subsistence depends primarily on their cattle. During summer they walk upto and beyond 12,500 ft in the mountains and trek down on the onset of winter. Ghulam Mustafa Chopra and I started our journey from Dehradun to Sakhri on…
Uttarakhand Van Gujjars face Eviction! Nomadic community of Rajaji National Park being driven out of their forests
09-Aug-2018
Van Gujjars, the nomadic tribes living in Aasa Rodhi Range, Ramgarh in the Rajaji National Park (RNP) of Uttarakhand face an imminent threat of eviction that too during the monsoons! According to a statement issued by the All India Union of Forest Working People (AIUFWP) this vulnerable community is being threatened and driven out by…